And the winner of a free copy of Black Dorn is...

Patricia.

Congratulations.  I'll be sending you a copy of my latest erotic historical - Black Dorn - to the email address you listed in your comment.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and commenting.

Oh this is sooooooo me.

I found this blog on a different website - thought I'd share it with everyone - here is the link - http://www.carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts

I'll probably be doing som eblog about this subject in the near future - say - after Christmas when life calms down.

 

10 Myths About Introverts

In late-2008, I was lucky enough to discover a book called, The Introvert Advantage (How To Thrive in an Extrovert World), by Marti Laney, Psy.D. It felt like someone had written an encyclopedia entry on a rare race of people to which I belong. Not only had it explained many of my eccentricities, it helped me to redefine my entire life in a new and productive context.
Sure, anyone who knows me would say, “Duh! Why did it take you so long to realize you’re an Introvert?” It’s not that simple. The problem is that labeling someone as an Introvert is a very shallow assessment, full of common misconceptions. It’s more complex than that.
A section of Laney’s book maps out the human brain and explains how neuro-transmitters follow different dominant paths in the nervous systems of Introverts and Extroverts. If the science behind the book is correct, it turns out that Introverts are people who are over-sensitive to Dopamine, so too much external stimulation overdoses and exhausts them. Conversely, Extroverts can’t get enough Dopamine, and they require Adrenaline for their brains to create it. Extroverts also have a shorter pathway and less blood-flow to the brain. The messages of an Extrovert’s nervous system mostly bypass the Broca’s area in the frontal lobe, which is where a large portion of contemplation takes place.
Unfortunately, according to the book, only about 25% of people are Introverts. There are even fewer that are as extreme as I am. This leads to a lot of misunderstandings, since society doesn’t have very much experience with my people. (I love being able to say that.)
So here are a few common misconceptions about Introverts (not taken directly from the book, but based on my own life experience):
Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.
Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.
Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.
Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.
Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.
Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.
Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.
Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.
Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.
Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.
“You cannot escape us, and to change us would lead to your demise.” <-- I made that up. I'm a screenwriter.
It can be terribly destructive for an Introvert to deny themselves in order to get along in an Extrovert-Dominant World. Like other minorities, Introverts can end up hating themselves and others because of the differences. If you think you are an Introvert, I recommend you research the topic and seek out other Introverts to compare notes. The burden is not entirely on Introverts to try and become "normal." Extroverts need to recognize and respect us, and we also need to respect ourselves.
Let me know your thoughts.
-Carl.

The weekend before Christmas

Thanks for taking the time out of your crazy pre-Christmas life to stop by.

My Christmas blog story is about Christmas renovations. Just finished renovating the upstairs hallway, stairs and dining room – a week before Christmas! Not the-worst-time-renovation of my life. That would have been the year we moved the kitchen from where it was to its new location in the house – on Christmas Day – while the turkey was cooking.

(The video is a Canadian thing - Bob and Doug - kind of famous here :-) )

I live in a big old farmhouse and the idea of the massive kitchen to feed all the farm hands just isn't needed anymore. Kitchen has a fireplace – who needs a fireplace?? It was 14 steps from my sink to my fridge – and 14 more back. So I, brilliantly, decided to switch the little living room with the big kitchen. Husband and parents decided part of my Christmas present was to make this switch happen – but on Christmas day!?!

Not a problem switching the two rooms – except the dining room is in between and everything had to be moved out of the way so the fridge and stove could be relocated. Husband has mentioned on more than one occasion that moving a hot oven – the turkey was cooking – was not his best and brightest idea.

We moved the kitchen into the dining room, the living room into the old kitchen then moved the kitchen into its new home. When dinner was over everyone fell asleep and it wasn't because of the turkey. Every year since, at some point on Christmas day, someone will say, "Remember the year we moved the kitchen." We all shake our heads and laugh.

What the craziest thing you and your family have done on Christmas?

