Thirteen Things - Favorite Snacks 1 - apples and peanut butter2 - cheese and crackers3 - peanut butter and jelly4 - peanut butter and dill pickles5 - grapes6 - ice cream, any flavor7 - cheez-its8 - cheese fries9 - granola or trail mix10 - yogurt11 - cold pizza12 -cinnamon toast13 - anything sweet Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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On Writing...

This weekend I spent at Lori Foster's conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is always such great fun to hang with new and old friends to discuss one of my most favorite things, books and writing. I met so many lovely people and it was lovely to just kick back, hang and chat with anyone who stopped by.

Of course, as a writer it was also about business.

I met with some agents and editors and received some requests to see WINTER'S DAUGHTER - the manuscript I completed early this year then yanked back from a Publisher-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I have high hopes for this book as it is truly a book of my heart and it is the best thing I've ever created. So everyone, cross your fingers for me - I have a pile of manuscripts to send out this week. :)

Did you know?

AS THE WAR ENDED, JAPAN PROVIDED SEX SLAVES FOR US SOLDIERS

I read this in The Columbus Dispatch, dated April 26, 2007. I've been wanting to post this little piece of Americana since early May but the accident thwarted me - typing with my nose just isn't much fun.

Anyway, On to the actual tidbits of this little known fact.

Japan, with tacit approval from the US occupation authorities, set up a 'comfort women' system for American GI's. It was an actual brothel system that was condoned by the American government irregardless of the fact that women were being forced into prostitution against their will. Tens of thousands of women were involved in this 'trade' until General Douglas MacArthur shut the brothels down in 1946.

The brothels were rushed into operation in August 1945 when the US forces poured into Japan to begin the occupation.

According to the official history of the Ibaraki Prefectural Police Department whose jurisdiction is just northeast of Tokyo - 'The strategy was the hope that the GIs would use these 'experienced' women instead of harrassing the locals.' A dormatory was converted to a brothel and twenty women were 'working' there.

"As expected, after it opened it was elbow to elbow." the history says. "the comfort women...had some resistence to selling themselves to men who just yesterday were the enemy...there was a great deal of apprehension. But they were paid very highly and they gradually came to accept their work peacefully."

Does this make anyone else ill? No woman 'accepts' selling her body to strangers, 'peacefully' - especially when they are being FORCED into it. For example - Natsue Takita, 19 - applied for an office worker job then was told the only positions were for the comfort women. They persuaded her to sell her body and she committed suicide after working there for four days. What is peaceful about jumping in front of a train?

By the time the brothels were shut down, 70k of prostitutes were employed by the system. The fee was 1 dollar for 15 minutes and they were forced to serve between 15 and 60 men a day. Most of the women working there were forced into it due to dire financial circumstances and lack of family. More than 25% of the GIs contracted a veneral disease from the brothels.

In 1993 Japan's Government apologized for its role in the controversy and established a fund (Asian women's fund) to reimburse the women. In January 2007, California Rep Mike Honda offered a resolution in the house to condemn Japan's use of sex slaves, in part as leverage to force the Japanese government to keep the Asian women's fund open.

The fund compensated only 285 women though there were an estimated possibly 200k of women in the system in Japan, South Korea, Phillipines and Taiwan. Each received about 17,800.00. The fund closed on March 31, 2007.

Haruki Wada, the fund's exectutive director said, "No one Japanese women has come forward to seek compensation or an apology. Unless they feel they can say they were completely forced against their will, they feel they cannot come forward."

I can only wonder how many of them stayed prostitutes, became addicts or died in the street - uncounted victims of a society gone mad.

Another Update

No, my hand / arm isn't any better and yes, I'm annoyed.

I've never been a good patient and I don't intend to start now. It really annoys me that I couldn't even open my juice bar today because my right hand is fricking useless and that's enough to make me whine...

Okay, enough of that crap.

It's obvious to me that I need to see the surgeon. My hand is no better though the bruising is fading which is a good thing. Tonight I finally figured out that I did seriously damage myself. How? Okay, stick your hand out and extend your thumb to make an L (or a backwards L). See the 'webbing' of skin between your thumb and forefinger. Mine is GONE.

Yes, gone.

