You Are What You Don't Eat (podcast)

My flash fiction story, You Are What You Don't Eat, is now available as a podcast:
The podcast is available via iTunes, Google’s Feedburner, Podbean (when it catches up), Podcasters (which takes even longer) or Podcast Alley (which doesn’t list the episodes but will let you subscribe).
Here's the link to Feedburner:
Bailey's Writing Tips - powered by FeedBurner
Click on: BWT short stories - episode 008
Posted: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

And here's the Flash Fiction Friday link, if you want to read along:

http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/flash-fiction-friday-023-you-are-what-you-dont-eat-by-joy-v-smith/

Southern design and living

The March issue of Southern Living includes upcoming garden tours, bow ties (discovered at the Carolina Cup), swine dining (there's a nose-to-tail trend?!), and the Seven Wonders of the South, which include Palo Duro Canyon and Red River Gorge, plus other destinations.

The home and garden makeovers are lovely, and I agree that replacing fake cosmetic shutters with functional ones is a good idea. (You notice when the shutter size doesn't fit the window.) But the shutters flanking the door, I'm not so fond of. There are suggestions for entryway accessories, complementary paint colors, and garden and planter ideas. And, of course, Southern dishes, including carmelized onion quiche, chicken, tea sandwiches, and desserts. And I always appreciate those sweeping vistas. (See Mountain High.)

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Hidebound (SF ebook)

Hidebound, my novella, is a SF adventure (adult content) available now at .99 on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ICFOHY

Review: Fissa's desire for independence, leaving the safety of her home planet to travel space on her cousin's ship, the St. Catherine, may be her first and final adventure. The ship is attacked, and she crash-lands in a shuttle on a planet covered with carnivorous vegetation. Now her life is in the hands of Ferenc, an alien humanoid with strange physical powers. Will he abandon her, force himself upon her, or continue to save her as they journey over deadly terrain? Under the constant threat of death and with a growing attraction for the enigmatic humanoid, Fissa must grow up fast and make some life-altering choices. Joy V. Smith has deftly combined science fiction adventure with romance, realistically exploring an emotional and physical relationship between human and humanoid.

You Are What You Don't Eat

Here's my most delicious short story: Flash Fiction Friday 023: ‘You Are What You Don’t Eat’ by Joy V Smith « Morgen Bailey's Writing Blog

Tales of the Talisman

Volume VII, Issue 3 (winter issue) of Tales of the Talisman is a fantasy issue. It's full of short stories (including a western and one about truck drivers), poems, Cthulhu's advice column (adult advice), book reviews (including mine), and more. My favorite stories include The Om Tree, Ieia, and Tested. My favorite poems include The Legend of Sequoia Sapling and The Fairy's Granddaughter.

The next issue (spring) of Tales of the Talisman is a steampunk issue that I'm looking forward to.

Link: http://www.talesofthetalisman.com/

Remodeling and decorating ideas

There are some great remodeling ideas in the January/February issue of This Old House magazine, including built-ins below sloped ceilings and disguising those big concrete footings designed for stability in earthquakes. And painting the lower cabinets gray-green in an otherwise all-white and boring kitchen is a wonderful idea. Another lovely green is Pittsburgh Paint's Dill. And check out the selection of multi-functional furniture. Oh, I appreciated that helpful article on how to cope with the upcoming great lightbulb change, which I'm not looking forward to; and this house has such a mixture of light fixtures that I have to buy a variety of light bulbs. Speaking of variety, there's a nice selection of walpaper types and patterns.

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Spicy new Corian colors (link)

Here are the new Corian colors: New 2011 DuPont™ Corian® Colors
And I love their appetizing descriptions! (See below)

Allspice: Intense chestnut brown with smoke-infused veining accented with silver flecks
Arrowroot: Crisp white leek swirled with mushroom grays and soft silvery metallic flecks
Basil: Dramatic waves of nutmeg and green fennel peppered with gold metallic sparkles
Blue Spice: A complex mix of cornflower blue and rich teal with flecks the color of poppy seeds
Cilantro: Calming mint blended with hints of cucumber and fresh white flecks
Clove: Copper and cinnamon emboldened with burnished brown flecks
Hazelnut: Warm brown coriander sprouts through a river of white sage with large gray flecks
Hickory Smoke: Buttery yellows accented with saffron veining and large silver flecks

