Saturday, December 22, 2007

Happy Birthday, Capricorn!



The sun enters the sign of Capricorn at the Winter Solstice and stays there until app. Jan. 19.

This sign is represented by the goat and the wise old man, like the symbol of Father Time we sometimes see at New Year's. Capricorns are sometimes thought to be "born old" as they tend to be very serious minded. They're also known for their ambition. No one climbs to the top of the mountain quite like the goat!

The planet Saturn, father of the gods in Roman mythology, rules Capricorn, and the Romans celebrated the Winter Solstice as Saturnalia. Saturn is the taskmaster of astrology. Hard work is rewarded and luck plays no part in it, a lesson Capricorns usually learn at an early age.

Capricorn is a cardinal sign, meaning an initiator of action, and an earth signing, meaning down-to-earth, practical action. You won't find many dreamers here, unless, perhaps, the natal moon sign is in Pisces or conjunct Neptune. Of course there's always an exception. John Denver, Elvis Presley, Rod Serling and J. R. R. Tolkien were Capricorns.

When it comes to romance, Capricorns are considered to be most compatible with other earth signs, Taurus and Virgo, or the water signs, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. Of course, much depends on other aspects of the chart.

More famous Capricorns include Clara Barton, Robert Bly, Humphrey Bogart, Pablo Casals, Benjamin Franklin (talk about a wise old man!), Barry Goldwater, Alexander Hamilton, Lady Bird Johnson, Isaac Newton, Mao Tse Tung, Richard Nixon, Louis Pasteur, Edgar Allen Poe, Albert Schweitzer, Denzel Washington, Woodrow Wilson, and Loretta Young.

Happy Holidays!

Linda

Saturday, December 15, 2007

EPPIE Envy

I'll confess. I've been suffering from EPPIE envy for some time now.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the EPPIES is a major e-book contest sponsored by EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, an organization of e-book authors and publishers.

I first saw the EPPIE statue at the 2003 EPICon in Tampa Beach, Florida, where my dear friend Helen Haddad won the EPPIE in the Romantic Suspence category for her wonderful book, Picture of Guilt. A year later at the EPICon in 2004, I had the honor of accepting two EPPIES for my friends, Catherine Snodgrass and Bryndis Rubin, in the same category, for their novel, Judging Ellie.

Since then, I've been lusting in my heart after an EPPIE. I've entered the contest year after year, hoping to make the final round, but to no avail. Until now.

Imagine, then, my delight at learning that Finding Jason, written under my pseudonym, Lyndi Lamont, is a finalist in the GLBT category. I am both thrilled and stunned by the honor of being an EPPIE finalist. My only regret is that Helen is no longer with us to share in my excitement at being a finalist. She loved Finding Jason and I know she'd be as happy for me as I was for her.

I'm also thrilled that Caitlyn Willows, my friend (and roommate for the upcoming EPICon) is also a finalist, in the Erotica category, for One To Grow On. We'll sit together at the EPPIE banquet and quiet each other's nerves while waiting for the announcements, console each other if we don't win and celebrate if one of us does win.

Wish us luck in March.

Lyndi

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Different Points of View



A while ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Seal Beach Leisure World Writer's Club on the subject of point of view. During the talk I read excerpts from my historical romance, Rogue's Hostage, to illustrate the points I wanted to make.

Imagine my surprise and delight afterwards when I received a note from the club president, Shirley Roberts, containing a poem she had written based on my talk. I asked her if I could post it to my blog and she graciously agreed.

LOOKING AT ROMANCE NOVELS

by Shirley Roberts

Linda spoke of Point of View
An idea not so new
But when applied to love and sex
Can often reader's mind perplex.

First she-view tells of handsome face,
Firm muscles, smile and strident pace,
Eyes that probe with deep desire
Sure to set her own on fire.

He-view sees innocence, temptation
Filling him with contemplation.
Holding her within strong arms
Victim of her female charms.

There are no sublime surprises.
Transpires just as one surmises:
He - the hunter, she - the prey
Or they reverse another day

Depicts a short vicarious fling
Providing sense of the real thing.
But what you feel is up to you -
It all depends on point of view.

c. 2007

I think Shirley did a marvelous job and I can't thank her enough. Her poem brightens my day whenever I read it.

~~~~~~~~

And speaking of Rogue's Hostage, I recently produced a video book trailer for that story. A video trailer gives a different point of view of a book, say a blurb or excerpt, as it can convey the overall tone of the story, whether it be adventurous, menacing, romantic, sexy, etc. I used more urgent music for Rogue's Hostage than I've done for other video trailers, since the story is darker and more adventurous than most of my work.



I hope you enjoyed the poem and video.

Linda