JAYNE WELCOMES CATHIE LINZ

Jayne, here, to welcome author Cathie Linz back to RWQ and to gush, rave and generally jump up and down about Cathie's terrific new novel, BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY. Nobody, but nobody does romantic comedy better than Cathie and the proof of that is in the fabulous advance reviews this book is getting. Trust me, if you're looking for humor, heat and heart, run, do not walk to the nearest bookstore and pick up this wonderful story.

--Jayne

----------------------------------------------------------------

Hi quill runners, I'm so happy to be here and delighted that Jayne invited me back as a guest blogger. Even though I haven't posted much in the past few months, I have been reading a number of the blogs and replies here as it's one of my favorite sites. Right up there with Godiva.com . The heroine of my new book BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY shares my love for chocolate and Ben and Jerry's ice cream among other things. Jayne asked me to give you a little peek at the story, so here goes:

After her plus-size modeling career tanks, Leena Riley becomes a receptionist in her hometown veterinarian's office. Too bad the vet is Cole Flannigan, who taunted her all through school. Now that Leena has grown into her curves, she's going to make Cole pay—big time.

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY - CHAPTER ONE

Broke and skinny beat out broke and chunky every time. Leena Riley was convinced of it. She should know. She was a size sixteen, plus-size model in a swizzle-stick, size-zero world.

How ironic that now she was down on her luck, she was forced to return to her down-on-its-luck hometown of Rock Creek, Pennsylvania. Leena hadn't been back since she'd left for the big city of Chicago at eighteen and honestly hadn't missed the place one bit.

Things had changed...a little. The Tivoli theater was open again. The nail salon and comic book store were new additions. And there was a new vet in town. Looking for a receptionist. Leena pulled the Help Wanted sign out of the window as she strolled into the animal clinic.

She needed this job. It was this or work the graveyard shift at Gas4Less. Rock Creek wasn't exactly a hotbed of financial opportunities.

But the vet's office appeared to be a hotbed of total mayhem. Leena ducked as a parrot dive-bombed her while a beagle howled in the corner accompanied by a yowling cat in a carrier. Another cat, the biggest one Leena had ever seen, hissed from atop a metal file cabinet while a pair of wiry terriers yelped at the pissed-off mega-feline from down below.

The situation called for drastic measures. No problemo. Her sister Sue Ellen was the Queen of Drastic Measures so Leena instantly knew what had to be done. Putting two fingers in her mouth, Leena let out an ear-piercing whistle that made cabs on Chicago's Mag Mile squeal to a stop beside her.

The room instantly fell silent. Realizing that would only last a second or two, Leena spoke quickly. Her dad had done a stint in the Marine Corps and had never lost his drill sergeant voice. She mimicked him as she barked out orders. "Okay, terriers and owners outside. Beagle and owner in there." She pointed to an empty exam room. "Parrot, come here." She held out her hand and -- miracle of miracles -- the bird obediently flew onto it with a flurry of feathers. "Cats, as you were."

"What's going on out here?"

Leena stared at the hunk in the white lab coat who'd just drawled that question. She knew this guy. She recognized the wicked twinkle in his blue eyes. Cole Flannigan.

She thought he'd be bartending in some tropical hotspot by now, his Hawaiian shirt hanging open to reveal his muscular chest. At least his chest had been muscular the last time she'd seen it. Of course that had been almost a decade ago.

Still, he didn't look like he'd gained a beer belly yet. In fact, his worn jeans made him look lean and extremely bedable. By a lean and equally bedable babe. Not by her, broke and chunky Leena Riley.

Had her career really taken off the way she'd told her sisters it had, why then things would have been different. Then she'd have had the confidence to stroll right up to Cole and kiss him silly, had she wanted to.

Her lack of confidence had to do with her empty bank account, not her body image.

Well, okay, maybe it did have something to do with her body image. I mean, she wasn't a saint...or a nun.

"You want to know what's going on here?" Sister Mary repeated. "I was just telling your patients that I can't give last rites to a hamster."

"What about a special prayer?" the little girl asked.

"I told you that Harry is just fine," Cole reminded the family. "You didn't have to call in Sister Mary."

"Well, since I'm here, I'll might as well say a prayer." Sister Mary spoke bent down and spoke quietly to the little girl and Harry the Hamster. So quietly that Leena couldn't hear what she said but it made the kid feel better, judging by the shy smile she gave the nun.

"Your next patient is in exam room one," Leena efficiently announced.

"Really?" Cole pinned her with a stare. "And you are?"

"Your new receptionist."

Cole raised an eyebrow. "You're applying for the job?"

"No, you're hiring me," Leena stated confidently.

"Why is that?"

"Because you need me," Leena told him. "I'm here to rescue you from utter chaos."







