My Golden Apple award

Nothing humbles you more than when people come together to honor you on behalf of something you love to do.

On September 17th, I was awarded the AUTHOR OF THE YEAR, Golden Apple.
It was an honor to accept at the 60th Anniversary of Harlequin who also accepted publisher and Editor of the year.

I share this award with everyone who has helped to make my writing journey possible and hope to walk with me to whatever success the literary powers that be gives us.
This was a great day for me and one that I shall never forget.

A million thanks to RWA/NYC for this wonderful honor

What's in a name

Love is not a mystery.
It's magical

A world without the laughter of children.

My mom has a saying. “It may not be what Ya’ll say it is, but it sure looks like what it is from here.”

This is right of there with DINIALBLE PLAUSIBILIY issued by the government. In other words, that Big ass “silvery” object you saw in the sky, “is just a weather balloon. When in reality you know it’s an AREA 51 space ship from the Planet “where ever”.
It’s all right up there with closing schools for snow days but not when there are massive cases of N1H1 (swine flu). Not Massive cases you say? It’s like a cockroach, one is waaaay too many.
If that doesn’t kill us, the cure they create in a bunker somewhere in Cheyenne Mountain will. You do remember Stephen Kings, THE STAND?


Now I don’t want to be the person standing on the corner with the sandwich board sign that says the END IS NEAR, however if you look at the stats, the birth rate is down,
Continuing a 12-year decline, the U.S. birth rate has dropped to the lowest level since national data have been available, according to statistics just released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The rate of births among teenagers also fell to a new record low, continuing a decline that began in 1991.
The birth rate fell to 13.9 per 1,000 persons in 2002, down from 14.1 per 1,000 in 2001 and down a full 17 percent from the recent peak in 1990 (16.7 per 1,000), according to a new CDC report, "Births: Preliminary Data for 2002." CDC analysts say the birth rate is dropping as the increasing life span of Americans results in a smaller proportion of women of child childbearing age.

Female babies born far exceed the amount of male births.
Several researchers, however, have reported apparent recent declines in the proportion of male births, in the US, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands. These declines have been very small but statistically significant. Fewer boys are being born than would be expected on the basis of the recent historical worldwide average.
Sandwich board sign not withstanding, I am sure you have all seen the movie CHILDREN OF MEN with Clive Owen where there hadn’t been a viable birth in over seventeen years or so, well if we ain’t in it, we are speeding toward it. There have been several movies made on this premise and Television series based on the desolation of the male populace whereby women are the only sex left and to keep the population seeded they used stored sperm or men who are in a cryogenically induced stasis until needed.

Personally I like the men and want them around even if they do get on our nerves. I don’t want a world without them especially knowing that there are just some females I can’t stand.

Gene Roddenberry would be proud

Well its official, I really have always been in love with Mr. Spock.

My friend and Co-writer Kathye Quick left me in the dust the first week the New Star Trek movie came out and went to see it all by herself (selfish heffa!). She later of course she came out and told me that I had better see it and soon. SO I did and I can understand why she didn't want to share that Trekker moment.

True Trekkies never cared if regular people liked the series or not, it has become (with all respect to George Lucas) a FORCE to be reckoned with.

I remember in 1965 when T.V. guide announced the new fall Line-up and they talked about an innovative– waaaaay-ahead-of-its-time series called, Star Trek. The second they introduced the characters I could not wait for the first airing date in 1966 and have been a fan ever since.

Gene Roddenberry took chances with his cast, after-all, times weren't then what they are now (even though we still have many of the same problems.) He had an assorted and eclectic array of alien creatures, some of which were painfully inadequate in the really scary department and some down right silly, but it was a show that I could not/will not let go.

I almost had to take to my bed with a fever when the show was unceremoniously cancelled, and I was one of the thousands who wrote T.V. Guide and the network to express my ire about the termination of such a great program. The underground was seething, and began building a cult of fans that is unrivaled to this day.

I attended Star Trek Conventions at the Coliseum and yes, I pushed little kids out of the way because they didn't have a clue about the show that their parents did.

