tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318086892024-02-06T23:49:20.444-05:00Adrianne Brennan - romantic dark fantasy and science fiction writerWhere love and magic meetAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-40696678379271470802013-09-19T14:32:00.000-04:002013-09-23T18:58:45.358-04:00All aboard the Autumn Train Ride for some awesome autumn reads and prizes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LlnpO_Kxu5jdDNHI2Lp6oX3DYdT47PjpY52J0vN5Tl57MClyf72lbCzSwJCPaNIpyBCmtZ0TRJKD0uL5r5SE6_5IDsdcfavUpLq03f91idDVf3jIXurbZbnrW-H_YWVN8cGqvA/s1600/1208936_599308543467276_1831402061_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LlnpO_Kxu5jdDNHI2Lp6oX3DYdT47PjpY52J0vN5Tl57MClyf72lbCzSwJCPaNIpyBCmtZ0TRJKD0uL5r5SE6_5IDsdcfavUpLq03f91idDVf3jIXurbZbnrW-H_YWVN8cGqvA/s1600/1208936_599308543467276_1831402061_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<span style="text-align: center;">Do you have a favorite fall memory linked to a train?
What do you imagine you would see if you were riding a train in the fall? Join the authors
of Wild Child publishing and Freya's Bower as we Take an Autumn Train Ride through our
blogs.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; fontsize: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">Prizes will include</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; fontsize: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li>Four $50 gift certificates (two for Wild Child and two Freya's Bower)</li>
<li>An awesome swag package that includes:</li>
<ul>
<li>Bookmarks</li>
<li>Books</li>
<li>Wild Child T-shirt and mug</li>
<li>Wild Child and Freya's Bower bags</li>
<li>Four handmade, crochet coasters by Kit Wylde</li>
<li>An autographed copy of Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire</li>
<li>A rare DVD copy of the Matheson/Furst classic "Up The Creek" (lovingly used)</li>
<li>One ebook copy of Nita Wick's short story, The Dream (previously published as part of
a Freya's Bower anthology.)</li>
<li>Book trading cards</li>
<li>Signed Dangerous Waters poster</li>
<li>of "Battle for Blood: The Blood Feud"</li>
<li>winner's name as a character in Kissa Starling's next sweet romance story.</li>
<li>A Yankee Candle</li>
<li> more...</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Blood of the Dark Moon</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Adrianne Brennan</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/botdm.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/images/botdm_fb.jpg" /></a><br /><br />
<i>Blood of the Dark Moon</i> is the first book in the Dark Moon series.<br /><br />
Blurb: A dark flame of passion ignites between Amanda, a devoted follower of the Greek god Apollo, and Jesse, a handsome scholar who shares her love of both the classics and the occult. But little does Amanda know she is destined to fulfill a legacy that began long ago and ended in tragedy. Together, she and Jesse embark on a journey down a shadowy path that delivers Amanda into Jesse’s scintillating underworld of vampires, magick, and secret societies. Will she learn her true identity in time to help those she has grown to care for, and find happiness in her new life with Jesse? And will destiny finally be fulfilled?<br /><br />
You can buy <i>Blood of the Dark Moon</i> either directly through Freya's Bower or through Amazon.com and BN.com.<br /><br />
More about this book can be found <a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/botdm.html" target="_blank">on this page</a>.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Excerpt:</b><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda ran down the street, taking advantage of the crowd already going through the crosswalk in spite of the oncoming traffic. She made it to the coffeehouse with two minutes to spare, ordered herself a mug of mocha, and sat down at one of the tables in the corner. The too-hot mocha burnt her tongue, but it gave her something to put in her system before she met some guy whose first name and email address were all she knew—that and an apparent mutual interest in ancient studies. The magazine from one of the tables and the mocha distracted her from her nervousness, and after a time, the rest of the coffeehouse.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She thought she heard someone calling her name. She lifted her head from her magazine to see a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties, perhaps early thirties. He looked at her with intense, dark brown eyes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Amanda? You are Amanda, right?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She smiled. "Yes, that's me. You must be Jesse. Here, have a seat." She gestured towards the chair on the opposite end of the coffee table. He took it with a grateful grin. She noted that his chosen attire included a leather jacket, a dress shirt, and a pair of slacks—all in black. A silver chain hung from his neck, but she couldn't see the bottom of it, for the rest lay concealed under his shirt. His short, slightly wavy dark brown hair was neatly combed. One thought leapt to her mind: </span><i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Business goth, perhaps?</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if he's Italian?</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> She figured probably Italian but of mixed heritage, for his skin was paler than average, especially against his attire and dark hair and eyes. His smooth features reminded her of a Roman sculpture. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesse smiled, and she realized that his features appeared quite striking to her, even by her particular standards. His email initially brought all of the academic stereotypes to mind; Jesse sounded very intelligent and thoughtful. It made her anticipate meeting a very prim-and-proper looking gentleman. J Crew with a side of geek, perhaps.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do you come here often?" he asked. "I hear their vanilla chai is pretty good." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She blinked, realizing that she had been staring at him. "Vanilla chai? No, I've never tried it. I've come here maybe once or twice. I typically don't have time outside of my studies," she added in an almost apologetic tone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He chuckled. "Yeah, so I figured." His face got serious, and he rubbed his hands together. "So," he said, "I hear you're an expert on Ancient Greece. What got you into the subject?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda sipped her mocha before answering. "My religion."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">His eyebrows went up slightly. "Your religion?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes. My beliefs are based on Ancient Greek religion." She gave him a shy smile. "I'm actually a devotee of Apollo."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He blinked hard, clearly taken aback. "Really?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yup." She took another swallow from her mug. Of course, his response would satisfy the litmus test of how well he could stand being in the same room as her, let alone engage in a conversation....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Great." He grinned. "I'm actually a Kemetic myself." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She nearly choked on her drink. He laughed quietly as she sputtered and coughed. "I take it that I don't look the part?" he asked with a fairly amused tone, taking in her reaction.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I, um," she managed to choke out, "wasn't expecting that. I typically run into either atheists or Christians who think that my soul needs saving, or something. And don't even ask about the academics." She coughed some more, feeling her cheeks grow warm—and not due to swallowing her mocha the wrong way, either. She tried not to cringe in her embarrassment.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"You okay?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Yeah, just went down the wrong pipe." She gave him a quick smile of reassurance. "Looks like we have some things in common. But, I gotta ask, why is a Kemetic like you interested in my, um, research about Ancient Greek religion and Apollo?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He looked at her questioningly before glancing in the direction of the counter where people were ordering coffee, then turned his attention to her again. "Actually, my interest is somewhat on the, well, unusual side. I'm fascinated more by the mystical elements in common between both religions." He gave her a lopsided grin, his friendly demeanor giving way suddenly to a shy awkwardness. "I'm sure that you know of the </span><i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Greek Magical Papyri</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"That mishmash of Greek, Egyptian, and Hebrew spells? Yes, along with several other books on ancient Greek magick on my shelf." She leaned back in her chair, completely intrigued by this guy. What exactly was he about? Curiosity struck her, and she dared to ask, "So, do you study, practice, or both?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">His mouth fell open slightly, but he closed it fast. "Since you ask...both, actually. I have an interest in magick and mysticism." He shrugged. "One of my many hobbies." He smiled.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ah," she half-smiled in return. She had no clue what to make of this individual whatsoever. She wondered if he were completely out of his mind or just easily impressed by women who attempted to earn an academic degree in unusual fields of study. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He leaned forward slightly and looked into her cup. "What are you drinking?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mocha." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He nodded thoughtfully. "Mocha. Okay. I think I'll grab some and then I'll be right back."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Gotcha. I'll be here." She watched him go to the counter and order the beverage and began wondering just who Jesse truly was. He didn't look like your standard occultist; aside from the all-black attire, he looked like someone who had just stepped out of a law office or some other professional building. Jesse also handled himself in a very assured, graceful manner—not to mention so far sounding reasonably intelligent and well spoken. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that he was good-looking as hell also disturbed her slightly. Perhaps more than slightly, she admitted. She continued to sip her mocha thoughtfully, maintaining a casual expression on her face as she continued to watch him order at the counter.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda hadn't dated anyone for a while; her studies kept her from socializing very often. She realized that she hadn't had much time to meet any potential significant others since high school. This side of things made what she had hoped would be a nice, professional meeting with an interesting conversation or two into a not-too-welcome distraction in the least. Amanda originally envisioned the potential of helping someone with their own research into the classics, particularly in her fields of study. She sighed, praying that this wouldn't keep her from finishing her thesis.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She frowned slightly, remembering his earlier words. Amanda also possessed a strong interest in theurgical practice. Being a devotee of a Greek deity renowned for oracles and divination, she frequently received dreams and visions from Him that later proved themselves accurate. Nothing about this man or her meeting with him came from Apollo in earlier dreams or visions—not a peep. This struck her as strange and seemed to imply that either this guy would prove unimportant in the long run and would fade from her life quickly, or...perhaps the oracular god had reasons for not telling her.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Either way, Jesse piqued her curiosity, and she wished to know more about him. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He returned with mocha in hand and sat back down in the chair. "Okay," he stated, "Now where were we?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ancient Greek magick, I believe." She gave him an inquiring look. After all, this face-to-face meeting came about due to </span><i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">his</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> email. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Right. Ancient Greek magick." Jesse put down the drink and began to talk about the reasons for his interest in her thesis.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It struck Amanda that he seemed to know a bit more about her than she'd initially thought. After an extensive conversation on folk magick versus religious magick, the discussion somehow got into modern magickal practices. Apparently Jesse's studies spanned a number of subjects, including Golden Dawn and Thelemic work. She knew of the Golden Dawn and worked on her own as a solitary practitioner via her studies in books by Israel Regardie and the Ciceros, but he had her beat on knowledge of Thelema. He chattered enthusiastically about some ritual he referred to as "Reguli", which she had never heard of, and also referred to texts that he claimed resembled Thelema in some ways, but contained more ancient practices and beliefs. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda tried to press him for more information, but he kept changing the subject. Her thesis work fascinated him, particularly in regards to personal religious practice in Ancient Greece, and thus he had assumed that she might know something of the more esoteric religious practices that also took place. Referring to himself as an "occult geek", he stated in the same breath that he wanted to learn more about Greece. He'd studied some of the Greek influences that made up Egyptian practice—and more in reverse—and wished to learn more from her. Rambling some more, he talked about how he "sorta stumbled into hearing about her work," and about his intense interest in the subjects she studied.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Curious,</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> she thought skeptically, wondering if he belonged to one of those "trad Wiccans" who claimed to have witches in their family dating back to year 30,000 BC. Propriety kept her from chuckling out loud at the thought.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Glancing at the clock on the wall, he announced that it was getting late and would she like to continue the conversation at another time? She nodded, amazed to see that the clock indicated a time of eleven p.m. They had been talking for the past three hours. As she grabbed her bag, she observed that his mocha was hardly touched, if at all. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">They started to walk out of the coffeehouse, and she noted appreciatively his opening the door for her. "So where did you grow up?" he asked. "I've been talking to you this whole time about ancient languages and cultures and have completely forgotten to ask you about your present." He smiled at her as if in apology.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I grew up in Westchester County, but moved here after I graduated from high school. I've lived here in the city ever since." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The rain had finally stopped, and the streets held that damp smell mixed with the scent of city grime and street corner hot dogs. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do you like it here in the city?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She nodded. "I like the pace." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"You must live off-campus, I presume?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Y-yes, I do." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I can walk you to your building, if you like. How far away is it?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She hesitated. She barely knew this guy, and giving him information about where she lived before she got to know him better didn't seem like a safe idea. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I take the subway," she said. "But it's not far."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He nodded, looking at her facial expression, which she hoped appeared blank. Then he smiled. "I'll walk you to the subway, then." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She nearly sighed with relief. Jesse seemed like a nice guy, but certain habits were drilled into her that she couldn't get rid of, and being paranoid of new people—especially strange men—was one of them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Would you mind if I called you sometime? I had a great time tonight and, well, I'd like to speak with you again, if you don't mind." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda glanced up at him. It occurred to her that he seemed shy beneath the surface. </span><i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe he's interested in me romantically or something?</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was then that she realized that he wasn't that tall for a guy—probably wasn't more than 5'11" in comparison with her 5'6". </span><i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He seems to carry himself as if he were taller</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">She smiled at him brightly and gave him her cell phone number. He took it with a grateful nod, mumbling something about how he really enjoyed talking with her and he didn't know many people who shared his interests. A strong electric shock struck her deep at the core of her being as his fingers touched hers, accompanied by a heaviness in her chest. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Moirai have their hands in this,</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> she suddenly thought. She wondered if she would dream of him that night, and if so, what she would dream. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">©2008 by Adrianne Brennan</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please visit these sites for more chances to win, the more you visit the more chances
you have to win. We have 46 participating authors. You can stop at as many or as little
blogs as you wish. At each stop, you will find either two chances to enter per blog to win
some awesome prizes. If you visit all, that's 92 chances to win! There will be five, lucky
winners.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://victoriaroder.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sarcastic Rambling &
Writing</a><br />
<a href="http://jchristianoauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">That's What I Think</a><br />
<a href="http://tsueversteeg.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sue's Random
Ramblings</a><br />
<a href="http://lesliestalley.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Make Old Bones</a><br />
<a href="http://territalleyventers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Elements of Mystery</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mollydean.com/MollyDeanBlog.html" target="_blank">Molly Dean's
