Your Questions Answered!

Wow! What awesome responses I got yesterday for those questions! Thank you all for being so honest and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it!

Now for my answers to your questions. If you'd like to see the blogs of who asked me the questions, you can click HERE and locate their links in the comments section.

Alesa Warcan and Holly Ruggiero asked: What was that green thing that used to be next to your signature supposed to be? A photo shopped apple? A microscopic view of a spore?

Sorry to be boring, but I have no idea. My mother made it for my website :o)

Jen Daiker asked: What's your favorite condiment?

LOL ... um ...is vegemite a condiment?

Matthew Rush asked: Have you ever based a character in your writing on yourself or someone you know?

Yes! Plenty. But I've changed a lot of attributes. Especially of other people so as not to encounter any law suits. LOL. Every writer bases characters on who they know, right?

Justine Dell asked: You have a bar of chocolate, a piece of copper wire, and a match, and you are locked in room. Your going to die in 20 minutes unless you can get out (and use all three items). What do you do?

Oh man, this requires brain power ... um ... does the chocolate bar say 'Eat Me' on it? I'm going to guess it does, so I would stretch the copper wire from the floor to the key hole. Use the match to heat the parts I want to bend, then eat the chocolate bar, proceed to shrink, then climb the copper wire, crawl out the key hole, and pray I don't break any bones when I jump on the other side. How's that?

Elena Solodow asked: If you could choose a penname for yourself, what would it be and why?

Hmm, I've never thought about calling myself anything other than Jessica. Ok, um ... probably I'd choose Carmen Urbach. Because Carmen is my middle name, and Urbach is my mother's maiden name, and I think they sound nice together :o)

Tracy asked: If an evil sorcerer was turning you into one of Alvin & The Chipmunks, whom would you rather be? Alvin, Simon or Theodore?

Simon because he looks like a cool rapper in shades :o)

Laura Marcella asked: If you could pick any career other than what you do now, what would it be?

Rock star, baby! I've always wanted to be rich enough to smash a guitar to pieces on stage, and yell and scream out of tune like Courtney Love. Can I? Can I? Can I?

Bryan Russell asked: What led you away from the sunny shores of Australia? To the, uh, sunny shores of Greece? (yeah, I'm sick of the Canadian winter)

Um, I'd really like to deny the fact that I fell in love with a gorgeous hunk-o-spunk during summer on an island, and avoid the cliche, but if I'm gonna be honest, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to tell you I fell in love with a hunk-o-spunk, and groveled for his attention with my tongue touching my toes. Oh man, I was so weak then. If I had met the guy now, I would tell him to take a hike. (And, oh my God, can you believe that I even dressed Eurotrashy for him??? *hangs head in shame*

Photo is of me standing next to 'the guy', ten years ago. Glad you can't see my ridiculous knee high boots!

Em-Musing asked: What's in the bottles?

They're old Ouzo bottles filled with small black pebbles and shells from Ithaca :o)

Karen Walker asked: Did you ever have a chance to read my memoir - you mentioned you had it - I'm afraid this means you hated it and are afraid to say so.

As I said in my email, no I haven't read it but have every intention to. So, don't worry! :o)

Lenny Lee asked: You mostly don't say so much bout your boyfriend. i could wanna know more about him like what he does how he looks why he loves you.

Aw, Lenny. Unfortunately he doesn't like being splattered all over the web, so that's why I don't talk about him. He's an events manager here, and so has a kinda, 'mysterious reputation', so I don't post pics, etc. But he did do a guest post for me last week. You can see how much he loves me from that :o)

Candyland asked: When you're not working/writing/being awesome, what do you do in your spare time (if there is such a thing)?

I read, and watch ridiculous amounts of TV and/or go see live gigs, and/or sit on my balcony with a bottle of red wine and nibble of pickled octopus and dolmades! :o)

Carolyn V asked: What's your favorite dessert? (I'm a little hungry right now.) =)

Lemon Tart, or Lemon Meringue Pie!

Samantha Verant asked: If you had to choose one of the following professions (life or death) which one would it be and why? A telemarketer or a sewer inspector?

