If you're looking for THE ARRANGEMENT, you can find it here:

http:///

I've ported a lot of TexanLady's stories.

Some mutual TL history:

The Arrangement won 4 awards for the Fangreaders 2011 Lemon Tart Awards. We garnered:

• The Lemonade Award for Best Romantic Moment

• The Gin and Lemon Award for Longest Lemony Moment

• The Lemon Drop Award for The Best Kiss

• The Blue Bols and Lemon Awards for The Best Cock Block Moment

As I wrote on our blog at the time, we were in such esteemed company and I never thought we stood a chance but I had my fingers crossed for so many weeks they were gnarled. A huge THANK YOU to every reader who voted for us (I'd like to thank the Academy ...) and I want to thank most of all vicvega66 and fairylust who sponsored the contest via their fang-readers(dot)livejournal(dot)com site.

I've hosted a writing contest, been a judge on a bunch but never have been on the receiving end and the feelings of disbelief, euphoria and gratitude and overwhelming.

TexanLady and I have been honored to be the April 2011 Authors of the Month here: http://fang-readers(dot)livejournal(dot)com/24028(dot)html#cutid1 It was an in-depth interview where TL expounds on how the story came about and what our co-authoring process is like.

v

FAN ACTIVITIES

I co-hosted The DeadPan Contest http://www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/deadpancontest and wrote several seasons of TRUE BLOOD recaps on

JUDGED:

The Age of Eric contest http://www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/community/The_Age_of_Eric_Contest/83524/99/0/1/

The Naughty or Nice contest http://www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/community/Naughty_or_Nice_One_shot_Contest/76327/99/0/1/

I Write The Songs writing contest http://www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/u/2491610/I_Write_The_Songs

I Write the Songs II writing contest http://www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/u/2491610/I_Write_The_Songs which also has a blogsite: http://i-writethesongs(dot)blogspot(dot)com/

I Write the Songs III writing contest

In the past, I've written the True Blood recaps on thesookieverse (dot) com

My recaps were from the unrepentant POV of a bookie, which, largely, the other recaps don't do. I think someone needs to be carrying the voice of the bookies in their recaps, frankly, and calling Alan Ball on the carpet for some of the more perverse choices he made in his TV adaptation. It was my belief Ball used True Blood to carry forth his own agenda and I got tired of the predominantly gay skewed TV show he turned it into.

As I said in my first review (which started with episode 3 3rd season), while Alan Ball has said repeatedly he was keeping with the "spirit" of the books, my feeling is the only spirit he kept was in his liquor glass he set on top of the books as he watched the dailies. "Spirit" means characters retain their tone, Mr. Ball. Their integrity and motivations and values keep the feel of the book. I didn't expect a scene-by-scene remake but I've railed against some of the best book moments not making it to the screen and I've been outspoken about the character assassinations that are ongoing of people like Queen Sophie-Anne, Russell Edgington, Eric Northman and Pam. I deeply resent the dumbing down of the novels. I have a problem with the portrayal of Southerners as being beer-swilling, WalMart clothed, immoral, blue collar, ignorant hicks. I resent the perversity of his storyline and what I considered was gratuitous titillation and extremes for a pay TV audience. Rather than labor over scripts and characterizations that might have elevated the series, he pandered to the lowest common denominator.

v

And now for something about review etiquette ...

/rant

Now, something more. http://forum(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/topic/55534/12162636/1/

I would like to discuss review etiquette. Let's take a breather here, folks, and remember what we're all here for. The writers here are non professionals who choose to share their creativity with you. If you don't like the story, walk AWAY. There is no reason, no excuse for malicious PMs or abusive reviews. You don't like it a story, MOVE ON. You are not being forced to read ANY story on this site.

• Constructive Criticism ONLY, please. If you find misspellings or punctuation errors and want to point them out, PM the author. Don't embarrass them on the public thread!

