Happy Setsubun! You are probably wondering what I am talking about, so let me explain. One of the beautiful things about living or being exposed to another culture are all that various festivals that often revolve around ancient practices, legends or mythologies.
February 2nd is Setsubun in Japan. Think of it as the day before Spring officially starts (regardless of the weather or Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction). In the past, when Japan followed a lunar calendar (like the Chinese calendar) the start of spring often coincided with the start of a new year. So, Setsubun became something of a New Year’s Eve, a day in which to purify the home.
On this day, people may visit a temple or shrine (and yes, they are different. Temples are Buddhist; shrines are Shinto) and take part in ceremonies there. But often, people will simply by roasted soy beans to bring home. At their house they will take the soybeans and while chanting, “Demons Out! Luck In!” (Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi), they will throw the soybeans outside. Sometimes, a member of the family might wear a demon mask and the others will throw the soybeans at him to chase him away.
I remember when my middle son was in kindergarten. The head teacher and the principal of the kindergarten dressed up as demons and went to the elementary school for a celebration there. They returned to the kindergarten and passed a classroom that I and other mothers were working in. We had our smallest children with us. My youngest was around 2. As the third son, he was a tough little guy, who loved watching all these hero/action shows. But when he saw those two with the demon masks on, he took one look, his face crumpled and he started crying. Honestly, it was really funny at the time, even as I was so surprised by his reaction. Guess TV bad guys weren’t so scary.
The idea behind Setsubun. is to wipe away the evil of the previous year (lunar calendar, remember?), along with any disease-bringing evil for the new year, and invite good luck into the home.
Today, as well, some people will eat the number of soy beans that represents their age for good luck. I’m thinking those are more beans than I want to count.
Waiting for Something is the title of a song on Nada Surf’s latest album, The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy. Waiting for something is exactly how I feel at the moment. I’ve been in a bit of a funk that I really can’t explain. Things seem to be flying at me from several directions, but rather than bounce back or hit back, I seem to be absorbing the blows and simply waiting…waiting for something.
Nada Surf has been around since the nineties with their brand of alternative guitar-based rock. There’s a quote in Wikipedia about how the group got it’s name.
“It’s actually referring to something much more existential, it’s just surfing on nothing. Being lost in your head or in your imagination but you know, whenever I listen to music I always find myself off somewhere. Somewhere in space. You know, in mental space and it’s a reference to that.”
That’s how I feel about books and writing. It’s being lost in my head and in my imagination. It’s cool to know that someone else gets it.
Okay, so it’s one day late. Technically, yesterday was Australia’s Day to celebrate. But, I say it’s never too late to join the party.
My great-grandmother was born to a French woman and an unknown father in New York City (at least that’s what Nana always told me). My French great-great-grandmother married an Australian widower with children when my great-grandmother was still an infant. He took them back to Australia. This was turn of the 20th century. Can you imagine what Australia must have been like at that time? Nana studied ballet and singing in Sydney and when she was 16 she met a Prussian sailor. He jumped ship, married her and they moved to America where they played in Vaudeville. I loved listening to Nana’s stories of the past and I still miss her. That, however, is my one and only connection to the land down under.
There are quite a few romance writers from Australia. I want to showcase my pal Maggie Nash. Maggie and I connected many years ago when we hung out over at the Harlequin boards. We were unpublished and just starting out as writers. We’ve come a long way. Maggie writes erotica and paranormal, and suspense. This is just one of her titles, so go over and check her place out to see what else she has for you.
Australia has a vibrant romance community. How many Australian romance authors have you read is a meme I ran across that goes back to last April in what was Aussie Author Month. The idea behind it was to go down the list and highlight authors you have read, authors in your TBR pile, and authors you plan on trying soon. The list is here at bookthingo.com.au and I have to say that I am dismayed by how many authors I don’t know. I am going to have to go out and expand my reading list.
How many of these names do you know or have you read?
