Susanne Saville's Caffeinated Natter

Brand New Mailing List - Please Join

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:20:50 GMT

Real Soldiers Love Their Robot Brethren

Thu, 21 May 2009 18:30:52 GMT

Human warriors have long spoken of the bonds forged in combat and of becoming a "band of brothers." The fact that some of those fellow soldiers are made of metal has not discouraged human feelings toward them.

Thousands of robots now fight with humans on modern battlefields that resemble scenes from science fiction movies such as "Terminator Salvation." But the real world poses a more complex situation than humans versus robots, and has added new twists to the psychology of war.

"One of the psychologically interesting things is that these systems aren't designed to promote intimacy, and yet we're seeing these bonds being built with them," said Peter Singer, a leading defense analyst at the Brookings Institution and author of "Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century" (Penguin Press HC, 2009).

Singer highlights many accounts of human soldiers feeling strong affection for their robots - especially on the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams where Packbots and Talon robots undertake the risk of disabling improvised explosives planted by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One EOD soldier brought in a robot for repairs with tears in his eyes and asked the repair shop if it could put "Scooby-Doo" back together. Despite being assured that he would get a new robot, the soldier remained inconsolable. He only wanted Scooby-Doo.

Robot in arms

The United States military sees robots as tireless warriors capable of striking fear into enemies, and is not shy about finding inspiration from "Terminator."

"One scientist said he was trying to build the Hunter-Killer drone from 'Terminator,'" Singer told LiveScience.

Terror aside, Singer and other experts point out how battlefield robots have also proved capable of inspiring love from their human comrades, such as the EOD soldier.

"It sounds silly, but you have to remember that he's been through the most psychologically searing experience: battle," Singer said. "That machine has saved him time and time again."

Sometimes such bonds led soldiers to risk their lives for their robots, in a strange inverse of the idea that robots would spare human lives. Singer recounted another EOD soldier who ran 164 feet under machine gun fire to retrieve a robot that had been knocked out of action. And several teams have given their robots promotions, Purple Heart awards for being wounded in combat, and even a military funeral.

This attachment to robots stems in part from the human brain's mirror-neuron system, which fires up whenever watching the movement of someone or something, Singer noted. The system helps form the foundation for empathy and understanding the mindset of another being, but can also lead people to project personalities and emotions onto objects.

For the rest of the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090521/sc_livescience/realsoldierslovetheirrobotbrethren

TransFair USA, Green Mountain Coffee and Bruegger’s Tell Boston Commuters Their Choice Makes a Diffe

Tue, 12 May 2009 16:28:51 GMT

On the morning of Wednesday, May 13, an estimated 20,000 Boston MBTA riders will be rewarded for their environmentally-friendly decision to use public transportation.

Volunteers from TransFair USA, the non-profit that certifies Fair Trade Certified™ products in the United States, will distribute free coupons to be redeemed for hot or iced Fair Trade Certified™ Green Mountain Coffee® at Bruegger’s Bakery-Cafés, plus a coupon worth $2.50 off a package of Green Mountain Coffee at local grocery stores.

Boston T riders can spot volunteers in bright orange t-shirts handing out coupons from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Wednesday at seven T stations including: South Station, Kenmore, Porter Square, Longwood, Downtown Crossing, Government Center and Back Bay."

For more information: Click Here

Tower Bridge lift fall hurts six (eeek!)

Mon, 11 May 2009 17:56:05 GMT

"A number of people were injured when a lift in Tower Bridge, central London, fell 10ft.

The lift dropped in the north tower of the structure, the City of London Corporation said.

Four men and two women, including tourists from Spain, suffered leg injuries including at least one broken leg and a broken ankle.
The six were taken to hospital and about 10 people left the scene uninjured. An investigation has begun.

The City of London Corporation spokeswoman said: "The lift is believed to have fallen 10ft (3m) when it was on the way up from the (bridge level) ground floor."

The door to the lift opened automatically, she added.

The bridge houses an exhibition on the history of the London landmark. Five exhibition visitors and one member of staff were injured.
The spokeswoman added: "The lift takes a maximum of 40 people but it is not possible to say exactly how many people were in the lift."

Three ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team were sent to the scene at 1310 BST.

The six patients were all conscious when the crews arrived at the bridge, a London Ambulance service spokeswoman said.

They were taken to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, and St Thomas Hospital, south-east London."

