Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday Evening Star: Something For Everybody

The Letter D...

So last week a post by the always cool Shay Fabbro was "brought to us by the letter P". She listed ten things she loved that began with P and said if you left her a comment, she'd give you a letter of your own. She was true to her word, and my letter is D.
Coming up with ten things that start with D was harder than you'd think. Seriously. Here goes:

1. Dunn (because it's my maiden name)
2. Mr. Darcy (well duh)
3. Dogs (a picture's worth 1000 words)
4. Dysfunctional (because that's how I live)
5. Daydreams (because that's how I survive #4)
6. Delicious (because it refers to food, and I'ma lova mah grub)
7. Daredevil (because if it doesn't scare you a little, it's probably not worth doing)
8. Dancing (because you're never too old...right Tami?)
9. Daughter (because everyone needs a daughter to keep them honest...right Sara?)
10. Daybreak (because it means you get another chance)

Now leave me a comment and I'll assign YOU a letter. Good luck!

Lucy 7

Speaking of luck, my friend and fellow Black Opal Books author Jami Gray tagged me with the Lucky 7 meme. The rules are pretty simple...


  • go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
  • go to line 7
  • post on your blog the next 7 lines, or sentences, as they are
  • tag 7 other people to do the same

My current WIP doesn't have 77 pages (yet), but here are 7 lines (or maybe 8, I lost count) from  page  7 of a piece I'm calling Hell...The Story. Ophelia Rand and her friends Sally Serpent and Jimmy the Ghost are sitting in the lobby of the Hell Hotel, wondering why one of Hell's Escorts tried to bring a live one through. And, I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this, either.     ;)

I came around in front of my desk, leaning back to rest my butt cheeks on the edge of the marble top. Under our feet, the tile floor showed a naked couple in a garden, circled by the feathers of a giant peacock. My feet were right by the peacock’s eye. “Makes me wonder what Leon’s up to.”
            “Losing it,” Jimmy said.
            “Yeah, dude must be like a thousand years old.” Sally shifted again so she could lean back against the arm of the couch and drape her legs over Jimmy’s lap. He put a hand on her thigh, letting it slide up to the hem of her skirt, which was way too high. Around me, the billowy silks started shifting to darker colors, deep ruby and gold and forest green.
Now the rules say I'm supposed to tag seven other bloggers, but that seems so dictatorial, right? So, if you want to play, consider yourself tagged.  ;)  Grab the Lucky 7 graphic and post your seven lines. Just make sure to ping me so I know to take a look, okay?

 We Have A Winner

Last Wednesday, Diana Brandmeyer was my guest with a fun & informative post about living a gluten-free life. Check here if you missed it. At the end of her post, she said that she'd give a copy of one of her books to a lucky commenter. The winner was Tam Linsey, and while I'll hook the two of them up via email, I wanted to announce it here, too. Congratulations Tam! You'll be able to choose either Diana's nonfiction book, We're Not Blended, We're Pureed or her romance, A Bride's Dilemma.


Final Thought

Let me set the scene...
I was driving my 14 year old daughter to her choir practice this afternoon. We were stuck in traffic on I5 and the radio wasn't playing something she could sing to.
R: Mom, can I ask you something?
Me: Um, okay.
(quickly thinking, I HATE that question. Can I trade you in for a 2-year-old, because they're just EASIER)
R: How come I look Asian?
(Now, for reals, if we lived in Hawaii, most people would assume she was hapa - her eyes have heavy lids and she has high cheekbones and she could be part Japanese or something. She's not. We're French, Irish, German, etc... I have NO idea why her eyes look sort of Asian.)
Me: Why? (thinking. your father really is your father, child; also thinking, this is important why?)
R: Two kids asked me what race I was at school today.
Me: (thinking something articulate like, Goddam kids) Well, supposedly your Grandfather's family has some Native American mixed in somewhere. Just tell them you're part Native American.
R: (sitting up a little straighter) Cool.
And that, friends, is the beauty of Middle School. On the one hand, one stupid question can ruin your day. On the other, Mom can still fix it with a few words. If she's lucky.
Peace,
Liv





Saturday, April 28, 2012

Word Choice: Saying Exactly The Right Thing


Hope   

Hope is the thing with feathers 
That perches in the soul, 
And sings the tune--without the words, 
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard; 
And sore must be the storm 
That could abash the little bird 
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land, 
And on the strangest sea; 
Yet, never, in extremity, 
It asked a crumb of me.