Blog</a><br />
<a href="http://kenziemichaels.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kenzie's Place</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cmhumphries.com/blog.html" target="_blank">The Forbidden
Blog</a><br />
<a href="http://davidhuffstetler.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">David Huffstetler</a><br />
<a href="http://cassandraulrich.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cassandra Ulrich</a><br />
<a href="http://billiemccoy.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Carol Marvell</a><br />
<a href="http://andrewjrichardson.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Andrew
Richardson</a><br />
<a href="http://nicholaslloydblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Nick Lloyd</a><br />
<a href="http://bekkaofthorns.com/" target="_blank">Fiddleeebod -- land of stories</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nitawick.com/blog2/" target="_blank">Nita Wick's Blog</a><br />
<a href="http://ruthzonline.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ruth G. Zavitsanos</a><br />
<a href="http://www.joedonnmartin.com/" target="_blank">Too Poor for Texas</a><br />
<a href="http://jennafern.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jenn Nixon</a><br />
<a href="http://bookcityofthieves.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">City of Thieves</a><br />
<a href="http://jansdoodlings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Musings and Doodles</a><br />
<a href="http://www.shanbreen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Husein</a><br />
<a href="http://larrypayneauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Western Writer</a><br />
<a href="http://bikecopblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bike Cop Blog</a><br />
<a href="http://www.joylcampbell.com/" target="_blank">The Character Depot</a><br />
<a href="http://www.allencurrier.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Allen Currier</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tracyholohan.com/" target="_blank">Tracy Holohan</a><br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/badc9c2/" id="rc-badc9c2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-1787871924625706302012-11-16T14:58:00.002-05:002012-11-16T15:03:47.775-05:00Kickstarting Your MuseLike all writers, I struggle with balancing writing with the day job, work with play. I've had times when I had writer's block and other periods where I had so much stresss going on that my muse went into a virtual coma. So how does one kickstart one's muse, especially after a prolonged absence?<br />
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I like to begin with the following steps:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Re-reading my writing, including works in progress. Reminding myself of where I was at when I wrote my last helps to get the motor running. I try to read them all like I'm new to the work and am just a reader enjoying the story. </li>
<li>Daydream, imagine, let it run wild. What can I bring to my current works? Am I trying to force actions that are out of characters for the players involved, or have I hit a point where the subject matter is proving to be more challenging to get inspiration from than I thought?</li>
<li>Take long walks, do a repetitive workout, and let the mind wander. Recharge those batteries.</li>
<li>Pinpoint where the source of frustration is coming from and work it out. Think of it like massaging pressure points. It may hurt a little at first but once released...ahhhhhh</li>
</ol>
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Hope this helps! Feel free to provide your own suggestions in the comments. Also, if you want to be entered into the giveaway, please include your email in the comments and/or use the widget below. Thanks! :D</div>
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Love & Magic,</div>
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Adrianne</div>
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<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></div>
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<div>
Today’s post is part of the MSA birthday bash. Check out MSA at <a href="http://midnightseductionsauthors.blogspot.com/">http://midnightseductionsauthors.blogspot.com/</a> and see the details and how to win a Kindle Fire.<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7f882d0/" id="rc-7f882d0" rel="nofollow">the Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-5568194667264800722011-08-23T16:07:00.002-04:002011-08-23T16:07:49.165-04:00New release today! Love Under Will in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance!Today my story in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance is now available online at Amazon.com, bn.com...and...bookstores near you!<br />
<br />
That's right, my very first release straight into bookstores!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/images/mammothbookhotromance.jpg" width="300" /></span><br />
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Blurb:<br />
Angels who serve the Powers That Be must work to fulfill Divine Will, or become one of the fallen. An overwhelming assignment weighs upon Aliyael’s angelic shoulders: return Julael, a recently fallen angel, back to his rightful place among the rest of the seraphim.<br />
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However Julael brings not only challenges towards her perception of angels and humanity, but to her heart as well. Can she rescue him from the darkness, or will she fall with him? Or worse yet…for him?<br />
<br />
Buy link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662/ref=cm_cmu_up_thanks_hdr">http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662/ref=cm_cmu_up_thanks_hdr</a><br />
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For more info, go here: <a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/loveunderwill.html">http://www.adriannebrennan.com/loveunderwill.html</a><br />
<br />
Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-55601856126146274792011-07-21T07:21:00.001-04:002011-07-21T07:22:00.134-04:00New release! Love Under Will in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance is now available in the UK<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love Under Will</i>, a short paranormal/urban fantasy and erotic romance story in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance is now available in the UK!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/images/mammothbookhotromance.jpg" width="300" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">You can order it online here: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance-Books/dp/1849014671/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance-Books/dp/1849014671/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you live in the US, you can preorder it here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2">http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It'll be arriving in the US August 23rd!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can read more about this story here: <a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/loveunderwill.html">http://www.adriannebrennan.com/loveunderwill.html</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-83283652370136612982011-07-18T07:49:00.001-04:002011-07-18T07:49:32.044-04:00Site back up!My site is back up and running as of the start of the weekend. I'm in the process of updating it, but the news page is very current: <br/> <br/> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/news.html <br/> <br/> And for those of you in the UK, look for a happy surprise! Check out the url for details. <br/> <br/> <br/> Love & Magic, <br/> Adrianne <br/> www.adriannebrennan.com<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-49854166306922475472011-07-13T11:59:00.001-04:002011-07-13T11:59:06.453-04:00FYI:Website temporarily downMy website was forcibly taken down by my hosting company, and I'm in the process of getting the nameservers transferred over to my new webhost so it'll be up and running again. <br/> <br/> Once that's set I will let everyone know. <br/> <br/> Sorry about this and for the record, I advise everyone to avoid Freeservers/MySite.com like the plague. <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> Love & Magic, <br/> Adrianne<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-23394345234195465762011-04-16T10:26:00.001-04:002011-04-16T23:12:28.848-04:00So, you want to be a writer...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of people come into this profession wide-eyed and unknowing, and learn as they go along what being a writer as a career entails. Heck, I entered the same way and found out quite a bit that I never would've anticipated. Some things were more obvious than others while a few details took me by surprise.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm writing this post so those of you who are new or considering breaking into the field are less surprised and more prepared for the reality of being a writer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, without further ado, here goes:</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) <b>Writing involves self-promotion, and your publishers are not responsible for doing that for you.</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This is the big shocker for many, self-included. Most enter thinking all you have to do is write, and people will magically find your works and purchase them. Not so. Being a writer means you have to be willing to put your neck out there so people can find you. That means putting up a website, registering a domain name in your name (or pen name), blogging, and engaging in social networks both online and offline.