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A quick note from Celeste: In her blog last week she mentioned that Lynea Lattanzio/Cat House on the Kings would be competing on the Animal Planet for a 2007 Hero of the Year or 2007 Cat Hero of the Year award and that she'd let you know when the voting was open. Well, voting is open until October 8th and you can cast your vote at http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/hero_of_the_year/poll/cat-poll.html.

Lori Foster's Darkside - an introduction to her SERVANT series.

Hello readers! The first book of my new series, SERVANT: The Awakening, written as L. L. Foster will hit stands next week. (In some places, it's already out!)
A very dear "cyber" friend and reader, LeeAnn Pratt, got an early copy and has already read it. LeeAnn was generous enough to do an interview for me, from a reader's perspective, to let you know more about the book.

Let's hear it for LeeAnn!

LeeAnn: Thanks Lori.

You know, I haven't read too many books like SERVANT, but as soon as I started it, I was hooked. The descriptions of the main characters of Gabrielle Cody, Detective Luther Cross, and Morty Vance, put them right in my mind and I was able to feel the pain and emotions that they all went through in the book. I could actually see the evil that Gabrielle faced every time, and the anger she felt at the evil being done to all the innocents.
I was sad when it ended, and I can't wait until the next installment when I can find out what is in store for these people!
I absolutely love this book and am now hooked!

Lori: Thank you, LeeAnn! That’s exactly the reaction I hope to get from other readers.

LeeAnn: I think your audience will enjoy it. This book is different from your other stories, yet at the same time there are similarities in the connection between the main characters.

Lori: I hope the chemistry is the same. I wanted a different tone, a different feel to the plot and setting, but yeah, my idea of characterization is the same. And the romance is there, but in a lesser role than in my other novels.

LeeAnn: How hard is it to create that atmosphere?

Lori: I didn’t think about it in terms of difficulty because it’s just me taking the focus of my writing in a different direction.
But still MY writing.

LeeAnn: When did this story line first come to you?

Lori: Actually, years ago! But I wanted to get my romance name established before I branched out to anything different. I wanted readers to know what to expect from me. Not the same old, same old, but there’s a trust you build with readers, and I felt I now sufficiently had that trust to do something different, without scaring away all my readers.

LeeAnn: I loved the characters. Despite the subject matter and Gaby’s special skills, they were all very real. How long did it take to create them?

Lori: They’ve been in my head for awhile, just waiting for me to make the time to write the book. It feels like I’ve lived with Gaby for years.
Secondary characters, like Morty and Ann just sort of popped up as I wrote the story. But that’s how I always work – I have the main characters with a basic plot outline in my head, and then the rest unfolds as I write.
For me, that’s what keeps me interested and keeps the story fresh.

LeeAnn: Is hunky Luther Cross based on anyone you have met?

Lori: Nope. Luther epitomizes all my heroes – big, bold, unstoppable and capable, but he still goofs on occasion because deep down, he’s human.
But I wouldn’t mind meeting him.

LeeAnn: Me either! Luther Cross is hot! He also seemed to be a very determined man in what he wants, so....will he get what he needs with Gaby?

Lori: Absolutely. Eventually. But unlike my romance novels, the romance in the SERVANT series won’t be resolved at the end of book 1. It’s going to grow and ripen and get pretty darned tense before Gaby and Luther can fully trust each other enough to really commit.

LeeAnn: So we’ll "see" more of the softer side between Luther and Gaby?

Lori: Yes ma’am. Remember that old TV series, Moonlighting? Cybil Shepard and Bruce Willis? Well, the sexual tension between them was, in my opinion, phenomenal. But once they did the dirty... well, it fizzled. So I have to hold off on a complete, total, no-holds barred sexual union between Luther and Gaby until the final book.
BUT... there’ll be plenty of steam on the pages until we get there.

LeeAnn: I can see why, what with Gaby’s special talents. A law-abiding detective like Luther would have to move slowly.
How did you decide on Gaby's "other" profession?

Lori: I look at the world sometimes, at the really truly evil, demented people out there, and I accept that they look like everyone else. There’s no outstanding physical quality to tell us that someone is capable of torture, or mass murder.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone could see the real identity beneath the normal façade?
I suppose I created Gaby because I really wish there was someone like her.

LeeAnn: Mort is a very interesting character, one that seems to be one way at first, but then changes in the readers’ eyes. How did he evolve and become a part of this story?

Lori: You know, at first, he was just someone there for background. Even though Gaby is a loner, she has to run into people, right? Then, somehow, the second Mort hit the page, he wanted to befriend Gaby. Maybe deep down I knew she needed someone who would accept her for who she is and be able to see the good she did, even when it looked really bad.