1. Alison Stuart – Historical
2. Alli Kincaid/Allison Rushby – Women’s Fiction, Young Adult
3. Ally Blake – HM&B Sweet, Sexy Sensation
4. Amy Andrews – HM&B Medical
5. Anna Campbell – Historical *
6. Anna Cleary – HM&B Sexy Sensation
7. Anna Jacobs – Historical Sagas, Contemporary
8. Anne Gracie – Historical, Romantic Comedy The Perfect Rake
9. Anne Oliver – HM&B Sexy Sensation
10. Anne Whitfield – Historical
11. Annie West – HM&B Sexy, Sexy Sensation
12. Astrid Cooper – Speculative Fantasy, Paranormal
13. Barbara Hannay – HM&B Sweet
14. Barbra Novac – Erotic Romance
15. Beverley Eikli – Historical Intrigue
16. Bronwen Evans – Regency Historicals
17. Bronwyn Jameson – HM&B Desire
18. Bronwyn Parry – Romantic Suspense * As Darkness Falls
19. Bronwyn Stuart
20. Carol Warner – Rural, Contemporary
21. Cassandra Cornell
22. Cathleen Ross – Erotica, HM&B Spice Briefs
23. Cathryn Brunet – Contemporary
24. CC Coburn – HM&B American Romance
25. Charmaine Attalla
26. Cheryl Wright – Romance
27. Christina Phillips – Ancient Historical Romance
28. Christine Stinson – Women’s Fiction
29. Christine Wells – Historical
30. Claire Baxter – HM&B Sweet
31. Daphne Clair/Laurey Bright – Historical
32. Deborah Challinor – Historical fiction
33. Denise Rossetti – Erotica
34. Dora Braden
35. Eleni Konstantine
36. Elisabeth Rose – Contemporary
37. Elizabeth Rolls – HM&B Historical
38. Emily Gee – Fantasy
39. Erica Hayes – Fantasy
40. Fiona Lowe – HM&B Medical
41. Fiona McArthur – HM&B Medical
42. Gail Symmonds – Time Travel/Historical
43. Heather Boyd
44. Heather Brown – Historical
45. Heather Garside – Historical
46. Helen Kirkman – HM&B HQN
47. Helene Young – Suspense
48. Isolde Martyn – Historical
49. Jan Colley – HM&B Desire
50. Janet Woods – Women’s Fiction
51. Jennie Adams – HM&B Sweet
52. Jennifer Brassel – Contemporary, Young Adult
53. Jess Dee – Sexy romance
54. Joan Kilby – HM&B SuperRomance
55. Joanie MacNeil
56. Joanna Challis – Historical
57. Kandy Shepherd – Romantic Comedy Home Is Where The Bark Is
58. Karlene Blakemore-Mowle/Karly Lane – Romantic Suspense
59. Kate Loveday – Contemporary, Historical
60. Kelly Hunter – HM&B Sexy Sensation
61. Keri Arthur – Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
62. Keziah Hill – Erotica
63. Kiki Lon – Young Adult
64. Kirsty Brooks – Crime Comedy Romance
65. Kylie Griffin – Paranormal Romance
65. Laura O’Connell – Inspirational Women’s Fiction
66. Lilian Darcy – HM&B Medical
67. Lillian Grant – Romance
68. Lisa Heidke – Women’s Fiction
69. Loretta Brabant – Contemporary
70. Louise Cusack – Fantasy
71. Lucinda Brant – Historical romance & mystery
72. Lucy Clark – HM&B Medical
73. Lynsey Stevens – HM&B Sweet
74. Maggi Andersen – Historical
75. Maggie Nash – Erotica, Paranormal, Suspense
76. Mandy Magro – Australian rural fiction
77. Maree Anderson – Paranormal, speculative fiction, fantasy
78. Margaret Tanner – Historical
79. Marion Lennox – HM&B Medical, Sweet
80. Mary Hawkins – Inspirational
81. Maxine Sullivan – HM&B Desire
82. Melanie Milburne – HM&B Medical, Sexy
83. Melissa James – HM&B Sweet
84. Michelle Douglas – HM&B Sweet
85. MJ Scott
86. Nicola Marsh – HM&B Sweet, Sexy Sensation
87. Nicola E. Sheridan – Fantasy / Paranormal romance
88. Nicole Murphy – Paranormal
89. Nikki Logan – HM&B Sweet
90. Noelene Jenkinson – Contemporary
91. Paula Roe – HM&B Desire
92. Paula Vince – Exciting, mysterious and suspenseful romance
93. Rachel Bailey – Silhouette Desire
94. Rhian Cahill – Erotic Romance
95. Robyn Donald – HM&B Sexy
96. Robyn Grady – HM&B Desire
97. Rowena Cory Daniells – Speculative Fiction, Children’s
