Steamy Darcy

Hallucination

2012-01-30T17:59:00.000+11:00

I’ve very severe pain in the right shoulder for the past month and started using Voltaren.

Since then, I seem to have really strange dreams (though I'm not sure if that's the cause) and I can remember them vividly. Last night, it’s alien invasion on Earth and they came to kidnap pregnant women. I was trying to protect a woman from the aliens. How very strange!

Do you remember your dreams? What’s the strangest one you ever have?

Photo source: newanimal.org

Coffee Time Romance

2012-01-24T19:50:00.001+11:00

I'm blogging at Coffee Time Romance today, talking about The Spinter's Vow. You will have a chance to win a paperback copy of it as well. Do visit and leave a message. It will be up from 8 am USA Eastern Standard time.

Press here to visit Coffee Time Romance.

Merci!

2012-01-22T19:31:00.001+11:00

Thank you French readers. The Spinster's Vow has reached No.33 in best selling historical romance:

Les meilleures ventes en Historical Romances

Elegant Kate

2012-01-22T14:00:00.000+11:00

This is for Cold.

Kate is quite breathless...I don't think we have this mini-series in Oz yet. Hope to get to see her soon.

Firth time

2012-01-17T16:39:00.000+11:00

Time for yummy Colin Firth at 2012 Golden Globes. I like Meryl Streep too but she's not as handsome...

What would you do to get a man?

2012-01-12T20:27:00.000+11:00

I was checking if there is any more coverage of my new novel The Spinster's Vow when I came across this funny article from 1919.

It talks about single women should form a union to put the married ones in their place.

She played tennis though, she loathed exertion. She learnt to swim, though the surf terrified her...[all in the name of trying to catch a husband.]

I don't have any issue with married or single women but I wish the government will give single women like myself more bonus. It's not just family who need or want tax bennefit from the government.

Read the article by pressing here.

Morning sun

2012-01-10T19:33:00.003+11:00

I watched a TV documentary about body clock. It said that for people who have erratic sleep pattern, getting more sun in the morning will help. So I've started to sit outside in the balcony in the morning during the holidays. And I open the blinds in the office now.

One of my goals this year is to sleep better. Sound simple? A good uninterrupted seven hours of sleep has been elusive to me for quite sometimes. Time to do something about it.

Photo source: goeshealth.com

Google Alerts

2012-01-09T20:44:00.000+11:00

Do you use Google alerts? As an author, it's very handy to have alerts about my own name and my books. For example, today I got an alert that Fire and Cross which I published in 2010 is reviewed by Reflections of A Book Addict.

Once Darcy realizes that Mr. Bennet is the man responsible for saving his family’s life all those years ago, a strong affection builds between the two. Mr. Bennet senses the attraction between Elizabeth and Darcy, and is only too happy to help in Darcy’s arduous journey to win Elizabeth’s heart. I found this twist to be an entirely enjoyable one which afforded me an opportunity to get to know Mr. Bennet’s humor better.

Thank you Kim for the review!

And if you haven't set up any Google alerts yet, do it soon.

Watching tennis and writing commitment

2012-01-06T19:50:00.000+11:00

It's tennis season in Australia and I've been spending way too much time watching tennis, Hopman Cup, Brisbane International and later Australian Open.

Nowadays, coaches are allowed to come onto the court to give players some pep talk. I find it very interesting. Some players didn't seem to take this very well. The coach kept talking on and on about what kinds of mistakes were committed and the players' eyes were faraway. You can see that they didn't take in any of that.

But some coaches gave very precis advice, like how to play the next two games and asked the players to agree to commit to the tactics. These kind of advice seemed to work better.

I think a mental commitment to a course of action can make or break your endeavour. Perhaps that's what I've to adopt this year. Be committed to two writing competitions a year.

I've written half a script for a competition. It's not yet up to the standard I want but I think I can complete it.

Are you committed to your next goal in life?

Photo of caroline wozniacki from fashiontrends.pk

Our IKEA couple - 2nd part, NC-17

2012-01-04T19:44:00.000+11:00

Naughty story of our IKEA couple continues, featuring a Swedish witch (just joking). Not suitable for children:

“Elizabeth!” Darcy called out as he loosened his tie, took off his suit and put the suitcase down on the floor. It was Christmas Eve. He had been on a business trip in New York for a week and Elizabeth couldn’t go with him. He missed his girlfriend a lot. They talked on the phone daily but there was no substituting having her by his side.

It was a bright sunny afternoon but all the curtains were drawn, plunging the penthouse into dim light. “I’m home.” He continued and switched on the porch light. Perhaps she was not home, he thought disappointedly.

As he put down the keys in its usual place by the porch’s table, he saw a letter there, with cut out alphabets ‘The Darcy of Fitzinburgh’ from newspapers on it.

Frowning, he tore the letter open.

“The wicked witch of Sweden has got your girl. Sacrifice your latest harvest, Darcy, to the witch or risk losing your girl.”

Continue reading by pressing here.

Dark Hair Beauty

2012-01-03T17:45:00.001+11:00

It's the start of new year and I've just checked what post has the most clicked in my blog. Here it is. Hmm, I must have more male readers than I thought:

I talked about the TDH (tall, dark and handsome) club.

It's time to give the ladies some attention. I prefer dark hair beauty with a bit of spice. They are much more interesting than the angelic type to me.

