Who’s the Hot Guy of Hot Men of Blogs This Month?

 

 

This guys written words are totally magical. I think I’m in love.

Sometimes he writes beautiful moments about his wife and how he met her. He’s even a Harry Potter fan and so is his wife. It was Harry Potter that brought them together. In fact, their first date was to the first film or was it he proposed on that particular night. I’ve got information overload going on and going through the change as well. It all gets jumbled in my brain.

So does anyone know who I’m speaking of? I give you three seconds to mull it over.

One….

Two….

Three….

E.J. Wesley is the hot man for this month’s Hot Men of Blogs. You can find his blog here @The Open Vein. He’s even romantic when he’s giving a written lesson on self-publishing or how to pimp your blog. ***swoon***swoon*** I know I’m doe-eyed by now just thinking about him. ***sigh***sigh***

That’s all for now folks!

Oops! Wait a minute! For next month think the Cowardly Lion. Not that this hottie is a coward or anything. He looks a little like the lion from the Wizzard of Oz, and if I ever meet him in person I won’t be able to resist pinching his cheeks.

Now, that’s all folks!

I’ll be posting something for your viewing or reading pleasure on Sunday. Not unless Hair Ball successfully got his butt typing done. I caught him last night pawing on the keyboards and then he sat on them when he figured out I was watching. Crazy little, fur person.

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

P.S. Happy New Years! I hope all our writely dreams come true.

A Plethora of Things

I’m sooo excited because I won Lorelei Bell’s book, Vampire’s Trill. How cool is that?

Also, I will be hosting another Hot Men of Blogs this month, December 30, 2011. His magical name will be posted along with his blog address. Just think wands and fairy dust. I do when I read his posts.

As you can see, I’m still trying to figure out how to make pics with special announcements. I’ve got Picasso but does anyone have advice on how to REALLY use it?

Anyway….

Last night, I baked a Death By Chocolate cake and had to throw the darned thing out. The whole thing! It irked me after spending the money for the ingredients and then putting in the time to mix it up and bake it.

Which brings me to this thought. DID YOU EVER HAVE TO THROW A REALLY GOOD PART OF YOUR NOVEL OUT? Especially, after you toiled over it to get it right. Well, that’s what I’m doing now with mine. Tossing out or condensing some really great back story. Too much takes away from certain moments in your story so I’ve been told by the all-wise and knowing beta readers.

And it’s not that I’m tossing it out. Actually, I’m cutting and pasting it all into another doc for possible future use and/or shortening them up.

What do you all do with yours?

And….

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas, Yule, and Hanukah!

Shelly

See you next, on December 30th.

Computer Issues

Hey everyone!

Shelly's got computer problems. It's Mercury Retrograde, of course. Anyway, borrowing No-No's for now. Waiting for Computer Guy to come save the day so I won't be around for a couple days.

Sorry guys,

Shelly

Lorelei Bell’s, Vampire Trill

 

Today, I’m helping to celebrate Lorelei’s new book. The second book to  the Sabrina Strong Series, Vampire’s Trill. Happy dances, my friend! Happy dances!

Several months back I posted a review of her first book Vampire Ascending HERE. Which by the way, was so incredibly wonderful. Especially, all the hot men, vampires, shape shifters, and werewolves her main character could end up with.

Lorelei’s main character, Sabrina, also has a problem. She’s been marked twice by two different vampires and once by a werewolf. It’s possible she’ll become some kind of hybrid something-something. Plus, she’s a talented touch psychic.

Okay. So much for raving about the first book. I’m ready to read the next one and get all gushy-goo-goo over it.

Right now, you can find it on Amazon for $6.95 for your Kindle.

