Raine's Secret Garden

14
Nov 2008

I haven’t been writing. Not in a good month or so. Won’t waste time explaining. Problems, issues, issues, problems.

So to motivate myself, I (along with a boatload of other authors) volunteered to write a short-short novella, a Christmas freebie for Samhain. With a deadline to deal with, I figured it would make me write.
Uh-huh.
I hear that certain warriors did something similar in times long past. I think they called it “falling on their own swords”. :D

I’m blogging at the CHICAS site today.
Please join us. ;)

Category: Chicas,General Blah Blah —  Tags: Raine @ 3:22 am ·   Comments (6)
Pimpin’
12
Nov 2008

I admit, I can be quite a geek sometimes.
Still, I don’t think I’ll EVER get used to the fact that I can go to a publisher’s site, or visit a brick and mortar store, and see books there written by people I KNOW (well…at least, online, lol). ;)

JORDAN SUMMER’S latest from TOR Publishing is called RED (just picked this up, hope to get into it real soon!).
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What if Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf turned out to be the same person?

War is brewing in a near-future world where murder is all but unheard of and the existence of creatures known as the others has yet to be proven. In the end, one woman will face her fears to stand and fight.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

And from good writing friend SUZANNE PERAZZINI, her latest release called CRASH INTO DARKNESS, available from Wild Child Publishing:
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“A darkly compelling story–Suzanne Perazzini takes us on an emotional, action-filled journey into a unique new world.”~~Nalini Singh, bestselling author of “Slave to Sensation”.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

And just to wrap it all up…
Romance author LINDA WINFREE is guest-blogging at the CHICAS site today.
Please join us. :)

Category: Shameless Promotion — Raine @ 2:44 am ·   Comments (11)
VETERAN’S DAY, 2008
11
Nov 2008

I used this photo last year, but it struck such a sentimental chord with me that I’m using it again.
God bless them, every one.

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Joseph Ambrose, an 86-year-old World War I veteran, attends the dedication day parade for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He is holding the flag that covered the casket of his son, who was killed in the Korean War.

Category: General Blah Blah —  Tags: Raine @ 2:23 am ·   Comments (4)
What Are We Doing?
10
Nov 2008

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I really am going to stop commenting on the recent election, lol. But on a related topic, here’s something that struck me as I watched the proceedings on television…

One of the national news channels was showing footage of an elementary school class. I don’t know where it was, and it really doesn’t matter.
The teacher had asked the students what they thought of the election process, and what they thought having Senator Obama win might mean to the country.

A young black child stood when he was called on. He struck me from the beginning. His posture was rod-straight, and he wore dark pants and a stark-white shirt that looked like someone had taken the time to starch it. His mouth was a thin, tight line at first, and he stared at his teacher and spoke in a clear, decisive voice that seemed far more mature than his seven or eight years.

“The election of Barack Obama means that I can do anything I want to do. It means I can be anything I want to be. It means I don’t have to listen to anyone who tells me I can’t, or that I have to settle, or that I can’t…”

That stiff bottom lip of his trembled, and he blinked hard, looked away, and sat down, lowering his head so his classmates couldn’t see the tears on his face.

That little boy almost brought me to tears. And this isn’t necessarily a racial issue. It might apply to anyone. Because all I could think as I watched him was, “My God. What have we done to our children that they would feel so limited at such a young age?”

Category: General Blah Blah —  Tags: Raine @ 1:41 am ·   Comments (8)
Get ‘Em When They’re Young
07
Nov 2008

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Can I borrow a tornado and a falling house?

Here’s to the lady in our community who, on Halloween night, insisted on quizzing the good parents who personally brought their children to her door for Trick-or-Treating.

She asked each of them who they planned to vote for. If they answered “Obama”, she insisted that the children get away from her door, sans candy, but gifted all others with an abundance of treats.
Needless to say, the little ones were very upset.

Ahem.
Yeah, lady. It was your candy, your choice, of course. But here’s a heads-up for ya…
These were CHILDREN. They didn’t have any political affiliations, and if this particular memory lingers with them as they grow, it’s for damn sure the party they choose won’t be yours.

Now that’s off my chest—I’m blogging at the CHICAS site today. ;)

Category: Chicas,General Blah Blah —  Tags: Raine @ 1:35 am ·   Comments (6)
PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA
05
Nov 2008

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YES.
WE DID.

Category: General Blah Blah —  Tags: Raine @ 4:40 am ·   Comments (9)
DEAR AMERICA…
02
Nov 2008

Dear America:

Well, it’s been a helluva ride, this Presidential campaign. Despite the rousing speeches, negativity, back-stabbing, surprises, lies, debates, and enough political junk mail to pollute the landscape for another 200 years, we can’t say it hasn’t been exciting.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I support OBAMA for president, and I’d personally encourage anyone who’s still undecided to do the same.

But that’s not what this post is about.

Please…if you haven’t already, I beg you to take the time to exercise your right as a citizen, the right that countless Americans have fought for. Died for.
You have a voice. Use it for something other than complaining about the way things are.
If you’re elderly, mail it in.
If you don’t have a way to get to the polls, ask a neighbor for a ride. Tell them it’s important, your country needs you.
If this is the first year you’re eligible, yank that bluetooth/ipod out of your ear and get to an election site.

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And if that’s not enough incentive for ya—walk into any Starbucks on Tuesday, November 4th, tell them you’ve voted, and receive a free, steaming cup of brewed coffee.
Walk into any participating Krispy Kreme shop on election day, tell them you’ve voted, and receive a free star-shaped doughnut.

Democracy has its rewards. ;)

regards,
Raine

Category: Regards, Raine — Raine @ 9:47 pm ·   Comments (4)
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