• Your words can hurt. Consider what you say. THINK before you click 'Submit'.

• PLEASE—Don't Ask for an Update. Don't beg, don't harangue, don't do a cutesy demand. Until YOU walk in their shoes and understand what is involved in getting another chapter out, you can have no voice in making a demand.

They're WORKING on it. They understand you've gotten caught up in the story and want to know more but writers have lives and things come up and updates get pushed to the back burner.

Demands are not funny; they're insulting. Let the writer(s) WRITE. You cannot know what goes into writing until you try it yourself. Writers very much appreciate your feedback but you don't need to be demanding an update the moment you've finished their latest. The worst review is one that simply says 'UPDATE SOON!' It comes off so high handed and entitled. Seriously, until you write yourself, you have no idea what kind of work went in to delivering a chapter. Have a heart. Thank the writer, tell them you enjoy their story, tell them how it affected you. Writers know you want the next chapter asap. They don't need an imperious reminder.

• Writers will ignore their loved ones and the many 'have-to's' in their daily lives to eke out the time to write. They eat on the run or at their desks or not at all. They RUN to do laundry, RUN to the grocery store, RUN to do all those chores that are a part of life so they can get back to our stories. They don't get paid for it. They enjoy what we're doing. Don't destroy this single minded joy by making unfair demands.

• THINK before you post. You want to leave a meaningful review, something a writer will frame and enjoy? Say WHY you liked a story. Pull out quotes or scenes that moved you. Don't simply say 'I want more' or 'I can't wait for the next chapter' when you could be saying 'I love what you did between the two characters, the narrative sounded so real when (so-and-so) said (fill in the words) to (fill in the character). Did it move you? Say how! Did you cry? Say why! Did you get so upset you walked away from your machine to calm down? TALK ABOUT IT. Make the writer's day, week and month by leaving a comprehensive review if a story touched you.

• A writer sees the same type of review over and over again. Make yours different. Let me let you in on a little secret: good reviews inspire writers to write more. Writing is hard work, people. Consider some give as you take. It IS about sharing. Reviews spur writers on. You like something, let the writer know.

• Happily ever after is not guaranteed nor is the pairing of lovers you may see as the end result of a story. Go ahead and read the summary of a story to determine if the storyline interests you. Don't blame the writer if it does not.

• If you critique, have the backbone to put your name to it. Anonymous reviews that seek only to stab and lash out are cowardly.

• Author's Notes (A/N) are often unpleasant because they're the only means a writer has to address cantankerous reviews. If the author's note doesn't pertain to you, ignore it. Don't start a rant in your review castigating the writer for addressing points others may be dissatisfied with.

end rant/

v

now back to the profile ...

And Now A Little About Me

By profession and passion, I am first a writer. I also work in graphic design with having created over 400 romance book covers and a growing collection of general fiction covers to my credit now. I am a two-time published author writing under another pseudonym with a European ebook company that handles romance and erotica.

I've written chapters in several published books as well as desktop designed two. I also executed all the graphic art for another. All of these are still in print. I have also written three children's stories that remain unpublished. I used to be more forthcoming here and list the actual titles of the publications, but, after the puerile behavior of a malicious group of thugs on FFNet, I have removed the identity as I can personally be tracked by them. I've come to realize, sadly and belatedly, that not everyone here is an adult who understands the Bill of Rights. There are people here who have chosen chaos as a means of self expression.