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you do if you're an introvert and are horrible at talking to total strangers about your writing, let alone trying to promote yourself? Join up with other authors and promote as a unit. It'll take some of the pressure off of you and will make you more visible for less effort.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) <b>You have to be willing to deal with constructive criticism, and constantly improve in your craft. </b>This is the area where some people will balk at. After all, if their book was accepted, what's wrong with it? But if you look around at how people's unedited works do not make the grade and how embarrassing it would be to be in the public eye and have obvious grammatical mistakes, typos, sentence structure issues, you'll understand what a huge service your editor is providing you. Not to mention the chance to become an even better (and hence more successful) writer. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So be nice to your editors, folks. They're your gold and your chance to shine.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) <b>You have to adhere to the standards of your publishing company(ies). </b>Different places will have different themes, house rules, editing standards, you name it. You may not like all of it or agree, but it's there for a reason, often to establish enough commonality among their works to make an ease out of the editing and publishing process. Other times it's very exacting standards so they can be sure of high quality works going out their door. Remember, it's their reputation on the line.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) <b>You have to respond well (or not at all) when you take a hit on the chin, especially in regards to negative reviews. </b>There is NEVER a single writer who does not get a negative review. Usually it boils down to different reading tastes and interests: you just won't be everyone's cup of tea, and you'll have to accept that. Heck, I have a negative review on Goodreads from someone who clearly doesn't like reading about vampires or lesbians, so why he chose to read a particular work of mine is beyond me--I can only conclude masochistic tendencies. :) The only way to respond to these things is not at all. If they're a reviewer who agreed to review your work for them, you thank them for their time and move on. Take the high road; you'll benefit more from it in the long run. If there's something in their review you can learn from for the future, take it. And keep on plugging away.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether writers like it or not, this is a profession which requires dealing with people and being in the public eye. After all, it's people who make up your readers, your fanbase, and potential investors in your future works. That's the reality of the business. It's a lot of hard work and effort, but it's also very rewarding. I'm happy to say that I've met many wonderful people as a result of being a writer, and have been in all sorts of amazing events and situations which I never would've been in had I not become published.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And above all else, I still love to write. It's my passion and will forever be such. And as long as you can maintain that passion, you can do what it takes to stay in it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne</span><br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.adriannebrennan.com</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-14255087481997435872011-04-04T14:22:00.000-04:002011-04-04T14:22:49.376-04:00Author lament: too busy promoting to write?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An author has <a href="http://zoewhitten.com/wordpress/the-long-slow-goodbye-or-the-meltdown-resignation/">decided to leave the field</a> after years of unsuccessfully trying to promote her works, and she brought up a point I've heard before in various rants and discussions time and time again: how can an author be successful and still have time to write?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of us have day jobs or families to support as our primary time suck, and very few of us are full time writers. In fact, I don't know of any full time writers off the top of my head and I don't think even most NYT bestselling authors are there. It's not just the economy; this isn't a profession you can get rich off of. This is a labor of love where you <i>have</i> to put the energy into it or perish. "Publish or perish" is an oft-heard cry, and it is true. It's been said that the best promotion an author can have are new releases, and this is also true.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the days of social networks, online chats, blogging, and emailing lists (which many authors refer to as "loops", don't ask me why!), some of this load has been taken off of us. But the rest really comes down to time and fortune, fortune being in the right place at the right time and taking the time to do it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I write because I love it. When I say that it's work and requires work, that's simply truth. It's something you have to constantly strive to improve in and stay on top of in order to continue producing good and better works. It's a labor of love and must remain such in order for it to be "work that isn't work". When it ceases to become that, it's either time to try and put the romance back into the craft or consider a hiatus or even a permanent departure from the field altogether. Sometimes you can put too much in too quickly and burnout. I think nearly every author has had burnout at some point in their career, and it can greatly impact your ability to put out quality works, or any at all.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like every valuable thing in your life, you have to determine for yourself what you're willing and able to put into it, and evaluate often. Sometimes life has to come first whether we (or our readers) like it or not.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are your thoughts? Writers, have you ever battled with this and if so, what did you do? Readers, what are some of your own ideas on this issue?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-60203240615434407592011-03-29T12:57:00.000-04:002011-03-29T12:57:45.945-04:00Evolution and technology<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I posted about my "geek toy squee" here earlier, but I never realized before how dangerous this gadget is nor why it is the number 1 bestseller at Amazon.com.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing with the Kindle is the instant gratification. Whereas before you may have thought, "Ooh! I really want to read that book. I guess I'll have to go to the bookstore/library/online store." Now it's "Ooh! I really want that book! *clickclick* And it's mine!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stumbled upon this recently when I decided to reread the Dark Tower series by Stephen King as I haven't yet read past Wizard and Glass and wanted to finish the whole thing. Then it hit me--I could read it RIGHT NOW on my Kindle! Click, click...ooh, shiny! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is dangerous for the bookworm and perhaps rather like a dream come true. I don't have to wait to get to a bookstore or library, I don't have to wait for mail delivery. I can get my book NOW! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How is this dangerous, you might ask? Well, eventually these books cost money, and I can definitely see how someone who may have only bought books once or twice a month--or less--can suddenly be buying a whole lot more. Especially given how fast I read.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyhow, just finished up book 1 of the Dark Tower series, now reading book 2. I love this series.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=adribrenauth-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000OCXILW&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-66909304190606737552011-03-24T14:13:00.000-04:002011-03-24T14:13:22.492-04:00With increased daylight comes increased joy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring equinox has finally arrived (but here in Boston and in a few other parts of the northeast you'd never know it), and it's time to well, enjoy longer days and increasingly warmer weather. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And for those of you who celebrate, a Happy Spring Equinox and/or Mabon to you!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you look forward most to at this time of year? What do you dislike? I personally could live without daylight savings, but beyond that I am always eager for more sunlight and warmer weather. I think I'm living in the wrong climate! I am glad for (eventually) having no more snow, no more shoveling, breaking out the t-shirts and shorts and going out for runs outdoors.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is spring your thing? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.adriannebrennan.com</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-47478334334343808222011-03-24T13:03:00.000-04:002011-03-24T13:03:39.563-04:00Release recap!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a pretty busy year so far, and more releases coming! I figured I'd outline them here in one blog post in case any fell under the radar.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Available now:</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Catch the Touch of Blue</i> is a paranormal romance in the Dreams & Desires vol 4 anthology at Freya's Bower, whose proceeds go to benefit A Window Between Worlds which provides art supplies and training to battered women's shelters. Get either this or the anthology in either Kindle or print and support a good cause!