Who’s A Recipient of the Sweetest Award? ~ Moi, Ain’t That A Kick In The Head?

I’ve been called a lot of things, but not often “sweet.” Perhaps…intense, stubborn, opinionated, but I digress.

Of course the one who deemed this blog to be the recipient of the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award is indeed a sweet lady herself. And she’s prone to baking awesome strawberry shortcake. That’s Barbara Robinson, writing as BJ Robinson. Author of SOUTHERN SUPERSTITIONS and LAST RESORT. Check out her blog, Christian Inspirational Fiction, also nominated for the Sweetest Award. http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com/

The rules for the Irresistible Sweet Blog Award are that nominees thank the person who nominated them,  nominate at least ten other blogs and contact them to let them know, share seven random things about yourself/your blog.  Here goes…

My Ten Nominees for the Sweetest Award…

1. FAY LAMB ~ http://faylamb.com/ontheledge/on-the-ledge/  On The Ledge, an interesting, topical blog surveying the writer’s world, with tons of humor

2. LORILYN ROBERTS ~ http://lorilynroberts.com/blog.html An inspirational blog about homeschooling, animals, biblical topics, parenting, politics, and of course writing

3. STACI STALLINGS  ~ http://stacistallings.wordpress.com/ Books From The Heart, reader reviews, Bible study, fiction/non-fiction, and more.

4. LINDA WOOD RONDEAU  ~ http://www.lindarondeau.blogspot.com/ This Daily Grind, author interviews, inspirational topical articles

5. JANALYN VOIGHT ~ http://janalynvoigt.com/blog/ Live Write Breathe, creating worlds of beauty and danger, living a writer’s dream

6. TRACY KRAUSS ~ http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/ Expression Express,  author interviews, the arts and inspiration

7. VIRGINIA TENERY ~ http://agatharemembered.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated Agatha Remembered, showcases the best in faith-based fiction

8. WENDY L. YOUNG ~ http://wendylyoung.wordpress.com/ reviews, interview, guest posts, author resources

9. ELLEN C. MAZE ~ http://thejudging-ellenmaze.blogspot.com/ Curiously spiritual vampire tales-the blog, geared to the discerning reader, reviews, author interviews

10. TERIC DARKEN ~ http://tericdarken.blogspot.com/ Dark Domain, a really sweet guy blogging about faith found in the darkest of places.

Here iare seven random things about me and/or the Crime Fictionista blog…

1. I have a passion, go absolutely bazonkers for a suspenseful, page turner of a crime fiction novel. And I go round the bend for detective novels.

2. I’m a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (NYC) and worked in the bridal industry. In the world of fashion I used to hear the term “fashionista” bandied about. So, I thought, why not a Crime Fictionista? And the idea for the blog was created as well as a neat moniker for moi.

3. I love the quality of contemporary inspirational crime fiction (mysteries, romantic suspense, thrillers, detective novels) and can’t wait to showcase these new novels when they come out. I love finding a new author I’d not been to familiar with before.

4. I enjoy immersing myself in research in the post WWII era in American history. My Sanctuary Point series showcases that period in this country’s history in my breakout novel BURNING HEARTS (arson/murder and romance) and GOODBYE NOEL (Christmas/New Year’s/winter themed).

5. I’m fiercely loyal to other authors. When I really like a book or author I’ll promote that author with vigor.

6. I’ve been an animal rescuer for about 28 years. In this time I’ve found homes for about 40 cats and dogs. I have a house full of the less adoptable one, the quirky ones, more antisocial and reclusive one. I’ve also rescued and released baby squirrels who fell out of the nest.

7. I’m very proud of my social worker husband who’s assistant director in the substance abuse program of one of the craziest public hospitals in New York City. If I need an off the wall druggie character, I simply ask my DH for a profile for a particular drug and its effects on a person. I’m equally proud of my teenage daughter who has auditioned for three of NYC’s public art high school and also applied to one oceanography high school, as weather and oceans is her other passion.

Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Dean Martin

My New Profile Pix Is Up ~ True Redhead

This is the real me!!!!!

I was soooo bored without my spikes, so teenage daughter Alyssa took this of me with my spikes. Now it feels like me.

Hubby took this at my Birthday breakfast at one of our fav diners…guess what…I’m 39 again!!!

Pix #2 at same breakfast.

Ye olde birthday candle blow out!!!

If You Could Be A Character, Who Would You Be?

 

If You Could Be A Character In Any Novel/Video/TV Show, Who Would You Be?

In Christian romantic suspense I’d go with Susan May Warren’s bush pilot Andee McLeod (also called Emma, the Scottish vernacular for “lady”) in Expect the Sunrise. She’s smart, beautiful, has the gorgeous and rugged FBI agent Sterling “Mac” McRae falling for her. She leads an exciting life…what’s not to like?

Second runner up would be Hannah Alexander’s E.R. doctor Cheyenne Allison in Hideaway. She truly inspired my respect.