 
I woke up this morning thinking about word choice. So, as you do, I looked up my favorite Emily Dickinson poem. Because I can't imagine anyone who knows more about word choice than Miss Dickinson. 

When I was in college, I fancied myself a poet, and used to challenge myself by drawing the outline of a rabbit with one line. I tried not to lift the pencil from the paper or cross one line over the other, and the goal was to convey as much life as I could in the sparest of drawings. 

Drawing and writing might not be an obvious link, but the connection is real. I picture drawing that rabbit when I'm writing short stories, as I'm pruning away anything that isn't essential. I googled 'word choice' and found a quote that I like. "With good word choice, the writer creates a mental picture for the reader by using words that are specific and accurate." (From: Kim's Korner 4 Teacher Talk)

Specific & accurate. Those are important concepts when you're trying to tell the truth about an imaginary situation. There's never any doubt the Emily Dickinson's words said exactly what she meant them to say, though for the rest of us, finding that level of discipline is a life-long process.

I don't really have any answers today. Mostly questions: how do you approach word choice? How do you know when the you're using the most specific and accurate words possible for a given situation?

Peace,
Liv

Flying Bird by Jiri Hodan

Friday, April 27, 2012

Friday Fun: The Colbert Report

 So it's Friday, which means it's time to have a little fun. Right? Noni and I have been busy this week, searching for just the right video. Okay, that's a bit of a lie. Both of us have been busy, and this is a video we found a while ago that seems to fit the moment.


I mean, last week's video featured my husband's band, The Fentons, and it was presented in terms of romance. This week you're going to see the guy I'd dump my husband for in a second. (Sorry dear...)

Steven Colbert.

I think he's brilliant, and not just because he's smart and he can sing and he's a good Catholic boy. I love the way he's playing with irony to get his point across. So much of what's considered humor right now is pretty sophomoric - T&A, potty jokes, angry strings of F-words. Irony is a higher level of humor, and day after day, Colbert just nails it.


Dictionary.com defines irony as "the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning". In Colbert's case, it goes beyond words. It's his persona, his attitude, the deft way he covers his anger with a smiley face. He's been accused of promoting 'ironic rot' by the National Review, and, along with Jon Stewart, of being a symptom of the decaying politic system that defines this country. 

In his 2010 Los Angeles Times article, Will Bunch compared Stewart & Colbert to Glen Beck, the pundit they're supposedly lampooning. His assessment shows more similarities than you'd expect, although I doubt the crowds of people who went to see them on the National Mall would agree.

I would offer that this disagreement is a symptom of the real problem with our political system. People of opposing viewpoints don't listen to each other. Consider some research findings published in The International Journal of Press/Politics:


Using data from an experiment (N = 332), we found that individual-level political ideology significantly predicted perceptions of Colbert's political ideology. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the groups in thinking Colbert was funny, but conservatives were more likely to report that Colbert only pretends to be joking and genuinely meant what he said while liberals were more likely to report that Colbert used satire and was not serious when offering political statements.

So he's on both sides? That doesn't bug me at all. I'm glad there's a place liberals and conservatives can find common ground. IMHO, only a united front will fix the things that are wrong with this country, and only real dialogue will get us there. And if we're laughing at the same things, maybe some of that dialogue will happen.

Wow. That went much deeper than I'd expected. Noni's crying in her cocktail over here. In the interest of keeping to the Friday Fun theme, let's make a little hay with one of our major corporation person friends. Here's Mr. Colbert talking about a fave snack...



Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Gluten Free-dom with Diana Brandmeyer

 

Today I'm welcoming the awesome Diana Brandmeyer to the blog. She's a writer and blogger, and also keeps a strict gluten-free lifestyle. Since I've been trying to keep to a no-grains regimen myself, I was curious about how she does it. We had a bit of a chat about dinner....


DB: Thank you for having me on your blog today. I thought it might be fun to do a little role playing. Why don't
you ask me for dinner, Liv?

