That Elusive Quest...

For love? For money? No...for the perfect website.

As you can see from my blog (and myspace, and a really bad instant change to my webpage), I'm updating my website...again. This could get really expensive if I didn't do it myself.

I'll be really egotistical, and assume that YOU, too, might want to build your own website using my method. Now, I'm sure there are easier ways these days (I've heard Wordpress is a breeze), but this is the way I know. So, I'm going to take you along on the ride.

Step One: HTML editor. I started my journey with NVu. This is a free HTML editor you can find at http://www.nvu.com (as with most free stuff, it has a few bugs). They have a new editor called KOMPOZER (which I haven't tried out yet) so what I illustrate here will be using NVu.

I'm not a computer geek, I'm just a really good "tweaker". I tried putting all the elements together in NVu and it was a disaster. I simply don't have the ability to compose an elegant site; however, I know what I like.

Step Two: - The Template So, I went out and looked at website templates (Warning! This stage can take a long time! So, make sure you budget accordingly).
There are lots of sites out there with templates (free and for purchase). Now, I know I'm going to make lots of changes, so I hate to buy one. But I'll list some of the sites I've looked in the past.

http://www.enchantingdesignz.com/ - if you write fantasy or love fairy/mermaid artwork, this is the site for you. The templates are reasonably priced and they also have some free ones you can download and use as is (or tweak).

http://www.csstemplateheaven.com/ - Dieter has some lovely classic, elegant, and artistic templates for sale. All of them are under $15. You can download them for free, but you don't get the PSD file (Free might be okay if you aren't planning on tweaking the layout much - for an example see www.pamskochinski.com)


Free templates: www.oswd.com (has over 2000 webtemplates, some are simple, some are simply stunning)

http://www.freecsstemplates.org/ : they also had a nice selection of templates.

I'm sure there are others, but these are the websites I select from.

Things to think about while selecting a templates is whether you want to use a header graphic (theirs or yours), a background graphic that stays fixed while the text floats (what size and shape is the graphic you want to use), and how much content you want/need. Do you want one, two, or three columns? The nice thing about free templates is that if you make a mistake, you haven't wasted any money.

So, your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to go out and select and download a template.

I'll talk about tweaking that template later this week.

Passionate Ink Cyber Tour welcomes Shelley Munro

Friends to lovers—it’s one of my favorite plot devices. I like reading Friends to Lovers stories and enjoy writing them. I love being able to jump straight into an intimate situation in the first few pages of a book. The characters are familiar with each other and have a history together. They might not realize they’re even attracted to each other until one pivotal moment that changes everything, or one of them might have developed feelings for the other over a period of time, agonizing about acting on them.

A relationship like this comes with problems: does the couple want this to be a one-time thing or do they want to play for keeps? What happens if the sex between them is so bad they destroy their friendship forever? Or what if one of the pair doesn’t feel the same way?

Yes, moving from friends to lovers is fraught with dilemmas for both parties.

In Lovers at Last Pearl and Justin are best friends. When Pearl’s current relationship fails, she seeks out Justin for comfort. Justin, who has wanted Pearl for a long time, decides it’s time to stake his claim.

Here’s the blurb:

Pearl’s master plan to catch a rich husband—results so far…A for effort, F for success.

Justin Collet wants way more than friendship from Pearl. He craves love, laughter and hot, down-and-dirty passion. A life partner. All he needs to do is convince Pearl.

A broken relationship, a few drinks and a string of pearls. Comforting Pearl takes a turn into carnal territory. Heat blossoms between them, fiery and consuming. Sweet kisses inflame and erotic whispers tempt. It’s all or nothing for Justin as he seduces Pearl into agreeing they’re lovers at last.


Where did you get the idea for your latest book?
Lovers at Last is part of Ellora’s Cave Gemstone series and is a pearl story. The pearls play a large part in the story and bring the hero and heroine together. I took one of my favorite plots, that of friends and lovers, added in the pearls and came up with a couple who knew each other well. The first scene popped into my head and the story came from there.

What makes a hero for you? Do you see them on the street, or are they simply in your head?
In short, my heroes come from my imagination rather than a real person. I have a liking for tall and dark heroes and usually start off with those two characteristics, although I have written a few blond heroes. Most of my heroes also seem to be on the alpha side and are heroic in the sense that they never abuse their position and bully those weaker than themselves.

What’s your writing schedule like?
I write full time and treat my writing like an office job, working set hours. I set myself a writing target for each day and also fit in promo and other writing related activities such as blogging, correspondence and maintaining my website. I think I work harder now than I ever used to!

