Back to School Follies

It's that time of year again in the Northern Hemisphere. Children are preparing to head back to school and parents lives are disrupted.

First there is the mad scramble to get to Barnes & Noble before they close to grab those summer reading books. The same books that you had purchased when you first received the list in June. However, now your little darling is panicking because she hasn't read anything but friends texts and Facebook all summer and she can't find the books.

You breathlessly burst through the green double doors, to hear "Barnes & Noble will be closed in five minutes, please bring your purchases to the front register. Skirting around the guy at the NOOK display you use evasive maneuvers in order to get to the center aisle table that had been stacked to overflowing with the summer reading books. Where are they? Why is the table loaded with Romance books instead of All Quiet on the Western Front and The Chosen?

Your eyes search frantically for someone to help you. Finally you find a young woman putting books on a shelf. "Miss, miss, can you help me?"

She gives you a strange look and stands up. "Mom, a strange lady is talking to me." Visions of police officers  grilling you dance through your head.

Finally someone with a name tag wanders into your area. You ask where the summer reading books are. "All, they sold out. They've been gone for over a month."

Great! Now what?

"All the summer reading is available on NOOK."

What else can you do? The library is closed. There are no other bookstores in the area. If you order them online they will never arrive before school starts.

The guy is walking away from the NOOK counter. You run over to him and stammer out your problem. He is even kind enough to load the summer reading books onto the NOOK for you.

The cashier patiently rang up the ereader and the half dozen romances you had grabbed while you were waiting for the reader to load.

Half an hour after you had first entered the store, they are locking the door behind you.

Mission accomplished.

Tomorrow it's sneaker shopping.

Dog Days of Summer

I'm back! It's not that I've gone anywhere, but somehow, without intending to, I have neglected my poor Spell Room. With my return I am announcing a new contest. The lucky winner will be chosen randomly from the wonderful people who comment here.

That's right, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog.

Today is August 12th. We are well into the Dog Days of Summer. Did you ever wonder where that phrase came from. I always thought it meant days that were so hot even the dogs flopped down in any shady spot they could find to try to cool down. But, shock of all shockers, I was wrong. (It does happen every decade or so.)

The phrase originated with the Greeks. Sirius, the "Dog Star", from the constellation Canis Major, rose at about the same time as the sun, during the summer. (It doesn't anymore.) And sat near the sun.

The Roman's sacrificed a brown dog to appease the Gods when Sirius met with the sun. They believed Sirius was the cause of the hot, humid weather.

In those days dogs were considered evil, much like cats were during the Dark Ages.

Ancient Rome called the days between July 23 and August 24, the Dog Days. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac the Dog Days lasted for forty days, from July 3 through August 11. 

So, according to T.O.F.A. the Dog Days of 2012 ended yesterday. 

What are your favorite activities for the Dog Days of Summer?

Leave me a comment and you will be entered to win a Barnes and Noble gift certificate.

My favorite season is on its way!

The word "look"

Thanks to Penny Watson for tagging me in the LOOK Challenge. The rules of this challenge are as follows....

1. Do a search in your current WIP for the word "look."

2. Include text before and after.

3. Tag some other authors to join in the challenge.

I am tagging Heather Peters, L.t. Camlann, Jillian Chantal, Liv Rancourt, and Darlene Fredette Author.

I am currently working on Spirit Board which will be released for Halloween.

“Not much of a costume you got on. With that attitude I’d say you are going for, a modern day witch?” Dark blue eyes twinkled at her from above. The man was a giant. He had to be at least a foot taller than her.

Sara Jane inhaled sharply. His blue eyes and crooked smile did not take the edge off his insult.  “Sorry, sweetheart, you obviously have confused your consonants.  I believe you meant bitch, with a B.”

“No, I’ve been inside. Vanessa was looking for a homemade Ouija board when she sent me out and you look like one of those girls from Charmed. More subdued and librarianish, but I can see you using magick to kick butt.” The guy grinned at her.

“Does a line like that get you very far with women?” If Vanessa touched her spirit board bad things were going to happen, especially on tonight, of all nights.

“I don’t know, I’ve never tried it before. Is it getting me anywhere with you?”

 His grin turned cocky and warmed her in places she hadn’t felt tingle in a long time. The niggle of warmth deep in her belly set warning bells of in Sara Jane’s head. It may be interesting to get to know this guy better, but not tonight. She had to save her spirit board from the profane hands of Vanessa Sterling and get her out of the condo before any damage was done. Against her will, a smile touched her lips. Sara repressed it quickly and said in a stern voice, “You had better leave now. The party is over.”

Before he could answer she stormed into the apartment, closing the door firmly behind her. The room was packed with costumed people, Vanessa nowhere in sight.