Who's your ideal beauty?

Photo from http;//smh.com.au, http://img.vvo.pl, http://blog.silive.com respectively.

Happy New Year - are you in control?

2011-12-31T19:22:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year to you all!

I hope you have got your New Year resolutions sorted out. How is your dashboard for the new year like? A lot of to-do lists? Goals to achieve? Places to go and experiences to try?

For me, I want to be more creative in 2012. Pure and simple.

Photos source: Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

And this dashboard should perhaps start from 2009 and have more future years on it. But never mind, you understand my point. Be active and do it!

Have a wonderful holiday!

2011-12-24T11:11:00.001+11:00

Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy the food, wine and relaxation.

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos. I chose this photo to continue the masquerade theme of The Spinster's Vow.

Thank you for the friendship throughout the year. Warm and wet hugs from Sydney (we're raining like cats and dogs now)

Rejection

2011-12-22T20:17:00.000+11:00

OK, I've got a few rejection at work within this month so my mood is not that great. How do I handle it?

I read pick me up stories or edit my own ones. They tend to lift my spirit.

And some lovely chocolate and a game of tennis are my saviour. I'm looking forward to 2012 and hopefully it will be more fruitful for me then.

The Spinster's Vow

2011-12-20T19:39:00.001+11:00

Here is the book cover of my new book. A bit over dramatic, but I like it.

Mr. Darcy vs Mr. Wickham

2011-12-18T19:45:00.010+11:00

After the Jane Austen and Mr. Darcy post, I think it will be fun to have a face off between Mr. Darcy and his rival Mr. Wickham too.

Here are a few quotes about them:

Mr. Darcy

Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome
features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.

My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.

You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you,
I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.

Mr. Wickham

This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address.

Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for the first two months.

The vicious propensities--the want of principle, which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend, could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself, and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments.

Which one do you like more?

Photo from bbc.co.uk, quotes from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Jane Austen and Colin Firth face off

2011-12-16T21:06:00.000+11:00

Today is Jane Austen's birthday. On 16 December 1775, she was born in Hampshire. Thank you Miss Jane for creating so many memorable characters.

If I were to give you a birthday present, I think I'll arrange a dinner with Colin Firth because he's the ultimate Mr. Darcy on screen. And he seems to be a very smart guy. It will be good to watch you two debate, perhaps about the folly of our world. (Photo from fanpop.com and wikipedia)

Waiting for Colin Firth's new movie

2011-12-14T19:50:00.000+11:00

It's been a long wait. Originally Colin Firth's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy was going to be released in Australia in November. November came and went. Now we are in December. Finally I heard that it's going to be shown in January.

I can't wait to see it. Although Colin only played a minor role, I heard the it was done quite well and box office's performance in UK and USA seems very encouraging. And I do love a mystery and hopefully it's a wonderful one.

Photo source from movie mojo. Colin looks a bit cagey in this photo.

Beautiful Egypt

2011-12-12T17:50:00.000+11:00

I've organised a giveaway for My Darcy Vibrates at Goodreads and there were over 1,000 entries. And the winner is someone from Alexandria, Egypt. It's good to know my book will travel there.

I've been to Alexandria some 20 years ago, to see the statue of Alexandria the Great. It's a lovely city and I would like to go back one day, especially after I've watched Joanna Lumley's Nile recently. Egypt is a magnificent country to visit.

Photo of underwater relics in Alexandria from travelvivi.com

Crafty projects

2011-12-09T19:04:00.000+11:00

More projects BF are working on.

I like the yellow frame he's painted. He's good eyes for colour.

Old is beautiful

2011-12-07T19:09:00.000+11:00

BF likes to recycle materials he found. Here is a shelf made of snowboards. It's quite neat. If only I can sell it, then less clutter at home.

The eyes

2011-12-05T19:12:00.002+11:00

Eyes are the windows of the soul. What do you think Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle were thinking in this photo?

CF: I'm so bored.
JE: Don't complain, smile!

How to stop the spam?

2011-12-03T19:49:00.001+11:00

My yahoo email is hijacked 3 times now. For example if this weeks, I sent out 9 emails, then next weeks a spam email will be sent to these 9 people.

How can I stop the spam? Any idea? Someone suggested I change the password. I've done so. Let see if there is any improvement.

2012 Greetings for the Darcys

2011-12-01T19:40:00.003+11:00

Dear lovely readers

Many thanks for your support in the past years. Steamy Darcy website's page view has reached over 300,000 last year. Wow!

To celebrate the milestone and the new year, I'm giving out my ebooks to some lucky readers.

Please post your 2012 greetings for the Darcys here, in order to have a chance to win one of my ebooks (in pdf or epub format). There are 12 books to be won.

If there are more than 12 entrants, I will do a random lucky draw. Please make sure you leave your username here so I know how to contact you via email.

Contest is open to worldwide readers who have registered at my website and will be closed on 31 January 2012. I may use your greetings in one of my stories.

Happy contest and Happy New Year!

Photo source: bbc.co.uk

Are cats smarter than dogs?

2011-12-01T19:16:00.001+11:00

I love cats and here is a cute and funny photo from Diane's blog, I think.

I think the cat asked a smart arse question. I like to think cats are smarter than dogs. But I know a lot of you will disagree.