For the rest of this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8044164.stm

BBC NEWS | Wales | Extras queue for Robin Hood roles

Sat, 09 May 2009 20:43:40 GMT

More than 1,000 people lined up for a chance to appear with Hollywood stars Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett.

Director Sir Ridley Scott was looking for 600 extras to play soldiers in his new production of Robin Hood.
Hundreds had to be turned away from the Technium Centre in Pembroke Dock which was the venue for the open casting because of such a high turn out.

Technium manager David Thomas said: "It's totally alien to anything we do but it was an opportunity to help out."
Oscar-winning actors Crowe and Blanchett star as Robin Hood and Maid Marian in the film to be shot on location at Freshwater Bay in Pembrokeshire National Park.

The film, which had been called Nottingham, is said to have a $130m (£91m) budget.

The extras, as soldiers, will be up against Russell Crowe as Robin Hood

Having landed the top billing, Sir Ridley, who directed Crowe in the 2000 block-buster, Gladiator, is recruiting a small army of extras to play the Sheriff of Nottingham's men. A London-based casting agency ran the open day.

But a higher than expected number of people turned up and many were turned away. However they were told to apply online.

For more on this story: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8041103.stm

What actually drew my attention to this article is Ridley Scott being called Sir Ridley. It just sounds so Arthurian. :)

California Burning

Sat, 09 May 2009 16:10:05 GMT

Photograph by Patrick Stanbro

Talk about an image being both beautiful and terrifying.

This photo of the Jesusita Fire was taken by a friend of mine who lives there. 30,000 people have been evacuated.

For a look at more of his work, go to: http://www.patrickstanbro.com/

Prince Albert's Prince Albert

Sat, 02 May 2009 16:49:47 GMT

Yes, we're back to piercing again.

This is sort of a tangent off of my Victorian Breast Piercing Research - it's male piercing. If you don't know what a Prince Albert piercing is ... try Wikipedia.

You will find many websites - and even books - declaring that this type of body piercing was so named because Prince Albert (married to Queen Victoria) wore one. You will find them saying that these circular piercings were also known as "dressing rings" and that they were used to secure oneself to the left or the right leg.

Dude. Seriously?

I mean, think about it, what would it be tied to? Your thigh? And it would have to be a slip-knot because, really, just think if the string got caught on something.... [rrriipp] That's painful just contemplating it.

And we haven't even addressed the fact that, in the real world, if you need to be tied down to your thigh, then perhaps you're having one of those episodes the Cialis commercials warn about and you should be proceeding to a hospital at once.

The British Victorian period may have been more risqué, but in the US, you couldn't actually say the word leg because it was too inflammatory - you had to say limb. Cereal was invented because, the belief was, giving a man steak and eggs for breakfast was just asking for him to be aroused all day. The same for Graham crackers - non-arousing steak substitute.

In that climate, how could a gentleman possibly face his needs-to-be-protected lady wife with a piercing amidst his unmentionables and expect remain considered a gentleman?

Another thing: according to The Piercing Bible by Elayne Angel (p. 156) the healing time for a Prince Albert is "4 to 8 weeks or longer". Now, in a time when infection could not be reliably controlled, who is going to pierce themselves anywhere - let alone somewhere that delicate?

Are you beginning to smell a hoax?

In her book, Angel confirms my suspicions that Prince Albert did not have a Prince Albert, as does Matthew Sweet in Inventing the Victorians.

So why do so many people think he did? Where did this "dressing ring" thing get started?

According to Angel, these stories were made up by a man who called himself Doug Malloy (real name Richard Simonton). He is considered the father of modern piercing culture in the US.

He also made bags of money franchising Muzak. Not three words you'd expect to find in the same sentence are they, "body piercing" and "Muzak"? Go figure.

(Muzak, by the way, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb 10 2009).

I can hear you asking, why? Not why the Muzak bankruptcy, but why would someone make something like that up?

Apparently, the answer is: Because it makes a great story.

If you are promoting a new fad, it helps with promotion to have that fad possess a fun historical background. It gives it roots. Validity.

And stories are the bedrock of culture. It doesn't matter how unrealistic a tale is, as long as it makes a great story. Think of all the urban legends you've heard.

This seems to be why the Prince Albert story has legs - why it has spread so far for so long.

We humans love to tell each other a good story.