Product Description

Lorelei Bell has created another unique and mesmerizing mystery masterwork that tops its prequel Vampire Ascending in drama, fast-paced action, love, passion, heartache, and devastation.
New friends, new adventures, shocking revelations, and harrowing experiences make for riveting reading in this second installment of the Sabrina Strong Series.
Sabrina learns more details - through Vasyl's recounting of his human and vampire life – of what her role as a sibyl means and how the past and the future will come together. She finally learns what role Vasyl has played in his search for the next sibyl and why she is so tremendously important.
As Sabrina’s partner Dante puts himself at risk to help all of mankind, Sabrina learns why newcomer Bill Gannon is so interested in her, and she works to protect Bjorn Tremayne from losing it all. Sabrina’s past catches up to her, and she discovers that not everyone is, or was, what she thought. New characters, some kind and trustworthy and some not, contribute to a captivating story line, and Sabrina finds herself on a journey she never thought possible.

I hope you all will enjoy this book. I know I will.

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

Today’s the Crazy Alternate Reality Blogfest

 

Yup. It’s here. The Crazy Alternate Reality Blogfest. All you need is one hundred words of fiction, flash fiction, or non-fiction about this crazy theory (it could be possible-don’t really think it’s all that crazy).

You were given four pics to use. A toilet. An old rotary phone. A truck carrying sheep in the middle of a desert. And a car with a message on it’s back window.

You could use all four or one.

Off to the right of your screen, you’ll find todays participants.

So let’s hop into the other reality.

Sophie laid face down on the unfamiliar tile floor, cold and wet, trying to focus her eyes in the pitch black room. This had to be a dream, she thought. This whole day couldn’t possibly be real. Maybe it’s bad Chinese food from last night. The last thing she remembered was sitting on her toilet, flushing it, and something pulled her in. Spiraling her round and round in a watery tunnel only to be spit out where ever she happened to be now.

She pulled herself up onto her elbows, then her knees, and crawled forward. Flashes of the days event projected across her mind. The old rotary phone in the flea market. It rang without being plugged in but she answered it anyway.

“Hello.” She twisted the cord around her index finger.

“Now that I’ve found you,” a man’s voice said. “I can’t leave this world without you.”

Who’s the Hot Man for Hot Men of Blogs This Month

 

Today is the day I name the hottie for this month. But first, I must build to the pivotal moment.

In my last blog, I know I wrote this particular hottie has an altar ego. Edward Cullen. Hmmm….Who could it be?

 

Well, I think he likes snow or hates it. I’ve never quite understood the banter between him and other blogger buddies about paying a cuss jar when it comes to the white stuff.

My suggestion: MOVE TO FLORIDA WHERE SUN AND BLUE SKIES CAP THE TREES! You never have to worry about it or loosing your coins. I don’t anyway. But then again, his secret might get out. He’d sparkle in the sunlight. Right?

He refers to himself as a ROGUE. Does he mean ROGUE VAMPIRE? Hmmm…. I can’t picture that. He’s too much of a gentleman despite what he says even if he pretends to be a sparkle-a-phobe.

 

He still sparkles to me. ***pretty sparkles*** I love a man who can make his written words sparkle. ***sparkly words make me tingle***

This hottie has a way with political wit, satire, and reviews that would make any smile sparkle. Go visit Speak of the Devil. He’s working on a novel, Heaven and Hell, too, where he shares a snippet here and there.

He’s also got a writing partner (I believe they’re the perfect match). They make each other sparkle. Go visit Basking in the Afterglow. It’s sure to make any female sparkle with delight.

He’s also one of the founding members of Writers of Mass Distraction. Just click on the pretty blue words and check us out. Okay?

So who is this months Hot Man of Blogs? William Kendall

PSST! I hope he still likes me after this post. I don’t think he likes Edward all that much.

Happy Thanksgiving and Other Things, Too

I wanted to take the time to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and say thank you to all of you who follow my ramblings.

I’m also thankful for the following:

1. Sweetman.

2. Sir Poops is better but still hobbling.

3. Hair Ball. Thankfully his diaper days were short lived. My thought is he must’ve eaten Sir Poops prednisone ladened food. It was also a full moon the weekend he peed endless trails throughout the house. Twenty four hours of puddles.