LR: I think I can do that, as long as I don't have to cook. You can see on the sidebar here it says "behind every great blog is an unfed husband".

DB: We're role playing, remember? Think of a meal you love to serve to people and then ask me over.

LR: Okay, yeah. I think I'll serve barbeque chicken, roasted califlower and ice cream sundaes for desert.

DB: That sounds amazing. I haven't had that in awhile. You know I'm gluten free right? That if you aren't careful I will be sick for at least three days?

LR: Bummer! How sick?

DB: What's the worst flu you've ever had? You know the one where you run for the bathroom, your entire body aches, the headache is a killer?

LR: Oh yeah. That really sucks.

DB: Now you're beginning to understand.

LR: Beginning?

DB: Yep, there's more. Not only do I get that reaction I also get 'brain fog' making it hard to focus on anything. Typing is impossible because my brain doesn't connect to the right fingers--that's not scientific, just what happens to me. And then there is the irritaiton at everyone and every thing that comes near me--think PMS on steriods. When I've been glutened my husband tends to find other things to do that don't involve me.

LR: Well, we sure don't want that happening. How do we keep your sunny personality in place?  ;)

DB: Do you have something to write all this down with?

LR: Writer, remember? Give to me.

DB: The chicken can't have anything added to it. Check the package and see if there is a percentage of broth injected. They use a broth with wheat. I can't have that. Next, make sure the barbque sauce doesn't contain, wheat, rye, or barley. There are only a few kinds that are safe. Jack Daniels Original is a good one.

LR: I can do that.

DB: There's more.  The califlower will be fine but the ice cream sundaes might not be. Some ice creams have wheat so please check before you buy it, and the toppings sometimes are coated in wheat to keep them from sticking.

LR: Seriously?  That's crazy. Anything else?

DB: Do you have a dishwasher?

LR: Yes, but I don't make guests help with the dishes, unless they offer...

DB: I always offer, Liv. My mother taught me that. If you hand washed all your dishes I'd ask you to use paper plates.

LR: Paper plates? Why?

DB: Because you don't eat gluten free so your sink gets used to wash dishes with gluten on them. I usually get sick when I eat at my mom's and I think that's why. Oh, and please don't use a wooden spoon and make sure your pans are really clean. Even better, can you line them with aluminim foil?"

LR: How 'bout we just order Chinese?

DB: That would be yummy but they use soy sauce with wheat. I have an idea. Why don't you come to my house for dinner instead?

LR: Much better plan, but I'll need to bring something so I don't feel all guilty. Maybe I can find something at the grocery with a Gluten Free lable on it?

DB: Perfect! Pamela's Cookies for dessert would be good.
;)

Thanks for playing along with me, Liv. Being gluten free isn't a choice for a lot of people. Eating even a tiny crumb of bread can make those with celiac or gluten intolerance sick. The hardest part is getting friends and family to understand we don't want to be treated special, but it's necessary. Family gatherings, parties with friends, holidays and eating at a restaurant are always a challange.

If you need to make a meal for a gluten free person ask what they can have. Check the labels. Don't be afraid to ask them to bring something they can eat. It isn't rude. I consider it a sign of caring.

Eating gluten free is expensive so we don't expect a holiday dinner to be made gluten free just for one person. It's nice to feel comfortable knowing that by bringing your own meal your hostess won't be offended.

Thanks for having me as your guest today, Liv.

No problem, Diana. Thanks so much for the post! And for those of you reading along, leave a comment because Diana is offering a giveaway. You can choose either her wonderful non-fiction book about combining families, We're Not Blended We're Pureed, or her romantic novel, A Bride's Dilemma. They both look like great reads!
Peace,
Liv

Monday, April 23, 2012

Monday Morning Post: Spring Edition



Something's happening today that hasn't happened in a while. It's sunny in Seattle. Okay, so the weather was awesome all weekend, but after so many months of overcast and rain and clouds and drizzle and mist and fog and damp, I want the sun to stick around for a while. Like, till next October, ideally.

