Alibi in High Heels is available now

From Gemma Halliday

Alibi in High Heels is now out!

Baguettes, bodies, and haute couture galore! Shoe designer turned amateur sleuth, Maddie Springer, is at it again, this time in fabulously fashionable Paris. When Europe’s designer de jour, Jean Luc LeCroix, invites Maddie to show her creations at Paris Fashion Week, Maddie’s sure she’s died and gone to heaven. That is until Jean Luc’s top model is found dead on the runway, stabbed with a familiar stiletto heel. Sure someone is trying to frame her, Maddie enlists the help of her friends, including the sexy Detective Jack Ramirez, to uncover a daring jewel heist, a devious blackmailer, and even a few skeletons lurking in the closets of those closest to her. But as the evidence mounts, Maddie becomes the prime suspect and Ramirez is stuck between a badge and a cute blonde with a tendency for trouble. Will he stand by her as she attempts to track down an international killer, or will this be the case that finally comes between them? One thing’s for sure, if Maddie doesn’t uncover the real killer soon, she may be saying her final adieu.

Watch a video book trailer for Alibi In High Heels here to get a sneak peak of the action.

Order your copy now at Amazon.com.




Currently I had two vices: Mexican food and Mexican men. Thanks to an early morning shooting on Olympic that had my boyfriend, Detective Jack Ramirez, crawling out of bed at the crack of dawn, I couldn’t indulge in the latter. Which left me with the former, in the form of a grande nachos supremo at The Whole Enchilada in Beverly Hills. And I had to admit the gooey cheddar and salsa induced semi-orgasm I was experiencing was almost as good as what I'd had planned for Ramirez this morning.

Almost.

"Tell me again about the sex?" my best friend, Dana, asked, leaning both of her elbows on the table across from me.

I grinned. I couldn't help it. After spending the night with Ramirez, there was nothing I could do to wipe that sucker off. "It was hot."

Dana licked her lips. "How hot?"

I picked up a stray jalapeño from my plate and held it up. "Ten of these and you still wouldn’t even be close."

Dana sighed. Then started fanning herself with a napkin imprinted with a dancing cactus. "You know, it's been so long, I can hardly even remember what a one jalapeño night would be like."

Dana's current boyfriend de jour was Ricky Montgomery, who played the hunky gardener on the hit TV show Magnolia Lane. Amazingly, my fated-to-short-term-romance friend had actually taken a vow of monogamy with Ricky, which, thus far, had lasted a record nine months. I was actually pretty proud of Dana. Especially considering that as soon as shooting had ended for the Magnolia Lane season, Ricky had flown off to Croatia to do a film with Natalie Portman. Ricky said the script was amazing and had Oscar written all over it. Dana said she was investing in a battery powered rabbit and praying they wrapped quickly.

"So, when is Ricky coming back?" I asked around a bite of cool sour cream and hot salsa. I'm telling you, pure heaven.

"Three more weeks. I'm just not sure I can make it, Maddie. This is the longest I've ever gone without sex."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ever?"

Dana nodded vigorously. "Since ninth grade."

Wow. I think in ninth grade I was still negotiating with Bobby Preston over second base.

"So, why don't you just go visit him?"

She shook her head. "Can't. The set's in a military zone. They needed all sorts of permits and things just to be there. Booty call isn't exactly on the list of approved reasons."

"Sorry."

"Thanks." Dana sipped at her iced tea, giving my jalapeño a longing look.

"If it makes you feel any better, last night was the only action I've gotten in weeks, too." Not to mention that I was currently substituting a morning of naked sheet wrestling with rice and beans.

Dana sighed again, the kind that only blonde haired, blue eyed wanna-be actresses can conjure up without sounding fake. "Not really, but thanks for trying."

"Hey, how about we go for pedis? A fresh coat of toenail polish always makes me feel better. I've got an appointment at Fernando's in twenty minutes. Wanna join me?"

Dana shook her head, her pony-tail whipping her cheeks. "Sorry, no can do. I've got an audition at one. I'm reading for the part of a street walker on that new David E. Kelly show. I can so nail this one."

I looked her up and down, taking in her denim micro-mini, three-inch heels, and pink crop top. I hated to admit it, but she so could.



After I'd fully consumed my nacho supremeo, stopping just short of actually licking the plate, Dana and I walked down Santa Monica, making a right on Beverly where my little red Jeep was parked at the end of the busy street in front of Fernando's salon. Normally actually walking two blocks in L.A. was an unheard of phenomenon, but this was prime Beverly Hills shopping territory. The boutiques lining the street held windows full of designer purses, thousand dollar tank tops, and Italian leather shoes with stitching so small, you'd swear it was the work of Leprechauns.

Dana paused in front of the Bellissimo Boutique. "Ohmigod, Mads! Are those yours?" She pointed to a pair of red, patent leather Mary Janes with a black kitten heel.

I grinned so wide I felt my cheeks crack. (And this time it had nothing to do with Ramirez or gooey cheddar-laden chips.)

Last year I had a moment of minor internet fame, which prompted a trendy local boutique to ask me to design a line of shoes for them, called High Heels Seduction. Not surprisingly, I squealed, squeaked and generally jumped around like a six year old minus her Ritalin. And then things got even better when, two months later, the first pair of Maddie Springer originals was sold to an up-and-coming young actress who just happened to be wearing them when she got arrested outside the Twilight Club on Sunset Boulevard for drug possession. Suddenly my shoes were all over Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and even CNN. I got calls from the hippest shops in L.A. and Orange County, all clamoring to stock my High Heels Seduction.

Including, the Bellissimo Boutique.

"Yep," I said, beaming with a pride usually reserved for mothers sporting "student of the month" bumper stickers. "Those are my latest. You like?"

"I love! Oh, I so want a pair. Hey, you think you could do something for me to wear to the premier of Ricky's movie when you get back from Paris?"

Oh, did I forget to mention the best part of being a real fashion designer?

Once my shoes hit CNN, I got a call from Jean Luc Le Croix, the hottest new European fashion designer, asking me, little ‘ol me, to come show my shoes in his fall runway collection at Paris Fashion Week.

Paris!

I had truly died and gone to heaven. Not surprisingly, I'd first had a mild heart attack, then did a repeat of the six-year-old-Ritalin-addict thing. I was set to fly out next week and still hadn't come down off the high.

"Oui, oui, mademoiselle. What would you like?" I asked.

"Oh, I totally know what I want! I saw the cutest pair of wedge heeled sandals on J. Lo at the MTV awards. They were, like, black with this little trail of sequins going down the…" But Dana trailed off, her eyes fixing on a point just over my shoulder. Then suddenly going big and round.

"What?"

I spun around and stood rooted to the spot. A little yellow sports car was careening down Beverly at Daytona 500 speeds. It sideswiped a Hummer, narrowly missing a woman carrying a Dolce shopping bag, then bounced back into traffic, tires squealing.

"Ohmigod, Maddie," Dana said, her voice going high and wild. "Look out!"

I watched in horror as the little car cut across two lanes, jumping the curb and accelerating.

Straight toward me.