LeeAnn: Will Mort take on a bigger role in the upcoming books?

Lori: Oh yeah. That Mort... he’s grown on me! Initially he was a character I planned to kill off. Yeah, there’s a small spoiler for you – Mort lives.
What happened is that my youngest son kept asking to read the book, so I printed him off a few pages. He read them and announced that Mort was really cool.
I said, “Don’t get too attached. I’m killing him.”
And my son was devastated. LOL. He reacted so strongly that I thought, well hell, I guess I better let Mort live.
My editor, when she first read the finished book, called me to say that she’d been so afraid I’d kill Mort, and was relieved that I hadn’t.
Guess my kid knew what he was talking about!

LeeAnn: Geez Lori, in your romances you never kill people! I suppose that’s one big difference between the genres, huh? So tell me, in your opinion, which is more difficult to write.. romance or urban fantasy?

Lori: The hardest book is usually the one I’m working on at the time. Each of them has their high points and their low points. Overall, I love writing both, and if anything, switching it up from one to the other makes it easier all the way around, because my brain doesn’t get bogged down.
I put people in bed, I bludgeon others, I spark a romance, I unleash a vile degenerate, I marry folks, and then I kill off some.
I sincerely hope readers enjoy the differences, and the similarities, as much as I have!

Here's a video trailer for SERVANT that will help show the tone of the book.
Happy watching!

Servant - Book Trailer

JAYNE INTRODUCES THE REAL ARAMINTA

I've had a lot of email from people who want to know more about the dust bunny in my SILVER MASTER video. No, it is not a stuffed toy. That is a real rabbit starring in the role of Araminta and here to tell you about her is her owner, Betty Chu.

Sincerely,
Jayne




What is this? A real rabbit or a stuffed animal?

I am sure Jayne’s readers asked these questions when they saw Araminta in the cute video for “Silver Master”.

Jayne is the creator of Araminta; I, Betty Chu, am the creator of Chu’s Melania who plays the role of Araminta in the video.

What is Araminta, a.k.a. Melania? It is a pure breed rabbit: English Angora.

Just like the American Kennel Club for pure breed dogs, the American Rabbit Breeders Association http://arba.net/ is the organization for the 46 pure breed rabbits. There are over 30,000 members in the US, Canada, Japan and Thailand who keep, raise, and show rabbits. I call it “The Wonderful World of Rabbits”.

I have been involved in English Angora for over 25 years and have ranked number 1 in the English Angora breed continuously for 19 years.

English Angora is the most docile breed of all rabbits; they are almost like rag dolls that can be handled in any and every way. Like any long haired animals they do require regular grooming. The wool resulting from grooming or being cut from the rabbits is useful in making sweaters, scarves, hats, baby items, etc. For more information about my rabbits and English Angora in general, go to http://home.pacbell.net/bettychu/ and http://ncag.blogspot.com/

My rabbits go to shows, enjoy their home life and celebrate different occasions. Sevenah is my recent show winner:





White bunnies Marissa and Melania/Araminta are enjoying the scenery in my yard:




The two bunnies celebrating “The Year of Pig” are granddaughters of Melania/Araminta:




Then there are the five patriotic bunnies celebrating The Fourth of July:



Having these wonderful rabbits has given me the chance of making friends and brought me opportunities that I would not have expected . My rabbits have appeared in videos and print media in the US, UK, Japan and all over the world. It even put me on a game show last year; watch me and my rabbits on YouTube

In my other life, I am Professor Emeritus at San Jose State University. Here is a picture of me in front of the Student Union; Jayne, does it recall memories of your graduate school days?



Sincerely,
Betty Chu

Susan Stumbles on the Epicurian Trail

My belief in myself as an adventuresome eater took a hit Sunday afternoon. I always thought I was pretty open to trying new epicurian delights, to at least tasting foods from other cultures that might not strike me as very appealing. After all, I'm a guest in the country in which that food is considered a delicacy.

But then I got to talking to my friend Ritha at a get together last weekend. And it turns out that I'm way more white bread than I ever believed. What a blow to my ego.

Ritha is from Ecuador. She's lived in Seattle for probably fifteen years, but she still has family she goes home to visit on a regular basis. One of her sisters there is a travel agent. Sister's boss requested she take part in a new adventure tour so she'd be able to describe it to their clients from the strength of experience. Sister agreed and invited Ritha and one of their brothers to accompany her.

They went down a jungle river in long canoe-type boats. There were piranhas in the stiller sections of the water and caimen, which are small alligator type reptiles. Okay, already this doesn't sound like my cup of tea because I'm no longer a rough-it kind of woman and that type of wildlife? I must confess, not so fond of it. But it was a couple of the things Ritha ate that really drove home just how adventurous I truly am NOT. White bread, white bread, white bread. Shaking my head here. My whole image of myself has been turned on its ear.

