Tag: A. Catherine Noon

  • Saturday Showcase – Upcoming Releases!

    Saturday Showcase – Upcoming Releases!

    I\’m so excited.  I\’ve been emailing around the interwebs and am tickled pink, purple, and yellow to report that I have TWO surprises for you coming in October!

    October 19th, author Tina Holland will be coming to KK to talk about her craft of scrapbooking.  Tina is a trip – she lives on a self-proclaimed \”hobby farm\” in Minnesota, writes sexy romances with the tagline, \”Have You Been Naughty Today?\” and hopes one day to open a bed and breakfast with her husband, a pilot and something of a mad scientist himself.  My kind of people!

    When I asked Tina what crafts she likes, she said none.  None?  NONE?  Well, scrapbooking.  It\’s really her aunt\’s passion, she told me, but from the sounds of it I think Tina qualifies as a crafter.  Have you seen some of these scrapbooks?  But I want to know more about why she focuses on writing and what niche it fills for her in terms of creative expression, and how that ties in with scrapbooking.  I can\’t wait.

    On October 26th, author and textile artist Maddy Barone will be coming to play!  I so want to marry Maddy and hide her away as my kept woman to write books and make stuff.  Multi-talented, she can design period clothing, knit, write awesome books, and I wouldn\’t be surprised to find out she can do magic too.  We haven\’t yet managed to meet in person, though we\’ve talked on the phone, but one day I will make her part of the Noonypod.

    Noonypod.  I just made that up.  I love it!  🙂

    Now, don\’t be like that.  You won\’t be assimilated, silly!

    At least not until October…  o.O…

  • One, Two, Three, FOUR!

    I moved recently. If you\’ve read my posts recently, this will not be news.  If you\’re new here, welcome!  ~waves~  I\’ve moved recently.

    Yeah, I said that already.  Stress makes me repeat myself.

    I moved… Just kidding.  But as part of that move, I got all out of whack with myself and my promotional calendar.  I\’m in the process of climbing back on that horse and, apropos of that, have been wandering around the interwebs, looking for places to share the luv.

    Well, today I hit the jackpot and have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR posts to share with you!  (I know I sound like a late-night television ad – \”Don\’t wait, call now and get TWO widgets for the price of one.\”)  So, in an effort to spare you my move-inspired sense of humor, I shall get to the links:

    First up, my friend and mentor Tina Holland invited me to be on her blog and I jumped on that one with all four feet!  Hell, I even borrowed feet to jump on it with.  With which to jump on it…  Whatever, I\’m there.  I\’m so excited!  She wanted to know more about what it\’s like to write with a partner.  Come on by!  The Clog Blog

    Next up, we have my regular monthly post for Beyond the Veil.  I have to laugh – I started to write it and realized I\’d started writing to next month\’s theme.  Oops.  I went with it, though, and give you \’Dem Bones, \’Dem Bones…

    As rarely happens, my regular post for Torquere Press\’s LiveJournal coincided with my Beyond the Veil post, which is why I have FOUR offerings today instead of one.  Lucky you!

    My first journal post is about searching for the magic formula that makes a short story something special.  (Wow!  Look at that accidental alliteration.)  Seeking Short!

    My second journal post is about music, writing, and inspiration.  I share some of my favorite musicians that inspired the Persis Chronicles.  The Music of Persis.  Check it out!

    Thank you for visiting!

  • Happy Autumn!

    Happy Autumn!

    Inspired by Calligrapher Margaret Shepherd\’s daily calligraphy blog, and her entry #223 Celtic Color and Line, I drew this up for our family\’s dinner celebration today.  In honor of J.R.R. Tolkien\’s characters, we\’re even having elevenses and afternoon tea!

    Happy Autumnal Equinox for those of you above the equator and Happy Spring for those of you below it.  May your cup runneth over and your nylons wear without runs, may your internet be hiccup free and your stove hoods avoid birds (long story, that).

  • Saturday Showcase – Me!

    Saturday Showcase – Me!

    Now that we are moved and almost all settled in, (I unpacked the last box of books today!), I have knitting knews – and it\’s HUGE!

    I\’m knitting again!

    That\’s right, sports fans, I started knitting again!  My carpal tunnel is still aching, but it\’s subsided enough to let me do some gentle tasks.  I also started playing the piano again and am doing some finger-strengthening exercises from the Hanon book that are really helpful.  I\’ve noticed my hands don\’t ache as much and I\’m getting strength back in my fingers, though I still get really numb.

    Wow.  Get me talking about my hands and I sound like a little old lady.  \”My bunions are…\”  Yeah.  Shaddup and git ta tha good stuff!

    I bought some very ridiculously expensive suri alpaca and Merino wool blend, one hank of cream and one of … hmm.  Mocha?  Sand?  Not sure.  It\’s pretty, whatever it is, and beautiful to work with.  I wanted to do a pattern that set off the colors well so I settled on making a short stole with one of Barbara Walker\’s patterns.  Take a look at how it\’s coming along:

    I figure it will be long enough to wrap around the neck like a collar and then be secured with a shawl pin or something similar.  I wish I had enough for tassels, because I think that would look cool, but there isn\’t enough of the stuff unless I want to take it apart and make it more narrow.  I don\’t really want to do that, so a pretty shawl pin (or maybe even a button) it is.