To win a copy of my latest – Black Dorn – erotic historical romance – you'll have to guess or come close to my favourite number. Clue – it's between 1 and 50.

Joys of the season to all.

Happiness is - A 5 cup review

Coffee Beans and Love Scenes - reviewed A KEPT WOMAN.  I was delightfully surprised and a bit stunned at the review.
Here it is.

Kept Woman by Daryl Devore

Title: A Kept Woman

Author: Daryl Devore

Sub-Genre(s): Erotic, BDSM

Publisher: New Dawning BookFair

Publication Date: February 24, 2011

ISBN #: B004PGNB9C

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Sam

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

Desperately unemployed, Arianne, answers an ad that reads 'Woman Wanted'. With miniscule hours and excellent pay, she accepts the position of courtesan to Derek, a handsomely dashing man, whom she finds out is a billionaire. Engaging in a game of cat and mouse, will they drive each other crazy…or will they fall in love first.

Review:
A Kept Woman has just become one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I know I’ve got several but from the blurb alone I was intrigued and had to know what happens next. When a blurb can give you loads of questions you are dying to know the answers too, you just know it has to be a good book.

The basis of a woman signing up for the job as a paid companion whose sole purpose is to please her employer and this develops into a love match may sound a little predictable but I can promise you, in my opinion there is nothing predictable about A Kept Woman.

There is a lot of sex within the story but I found it in no way distracted from the main overall story line.

Arianne starts of using all of her feminine wiles to lure Derek into falling in love with her becoming the ultimate catch as he is a wealthy man. The balance here changes when she suddenly realizes she doesn’t want to trap him or catch him but simply give him as much pleasure and all of her love possible.

I thought this was a wonderful story taking on a premise I thought could have been tricky. Excellent writing and wonderful character and as far as I’m concerned a keeper.

Guest Authoress - Penny Ehrenkranz

Today I have authoress,  Penny Ehrenkranz on my blog. She's talking about her latest releases - read on and enjoy.

Hi Daryl, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today.  I’m promoting my two newest releases from MuseItUp Publishing.  Both stories are novelettes. Lady-in-Waiting was released in November and Mirror, Mirror will be released in December.  I am running a contest during the period of my blog tour.  I will collect names from every blog and will choose two winners.  One person will receive a copy of Lady-in-Waiting and another will receive Mirror, Mirror at the end of the tour.

I am originally from the East Coast, having been raised in Connecticut and lived in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for short periods before relocating to the West Coast.  I met my husband in 1977 in California and we moved to Oregon in 1978.  We have a son and a daughter, both of whom are married with children of their own.

Tell us your latest news?

I’m thrilled that MuseItUp Publishing is releasing my romance stories.  In August Love Delivery was published. Now Lady-in-Waiting and Mirror, Mirror will be available.  Last January I released a collection of my short stories, A Past and A Future, with Sam’s Dot Publishing.  4RV Publishing has contracted two MG novels, Ghost for Rent and Ghost for Lunch, and two picture books, Boo’s Bad Day and Many Colored Coats, which will be released over the next few years.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing when I was a child and I’ve never stopped.  What did slow me down were the early rejections I received.  Since I’ve been around awhile, when I first started all the support available to writers now on the Internet wasn’t there.  I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing or how to begin. Despite my teachers’ encouragement, I gave up for more than twenty years before I found the courage to submit my work.

How did you come up with the titles?

Lady-in-Waiting was easy to choose since my MC is exactly that…a lady-in-waiting to a princess. 

Mirror, Mirror was also fairly easy.  I was thinking about the magic mirror in Snow White and the evil stepmother standing in front of it, saying “mirror, mirror on the wall…”  I wanted something to transport my character back in time and it seemed perfect that she should find a magical mirror.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I generally don’t write a book for a specific message.  I write to entertain people.  I have always looked at books as a way to escape, whether to avoid boring school work or as a way to put aside office work.  I hope if a reader picks up my books to read, she or he is looking for a chance to spend some time in another world for a while.  If there is any message at all in my stories, it would be that love comes in all sizes and shapes and one should never feel alone.  There is someone for everyone.

