The Running Commentary in My Head

Holiday Blog Contest and Hobbit Celebration

kikopyeandi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:37:31 GMT

When Hobbits celebrate, they GIVE gifts away. Many Native American tribes do the same thing when they have a potlatch. It’s a way of expressing your gratitude with the universe, God or the gods, however you believe. Anyway, in celebration of the release of my novella, The Holly and the Ivan, I have decided to give away four (4) e-copies of said book in a blog contest! Not that purchasing my little story will break your bank. For a little less than a couple of bucks you can enjoy a happy holiday romance. What more do you want? OR … You can leave a comment at the end of my blog (http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/11/11/holiday-blog-contest-and-hobbit-celebration/ ) describing one of your favorite holiday activities, or a favorite holiday romance. Leave the comment by December 14 and on the 15th I’ll toss the names in a hat and see who gets a copy. To read some more about Holly, see below: Los Angeles, CA November 2009 — Rachel Olivier announces the publication of the holiday paranormal romance, The Holly and the Ivan, out through Drollerie Press 2009. The only thing Holly likes as much as being in a band is being in a relationship. She can’t turn a cute guy down, and has the disastrous dating history to prove it. On the eve of her band’s biggest performance, a Christmas festival raising funds for the homeless, Holly meets two intriguing men, but even she can’t date both at the same time. So now the question is: which one? It takes some special holiday magic, a dash of music, and a little help from her friends to figure it out, but Holly’s heart wins out in the end. ( http://drolleriepress.com/rachel-v-olivier/excerpt-the-holly-and-the-ivan/ )

OUT TODAY!

kikopyeandi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:05 GMT

Los Angeles, CA November 2009 -- Rachel Olivier announces the publication of the holiday paranormal romance, The Holly and the Ivan, out through Drollerie Press 2009. The only thing Holly likes as much as being in a band is being in a relationship. She can’t turn a cute guy down, and has the disastrous dating history to prove it. On the eve of her band’s biggest performance, a Christmas festival raising funds for the homeless, Holly meets two intriguing men, but even she can’t date both at the same time. So now the question is: which one? It takes some special holiday magic, a dash of music, and a little help from her friends to figure it out, but Holly’s heart wins out in the end. Read an excerpt here: http://drolleriepress.com/excerpt-the-holly-and-the-ivan/ This ebook novella is available through http://drolleriepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=98. Drollerie Press specializes in fantasy and other mythical transformative fiction in electronic book, audio, and print.

Remember this?

kikopyeandi — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:49:53 GMT

Want a chance to win a free copy? Then check out the chat happening tonight at Drollerie Press at 9 pm Eastern time. http://drolleriepress.com/events/upcoming-releases-4/

Wanna win a $20 gift certificate....

kikopyeandi — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:02:32 GMT

to the book vendor of your choice? Go here to see how you can: http://www.angelakorrati.com/2009/09/28/another-faerie-blooddrollerie-contest/

Release Update

kikopyeandi — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:31:48 GMT

So, Drollerie Press talks about my upcoming story here: http://drolleriepress.com/from-the-editors/upcoming-releases-3/

Announcing the cool cover art of my new holiday romance!

kikopyeandi — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:39:58 GMT

I just got sent the new cover art for my new holiday romance, The Holly and the Ivan. It will be coming out soon through Drollerie Press.