Ritha ate a larvae that had burrowed into a coconut. The good news is that it was coconut flavored. The bad news is. . . well, d0 I really need to spell it out? (My son the chef 's reaction was a little different from mine. He said, "No kidding? Fly or bee?" because apparently one is supposed to be tastier than the other) She also ate lemon ants. Now, those I could probably manage, if they were dipped in chocolate. But fresh from a leaf that was just plucked off a tree? Nope. Not gonna happen.

So, it's official. I'm a wuss. A dull, bland stick in the mud. I've eaten head-cheese and really questionable sausage in Germany. I've eaten blood pudding and haggis in Scotland. But I'm probably never going to eat live bugs.

How about you? What's the most off-the-wall thing you've eaten?

ELIZABETH G.: RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS

Actually that’s the first part of the title of a best-selling memoir by Beverly Donofrio. (Riding in Cars with Boys: Confessions of a Bad Girl Who Makes Good.) It’s also the title of the 1991 movie version of Ms. Donofrio’s memoirs starring Drew Barrymore. I know because I looked it up on the internet after the title for this blog popped into my head.

Anyway, it’s a fine day in September as I sit poised in front of my computer. Summer is almost over. Pfffftttt, as Snoopy would say, sticking out his tongue. I missed summer this year due to a series of "incidences," including a family crisis or two, an injured knee (owwww!!!!) and a writing schedule run amok. Such is life.

The lazy summers of my childhood are gone, anyway. Days spent with nothing more pressing to do than go for a swim, take a bike ride, or read a book or two or three are a thing of the past. Now summer is just another busy season of the working year that I occasionally "miss" altogether.

BUT always one to look on the bright side, I’m going to share with you a few of the wonderful things I experienced this past summer:

1. Sugar-free popsicles on a hot and sweltering day in July. (I love the ones that look and taste like a roll of Life Savers on a stick. At 20 calories per popsicle this is also a guilt-free treat.)

2. Watching Geraldine McEwan as the latest reincarnation of Agatha Christie’s beloved character, Miss Jane Marple. (Thank goodness for PBS.)

3. Getting out once in a blue moon to a movie. (My favorite movie of the summer was “The Bourne Ultimatum.” The first two movies in this series were great and this third one was even better!)

4. Light. Quite literally. I love waking up to daylight. I love the designs made in our kitchen when sunlight pours through the solar-powered prisms hanging on the windows. I love looking outside at my flowers in the middle of the afternoon and perhaps catching a glimpse of a hummingbird. I love the light of evening --- what I think of as twilight. And I love moonlight as it streams in through our bedroom window.

5. And last, but far from least: Riding in the car with my husband. (I brainstormed my next book with him all the way to our son’s house. Not only did the time fly by, but it was fun.)

Now you know why the title of this blog popped into my head.

The summer of 2007 has come and gone. Now I, for one, intend to savor every minute of the fall.

So, Inquiring Minds want to know: What are some of your favorite things that you're looking forward to this autumn?

Cheers!
EG

JAYNE SAYS THANK YOU TO HER HAIR STYLIST

Every woman I know experiences a wide variety of relationships in her life. Some, like old boy-friends and ex-husbands, are best forgotten. A few good friendships will last for decades, even a lifetime. Many relationships will be important but ultimately transient in nature -- colleagues at work, the tailor who shortens your pants, the nice clerk at the bookstore who knows what you like to read, etc.

But I submit to you that there is no relationship in a woman's life quite like the one she has with her hair stylist. Indeed, she will often have to search for years -- decades even -- for the perfect hairdresser. And when she finds him or her she will do anything to maintain and nurture the relationship, including reschedule her entire life in order to book appointments weeks, months, even a year in advance.

The dark side of the relationship is that there is no guilt like the guilt that descends upon a woman who leaves a stylist. Oh, sure, authors often feel dreadful when they leave an agent or an editor, but trust me, that is nothing compared to the emotional trauma involved when one leaves a hairdresser. Usually a woman will switch entire salons rather than switch stylists within a salon. The thought of having to face the jilted stylist month after month is just too much to endure.

A great stylist such as the one I am now lucky enough to have (her name is Alex and she does her art at the Gary Manuel Salon in Seattle, by the way) is a true artist and must be respected as such. When I go to Alex I put myself in her hands. And why not? Never in my life has my hair looked as good as it does now that I'm seeing Alex on a regular basis. I have no creative visual sensibility (the primary reason why it is utterly useless for an editor to ask me if I have any ideas for the cover of one of my books). I rely on Alex to tell me how my hair should look and I am always thrilled with the result. Yes, we talk about color and shape but mostly because I love to hear her voice her observations and thought processes. It is always enthralling to listen to an artist discuss her art.

