About Me
- Pamela Clare
- I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Answers, news and videotape
Navajo National Monument at sunset First the news:
Heaven Can’t Wait is now available on Kindle for real. There was some kind of glitch that told readers it wasn't available in the United States, but that has been resolved. If you don’t have an e-reader, it is available in some formats that enable you to just read it on your computer.
Surrender is now available in Japanese. The title translates to something like, “Kissing the Warrior in the Kilt.” So we’re not the only ones obsessed with Scottish heroes. Nice to know! I love the cover!
How did Annie's head get stuck in the trees?I’ll be spending most of Thursday at the state capitol meeting with the senator who is carrying the shackling bill and others who are interested in supporting the bill. As soon as I have a bill number, I’ll write about it for the paper, as will other reporters I know who want to support what I’m doing. Hey, I can’t help it if have great media connections.
Also, I won First Place in SPJ’s regional journalism contest (Rocky Mountain states) in the Legal Affairs reporting category for an article I wrote last year about kids awaiting trial who are kept in 23-hour lockdown. The purpose of the lockdown is to segregate them from adult male offenders for their own protection (they're mostly boys), but the result is that panicked kids who haven’t yet been found guilty are treated in the same way as the most dangerous and worst of adult felons. They’re given a level of isolation that is reserved as a punishment for misbehaving or dangerous and violent adult inmates. And some kids, in a panic and alone, have committed suicide in their cells. Truly tragic and utterly unnecessary!
And now for the answers:
I combed through more the 70+ pages of text from the spoiler chat and found a few unanswered questions. Given how fast the text was flying by, I’m amazed that I didn’t miss more. Heck, maybe I did. But here are two I plucked out of obscurity.
Dana asked: “I liked all the overs of the I-Team series, but unlike the others, Kat’s face was covered. Why?”
Answer: First, let me say that Kat’s face is covered with man-chest. That’s waaay better than a burka or something. See the comparison below.
Above: Man chest. Below: Burka. Which would you rather have on your face?
But, you're right. Her face isn’t showing. Since I didn’t really participate in the creation of the cover, I can’t really say why. It might have had something to do with not finding finished art of a heroine who has American Indian features. Or maybe they felt that seeing the heroine from behind like that so that the image focused more on the hero’s biceps would be a fresh look.
Ronna asked: “Are we going to see deleted scenes [from Naked Edge] or Natalie/Zac scenes soon?”
Answer: No and no. My editor didn’t cut anything out of story, so there’s nothing lying on the cutting-room floor for me to share with you. The only thing that my editor had me change was the beginning of the epilogue because she felt people would be too freaked out reading about a woman who was nine months pregnant having sex. I changed the scene so that it starts after Kat and Gabe have, er, finished. So unless y’all want to read that...
As for Natalie and Zach — I changed the spelling of his name — I will eventually post excerpts, but I have to write something first. I have only eight pages written, and I’m throwing out half of that. The story has evolved by leaps and bounds in the past few days, and now I have to start over more or less.
What you might be able to read off and on are “scenes between the books,” i.e., scenes that fill in the stories of certain couples between the books. That might be anything from the I-Team heroes going to a baseball game together to the birth of Julian and Tessa’s baby girl to who knows what.
And, unlike some authors, I have no problem with readers writing fan fic/slash. In fact, I post it on my website. The only thing I ask is that the writing be tasteful and true to the series and characters. So if anyone writes any more of that, you’ll have that to tide you over, too.
And now for the videotape:
Shortly after I finished Naked Edge, I came across a VHS documentary about the traditional Diné titled, Seasons of a Navajo. Filmed in the 1980s, it shows the lifestyle of a traditional Navajo family over the course of year. It is truly beautiful and captures the rhythm of life among the traditional Diné. I shared it with Kat and she had the same reaction I had: tears. We both freaking loved it.
The hogaan, the sheep pens, shade houses, the Navajo version of a sweat lodge, people speaking Navajo, frybread, mutton, a Navajo grannie weaving — this has it all. This would be like seeing Kat’s grandma and her Uncle Allen going about their daily lives. It would be seeing how Kat grew up. I thought you would really like that.
