The Sunday groan…

Quote for today – It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life --Sister Elizabeth Kenny

I am in pain. It’s my own stupid fault of course. I have the inability to ask for help when I may possibly need it. I can do everything myself. I am one of those people who are adamant in their actions – “no, don’t help me – I have it under control.” I am woman….in pain…but still woman. I am walking around like one of the puppet characters from The Thunderbirds.

Yesterday, I had a search and destroy mission in the garden. Once a year I have a massive prune of the large trees in my yard. I have many, many trees (melaleuca and grevillea) –probably too many but I am doing my bit for the environment. The ozone is still intact over Chez Amarinda. Anyway, I have one of those extension saws that you use to cut large branches that are way up high in the air. It requires much practice and balance and the ability to run when a humongous branch comes crashing down towards you. I did that all day. Yes, I could have asked for help but I have the innate belief that I can do everything myself – hence why I am in pain.


I am a great believer in the equality of the sexes. Women do some things better than men and men have a physical strength most women will never have. It’s a fact. I could have used one of those men yesterday but for the asking for help thing. I expect one day I will ask and those who know me will be gobsmacked and unsure how to answer. I’ll admit I kind of like it when men get that ‘what does she mean by that’ look on their face. So there it is I am annoying and independent and yet I love me. Most importantly the trees are pruned. Which is good because there are some really high winds blowing in the Sunshine State (Queensland) at the moment. It’s a low or a front or something. You know, one of those squiggly lines on the television weather map thingy. If I paid more attention in Science at high school I could tell you. But alas I didn’t. I spent most of high school waiting for the bell to ring or avoiding sport.


Note for Scorpios…the Sunday newspaper says “The new year ahead will be a happy one.” That’s good enough for me. I will believe that. Not like they’d lie…


Why this picture? There is something about dark, brooding men that fascinates me. This is actor Richard Armitage. He plays Sir Guy of Gisborne on the BBC series of Robin Hood. Why do I have him on the blog? I just wanted to. He’s just so very yummy and that’s reason enough.

I have been reading a few blogs about e-books and romance writing in general. I love that fact that people have opinions and are not scared to nail their colours to the masthead and give ‘em. My own opinion on e-books? Well I write them. I like them. I believe there are good ones and crap ones – as there are good and bad paperbacks out there. I always judge stuff on its merits. I would never dismiss anything out of hand because that’s the popular thing to do. As for writing and reading romance. It’s an escape. People can zone out for a couple of hours and not think about all the crap going on in their lives. Don’t we love and deserve that? Sure, you know 99.9% of the time there is going to be a happy ending. And no, the hero generally does not kill the heroine nor does he leaves her heartbroken at the end. And yes, the bad guy will most likely get his comeuppance. That’s what romance is. It’s happily ever after stuff. Read it or not. Write it or not. Have an opinion on it or not. That’s what makes writing and books interesting. Love it, hate it, give an opinion – whatever – its ambivalence that makes us boring.

On that note…here’s an excerpt from both an e-book and a romance…gasp! What the hell – let’s live dangerously and controversially I say.

The Goddess Within – Book 1 of the Goddess Grind series

The present

Mardi Keller screamed as the orgasm drove her face forward onto the floor.
“Oh God,” she panted out loud as Stryker continued to thrust hard and deep into her from behind. She clutched at the short pile of the carpet and thanked God that fate had brought this delicious man her way. Mardi pushed up and back against him feeling the heat of his balls as they slapped against her arse. Her knees were wobbly and her heart was pounding but she wanted all this man had to give. At the last hard thrust of his cock, Mardi shrieked in pleasure and fell to the floor gasping for breath. “Bloody hell you are good.”
Stryker laughed and dropped down on the ground beside Mardi, pulling her into his arms.

“You are beautiful,” he murmured against her lips as he kissed her softly.
“I have my moments.” And this was definitely one of them. Mardi looked into his eyes and for a split second saw her future.
“Marry me Miss Mardi.”
Mardi’s eyes snapped open with amazement. Of all the things she expected to hear this was not one of them. She pushed away from him in shock.
“What? Are you nuts?”

Hmm…is he nuts? Maybe, maybe not…

Anny is back at her home in downtown USA and Kelly is somewhere is Minnesota or a maybe having a soda, I’m not sure which. Check ‘em out on www.annycook.blogspot.com and www.kkirch.blogspot.com. And, as always I will be back tomorrow to pontificate on nothing in particular because that’s what I do.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au

The man with the freaky blond hair book....

