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September 26, 2007 by in category Archives

by Sara Black

Perhaps it’s the cold given to me by a recent house guest, but I’m feeling a low on both Pop and Culture, so this month’s post will follow suit.

Last night I was relaxing in bed and enjoying the premier of season two of Heroes (there’s the pop culture part!) when a news spot comes on and a woman starts talking about this house that has been sitting on the shoulder of the 101 for over a week, complete with footage.

“Hey-” I start even as the boyfriend’s eyes widen.

“That’s our house!” He says.

Back to the beginning. I’m at my writing spot waiting for the words to pour forth when this horrible jackhammer noise starts up. It sounds like it’s right outside my window but it’s actually across the street. They’re finally getting rid of the house that has had the notice of demolition sign up since we moved into our apartment three years ago. Soon we’ll have ‘affordable’ condos there instead.

Only, despite some very vigorous jackhammering and other intrusive construction noises, the house doesn’t actually appear to be getting demolished. Then one day, when I pull on my sweater and decide to take one of those clarifying walks, when I stop short in front of my apartment. There is a house parked across the street. I pull out my cell phone and take a picture.

Then retreat back into my apartment, not prepared to deal with the kind of world where a house is parked across the street. Later I peer out long enough to see that it’s gone, and figure that’s the end of the madness.

But when I join my boyfriend in the car that night to go out for dinner, we see the house, now down the block and parked at the end of the cul-d-sac, two police cars parked outside. We try not to stare, but it’s hard not to. We’re almost disappointed when we get back and the police are gone, though the house is still there.

And it stays there for at least a week and a half. Prompting various guests to greet me with: “You know there’s a house parked down the street from you, right?” And a series of jokes about real estate and the new neighbors.

It goes on long enough that we have almost forgotten about it until we’re in the car again, miles from home. The traffic report drones on underneath our conversation, but during a pause in conversation I hear a warning about the 101. Traffic is jammed for miles, and has been for hours, thanks to a house lodged in a freeway underpass. Startled, I ask the boy if he’s heard that and then have to repeat the whole story to him.

“Think that’s our house?”

“How many houses can there be moving around Los Angeles on any given day?” He asks.

Sure enough, the house was no longer down the street. I looked online to see if there are any pictures, but traffic in LA isn’t a big enough story. A week later though, after I see the spot on the news, I can find dozens of pictures that confirm that it is my house (okay, the one from across the street) lodged underneath the freeway. I can understand the distinction, a house in the middle of a residential street for a week is nothing to write home about, sticking out into 101 for too long and the LA Times will take notice.

For more information on this strange debacle, just google “house 101 Freeway”.

Sara Black has a degree in Cinema/Television from USC. She watches far too much television, eats way too much sushi and is always writing a romance novel. This is the sixth in a series of posts on Pop Culture.

She lives somewhere in Santa Monica and now occasionally worries about waking up in the middle of a freeway.

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Every Breath You Take

September 25, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

by Lori Pyne

As I look at my long to-do list, I can feel my shoulders tensing, my stomach clenching and a headache lurking. Even if I forego sleep, I doubt I’ll finish the must-do, much less the really important stuff. I take a deep breath and exhale. I then stop my spinning thoughts and take another deep breath. I hold that breath and slowly release it. Some of my tension seeps away.

I draw in another breath and the image of a family friend crosses my mind. Deep breathing isn’t one of Cathy’s stress busters. Since her birth, Cathy has fought for her every breath. Cathy does not let her cystic fibrosis control her life. She’s received advanced degrees, works at a day job and exercises. Yes, exercises. Each difficult step after difficult step for three miles everyday.

Of course, she has to be in shape in case a lung is found for her. There’s motivation.

I draw in another deep breath. This list of mine suddenly doesn’t seem as impossible as it did just a moment before. I take another deep breath and start working.

*************************************
Lori Pyne is a member of OCC, and a multi-tasking volunteer. She is currently serving as one of our Online Class Moderators, Guest Reception Coordinator and Coordinator for the Book Buyers’ Best Contest for published authors. She is married with one son, and works full time for an entertainment law firm.

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Did is a word of achievement.

September 24, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as
Did is a word of achievement.
Won’t is a word of retreat.
Might is a word of bereavement.
Can’t is a word of defeat.
Ought is a word of duty.
Try is a word of each hour.
Will is a word of beauty.
Can is a word of power.

All things are possible when we learn to come from faith instead of doubt, from love instead of fear, from plenty instead of “not enough,” and from the strength of “can do” instead of the weakness of “woe is me.”

