Book winners....

Winners of the Penn and Amarinda books. Thanks for the amazing response.

Penn book…

Christine
Gabrielle
Afshan
Amy

Amarinda book…

John
Tewania
Yadira
Sarah

Emailing the winners now…

Random 24 hr contest…

I have three PDF copies of Knock Three Times (an Amarinda book) and three of Who Dares Sins (A Penn Halligan book) to give away. All you need to do is email me at Amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with either Penn or Amarinda or both in the subject line. 6 winners will be picked at random 24 hours from now….

Knock Three Times by Amarinda Jones - out now

Excessica : Knock Three Times by Amarinda Jones [9781609824204] - $3.99

Back on deck...sorta...

Knock Three Times review

This one has enough twists and turns to please me and any one else I do believe. A woman with a boyfriend, secrets upon secrets, burglars, hot screaming sex, mayhem, and fear, panic and a few frills and dressin's.... throw in some humor and a keen wit and you have a fun read.
Posted by Alternative-Read.com reviewer: WitchGiggles

Back from hospital – gall is bladder gone. Thanks to all the great staff at the Holy Spirit Hospital Northside. And no, being the out and out heathen that I am I did not get struck down by the omnipotent hand from a supposed higher power as I entered the hospital. Either they do not exist or I was too quick for them. Anyway feeling pukeable and I have had to restore every bloody file again on my computer because it chose today to lose it.... so a very short blog tonight as I am sore and now cranky.

'Sick to death of hearing about how many gazillion dollars the Republican Party in the US spent on Sarah Palin’s wardrobe when they could have put that money to good use elsewhere. Shoulders pads do not win elections in the current economic climate. Yeah, the woman intrigues me due to how far she had got and no one seems to know why but I personally would not vote for clothes. I expect she won’t get in as I believe the US wants another Camelot with the nearest thing to JFK they can have with Obama. To be honest, like any political parties they all sound the bloody same to me – be they Aussie or overseas. Let’s get the hoop-la done and move on and solve the problems sans shoulder pads.

LAST MAN STANDING is a thrill ride of adventure that places two very strong and passionate people on a collision course for love. Smart dialogue and ingenious situations will have you riding along with Amy through her mire of emotions. Amy Hart is easily the most likable character in this novel. She has not had the best of experiences where Alex is concerned, yet she takes each new hurdle in stride, unafraid to stick up for herself and willing to stand her ground and to stand behind the man she loves.

Alex is the quintessential tortured hero; his scars and the prophecy that hangs over his head make him the ultimate hero. His responses to Amy and his outward reluctance to embrace his feelings may have been justified, but clearly did not reflect the man within. He has incredible honor and, scared or not, he is absolutely sexy.

LAST MAN STANDING is a wonderful addition to any eBook collection. Nevertheless, I would recommend reading SWIFT OF HEART prior to LAST MAN STANDING, which is also available at Cerridwen Press.
http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/paranormal/Last_Man_Standing.shtml

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

It's official…

…I have been recognized with a pretty blue certificate from work saying I exceed expectations and go the extra mile. No really - it's true. I was quite bemused when my name got called out. Me? Are you sure? It seems that they have no idea whatsoever what I do at my desk when I have my head down typing. How good is that? It means I have this writing at work lurk down to a fine art and that no one really knows what I do yet I look efficient doing it. I take pride in that. I really do. How good am I? Sure, okay, it's not something that everyone would take pride in but I do. It's a genetic thing. I blame my convict ancestors. It's not my fault really if you look at it like that. I have no choice but to be bad. Have I hung the certificate with pride in work area? No but it it in the bottom drawer at work where I keep my sneakers and they’re important to me. So I have a certificate to say I’m damn good...as best friend Ethel would say – suckers. Actually speaking of that woman, she emailed to say she will read the copy of Men of Heart I send her. Ethel doesn’t read books. She only watches DVDs. That she would read my book is high praise indeed.

Okay – that’s it. The house if a tip (mess) and I must make an attempt to pull it in order before someone arrives. I have an hour to throw stuff in one room and shut the door – easy.

Knock Three Times - review

So begins an illicit (but not really) affair. It quickly becomes more on both sides, but Ballantyne is keeping from Montie about who he really is. And Montie is cheating (even though they aren’t having sex) on Adam. What a tangle!

Throw in a stalker Montie doesn’t know she has, Adam’s struggle with what’s keeping him from being intimate with Montie, and all the flaming hot sex going on, and I absolutely loved this book. Knock Three Times is a truly a great escape, not just to read, but from how people would truly act in certain situations. Logic says one thing but the author, Amarinda Jones, wrote another and I personally appreciated the total lack of common sense. Great read.
http://www.simplyromancereviews.com/

srrreviews/knockthreetimes.aspx

www.amarindajones.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Micah Blue

Micah Blue is released today at Ellora’s Cave. Click on the cover to buy.

