Thanksgiving

Most of my friends and all of my family knows that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. To me there's nothing like having this fabulous meal with the people I love and the days leading up to it aren't too bad either. I love to cook so this is a time for me to fix all those things that the family has come to expect. I used recipes that have been passed by my mother and grandmother and I know them all by heart. I'm buried deep in a WIP right now (with a goal of finishing before the holiday craziness) but I set it aside the other day to do my shopping. Hell, I didn't even need a list. The incredients are tattooed on my brain, I think, so it was a snap this time.

Every year, my husband takes care of the 'turkey' stuff. I think it's a 'guy thing' but it's his big job to smoke turkey breasts and it's a good thing because it frees me up for the baking and other stuff. We've been married for 27 years and during that time have established our own traditions and that's one of them. When I was a little girl, we had a very big family and everyone would bring a 'dish'. The kids sat at a little table away from the adults and I really resented that. I always liked listening to the adults and it bugged me to not be included so I've never done that to my own kids. They are a part of everything at my house. Of course, they are grown now but I suspect they'll observe that little tradition of 'kid including' at their house too. Funny how these things get passed on, huh?

Anyone shopping on Black Friday? Ordinarily I don't but I suspect this year will be different. The Wal Mart 'sales list' was leaked and I checked it out the other day. Have my eye on some bargains on big ticket items so I might just get close to being finished with my Christmas shopping. I HATE waiting until the last minute to buy and wrap. By the time mid December rolls around, I want to chill out with some Christmas movies and not worry about it.

Can you believe the holidays are almost here? Still blows me away. Seems it was just last week we were mowing lawns and watering plants. Ack. Crazy.

Writing Writing Writing

Yep, I've missed a few blogging days but I have a good excuse. I've been writing on a new story. Finished the fourth shifter book (High Plains Shifters series, EC) and sent it in. This one is called Edge of Nowhere and is Cactus Mackey's story. So now that's finished...done and I've started and am almost finished with a new one. Night of the Cat is a jaguar shifter menage that I just couldn't get out of my head. So yeah, I'm off with it and hope to get it sent in my editor, the Frog Queen, by this coming weekend. Spent awhile gathering information about Jaguars. Research is something that I always find a pretty fun thing so I never consider it a chore. Did you know they are endangered? I find that incredibly sad.

Now most of my friends know speed just isn't in my nature. I'm a slow writer for some reason but this story kind of took off by itself. Maybe it's the knowledge that next week will be crazier than hell with Thanksgiving and everything but I've spend hours daily trying to whip this story out. I'm not one who thinks speed is where it's at. I would much rather take my time and write something exactly the way I want it written than to whip out something with little to no character development or some kind of cohesive plot so most of the time I'm fine with slow.

But hey, when the spirit is moving you, you must go with it. Right?

In other news: everything is set for next years Ellora's Cave Romanticon. The hotel is already booking rooms for the event and by the end of the month we'll be able to register for the convention itself. Near the end of the week, I'm booking a room and setting the wheels in motion because I wouldn't miss this fun few days for anything. To watch for information, hit the Jasmine Jade website and check it out.

V.J. Devereaux...YOU ARE LUCKY

Thanks to everyone who played my "name your superstition" game. It was fun remembering all those silly superstitions. This morning I drew VJ Devereaux...YAY. VJ, check out my titles on the right of this blog or go to my website, www.reginacarlysle.com and take your pick from my releases.

You can reach me here or send me an email at reginacarlysle@yahoo.com

In the meantime, I'm off to write. Later, today the husband and I are planning to see the new movie 2012 and maybe grab a bite of dinner. Have you all been watching the doomsday shows about the Mayan Calendar and the fact we're all gonna go KABLOOEY on Dec. 21, 2012? I watch these shows with interest but I've never been one to think...hey, I'd better get rid of all my wordly possession and get ready to put my head between my legs and kiss my ass goodbye. I found it interesting that NASA was all over the news yesterday debunking these stories as utterly ridiculous. I'm with NASA. They are a whole lot smarter than me and you can bet I'm going to believe THEM.

Now, I'm going to finish my coffee and write. Yesterday I thought I might take a short nap. Instead of sleeping, a new story just kinda unfolded in my mind so last night I did a little research, jotted down some ideas and started writing. Almost 2K on this new Jaguar shifter menage. YAY...lets hear it for productive non-naps!

Freaky Friday the 13th

Late last night I was looking for pics of black cats since today is Friday the 13th. Gotta admit, this cat freaked me the HELL OUT! When I was a little kid, seeing a black cat was the only time I was allowed to cuss. I come from a long line of superstitious people and every time a black cat crossed the road in front of us, we'd all say...Damn Black Cat. Naturally, being a little kid I prayed for black cats to cross the road so I could do that.

I've always had a healthy respect for superstition but I've never actually had bad, terrible things happen on Friday the 13th. As a natural klutz, I guess I save my stumbing and bumbling for the rest of the days of the year! On Friday the 13th, I'm always extra careful. Guess I'm NOT careful the rest of the time, huh?