There are many layers to a relationship with one's stylist. A unique level of intimacy kicks in almost immediately, as every woman knows. Some people take that intimacy to unbelievable lengths. I have heard clients in a salon talk about the most personal matters: divorces, affairs, problems with children, the details of the last visit to their shrink. But as a rule, Alex and I are not into high drama. Maybe we just don't lead dramatic lives. Whatever the case, we are more likely to chat about the most recent books we have read, new restaurants or recipes we have discovered or what we did over the weekend. We tend to laugh at the same things and we appear to share similar values. That always makes for good relationships.

There is nothing new about the intimacy of the client/stylist relationship. While researching my Amanda Quick novels I discovered that women in the 18th and 19th century were just as passionate about the search for the perfect hairdresser and just as desperate to keep him once he had been found. (In those days hairdressers were invariably male). And, yes, they talked to him about the most personal aspects of their lives. In letters to friends and to the women's magazines of the day ladies extolled the art of hairdressing. Some believed it to be the ultimate art form. Others pointed out the importance of the hairdresser to Society. In their view, the world as they knew it would come to a stop overnight if the hairdressers of London suddenly disappeared. They were probably right.

Today it is common wisdom that it doesn't matter whether the dress carries a high-end designer's label or if the shoes cost a fortune -- if the haircut is bad not even Armani can make up for it.

So, I would just like to take this opportunity to express my undying gratitude to Alex. Your art makes me feel good. Thanks and I'll see you next month.

Sincerely,
Jayne

It came to me in a dream...

So why am I discussing dreams today? Well, I went to sleep after doing a lot of research on my next SERVANT book. (My first SERVANT book is out in October.)
The research was some pretty scary stuff. Serial killers. Ways to torture/kill/die... that sort of titillating bedtime reading.

I couldn't decide about a certain character type that wants to be in the book, whether or not he'd be "scary" enough.

Then - bam - I dreamed about him, and let me tell you, he's scary!

I've been plagued with disturbing dreams lately, and they always confuse me. But I know that a lot of bad dreams have deeper meanings than those first apparent to us.


For instance, did you know that a bad dream about losing your teeth (not one I've had yet, thank God!) usually means that you're hiding a secret, or you're afraid of losing someone?

Odd, huh? What connection is there between teeth and secrets? Well, with most secrets, we're afraid of folks finding out. And hey, teeth dropping out of your face would be something noticeable, something you couldn't hide... It's all stress-related, I think.

Even a dream that could be considered "good" can be confusing. For instance, if you dream about your throat, or your tongue - even in an unusual way, like say, in your dream your collar is too tight or you got your tongue burned on a hot drink - it often means that you have considerable imagination, and you'll have a successful future.

The worst bad dreams to me are the reoccuring ones.
For years (when I was younger and living at home still) I used to dream that I woke. I'd get out of bed, go down the hall, see my mother, talk with her - and then something dreadful would happen.
I'd wake up, realize I had been dreaming, get out of bed, go down t he hall, see my mother - and something dreadful would happen.

It'd go on and on until I didn't know for sure if I was awake or not. Very disturbing.

Repetitious dreams, especially the unpleasant kind, are an indication that we're unable to resolve a problem or a conflict in our lives.

In dreams, even the most NORMAL, loved things can become creepy. Pet lovers often have totally creeped out dreams about their doggies or kitty cats. As in a book, it's all in the presentation.

I've also dreamed that I can't dial the telephone. SO frustrating! But while in my dream I might not have been trying to call anyone important, it still signifies that I'm afraid of losing my connection to someone important, or that I'm worried about reaching someone important.
Flying. Not in a plane, but like a bird flies.
We've all dreamed it right? Or finding money where you didn't expect it. Or the real icky one - going to school without your shoes, or without your class schedule, or (egads) nekkid.

The bare-arsed one is indicative of vulnerability, or being caught off guard.

Flying means you're on top of current situations. Unless while you're flying, you're having a problem staying in the air. Then it means you're struggling to stay afloat and to stay on top of issues.

One of the worst dreams I've ever had has to do with water. I'm fishing, or just walking along the shore, and these gigantic fish that resemble carp but are MUCH bigger, try to drag me into the water. When I'm fishing, I could just let go of the line - but in my dream, for some reason, I don't. I get dragged into the water.

When a fish has me by the foot and is pulling me in, I keep thinking, "WHY THE HELL WAS I WALKING SO CLOSE TO THE WATER!?"
Sorry, but I have no idea what the fish-dreams mean.


So... what's your worst dream?
Your best?

Any good or bad dreams plaguing you repeatedly lately?

I think they're all fascinating and I'd LOVE to know yours.

