Why is there LANUDRY?

My friend asked this question, and it so resonated with me (as my washing machine runs right now). I mean...it never goes away. Even when you 'do laundry' and clear out all the hampers, you put on your pjs and look! Clothes in the hamper again!

The bigger I get, the harder it is to bend into the washer to move the clothes...so Hubba Bubba helps out more and more - as he had to when I busted the wrist. He is getting wicked good at laundry...but he'll never take it off my hands completely. Only and idiot would.

I don't mind running things through the machines, it is putting it away that bugs. I hang as much as I can just to get away from folding...

Character Development Workshop

Sophia Shaw is hosting a 3-day workshop on RD in the Class in Session forum from Jan 23 to 25. She's going to be discussing character development, so please bring all your questions!!

Here's her bio:Sophia Shaw released her debut novel, Shades and Shadows, in January 2005. It is a book that Sophia started as a hobby over ten years ago. As an avid reader, she was inspired by many of the great romantic writers, and was convinced she could write a story that was engrossing and enjoyable. Shades and Shadows is that story, and has received wide-spread positive reviews. The Romantic Times chose Shades and Shadows as a top pick for January 2005, and rated it with 4.5 stars (out of five).

Sophia was born in Morgan’s Pass, Clarendon, Jamaica and immigrated with her family to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1974. She attended Claude Watson School for the Arts and studied dance, art and drama. She then went to the University of Toronto where she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology. She is married to "The Juiceman" Jonathan Shaw, a well known DJ with a career in Radio Broadcasting for over 15 years. They live in Brampton, Ontario with their young daughters, Sierra and Naima.In 2003, Sophia was accepted by Sha-Shana Crichton of Crichton and Associates Literary Agents.

In early 2004, she signed her first book deal with Kensington Publishing/Dafina. She is currently working on her fourth novel. Sophia is a member of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Association of Black Journalist. Visit her website at http://www.sophiashaw.com/ to learn more about her and her books!

Holiday Hangover

The holiday season is over. School is starting up again. There are parking spots at shopping malls all over the world. Now it's time to get back to real life.

It is hard to get back to reality after so much festivity. It's been a mad scramble the last month to get everything done, to be everywhere at once, and eat everything in sight. Wait, was that just me?

Post holidays I always want to lay in bed and just let my head recuperate from all the rushing about. As things slow down I remember the best holiday bits - like my mom's Thanksgiving dinner or how excited my big boy was when he saw his presants from Santa. I also recall things I'm llikely to never forget - like my wee small boy's holiday pageant where he was too shy to sing a word and how mom's Thanksgiving dinner didn't stay down thanks to the baby on board.

I wonder what sticks with you from your holiday season. Come on now, you can tell us about how your boss had too much to drink at the Christmas party and you set his face on the copier so you'd have evidence come raise time. We won't tell if you complain your husband got you power tools, or gush about the diamonds he hid in your stocking.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORY THIS YEAR?

Preditors & Editors Poll Nominee--Best of 2007

Every January Preditors & Editors hosts an open poll to find the best websites, stories, novels, magazines, editors, poets and artists of the past year. It's fun to see what people thought enough of to put up for a vote. Double the fun if you see the name of your story or website!

Want to throw some support my way? Go and vote for ::

FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke in Romance Short Stories
ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen in All other Short Stories
DREAMS AND DESIRES with a story by moi in Anthologies
The Pink Heart Society in Writers' Resource/Information/News Source page
Romance Divas in Writers' Discussion Forum page

2008 TBR Challenge

** Pick 12 books - one for each month of 2008 - that you've been wanting to read (that have been on your "To Be Read" list) for 6 months or longer, but haven't gotten around to.
** OPTIONAL: Create a list of 12 "Alternates" (books you could substitute for your challenge books, given that a particular one doesn't grab you at the time)
** Then, starting January 1, 2008, read one of these books from your list each month, ending December 31, 2008. :o)

TBR 2008

Driving Him Wild - Julie Cohen

One Night Before Marriage - Anne Oliver

The Rancher's Rules - Lucy Monroe

Return of the Rebel (At The Billionaire's Bidding) - Trish Wylie

Getting Down To Business - Ally Blake

Behind the Scenes - Trish Jensen

The Ex-Girlfriends' Club - Rhonda Nelson

Call Me Wicked - Jamie Sobrato

One Night Standards - Cathy Yardley

Innuendo - Crystal Green

Risking It All - Stephanie Tyler

Closer... - Jo Leigh



Alternates

Dream Job, Hot Boss - Robyn Grady

Bedded by Arrangement - Natalie Anderson

The Mile-High Club - Heidi Rice

My Tall, Dark Greek Boss - Anna Cleary

One Night, One Baby - Kate Hardy

The Marriage Experiment - Catherine Spencer

The Married Mistress - Kate Walker

The Ruthless Marriage Bid - Elizabeth Power

The Millionaire's Marriage Claim - Lindsay Armstrong

The Unexpected Pregnancy - Catherine George

A Wedding In Paris - Bretton, Ferrarella, Myers

Getting Real - Thompson, Leto, LaBrecque

A ~ Z Reading Challenge

Align the first letter of an author's last name or the first letter in the title of a book to its corresponding alphabet letter. Books may only be used once.

I reserve the right to shuffle these about as I need to :D


"A"
"B"
"C"
"D"
"E"
"F"
"G"
"H"
"I"
"J"
"K"
"L"
"M"
"N"
"O"
"P"
"Q"
"R" Return of the Rebel, Trish Wylie
"S"
"T"
"U"
"V"
"W"
"X"
"Y"
"Z"

What is your New Years Resolution?

Yes, again. I know...