In memory of Barbara Cartland

Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (9 July 1901 – 21 May 2000) was one of the most successful writers of romance novels of all time, specialising in historical love themes. She also became one of the United Kingdom's most popular media personalities, appearing often at public events and on television, dressed in her trademark pink and discoursing on love, health and social issues.

Barbara Cartland lived up to her title, the Queen of Health, in England. Not only did she write and promote her books - on health, nutrition, menopausal replacement therapy, but she practiced what she preached. Every day she swallowed more than seventy vitamins, special calcium tablets, and her own formula for "brain pills" - vitamin E, vitamin B6, and ginseng.

Her virgins were big business, so said Miss Cartland, who had other reasons for choosing her hisiorical settings. "It's difficult to portray virgins in modern dress," she admitted. "Furthermore, I prefer a period when men were not wearing wigs. It's unattractive to have a young man taking off his wig in bed!"

Her publishers estimated that since her writing career began in 1923, Dame Barbara Cartland had produced a total of 723 titles. After years of wearing her trademark anti-wrinkle cream and heavy makeup, she had herself photographed repeatedly without any cosmetics before she died. She was 98 years of age at her death.  

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/17184487/

In memory of Barbara Cartland

Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (9 July 1901 – 21 May 2000) was one of the most successful writers of romance novels of all time, specialising in historical love themes. She also became one of the United Kingdom's most popular media personalities, appearing often at public events and on television, dressed in her trademark pink and discoursing on love, health and social issues.

Barbara Cartland lived up to her title, the Queen of Health, in England. Not only did she write and promote her books - on health, nutrition, menopausal replacement therapy, but she practiced what she preached. Every day she swallowed more than seventy vitamins, special calcium tablets, and her own formula for "brain pills" - vitamin E, vitamin B6, and ginseng.

Her virgins were big business, so said Miss Cartland, who had other reasons for choosing her hisiorical settings. "It's difficult to portray virgins in modern dress," she admitted. "Furthermore, I prefer a period when men were not wearing wigs. It's unattractive to have a young man taking off his wig in bed!"

Her publishers estimated that since her writing career began in 1923, Dame Barbara Cartland had produced a total of 723 titles. After years of wearing her trademark anti-wrinkle cream and heavy makeup, she had herself photographed repeatedly without any cosmetics before she died. She was 98 years of age at her death.  

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/17184487/

The Prime Minister's Secret Diplomacy by Youka Nitta

Shiraishi is a young diplomat for a Japan's embassy in Thailand. Here he has the change to work with Yoshinaga, a very young diplomat whose genius and political ability helped him to make a fast career. Yoshinaga is also Shiraishi's sister fiancee, even if the engagement is more a interest bargain than a matter of love.

When Shiraishi sees Yoshinaga in a night club kissing another man, he has puzzled feelings: he is angry for a man of Yoshinaga's level to be so open in public, but he is also worried for his family and sister. So he corners Yoshinaga and pretends some explanations to a scandalous behavior. Instead Yoshinaga justifies all his unethical moves due to the context and moreover, he kisses also Shiraishi and soon after they start an affair, putting also Shiraishi in an embarrassing position and bonding him to not reveal anything otherwise he will put at risk also his career.

Between Shiraishi and Yoshinaga there is a strange relationship: obviously they are very attracted from each other, but both Yoshinaga than Shiraishi seem not willing to give up their career for love; on the contrary Yoshinaga has no intention to break his engagement with Shiraishi's sister, and Shiraishi seems right with having an extra marital relationship with him, betraying not a mere other woman, but his own sister.

The story is pretty complex, the graphic detailed and rich; this is, according to the author, only a first volume of several others, even if the American publisher released it as a one stand volume.

http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Ministers-Secret-Diplomacy-Yaoi/dp/1934129151/

 Waiting Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=waiting+reading+list&view=elisa.rolle

The Prime Minister's Secret Diplomacy by Youka Nitta

Shiraishi is a young diplomat for a Japan's embassy in Thailand. Here he has the change to work with Yoshinaga, a very young diplomat whose genius and political ability helped him to make a fast career. Yoshinaga is also Shiraishi's sister fiancee, even if the engagement is more a interest bargain than a matter of love.