My Grandma Minnie, a tiny little Cherokee lady, was a wealth of knowledge when it came to superstition and she was always saying...no, don't do that, it's bad LUCK. So yeah, I guess I grew up hearing this stuff. According to Grandma, if your right ear itched, it meant someone was talking about you. Left ear? Uh-oh...they were talking and it wasn't good. No walking with one shoe on and one shoe off (a practice I still observe to this day)and itchy palms means you'll get money soon. I never walked under a ladder and, umbrellas open in the house? Nope, not happening around here.

I know there are plenty more superstitions I learned as a child but I'm not picking up on all of them today. Maybe because I live with so many of them they have become natural and not oogy-boogy stuff. I know that owls mean death and you'd better hope your cat doesn't run away because that means, death too. The cat thing, actually happened to us. When I was pretty young we lost three family members within three days...yes, there's a superstition about things happening in 3's too. Sure as heck, that cat took off and we never saw him again.

In honor of Friday the 13th, I'm having a little contest. Tell me about a superstition you have or an interesting one you have heard and I'll draw a name. Winner gets a free download of one of my books. I'll announce my winner tomorrow...RIGHT HERE.

Speaking of superstitions, Laura Breck, an author with Red Rose Publishing is guest blogging at Three Wicked Writers today. If you have a minute, run over and give her a holler. Click here to visit Laura.

In other news: Anne Rainey, Kelly Nyrae and I were guests of Phoebe Jordan on BlogTalk Radio last night. Yes, I was chewing nails before the show since I've never done anything like this before but we had a really great time once we got into it. Thanks to everyone who tuned into the show.

Busy Stuff

Last night I was part of a terrific chat with my fellow authors in the Carnal Reunions anthology. Tessie Bradford, Cindy Spencer Pape, Anny Cook, Taylor Tryst, Fran Lee, Paris Brandon and I had great fun at the Two Lips Reviews chat loop. Lots of fun and thats to TTL for having us.
I had a little contest and I'll be announcing my winner over at Two Lips later today. You can pick these stories up at Resplendence Publishing.

Tonight is time for MORE FUN! Anne Raine, Kelley Nyrae, and I are being interviewed on Blogtalk radio. I've never done anything like this before and I know it'll be a big learning experience for me. I'll be chatting live at 9 p.m. est. Call in and join the fun. 347-857-2123. We'll be open for business. lol.

I've also been interviewed by the ladies at Classy N Sassy Promotions. I'm over there chatting so come by and see what's up. Click ClassyNSassy to get you there! I'd love to see you.

EEP...Time to Trim the Locks!

I've put it off far too long but today I'm going to the beauty shop for a nice cut and color. Figure a big chunk of my day will be taken up with the whole 'beautifying' thing but my hair goddess is fun and I'll be sure to catch up on all the local gossip. Of course, this means I won't get a lot of writing done but that's okay. We all need to do these things from time to time. Real life isn't as interesting as storytelling, in my view, but sometimes can be the source of a story or three.

Tonight I'll be chatting with my fellow authors in the Carnal Reunions anthology (available now at Resplendence Publishing). We're chatting at Two Lips Chat from 9-11 pm (est) so please stop by. I'll have a contest and so will the others so if you are shopping for some good reads, come by and get entered for the goodies we'll be giving away. Authors chatting it up are Cindy Spencer Pape, Anny Cook, Taylor Tryst, Fran Lee, Tessie Bradford, Paris Brandon and me. Look forward to seeing you there.

In other news, I'll be talking on the RADIO tomorrow night. Phoebe Jordan will be interviewing Kelley Nyrae, Anne Rainey and me (the Three Wicked Writers) on blogspot radio. Now, I don't know what the HELL I'm doing with this stuff. It's all new to me. But if you want to catch me (most likely with my foot inserted firmly in my mouth) tune in. Tomorrow I'll have details about where you can do to tune in and ask questions.

Smokin' Ace-Out today at Resplendence

A few months ago I signed up with six other authors to do an erotic anthology for Resplendence Publishing. The concept was simple, seven women, housemates during college, who meet up again at their ten-year college reunion. While there, they are reunited with the guys they left behind all those years ago. Cindy Spencer Pape, Anny Cook, Taylor Tryst, Fran Lee, Tessie Bradford, Paris Brandon and myself joined together to bring the anthology to life. Can't tell you how much fun it was working with everyone to bring this about. So...happy release day to my fellow authors. It was fun and I'm wishing all of us many sales.

The books will go live at Resplendence Publishing before noon today so head over and check out the new releases.

Blurb:

A college reunion and seeing her best ‘gal pals’ is just the thing widow and single mom, Chloe Wells needs to put a little oomph back into her boring, routine life. For her, those carefree years and the friendships she made with six other women in the old Victorian were unforgettable and, hey, what’s wrong with revisiting a past that was fun and full of laughter? But when she bumps into Michael “Ace” Banner other memories surface. Memories of hot nights and rumpled bedsheets. Memories of the loss of the one man who burned her to ash.