Time for Miracles - Adam Lambert's new song

Adam Lambert sings the theme song for the movie 2012. This video shows him at his best.

Can you spot the imposter?

I came across this picture online and had to show it on my blog. Honestly, at first I gave it a glance, but on a second look I started laughing.

How many times do we see the weird in life and not even notice? Whether this is a faked pic isn't even a point. It's a great example of how easily we skim the "big picture" and neglect the details.

As a writer, I fight to notice them and be able to write them in such a way that others see them as well. I hope this example inspires others as it did me. The tiny differences are what make the picture. It's the differences in style, detail, voice, and skill that make the story.

I don't think the devil is in the details. I think it's the scope of the entire message.

What's Your Fantasy?

What is your fantasy? Ever wanted to share it with a friend but were afraid to speak up?

Or maybe you've told the world through your books.

Is it a hunky soldier? One of those yummy Sparta warriors who swoops in to take you away... or simply take you?
(picture taken at DragonCon 2008)

How about a fantasy of having a male belly dancer? Or a stripper?

A gorgeous hunk popping out of a cake. Talk about having your cake and eating it too! Yum!

If you have a thing for cowboys, check out the chaps one is wearing below. As we say in the south, "Good googly moogly!"

On October 14th from 8p-11p EST I'll be chatting on CTR's erotic yahoo group. Come join me for a fun evening of sharing secrets in a way that doesn't embarrass anyone! Or -- if it does, at least no one but you will know it!

It'll be a moderated chat, so you'll actually get a word in edgewise. Since it's held on the yahoo group itself, this isn't one of those lightning fast Q & A's that zips past in no time, losing your question in the whirlwind. Those are fun for other types of chats, but this one is slower and more fun. After all, we're sharing, right?

Here's how the chat works. You'll have a way to express your inner bad girl (or boy) by giving me writing prompts. I'll use them to create a mini-story that each attendee can take home in pdf format. How does that work? I'll ask for a color, a name, sex position *wink* or other detail, and you'll have the chance to throw out ideas -- from your own fantasy... or not.

I'll be giving away a download of Jawk, Tales of the Chosen, and at the end of the night, I'll post the final story we created together on the group and in the files so attendees can go back and grab their copy. You'll be able to share it with friends. What part you admit is yours is up to you! =^_^=

Again: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karendevinkaren/  October 14th from 8p-11p EST. Mark it on your calendar now. See you there!

Now part of the Technorati crowd!

I've heard so much about Technorati that I had to go see what the noise was all about. It's essentially a search engine for blogs. Let's say you commented on a blog that had something to do with science, and you can't remember where. You can use this to search only blogs within science-labeled blogs. Plus, if you join (free) you become listed among the group of blogs within your chosen genre or type.

You're asked to post a claim code for the site to find, which verifies it's your blog you're "claiming". Mine is jk8hgnqsrp -- no one else can use it. It's a randomly generated code only for me.

How easy is that? Want to know more? http://technorati.com/ is the place to start. So simple even a Kin male* can do it. =^_^=

*let's hope I don't start getting emails from those guys like Allstate did with cavemen!

Announcing - Guest Bloggers in 2010

Beginning in 2010, I'll be hosting a guest author every Tuesday of the month. Each author has freedom to post whatever she/he likes, including info about books, publisher info, news, or a chit chat about pets and the weather. This is an adult group and all topics are welcome. If you would like to be a part, email me at kayelle@kayelleallen.com or kayelleATkayelleallenDOTcom and put guest blog in the subject. As of 9/20, the entire first three months are filled, so if you have a book coming out mid-year or after, grab a spot while you can!

I'll send you an invitation to blog, and place your info on the calendar on my yahoo group, also called Romance Lives Forever. If you join the group, you can post excerpts there as well as announce blogging here. We have close to 1000 members, and it's a very active group! Join us and find out why members always say RLF Forever!

DragonCon pics are up!

I've posted pictures of DragonCon 2009 on my website. Click here to take a look.

Wow! I moderated a panel at DragonCon this year and it was a blast. Eventually I'll have pics of the panel itself, but for now, I can pretty much share only one. Sascha Illyvich was in the group, and those are his arms you see around the woman almost on top of him. LOL - He has some interesting fans, I must say.

To his right, listening intently to a question is Kiernan Kelly, (Ally Blue is unseen here, but she was next to Kiernan), and in the background is Fiona Zedde. The two people in white shirts are "Kiernan's Minions", who are her daughter Kelly and her "pseudo-son" Leo. Come to my website and you can see a whole lot more pictures of them in costume. Kiernan used to work for Universal Studios as a body painter, and she always brings her kit to cons. She also did my face. For the panel, "Exploring the Final Taboo, Same Sex Writing in Romance", we all tried to have something with a rainbow theme. Mine was right on my face.

Afterwards, we all went out to eat at the Metro Cafe in downtown Atlanta. The hostess hugged me and kissed my cheek, telling me I was beautiful and that she was proud of me for showing my beliefs so boldly. My purse/carryall has rainbow-colored handles as well, and it drew comments. I handed the hostess an autographed cover flat and she oohed and ahhed over Surrender Love's awesome Anne Cain art. Moments later, she had a crowd of friends around her, so I passed out some more. All of them promised to hit my site. It was cool -- I felt like a celebrity.

A friend of mine suggested I post two pictures of myself, one from an RWA con where I had the chance to finally meet the other RomVets, and especially Rae Monet, who has been an awesome mentor and help. It was taken about three years ago. The picture on the right is of me this year, where I'm 75 pounds lighter! Quite a difference. How did I do it? Small lifestyle changes and a goal of 25 pounds per year. That's about 1/2 pound a week, and I'm never hungry. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think of any of the pictures, especially Sascha's!

Before

After

Thank you - from my sister

Last weekend, my eldest sister's only son was killed in a car accident. A motorcyclist ran a stop sign and plowed into the driver's side door, killing both my nephew and himself. It was a tragic loss to both families; the cyclist's mother and my sister had each experienced the death of another child within the previous year. Jessie, my nephew, left behind his wife Kathy, who was injured but not as severely as their two children. Jessica (10) was in critical condition, and Chuck (13) had broken bones.

A moment of inattention has lifelong side effects. Lives were forever changed in that one instant of impact.

My sister had felt that there would be no one to remember her son in the way that a soldier's death is remembered -- there would be no lines of people with flags who came out all along the final ride to the funeral and interment. Jessie was everything to his family, but he had no fame, no glory.

That tore out my heart, so I asked people on my group, Romance Lives Forever, to email her if they wanted to help her know that her son would not be forgotten. I asked everyone to pass on the message if they wanted. She received so many emails of condolence - from total strangers to her, pledging that prayers and thoughts were with her and with Jessie's family, and that her son was being honored in their thoughts and best wishes.

She sent me a message to post on my blog to thank everyone, since there were so many. She wrote:

"Can you put this on your blog for me for everyone who sent me messages of condolence? I don't know how many times I've received this message, but every time it comes to me I feel honored to know someone thought this much of me."

From my losses, I gain the experience to create a brighter tomorrow.
There comes a point in your life when you realize:
Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won't anymore...
And who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Send these flowers to everyone you don't want to lose...

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

I also received many heartfelt emails and posts, and want to tell each of you -- thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers during this time.