A Paz Edwards Blog

A PAZ EDWARDS BLOG HAS MOVED!

2007-05-05T13:37:00.000-04:00

Hi all,

Come join me at my new address:

http://www.pazedwardsbooks.com/blog/

Please update your links!

Best,
Paz

MySpace Page

2007-03-20T19:58:00.000-04:00

I have a MySpace Page, y'all!

Here's the link:

http://www.myspace.com/pazedwardsbooks

I invite you all to stop by!

Paz

Dark Ice Goddess' Musings and St. Patrick's Day

2007-03-16T21:28:00.000-04:00

Claddagh ring-- Traditional Irish symbol of fidelity
iStock.com

Nicole from Dark Ice Goddess' Musings has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day all week long. It's not too late go there and check it out. She's posted recipe, music recommendations, and stories -- Green Beer by Nicole, Just Getting Started by Kira Stone, Drake's Downfall by Shara Cooper, and Luck of the Irish by Monica Kaye.

Now head on over there and enjoy yourselves. ;-)

Paz

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2007-03-16T21:22:00.000-04:00

Metal shamrock on handwritten green watercolor background
iStock.com

Vacation Souvenir Review

2007-03-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone:

It's been quiet here for some time now. Sorry about that. Three months into 2007, I trust everyone is having a good start to the new year, so far. Life has been keeping me busy. I've also been working on stories and looking for homes for them. One should be coming out soon (more on that later).

I'm happy to know that folks are still reading Vacation Souvenir. I recently received a nice review from My Book Cravings. You can read the review here. Thanks, Robin!

Also, feel free to stop by Between the Sheets, the blog I share with wonderful writers Anisa Damien, Jade James, and Lyric James.

Best,
Paz

Season Greetings!

2006-12-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

Butter Pecan Cookies
For the recipe, visit Between the Sheets

I wish everyone a happy, happy holiday season!

Peace, love, hope and joy,
Paz

A Meme in Fours

2006-12-17T03:02:00.000-05:00

Author extraordinaire Lyric James has tagged me for this meme in fours. Here it goes. Thanks, Lyric!

Paz

Four Jobs I've Had
1. Lawyer
2. Investigator
3. Mediator
4. Babysitter

Four Places I've Lived
1. Russia
2. Italy
3. Belgium
4. Africa

Four Favorite Foods
1. Plantain
2. Mango
3. Rice
4. Plantain

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over
1. The Sound of Music (1965)
2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
4. Coming to America (1988)
There's much more, of course. Others are mentioned on my web site.

Four TV Shows I Watch
1. Walker, Texas Ranger reruns
2. Law & Order series – Original, SVU, CI
3. The Closer
4. Avatar: The Last Air Bender

Four Places I've Visited
1. Italy
2. Spain
3. Greece
4. Egypt

Four Places I'd Like To Visit
1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Brazil
4. Portugal

Four Websites I Go To (almost) Daily
1. Marilyn Lee Yahoo Group
2. My blog
3. Food Blogs
4. Sexy Sheets

Four People I'm Tagging To Do This
1. Anyone
2. Who
3. Wants to
4. Participate!

A Kiss Should be Sonorous...

2006-12-03T21:23:00.000-05:00

Le Baiser (The Kiss) c. 1886
Auguste Rodin
Click on photo for larger image

A kiss should be sonorous. Its sound, light and prolonged, takes its rise between the tongue and the moist edge of the palate. It is produced by a movement of the tongue in the mouth and a displacement of the saliva provoked by suction.

A kiss given on the outside of the lips and accompanied with a sound like that made when calling a cat, gives no pleasure whatever. Such a kiss is meant for children, or the hands. The kiss I have described above, and, which belongs to copulation, provokes a delicious voluptuousness. It is for you to learn the difference.

~ The Perfumed Garden, translated into English by Sir Richard Burton, 1886

Apple Crisp from Marco

2006-11-18T15:59:00.000-05:00

Click on photo for larger image

Click on photo for larger image

Hi everyone. Marco here. It's been a while since I stopped by. Life has been busy and pretty good for me. Jenna and I are still together. I didn't think it possible, but it seems as if I fall in love with her more and more, every day. She really is a special woman.

I'd like to make our relationship more permanent by asking her to marry me, but there's something holding me back. I'm not sure about Jenna's answer. I know she loves me – at least I think she does. I mean I'm pretty sure she does, but I think something's bothering her. It seems like she’s keeping some kind of secret from me. I'm not sure what... I’ll have to find out what it is before I ask her the big question. I have to admit that I’m a bit nervous. Anyway, I hadn’t planned on bringing this up but since I have, wish me luck.

Moving right along: I actually stopped by to give you a recipe. Yes, recipe. LOL! Don’t look as shocked as Jenna when I first made this delicious and simple Apple Crisp recipe. She was so surprised it tasted good and suggested I share the recipe with you all.

I don't really cook but there are a few foods I can make really well. I’m King of Breakfasts. I can make the best flapjacks with sausage or bacon. I also make really good omelets and I make a killer hamburger. It’s moist and tasty. Oh, let’s not forget a good steak meal. I make those, too. What can I tell you? Being a Bachelor, I learned how to make the basics so that I wouldn’t starve when I couldn’t go out to a restaurant.