I walked out of work today. Why? I am too angry to discuss it without swearing profusely - I was that angry that I was shaking as I drove home. I’ll discuss it eventually. I looked at little like the angry woman in this picture - though my hair is shoulder length and I am not as green - and I don't ever wear spots. I like to to look at clothing and think 'Would Betty Boop wear this?' Hey! Don't knock Betty. She is an icon that has been around for years. Her longevity is amazing. Anyway back to the work stuff. I'm not back at work until Wednesday as they annoyed me and my Doctor (female) and I both agree these boys need to learn a lesson and I'm the girl to do it.

On to happier things…the book with the man with the freaky blond hair is released today. No, that’s not the title but that’s my pet name for the book. It’s actually called The Goddess and The Ghost. It’s book 2 in The Goddess Grind series. What’s it about? A woman comes across a ghost that only she can see. Is this a good thing you ask? Depends who the ghost is and what his story is – and is he really dead or trapped between worlds? Hmm…who knows? Well I do but you would have to read it to find out more – or win a copy by telling me “how long it takes to get from here to there.” Yes it’s a silly question. So write me a silly answer in the comments (with name and contact details) and I’ll chuck names into a hat and that first name out – assuming someone answers - will win your own copy of the book with the man with the freaky blond hair. How can you pass that up?

The man with the freaky blond hair - okay The Goddess and The Ghost - blurb - available at Total-E-Bound - it's another click on the cover moment to buy...

Zipporah Scott is due to spend the weekend camping with her niece. Zipporah hates camping. The only thing that could make it worse is the gorgeous guy who following her and telling her he’s a ghost and only she can help him. Uh huh.

Rian Carmichael is a man that is trapped between worlds. Only Zipporah can see him. Rian knows two things for sure. He needs her help to live again and Zipporah Scott is the woman for him. He knew it at a glance.

Despite the craziness of their situation, Zipporah wants to believe that she can have a future with Rian. The touch and taste of him is real enough but can he break through the barrier between worlds and be with her forever or are they doomed to be parted?

The first book in the series - The Goddess Within does not have a freaky blond guy - but despite that it has done well. Fallen Angel Reviews kindly gave a recommended read. It's the book that had the inspirational opening line...

Mardi Keller screamed as the orgasm drove her face forward onto the floor.

The blurb...with clickable cover...

Mardi Keller cannot believe her ears when she hears an unknown man talking about how he wants her over a two-way radio. Her friends drag her to meet him and she discovers the man she has been lusting over from afar is one and the same. But can lust be love?

It only took once glance at Mardi for Stryker Reed to know she was the woman for him. He has no intention of letting the woman of his dreams get away. All he has to do now is convince her that love at first sight does exist and that he can love her like no other.

And just when you are thinking can Amarinda flog one more book tonight without offering sneak knives? Yes, I can - and no, there are no steak knives. I do have this weird melon baller thing in the kitchen drawer that I cannot seem to throw out. You never do know when you'll come across a melon with balls do you? Anyway Lust in Time - eyes right - got 5 Angels from the good folks at Fallen Angels.

The blurb - sans steak knives...cover comes with url when clicked.

When Arabella Smith from 2008 wakes up on the floor of a strange house in 1888 She is gob smacked. Is it a dream or is the book in her hands the reason why she is there? The book is from 1888. She soon meets the original owner and Arabella begins to believe it is her mission to help Amy Louisa and then get back to the mod cons of 2008 as soon as possible.

However Garrett Robillard has other plans for Arabella. He knows why she is in 1888 and it has everything to do with him. Arabella is the mystery lover he has been dreaming about for the last three weeks. She is the woman for him. Garrett just needs to convince her of that.

Arabella’s plan was not to fall in love and have hot sex with Garrett especially as she knows time is fickle and she can be thrown her back into the future without warning. But what can a girl do when she is faced with the man of her dreams and the past is really her future?

Last thing to flog tonight is a competition where you win stuff...

What do - Kelly Kirch, Sandra Cox, KZ Snow, Barbara Huffert, Anny Cook, Heather Hiestand, Jacquéline Roth, Cindy Spencer Pape, Bronwyn Green, Brynn Paulin, Lacey Thorn and me – the Jones girl - Amarinda - all have in common other then being exceptional writers? Answer -

Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so come celebrate the Twelve days of Christmas with 12 authors from Ellora’s Cave, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 20th each one of the twelve authors will leave a clue as to what their “True love gave to them” on either their blog or website. Collect all twelve answers and go into the drawer to win some great books.

