Tarah Scott

Winner of Romancing February Contest

2009-02-27T18:32:00Z

Congratulations, Debby, you're the winner of my contest! Email me at tscott@tarahscott.com and I'll get your GC to you asap.

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by my blog. It's always a pleasure to see everyone!

Romancing February Contest

2009-02-27T18:30:00Z

I didn't post our next blogger. I hadn't realized each of us was passing everyone off. I am so sorry! If this throws anyone off, let me know, and I'll make it up to you.

Marly Matthews http://www.marlymathews.blogspot.com/

Romancing February Contest

2009-02-26T01:57:00Z

In deciding what I wanted to talk about for Valentine’s day, I got to thinking about the differences in how the world celebrates holidays. There are far too many different ways to celebrate Valentine’s day to list, but I did find some that really stood out.

In South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14. On April 14 (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th of Feb or March go to a Chinese restaurant to eat black noodles and "mourn" their single life.

Can you imagine! Do the mourners eat alone? ROFL!! That brings dining out alone to a new level. How about the fact the men give women NONCHOCOLATE gifts? Who do they think they are keeping the good stuff to themselves?

But don’t despair. If you are among the mourners, there are other chances for romance redemption.

The 14th of every month marks a love-related day in Korea, although most of them are obscure. From January to December: Candle Day, Valentine's Day, White Day, Black Day, Rose Day, Kiss Day, Silver Day, Green Day, Music Day, Wine Day, Movie Day, and Hug Day.

Has anyone let Hallmark in on this exploding market?

In Chinese culture, there is an older observance related to lovers, called "The Night of Sevens" (Chinese: 七夕; pinyin: Qi Xi). According to the legend, the Cowherd star and the Weaver Maid star are normally separated by the milky way (river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar.

Talk about star crossed lovers!

In Scotland Valentine’s Day is celebrated by having a festival. At the festival there is an equal amount of young unmarried (single) men and young unmarried (single) ladies who get together, each of them writes on a piece of paper their name or a made up name, this is then rolled up. The names are placed in two hats one for the men one for the ladies they then have to draw a piece of paper out of the hat. Both may end up with two valentines but the young man is suppose to stick with the valentine who has chosen him.

This having been done the company has been split up into so many couples, gifts are given to the young ladies and the young ladies would wear the name of their valentine over their heart or on their sleeve. There might also be a dance and at the end of the festival there might even be a lot of marriages or romances.

Sounds a little like Vegas!

Euphoria of Valentine's Day festival in India can be experienced weeks before the festival. Television, radio and print media start creating hype about the festival by covering all facets of it. Gift marketers and card companies launch a rigorous campaign to lure the youngsters. Card and gift shops are interestingly decorated with symbols of Valentine's Day including roses, cupid and heart shaped balloons. Shopping malls in metropolitan cities organize fun-filled competitions and distribute discount coupons to lure the consumers.

On February 14, the Valentine's Day restaurants, discos, Cineplex, pubs and pizza parlors see a particularly busy time as couples celebrate the day in togetherness. Many boys and girls even propose to their sweetheart on this romantic day. People also express love to their friends, teachers, siblings and parents. Popular Valentine's Day gifts exchanged in India include chocolates, fresh flowers, cards, soft toys and candies. These are also clubbed with several other gifts to pamper sweethearts.

Ahh, sounds like home.

Valentine’s day, the day of love, passion, even frienship. My first valentine. I was nine, and certain the boy was trying to make fun of me. In retrospect, I realize he was nine, and just didn’t know what to do with a girl he liked. ROFL. Poor thing. I didn’t help at all. I let him know I was onto his tricky way. Ahh, the joys of love.

Tell me about your valentine’s day-your first valentine, most memorable, funniest, happiest, whatever you want to talk about. Anything can happen on Valentine’s day.

Everyone who posts will be in a random drawing for a $5 gift certificate from The Wild Rose Press. My contest ends, midnight, February 26, 2009.

Good luck, and a romantic rest-of-the-love-month to everyone!

Tarah

Romancing February Contest

2009-02-24T21:22:00Z

ROMANCING FEBRUARY

28 romance authors invite you to participate in a month-long event of love and laughter. Each day starting Feb. 1, 2009 an author will throw a romance party at her blog and host a contest with a prize. The link to the next day's blog location will also be provided at each location. Just drop by and enter the contest. And get ready to heat up the cold wintery days of February.

