Last year my younger sister was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It’s a disease that affects the nerves and eventually sufferers end up in a wheel chair. At present there’s no cure. It was a shock to us all, and I really feel for her. We (the family) all suffer from a sense of helplessness because there is nothing we can do, except to offer help when it’s needed and to be available to listen when necessary.
She works in a bank, and since the world economy has declined, it has become a very stressful job. Not only do employers put pressure on staff to meet targets, but customers shout at the staff and expect them to work miracles. My sister has reduced her hours, but the week before last, a customer returned from overseas, went into the branch and shouted at her for twenty minutes nonstop. She’s good at her job, is efficient, and customers follow her whenever she moves to a new branch. She felt she hadn’t done anything wrong and was very upset when the branch manager and those higher up backed the customer. She was so upset it triggered her MS. Her shoulders ached, and when I rang her, she couldn’t get up to answer the phone. Her body didn’t work.
When we talked she said she was so disillusioned, she’d decided to hand in her notice. For her it was a matter of principle. I agreed. Last week she handed in her notice, and in the new year, she’ll start job hunting. She said it felt as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders, and after a couple of days off work plus a doctor’s visit, the pain faded. She’s getting around again and seems a little better, at least for now.
Last week the doctor told her about some new clinical trials for MS sufferers. Even though the trials won’t help her, she’s decided to participate in the hope the research and results will help others in the future.
I’ve discussed stress in the past. It’s is a terrible thing, and we all suffer from it at some point. I remember coming out in a full body rash because I was so worried about some upcoming exams. These days I’m fairly stress free. I’m a big believer in regular exercise. Go for a walk, take the kids to a nearby park and get some fresh air. It really does help reduce stress levels.
People who are under a great deal of stress feel as if their lives are out of control. If I ever get to this stage, I find that lists are a good idea. Write down all the things you need to do, prioritize and tick the items off one by one. A list really does help with a semblance of control.
For my sister, she needs to slow down a little. Hopefully, she will find an enjoyable job–one that won’t send her into meltdown. My fingers are crossed.
The run up to Christmas is usually busy and it can be stressful. What strategies do you use to cope with stress? And if anyone has experience with MS, do you have advice?
I’m blogging at My Foolish Wisdom today with Soldier of Fortune. I’m talking about Occupations in Romance, and I’m doing a giveaway. Here’s the link to My Foolish Wisdom.
Last week I watched a reality-type show on the Living Channel called Shopping is My Life. Each show features a shopping addict and two experts give them advice so they can get their habit under control. They mentioned some interesting statistics about shopping.
The average person used to purchase 19 items of clothing per year.
The average person now purchases 34 items of clothing per year.
The featured shopping addict purchased 400 plus items of clothing per year.
My sister really enjoys the Sophie Kinsella Shopaholic series and has suggested I read them. I haven’t seen the movie either. Maybe one day soon. It’s on my list, but from what I hear the heroine should probably submit themselves to the Shopping is My Life experts.
I’ve had a rough count, and I think I’ve purchased 15 items of clothing and footwear this year. It’s been a busy year shopping for me this year. Last year it would have been well under 10 items. I can’t imagine 400 items. That’s a lot of shopping!
How many items of clothing have you purchased this year? Have you read any of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series? Have you seen the movie? If so, what did you think?
Today Soldier of Fortune is out at Ellora’s Cave. It’s an erotic contemporary romance that’s set in both Iraq and New Zealand. Two years ago, I watched a documentary about private security companies operating in the war zone and the New Zealanders who take up contracts with them to make big money. It’s a dangerous job, yet some of the men go back for more than one contract. They’re in it for both the money and the adrenaline rush.
I’ve been wanting to write stories about some of the secondary characters in Summer in the City of Sails, and this documentary provided me with a possible plot line. I did lots of research, watched heaps of documentaries on British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to make my story realistic. I didn’t want to overwhelm the reader with war so hopefully I’ve managed to strike the balance between realism and romance.
In my story, there’s a female correspondent who works for CBS. One of the jobs of the private security force is to keep her and the other CBS employees safe when they go about doing their job, reporting on the progress of the war. It takes a clear head to calmly report a story while dodging bullets, and I know I couldn’t do it. Female correspondents are often able to interview local women about their experiences and get answers to quite intimate questions. Male correspondents would not have the same access, and many women refuse to talk with them.
I’m taking Soldier of Fortune out on tour. Yes, it’s true—you’ll get to hear more about me and my Ninja Turtle soldiers. Here’s a link to my blog tour schedule.
Would you like to be a reporter? Would you like to be a reporter in a war zone?
Authors, a heads up. SingleTitles.com just relaunched, sporting a full site makeover and a contest to celebrate the new look. They’re offering up $450 worth of advertising as prizes. If you write romance, mystery or thrillers you should head over and check out. http://www.singletitles.com
I have a new release this week, on Wednesday 18th November to be precise. I’ve just received the cover for Soldier of Fortune.
The foreground shows my hero and heroine in Fiji and there’s a soldier in the background, which also fits the story. Both my hero and heroine are soldiers. I like my new cover, affectionately dubbed “the Ninja Turtle cover” by hubby and myself because you can’t see my soldier’s face and the armor makes him look like a Ninja turtle.
Here’s the blurb:
Joanna “Mac” McGregor loves her father, and she’ll do anything to keep him safe after Alzheimer’s starts to steal his mind. That takes money, and Mac uses her only skills—those of soldiering—when she takes up a security contract in Iraq. She doesn’t have time for men, her last vacation fling in Fiji relegated as one perfect moment to hold close during the grim reality of war.