Like an addict I itched as I waited for syndication. I jonsed like an alcoholic for just one taste of J. Tiberius, one sip of Spock and waited breathlessly to see what guest or not-yet-a-star would appear on the show. Do remember Gary Lockwood, France Nuyen, Fred Williamson (yes! The Football star turned
Blaxploitation movie actor, Jeffery (Jesus) Hunter, Glenn Corbett, Michael (was married to Babara-I-dream-of-Jeanie Eden) Elinor (Pretty Woman) Donahue, Lawyer Melvin Belli, and of course a pre-Starsky and Hutch, David Soul to mention a few.

Like most I learned to live in re-run heaven and saw every episode so many times it was like watching the TWIGHTL ZONE episodes. I could not get enough and pushed some of my other favs like Bonanza, The Virginian and even Mission Impossible by the wayside.

It was years before the finally produced the first Star Trek Movie called Star Trek The Motion Picture. Un-Original, but it didn't stop me and every other Star Trek lover from coming out in force. As a matter of fact I was interviewed by Channel Seven Eye witness news when I exited the theater in New York City. (I can't believe I was ever that young and thin).

Now, here we are in 2009, more than forty years since the first air date of a beloved series and we have a brand new movie, and what a spectacular vision of special effects it is and giving us an insight of our most beloved characters in their youth.

The casting was perfect and James (THE REBEL) Kirk was spot on. I will however admit I never saw that OTHER little, but most delightful curve coming. It's the kind of exceptional writing that you just don't get now a days.
While I have never really been a fan of prequels, this one is phenomenal and a must see.

IT IS AWESOME!

A new Novel , A new Story of Love

Single Heart, Single Love
Patt Mihailoff


When her torturous Indentureship is bought out by Cole McCayne, Jade a woman of questionable ethnicity finds herself pressured into marrying him and traveling up to the high country in the Salida Mountains of Colorado.

He seems a hard, secretive man and she questions him relentlessly about his intentions and is tersely informed that the only thing he wants from her is to be a caregiver to his young son and keep house at his ranch.

Jade begins to move Cole in ways he’s wanted to forget, and when he finally acts on his feelings, they are both left confused and trying to ignore the love that has gripped them both.

Still, there is much he doesn’t tell her, but little clues about his past begin to surface. Why won’t he talk about his dead wife? and what has the Nakoa, the powerful Sioux chief to do with any of them?

CYNTHIA AND CONSTANTINE

Kathye Quick's New book Cynthia and Constantine is a must read for all lovers of chivalry and true love.
Kathye's attention to detail and characterization is just one more example of how a novel that is filled with the elements we've come to adore should be written.
Enjoy Kathye's latest and deliciously enjoyable novel is available at WILDROSE PRESS

So many people will have so much to say about this momentous, inspiring election.
I never thought I would ever see this day in my lifetime. There truly is a shift in the Solar System and it must be the angels clapping and saying “well done.”

While I know there is much to do, the beginning has begun.
Welcome Barack Obama, to the highest Position in the land
As long as you keep God in front of you, he will always be beside you.

BABY DADDY

I never watched Star-Gate Atlantis until HE got there.

Writing, Televison, and general rant

When you have no real book and no one buys your E-novel what does one do?
Keep writing I say. Obviously I do this because I love it. I like they way I tell stories, but not necessarily the incorrect way I write them. Writing is an on-going craft where you learn something all the time. POV is a big problem for me, and I am reading everything I can on it. A member of my Local RWA chapter, Ed Rand graciously extended his expertise in that area and I have to say, he is the new POV guru in my book.

Okay on to other things that annoy me.

I know this is wrong and I shouldn’t compare movies to books, but alas, I do it all the time. This weekend I watched a new series called TRUE BLOOD.
Nobody likes a cool-long duster wearing-long haired or Dred locked (ALA Jason Mamoa Dreds only) vampire than me, but this show was positively awful.

Supposedly it was based on a series of books by a southern writer who wanted to give Vamps a country-bama flair. While I never read the books, in my heart I want to believe that they are better than what was on T.V.. It breaks my heart in several places to know that there is so much talent out there that will never be realized all because (and I’ve said it before) the luck of the draw goes in the direction of something so ridiculous that we can’t fathom it.
What disturbs me most is, that MOONLIGHT, an intelligent sassy) Vampire series was cancelled and True Blood made the cut. Please tell me who is running the Video viewing asylum?

The publisher I am currently with has so many talented writers that I am forced at times to wonder why I am even trying to do this. Oh yeah because I love it. If the Television writers ever run out of material, I’d promise them (and bet the bank) that if they chose any writer from Cerridwen Press they would have hit on their hands.

In MY lifetime, a miracle

An African America and/OR a woman literally run for the most important position in the United States. What a truly first and historic event. Yes! I am proud to tears of this momentous event, and I thought (and have said) this day could never happen in this country. I love it that I was wrong.
I remember and still live with a glass ceiling for both, yet they are both at the highest position they can get to.

I am old enough to remember when black people were not allowed to vote and when a Governor stood in the doorway of a school in the south indicating that over his dead body would he allow a black child to attend that institution. That same man years later, relied on, for his a caretaker and espoused that his best friend in the whole world was a black man and he didn’t know what he would do without him.
I remember when women had little say on what went on in their own bodies.

I am so hoping that people will not be fooled by all this hoopla, and while part of me is excited and moved to tears of happiness by the fact that this event is coming true in MY lifetime, I also fear for the demise of BOTH, since it is highly likely that some crazoid out there would like nothing better than to go down in history as being the killer of the first African American President, or the first woman anything.

I’ve often wondered in my heart why Barack would want this position? For change? He’s a lovely man with a lovely dream that I hope comes true. The cynical side of me says, there are factions that will never let his TRUE GOALS be realized for a million different reasons, and like every black man armed with an education and a dream, he will have to fight tooth and nail for everything he wants. Without his secret service contingency he STILL will not be able to get a cab on fifth avenue at night.

His idea of not giving tax breaks to companies who exercise their purgative to place their companies in countries where they can pay the lowest wage, is just too late. THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT! All they want is a corporate headquarters on the most expensive block in the most expensive city in THIS country. Tax breaks are only for when they intend to build factories and RETAIN jobs here in the USA. I hate to say it but the front gate has been left open and all the pretty horses are out and they ain’t coming back Why pay decent wage when you can pay next to nothing to people who are glad to get it in countries we have supported charitably for years?

Face it, we are no longer the greatest nation in the world. The Same people who used to fear us are LAUGHING at us. Laughing at the stupid reality shows we watch, how we raise our kids, the clothes we wear and laughing at a war we CANNOT win.

Barack has taken a GIANT leap of faith that I hope will keep him on the faithful road he started out on. The saying that ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY is always in the back of my mind, yet I live in hope that he at least is able to do SOME Of the things he wants to do. Unfortunately, I also fear that if he doesn’t do enough, he will get hit from ALL sides. Blacks will feel let down and begin calling him names that prevalently roll off the tongue in situations like this. And everyone else will say, “see I told ya…” followed by a laundry list of all the reasons why it should never have happened.

****
Today’s news says that while the election is for most part, out of her reach, Hilary would not be opposed to being the Vice President. To which I say HELL NAW!, after all those nasty ass things she said and truly despicable things I know she was thinking about Barack? There is no way you can be by my side and pretend to be in my corner when I KNOW you fought tooth and nail to make sure I didn’t get to the most important position in the country.(one of the best lines I remembered from the movie Practical Magic. “YOU CAN’T PRACTICE MAGIC WHILE LOOKING DOWN YOUR NOSE AT IT.” Well you can’t stand with me if you won’t stand for me.
Do you think for one second that Hilary is not going to use her greatest asset to help her in any way while she is there? Her husband Bill? HE was the president; HE knows stuff that Barack has to LEARN about. And if you think they can keep Area 51 a secret, just wait until you hear about all the crap they won’t be telling him. However I applaud Mr.Obama for his gracious speech about a woman who I'm afraid, might not have been as forthcoming in her win.

I am not political mainly because I have lived long enough to see our leaders (religious and political) let this country (not just African Americans)down time and time again. I can remember a president saying TO HELL WITH NEW YORK, and NO MORE NEW TAXES, only to raise them the second he was re-elected to office.

I will not go into our current leader’s missteps, everyone has an opinion on that and besides there isn’t enough room on the WEB, but in my heart, I know that he will HAPPY to pass HIS mess onto someone the world can blame other than himself.

Our people will have to realize that he will be the leader of everyone, not just us. Since he has made us proud lets hope we can do the same for him.


I am eager to see what happens next, because I am old enough to sit back and say whatever the hell I want in the aftermath.