A treat for Spanish and German readers. My translators have been hard at work, creating their magic for your reading pleasure. I can’t tell you how much I love these ladies, their betas and the wonderful work that they do, all for the love of a story. Jenn and Corinna have honored me with their generosity and talent. Thank you, ladies! I am eternally grateful.
I have made the executive decision that the collective term for translations is a torrent. If you have any other suggestions please feel free to add them to the comments below.
I have to apologize for life being so slack lately. Things are a little hectic in real life but please know that I am still working away on the various stories with the intention of updating as regularly as I possibly can. Plus that original series is still cooking, even though I am not getting the kind of writing time I would dearly like.
I don’t know why it took me so long to read Sherrilyn Kenyon but I am so glad I did. I love the magic, the history, the setting, the hot, hot hero. There were tears and laughter, tension (sexual and otherwise). There were mythological beings, other realms, classical literature and a large helping of kink. Julian of Macedon makes one hot love-slave and Dr Grace Alexander proves to be the only woman in centuries that could be a match for him or his curse. There are delightful side characters who I hope I will encounter again. What’s more, the writing is fabulous and the pace is perfect. I’m guessing she knows that but I just thought I should repeat it anyway.
Gotye aka Wouter “Wally” De Backer (born 21 May 1980) is not only a solo artist but a member of the Indie trio The Basics. He was born in Belgium but now resides in Melbourne, Australia. For the past 13 years Wally has been working his way in and around the scene in Melbourne, performing live and recording his music in his various (he moves a lot apparently) home studios. His sound is quirky and surreal which is useful since that is certainly the feeling you get when you visit his website gotye.com.
He has won Arias for earlier recordings. Arias are vicious awards, the Australian version of a Grammy but much pointier and more likely to do someone damage if you get drunk on awards night and leave it in a taxi by accident. Rumor has it that they make good tent pegs.
Smoke and Mirrors is off the album ‘Mirrors‘. The same album that spawned the fabulous but slightly annoying, only because we heard it every day for at least a year, Somebody that I Used to Know which features that fabulous Kiwi vocalist, Kimbra.
That song earned Wally a real Grammy. Well, a couple really. Okay, there were three. And that was just as well because some of his 12 Arias insert nicely upside down and are therefore a lot safer to be around. The others are being used to hold up his tent.
The graphics for Mirrors are based on an artwork that Wally’s father painted and left lying around the house. Much nicer than the painting my father left lying around my house which is affectionately named Girl with Shovel.
I haven’t heard anything he might have recorded since Making Mirrors but I am sure he is working on it. Tough act to follow though.
Smoke and Mirrors seemed like an apt metaphor for how Kate perceived the world. I always imagined that she moved in similar circles to the Gray family and therefore it would be entirely feasible that she might have a few near misses with them at social events. Some people think Kate is a bitch, but I think she is an over protective friend with perhaps a tainted view of the world in which she grew up. Think of her as a female version of Christian without the NDA and kink. As a reporter she would be just as capable of stalking – both carrying it out and justifying it to herself. From this point of view, she probably understands Christian better than Ana does and therefore has every right not to trust him.
I am a victim of private girls’ schooling. Not that all private girls’ schools are bad but if you don’t fit in, they are a hell of a place to grow up. If Kate went to those schools then perhaps she learned not to trust people. Especially the beautiful people. I always had the perception that if they weren’t going to be doctors or lawyers, then the girls I went to school with were in training for finding rich husbands with a short stop in interior design or publishing on the way to their destinations.
As a beautiful and extremely elusive personality, Christian Gray would have seemed suspicious to Kate. She would have wondered why he wanted Ana, not because Ana wasn’t worth it but because she would see Christian as a man who would be looking for a trophy wife. She also suspects that there is something slightly fake, if not downright sinister about him. Like most people in her world. Smoke and Mirrors reflects every question that she has about Christian’s rapid rise to the top of his game and the reclusive life that he lives. She sees secrets everywhere, and she doesn’t trust him.
You’re a fraud and you know it But it’s too good to throw it all away Anyone would do the same You’ve got ’em going And you’re careful not to show it Sometimes you even fool yourself a bit It’s like magic But it’s always been a smoke and mirrors game Anyone would do the same
So now that you’ve arrived well you wonder What is it that you’ve done to make the grade And should you do the same? (Is that too easy?) Are you only trying to please them (Will they see then?) You’re desperate to deliver Anything that could give you A sense of reassurance When you look in the mirror
Such highs and lows You put on quite a show All these highs and lows And you’re never really sure What you do it for Well do you even want to know? You put on quite a show
(Mother) Are you watching? Are you watching? (Mother) Are you watching? (Mother)
You’re a fraud and you know it And every night and day you take the stage And it always entertains You’re giving pleasure And that’s admirable, you tell yourself And so you’d gladly sell yourself To others
(Mother) Are you watching? (Mother) Are you watching? (Mother) Are you watching? (Mother) Are you watching?
Such highs and lows You put on quite a show All these highs and lows And you’re never really sure What you do it for Well do you even want to know? Yeah you put on quite a show
No copyright infringement is intended by printing the lyrics of this song or posting videos. It is the intention of this writer to promote the original work of the composers and musicians and links to artist sites are provided where possible along with links to music purchasing sites.
Sorry that I have been so absent of late. Things are busy in Chez Sasha between the usual Christmas feasts and an intense bout of writing for publication. So to make up for it, I have put together a little post-Xmas gift hamper for you. Hope you enjoy!
First, Mia and Ethan agreed to tell someone that they were married but just who did they tell? You can catch up on that news in this chapter.
Thank you to Corinna and her beta for their hard work on the German translation.
Finally, if you are following my SoundCloud or my Flickr there are some new treats there for you too.
First two new songs have been uploaded to Soundcloud, so if you can stand me warbling my way through the Beatles and Caro Emerald, you can listen to them here.
And I have shared with you on Flickr some of my photography including the beautiful mask given to me by my dear friend Colleen, who traveled to attend SexPo with me and Wattle Fanfiction earlier this year in Melbourne.
Finally, in facebook world we indulged in some Not So Secret Santa activities. This is the little gift I put together for my recipient, the beautiful Kristine Kristiansen. If you would like to share in the Twelve Days of Christian you can read it here.
Thanks to all who are still reading my stories and blog posts. I thank you for your ongoing support throughout 2013 and I wish you all the best for 2014.
A research home for Historical Fiction Writers of the Antebellum Period, by A.M. Cal, author of the historical novel "Eighth Wonder" The Thomas Bethune Story. You know of Mozart and of course Bach and Beethoven. But do you know Thomas?
on Amazon.com
Sasha Cameron - Writer 