4. My grandbabies.

5. My daughters even though they’re not doing what I envisioned for their lives.

6. That my dad is still here.

7. All my bloggy and writing buddies.

Anyway, I won’t be back until November 30th, for the Hotmen of Blogs event. I’ll be naming the hottie of the month then.

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

Indie Author, Patricia Herlevi, Agnes et Yves is Ready to Order

I promised Patricia, I’d share her new book with everyone on my blog today. Of course, there were interruptions like getting called into work. NoNo needed to be picked up from someplace and taken to another place. But hey, I’m Wonder Woman, right?

Anyway, Patricia, is an Indie author. She’s also a freelance writer and is the blog keeper at Patricia Herlevi. Her writing is inspirational and spiritual. She’s a great photographer, too.

Book blurb: Meet Agnes Cass, a jaded arts journalist and Francophobe residing in San Francisco. Agnes' initiation into French art occurs when the editor of Art World assigns her to cover French expatriate painters. Watching every French stereotype come to life before her own eyes, Agnes exposes the sexual exploits of the French artists. Meanwhile she falls in love with a flamenco guitarist on tour. As her life grows more intolerable she decides to escape to Spain. Destined for Barcelona and a steamy romance with an unsuspecting Spanish suitor, Agnes' plans derail when her plane is grounded in Paris during a transportation strike.
Agnes encounters Yves Gervais, a Picasso-obsessed painter going through a "Blue Period". His muse-turned-tyrant Anne-Marie launches a makeover plan for the painter that involves a real job, marriage and children. The more Anne-Marie insists on having things her way the more the artist regresses into childish behavior, seeking his freedom to paint above all else. Meanwhile an art collector takes an interest in Yves' future work. The painter grows desperate without a model. When push comes to shove, Yves breaks it off with his muse and woos the unsuspecting Agnes, but will frog legs win the day?

It’s in paperback only for 10.00 dollars on Amazon.

It’s on my TBR list, folks. Look for a review from me in a couple months.

Okay. I need to dash off to my next adventure. Dinner with friends this evening.

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

Hot Men Of Blogs Coming Soon

 

This will be a monthly post spotlighting the men who’s words make my heart pitter-patter, my stomach fill up with butterflies, and give me a tingly feeling. The last day of every month I’ll name a Hot Man.

If you know any, leave their linky in the comment box.

On November 30, 2011, I’ll share the first Hot Man. His alter-ego is the Sparkly dude above. That’s the only clue I’ll give.

Stay tuned. Be there or be square.

That’s all for now folks!

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

A Review of Shelly’s Past Week and Future Week

Sir Poops-A-Lot and Hair Ball: They’re taking a break this weekend from blogging. Sir Poops has worn himself out by trying to walk distances that he can’t actually handle. I’ve even caught him in a hobble-run, repeating,”I’m the stinky cheese man, catch me if you can.” His left side still collapses underneath him after only a couple feet.

Also, he’s due for a bath since he now whizzes on his leg. I can only hope it doesn’t stay eternally yellow.

Rumors: Actually, this has nothing to do with the writing world.

Since I left the salon I was at, it’s been spreading that I have my own salon and am stealing clients.

One, I don’t have my own salon and not even crazy enough to own one. Only the certifiably insane want to be managers and owners of such places. My health is way more important than being some business owner. My dream is to be a published author not some famous hairdresser.

And two, I don’t steal. If you do hair for a living, you know, peeps will hand you their phone number and/or e-mail because they want only you to do their hair. No matter where you go they’ll follow you. 

On the downside of that, I’ve lost most of that info anyway. I stuff things in strange places.

And three, my hubby and I have been thinking eventually I may not be able to do hair due to my allergy issues. Every year they get worse. Plastic bags give me itchy hives. Most hair sprays make me wheez. Hair gels are known to make palms itch and swell. And, I have an allergy to latex. Last night, I touched hair bleach and the side of my finger swelled up. It looked like a red pickle.

We’re thinking an opthamalic technician is what I should be, eventually. I also think he just wants to hang out with me all day. If he could, he’d be attached to my hip 24/7. ***rolling me eyes*** (But If I become an overnight success with my book….I won’t have to do this.)

