A to Z Blog Challenge -- I'm blogging at Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada

Join me at Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada for Day 8 -- H is for Hal-Con.

A to Z Blog Challenge -- G is for Glass Sculpture

Welcome to Day 7 of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.

Many of us have a wish list, a hopes-and-dreams list which these days has become known as a Bucket List.

As in --

Things I Want to Do Before I Kick the Bucket

My mom had "see Dale Chihuly's work" on her list, so last year she and I took an art-emergency trip to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. For us --  

  

G is for Glass Sculpture

Since Dale Chihuly is a West Coast artist based in the US, discovering that his pieces were on exhibit much closer to our East Coast home here in Canada made our weekend jaunt to Montreal last September a no-brainer.

We were so excited when our cab driver rounded the corner to reveal The Sun installed in front of the museum, he laughed because it was like seeing a rock star for us.

Here are a few highlights from that magical exhibit we were so thrilled to see with our own eyes.

A to Z Blog Challenge -- F is for Free Comic Book Day

Welcome to Day 6 of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.

Do you love those scenes at Stuart's comic shop on The Big Bang Theory?

Have you already seen The Winter Soldier or have plans to see it as soon as possible?

When you have to reach for your flashlight, is it a Pirates of the Caribbean flashlight, or did you get it at Canadian Tire?

If you easily said yes to all three questions, then you already know that --   
  

F is for Free Comic Book Day

Free Comic Book Day takes place on the first Saturday of May, so this year's event rolls around on May 3rd.

It's been running for 12 years now, and my husband and I look forward to it as a highlight of our year. It works exectly as it sounds -- you go to your local comic book store, line up with the other graphic-novel-and-collectible-loving fans and help yourself to free comic books, designed to launch new lines to the public.

Stores often run sale promotions as well, and that's where I got my completely cool Harry Potter quidditch jersey last year.

Here are a few shots of my husband and me enjoying ourselves at several Free Comic Book Days over the years. My aunt and uncle joined us at one stop, as well!

Here in Halifax, we'll make sure to drop in to Giant Robot Comics, Quantum Frontier, Strange Adventures and Monster Comic Lounge.

A to Z Blog Challenge -- E is for Author Event

Welcome to Day 5 of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.

Today you'll find me at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax, taking part in the Halifax Author Event. 
  

E is for Author Event

I'll be signing copies of my Dark Ages vampire novel, Vampires, Saints and Lovers as well as my dark YA fantasy Bound by Dragonsfyre.

I'm a big fan of taking part in author events. I love meeting readers and chatting with you at in person book signings or presenting an author panel at conventions like Hal-Con.

I also like to meet up with the other writers and artists at events like these. It's very nourishing for my creative soul.

If you're a reader, do you like attending book fairs or going to book signings? What do you like best about them?

A to Z Blog Challenge -- 5 on Friday -- Set 217 -- D is for Dance Club / House Music

Welcome to Day 4 of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.

Fridays at A Piece of My Mind are all about music. So for today's challenge --   

D is for Dance Club or House Music

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

It's April, and time for my monthly 5 on Friday feature -- The Hit Makers.

Once a month I'm going to feature the songs that launched careers. I'll be looking at different musical styles and the groups or singers from those styles who I love the best.

If you caught my Day 1 post, you'll know that I'm a passionate ballet fan. But I also love all forms of dance, including the everyman variety known as social dance. These days, the music for that is known as Dance Club or House Music. Why 'house' music?

It could refer to a specific Chicago club called The Warehouse where the early forms of house music were created by innovative DJs. It could refer to the term 'house' as the performance venue, which is what all theatres are called. It also could refer to urban slang for 'party'.

Here are five tunes that brought these artists to the forefront of public attention. Some of the artists were actually well-known in their underground niche for years before breaking through to wider public discovery. Some of them were already established in pop dance, and were pushing the boundaries by bringing house music to a wider audience.

  

1 - Vogue -- Madonna -- 1990

2 - Poker Face -- Lady Gaga -- 2008

3 - In Your Eyes -- Kylie Minogue -- 2002

4 - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) -- Spiller -- 2000

5 - Save the World -- Swedish House Mafia -- 2011

A to Z Blog Challenge -- I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas

Join me at The Popculturedivas for C is for Connie.

A to Z Blog Challenge -- B is for Blood Donor

Welcome to Day 2 of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.

As a vampire author, I've spent a great deal of time thinking about blood.

For my vampire characters, blood takes on a whole new significance. Certainly, all living creatures need blood in order to operate our biomachines. Yet unless we've sprung a leak, blood doesn't get our attention in quite the same way as the other two driving forces -- hunger for food, and our sexual drive.

Of course, for a vampire, blood takes the place of both food and sex, as blood is their one and only form of sustenance, while it's the vampire's bite that turns a person into a new vampire. I found that as I wrote from the vampire's perspective, my admiration for blood as the essence of life led to my becoming a blood donor.   

B is for Blood Donor

My day job participates in a program called Partners For Life through Canadian Blood Services.

As a donor in this program, I was delighted to represent my corporation at a luncheon this past February, along with Jim, one of my co-workers (in fact, the person who signed our office up for Partners For Life.)

A woman addressed the crowd, telling us about the the 86 units of blood she had received when she'd faced a significant health crisis.

It was very moving to hear her story. I was so impressed with her willingness to share such a very distressing time in her life. She even stood with each team as we received our certificate for participating in the Partners For Life Program.

But what stayed with me was Cindy's personal challenge to sign up 86 new donors, inspired by the 86 units of blood she'd received when her life depended on them.

As of today, with just 4 new donors Cindy will have reached her goal.

For the A to Z Blog Challenge, I'd like to ask all vampire fans out there to consider donating blood in honor of your favorite vampire character.

I became a donor because of my 6th century Welsh warrior-turned-vampire, Peredur.

Who will inspire you?