A demon has been waiting one hundred and twenty years for the next chosen one who commands the power of the sapphire. He will stop at nothing to make that woman his own. He needs her power to survive.

Ever since a fortune teller gave Micah Blue a lump of blue rock the drought in her sex life came to a screaming halt. Dark, erotic dreams of a stranger haunt her nights and a tattooed builder drives her wild with lust during the day. Both men are wicked. One wants to enslave her and one just wants to love her.

Ned Langford, builder and part-time garbage collector isn’t about to the let the love of his life be taken from him. He will do whatever it costs to thwart a demon and keep Micah at his side.

Contest – for my newsletter readers feel free to enter but as you know there is always the random contest on the newsletter you are automatically entered into each month anyway. Want to join the newsletter? Click here. So, to be in the draw to be one of two – yes two people randomly chosen to win a copy of Micah Blue just answer this question. It’s very hard. Got your thinking caps on? What precious stone is featured in Micah Blue? Yes, difficult huh? Send you answer to amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au. Entries close midnight (EST USA) Thursday 4h September 2008. The first 2 randomly drawn names will win.

I have a thing about demons at the moment…demons and tattoos. Tattoos are pretty obvious. While I would not get one myself, I think they look great on men. Demons – well I kinda like the whole anti-hero thing – not that the demon in Micah Blue is friendly. But in upcoming books – Penned Again and Taking the Fall the demons are the anti-hero. There’s the edginess about someone deemed bad but in reality is not. Like any one with life experience I certainly have my share of demons but I have not met one yet. Do they exist? I reckon they do. I like to think they hang out with the vamps and werewolves and look at humans and wonder what the hell we’re doing.

On my morning ramble….

…… I came across a penis on a letterbox. Yes, I was surprised because it’s not something you see everyday. I work in an industrial area. The letter boxes are sturdy bloody things used to trucks running into them. Anyway, there it was - a penis. Not something I expected to see. It wasn’t there on yesterday’s walk. I am sure I would have remembered that. Oh yes, should mention it was spray painted on – quite lifelike and impressive. So, my question to you is why? Why do people persist in drawing body parts on things as graffiti? Not like we can be shocked any more is it? What do you think the spray painter gets out of painting a penis on a letter box? Is it art? Is it a statement of the times? Is it a case of the penis representing man’s inhumanity to man in the societal, economic world of cruel reality for the working class? Or does this person know dick about anything? Thoughts?

I had a review the other day from a person who did not like Knock Three Times – which I respect – and today I got this…it’s all swings and roundabouts in the writing business. At least you’re never bored…thanks Indy and thanks Joyfully Reviewed.

Truth is truth and the biggest truth of all is that I’m horribly addicted to the work of Amarinda Jones. Knock Three Times is just another addition to a project of works that make you smile and keep you chuckling all while sending the body into overdrive. I’m not sure how Ms. Jones comes up with her delightfully wicked heroines but again she’s hit the jackpot. A heroine who is a little self-conscious, with a few curves and a sex pot in the bedroom who’s not shy at all about taking the pleasure offered. Montie is the kind of woman you either love or ignore, quirky with a touch of innocence she’s still a woman to be reckoned with.
Partnering her with a kind, caring devastatingly handsome and understanding man whose sex drive surpasses her own makes for a match made in romance heaven. This story gave me a phenomenal couple, back breaking sex, a cute plot and plenty of smile inducing situations. All this and more makes it easy to Joyfully Recommend Knock Three Times for the month of September.

http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/RRs/Sep08RR/KnockThreeTimes.AJ.html

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

Monday mumblings...

So I got this review today from this person. They classified Knock Three Times as a ‘c’ because the romance happened too quickly and there was too much sex. See yesterday’s blog observation on erotic romance. Was I upset at the ‘c’? Nah. Any publicity is good publicity. How is that? Well because people read the review and think – who is this Amarinda Jones chick who allows romance to happen straight away and lets her characters have sex on pool tables? What is that about? Let me go to her half-arsed website and see what other ‘c’ books she has. Okay, so maybe they do, maybe they don’t. The thing is getting your name out there one way or the other is a good thing and words only wound if you allow them to and bullets bounce off me, sunshine.

