Paranormal Romance Author
Mandy M. Roth
Vampires, Werewolves & Faeries...Oh My!
| Sunday, December 31, 2006 |
| Express Yourself CONTEST! |
2007 Express
Yourself Contest!
It's a biggie!
Express Yourself Contest! We’ve been at this a while now and it never ceases to amaze us just how many creative people are out there. We’d like to take a moment to celebrate that creativity and give an outlet for it. Our contest, which will run for a few months and if it goes over well, longer, revolves around just how creative you can be. NO—this is NOT a talent contest for who can do the best. It’s for who can put the most heart into it. There is also more than one way to express yourself so we want to be sure to include them all. Here are just some of the prizes we’ll be offering. $20.00 gift certificates to Amazon.com, signed print copies of our books, PDF downloads of our books, bookmarks and more. How can you be entered? That’s easy…EXPRESS YOURSELF! The way we’d like to see (but you’re not limited to this) is for readers to make fan-based book videos of our books. Some of the programs for this are free to download and use. One is Microsoft Movie Maker—it’s free and available through Microsoft’s website. If you can click and drag…you can do it. It really is that easy. Since we’re not expecting Spielberg, anyone is free to play along and try their hand. We really think these videos will, if nothing else, open a new avenue to get the word out about our books. We’d love to share the spreading of the news with you, our readers. We do have a few minor rules for the videos though… - Please, no Debbie Does Dallas Porn (most free hosting sites will yank these anyway).
- You MUST label (in title) ALL entries clearly that this is “FAN-BASED video/artwork/etc”.
- Also, no book spoilers…these won’t be entered into the contest. If you’re unsure what might be a spoiler, play off the blurb of the book. That is a safe bet.
- These can ONLY have OUR books as the focus.
- Please no WRITTEN fan-fiction. Sorry, but these won’t be included. And as always, book ideas, manuscripts and anything of the like will not be read and will be deleted promptly. Sorry…damn lawyers and their damn policies. Oy.
- You may enter as often as you like with new works each time. There is NO limit to how many entries you can do. You’ll be entered into the drawing each time for each entry.
Helpful tips: Microsoft Movie Maker is free. It’s a drag and drop program and is easy to use. ALL of our covers can be found on our website (Michelle M. Pillow & Mandy M. Roth) along with information about each title. Be creative! Youtube and Myspace are just two of the places who offer FREE video hosting. Once your fan-based video is made, put it up and send Michelle and I the link. We’ll check it out and get it linked with the others for display. You do NOT have to use your real name for this (well, you do have to give it to Michelle and I in the event you win but we’ll keep that between us if you’re rather have a nick or something for public). If you cannot figure out how to host the video Michelle and I will open a spot JUST for fan based videos. You can contact us about this further if you have questions. We’re happy to help. We want everyone to have fun and access to these. ~~~~By submitting the work(s), you acknowledge that you are giving us permission to post them and use them in a manner we see fit. Must be 18 years and older to play. Must label all uploads/posts “fan-based video/artwork/etc”. Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth assume NO responsibility for content/copyright of works submitted for contest, and ask that the work be original/submitted in good faith.~~~~ Make a book video? What, are they smoking the good shit again (you might be asking yourselves)…*snicker* If this just isn’t your thing but you’d still like to enter the contest, we’d love to see other ways you can express your “love” (know that Michelle just slapped me for writing that) for us. Here are some other ideas. You’re not limited to them though. - Fan artwork. It can be uploaded to yahoo album on Mandy or Michelle’s yahoo groups (both if you want). Same rules apply as video.
- Digital picture of you holding one of our print books or a pic of one of our ebooks pulled up on your computer/reading device. (same rules apply)
- Macaroni frame of our names….just kidding unless you REALLY wanted to. But the point is, EXPRESS YOURSELF. Do you want to sculpt a shrine to us out of your mashed potatoes? (Michelle makes the request you do hers out of chocolate and send directly to her…thanks…SNORT) Do you want to build a statue of us out of M&Ms? Do you want to send us handmade artwork from your neck of the woods? Whatever you want to do…DO IT! The easiest way for us to see this stuff is via the web and uploading pics to the yahoo group pics section. MAKE sure to tell us you did and its up. If it’s handmade artwork you want to send…you can send it to Mandy M. Roth PO Box 305, Huron, OH 44839 (Michelle’s can come to my PO Box as well. I’ll be sure she gets them.)
- Want to start a tribute fan web page for our books? A fan club? A cult (ouch…? What? I want minions dammit…Michelle let me have minions…you know you want them. *big grin* )
- Want to start a rock band named after us…? Pfft, only if you let us be lead signers. Wait, I’ve heard her sing, she should be a backup dancer or something. *grin* Watch your toes people…watch your toes!