A few weeks ago, we went to an apple orchid. Using some of the apples we picked, I made this Apple Crisp. They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple. Now, every chance I get, I tempt Jenna with this apple treat. I make it with either flour or graham cracker crumbs. The graham cracker crumbs are a winner with her. Jenna likes it a lot and thought I should share it with you on the blog. So here's the recipe down below. I hope you like it. Let me know.

Marco from Vacation Souvenir

Straight out of the oven!
Click on photo for larger image

Apple Crisp

Rachael Ray

6 McIntosh apples, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 cup flour or fine graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 stick butter

1 pint vanilla ice cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a 9 by 12 baking dish, combine apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar.

In a small bowl, mix flour or graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and butter together using the tines of a fork and your fingers, working until even, small crumbles form. Sprinkle topping evenly over apples and bake 15 to 20 minutes until apples are just tender and topping is golden brown. Top dishes of apple crisp with small scoops of vanilla ice cream. YUM!

Click on photo for larger image

SEXY SHEETS CONTEST

2006-11-13T21:37:00.000-05:00

Anisa Damien, Jade James, Lyric James, and I are hosting a contest in honor of our new blog BETWEEN THE SHEETS.

Rules: Any visitor to BETWEEN THE SHEETS who posts a comment will be entered for a chance to win the prize of the day. There's a different prize everyday.

The contest will run from November 13 - 19, 2006.

So, go post, now!

BETWEEN THE SHEETS
http://sexysheets.blogspot.com/

Paz

A Thousand Kisses...

2006-11-08T21:13:00.000-05:00

The Kiss, c. 1907
Gustav Klimt
This is one of my favorite paintings

Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then another thousand, then a hundred more, then a thousand, followed by a hundred; finally, when we have added up many thousands, we will muddle the score so that we lose count and no enious person can cast the evil eye on us when they learn we have had so many kisses. ~ Love letter from Catullus to Lesbia

The Kiss, c. 1907 (detail)
Gustav Klimt

Hard Work!

2006-10-10T20:21:00.000-04:00

I saw this cartoon/pic on Monica's blog (she's got a lot of great stuff and topics posted there!). I just had to post it here, too. Unfortunately, I know the feeling. ;-)

You can do it, Celia!

Paz

Celia Kyle's Sinful Little Secrets

2006-10-05T19:24:00.000-04:00

Wanna know a sinful little secret?

Talented author, Celia Kyle shares a world of sin and seduction on her story blog called Sinful Little Secrets.

This coming Saturday, she'll start posting a free story called Saturday Night Sin. You can read the blurb here. Go check it out!

Paz

A Second Blog

2006-10-03T23:07:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone:

Just wanted you to know that I've joined with extraordinary authors Anisa Damien, Jade James, and Lyric James to form a group blog, called Between the Sheets. We'd love to see you there! Stop by when you have a chance.

Paz

Woman

2006-09-23T14:25:00.000-04:00

Woman is like a fruit which will only yield its fragrance when rubbed by the hands. Take for example the basil: unless it be warmed by the fingers, it emits no perfume. And do you know that unless amber is warmed and manipulated it retains its aroma within? The same with women: if you do not animate her with your frolics and kisses, with nibbling of her thighs and close embraces, you will not obtain what you desire: you will experience no pleasure when she shares your couch and she will feel no affection for you.

— The Perfumed Garden, translated into English by Sir Richard Burton, 1886

Tomato Feta Salad

2006-08-01T01:13:00.000-04:00

Hi this is Jenna from Vacation Souvenir!

How are you all doing? I trust you’re having a great summer! Marco, Chocolate, and I are having a wonderful summer, even though the weather’s been very hot here in New York City.

Actually we’re going through a heat wave spell. It’s so hot that I don’t feel like going near the stove to cook anything. We’ve been eating a lot of salads lately.

Here’s a simple salad that Marco and I like to eat. Its flavor reminds us of our vacation on one of the Mediterranean islands. Anytime we start thinking about it, we feel like dropping everything and returning there for a little rest and relaxation. That’s where we first met. Have you read our story? If not, you can find it here.

The salad I make basically contains cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, red onions, and herbs like fresh basil and parsley. The dressing is made from champagne (or white wine) vinegar and olive oil.

I had feta cheese for the first time when I ordered a salad on vacation. It has a tangy and salty flavor, which tastes delicious crumbled over a salad (That’s the classic Greek salad.).

Another way feta cheese tastes appetizing is when it’s served with tomatoes and fresh herbs, like my salad. Here, the sweet juice of the cherry tomatoes balances the tangy taste of the feta cheese. The red onions add a bit of a crunch to the salad. The fresh basil and parsley enhance wonderful flavors of the salad. The dressing of champagne vinegar and olive oil nicely bring together the appealing taste of the salad.

Even the colors of the salad are cool looking and pleasing to the eye.

Make sure you use very good feta cheese and olive oil when you prepare this salad. It makes a big difference in the taste.

Enjoy!
Jenna from Vacation Souvenir

Tomato Feta Salad
Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa

3 pints (6 cups) cherry tomatoes
3/4 pound good feta cheese
1 small red onion, chopped
3 tablespoons white wine or Champagne vinegar
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place them in a large bowl. Dice the feta in 1/4-inch dice, crumbling it as little as possible. Add the feta to the tomatoes and then add the onion, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil, and parsley. Toss carefully and salt, to taste, depending on the saltiness of the feta. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

A Meme -- Tagged by Shelley Munro

2006-07-24T15:55:00.000-04:00

The wonderful Shelley Munro has tagged me for this Blogging Meme. So, here is my response. Thanks for the tag, Shelley!

Paz

When Did You Start Blogging and Why?

I started blogging shortly before my first book, Vacation Souvenir, came out – April 2006. Initially, I didn’t intend to blog. I only opened a blog account to be able to leave comments on other blog sites that required blogger accounts. So, for a while my blog page was empty. Then I noticed that people were stopping by. However, they had nothing to look at. I decided to take my blog page seriously and started my first post, blogging about my new book.

What Don't You Talk About?

Ummm… I’m not sure yet. Like Shelley mentioned on her blog, I won’t discuss topics like politics and religion. I’ll talk about a little of this and that, but mainly things related to my books. For example, in earlier posts, in keeping with the theme of Vacation Souvenir, I’ve talked about ideal vacation spots, places I’d like to visit, story characters, etc… We recently had the World Cup event, so I got sidetracked with that topic. Hehehe! It’s over now… ;-(

Are You and Your Blogging Persona the same person?

Yes!

How Do You Use Blogging to build Friendships?

I’ve met a lot of interesting and nice people through blogging. And I’ve gotten to know others a lot more through their blogs. It’s been a very positive experience.

How Would You Describe Your Writing Style?

Hmmm… My writing style on the blog? Since I just started blogging, I’m not sure. I’m still working on that. At the moment, I write whatever I feel like, whenever I want, whenever I get a chance… Any readers want to give me your opinion?

Who Do I tag?

The Beautiful Game #9

2006-07-10T21:00:00.000-04:00

2006 World Cup Winners - Italy Team

The 2006 World Cup is over. Sniff. The last game garnered eight billion viewers – yes eight billion – and occurred yesterday, Sunday (June 9) between Italy and France. I almost missed the game because I was supposed to get my hair done. Guess what? I didn’t get my hair done. ;-)

Italy won in a penalty kick shootout (5-3).

It’d been a Beautiful Game until Sunday’s game. Then it turned out to be not so beautiful. Not for me, anyway. During the game, each team played well and hard. The score was tied 1-1. So the game went into overtime. Still no break in the tie.

Sometime during the overtime game, French team captain Zidane rammed his big bald head into the chest of Italian player, Marco Materazzi after they exchanged words. No one knew what was said. Now, it’s rumored that Materazzi said something racist but Materazzi has denied it. True or not, I won’t repeat the report. After the head butting incident, the referee gave Zidane a red card (the most serious penalty) and sent him off the field.

After that ugly incident, things went downhill fast for the French team and they lost.

I was horrified, disheartened and disappointed to see such a turn of events. I think that Zidane is a good person and very talented footballer. He’s retiring after the World Cup games and it’s such a shame to end his career and the World Cup on that fury-driven, ugly note.

Oh well, c’est la vie. N'est pas? That’s life. Isn't it? Life will continue. I’m moving on, too. Actually, I’m giving myself a week to get over the World Cup high and my disappointment in the ending.

For the most part, the games were fun. I enjoyed watching all the different teams and the effort and heart they put into playing. I also enjoyed watching the spectators’ enthusiasm and love for the Beautiful Game.

Until the next World Cup, which will take place in four years in South Africa; Adieu. Or since the Italians won, I guess I should say, Ciao.

Paz

Zidane get red card from referee

U.S.A. President Clinton and daughter Chelsea

were among the many dignitaries at the final game

The Beautiful Game #8

2006-07-08T00:08:00.000-04:00

Italy's Andrea Pirlo, ecstatic after team scores a goal

All photos from fifa.com

The Victory of Success; the Agony of Defeat

In the World Cup (and of course, other games), unless a tie occurs, there’s a winner and loser. When a team wins, the players are ecstatic. After the game they run around the field, hug and kiss each other, and wave to their overjoyed fans. If they're good sportsmen, they'll shake the hands of their opponents and sometimes even exchange shirts (sweat-drenched and all).

On the other hand, the losing team is devastated. Some players are so sad they stay in the same spot for a while. Dejected, other players hang their head down with disappointment. Others cry and they comfort each other, while their fans look on in disbelief and disappointment. If the players are good sports, they'll shake the hands of their rivals, too.

This week, during the semi finals Italy beat Germany (2-0) by scoring two rigorous goals in the last three minutes of the overtime game. The Italy team and their fans were extremely happy. The German team and their fans looked inconsolable. During the France vs. Portugal game, France won by making a upsetting goal (1-0). The Portugal team and their fans were sad.

Watching the games, it's dawned on me that the feelings an author experiences are similar to the ones team players go through after playing the Beautiful Game. When an author completes a manuscript (or even a page or a chapter), meets a deadline – when a publisher offers a contract, or readers like the story, the author feels victorious. It’s like kicking that ball past the goalie and landing it into the net. GOAL!!! GOAL!!! GOAL!!! Very exciting!

