Joel's got a new message on his blog at: http://mooie-woorden.blogspot.com. Photos on there from his trip on the ICE train.

Short post...as usual...life is just too hectic. Sorry for delayed correspondences everyone. I'm catching up...I really am. Expect mail from me any day soon :)

Luisa Igloria blogs about the slur against the Filipino people on the show Desperate Housewives. I signed the petition after reading about it on Luisa's blog, and it's interesting to read about the influence of protests against slurs like this.

I'm posting the link to the BBC article (originally posted on Luisa's blog) so you can read what it's all about.

I find myself wondering who watches shows like this one anyway? I mean, I don't watch this show because the few occassions when I zapped by, it seemed to me that these housewives must be just about the saddest people on the planet. Okay... I confess to being a non-lover of soap opera and drama series. I confess to not even watching the famed Sex in the City. Why shows like these are considered entertaining are beyond me. I often find myself moaning about the stupidity of the characters and so instead of wasting my energy on that...I'd rather be doing something productive like reading a book...or updating my blog ;)

Anyway, the reason I'm thinking of this issue comes from searching for a column to replace last week's column on Haruah. Searching through columns submitted, I came across Selena Thomason's column on Diversity. I found it engaging and timely and thought I'd do some plugging and prompt readers to go over and check it out. Any thoughts on the topic are welcome in our forum.

Writing about Haruah and columns reminds me of my intention to post a call for voluntary one-time submissions of reviews to the column list. If you've read a book which you'd like to share with other readers, why not write a review and send it in as a column submission to Haruah. While we don't pay for columns, we do offer the opportunity for exposure.

And...last but not least...

I thought I'd post a reminder to vote for Maria Zannini's blog over at http://www.fictionaddiction.net/vote.html

You can vote once a day, so the more votes coming in the better :) I've got to go. I still have a column that needs to be written and sent in before midnight tomorrow.

Brothers :)

And now, the real work begins. Move over, Mr. Mozart ;)

Some Pics...

Cousins on the rooftop of NEMO. Science Museum in Amsterdam, late August.

Samuel in the playpen

See, I told you I'd be standing soon :)

Okay, I'm posing already.

vote for fiction

At http://fictionaddiction.net/vote.html you can vote for the best site run by an author to promote their writing.

I've been voting for Maria Zannini, and if you like her blog you can vote for her too. Maria posts articles and tips on writing, does interviews with other authors, and posts regular markets to send your work to. I think you'll enjoy visiting both her blog and her website.

**

I'm off to take care of my boys now. Our pet rabbit died yesterday and Joel is still quite upset about it. He didn't get to sleep until late at night from crying over his dead rabbit.

Joel: Mama, is it okay to cry? You do cry when someone you care for dies, don't you?

Me: Of course, it's okay to cry.

Joel: I miss Friend(the rabbit).

posted while waiting for eldest son to come home

The October issue of The Orange Room Review is now online. Congratulations are also due to editors Corey and Rachael who became parents on the 19th of September. Welcome to the chaotic life of writer parents.

Also online is Byzarium's October Issue with Six Events in a Love Story. I just went over and read this fantastic science fiction tale written by Gareth Powell, and if you have time, I highly recommend that you read it too.

I haven't had time to read this month's Interzone yet, but I am looking forward to reading Gareth's story which has been receiving some really great reviews.

Eldest son has come home and second son has sounded the alarm. So the post ends here for now.