- If you have not a lick of creative juice in your body but still want to play along, don’t worry. We’ve got other ideas too. Amazon allows readers to post reviews of our books. If you’d liked to be entered in the contest…EXPRESS YOURSELF there. Same rules apply as with the others. Also…you do NOT have to love the book. We want you to be honest. If you loved it, that’s fine too. LOL
~~~~By submitting the work(s), you acknowledge that you are giving us permission to post them and use them in a manner we see fit. Must be 18 years and older to play. Must label all uploads/posts “fan-based video/artwork/etc”. Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth assume NO responsibility for content/copyright of works submitted for contest, and ask that the work be original/submitted in good faith.~~~~ We just want this to be a fun, rocking contest that lets everyone EXPRESS themselves! Thanks, Mandy M. Roth www.mandyroth.com & Michelle M. Pillow www.michellepillow.com ~~~~By submitting the work(s), you acknowledge that you are giving us permission to post them and use them in a manner we see fit. Must be 18 years and older to play. Must label all uploads/posts “fan-based video/artwork/etc”. Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth assume NO responsibility for content/copyright of works submitted for contest, and ask that the work be original/submitted in good faith.~~~~
Helpful Links Microsoft Movie Maker (free movie maker program by Microsoft that is very easy to use) How to Use Movie Maker Youtube and Myspace (two FREE video hosting sites. All you need to do is sign up for a free account and then you can upload videos to it) Mandy's yahoo group where you can upload fan artwork/photos. Michelle’s yahoo group where you can upload fan artwork/photos. Mandy M. Roth (webpage) www.mandyroth.com & Michelle M. Pillow (webpage) www.michellepillow.com Email Questions Mandy Michelle |
posted by mandymroth @ 12:19 PM   |
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| Friday, December 22, 2006 |
| Bumping of 13 going on 30 post... |
(This post is an older one but since I had another brush with someone out in public who bought my books for her daughter who was early teens, I thought it was relevant--keep in mind the woman told me this in passing as I'm standing in the parking getting ready to finish my Christmas shopping. I'm starting to think I need to write a YA line so then I can direct them there.)
I just received an email from someone who found me on myspace. So far, I have nothing but nice things to say about myspace. The person was young and interested in reading my books. I had to point out that they are NOT appropriate for anyone under the age of 18. I haven’t heard back from her yet but it reminded me of a book signing I had back in October. A grandmother and her granddaughter came up to my table, wanting to buy one of my books. The girl was in her early/mid-teens. I suggested some alternate authors who do not write erotic but who still write paranormal and I really felt like I should have been talking to a wall. It was a case of in one ear and out the other. The girl had it in her head that she wanted one of my books and wasn’t taking no for an answer. Other readers came to the table, having me sign books while she continued browsing (there was a LOT of foot traffic and people stopping to have books signed or ask questions that day). I also continued pointing out that my books my violence and FRANK sexual language and open door bedroom scenes….ADULT CONTENT. Finally, her grandmother thrusts three at me and I flat out take one away. Okay, I’m not going to yell at anyone, especially at a signing but geesh. In the end, they bought one. I wasn't pleased to say the least. When all was said and done, they walked past with their bag from the bookstore and the grandmother actually says "This book won't make my granddaughter wild, will it?" It was all I could do not to shout at her. I mean, hello...did I not just spend how long trying to explain it wasn't appropriate? All I got of the ordeal was a lawsuit waiting to happen and a huge headache. I may be a rare breed but I wouldn’t let my daughter (if I had one) read my books at that age. Eighteen? Sure, but not younger.
The girl and her grandmother thing ate at me the entire book signing. A mother with two twin twelve year old girls approached next. She was very nice and wanted the girls to get to meet an author. When she lifted one of my titles, I did as I’d done with the other couple, I put my hand over the book and explained it wasn’t for anyone other than adults and that the material was inappropriate. The mother smiled, set it down, sent the girls to look at books in their age range and thanked me for pointing that out to her. We talked for a bit and I gave her some suggested readings for her daughter (one of the twins was a big reader) because my son is the same age and loves Ciqure De Freaks and some other works. When she left, my mood had improved dramatically, giving me hope that I’m not just overprotective. |
| posted by mandymroth @ 6:56 AM |
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| Wednesday, December 20, 2006 |
| Let's Get it On... |
I'm sitting here trying to get in the mindset to write a sex scene. I'm beginning to think mood lighting might be in order. Maybe its just a hectic time of the year but my mind isn't really into the whole sex thing. I'm thinking I should come back to that after the holidays. But, in the meantime, I went ahead and did some much needed Muse pick me up. What does that mean? I went in search of sexy photos of hunks.
Found some. |
| posted by mandymroth @ 9:13 AM |
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| Tuesday, December 19, 2006 |
| Book Videos.. |
Or trailers...whatever they're calling them these days.