Me at the Romantic Times 2009 Faery Ball

Fri, 01 May 2009 15:10:59 GMT

http://myblog.susannesaville.com/2009/05/01/goth-fae-at-the-faery-ball-rt-2009.aspx

The 2009 UnSeelie Court at the Faery Ball

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:51:20 GMT

http://myblog.susannesaville.com/2009/04/28/the-unseelie-court--romantic-times-convention-faery-ball-2009.aspx

Pug in Book Trailer

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:31:11 GMT

For more information: http://www.susannesaville.com/The_Secret_Hunter.html

Audio Book Poll

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:04:11 GMT

Audio books are being discussed on one of the (many) email loops I'm on, and I got curious ..... consequently I have a poll going on my new Yahoo group.

If you have some spare time, would you mind popping over to vote?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Susanne_Saville_Caffeinated_Fan_Zone/polls

I don't think you have to be a member to vote......watch me be wrong. If you do, and you don't wish to join, you could post your answer here. :)

[It is a very low-traffic group, so if you do join you won't have to worry about your mailbox. I haven't really done much with it. C'est la vie when you're a procrastinator, right?]

The question is: Do you prefer a male or female voice as your romance audio book narrator, or does gender not matter to you?

Thank you very much for helping me out!!! :)

The Women of Journey's End

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:14:52 GMT

This contains Doctor Who Finale spoilers

Okay, I'm going to lead off with Donna's fate because that is what disturbs me the most. I LOVE Donna. She is BRILLIANT. And her character had an arc!! She went from being focused on finding someone else to complete her to being a competent heroine in her own right (but not believing it) to becoming the most important woman in the universe.

And then she gets regressed right back to where she was before. Okay, yes, the Doctor told her mother to treat her better. She's been mean to Donna for how many years now? And that will change instantly because of one sentence. Yup.

Why couldn't DoctorDonna have gone off to have her own adventures like Romana?

And if "one must die" then I would have preferred Donna to have actually died, knowing how brilliant she was and how she saved reality. That would have been...well...noble. Now she has to rely on her family's good opinion of her because she's back to having none herself.

On to Rose. Okay, I can see where someone thought it would be a good idea to give Rose her own Doctor so she could live happily ever after. If the BBC ever masters that technology, I believe there are many of us who would want David Tennant clones. They could do a rip-roaring trade. Put me down for a John Barrowman clone, as well.

However, doesn't it sort of cheapen Rose's love for the Doctor to assume she can be fobbed off with a copy? And she still hasn't kissed the "real" Doctor. I dunno. I'm not a 'shipper so I'd like to hear what the Ten/Rose 'shippers think.

So, Donna rises to the level of a Time Lord and then gets whapped back down to nothing. Rose gets pacified with generic Doctor (as good as the real thing!). Jackie - who apparently has nothing better to do than follow her ADULT daughter around (get a life, woman!) - is underutilized as is Sarah Jane - and by the way, big YAY for Davros for remembering her from Genesis of the Daleks.

At least Martha was written with a mission and a duty and all. I LOVE Martha as well. I hope she is a recurring character on Torchwood. Oh, and poor Gwen and Ianto! Stuck with little to do. At least Tosh got postmortem props for devising that time shield thing. Oh, and Gwen called her husband - but Martha didn't call her boyfriend. Which is fine with me since none of the men at UNIT called their significant others.

I don't understand why it's the men who get to die nobly or have great powers or whatnot. Rose had the TARDIS power inside her and then lost it. (And, by the way, did you notice that nobody ever told Rose that she's the one who made Jack immortal.) Donna had the Doctor's intelligence and then lost everything.

I'm probably generalizing in a big way, but I'm annoyed. Although, as cranky as I must sound, I actually really enjoyed the episode - right up to the last 7 minutes. What happened to Donna really chapped my hide. If that had been handled better, I think I would have overlooked everything else.

E-Books and the Fictional Future

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:29:34 GMT

Love them or hate them, most readers have an opinion about the E-book format. A great many of us like their convenience, but don't think they'll ever replace "real", paper books. We like the tactile presence of the pages turning in our hands. Others say that's because we grew up with paper books and future generations won't have that emotional tie. So let's take a look at two television representations of the future:

Star Trek has always believed in E-books, right from the very beginning. There are still "antique" books around, but otherwise, everyone reads off of their hand-held devices.