And while I don’t agree with the person’s words, I admire that she had the honesty to give her opinion. Too few people do that any more. As much as a writer wants every person to love their book, it doesn’t happen. That’s rule number one in writing. Develop a thick skin and take nothing personally. No one is going to continuously rate your books as a 5 out of 5 or even an A. If they did I would begin to wonder. Why? Because no one is continuously perfect. No one is not flawed. I would start to wonder if they were actually reading the book or just seeing a particular name and slapping a 5/5 on the review because everyone else was. I used to review books years ago. I know it happens. And we all know there is a huge compulsion for people to fit in and follow the herd. It’s completely understandable. Most people don’t want to stand alone. So yeah, a ‘C’ review? Sure, why not? It’s that person’s opinion and it cannot be dismissed. However, it doesn’t mean that I believe them.

Twenty years ago…

Author Barbara Huffert sent me a photo of herself 20 years ago. It was in relation to do with her blog. Click here to read her blog and see the photo. I sent her one of me 20 years ago – eyes left and then below right. I figure everyone is on holidays so it’s a good time to post them. I also sent her a vague, fuzzy one of me today. My father took it it’s a terrible picture. I don’t have a face as I am squinting into the sun and I am saying ‘I’m not bloody ready yet.’ Picture a blurry Mrs Potato head . Ah yes, those Kodak moments. Anyway, I was looking at the kid in the photo and I thought, I haven’t change much. Oh sure, there are wrinkles and things are dropping and spreading but essentially it’s the same face, same thighs, arse and attitude. My thoughts, the things that make me who I am remain. So why, if we remain the same people, do we worry about aging? I was not and am still not a beauty queen yet I like me a lot. Twenty years later the kid with the cheesy grin still lives. Would I have cared about getting a ‘c’ book review then? No, because I would have laughed at you. Me? Write books? Get real? Mind you 20 years ago I had no idea what I was going to do with my life…nothing changes.

Observation for today…

A man glassed his girlfriend in the face. Glassing, if you don’t know, is when someone attacks your face with a broken bottle or drinking glass. It’s a vicious crime. I just heard on the radio that the couple are ‘madly in love’ and want to be together after the whole police charges thing is cleared up. What the? Huh? What the hell is this woman on? I would make sure his arse was slammed behind bars. No one who attacks you loves you.

Want a good laugh and some jaw dropping sex? No, I don’t have the man for you but I do have the book for you - Traveller’s Refuge by Anny Cook is hot, hot and scorching hot. Wanna’ buy it? Click on the cover and while you are their check out the rest of the series. Why deny yourself any longer? What’s a credit card for anyway?

Two weeks after Traveller’s narrow escape from Vietnam he checked the nearly invisible threads along the apartment door jamb. As far as he could tell everything was as it should be, so he unlocked the door and gun in hand, went in fast and low. Nothing. Softly he retrieved his bag and shut the door, locking it securely before padding down the short hall to the living room of one of several apartments he and Dancer had rented under other names. All were shabby studio or one bedroom apartments located in shabby run down neighborhoods in shabby medium sized towns. No big cities. No small villages. Anonymity was easiest in middle town America. Since Dancer’s face had become too recognizable, Trav was mostly the one who rented them, casually mentioning that he was an independent trucker, on the road a lot.
He moved silently from room to room, checking out the kitchen and bedroom before slipping into the bathroom to take a quick leak. There was nothing more embarrassing than getting caught by the bad guys with your dick hanging out. He shook off, tucked in and zipped back up without ever putting the gun down. Some creeping premonition had the short hairs on his neck bristling. His pursuers weren’t far away. They’d been on his tail for the last two weeks, just inches from catching him at least twice that he knew of.
Returning to the living room, he slowly slumped down on the dusty, sagging couch and studied the violin and guitar cases resting on the battered trunk that did double-duty as a coffee table. Marco had mentioned that Dancer walked away with his guitar and violin, so clearly Dancer had made a stop at this apartment. Trav sighed and then ran his fingernail along the outside seam on the guitar case until he found the hidden latch for the secret compartment. There was a tiny snick before the back popped up about an inch. Sliding his fingers into the opening, he retrieved a sheaf of papers and flipped through them carefully. Will, portfolio, bank papers, a map, several keys and an envelope with his name on it. Setting all but the envelope aside, he opened it and slipped a single sheet out, unfolding it with mixed feelings—hope and relief.

