Christmas is coming and see what I have!

I love Christmas! Lots of traditions galore. I've had a rough few months with my health, so I've not been writing or posting like I'd want to be. I have been editing like a crazy woman though!! This is going to be the first of many Christmas book related blogs :) I'm starting with mine that's already available for preorder and available on sale! $2.24, The Captain's Christmas is an exciting sci-fi adventure.

And, if you buy direct from the publisher, they have special sales happening for a limited time :) The more you spend, the more you save! It's really an awesome deal.

And the captain is a really awesome character :) Come and meet her! (blurb and excerpt on pub site)

I'm giving away a copy to a lucky commenter! The more the merrier. Tell me, what's your favorite and least favorite part of the holidays?

Differences

WARNING: THE WORD SEX IS USED MULTIPLE TIMES LOL

Where I rant about people being rude in their opinions: specifically about sex in books and the people who write them :D

Here's a topic guaranteed to get people going-there differences. Recently, some huge terrorist figurehead and mastermind was killed. Can anyone guess who? Yeah, you guessed it. People's reactions are diverse and people's feelings and reasons for their reactions and feelings are just as divers.

Please remember, we are a free country. People should not be villified because their responses aren't the same as yours. Celebrate the right to freely express yourself without demeaning another expression of emotion. :D

This brings up something else--writing. There are many people against sex in books. Even Harlequin has a line that will not accept it. It's their Christian line. There are guidlines, more than one set, about what types of books are "Christian" and which don't fill the bill. I think this is a wonderful tool for people who don't want to read it themselves.

However. There's always a butt in there somewhere :D

The recent "scandal" involving a teacher who writes books with sex scenes in it has brought up quite the brooha. What gives anyone the right to say what someone else does outside of the classroom. It's not illegal. She didn't write that book on how to be a pedophile. Nothing in her teaching role was disrespectful. We teach sex ed in grade school and middle school. Why are people having trouble with a teacher who includes a scene in her work? What happened to the freedom to speech aspect? Are teachers supposed to quit having sex as well?? Really people.

A lot of time, energy and money is being wasted on a bruha over someone who's done nothing wrong. Get a life. Better yet, use those energies to fight true wrongs in our system. Use that energy to go give succor to the homeless, feed the hungry, I'd say volunteer at your local library but that might tempt you to start burning books next.

I'm sorry. That last statement was full of snark. I've tried to keep it down but prejudices like that are what keeps people from being able to be open and share their problems (ie rape, incest, etc) because they're afraid they'll get blamed for it. I mean, if a teacher writes about sex and gets in trouble, how much more trouble will the poor kid who's been raped and talks about sex be?? It's not the way it should be, but it's the way it'll be perceived by anyone looking for help.

So keep a lid on it if you don't like a certain kind of writing. Go buy up hundreds of books that have no sex in them to donate to your local library. Teach your kids your beliefs. Express your beliefs on a blog if you want. But don't go getting people fired because of what they do on their own time. You're crossing the line from freedom of speech to yelling "Fire!" in a crowded room when there isn't one.

Express yourself by choosing not to buy that type of book. Express yourself by writing your own book with no sex in it. Say you don't like that type of book. There are many ways for you to express your opinion that don't have to be hurtful and vindictive.

I'm using this as an example because I have no idea who this person is, or even remember the name of the teacher. I just live in an area that is just as bad and would likely treat her the same way. So, let's try not to let this kind of crap happen again.

Books: Love Them or Hate them?

I love books. I've discovered that although my tastes have evolved over the years, for the most part, my favourites remain my favourites. In fact, It may be time to do a little Agatha Christie reading again.

There was an interesting blog recently that talked about what makes you throw a book. To my pleasure, she asked that people not name names. I'm so glad :D But something that really caught my eye is how subjective the quality of a book is. That's true in most things, but I think in art & literature the individual's life experience has as much to do with their belief in the quality of something as much as the actual quality atrributed by professionals in the arena.

Story telling, originally an oral art, is about the story. The craft only matters, really, in the words you choose, just like the oral days. However, the grammar, the title, the cover, can all affect the monetary success of a work. But those are small things that only matter as a part of the package. Readers with higher education may get more distracted or put off by "bad" grammar even if it is the way they talk in your area and you're simply being true to a character.

On the other hand, I've not been able to pick up a book because of the cover. I'm not a prude, or even a sissy, but there are a few bookcovers that disturb me at a primal level. I can't always put my finger on why.

The question on the aforementioned blog was what makes you throw a book. I heard that people will give a book 50 pages (I'm relieved because my first book, Rebellion on Piza 7, does a few beginner errors, but most of it's in first chapter :D) some 100, and heres the one that had me blinking: some READ THE ENDING!!! seriouslY? I have a book figured out within 10 pages sometimes it might even take me 20, but if I read the last pages first????? WOW. I don't know how anyone can even want to read a book if they know who did what before they really start. I can't even WRITE the damn book if I know the ending before it gets close. (In case you missed earlier posts: I'm a pantster!)

What are some things that make you really love a book. I mean cherish it, reread it until you have to buy a new copy. Think about it while driving, muse about the characters, think about the what ifs. What is it about a book that does that?

And what's on the other side of a coin? What will make you put a book down, even if you paid full price? Or, like some people, throw it and or burn it in disgust? This is such a highly subjective field.

Please, no name calling. You may show your reasons why you don't like a particular book, but don't say the title, even if it's a classic. You may not agree with someone else's reasons. If that's the case, disagree with respect :D I love heated discussions so feel free to have one or two in the comments lol