Yeah, that won't happen. I'll be lucky if it's still spring when I wake up again. In the meantime, check out what's happening along my front walkway. The weeping birch is leafing out and all the Pacific Coast Iris are spreading their wings. Some of them look a little beat up, but by the time they're done blooming in the end of June, the asters will have pretty much taken over. If I had more energy I'd have pruned out the dead bits. Next spring...






The species tulips that come up in the bed to the left are pretty much done but if you look close you can see some pretty blue-flowered muscari, and in a little while the mint will fill in. The large clump if iris at the center is a random volunteer, and if it doesn't bloom I'm going to get rid of it. The stone birdbath was my 10th anniversary present to my husband.


 


 

Look! See, it is sunny. I'm not even joking. On the left you can (kinda) see a small maple that came from a start off the big tree in my parent's yard, and below is Burnsie the dog digging in the herb bed. He's discovered a passion for "gardening".  ;)


The shots below are of my back porch, where I ate breakfast this morning. It's my favorite place in the garden. If you look closely you can see the plants I bought a week or so ago, all ready and waiting to find their new homes. Soon! I promise. 
Now, what's the best thing about your garden?
Peace, 
Liv





Saturday, April 21, 2012

Writing Short Stories


After all the frivolity yesterday, it's time to get back to business. And the business here is writing. Well, I admit I get distracted easily, so sometimes it's vampires, and occasionally pirates, but on Saturdays, writing is the priority.

Today I want to talk about writing short stories. At the risk of blowing my own horn a little too loud, since December of last year I've had something appear in publication every month. That's five pieces pub'ed, and the longest was my 40k word novella, A Vampire's Deadly Delight. All the other pieces were in the 5 to 10k word range. I don't have some grand underlying strategy; it's just how things worked out. 

Right now seems like a pretty good time to write short stories. In January of 2011, Amazon opened its Kindle Singles store. Since then, they’ve sold more than two million singles*, or shorter stories between 5,000 and 30,000 words. Singles sell for between $0.99 to $4.99, and, as you can see from the numbers, they are selling like crazy. I don’t tell you this to advocate for Amazon or the Kindle, but to explain one of the reasons I think short stories are cool.

IMHO, the key to writing a good short story is to remember your limits. You’ve got 5,000 words, not 500 pages. That makes it essential that you start strong and make every word count. The first sentence or two needs to sell your voice, hint at conflict, and show some heart. You don’t have the luxury of a whole chapter to do that.

As an example, here are the first couple sentences from my short story ”Tangled Dreams”, from the anthology Bites – Ten Tales of Vampires:

I am an unapologetic choir geek. That’s probably not the sexiest thing you can imagine, but it usually doesn’t get me into trouble. Except the one time it did.

Right off you’ve got those three elements – a quirky voice, conflict, and an element of self-deprecation that suggests that this is a person you can care about. One reviewer even included this quote in their review because it made such an impression on them.  You need to start off with a strong hook, because you can’t waste time – or words – gradually acclimating the reader to what’s going on.

Another limit to keep in mind has to do with the scope of the action. I’ve read good short stories that covered long stretches of time, but those were the exceptions. I think it’s more effective to limit your plot to one episode where a spark is lit, it bursts into flame, and then the fire goes out. The main action in “Tangled Dreams” happens over the course of one evening and involves one conflict, and there aren’t a bunch of sub-plots that need to be resolved before everybody can go home. You can (and should) drop hints that there’s more involved, but keeping your focus on one event will make for a really tight piece.

The third limit I wanted to talk about has to do with your characters. You don’t have the space to really develop more than three or four, and if you try, you run the risk of confusing the reader. This goes hand-in-hand with the idea of keeping a tight leash on the action.  A streamlined plot with just a few essential characters will make for a stronger piece. If you’ve got a bigger crowd in your head, you’re going to have to aim your work towards novella-land, or else maybe you need to have a little ‘come-to-Jesus’ moment with your characters and see if they really want to be a novel.

It takes discipline to write a good short story. Every word is important, and you need to start strong, limit the scope of the action, and keep the number of characters to a manageable level. I find it really satisfying, though, to be able to create entire worlds in the space of twenty pages. It takes work, but it’s a whole lot of fun. Of course, this may also have something to do with my short attention span.
;)
If all of this has intrigued you, Bites – Ten Tales of Vampires is available from Amazon. So is Cutlass - Ten Tales of Pirates. You can also check out my story “Temptation’s Touch” in the newly released anthology Spellbound Hearts from Still Moments Publishing. And for those of you with a longer attention span, there’s my novella, A Vampire’s Deadly Delight, available from Amazon and Black Opal Books.
Peace,
Liv

Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday Fun: Birthday Edition

I thought about taking today off, because, you know, it's my birthday, and I should only have to do the things I want to do. Come to find out, what I wanted to do was put a post up on my blog. 

Go figure.

Well, half a post, at least. Today I'm guest blogging over at Decadent Decisions with my friend W. Lynn Chantale. She's all about romance, and so is my post. I ask the perennial question, what makes your heart beat faster?

My own answer to that question bears a direct relationship to the Friday Fun video for today. See, at the end of my Decadent Decisions post, I've got a link to the webpage for my husband's band, The Fentons. He's the bass player, and he usually stands on the right side of the stage - as you'll see in the video here. ;) And yes, his nickname is Snake.

Hope you enjoy this taste of FentonsTwang, and check out my post over on Lynn's blog.
Peace,
Liv

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A Love Letter to the Not-So-Special

Today my guest is the fabulous Kristin McFarland. Seriously, you guys, this woman knows more about Buffy the Vampire Slayer than I ever will, and she can talk True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Rachel from The Hollows, or just about any other paranormal book or television series that you like. She also has an awesome ability to analyze what she's seen or read and make sense out of it. And then she posts it on her blog. How cool is that?
Now she's here, singing the praises of the other guy, the sidekick. You know, it's like a love letter to all the Xanders in the world. Enjoy!


 So, for all the heros and heroines out there, here’s why you should pat your Zeppo-friends on the back and thank them for their quiet existence:

They’ve always got your back. Need a body buried? Someone who will back up your alibi or light the candles for a spell? Well, your unspecial friend will be there for you. She may know she doesn’t quite merit her own soap opera, so she’ll be willing to play a small part in yours. Call her up the next time you need a computer hacked or a shoulder to cry on, and she’ll be there... and you should thank your lucky stars she’s willing to play second fiddle.

They won’t cause much drama. They may occasionally get their knickers in a twist because you’ve been neglecting them for your sexy vampire boyfriend, but they’ll forgive you. But the benefit of being, well, a little boring is that they just won’t inspire their own plotlines. You’ll always have someone there to back you up and help you shine. And if you need someone stable in your life, look for an uninspiring friend.

They’ll never stop loving you. Sure, you’re dating the undead, you accidentally helped cause the death of an innocent man, and you’re a surly teenager all around. But none of that will matter to your secondary friend. When your parents would feel “disappointed” or even kick you out, your friend will hold your hand and tell you it will all be okay. No matter how bad it gets, he’ll still love you. And you’re a very lucky heroine to have that love, because even when your attitude gets bigger than your control, he’ll still believe in you.

So here’s to the not-quite-so-sexy, the less-brooding, the mundanely-talented, and the just plain, untalented humans out there. Without you, our fabulous protagonists would get stuck up the proverbial fecal waterway with no paddle—and we readers and writers would have no hope of their rescue. To all those who carry the burdens on plot on their shoulders with no successful love story to make the journey easier: we thank you. You are, like Xander, the unsung, underappreciated hero of our tales.

Without you, how would we hide all those bodies?

Great question, Kristin! Thanks again for coming by the blog.
Peace,
Liv

If you want to read more of Kristin's astute analysis, check her out on KristinMcFarland.com. And keep an eye out for our series of joint posts comparing True Blood with the Southern Vampire Mysteries...

Photo credit: 
http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/7932/324668-buffy_series_2_bewitched_
bothered_bewilidered_nicholas_brendon_6707129_1124_842.jpg

Monday, April 16, 2012

Monday Morning Post: Mash-Up Edition

Finished another short story yesterday. It's called The Loft, and I'm hoping it'll be included in an anthology of horror stories. Never tried to write a scary story before, and I have no sense of how successful I was this time. It's good to stretch, though.
                                                                       (Burnsie the dog discovers his passion for gardening.)
So spending yesterday wrestling with the laptop has me inclined towards blogs with a writing theme for today's mash-up. First, you should check out Sara W. Foster's post
Married To Her Father's Foe. It's a true story from the American Revolution, and I gotta think there's a historical fiction writer out there who'll be truly inspired by it.