***



I hope you love Alibi in High Heels, as I'm hard at work on Maddie's next adventure, Mayhem in High Heels, coming in 2009!

~Gemma

An Alternate Reality

Since the local paper did not have time/space to run my column this week I've decided that I own it again-- so here it is. It should run in the print edition next week.

Foster care need is great in Danvers
By Laura Hinds
GETTING PERSONAL
Carla King of Danvers has worked as a foster care recruiter for many years. She has worked countless hours to find good foster homes for hundreds of children. On her own time, she finds way to raise funds to help these families give more to the children, including events where foster families can get together for a day of fun. I recently was in touch with her about the need for foster homes in Danvers. Carla sent me the following information, and I do feel it is important to get it in the public eye so that perhaps more families who are able to provide a stable home environment might consider becoming a foster family. I was really surprised and shocked that there are only two families in Danvers providing foster care on a steady basis. Danvers is very much a family oriented town. People have the resources here, but perhaps have never considered the idea of giving back by helping children in need.
From Carla King:
"We need more homes in Danvers and every town. Today, out of the Salem office there are 385 children in care. We have only 40 foster homes. Many children are in programs (which take care of more children at once), so they are not over crowded in the 40 homes. There are days when we don't have a place to put a 3-year-old girl or a 6-year-old boy. There have even been times when we had trouble placing a newborn. Then there are adolescents. They have a bad rap and are hard to place, while many of these teens thrive in a nurturing foster home and just want a safe place to stay so they can finish school.
“The Garvin family of North Street has provided a foster home for about a year. This is one of only two foster homes in Danvers, and the other has had only one placement, which resulted in adoption and, therefore, that family has not taken any more placements. We have some family members providing foster care in Danvers, but the Garvin family is the only Danvers family currently providing ongoing foster care.”
King provided some facts:
You don't have to own your own home to be a foster parent.
You have to have an income, but there is no minimal income so long as you can provide for a child in foster care.
You can be single, any age (over 18) and any nationality.
We welcome same sex couples.
There is a daily stipend for foster children.
To become a foster parent, one needs to first call Carla King in the Salem office, 978-825-3862. After an application and a home visit, the family can attend the training. There is no cost for the training. Once training is completed, references are done as well as a home study (which is an assessment of the people in the home) and, if approved, the home is given a license.
“There is a great deal of support from the Salem office, from get-togethers to meet other foster families, to support groups,” said King. “A social worker is assigned to each family to provide one-on-one support. There is a 24-hour hotline for foster parents as well as for the department.”
Please take the time, take stock of your situation and think about it. You, too, could help children and give them a chance at a better life in our lovely town of Danvers. Thank you,” said King.
Now, on to another subject, aquatic therapy, a topic I first wrote about in my Feb. 14 column. For the sake of clarification and to educate people that there are actually other facilities around, you can find aquatic therapy in Salem at the YMCA and there is a facility in Ipswich called Aquatic Therapy of New England. Check with your physician and insurance company for referrals. The main difference is that these pools are kept at a much cooler temperature, up to 10 degrees cooler, as I understand it. Speaking for myself and for some friends with whom I was in aquatic therapy, the heat makes all the difference. It is up to the individual: what works for some may not work for others.
Laura Hinds lives with her husband, Michael, on Burly Street.

A Whole Box of Fun

Sophie is very busy today, on patrol for Silly Squirrels.

Mike's parents have Class!!!! Aren't they something?


Who knew? Oswald might have talked to Ruby about killing JFK?? Who knew?

DALLAS (Reuters) - A batch of old documents linked to the slaying of President John F. Kennedy has reportedly been unearthed, including a highly suspect transcript of a conversation between assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and Oswald's killer Jack Ruby, the Dallas Morning News said on Sunday.

The newspaper said the Dallas County district attorney's office, which uncovered the documents, would display its discovery at a news conference on Monday morning.

The Morning News said the items found in an old safe in a Dallas courthouse included personal letters from former District Attorney Henry Wade, the prosecutor in the Ruby trial. Ruby shot Oswald two days after the president's death.

Also found were official records from Ruby's trial, a gun holster and clothing that probably belonged to Ruby and Oswald, District Attorney Craig Watkins told the newspaper.

But one potentially controversial item is a transcript of an exchange between Oswald and Ruby in which they discuss killing Kennedy to halt the mafia-busting agenda of his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy.

The Morning News said one theory about the transcript was that it was part of a movie script Wade was working on with producers, for a film that was never made.

The transcript resembles one published by the Warren Commission, which investigated Kennedy's assassination and concluded Oswald acted alone. The FBI had determined the conversation between Oswald and Ruby -- this time about killing Texas Gov. John Connally -- was definitely fake, the newspaper said.

Connally was riding in the car with Kennedy and was wounded in the attack.

The documents may be a Presidents' Day gift to conspiracy theorists who have long questioned the official U.S. government version that Oswald acted alone when he shot Kennedy on November 22, 1963, as the president's motorcade swept past the Texas School Book Depository in downtown Dallas.

Laura
The More Books the Better
ps the Danvers Witch trials would have made great TV!

Nightclub owner Ruby subsequently shot Oswald dead at point-blank range as police were escorting their prime suspect. Ruby died a few years later from cancer.

Mutts

Some Monday Morning Fun

It's Monday already! No, I didn't watch the Big Giant Hollywood Awards Show last night! I haven't seen one of the movies and figured "Why bother?". We both quietly read our books, and then guiltily indulged in watching the very inane, yet somehow funny "Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant" followed by "My Fair Brady, Maybe Baby" and then sleep. I tried to listen to Coast to Coast at 1, but didn't wake up until 2:20 AM when I heard that something they were going to talk about sounded interesting, but natch, I fell asleep and missed it. This is a good thing though, as sleep doesn't come easily to me.

Today is book editing day, newspaper article writing day for next week, final copy of this weeks article (the boring part of doing it) and hoping to get my neighbor in her 80's out to the library while it's a nice day! After reading my library article in the paper last week, she decided she wants her first library card and has asked me to take her one day soon! Maybe today if she's up to it!

Ok- some fun links!

Longmire Does Romance Novels
Killer Fiction
Mouse Songs

The funniest is definitely the Romance Novels site-- altered covers with crazy titles. Killer Fiction is great for your inner writer. My favorite though, is Mouse Songs! Go listen!
Laura
The More Books the Better

Most Interesting Animals

The following pictures and description came to me in an email that is going around--thought I'd share it with my friends without sending multiple emails. Enjoy!



The odds of seeing an albino moose are astronomical and to see this in the upper peninsula of
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Michigan, near Wisconsin , is even greater than astronomical. To see two of them together is
�
nearly impossible.
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We wanted to share these photos with as many people as possible because you will probably
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never have a chance to see this rare sight again. This is a really special treat, so enjoy the
�
shot of a life time.

Man walking Dog, Cat and Rat

My dear friend Azanna's new doggie, Frizzle. Frizzle has multiple names, but mostly answers to Frizzle!


Cheryl and Helen's doggie, Rufus:


One of Carolyn's horses, Lad:

Carolyn's most recent adoptee, Sam

This one speaks for itself!


Happy Sunday to All!