Trav—
If you’re reading this, then I’ll have to assume that my plans were at least partially successful. Enclosed are keys for some spare vehicles, a map, the key to another place in case you need it and personal papers, (will, portfolio, banking stuff, etc.)
Knowing exactly what an ass Free is, I’m going to guess that he will eventually make you part of his vendetta. On the enclosed CD you’ll also find the evidence I’ve accumulated so far that points to him as the man behind our family’s murders. It wouldn’t stand up in court but then I don’t plan to take him to court!
Don’t go off half-cocked and try to get him. I want to know WHY they were murdered and he can’t tell us if he’s dead. If you decide to follow me, be very careful. I don’t plan ever to return to work for him. Know now that I’ll die first. In case I don’t see you again, I release you from your vow not to cut your hair. You may need to cut it short to change your appearance. A floor safe is located under the dresser in the back room. It has a few things you might need if Free’s declared open season. Feel free to use any of it (no pun intended!)
I love you. Until we meet again—
Dance
So. There it was in black and white. He examined the map carefully. Actually, it wasn’t so much a map as a series of symbols and letters. There wasn’t a single landmark on it that anyone outside of his family would recognize. Written and drawn in their private language, it revealed Dancer’s target destination and a list of supplies that Trav needed to bring with him. The location was just one of several they had set up since the death of their parents.
Dancer had gone to the cave on Bright Shadows Mountain—which meant that he was pursuing his long-term goal to find the woman who communicated with him telepathically. Trav shrugged. If that was what would make Dance happy, then he was all for it.
Setting the papers down on the trunk, he went to locate the safe. Its contents convinced him as nothing else would have that Dancer had spent considerable time and thought planning his escape. He whistled softly through his teeth as he counted the money, stacked tidily in mixed bricks of $1000. Thirty five bricks. No bills bigger than a twenty. No new bills. No sequential bills. That required a lot of patience and planning.
Arranged neatly next to the money were a variety of weapons, with ample ammunition, blank passports waiting for pictures and a lone key to an anonymous storage unit. As he sat on his heels, contemplating the contents of the safe, the itchy feeling that warned him of danger dramatically increased. Without further thought, he retrieved a battered brown leather pack from the closet and emptied the safe before closing it and pushing the dresser back into place.
Moving swiftly, he gathered Dance’s papers except for the map, shoved them back into the hidden compartment in the guitar case and locked it. Then, pocketing the map and keys, he silently raised the bedroom window, stepped on the fire escape with his packs and the instrument cases and quietly mounted the stairs to the roof.
From there, he patiently checked his back trail and observed the neighborhood. Within moments he had pinpointed the strangers working their way from cover to cover and building to building. Flowing quietly across the roofs, he moved down the block until he reached a building containing a dry cleaner. He flipped up the trapdoor to the attic and dropped lightly inside with his baggage. Very softly, he closed and latched the door before settling down to wait for his host.
In a country very far away on a nasty, rainy night in a muddy alley, he had saved Chuin’s daughter’s life and prevented her rape. He was safer in Chuin’s attic than anywhere in the world. Stuffing his backpack beneath his head for a pillow, he stretched out for a long overdue nap before he worked out the details of his plan. That would be after he actually thought of a plan. So far, he’d been winging it and clearly, that wasn’t going to get the job done.

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

The Tuesday Rant…

I just heard on the radio that after 25 years after sexual harassment was ‘officially’ outlawed in the work place that women still report being harassed. Am I surprised? Nope. I hear it all the time. And who needs their arse kicked over this? Sure the men who do the harassing do but as they have their brains in their pants that would just cause them brain damage. No – it’s the women who put up with it. I don't care how much you want to get to the top in the work place, putting up with that crap from some Neanderthal of a man is just plain stupid. If you want to sell your soul and your dignity to have a brass plate on an office door with your name on it then you have to consider what your soul is worth. If it’s putting up with unwanted groping or ridiculous sexual innuendo then I suggest your soul needs some work.

On this topic – I ripped the head off yet another man for calling a woman a ‘big girl’ due to her size. Do men honestly believe calling a woman a ‘big girl’ is acceptable? But then think about it – calling a man a ‘big boy’ has a cheekiness, a comraderie about it. Yet ‘big girl’ to me sounds like some patronizing load of twaddle from an insincere and juvenile man who thinks that’s a politically correct way to describe a woman. Bull shit. Is looking a man in the groin and calling him 'small balled' an acceptable PC thing to call someone? I think not – but then women have more sense. Wanna’ piss me off? Call another woman a big girl in my presence and watch out.

Another thing that had me shaking my head this morning – it has taken years to extradite this pretend doctor from the US to Australia to face charges regarding the deaths of his patients. So, after spending mega tax payer bucks, they finally get him here to Brisbane yesterday. The victims and their support groups are relieved but hey – not for long because some dumb arsed judge gives the ‘doctor’ bail. Oh yeah…you can see he’s going to stick around can’t you? He skipped once because he could not face up to what he did so how is a second time any different? Yeah – real smarts there.

Speaking of judges, a convicted paedophile goes back to court today. This habitual predator’s last trial was quashed as some dipstick of a judge felt he could not be ‘tried fairly’ as people think he is lower than pond scum. Well, that’s just wrong – we don’t think – we know and I believe some judges need to find their qualifications other than in a cereal box.

