Pretty Snow

The snow is still coming down, but more of a mist now.  Not likely to get more than another inch.  It's quite beautiful.  Too bad it didn't come Monday.

Boxing Day Surprise

View out my front door...birds furious feeding

We got almost three inches.  20 miles north of us got nearly a foot!  We stayed at 33 degrees so it was mostly rain all night.  Has the temperatures dropped just a couple degrees we would have been snowed in.

The winds are hard, wind chill bitter.  Maybe another inches or so.

A Boxing Day Snow!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Merry Christmas to Everyone.
 I hope you found peace and fellowship on this special day.

London Police move to enforce copyright crime

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121217/12455321410/london-police-to-set-up-special-copyright-crime-police-force.shtml

London Police To Set Up Special Copyright Crime Police Force

Merry Christmas and Yule from my home

Working on my new study

I am doing a new study, and just finished the accent wall behind the desk.  Rather fitting, I think, for an author who writes Medieval romances.

I have always love Accolades by Leighton, so was very thrilled to find it in a tapestry that just the perfect size to fit the wall.

John Mellencamp speaks out against piracy

John Mellencamp

Musician and Activist

"Tell me where, under today's conditions of de facto indentured servitude, will the new artists come from? If I were a young songwriter today, I would definitely be looking for another way to earn a living. The same would go for the young screenwriter or novelist. And what about the guy who only had one or two hit records 10 or 50 years ago? What happens to this guy who depends on that income to support his family if people are stealing those songs now? Tough luck, right? This is the thread of failure in front of all artists today. Art exclusively as a hobby -- that's the "new model" it seems. And to all you bloggers who have prophesized that this new way is going to somehow provide sustainable careers? Your prophecies did not and will never come true. If there is the occasional sparkle of success, it usually turns out to be nothing more than a novelty, not a new business model. We need to restore intellectual property to its rightful owners and reconstruct the business that has lost thousands and thousands of jobs plus billions of dollars in revenue."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-mellencamp/online-piracy-search-engines_b_2018332.html

Read the whole article.

Amazon launches new 8.9 Kindle HD

the all-new Kindle Fire HD.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G isn't just the best tablet for the price, it's the best tablet. $499 now gets you a large-screen HD tablet with a stunning 8.9" display, exclusive Dolby audio, dual stereo speakers, the fastest Wi-Fi, ultra-fast 4G LTE wireless, plus our new unprecedented $49.99 one-year 4G data package. Customers save hundreds of dollars in the first year compared to other 4G tablets. Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is also available in a Wi-Fi only model for $299.

Kindle Fire HD is the world's most-advanced 7" tablet, with a stunning HD display, plus the same exclusive Dolby audio, dual stereo speakers, the fastest Wi-Fi, and 16 GB of storage. Kindle Fire HD is just $199.

We are also introducing the world's most advanced e-readers,Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Paperwhite 3G.

You'll do a double take when you see Kindle Paperwhite—we've added 62% more pixels and increased contrast by 25%, so whites are whiter, and blacks are blacker. We've also added a revolutionary built-in front light for the perfect reading experience whether you're out at the beach or at home in bed.Kindle Paperwhite starts from just $119. Kindle Paperwhite 3Gis available for $179 with free 3G wireless—never pay for or hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot. We've also updated our smallest, lightest Kindle with improved fonts and 15% faster page turns—it now starts at just $69.

Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite are each in a class by themselves when it comes to hardware—there's nothing better. But the real magic is that they are also a service. When combined with our enormous content ecosystem, unmatched cross-platform interoperability and standard-setting customer service, we hope people will agree these are the best tablets and e-readers anywhere, at any price.

Amazon owns the rights to the backlist of Dorchester Pub

Amazon Publishing Acquires Publication Contracts to Over 1000 Books from Dorchester Publishing

SEATTLE—August 30, 2012—Amazon Publishing today announced that it has acquired through an auction the publication contracts of over 1000 books from Dorchester Publishing. As part of the process, Dorchester authors were offered the opportunity to join Amazon Publishing and receive the full back royalties that Dorchester indicated were owed.  