Laura
The More Books the Better!

Comcast Fails Me Again & Baby Ray

Well this morning I went to log in to my Comcast email, which is the one I use for my work at the newspaper. Guess what? My email account was deactivated and they have no idea why and asked me if I had moved and had I ever lived on Cook St. Never even heard of Cook St and I've lived in my present home for 15 years. So, since there are NO SUPERVISORS there on weekends, they are trying to tell me it can't be fixed until next week. I threatened heads rolling and legal action and now my request is supposed to be expedited for someone to call me later. Yeah, right, I went through this when I got someone else's voice mail and they got mine. No one ever called back and I ended up going back to Verizon for phone service.


The following came from Coast To Coast AM website Coast To Coast


Smilin' Baby Ray
Visitors to a British aquarium have likened the baby thornback ray (pictured) to a character featured on Doctor Who. In the sci-fi series, the 'Last Human' has become merely a translucent sheet of skin with eyes and a mouth.

Daffodils

It's going to snow again today. About 9 inches they say. I hate snow. I am sick of winter. It is the winter of my discontent.

Yet it doesn't matter. Because Mike brought me daffodils. They remind me that spring will come and the daffodils will come up in my garden again. Yet today, while the woodstove is burning to keep us warm, a touch of spring sits on my table.

Mike brought me daffodils!

On this snowy day I am reading a romantic mystery set in CT. I think it holds wide appeal and most women (some men) would enjoy it a lot. Here's a link.



Enjoy your Friday and Happy Weekend!

Laura
The More Books the Better

Actor David Groh- dead at 68

Variety.com is reporting the death of actor David Groh, best known for playing the husband on the TV sitcom "Rhoda" during the 1970's. He is said to have died from kidney cancer on Tuesday at the age of 68.

This is the second death of a former GH actor or actress in recent weeks. On February 1st, Shell Kepler (Amy Vining) died of renal failure at age 49.

The following details are his direct obituary as reported by Variety:

Groh later had recurring roles on such prime-time series as "Police Story" and on daytime TV as D.L. Brock on "General Hospital."

Born May 21, 1939, in New York, Groh was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University. He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on a Fulbright scholarship.

After a stint in the Army, he studied at the Actors Studio and appeared in theater productions "so far off Broadway, my parents would take subways and buses and taxis to try to find me," he later said.

After he left "Rhoda" in 1977, Groh appeared on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Chapter Two" and in "Twilight of the Golds" in 1993. He also had film roles in "Two-Minute Warning" (1976) and "A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich" (1978), among others.

Survivors include his wife, actress Kristin Andersen; a son, Spencer, from a previous marriage; his mother, Mildred; and a sister, Marilyn Mamann. Services are pending. His family suggests donations to the Actors Studio, 8341 De Longpre Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Laura
The More Books the Better

Wet Wet Wednesday

Image from FoxTV.com


Hi! Happy Day Before Valentine's Day! Have you bought a gift for your honey yet? Don't forget or you'll be in trouble! Don't forget your Mom if she's still around too-- Mom's love Valentine's from their kids, even when the kids are grown and out of the nest.

Here in the Boston area we are having tons of fun weather! Snow overnight, which changed to ice, to sleet, to rain, rain and more rain. The good news is that it is washing the snow away so many of us don't have to shovel.

Is everyone happy that the writer's strike is over? Have you been watching reruns of your favorite shows, or finding something else to watch or do? My husband's been happy to not have "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy" or "House" on. We have very different tastes in TV. Now truth be told, I don't miss them at all now that it's been reruns! Mike's had complete control of the TV remote and I haven't had to go to another room to watch anything. So, our TV has been tuned to such channels as the Food Network, whatever channel Spongebob is on, I guess Nik1 or Nik 2 or both. Comedy Central is also a favorite, as are The History Channel DIY Network, and something called RFD network. I leave the room for the last, because I think all he seems to watch is tractor pulls or some such thing? As for myself, my nose is in a book. No big surprise there, it is anyway. Yes, I watch TV and read at the same time. Adult Onset ADD? Or just too much to do?

Karen's got some good new GH scoops up at WUBS

I'm working on my book and listening to the soundtrack from Juno. I just love The Moldy Peaches! Oh and of course I'm reading three books at once when I get up from the computer! Doing the housewife routine of washing scatter rugs and vacuuming regular carpet and figuring out what's for supper. I do like writing the book and listening to music much more than housework--but I can't abide a mess either...so it's good that I can MultiTask...I like that better than Adult Onset ADD!

Stay well
Laura
The More Books the Better

Weird Tuesday

What is up with all the Internet cables being cut undersea in Egypt and India? There are 5-8 confirmed now. Gotta be sabotage, but who is doing it and WHY?

The Boston Globe is reporting that there may soon be skeletal remains of the Loch Ness Monster found...there has been no motion on sonar since the 1980's, so now the hunt is on for remains. Now that's a job I want next-- I want to be a Cryptozoologist!

Happy Tuesday! Vote if it's your states turn!

Laura
The More Books the Better

Are you a Baby Boomer?

If you are you MUST check out this link- it is too darn funny for words! Thanks Eva for sending it to me!

BabyBoomers

Writer's Strike

Well it sure seems like the writer's strike is about over and they may be back to work as soon as Wednesday. The question remains how many shows will return this season and how many will be delayed until fall. What will they do with reality shows, such as Big Brother 9 which is already slated to take up quite a bit of time each week.

How will the work of the so called scabs have affected the soaps? Will the writer's be able to change things or just ignore inconsistancy?

The Grammy's are tonight. I won't be watching--I already learned that Rush didn't win for the Best Rock Instrumental category and that's all I cared about. I'll get my books out and read and get some much needed beauty sleep instead!

The way things are looking I may either have 3 jobs by this time next week, or be facing another surgical procedure on my poor back. Wow- the fates are really throwing me some curves these days!

Hope you are all well and warm and have some good books! I have plenty of Amazon links for you to look for some goodies!

Laura
The More Books the Better

Jessica Alba Spooked

I found this story on the CoasttoCoastam.com website....very interesting!

February 6, 2008 - 2:23PM

Jessica Alba says she was attacked by a ghost when she was 17.

The star of The Eye claims she was visited by an otherworldly being, and was so terrified afterwards she refused to stay in her house.

Alba, 26, recalled: "I had no idea what it was. I felt this pressure and I couldn't get up, I couldn't scream, I couldn't talk, I couldn't do anything.

"Something definitely took the covers off me and I definitely couldn't get off the bed, and then, once I did, I screamed, ran to my parents' room and I don't think I spent many nights in that house ever again!

"There was definitely something in my parents' old house - I don't know what it was. I can't really explain it. But they got it blessed and they burned sage and stuff since then."

Alba - who is expecting her first child with fiance Cash Warren - also revealed the pregnancy has been playing havoc with her hormones.

"I think I've already thrown Cash out of the house twice since I've been pregnant," she said.

"He's like, 'Are you just pregnant? I hope you're just pregnant and acting crazy,' and I'm like, 'It has nothing to do with that!'

"And then we cry and we hug and he's like, 'You're pregnant, what do you want?' Little things get me so mad. You get so emotional when you're pregnant, and so irrational. It's totally dumb."