When an author is stuck on a plot or can’t get started on a story, or if a story is rejected, or a bad review comes in, whatever causes anguish – the feelings experienced are very much similar to the ones a losing team goes through. Just as the players console each other, fellow authors give support when needed.

Yes, playing on the writing field results the same emotions as that of playing on the field of the Beautiful Game.

Paz

THE VICTORY OF SUCCESS:

Henry and Zidane of France team

France team

Zidane, France team captain (wining team) applauds fans,

while Brazil player (from losing team) lays on ground in defeat

After game, opposing team captains Figo (Portugal) and Zidane (France)
congratulate each other

THE AGONY OF DEFEAT:

Ronaldo of Brazil team reacts after his team's loss

Fans of German team shocked at team loss

German team

Portugal team

Vacation Souvenir gets 4 stars from Fallen Angel Reviews!

2006-07-07T08:24:00.000-04:00

Fallen Angel Reviews gave VACATION SOUVENIR a 4-star rating!

"Paz Edwards does a great job in this story... Sweet and hot in a way that will make you believe that even large-sized women can find love..."

Thank you, reviewer Lena C.

Paz

Man eats 53 3/4 hot dogs in 12 minutes

2006-07-05T00:26:00.000-04:00

Hot dog eating champion, Takeru Kobayashi
All photos from news.yahoo.com

That's the newspaper headline describing a yearly activity on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Every Fourth of July, a hot dog eating competition brings hopefuls from all over the country and beyond to participate.

For the past 6 years a young man from from Japan has been the winner. I remember the first time I saw him, he was a skinny young man. But it seems throughout the years, he's been body building and become more developed.

Funny. He still looks smaller next to his competitors but each year he manages to out eat them. Each year, the spectator crowd grows. This year, thousands of people showed up to watch the competitors.

It seems that the winner has a certain technique of shoving the hot dogs and buns into his mouth. Very interesting to watch...

If it were up to me, I'd prefer to take my time eating and enjoying my hot dog. You can read ( and see more photos) about the event here.

Would you consider entering a wacky competition like this? Have your participated in any such competitions?

Paz

The Beautiful Game #7

2006-06-30T14:30:00.000-04:00

Germany's soccer players stretching during practice
All photos from fifa.com

A few things I like about the Beautiful Game during the World Cup:

I like to see everyone -- men, women, children -- get together and cheer for their favorite team.

I like to see the fans' enthusiasm.

I like that there's always the opportunity for something unexpected and fantastic to happen -- like the team from Ghana making and unpredictable and upsetting win over a favored and more experienced team.

I like to watch before the start of the game, when the children lead the players out to the field. They come out hand-in-hand. The players are nervous and it's interesting to see how they react with the children. Some pay attention to the kids, while others ignore them till it's time to grab their hands and march out into the stadium.

Children and German team

I like to see some of the traditions the players perform on the field. For example, some kiss the ground when they step on the field for the first time. Others kiss the ground after their team has scored a goal...

I like to see how excited both players become after they score a goal. All these men hugging and kissing on each other.

I love to watch how hard each team plays to win.

I love to watch the opposing teams show good sportmanship when they hug, congratulate each other, and trade team shirts after a game.

Legends Zidane (France team) and Figo (Portugal team)
show mutual respect at the end of game, in which France won

What I hate about the Beautiful Game:

I hate to see the players spit. Do they have to spit? It's so disgusting and unsightly! And I don't know why the cameraman feels the necessity to focus on this gross behavior. Uggh! :-(

Agressive fans who fight and do and say horrid things. Not cool at all. Very sad! :-(

Paz

Ukraine's goalkeeper makes a save

Italy fans

French team mate Patrick Viera happy after scoring goal

France vs. Spain fans playing table football

The Beautiful Game #6

2006-06-22T07:49:00.000-04:00

I guess they really are serious about access to the soccer area. Even a dog needs a pass with I.D. LOL!

Look at those muscled thighs in the second photo. Wow!

Yes, I'm a little... Okay, 'a lot' caught up in the World Cup, but I have been writing. So, Shebab, you can put away Mr. Whipey. ;-)

Paz

UOL Esporte - Copa do Mundo 2006

UOL Esporte - Copa do Mundo206

The Beautiful Game #5

2006-06-21T01:00:00.000-04:00

Sweden vs. Paraguay

The Beautiful Game #4

2006-06-20T06:05:00.000-04:00

I'm loving those soccer shoes! They look so cool!

Paz

Czech (left) vs. Ghana (right)

Ghana vs. Czech

Ghana vs. Czech -- John Mensah (Ghana)
All photos from Fifa.com

The Beautiful Game #3

2006-06-19T09:58:00.000-04:00

About to kick the ball. David Beckham's feet. Very interesting soccer shoes -- almost remind me of ballet slippers, ballet dancer's feet.