“Working with the Dorchester author community during this auction process has been a tremendous experience for all of us,” said Philip Patrick, Business Development Director at Amazon Publishing. “We are happy to be able to pay their back royalties and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the Amazon Publishing family.” 

“Amazon Publishing is breathing new life into my series, and I’m very excited to see what the future holds,” said Tracy Madison, award-winning author of the Gypsy Magic series.

“I am excited beyond words about being offered this chance to join Amazon Publishing.  I cannot thank them enough for stepping in and giving former Dorchester authors the chance to move ahead,” said Deborah MacGillivray, author and agent of the late Dawn Thompson, author of The Ravening. “Dawn literally lived for her writing. Amazon Publishing is helping me safeguard Dawn’s legacy, and to see that new readers can continue to find her books,” said Dawn’s sister, Diane Thompson.

“This new relationship will enable the works of countless talented fiction writers to serve their established readers and reach new ones across the globe,” said Gregg Loomis, author of The Bonaparte Secret.

“The transition from Dorchester to Amazon Publishing means that our authors will now be able to reach so many more readers and markets worldwide than they ever could before.  That truly is something to celebrate,” said Vicky Piekarski and Jon Tuska, co-owners of Golden West Literary Agency, in a joint statement.

Going forward, the acquired Dorchester titles will be published under the appropriate Amazon Publishing imprints: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror titles to 47North; Romance titles to Montlake Romance; Mystery and Thriller titles to Thomas & Mercer; Westerns and other titles to AmazonEncore. Titles will be available both in print and as Kindle books. Under the terms of Amazon’s bid, any former Dorchester Publishing authors that chose not to work with Amazon Publishing will have their rights revert back to them to pursue other publishing opportunities including self-publishing via the Kindle Direct Publishing platform.

Amazon Publishing is the publishing arm of Amazon.com. Amazon Publishing’s West Coast Group includes imprints AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing, Montlake Romance, Thomas & Mercer, and 47North. Amazon Publishing’s East Coast Group publishes adult trade, children's and young adult titles. For more information about all imprints of Amazon Publishing, 

visit www.amazon.com/amazonpublishing. Amazon Publishing is a brand used by Amazon Content Services, LLC. 

Court rules in piracy case - very good news!

Rapidshare has been ordered to now monitor the uploading of illegal copies of books to their webhost or face substantial fines.

read the story

The first battle won in this ever growing problem that undermines the ability of authors to support themselves and their families.

Super review for A Wolf In Wolf's Clolthing

A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing
Deborah Macgillivray

Paranormal romance
Available from Dorchester Publishing
ISBN: 0505-52781-2
August 2009

Trevelyn Mershan, vice-president of Mershan International and self-proclaimed big-bad wolf, only has to stand still before women are all over him, vying against each other to end up on his arm and in his bed. He's a man who knows what he wants, and allows nothing to get in his way. And what Trev wants most is Raven Montgomerie, a woman he views as the innocent Little Red Riding Hood, on his arm, in his bed and on her knees. Not only because he desires her, which he does, but because her grandfather's financial dealings killed his father, and Trev is after revenge. Raven Montgomerie neither sought nor desired another man in her life after her first marriage ended so disastrously. Gifted with a magical, fortune-telling gypsy, she is warned to beware the wolf in sheep's clothing. And when a Trevelyn Sinclair mysteriously appears at her side posing as her date to thwart her ex-husband's ridiculing, she instinctively knows he's the wolf of her fortune and her dreams. However, Red Riding Hood also senses her wolf is carrying a deep dark secret and that trusting him will only end in heartbreak. A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing, the third installment in the sisters of Colford Hall series, is a stand alone magical story woven throughout with fairy tale metaphors and mysterious magic. Ms. Macgillivray creates multi-dimensional characters that effortlessly draw the reader into her world of money and power poised against love and vulnerability. Trev Mershan/Sinclair is a hero worthy of the name. Despite his original intentions, he rescues Raven every time she is in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. Raven Montgomerie seeks nothing more than a quiet life free of conflict. She is everything Trev is not. Where he is over-confident, she is unsure; where he is brash she is mellow; where he is boastful she is humble. She surrounds herself with wounded creatures and heals them with love. A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing is a story brimming with love, desire and conflict that makes the reader long for more. This is the first story of Ms. Macgillivray that I've read and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy stories that have witty dialogue, intelligent characters, and sensuous passion filled with fairy tale-like magic. Overall rating: 4 1/2 hearts Sensuality rating: Very sensual Reviewer: Kathryn February 18, 2010 The ROMANCE STUDIO http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/wolfsclothinhmacgillivray.htm

