SECRETS OF JIN HAKKU :: The Shinwa Culture

This marks the third of five blog posts about my newest release SECRETS OF THE JIN-HAKKU, coming out on Wednesday!

I had long wanted to write a menage story, but was always stymied by how to create a happily-ever-after without jettisoning the third guy at the end. Of course, there are menage stories written where all three remain together, but this is one area where I have trouble separating our real world from the fictional. I have a thing about giving kids two daddies and a mommy, full time. (Not to be confused with step-daddies and/or divorced daddies.)

So, I created a world in which triads are the norm. I even went a step further and made it physiologically impossible for them to reproduce without two males and one female. Building this world turned out to be so much fun. My crazy brain kept coming up with idea after idea, and I felt a bit of nostalgia for the days when I read science fiction and fantasy almost exclusively. So, I thought I'd present a few of the words I had to make up.

budo - a form of martial arts

kachi - pussy (not the cat!)


konsu - an instrument used in anal play

omaka - a tub used only for soaking

sansou - a flowering plant with a prickly stem

sakei - the very deep sleep that occurs when a woman fails to become pregnant, normally only a few hours.

sakei-ma - the more serious consequence of continued infertility, during which the woman body shuts down almost completely to survive on body fat.

sakei-ma-sa - the most extreme stage of non-pregnancy. To say more would be a spoiler. :)

suki/suko - a term of endearment

tama gi - a high class prostitute

tingtze berries - named for their peppery sweet flavor

yumata - robes worn in days gone by whose fabrics, colors and/or knotted sashes depended on the activity.

I hope this whets your appetite to read the book, which comes out on the 26th!!

Today's question: The Shinwa people love to bathe. Do you prefer to take baths or showers?

Any comments made between now and the end of the month enter you to win this Italian charm bracelet with a special dragon charm to commemorate JIN-HAKKU's release. :) Winner to be announced Dec. 1. (Sorry about the crappy picture.)

A WOLF AT HER DOOR: And the Answer Is...

Welcome to Day 3 of A Wolf at Her Door Week at my blog. Today is the big day! You can actually go buy it!!! Of course, I know some of you will be waiting until next Monday, because that's the day I'm going to pick the winner of the free copy. But that's okay. I'm guilty of the same money-saving strategy, too! The cost of the book is a little more than a gallon of gas these days, but I promise you that you'll have a heck of a lot more fun reading my book than you will driving 25 miles anywhere (your mileage will vary.)

As promised, here are the answers to yesterday's shapeshifter trivia quiz.



1. Today, some people truly believe that they are humans with the souls of animals. What do such people call their belief system? Answer: B. Spiritual therianthropy.

2. In 1992, a poll of Russians found that ____________ of respondents believed that werewolves existed. Answer: D. 80 percent

The werewolf story has long been a staple tale of Russia, where wolves were (and still are, in many places) plentiful.

3. In Celtic folklore, men were often seduced by the selkies, beautiful women who were really... Answer: B. Seals

The selkie turned into a woman by removing her sealskin. If a man stole the skin, the selkie could not transform.

4. In the Amazon, one hears legends of the 'boto', which can transform into a young boy or a handsome man. In animal form, the boto is a... Answer: D. Dolphin

In the Amazon, a dolphin called the 'pink dolphin' can be found. Legends about this creature abound.

5. In Japan, many legends tell of the kitsune, who often appeared in the form of a beautiful woman. The kitsune was a .... Answer: C. Werefox

The kitsune often had many tails. The more tails she had, the older and wiser she was.

6. What is the psychological term for a person who thinks that he is a wolf? A. Lycanthrope

From 'lycos'- wolf and 'anthropos'-man.

7. From what material were werewolf-slaying instruments supposed to be fashioned? Answer: A. Silver

Silver probably got this reputation because of its supposed purity and association with the moon.

8. Quite a few physical signs were taken to be indications that one was a werewolf. Which of the following was NOT a sign that one harbored 'the animal within'? Answer: D. Eyes that relfect red light in the dark

Other signs are an unusually long third finger, tattoos in the shape of a crescent moon, an uncut, clawlike left thumbnail, and tiredness in the morning.