So not only is it very painful to extend my thumb, my hand just looks odd. (and no, I'm not going to have plastic surgery to fix it, if anyone gets close enough to notice it that means I'm in the act of punching them) Maybe I didn't notice it because the swelling was horrendous?

Finally, to add insult to injury, my dog, THE DACHSHUND, ate the brace I'm supposed to wear. I know, you can laugh, it is amusing to someone who didn't have to pay for a new one.

What do you suppose is the going rate for a weenie dog rug?

Still Alive, Part II

Yes, I'm still here. Thanks for all the well wishes, I really do appreciate each and every one of them. I'm doing better but my computer time is limited. The doctor's think I have some nerve damage and they're ordering me to rest my right arm as much as possible. When I'm at the computer for more than a half hour at a time, I have shooting pains up my arm and that's not a good thing.

That said, I haven't lost my sense of humor. :)

I am constantly amused by the number of things I can't do on my own now. One night I decided to have some cheese and crackers and just cutting the cheese was an ordeal and my arm ached all night long. So I thought I'd be slick and get some sliced cheese and bagels...quick and easy right? Until I realized that the bagels weren't sliced. (whacking self in head)

Driving is fun. I've learned how to start my car with my left hand. Once I get it into gear, I'm good. For the first time in five years I'm glad I bought a car with an automatic transmission. Normally I'm a standard kind of girl.

Taking a shower is most amusing. It never occurred to me to open the soap bottles BEFORE I was soaking wet in the shower. It must have sounded like two horses galloping in the bathroom before I was done - must have dropped the bottles at least three or four times. Luckily we now have a shower stall instead of a tub - that has been a blessing.

All in all I'm doing better. I admit I haven't been wearing my sling / brace combo the way I should and I wonder if that's why I still have pain. The doc had told me to see a specialist this week if the pain hasn't gone away and it hasn't. I'm going to wait another week (and actually try to wear the sling and brace as prescribed) then see how it feels. I'm not one to go racing off to the doctor all the time - I'd hate to waste their time if it feels better next week - so we'll see what happens.

For everyone who is reading this, please eat a steak for me. I'm damned tired of frozen dinners and finger food. :)

Hugs - JC

I'm alive...

As most of you have heard by now, I had an accident on Tuesday. I'm not going to say what exactly happened but it was a stupid human trick and I performed amazing acrobatic feats that just weren't good.

Currently my right arm & shoulder are immobilzed and I have two separated ribs. My online time will be curtailed as I am one-handed and typing like this is exhausting. As I keep telling myself, at least life isn't boring. ;)

Offline

J.C. Wilder had an accident today and will be offline for an unspecified period of time. That's all the news I have.

Jamie, PA to Ms. Wilder

Thirteen Things I Love About Being A Writer 1. I can sleep in as late as I want. 2. My clothing doesn't have to match when I go out in public because looking at me, no one would guess I write hot, torrid romances. 3. Slippers are appropriate shoes to wear to the store. 4. I can ask people the most intimate and bizarre questions and it's okay because, 'I'm a writer.' 5. Just love it when a reader asks me to sign a book, especially when it's mine. 6. I can write off my vacations...um...research trips. 7. I can wander around my house talking to myself and no one will call the funny farm. 8. Living off frozen dinners and take out is perfectly acceptable behavior. 9. I don't have to do housework because I am easily sidetracked and rarely manage to finish anything domestic (Thank God for crock pots!) 10. My vacation time is whenever and where ever I want it to be. 11. Meeting the readers is great fun and I spend most of that time hoping I don't have something stuck in my teeth or a boogie hanging out of my nose. 12. I am constantly amused by all the voices in my head so I'm never really alone. 13. Did I mention the slippers? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Joan 2. Michelle 3. The Gal Herself 4. Shiloh Walker 5. Puss Reboots 6. Barbara 7. Janie 8. Nicole 10. Carolan 11. Tinker 12. NJ 13. Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Photo of the Week

I took this a few weeks ago when I was in New Orleans, LA. This is Jackson Square, one of the oldest churches in America. The carriages line up for people to hire and the rides are lovely. If you're in the area and want to take a ride, ask for Ms. Diana and tell her JC sent you. :)

Post Romantic Times Convention Report

Sorry it took me so long to get this post up - I've been recovering from the RT Conference in Houston, TX. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that I don't recover as well as I did when I was younger, this is why I gave up drinking. :)