Who knows, maybe it'll end up in one of my books.

Cats, Cats and More Cats

When I was asked by Elizabeth Lowell to do a guest blog, I first said "NO," because what did I have to blog about? But after spending an afternoon taking care of the half a dozen or so kittens currently living in my garage -- one of more than several dozen I've helped care for this summer -- it dawned on me that I might just have something to say after all. Of course, not being a writer, I can't dazzle you with information about a new book, but I figured I could write about something near and dear to my heart and show you a few photos that will make you go, "awww."

I've always loved animals, but for a personal pet I never wanted the responsibility of a dog, so cats it's always been. I've never had a pure bred cat of any kind. Over the years I've gotten my pets from friends or rescue society. Right now I have a male Manx who I call Buddy and another cat named Homer who basically decided to live with me and Buddy rather than my brother and sister-in-law (SIL) (who live next door with their own 3 cats and 2 small dogs).

So back to those kittens in the garage. My SIL, who teaches high school, has sponsored a student organization called Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (SETA) since her daughter founded the group about 15 years ago. Because so many people still don't understand the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, SETA provides the needed service in our area of rescuing abandoned animals (usually kittens and sometimes puppies) found by the high school students. From money they raise by selling beef jerky and admittance to a fashion show at the high school (one during the day and one in the evening), the students pay to get the animals neutered or spayed, provide their first shots and find a family to adopt them. Many times the abandoned kittens are too young to be adopted and in those cases, they are brought home by my SIL where we foster them until they are old enough to be fixed and adopted. Sometimes the babies are so young that we have to feed them by hand until they can eat on their own. During each breeding season we've always had a few babies around to care for until we could find them homes, but this summer has been extraordinary. This year we've had more kittens than ever coming though our homes. My SIL hasn't been able to park her car in her own garage all summer because of kittens in there.

Because I'm retired, I pretty much have been delegated as the one to take the kittens to be spayed and/or neutered, to be dewormed and to get their first shots. Once the kittens are old enough to be spayed or neutered, we place an ad in the newspaper with descriptions of the cats we have up for adoption and the fee for each one (an amount that covers the cost their first shots and the spaying or neutering). At any given point this summer we've had as many of 12 kittens to care at one time, for but now we are finally down to 3 kittens (one quite young and 2 "teenagers"). Breeding season is nearing an end, but as long as people refuse to spay or neuter their pets, there will always be abandoned kittens who need homes and care. As hard as we work, not all of the babies we foster make it, and it breaks our hearts when they don't.

Fortunately we work closely with an amazing cat sanctuary in our area called Cat House on the Kings. This sanctuary is a no-kill non-profit organization that has been in business for over 15 years. At present it houses about 700 cats and rescues and adopts out over 1,000 cats every year. Cat House on the Kings is on 12 acres of completely fenced property. We work with Cat House on the Kings and their vet to spay and neuter the SETA kittens and get their shots, etc. Cat House on the Kings is a fantastic organization that does incredible work, and they deserve all the support they can get.

Some exciting news! A few months ago, Animal Planet TV channel began running a contest called "Animal Hero of the Year" and when I heard about it I told my SIL that we had to nominate Cat House on the Kings, which she did. Well, we just found out Cat House on the Kings has made it to the Top 15 nominations out of probably thousands of entries! Voting will start on September 25th (online) and people like you and me will be doing the voting! I'll be sure to have someone here post a link!

It’s been very rewarding working with these kittens (and some puppies) and knowing that they are alive and ultimately going to good homes. I must say, that every now and then one will grab my heart and it’s hard letting it go, but at the same time I know I can’t keep them all. I really hope that someday the job will be mostly unnecessary. Please, please get your pets spayed or neutered because thousands upon thousands of animals are euthanized every year because of uncontrolled breeding. What SETA and Cat House on the Kings does is just a drop in the bucket, but it does help some.

Celeste Faurie

THE BATTLE OF THE...

There will be no illustrations for this blog:)

I just returned from having dinner with my husband and son--a good time to share my thoughts on the inequities of the human metabolism.

Why can men lose weight so much faster than women (generalization)? Why can men commit so many more eating "sins" than women and get away with it (generalization)?

Stir fried vegetables, hold the noodles. That was my meal this evening. Husband and son: Pork wan ton, meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and fried onion rings, bread and butter, wine and (trumpets here) THE BIG KAHUNA, otherwise known as a vast slice of half-chocolate and half-vanilla ice cream on a bed of Oreo cookies, coated with hot caramel fudge sauce and encrusted with macadamia nuts.

Nope, I didn't have desert. "I'll have another glass of water, please," I said when the waiter looked at me.

The Big Point? Tomorrow I will not have lost an ounce of weight because I behaved myself this evening and my companions will, very probably, not have gained an ounce.

