Missing: Marjorie Farrell

Marjorie Farrell started out as a writer of Regencies and now writes historical romances set in the Regency period or the American Southwest. She won Romantic Times award for Best New Regency Author, was nominated for Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award as well as Best Regency Romance (for Heartless Lord Harry) and has been a RITA finalist.

Marjorie Farrell is now an Associate Professor in the Adult Learning Division of Lesley College, teaching writing, literature and human development courses in the Adult Baccalaureate College.

Romance novels and feminism aren't usually thought of as going hand and hand. But as Associate Professor Marjorie Farrell discovered, beneath the "awful covers" the heroine is often far stronger and more independent than depicted. But what about those covers? Farrell says unfortunately, the writers have no control over them."Although," she admits, "in general they have gotten a little better." 

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/18016038/

Missing: Marjorie Farrell

Marjorie Farrell started out as a writer of Regencies and now writes historical romances set in the Regency period or the American Southwest. She won Romantic Times award for Best New Regency Author, was nominated for Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award as well as Best Regency Romance (for Heartless Lord Harry) and has been a RITA finalist.

Marjorie Farrell is now an Associate Professor in the Adult Learning Division of Lesley College, teaching writing, literature and human development courses in the Adult Baccalaureate College.

Romance novels and feminism aren't usually thought of as going hand and hand. But as Associate Professor Marjorie Farrell discovered, beneath the "awful covers" the heroine is often far stronger and more independent than depicted. But what about those covers? Farrell says unfortunately, the writers have no control over them."Although," she admits, "in general they have gotten a little better." 

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/18016038/

Man Candy Day: Vince Azzopardi

Don’t ask Vince’s age… you don’t want to know… Since if you knew, you would call the police and say that an old lady (read Elisa) is harassing a too young man (read Vince)…

All right he is 20! He can be my son even if at 14 years old I had other in mind than procreating… not that now I have changed my mind :-) I still prefer to look at men candy rather than try to make one!



( more pics )

Want to play with Vince and get dirty? :-)

Vince Azzopardi has experiences in fashion, fitness, glamour, commercial, runway and other aspects in modelling.

He has worked internationally several times and currently is doing the campaign for Wettackle Swimwear. In the past he was represented in London by M&P models and in NYC by Empire Model Management.

But since he has signed with Major Agency in Milan, he is moving in Italy in September… what can I say? Welcome Vince!

( video )

@MySpace
@ModelMayhem
@BeautifulMag – Dylan Rosser
@BeautifulMag – Dylan Rosser
@Dylan Rosser

Man Candy Day: Vince Azzopardi

Don’t ask Vince’s age… you don’t want to know… Since if you knew, you would call the police and say that an old lady (read Elisa) is harassing a too young man (read Vince)…

All right he is 20! He can be my son even if at 14 years old I had other in mind than procreating… not that now I have changed my mind :-) I still prefer to look at men candy rather than try to make one!



( more pics )

Want to play with Vince and get dirty? :-)

Vince Azzopardi has experiences in fashion, fitness, glamour, commercial, runway and other aspects in modelling.

He has worked internationally several times and currently is doing the campaign for Wettackle Swimwear. In the past he was represented in London by M&P models and in NYC by Empire Model Management.

But since he has signed with Major Agency in Milan, he is moving in Italy in September… what can I say? Welcome Vince!

( video )

@MySpace
@ModelMayhem
@BeautifulMag – Dylan Rosser
@BeautifulMag – Dylan Rosser
@Dylan Rosser

Phoenix Rising by Kimberly Gardner

Young friendly gay guy, talented but poor, meets older closeted gay man, wealthy and gentle. Is another Cinderfella's story? Not quite, since our two heroes will not leave happily ever after when the clock strikes the midnight, they need to suffer a bit before.

Adam is a classical dancer that at 22 years old, after a knee injury, had to give up his dreams and lives "between" homes in his car. He sometime works as stripper and one night he is engaged for a birthday party. But when he arrives at the home of the birthday guy (a mansion truth be told), he finds out that the party is a very small one, just him and the other guy. Jimmy is a 35 years old business man, with a good work and a beautiful house, but with a lonely life. And Adam is like a dream comes true. Not that Jimmy is an ugly guy, he is quite handsome, but till now he has had a very discreet life, and only when his desires became unbearable, he walked on the dark side, but always with one night stands and no string attached encounters.

The easy part of the story is for Adam and Jimmy to become lovers, the hard part is to remain lovers. Adam is a very independent man, and even if he has the body and the behavior of a twink, he doesn't like to be a kept man and stubbornly refuses every attempt of Jimmy to help him; plus he wants for Jimmy to come out but not for him, but when and if the man feels to do that... here is maybe where Adam is mistaking: usually a man needs a very good incentive to drastically change his life.

