Apple

When you see the word "apple," what does it bring to mind?

A. Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter
B. Orchards of tall trees bearing shiny fruit.
C. That story about the Garden of Eden
D. My IPhone crisis

Your answer might be A, B, or C. Mine is definitely D. All in all, I'd say I spent 24 hours last Saturday freaking out about my IPhone and it's sudden ill-timed decision to lose photos and videos. Typically my phone is fine. It does what I need it to do and gives me few problems that can't be resolved by turning it off and on. However, Saturday, this was not the case.

No, Saturday I pick up my phone and suddenly where there were 100 photos, there were 14. Where there were 17 videos, there were 2. Where there was my sanity, there was a burning smell as my synapses misfired and my brain juices boiled out my ears in stunned dismay.

My DH and I had been to the wedding of a dear friend earlier in the day. She is a lovely soul, a very loving and kind person, and without much money for the nuptials. The reception was actually a carry-in type affair, not catered, and there was no money for a professional wedding photographer or videographer, so the family was taking all the video/pictures. I had asked her if I could get some video and photos and she was very happy to let me, knowing I'm a creative type. Also, her dad had kind of asked me to take some pictures and video because he wanted to make sure if his didn't turn out, then they'd still have something from the wedding and reception (a bit of foreshadowing here).

I really wanted to present her with a DVD of memories and pictures of her special day, and because I knew everyone there, I got some great stuff, which anyone who's taking pictures knows can be a hit/miss proposition. I used my camera most of the time, but it's been acting up and doesn't do video, so I got some cool stuff on my IPhone. My DH and I were thrilled that we'd have something special to give her, but then...

Poof!

I get home after the reception and not but two hours later go to get the pictures and videos off my phone. I tap the photos app and to my horror, I find 20 pictures. Twenty pictures of everything but the wedding. No, wait. There was one of the wedding. One. And there was a picture of a blanket my cousin kintted, a picture of my cat, a picture of a chair I wanted to show my husband--all taken before the wedding--and various other stuff that I can't remember now because I panicked.

Immediately, I try turning it off and on. No luck. I do the next thing everyone does: get on the Internet. I spent hours searching forums and websites and everything I could think of, but no one had a solution that seemed to go with my problem. The worst thing was I couldn't tell if the pictures and photos were backed up or not, so restoring from a backup could wipe everything and restore nothing I needed. The big problem was that my statistics on my phone were showing my stuff was there, but I couldn't see them or get to them. I alternated between frustrated, ticked off, and desolate that I'd let my friend down on her special day.

So I ended up doing what I swore I would never do. I called Apple. I hate calling corporate tech support because it always costs in time and money and stress. If it had just been my random pictures, I would have said good-bye without issue. But it wasn't, so I dialed the number and hoped for the best.

I know many people complain online about tech support from the big tech corporations; however, that guy at Apple, in short, saved the day. Yes, it did cost about $20, but my pictures came back from Bora Bora, or wherever the hell they were, and my videos did, too, although they were upside down. That's my fault because I never can figure out how to use video feature right, but since my DH loves playing with video, he fixes it for me. The Apple guy was patient, professional, and a problem-solver, and thanks to him for helping me be able to give the priceless gift of special memories to my friend.

So my Apple crisis ended up happily ever after. I am in the process of compiling everything to create a memory DVD for the newlyweds. As I look at the pictures and video, I'm so glad I got to be a part of their special day and maybe help capture it for them to watch on their 50th wedding anniversary.
I hope you are having a special day, too. Happy reading!

Kilted Lover Video in Contest

Hi, over at You Gotta Read Videos Kilted Lover is in a contest. Hope you'll watch the video and vote for it if you think it's good. It is entry #7 on the right side.
Thanks!! :)
Nicole

Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures

Our anthology is set to release around July 15. I wanted to share the book trailer video I made and some review snippets that relate to my novella.