September Drollerie Press Blog Tour – How Music Influences Our Writing

kikopyeandi — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:18:23 GMT

As posted on my blogetary (http://www.puttputtproductions.com/blogetary)... Drollerie Press (http://www.drolleriepress.com) (which is having a live chat on Sunday, September 27 at 4 pm Eastern and will be giving away books during the chat) is hosting yet another blog tour and the September theme is how music influences our writing. For this tour, a number of Drollerie Press authors are hosting each other on our blogs. I am hosting Isabelle Santiago. Isabelle Santiago is a romance writer who likes to mix it up. The author of “Surfacing,” “Cinematic Royalty” and “Dark Hollywood Nights,” she is not content to write the typical alpha male/lady in distress tales of love and/or lust. She instead writes more unconventional, and even uncomfortable, love stories. And while the settings of these romances vary from historical to fantasy to crime to YA to regular old contemporary, they all carry in common the demand from the hero and heroine to be more. As she notes on her website, the heroine doesn’t choose between bad and good, but between good and better. Every decision brings change, and sometimes sacrifice. People get hurt and life doesn’t always offer a happy ending, but not everyone is looking for a typical romance, either. Isabelle’s upcoming story through Drollerie Press, “Zerah’s Chosen,” is the first of a series and is high fantasy involving elementals, prophecies and forbidden love. It will be exciting to see what she does with it. For now, I have the pleasure of hosting her here as she discusses how music has influenced her writing. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce, Isabelle Santiago. _______________________________________________________ About two years ago I was introduced to the amazing world of fanmixes. What is a fanmix, you say? Ahhh, well, let me share the incredible magic of this form of fanatical expression. A fanmix is like a mixtape, devoted to your favorite fandom. It can be about anything. A major character, a couple, an unconventional couple (not someone who ever hooked up in said movie, tv show, or book), a friendship, or even a particular episode or book from a series. :D I, being the music junkie that I am, find this whole concept to be deliciously addictive. Livejournal has a great community for fanmixes. And I’ve seen a mix for just about everything you can imagine. Which of course, got me searching through my music archive for songs I could put together in some sort of fanmix. The mixes usually tell some sort of story. A progression of the story told, or some new story, from the mixer’s point of view. Mine turned out more like a soundtrack, chronicling the relationship of two characters in my fantasy series. They’re best friends, but he’s very much in love with her, and she’s very much in love with someone else. Ahhh… isn’t that what makes so much wonderfully angsty music? ;) As an author, I use music all the time to help me create moods, but this differed in that I searched out music specific to two people and their character and relationship arc. What I found was absolute magic and loads of inspiration. Here’s just a sampling of the songs that made the cut: Near to You – A Fine Frenzy: Near to you, I am healing But it’s taking so long ‘Cause though he’s gone And you are wonderful It’s hard to move on Yet, I’m better near to you. You and I have something different And I’m enjoying it cautiously I’m battle scarred, I am working oh so hard To get back to who I used to be Vermillion Pt 2. – Slipknot: I’d do anything to have her to myself, Just to have her for myself Now I don’t know what to do I don’t know what to do When she makes me sad. She is everything to me The unrequited dream The song that no one sings The unattainable She’s the myth that I have to believe in All I need to make it real is one more reason I don’t know what to do. She is the Sunlight – Trading Yesterday: And if loving her is Is a heartache for me And if holding her means I have to bleed Then I am the martyr Love is to blame She is the healing And I the pain She lives in a daydream. I don’t belong. She is the sunlight. The sun is gone. And the song I consider their theme song, the one I listen to and it still gives me goosebumps because I picture them perfectly - Recessional – Vienna Teng: “It’s so beautiful here”, she says, “this moment now.” And this moment, now. And I never thought I would find her here: flannel and satin, my four walls transformed. But she’s looking at me, straight to center. No room at all for any other thought. And I know I don’t want this. Oh, I swear I don’t want this. There’s a reason not to want this but I forgot… In the end, I created a nifty little CD cover for it on Photoshop, loaded it onto a playlist, and play it on repeat whenever I’m away from my WIP. It always manages to make me want to rush back to it. And who knows? Someday soon, after their story is revealed to the world, I might share this fanmix/soundtrack as a friendly bonus for those who grow to love these two characters as much as I did. Isabelle Santiago Because not every girl dreams of prince charming… website: http://twistedfairytale.net blog: http://twistedfairytale.net/blog/ myspace: http://www.myspace.com/isabellesantiago

And the winner of the Blog Contest is...

kikopyeandi — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:26:55 GMT

Lisa!