Okay, I've been seeing more and more of these pop up on the web and am wondering if I should go ahead and have one done. What do you all think of them? I know that a few of them have been amazing and made me want to buy the book (Jaci Burton's is just one example of this. Collen Gleason is another.). Does it work that way for you as well or do you not put much stock in them?
Curious minds want to know....*grin* |
| posted by mandymroth @ 8:19 AM |
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| Monday, December 18, 2006 |
| Research... |
Oh, yes, just one of the reasons I love writing. I’m working on three projects at one time again. None of which have the same research material or topics. Notes are my new best friend. One minute I’m knee deep in one handed vs. two handed swords of old to guessing how much technology and medical breakthroughs we’ll have six hundred plus years from now in the area of androids. With the relatively new breakthrough on the part of the female android that looks very lifelike and with the advances in growing skin, tissue and organs that is currently taking place, not to mention a coma patient waking up after almost two decades and his brain going from predominately atrophied to showing signs of new axon growth—I’m assuming we’ll be fairly far in this area. I’m also guessing what we perceive as “the way it is” will change significantly by then as well.
Did any of you ever think they’d be able to do a face transplant? I know if you’d have asked me that ten years ago I’d have laughed you out of the room. I’ve come a long way in thinking outside the box. I have hopes that most people do as well or will before too long. I’m guessing the people who limit themselves to what they know to be true here and now don’t read too much in the way of fiction. If they do, all I have to offer is that once people thought the world was flat. Enough said. *snicker*
I can completely see how terms and ways of thinking will be modified over the centuries as they always have been. Trying to incorporate them into the storyline is challenging but fun.
Not only are advancements in medical taking place all around us, scientists are making huge breakthroughs in other areas that make writing a futuristic exciting and virtually limitless. I mean come on, who wasn’t excited when they read about the strides they’ve made in quantum teleportation? I don’t care that they’re only dealing with subatomic particles physical states right now. We can only imagine what they’ll be dealing with centuries from now.
Going from one end of the research spectrum to the other has been a blast. It’s also prompted me to ask myself how much of this is necessary. More often than not, I’ll spend days, some times weeks (there is a series I plan to do that I’ve been digging up information on for over three years now) researching something only to hint at in the final book. In the end I still feel good for having looked it up, and dug more into it all so I don’t have regret. I just know me and I’m very easy to lose in the research end of things…meaning…I’ll have so much fun learning about something new that it will consume what should have been my writing time.
You all might think I’m kidding but my editors can attest to just how ridiculous I can get when it comes to research. Not to mention anyone who knows me or has seen pics of my office knows just how many non-fiction books line the shelves.
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| posted by mandymroth @ 7:12 AM |
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| Sunday, December 10, 2006 |
| Wind it up... |
I just got back in after doing a drive by dropping of the hubby at the airport. I thought about shoving him out while the car was moving but I really liked the pants he had on so I held back. *snicker*
We made is about four feet before the youngest Roth boy lost his mind, upset he couldn't fly somewhere too. I gave in and stopped at a bookstore--thinking I could get in and out without having to buy anything that makes noise. Bwwwhhhaaaa....was I ever wrong. He found a book with a set of toys that went to it and wasn't taking no for an answer. Taking pity on him because he just got over being REALLY sick and just went through his mother practically shoving his father from the vehicle to send him off to another state, yet again...I gave in and bought it.
WOW...if I EVER do something that stupid again, smack the sh*t out of me! You have my permission. I've spent most of the day winding his toy up only to listen to it clang as it spins in a wide circle. Should something horrible happen to it after he falls asleep tonight, I had nothing to do with it. I swear. *blinks innocently*
My only hope is that when one of the thirty people who seem to think I need a babysitter show up to check in on us, I can slip it into one of their jacket pockets. Hmm, maybe the youngest kid will fit in their pocket too. *grins* |
| posted by mandymroth @ 3:09 PM |
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| Saturday, December 09, 2006 |
| Things I've Done/Haven't Done |
Things I've Done/Haven't Done I stole this from Annalee
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula ( I stood in awe as my friend played with his and as he tried to hand it to me, I got faint.) LOL
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree (I’ve run fast first into one while playing flashlight tag. Oh, and once after having drank a wee bit too much. Might have hugged it to hang on.)
10. Bungee jumped (with my aversion to heights…umm…no.)
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon (again, the aversion to heights thing)
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country (I’m so counting Canada)
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign [When I was in high school my bedroom was decorated in stolen street signs. I had a MASSIVE stop sign that was great.)
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them (we went to a place that does this to you. They seat you at a long table with people you don’t know. It was in Amish country. Odd but fun and great food!)