In secular crime fiction, well, can I be Joe Pike? In the Robert Crais series of Elvis Cole novels, Joe’s the enigmatic, silent partner in the Elvis Cole Detective Agency, also a gun shop owner and the hinted at owner of various real estate properties all over Los Angeles. Yeah, he’s a guy, but what a guy. He’s tough, honest, honorable, loyal to his friends, and perhaps the most dangerous man I’ve come across in crime fiction. I just don’t want to look like him, not with those tattoos of his.

In movies I’d want to be any heroine Kim Novak played. I love Kim Novak, what a lady. There’s also Nora Charles, wife of Nick in the Thin Man books and movies (played beautifully by Myrna Loy). No mere sidekick, Nora is the moral and intellectual equal of her PI husband, quite often his moral superior. I’d be OK with being her.

On TV, there’s Honey West (1965-66, played by Anne Francis). Of the pre-feminist era, Honey’s inherited her dad’s swanky PI firm, and with her pet ocelot Bruce in hand, assisted by the rugged Sam Bolt, goes off to fight crime. I think I’d only want to be Honey West for a day, though.

Would I want to be high fashion model Maddie Hayes (played by Cybil Sheppherd)? Probably not, or at least not for more than a day. But I thought I’d mention her.

 

The Well Dressed Capriciously Curvaceous Crime Fiction Writer

Has anybody created a fashion blog that’s sensible? Is there a blog out there for larger size women that isn’t angry and holding men responsible for their plus size? Haven’t any Christians been called to minister to the fashion world by starting a clothing company that doesn’t make clothes that expose all the parts of my, shall we say, capriciously curvaceous body, that nobody wants to see exposed anyway; least of all me. And it’s not that I’m ashamed of my curves, I love them, but the whole world doesn’t have to see every single curve.

I know I haven’t been called there…to the fashion world, that is, even though I hold a two year degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Fashion Buying and Merchandising. I won’t say that was completely a waste of two years, as it led me to jobs in public relations, which led to sharpening my writing skills. God had a plan for my writing way before I did. But it sure didn’t do much for organizational ability in my own closet. I’m having trouble deciding if I should buy yet another pair of black jeans. I think I should.

I’ve just done a search of, say 15 or more fashion blogs and have decided those mavens in the fashion world have to go a long way to convince me “the little black dress” is “important.”

There’s even an offensive site declaring “The Bible Makes Me Look Fat In This Dress.” I’m sure I don’t want to even know what that’s about.

It seems every one’s blogging their anger out, blaming everyone and everything for whatever fat they think they have. Hey, they should get a life! Ok, someone could have righteous anger about world-wide persecution of Christians, or starvation in Africa. Why is fashion important enough for all that anger anyway?

Yeah, sure I’d like to loose weight, am even trying to loose weight, and trying, and trying. But I’m OK as a child of God, a woman, and a person with my capriciously curvaceous bod. I’ve noticed people don’t tend to faint dead away on the street when I pass by.

Isn’t anyone having fun getting dressed? That’s why I spent two years at The Fashion Institute of Technology in the first place. I had this really naive idea that it would be really creative to get into expressing a woman’s (or a man’s) divine uniqueness in the way they dressed. That it could be exciting to see the human body as a palette on which to paint the individual’s personality in clothes. After graduating and spending a few years working in the fashion world, I found it was much more about creating anxiety in women (and men) regarding how they looked, and making them feel if they didn’t buy the latest trend out in the fashion mags, they’d feel hopelessly inadequate. I made a fast exit left.

Tall, short, fat, skinny, or somewhere in between; avant-garde or totally middle class…I think we should enjoy getting dressed. If a believer’s body is the Temple of the Living God, it certainly should be maintained as healthily as possible, but then I also think it should be dressed accordingly. The Temple in Jerusalem was decked out in royal purple and blue, after all.

Here’s to a New Year of me going out in style…my style. Here’s to a New Year of me decking the olde capriciously curvaceous Temple of the Living God out in a style to which He’s entitled.

Nail Polish Therapy

Generally the state of my nails is a good indication of my state of mind. And lately, my nails have been a wreck. I’ve been stressed and over stressed. Chipped polish: BIGTIME!!!.

Years ago my dear friend Judy and I used to sit with a cup of coffee and good music in the background, doing what we called Nail Polish Therapy. The various bottles all in different colors would be out before us and the nail file, nail polish remover, etc. Everything needed for a manicure. I remember a beautiful light lilac we both wore. We’d file and polish and talk about our lives, who we were, where we’d been, where we were going. We’d give comfort and support to each other. That was before my marriage and before both Judy and I moved?in different geographical directions.

Still, the principle holds. Today I got out my nail equipment. LOL I put on a Christian CD – Virtue’s Virtuosity, a CD I actually got it for my tweens, but it’s doing the trick. It’s up and positive. And I’m winding up with darned good looking hands to boot!!!

Now I need to create a fictional character who’s seriously into doing nail polish therapy. Or, I could create a small group of women who get together at each other’s houses to do nail polish therapy, while bolstering each other up. I’ll file that away for a future book.