Yearly Archives: 2014

Mr. Kadam’s Spice Kitchen

Posted on September 19 2014 by Linda

Welcome to Mr. Kadam’s Spice Kitchen featuring the spice Cinnamon Welcome back to Mr. Kadam’s Spice Kitchen! Last month he shared some of his wisdom on both medicinal and culinary uses of the spice ginger. In addition to being the royal military adviser to Houck’s fictional character King Rajaram, Anik Kadam has a passion for spices and cooking. For those of you unfamiliar with who Mr. Kadam is, you can learn more in an earlier blog from August (or you can check out Houck’s New York Times bestselling Tiger’s Curse Series). For this month, he’d like to share the …

MODERN INK SOCIETY

Posted on September 15 2014 by Linda

FEATURING GUEST APRILYNNE PIKE I’ll Never Forget the Time When Welcome to the sixth session of THE MODERN INK SOCIETY! Do you know who you are .. and who you are meant to become? Does it seem like you are not living the life you dreamed of when you were a child? Or are you unsure which pathway in life to take? visaliaweddingstyle provides you more guide. If so, perhaps it is time to discover the life you were destined for by taking a journey of self discovery. “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is …

Is Beauty only Skin Deep? Win a Prize

Posted on September 14 2014 by Shara Lane

As a teenager all I wanted for my skin to be free of acne. As a 20 year old I still wanted to be acne free, but I knew I also needed sunscreen in my daily face moisturizer since I live in the sunny desert. I tried several products until I found the right one for me, and then I learn more about what should I do during my early 20’s. But I failed to follow, and it continues to open more acne and breakouts. When I reached my 30’s I was sure that the little breakouts would surely stop …

Double Feature Movie Review: The Giver & If I Stay

Posted on September 8 2014 by Colleen Houck

The Giver I always give spoilers so consider yourself warned. =) Colleen’s Movie Review Romance: There was a sweet, innocent kind of romance in this film that was purely devised by the filmmakers as there was nothing of the kind in the book. I found myself just as fascinated with Fiona’s lips as Jonas. Not sure how they stayed so plump and glossy when no one there was supposed to be wearing makeup. Special Effects: I liked the layout of the city and the buildings and the technology. Replacing the fake tree limbs was cool. What I Liked: The actors. They all did …

SEPTEMBER MONTHLY CONTEST: Pick Up Lines!

Posted on September 8 2014 by Colleen Houck

Yes, the following conversation happened with my husband. “So, I’m doing the September contest for Colleen. What should it be about?” “Umm….” {20 minutes and 3 separate topics later — I KID YOU NOT! But we were both working on separate things so no big deal.} “How about pick up lines?” And strangely enough, I knew exactly which topic he was referring to. They told me not to judge a book by it’s cover but I don’t even know you and I’m checking you out. {For the Harry Potter fans!} Did you survive the Avada Kedavra curse? Because you’re drop …

Colleen Houck Book Club

Posted on September 5 2014 by Linda

BOOK FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER- EARTHBOUND SERIES If you didn’t get a chance to read last month’s pick, oh.my.gods by Tera Lynn Childs, it’s not too late to check it out. For those of you who participated in the live chat on Goodreads with authors Tera Lynn Childs and Colleen Houck, thanks! It was so much fun! For September’s book selection, Colleen has chosen… THE EARTHBOUND SERIES by her friend Aprilynne Pike Here’s a little teaser of book #1, “Tavia Michaels is the sole survivor of the plane crash that killed her parents. When she starts to …

AUGUST WRITING CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED!

Posted on September 3 2014 by Linda

First, a BIG thanks to everyone who participated in the AUGUST WRITING CONTEST! It was a great success and was so much fun to read the stories. There is some real talent and creativity!!! Before I announce the winner, I wanted to mention that there were over 50 contest entries and I was looking for three things in selecting this month’s winner. One: technical writing skills. Proper grammar and a consistent flow of the story were a top priority. Two: creativity. The ability to take the story to an exciting place. (I noticed a theme of pirates with this contest). …

The Radish Club

Posted on September 2 2014 by Linda

What is? Introducing The Radish Club, by Colleen Houck. (Article originally published in 2010) Today I wanted to talk about radishes. Some of the critics of my books think Kelsey is suffering from a low self-esteem problem. First of all, I believe 98% of girls suffer from self-esteem issues at one time or another in their lives. I think its a normal problem. But that’s not what I want to talk about. I worked on a salad bar for several years during my young adult years. I made seafood salad, chopped cases of fruit, made spinach, bacon, and red …

Upcoming YA Books: September 2014

Posted on August 26 2014 by Colleen Houck

I am a long-time reader. The librarians were on first name basis with my siblings and me because we were there lots. They’d see us come in and get our reserved books right off the shelf for us (that was back when their reserve shelves were behind the counter). I remember countless hours roaming the aisles of books (and books and books) and, I admit it, spending some time on their computers. I remember participating in the summer reading programs (which I remember being more challenging than they are now) each year. My parents came up with some creative rules and …

Beauty rises from the MURKY WATERS

Posted on August 23 2014 by Linda

“Oh lovely and fair, adorned with spell, Doth awaken my ceaseless torment, risen from hell. Thy grace and charm for all mute things to see, As floating on seas, some delicate power to thee. Tis beauty blooms in lights glorious birth, While fowl winds slumber in the fields of earth. Thy beauty burns like a ceaseless fire, Behold thy soul’s immensity! I reverence her song in the mountain tower, And glimpse the true splendor of the Lotus-flower!” ~by Linda Louise Lotti The lotus flower is not only a uniquely beautiful bloom, but is richly symbolic in many cultures. Colleen Houck …

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