Actually Jimmy is not so much "in the closet"; it seems that everyone around him knows that he is gay, but they play to bury the head in the sand. More than in the closet, I really think that Jimmy is a man with a problem in showing his emotions; the man is eager to please Adam, and he is always ready to admit his faults, but still he makes them. Probably Jimmy is ready for a change in his life, but he needs for a strong hand to lead him, and maybe Adam is not strong enough. Adam is young, and with issues by his own, and this could drift apart them apart if they are not willing to make some compromises.

The story is pretty long, almost 300 pages, but it flows easy and smooth. Luckily the world where both Adam and Jimmy live, is a sheltered ones, even when Adam lives in a car, he is not alone, he has friends who care for him and a place to go if he wants. So the story is not too much angst, and all in all the problems are not so insuperable.

The first long novel by Kimberly Gardner is a light comedy of good feelings, like "In & Out" or similar. 

http://www.mlrpress.com/ShowBook.php?book=PHOENIX1

Amazon: Phoenix Rising
Amazon Kindle: Phoenix Rising
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (July 27, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934531170
ISBN-13: 978-1934531174

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Phoenix Rising by Kimberly Gardner

Young friendly gay guy, talented but poor, meets older closeted gay man, wealthy and gentle. Is another Cinderfella's story? Not quite, since our two heroes will not leave happily ever after when the clock strikes the midnight, they need to suffer a bit before.

Adam is a classical dancer that at 22 years old, after a knee injury, had to give up his dreams and lives "between" homes in his car. He sometime works as stripper and one night he is engaged for a birthday party. But when he arrives at the home of the birthday guy (a mansion truth be told), he finds out that the party is a very small one, just him and the other guy. Jimmy is a 35 years old business man, with a good work and a beautiful house, but with a lonely life. And Adam is like a dream comes true. Not that Jimmy is an ugly guy, he is quite handsome, but till now he has had a very discreet life, and only when his desires became unbearable, he walked on the dark side, but always with one night stands and no string attached encounters.

The easy part of the story is for Adam and Jimmy to become lovers, the hard part is to remain lovers. Adam is a very independent man, and even if he has the body and the behavior of a twink, he doesn't like to be a kept man and stubbornly refuses every attempt of Jimmy to help him; plus he wants for Jimmy to come out but not for him, but when and if the man feels to do that... here is maybe where Adam is mistaking: usually a man needs a very good incentive to drastically change his life.

Actually Jimmy is not so much "in the closet"; it seems that everyone around him knows that he is gay, but they play to bury the head in the sand. More than in the closet, I really think that Jimmy is a man with a problem in showing his emotions; the man is eager to please Adam, and he is always ready to admit his faults, but still he makes them. Probably Jimmy is ready for a change in his life, but he needs for a strong hand to lead him, and maybe Adam is not strong enough. Adam is young, and with issues by his own, and this could drift apart them apart if they are not willing to make some compromises.

The story is pretty long, almost 300 pages, but it flows easy and smooth. Luckily the world where both Adam and Jimmy live, is a sheltered ones, even when Adam lives in a car, he is not alone, he has friends who care for him and a place to go if he wants. So the story is not too much angst, and all in all the problems are not so insuperable.

The first long novel by Kimberly Gardner is a light comedy of good feelings, like "In & Out" or similar. 

http://www.mlrpress.com/ShowBook.php?book=PHOENIX1

Buy at 1 Romance Ebooks

Amazon: Phoenix Rising

Amazon Kindle: Phoenix Rising

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Behind the Cover: Albert Slark

Award-winning artist Albert Slark grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Coming from a family of artists and musicians, a passion for the artistic side of life has always been a part of him. So it came as no surprise that he developed a passion for art at an early age.

At the age of 15 he became fascinated with the art of Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta. Influenced by their work, he was inspired to embark upon a career in illustration.

In 1990 he graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design, majoring in visual communications. Postgraduate studies include classical drawing and painting, both in New York and Toronto. Soon after graduating, Al made Toronto his home and sought a career in illustration.

A versatile artist, Al has illustrated book covers from action adventure to westerns. Best known for his romance illustrations for Harlequin and Zebra (because of all the fan mail he gets from authors and readers alike), he has illustrated well over 400 book covers to date. Many of his early book covers were illustrated in oil. Since 1998 Al has been working digitally, but still gets the odd cover that is requested by the publisher to be finished in oil.