Next, you should check out this post by A. Victoria Mixon: 3 Things To Know About Exposition & Telling. Victoria's an editor, writer, and blogger, and I love her posts because she's so smart and she says such intelligent things about writing. This post examines how the contemporary fascination with exposition is effecting what gets published, and in a later post she looks at some of the reasons why. Both of them are worth checking out.

Triberr introduced me to Melodie Wright, who blogs at Forever Rewriting. She's been involved in the A to Z Challenge - blogging on a different letter of the alphabet every day of the month of April, and you should look at her post K is for: keeping faith.  It includes a Vlog interview with NYT bestselling author Beth Revis and it's the most encouraging piece about failure you'll ever see.

This next one isn't exactly writing-related, but Julie Farrar wrote a thought-provoking piece about the Ashley Judd controversy in Who's the Worst Enemy of Women Julie's post contains a link to the essay Ms. Judd wrote about how women get unfairly judged by their appearance at every turn. Given that I'm turning 50 later this week, the whole kerfufle is really resonating, and Julie does a good job of expanding on the points Ms Judd makes.

Then, for something completely different, take a look at Ann Cory's Bawdy Talk - Sweet Saturday Sample . Her snippet's a tease, and I loved it. Her A to Z Challenge posts all show pics of dreamy vacation spots, and I liked this week's Six Sentence Sunday post, too, but it was a little too naughty for my PG rating. You can go there if you like. I won't tell...
;)
Peace,
Liv

Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday Fun



Happy Friday! I'm happy it's Friday, although it means my week of vacation is almost over. And since I've had a week off, my brain isn't working right and I'm having trouble thinking of funny things to say.
Noni, save me!
Well, actually, she already did. She sent this video over a day or so ago. Come with us on a little trip to Mother Russia. Or Alabama. One of the two. And as you watch the video, ask yourself whether those hairstyles are supposed to look like Elvis or if they're just happy to see us.
;)
Liv

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

How To Woo A Vampire

And now for something a little different - and totally fabulous - please check out this post by writer/blogger/friend/all-around cool gal Laird Sapir. She's also a closet DJ, and she put together this post with a set list for music with which to attract the undead...
Thanks Laird!
Peace, 
Liv

These days, everyone seems to want a little Vampire love. Trouble is, unless you are a part-fairy psychic waitress or a Petrova Doppelganger, it can be hard to know just how to land your own piece of blood-sucking arm candy.

Well, I'm here to help, with a step-by-step guide to snagging a vamp - and you won't even have to make a trip to Fangtasia.

Step 1: Go on a cleansing diet. Whether you want to attract the attention of a modern preternatural hottie like Damon Salvatore or reel in an old-school hunk of cold-blooded love like Lestat or Bill Compton, best to steer clear of vervain, garlic, and laudanum.

Step 2: Treat yourself to a makeover. Since most Vamps were born before your great grandmother learned how to walk, attract them by adding some old-school style to your wardrobe. Looking for a second glance from Eric Northman? Try some Viking braids or a horned helmet. Be creative, but remember: avoid accessorizing with silver or wood.

Step 3: This is critical. Just as music is capable of taming the savage beast, it is also the perfect tool for luring a Vampire out of his lair. Find your town's equivalent of Merlotte's or Mystic Fall's town square, and break out your boombox. Yes, I said it, Boombox. If you don't have one, start prowling ebay. Vampires are not going to be wooed by your ipod. Trust me.

Step 4: Blast some Vampire-lovin' tunes. I've compiled a list of suggested songs to get you started.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

(Oh, and while you're listening to the tunes Laird chose, open a new screen and check out her blog, lairdsapir.com. It's a very cool place!)
Liv  ;)


Bite by laird on Grooveshark

Monday, April 9, 2012

Monday Morning Post: The Cutlass Edition

Happy release day to me! Er, well, to US, since it was a group effort. I am proud to announce the release of Cutlass - Ten Tales of Pirates, a new anthology that was compiled and edited by the amazing Rayne Hall. It's available on Smashwords and Amazon (so far). Check out the company I'm keeping on this one!