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blurb:</b> Isobel, an artist, possesses the ability to see auras around others. This secret has kept her from sharing her gift, and herself, with others since childhood. She meets John, a quirky yet outgoing man who demonstrates not just interest in her paintings, but in her as well. With each encounter he draws her out of her shell, and she finds herself falling for him. But dare she trust him with her secret?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also buy them direct from the publisher:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=47&products_id=260"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catch the Touch of Blue - ebook</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=47&products_id=261"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dreams & Desires vol 4 - ebook</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=47&products_id=264"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dreams & Desires vol 4 - paperback</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Pisces</i> is a f/f science fiction erotic romance in the Sapphic Signs at Torquere Press and is available in ebook format.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blurb:</b> Marissa Balik would do anything to get away from her job on Jupiter Station, including transferring to another post on board the space vessel <i>Ichthyes</i>, whose destination and true objectives are not what they initially appear. Soon she’s thrust into a world where alien technology, space exploration, and solving mysteries are every day events, and the new assignment proves to be complicated further by her increasing attraction to its captain, Victoria Van Maanen.</span><br />
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When a mission turns both strange and dangerous, Marissa must fight not just to keep from succumbing to her feelings for Victoria, but to stay alive. Can she rely both upon her wits and her captain to survive?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Oath, Book 4: <i>Anointed</i>, a paranormal/dark fantasy/BDSM erotica is now out with Freya's Bower! You can get it in either ebook or Kindle format.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blurb:</b> Years ago, Lila pledged herself to the Greek god Dionysus, and the act of devotion changed her entire life. Now, her desire to serve has brought her to the doorstep of a secret society known only as "The Order". Through sexual magick and ritual submission she can become her truest self and achieve her magickal destiny.</span><br />
<div style="padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; padding-top: 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the trials of the initiation challenge even the strongest of wills. Can Lila's transformation through erotic servitude bring her closer to fulfilling her dreams?</span></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; padding-top: 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Anointed:</b> Transformed through sacrifice, the Hierophant must consecrate Lila as the worthy vessel after he receives the ritual blessing from his two attendants. This is her lesson in what it means to be anointed.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=adribrenauth-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004R1QF48&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=47&products_id=266"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Oath, Book 4: Anointed - ebook</span></a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming soon - now available for pre-order:</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love Under Will</i>, an interracial paranormal erotic romance featuring angels and fallens angels will be out with Constable & Robinson this summer in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blurb:</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels who serve the Powers That Be must work to fulfill Divine Will, or become one of the fallen. A</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n overwhelming assignment weighs upon Aliyael’s angelic shoulders: return Julael, a recently fallen angel, back to his rightful place among the rest of the seraphim.However Julael brings not only challenges towards her perception of angels and humanity, but to her heart as well. Can she rescue him from the darkness, or will she fall with him? Or worse yet…for him?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's now available for pre-order on Amazon:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><span id="goog_594267221"></span><span id="goog_594267225"></span><span id="goog_594267229"></span><span id="goog_594267233"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662?ie=UTF8&tag=adribrenauth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://adriannebrennan.com/images/mammothbookhotromance.jpg" width="131" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=adribrenauth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0762442662" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 13px;"> </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-6334683407729055222011-03-23T10:13:00.000-04:002011-03-23T10:13:09.438-04:00Kindle! Also known as "tech toy squee"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At long last, I have acquired through the whims of fate and fortune the wonderful gadget known as the Kindle. Already I have been reading the latest Shape magazine, the Onion newspaper, and some various freebies I found while surfing the Amazon.com Kindle site. I also have been taking a look at <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=adribrenauth-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004M18OK6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>the Dreams and Desires vol 4 anthology I am in and sampling the rest of the authors' work. It looks fabulous, and I'm really loving the stories in here! My only regret is that my Kindle doesn't support color so I can't see the cover in its full glory.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What uses have you found for your Kindle? Do you play games, read news? Do you get your favorite books on there or do you discover new ones? Or do you only prefer the free reads? Any great finds you'd like to share?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear your stories and tips. Meanwhile, I'll be here hugging my Kindle. It's an awesome tech toy of squee, and can see why it's a bestseller.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.adriannebrennan.com</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-20039279840737072682011-03-17T10:32:00.000-04:002011-03-17T10:32:13.480-04:00Gods bless the snakes, the Irish, and all things green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JuXC5QGFncXkyj3UFFWHEIgLOhmKKAAOepLgIDRJZ_jDb_Q0Lr2LuPXWtI2ZsBoukMlRe3go-JUtxycVD3nq_esplrJTxFSoMFMu3ut4Xu1rqaecCpoqZKO0ZiPHUl_3wcI/s1600/197260_10150123434174661_173370244660_6220094_8281795_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JuXC5QGFncXkyj3UFFWHEIgLOhmKKAAOepLgIDRJZ_jDb_Q0Lr2LuPXWtI2ZsBoukMlRe3go-JUtxycVD3nq_esplrJTxFSoMFMu3ut4Xu1rqaecCpoqZKO0ZiPHUl_3wcI/s320/197260_10150123434174661_173370244660_6220094_8281795_n.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Wear and Consume Green Things Day! As someone of Irish descent, I hear grumbling about how the holiday perpetuates the drunken Irish stereotype. From those who enjoy wearing green and drinking, I hear "Woo! Yay holiday!" Fellow pagans spend time complaining that the "snakes" St Patrick drove away were in fact the Druids and this day celebrates the persecution of ancient pagans. Then I hear some more about how the Irish were once discriminated against too, and this holiday is a nice reminder to appreciate Irish culture and that there was a time when we didn't--nor were we necessarily proud to be Irish.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might be thinking, "Can't we all just shut up and drink our green beer?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This holiday isn't going away. I live in Boston where it's been enshrined into almost religious significance, on par with the Red Sox and bitching about the MBTA. So folks, here's my suggestion: spin it into something positive. Discrimination and prejudice sucks, m'kay? Maybe after you're wearing beer goggles everyone looks the same and you can party with your neighbor instead of worrying about their nationality, religion, hair color, or ethnicity. Alcohol is the great equalizer and besides, who doesn't look good wearing green?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps I am being a bit too flip, but there's a core of seriousness to this post. I think we've lost our ability to allow ourselves a chance to just celebrate for the fuck of it versus turning it into a sounding board/soap box for our pet cause. The holidays are notorious for either "Putting the Christ in Christmas", "The pagans were honoring Mithras long before you were born", or "Hannukah isn't even a high holy day!", so it's almost a given that there's a longstanding tradition of making holidays into either a religious or political issue. We as a culture have forgotten how to have <i>fun</i>. We're too busy telling little kids Santa isn't real, handing out religious pamphlets, or yelling in editorials about minorities being oppressed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I saying discrimination isn't real? Hell bells, no. I still run into bullshit in regards to pagan belief and actually worked at a job where a co-worker overheard me talking of deity in the plural, pulled me aside and said, "You shouldn't talk like that in front of everyone." This was for a government job. And yeah, in regards to stereotypes the drunken Irish thing probably stopped being funny a while back too, but even I snickered at the "Irish yoga" shirt:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvx7QFeQBi1_6WK9uHuPHb14SS1xdr0gl-fCUhv21r_BvAnlljvvxlgvn-3Y6mECeAPHOVVausCGP9Jy1-NAaLdniDlmmVY70_hWndDahmOLsfGp8ttReaPzCf5UOHjosT0E/s1600/irish-yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvx7QFeQBi1_6WK9uHuPHb14SS1xdr0gl-fCUhv21r_BvAnlljvvxlgvn-3Y6mECeAPHOVVausCGP9Jy1-NAaLdniDlmmVY70_hWndDahmOLsfGp8ttReaPzCf5UOHjosT0E/s320/irish-yoga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's inevitable that I've offended someone by this blog post. If you are, I can only state the following from the bottom of my heart: "It's not easy being green."