Farewell and Hello there!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

05 July 2008, Saturday

I've got a new blog look! Don't you just love it? I adore it. Its just gorgeous. Okay, So I'm gonna stop now before I totally lose it and go "ga ga" over it *g* Never ending thanks to our wonderful Zoe from Chic & Sassy Designs who took the time to design for me this template from my very blurry description of what I had imagined. She went beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of and I love her so much for this! {{{HUGS}}}

So now I have to say farewell to my Blossoms.










I guess it just wasn't the one for me *g*

I've at last got a day off work. I just got home from work and I'm reeling from exhaustion. My eyes can barely stay open cos I'm so sleepy, and my arms and legs are shaking cos I'm so damn tired - BUT - I have so much stuff I wanna do that I don't want to get any sleep.

My blog is everywhere since I'm still muddling through trying to find out how this blog works (yes yes, I am quite ignorant to the inner workings of the computer!). I still haven't got the time to officially start blogging yet - where does all my time go?!?! But I promise promise promise that I will really sit down and get everything started and straightened out by next week. Please, no more house cleaning, working, writing or emotional upheavals that will keep me away =D

Today I started reading Claiming The Courtesan by no other than the wonderful Australian writer Anna Campbell. Sometimes I hear people say that writing has made them not read books in the genre that they write in because reading makes them think that their writing is not up to par. To some extent that may hold true, but for me, I see it differently. Writing has changed the way I read, but not particularly in a bad way.

Now when I read books, I have found that I have a greater appreciation for the amount of time and research as well as the hard work that had been put into the book like I have never had before. In Claiming The Courtesan I have found the prose to be a work of art. The descriptions historically accurate and the characterizations amazing.

I can admit that before this, Claiming The Courtesan would not be the first book that I would've picked up based solely on its plot, but now I read books for a different reason; I read books due to my deep appreciation for the skill in which the writer has to write the book. I must say that Claiming The Courtesan has hit the mark in this department. It is a master piece with exquisite style that absolutely has my full attention when I read it.

I still love reading a book for its story, but now I would read a book solely because it is well written. It is the little details that I missed before which has captured my attention.

Breaking the Rules

Friday, June 27, 2008

27 June 2008, Friday

Today we're talking pen names *whoopee* I originally had my heart set on using my real name - well an initialled version of it anyway. I thought I had it all figured out until I bumped into a whole bunch of rules about pen names which totally threw me out of sync.

Apparently, readers should be able to at least know how to say your name. So my real name? Who in the world is going to be able to pronounce it? Gods, at times even I have trouble pronouncing it myself. And spelling it? Yea well, I have little hopes of any one remembering how to spell such a complicated name so lets not go there. Soo... scrap that. Instead I chose Trisana le Chante but the problem with this is that it makes me sound un-asian and people might think, from the sound of my name, that I'm quite English or something.

Dang it all! Now my pen name sounds as though I'm trying to be a French or at least an English person when really I'm not. So what the hell is a gal to do? I'm stuck in such a god awwfal dilemma and I wish I could say shucks it all, I'll do whatever I please, but I can't.

So... your wondering why an aspiring writer with not a chance of ever getting published is even worried about her pen name? You're right; why am I worried?! Sheesh!

Auction

Monday, June 9, 2008

09 June 2008, Monday

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to announce (yeah, I sound like I'm making a speech into parliament or something - blergh!) that there is a wonderful auction organized by our awesome authors Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, and our gem Kim Castillo over at the EJ/JQ Bulletin Board. This is to build an educational fund for one of our members children who has recently lost her husband. I have of course blown my budget and gone and bidded on a whole lot of stuff - which were more than I could afford but I couldn't resist! - The person you see with no car and petrol for the next one or two months (oh you got that right) is ME!

Do join us in this generous auction to help out for an extremely good cause. There are many wonderful things being donated including Advanced Readers Copy's of Eloisa James' When the Duke Returns, Julia Quinn's Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, Loretta Chase's Your Scandalous Ways, Teresa Medeiros' Some Like it Wicked, Christina Dodd's Into the Shadow and Into the Flame, Laura Lee Guhrke's Secret Desires of a Gentleman and so many more. For all of us aspiring authors there is a fantastic query letter critique and even manuscript critiques offered by renown authors such as Kathryn Caskie and Joanna Bourne. There are also autographed books going, tote book bags, book packages and bundles, and so many other fun stuff which keeps on growing everyday! Join us HERE

Onto my writing now, today I received an email saying that my RWA application has been accepted. I am so excited. Even my member number is sending me into fits of ecstasy *g* This is like the first major step to committing myself into this chosen pathway of my life (I still haven't completed the other pathway of my life). I remember taking my time contemplating really hard on whether or not I should do this. I'm still taking my darn time graduating so I wouldn't be able to commit totally to writing without worry about my future, there are no RWA chapters in Australia but I reasoned an online chapter would work fine, the travel to the RWA conference each year would burn a hole in my pocket (eek!) but then it would be worth it since I've never been to America before and meeting everyone would be a treat... So what do you think I thought when I found out there was a Romance Writers of Australia? I couldn't believe myself and then laughed myself silly. But there you go, I had made my choice and my decision remains.

Have you ever wondered how your life would be like if you never gave the other road a chance?

Note: This blog will stay up for the period of the EJ/JQ BB auction and will not be updated until such time as the auction concludes.

Updated: Sunday, July 6, 2008

Thank you to every one who participated in the EJ/JQ BB auction. We were able to raise a ball park total of $4000 for Alyx and her children. Special thanks go out to Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, and especially Kim Castillo who put out the time to organize this event. Big thanks also to all contributing authors who donated items to make this event a success. Thank you all!