9. One of the common beliefs about werewolves is that if you are bitten by one, you will also become a werewolf. What disease is responsible for this belief? Answer: Rabies

Rabid wolves often foam at the mouth and bite whatever crosses their path. After the bite, a human who contracts rabies may exhibit the same behavior.


10. What do you call a werewolf from the southern United States? Answer: B. Loup garou

There are many Cajun legends and songs about the 'loup garou', which is often said to resemble a rabid dog.

So, how'd you do? (Every comment this week enters you to win a free copy of Wolf, the winner to be announced 9/29.)

A WOLF AT HER DOOR: Test Your Knowledge

Welcome to Day 2 of A Wolf at Her Door Week on my blog. Today I'm presenting a fun quiz to see how much you know about werewolves and other shifters. Answers will be posted tomorrow.

1. Today, some people truly believe that they are humans with the souls of animals. What do such people call their belief system?

A. Lycanthropy
B. Spiritual therianthropy
C. Lycanthrophilia
D. Werephilia

2. In 1992, a poll of Russians found that ____________ of respondents believed that werewolves existed.

A. 10 percent
B. 35 percent
C. 50 percent
D. 80 percent

3. In Celtic folklore, men were often seduced by the selkies, beautiful women who were really...

A. Horses
B. Seals
C. Deer
D. Swans

4. In the Amazon, one hears legends of the 'boto', which can transform into a young boy or a handsome man. In animal form, the boto is a...

A. Jaguar
B. Maned wolf
C. Cougar
D. Dolphin

5. In Japan, many legends tell of the kitsune, who often appeared in the form of a beautiful woman. The kitsune was a ....

A. Wereswan
B. Werecat
C. Werefox
D. Werebadger

6. What is the psychological term for a person who thinks that he is a wolf?

A. Lycanthrope
B. Zooanththrope
C. Lupine
D. Anthrolobos

7. From what material were werewolf-slaying instruments supposed to be fashioned?

A. Silver
B. Platinum
C. Gold
D. Tin

8. Quite a few physical signs were taken to be indications that one was a werewolf. Which of the following was NOT a sign that one harbored 'the animal within'?

A. Eyebrows that meet over the bridge of the nose
B. Sleeping with your mouth open
C. Excessive body hair
D. Eyes that relfect red light in the dark

9. One of the common beliefs about werewolves is that if you are bitten by one, you will also become a werewolf. What disease is responsible for this belief?

10. What do you call a werewolf from the southern United States?
A. Alabama wolf
B. Loup garou
C. Wendigo
D. Shapeshifter

How do you feel you did on the quiz? Have you ever even read a werewolf book before? Just wonderin'. :)

(Every comment made this week gets you a chance to win a free copy of Wolf. Winner to be announced 9/29.)

Wolfie Answers

Short post today. I have a bladder infection.

1. Wolves have a sense of smell that is 100 times greater than that of humans.
2. They howl for many reasons, one of which is to locate each other.
3. I can't believe that their territory can cover up to 100 square miles. That's a lot of scat and urine marking that has to be done!
4. They can crush a thigh bone of a moose in 6-8 bites. Yikes.

Canis Lupus Factoids

I haven't had a trivia quiz for a while. Since I just finished my latest book, tentatively titled A WOLF AT HER DOOR, I'll pose a few questions about wolves.

1. A wolf's sense of smell is
A. 20 times greater than a human's.
B. 50 times
C. 100 times

2. Wolves howl to
A. locate one another
B. pass the time at night
C. flush out prey

3. Wolf packs in Alaska can have territories that range from
A. 25 - 100 square miles
B. 100-500 square miles
C. 300-1000 square miles

4. The wolf has very strong jaws, able to apply 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch. How many bites does it take to crush a moose femur?
A. 1-2
B. 6-8
C. 8-10

I'll post the answers tomorrow.

ALL IN: Contest Winner and Trivia Answers

Ah..the week has come to a close. As promised, here are the answers to the poker trivia quiz.

