interracial romance

5 Things I Love about Winter

Winter is the time of year where it gets dark early, which means cocktail hour starts so much earlier than in the summer. The children are in school, the weather is blustery turning to cold and there’s a lot of baking to be done. The brisk wind wakes you up when you go outside, making you that much more grateful to hurry back into the house or to a warm car.

At least that’s the way it is here in New Jersey, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The leaves did their final drop in the last week or so, and gray skies have presided for the last three days. I have no complaints about this, because I love winter. How much do I love winter? Why, let me count the ways.

1. My Leopard Snuggie – Depending on my mood, I wear it as a dragging, regal robe and my children call me the leopard queen. I love it. It’s warm, it’s fleecy and it’s an excellent emergency blanket for a child who needs a snuggle.

2. Hot Coffee – I love coffee anytime, anywhere and will only drink it hot, no matter what the temperature outside. But you’ve gotta admit, there’ something special about that first cup of coffee when I’ve dropped off the little ones and hurried into a warm house from the freezing temperatures outside. The house is totally quiet. After the gurgle of the Keurig, it’s just me and that Black Silk, with a little creamer to lighten the load. Bonus points for those donuts from the 7-eleven.

3. Slippers – I’ve got slippers, heavy socks, fur lined leopard sequined slippers, you name it, I’ve got it. Again, it’s about the warmth and the snuggles.

4. Baking – I am not a cook. Dinner is a task. But baking? Why I love baking! Cookies, biscuits, cakes, loaves…it is on during the winter season. Plus, the heat doesn’t kick on as much and the house smells soooooo durn good. In addition, I get to play June Cleaver with the kids and feed them hot chocolate with homemade sugar cookies!

I'm the one on the right. — I’m the one on the right.

5. Comforters – There’s nothing better after a long day of cooking, kids, dog and writing than to snuggle up with the hubs under our heavy comforter. Sure, it’s as old as our marriage, has some holes and is a little ragged around the edges, but it is warm and reminds me of how much I love winter. Plus, with the nights being so long, I don’t feel like an old person getting into bed at 8:30.

So, dear readers, what are some of your favorite things about winter?

Banned Books Week – My Favorites

“It was a dark and stormy night.”
Ah, Banned Books Week always makes me rub my hands together in delight and dust off my old, decrepit paperback books. Taped covers, “bookworm” holes and dog eared pages – nothing beats a great book…..

Unless it’s been banned. Just like bad boys, if a book is deemed “bad”, well, hell’s bells, I can’t wait to read it, or at least see what all the fuss is about. Many of the books I’ve read, I didn’t even realize were banned.

Let me share the list of my top five banned books that I read over and over again. You knew there was going to be a list!!

1. 1984 by George Orwell – “Do it to Julia!” I can’t say that I “enjoyed” this book as a matter of entertainment, but it sure did make one think. As a romance writer, I notice many authors are accused of creating insta-love between the two protagonists. Well, 1984 has one of the quickest cases of “insta-love” that I’ve ever read, with note passing to boot!

Reasons for challenge: “pro-communist and contained explicit sexual matter.”

2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.”

Gosh another “downer ending” book. Atticus lost the case, Tom Robinson got shot. Poor Mayella Ewell. But at least Bob Ewell got his just desserts….and Boo Radley….we’ll never know. You laughed, you cried and yes, it has become a part of me.

Reasons for challenge: Using the word “damn” and “hell devil”. Does “psychological damage to the positive integration process “. Uses the word “nigger”. “Conflicted with the values of the community.” The book has also been charged with being unfit for junior high use. “Contains profanity and racial slurs”. “Is degrading to African Americans.”

The last reason make me laugh. Anyone remember how tough Calpurnia was on Jem and Scout?

3. A Wrinkle in Time: “Don’t try to comprehend with your mind. Your minds are very limited. Use your intuition.”

I can’t say enough how much I adore this book. Science fiction, themes of love and forgiveness, and a little love story to boot. Plus a female lead who was smart and wore glasses AND braces? Sign me up! The discussion of a tesseract (which is now termed a wormhole), space travel and life on other planets.

Reason for challenge: Challenging religious beliefs, contains offensive language.

4. In Cold Blood – First of all, let me say that Philip Seymour Hoffman was capitivating in his portrayal of Truman Capote in Truman. It is also said that the characater of Dill in To Kill a Mockinbird was based on him. Regardless of the personal history between he and Harper Lee, this book is one of the first “true-ish crime” books that I’ve ever read. It’s not a “fun, light” read, not by any means, but a truly excellent and absorbing read just the same. Capote knows how to write a book that captures the reader and pulls him in.

Reason for challenge: “sex, violence and profanity.”

5. A Separate Peace – “Sarcasm… the protest of those who are weak.”

I saw this book the other day under my dresser. Gosh, I read it so long ago, but it sure sticks with me. Gene’s jealously of Finney and what it ultimately led to.

Reason for challenge: “filthy, trashy sex novel.” “Offensive language”.

Honorable Mentions:

Lord of the Flies

Native Son

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

It’s funny now that I look over this list. I read a lot of these books in high school and/or college, and to be honest, the real meaning and themes within the book didin’t hit home until I actually got out of school and began to “live”. It’s interesting now, looking back, how many of these books were truly ahead of their time.

So hey! What are some of your favorite books that have been challenged or banned?

