Hearts Through History Features Faery Special Romances!

Wow, today is a cool day!

Hearts Through History Romance Writers featured Faery Special Romances on their myspace blog and bulletin!

Special thanks to Huntress Reviews, the review by Detra Fitch they picked to feature.

Hugs also to Marilyn Rondeau with Kwips & Kritiques
Crystal from Book Reviews by Crystal
Tammie King with Night Owl Romances
Deborah MacGillivray on ParaNormal Romance



Thanks, Hearts Through History!


Jacquie




Jacquie Rogers
Faery Special Romances (Available now!)
Take a look at the book video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

My Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Glass: Everything it's cracked up to be!

Sand + Soda + Lime + A hot, hot fire = Glass



There are lots of stories of how glass got its toe-hold in human culture. Cave men used volcanic glass for many things, including knives, as well as adornment.

The first indication that humans were actually making glass is a clay tablet, dated around 3300 BCE, with instructions on how to build a glassmaking furnace. By the 13th Century, Egyptian glass was more famous than its Mesopotamian predecessor. Here's a picture of King Tutankhamun's death mask. Glass is inlaid to look like lapis lazuli (although lapis is also used), and this was not an uncommon use. The Egyptians emulated gem stones, made perfumeries, and fashioned decorative bottles all out of glass.

In the 1st Century BCE, the art of glass blowing came into practice. Now glass was malleable--it's versatility now evident. The Romans, of course, jumped all over this.


From Glass Act™
" . . .one clever Mesopotamian managed to form a glass tube and blow a bubble at the end, creating the first blowpipe and hence the art of glassblowing. The first metal blowpipe came into widespread use in the 1st or second century before Christ and glass production soared, particularly in the Roman world, where glass became available to the rich and the poor."

Windows of the Soul

Other than King Tut's eyes, the first glass windows were discovered in Pompeii. So let's head to Rome. This is from British Glass: "Around 100AD, the Romans discovered that adding manganese dioxide to their glass mixture created clear cast glass, hence the could use it for window glass . . . The glass composition used by the Romans is almost identical to that used in the modern world."


The Anglo-Saxons definitely like their glass. One always feels better with a bit of finery, and multi-colored glass beads were just the ticket. They also made cups, bowls, windows, jewelry, and tiles for board pieces. Apparently, they made buckets, too. Here's a 4th or 5th Century AD bucket, found in a tomb.





Frankly, I don't know what they'd use a glass bucket for, but someone obviously thought it was a good idea.

More Window Talk

The first known Anglo-Saxon stained glass (7th C.) was found in Yarrow. The Romans had used it in their villas several hundred years earlier. The Normans first started using windows in their buildings in 1180. As you can see, the technology ebbed and was re-discovered several times.

In 1266, a Franciscan monk named Roger Bacon wrote the uses of plano-convex glass
to magnify. Glass became even more useful--lenses were added to the glass hit parade, although I have to wonder if anyone used them for eyeglasses at that time.

Better, bigger windows were a sign of Tudor times (Hampton Court), as well as hourglasses used aboard ship, and timepieces--the height of elegance. Elizabeth I wore a pendant timepiece.

The next century (we're in the 1600s now) brought telescopes and microscopes. In 1674, George Ravenscroft substituted lead oxide for the clear lime in the glass mixture and voila! Lead crystal.

Today, we're capable of making flawless lenses--incredibly powerful microscopes and the Hubble telescope. We drink out of glass cups every day and think nothing of it. Glass is everywhere--our monitors, our cars, our oven doors. But while we've gotten better at making it it, glass is still basically the same as it was 2000 years ago.

And we still are in awe of the beauty of glass. Here's Dale Chihuly with some of his work at the Tacoma Art Museum (Washington). He does awesome work--if you ever get a chance to see one of his displays, please don't hesitate!


Jacquie



Jacquie Rogers
Faery Special Romances (May 2007)
Take a look at the book video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

You've Gotta Read This Book!

The Reincarnationist
by M.J. Rose
MIRA Books
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2420-1

For true entertainment--thrills, chills, and a wild ride--The Reincarnationist fills the bill and then some.

Since his near-death caused by a suicide bomber, photo-journalist Josh Ryder's life has become impossible. Gone are his job, his wife, and all he knew. Without warning, Josh becomes Julius, a Roman priest a Roman priest in 391AD, fighting for not only his life but that of his lover's, as well as the sacred rites they've held holy for thousands of years. Just as quickly, he returns to present day as Josh.

His world is even more confused when an archeologist who's excavating a tomb of a Vestal Virgin, is murdered. Josh describes the killer to Rome's police, but is held as a suspect. The beautiful archeologist Gabriella Chase gets him released from prison, but then he's caught up in a web of love, both past and present, murder, extortion, and deceit.

The pages fly by as Josh and Gabriella are tossed from one mystery to another, sometimes fighting for their very lives. I thoroughly enjoyed The Reincarnationist from cover to cover and I highly recommend this book. Take a comfy seat and let M.J. Rose unravel this mysterious adventure for you!




Jacquie



Jacquie Rogers
Faery Special Romances (May 2007)
Take a look at the book video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Booksignings--Idaho Style!

Homedale first,

then Boise

The ninth story of Faery Special Romances is Faery Hot Date. Judith Laik and I had a Faery Hot Date at Paul's Market in Homedale, Idaho. As a matter of fact, Paul's Market is one of the settings of Faery Hot Date! Here it is!