What does your writing space look like?
In a word—messy! I do try to tidy up a little between books but while I’m writing I like to keep my reference books and notes, my dictionary and thesaurus close at hand. I also have a pile of promo related stuff on my desk and of course, I can’t get by without my calendar that lists my schedule for the month.

And the most important question: What’s your favorite snack or beverage while you’re hard at work?

I don’t usually snack or drink while writing, not when I’m in the zone. If I’m procrastinating I find myself making cups of tea all the time, but otherwise I’m write for several hours and make myself a cup of tea or coffee while I take a break.

Adventure into Romance
with Shelley Munro

Thanks Shelley! Below are some links to find out more about this talented author!


website: http://www.shelleymunro.com
blog: http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/shelleymunro
Dynamic Trio: http://www.dynamicthree.com
Danger Zone: http://www.dangerzoneauthors.com
Buy book: http://www.ellorascave.com/AuthorsBooks.asp?AuthorCode=SMu
Excerpt: http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/lovers-at-last

Divas of the Dark

I'm at Divas of the Dark today, blogging about Paraskavedekatriaphobia!

Blog Schedule

I'm out and about blogging in the upcoming months:

Every Friday, starting on Friday the 13th, you can find me at Divas of the Dark where I'll be blogging with some really esteemed ladies of the night: Cynthia Eden, Emma Petersen, Tawny Taylor, Yolanda Stefsos, T.J. Michaels, Eliza Gayle, Leila Brown, Cathy Clamp, C.T. Adams, and Sable Grey

On the 7th of each month, I'm over at RomErotica Writers

On the 24th of each month, I'm Hitting the Hot Spot

You can also find me blogging about vampires at The Vampire Oracle and
chatting about my adventures in writing at the Cobblestone Press Author Blog.

First Cover Art Assignment

Just posting this to get a url....

Needless to say, this is why I'm not a cover artist!

The Cobblestone Press Birthday Bash

Come on over to Main Street today through June 8th and help Cobblestone Press celebrate their second birthday! There's lots to do, Cover Art Madness (Sable's giving a hands-on course in creating cover art), Memory Lane, and lots of author contests!

The hand of God

Or in this case...the fist of God (almost literally).

I don't often blog about personal details of mine or my family's lives, but in this case....well, it's one of those stranger than fiction sagas that leave me in awe of how things work out. I do believe in karma and try to give more than I take. And although I believe in God, I, for one, don't believe that SHE meddles personally in people's lives. She created us, gave us free will, and left us to do the best we can. But this incident has left me wondering.

I have a 14 year old daughter who's been plagued by a variety of symptoms since she was little. Headaches, ADD, short-term memory loss (mostly about turning in her homework, hmmmm), odd shaped retinas, teenage angst (she's seeing a counselor and on medication), seeing shadows (is she paranormally sensitive?) and high blood pressure (also on medication). We've taken her to the Dr. to deal with all of them, especially the headaches which were timed for months and determined to have a 28 day cycle (and assumed to be related to her menses).

Then two weeks ago, one of our neighbors died suddenly. It was thought that he committed suicide. Well, it upset my daughter to the point where she excused herself from class one day to cry in the bathroom. Unfortunately, she didn't let her teacher know, so since she didn't make it to class, she was declared "truant" and sentenced to Saturday school.

That was this past Saturday. Concidently, a guy who had been teasing her was also in Saturday school. Throughout the morning, the teasing escalated into some name-calling, pushing, shoving, slapping, and finally a knock-out punch! My daughter (who was just as much to blame as she slapped him first) was taken to the hospital and given a CAT scan.

The diagnosis -- no issues from the fight AND a possible brain tumor. A craniopharyngioma. Scary shit. A brain stem cancer that's benign but malignant all the same breath. Wonderful!

My world slowed to a stop. Everything I thought was important is now so insignificant compared to this.

A trip to our Pediatrician yesterday resulted in an emergency MRI last night. Then, a call today -- the radiologist needed yet another diagnostic test as the MRI didn't quite agree with the CT scan. Okay. Not knowing what that meant, we rushed to the laboratory for blood work and then a three-hour wait for the machine as they had to work us into the already full schedule.

After the test was done, we rushed back to the Dr's office to discuss the findings. What a difference 20 minutes can make. The diagnosis is still scary (an old calcified anuerism in her right temporal lobe), but nothing compared to the original CT diagnosis of a brain stem cancer. We see a neurosurgeon tomorrow to discuss the options.

This explains soooo many of her symptoms, all treated by so many different doctors and never strung together to make a diagnosis strong enough to warranty a brain scan. Which leads me to wonder if we would have EVER found this without the fist fight -- until it was too late? I doubt it.

I feel like our family has been touched by the hand of God.