(NAPS)

Recycle and reuse; don't waste (link)

I like these ideas on recycling furniture, etc. for use in your home. You can use an old mattress spring as a message/display board if you have room on your wall; that is an impressive display! There's a Hoosier cupboard (missing its top) that's perfect for storage. For more ideas, including using chalkboard paint, see this HGTV webpage: 12 Clever Uses for Old Furniture : Decorating : Home & Garden Television

Color of the month: mint green

Check out this HGTV webpage to see how you can use mint green: HGTV’s Color of the Month Has Us Longing for Spring Design Happens

I love this color--and Jadeite. I have Fiestaware, Jadeite, and blue and green glasses and bottles to add color to my home. (I love lots of other colors too.)

The Tin Men and Other Poems

My review of The Tin Men and Other Poems (Sam's Dot Publishing, 2011) by Kendall Evans & David C. Kopaska-Merkel is in the current (winter) issue of Tales of the Talisman. This is a special fantasy issue, btw, and I'm looking forward to reading the stories, poetry, reviews, and columns...

You can see the Table of Contents here: http://www.talesofthetalisman.com/

Decorating ideas

The March issue of Country Living focuses on design ideas in a variety of settings. Check out the farm tools re-purposed as chairs and stumps as stools, neither of which look very comfy, but they're eye-catching.... There's something for everyone's taste though, speaking of which, check out their casserole and potato dish recipes--and that dessert! And you can find your state's shape on pillows, cookie cutters, cribbage boards, and more elsewhere. Lots of imaginative ideas for your home; and there's an interesting idea about putting letters, artwork, or photos on fabric; see http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome

From Zero to Four Kids... (book review)

My book review of From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds, a funny and useful book, is up at: http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2012/02/nonfiction-intrigues-veteran-reviewer.html.

Writing news update

I have a review upcoming in Tales of the Talisman (winter issue): http://www.talesofthetalisman.com/

Here's an interview with the editor: http://www.graspingforthewind.com/2012/02/09/sffwrtcht-a-chat-with-author-editor-david-lee-summers/

And I have a story upcoming (February 24) here: Flash Fiction Fridays

A house that folds in (link)

Take a look at this one room cottage with bathroom and fireplace and folding walls: Fold-Up Cottage Square Footage

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Joy V. Smith's ebooks (links)

Here are the links if you want to check out my ebooks:
Hidebound (SF adventure): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ICFOHY and https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/82218
After Anfissa meets Ferenc, they flee to a planet where even the grass is deadly.
Pretty Pink Planet: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93615 (free on Smashwords)
Lori, an agent of SOESFOL, visits Prism to track down planet pirates and rescue aliens.
Hot Yellow Planet: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94029 and http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Yellow-Planet-ebook/dp/B005TCN9UC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318279993&sr=1-1
In this Pretty Pink Planet sequel, Lori and Chiing continue their adventures.
Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71560 and http://www.amazon.com/Remodeling-Buying-Updating-Foreclosure-ebook/dp/B005FSHP0K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312428906&sr=1-1
How one woman bought and remodeled a foreclosure; it didn't even have a kitchen sink!
And my audiobook:

Sugar Time: http://hadrosaur.com/audio_books.html

Three time travel stories: “Sugar Time,” “Flight Test,” and “Return to Neander.”

Joy V. Smith interview (link)

I'm being interviewed Wednesday, February 8 on: http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/
I hope you're stop by and learn more about me and my writing and my thoughts about writing!

Would you want your house to have paneling? (link)

I lived in a house a few homes back that had a paneled wall in the dining room that we eventually painted. Painting that one paneled wall made the room so much lighter! But it wasn't an expensive paneling; I do hate to see beautiful paneled walls painted. I see--in looking at some of these paneled rooms--that color added to the room definitely makes a difference, though most of the paneling seen here is light, which I certainly prefer. However, I've read that early home owners would be shocked that we're using knotty pine--or any knotty wood, which is not a top grade wood since knots tend to pop out. See if you're ready to try panelling again. Link: Wood Paneling That Isn't Ugly Design Happens

Multi-tasking sink (link)

Here's a small sink for a small kitchen; it comes with accessories: Smart Sinks for Small Kitchens Square Footage