There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –

1st prize--6 books
2nd prize--4 books

3rd prize--2 books

All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly. For more details visit www.amarindajones.blogspot.com, www.annycook.blogspot.com or www.kkirch.blogspot.com on 6th December 2007.

Have you checked out where Kelly took the blog serial on www.kkirch.blogspot.com? Don't commit it to memory as it's going to take another screeching U-turn tomorrow. Anny is talking to herself on www.annycook.blogspot.com. No, she's not insane, just mildly crazy.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/

Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Oh lord or whomever is listening, get me through the week....

The race that stops a nation…

It really does. The running of Melbourne Cup literally stops Aussies in their track. It happened again today. Everyone gathers around a television at Cup time and shouts and screams for their favourite horse to romp home a winner. Before this there is a wild betting frenzy as once a year mug punters have a flutter on a horse at the TAB – the betting shop. It has been said that Aussie’s will bet on two flies crawling up a wall. We’re risk takers and we love a chance. This is why we love the Melbourne Cup. It brings a nation together. For one day of the year we all pretend we know something about horses when of course we know stuff all. There are office sweeps, fancy dress and best hat competitions and lots of food and alcohol. Did I back a winner? Nah, but that’s not the point. It’s a tradition. A way of life. I love being an Aussie.

At work…

No one was talking to me today. Now, this could be a bad thing but maybe not as I am sure you will agree men rarely chat or make conversation unless they want something. It’s just been all overly polite nodding. Whatever…but the Wall of Wankerdom, as I have been calling it, has not gone up and the precious boy who cannot sit in a room with a woman is very, very quiet. I suspect he is worried any sudden moves will be his last. Who raises men to act like this? Or is it as I deduce on mass men become all feral and he-man like expecting a woman to back down at their testosterone fueled mob rule? Not this little red-headed duck.

Highlights of the day…

- bought petrol – it’s cheaper on Tuesday’s…no one knows why
- bought milk on the way home from work – carrot supply is holding
- quel horreur! The coffee shop ran out of bucket o’coffee cups! I had to buy two pail size cups in order to stop the left eye twitching.

- It rained…for a couple of minutes…yes, it was exciting and wet. Who knew water came from the sky?
- Got three bills in the mail…excellent – don’t you just love seeing those window faced envelopes?
- Ethel emailed to suggest we rob a bank. She also offered to call in a bomb threat so I could go home early. The woman is proactive. Both options are under consideration.
- Got notification that I would not be sent obscene CD cover artwork today. What’s that you say? Yesterday I got sent, as part of my job, CD art with full frontal male nudity – today I got an email that stated “No penises today. Amarinda.” I defy anyone else to tell me they have got an email like that today as part of their job.

There has to be a pony…

This is an old tale…a kid came across a huge mountainous pile of manure. He jumped into it and started burrowing around, digging furiously. A man came along and said “What are you doing?” The kid replied, “With all this manure there has to be a pony.” So, this is my philosophy, keep looking for the pony no matter what crap is heaped upon you.

On the blog serial….

Kelly on www.kkirch.blogspot.com left us with…

Emmeline tapped several sequences into her time adjusting watch, wondering why she hadn't thought of this solution before. With a wink and a flash of neon light, Emmeline transported herself to the beginning.

He was reaching in front of him for something heavy. Emmeline saw herself hiding behind the office fern. Yeah, time to fix the mess from the beginning....

Yes, bloody hell…what to do? I'm going with…

But as quickly as the image came to her it dissolved and she was standing on the parapet of a castle. A barrage of arrows flew past her ear.

“Get down you stupid wench,” A tall man in full body armour yelled at her.

Wench? Emmeline felt the wind of another arrow whiz by her nose. She ducked and not because she was told to. Arrows, armour and a castle. Probably not in Australia or Vegas anymore. “Where am I?”

“You are at the Castle of Morne.” The man responded as he continued shooting back arrows.

Bugger. “Okay, not what I expected.” Emmeline looked down at her time adjusting watch. The dial has spun around to the year 1207. Oops. “We’ll fix that.” Just as she reached over to adjust the dial back to 2007, an arrow shot her watch off. It smashed to the ground, shattering into a million pieces, as time adjusting watches were apt to do. “Oh crap!”

“You are from King Ethelred?” The man turned and looked at her with hope in his eyes.

“Um, ah…okay,” Emmeline murmured deciding to go along with what he said until she could think of a better plan.

“What news do you have?”

“Ah, yes, news…the King is well.” Emmeline said as she dodged incoming arrows. “He got a new crown that he’s mighty pleased about and the Queens is…”

“Damn it woman you know what I need to hear.” The man’s voice was filled with anxiety. “Did you bring it?”

It? Crap, what was it?

So it's now up to Anny on www.annycook.blogspot.com? Who knows where this tale will go next?

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

crooked and stunning...

The Goddess Within – review

Zipporah, True, Clementine, and Mardi eavesdrop on a two way radio conversation, only to find out Stryker Reed tall, dark with a body to lust after is attracted to redheaded Mardi. Mardi is shocked but secretly lusts after him. Mardi’s friends set up a lunch date. She never thought her erotic dreams would ever come true. Stryker is the epitome of a sex god, tan, toned, and he wants her? Mardi, self proclaimed couch potato, hates exercise of any sort.

The sparks between Mardi and Stryker cannot be denied. Mardi throws caution to the wind and has the most incredible time with Stryker. Stryker claims he’s in love with Mardi. She doesn’t believe love can happen so fast. Stryker comes up with a plan. Will Mardi come to the same conclusion as Stryker at the end of the deadline?Once the girlfriends get Mardi and Stryker on their way, Zipporah experiences some paranormal activity with a tall, blonde, gorgeous…ghost?

Amarinda Jones tells a fast paced thorough story in thirty seven pages. It’s not an easy task. The Goddess Within begins quickly and ends quickly. Ms. Jones’ characters are real, they act as real people would, the women aren’t toothpicks, they are normal sized with normal personalities. I love that the characters are relatable to the reader that is what makes or breaks a storyline in my opinion. Book one in The Goddess Grind Series, The Goddess Within is one of those short novels that makes you want more-NOW! I’m looking forward to the continuation of The Goddess Series http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2007/September/Tracey-TheGoddessWithin.htm
A big thanks to Fallen Angels reviews for the 5 angels and a recommended read.

I have had the same set of lips for years now. Why do I mention this? Have you ever noticed there are some days you cannot put your lipstick on straight? It’s not like your lips have suddenly changed over night, unless of course you have been injecting collagen. My lips are the original equipment. They are crooked. They match my one dimple. Anyone can have two dimples and straight lips. It's so passe, sweetie. I believe all true beauties have flaws. If I added up all my flaws I could be considered the most stunning woman on the planet. Anyway, I have been drawing my lips in to match for years. I am pretty good at it. However some days, I just cannot seem to get the hand to eye co-ordination thing going. I got to work this morning and looked in the mirror and thought – bloody hell. You know those little old ladies that paint their shrunken lips in bright colours without theirs specs on? That was what I looked like. Same lips as always – just some days, like a lot of things, I just couldn't get it right.

I always wear the same colour lipstick. I know what all the fashionistas say – match your colours to what you are wearing. Stuff that. If I want to clash, I will clash. I never follow trends or fads or fashions. I wear the same coloured lipstick regardless. I wear no other make up as I am, as I said before, stunningly beautiful. No, it’s true. Would I lie? Okay, maybe only on days of the week that end with a 'y.' Though, to be honest, I really can’t be bothered putting a heap of gunk on my face just to look natural. I am natural without all that. The only time I do not wear lipstick is when I am at home or when I want to bung on a sickie. (To the non-Aussie this means a sick day when you aren't sick but you want go shopping or to the beach or something important) Then I don’t wear lipstick and I look really pale and people say “Gee, you look pale. Are you okay?” Mission accomplished. Years ago when I attended peer support meetings as a witness for a staff member I would tell them to get rid of all the make-up. Why, they would ask? Because we know what you have done is wrong and the story we have made up to defend you is full of bloody pathos so we need you to look pathetic to save your arse. Okay? A little smoke and mirror never hurt anyone.

So back to lips, while I understand that some people feel the need to pump ‘em up, I prefer to keep mine crooked. They are original equipment. I like me, flaws and all. I am unique. I feel sorry for those people who need to be someone else. I am sure if they really looked at themselves they would realize that being one of a kind beats the hell out being just another generic face in the crowd.

Kelly had introduced a new character called PJ on the serial blog. Go to http://www.kkirch.blogspot.com/ to see what PJ wants. Tuesday is my turn to up the ante on saga. As for Anny, her blog today is about something we can all identify with. Check it out on http://www.annycook.blogspot.com/

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?