Archive for the 'home life' Category
-image-Soon…I promise!
Unpacking boxes in the new house. But soon, I will be updating this web site (well, not me personally because I have no idea how to do things on the intertubes, but anyway) and then I’ll start blogging again! I’ve decided to do a twice weekly post. How’s that sound? And yes, there’s an actual book by me coming out later this month. It’s called Sexy Ms. Takes and it’s a 3-in-one Encounters. First book since Oct. 08. That’s a very long time.
* Special bonus quiz: Soon…I promise is a line from what Stephen Sondheim musical?
First correct answer wins a copy of SEXY MS. TAKES!
Posted by Jo Leigh @
10:09 am |
-image-The Irony of Linear Time
Just a few days ago, I got an email that defined bittersweet. Dotes, you see, was adopted. His biological father had never seen him before he was killed in the submarine Seawolf in WWII. Dotes and I had both tried to find his biological family, but we sucked at genealogy and never did. The email was from his first cousin. Turns out there was a large family who’d always missed him. It would have pleased him so much to learn about his father, although his adopted father was wonderful. I’ve corresponded with his cousin and it’s been fascinating. Seems there’s a nephew out there who looks very much like Dotes. Here’s a picture of his father, circa 1944, when he was 27. He had been awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Navy Medal. His family was going to give the medals to Dotes. I know he would have been honored.
Posted by Jo Leigh @
10:06 am |
-image-August 4
Here’s the hard part about journaling and being a professional writer: It’s so very easy to hide behind the words. I’m in grief counseling, which is a good thing, and I’ve been asked to journal about what’s happening in my brain. I’m swimming in murky, sad waters, and I do believe writing it down can be very helpful. Only I keep writing pretty words. Big words. Trying to get it just right. When I do get over myself, finally, and get to the raw parts, I’m only there for a minute, a few lines, then the wall comes back and I’m all about the writing instead of the emotion. I’ve tried listening to music. Writing at different times. Closing my eyes as I write on unlined paper. So far, not much luck. I suppose the only thing to do is to keep on doing it. Maybe I’ll shut up long enough to really say something – eventually.
Posted by Jo Leigh @
1:36 pm |
-image-July 28
Interesting (to me) bit of info on how women’s minds differ from men’s regarding sexual responses:
I’ve been fascinated by the slash fiction phenomena ever since I heard about the original zines featuring Spock/Kirk, before the interwebs became a giant scary super-scifi octopus with tentacles in every nook and cranny on earth. The thing I found most puzzling was that these m/m fictions were written primarily by women for women. I was even more surprised that I very much liked reading some – only two pairings ever got my panties in a bunch, but I seem to be conservative in slash circles. Now, Scientific American has reported some findings that may inform the discussion.
“The results, the researchers say, suggest that women are not only aroused by a variety of types of sexual imagery but are more flexible than men in their sexual interests and preferences.”
Women’s brains FTW!
But, the article infers that women need context for sexual satisfaction. Although women are aroused by visual stimulation, they want the romance, too. They are wired for romance novels that end with a woman who has found safety and bonding with her mate. And mostly, in slash, I’ve seen the most overall reader satisfaction from scenarios that also end with a safe bonding. The biological imperative: let me show u it. :)
As you can probably tell, I’m doing a considerable amount of research concerning the brain and sex, the brain before during and after intercourse, and also really hot slash. I’m also attempting to write the actual book, which is moving along at the same rate as the tectonic plates. I’m also a bit jealous of all the SF bound, but in truth, I’m incredibly not okay enough to go to National. Or to go much of anywhere. Especially because Wednesday is our anniversary. Shit.
Posted by Jo Leigh @
10:01 am |
-image-July 14
I’m coming back to the world, slowly. This has been the hardest month of my life, but with so much support from real life friends and family to online friends from the writing community that I’m still relatively sane. Thank you again, all of you who’ve reached out. Odd things have happened, things that I never would have guessed that got me through. Mostly, I was searching for ways to disappear, to escape.
I ended up watching DVDs of Criminal Minds over and over again. (I told you – odd). For some reason, I could let go of everything while watching. I read, lots, but mostly fan fiction. Yeah, go figure. I had to go to the dentist last Wednesday, and I inexplicably fell apart there (embarrassing as hell) and went into a nose dive that lasted until yesterday. My friend Debbi finally yanked me from the house and we went to the movies. Saw WANTED, which was a huge disappointment to me. But getting out was good. As was the popcorn.
So today I’m going to write again. As you can imagine I’m very disassociated from the book, and I have to reacquaint myself with the characters and the world I’m writing about. Go me. And weirdly, my heroine’s name is Vivianne, a name that was questioned by friends and editor as being a bit old-fashioned and weird. Now that the Jolie-Pitt’s have named their new daughter Vivianne, I’m thinking it won’t be so weird any more. (Another weird moment – headline: Jolie gives birth to twins. Um, no. Not this Jolie at least. I prefer: Jolie voted best breasts in Hollywood. Ha!