1. A - Rabbit Hunt – To ask the dealer to deal cards after the hand is over and the main pot has been won already.
2. B – Blistering - Marking cards with an intention to cheat.
3. B – Nuts - A cinch hand, or the best possible hand at any point in the game.
4. B - Draw Dead - To draw to a hand that cannot win.
5. A – Fast - An aggressive style of play.
6. A – Limp In - To enter the pot by calling rather than raising.
7. C - Live One - An inexperienced, bad or loose player who apparently has plenty of money to lose.

And, the winner of the millefiori necklace is Jennifer Lewis! Congratulations, Jennifer! Email me your home address and I'll mail you your prize!

I hope you all had fun during ALL IN Week. I think you'd have more fun reading the book itself, though. Hint hint! Tomorrow I go back to my regular blogging, but after that A MAN OF VISION, my story in the Ellora's Caveman Seasons of Seduction Volume III, comes out on Sunday, September 23, so it will be another week of celebration.

ALL IN Poker Trivia

Two more days until ALL IN is released!

The hero of the story, I.C. Tucker, is a professional poker player, so today I'm offering a Poker Trivia Quiz. The answers will appear on Sunday's blog post when I announce the winner of the millefiori necklace (see Tuesday's post.)

See if you can identify the correct definitions of these poker terms.

1. Rabbit Hunt
a) Hoping for a high card to complete your straight, because rabbits reproduce so quickly.
b) When players gang up on the person they perceive to be the weakest player.
c) Asking the dealer to deal cards after the hand is over and the main pot is won already.

2. Blistering
a) Getting angry at the table.
b) Marking cards with an intention to cheat.
c) Staring down an opponent.

3. Nuts
a) Any snack served during play
b) A cinch hand
c) Your chips

4. Draw Dead
a) To draw five cards that are worthless.
b) Draw to a hand that cannot win.
c) To draw more than three cards at once.

5. Fast
a) An aggressive style of play
b) Winning several hands in a row
c) Betting quickly without much thought

6. Limp In
a) To enter the pot by calling rather than raising.
b) To be the last one to the table.
c) To have a short stack of chips from which to bet.

7. Live One
a) A game in which all the players have promising hands
b) A tournament with extremely high stakes
c) An inexperienced, bad or loose player who apparently has plenty of money to lose.

Answers will be given on Sunday's post. Have fun!

I Scream, You Scream

Not for ice cream, but for it's Italian counterpart: GELATO. OMG. I love gelato. It's a good thing I don't shop at Whole Foods Market very often, because they have a gelato bar there that is very tempting. Here is some interesting info about this Italian treat from the gelato Wiki, VirtualItalia.com, and PizzaToday.com.

Gelato is said to have been first created by Bernardo Buontalenti for the court of Francesco de Medici in 1565.

Gelato is typically made with fresh fruit or other ingredients such as chocolate (pure chocolate, flakes, chips, candies, truffles, etc.), nuts, small candies, sweets, or cookies.

Traditional gelato contains about 20 percent air by volume, compared to up to 60 percent in American-style ice cream. And the creamy consistency is derived from 12 percent butterfat (ice cream has about 15 to 16 percent butterfat).

So it's slightly less fattening! :)

Gelato is served from a different freezer than American style ice cream—a forced air freezer—which is usually held at about -15°C (0–6°F). This allows the gelato to be served immediately after being extruded from the gelato machine—the "forced air" blowing around holds the product at a consistent temperature. The best gelato is made fresh daily.

And I could totally eat it daily. If you haven't ever tried it, you should.

Doing It for Money

A couple of days ago I found out that Ellora's Cave wants to publish one of my stories in their 2007 Caveman Anthology Series. (Still on Cloud 9.) In my novella, A Man of Vision, the heroine is a modern day courtesan. Here is a little trivia about courtesans gathered from Desirata, the official courtesan fanlisting and an article on Salon.com by Christina Valhouli. (The painting is "The Nude Maja" by Francisco de Goya.)

Once upon a time courtesans were the most powerful and learned women in the world. They were taught languages, philosophy, and sometimes the only women allowed in the library. The best courtesans were those whose wit and company were desired more than their bodies.

I think it would have killed me not to be allowed in a library!