Australian Big Brother finished forever (supposedly) last night. Thank god. It has become a painful franchise. I will admit I watched the first Big Brother years ago as it was new and fresh. Now it’s become painful and dumb. Reality TV – who’s frigging reality or is it reality as we are being told it should be? Do we really care what a bunch of whiny twenty somethings believe the world should be and how hard done by they are when they don’t get alcohol, their douff-douff music and junk food in the house? Care factor? Negative 12.

There is something else I would love to say but only common courtesy makes me hold my tongue. As my grandma Elsie would have said…"Oh what I would like to say…” However I will say that this same courtesy did not apply to the person that said some childish, school yard taunts about another. If reverting to school yard bullying is the best you’ve got I suggest you learned stuff all at school and weeping and wailing to me that no one ‘understands’ your ‘sense of humour’ will get you nowhere.

‘Love a good rant….got hormones? Use 'em. Tuesday Rant over…

I will be conducting contests in a different way and that will be on the newsletter. Anyone who joins will automatically go into a random draw for one person to win aprize any month I have a book release. At this stage that's every month – but November – up until January. So, if you are sick of answering questions or sending in emails to win stuff then join the Amarinda newsletter and you will automatically go into a monthly random draw for one winner each month to win random stuff - and stuff is always good don't you think? First random draw starts August with the release of Male Me. So good luck.

To join…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/

But for now…

The Amarinda and Anny Contest – ends tomorrow….

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

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

Competition or obsession

I have decided that from now on I will be conducting contests in a different way and that will be on my newsletter. Anyone who joins will automatically go into a random draw for one person to win a prize any month I have a book release. At this stage that’s every month – but November – up until January. So, if you are sick of answering questions or sending in emails to win stuff, consider joining the Amarinda newsletter and be one of my random draws for random stuff - and stuff is always good don’t you think? First random draw starts August with the release of Male Me.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/

But for the moment….

The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.
The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.


The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself--WASHINGTON ALLSTON, Memoirs and Essays

Competition is for dogs and horses --GERI HALLIWELL
Focus on competition has always been a formula for mediocrity --Daniel Burrus

I was talking to a writing acquaintance today and she mentioned a particular author and how hard it was to compete with her. My response? Do you have to? Apparently she feels she does as she believes author X has a lot of readers. When I pointed out that maybe author X's readers may not be her readers she said it wasn’t the point. Author X was out there promoting and being visible and that was who she had to complete with. Huh? This line of thought gave me a head spin. How does she even know author X is doing so well? Author X may be a mistress of the smoke and mirror technique of looking good but nothing else. Her sales may suck. Why can’t you do what you want to do without trying to best her? And, even if author X is kicking arse in book sales, why is there the need to compete with her? I just don't get it….competing with another for what you think they are doing or may have? Bizarro world…

So, how competitive are you? Do you need to pit you skills against others in your field? Do you like to see you name above someone else's on the ladder of success? Me? I am not competitive at all. I'm not going to fight anyone for the limelight. I could not care less whether I was ranked 1st or 51st. Why? Because I have no equal. Arrogant? Maybe - but hear me out. I believe everyone should think this way. Every person on the planet is a one-off, an original. They may share the same DNA with someone else but their thoughts and actions are their own therefore they have no equal. See what I mean? If you have no equal why should you compete with another?

Is it all about wanting to be the best? I’ll open a touchy subject – as I do - I often wonder why writers nominate themselves for awards - best book, best cover, best third sentence second paragraph, best scene with bare-chested male drinking a beer - and then canvas people to vote for them. What's that about? Wouldn’t it be better if someone other then yourself nominated you? Wouldn’t you get a good feeling about that? Is the win the same if you have to orchestrate it? Were you really competing with anyone other then maybe another author doing the exact same thing? And then how is that a win? I don’t get it. Please explain to me if you do. It seems like a waste of time and energy. How is winning something you manipulated yourself to win, a win?

But then does it come down to insecurity and problems with self esteem? Do people make themselves compete to fit in? If you are secure as a person do you feel the need to match or beat someone else? Or do you not care because competing means nothing to you because you already know where you stand in life, what you want and pitting your skills against someone else is a waste of time? Truly, I would like to know. I have never understood the need to compete with the Joneses…okay, maybe the Smiths in this case.

Competition to me is when retailers compete for your dollar by providing the best savings. It's like the Olympics where nations compete by skills and abilities. That makes sense to me. Competing for what you perceive someone has is just plain dumb. People fascinate me in what they do - the lengths they will go to beat someone else to be top of the ladder. I have to ask though, after a moment of glory, in the end does it really matter? So that’s my opinion. Agree? Want to tell me to shut up? Go ahead – give an opinion.