This isn't an isolated event. For years I've been turning down goodies while Jerry has said things like, "Well, what can it hurt?" or "I'll go on a diet tomorrow," before tucking into a BIG KAHUNA of some tantalizing kind. And for years the two of us have dieted seriously, at the same time, with the following results:

Jerry drops pounds like an ice sculpture in a sauna.

Stella takes off her watch and wedding ring before getting on the scale and goes cross-eyed trying to convince herself she's down a few ounces.

I'm certain the hex is in metabolic rates. Mine must resemble that of a turtle running in reverse, or maybe a goeduck. I have three pieces of exercise equipment in my office! And I use them. There are two more in another room and I use those, too. I take my dog on such long walks I have to carry her most of the way so she doesn't disappear before we get home (at 6lbs, a four-footed girl must be careful).

Theories needed!
Whiners welcome!
Share your triumphs.
Share your defeats.

Happy Monday, my friends,

Stella

Desperately Seeking Susan...'s Tunes

Boz Scaggs: Come On Home...Kris Delmhorst: Strange Conversations...John Mayer: I’m Gonna Find Another You...Janis Joplin: Piece of My Heart

I love music. I mean Really. Love. Music. But we’ve all been burned buying CDs on the strength of a song or two that we adored—only to have it turn out those were the only songs we liked on the album. Then there’s the additional problem for me of getting tired of hearing the same voice song after song, even on albums where I love most every tune.

Eva Cassidy: Dark End Of The Street...Otis Redding:These Arms of Mine...Vince Gill: The Reason Why...Bobby "Blue" Bland: St. James Infirmary

That is why, in my little piece of the world, I’m known for my medleys. I started putting them together back in the Dark Ages when the world still listened to cassette tapes. I transfered songs I liked from my cassettes to a blank tape. They have long since disintegrated and these days I use CDs and am the self-proclaimed Queen of iTunes. (Well, okay, I heard the soul mate tell his sister that's who I am, but close enough). I love the freedom of downloading just the songs I really want, particularly at 99 cents a pop instead of paying eighteen bucks for a bunch of tunes I don't want.


Paolo Nutini: Last Request...Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow: I Put Your Picture Away...Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms...Steely Dan: My Old School

I am currently up to my 22nd medley and working on number 23. My tastes are eclectic; I like everything from blues to rock and roll, country to classical, alternative to Fifties style R&B. Jazz is cool…as long as it's not the atonal type that sounds as if 6 musicians are jamming to 6 different songs. And I’m always, but always, on the lookout for a new artist or song. I collect them from all over, for while I use songs from my own collection (yes I do still buy some entire CDs) I've also discovered new talent listening to friends’ music or to what is being played in places of business. I’m not shy about asking, "Who IS that?" (Just ask the tattoo artist who was doing my permanent eyeliner to Andrea Bocelli’s Time To Say Goodbye CD). I can often run the title to ground from mere bits and pieces of a tune. Not always, of course. I still regret being so cocksure that a song playing on my car's satellite radio was Mark Knopfler singing something with the refrain Don’t Blame the Monkey that I didn’t bother to tape it on my digital recorder because I just assumed it'd be a piece of cake to track down. Now of course I can't find it. Does anybody know the song I’m talking about?


And that’s really what this blog is about. I’m appealing to everyone for more ideas to add to the Susan Andersen medley collection. Tell me some of your favorites. Music is as subjective as reading tastes, but I don’t mind taking the time to listen to a 30 second sample on iTunes. That’s one of the beauties of that place. It gives you a chance to determine if this song or that one is your cuppa Joe.

Billy Vera and the Beaters: At This Moment....America: Ride On...Stevie Ray Vaughan: Ain’t Gone ‘N’ Give Up On Love...Harry James: Harlem Nocturn
So I've listed just a few of the songs that I like. What are some of yours?

Elizabeth G. Weighs in on the Iconic Symbols of the 21st Century

I’m one of those folks who automatically hits the mute button on the TV remote as soon as a commercial comes on . . . with a few notable exceptions. I actually enjoy watching these iconic symbols of our time:

The Geico Gecko: They say it isn’t easy being green, but something about this little guy always makes me smile. Maybe it’s his accent. Maybe it’s his sense of humor. (Apparently geckos are a pretty funny lot by nature.) Maybe it’s the mug of steaming hot tea held in his “hand.” Whatever it is, it works for me. I even have a picture of the GG up on the bulletin board in my office. After all, those of us who have gone over to the Dark Side, need a little levity now and then. (FYI: The Geico Gecko was rated as America's favorite advertising icon in 2005.)

