Blog Archives - DinaDesveaux.com

Top 10 ways to put the sexy back into books!

9/30/2011

That's right, blame my fellow Wired Monk writer Richard for this.
[Side conversation at writers' group last night - a FABULOUS gathering, btw, with a couple of new faces and one we hadn't seen for far too long - So great to see Jenni!]

I'm writing today about:
How YOU can help my writers group, Wired Monk Writers, to put the sexy back into books.

Credit: carolinavaldezmiller.com

Is it possible?
COULD BOOKS BECOME THE NEW BLACK?

Hell yes! And here's the TOP 10 ways you can ensure this trend takes off:

1. Carry books with scarlet red covers and words like '50 Shades of French Kissing' in the title. (No, I'm not prescient - I updated the blog)

2. Seriously? If I knew how to start this movement - I'd have done so AGES ago. So I'm gonna need every trailblazing, innovative braincell out there to come up with ideas.

Send them my way or tweet them - I'll compile the list and share!!!

Happy Weekend All,
TartanFrog

Tonight the Halifax Monk Writers will be saving lives!!

9/29/2011

This came via a former student of mine - not that I was ever a stickler on such things:)

'Nuff said!

Top 10 reasons you should read instead of listening to your English Teacher

9/28/2011

Actually there's only 1 that matters, see below...I couldn't resist sharing this one that came my way via Carla Gunn - thanks for making me laugh, Carla!

PS Yes, that's right I am a teacher too:)

REMINDER - Tomorrow night is Wired Monk Writers Night!

9/28/2011

UNLEASH THEM MUSES!

Credit: tmonews.com

Top of the morning writerlies,

I'm planning a short character muse activity for tomorrow.

Who knows, you may find out things about your characters that you never knew before.

Giving characters a certain depth, voice, and personality is so important- and makes writing about them easier, and writing with them more enjoyable.

For anyone who can't make it, I'll post the activity and perhaps an anecdote or two about the Wired Monk characters.

So, here to a little character gym and to our motto
Sleep. Play. Create.

TartanFrog

Survived the Speed-Dating - Today Pitch the Publisher!!

9/25/2011

Credit: bookmarkinc.ca

Talk about a literary weekend

Today: Atlantic Publishers "Pitch the Publisher"

This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

1st speed-date writer gitters - I need HELP with questions!!!!!!!!!!

9/24/2011

It's true, I'm one of the suckers who agreed to go writerly speed-dating as part of the N S Writers' Fed Fall into Writing (evening of readings & entertainment featuring, you guessed it, writers ++ a few surprise guests from the annals of literary history...),...

And me, I'm shakin' in my boots. . .

And you too could watch me fall on my face --for a mere $10 -- all dedicated to putting books by local writers in Nova Scotian schools through WFNS' wildly popular Writers in the Schools program.

Don't delay, get your ticket today!
http://www.writers.ns.ca/fallintowritingtickets.html
Tickets are also on sale at Bookmark (5686 Spring Garden Road) and at The Loop Craft Cafe (1547 Barrington Street.)

Credit: blog.protagonize.com

The morning started out just frickin' fine. I said to myself:

“Now look, Dina, think of it this way,” (this was that annoying, bright-eyed, bouncy-voiced friend on my right shoulder)... “If it doesn’t work out, you can write a blog about your humiliation!”

It's now T minus 7 hours, I've googled my research and come up with my TOP 10 questions for those awful silences that writers aren't used to:) NOT!!

Why don’t sheep shrink in the rain? [This I really want to know the answer to btw]
Would you date a writer who lived in a tent? And since we're on the topic, are you living in a tent?
So, what's your stance on cannibalism, like, if you were writing a book about it --would you classify it as fiction or memoir?
What’s in your freezer? (variation on the ‘what’s in your fridge’ and an opportunity to catch out the psychopaths and true struggling writers who can't afford a frickin' freezer)
What's the most crazy, reckless thing you've ever done? (in case the writer is cunning and missed my trap in question 4)

To see my final 5 and my top secret weapon for tonight, click here.

Top 10 reasons to go see Café de flore

9/23/2011

Last night, I went to see Jean-Marc Vallée’s film Café de Flore and I'm still reeling.

Credit: empiretheatres.com

Plot synopsis: Successful, happy, high-flying DJ (Kevin Parent) with fabulous life and equally fabulous wife laments having left his (now) ex-wife for his current one. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, a single mother (Vanessa Paradis) struggles to take care of her child (Marin Gerrier) who has Down's Syndrome in a parallel story from 40 years before.

Top 10 reasons to sit through Vallée’s seeming absence of logic as he jumps from one era to the other without any apparent link:

Photo credit: rebelyogi.com

10. You are a woman praying for non-linear deconstruction because your own life has become too linear (morning: car/transit, work /groceries, cook/clean, fall asleep exhausted/sex, who has time?). This film's curvy path will carry you away by the sheer power of its emotions.
Or, you are this woman's partner - see warning below.

Warning: This film may provoke the urge to indulge in crazy, passionate sex (if you have children, you may want to make arrangements with sitter/in-laws) . . .

If you need further coaxing to see this film, please click here.

Top 10 places to play & create in...

9/19/2011

Photo credit: globalexperience.com

And the first city is. . .
Where else?? Paris!!

Paris is magical! Combining history with beauty, culture and a dramatic setting, it's a wonderful place to visit for couples, families, and for singles.

Since I'm plotting another Paris visit, I thought I'd dream up a few walking tours for myself. Given my love of movies, I'll start there.

For more on the Paris walking tour click here

Good Grief - My cat '13' wants his own blog in his bid for Emperor of Halifax!!

9/4/2011

About '13':
When he's trying to do something naughty - he can be very crafty;
He knows how to play with abandon - he's very fun-loving;
He definitely understands the importance of REST!
He's very loyal;

To read more about "13" qualities and to read his very first campaign article, click on "13" .

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

9/4/2011

Photo Credit: Greg MacDonnell

I have 3 questions for my friends and fellow Haligonians . . . but first: Isn't that photograph taken from the Dingle (left) spectacular?

It inspired me to reflect on potential in our communities & our cities.

And so, today: A New Blog Direction...with a new title:

Sleep. Create. Play. (and imagine smiling with every breath)

Gauguin, Paul
Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?
1897 Oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

For more on these questions and MY TASK click here.

Welcome to my Blog!

My name is Dina
(aka TartanFrog)
I'm a writer & educator.

More about me

More about the book I just finished

Why blog? Why write?
My dream: To see all children grow up with dignity, self-esteem and a passion for their dreams.

I've met many children and adults whose dreams and innocence were stolen.

I write for them; I write as one of them.

I try to blog weekly.
Blog topics:
Writing & publishing-related tips for my writerly friends; social justice issues that touch children, adults, trees or threaten our world of future wholesome communities; my experiences navigating the process of living & writing.

Spoiler Alert:
Some days, these may be rants:)

Why TartanFrog?
TartanFrog--a celebratory tip of the hat to the interweaving of my French Acadian roots with the Celtic culture of Cape Breton.

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Tweets by @TartanFrog13

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