– author unknown
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ONLINE AUCTION ON eBay!

September 23, 2007 by in category Archives
The Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America ®
is offering an Orange T-shirt (XL) with autographs of 56 authors, including,

Nora Roberts, Susan Elizabeth Phillips,Vicki Lewis Thompson,Christina Dodd, Linda Howard, Eileen Dreyer and Thriller Writer David Morrell.

BID NOW! CLICK HERE!

Enjoy your favorite authors! Discover new authors!

The entire list (alphabetical order):
Cathie Angelique ·Shari Anton · Jennifer Archer · Lori Avacato · Jina Bacarr · Barbara Benedict · Beverly Brandt · Kylie Brant · Terri Brisbin · Rita Clay Estrada · Dana Corbit · Leigh Court · Caroline Cross · Jenny Crusie · Geralyn Dawson · De’sire’e Day · Anna De Stefano · Janelle Dennison · Jacqueline Diamond · Christina Dodd · Eileen Dreyer · Judy Duarte · Lisa Gardner · Seressia Glass · Chrystal Green · Laura Lee Guhrke · Shirley Hailstock · Linda Howard · Shirley Jump · Beth Kendrick · Kathleen Korbel · Ruth Ryan Langan · Karyn Langhorne · Marjorie M. Liu · Beverly Long · Charlotte Maclay · Susan Mallery · Bob Mayer · Barbara McCauley ·
Penny McCusker · Jenna Mindel · David Morrell · Diana Palmer · Melanie Panagiotopoulos · Sandra Paul · Kayla Perrin · Kate Perry · Susan Elizabeth Phillips · Carol Prescott · Kate Perry · Angie Ray · Nora Roberts · Teresa Southwick · Susan Squires · Roxanne St. Claire · Vicki Lewis Thompson · Lisa Valdez
AND
Mary-Theresa Hussey, Harlequin Executive Editor


These autographs were obtained from speakers at our 2006 chapter meetings
as well as at the 2006 National RWA Conference in Atlanta.

Thanks to Michelle Thorne, Geralyn Ruane and Sandy Brown for all of your help with this project!

BID NOW! CLICK HERE!

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Lucky Sevens- How to Become a Romance Yoda

September 21, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

    Hi! I’m Dana! I’m a (relative) newbie to romace writing. The good thing about being in my position is that nice people in the industry, particularly in OCC, take pity on me and explain things. Unfortunately, it also means I’m unpublished and constantly have to justify to my friends and family 1) why I’m still unpublished, and 2) why I’m not best friends with Nora Roberts.

    After months of answering questions, I finally streamlined a hierarchy of romance writing and my place in it so I could copy, paste and email it to people. It’s worked really well for me so I decided to share.

  1. Have an idea. Step 1 is fun and easy. Anyone who has ever said, “Wouldn’t XX be a neat story?” has achieved step one.

  2. Write your book. I know it sounds like a jump but it’s not. You either have a book…or you don’t. Scary but true.

  3. Submit your book for rejection…I mean publication. A majority of first books are rejected but the key is getting to a place where you have something you can submit. Basically, you’re Anakin Skywalker chafing at your boundaries and wishing you could fly.

  4. Once you’re rejected (odds are you will be) you submit a copy of your manuscript and proof of submission to your local RWA chapter for Pro status. A “PRO” designation means you get a pin and are considered one of the “in” crowd. You’re Luke Skywalker and someone handed you a lightsabre. You don’t know what to do with it but you feel cool and that’s all that matters right?

  5. If you are published you get a PAN designation and your very own book! With your name on it!. “PAN” stands for Published Authors Network. That means not only are you a member of the “in” crowd you are one of the cool kids and other writers look to you for help. Yup, you’re a Jedi.

  6. Multi-published? Then you’re a Jedi Master. People ask your advice and you (probably) secretly refer to yourself as Obi-Wan.

  7. So what’s left? Hit the bigtime and the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Your books sell thousands of copies even if people don’t know what the plot is yet. You’re Yoda, who cares if you’re less than three feet tall? People stalk you in elevators at conference.

    Wouldn’t that be a great biography? “The Inner Yoda: My Journey to Romance Superstardom.” If someone beats me to it I expect full credit for the title!

Dana Belfry is an aspiring author and a proud member of the OCC/RWA. She happily lives near the beach, rollerblades as often as possible and constantly comes up with story ideas. She is currently working on a contemporary single-title. Visit Dana at her blog at http://www.danabelfry.com/blog/

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