Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

Tonight we put up the Christmas tree, a fake one we've had for years. It looks pretty real, though. We like to decorate it with pop culture icons like Superman, Mickey Mouse and Darth Vader.

While my husband and daughter started on the tree, I was in the kitchen making one of the few things I haven't screwed up yet: kind bar candy squares. They are very simple and sort of healthy, made with almonds, dried cranberries, coconut, chocolate chips and rice syrup. They are the treats I am bringing to the office holiday party this week. As I was putting them into boxes to store in the fridge I worried that there wouldn't be enough. Well, at least everyone will be able to eat one, maybe two.

After we finished with the tree we all sat down and watched Elf. It's my favorite Christmas movie. I've already quoted Buddy the Elf in this blog, but I'm going to do it again.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Go ahead! Sing like there's nobody watching... or listening.

Movie Review: Friends with Kids

We just watched Friends with Kids, starring Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Maya Rudolf, Chris O'Dowd, Kristin Wiig and John Hamm. It was like a Bridesmaids reunion! It was full of witty conversations and sex jokes, but at the heart of it was a serious drama.

The story is about a group of friends from college who grow up together and start families. Two of the friends are not involved, but very close. They see their other friends having kids along with relationship problems and decide it must be because the romance was ruined by the kids. These two friends want to have children, but don't want to see it ruin their possible romances. Since they haven't found their true loves yet, they decide to have a kid. They can share responsibilities and search for love, since the hard part is out of the way. Their friends all think they're insane. Having a kid changes everything. They find that out the hard way.

My 14 year old daughter, my husband and I had a great discussion over this story. Once you are a family unit and find your groove do you really want to change things? What if the other partner finds love and you don't? What if one friend falls in love with the other friend? Can you trust those feelings? Or is it just the convenience of the family unit?

I liked the movie, but the ending left me hanging. I was hoping for a bonus scene.

Pirate Fantasy, part 7

Edward brought three men with him to meet with Hopewell one last time. The older man came to greet him as soon as he entered the villa.

"Ah, there you are, Lafitte! Thank you for agreeing to have the ceremony so quickly. You'll understand if I don't let my daughter leave here without such protection."

"Absolutement, Monsieur Hopewell. I, too, am eager to take my bride away wis me." More than the old man realized.

They adjourned down a long corridor to a small chapel. His bride was already waiting there with her mother by her side. She was stunning, dressed in a gown of white satin with tiny flowers in her hair. For a moment he forgot how to breathe. At her wide eyed stare he remembered who he was supposed to be. He stepped up to her and bowed gracefully. "Mademoiselle, it ees an honor to have one so lovely as you for my wife. I assure you will have zee best of everysing."

Carina curtsied. "Thank you, Monsieur. You honor me, as well." She stared at the floor. It was too bad. He longed to gaze into her eyes.

The minister joined their hands together and began the ceremony. An hour later Edward's men were loading the last trunk onto his ship. He helped his wife step aboard. "Welcome to your new home, my love."

Carina stopped and glanced at his face. "I'm sorry. Did you just lose your accent, sir?"

"All will be explained shortly. First, let me show you and your maid to your rooms." He led the two women downstairs and opened a door to a large suite. "This is my room, but consider it yours now." She blushed at his words. "Do not fret. I promise not to enter this room without your permission." He saw her visibly relax. "I will let your maid help you settle in, before I show her to her cabin." He left them alone.

Carina grabbed the other woman's arms. "We did it!"

Mrs. Hopewell looked up at her from beneath the large ruffle of her mobcap. "I find it hard to believe no one recognized me."

"Why would anyone suspect you would be disguised as a maid?"

"I warn you, I have no such skills whatsoever." Her mother smiled.

Carina laughed. "I'm sure we'll be able to take care of ourselves."

Edward Lafitte gave a farewell salute to the island as they sailed away. Then he went below to visit his captain. "Sir, we are away. Our contacts should be raiding the villa even now."

"Good. Good. I'm sure they'll find plenty of damning evidence of Hopewell's betrayal to the Crown."

Edward nodded. "I have a wife!" He sighed happily.

"Congratulations, my boy. Is she pretty?"

"She is a goddess."

"Then what are you doing here? It's your wedding night!"

"Sir, we've only just met. I would never force my attentions on her."

"Oh. You married a woman you only just met? How does that happen?"

"We rescued her, remember?"

"Right! Did I ever tell you I tried to rescue a damsel in distress?"

"Yes, sir. You did at that. What happened?"

"I wanted to marry the girl, but her father forbid it. I knew she loved me, so I vowed I would steal her away. I plotted and planned for weeks, but when I returned with my crew I discovered she was to marry another. Women can be so fickle." He stared at the wall, telling Edward he was done talking.