5 Ribbons from Romance Junkies: "Scottish highlanders are a favorite of many romance readers and Nicole North’s adds an exciting paranormal element that truly captures the imagination. This is Ms. North’s first published story and I’ll be anxious to see what she comes up with next. The Red Sage SECRETS anthologies have long held space on my keeper shelves. Like its predecessors, SECRETS VOLUME 27 contains four tales of varying genres that deliver on readers’ desire for something more erotic in their storylines. Each of these authors delivers a captivating story full of intense scenes guaranteed to have you in search of more writing by them. SECRETS VOLUME 27 contains four smoldering stories of various genres in one convenient book. Like the other SECRETS anthologies, Volume 27’s stories tease and tantalize the senses." ~Chrissy Dionne
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4 1/2 from Romantic Crush Junkies: "Devil in A Kilt is by far one of the best erotic romance highland stories I’ve been honored to read. Ms. North has an uncanny way of using wit and satire to deliver an amazing high octane read... Besides the scintillating sexcapades between Gavin and Shauna, I found myself giggling and smiling at how they related with one another. This story is a full charged electric read that had this reader craving more of Ms. North's Hottie highlander. If this is just a taste of what the author has in store I say, 'thank you and give me some more.' I hope you enjoyed these four delicious stories by Liane Gentry Skye, Nicole North, Hannah Murray and Leigh Court as much as I did. ~Christine S. Morehouse

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4 stars from Romantic Times Book Review: "Few anthologies give as much bang for the buck as this one... Shauna MacRae meant to go to the Highland Games, not 400 years into the past, which she does in North's story. Will she have what it takes to free her "Devil in a Kilt?" ~Devon Paige

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4 plugs from The Romance Readers Connection: "With the release of their 27th Volume, Red Sage hits the mark once again... Nicole North’s story, DEVIL IN A KILT is a cute time travel... a fun light story..." ~Sarah Silversmith

Bringing Books to Life

Our five senses are stimulated in many ways every day. For each of us one sense plays a dominant role in how we relate to things around us. Some are more auditory. Others are more tactile-oriented. Count me among those who are visually-oriented learners. As a writer I take countless visual cues from my surroundings and daily exposures when fomenting plots and creating characters. While flipping through a fashion magazine and spotting a chartreuse-and-cream paisley scarf, I conjure the type of character who would wear such an accessory. As I pass a handsome guy in the local mall, I mentally create a prototype of a hero, his beliefs, background, world view, motivation, etc. This is one of the reasons I carry a writing tablet with me everywhere. Notes made now cue visual images later.

When I’m reading a romance novel, part of my enjoyment stems from being able to envision the hero, heroine and secondary characters. I prefer having some of the descriptive details left to my imagination. Same goes for the story setting. It’s a great deal of fun figuring out what the hero’s apartment looks like. How he dresses. If he’s the type whose trousers are creased or casually wrinkled. As I turn the pages, words provide me clues, but I play the detective and keep my mind’s eye wide open. Each story I’ve written, even those I wrote during childhood, has always played out in my mind as would a movie. Frame by frame, the action unfolds. Much as I must see the images clearly to put them on the page, I must also hear the dialogue in order to write the characters’ words. Even after I write the passages of dialogue, I read them aloud and assume the character role. If during those reviewing stages I cannot visualize something clearly, or stumble while reading the words, I immediately know something isn’t right and start revising.

One of the most fun mediums I’ve found to challenge and harness my creativity is a book video. Finding the pictures and audio clips that will give readers a glimpse of what my stories are about, and captioning those frames to provide an overview of the storyline, is quite a treasure hunt. Readers get a peek at my vision for the story.

Recently I designed a book video for my latest erotic historical romance with Ellora’s Cave, TORMENTED. Hope you all enjoy watching my novel come to life.

Have You Ever Been Tormented?



Wishing you many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TORMENTED – Ellora’s Cave
ROUGHRIDER – Ellora’s Cave
HELLE IN HEELS – Ellora’s Cave
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN – Coming to EC in 2009
Shawna’s Myspace
Helle’s Myspace