54. Visited Japan (not yet but its like that might be in the not too distant future)
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs (my DVDs, my books, my….okay, you get the point)
57. Pretended to be a superhero (I was wonder woman forever and a day when I was younger. I blame those underwear that were made to look like their outfits)
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving (I’ve sat on the boat watching everyone else go. Story of my life…ever the observer.)
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie (I was in several plays in high school and after. Can I count those? Lol)
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days (when I was pregnant, I was extremely sick and hospitalized because I couldn’t eat or drink. I would spent a couple of weeks in the hospital with IVs and then a couple home with home heath care there to change my IV spot and make sure the fluid (kept in a backpack like thing that plugged in) was filled…then back to hospital. Was like that for several months. So, it wasn’t by choice. I remember being seven month pregnant and eating food for the first time in what felt like forever. I had a banana. I also put almost five years between my first and second child for fear of history repeating itself.)
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice (painted various scenes with them but have never ridden in one)
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently (ah, damn I don’t even speak English fluently. so people get what I can give. LOL)
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Been to the Great Barrier Reef
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states [Just Canada and Mexico though.
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed (I was on the boat yanking them. Can I couldn’t that? LOl)
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head (Mom, I am still SO sorry about that shaving the sides of your head fad that thankfully died not too long after it started. I know seeing your daughter like that couldn’t have been easy.)
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
I wonder if anyone can highlight them all? If you're reading this, you've been tagged! |
| posted by mandymroth @ 9:00 AM |
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| Thursday, December 07, 2006 |
| 13 going on 30... |
I just received an email from someone who found me on myspace. So far, I have nothing but nice things to say about myspace. The person was young and interested in reading my books. I had to point out that they are NOT appropriate for anyone under the age of 18. I haven’t heard back from her yet but it reminded me of a book signing I had back in October. A grandmother and her granddaughter came up to my table, wanting to buy one of my books. The girl was in her early/mid-teens. I suggested some alternate authors who do not write erotic but who still write paranormal and I really felt like I should have been talking to a wall. It was a case of in one ear and out the other. The girl had it in her head that she wanted one of my books and wasn’t taking no for an answer. Other readers came to the table, having me sign books while she continued browsing (there was a LOT of foot traffic and people stopping to have books signed or ask questions that day). I also continued pointing out that my books my violence and FRANK sexual language and open door bedroom scenes….ADULT CONTENT. Finally, her grandmother thrusts three at me and I flat out take one away. Okay, I’m not going to yell at anyone, especially at a signing but geesh. In the end, they bought one. I wasn't pleased to say the least. When all was said and done, they walked past with their bag from the bookstore and the grandmother actually says "This book won't make my granddaughter wild, will it?" It was all I could do not to shout at her. I mean, hello...did I not just spend how long trying to explain it wasn't appropriate? All I got of the ordeal was a lawsuit waiting to happen and a huge headache. I may be a rare breed but I wouldn’t let my daughter (if I had one) read my books at that age. Eighteen? Sure, but not younger.
The girl and her grandmother thing ate at me the entire book signing. A mother with two twin twelve year old girls approached next. She was very nice and wanted the girls to get to meet an author. When she lifted one of my titles, I did as I’d done with the other couple, I put my hand over the book and explained it wasn’t for anyone other than adults and that the material was inappropriate. The mother smiled, set it down, sent the girls to look at books in their age range and thanked me for pointing that out to her. We talked for a bit and I gave her some suggested readings for her daughter (one of the twins was a big reader) because my son is the same age and loves Ciqure De Freaks and some other works. When she left, my mood had improved dramatically, giving me hope that I’m not just overprotective. |
| posted by mandymroth @ 11:32 PM |
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| Wednesday, December 06, 2006 |
| Most Wonderful Time of the Year... |
The holidays are upon us and as I listen to my children’s seemingly endless lists of this and that, I can’t help but to think about those who aren’t as fortunate. I’ve been involved with organizations who help everyone from battered women to people who have lost their homes in natural disasters but there is one I’ve not yet lent a helping hand to—Adopt-a-Native-Elder Program. I read an article touching a bit on it in a magazine (actually, about someone--Jay Tavare--who in addition to his busy life was also active in this program) and it sparked an interest for me.
I could go into a long drawn out lecture on my views about the injustices done (and still being done) to these people, their culture, their nations but I think we all know me well enough to realize my rant would never end. I just wanted to take a moment to draw a bit of attention to the program itself and to let you all know I’m seriously considering going forth to see what I can to do to contribute. They don’t appear to be asking for much.
I’ll keep you all posted on my progress with this. Also, since this is the time of year for sharing, if you have an organization you support feel free to post a link to it or email me and I’ll post it for you. Happy Holidays! |
| posted by mandymroth @ 10:57 AM |
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