BANG Showbiz

Save the Quartermaines

Save the Quartermaines. They are the heart and soul of GH!
Here's a link. Just DO IT!

Save the Quartermaines

A Day of Good News and Bad News

Mike Cormier was a friend of ours from high school. He was a talented musician and was one of the performers at our wedding in 1985. We are so sorry that he passed away so young, and so tragically. Hope you are looking down on us all and know we feel sadded by your loss.
Michael J. Cormier
May 8, 1961 - January 24, 2008


Birth Place: Tampa, Florida
Resided In: Salem & Peabody
Visitation: Saturday, February 2, 2008 Details
Services: Saturday, February 2, 2008 Details
Cemetery: Cedar Grove Cemetery Details




Michael J. Cormier, 46, of Salem died unexpectedly on Thursday January 24, 2008 after being stricken at his home.

Michael was born on May 8, 1961 in Tampa Florida son of the late Edward N. Cormier Sr. and Marian R. (McLeod) Cormier. He graduated from Danvers High School Class of 1979 and resided in Peabody and Salem for many years.

Michael designed and installed stain glass windows for many years. He was a personable person who enjoyed alpine skiing, woodworking, the outdoors, listening to music and watching scientific and nature television programs.

Michael is survived by his 2 sisters and their husband, Catherine and Joseph Butler of South Hamilton, Sandra and Jerome Strazzulla of Beverly; a brother and his wife, Edward N. Cormier Jr. and Cheryl Cormier of Peabody; a niece, Christie Butler, 2 nephews, Jay Cormier of Ipswich and Kenny Cormier of Peabody.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday February 2, 2008 at 10 a.m. in St. Ann’s Church, 140 Lynn St., Peabody. The family will receive family and friends Saturday form 8:45 to 9:40 a.m at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. (new location) Peabody. The interment of his ashes will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to the Salvation Army, 93 North St., Salem, MA 01970-3963.


Now on to better news of the day-- the article I wrote about my late Mother was published in today's Danvers Herald. Page 4 and I got my own byline and they want me to write more in the future on a range of subjects! I am so delighted! The article will be online later and I'll post a link.

Also good news-- Sarah Brown is back and looking great! Maybe the show will perk up. It's just too bad they had to let so many other actresses go to pay for Sarah's return. Tight times financially for soaps.

Finally, very good news about Brit Spears going in for medical care. Perhaps she can be saved after all!!!!!

Laura
The More Books the Better

GH some scoops and some rumors

TMK-- oh I think TMZ should be the ones to break this news! How funny would that be? Me? I don't care anymore. It's been dragged out way too long, and I remain convinced that the writer's (such as they are) keep changing there minds. Karen says it must be Mike, adding that he smells sweet because he bakes all the time at Kelly's. Ok- I'll go with Karen because she's a smart cookie. I briefly considered just confessing myself in order to get this stoopid storyline over with.

Some scoop stuff-- Michael shoots Kate- just a flesh wound, requiring minor repair. Evidently both Morgan and Carly see it. Someone I trust has heard that Laura Wright has done a PSA about guns/kids-- but this person also asked me if it was true, so who knows? Kristina gets kidnapped by Daniel (the weirdo at Kelly's), and Jerry is the hero who saves her and then later pays the price for not complying with orders and gets the crapola beaten out of him. Liz thinks she may have hit Sam with her car, but isn't sure...Nik really did it during a blackout, but Liz is the one arrested.

Fun rumors: Maurice B is either leaving for vacation or for good and they decide to make him the TMK! Coop has a twin or a clone who is the killer- thus the DNA evidence. A woman is the killer, wears a sweet smelling perfume. Claudia learns the truth about Jake and uses it to get to Jason. Someone who left GH recently, a man, is back, but no one is saying who...so any guesses? I love the idea that they recast AJ and that he never really died and he is the TMK. Or it is Zombie Alan (not the same as Ghost Alan) who wants more dead people with him! Again, it's not like I care, it is just fun to speculate.

I'm in touch again with Linda who used to run the Turtle Run website and now is the Head Honcho at Soapdom and is doing an amazing job that I wouldn't want to tackle! Kudos to her! Visit her site and leave your comments at Soapdom

Time to go read now--I have overdue library books! Also going to try to eke out another chapter on the book I'm writing. I haven't slept well in a few nights and seem to be my most creative when running on empty! Thanks to Cheryl for ALL her hard work and help with editing and making creative suggestions!

Laura
The More Books the Better

Remember Casey the Alien on GH

Hey if they don't want to go to NYC for the Empire State Bldg story, there's always Texas for the UFO sightings that after much denial the Government now says they had fighter jets up there and that's what people saw. Who knows--maybe this is the story Frisco and Felicia have been working on for YEARS! After all UFO sightings really started in 1947 at Roswell. Isn't Felicia from New Mexico? Hmmmm

Texas UFO investigators probe Stephenville sightings

11:28 AM CST on Sunday, January 20, 2008
By JEFFREY WEISS / The Dallas Morning News
jweiss@dallasnews.com

DUBLIN, Texas – Anyone looking for answers about the recent mysterious lights in the Texas sky left here disappointed Saturday. But the big meeting hosted by the Mutual UFO Network delivered in plenty of other ways:


COURTNEY PERRY/DMN
Decked out in his best alien attire, Dudley accompanies owner Parks Blackwell of Fort Worth to a Texas Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) meeting Saturday at the Rotary Building in Dublin, Texas. MUFON investigators took reports from people who claimed to have seen unidentified flying objects in nearby Stephenville. Jokers in tinfoil hats, check. Funny UFO T-shirts, check. Crop circle conspiracy theorists, check. Fresh popcorn and Dublin's real-sugar Dr Pepper dispensed by the friendly folks from the Rotary Club, check.

And even a hint of science and a sense that the cheerful mob scene might actually contribute to knowledge, if not definitive explanations.

"I think a lot of people saw the same things," said Laura Washburn of nearby Glen Rose, whose son, Shane, saw something odd in the sky on the nights of Dec. 31 and Jan. 2.

The two of them spent a couple of hours among the more than 500 who packed the Dublin Rotary building, listening to others tell their stories.

Also Online
Video: UFO investigators meet witnesses

Video: Stephenville-area residents describe sightings

Video: UFO footage shot by Jason Greywolf Leigh

Video: Residents talk about the sightings

Survey: What do you think of the UFO sightings?

Audio blogs:
• 1 | 2
"Hearing so many other people takes away the feeling that I don't want to be the only one, the one that people say is crazy," Ms. Washburn said.

The meeting was triggered by local reports of slow-moving, glowing objects in the sky the night of Jan. 8. Three men told their stories to Angelia Joiner, a reporter for the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.

"The people were so genuine and so credible," Ms. Joiner said Saturday. "You could tell they really saw something."

Plus, it was a good tale that she figured her readers would like. She was right about that. Once her first story ran, other people came forward. And once word traveled beyond the area, the world wanted to know more.

Every major news network has run stories about the lights near Stephenville. Two witnesses, plus Ms. Joiner, were remote guests Friday on Larry King Live.