Are you kidding? Telemarketer. Why would I want to sit in stink??? LOL

Elizabeth Mueller asked: So, how do you feel about self-published authors?

I think it's great, as long they don't rush into it. If they take the time to make it the best they possibly can and invest the money on someone to edit it properly, then I say, go for it.

Talli Roland asked: WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO LONDON?

WHEN I GET MY RESIDENCY PERMIT RENEWED

gideon86 asked: What's you favorite book of all time? ONLY ONE.

Easy! Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson :o)

Nate Wilson asked: From which author would you be most thrilled to get a blurb for String Bridge?

Oh my God, Marilynne Robinson, or Margaret Atwood. My dream!!!

Nicole Ducleroir asked: How do you feel about the rising e-publishing industry, both from your viewpoints as a writer and as a reader?

I hate ebooks! I like the feel and smell of real pages. I dunno how I'm going to cope!

J.L. Campbell asked: If you had to live anywhere else in the world, where would that be and why?

Probably the UK or America, so that I can have access to all the wonderful writer's workshops and conferences!

Arlee Bird asked: If you only could pick one, which would you choose as a career: Music or Literature?

Literature. I've decided. Yep, definitely literature. I figure if I'm good enough, I make my words sing :o)

Hart Johnson asked: Imagine you end up with an international best seller and the financial means to do anything you want. Where will you throw your giant follower party and how will you entertain us?

Haha! I'd fly you all out to Greece and have a party on Santorini! Entertain you? Um, ... check out all the hot Greek guys there, I won't need to entertain you at all! ;o)

Shannon McMahon asked: Select one moment from your past that you feel defined your path. What was it and how does it impact your choices today?

The day I got straight A's in English Literature, and E- in Math! LOL Also, when I realised how happy I was when vegging around at home all day. That led me to seek freelance editing jobs I could do at home. If there's a will there's a way. And I got my way! hehehe ;o)

Thanks so much for all you awesome questions! Whoah, this took me over an hour ...

Questions For You ... Questions For Me? (caution: possible offensive content ahead)

I have a few questions for you:

1. Does abundant cursing in literature put you off reading the book? If so, why? 'Fuck', nowadays is used as much as 'hello'.

2. What do you think distinguishes between a real poem and just a bunch of flippin' sentences chopped up into different lines?

My name is Jessica

and I can write poetry.

How cool.

Look at this awesome

line break

I'm a genius!

3. Do you put pressure on yourself to read a specific number of books per year? If so, why? Isn't that unessesary stress? Man, isn't there enough of it in this life? Just enjoy reading your book, instead of reading it to start the next.

4. What makes you buy a fellow blogger's published book? Your friendship with the person, or the fact that you're actually interested in reading it? Honestly now, folks ... :o)

5. Do you shy away from buying books from Small Presses? If so, why? *tsk tsk* *slap slap*

So, I'm going to follow Candyland's suit and ask you, to ask me, anything you want to know. And tomorrow, I'll post the answers. Go on, embarrass me if yer like. Ah got tough skin ;o)

The Top Ten Countdown Blogfest! So Hard ....

Ok, I literally just signed up for this right now :o) I got an email from Stephen T. McMuffin (Ok I made his last name up), telling me to do this. But he made me a promise, that he wouldn't haunt me with his political yahoo for the rest of my life. Yes, I am politically inept and everything goes over my head, my eyes glaze over, and I appear to be the most unintelligent being on this planet. Go check out the other entries too at Alex J. Cavanaugh's. So, without further ado, here are my top ten off the top of my head in no particular order:

1. I Want You, Elvis Costello



2. River, Joni Mitchell



3. Wise Up, Aimee Mann



4. Sweet '69, Babes In Toyland



5. Silence, PJ Harvey



6. Seether, Veruca Salt



7. Hey Man, Nice Shot, Filter



8. Henry Lee, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds



9. Myriad Habour, The New Pornographers



10. Say Yes, Elliot Smith



So there ya go. My (almost) all time faves. :o) Well, no, there are so so SO many more like, Prince (back in the day before decided to become a sign), Madonna, The Tea Party, Nightmares On Wax, Portoisehead, Magic Dirt, Kate Bush, Janis Joplin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeremy Enigk, Smashing Pumpkins, Live, Nirvana, L7, Luna Chicks, Nine Inch Nails, Afghan Whigs, Pornos for Pyros, Jane's Addiction, DEF-FX, Alana Myles, Patti Smith, The Kinks, Dirty Three, Goo Goo Dolls, Pixies, Gordian Knot, Tori Amos, Chemical Brothers, Radiohead ... I could go on forever!

