“Fifty Shades of Grey” Author E.L. James Says Her Book is “A Tale As Old As Time” by Pamela Lear

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“Fifty Shades of Grey” Author E.L. James Says Her Book is “A Tale As Old As Time” by Pamela Lear

posted in guest contributors, substance on May 14, 2012 for theme: spring

When it was announced that E.L. James, the British author whose Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has become a phenomenon in the U.S., would be in Miami for the first stop on her American book tour, tickets sold out in 15 minutes. My three friends and I were lucky to get them.

E.L. James, whose real name is Erika Leonard, is a British mom of two teenage sons, she’s been married for over 20 years and is a former television production manager. She looks like she could be one of your dearest friends from way back, bundled up in a comfortable but lumpy old sweater wearing comfortable flats, her long dark hair quickly bound up into a clip for convenience. She has a twinkle in her eyes when she smiles that seems to say, “Life is just one big, fat, fun hell-of-a-crazy-good time, isn’t it?” … read full story →

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The eSSSence of Pamela Lear

Style: Ambitious and driven, but learning to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Substance: Loving new experiences, friends, relationships, and taking a few risks!
Soul: Taking the time to appreciate the unexpected things I find in this journey of life.

It’s Our “Swedish Crime Queens” Giveaway!

posted in giveaways on May 14, 2012 for theme: spring

It’s been proven that the Swedes know how to do thrillers (do the words Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ring a bell?) so we were excited to hear that Stockholm Text is bringing us four Scandinavian titles by a quartet of their bestselling female crime novelists.

The Dead of Summer takes place on the most isolated island in the Baltic Sea, and starts with a husband and father of who mysteriously murdered while taking a morning jog during a vacation. Author Mari Jungstedt has sold more than three million books and has been called “one of Scandinavia’s best crime writers” by The Times.

Death of a Carpet Dealer, a Swedish carpet salesman is brutally murdered while on a business trip in Turkey. Karin Wahlberg is considered Sweden’s number one author of medical thrillers, and this title is one of seven in her series featuring Police Commissioner Claes Claesson and his wife who is a doctor at Oskarshamn Hospital.

Killer’s Island is another haunting page-turner in the popular Detective Inspector Maria Wern series. Author Anna Jansson writes in clean and chilling prose about a mythic town in which the police are under observation by a killer.

The Gingerbread House by Carin Gerhardsen From the publishing team behind Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy comes The Gingerbread House, the first in Carin Gerhardsen’s Hammarby series of crime novels that take place in the southern parts of Stockholm. With its timely theme of schoolyard bullying, this thriller will leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

One lucky winner will win all four of these titles in their choice of e-book or paperback. For a chance to win, simply fill out the form below. You may enter once a day until the contest ends on May 27 at midnight Pacific time. Winner will be notified by return email.

LUNAFEST 2012: Films By, For and About Women

posted in reviews, substance on May 11, 2012

As avid moviegoers, one of our favorite events of the year is LUNAFEST, a film festival of short films by, for and about women. This eclectic group of films –whether they make you laugh or cry — will make you think long and hard about yourself and about your sisters all around the world.

Lunafest

LUNAFEST will take place in 150 cities this year, and we suggest you get on their site right now and buy tickets to the event near you. Proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Fund, an organization which focuses on prevention and to which we will be donating all the money we used to contribute to Susan G. Komen, as well as local non-profits. In San Diego, the event was hosted by Boobs on the Move, a grassroots effort to empower people to stop breast cancer through active prevention and generosity.

Amy and I attended the San Diego event last week with our great friend, Elin Stebbins Waldal, author of Tornado Warning: A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect on a Woman’s Life. We were blown away by every film. Here’s Amy’s take on the evening: … read full story →

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Marching — Again — For Women’s Rights

posted in substance on May 9, 2012 for theme: spring

On April 28, Susan and I joined thousands of women around the country in fighting for women’s rights. Really, it’s ridiculous that we have to do this again in the year 2012 but it’s apparent that the rights we fought so hard for many years ago can be – and... read full story →

Mother’s Day Gift Idea: “Believe in Yourself ~ Inspire Others ~ Spread Joy” by Amy Wise

posted in reviews, substance on May 8, 2012 for theme: spring

What do you get the mom who has everything? Well, our Formerly Flip Flops bracelets, for sure, but also this fantastic book that belongs on every woman’s shelf, desk and bedside table where it can be picked up and referred to at a moment’s notice. Believe in Yourself ~ Inspire Others... read full story →

Austin Vickers on the Power of Imagination and “People v. The State of Illusion”

posted in guest contributors, interviews, substance on May 3, 2012

I have always believed we each have the power to shape our own destiny and that the way we look at anything can make all the difference. In fact, I've always tried to teach my kids that you can't change other people but just changing your reaction to them changes... read full story →

Please Vote For Us to Be Named One of the “Voices of the Year” by BlogHer!

posted in substance on Apr 29, 2012 for theme: spring

Today -- Monday, April 30 -- is the last day to vote for BlogHer's "Voices of the Year," and we’re hoping you’ll vote for us! We have posts nominated in four categories, and you can vote once for each one. (If you vote more than once for a post, your original... read full story →

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