When Shiraishi sees Yoshinaga in a night club kissing another man, he has puzzled feelings: he is angry for a man of Yoshinaga's level to be so open in public, but he is also worried for his family and sister. So he corners Yoshinaga and pretends some explanations to a scandalous behavior. Instead Yoshinaga justifies all his unethical moves due to the context and moreover, he kisses also Shiraishi and soon after they start an affair, putting also Shiraishi in an embarrassing position and bonding him to not reveal anything otherwise he will put at risk also his career.

Between Shiraishi and Yoshinaga there is a strange relationship: obviously they are very attracted from each other, but both Yoshinaga than Shiraishi seem not willing to give up their career for love; on the contrary Yoshinaga has no intention to break his engagement with Shiraishi's sister, and Shiraishi seems right with having an extra marital relationship with him, betraying not a mere other woman, but his own sister.

The story is pretty complex, the graphic detailed and rich; this is, according to the author, only a first volume of several others, even if the American publisher released it as a one stand volume.

http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Ministers-Secret-Diplomacy-Yaoi/dp/1934129151/

 Waiting Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=waiting+reading+list&view=elisa.rolle

Moxy Hart, Brush Wielder

“ Words are so restrictive, mere utterances, black on white. Feeling is the language of the soul and it’s in big, bold, bright, fantastic Technicolor. This is how I see. This is my world.” Moxy Hart



( more pics )

In 1975 Moxy was born in a small town in Gauteng, South Africa into a family of non-artists. As the odd one out, he would often escape into the world of his imagination and art. He got his first paying job as an artist at the age of 6 when a primary school teacher commissioned him to draw flashcards. He duly announced to his folks that it was time to leave school and become an artist!

Upon his parents insistence Moxy attended an academic high school with no art subjects – so he could get a “real” job. After a few miserable years and nearly failing, he was sent to Art School where he excelled.

There an uninformed lecturer told him the best job one could find as an artist would be window dressing and suddenly Moxy was disenchanted with the world of art. He left small town ideas and opportunities behind and headed for the big city to study fashion design instead. Moxy worked in the fashion industry for three years, but realized that it was a world he did not fit into.

A career in shopping centre décor followed which led to event décor design, the perfect platform for him to utilize his multiple artistic skills. Moxy started his own event design company and the company name became synonymous with extraordinary event design. The painting of massive event backdrops triggered in him a desire to work on canvas.
The sensation of painting on canvas awakened his original passion for fine art. When Moxy decided to sell the company and paint full time, happiness had arrived.

His paintings have been sold in art galleries and décor shops across South Africa and he has completed any number of commissioned pieces for both corporate and private clients. Since relocating to Cape Town three years ago he has been concentrating on depicting the male form and masculine beauty.  

http://www.moxyhart.com/home.html

Moxy Hart, Brush Wielder

“ Words are so restrictive, mere utterances, black on white. Feeling is the language of the soul and it’s in big, bold, bright, fantastic Technicolor. This is how I see. This is my world.” Moxy Hart



( more pics )

In 1975 Moxy was born in a small town in Gauteng, South Africa into a family of non-artists. As the odd one out, he would often escape into the world of his imagination and art. He got his first paying job as an artist at the age of 6 when a primary school teacher commissioned him to draw flashcards. He duly announced to his folks that it was time to leave school and become an artist!

Upon his parents insistence Moxy attended an academic high school with no art subjects – so he could get a “real” job. After a few miserable years and nearly failing, he was sent to Art School where he excelled.

There an uninformed lecturer told him the best job one could find as an artist would be window dressing and suddenly Moxy was disenchanted with the world of art. He left small town ideas and opportunities behind and headed for the big city to study fashion design instead. Moxy worked in the fashion industry for three years, but realized that it was a world he did not fit into.

A career in shopping centre décor followed which led to event décor design, the perfect platform for him to utilize his multiple artistic skills. Moxy started his own event design company and the company name became synonymous with extraordinary event design. The painting of massive event backdrops triggered in him a desire to work on canvas.
The sensation of painting on canvas awakened his original passion for fine art. When Moxy decided to sell the company and paint full time, happiness had arrived.

His paintings have been sold in art galleries and décor shops across South Africa and he has completed any number of commissioned pieces for both corporate and private clients. Since relocating to Cape Town three years ago he has been concentrating on depicting the male form and masculine beauty.  

http://www.moxyhart.com/home.html

More Artists at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Art