98. Sandy Curtis – Suspense
99. Sara Bennett/Sara Mackenzie – Historical, Paranormal
100. Sami Lee – Contemporary
101. Sara Hantz – Young Adult
102. Sarah Mayberry – HM&B SuperRomance, Blaze
103. Sharon Archer – HM&B Medical
104. Shona Husk – Paranormal
105. Stephanie Laurens – Historical
106. Sophia James – Harlequin Historical
107. Suzanne Brandyn – Contemporary
108. Tamara Gill – Historical
109. Tina Marie Clark – Children’s
110. Tina Duncan – HM&B Sexy
111. Tracey O’Hara – Paranormal
112. Tracie Sommers – HM&B Spice Briefs
113. Trish Morey – HM&B Sexy
114. Valerie Parv – HM&B Sweet
115. Vonnie Hughes – Historical Intrigue
116. Yvonne Lindsay – HM&B Desire
117. Zana Bell – Historical, Superromance
Here is the Australian National Anthem. Now there’s a certain similarity to anthems that make them emotional and touching to their countrymen and women but less so to other people (face it, most of the time if they’re sung in a different language we have no clue what they’re saying). The accompanying video, though, depicts what makes Australia unique and beautiful and is worth the listen for that.
But if that still isn’t incentive enough. How about listening to the same anthem adapted to the tune of Working Class Man? Australian Comedian Adam Hills adapts the Australian national anthem to a rocking beat and he brings the house down at the 2006 Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Sweet and sexy, Ryan Gosling is an adorable hottie. This baby faced actor has taken on some compelling roles like The Ides of March and Blue Valentine. His latest endeavour is a bit fluffy but if you are into sport cars and muscle head men like I am then you are probably going to love Ryan in Drive.
Ryan is best known for his part in Ides of March and Murder by Numbers. Both, men and women agree that Ryan is a crowd pleaser.
What do you think? Agree or disagree?
Oh, who the hell cares! Just checkout his rockin’ abs. (Yes, I am that shallow)
I could so be Crazy, Stupid, in love with him. Yummy!
Okay, who took my fantasy and made it come to life? So want to have my hair washed by him!
I have such wonderful memories of going to downtown Chinatown in NYC to watch the parade. I loved to stay late and watch the fireworks and the dancing dragons, best of all I loved eating the cuisine, which looks nothing like the stuff you get at the local Chinese fastfood restaurant. Tastes so damn good!
It is the Year of the Dragon, it is a lucky sign to be born under. My hubby is a dragon and I can say he is one of the luckiest men I know because he married me;)
Check out this cool video explaining the wonders of being a water dragon!
Here is an interesting article with gorgeous pictures of the festival in China but also a bleak picture about the situation for young people in China who have fears of going back home during this festive time. Totally can relate, nothing worse in any culture than mom getting on your back about your lack of prosperity and non-existant love life.
We’re in mid-January and the temperatures are dropping. For those cold winter evenings, the best is snuggling up with someone you love, but a good second choice is a hot steaming cup of chocolate.
Did you know the word chocolate is said to come from the Mayan word xocoatl; the word cocoa from the Aztec word cacahuatl? In addition, the Mexican Indian word chocolat comes from the words choco, meaning “foam” and atl, meaning “water.” I so love to research, and with my Shadow Warriors series focusing on Aztec mythology, I run across all kinds of fascinating information.