Music Monday – Rock Plaza Central

New (to me) music that doesn’t have a host of different mediocre pop stars collaborating on the same tired old riff. A song that doesn’t have a rap as a bridge. A song that uses real instruments – folks aren’t singing to a track. A song that can sound different every time it’s performed.

In other words, a breath of fresh musical air.

Rock Central Plaza is the name of the group and they’re classified as “indie rock”, whatever that means in this musical age. I suppose it means they didn’t win a television talent show and/or aren’t manufactured acts pushes on an unsuspecting public as “music.”

Where did I find this gem? It’s on the soundtrack of an independent (of course) post apocalyptic film called “The Battery”:

From IMDB:

Two former baseball players, Ben (Jeremy Gardner) and Mickey (Adam Cronheim), cut an aimless path across a desolate New England. They stick to the back roads and forests to steer clear of the shambling corpses that patrol the once bustling cities and towns. In order to survive, they must overcome the stark differences in each other’s personalities. Ben embraces an increasingly feral, lawless, and nomadic lifestyle while Mickey is unable to accept the harsh realities of the new world and longs for the creature comforts he once took for granted. A bed, a girl, and a safe place to live. When the men intercept a radio transmission from a seemingly thriving, protected community, Mickey will stop at nothing to find it, even though it is made perfectly clear that he is not welcome.

I found it to be a pretty interesting movie. While not heavy on zombie gore, it is an in-depth look at the character interplay and how their differening personality effect decisions that are made. I’d recommend you checking it out if you’re into that kind of thing. Again, I warn you, this is no Resident Evil. Zombies aren’t popping out from every crack and crevice to be slaughtered in spectalcular gouts of putrefied blood. It’s a quiet, introspetive film.

All the music used in the film was apt, but this song stuck out to me, which is why I post it for you here. Enjoy!

Music Monday – Inspiration for Loving Among the Dead

As most authors do, I have a playlist of songs I work with when I’m writing. It’s the playlist I think embodies the story, the characters and the mood of a certain scene. I have all that set out before me, at my fingertips so I can access it at the press of a button.

However, there are those songs that occurs to you after the story’s done, edited and published. That song which pops up out of almost nowhere and declares itself an official sponsor of your story.

It continues to amaze me how much music can not only soothe the savage beast but also bare one’s soul.

Judith Graham holds her own in her zombie-proofed fortress that was once her childhood home. Through the foresight of her survivalist parents, she’s set for at least a year, but overwhelming loneliness and crushing boredom drives her out into the deserted, yet still dangerous streets of her neighborhood. She crosses paths with another traveler, Sky Beckett, who has decided to take the dangerous journey South to find out if his family is still alive in Tennessee.

A reluctant Jude allows him to stay at her home. Determined to remain a “Lonely Stranger” …..

When I walk, stay behind
Don’t get close to me
‘Cause it’s sure to end in tears
So just let me be
— Eric Clapton

she doesn’t want to get close to anyone because anything could happen, at anytime. Sky takes more of a moderate, if not almost optomistic view of post-apocalyptic life, wherein you keep trying until you can’t try anyone. He struggles to get her to see the facts as they stand and staying in her house is only going to get more dangerous, no matter what fortification she thinks she has.

He also sees that Jude is perhaps not as strong as she thinks she is.

Who’s gonna tell you when
It’s too late?
Who’s gonna tell you things
Aren’t so great?

You can’t go on
Thinkin’ nothing’s wrong,
Who’s gonna drive you home
Tonight?

****

Just by chance, those songs rolled up on my playlist (while I was cleaning no less) and I was struck at how apt they are and I had to share.

Thanks for reading!

1Love

Dahlia

Haven’t read Jude and Sky’s story? Check out “Loving Among the Dead” at the following outlets

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What's your Favorite Bond Theme? Free For All Fridays

I was going over my Google Playlists and I found one that I created a long time ago with the James Bond themes. Back in the day, I would never miss Bond movies on the television. Being a woman of a certain age, my favorite Bond was Sean Connery, next George Lazenby (even though he only appeared in one Bond film) and I tolerated Roger Moore. By the time the franchise worked its way around to Timothy Dalton (yuk!) and Pierce Brosnan, I had lost interest. Thought my interest was somewhat revived with the new Bond, Daniel Craig, my heart still belonged to Sean.

Never mind the movies, though, what about the songs? The iconic songs that told you that a cool movie was about to start? Many of these songs were sung by the hot artists at the time and were almost always chart worthy.

For this blog post, let’s take a look at my top five favorite Bond themes, starting with number five. As always, I’ll add some tidbit of trivia!

Number 5

Die Another Day – Madonna

I can’t even tell you which Bond was in this movie, but the song is hot.

Number 4

Skyfall – Adele

Her dramatic rendition of this theme recalls the old days of Shirley Bassey. While I did not see the movie, Adele does a wonderful job with this song and it won the Oscar!

Number 3

For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton

Sheena is the only singer to appear in the opening credits of a Bond movie singing the theme song.

Number 2

Nobody Does it Better – Carly Simon

When it comes to Bond, we all know what the “it” is.

Number 1

Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey

Aww, you knew it. Of all the Bond themes, Dame Shirley Bassey does it the best. She has also recorded the most Bond themes.

From Wikipedia: Bassey did initially have issues with the climactic final note which necessitated her slipping behind a studio partition between takes to remove her brassiere. Bassey would recall of the final note: “I was holding it and holding it. I was looking at John [Barry] and I was going blue in the face and he’s going, hold it just one more second. When it finished, I nearly passed out.”

Bad for her, but good for us.