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-23310416350743692182011-03-16T12:37:00.000-04:002011-03-16T12:37:50.059-04:00If it ain't broke, don't fix it: US remakes of UK shows<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why does the US have to remake every freakin' UK show? The simple answer I can come up with is this: money. They want to make money off of UK shows already proven successful and it's the only way they legally can. Beyond that, I can't think of a single, solitary reason what the point could possibly be. Greed and laziness, that's what.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nine times out of ten, the US version is a total travesty, barely watchable if at all. The original humor, dialogue, and various plot points get either misinterpreted, butchered, or just downright missed altogether. I've also concluded I don't get 90% of American humor, but that's a topic for a whole other blog post.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sorry USA, but the only shows stateside I've found to be good thus far are Supernatural and Fringe. Being Human, Misfits, Doctor Who, and Torchwood are all fabulous shows from the UK. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe it's due to the fact that science fiction and fantasy shows are taken a lot more seriously over there than here as opposed to being dumbed down for the kids or sexed up for the desired 18-25 year old male demographic. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of being copycats (and terrible ones at that), why not look and see what makes these shows work and apply that to more original entertainment? Why remake them with horrible acting and a ton of extra special effects to compensate? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit to being a little leery of Torchwood coming to be filmed here in the US but given the same production crews and writers are in on it as they are in the UK, I will give it a shot. It's certainly a far different scenario than a US remake. Maybe if more US-UK cooperative efforts would occur, the television industry over here could get an education.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who knows? Maybe the horrible film remakes will stop then, too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-75483696434294444582011-03-15T08:00:00.000-04:002011-03-15T08:00:47.966-04:00On the importance of living<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of us are saddened by the tragedy over in Japan. It's something we can't wrap our minds around; thousands of lives suddenly snatched, gone without warning, in what seems like a fucked up, random fashion. For those of us not directly connected with anyone from there, it may seem a bit distant to us. We feel compassion and are horrified, but on some levels perhaps we just don't get it. Maybe we can't. Perhaps that's okay.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lost a friend of mine yesterday; he went to bed and never woke up last morning. He wasn't much older than me--in his 40s at most--and for reference I'll be thirty-three next month. His birthday would've been tomorrow. Too damned young, too sudden, so random...I'm in shock. I suspect I'll be in shock for a long time. He was a nice guy, one of those people whom everyone knew and liked. Just a genuinely great guy, quick with a smile. It's yet another loss I can't wrap my head around, but in a different way than my inability to process what's going on in Japan.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only way I can really wrap my head around the Japan thing in a way which brings it down to earth is to try and picture thousands more like my friend, their lives abruptly cut short by a vicious act of nature. And then I get it--it's that people thing. People living out their lives day to day, and catastrophe hits. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd love to be able to leave some uplifting, inspiring commentary to somehow tone down the impact of what I'm saying here, but I really can't. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's nothing cheery or inspiring about sudden, random death which snatches away a life in progress, leaving a person never to return. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I can really say is this: live your life in a way which reduces regret to either little or nothing. Don't spend so much time caught up in bullshit that you forget the people around you. Don't expect people to always be there; they could be gone tomorrow through no fault or intervention of any one's. You can't picture this now, just like you couldn't have envisioned a quake and tsunami ripping up Japan, or me imagining someone around my age dying of a heart attack, full of life at a club one day and gone the next. But you don't need to be able to comprehend such things in order to appreciate those around you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live for the now, don't just breeze through it. It's precious, and on a whim it can be gone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne</span><br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.adriannebrennan.com</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-84260027692050276542011-03-11T11:33:00.002-05:002011-03-11T13:12:58.822-05:00Natural disasters, and praise for the Internet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember back when Katrina first hit New Orleans, and my scrambling to get in touch with people whom I knew lived there, many of whom have since moved some never to return, and some who plan to move back at some point. Frankly if it weren't for the Internet I never would've known what was going on, nor would I have known if any of my friends were okay. Thankfully they're all fine and have been fine since, but not everyone was so lucky.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm feeling that same sense of gratitude towards the Internet today, as I also have friends in Japan, which just got hit with a massive earthquake today. Tsunami warnings are in affect for Hawaii, the west coast of the US, and various other locations, so there's concern there. We haven't heard the last of this one just yet.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be happy for the Internet. It brings us together and makes this world a bit smaller--not to mention the peace of mind to know how people are doing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've been affected by these events and/or live in these areas, please check in here. Let us know you're okay. I'm sure not everyone will have good stories to tell, but I'd rather know than not. Keep us aware. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My thoughts and prayers are with you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Edit: To send Red Cross $10 to help Japan, text 90999. I hear it doesn't work in Ireland (possibly UK as well) so I'm currently hunting down alternatives and will update when I have them. For now, visit their website at http://www.redcross.org and make a donation directly. Thanks!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne</span><br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.adriannebrennan.com</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-34542257395766079782011-03-10T11:47:00.000-05:002011-03-10T11:47:43.867-05:00Health tips, anyone?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love passing along and exchanging health tips. Here are a few from me:</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Keeping a water bottle at my desk at work and at home. That way I can make sure I get my 10+ glasses of water daily. I used to think that I didn't do well in the mornings; I'd wake up barely able to open my eyes, dizzy, and unable to focus. Turned out I was just suffering from mild dehydration on a regular basis. So I drink more water and I'll be using in a humidifier during the winter months.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Always taking the stairs. You'd be amazed how much of an impact going up and down stairs during your daily commute and at work can make to your health.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Bag lunching it when I can, and keeping healthy snacks at work. My place has a snack system complete with cookies, chips, granola bars, candy--and none of it is particularly healthy! So I keep veggies and hummus on hand if I get hungry so I don't turn to junk food.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) Drink green tea. Studies have shown it can help with your digestion and weight loss goals.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those are just a few from me! Does anyone have any of their own to pass along? C'mon, don't be shy! :D</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-74764226888160173922011-03-10T09:48:00.000-05:002011-03-10T09:48:31.811-05:00Sneak peek of Mammoth Book of Hot Romance, coming this summer!