MUFON was founded in 1969 and has chapters all over the U.S. The Colorado-based organization is a club for UFO buffs, but it's also a network of amateur investigators who try to evaluate every report they receive of something odd in the sky. MUFON announced last week that it would hold a meeting to interview witnesses of the Stephenville-area lights.

The first site for the meeting was a livestock sales barn. That humble location didn't sit well with the Rotarians of Dublin, about 10 minutes down the road from Stephenville.

"It's kinda like we have company coming and we need to take care of them," said Pat Leatherwood, a member of the Dublin Rotary Club. "Whether or not you believe it, you can still be nice."

Texas MUFON officials gratefully accepted the Rotarians' offer of a comfortable place to talk to witnesses. By the end of Saturday afternoon, more than 200 people had formally filed their stories.

MUFON investigators are a cross between the Ghostbusters of the movie and the amateur detectives of the Scooby-Doo cartoons. Like the Ghostbusters, they know they're taking on a task with a high giggle factor.

But like Velma and Scooby's other cartoon companions, MUFON investigators take a scientific approach. They look for clues, interview witnesses, analyze evidence. And like the teenage detectives on the TV show, MUFON usually concludes that there's nothing unworldly about the sightings it investigates.

MUFON certifies its official investigators. They're trained to recognize unusual cloud patters, star formations, bugs flying close to the camera, light reflecting from the lens and myriad other ways an odd image can show up on a photo.

Robert Powell of Austin, MUFON's national director of research, was in Dublin on Saturday to help with the investigation. He hoped to find stories that matched – people in different places who saw something similar about the same time. But he knew many such stories turn out to be something mundane.

"An unidentified flying object can turn out to be an airplane, and then it's identified," he said.

Steve Hudgeons of Fort Worth is MUFON's senior investigator for Texas. Mr. Hudgeons, 58, makes his living as a project manager for a construction company.

A few days before the big meeting, he described some of the problems his investigators would surely find. The biggest, ironically, is the massive publicity. Witnesses had a chance to hear from one another and talk among themselves. Often in such situations, people's memories shift, Mr. Hudgeons said. The other problem, he said, was that the intense media attention would pull people from the woodwork who have nothing useful to contribute.

"We are going to get people down there who have aluminum foil on their heads," he said with a sigh. "We always get that."

Which they did. They also got more witnesses in one place than MUFON had ever tried to interview. Like hooking a fire hose to a garden hose, the crowd blew out the normal careful interview process that MUFON tries to conduct about every report it gets. One woman had a story about something she saw in 1957. Others had accounts from last month or last year.

Their descriptions of the objects included an aspirin with lights around the edges, glowing orbs, a wedge-shaped row of lights and an enormous classic movie-special-effects flying saucer. Some witnesses were fuzzy about the time of their sighting. Others weren't clear about which way they were looking. But several were able to answer many of the questions on the MUFON investigation form. Where were they at the time? Which direction did they look? Did what they saw seem to hover? Wobble? Appear solid? Have fuzzy edges?

Over the next couple of months, MUFON's investigators plan to follow up with some of the witnesses and eventually produce a report about any patterns they find in the accounts.

In the meantime, the locals are mostly having fun with the story. A Stephenville hotel has a goofy image of a green cartoon alien in a hotel suite sitting by the front desk. "He's on the fourth floor" of the three-story hotel, guests are told.

But some people are worried that the story will leave an image of their area as being filled with a bunch of UFO-seeing nuts.

Chris Baker, 37, lives in Dublin. He's seen only one unusual sight in the sky lately: "Just snow."

"I'm hoping after this weekend is over that people will start to forget about it," he said. "I don't think there is enough to it to make it a tourist attraction like Glen Rose and dinosaurs."

General Hospital needs to visit NYC and The Empire State Bldg

Considering all the strangeness that is General Hospital these days--who will use Michael's gun to shoot who, who runs Sam over, and above all who is the freaking Text Message Killer, they might do well to go on location in NYC and try to figure out this Empire State Building Mystery! Could be interesting! What the heck, a few stray radio waves could liven things up!

Several cars a day get bizarrely stranded in a five-block 'Bermuda Triangle' near the Empire State Building.


Bales for News

Shuttle driver Russell Valeev says his vehicle suddenly stalled on E. 35th St.

Daily News
In the shadow of the Empire State Building lies an “automotive Bermuda Triangle” - a five-block radius where vehicles mysteriously die.

No one is sure what’s causing it, but all roads appear to lead to the looming giant in our midst - specifically, its Art Deco mast and 203-foot-long, antenna-laden spire.

“We get about 10 to 15 cars stuck near there every day,” said Isaac Leviev, manager of Citywide Towing, the AAA’s exclusive roadside assistance provider from 42nd St. to the Battery. “You pull the car four or five blocks to the west or east and the car starts right up.”

Motorists like Russell Valeev, 25, learn about it the hard way.

“The lights work, the horn works, everything. But it won’t start,” Valeev, a driver for Golden Touch Transportation said one recent evening as he sat in his 2005 Ford van with the hood propped open on E. 35th St., between Lexington and Park Aves. “It’s my job. No money.”

The 102-story building, at Fifth Ave. between 33rd and 34th Sts., has been home to broadcast equipment since its opening in 1931, when RCA installed an experimental TV antenna.

Since the 9/11 attacks destroyed the twin towers, the building has regained its status as the leading transmission site for commercial broadcast outfits, with 13 TV and 19 FM stations mounting antennas on its spire.

The Empire State Building Co., which refused to provide the Daily News a list of its antennas, denied it has created any “adverse impact” on automobiles.

“If the claim were indeed true, the streets in the vicinity of the building would be constantly littered with disabled vehicles,” the building’s owner said.

According to many doormen in the area, they often are.

“They park here on the block and when they come back and try to leave, they can’t start their cars,” said Martin Deda, a doorman at 16 Park Ave., which fronts E. 35th St.

“I’ve seen a lot of cars get towed away,” said a doorman at 35 E. 35th St. who gave only his first name, Joseph. “I see it all the time, at least 10 times a week ... I call it the ‘Empire State Building Effect.’”

Automotive experts and engineers believe the problem stems from radio frequency interference that’s “jamming” the remote keyless entry systems of cars.

The remote keyless entry systems operate on specific wavelengths assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, which governs the bands and bandwidths of TV, radio, telephone and other transmissions.

The FCC said it has not received any complaints regarding interference affecting autos in midtown, and Empire State Building officials don’t believe the claims.

Yet some phantom transmission appears to cause the remote keyless entry systems of scores of car owners to go haywire and stop talking to their vehicles.

Abe Quinones was a drug rep in September 2002 when he parked his brand-new BMW 325i on the south side of E. 35th St., just west of Park Ave.

“As I was leaving, I went to click the remote to lock the doors, but it didn’t work. I just thought it was the [key’s] battery,” he said. He locked the car the old-fashioned way, using the button on the door. When he returned, he was locked out.

“I was stuck there for three hours. I had to call for a tow truck,” he said, adding that the driver jimmied open his door. “The minute he stuck the key in the ignition the car started up.”