Remembering Dawn....

Today is 2nd Anniversary of the passing of Dawn Thompson. We who loved her quietly keep her memory close to our hearts. It's still very hard to believe she is gone, hard to believe it's two years.

Her last wish was for us not to forget her.

We remember, Dawn. Every day we remember....

"Best Book" review for One Snowy Knight

One Snowy Knight by Deborah MacGillivray

One Snowy Knight by Deborah MacGillivray
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Historical
Length: Full (378 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: LASR Best Book
Reviewed by Camellia

One Last Hope…Lady Skena MacIain has seen much hardship this year, and she fears worse is to come. For a bloody battle in Dunbar has left her a young widow, and her Scottish fortress without protectors. She wishes she could be as hopeful as her babes, who believe the Cailleach, the Lady of Winter, will send them a miracle in time for Christmas. But life has taught her that things can never be so easy…

One True Love?Until a mysterious warrior is found amid a blinding snowstorm, sick with fever. As Skena nurses the handsome knight back to health, even she begins to believe he might bring salvation to her little keep—and passion to her life, as his body awakens a long sleeping desire within her…a desire her touch stirs in him as well. But his wounds speak of danger, and Skena will soon learn, his past carries a secret that could shake her home—and her heart—to their very core…

ONE SNOWY KNIGHT is a beautiful story. The heroine saves the hero and he saves her right back—again and again.

In 1296, Noel de Servain, wounded and war-weary, seeks peace and a home to call his own at Craigendan Keep in the Northland of Scotland. King Edward gave him the title of baron and Craigendan Keep for his many years of service—years of service fraught with the ugliness of war.

Lady Skena of Craigendan Keep, an Ogilive woman with mild witch power, searches for Andrew and Annis, her twins, who have sneaked out of the gate in search of a mythical character: rather than the mythical character, they find Noel unconscious and almost covered in snow. When Skena finds them, they declare that he is their Christmas Knight, the knight of their wishes. While she long ago gave up on wishes coming true, she puts her own thoughts aside and defenses their Christmas Knight from the wolves until help comes—just one more fearsome task that falls her lot.

Since her husband left to fight against King Edward eight months ago, she has taken on the responsibilities of taking care of the Keep and its people. Being told her husband is dead, Skena knows changes will come but while things are in transition, she fights drought, famine, and defends the Keep with old men, women, and children. Bone weary and struggling with deep-down fear, Skena faces her fears. She even makes a sort of peace with herself as her old nurse Muriel tells her she must forget the past and do what has to be done to ensure their survival. The old woman says, “…men run stag wild locking horns, but women must wage war with their bodies and minds”.

The secondary characters help make ONE SNOWY KNIGHT a story rich with love, full of intrigue, and laced with magic, myths, and superstitions that thrill and chill. The antagonists are so sneaky and warped they make the reader shudder.

Deborah MacGillivray’s magical writing takes the reader to the place where the action is so the cold, hunger, fear, and a myriad other emotions flood the senses. Most of all, she lets the reader vicariously experience the love of Noel and Skena that encompasses the very best soul mates have to offer each other.

Redemption and the ushering in of a new start take away the grayness of life and bring hope along with clear evidence that dreams and wishes really do come true.

ONE SNOWY KNIGHT is magical. It is worth keeping.

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-snowy-knight-by-deborah.html