Paz

Fifa.com

The Beautiful Game #2

2006-06-18T03:01:00.000-04:00

Food Photography from Minimiam

Top 10 World Cup 2006 Soccer Players

2006-06-17T00:44:00.000-04:00

Brazil's Ronaldinho -- #1 World Cup 2006 recognized player

According to a Yahoo! report, during the World Cup 2002, the most popular soccer player was England's David Beckham.

This World Cup 2006, it's Brazil's Ronaldinho. He is placed as the top three internet search.

Here are the top 10 footballer searches on Yahoo! I googled them, too -- all interesting backgrounds!

1- Ronaldinho

2- David Beckham

3- Kaka

4- Cristiano Ronaldo

5-Thierry Henry

6- Roberto Carlos

7- Adriano

8- Michael Owen

9- Wayne Rooney

10- Michael Ballack

As I'm typing, this Saturday afternoon, I'm watcing the game between Ghana and the Czech Republic. It was exciting to see Ghana score its very first World Cup goal ever in the beginning of the game. The Ghanaian team is one of the youngest participating in the even. The Czech team is a older and more experienced but they haven't scored yet. So far, Ghana:1 Czech: 0. I like thatboth teams are playing in a very sportsmanship manner with each other. Good for them!

Later in the day, I'll be watching U.S.A. vs. Italy. Should be another interesting game.

Paz

The Beautiful Game

2006-06-15T07:09:00.000-04:00

Brazil goali - Dida
FIFAworldcup.com

I’m not a big sports fan or even participant, but I make sure not to miss events like the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

As a young girl, I played all types of sports – soccer being one of them. I have to say I wasn’t bad at all. At the time, I lived in Africa. One day, as I practiced alone out front in the garden, one of the neighborhood boys saw me and decided to challenge me to a one-on-one game.

We moved back and forth between our designated goalie spots and I managed to get the ball away from him several times. Best of all, I scored goal after goal after goal.

After 30 minutes, the boy decided he’d had enough. He hadn’t expected me to beat him. Hurrying away as if he were relieved no one witnessed his game, he left me with a parting shot. “You won because you don’t know how to play. You’re a girl.”

At that point, I wanted to kick him instead of the ball.

I’ve always enjoyed watching ‘the Beautiful Game.’ This is the description sometimes used for soccer, which is mostly known as football or association football in many other places. According to Wikipedia, the name came from soccer megastar Pelé's 1977 autobiography entitled Pelé, My Life and the Beautiful Game.

It’s fun to watch all the different teams play. It’s entertaining to see the pride of their supporters (Click here to see the celebration in Brazil). There are a number of different teams that I like to cheer. I know it sounds crazy. LOL! Don’t ask. I also like to root for the underdogs.

My World Cup reading list for this 2006 season is:

Pele, My Life and the Beautiful Game – Pele with Robert L. Fish
Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona, Soccer’s Fallen Star – Jimmy Burns
Futebol: Soccer: The Brazilian Way – Alex Bellos

I think I have some good reading ahead of me to do! All those watching ‘the Beautiful Game,’ enjoy!

Paz

Strictly Seductive Interview

2006-06-14T08:39:00.000-04:00

Anisa Damien put me on the 'hot seat' for an interview at The Mahogany Lounge. I had fun answering her questions.

You can read the interview here.

Thanks, Anisa!

Paz

The Love Affair Not Meant To Be

2006-06-06T18:10:00.000-04:00

Running away from me

I've found a new love but he's playing hard to get and keeps running away from me.

After seeing the Big Bird last week, I didn't think I'd see it again. Yet the opportunity arose once more, this week. I'd finished exercising and headed home, when I saw an unexpected sight -- the Big Bird at the entrance to the park! Imagine my surprise!

I've since learned from a friend that Big Bird (Until I come up with a better name, I've decided to call him Big Bird.) is a male turkey.

Amazed, I watched him for a while. I found it incredible that this beautiful brown feathered turkey (my photos don't do it justice) is living in the park. Maybe it's not an incredible occurence to others, but as I wrote earlier, the park is not the place one expects to see a turkey.

He busily pecked at the ground for food with the other pigeons and birds, as the squirrels did their own thing, too. When he noticed me, he moved away.

A few people passed by, but no one seemed to notice Big Bird. They were all in their own world. I wanted to call it to their attention -- Hey, look, a turkey! What's he doing in the park!? However, none of the joggers looked like they wanted to be bothered. So, I said nothing and returned my attention to the turkey.

I pulled out my camera and walked towards him to try and get a closeup. My photos are bad because of the turkey's movement and far distance from me. *sigh* The faster and closer I tried to get to him, the faster and further away he moved. Boy, was he fast. Big Bird kept moving till he disappeared into the park bushes.

I could only stand there and watch. Big Bird, come back! Stop running away from me! Where are you going?

I'm told that turkeys are timid and not very intelligent. So, unlike some other birds, they won't recognize that I mean no harm. Oh well, I guess our love affair wasn't meant to be. In the meantime, I'll take some birdseed for him, the next time I go to the park.

Paz

Still running away from me

What Literature Classic am I?

2006-06-04T15:02:00.000-04:00

Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose. You are a mystery novel dealing with theology, especially with catholic vs liberal issues. You search wisdom and knowledge endlessly, feeling that learning is essential in life.