You were placed on this earth to create, not to compete -- Dr. Robert Anthony

Trying to be number one and trying to do a task well are two different things-- Alfie Kohn from No Contest: The Case Against Competition

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

Pardon me while I pontificate for a moment….

“Erotica is using a feather, pornography is using the whole chicken.”-- Isabel Allende quotes

I was on a particular publisher’s website – no, not one I write for – and I was reading a couple of book blurbs as you do. Anyway one of them stopped me in my tracks. You know how a blurb is supposed to hook a reader in to buy a book? This one repelled me. Why? Well it was supposed to be romance book but that only thing I got out of it was pure-in-your-face-porn disguised as romance. Yeah, I know – erotic novels can come close to the line of is this porn or not but this did not even have the have to waver on the line. The blurb screamed this is a porn novel.

So what does that say about erotic romance writers – myself included? Are we so wanting to thrill, excite and shock the reader that we forget the story and head straight for the sex ? Is sex
a part of the story of two lovers? Do we write porn and wrap it up under the heading of ‘romance’ to makes it acceptable? It’s a tricky thing to do when writing these books. You set out to write a love story with sex and in the end it could turn out to be a sex story with a possible wedding at the end to make it love. How do I know my books err on the side of erotica? I absolutely believe a good and experienced editor knows the difference between erotic romance and porn. A good editor will tell you when you are crossing a line. A reader will also tell you. They aren’t about to be fooled when they have put their money down for one thing and get another.

And yeah, maybe there is a formula to writing erotic romance. I don’t know. I’m not sure if I am even a natural writer. I believe I am more a natural rambler and an observer of human nature who types really badly and send stuff off to my editor who thumps her head on the desk in despair because I maybe should have a formula instead of rambling. And I have often joked with writers I know – “Oh no! My characters do not have sex until page 8!” Again, as far as I know, and please correct me if I am wrong, there is no template for writing erotic romance. Yeah – sure – it’s a no-brainer that at some stage you will have characters having sex hence the erotic tag. But as I said on a previous blog I tend to write the book first and slot the sex in later – lots of writers do that. It has to be the story first and then the sex later – that’s what, to me, differentiates an erotic romance to porn. I also write non-erotic romances. I write these the same way but the sex is subdued as the audience is not interested in that – and that’s fair enough. It’s about knowing your market. What if your market expects erotic romance and gets porn? Are you catering to your customer if that happens?

Now, don’t get me wrong…there are many good writers who specially write porn to cater to a specific audience who want to read that. There is nothing wrong with that. We all have our different tastes and values and really, paraphrasing Lady Astor, as long as no one frightens the horses I don’t care what you do – hurt no one – do what you like is my theory. I just will not wander back onto that particular publisher’s site looking at erotic romance novels. It just surprised me the direction their books were going in and of course as that direction does not appeal to me I won’t be by again. I will be very interested to see how that particular book sells. I am positive it will appeal to a wide audience. I congratulate the author on the contact and wish them huge sales. I just have to wonder whether putting it in the ‘romance’ section is appropriate. And, as always go ahead and give an opinion - good, bad or an indifferent opinion – on my thoughts or what you think. What do you think is the difference between porn and erotica? Does it all come down to chicken parts as Isabel indicates?

“For a woman there is nothing more erotic than being understood.” Molly Haskell

The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning twobooks - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

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

Day 5 - 2 whole of freedom....

Let the pigeons loose! Knock Three Times has been released at Ellora’s Cave.

In a case of mistaken identity, Montgomery French thinks security expert Ballantyne Teague is the local bad boy. He turns her boring life upside down and she likes it.

Ballantyne has every intention of confessing the truth to Montie when the time is right. He has two objectives. The first is to make Montie fall hopelessly in love with him. The second is to catch the real burglar Montie thinks he is.

But Ballantyne is not the only one caught up in Montie’s life. Her ex-boyfriend has a secret that will shock her and a real bad boy lusts after her.

To buy click on the cover – and yes today you can enter the fantastic Amarinda and Anny Contest….

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

So, I only have 6 possible pages on my website that the answer can be on so it’s a doddle to find. What's in the Aussie care package? Three different packets of Tim Tams and Aussie chocolate bars - a Cherry Ripe, a Violet Crumble Bar and a Picnic - perfect food for book reading…and everyone know that calories do not count if you win the goodies…trust me, it’s all to do with karma. Anything you win cannot make you fat.

52 things you would love to say out loud at work

Have you been sent this at work? I always enjoy it when it lands in my work email. My favourites out of the 52….