The best grocery store in Idaho carries the most delicious chorizos outside of the Pyrenees, bar none. Lots of old friends came to visit. Special thanks to Jo, Florence, Florence, Wanda, Linda Rae, Colleen, Roberta, Jim, and my other Homedale friends. (Yes, I have a terrible memory, but hey, I was having a great time!) Special thanks to the manager of the Homedale store, Kevin. Thanks also to Stan Zatica.

Tresa Hiatt and Mercedes Rice put together baskets for our giveaways. We drew two names from all those who stopped by our table. The baskets were beautiful and had lots of great stuff in them.




Here's a picture of Judith and me looking like important authors. Judith signed The Lady is Mine and The Lady in Question. I signed Faery Special Romances, and we both signed Blue Moon Enchantment, an anthology in which we both have stories. Judith also signed her children's books.


Okay, you caught me. This picture was taken at Hastings Books in Boise. Special thanks to Marge and Tim for visiting us. And no thanks to my cousin who just had to have his 35th wedding anniversary on the same night as my booksigning. LOL. Congrats Pete.

The next picture is of my helpers: Baby Mo, Mercedes, and Yana. They helped make Faery Good Bath Salts. In fact, the whole Faery Good Bath Salts concept is Mercedes's idea. What a wizard she is!



Royalties from FSR will be donated to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research.


And of course, where would I be without the sister-of-my-heart, Tresa? She's my research assistant, hostess, chauffeur, and life-long friend.



What a fun time we had!

Of course, there wouldn't have been a we without my critique buddy, traveling companion, and all-around nice person, Judith Laik. Thank you, Judy.



Jacquie



Jacquie Rogers
Faery Special Romances (Available now!)
Take a look at the book video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Our Need for Imagery

Attention, Cave Persons! The summer blockbuster cave painting is coming your way soon. Roast your nuts and bring some bones to pick your teeth while you enjoy the latest offering from Norman Rockgood in the Cave of Lascaux. Yes, the pitchfork is missing.

Ah, but 'tis true: throughout human history, we've been enamored with the visual image. We use images for communication, recreation, relaxation, and well bad things, too. Humans don't have the keen hearing of a rabbit, of the ability to smell things like a wolf, but we see pretty darned well.

So first we drew on the walls of our caves, and then we drew on the walls of our houses and temples. Here's a Greek fresco from the 1st Century BCE called Polyphemus and Galatea in a landscape. The Minoans had been painting frescoes nearly two millenia before this. After that, the Egyptian artists created wonderful paintings on the public buildings, pyramids, and any place they found a blank wall. Today, they'd get arrested. :)

Of course, anything the Greeks did, the Romans had to do, too. Only bigger, if at all possible. Some of the Roman frescoes would be a bit racy by today's standards. Best hide your great-aunt Tillie's eyes. On the right is House of Venus and Mars from Pompeii. Mars is removing Venus's dress, while Cupid is being somewhat of a pest. This is a very tame painting compared to many found in Pompeii. The Romans weren't as sexually uptight as we are today, suffice it to say!

Fast-forward 1,000 years . . .

The entire tale of William the Conqueror and his knights meeting the leader of the Saxon army, Harold of Wessex, is told in the Bayeax Tapestry, a wonderful piece of stitchery that is divided into thirteen panels. It chronicles the setup, the execution, and the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings in 1066AD. So the Normans didn't write on their walls, but they found a way to express themselves, nonetheless.

Time-Travel Another 1,000 years . . . to 2003

Yes, we could've spent a lot of time on the imagery throughout the ages--savoring the timeless and beautiful Mona Lisa, marveling at Edison's moving pictures, sending a salute to Louis B. Mayer, and landing in Peter Jackson's lap to watch the three wonderful movies, Lord of the Rings. Okay, so I'd rather land in Aragorn's lap. Most any red-blooded female would.

Of course, most of Middle Earth would take us right back to the bison in the cave paintings, so we never strayed far from our roots. Whether we paint on our walls, or flash lights at our walls in our home theaters, humans have an incredible ability to escape into a fantasy land, where we are victorious and live Happily Ever After.

And the incredible thing about images is that even storytellers of the old school--that is, those of us who write down our tales instead of setting the words to sounds and images like Peter Jackson does, even we scribes are using images to catch readers' attention. How many writers have made book videos?





Online Videos by Veoh.com

And there you have it. Images throughout time. Always different--always the same.




Jacquie



Jacquie Rogers
Faery Special Romances (Available now!)
Take a look at the book video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Booksignings in Homedale and Boise, Idaho!

Judith Laik and I will be signing books in two venues:

August 3, 1:00 to 5:00pm
Paul's Market, Homedale, Idaho

August 4, 5:00 to 8:00pm
Hastings Books, Overland & 5 mile, Boise, Idaho

FREE, while supplies last:
Faery Good Bath Salts
Regency Tea with Judith

Pull up a chair and chat with Judith and I about getting started writing genre fiction. There'll be plenty of time for visiting, too. And hey, my sister is fixing up a basket for each venue, which will be given away to two lucky winners (also free!).

If that's not enough, I guess we'll also have to have chocolate! Then again, I'd much rather have chorizos!