2008-12-03

reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2008-12-03 10:11 am

Romance History: Elizabeth Neff Walker

Born August 12, 1944, Elizabeth was raised in Pleasant Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After attending Pembroke College at Brown University, Neff moved from the East Coast to the West, settling in San Francisco. She held a number of clerical jobs, working for a spice company, an architectural firm, and for a psychology research project.

In 1966, she married Paul Rotter, an architect. The couple left San Francisco to settle in London for two and a half years. "Living abroad was a fascinating experience. I felt right at home! I lived and breathed Regency lore. It provided me with much of the material I was later able to use in my romances." To Regency fans, far and wide, The names Elizabeth Neff Walker and Laura Mathews rank among Their list of favorites. The woman behind these names, Elizabeth Walker Rotter-nickname Neff—began writing Regency romance in March, 1978.

Elizabeth finds that ideas for her books often come from some passing remark in a history of the period or from some diary of the time. "I was especially fascinated by the diaries of an English Naval surgeon of the Georgian period whose humor and adventures intrigued me. 1 immediately made this doctor a character in one of my books," she reveals, with a chuckle. "He was such a rogue." Wit and humor are extremely important in story telling, she believes. "In fact, they're essential ingredients in keeping a sane view of the world. Very few experiences are as uplifting as a good laugh and I think humor has a place in almost every type of novel, including the historical and contemporary romance.'' She pauses and adds knowingly, "Laughter and love go together."

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19224768/
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2008-12-03 10:11 am

Romance History: Elizabeth Neff Walker

Born August 12, 1944, Elizabeth was raised in Pleasant Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After attending Pembroke College at Brown University, Neff moved from the East Coast to the West, settling in San Francisco. She held a number of clerical jobs, working for a spice company, an architectural firm, and for a psychology research project.

In 1966, she married Paul Rotter, an architect. The couple left San Francisco to settle in London for two and a half years. "Living abroad was a fascinating experience. I felt right at home! I lived and breathed Regency lore. It provided me with much of the material I was later able to use in my romances." To Regency fans, far and wide, The names Elizabeth Neff Walker and Laura Mathews rank among Their list of favorites. The woman behind these names, Elizabeth Walker Rotter-nickname Neff—began writing Regency romance in March, 1978.

Elizabeth finds that ideas for her books often come from some passing remark in a history of the period or from some diary of the time. "I was especially fascinated by the diaries of an English Naval surgeon of the Georgian period whose humor and adventures intrigued me. 1 immediately made this doctor a character in one of my books," she reveals, with a chuckle. "He was such a rogue." Wit and humor are extremely important in story telling, she believes. "In fact, they're essential ingredients in keeping a sane view of the world. Very few experiences are as uplifting as a good laugh and I think humor has a place in almost every type of novel, including the historical and contemporary romance.'' She pauses and adds knowingly, "Laughter and love go together."

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19224768/
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2008-12-03 11:00 am

Cruise for Christmas by Andrew Grey

Henry, a middle class man in his thirties, receives a very beautiful Christmas present from a couple of very dear friends, a gay cruise in the Caribbean sea. His friends, a long-term committed couple of seventy years old, hope for him to find the love they share. Also Henry is full of hopes for this cruise, since he believes in romance and has not lost the faith that somewhere out there there is his soul mate.

But when Henry enters the cruise ship, he has a bad surprise: the cruise is yes for gays, but for retired gays! Most of the people around are long-term couple over sixty. Then the first night he meets probably the only single man under thirty, Tim. Tim is a cute and shy guy, gentle and funny, but deeply embarrassed since he is forced to wear a steel brace on his leg. His disability makes him not seeing all the other good qualities he has, and also makes him wonder why another man could be interested in him.

Henry is sincere with himself, in another setting, with a room full of potential partners, he would probably not notice Tim; but here, he has the chance to go behind Tim's facade, and see the man; a man he is interested in knowing better. And since Tim is totally inexperienced, Henry starts a slow wooing that it's very nice and very tender.

The story is really a sweet romance, and despite being short, less than 50 pages, is really a worthy read. It has all the elements for a good Christmas tale, hope, love and also a bit of passion, but not too hot. Both Henry than Tim's characters are also really nice, Henry is an average good guy, but with a good heart, and Tim is really young and tender, a man who inspires all Henry's protective feelings.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/advent.htm

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2008-12-03 11:00 am

Cruise for Christmas by Andrew Grey

Henry, a middle class man in his thirties, receives a very beautiful Christmas present from a couple of very dear friends, a gay cruise in the Caribbean sea. His friends, a long-term committed couple of seventy years old, hope for him to find the love they share. Also Henry is full of hopes for this cruise, since he believes in romance and has not lost the faith that somewhere out there there is his soul mate.

But when Henry enters the cruise ship, he has a bad surprise: the cruise is yes for gays, but for retired gays! Most of the people around are long-term couple over sixty. Then the first night he meets probably the only single man under thirty, Tim. Tim is a cute and shy guy, gentle and funny, but deeply embarrassed since he is forced to wear a steel brace on his leg. His disability makes him not seeing all the other good qualities he has, and also makes him wonder why another man could be interested in him.

Henry is sincere with himself, in another setting, with a room full of potential partners, he would probably not notice Tim; but here, he has the chance to go behind Tim's facade, and see the man; a man he is interested in knowing better. And since Tim is totally inexperienced, Henry starts a slow wooing that it's very nice and very tender.

The story is really a sweet romance, and despite being short, less than 50 pages, is really a worthy read. It has all the elements for a good Christmas tale, hope, love and also a bit of passion, but not too hot. Both Henry than Tim's characters are also really nice, Henry is an average good guy, but with a good heart, and Tim is really young and tender, a man who inspires all Henry's protective feelings.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/advent.htm

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2008-12-03 02:41 pm

Behind the Cover: Bryan Haynes

The commercial work of this artist has graces the pages of national magazines, international advertising, CD covers, posters, and book covers from Agatha Christie to the cover of "Scarlett" the sequel to "Gone With the Wind". Since graduating from Art Center College of Design in 1983 his artwork has been represented by Bernstein & Andriulli in New York, Ron Sweet in San Francisco, and Foster Represents in St. Louis. Some of his many patrons have included Disney, Estee Lauder, Warner Bros., Toblerone - Switzerland, Universal Studios, IBM, Nike, Sony Music Corp., and Anheuser Busch.



more pics )

Awards include: The Society of Illustration - New York awards, Print Magazine Awards, Communication Arts Awards, and Graphis - Switzerland.

Gallery representations include: The Kodner Gallery of St. Louis; Billy Hork Gallery, Chicago; Touch of Class Gallery, Wildwood; Augusta Wood Ltd. Gallery, August, Missouri; American Legacy Gallery, Kansas City; Soho Arts of Palm Beach, FL.

http://www.artbybryanhaynes.com/
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2008-12-03 02:41 pm

Behind the Cover: Bryan Haynes

The commercial work of this artist has graces the pages of national magazines, international advertising, CD covers, posters, and book covers from Agatha Christie to the cover of "Scarlett" the sequel to "Gone With the Wind". Since graduating from Art Center College of Design in 1983 his artwork has been represented by Bernstein & Andriulli in New York, Ron Sweet in San Francisco, and Foster Represents in St. Louis. Some of his many patrons have included Disney, Estee Lauder, Warner Bros., Toblerone - Switzerland, Universal Studios, IBM, Nike, Sony Music Corp., and Anheuser Busch.



more pics )

Awards include: The Society of Illustration - New York awards, Print Magazine Awards, Communication Arts Awards, and Graphis - Switzerland.

Gallery representations include: The Kodner Gallery of St. Louis; Billy Hork Gallery, Chicago; Touch of Class Gallery, Wildwood; Augusta Wood Ltd. Gallery, August, Missouri; American Legacy Gallery, Kansas City; Soho Arts of Palm Beach, FL.

http://www.artbybryanhaynes.com/