The Energizer Bunny: I’m a sucker for bunnies and all things pink. At least I used to be. Now I’ve put them in the same category as Jayne’s alien squirrels. (FYI: In one evening those &!#%$ bunnies destroyed the prize clematis in my backyard; the clematis I’d been nurturing for the past five years without any sign of interest from said alien bunnies.)

Dogs Rule: Who can resist the myriad shapes, sizes and breeds of man’s best friend who show up in this series of commercials? I know I can’t.

Tiger Woods: I’ve been a fan ever since I saw Tiger play at the British Open at St. Andrew’s in 1995. Since then, of course, he’s become the #1 golfer in the world. His commercials always have a wonderful sense of playfulness about them. And Mr. Woods does have the best teeth I’ve ever seen! (Yes, I know they’re caps, but he still has an amazing smile.)

The Viking Horde: At least I think they’re supposed to be Vikings—although they seem to speak with a hybrid East London-Cockney accent. Go figure. Anyway, they make me laugh. Humor seems to be at the root of most of the commercials I enjoy.

The Golden Arches: I don’t actually watch McDonald’s commercials, but I recently read an astonishing study about pre-schoolers and the Big McD. Apparently kids rated everything as tasting better if it was presented with the Golden Arches logo, including carrot sticks and milk. (I’m dumbfounded by this one, folks.)

Inquiring Minds want to know, naturally: Good or bad, what are some of the iconic symbols in today’s advertising world that always capture your attention?

Cheers!
EG

JAYNE CASTLE ANNOUNCES SILVER MASTER

I'm thrilled to tell you that SILVER MASTER, the fourth book in my Ghost Hunter series -- written under my JAYNE CASTLE name -- is in stores as we speak! It features a hero, Davis Oakes, who is a security specialist with a really bizarre psychic talent. His paranormal ability has seriously messed up his love life and cost him a fiancée -- a woman who had been described as "absolutely perfect" for him by a very expensive matchmaker. Hey, even a pricey matrimonial consultant can make a mistake when she tries to find a good match for a guy with Davis's little "eccentricity".

The problem is that the experience left Davis with a very low opinion of those in the matchmaking profession. Unfortunately, Celinda Ingram, a very high-end psychic matchmaker, needs a bodyguard who can double as a date for her sister's wedding. Davis gets the job.

Here's a little taste of the story...

Celinda came to a halt at the top of the stairs and looked down. There was no sign of Araminta.


She heard Davis’s footsteps behind her. He stopped and looked over her shoulder, gazing down into the empty stairwell.

“Had a feeling this case was going a little too smoothly,” he said without expression.

“Hey, it’s not my fault Araminta ran off with the relic," Celinda said.

His eyes narrowed. “She’s your dust bunny.”

“Araminta doesn’t belong to me. She’s a companion. She’s very independent and she obviously considers that artifact her toy. I’ll bet she’s going to hide it somewhere.”

“In which case, she’ll eventually retrieve it.”

She’d known him less than forty minutes but she already knew enough about Davis Oakes to realize that he wasn’t about to give up easily. This was a man who, once he set an objective, kept going until he reached it. Furthermore, he was currently working for Mercer Wyatt which meant he had the full power of the Cadence Guild behind him. What chance did one small dust bunny have?

She needed to find a way to take the heat off Araminta.

She dashed the back of her hand across her eyes and put a tremor in her voice.


“Araminta has probably run away for good. I’m going to miss her so much. She was my little pal.”

“In my experience, once dust bunnies form a bond with a human, they are fiercely loyal,” he said, showing no signs of sympathy. “Your little pal will be back. She’ll probably be waiting for you when you get home tonight.”

So much for that ploy. Nevertheless, she sniffed and blinked furiously, as though trying to suppress a flood of tears. “I have your card, Mr. Oakes.” She put a tremor in her voice. “I’ll give you a call if she ever shows up again and brings back the relic.”

“You do that.” He went back out into the hall. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some work to do. See you at seven tonight.”

That stopped her cold. She cleared her throat. “I, uh, sort of assumed that this new development meant our date was probably off.”

He paused and looked back at her, smiling dangerously. “Guess again, Miss Ingram. You and I are going to be spending a lot of time in each other’s company until that damn relic reappears.”

She knew a threat when she heard one.

“No offense, Mr. Oakes, But under the circumstances, I don’t think it would be a comfortable evening for either of us.” She tried a bright, vivacious little smile. “What do you say we postpone the issue of a date until we see whether or not Araminta comes back with the artifact?”

“Not a chance,” Davis said. “By the way, you can forget about taking a cab to the restaurant. Something tells me you might not show up.”

“Oh, good grief, if I say I’ll be there, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll pick you up.”

“You don’t have my address.”

“Not a problem. I’m a private investigator, remember? I find things. You’d better believe I’ll find you.”

--Jayne