Butterflies 5/26/07

On Saturday, my family visited the L.A. County Museum of Natural History and one of the exhibits is the Pavilion of Wings, which is the Butterfly exhibit (live ones, that is).

My husband took some video of the beautiful and unique experience and set it to music (Luigi Boccherini - String Quintet in C Major, Op. 30, No. 6). Here is the result...

Please enjoy!

Michele

Online Class: Crime 101 with Jan Burke

Hi guys,

Here's the information for an online that sounds really cool for writers. From what I understand, New York Times bestselling author Jan Burke teaches a terrific and informative class. So many writers I know rave about her programs.

The info is posted below...

Happy writing,

Michele

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Crime 101 with Jan Burke
June 11 to July 8

Enrollment Information: http://occrwa.com/classes_June.htm

COST: $20 for OCC members $30 for non-member
Enrollment deadline: June 9, 2007
Moderator Kitty Bucholtz at kittyrosebucholtz@yahoo.com

About the class:
Whether you're just toying with the idea of writing a work of crime
fiction, considering including elements of crime fiction in your next
work, or seriously at work on a mystery or thriller, this course is
for you.

The goals of this course are to make you feel more confident about
writing a novel of crime fiction, to help you create a better
manuscript and avoid common mistakes of new writers in the genre, and
to guide you to additional resources.

You'll get an overview of the genre, so that you'll become familiar
with the many types of works that are included in the wide embrace of
crime fiction, learn how they differ from one another, and how those
differences may affect choices made by the writer.

We'll talk about character, plot, and setting and how they work
together within the structure of these novels; how to build suspense;
how to devise clues and red herrings; common pitfalls to
avoid; "playing fair" and other "rules,"; researching, including
some essentials of police procedure and forensic science; how to
network and connect with the world of crime fiction writing and where
to learn more.

A New York Times and USA Today bestseller, Jan Burke is the author of
twelve novels and a collection of short stories published by Simon &
Schuster and Pocket Books.

Crime 101 with Jan Burke
June 11 to July 8

Enrollment Information: http://occrwa.com/classes_June.htm

COST: $20 for OCC members $30 for non-member
Enrollment deadline: June 9, 2007

For more information please see the website
http://occrwa.com/classes_June.htm or email moderator Kitty Bucholtz
at kittyrosebucholtz@yahoo.com

Because I'm just not fast enough...I've been tagged

Erica Orloff tagged me on her blog, so now I need to write down 8 random things/habits about me here. Thanks, Erica!

Also, I need to post the following:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

1) I firmly believe the person who decided to sandwich bacon, lettuce, and tomato between two slices of toasted bread is a frickin’ genius.


2) I think this SNL skit is “SOFA KING” funny. I also want to “go on the dam tour” and “take all the dam pictures” I want (National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation, 1997). Oh yeah, I’m easily amused.


3) My taste in music is so eclectic, I can’t name a favorite group or genre because I have too many favorites—anything from Mozart to Queen to Oingo Boingo to Muse to Bee Gees to Depeche Mode to Ennio Morricone to Barenaked Ladies to Keane to Green Day. But the only music I can write to is classical music or Audio Visions (New Age) on XM. And my eclectic taste surfaces when it comes to movies as well—Silent, musicals, noir, blockbusters, foreign, BBC, and 80s mini-series.


4) I love roadside attractions. We happened by The Clam Box in Ipswich, MA a few weeks ago, during our trip to New England. The restaurant looks like an open container of take-out! So cool.

5) Folks look at me askance when I tell them that I love to vacation with my family, my husband’s family, and my brother-in-law’s in-laws—all at the same time. That’s a lot of people (at least 17), but we all get along great and travel well together. It truly is a blast. So far, we’ve vacationed in a houseboat on Lake Powell, in a Victorian house in Maine, and in a Villa in Italy.

6) I love strawberry-flavored things, but not strawberries.

7) Love the smell of coffee, but can’t drink it. (Yes, Erica, I’m an alien. LOL)

8) Necco Wafers are the best candies ever! (If my dentist happens to be reading this…I don’t bite them. I let them dissolve slowly. Promise.)


It was difficult coming up with different facts than the last time I’d been tagged. Click here to read those facts, if you wish.

Now, I tag…Jen A., Gillian, Spy Scribbler, JKMahal, Maureen, and Kate

(If you want to play, that is...no pressure. You'll notice I didn't follow the rules and tell you that you've been tagged! LOL)

Take Care,

Michele