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check it out, Constable & Robinson just posted a sneak peek of the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance on Scribd.com. "Love Under Will", my paranormal erotic romance, is listed in the contents:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/50370311/The-Mammoth-Book-of-Hot-Romance">http://www.scribd.com/doc/50370311/The-Mammoth-Book-of-Hot-Romance</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Amazon.com, it'll be released on August 23rd of this year. In the UK, you can get it in July. On both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, it's now available for pre-order:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662?ie=UTF8&tag=adribrenauth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5aV0MG2y_n-35jB3avF5JKSkZeOfv-TIVhKgkSVeXB62qpdoBJPMhaLDcaCb46AGUiLykk_RNxfKjZMsvvUopWcuOS3okCGv5I6lQlrL25n7UQgv4Gbx6NVkDXXg3-NhkzQ/s1600/mammothbookhotromance.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Hot-Romance/dp/0762442662?ie=UTF8&tag=adribrenauth-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=adribrenauth-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0762442662" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it summer yet? :D</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm really happy with this story. It's set in Boston and is about an angel named Aliyael on assignment to bring back a fallen angel "to the fold", so to speak. However, she's utterly unprepared for the challenges he's got in store for her! I hope people will enjoy it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can read a bit more about it here: <a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/loveunderwill.html">http://www.adriannebrennan.com/loveunderwill.html</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-43147920871814046762011-03-09T11:01:00.000-05:002011-03-09T11:01:18.658-05:00Self-publishing: Viable or no?I know of a few authors who are self-published who do remarkably well for themselves. Their writing is amazing, well-edited, and they have been quite successful in gaining new readers.<br />
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Back in the day, you didn't touch self-publishing. In the hierarchy from top to bottom, it went from Print Published, Print and Ebook Published, Ebook Published Only, and Self-Published with each level having a greater amount of stigma as it went down the chain. The implication has long been that ebooks are not "real books", but with the advent of the Kindle and the Nook, this is finally being refuted.<br />
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Now it's falling to the last holdout of the claim to what is considered to be "real" publishing: those who are self-published. With the latest press regarding one self-published author, Amanda Hocking, this appears to be one more erosion in the long-held paradigm of what passes for a "real" book with "real" publishing. The argument against self-publishing is pretty similar to the ones often made against ebooks: supposedly they are badly written, poorly edited, and that traditionally published books are the only ones worth reading. In truth I find just as many embarrassing typos, bad editing, and awful writing in traditionally published books as I do ebooks, regardless of whether or not they have a publisher or are self-published.<br />
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It would seem that eliminating the middle man may be a boon to some who want to get their works out there. On the other hand, a one-man shop can be difficult to run. It's no secret to any writer that without an additional pair of eyes to look at your works, editing issues can occur. But as with any situation, these can be overcome regardless of what publishing route you take. One might also be able to make the argument that success is your proof: if you are self-published and you are successful, then obviously you are doing something right.<br />
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So what do you think? Is self-publishing good or bad? Does it stand the chance to become an alternative venue? Why or why not? What would be the advantages and disadvantages to choosing such a path in your writing career?<br />
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Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne<br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com">www.adriannebrennan.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-70796548801852089122011-03-08T10:54:00.000-05:002011-03-08T10:54:46.165-05:00The Oath, Book 4: Anointed now available at Freya's Bower!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The journey of Lila's initiation continues in book 4, Anointed, now available at Freya's Bower!</span><br />
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<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><div><table cellpadding="10"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://adriannebrennan.com/images/TheOathAnointed.jpg" width="133" /></span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come explore a world where magick, sex, BDSM, paranormal erotica, secret societies, and ritual drama meet...all in <i>The Oath</i>.<br />
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<u>The Oath</u> - Book Four: <i>Anointed</i> - Coming soon to Freya's Bower<br />
by Adrianne Brennan<br />
Genre: BDSM/Fantasy/Paranormal</span><ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Years ago, Lila pledged herself to the Greek god Dionysus, and the act of devotion changed her entire life. Now, her desire to serve has brought her to the doorstep of a secret society known only as "The Order". Through sexual magick and ritual submission she can become her truest self and achieve her magickal destiny.
But the trials of the initiation challenge even the strongest of wills. Can Lila's transformation through erotic servitude bring her closer to fulfilling her dreams?
<b>Anointed</b>: Transformed through sacrifice, the Hierophant must consecrate Lila as the worthy vessel after he receives the ritual blessing from his two attendants. This is her lesson in what it means to be anointed.</span></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buy link: <a href="http://adriannebrennan.com/theoath_anointed.html" target="_blank">http://adriannebrennan.<wbr></wbr>com/theoath_anointed.html</a></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Direct publisher link: <a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=266" target="_blank">http://www.freyasbower.<wbr></wbr>com/index.php?main_page=<wbr></wbr>product_info&cPath=14&<wbr></wbr>products_id=266</a></span></div><div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-60888733378664437862011-03-07T10:48:00.000-05:002011-03-07T10:48:02.691-05:00Is there truly such a thing as bad publicity?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to those who willingly get in front of a camera and spew their latest controversial opinion, they would say, "No, absolutely not...now if you'll excuse me, I have to bite off the head of a live animal on stage." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are such types of people victims of the "fame monster"? Or can they have the potential to at least spin the negative publicity into something positive and rise above it? I've often wondered if people either don't realize that what they're doing is a detriment to themselves, or they truly just love the attention in all of its forms.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think? Is there no such thing as bad publicity? Or should celebrities abide by the concept that with "absolute power comes absolute responsibility"? If the bad press isn't something that's completely their doing, can they have the power to turn it around and transform it into something good?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span><br />
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-40987967510965851992011-03-05T09:34:00.000-05:002011-03-05T09:34:29.987-05:00Exercise kills stress DEAD<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I seriously don't know what I'd do without exercise. No joke, I mean it. I work out to a number of fitness programs, my core one being P90X. While much of it right now is geared towards getting into prime shape for the Avon Walk in May (39.3 miles, baby!) it's also a good source of stress relief, helps me sleep better at night, raises my metabolism, makes me fit better into my clothes, et cetera, et cetera.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's funny how many people I know who tell me they hate exercise. My response is usually, "You're not doing it right." There's this thing called a "runner's high" which I also get after a good yoga session or weightlifting that is worth the sweat alone. I know of people who work out until they puke, and without a good trainer to monitor them it's likely they're overtraining and doing damage to themselves in the long run. Exercise shouldn't hurt; it should be challenging while you're doing it, yes, muscles unaccustomed to the workouts will be sore after, true, but you shouldn't feel sick or dizzy afterwards. If you are, take it down a notch or two!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to be one of those kids who hated gym class. I did just enough to squeak by and preferred being on the computer or playing D&D. I was never into sports, didn't comprehend why people did <i>any </i>of this stuff, and avoided it as much as possible. It wasn't until after I came back from college and in need of losing at least eighty pounds that I gave exercise a try. Quickly I discovered that bad days didn't feel so bad after a good yoga session and that if I watched tv while I worked out on the elliptical, the time just flew by. Before I knew it, I was down 100 pounds and fitting into clothes I once swore my hip bones alone couldn't wear.