Consequently, it truly surprised me when the recent Doctor Who two-parter, Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead, had the Doctor and Donna visit a world-size library of the distant future - and it was all paper books! Did the builders realize that if they'd put all those books in e-book format, it might have taken up only a continent instead of a whole world? And then it turns out that the computer which runs the library has access to the contents of all the books. How is that possible unless the books have been scanned into the computer? In which case they ARE available in e-book format. So isn't their paper presence a duplication of labor and space?

Also, I assume none of these paper books can be checked out because if they weren't returned, their knowledge would be lost...except to the computer. Another reason to have e-book copies. They would be far more portable, too. Can you imagine visiting an entire WORLD of books - I check out 60-some books from a university-size library. My space-ship would never be able to lift-off.

Not to mention the un-green-ness of this situation - all the trees that died to make those books! Because it turns out they weren't collected from other libraries - oh, no, they were all printed up new using the wood-pulp from a planet of forests. Lovely. Wipe out an entire planet of forests to build a planet of books.

Now, that is where the writer, Steven Moffat, got clever. Because had those forests not been consumed for paper for the books, none of the terrible things that happen next would have happened. So Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead play very well as a warning about the dire consequences of ignoring ecological conservation practices. Had the library contained E-books, the Doctor and Donna would have simply had a nice visit to a busy library and all the patrons would have lived happily ever after. So I guess you can say that Doctor Who believes in E-books, too.

Now, I know some of you are reading this and thinking, "That's all you have to say about that two-parter? You're kidding!" Well....no. I must admit that another of my thoughts upon watching it was, "So the Doctor's taste in girlfriends gets even MORE annoying over time??!!"

But I'm not a Doctor Who 'shipper. X-Files? Hell, yes. Doctor Who? Not so much. Probably because I watched Original Who, where sex was no part of the Doctor's - or anyone's - life, I just don't have a place for it in my Who-niverse. So I find 'shippiness annoying, no matter what form it takes.

I can see how the episodes would depress Ten/Rose 'shippers, though, and I sympathize. Technically, if Rose is The One, then having the Doctor fall in love with every other woman he meets just makes him look like a slut. He abandons Rose on a people-eating ship for that French chick, he has a close relationship with Astrid, and he has a terribly close relationship - where he tells her his name (and he hasn't even told Rose that) - with River Song.

I liked the "everybody lives" bit at the end, though. I think you have to have watched Original Who to really appreciate that. I'm guessing that Steven Moffat was, like me, scarred by the original series, in which EVERYBODY DIES. Seriously. The cast of each episode was: The Doctor, the companion(s), and Miscellaneous Red-shirts (to use a Star Trek term). You'd meet all sorts of cool characters and they'd all be dead by the end of the story. I remember many times thinking, "Please don't let him/her get killed off." while watching the old series. One time the fellow I liked survived and I was elated!!! Note how it was "one time".

So I really enjoy when Steven Moffat figures out how to let everybody live at the end of his stories.

And I hope next time the Doctor visits a library or reads in the Tardis, he will pull out a hand-held device instead of a paper book.

Jack Davenport Alert!

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:01:56 GMT

Apparently the Brits are plotting world domination - or at least American TV domination.

I don't follow entertainment news - mostly because I'm trying to avoid collecting MORE television shows to watch. I procrastinate enough as it is. So it was a complete shock to me to stumble across SWINGTOWN while channel surfing. Why a shock, you ask? Because Jack Davenport is starring in it!!! And he's doing a fantastic American accent, too. Why is it that so many British actors can do perfect American accents, but so few American actors can do passable British accents?

Anyway, I forget his character's name, but Jack Davenport's character's wife's name is Susan. And he says her name a lot. It's wicked cool. Good thing I don't have a Tivo, or I might Tivo that - him saying, "Susan" - and play it over and over. Does that sound way stalker-ish? It does, doesn't it. Drat. Well, before I attempt to subdue my fan-girl mindset, I have more Brit actor news:

Rufus Sewell is going to be starring in ELEVENTH HOUR this fall. It looks exciting. And he looks handsome. So I'll be there.

Life on Mars - US Version???

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:55:59 GMT

Did anyone else see this advertisement last night during game 6 of the NBA play-offs? I had the sound muted and didn't realize I would want to watch that ad until it was too late, so I can't be certain....but it LOOKS like they're going to be broadcasting an AMERICAN version of LIFE ON MARS in the Fall.