Too Much Sugar

Just got home from another birthday celebration.

Too much sugar.

Rockin' Birthday!

My husband gave me a very special birthday celebration today! He took me and our daughter to a fancy dinner and then the local stadium to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra's special Christmas show.

If you're not familiar with this band, they are basically a rock opera, complete with strings, wailing guitars, powerful vocalists, a video extravaganza, flames and fireworks.

At one point this giant pyramid covered in video screens opened up and started shooting flames into the air. It was right next to us and it was HOT.

A good time was had by all.

Here is a commercial for the tour. If you enjoy rock operas, this is a treat!

Pen Names

I have been researching pen names this week.

There are good reasons for using a pen name. Some people want to protect their real identity from crazy fans. Others might want to protect their families from embarrassment.

I don't use one for this blog, nor will I for my mainstream and young adult novels. But there are other subjects I may write about that I don't want people to associate with these family friendly books.

I had the perfect "nom de plume". I had used it with a writing partner in the past. Good thing I never purchased the domain name. I was about to when I decided to do another name search. Sadly, it turns out there was already a writer with the same name! What are the odds?

Although I found some good suggestions (use name generators, list keywords in your genre, search family tree, etc.), in the end I simply mixed up a couple names of my favorite romance novel characters. Luckily the name, and all its variations did not exist. I was shocked, but happy. I am going to buy the domain name and just sit with it for a bit to make sure I love it.

I will not tell you what that name is. That might change one day. For now I will maintain a little mystery.

Pirate Fantasy, part 6

Edward sat down by his captain. "It's done, sir. Hopewell is drawing up the contracts right now. By this time tomorrow we should be on our way from here."

"You're a good lad. A good lad. Did I ever tell you I also once tried to rescue a damsel in distress?"

"No, sir." Edward wondered if the man was delirious.

"She was so beautiful, hair of gold and eyes of blue. She lived on an island."

"Sir, I think you are confusing things."

"Oh. Maybe, I am." He looked sad. "I tend to forget things lately."

"It's all right. I will keep you informed." He got up to leave.

"Keep her safe, my boy."

Edward looked back, but the old man was asleep.


Carina paced her room. Francesca had just brought news of her future husband. He was a pirate! She hoped he was a good man. She had never heard of a kind pirate, but she was sure there had to be some. He could be like Robin Hood, taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor.

She walked to the window and stared out at the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of his ship, but there was nothing there. It was probably on the other side of the island. She sighed and looked over at her lunch of cold pheasant and fruit. She hoped her husband would feed her lobster.

She was startled when her mother burst into the room. She rushed over and took hold of her hand. "Daughter, I must throw myself on your mercy. Your father is punishing you for my past indiscretion."

Carina was shocked. She had never seen her mother as anything less than composed. "Whatever do you mean?"

"I had sworn never to reveal my secret, which is the reasonI haven't been attentive to you these last few years. I love you, my daughter, but it is just so painful to see you each day and be reminded of love lost."

"What are you saying? Do I remind you of your younger self so much?"

"You do, yes, but it's your father I see in you most of all, and it feels like my heart being torn from my chest whenever I see his beautiful eyes looking back at me." She smiled sadly.

"I never thought I favored my father much."

"Hopewell is not your father," she said in disgust. "My own father forced me to marry him when he found out I was with child."

Carina froze, her head starting to spin. "I'm a bastard?" She gripped the edge of the table for support.

"To the rest of the world you are legitimate. My father made sure of that."

"Why didn't you marry my real father? Was he already married?"

"No He was a captain on a merchant ship. He had regular business here with my father. We became friends, then sweethearts. I gave myself to him on his last night here and he promised to return and marry me. I believed him. I had loved him so very much. I never saw him again. He never even knew about you." Silent tears rolled down her mother's cheeks.

Carina's heart clenched as she listened to her mother's pain. She wiped away her tears and embraced her. "I'm so sorry. Do you think he perished in the sea?"

She shook her head. "I found out years later that he had returned just as he promised. A few weeks after our night together he asked my father for permission to wed me. But my father had loftier expectations for my future. My husband never forgave me for bearing another man's child."

She chuckled. "I think he was more upset that the man had been a common sailor, rather than a nobleman. And he blames you for us never being able to have more children. Now he has searched for the most despicable of husbands for you. He is practically crowing over the fact he's marrying you off to a sailor, and a disgusting one at that. I am so sorry."

"Mother, do not despair. I am ready to meet my fate and the new adventures that await me. Anything is better than being stuck in a tower for the rest of my days." She stared out at the vast blue. "The sea calls to me."

"Just like your father." She held her daughter tight. "I wish I could go with you."

Carina smiled to herself. "Maybe you can. I have an idea."