- I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.

- Who lit the fuse on your tampon?
- The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist
- It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.
- Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

- And your cry-baby whiny-arsed opinion would be?
- Chaos, panic, and disorder. My work here is done.
- My, aren't you a black hole of need.

Beware the shopper stalker…

I needed a new handbag. I mentioned several weeks ago on the blog I was looking for one. It didn't have to be expensive but there had to be many compartments to carry all my crap in. A MacGyver handbag of you like. Anyway, I saw the perfect one today marked down to half price. The only problem was it was in the hands of another customer in the store. Bugger. Anyway I casually stalked the woman waiting for her to let go of it. She knew what I was doing and while she obviously could not make up her mind about it, she wasn’t about to let me have it. She handed it to her husband to hold on to so she could look at other bags. Ha! Amateur mistake! A man does not understand the complexities of shopping like a woman does so naturally any bright shiny object will divert his attention and make him put it down without thinking. Naturally I swooped in and got it. The woman was totally pissed off at her husband and he got a bollicking from her and I got the perfect handbag. Moral of the story - go shopping with a man and you lose.

A colleague, sitting near me, threw back her head and moaned in absolute pleasure. Uh huh…I casually looked over to see what was making her so very happy. She was sitting there with her eyes closed and a smile on her yes. O-kay…She opened them slowly and asked “do you like chocolate?” Does a chicken have lips? She told me to go to the café next door and order the hot chocolate with a shot or caramel in it. "It’s like a liquid Mars bar. Better than an orgasm mate.” Hmmm… better huh? I wandered over and asked to have what she was having and OMG! It was the most amazing drink! There was no way a man could compete with this drink unless he was dipped in caramel…hmmm…there's an idea...What makes you throw back your head and groan…food I mean…unless you want to be spill all on the blog…

www.amarindajones.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/

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

Day 3 – mid week - Wednesday...

…there is light at the end of the tunnel. The weekend can be glimpsed. Yay. One thing - thanks to everyone who is emailing me with answers to the contest. I can see chocolate and hot romance books are a huge turn on. Only problem is, bless your cottons socks, the contest does not start until Friday July 18 so while the answers you have given are very imaginative and possibly difficult to perform without a trampoline - they are not correct. Do you know why? Because Anny and I will put the answers on our websites on July 18th. So hold fire until then.

The things I did today…

- drank way, way too much coffee.
- discussed with a sales rep at work what you would spend lotto winnings on. They weren’t sure. I rattled off a list. "You have given this some thought." Oh hell yeah, baby.
- I called my health insurance provider to make sure I was covered for a day admission to the local hospital - nothing exciting. Anyway the guy said is it liposuction? Did I sound like I needed liposuction? Do I sound fat over the phone? Were my things rubbing noisily together? He said he had spent all day explaining to people liposuction was not covered. Seriously? All day? Yes. He apologized for jumping to that conclusion. I told him I had watched an X-Files episode years ago that cured me of ever wanting my fat sucked out of my thighs by a long tube. He said he wished that there were more people like me…scary thought that.
-bought groceries on the way home. I could only think of milk and soda water (I don’t like sweet drinks. I’m sweet enough…don’t do the eye roll thing) to buy. I am sure there is something else…oh well…maybe food…hhmmmm…
- discussed with best friend Ethel how to get the lid off a ten litre can of paint - it's one of the new-fangled lids paint manufacturers are using to torture us with. She in turn discussed with her husband and he in turn gave a male answer neither of us could understand so I have decided to apply female logic and an axe to the paint can.
- chatted with writers about covers and what makes one crap. Is naked good? Does it sell? Should you screw yourself up with angst over a cover? How long is a piece of string?
- trash-talked with ex-colleague at Promptel via email – always fun. I make a point of asking if Pee Wee, the manager there, is still short and obnoxious. Why? Because he was and is an arrogant prick to the battery hens who answer the phones in the call centre and I hope he reads the emails.
- oh, and yeah…did some work to keep my hand in.

****************
Okay, I have a problem…"my name is Amarinda and I am hooked on Vista Print."
Hello Amarinda…
I swear I have become a Vista Print junkie. I love the free stuff - and yeah, I know nothing is free but when I gazinter in the shipping costs for the free stuff it is excellent value. What is ‘gazinter’? Did you never watch The Beverley Hillbillies on TV? Jethro called adding anything up ‘gazintering’ - this goes into that. And yes of course, Vista Print knows I am hooked as they keep sending me free stuff emails and my hand shakes as I open them because I know what’s inside and I need the hit man. Sure, I know someone is now going to tell me a horror story about Vista Print. Bring it on. Try and make me go cold turkey but it would have to be good to knock back their free t-shirts which are fantabulous for advertising www.amarinda.com.