Apparently, when Christopher Columbus brought cocoa beans back to Spain, they were looked down upon as having little value, though in the Americas, among the Mayans and Aztecs, they were highly valued in the trade of goods. Montezuma, Emperor of Mexico, (1466-1520) supposedly drank a cup of chocolate everyday. He introduced the drink to the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, who brought it again to Spain. The Mayans and Aztecs drank it cold and it wasn’t particularly sweet. By the middle of the 1600s, however, the Spaniards had added sugar, heated it up, and adopted the beverage for themselves. From Spain, it then spread across Europe.
Although today it’s easy to pick up a box of powdered instant cocoa, there is nothing like the taste of hot chocolate made from scratch. The recipe below calls for Mexican chocolate. Mexican chocolate is sweet and laced with cinnamon. Look for it in stores that sell Latin American groceries or even through Amazon (Search for Ibarra Mexican Chocolate).
There are various recipes for Mexican style hot chocolate. This one is a spicy version that is sure to warm you up from head to toe.
Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate
(For Two Cups)
100g/3.5oz Mexican chocolate grated
8 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon chopped red pepper
In a small saucepan, mix the milk and the cornstarch. Heat the milk on medium heat until it comes to a boil. In another saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the grated chocolate to the milk mixture and continue stirring until it melts. Add the sugar, salt, the red pepper and the boiling water. Continue to stir. When the sugar is completely dissolved it is done!
Note: If you do not wish to add the chopped red pepper directly to the milk mixture, consider adding it to the water. Strain the water as you pour it into the milk. You should still get the spicy kick.
Today I choose Jordy Nelson. A sweet farming boy done good, he has made it to the Superbowl and this year is leading the Green Bay Packers with some serious moves.
His adorable face and humble demeanor definitly has won me over.
His cute little backside isn’t too bad either. Totally would be like the guy behind him grabbing for his rear
Awww…how sweet. Now imagining it is me instead of the trophy. ((SIGH))
We are so spoiled by technology. Seriously. E-readers have come out and now we expect books to be as low as .99 cents. Why not? No paper. No wherehousing. No shelves. It’s an age of instant demand.
Go back 200 years ago before mass market production, where books were a luxury and where many simply could not read. During that age, French-American ornithologist and naturalist, John James Audubon printed his work in a series of books titled The Birds of America. What makes this work stand out is that this four volume set is each three feet tall and takes two people to open them. Audubon insisted on the lifelike reproduction of the birds he hand painted. Because of his obsession with detail he chose the more expensive aquatint printing rather than the cheaper lithography that was becoming more common at the time. It took him 14 years to complete the project and in today’s dollars, he spent more than $2 million of his own money to see his works published.
Did you know there’s a World Bodypainting Festival? Me? Didn’t have a clue. Not until I stumbled across photos on Flipboard on my iPhone. (Talk about an awesome app.) Anyway, being the curious person that I am, I did a little research and came away amazed.
The festival hasn’t been around that long, having gotten its start in 1998. Alex Barendregt was working for a local travel agency in Austria when he was put in charge of organizing a festival for the town of Seeboden. He had read something about bodypainting and thought it might be just the thing. It took a few years for the festival to catch on, but today it is the premiere festival for bodypainting artists from around the world to show their talent and draws thousands of visitors to attend. The entire festival runs over the course of a week in which workshops and various events are held. Competitions cover categories such as brush and sponge, special effects, airbrush and even a UVF effects contest that takes place at night. Models must wear bottoms but tops are optional for males and females, so as you peruse pictures you may see occasional nudity buried under all that paint.
The success of the festival has spawned a spin off in Asia. The photos below are from the 2008 World Bodypainting Festival in Asia. (Photos are courtesy of Stinkie Pinkie, Creative Commons License)
Some of the artists competing in this festival are very likely to be among the talented men and women who work behind the scenes of our favorite movies. The detail on many of the models is exquisite, not to mention the fantastic imagination that went behind the production. I am awed by the talent on display here.
I really encourage you to click on the links below to see the stunning winners of the 2011 World Bodypainting Festival as well as the winners of the digital photo contest. It’s pure inspiration!
There are quite a few romance writers from Australia. I want to showcase my pal 