Who designed the covers?

The covers for Lady-in-Waiting and Mirror, Mirror were both designed by Suzannah Safi. Her website is http://www.design.suzannahsafi.com/

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Here are both blurbs and excerpts from both of my latest releases.

TITLE:  Lady-in-Waiting

Tag Line: Through a series of misunderstandings, Mabriona is forced to live a lie, but when the man she loves awakes from his coma, will she confess her deceit?

Blurb: Mabriona is cousin to the beautiful and spoiled Princess Alana.  When Alana is forced to marry a man she despises, Mabriona is torn between her loyalty to her cousin and her attraction to the handsome Prince Blayne.

Tragedy befalls the cousins on the way to Prince Blayne’s castle.  Servants, believing Mabriona to be Alana, refuse to listen when she tries to explain.

While she waits for Blayne to recover, Mabriona meets his equally handsome younger brother, Madoc, a bard.

When Blayne awakes, will Mabriona choose life with a future king, will she be sent home in disgrace because of her inadvertent lies, or will Madoc win her love with his poetry?

Lady In Waiting released November 18^th. Buy link: http://tinyurl.com/6u4keh5

TITLE: Mirror, Mirror

Tag Line: Lindsay Baker’s purchase of an antique mirror sends her back in time to salvage a love torn apart by class restrictions.

Blurb: Lindsay Baker is intrigued by everything about the middle ages, but when she purchases an antique mirror and a costume to attend a Renaissance Faire, she suddenly finds herself transported back in time.  There she finds she’s been called by a witch to right a terrible wrong. 

Graham loves Prudence, but he can’t marry her because he’s landed gentry, and she is only the baker’s daughter.  Before Lindsay can return to her own time, she must convince Graham to marry against his father’s wishes.  Unfortunately, she also finds herself falling for the handsome gentleman.

Can she find her way back to her own time, or will she be stuck in a time when women had no rights?

Mirror, Mirror will release in December The buy link for the Muse Book Store: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2

SHORT EXCERPTS:

LADY-IN-WAITING

“Today’s the day, Mabriona,” Princess Alana said as Mabriona entered the chambers.  She wiped tears from her eyes with an embroidered linen. “Prince Blayne will be here, and soon I’ll be his wife.  I think the worst part of being father’s daughter is marrying someone I’ve never even met.”

“You’ve always known your marriage would be arranged for the benefit of the kingdom, Princess, but I’m sure he’ll be very nice,” Mabriona replied as she opened the heavy drapes covering the windows. She looked at her cousin and sighed.  She wanted to feel sorry for Alana, but they’d had this discussion so many times. Mabriona was tired of it.  Alana had known from the time she was a child that she would not wed for love.  Why can’t Alana just accept her fate? Outside the day was as wet as the one before and the one before that.

“Nice?  Who wants nice?  I want someone handsome and dashing.  A knight in shining armor who will love me forever.  I certainly don’t want someone like my father who will make me do everything I don’t want to do.”

After Stefany left, Lindsey adjusted the water spigots on her tub.  A few drops of bubble bath went into the water, and the soothing scent of lavender filled the moist, steamy air.  While the tub filled, Lindsey tried on her Renaissance outfit for the upcoming Faire. She couldn’t believe her good luck at finding the perfect pieces.  She tested the bath water to be sure it was the right temperature. Then she picked up her antique mirror to get a better view. Was this a scryer’s mirror at some point in time? It slipped from her wet hands into the bathtub.

“Nuts,” she mumbled as she leaned over the tub.  She pulled one sleeve up on her blouse and fished around in the bubbles for the mirror. When she pulled the mirror from the water, spots appeared in front of her eyes, and she felt faint.  While she watched her reflection in the old mirror, the background changed.  She no longer saw the inside of her bathroom.  She closed her eyes as the room around her went black.