Reason for leaving: My health and sanity.

Hot Men of Blogs: It’s coming November 30, 2011. Know any? Leave their link in the comment box. Also, this will be a monthly feature on my blog.

My writing: I’ve rewritten chapters 50 through 54 to Secondhand Shoes within the last two weeks.

During my rewriting process, I stare and walk a lot. I also talk out loud to my characters. Sir Poops and Hair Ball are always by my side, pricking up their ears, tilting their heads from side to side.

My deadline to finish is December 30th. Then it will go to a couple beta readers. It really needs to be read in one straight shot not a chapter here and another chapter there. People forget what they read when there’s too much spacing between chapters, you know.

Sorry for rambling.

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

Another Correction to Crazy Alternate Blogfest, Saturday, 12-3-11

Sorry guys, I had the wrong date and day-I never cease to embarrass myself. I confuse myself sometimes. Um…well, a lot more than I’ll ever share. It’s that Libra natal thing along with that Gemini Rising thing going on. Too much air creates…well, uh…too much air in the head.

Yup. I’m hosting a blogfest. The subject: alternate realities. Fiction. Non-fiction. Flash fiction. Up to 100 words only. Below are four pics. You can use one or all four to create your story.

On Saturday, 12-3-2011, we will post our stories and hop around to everyone’s blog who participates. So leave me a comment that you’d like to participate and I’ll post your blog name and title on my page.

Also, spread the word. Copy and paste the toilet to your blog. Let your peeps know.

And, Emily and Christina thank you for the suggestions you made on how to make a picture with text.

Okay. See you all later in the ink.

Shelly

Shelly’s Hosting a Blogfest and Other Stuff

Well guys, I’ve decided to have a blogfest. However, I haven’t a clue how to make cute little pictures with dates on them so I’ll be doing it the primitive way. If you wish to spread the word just paste this blog’s link onto your page somehow. Don’t ask me how, I’m still figuring out all this stuff.

Okay. The title for this event: CRAZY ALTERNATE REALITY BLOGFEST 11-3-11. I hope I made it big enough for you all to see. It’s one day only. Up to a 100 words. Fiction. Non-fiction. Even flash fiction. That’s doable, right? I hope so.

Below are some pics required for you to use in your writing. You can use all four or just one.

There’s a rather interesting message on the window above. Hope you all can read it.

Toilet? Yeah, a toilet. I find them rather inspiring. Especially, if they’re nice and clean.

So if you wish to partake in this blogfest please leave a link to your blog in the comment box. I will figure out how to post everyone’s link onto my page. Promise.

Before I end this post, you can also look forward to something I’ll be doing sometime this month, Hot Men of Blogs. So if you know of any leave me their links in the comment box.

Have a great day blogging, writing, and reading!

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

Travel Tales: The Last Night in Israel

We spent our last night in Israel, in Tel Aviv. It was sad. I always hate to leave.

We walked along the Mediterranean and I snapped a few photos. The Israeli Spy pigeons were having a meeting, probably conspiring against us. They were everywhere. Watching.

I took a couple pictures of the dusky sky.

We stopped at a restaurant that sits next to a McDonalds off the Mediterranean. The last time we were there was in 2008 when Israel had their 60th Anniversary as a state. We watched an air show then.

Sweetman had salmon smothered in a citrus sauce.

I had a roasted eggplant sandwich on Cabbata bread. OMG-to die for food.

While we ate, I snapped more pictures of the sunset.

We concluded this evening with a long stroll back to our hotel along the Mediterranean. Below is a picture of Jafa at night from Tel Aviv.

Well, this concludes our trip to Israel. Next Monday, I’ll post some more sights from London. We flew in before coming back to the states.

Also, I’ll be hosting a one day blogfest in December. I just have to sit down and focus on it. But I can tell you this, it will be the first Monday in December. You’ll have a couple pictures to make a story from. Also, we’ll be focusing on alternate realities-my favorite subject. Fiction or non-fiction, up to 100 words.

