Gladiators! Show me the….Love?

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Originally posted on the Alinar Publishing blog – March 1, 2011

 

I watched the final episode of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena the other night. The house was quiet…it was 2 in the morning, after all, and I had to restrain myself from squee-ing like some little girl having her first Justin Bieber sighting. This show is amazing! I’ve always been a fan of epic battles. The more hardcore the action, the more excited I am. And this is hardcore to me. Blood and guts, beheading’s, treachery, sex, scheming …*sigh* What more could a girl want?

I first caught this mid-way through the first season. One episode and I was hooked (that may have been due to the very appealing Andy Whitfield who plays Spartacus but I’ll never admit it!). I was devastated when I learned he wasn’t returning to Season 2 due to illness. I know nothing of this man other than what’s available on the Internet but my heart went out to him and his family. I also wondered what would become of my new favorite show.


Enter, Gannicus.

Season 2 started as a Prequel to Season 1 (very clever, I might add) and we get a chance to see the cast of the original season and how they became the men we knew. It was an interesting ride! Especially when we were offered a deeper look into Gannicus’ character. I won’t offer any spoilers for those who haven’t seen the show, but I will say, its hard not to be sympathetic to a guy who longs for something that can never be.

On the surface, these men, these Gladiators, are hard, tough, kick-butt and take names kind of men but deep down, they’re the stuff romance hero’s are born of. Tormented, alone, looking for a small piece of happiness that may never find them. I kept looking for the heroine to come sweeping into a scene and stealing their hearts but, this isn’t a romance. Not really. I guess the writer in me will forever search for that Happily Ever After, even while blood is spilled in the name of sport.

I don’t watch much TV or movies anymore. I can certainly find better thing to do with my time. I would rather immerse myself into an imaginary world (and characters) than sit like a lump on the sofa. When I ‘do’ hunt a movie to watch, I have to have my romance, even in those epic battles I love so much. If there’s no romance, what’s the point? If you can’t cheer on the hero and wait impatiently along with the heroine for his return, then there isn’t much point in watching. Well, there isn’t for me. The classic love story will never grow old and I’ll continue to watch them until I’m no longer able. It’s what draws me into a story and holds me spellbound. I still have hope for those Gladiators I route for and one day, I hope they find their heroine. When they do, I’ll be there waiting, watching, and cheering them on.

Did her Corset just fall off?

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Originally posted on the Alinar Publishing blog – Feb. 24, 2011

For the last year, I’ve been participating in a living history group, complete with 1800’s clothing. I even bought a new sewing machine and tried to make my own ‘southern bell’ dresses. Surprisingly, I managed to do that, quite successfully. I even made my daughter an 1800’s wedding dress.

I’ve had my picture in our local newspaper during a weeklong festival we have here. Me, in all my get-up, trying to stay cool in August, close to 100 degrees outside, and me, in my fancy ‘hooped’ dress with a minimum of 9 layers underneath. Staying cool was a challenge but the biggest obstacle I had? Keeping my corset up and in place! I kept um…falling out…of it. LOL I wasn’t cinched up tight enough!

I’ve read many historical novels and never thought much about the garments those heroines wore but now that I have my own, historically correct, I might add, I have a new appreciation for those ladies from days gone by. The corset, something everyone has heard of, was more torture device than anything, in my honest opinion. Not only is it uncomfortable, you can’t ‘bend’ at the waist. Those ‘bones’ won’t allow you to do so. They’re so tight you also have no choice but to stand, shoulders back, head held high and holding that posture for longer than an hour, strains in ways you feel for hours later. If you want to sit, it’s on the edge of a chair, back straight, otherwise you can’t get back up without help!

I complain while dressing but once I have all those layers on, you’re ‘made’ into a new person. I visited Boone Hall Plantation last November and got a chance to walk the grounds with others in our big dresses and it was an experience I’ll never forget. I imagined what it would have been like 100 years ago, strolling along the Avenue of Oaks, the tails of those dresses swishing alone the road. There was a ‘Ball’ that night and the dances were those performed back in the 1800’s. It’s a learning experience as well as an opportunity to teach a bit of history. I love it and hope to do it for many years to come…corset or not. Here I am in another of the dresses I made. Ignore my slip hanging out! That’s not very lady-like at all.