Which literary classic are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

VACATION SOUVENIR gets a 4 star rating from Ecataromance SENSUAL Review!

2006-06-02T01:45:00.000-04:00

My first official review is in from Ecataromance SENSUAL. I'm happy to announce that it's a positive one. Yay!

Reviewer Elise Lyn writes: "Vacation Souvenir was a wonderful story combin[in]g several elements that are great to see in a story."

You can read the entire review here.

Thanks, Elise Lyn, for your review.

If you haven't done so, you can read an excerpt of Vacation Souvenir here.

Paz

The Bird

2006-06-01T22:58:00.000-04:00

The Bird suspicious of me
Click on photo for larger image

I mentioned my unusual sighting of books in the park the other day. That wasn't the only interesting thing to see in the park. Another day, as I returned from exercising, I stopped short when I saw a really large bird picking at food on the ground.

With it's size, larger than the usual pigeon or sparrow-like bird in the park, it clearly looked like it did not belong there. Call me a wuss but I was scared to walk past it. I didn't know what its reaction towards me would be.

It stopped eating to looked at me. I suppose, when it determined I wouldn't approach it, it continued to peck at the ground. The bird was very skittish and kept raising it's head to watch what I was doing. It was nervous and so was I.

However, I wasn't too nervous to pull out my camera and take some photos. I would have liked to get some close ups but I was too scared. As a result, I clicked away from a safe distance.

I took a few more moments to watch the bird and then I moved on. Of course, the bird was nowhere to be found the next day when I passed by.

I wonder what happened to it.

Can anyone tell me what kind of bird this is? Sort of looks like a turkey? What do you think?

Paz

The Bird eating
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The Bird walking away from me
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These are the normal type birds in the park -- pigeons!
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Books on a Park Bench

2006-05-31T21:35:00.000-04:00

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Living in the city, sometimes you find the most unexpected things in unexpected places. Today was one of those times.

Every morning, I go to the park to exercise. At that time of day, the majority of the world is still asleep. It’s nice and peaceful. I see squirrels busy foraging for food. I see pigeons and other types of birds doing the same. I see early rising owners with their dogs, and joggers who pass me by.

As I reached the spot where I was about to turn around and head back, I spotted something on a bench that enticed me to stop and walk over. To my surprise, I found about 20 old romance books, mainly Harlequins, neatly lined up. They seemed to wait patiently for someone to discover them and take them to good home.

I perused the covers of these old books, published between the 1980 and 2002, with great interest.

Some of the titles included:
This Precious Moment
What if We Fall in Love
The House of Seven Fountains
Hunter’s Snare
Forever
Summer Lightening
Moon Showers
Face value
The Third Mrs. Mitchel
Spitting Image
The One Who Almost Got Away
Without a Trace
Moon Flowers
Home for Christmas
Tall, Dark, and Irresistible
My Very Own Millionaire

I was so tempted to pick them up, although returning with an armful of books would have been uncomfortable. And while I would normally jump at the chance to take a book, especially a free one, I hesitated.

The last things I need are more books. Currently, several To-Be-Read piles are positioned all over the floor in my room. Each hold up the ceiling. Quite honestly, I knew I wouldn’t have time to read these books. Neither would I have space for them.

A quick scan of the books showed me that there were no Betty Neels books. If there were, I would have snatched them without hesitation. I looked at the books longingly but decided to leave them behind.

I moved away a few feet and then returned for one last look. Remembering I had my camera with me, I decided to take photos instead. What am I doing with a camera while I’m exercising? Lately, I’ve been taking photos of different scenes and subjects of my surrounding. I’ve become an amateur photographer and am never without my camera.

Taking photos was a much easier way to take the books back with me. Tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll find all the books gone.

What other unusual discovery will I make in the park, next time, I wonder? I’m reminded of the time I saw a humongous sized turkey-like looking bird. It clearly did not belong in the park – but that’s another story for another time…

Paz

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And the winner was...

2006-05-29T19:37:00.000-04:00

My Mannekin Pis corkscrew souvenir from Belgium

Sometime ago, we had a Vacation Souvenir Contest. I announced the winner on my newsletter, but I'd also intended to post it on my blog. Except that I forgot. *Tee hee.* So here it is now.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest. I had lots of fun reading the stories of unusual and memorable vacation souvenirs. Here's a recap.

1- Nicole wrote about the personalized plastic license plate (with misspelled name) her mom gave her.

2- Jenny wrote about the snap shot she took with her favorite author.

3- Catt wrote about how she returned home from vacation, pregnant.

4- Jennifer wrote about how she married the man with whom she returned from abroad.

5- Lisa wrote about the gag gift, carved wooden statue with p*nis showing.

6- Cathie wrote about artwork a co-worker brought her from Poland.

7- Chris wrote about the time she took home cactus needles -- embedded in her skin.

8- Maria wrote about the time her friend mailed a large coconut from Hawaii (without a box or covering, just stamps slapped on the coconut!) and she actually received it!

9- Beth wrote about her daughter bringing her peacock feathers after visiting a peacock farm.

10- Kolby wrote about a stunning jade dildo (8"2') from Greece.

11- CJ wrote about a penis shaped burner that she bought with her husband.

