Traditions: Family Movie Night

One of the traditions I share with my children is Family Movie night.  Usually on Saturday evenings we'll pop up some popcorn, pour some Canada Dry Ginger Ale (or OJ for the health-conscious) and watch a movie.  Some times not everyone can join in but at least one or two will nestle on the big comfy couch while watching and tapping at their electronic appendages.

Gone are the days of trekking up to the "video store" to rent a VHS video or DVD.  We can select from hundreds of titles from our cable company.  One complaint is that we're still waiting for The Descendants to be available! (Sigh... George Clooney.  Sigh...)

Anyway, follow the white rabbit to this deep blonde thoughts blog entry titled "Young Adult Fiction and Romantic Delusions" where I recall a movie we recently watched and the lessons learned from observing the train wreck of a protagoniste. She happens to be a writer - correction: an Author. 

My blonde line of thought connects the theme of delusions, of recapturing romance or past feelings with a scene in The Year of the Rabbit.

T

PayPal As Moral Police or Commerce Bully?

This is bordering on censorship and is unfair.  Should PayPal and other online payment services decide what adults choose to purchase?

“Adult content has long been a big draw, and one of the most profitable, in the world of digital media, but a recent move by PayPal is a sign of how one part of that business may be facing some problems up ahead.

Smashwords, an e-book distributor that competes with Amazon, has sent out a letter to the authors, publishers and literary agents that it works with to tell them that PayPal is requiring Smashwords to remove all erotica content on its platform that contains references to bestiality, rape and incest – otherwise it will stop doing business with Smashwords altogether.”

Read the full article at TechCrunch:  http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/26/paypal-erotica-smashwords-censorshi/

Smashwords is the publisher for the ebook version of my novel, The Year of the Rabbit.  They have filters on their site for listing content that may be deemed “adult”, etc.  People can use judgement in making their own decisions to browse or purchase items.

As mentioned in a previous post, my novel is not considered erotica yet contains a “brief” teenage sex scene and reference to incest.   It does not promote nor condone.  It strives to educate. 

Please support Smashwords and other ebook publishers.  

T

Read an Ebook Week March 4-10

Flo is participating in "Read an Ebook Week March 4-10"

Since Smashwords is the publisher for the ebook version of the novel, you can get The Year of the Rabbit for $1.00 (US)

Visit Smashwords.com between March 4th and 10th.  Jump directly to the novel's page. Follow the instructions to get 75% off during the site-wide promotion.

Remember:  You can always download 20% of the Novel for free.

Don't get distracted by the funny cat video. Okay, go ahead. We all know the world could use MORE funny cat videos... 

Now for something serious and disturbing.  PayPal is requiring Smashwords to remove all erotica content on its platform that contains references to bestiality, rape and incest – otherwise it will stop doing business with Smashwords altogether.  This is considered censorship and unfair.  Read the TechCrunch article.  

The Year of the Rabbit is not considered erotica yet contains a "brief" teenage sex scene and reference to incest.   It does not promote nor condone.  It strives to educate. 

I would be interested to hear your comments - either here or on the Facebook fan page.  

Thanks for dropping by. 

T

Bullies and Trolls

Those who have read the novel The Year of the Rabbit will be familiar with antagonist Daryl MacDonald.

Some have even mentioned through conversation that they knew someone like him in their own home town.  He could have been a wife beater, an angry drunk and abuser as well as a bully who controlled others because of his family's position in the town.  Other adults were either afraid or indifferent so did not confront him.  Finally, his reign is taken down by a twelve year-old girl - with a little help from nature.

The author has endured and confronted bullies at different points in her life.  She has met talented writers who have published books on the topic of bullying, offering advice to kids, school children and to office workers.  It may be encounters with these childhood bullies and anonymous cowards that have inspired her to create the doomed Daryl MacDonald and spout deep blonde thoughts on the subject. 

Those who haven't read the novel yet, can sample some short excerpts.  If you're still curious, you can download 20% of the Ebook for free from Smashwords.  No trees were harmed ;o)

Thanks for visiting and reading this far.  Please offer your feedback and words of wisdom.  Sorry, anonymous comments are disabled.  

T