I find myself reading historical novels with a ‘new eye’ now. I know what’s correct and what isn’t and the situations I see those heroines in, knowing what they have on under their dresses sometimes make me lift a confused eyebrow wondering, ‘Did they just fall out of their corset?” It’s not possible most times to do the things they do while in that get-up but I love a great adventure so I ignore more often than not. Is there anything in a book you’ve read that made you think, “That’s not possible!”

Looking for a bright spot…

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I’ve survived 4 days of complete time-suck activities and have finally made it back to my computer! I should be happy with the small break but my ‘To Do’ list is so long now, I’ll be playing catch up for a week. Of course, if I had enjoyed all of those 4 days it wouldn’t be so bad.

I’ve helped ‘move’ someone from one house to another (wasted my entire Saturday doing that), watched my grandbabies Sunday so my kids could move the last of the things we didn’t get on Saturday, Hubby has been home and for some reason, when he’s off work, I get nothing done (he’s off work today as well but I’m ignoring him at the moment. It won’t last long.) and I’ve been given another task to perform before the day is out. I feel like a trained monkey…just doing whatever task those around me tell me to do. I’m a month away from deadline and at this rate, I’ll be up in the wee hours of the morning to finish this book. Editing takes time and my time is getting sucked up before my day even starts. Nothing to do for it other than ‘Grin and Bear It’ but its getting harder to do that. And, now I’m whining – something I loathe doing but – this is my blog and I figure I’m due a good whine once a year, right? Right.

So, moving on now.

I’m going back to editing The Gathering. I can at least get a few chapters finished before my ‘task’ today. For those of you interested in the story, I have a 2 chapter ‘sneak peek’ posted over at my website. I’ll be posting a new chapter every Saturday up until the release date. So, go read the chapters and have a better day than I am!

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

10 Chapter preview of THE CALLING

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In preparation of the release of THE GATHERING (sequel to my werewolf romance novel, THE CALLING) I’ve added the first 10 chapters of THE CALLING in the Files section on my Lily Graison Yahoo!Group for those of you who have not read the book yet.

For those of you who ‘have’ read THE CALLING, in the coming weeks, I’ll be
excerpting chapters of the new book, THE GATHERING, before its release in April. The book is in ‘edits’ now and as soon as I have ‘ready’ chapters to post, those will also go up on the Group as well. In the meantime, grab your copy of THE CALLING and revisit Garrett, Rayna and all the preternatural creatures who take up residence in Wolf’s Creek!

If you would like to find out more about what I’m working on, or chat with me, you can find me on Twitter and Facebook procrastinating on a daily basis!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lily.graison
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LilyGraison

Lily Graison Yahoo!Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lily_graison/

(you can find the 10 chapter excerpt in the FILES section of the Lily Graison Yahoo!Group menu. Look under STORY EXCERPTS when you get there.)

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

New Contests

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I have several contests I’m running for the month of December, the first of which has been posted over on the Contest page. There will be (4) winners for our first contest, so head on over, check out the prizes, and enter. I’ll draw a winner on Sunday, Dec. 12th and post a NEW contest directly after. Good Luck!

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Recipe Time…

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It’s getting that time of year again. I can’t believe we’re a week away from Thanksgiving and a little over a month from Christmas! Where did the year go?

Like most everyone, I love trying new recipes but finding them is the hardest part. I have 2 to share with everyone today. These dishes go fast around here so double up the recipe like I do. *wink*

Chocolate Éclair Cake

1 (1 lb.) box graham crackers
2 sm. pkgs. instant French Vanilla pudding
3 1/2 c. milk
1 (9 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 Container (store bought) Chocolate Frosting

Mix pudding with the milk. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Blend in Cool Whip. Line the bottom of your pan with graham crackers then pour a layer of pudding mixture over graham crackers. Repeat until all ingredients are used.(Just like you do a banana pudding) End with your graham crackers on top. Refrigerate for 2 hours then spread your frosting on top.