Lain Gutierrez, 39, a retired investment banker who lives in Times Square, nearly had to shell out $500 for a rental SUV when a friend’s Jeep Liberty suddenly would not start while parked on E. 35th St., west of Lexington Ave., last month.

“It was a bizarre, automotive Bermuda Triangle experience,” Gutierrez said.

For nearly three hours, “The car was sitting there dead.”

A tow truck driver told them about the radio waves zapping the car’s immobilizer chip. “We thought he was crazy,” Gutierrez said.

Then the car started right up.

rweir@nydailynews.com

Bruce Kneckles- writer interview

Be sure to click on the link to writer Bruce Kneckles over at wubs.net! Karen did a great job and it's an excellent read! Link is on the right side of this page, alphabetically.

Laura
The More Books the Better

Jane Ellen update

Greetings from Jane Ellen's Official Website!

Dear Friends,

I hope that the new year is treating you kindly thus far and that it
will bring you health, happiness, creativity, and an abundance of time
spent with family and friends.

Many things happened at the end of last month, and there is some new
excitement in the works, so I’ll try to catch you up as quickly (and
briefly!) as possible.

On December 22nd, movements from my set of violin duets entitled ‘The
Lonely Wanderer’, were performed as part of a chamber ensemble concert
given at the Good Samaritan White Acres Retirement Community, in El
Paso, TX. Hanson Yu and Wesley Yu performed four movements from my
suite, one of which, ‘Night in Russia’, was later recorded and posted on
Journey STC’s MySpace page: www.myspace.com/hansonjourney. Other works
performed included compositions by Bach, Chopin, and Saint-Saëns, as
well as arrangements of popular Christmas carols. I am hopeful that I
may be able to collaborate on further performances by this group of fine
musicians, and I am deeply grateful to them for showcasing my work.

Mystic Age Radio in Ft Pierce, FL (www.mysticageradio.com) continues to
feature my works (generally programming tracks twice an hour), for which
I am eternally grateful. Their live Christmas show included several
tracks from my ‘Flowers in Winter’ CD (‘Silent Night’, ‘Greensleeves’,
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ and ‘Good King Wenceslaus’), closing with
‘Time for Rejoicing’. A few days later all the artists on the MAR
playlist were excited to learn that the station has been awarded First
place in Ambient, and Second place Overall in the Net Radio Awards. I am
very grateful to them for their continued support, as I am to Spirit
Within Radio in Lubbock, TX.

Happyday New Age Radio in South Korea has now added me as “best romantic
pianist” and “best healing pianist” to their recommended artists list
which you can access here: http:/inewage.com/recommend.htm (you’ll have
to scroll down the page, as I’m new).

Also at the end of last year, my dear friend Laura honoured me with a
lengthy post in her blog entitled: ‘Jane Ellen: Woman of Substance’. You
can find the article here (I apologise in advance for the long url, but
it will save you hunting for the December 29th entry):
http://gedsternguide.blogspot.com/2007/12/jane-ellen-woman-of-substance.html.


The new year started off with a bang with even more exciting news!

Composer, pianist, and recording artist Elizabeth Middleton is coming to
Albuquerque to give a concert promoting her latest recordings, and she
has asked if I would appear as a guest at her concert. Naturally, I said
yes! The concert will be held April 20th, at 3pm, at the First Unitarian
Church in Albuquerque (Carlisle/Comanche NE). I’ll be sure to let you
know more details as they materialise.

Last, but certainly not least, I am thrilled to announce that Canadian
concert organist and composer Thomas Gonder has added my ‘Danse des
Esprits’ to his repertoire, and will be performing it later this year.

If, for any reason, you wish to stop receiving these newsletters, simply
reply to any mailing with the word "unsubscribe" written in the subject
line. Your wishes will be immediately respected. If this newsletter has
been forwarded to you, and you wish to join the monthly mailing list,
send an email to jane@janeellen.com with the word "subscribe" written in
the subject line.

See you in February!

Follow your heart,
Jane Ellen
------------------------------------------
Visit my websites and blog:
www.janeellen.com
www.myspace.com/janeellenmusic
www.classicallounge.com/janeellen
janesjournal.wordpress.com

Without Mercy

Freelance entertainment report Tilda Harper has her own reasons for
wanting to track down the Mercy Ashford, the missing star from the
seventies sitcom Kissing Cousins. Then somebody starts killing the
other cast members, and she has to either beat the killer to
Mercy...or reveal Mercy herself as the killer. PW says, "Kelner
depicts Tilda's search for the elusive actress as a merry chase
through cyberspace and stacks of dusty magazines, adding in a little
romance with sexy bodyguard Nick Tolomeo to keep things humming."

From Gemma Halliday

In conjunction with the release of the Dreams & Desires Vol. 2 anthology (available February 1st!!), I'm bringing you some of the hottest hunks around. And, if you bid well, one of them could be your virtual Valentine!

All proceeds from the auction will go directly to benefit victims of domestic violence, so please help support an amazing cause while winning yourself a handsome hunk!

The Prize:
Each bachelor has put together a prize pack of personalized items to send to the winner, plus, if you win the auction, you will be invited to an exclusive online Valentine’s chat party, February 16th (Sat) at 1pm PST/3pm EST, where your bachelor will accompany you as your virtual date!

Here’s how the bidding works:
1. Go to my auction page: http://www.gemmahalliday.com/contests and pick the perfect bachelor for you
2. send an email to gemmahalliday@gmail.com with the word “Bachelor Auction Bid” in the subject line
3. In the body of the email tell me a) which bachelor you’re bidding on and b) how much your bid is
4. check back often to make sure you haven’t been outbid!!


Bidding will run from Jan.15th - Jan.31st
Happy bidding and good luck!!!





~Gemma

For No Apparant Reason

Too many hands on my time
Too many feelings
Too many things on my mind
When I leave I don't know
What I'm hoping to find
When I leave I don't know
What I'm leaving behind...

Why yes, Dr Drake, now that you mention it..

Patrick Drake: "Are you seeing things that defy plausibility and rational explanation?"

Why yes, Dr Drake I am! General Hospital is on my TV! You've summed it up perfectly!~

Laura
The More Books the Better

Home again and GH is funny!

My computer is home, yay!~ Turns out it was back at our local Best Buy on January 11th-- but someone forgot to log it in so it just sat there. We called and called and were told it was "en route"... finally my husband went in and made them search and there it was all by it's lonesome, pining for me~ oh well, a lesson in patience.

Who is that cute guy in the picture above? I'd like one just like him to shovel my snow! OH! I do have that one-- that's Mikey! He made the local paper this week after I gave him a shovel and suggested he go out and play in the snow! This was after he watched GH with me out of boredom. Now he loathes General Hospital with a passion. Yet he can quote from it, example "Sonny will take care of it" is one of his favorites. So, anywhose, we watched together a week ago today and laughed together. Who knew it could be such a sitcom? I don't remember much of it, I just remember the joy it brought us, and Mike imitating various characters and the corny lines they were spouting. Obviously different dialog writers (interns or who? I don't know!), and if the story lines could just be changed entirely, I could live with the cheesey words!