Carolan Ivey and I left Columbus very early on Monday morning, April 23rd. We drove to New Orleans where we met up with Crissy Brashear and her daughter, Amanda. We stayed at the Maison Dupuy - a fabulous hotel in the heart of the French Quarter. Bourbon Street was two blocks away so that's where we spent the evening. Did some shopping, hit the voodoo shop and had dinner at a little restaurant. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the restaurant and that has nothing to do with the hurricane I drank. :)

The next morning Carol and I hit the Cafe DuMonde for breakfast then took a carriage ride with a friend. Very touristy but I enjoy the rides anyway. The weather was picture perfect and when I manage to unpack my camera, I'll post some photos.

We then headed for Houston and arrived at the hotel around 10:30 at night. By then we were both SO incredibly tired that we headed up to bed. I know, shocking coming from me, but that's what we did. Usually I'm in the bar until all hours of the night - not on this trip.

The best part of RT is just sitting around with friends and chatting. This RT had a very different vibe from ones in the past. It was very laid back (from my perspective at least) and I met tons of new authors and readers. I did end up spending most of my time in the bar but it was usually during the day. And the entire week I was there, I had only one drink.

Maybe that was the problem.

The industry gossip was the same as it is every year - write the book of your heart and it will sell. Unfortunately that isn't always true. Editors constantly tell writers they want something new and different but they can't really explain what they mean. Paranormal, urban fantasy and erotic romance are still going strong. My personal prediction is that the erotic romance market will begin to get much tighter this year but we'll see what happens.

As usual I had a fabulous time. It was great getting to kick back and catch up with old friends and make tons of new ones. Of course the entire time I was there I didn't take ONE photo. What is up with that???

We're all Hokies Now

When I awoke last Saturday, I was in New York City preparing to have a fun-filled day. Within hours I'd be struggling to get a flight out in order to avoid the nor'easter coming in to dump inches of rain on the city - and within twenty-four hours I'd be long goneback to Ohio.

It was a pain in the butt trying to get out of the city because everyone else was trying too. I was quite cranky because my weekend getaway was cut short and I had been inconvenienced.

Inconvenienced, poor little me.

On Monday I awoke to the same news everyone else did, college students slain in class. My immediate thought was that would've never happened to me in college because I skipped so many classes the teachers had problems keeping track of me, let alone a sociopath-madman whose Mama didn't hug him enough.

Humor has saved my life a million times, but I, like the rest of the nation, didn't find anything remotely humorous about this situation.

What is happening in America that people think killing others to gain notoriety is okay? With each incident the violence has escalated and I think its time to start asking, is there an answer to this? Why are children slaughtering children?

I don't claim to have any answers, I wasn't even a psychology major in college, but I have to wonder if society is paying enough attention to the next generation. My generation (I'm 41) was determined to be 'friends' with their kids and do the opposite of our parents. Yeah, we did a bang up job, didn't we?

I don't have kids, but I agree with Hilary Clinton in that it takes a village to raise a child. Our society condones sexualization of children, maximum violence and a myriad of other behaviors that aren't conducive to raising a mature, level headed person. Someone who can make the right decisions and handle the craziness around them without joining the anti-depressant of the month club.

Isn't it time we reclaim the America we love?

http://www.vt.edu/

The Demise of Winter's Daughter

Dear Readers,

I will go on record to say that I possibly have the record for the shortest period of time an ebook was published, roughly eight days. Hey! I'm all about awards ya know... ;)

To make a long story short, I have pulled WD from the publisher due to breach of contract and irreconcilable differences. I put my heart and soul into this work and I'm not willing to give up on it. It means too much to me to allow it to languish into obscurity.

Readers, Writers and Friends - I cannot, absolutely cannot thank you enough for your support. This has been a very difficult time for me both personally and professionally and the only bright spot are the supportive emails from all of you. You humble me.

On The Road Again...

Greetings and salutations - April is a month of traveling for me. In five days I leave for New York City. I'm pretty excited as its been a few years since I've been there. After my meetings are done I can play, play, play!

I'm staying with a friend in Manhatten and we plan on getting theatre tickets see at least one a day while I'm there. I so love Broadway shows and this will be an incredible indulgence for both of us. She's a stockbroker and rarely takes time off either so the time I'll be there will be a vacation for her too.