OMG.

Does anyone else wish they'd just show us the ORIGINAL BRITISH VERSION?

And do you think Pittsburgh will replace Manchester again?

Return to Glory - Celtics Win!

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:33:48 GMT

On the seventeenth day of the sixth month, in the sixth game, the Boston Celtics won their seventeenth NBA championship.

Numerology, anyone?

The team was adorable in their joy - thanking the fans, hugging each other, etc. Kevin Garnett knelt down and kissed the portly leprechaun painted on the center of the court.

The Lakers seemed to be gracious in defeat, coming over to congratulate the Celtics' coach and players. And the fans were....well, they ran the gamut from happily drunk to riotous. Since the game didn't end until, like, midnight, I'm guessing many people will be calling in sick to work this morning.

Of course, there was the obligatory destruction of property - plate glass windows shattered, a large advertising sign smashed, and trash set on fire. But the police had it pretty much under control and arrests were made. Fourteen arrests, I believe.

There were touching moments, too. This was the first championship for the Celtics since 1986. One fan at the Garden celebrated the victory by smoking a cigar he had kept for this moment for 22 years.

I hear there are plans for a Victory Parade (a la the Red Sox Rolling Rallies). I'll be watching. To have gone from rock bottom to the very top in one season - what a great story, they deserve to have a rockin' parade.

Unicorn Discovered in Italy

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:40:03 GMT

A unicorn!

Click here for more on this story.

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:38:36 GMT

Exciting news! Celia Ashley, Laine Morgan, Annmarie Ortega, and I have a new print release - the anthology "Wicked Rogues"!

Blurb: The only thing that’s more delightful than a woman finding herself at the ‘mercy’ of a wicked rogue is discovering a cache of four—each one more tempting than the last. In the anthology, Wicked Rogues, four authors explore their take on the fascinating subject of how to capture the heart of a rogue.

Celia's story, The Other Side of Silence, is a paranormal:
From the first day she met him, everything about the tall, dark stranger with the beautiful amber eyes set Sunny's blood on fire. But just who was Roger? Where had he come from? Who had he been? No one knew, not even Roger Macleod.

The other three stories are historical:
Laine Morgan's Pirate's Secret: From the first moment Shannon spied the dark pirate, Patrick Flannigan, she wanted to experience the thrill of excitement and adventure only he could offer. She hadn't expected to fall in love the rogue, but she refused to be left behind, stealing away on his ship when he sailed away from their homeland.

Patrick hadn't taken a mortal lover in centuries, and he certainly hadn't expected to fall in love with one. There was no future in it-none, for he couldn't bring himself to make her into what he was.

Susanne Saville's Captain Devlin's Captive: Little does Jasabel Buchanan realize the rakish Bermuda sloop she sights on the horizon is about to plunge her into a passionate voyage of intrigue and adventure. An indentured lady's maid to the rich Governor's daughter, Jasabel is taken prisoner when the ship on which they sail is seized by pirates. Soon she finds herself the personal captive of the pirates' dark, enigmatic captain.

Sent into bondage on the plantations because of his Jacobite loyalties, Captain Neil Devlin escaped to become the terror of the English colonies. When the chance to abduct his former owner's daughter presents itself, he takes it. What he doesn't expect is her spirited, and captivating, lady's maid.

But amongst old injustices an evil lurks, and before she can be free, Jasabel must decide if she dares to love a pirate.

Annmarie Ortega's The Diary of Annalise: When Annalise's father died, he left her with only the family tavern, a pile of debt, and a burning hatred for the pirates who frequent the tavern. One night, a mysterious stranger re-ignites the fire in her mourning heart. But their passion turns dangerous when Annalise finds herself kidnapped by the very men she hates.

Hope you enjoy reading us! ;)
Susanne Saville

www.SusanneSaville.com

Law and Order - Is Ed Coming Back?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:30:10 GMT

This is the photo on NBC's official Law and Order page next to the description of tonight's new episode:

Are they tormenting me by reminding me that the ever yummy Detective Ed Green left last week?

Or are they teasing me, trying to get my hopes up that he continues to make cameo appearances?

Because it's obviously all about me. ;)

I really liked these two fellows together. They had good working chemistry.

If only the photo were bigger....

Romantic Times Convention 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:19:05 GMT

This was the scene at the Romantic Times Expo and Book-signing on Wednesday April 16 in Pittsburgh.

