Starch

This is not a post about health and wellness or changing my diet. I am talking about the stuff they put on your clothes at the cleaners. Now I am certainly a fan of clean clothes and I am an even more of a fan of anyone who will clean them for me… even if I do have to pay them. What I want to know is what is the deal with the starch?

Last week I dropped off my clothes at the cleaners, a pair of jeans, a few shirts and a sweater. The very friendly lady at the desk asked if I wanted starch and I gave my usual response, “Light starch on the jeans please.” The next day I went to pickup my clothes (they do have very fast service) and decided to put my clothes away immediately rather than procrastinate until later (which is what I usually do).

I successfully managed to get everything in the closet one by one, but stopped when I got to the jeans. They felt like cardboard. Out of curiosity I decided to put them on. I had to practically peal the pants open and jam my foot into the pant legs to get them on. Geeze, and this is what they call light starch? I wonder what’ll happen if I ask for heavy. Will my pants break when I try to pull them apart? Will they become ornamental jeans like those framed jerseys you see on people’s walls? I mean really, how much starch could one pair of pants need?

Editing… How I Love Thee?

As most authors I know, I used to loath and despise the editing process. In my opinion (this was then of course… and by then I mean three weeks ago) editing was evil and cruel. Now I look forward to it in a way I never thought possible (Dramatic much? So unlike me, I know.) The more I’ve gone through the editing process I’ve really come to appreciate it. I have learned to be patient and take it page by page, word by word and really make each aspect of the story shine. I often surprise myself with how much I’ve learned and how much better I’ve actually become. I’m sorry to all those who loathe the editing process (probably still with good reason) but I am now crossing over to the dark side. Please don’t hate me. *ducks rotten fruit on the way out*

Carolina Pearl by Sela Carsen

Carolina Pearl

A family legend could lead to a treasure more precious than pearls…or get them killed.

Between babysitting her very pregnant sister-in-law and fending off her mother’s nagging about her marital status, Blair Moreau is going insane. Her only hold on sanity is her daily walk for a guilty peek at her crush, the sexy neighbor who’s fixing up the old Cotesworth place.

Conn Lucas, the bastard son of Culford’s leading family, got way out of town a long time ago. When the only relative who didn’t despise him leaves him her 250-year-old house, Conn plans to refurbish it, flip it, and get back to Connecticut as soon as possible. Until a local beauty with a rare talent for DIY gives him a hand with some stubborn siding.

When he makes her mad enough to swing a two-by-four at his head, he realizes Blair is better than perfect. Especially when his efforts to keep her from killing him explode into an erotic rush of adrenaline that unleashes desires they’ve both kept hidden.
Breaking through Conn’s tough shell isn’t as difficult Blair’s next hurdle—telling him she’s a werewolf. First, though, they’ve got to deal with meddling ghosts and a bad ol’ boy cousin who isn’t above taking what he wants at nail-gun point…

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Product Warnings

This book contains a smokin’ hot werewolf chick with serious DIY know-how and a man who thinks that’s sexy; illegal use of nail guns; things to do in a claw-foot tub; pirate references; piddling Dobermans and meddling ghosts. Which is better than meddling Dobermans and piddling ghosts.

Read an excerpt!

Buy Now!

It's been a while since I've shared a poem...

For The First Time
By. Lauren Murphy

My eyes connect with the sky
On this starry night.

Enfolded in darkness
My weary soul rests.

Images of my life
Slowly swim by.

Running around wild with boys
Innocents gone, forever lost.

Carrying other peoples burdens
Doing their work for nothing.

Treating me like milk gone sour
When they get what they’re after.

Tears from my eyes fall freely.
False friends cause my suffering.

Putting a knife to my wrist enters my mind
Who would really care if I live or die.

I put my hands together knees to the ground.
Ask for guidance, a new place, a new home.

For days I had thought my prayers
Unheard unanswered

Once again played to the side
Cast aside like an unwanted child.

A new day arises the sun shines down
showering me with a new vision.

I begin to see the truth about me maybe
I don’t have to be somebody else’s plaything.

Maybe I should look no longer
For acceptance from others.


I begin to see the value
Of my own self worth.

More valuable than the most precious stone
Not to be left unseen loosing it’s luster, dull.

No longer capable of letting
Myself wallow in self pity

I close my eyes and hold myself tight.
And feel the warmth of self love for the first time.

© Lauren Murphy, All rights reserved

Back to Work

About two weeks ago I finished a naughty little story I'd been working on. While I'm letting that story rest I decided to take out another that's been resting for far too long. My favorite thing about letting stories rest is that I get to come back and see the good and not so good in my work. I think I'm going to have some fun revising/editing this one. It's so naughty, you know how I like them.

Some Like it Hot Writing Contest

Announcing Tawny’s Taylor’s “Some Like It Hot” writing contest!

Starting October 25th, 2010, Tawny Taylor will be hosting a writing contest.
The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave.

The Prizes? Read on!

All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including:
~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~

*You may submit one chapter--not to exceed 5000 words. Stories must be complete and unpublished.

*Each Monday, two stories will be selected by an Ellora's Cave editor who is actively acquiring. At the end, six weekly winning authors will submit a partial (first three chapters, last chapter and synopsis) to the final judge for ranking.

The first place winner will receive ...

A critique of the full winning manuscript by EC editor Grace Bradley!

The second place winner will receive...

A critique of the partial manuscript by EC editor Grace Bradley (first three chapters, last and synop).

The third place winner will receive...

A critique of the first chapter by EC editor Grace Bradley.

Details at: http://www.tawnytayl...ingContest.html

I am back FOR REAL this time!

Boy have I got some explaining to do. Yeah, I know. I’ve been gone for a nice long time, with no explanation as to my whereabouts. *hangs head in shame*

Well life went nuts, I got horribly blocked and my writing took a dive for a moment (a really, really long moment). But, the good news is that I really am back. I am no longer blocked (after a writer’s version of a 12 step program don’t judge me) and I have been a writing machine. I actually finished the first draft of a story I’ve really put a lot of energy into AND I have a totally amazing idea to rework a story I have worked on in the past.

I have to go have family time now *grumbles* but I promise never to disappear again… at least not without a damn good explanation.

Bye for now.