Things I'm Passionate About:

Film

Jean Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ('46) • CINEMA PARADISO ('88) • THE COLOR PURPLE ('85) • LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN ('48) • CITY LIGHTS ('31) • JEAN DE FLORETTE ('86) and its sequel, MANON OF THE SPRINGS ('86) • GONE WITH THE WIND ('39) • WEST SIDE STORY ('61) • YOUNG BESS ('53) • TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY ('90) • GASLIGHT ('40 version) • MAMA, THERE'S A MAN IN YOUR BED (aka Romuald et Juliette) ('89) • I LOVE YOU, ROSA (aka Ani Ohev Otach Rosa) ('72) • MEMENTO ('00) • FIELD OF DREAMS ('89) • IKIRU (aka To Live) ('52) • L'AMANT (THE LOVER) ('92) • ORPHEE ('50) • SCROOGE ('51) • DEAD OF NIGHT ('45) SHIRLEY VALENTINE ('89)• GULLIVER'S TRAVELS ('39) MANSFIELD PARK (1999) • HEAVY METAL ('81) • QUEEN CHRISTINA ('33) • STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (aka A Matter of Life and Death) ('46) • SENSE AND SENSIBILITY ('95) • LOVE ACTUALLY ('03) MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (2005) • TWO FOR THE ROAD ('67) • THE RED SHOES ('48) • THE JOY LUCK CLUB ('93) FORBIDDEN PLANET ('56) • THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR ('47) (even though I think Rex Harrison was terribly miscast in it) • THE LETTER ('40) • PLEASANTVILLE ('98) and I admit a guilty pleasure to old horror/sci-fi flicks of the '50s as well as Abbott and Costello classics like HOLD THAT GHOST, THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN. I will deny vehemently laughing till I choked over TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE.

Music

Broadway musicals (I sing), soundtracks, easy listening. I grew up in a household that seemed only to play musicals so that's what I grew to love.

Books

I read voraciously, several books a week. I'm always carrying a loaded Kindle with me wherever I go.

I have read almost everything Stephen King has written. Love Harlan Ellison, Steinbeck, Dickens, Austin, A.C. Doyle (I admit I read every Sherlock Holmes by the time I was 13) ... used to enjoy Anne Rice but got lost after her 4th vampire book. I read a lot of other authors but I'm listing ones more well known.

As to erotica, I tend towards historical romance but also enjoy paranormal and time travel/fantasy and consensual BDSM erotica.

TV

Ernie Kovacs once said (and I paraphrase) "TV is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done.'

TRUE BLOOD is the series I came to hate. Alan Ball is an arrogant ass who pillaged Charlaine Harris's books to serve up a mean dish of violence, nudity and titillation (and let's not overlook the undeveloped female characters). I think I also resented the heavy skew to gay themes, turning a series that was mainly heterosexual into his own agenda to ram down our collective throats. There is good reason TRUE BLOOD was passed over for Emmy consideration ever since season 1, season 1 being the closest to canon. The assaults on book characterizations are a travesty and I can only assume CH was so taken with the idea of a series by a (cough) noted Hollywood talent, she signed away all her rights. Imagine Harry Potter destroyed by execs out for pandering to the lowest common denominator or George R.R. Martin signing full rights to Game of Thrones over to a hack like Alan Ball who would only sensationalize it. Hats off to Rowling and Martin for maintaining control of their work. Good lawyers, both. CH's decision to sign away all control for money and prestige certainly drove several years of book sales, that is, until book 13 and the massive backlash to what became the end game for our beloved characters. It's not coincidental to me that TB faltered in the ratings and lost direction.

Older TV likes ... STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION, the original OUTER LIMITS, the original TWILIGHT ZONE, early NIGHT GALLERY. I've always been a big fan of sci fi/fantasy/supernatural. From Britain, I love DR. WHO, TORCHWOOD, THE AVENGERS (absolutely worshipped Mrs. Peel as a young impressionable girl growing up), MONTY PYTHON in all its incarnations, FAWLTY TOWERS (adore John Cleese), ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS and I will fill in others here as I think of them. I wish there were more British series on U.S. TV. They are always so much more funny, so much more ribald than what our inane censors allow.

What I watch now includes GAME OF THRONES, OUTLANDER, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, CASTLE ROCK, MR. MERCEDES, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, AMERICAN GODS, DOCTOR WHO and STAR TREK DISCOVERY.