Soldier Louie Lithgow is tired of fighting, the constant danger, and has decided this is his last contract. He wants to retire, sink his savings into a place on the beach, and find the sexy Joanna, his holiday lover.
Mac’s arrival in Iraq causes consternation. They’ve both been economical with the truth, but the attraction sizzling between them flares hot and bright. They embark on a clandestine affair—professional and confident during their high-danger day, passionate with the release of emotional stress during their torrid nights. One thing is clear—they have different goals and the future is both murky and dangerous. If they survive their contracts.
A couple of weeks ago I purchased an item manufactured by Durex. It proved faulty, and I couldn’t find a consumer address on the packaging. My next move was to go to the Durex website where I found a contact address. On Sunday I emailed their customer contact address with all the relevant details. And no, I’m not telling you what the product was—suffice to say I write erotic romance and like to do my own research! On Monday morning at 9.00 am, I received a response. They apologized and offered to replace the faulty product. On Thursday, I received my replacement item plus a few freebies. This is excellent customer service, and I’m impressed. I will happily continue to research Durex products (the inspiration for my contemporary romance, Fancy Free, which is about a woman who inherits a condom factory.)
Throughout my working life, I’ve held jobs that dealt with the public: a bank, a pub, an accountant and administration. In my last job as administration for the local McDonald’s franchisee, it was my job to field telephone complaints and write letters to customers who had problems with their McDonald’s experience. I know what it is like on the other side, and quite frankly, there were some horrid, rude customers who were completely unreasonable. Because of my experience, I’m very sensitive to customer service. While I expect good service, I try not to take out my frustration or a bad mood on hapless shop assistants. I smile and say thank you to the guys who pack my groceries. I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of an unreasonable rant.
I actually think that customer service has declined in a lot of businesses here in New Zealand. I don’t know why this is, but there are times where I lose patience and will walk away to spend my hard-earned money elsewhere.
In CatNap, book eight of my Middlemarch Mates series, brother and sister Rohan and Ambar Patel run the family grocery store. (They consequently sell it and move to a new grocery story in Middlemarch) The cornerstone of their business is customer service. Their strict parents have taught them that the customer is king and this is the way they run their business, going the extra mile to please their customers. Good customer service works for them.
What do you think about customer service? Is it better than it used to be or worse? Do you have any experiences to share?
When we visited Zanzibar, one of the things I remember was the spice tour. Up until that stage my main acquaintance with spices was the ones purchased at the supermarket. It was a bit of an eye-opener learning where some of the spices came from.
Thirteen Types of Spices
1. All Spice – the dried berries of an evergreen tree that’s native to the West Indies. It’s used in baking and the whole berries can be used in stews or casseroles.
2. Cardamom – these pods can be used whole or ground and is used to flavor spiced vegetable dishes and pilafs. It’s used in Indian ice cream and the Middle Eastern Halva.
3. Cloves – are dried flower buds. They’re delicious with stewed apple /apple pie.
4. Cinnamon – made from dried bark. It’s mainly used in cakes and biscuits. Cinnamon toast is yummy.
5. Ginger – the root of a flowering plant that’s native to China. The root is used fresh and grated or it can be dried to a powder. I use the fresh ginger in savory dishes and the powder in sweet dishes.
6. Nutmeg – dried kernel of an apricot-like fruit. It’s often used in sweet dishes, but it goes great with vegetables and rice.
7. Tamarind – the dried fruit of the tamarind tree. It’s used in curries and Indian dishes. I love tamarind sauce with samosa.
8. Vanilla – snake-like pods of a climbing orchid. They’re very expensive to purchase. Vanilla goes great with fruit dishes, custards and milk desserts.
9. Turmeric – it’s also a root or rhizome like ginger and it’s a bright gold color. It’s used in Indian cooking and the British add it to their piccalilli (piquant pickle).
10. Poppy seeds – widely used in Indian and Jewish cooking. It’s often sprinkled on top of bread. Don’t ever drop these because they take ages to clean up!!
11. Peppercorns – They come in different colors but black are the most common. I have a pepper grinder and use it liberally on savory dishes.
12. Cumin seeds – come from a plant related to the parsley family. The seeds are best roasted before use. It’s used in curries and savory vegetable dishes.
The first is at RomCon where I’m talking about big cats and feline shifters. I’m also giving away a download from my backlist to one commenter. Here’s the link to my RomCon post.
I’m also blogging at Access Romance where I’m talking about baking for Christmas. Here’s the link to my Access Romance post.
In writing news, I’ve learned my next Ellora’s Cave book Soldier of Fortune is due for release on 18 November. That’s next week!! I don’t have a cover to show you yet, but I do have a blurb and excerpt available to tempt you. Soldier of Fortune features Louie Lithgow who first appeared in one of my earlier books, Summer in the City of Sails.
The Great Book Trailer contest commences at JK Coi’s blog today. JK has posted all the entries she’s received, including my trailer for Leticia’s Lovers. I’d love your vote.
There is a prize for the winning author and everyone who comments/votes will be entered in a contest to win a prize as well! One vote is allowed per person.
Fellow New Zealander and friend Amanda Ashby has produced a delightful trailer for her book Zombie Queen of Newbury High. It’s a great book – I enjoyed it very much and chuckled my way through Mia’s adventures, so if you enjoy Young Adult stories or have a daughter who enjoys reading, this is the book for you.
Today is the last day of my Soldier of Fortune tour. I’m visiting Kaye Manro and talking about communication, the war zone and letter writing.
Today 
. It’s a great book – I enjoyed it very much and chuckled my way through Mia’s adventures, so if you enjoy Young Adult stories or have a daughter who enjoys reading, this is the book for you.