Note: If you’re inpatient like I am….put the pan in the freezer until it sets. Once its firm, take the lid and foil off the icing and microwave for 1 minute. Stir the mixture and pour it over the graham crackers, smooth until pretty. Refrigerate. It’s best eaten the following day. It gives the crackers time to soften.

Serves 12 to 14.

(If you have a really deep dish, (I have a 9×13 deep dish) you can double the ingredients and make a monster pudding. You’ll need it. This never last very long. LOL)

Butterscotch Rum Cake

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Yellow Cake Mix (Duncan Hines)
1 pkg. Butterscotch Pudding
3 large eggs
1/3c. cooking oil
1/2c. water
1/2c. Rum (Spiced Rum)

Rum Glaze:
1 stick butter
1/4c. water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Rum (Spiced Rum)
1 1/4c. walnut pieces-chopped (Pecans work for this too)

Directions:
– Pre-heat oven to 325. Lightly grease and flour Bundt Pan
– In mixing bowl, add cake mix, Butterscotch Pudding, Eggs, Cooking Oil, Cold water, and 1/2 cup Rum. Blend til light and fluffy.
– Sprinkle chopped nuts into the bottom of your pan. Pour batter equally into the pan, on top of the nuts. Bake for 1 hour.

Prepare Glaze when the cake is out of the oven:
In a saucepan, melt butter, add water and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add Rum.

Poke holes into top of cake (toothpicks work for this) then spoon the glaze over cake. It will not be real thick but slightly runny. Cover and put in a cool place. Let set then go back in a few hours and spoon more glaze onto it. The more it is soaked with the glaze the better it is!

Double Layer Chocolate Pie

2 cups cold Milk
3 pkgs. (4 serving size) Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 (12 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 graham cracker crust

In large bowl, mix milk and pudding mix with wire whisk for 1 minute. (Mixture will be very thick) Whisk in 1/2 the cool whip. Carefully spread into crust. Spread remaining cool whip over the top. Sprinkle shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles on top. Refrigerate until chilled and set.

Fluffy Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

2 pkgs (8 oz) cream cheese
2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
2 eggs
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 graham cracker crust

In large bowl, mix cream cheese on medium speed until fluffy. Add sugar and pumpkin spice. Mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until just combined after each addition. Stir in pumpkin. Pout into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool for 1 hour on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Notes: Soften cream cheese in a microwave at high for 15-20 seconds.
You can substitute 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger & 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves for Pumpkin Spice.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

What a Night…

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The recent storms making their way across the country did not miss us here on the east coast. They rolled through last night about 7pm, along with the first tornado warning. I called my daughter, told her to bring my grandbabies over here and we rode it out amongst cracks of lightening and sheets of rain.

There were 6 tornado warnings in 4 hours and every ‘cell’ that came through took the exact same path so, 6 times we had to brace ourselves. The last one, around 11pm had a center of circulation headed right for us and…we heard…something. We have a lot of traffic on the road out front and big tractor-trailer trucks fly down our road and that’s what we thought we heard…only, there was no traffic and the noise got louder. I made my son come downstairs and we all just sat and listened to this…noise…rumble by and waited. I don’t normally get scared of storms but last night, hearing that rumble, my heart rate increased until I felt dizzy. LOL Luckily, whatever it was, left and the warnings stopped. The rain didn’t. It beat against the house for hours. Rain, I can handle. Spooky sounding wind, not so much.

There were several confirmed tornados that actually touched down, one only 6 miles from the house. From the news report, it hit a food prep plant, with 800 employees inside, and tossed a car inside. Another, 30 minutes from here, destroyed a few homes and a barn, killing 3 horses in the process. No human deaths, that I know of.

All in all, it was a little bit too close for comfort. It’s still cloudy today, the wind is strong enough to toss my flowering Mimosa tree every direction but up and the clouds threaten more rain. Crossing my fingers it doesn’t get as bad as last night. Although, at least during the day, I can see what’s going on outside instead of just wondering.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison