This is one that you will definitely not hear in shopping malls. Take note of my warnings.

www.youtube.com.sg/watch?v=tEe55NxFSSU

Otherwise, have a very Merry Christmas,

Joanne

This is my very first giveaway and using Rafflecopter, so I hope it all goes well. In celebration of hitting 10,000 sales on Amazon I am giving away a hardcover autographed copy of God Bless the Child (the book that got this whole ball of fun rolling). Sign up today, let's have some fun. Only one winner this time, but more fun to come in the upcoming months.

I just saw Le Proces de Jeanne d'Arc (1962) (in French with English subtitles that are more or less adequate, as these things go) and was struck that the huge problem for the Holy Church of the time was Jeanne's cross-dressing. Evidently, hearing voices and seeing angels was more-or-less fine, but doing it whilst ‘dressed inappropriately’ was anathema. TMTC,tMTStS.

Highly LGBT question heavy survey?

This year I was determined not to hear 'Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time' until the day itself. Sadly it first assaulted my ears on November 15th.

And no, I wasn't alive back then. My grandfather was, though. He made his living as a butcher back in the thirties, moving between Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri as the work was available. I also know, from personal experience, that he was one mean SOB if provoked and a sane person did not want to make him mad at them.

Back when the original Bonnie and Clyde movie with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway came out he once told me that he'd known Clyde Barrow. Who was a mean SOB (that coming from one) who grandad wouldn't turn his back on.

Well, I had an interesting experience after the church service today.

Instead of placing this in a simple comment, I chose to place it in a blog entry so more can see it. I've just finished re-reading MAU and Whisper. In case you were wondering where the extra kudos came from, it was me.

I'm very impressed with your storytelling skills. Both stories held my attention and enthusiasm all the way through to the satisfying endings. Your characters were very well thought out and fleshed out, til they became more real people to me as opposed to characters in stories.

Enough Computer Talk !

With the stress of being jobless and potentially homeless gone, I can refocus and get Issue Two finished and posted this weekend.

I'm calling my chapters Issues to be more comicbook geeky. :)

And no it's not for that surgery.

Sigh slipped on some ice and broke ankle in two places awaiting some surgery.

I heard this comparison twice in the last two days and by two completely different unattached people talking about two different stories, one not even a member of the transgender community. I've heard this comparison before as well and I wonder if there is credence to it. I figured I would bring it up here and hopefully people will weigh in on the matter.

I have been, on occasion, compared to Charles Dickens.

There, I said it.

Well Nelsen you finally got out your pain you have been suffering these pass few years. The world will be saying goodby to you shortly! Live in pease now without your pains!!

Weather in the Denver area interrupted power and connectivity to the server farm. They worked on the problem for quite a while then it took even longer to get all the servers rebooted. Looks like we are back online. :)

Hugs,
Erin

I have a job interview this afternoon. It's for a job I'm way overqualified for. Can't find anything in my field, and this doesn't even pay decently. Working though, is better than not working.

One thing loosing my job has done, it has moved up my timetable on SRS. This is because SRS is covered on my old insurance, and part of my severance package was insurance for 11 weeks after I was laid off. I am prepared to buy COBRA if I have to if I need the insurance extended.

So, baring glitches, I will be going into an operating room and having what was supposed to be the final stage of my transition done. Like I said, it was moved up. I do not see myself ever being able to afford this on my own, and I qualify now (or will as of Dec. 16).

This concerns revisions and downloads. I just discovered that the copy of Reclamation that was offered in a 5-day free promotion is an older version. I updated all of my books in June of this year; all of the "Look Inside!" previews reflected that--yet the older version was sent out. Amazon is looking into it with me (several emails back and forth), because they're potentially liable if the book downloaded is not the book previewed!

This one's pretty basic really and you can feed a lot of people pretty well with big this one.

You'll need.

I tin foil roaster or standard kitchen one. Either will do.

Found an interesting documentary on gender identity and those who cross or blur the lines between the genders:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIoVXMFI5Tw

Given how many of us here from the UK have an issue with the misogynist prating of the likes of Richard Littlejohn you might enjoy taking a test to see how much the Daily Mail hates YOU personally

(And the test doesn't even mention TG)

Persephone

Now that we are in December I can announce that I have three Christmas stories available at Amazon for the Kindle - with a fourth coming feature Andrew Bryant from Unreachable.

I am looking to translate my books into French. Is there anyone willing to re-correct/edit my efforts?

Tanya

A new book of short stories

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/kaleidoscope-ii/1...

only in print for now but will be ready for Kindle and PDF when I get back!

Just a bit of a heads up if you prefer reading stuff on little screens, more of my stuff has made its way to the Kindle platform!

The Daily Fail has scored yet another notch in the "WTF?" category with this article:

'Humans evolved after a female chimpanzee mated with a pig': Extraordinary claim made by American geneticist

The fourth work of fiction set in the Second World War depicts life in Nazi Germany from 1935 on. It was inspired by the life of Solomon Perel, a Jewish-German boy who at age ten escaped Nazi persecution in 1935 with his family by fleeing to Lodz, Poland. When captured by the Germans, he managed to conceal his identity from the Nazis and become a member of the Hitler Youth in the process. It was adeptly depicted in ‘Europa, Europa,’ a movie based on the book ‘I Was Hitler Youth Salomon’ an autobiography Perel wrote in 1991.

What's a number? It's a useful construct...

Like - how many weeks are there in a year? Fifty-two (52).

A Holiday thought, Consider the following, "No one will even notice!"

Ever since I sat down and decided that I was going to give being a published author a try, I have been very conscientious about the choices that I make and what I put down on paper. I know I am only a self published author using technology to my advantage, but certain questions should be raised.

What is transgender literature saying about the community as a whole?

Are you happy with the message?

How do you feel about terms like Sissy, Tranny, Shemale, Ladyboi, Slut, Bimbo?

Do you think the majority of stories accurately represent your struggles?

Sorry folks, I'm going to watch, Saving Mr Banks, this evening and will probably be back too late to do Bike.

Angharad

On Turner Classic Movies they're going to be showing a completely restored version of Topper on the 30th at 2:30am EST 11:30pm on the 29th!

This book is written by a friend of mine from a local writer's group. It's a fantasy novel, no TG, but it is well-written and presents a very original idea. I helped with the editing. :

My book Reclamation is available free this long holiday weekend at Amazon. Perfect for your new Black Friday Kindle!

I have a question about the Christmas contest. I know its supposed to be about 3 wise men, but would 3 wise women be acceptable?

I'm insulted. Yup, insulted! I went to Amazon and bought Katie's book "Unreachable" (wonderful story, recommend it to everyone) in Kindle format, downloaded the app for reading Kindle on a PC, and had a wonderful time reading yesterday. And then today...

Got an E-mail from kai(at)amazon.com, supposedly an "Account Specialist" with Amazon.com. Kai is concerned that

If somebody has already posted this I apologize, but listening to this has become a Thanksgiving tradition for me. So without further adieu, follow this link to hear Alice's Restaurant Masacree by Arlo Guthrie, with the lyrics as video.

Alice's Restaurant

on this thanksgiving I am thankful for pretty good health, have a roof over my head, and will have a great dinner later. I also am glad I found big closet. there I found great writers and their stories. keep up the good work guys and gals
robert

At this time of year, we take time out to thank whatever God we may or may not follow, whatever person or thing that makes our lives just a bit better and hopefully easier. Remember who or what you are thankful for and bear in mind. However bad you might think you have it, there are many who have it much worse.

Thank you all for everything you have all offered me in the past and present. God bless you all, every one.

Holiday hugs and love,
Catherine Linda Michel

**Sigh** It is Thanksgiving again tomarrow & yet again I am alone & now can't even leave the state of WI,because I'm on Probation because of the crime of using my Old Male info at an Airport to travel & being arrested for it.I hate this stupid Goverment.So I can't even go to any Friends I have made like I was planing to for Thanksgiving

Well there's a chunk to get through, so I won't dither!

Firstly, the usual updates are posted today.

I've just started to re-read the classic, "The Unicorn's Gift". I just know that it will be as entrancing this second time around as it was the first.

Frank Zappa died of prostate cancer on December 4th 1993.

Aunt Els Pumpkin Pickles:

Now a good number of people have heard of pickled watermelon and those that haven’t well yes they pickle watermelon. More specifically the rinds.

Now this is a canning recipe so you will need the usual things for that like Mason Jars big cauldrons…uhm pots of water and the like. Personally I like a pressure cooker and if you’re familiar with canning/bottling your own food then you know what I mean. If not look it up! It’s a seriously cool life skill.

Well, Jaci is gonna laugh at this one. Writing my autobiography has reminded me of a very strange incident. I was still in grade six, and I was on my way home from school when I saw some of my usual tormentors, but this time they had friends. Friends on bikes. Friends with knives, chains, and baseball bats.

I ran for my life, and somehow managed to get to my door ahead of them. I called the police, and decided I would do something rather stupid - I opened my door and told them the police were on their way.

After years of being a lurker, and that was before I registered on the site, I'm finally taking a more active role. I'll be posting the first chapter of a new story later today. (Yes, if I say that here, then I've got a deadline I have to meet.)

That said, I want to get a discussion going on the writing process itself. I've noticed that the appropriate section of the forums is rather dead. Goes back over 2 years on the first page of threads. So, I'm posting here.