All the stories were great and I had a hard time choosing one as the winner. So, I put everyone's name on a piece of paper, placed it in a bowl, and had a friend arbirarily pull out one of the pieces of paper.

AND THE WINNER WAS MARIA.

Congratulations, Maria!

Thanks also to those who have purchased Vacation Souvenir and posted such nice comments on the Groups, left kind messages here, and e-mailed me.

Currently, I'm working on a number of stories. One involves a birthday surprise, the other a special delivery, and the third, a music lesson.

Many of you have suggested a sequel to Vacation Souvenir. Stay tuned for news on whether that happens or not.

Have a great week!

Paz

Ed. Note:
Hey! The contest may be over but I'd still love to continue reading stories about your unusual or memorable souvenirs that you brought back or someone sent you from a vacation. So, go ahead and post them here! ;-)

10 Top Romantic Escapes

2006-05-28T21:17:00.000-04:00

Santorini
Photo by David Quintelier, TrekEarth.com

In Vacation Souvenir, Jenna and Marcos retreat to a romantic Mediterranean island, where they meet and end up falling in love.

An MSN Travel Article lists Top 10 Romantic Escapes as:

1- Buenos Aires

2- Bora Bora

3- Dubrovnik

4- Halong Bay

5- Nevis

6- Paris

7- Quebec City

8- Santa Barbara

9- Santorini

10- Venice

Travel + Leisure has also compiled a list of 50 Most Romantic Spots on Earth. It mentions special spots, hotels, islands, cruises, restaurants, and spas.

Check out both links -- they really are interesting! Then come back and share with us the places you consider romantic or you’d like to go on vacation? It could be where you live, another state, region, or a different country. It could be a special restaurant, a spot in the park or even your backyard.

Paz

Meet Jenna McIntosh, Heroine of VACATION SOUVENIR

2006-05-10T20:25:00.000-04:00

Hi: My name is Jenna McIntosh and my story is in VACATION SOUVENIR by Paz Edwards. After my jerk of a boyfriend dumped me for a thinner woman, I’ve decided to stay away from men for a while. I mean it! No more men. However, on my first day of vacation on this dreamy island, I met a tall, dark and handsome hunk on the beach in a most unexpected way. Now, I’m having trouble sticking to my decision. My head says, "no" but my body is screaming, “Yes, spend time with him!” He’s such a temptation. I’m not sure if I can resist him.

Excerpt Two

After Jenna had left the stranger on the beach, she didn’t want to risk bumping into him. It would be so easy to give into her urges to sleep with him if she saw him again. She decided to spend the rest of the day, trying to enjoy the balmy weather and beach view from her room’s balcony.

She even picked up her romance novel and tried to get some reading done, but this time, neither the story nor the book cover held any appeal for her. She must have spent an hour reading the same page. Her mind kept going to the stranger when he took over the role of her dream lover.

Not daring to go out in the evening for dinner, she chose to order from room service. Playing with her food instead of eating it, she decided to stop and go to bed early. A fitful sleep finally engulfed her.

The next morning, she woke up feeling braver. “This is ridiculous. I can’t hide in my hotel room for the rest of my vacation! What a coward,” she spoke to herself as she stared in the mirror at her reflection.

She’d do some sightseeing today, she determined. I’ll make a day trip to visit another island. This way, I’m sure not to bump into him.

* * * * *

On the return trip to her hotel that evening, Jenna felt relaxed. Earlier, as she explored the archaeological sites and ruins, she half expected to see the handsome sun-tanned face of the stranger from the beach. A sense of relief washed over her when she didn’t run into him, but at the same time she felt disappointed. She couldn’t deny the tiny hidden part in her that wanted to see him again. Squashing those feelings, she walked down the pebbled street path that led to her hotel.

A corner shop that displayed postcards caught her eye and she decided to stop and buy some. She rifled through the revolving rack and studied each card carefully, making mental notes of which one she’d send to friends and family back home. She became engrossed in picking the cards until she felt as if someone watched her.

Even before raising her head to look around, she had a strong suspicion of the cause. She turned just in time to see the stranger from the beach walking in long determined strides towards her.

* * * * *

Buy it now from triskelionpublishing.com

To read more, go to the Excerpts page on www.PazEdwardsBooks.com

Meet Marco Romano, Hero from VACATION SOUVENIR

2006-05-08T18:34:00.000-04:00

Hello, I'm Marco Romano. You can read more about me in VACATION SOUVENIR by Paz Edwards. I have to tell you this: You never know what may happen when you go on vacation. You plan one thing and something else happens. I planned on enjoying my vacation alone, but then I've found myself attracted to a woman I saw on the beach. We met under unusual circumstances. I know I should walk away from her but I can’t. This is how it happened:

Excerpt One
Marco Romano strolled along the shoreline. He loved the feeling of the tide waves washing over his feet before returning to the ocean. The atmosphere on this Mediterranean island felt very peaceful and he realized that he was glad that he came.

Earning a living as an investigative reporter left little time for relaxation and it wasn’t surprising that he’d developed ulcers. His boss, also a friend, finally forced him to take some time off. No longer reluctant, he decided to make the most of his vacation.