[Venetian] courtesans were companions for bankers, princes, prelates and merchants. Known for their wit, charm and elegance, they palled around with the most important and powerful men of their day. They wrote novels, published poems and influenced politics, often delivering political messages from pillow to pillow.

According to Mateo Bandello's 16th century book "Novelle," high-level courtesans would have six or seven lovers, each assigned to a different night of the week and each giving her a monthly "salary." This, of course, necessitated intricate scheduling and lover-shuffling in the days before cellphones and organizers.

I don't know why this lifestyle intrigues me so much. If you'd like to see this type of thing in action, rent the movie "Dangerous Beauty," which chronicles the life of a famous Venetian courtesan, Veronica Franco. And if you want to hire a male courtesan and have a few extra hundred bucks, you can even go here. I found his photo gallery to be particularly, er, interesting.

A Girl's Best Friend

This Week's Trivia Topic: Diamonds

--The word diamond is derived from the Greek adamas, which means unconquerable.

--The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered. Found in 1905, the original 3,100 carats were cut to make jewels for the British Crown Jewels and the British Royal family's collection. The largest stone was put into a sceptre (shown left.)

So, even though JK Rowling is richer than the Queen, I'll bet she doesn't own this big a diamond.

--In medieval times, it was believed that diamonds could ward off the plague. This was because the poor always died first, but this was because they lived nearer to where plague-bearing ships docked, not because they didn't have two pennies to rub together. Even so, the rich mistakenly thought that if they wore their wealth like a talisman that this would keep them disease free.

--Diamond powder is a legendary poison, often used by Catherine de Medici. I wonder if using diamond powder to kill someone would make good fodder for a mystery novel or forensic TV show.

--Most diamonds found in nature are 1-3 BILLION years old.

--Each suit in a deck of cards represents the four major pillars of the economy in the Middle Ages. Hearts represent the Church; spades, the military; clubs, agriculture; and diamonds, the merchant class.

--A diamond will not dissolve in acid. The only thing that can destroy it is intense heat. If you put it in an oven at 850 degrees for about an hour, it will dissipate.

I'll take this one on faith, thank you!

Antonio Banderas' Buns

Okay, so he's not Italian. But the man is still seriously hot, and I laid eyes on his naked behind last night. I tried to watch the movie Original Sin, but the DVD was scratched and I wasn't able to see the last ten minutes or so. I don't really regret missing the last of the movie; it was sort of a downer. But I do think they should have shown him nekkie from the front.

Anyway, here's a bit of trivia about him:

--He was born by Caesarean section on August 10, 1960. That means he's two years older than me.

--He wanted to be a pro soccer player, but a foot injury put that dream to bed. Bad news for him, good news for us movie goers.

--His family lived across the street from a bordello in Malaga, Spain.

--Way before Heath L. and Jake G. made playing a gay man trendy, Antonio appeared in "Law of Desire," in 1987, slipping tongue to some other guy.

--Here's what he said about his first kiss: "I got dizzy and she got dizzy," he says. "It was a pretty experience. It's like a pink memory. A flowery memory."

I'd probably faint if he kissed ME.

Here's a nice site that tells everything you could ever wnat to know about Antonio.

From the Ashes

This Week's Trivia: The Phoenix

I spent five hours yesterday with my web designer, Jax Crane, working on my website. She's fabulous and you can check out her work by clicking on the link in the sidebar of my blog. I can't wait for the unveiling, which Jax assures me will be in the next week or so.

Anyway, because my Chinese name, given to me by my late Great-Uncle Jim, is Gum Foong (Golden Phoenix) I chose to incorporate that motif in my website. So, in honor of that, today I offer some trivia about the phoenix.

Said to live for 500, 1461 or for 12594 years (depending on the source), the phoenix is a male bird with beautiful gold and red plumage. At the end of its life-cycle the phoenix builds itself a nest of cinnamon twigs that it then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises. The new phoenix embalms the ashes of the old phoenix in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in Heliopolis ("the city of the sun" in Greek), located in Egypt. The bird was also said to regenerate when hurt or wounded by a foe, thus being almost immortal and invincible — a symbol of fire and divinity.