So, the latest I am hearing is that the writer's strike may be resolved and soon-- and then GH will march forth with a plan for a new headwriting team. Guza obviously goes through spells of great ideas that go bad and bad ideas that go bad. Enough said on that!

It sounds like we are back to weirdo GH for Feb-- Sonny boinking Claudia (aw, man, that's just icky--does he think she's "old carly"?), Robin lying about her pregnancy, someone named Ian actually pushing drugs via GH. How original! Maxie and Spinelli..yeah, ok. Um, Ms Slutty with Mr Virgin Boy? So, who is the TMK? I'm still back with Max or Milo...just saying..

Missed you all! Glad to be home, yet I do miss my library !
Check out this old Monster.be ad...international Monster!


Laura
The More Books the Better

General Hospital and The Persona of the Library

Are you ready Kids?? Aye Aye Captain!
One never knows just who reads one's blogs-- and the fun part is finding out in the most unexpected places. Best part is finding someone who has a career you really respect agrees with you about something as mundane as General Hospital! YES! Career women do think that the Alexis/Diane situation is dumb and annoying! It isn't just me!!! I am here, supposedly to do some book research, and check in with email contacts and maybe, just maybe find some scoops for Karen about GH. Bottom line--- there isn't anything new under the sun on GH, and I'd really like a road trip to Maine to Genie Francis' store to pick her brain and score an interview? Anyone want to come?? Hint-hint-- yes I mean YOU!

Today I'm thinking a lot about how different my world is when I am outside of my home, away from my cat, my bathroom and fuzzy slippers.. here at the library on a beautiful day, and how grateful I am to be here. How different the Persona of the Library is, depending on the weather, the time of day, who is working, who the patrons are, what new books are in..and how it all effects my own mood. I came in hopeful and grateful, and now feel joyous and inspired. It is happy both within these hallowed halls and walls and without. I wonder how I'd feel if I could be in here, with a computer and a TV with GH on at 3, and a small circle of librarians to enjoy both with! It reminds me of when I was 8 years young, in the hospital and the student nurses would all come into my room to watch All My Children at 1pm...all with their reaons to comfort me, or draw blood (was that really necessary ladies?), or convince me to eat my lunch. Oh well- no TV here, just books and computer, but really, is there anything more important than that? Hey- and they also haven't asked for blood yet!

Laura
The More books the Better

Blue Man and more

Has anyone seen this man on TV recently? I saw him on the Today Show. Seemed like a really nice down to earth guy. He turned blue from using Colloidal Silver. Wow- I can only imagine how much he must have taken! We've used it on and off for years and even our cats have been treated with it-- the key is SMALL DOSES!!!

Ok- so here I am at the library for a few more minutes. Going to try and just relax and enjoy Alexis and Diane today and not let them get on my last nerve like they did the flight attendant.

BIG old sign in front of the computer here:
WARNING: Although the library makes every effort to protect your privacy, please be advised that certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56_, the revised Attorney General Guidelines to the FBI and other related measures expand the authority of the federal government to:
Obtain library records
Secretly monitor all electronic communication and
Prohibit libraries and librarians from informing users of such monitoring or information requests.

Geesh-- I want my home PC back-- I know they can monitor that too, but at least I don't have a big old sign to remind me!

Laura
The More Books the Better
ps- I can't get into the Wub Blog from here! What is Karen writing about???

The Library After Dark

EEK! Image above is really creepy! No one knows if it is from a movie or is supposedly "real"...they think it is an Alien Hybrid Embryo!

Well, here I am for 1 whole hour of library computer time! Husband has gone back home to try and repair the broken Buick-- new alternator and recharged battery.

I've been writing like a mad woman on my novel, and just taking a bit of time each day to watch some of GH. Is it me or is it very repetitive? Seems like the same people having the same conversations over and over...well except for the Sam/Carly and Carly/Liz stuff...well, then again, it is kind of the same too! I wish I could say I was having fun watching Diane and Alexis. I was looking forward to it. So far it just seems like they are Dumb and Dumber. WHY would either of them be up for this Litigator of the Year award anyway? Wasn't Alexis sick with Lung CANCER most of the year and not working? Doesn't Diane mainly work for a Mob Boss? It's all too silly and contrived for me.

Well-- off to do some other net stuff in my remaining few mintues online!

I MISS ALL MY FRIENDS ONLINE!

Laura
The More Books the Better

Cut Off From Civilization

Before I get to my tale of woe-- just had to share the above pictures of-- Brit-Brit and Mitt-Mitt. I just love saying the two names together, and for a few minutes, during last nights debate, I thought Mitt-Mitt was going to have a Britt-Britt type meltdown. What fun!


Ok-- well that's not entirely true! I am here at the library, seeing friends and using a computer for one hour exactly! I've had over 100 emails to catch up on little by little, and unfortunately, don't know when I can reasonably expect to be here again-- because--are you ready? Now my car has died!!!!! So I have to beg a ride from Mike when he has time between work and after work commitments! We hope to have it towed tomorrow or Tuesday for diagnostics and repair. We think it's the alternator.

So I have to be extra nice to Mike and put up with a 2nd day of Football ALL day on TV! I do have earplugs. Figures the car would go now, just when we are about to have a week of January thaw! I'm trying to keep the Human Thaw working at home too, but it's tough when I'm frustrated by lack of pc and auto. I do have a Master Plan-- turn off the phone ringer (checking for messages now and then) and actually WRITE MY MYSTERY NOVEL! By coincidence or fate, the whole gist of the story came to me via some real life incidents that really are no more mystery than curiousity, but it all fits together perfectly! Then I will joing the NE Chapter of Sisters in Crime and get really honest mentoring and help as I progress with it. Only problem I see now is that once I write it by hand, I may never be able to decipher it again.

I will miss the get together of my pals from my old Aquacize class on Tuesday, but knowing these ladies, when they realize they aren't seeing my face there, they will embark on the five minute journey to my house and move the party there!

Also while doing much thinking, I've decided on my next career after the book is done-- I want to study and become a Crytopzoologist. Look it up!

Anyone know what the symbolism is of a Holiday greeting card with a hand drawn celaphod wit ornaments hanging from it's arms is?? I'm baffled. It's from our lawyers office...

Reading great books these days-- too many to mention, and don't really have the time to put the Amazon links up (No One EVER buys the books I recommend anyway!)...but the author is Jeffrey Cohen. Look him up! He's hilarious.

Peace and Light-- I'll be in touch when I can!

Laura
The More Books The Better

Jane Ellen-- A Woman of Substance

Jane Ellen is my friend. I am so honored to be able to type that sentence and share today a bit about who Janie is. I get the right to call her Janie, because she has been my dear friend for nearly 10 years, and we were almost namesakes! When I was born, my Mom initially planned to name me Jane Ellen. I even had a birth announcement in the paper that said Jane Ellen L was born.... then a correction announcement after Mom spit out Laura Ellen later on! It was fate-- Janie and I couldn't really share a name, it would be too confusing, but it was also fate that brought us together, via the Internet and a common love of some particular pop/tv culture.