I have the itchiest feet at the moment. I have the overwhelming urge to change jobs. What would that be? Job 30? It has more to do with me than the job. It's average, it's boring and frankly I am not.
Yes, I am terribly modest but one must champion oneself. I can do the job in half a day when it took the previous person 2 days to do stuff. I'm bored and boredom turns to other thoughts. I keep saying to myself what the hell do you want? My answer to me is shut up and go away and stop asking deep and meaningful questions because I don’t know, you big drama queen. Yes, I talk to myself quite a bit. Generally I find myself incredibly logical. Do you do that or are you more sensible? And more importantly when you chat to yourself, do you get the right answers?

A Knock Three Times moment…released August 18th through Ellora’s Cave

Montie made it to the bathroom and slammed the door and locked it. The slide bolt was flimsy and she knew it would take only a minute for him to kick it in if the front door was anything to go by. She scrambled over the sink and grabbed a can of Adam’s deodorant. Non-allergenic? Fuck that. Montie chucked that one and picked up one of her own. All day protection. Yep, that’s what she needed right now. She also picked up her fingernail scissors. They were small but sharp. Just like her.

*******************
The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

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

Day 2 - the work week continues....

“We are born at the rise of the curtain and we die with its fall, and every night in the presence of our patrons we write our new creation, and every night it is blotted out forever; and of what use is it to say to audience or to critic, "Ah, but you should have seen me last Tuesday?"-- Jules Renard

A miracle happened this morning. The phone and computers in the office would not work. It was a beautiful thing. Apparently some bugger cut a major cable in Queensland…a bit of an oops moment that caused major chaos. Anyway, despite my proactive suggestion to be have everyone sent home, management declined. Party poopers. Anyway we basically did nothing for 5 hours but sat and gossiped. I consider it networking. I learned lots of stuff. The most interesting thing was where the nearest brothel was. No, I'm not looking to take up extra employment - I know,
you probably could see me as Madam Lash - but sorry to disappoint. What interested me was the fact that I wanted to do some research on working girls and knowing the nearest place where ladies of pleasure ply their wares was about a block from work was excellent. I plan to introduce myself and see if I can chat with the receptionist. I mentioned this to one of my work colleagues who was horrified. “But it's a whorehouse!” I said the only thing that horrified me was there did not appear to be adequate parking around there
when I go to visit and ask questions…most annoying that.

And what's to be horrified anyway? Working girls have been around forever. I see no shame in what they do, They are supplying a service. I don’t see why these ladies should be considered any less because they work in a brothel. First up - sex happens. Second - people need to make money. If these ladies chose to make a living working where they do and they are not being held by force then who am I to judge?
Speaking of work…someone said to me 'we wish our lives away'. Yeah, I know it's not an unusual expression when it comes to wishing the working week gone. But I look at it in this way - we actually are wishing for more and better and work ain’t it. No one, as they say, on their death bed will wish they spent more time at work. Let's face it we work to get what we want for the life we want. It's a necessary evil. I don’t consider work real life anyway. It's something we do to have a real life

My question today…

1. Who is author Anika Hamilton?
I am an overly-dramatic and creative woman who loves writing. My stories cross several genres and themes, involving a mix of all kinds of loving and always with a happy ending. I have releases from Total-E-Bound Publishing and Siren-BookStrand.

2. What star sign are you? Name one fabulous characteristic of this sign.
I’m a Leo, and my fabulous characteristic is my broadmindedness.

3. Do you think your heroine is like you and if so why?
Yes. The heroine, Sandra Tucker in Dessert Box, is willing to try something totally new, even if it meant putting all her trust in her mate.

4. Do you get writer’s block? What do you do to break it?
Yes, I do. I move away from writing and read a book. Usually I’m just feeling overwhelmed and my brain needs to relax. It seems to work for now.

5. Do you subtly write friends and family’s characteristics into a book?
Yes, although it is not always subtle.

6. Do you think you should write what you know or go beyond your comfort zone?
I think if you are brave enough you should go beyond your comfort zone. It might not always work but it will most likely be fun. I try to write outside mine all the time, hoping to push against those invisible boundaries.

7. If you weren’t writing books what would you be doing?
I don’t know, maybe going to school to study something new.

8. Do you believe in soul mates or is it just hype?
I do believe in soul mates, and that there is someone for everyone, although we don’t always find them.

9. One wish for the world?
I wish everyone would strive for understanding of the differences in other people and cultures.
**************************
The Amarinda and Anny Contest…not long to wait now…

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning twobooks - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

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