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are days when I lack the amount of time I'd like to get my workouts done. For that, I swear by the ten minute workout. One exercise per minute, a different one each minute, and give it all you've got. I use Tony Horton's Ten Minute Trainer for that, and swear by the cardio workout on there. I can work crazy hours as a software engineer and not get home until 10 or 11 at night, so I do my best to workout in the morning so I know I'll be able to collapse at night if need be. And also, it's a great replacement for that cup of coffee!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My advice to people who want to get into shape is this:</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Avoid plateaus. Vary up the workouts and never put all of your exercise eggs in one basket. Your body is very, very smart and will adapt quickly. Doing the same exercise over and over again will over the long term not produce the results you get in the beginning. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Stretching: you want to warm up beforehand, then do stretching, THEN go into your workout routine.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Women, stop worrying about "bulking up" on weights. Men bulk up because they possess far greater amounts of testosterone than we do. We are simply incapable of bulking up, and the muscle-y women you see in the mags frequently take supplements to look that way. Put down the one pounders and start lifting heavier weights. If you're doing 10-12 reps with little to no effort, increase the weight. It should feel challenging on the last couple of reps or you're not lifting enough. If you want to see examples of fit and trim women who lift weights, pick up a copy of Oxygen or Muscle and Fitness Hers magazine.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) I firmly believe in the trifecta of cardio, strength training, and yoga. The three combined is a powerhouse. Try to get each into your week: cardio 3-4 times a week, strength training another 3-4, yoga 1-3. I usually do cardio in the morning, strength training at night, or yoga in the morning, cardio at night...whatever works for you! I like combining both interval cardio and steady state each week.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) If you can't deal with gym memberships due to their schedule or your lack of funds, get exercise dvds and workout at home. I took the liberty of transforming my basement into an exercise room after the floods last year destroyed a good chunk of what was down there (and yes, it was a furnished basement). Do what you can!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) You don't need exercise equipment to get into shape. You can run or rely on your own body weight for resistance. There are plenty of exercises online if you Google that can help.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7) EAT RIGHT. All of the workouts in the world will not correct a bad diet, and if for some reason you get sick or are otherwise held up in your workout routine, all of the crappy food you ate will come back to haunt you, and before you know it your weight will skyrocket. Eat healthy carbs (potatoes, whole grains, fruit), plenty of veggies, and lean protein. Avoid processed foods, fried foods, and unnecessary sugar. Read labels, shop at farmer's markets, and learn to love the joys of the veggie. I recommend replacing at least half of what you consume for animal protein with veggie sources of protein--again, lean and not fried!--and you'll see a dramatic difference. I got into eating veggie burgers for this reason alone! Morningstar, Boca, and Amy's are my favorites but I really prefer Amy's. If you have a restricted diet due to food allergies or intolerances, there ARE ways around it. Quinoa is an excellent grain which is both soy and gluten free, is good for fiber and iron too. Lentils and beans are also fabulous, and I never have anything bad to say about chickpeas, ever.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8) If you don't have a lot of time to work out, don't stress it! Studies have shown all you need is a good ten minutes a day. Run up and down stairs, take it outside, follow a quick workout on tv or dvd. Length does not necessarily make strength.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd post more, but I'm about to go out for a morning run. :D Hope this helps!</span><br />
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-66059923352042914932011-03-04T14:46:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:46:57.667-05:00The Oath, Book 4: Anointed is coming to Freya's Bower next Tuesday 3/8!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know it's been a bit of a wait but I hope it'll be worth it. :D</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Oath, Book 4: <i>Anointed </i>will be coming to Freya's Bower this coming Tuesday on 3/8! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only one book away from the end of the tale, and once they're all out, they will probably be combined into a single volume at some point. :)</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on this and other books in the series, go here: <a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/theoath_anointed.html">http://www.adriannebrennan.com/theoath_anointed.html</a></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne<br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/">www.adriannebrennan.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-83472308798081859652011-03-04T10:36:00.000-05:002011-03-04T10:36:28.346-05:00When life interferes with living<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As some of you on Facebook and Twitter already know, I've undergone not one but two unexpected job changes in the past two months. The first job had me working all sorts of long, crazy hours which left me unable to do much other than occasionally work out, sleep, and feed my cats. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know a lot of you have families, more than one job, and are often the caretakers of at least one generation. Given how full my own life is, I give my blessings every day that the only people in the world I have to worry about are my two adorable kitties and whether or not they are fed, cuddled, and have their litter boxes cleaned.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But when do you do when you know you've hit the wall, and it's either you change your life or you start to fall apart? At what point do you say, "I've had it, I NEED more time in my life for the things that matter." This question is especially directed at fellow writers and anyone who has a primary career which is NOT writing. Have you ever hit this point and if so, what did you do about it? And how did you know when you had gotten there, what were the warning signs and how did you cope?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love & Magic,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adrianne</span><br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.adriannebrennan.com</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31808689.post-58328252351204537592011-02-01T12:50:00.000-05:002011-02-01T12:50:47.677-05:00A new book release to support an old cause!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was invited to contribute to the Dreams and Desires vol 4 anthology, I was thrilled. I was even more ecstatic when I heard its proceeds go towards a worthy cause: donations towards A Windows Between Worlds, which provides art supplies and art training as therapy for battered women’s shelters. It was the chance to do something positive for many women. Four million women per year, in fact.</span></span><br />
<div style="color: font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that you will consider purchasing either my short story in the volume, or the entire work in support, both of which have been released today. It will be out in print in a few weeks for those of you who prefer that format, but for now both releases are out in e-book:</span></div><div style="color: font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=47&products_id=260" style="color: #105cb6; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="300" src="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/images/TouchOfBlue_sm.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="Catch the Touch of Blue" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><a href="http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=47&products_id=261" style="color: #105cb6; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="203" src="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/images/dndv4sm.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="Dreams and Desires vol 4" width="135" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blurb for <i>Catch the Touch of Blue</i>: </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Isobel, an artist, possesses the ability to see auras around others. This secret has kept her from sharing her gift, and herself, with others since childhood. She meets John, a quirky yet outgoing man who demonstrates not just interest in her paintings, but in her as well. With each encounter he draws her out of her shell, and she finds herself falling for him. But dare she trust him with her secret?</span></div><br />
<br />
Love & Magic,<br />
Adrianne<br />
<a href="http://www.adriannebrennan.com/" style="color: #105cb6; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.adriannebrennan.com</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801615073397568941noreply@blogger.com0