It was really busy for the entire two hours which the Expo lasted. I was impressed by the turnout.

And I was blown away by the fact that I actually met complete strangers who knew my work! I even had a reader recount a scene I had written!

I sold 80% of the books that I'd brought - and sold out of Captain Devlin's Captive. One of the RT staff congratulated me on doing so well. I must say I was euphoric.

It was just so amazing and exciting to "feel the love" as L.A. Banks says. I sat next to her at dinner and not only is she a classy lady, she is a hoot! We were all laughing hysterically for most of the meal. I would gator-wrestle to sit next to her again. (Next year the RT Convention is in Orlando, so gator-wrestling is entirely within the realm of possibility.)

Another classy lady whom I met was Mary Balogh. It was a total fan-girl moment for me when she came over to my table at the Expo booksigning. And SHE BOUGHT THE SECRET HUNTER!!!!

The cover drew her in - go pugs!!! But she has since said that she is finding it a "fun" read. Is that spectacular or what? I would have been pleased if she had said, "well, it's not entirely rubbish." All I want to be is fun. I'm ever so chuffed to have succeeded.

And the RT Convention turned out to be bags of fun. This was my first one - I had RT Virgin status (but don't worry, it's not the same as being a Virgin at a Rocky Horror showing) - so I had no idea what to expect.

The convention turned out to be HUGE. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, more than 1,300 people attended - and only 300 of them authors. I met so many readers and librarians and booksellers and aspiring writers. It was incredible. I handed out bookmarks left and right. And the energy was overwhelmingly positive and vibrant.

Yes, okay, the hotel was undergoing renovations. But Barack Obama stayed there (yes, during the convention), so it was obviously still one of Pittsburgh's finest hotels. I checked in on Tuesday with no waiting and got a beautiful renovated room with a fantastic view. For example...

I love this building. Wouldn't it be cool if all skyscrapers looked like this? I want more Gothic skyscrapers!

My room also had this fantastic coffee maker, which I shall write about in my MySpace Group, the Caffeinated Fan Zone.

However, I heard that 70% of the convention - this is like 900 people - checked in on Wednesday and the hotel had a melt-down. Massive waiting lines, rooms weren't ready, people were given rooms that already had people in them - note to everyone: always lock your door when you shower. One poor girl walked into what she had been told was her room and low-and-behold there was already someone in the room - showering!

The elevators got worn out very quickly, too. One of them jammed for an hour with people inside, and another fell four floors with people inside. Or that is what I heard. I didn't have a problem other than the elevators were slow...and perpetually crowded. But that's the way it always is at the RWA Conference so I didn't expect anything different.

All the authors were treated like stars. I'm barely anybody, and even I got to chat with Kathryn Falk (the founder and CEO of Romantic Times Magazine). She was very sweet.

The panels were a lot of fun as well as being informative. There were panels for everybody, from readers to beginning writers to published authors. And parties for everyone as well. I didn't go to the evening parties as I was exhausted from the busy days. You've got to remember, as an author, I live a hermitic life. Think I talked more this past week than I have in a year.

I had to leave on Saturday morning, so I missed the big Saturday booksigning. But you'd better believe that I'll be there next year. Hope y'all can join us. If 2009 is anything like 2008, it will be a blast.

Leslie's Truly Clever Compromise (Redux)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:24:45 GMT

Note: This is my Patriots' Day annual post. After all, a good story is worth repeating.

The third Monday in April is a Massachusetts and Maine state holiday known as Patriots' Day. It commemorates the battle of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. This battle is traditionally seen as the beginning of the American Revolution. But there is another event, earlier and oft-overlooked, which could be said to be the Revolution's actual start.

February 26, 1775
Salem, Massachusetts

The minutemen raising the draw on Salem's North Bridge were probably too excited to notice the chill in the air that Sunday morning. A quick clatter of hooves on cobbles had announced the coming of a rider bearing breathless news from Boston: General Gage had dispatched Colonel Leslie and the Sixty-Fourth Regiment of foot to confiscate the Massachusetts militia's gun and cannon hoard at Salem.

With roughly 250 soldiers marching on them, in short order an equal number of minutemen had gathered on the north side of Salem's North River, ready to defend their stash of arms. As Colonel Leslie was approaching from the south, they raised the drawbridge and removed any nearby rowboats, effectively preventing the red-coats' ability to reach them on the opposite bank.