    Stay tuned.  I have weaving journal pictures to share but I\’ve been so busy with the move that I just haven\’t had time.  What WILL you do without me?

    Knit!

    Duh.

  • Thursday Teatime: A Visit With Shelley Munro! – and a Contest!

    I am so excited!  Today I have a special treat for you, complete with a contest!  My buddy Shelley Munro is releasing her new book and agreed to do a guest post for you today.  Take it away, Shelley!

    The Attack of the Dust Bunny

    Housework

    It’s the bane of my life, especially when there are so many other interesting things to do. The truth is when I’m in full writing-mode the housework goes by the wayside. Oh, I keep up on the washing since it’s easy enough to toss a load in the washer and let it chirp merrily through a cycle. The kitchen is also fairly tidy since we have limited space. The vacuuming and dusting, not so much.

    Mr. Munro is very supportive, but sometimes even he’s horrified by the size of the dust bunnies that lurk in the corners of our house and scuttle under the beds. Mr. Munro says some have attacked him, but he’s been known to fib when it suits him. Just ask my father about Father’s Day and the bottle of bourbon…

    I’ve been inside houses that are spotless and others that aren’t so clean. I think our house falls somewhere in the middle, and I’m happy with that position. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers spent a lot more time doing housework than the average woman does today. Part of that is due to mod-cons and many women now working outside the home, but I’m sure glad times have changed. I couldn’t make a career out of housework.

    I say let the dust bunnies have their fun in the corners while they may. I’ll slay them at some stage…

    Julia Maxwell, the heroine in my latest release, Past Regrets, is a secretary turned strip club manager. She’s a busy lady these days, so I’m thinking that her dust bunnies and my dust bunnies would rival each other in size. Maybe they should get together and have a party, but heaven forbid if they go forth and multiply!!

    Here’s the blurb for Past Regrets:

    Never look back…unless that’s where your heart belongs.

    Love and Friendship, Book 2

    Julia Maxwell was a seize-the-moment party girl until the night she spent with up-and-coming rocker Ryan Callander. From that moment, she was a one-man woman. Pity he hasn’t kept with the program.

    Tired of the secrets that have kept her out of the press and Ryan’s fans happy, angry with mounting evidence of infidelity, Julia is older, wiser, and determined to divorce his cheatin’ ass.

    Ryan’s long European tour had more than its share of hard knocks—one of which landed on his head when he was mugged. Divorce papers waiting for him at home are a shock that fills in some of the holes in his sketchy memory. But it could be too late to salvage his marriage.

    If Ryan thinks flirtatious smiles, seductive touches, and hot-and-heavy kisses are going to smooth things over, Julia’s got a hammer with his name on it. To her surprise, he picks it up, determined to rebuild a bright future for both of them. But the past is lurking with some missing pieces that could bring their hearts crashing down.

    Product Warnings

    Contains a pissed ex-stripper turned burlesque dancer, a bunch of nosy friends and a smooth-talking rocker with one thing on his mind. Stripper poles and skimpy costumes may be involved.

    What say you about dust bunnies? Are they real or mythical creatures?

    CONTEST: Win an Amazon Gift Certificate. To enter the draw, answer the question above and complete the rafflecopter.
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Past Regrets Buy links: On sale this week only at Samhain Publishing, 30% off normal retail price!

    Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand with her husband and a rambunctious puppy called Bella. She writes spicy romances for Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. To learn more about Shelley and her books visit her website.

  • A New Way of Looking at the World with a Smartphone

    Join me at the Samhain Publishing blog for some thoughts on taking pictures with your smartphone.  Where have you wandered lately?

  • There\’s An Alien In My Office!

    Come join me over at Torquere Press\’s blog for the Alien In My Office!  (And see pictures of the new shelves with their newly-arranged books!)

  • There\’s An Alien In My Office!

    Come join me over at Torquere Press\’s blog for the Alien In My Office!  (And see pictures of the new shelves with their newly-arranged books!)

  • You\’ve Got the Moves!

    I\’m over at Samhain Publishing today, talking about moving and books.  You know those lovely \”A Writer In Her Library\” posts?

    Yeah, I had to PACK all those books.  ~whimper~

    Stop on by; I\’d love to hear from you!  ~link~

  • You\’ve Got the Moves!

    I\’m over at Samhain Publishing today, talking about moving and books.  You know those lovely \”A Writer In Her Library\” posts?

    Yeah, I had to PACK all those books.  ~whimper~

    Stop on by; I\’d love to hear from you!  ~link~

  • Moving Beyond the Veil!

    Join me at Beyond the Veil today for a tale of moving and woe.  more>>

  • Join Us at Top2Bottom Reviews!

    Due to madly moving mayhem, we didn\’t have internet access until today.  But we\’re so grateful to Top2Bottom Reviews for hosting us on Friday!  We have an interview, some posts, and just all around goodness – and wowsers, their mancandi images are worth a visit just in and of themselves!  Join us!