1. KHABALLO by Margo Lerwill
Careened on a cursed island, the old captain and her men are caught between warring navies. 

2. VICTORIA AND THE IRONCLAD by Douglas Kolacki
An escaped slave and a pirate captain race to capture the Confederacy's ultimate weapon.

3. BLIND MAN'S BLUFF by Jonathan Broughton
The trickster's reward is deceit.

4. SKRITCH by John Blackport
Your enemy may be your best ally.

5. DIAMONDS AND BONES by Kris Austen Radcliffe
In space, you may need to deal for the diamonds your bones need.

6. UN HOMME DE COULEUR LIBRE by Liv Rancourt
Fate sets Robert's life on a new course.

(Yeah, I made mine bigger. So? It's my blog.)

7. SCYLLA AND THE PEPPER PIRATES by Rayne Hall
A spunky young woman sets out to rescue her long-lost lover.

8. BROADSIDED by JK Kiegan
Love can take you off course.

9. THE PENSIONER PIRATES OF MARINE PARADE by Jonathan Broughton
Rebel pensioners revolt.

10. THE BOOK OF ADVENTURES by Douglas Kolacki
In the Great Depression, two brothers find two kinds of escape.

For those of you who have been following along with this blog, my short story, Un Homme De Couleur Libre was written from the perspective of a 16 year old boy (check out my post here), and the piece is set in 1810 New Orleans. I'd love for you to read it and let me know if I managed to pull it off - both the perspective and the historical setting. And in the interest of garnering that feedback, I'd like to give away three copies of Cutlass. Leave a comment on this post, and next week I'll announce the winners. 

There's a snippet below to whet your appetite. Thanks so much for reading along!
Peace,
Liv



Excerpt...



February 4, 1810
New Orleans, Louisiana

             They say I am not yet a man. Maybe not in years on earth, but by my own measure, yes. I am old enough to love and I promise I am old enough to bed a woman. I am old enough to lie, and I'm old enough to do what I believe is right, even when it leads me to kill. The last one has aged me faster than any other thing.   
            At first, I was simply running, while trying not to appear rushed. The streets of the French Quarter were busy with people celebrating the start of Carnivale. I moved quickly through the laughing crowds, their gaudy silks and linens splattered by mud from the street and their perfumes barely covering the stench of the open sewers. They were French and Spanish and Creole, along with a few rude Americans, and everywhere there were dark-eyed women on the arms of fair-skinned men. 
            At Canal Street, I passed a pair of lamplighters working together to raise the ladders needed to light the oil-fueled lanterns that hung from iron poles along the street. I had run out in only my breeches, shirt and waistcoat, and while I blended with the rowdy crowds on Decatur street, here my missing coat would raise questions. I hoped to avoid notice because although I was one of the gens de couleur libres, or the free men of color, without the backing of my family, my safety was not guaranteed.
            The French Quarter's gardens and wrought iron balconies were replaced by the raw and unfinished American Quarter. I turned onto Magasine Street, a block away from a stretch of warehouses that covered the ground down to the banks of the Mississippi River. If I could make it to the river, I could perhaps climb aboard a barge heading north towards Destrehan, my father's plantation. I knew I couldn’t stay there, but it was the only idea I had. Before I could take action, the lamplighters turned the corner and began working their way towards me.
            I dropped into the shadow of a spare two-story clapboard building and pressed myself up against the wall, then slowly edged around until I was in the strip of weeds that separated this building from its neighbor. The clatter of horses’ hooves told me another party of men had joined the lamplighters. Angry voices knifed back at me from the street. I recognized my brother's friend Philippe. Someone must had watched me leave the lodging and followed, or else they never would have come this close. I couldn't clearly distinguish their words, but from the ire in Philippe’s voice I guessed that the lamplighters weren't providing him the information he sought. I had a moment of hope that they would pass by.
            A soft growl from behind me destroyed my tenuous sense of relief. I glanced back and saw the glistening eyes of an angry dog. The growl erupted into a staccato burst of barking.