Colonel Leslie was not amused, as you might imagine. When he arrived and saw the raised draw, he demanded the colonists lower it.

They refused.

He told them they had no business obstructing the King's soldiers on the King's highway.

This devolved into a debate as to whether the road was in actual fact the King's, because it had been paid for by the residents of the north bank, not the city of Salem, and therefore, technically, was not a public road but a private one.

Colonel Leslie was even less amused.

He tried to wait them out, perhaps thinking the colonists might get bored with this game, or too frozen to carry on. But hours passed and the militia refused to give in.

And then Colonel Leslie had an idea.

Now, he could have opened fire on the minutemen at any time. They were obstructing his mission and in open, armed revolt against the King's authority.

But he didn't.

Apparently he thought no one should have to die over this, neither civilians nor his soldiers.

So he offered Captain Felt, leader of the minutemen, a compromise. The orders Colonel Leslie had been given specified that he cross North Bridge, with the seizure of the colonists' guns being understood--but not explicitly stated.

Consequently, if Felt would allow the Sixty-Fourth to obey their orders by marching across the bridge, Leslie would then turn them around and march them back without confiscating the weapons. Orders would be fulfilled, guns would still be in the possession of the militia, and everyone would get what they wanted out of the situation.

Captain Felt agreed. The drawbridge was lowered. Colonel Leslie's troops marched across North Bridge, wheeled, and started back.

Unfortunately, some of the residents of the north bank took this opportunity to hurl verbal abuse at the red-coats, but happily the soldiers ignored them and continued on their way.

It was a victory for cooperation. But interestingly enough, in an example of what today we would call "spin", the colonists decided to name this incident "Leslie's Retreat."

And so it is known to this day.

When it really should be called "Leslie's Truly Clever Compromise."

In England, the press reported this event as the beginning of the American Revolution. For example, the Gentleman's Magazine wrote, "the Americans have hoisted their standard of liberty at Salem."

Lexington had yet to happen.

So if the British at the time considered this the beginning, why don't we now? The incident at Salem's North Bridge has all the dramatic elements. There's a rider from Boston who warns the locals. A scramble to get minutemen out to prevent the red-coats' objective. A confrontation.

But no combat.

Remembering the battle of Lexington and Concord honors the first blood shed in the Revolutionaries' cause. Quite a lot of blood, actually.

Eight Americans and 293 English soldiers were killed.

But if Lexington is the physical start of the war, Salem marks the psychological revolution in thinking, the quiet, internal revolution, which resulted in the rejection of governmental authority and led to resistance as surely as thought precedes action.

Of course, no matter how momentous the quiet, internal struggle, the avoidance of a crisis can reasonably be perceived as being a dearth of action. And thus the cerebral situation is easily overlooked in favor of more vivid candidates for celebration. After all, incidents of cooperation are not really the stuff of which great holidays are made.

But maybe they should be.

NEW Vampire Close / The Crimson Fold Book Video

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:30:16 GMT

RT Expo Wednesday April 16 5pm to 7pm at Pittsburgh Hilton

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:36:26 GMT

I could have titled this post "Fear." But I reckon the title I went with is more informative.

Two weeks from today - can it only be two weeks?! - I will be at the Pittsburgh Hilton (600 Commonwealth Place) participating in the RT Expo booksigning between 5pm and 7pm, along with 170 other authors.

This will be my first booksigning. This will be my first Romantic Times convention.

And you might say that I am slightly....oh, I dunno....terrified.

I'm pretty much unknown, so I imagine I'll be sitting there....in a dark corner....alone....crickets chirping....cobwebs forming....

No, no, I know we'll all be out in the open. I'll probably be wishing for a dark corner, though. I'm fairly shy. As many of us writers are. :)

And I think many readers are, too. Years ago, before I knew anything about the writing industry, I think I would have found it difficult to approach an author. Especially if I were afraid they'd try to high-pressure me into buying their book. Or if I didn't have the money to buy their book, I'd feel bad just going up to say hello so I probably wouldn't go up at all.

This event will have other draws besides the authors, by the way. It's especially focused on E-books and emerging technology, so publishers and vendors will be there as well. The advertisement - which has my name on it! Right next to Christine Feehan! - says there will be giveaways and prizes. And they're going to raffle off a Sony Reader.