Okay, my blog-buddies. Got blogs to read.

See you all later in the ink,

Shelly

Sundays With Sir Poops-A-Lot: Look What I Can Do

I can balance to walk now.

Even run.

I can even use the toity in proper fashion. Just to let you know diapers are  horrible things to wear. They get squishy and wet. And, they didn’t even keep the poops from falling into my bed. Someone needs to reconstruct those things.

But it does wear me out.

It takes a lot of strength and determination to put all my weight on the right side. My left paw still hangs and my back left leg still drags but I’m getting around. Mummsy calls it hobbling. I call it VICTORY!

More Travel Tales: Jerusalem and an Update on Sir Poops

Update on Sir Poops: Right now, he’s on the sofa watching the Early Show. This morning he hobbled-ran outside to do his business. He definitely doesn’t like diapers. I can’t blame him. Laying around in pee for several hours doesn’t appeal to me either.

Anyway, Sir Poops is back to his happy, chatty self. He’s eating, drinking, and hobbling around. He’s still unable to walk great distances so for the most part, I’m still carrying him where he wants to go. Sofa. Upstairs. To the bed. Car. Who knows, he may talk me into buying him a stroller.

His front left paw and the left back leg still drag though, but he seems much better.

Okay. Off to Jerusalem.

After we drove through the Negev and the Judean desert our car over heated right when we entered Jerusalem. It’s get up and go, got up and went. Our friend Daniella coasted us through the city somewhere behind the Cardo.

The picture below is somewhere behind the Cardo. By this time, my head felt like it was going to explode and my clothes were clinging to me. And, Sweetman had completely morphed into Mr. Hyde.

Our first stop once inside the Cardo was a falafel stand. Sorry, no pics. Sweetman was baring fangs. It was a scary sight.

“We need to hurry,” he said. “We’re not stopping to look at everything.”

“But aren’t we going to The Wall to say our prayers?” I asked.

“Yes, but quickly.” He pulled me to the falafel counter. “Daniella’s car isn’t in good condition.”

The guy was putting fried potatoes on our sandwiches. I don’t like fried anything other than the chickpea balls.

We paid for and grab our sandwiches. I picked out the greasy potatoes and dropped them in the nearest garbage can on our way to a vacant table.

Sweetman gobbles his falafel monster-style. The contents are dripping down his chin onto his shirt.

“Can I get a fork?” I don’t want my food running down the front of me.

Sweetman’s eyes bulge and he puts the remnants of his sandwich down. “They don’t have any.”

“How do you know? Did you ask?”

He pushes himself away from the table, metal scraping the concrete. He rushes back to the falafel counter. The guy is gone. Smoke is bellowing out of his head.

“He’s not there,” Sweetman growled.

“He’ll be back.” Tears welled in my eyes.

Sweetman faced the counter, turned back around, and walked back to our table with a fork. “What are you crying about? Here.” He handed me a plastic fork.

“You’re being nasty. Just wait til I post this story on my blog.”

“Hurry up and eat. We don’t have all day,” he said.

After our meal, Sweetman rushed us through the following:

The Cardo

Outside the Cardo

 

The Rock of the Dome is in there. Depending on how many squirrels have crawled up the Muslim’s behinds determines whether or not you’re allowed in.

The Mount of Olives, a city of graves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the Wailing Wall

 

The Wall is divided. There’s the women's side and the men's side.

People cram their prayers into the cracks of The Wall. I did some of my own prayer-cramming.

Plus, vegetation grows out of The Wall. How cool is that.

Before I left I caught a Muslim and an Orthodox on the men’s side praying side-by-side. Talk about a complex society.

 

   Inside of the Cardo again.

Outside the Cardo.

A man’s head lies in the grave below for not following orders.

And, his body lies in this one below. I forget the story but remember he was ordered to stop construction, refused, and pissed off the British royalty so he lost his head over it.

Jafa Gate

This concludes today’s post. Hope you all have a great day!

See you later in the ink!

Shelly