26 January 2011

Winner

And the random generated winner is Melissa Murphy. Melissa if you could email me on louisewrites [at] gmail [dot] com I'll send you a copy of Redemption's Kiss :)

Fun post caught my eye this week. A Chinese reader talk about why she really connects with Jane Austen. The part of this article that fascinated me wasn't the part where she talked about how she connected with it as an individual but rather how she saw Chinese culture relected in the novels:

She talks about how:
I just don't see myself in her novels though; I see the Chinese life in them:
· Every Chinese knows a well-meaning mother like Mrs. Bennett who cannot rest until all her daughters are married.
· What Chinese family won't suffer an upheaval should a member do a Lydia? A Chinese father won't be as civil as Mr. Bennett though to welcome the newlyweds back so soon after such a scandal that has brought the family shame.
· The concern about a man's fortune may seem offensive and unromantic to the modern Western reader but it is a cause for consideration in a contemporary Chinese family for the same practical reason that people in Austen's time had.
· There is still the preference for a male heir in the Chinese family but fortunately no Chinese daughter would be deprived of her inheritance like the Elliot and Bennett women in case there is none.
· The situation of Fanny Price being taken in by better off relatives is not uncommon to the Chinese tradition. A family need not even have better resources to raise a relative.
· Engagements are considered as good as a marriage commitment in the Chinese tradition and breaking it off would cause shame. Eleanor's firm grasp of palabra de honor sits well with the Chinese.
· Elinor Tilney would find kindred spirits among the Chinese women who fall in love with someone not approved by the family.
· Emma's strong sense of filial obligation would earn her a place of honor among the Chinese wherein the younger generation has to take care of the older generation.
· A Chinese Harriett of unknown background may be welcomed as a family friend but would invite Mr. Knightley's arguments should a family member wants to marry her.

Enjoy your week and I'll see you next time - same bat time, same bat channel....

19 January 2011

Redemption's Kiss release

REDEMPTION'S KISS is out - woot woot!

In honor of the occasion I'll be giving away a copy (eBook) to one lucky commenter. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment :)
Random winner will be drawn next week :)

Blurb:
Lauren's been alone for a long time, too long. After all, there are few who understand her condition and need for blood - then she meets Rhys. He seems like a perfect match on all counts, until her bite sends him running.

Rhys thinks he’s met the woman of his dreams, that is until she sinks her teeth into his neck and his dream turns into a nightmare. Now Rhys has a choice to make. Is being with Lauren the biggest mistake of his life? Or is she his salvation?

Excerpt...

Buy: The Wild Rose Press or Amazon

11 January 2011

Contest & new release

My new novella REDEMPTION'S KISS is released next week (Jan 19th) - woot, woot.

In honor of the occasion I will be doing a give-away so do come back for a chance to win :)

Blurb:
Lauren's been alone for a long time, too long. After all, there are few who understand her condition and need for blood - then she meets Rhys. He seems like a perfect match on all counts, until her bite sends him running.

Rhys thinks he’s met the woman of his dreams, that is until she sinks her teeth into his neck and his dream turns into a nightmare. Now Rhys has a choice to make. Is being with Lauren the biggest mistake of his life? Or is she his salvation?

(excerpt)

Now a fun surreal little video:

04 January 2011

Something poetic for the new year

Ahh, as the new year rolls in the big question on everyone's lips: what will this year hold. For an author the biggest part of that is how much time will I find to write, and once I've finished is anyone going to want it.

Poetry is one of those things that writers find very hard to get accepted by publishers - I can only be glad it's not something I've had any inclination to try my hand at since awful teenage scribblings. [hides her head in embarrassment] With that hint at my own poetic prowess in mind, I spotted something the other day that struck me as both published and poetic (although in this case I don't think the poetry was intentional).

I don't know why but it really reminds me of this quote from William Butler Yeats:
 But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.