One of three Canadians to be commissioned by the United States Postal Service (USPS), Al has painted six stamps -- the most famous being that of Marian Anderson, a 37-cent stamp currently in circulation.

Al recently won a certificate of merit from the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington. In the highly competitive contest for best illustrations of 2006. It was for his portrait in oil of Marian Anderson (USPS) that garnered the prize. The portrait of Marian Anderson was also exhibited at the Society of Illustrators 48th Annual Exhibition in New York.

With the release of Marian Anderson, Al has been featured in several newspaper articles and TV interviews. Newspaper coverage has included the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star and the National Post. As for TV appearances, Al has appeared on CBC, City TV, Cable 10 and was proud to be interviewed by Sandy Rinaldo as part of a CTV success story.

In addition to USPS, Harlequin and Zebra, Al has worked with clients including Atari Games, Club Med, Dalmatian Press, Degree Deodorant, Kensington Publishing, Kids Can Press, Pocket Books, Scholastic Canada, Steve Jackson Games and TSR Inc. (most famous for Dungeons & Dragons) and the list goes on.

To keep his creativity on the cutting edge, Al paints from life whenever possible and also attends workshops. Favourite workshops by Mr. Steven Assael and most recently with Mr. Yugi Wang.

When not illustrating book covers, Al is an avid reader and has a collection of books well exceeding 2000 in number mostly books on art, religion and philosophy; he also has a vast library of music which he listens to when he paints. He also accepts private commissions -- mostly portraits and works on his own art. But the passion doesn’t stop with drawing and painting. He also enjoys playing the drums (owns one of Neil Peart’s old drum kits) to the music of his favourite Canadian rock group Rush. 


Title: When The Slipper Fits by Lynn Collum
Publisher: Kennsington Publishing
Medium: Digital

( more pics )

http://www.theartofalbertslark.com/

Behind the Cover: Albert Slark

Award-winning artist Albert Slark grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Coming from a family of artists and musicians, a passion for the artistic side of life has always been a part of him. So it came as no surprise that he developed a passion for art at an early age.

At the age of 15 he became fascinated with the art of Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta. Influenced by their work, he was inspired to embark upon a career in illustration.

In 1990 he graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design, majoring in visual communications. Postgraduate studies include classical drawing and painting, both in New York and Toronto. Soon after graduating, Al made Toronto his home and sought a career in illustration.

A versatile artist, Al has illustrated book covers from action adventure to westerns. Best known for his romance illustrations for Harlequin and Zebra (because of all the fan mail he gets from authors and readers alike), he has illustrated well over 400 book covers to date. Many of his early book covers were illustrated in oil. Since 1998 Al has been working digitally, but still gets the odd cover that is requested by the publisher to be finished in oil.

One of three Canadians to be commissioned by the United States Postal Service (USPS), Al has painted six stamps -- the most famous being that of Marian Anderson, a 37-cent stamp currently in circulation.

Al recently won a certificate of merit from the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington. In the highly competitive contest for best illustrations of 2006. It was for his portrait in oil of Marian Anderson (USPS) that garnered the prize. The portrait of Marian Anderson was also exhibited at the Society of Illustrators 48th Annual Exhibition in New York.

With the release of Marian Anderson, Al has been featured in several newspaper articles and TV interviews. Newspaper coverage has included the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star and the National Post. As for TV appearances, Al has appeared on CBC, City TV, Cable 10 and was proud to be interviewed by Sandy Rinaldo as part of a CTV success story.

In addition to USPS, Harlequin and Zebra, Al has worked with clients including Atari Games, Club Med, Dalmatian Press, Degree Deodorant, Kensington Publishing, Kids Can Press, Pocket Books, Scholastic Canada, Steve Jackson Games and TSR Inc. (most famous for Dungeons & Dragons) and the list goes on.

To keep his creativity on the cutting edge, Al paints from life whenever possible and also attends workshops. Favourite workshops by Mr. Steven Assael and most recently with Mr. Yugi Wang.

When not illustrating book covers, Al is an avid reader and has a collection of books well exceeding 2000 in number mostly books on art, religion and philosophy; he also has a vast library of music which he listens to when he paints. He also accepts private commissions -- mostly portraits and works on his own art. But the passion doesn’t stop with drawing and painting. He also enjoys playing the drums (owns one of Neil Peart’s old drum kits) to the music of his favourite Canadian rock group Rush. 


Title: When The Slipper Fits by Lynn Collum
Publisher: Kennsington Publishing
Medium: Digital

( more pics )

http://www.theartofalbertslark.com/