One inspiration that has been suggested for the Egyptian phoenix is a specific bird species of East Africa. This bird nests on salt flats that are too hot for its eggs or chicks to survive; it builds a mound several inches tall and large enough to support its egg, which it lays in that marginally cooler location. The hot air rising around these mounds resembles the turbulence of a flame.

I had no idea that the phoenix of myth had a designated life span, or that they had a nesting ground to return to, like salmon. You learn something new everyday!

Queen's logo has a picture of a Phoenix on the top part. The logo was designed by their singer, Freddie Mercury.

I found a picture of the logo (above left.) The lions look a little anorexic, if you ask me.

The fenghuang (Chinese Phoenix) is said to be made up of the beak of a cock, the face of a swallow, the forehead of a fowl, the neck of a snake, the breast of a goose, the back of a tortoise, the hindquarters of a stag and the tail of a fish. Its body symbolizes the six celestial bodies. The head is the sky, the eyes are the sun, the back is the moon, the wings are the wind, the feet are the earth, and the tail is the planets. Its feathers contain the five fundamental colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow.

This is quite an amalagamation of parts, sort of like the Chinese version of Frankenstein's monster. I think I prefer to think of it as a bird since I'm not crazy about having a fish tail or buck butt.

Choco-Facts

Weekly Trivia Topic: Chocolate!

Luckily I grew out of my childhood chocolate allergy. If I hadn't, I might have gone into a downward spiral and killed myself by now. I now have chocolate everyday, usually in the form of a Hershey's kiss. So, in honor of my daily indulgence here are a few interesting facts.

U.S. consumers eat 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually, representing nearly half of the world's supply.

This doesn't surprise me. The candy makers have a special offering for every holiday and season, don't they? Wait, I don't think I've seen St. Patrick's Day or Cinco de Mayo M&Ms yet. But then, March is only a couple of weeks away.

Chocolate syrup was used for the blood in the famous shower scene in the Alfred Hitchcock movie 'Psycho'. The scene lasts for about 45 seconds in the movie, but took 7 days to film.

You know, I've never seen this movie.

Chocolate does not aggravate acne. Experiments conducted at the University of Pennsylvania nd the U.S. Naval Academy found that consumption of chocolate -- even frequent daily dietary intake -- had no effect on the incidence of acne. Professional dermatologists today do not link acne with diet.

And now I find myself slightly bitter about all those years of listening to my mother harp on me for not eating candy bars. Think I'll go eat one of the espresso chocolate malted milk balls my hubby gave me!

Come out of Your Shell!

Weekly Trivia Topic: Hermit crabs

We have one of these little critters. He's small, about the size of cherry tomato. He spends a lot of his time under the sand or up in the little plastic palm tree in his habitat. If you ever wanted a pet that requires almost no care, the hermit crab is for you. The most important thing you have to monitor is the water. They need a humid environment. Otherwise, they eat so little that you only need to check food once a week or so.

Anyway, on to the trivia which I got from hermit-crabs.com:

The name 'hermit' is misapplied to our little friends -- they are quite gregarious and like to be around their own kind. In the wild, they travel in packs of up to 100 crabs, scavenging the beach for food and shells. The reason they travel in packs is simple: Where there are more crabs, there are more shells. Researchers have found by putting one clean, empty shell on the beach, they can initiate a "cascade" of shells changes: One crab changes in to the new shell, another changes into his old shell, and another changes into the other empty shell, and so on.

It isn't enough that hermit crabs make the neatest sound, a cross between a creaky bed, a rusty door hinge, a croaking frog and a chirping bird.

Believe it or not, after it molts, the crab (after its claws have adequately hardened) will eat its old skin. The ‘old’ skin is full of nutrients such as calcium and especially the important skin-hardening agent chitin.

The best diet for a land hermit crab is basically what you feed yourself (with a few additions and exclusions). Land hermit crabs are omnivorous and therefore eat just about anything. You can feed them meat, fish, vegetables and fruit (yes even citrus fruit!).

Shhh...It's a Secret (Service!)

I was attempting to watch Chasing Liberty last night, a movie about the first daughter and how she longs to be a regular girl without the secret service dogging her every step. Don't bother renting it unless you're a teen. Anyway, the U.S. Secret Service is an organization that interests me. So, here's some Monday trivia about it.