Schedule:
1 Amber Shedeck
2 Opal campbell
3 Alisha Wilson
4 Heather Hiestand
5 Ashley Ludwig
6 Nan Jacobs
7 Susan Palmquist
8 Ginger Simpson
9 Masha Holl
10 Ginger Simpson
11 Anna K. Lanier
12 Anne Carrole
13 Skhye Moncrief
14 Dayana Knight
15 C H Admirand
16 Sky Purington
17 Chelle Hicks
18 PL Parker
19 Elaine Cantrell
20 Susanne Saville
21 Bess McBride
22 Beth Caudill
23 Stacy Holmes
24 Liana Lavarentz
25 Terry Wilson
26 Tarah Scott--Be sure to visit my blog this Thursday for my contest.
27 Marly Matthews
28 TBA

Only a writer could love

2009-02-01T01:19:00Z

This is likely something only a writer could really love, but it's so darned funny I thought I'd take a chance my reader friends might get a laugh out of this. Colleen Lindsay, an unrepentant nerd and a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management hosted a query contest Jan 14. To see the results, go to her blog theswivet.blogspot.com/ and scroll down to Query in 140 Characters or Less Contest Winners!. (To see all the entries--a must see!--go to theswivet.blogspot.com/2009/01/query-in-140-characters-or-less-contest.html )

The winners are priceless, the entries too good to be missed. Hope everyone gets a chuckle.

Tarah

A brand new year

2009-01-06T13:36:00Z

2009 waits for us, possibilities unlimited.

2008 was a tough year for many people, not just Americans, but everyone around the world. It's wonderful how connected the world is today. We really are one people. On the other hand, we're only as strong as the weakest link. Oh, the joys of solidarity.

What are your hopes for the new year? Many won't be surprised to hear that, for me, my first personal goal is to write more. I admit it, it's a sickness. My second, and last, goal is to have the major renovations on my home finished this year. It's doable as my brother is my contractor. (It really is all about who you know.) Oh! One last goal I forgot, survive another year with my eleven-year-old daughter who's jumped head first into the throes of puberty. Ugh! I was never this bad!

How about everyone else, what lies ahead for you in 2009?

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T23:14:00Z

A safe and happy new year to all my blog friends!

Psychic Hall of Shame

2008-12-31T14:39:00Z

This is just too good. Renowned psychic, Melissa Alvarez, has started a Psychic Hall of Shame on her Paranormal Examiner page.

Nothing boils my blood quicker than fraudulent psychics who rip people off. With the world the way it is, people need help one another. That doesn’t mean you line your pockets by "helping" them when they're down and out. This week alone I’ve done more free readings than I’ve done paid readings and I think other real psychics should do the same. The frauds will probably disagree with me but then again, we’re on different paths because I don’t think having psychic abilities should be about making a great living with the abilities but should instead be about helping others. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think psychics should charge something because the time and energy they put into their readings has value, but ripping people off – that’s wrong.

Because I’m so sick of seeing this happen over and over again, I’m starting a “Psychic Hall of Shame” for those people who are preying on others while they claim to have “psychic powers” and get arrested for it. I actually hate that term. Having abilities is a gift, not a "power".

For full article and to see the Hall of Shame, visit
http://www.examiner.com/x-1814-Paranormal-Examiner~y2008m12d27-About-the-psychic-hall-of-shame

Winner of Christmas blog ride

2008-12-22T17:29:00Z

Congratulations, Debra St. John! You're my winner of the Christmas blog ride.

Email me at tscott@tarahscott.com to confirm your email addy, and the GC is all yours.

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. It's always so nice to see everyone.

Christmas Ride Blog Prize

2008-12-21T02:12:00Z

My Christmas song clue

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is...
You

Your next stop on the Christmas blog is Dayana Knight

http://dayanaknight.blogspot.com/

If you’ve missed stops, no sweat. There’s still lots of Christmas cheer to go around. Collect the songs to enter the grand prize drawing. One lucky person will win a $75 Wild Rose Press gift certificate! All you need to do to enter is attend each day's blog post, identify the carol, and make a complete carol list to submit after the final blog post of Christmas Eve. Don't forget to check the list twice! Send it to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight, CST Dec. 31st 2008!

Any questions, just ask.