Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly....

Writers gotta read. It's true! If you aren't reading, your writing will suffer. I once heard that a writer should read two words for every one written. I'm a greedy girl, so I go for four or five words for every one.

I've had the honor and privilege of meeting Jessa Slade on several occasions. She is intelligent, witty, and an incredible author.  I'm kicking myself for not buying her books the minute they came out, but I was able to buy her first three books and gobble them up. Now I'm stuck waiting on the fourth book. Damn! I hate to wait.




My review:

I LOVED these books. They are complicated, thought-provoking reads with excellent historical and theological research. The high stakes plot made sure I was never bored - I read all three of them in a day and a half.

Her characters have real strengths and weaknesses, the conflicts between the heroes and heroines show how love demands the best of us, and the sex! Damn, Jessa! Hot stuff all the way around.

I cannot recommend these books highly enough. Even though they are romance, they have massive crossover appeal. Sci-fi/fantasy readers and even the most macho of men would love these action packed, intelligent books.

Go! Read! Enjoy! Life is too short not to read this amazing author.

I can see!

The surgery was a success! I'm still recovering, so I can't use the computer or write on paper for very long, but I am able to get work done in ten minute increments.

For someone who just got lasers in her eyeballs, I feel pretty darn good. :)

AFK for a good reason...

as opposed to just not working on my blog. :)

Today I go in for LASIK corrective eye surgery. I'm not allowed to do any heavy visual lifting for at least a day, maybe two.

That means no movies, no computer, and NO READING!! I don't remember ever going a day without reading since I learned how.

I wonder if I'll get withdrawal symptoms....

FANGIRL SQUEE!

http://susiebright.blogs.com/I have a workshop with Susie Bright tonight!

*turning handsprings*

Men, women, and sex: It's not what you think it may be.

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Men, women, and sex: It's not quid pro quo.

A long time ago, my mother told me that men traded love in order to have sex and that women traded sex in order to have love. In other words, men will put up with cuddling and speaking gentle words as long as the woman allows him access to her vagina. Likewise, she will tolerate his thrusting for what she really wants - companionship and warmth.

My mother was a wise and generous woman.  Throughout her far too short life, she had given me a great deal of stellar advice. In this case, though, I intuitively knew this was complete bull-pucky.

This belief turns a lover's trailing caress into a transaction, bought and paid for. Not a shared pleasure, not in invitation to play or share, but an exchange best for a brothel.  I could feel it in my teenaged bones - if you treat your partner like a prostitute, it will lead to resentment, anger, and the death of something that once was joyful and a source of delight.

Quite frankly, a real prostitute gets more respect from the open exchange of money than anyone involved in the hostile exchange described above.

A brothel picture from Pompeii.

The nastiest part of that saying? It's an insidious belief, one that is not spoken of directly. Instead, it lurks in our unspoken assumptions, leading us into a starvation economy of affection, touch, and attention.

I want lovers to come to each other for pleasure, a sharing of passion and excitement.  I'm doing my best to destroy this pernicious saying.

And I want you to help me. Tell me what stereotypes about love and relationships you want to eliminate.