I had thought until recently that their only job was to protect current and past presidents and VIPs, like foreign dignitaries. But that's not the case. According to the official Secret Service website:

The Secret Service has primary jurisdiction to investigate threats against Secret Service protectees; counterfeiting of U.S. currency or other U.S. Government obligations; forgery or theft of U.S. Treasury checks, bonds or other securities; credit card fraud; telecommunications fraud; computer fraud; identify fraud; and certain other crimes affecting federally insured financial institutions.

Their origins really had to do with money, and the protection of the presidents didn't come into play until much later.

1865 The Secret Service Division began on July 5, 1865 in Washington, D.C., to suppress counterfeit currency.

1902 The Secret Service assumed full-time responsibility for protection of the President. Two operatives were assigned full time to the White House Detail.

Agents must go through a heck of a lot of training, but that's not surprising.

Secret Service agents receive the finest law enforcement training in the world. New agent trainees are initially sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia, where they are enrolled in the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP). This 9-week course, designed to train new federal investigators in such areas as criminal law and investigative techniques, provides a general foundation for the agency-specific training to follow.

Upon successful completion of CITP, new agent trainees attend the 11-week Special Agent Training Course at the Secret Service Training Academy, Beltsville, Maryland. This course focuses on specific Secret Service policies and procedures associated with the dual responsibilities of investigations and protection. Trainees are provided with basic knowledge and advanced application training in combating counterfeiting, access device fraud and other financial criminal activity, protective intelligence investigations, physical protection techniques, protective advances and emergency medicine. The core curriculum is augmented with extensive firearms training, control tactics, water survival skills and physical fitness.

A neighbor of mine moved away last year, and it wasn't until after they were gone that I found out the husband was a Secret Service agent. Silly me, I got a little thrill from that bit of knowledge. Like, oooh, that guy is trained to use guns and stuff like in the movies! It all of a sudden made sense that he was so taciturn and macho. Though the downside is I heard that when he was away on assignment, his wife couldn't be told any information at all and that she'd just be biting her nails the whole time he was gone. That's gotta be tough.

Must Have Coffee

Like recipe day, I'm going to make it a regular occurence to post some interesting trivia about topics that interest me. So, because this idea occured to me while I was enjoying my mandatory morning coffee, today's trivia topic is coffee.

IN COFFEE WE TRUST
The heavy tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773, which caused the "Boston Tea Party," resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. Drinking coffee was an expression of freedom. The founding fathers often formed national strategies in coffeehouses.

I WAS ITALIAN IN A PAST LIFE
Here is more proof. Not only do I adore Italian food, the language, the country, and the art, I find out that Italians revere coffee so much that they do not drink espresso during meals. It is considered to be a separate event and is given its own time. "Barista" is a respected job title there, and espresso is so essential to life there that the government regulates its price.

IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES
In the ancient Arab world, coffee became such a staple in family life that one of the causes allowed by law for marital separation was a husband's refusal to produce coffee for his wife.

COWBOY INGENUITY
It's said cowboys made their coffee by putting ground coffee into a clean sock, immersing it in cold water, and heating it over campfire. When ready, they would pour the coffee into tin cups and drink it.

WANT FRIES WITH THAT?
Frederick the great had his coffee made with champagne and a bit of mustard. The Italians drink their espresso with sugar, the Germans and Swiss - with equal parts of hot chocolate, the Mexicans - with cinnamon, the Belgians - with chocolate. Moroccans drink their coffee with peppercorns, the Ethiopians - with a pinch of salt. Coffee drinkers in the Middle East usually add cardamom and spices. Whipped cream is the favourite amongst Austrians. The Egyptians are extremely fond of pure and strong coffee. They seldom add sugar to it, nor milk nor cream. They serve unsweeteened coffee to mourners and sweetened coffee at weddings. The Italians are the unrivaled World Masters of Espresso.

See? Italy rocks! (So, I've confessed, and now my mother can now be officially disgusted with me for holding Italians (not Chinese) in such high esteem.)