I know there’s still more adjusting and grieving ahead, but I don’t feel as though I’m drowning today. It’s a good thing. One step forward. :)
Posted by Jo Leigh @
9:56 am |
-image-Back, Finally —April 25
I’m not only back, but finally over jet lag and such, just not over the back pain caused by horrible airplane seats. I had the best time – talked and talked with my amazing nieces, nephew-in-law, amazing sister and played with adorable Great Nephew. (I explained to him many times that I’m his Great Aunt – emphasis on the Great. I’m quite sure he understood, despite his only oral confirmation – the informative “Hudda” followed by flinging his rubber toy into the air).
We had a non-traditional Passover. All vegetarian, deliciously so, and a lot of very thoughtful discussions, including one on romance novels as subversive, feminist material. It was awesome.
I tried a GPS in my rental car, which got me lost on the first turn. I was in Manhattan, trying to get from La Guardia to the NJ Turnpike when I found myself heading to Staten Island at 10pm. I freaked mostly because I’ve only driven in Manhattan itself or to Long Island. By some miracle I made it onto the Turnpike, then realized at almost 1am that I’d somehow missed my exit entirely and gone almost 100 miles out of the way. (Pittsburgh. Sigh.) So I got a motel room and retraced my steps in the morning. The whole experience proved to be amusing to my family.
I now need to jump back into work despite the fact that I’m obsessing over my vegetable garden. Which I can’t even start until the end of May. I did, however, order my tomatoes and red peppers, but they won’t arrive until the end of May, either. And how in the world am I supposed to narrow down my flower garden choices? I have to plant in containers, and I can’t buy several hundred of those, so I must choose. It’s very difficult.
Reading: Catch of the Day by Kristen Higgens (wonderful!)
On Deck: Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
Posted by Jo Leigh @
7:49 am |
-image-Away…
I’m off to New York for a week. Everyone be good. :)
Posted by Jo Leigh @
6:50 am |
-image-March 24
Hope those of you who celebrate had a wonderful Easter!
Anyone know a clinical neuroscientist, or someone else who studies the brain? I’m needing some questions answered for a book, so I thought I’d ask here.
As for the books, they are inching along. Plotting is great, although until I have the characters’ journeys nailed, it all feels like a jumble.
The fun thing I’m doing at the moment is planning my garden, although the last frost here isn’t until June, but some friends are building me a 4X4 veggie patch which I’m so looking forward to. I’m also planting some heirloom tomatoes and I’ve got my nose buried in the Burpee catalog because oh, my! Veggies! In the front part of the yard it’s going to be one giant container of herbs then a bunch of butterfly-attracting flowers. I love it last year when I watered the herbs – the scent was heavenly. I’d grow them for that even if I never used them in cooking, which I do. For the 4X4, I’m planning a picking garden – fresh salad plucked moments before they hit the table. ::sigh:: happiness.
In the anti-happiness department, I’m putting together my taxes. Eeek.
It also looks as if I’m going to New York for Passover this year. Four days with my sister (the Rabbi) and her brood. I haven’t seen my family in ages so it’s going to be wonderful. Except for the flying part. I hate flying and wish they’d hurry up and get those Star Trek transporters up and running. Sheesh. At the very least, we should have had flying cars by now.
Reading: Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
On deck: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
Posted by Jo Leigh @
10:16 am |
-image-Turning to a New Page
The book is done and sent and I’m a little worried because I actually liked it a lot. That never happens. But, we’ll wait and see what my editor thinks before worrying overmuch. I took an extravagant nap on Saturday, read, went to bed early. Yesterday, I finally saw Juno, which was good, but not fabulous, and again, went to bed early. It’s mostly like this after a book. The characters, however, are still swirling in my head. That will last for longer than one would think. Mostly until the next idea gels.
I’m also having a klutz day. Spilled coffee, then grabbing for cup spilled all the pills from my pill case and that was a royal pain in the ass. There’s a mouse who’s decided it likes our house, and chose the moment I was scrounging pills from the carpet to dash across the room. Can’t remember where we put the no-kill traps, so it looks as if I need to purchase more. Oh, and I really do have to have that root canal I’ve been putting off.
::sigh::
Not the best morning I’ve ever had.
I’m supposed to go plot new books with my writing buddy. I’m afraid I’ll somehow manage to blow up her house, though. I’m not usually this klutzy, but there are days when it hits like a ten-ton truck. I think I heard somewhere that there’s a hormonal thing going on that prompts this kind of nonsense. I hope it leaves before I take down the whole city.
Hope you’re all having a much better Monday!
Posted by Jo Leigh @
10:46 am |
-image-A Month of Wonderful Movies
This month, Turner Classic Movies is having their annual 31 days of Oscar, which means a bounty of fabulous films for these writers-strike days. I went to the monthly schedule and sat down with my DVR and programmed a whole slew of old favorites like Topper, I Married a Witch, the original Born Yesterday with Judy Holliday, The Awful Truth, A Thousand Clowns, My Favorite Wife….well, you get the picture.
I still haven’t finished all my RITA books yet, but some are very good. Then of course I have a book due end of Feb, and wouldn’t you know, that’s kind of occupying most of whatever brain cells that I have left. Oddly on this one, I seem to be in a weird pattern of writing the chapter, then dreaming revisions that night, then re-writing the chapter, and moving on to do the same thing with the next chapter. Usually I don’t dream my revisions (I actually don’t think it’s fully dreaming. It’s that space where I’m not completely asleep but not really awake) until I’m at the very end. Hm.
How’s it going with you guys?
Posted by Jo Leigh @
11:06 am |