Here's my runner-up :o) Groove Is In The Heart, Dee-Lite!

Tada! The Significant Other Blogfest!

Tada! The Significant Other blogfest!

Be sure to check out everyone else's entries by clicking the link above!

My partner's text is in black and my comments are in purple:

PS: English is my partner's second language so excuse the short post.

I'll start with writing habits. She spends too many hours in front of her computer and I’m really worried about her eyes,  actually – given that I love them! I would do anything to change this but I know that it’s not going to happen. She loves her computer more than me!

I do not! I love your eyes too, Sweetie. :o)

I know it’s always difficult to catch your dream. I was exactly the same. You need to sacrifice things and be absolutely devoted to it. If you have been through it at least once in your life, you are able to understand why someone does everything possible to get there. It is hard to realize that they are somewhere else, not here, beside you –most of the time at least - but it’s quite understandable :)

It frustrates me when she keeps asking me to read the stuff she wrote! And it's hard for me. It takes me twice as long as it would someone who speaks English fluently. I wish I could. And I wish she'd understand when I say I can't and not get upset and start yelling and crying and bringing up all the things she does for me and makes me feel guilty. I will read your book when it's published, baby, I promise! No matter how long it takes, I will do it. I love you.
 
I love you too! I'm sorry I get so upset. It's just that I want to share my joy with the man I love. I'm sorry it's so hard for you.
 
So there you have it. Can I just add something kinda funny about sharing a life with a man whose second language is English? Just for a laugh: One day we were sitting on the balcony, discussing some odd jobs that needed doing around the house, and he said,
 
"We need to get the pimps fixed."
"What?"
"The pimps."
"Pimps?"
"Yeah, they're leaking."
"Oh! The pipes!"
 
:o) Have a great weekend everyone!

Taking the day off. Tune in tomorrow instead!

Due to signing up for the Significant Other blogfest tomorrow, I'm taking today off. In the meantime, here's a photo of me using a felt pen as a microphone.

Have a great day!

I don't know what I'd do without you.

I've been hit with gooey and mushy love and appreciation for a few bloggers I've come to rely on for writing support. So this post is for them. These three people are helping me get my upcoming novel String Bridge in pristine shape before submitting to my publisher. I'm going to be doing rewrites until the end of February. Perhaps I'll finish a bit earlier. I'm actually hoping I can have it complete by the 26th - my 30th birthday.

These three people are Nicole Ducleroir, Dawn Ius and Shannon McMahon. Ladies, you are my crutch! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being available to share and help me through all sorts of excitement, angst, crisis, doubt and hope I have been feeling through all this. And thank you so so much for all your confidence boosts. I appreciate them as much as the fingers I'm typing with. If you're a writer, you're sure to know how much these boosts are needed to keep up your momentum.

Ladies, you are amazing. All I need to do is holler and you come running. I don't know what I'd do without you. So THANK YOU. When I'm finished with this book. I'm all yours, for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING (as long as it doesn't involve weird sex scenarios or murder, that is) :o)

I love you guys!!!!

So, peoples, tell me, do you have a crutch? Could you imagine your life without them?

International Romance, Sponge Bobish & Greek Goddesses

I'm guest posting over at Carolyn's blog, Serendipity, today, as a part of a series called International Romance! Go check it out! :o)

You can also read the first two posts in the series HERE and HERE.

PS: I'm at the recording studio ALLLLLL day today to do voice overs for very weird characters - Sponge Bob-like imitations mixed with Greek Goddesses (Aphrodite, Demetra, Athena).  Yes, I'll come back with a craoky throat. Luckily for the Internet I won't have to speak to read and comment and reply to comments, etc. :o) See ya later!