I'm hoping to load up on Korean Barbeque and hit Serendipity's for a frozen hot chocolate. I don't care if it is 20 degrees outside, I want my frozen hot chocolate! :)

After I return home it's time to get ready for the Romantic Times conference in Houston. This conference is roughly a week long and always an endurance test. Lots of standing and talking and drinking... I'm actually going to have to take it easy in NY and not walk enough to annoy my knee. If I can't walk at RT then I'm screwed - how do I get the bar if I can't walk? :)

IT'S HERE!!!

In ebook at least. Winter's Daughter, the first book in my new series entitled, The Coven, is now available in ebook format. The paperback will be available very soon.

Winter's Daughter - Ebook

Winter's Daughter - Print

I can't begin to tell you how utterly proud I am of this book. As with everyone, we do some things out of duty or necessity and, if we're REALLY lucky, every now and then we do things out of sheer, unadultered love and pleasure - that is what this book was for me.

I truly hope you enjoy it!

Chicken McNuggets

I can't say that I'm a McDonald's Chicken McNugget afficianado, the only time I ever buy them is for children or my dog (she loves them). So today I purchased some McNuggets for my dog and, out of curiousity, I decided to taste one.

The coating tasted like popcorn.

Is it just me or is this a Nationwide phenomenon? It wasn't that it tasted bad, it just tasted like popcorn. Under normal circumstances I do enjoy popcorn, just not on my chicken.

Did you know...

If you take Yoplait Whipped Yogurt and let it get to room temperature it tastes just like flavored whipped cream? It's fab really.

Thirteen Places I'd like to visit in the next eight years!1. Paris, France - I wasted three years on French lessons, I may as well use them!2. Grand Canyon, USA - I flew over it once...3. New York, NY - I'm actually going in a few weeks so I thought I'd throw a 'given' up here. 4. Egypt - I'm pretty sure I was an Egyptian Goddess in a previous life - LOL!5. San Francisco, CA - I'm all about Ghiradelli chocolates.6. New Orleans, LA - one of my favorite cities, the food can't be beat!7. Australia - I probably will never make it there unless I can take the space shuttle. The thought of being held hostage in an airplane for roughly 21 hours is enough to send me over the edge.8. A bathroom at the White House - Why not? My taxes paid for it...9. Scotland - I've always been a Scotland-aphile so I can't wait for this trip.10. Ireland - I'm all about the ale...11. Germany - I'm all about the beer, did I mention that?12. Mexico - I'd love to see the ruins and drink tequila in the sun13. Peru - I want to hike to the ruins up in the mountains - I'd have to hire a goat to carry my fat butt though!!Where do you want to go?Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Tyler Perry - as prophet?

Tyler Perry, playwrite, director, actor and author is, IMHO, one of the funniest and most talented men in the business. He has a slew of movies he's written
but I prefer, the filmed stage plays. The reality of theatre is you never know what will happen during a play - which is just like life. You just never know what will come at you.

So I was watching, MADEA GOES TO JAIL (Perry plays Madea, a hilarious pot-smoking, gun toting grandmother with a whacked sense of humor and a very strong sense of family - in all of Perry's work there is a deep gospel element) and I was contemplating my bellybutton...sorry, wrong dream.

I was thinking about friendships. Lately it seems that a few of my friends have done lost their minds and I was debating one of life's most difficult lessons, at what point do you cut off a potentially explosive relationship?

I'd put MADEA GOES TO JAIL in the DVD player and was lauging myself silly - Perry is brilliant, did I mention that? There is actually a part in the play where Madea talks about relationships and she made the statement, 'There are three kinds of friends, leaves, branches and roots.' Leaves are the ones that toss in the wind and come and go like bad weather. They're the ones that you'd go out and party with but they'd leave you stranded if they found a better proposition.

Yeah, we all know those.

Branches are the friends who are weak and they bend in the breeze. They want to help but every time they let you down when you need them. They are usually self-centered and they lack a spine when the chips are down.

Then come the roots. These are the ones that are in it for the Long Haul. They grow deep and they hold you up when you need it, strap you down when you act out, and they hang tight no matter what the circumstance. Everyone needs at least one root in their life.