Janie is a composer, multi-talented musician, author and speaker. She has overcome obstacles both ordinary, and unusually difficult to become a presence strongly felt in the musical field as well as the Internet where she has won many awards for web design over the years. Janie has several CD's available and I'd recommend that you purchase them all- you won't regret it! Janie's CD's are available at CDBABY



Our family plays her CD's often, but most notably at Christmas, or when someone needs soothing, be it man or upset feline! We even played one of her CD's in the background at my Mom's memorial service two years ago. Her music evokes many emotions, from calmness, to joy, to sadness, to love. Much like Janie herself!

Janie is undoubtedly the most optimistic person I have ever known. Also one of the most supportive friends I've ever had, she always offers up hope and prayers, and extra love, and is never judgemental no matter how bad the situation is, or who is in trouble, or who has left the planet..she finds a way to make me feel better. She's funny too! I will occaisionally tease her about living in "AlbaKookie", and she laughs right along, and comes up with humorous responses, never taking offense.
Janie is also one of the busiest and most productive people I know. She gets more done in a week than I do in two months!

Ok-- now I've had my say, let me share with you some professional information about Jane Ellen!

First of all, I suggest that you take the time to explore Janie's MySpace page at JaneEllen Music
Below is the text of Janie's latest newsletter, which will show you what a busy woman this talented lady is!

Jane Ellen’s Journal
a life in the artsFeed on Posts Comments December news as the year flies by
19 December 2007 by janesjournal

I’m currently going through a lot of personal changes, and although nothing is earth-shattering, everything is happening with such momentum that I’m expending all my energy simply trying to keep things from spinning out of control. I had hoped to be back blogging by now; I miss it far more than anyone probably realises. I can at least post my December newsletter, however, and hope to write a post or two before the year is out.

Greetings from Jane Ellen’s Official Website!

Dear Friends,

It’s been a roller coaster ride since the release of my last CD, and I can scarcely believe the year is nearly over! I promise not to take too much of your time, but I did want to touch base with everyone once more before the new year.

On the recording front, there are only a few copies of the limited edition CD Flowers in Winter still available, and I’m thrilled with the response that it is generating internationally. Even after the physical CDs are sold out, mp3s will still be available via CDBaby.com, iTunes, and other reputable download companies. Please remember to check out the work of London-based charity SoundAid which uses music donated by independent artists to raise money for Heifer International. You can find my SoundAid EP Heartsounds here: www.soundaid.org/janeellen.

More recent news in brief: Happy Day Radio in South Korea; Mystic Age Radio (www.mysticageradio.com) in Ft Pierce, FL; and Spirit Within Radio (www.spiritwithinmusic.com) in Lubbock, TX are all currently broadcasting tracks from my three CDs. German composer/recording artist Sascha “Psycomatic” Hummel requested permission to sample ‘Time for Rejoicing’ for a new work due out in 2008. Pianist/composer Alessandra Celletti, of Rome, Italy, is currently reviewing one of my piano works; Parisian harper Eve McTelenn has graciously accepted my set of Celtic harp pieces; while cellist Ivan Pelayo, of Guadalajara, Mexico, has requested several of my chamber scores to study for possible performance. New Orleans artist Stuart South has asked permission to turn a photo taken of me at a childhood accordion competition into a painting, and I am looking forward to seeing the results next year.

You can expect to see some changes at my website, www.janeellen.com, but it will take some time to implement them. I will be eliminating a lot of older sections to make room for a new focus on my musical work and compositions. I’m also working steadily with interactive networks such as MySpace (www.myspace.com/janeellenmusic) and Classical Lounge (www.classicallounge.com/janeellen) - both of which have brought me an amazing amount of publicity in a relatively short period of time - and I will be linking all of these sites together.

If, for any reason, you wish to stop receiving these newsletters, simply reply to any mailing with the word “unsubscribe” written in the subject line. Your wishes will be immediately respected. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, and you wish to join the monthly mailing list, send an email to jane@janeellen.com with the word “subscribe” written in the subject line.

Thank you for your continued support, your encouragement, and your friendship over the years. I wish you, and all whom you love, the brightest and most beautiful blessings of the season, and look forward to seeing you next year!

Follow your heart,
Jane Ellen



Please honor my friend Jane Ellen (my Janie!) by visiting her website, leaving feedback here and on her blog, and by purchasing her CD's. You'll be discovering an amazing talent just as she really hits the big time!

Peace and Light,
Laura
The More Books The Better

Computer Woes...force me out of Hibernation!

Just when I was settled in for a nice long hibernation period, my one year old PC decided that the CMOS battery had failed and that it needed a trip to the PC hospital. The local hospital said the surgery needed couldn't be performed locally, and that my third arm would have to take a plane ride to Kentucky for it necessary work! Kentucky!!!!!! So, if there is anyone out there in Kentucky with my computer from Best Buy next week, please, please, fix it fast, fix it right and send it home to Momma!

I am at my second favorite place (home is first!)...the library. So, although I am surrounded by books and dear friends, and actually out in the "real world", I don't have the capabilities to log on when I want and may not make it every day even...but I'll do my best as often as I can!

At least I have tons of books here and at home to keep me busy, but my updates may be sporadic...please check in often!

Laura
The More Books the Better

Rest In Peace Brave Woman

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto poses in her home in London in a 2002 photo. President Bush condemned the assassination on Thursday of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
(Stephen Hird/Reuters)

Once again the dangers of this world hit us and hit us hard. We MUST get Bin Laden out of his caves and tunnels and show him the same mercy he has shown others. That is, none, nada, zip. There is no doubt in my mind that he is behind this...no, I can't prove it, but I can feel it in my gut. I also sense more danger now that this has suceeded-- Bin Laden and others feel the taste of blood again and aren't afraid to push for more. Opinion expressed here is entirely my own and in no way should reflect on any other websites linked to this blog.

Laura
The More Books The Better

General Hospital BUZZ and I don't mean Steve Burton's haircut!

There are a ton of new scoops out there, and I've sent them to Karen for her to make sense of. She understands the show better than I do at this point in time. All I read made my head spin! There's a ton of backstage and behind the scenes info. Methinks they could use the behind the scenes stuff as fodder for the actual show.

I've read and seen previews about fire, bombings, babies, hide-outs, mobs, drugs, Logan isn't a killer, backstage ad libs, scab writers, engagements, relationships, JFP emails (love that one, he heh) and MORE.

Check in at Wubs, probably tomorrow morning or afternoon, unless Karen gets ambitious tonight. She may not even be online until tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'm reading like mad-- have over 30 books waiting for me, and 57 more en route. I think I have an addiction-- or else it's an excuse to not start the 2 books I have plans to write. I do have a friend to keep me on track with that, starting January 1. Also joining a writer's group for encouragement and feedback. Yay. Something positive!

I have no cool pictures to share today-- but if you are up late and want something interesting and different to listen to, find Coast to Coast on your local radio station (airs at 1 am on WRK0 here) for a discussion about the presidential candidates and their UFO related experiences, plus info on UFO documents released by the Clinton Library. Coast To Coast

Have a good night!
Laura
The More Books the Better

Wishing you and your family

A Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous 2008!
Laura, Mike and Sophie