Beyond Centauri: Anniversary Issue Blog Contest

kikopyeandi — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:23:49 GMT

Just in case you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ATSyujWplc And to sign up for the contest go here: http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/08/06/beyond-centauri-anniversary-issue-blog-contest/

Beyond Centauri, July 2009

kikopyeandi — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:27:02 GMT

So, I have found a decent image of the current cover of Beyond Centauri. My story, The Spider and the Crow, appears in this issue. As soon as I get copies in, I will be announcing another blog contest for anyone who’s interested! This is a great magazine for kids who are interested in science fiction and fantasy. It’s something they not only could read, but also submit stories and poetry to if they are so inclined. Check it out and see if you or kids you know may be interested. http://www.genremall.com/zinesr.htm#beyondcentauri

Totally Forgot This But...

kikopyeandi — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:09:47 GMT

In July I have another children's short short story coming out in Beyond Centauri. It's not out until July sometime, so I can't give you a cover, but it was cool news I forgot about until I checked my calendar today. So, I thought I would share.

Free press!

kikopyeandi — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:15:16 GMT

My company got mentioned in an article: http://www.examiner.com/x-13832-LA-Self-Publishing-Examiner~y2009m6d24-To-edit-or-not-to-edit-dont-let-this-be-your-question

Poking the cat's butt

kikopyeandi — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:40:47 GMT

For your entertainment pleasure... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8s2lHSENi4

New Glasses Vlog

kikopyeandi — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:31:39 GMT

Okay, because Grrrr was begging for people to vlog and Barsnake did his bit, I have thrown my minute and a half into the ring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgX0UBA-06U

San Francisc Vacation The End - The Train Trip Home

kikopyeandi — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:35:05 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/17/san-francisco-vacation-the-end-the-train-trip-home/

San Francisco Vacation Day Seven - A Day with Dad

kikopyeandi — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:04:39 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/17/san-francisco-vacation-day-seven-a-day-with-dad/

San Francisco Vacation Part the Sixth - Time for Tea!

kikopyeandi — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:47:07 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/15/san-francisco-vacation-part-the-sixth-time-for-tea/

San Francisco Part Five - The Transition

kikopyeandi — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:16:39 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/14/san-francisco-vacation-part-five-the-transition/

San Francisco Part Four - New Shoes and German Food

kikopyeandi — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:48:18 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/13/san-francisco-vacation-part-four-new-shoes-and-german-food/ No picture yet cuz tribe and my cat are not cooperating.

New Issue of Chocolate Zoom is Up!

kikopyeandi — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:21:19 GMT

Crossposted from my Blogetary blog. I keep forgetting to post this new issue. There's an intriguing article in there for growing a chocolate garden (I didn't write I swear, but I wish I had!): http://www.chocolatezoom.com/

San Francisco Vacation Part the Third - Shopping and A Pub Crawl...

kikopyeandi — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:11:58 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/13/san-francisco-vacation-part-the-third-shopping-and-a-pub-crawl/

San Francisco Part Deux

kikopyeandi — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:27:43 GMT

http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/11/san-francisco-vacation-part-deux-city-wide-trek/

What I Did on my Spring Vacation

kikopyeandi — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:35:24 GMT

Part One: http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/05/11/san-francisco-vacation-part-one-the-journey/

Blog Contest Reminder

kikopyeandi — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:52:57 GMT

Still a blog contest going on for the flash fiction piece in the kids scifi magazine. Until the end of May 15th, you can leave comments here: http://puttputtproductions.com/blogetary/2009/04/30/beyond-centauri-another-blog-contest/

Home now

kikopyeandi — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:11:49 GMT

Eventually, I'll post pics or a blog, but right now, Pye is barely letting me use the computer. I'm being commanded to make up for a weeks worth of head rubs.