Most of my friends are branches and leaves - but I have some roots, at least eight come to mind. Debbie, Cheyenne, Carol, Lorraine, Libby, Kat, Tim and my dearest Dano. How I love them all - they've kept me sane and smacked me in the butt when I needed it and cheered me on when I didn't. They've been there for the good and the bad - that's what a root is all about.

So tell me about your roots.

Thirteen People I'd Like To Meet...

Dead or alive, of course. There are hundreds of people I'd love to meet, unfortunately most of them are dead. Sometimes it just works out that way I guess. 1. Dorothy Parker - Any woman who had her tombstone inscribed with "Pardon my Dust" is someone I want to meet. She was one of the wittiest writers of her day and the best part is this woman was no pushover. If she was pissed off, she wasn't afraid to show it. Considering she worked in the journalism world between 1920 - 1940-ish, that is quite the requirement. 2. Muhammed Ali - Nothing more needs to be said about this man. 3. Queen Elizabeth - Just what does she carry in that purse? Does she have a driver's license? Credit cards? 4. Edgar Alan Poe - When I was 10 or 11, I had his poem 'The Raven' memorized along with others such as Annabel Lee. It is any wonder I grew up to write paranormal books? 5. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Possibly the greatest composer or all time, in my opinion at least. The man was both brilliant and tormented. 6. James Thurber - One of the greatest writers and cartoonists that ever lived. He was a contemporary of Dorothy Parker and a member of the Algonquin Round Table - a truly 'romantic' time for writers. 7. Edward Degas - Amazing artist. I'm not into the ballerinas he did. I love L'absinthe - he took a simple scene and put so much feeling and pathos into it I'm just amazed every time I see it. I am also a painter and I would love to see how he did what he did. 8. Benjamin Franklin - This man was brilliant and instrumental in crafting the USA into what it is today. Wouldn't it be cool to hoist a brandy with him? 9. Stephen King - I mean...it's Stephen King for crying out loud. What writer wouldn't want to hang with him for a few hours? 10. Walter Cronkite - I would just sit and let him talk about all the things he's seen over his life and career. 11. The Mercury Seven - the original seven astronauts - what amazing stories they'd have to tell. I've always been fascinated by the astronauts since I was in Houston and had the chance to go to Mission Control - it was amazing. 12. Andrew Lloyd Webber - one of the greatest playwrites of all time. 13. Broken Lizard - so what is broken lizard? They are the guys who wrote, produced and starred in SUPER TROOPERS, BEERFEST and another movie I can't name. It's not that I think their movies are great (though they are funny in parts) but these guys had a dream, got together and maxed their credit cards to make the first movie then crossed their fingers that someone would pick it up. Someone did and voila - they are now 'stars'. I absolutely love the wholw concept of people giving up everything and just GOING for it! So - who would you want to meet? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! http://creativegoddesses.blogspot.com/ http://carolanivey.blogspot.com http://www.daisydexterdobbs.com http://ciarcullen.blogspot.com/

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Trying to get caught up...

If you look up the word, 'overwhelmed' in the dictionary, you will see my photo. :) That said, things are revolving around in my brain at about 3000 miles but this is a good thing, I assure you.

2007 started off with some excitement for me. Mom and I have been wanting to remodel the upstairs bathrooom for years now but didn't want to take the plunge. I finally gave in because I was tired of hearing about it.

I'm not sure why she was so obsessed with the bathroom as this one is mine - hers is downstaris with her suite of rooms. I was the one that ended up without a toilet for 7 days - and 10 days without a shower - thank goodness for the rec center - at least I could take a shower.

Above you can see where Adam pulled out the wall around the bathtub. This house is 40 some years old (just like me!) and it had some water damage. When my bro and I were kids we were always splashing around like fish in the tub so this wasn't a surprise to anyone.

Here is the rest of my bathroom - that floor was SO horrible. About ten years before we'd had someone come in and put down tiles and the IDIOT put them down over the original floor that than pull that up. We decided to do it up right this time and had everything pulled up and most of the subflooring replaced.

Here the bathtub is All Gone... We opted to put in a walk in shower with seats on each side and I'm glad we did. I never realized how annoying it was to be attacked by the shower curtain while taking a shower.

No more....no more....

Tomorrow I will post the photos of the completed room. It came out really lovely if I do say so myself. :)