In the mood to enjoy his own company, he intended to spend the morning exploring a section of the beach the concierge had recommended. He continued to walk its length till he spotted something that stopped him abruptly.

“Damn!” There was someone else on his part of the beach. Given the far distance from the hotel, it was apparent that person also wanted privacy. He started forward again, looking with disdain at the unmoving body lying on the beach. It was only one person, probably sleeping and wouldn’t even bother him. If he kept walking, neither of them would be bothered by the other's presence. As he drew closer, he realized the dark-skinned woman lying on her back was—naked.

"Hot damn!” Although he’d seen his share of nude woman, there was something that instinctively drew him like a lodestone to this particular unclothed one. He didn’t understand the attraction, but it compelled him to walk closer. When he stopped a foot away from her, he simply stared at the curvaceous sleeping form.

Under the sun, her skin, the color of dark chocolate, glistened. His gaze slowly traveled up her uncovered body. Slightly spread apart, her thighs were full and her legs long. He wondered how they’d feel wrapped around his waist as he made love to her. His groin stirred.

His eyes continued to enjoy the pleasing feast before him and he shifted from one foot to another, fixating on the abundant tuft of black hair that sprouted from the triangle shape between her legs. His cock moved again, letting him know that he wanted to do more than look.

He wanted to spread her legs apart to get a better look, move the folds of her pussy aside to look at the tender, succulent flesh inside. Next, he wanted to take his tongue to it, stroke, nip, suck, lap, and taste it. He wanted to whirl his tongue around her clit, driving her into a frenzy until she came for him.

She had a slightly rounded stomach, and he imagined its soft feeling under his as he lay between her legs, about to plunge into her pussy.

He wanted to hold on to her wide hips as he thrust into her over and over again till they both came several times in bliss.

Her breasts, soft looking, plump and full, like ripe melons, claimed his attention when they rose slightly and fell back as she breathed. His mouth watered and he wet his lips as he imagined the feel of her breasts in his mouth.

She had a heart-shaped face with dark curly hair, the same color as her vaginal area, carelessly put in a ponytail on top of her head. He imagined taking her hair down and curling his fingers in it as he slid his hungry cock into her.

He found himself drawn more to this full-sized woman. His gaze returned to her pussy and lingered there. He wanted to take a bite of this dark chocolate. He needed a taste.

He knew that he should stop staring at her and continue walking. He didn’t think she’d appreciate waking up to find a stranger salivating over her. Yet, unable to move, he couldn’t stop looking at her and lusting after her. The only part of his body that moved was his growing cock, as evidenced by the tented motion in the middle of his swimming shorts. “Down boy! Easy!”

Within a few seconds, he had grown hard. And heavy. “Damn!” he whispered. He would take one last look and then walk away. His shoulders and chest rose as he took a deep breath. At that moment the woman opened her eyes.

Shit, he was in trouble now! She would accuse him of being some kind of peeping pervert, or worse! He tried to swallow as his throat went dry.

Buy Vacation Souvenir now from triskelionpublishing.com
To read more go to the Excerpts Page at www.PazEdwardsBooks.com

Vacation Souvenir is now available!

2006-05-03T00:18:00.000-04:00

I'm pleased to announce that my first release Vacation Souvenir is now available from Triskelion Publishing. (www.triskelionpublishing.com)

Paz

VACATION SOUVENIR CONTEST

2006-05-01T14:52:00.000-04:00

Getty Images

What is the most unusual or memorable souvenir that you’ve brought back or someone has given you from a vacation trip?

Share your story.

The winner will receive a free e-book copy of Vacation Souvenir by Paz Edwards.

E-mail your response to paz_edwards@yahoo.com by Monday, May 15, 2006.

Write VACATION SOUVENIR CONTEST in the subject heading.

I will announce the winner on my newsletter Monday, May 22, 2006.

Best,

Paz

A Few Mediterranean Beaches

2006-04-27T12:53:00.000-04:00

We first meet our Vacation Souvenir characters on a secluded Mediterranean beach. Here are a few photos of various Greek Island beaches. The photos are from Getty Images.

Paz

Corfu

Crete

Ios

Lava Beach, Santorini

Mykonos

Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia

Rhodes

Santorini

Santorini

Vilha Bay Beach, Rhodes

Mediterranean Island Photos

2006-04-24T15:36:00.000-04:00

My story, Vacation Souvenir, takes place on a Mediterranean island. Here are a few photos of the Greek island Santorini. It's similar to where our story characters, Marco and Jenna, meet. The photos are from TrekEarth.com.

Paz

Vacation Souvenir By Paz Edwards

2006-04-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

Plus-size Jenna McIntosh is on vacation, trying to soothe her broken heart after her boyfriend dumps her for a slimmer woman. She figures that all she needs is some fresh air and sunshine to help forget her troubles.

When Marco Romano’s boss insists that he take a vacation, he reluctantly goes and decides to make the most of his vacation.

Neither have plans to get together with another person but once they meet, a passionate desire explodes between them. They finally accept the attraction that runs between them and act on it.

But what happens when the holiday is over? Will they be able to walk away from each other and carry on with their lives as before?

A May 2006 release from Triskelion Publishing
Read an excerpt