This is all part of Romantic Times' 25th Anniversary Convention which runs April 16 - 20.   Adrian Paul of Highlander fame is going to be there raising money for charity - which includes selling some Highlander memorabilia - on Saturday April 19.

So attention anyone in the Pittsburgh area! You might want to come to this. :)

Channel 2 KDKA is supposed to be giving more information about the convention closer to the time on Pittsburgh Today Live.

And if any of you do attend the RT convention this year, please stop by and say hi to me. I won't pressure you to buy anything. :)

Vampire Close - Finalist in Best Heroine Category of Anne Bonney Readers' Award

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:29:23 GMT

Vampire Close - or rather its heroine Fiona - is up for Best Heroine in the Ancient City Romance Writers' Anne Bonney Readers' Choice Award!!!

I am so thrilled. Vampire Close was my debut novel and this is the first (and only) contest I've entered it in. You can look at all of the wonderful finalists here.

Oh, and if you happen to consider purchasing it - Vampire Close is available on Amazon in the two novel anthology The Crimson Fold.

Hey, a girl's gotta get her coffee money somehow. ;)

Hellish Nell - Britain's Last Convicted Witch

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:55:50 GMT

Guess what year the last witch trial in Great Britain was held....

1944

Yes, you read that correctly. 1944. During World War II.

Wanna hear the story? Okay. During World War II there was an upsurge in the popularity of seances and mediums - understandably, since people were being abruptly killed every day and their loved ones wanted a chance to say goodbye.

One of the more popular mediums was Helen Duncan. Unfortunately for her, she was a little too talented for her own good.

At one of her sessions, her spirit guide cried out that one of Britain's great ships had been lost. Worried, a Brigadier who happened to be in attendance rushed off to call the Admiralty and ask if this were true. The Admiralty said no, nothing had happened.

Later the Admiralty called him back and was like, "How did you know?" Germany's great battleship the Bismarck had just sunk Britain's great battleship the Hood. 1,419 sailors died. Three survived. Somehow Helen Duncan had known before the news had reached the government.

At another seance she was even more specific. A woman had come for news of her sailor husband. She was told that he was dead, his ship the Barham had sunk. She went home and called the Admiralty demanding to know if this were true.

It was true. And it was a government secret. The Barham was one of the greatest threats to Hitler in the Mediterranean. The U-boat which had hit it had left before it exploded and had not realized it had been sunk. Hitler did not know the threat had been removed - and Britain wanted to keep it that way. The government had even gone so far as to forge Christmas letters from the dead crew so that their families would continue to think they were alive.

So as far as the government was concerned, here was Helen Duncan, blabbing some of their most valuable secrets. What if she voiced the biggest secret of all - the location of the upcoming D-Day invasion? She was too dangerous to be allowed to go free.

So they had her arrested for being a fraudulent medium.

Then they ran into the problem that that charge wouldn't stand up in court, since the whole motive behind her arrest was that she was NOT a fraud.

So they had her tried for witchcraft. Along with 3 of the people who had helped with her seances.

She was convicted of witchcraft too, a happy day for the authorities. But then it looked like the judge was going to be kind to her. The entire point of the trial had been to legally put her away until after D-Day (and the threat of her revealing it) had passed.

Yes. Seriously. This is a true story.

Now, most of the evidence against her was that she was a fraudulent medium, employing cheesecloth to simulate ghosts. They didn't bring up what she said since they didn't want spies to find out about her gift. But they couldn't have the judge thinking she was harmless and letting her off lightly.

So during the sentencing phase, the Chief Constable admitted in court that, "In a naval connection, Mrs. Duncan foretold the loss of one of His Majesty's ships long before the fact was made public." (p. 186)

Yes, apparently that is in the trial transcript.

So, the threat now understood, she was sentenced to nine months in prison.

She served six months and was released for good behavior (and that D-Day had passed and been a success).

If you would like to read more about this, try THE STRANGE CASE OF HELLISH NELL by Nina Shandler. The page reference above is to this book. I've been reading it and it's very interesting. The end-notes are superb. I want to go to the Public Records Office and read some of this for myself.

By the way, we're not really supposed to know about any of this. It was considered a matter of national security and the file was supposed to be closed for 100 years. Ms. Shandler wrote that when she got it, the file had a green sticker on it: "Closed Until 2046". (p. 7)