So I bought two copies of the tape — one for myself and one to share with all of you. Here’s how it will work:
If you’re interested in seeing the video, let me know by posting here. I’ll draw a name from all of those who want to see it, and that person will be the first to see it. Then she will mail it to the No. 2 person, who will mail it to No. 3 and so on. Or if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your address with someone else, that person can mail it back to me, and I’ll mail it to you.
The only drawback is, obviously, paying for postage (though it’s probably going to be roughly as cheap as renting it) and the fact that you must have a VHS player to watch it. A lot of people have only DVD players these days.
Let me know if you want to participate!
You can also post responses even if you don’t want the video, just let me know whether you want to be in a link in the video chain or not.
Did any of you try the frybread recipe yet?
Coming next week: The I-Team heroes recently got together for a group interview, and the results will be posted soon as part of a guest blog.
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17 comments:
Honestly, it was the cover of Naked Edge that caught my attention, initially. Then I read the blurb and knew that I wanted to read the book. I think the cover is gorgeous even though Kat's face isn't showing. They did a great job, the male model (can we find out his name, lol) is lean yet sculpted very much like a climber & the rich, black hair is very Kat.
I rented DreamKeeper from Netflix, will watch it this w/e. I'll see if they have the documentary as well. Count me out for the video round robin. No VHS player.
Can't wait for that I-Team heroes interview. That is going to be so much fun!
BTW, finished Hard Evidence. Still Team GABE all the way. I can totally understand Julian's appeal but he's a bit too alpha for my taste ;-)
Hi Scorpio — I hope you enjoy DreamKeeper. Be sure to come back and share your thoughts. I wish I could sit on your couch and watch it with you! I hope NetFlix has the documentary, too.
The interview was a lot of fun for them to do, as you'll see. It's slated to go up on Monday, March 29, at http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com/
So you read Julian's story, and you're still Team Gabe. I'm happy for him that he has a devoted team member. Julian has enough of those already. LOL!
Have a great day!
So I hate the fact that I just sold my VHS playing tv at the beginning of this semester because I REALLY want to watch that documentary!!! It could have probably helped with research and such since i still have no idea what I'm going to focus on with native americans for a thesis... Good thing I now have about two more years to think about it (transferred schools, ick)
I'm also excited about the interview!!!
Love the Japanese cover, Pamela. How DID Annie's head get in the trees, lol! Ahe's beautiful, but a little too plucked and polished for Annie.
The video sounds amazing, but again, no VCR. Maybe at some point they'll copy it onto a disc. Hope so!
Well I got rid of my VHS player, dang it!
I have a question about the fry bread. Can I cut the salt in half? Was it really 4 Tablespoons of salt? Gotta watch the blood pressure and that would be a definite no-no.
Congrats on the contest win.
One complaint: Can't get Naked Edge out of my head. Get out - I have other books to read!! Doesn't help that I'm reading Christy's No Chance with another Gabe LOL.
Hi Pamela! Way to go on the Bill I hope it went well today!
I would love to be a part of the video round robin as well! It sounds awesome! BIG HUGS
Jeez, I meant 2T of salt. Sorry!
Oh, no, Christine! LOL! Maybe you can borrow one? Or watch it at a friend's house? There are lots of topics you could focus on, for sure. Modern relocations. The loss of urban sacred sites. The blending and mixing of spiritual traditions. The loss of Native languages (some are extinct now). Good luck with that and keep us posted!
Hi, Linda — I thought the exact same thing about Annie. No on who lives on the frontier looks quite so polished.
I hope they do get the documentary on disk. Maybe Netflix has it in that format. If you're interested at all, it's worth check out, because it's a fantastic documentary.
Hi, Debbie - Well, dang it all! Oh, well. Hmmm... I think you could cut the salt back. It will change the taste, but do you what you need to do to make the recipe better for you. Let me know how it goes!
Hi, Mary G — Uh-oh. Sounds like Gabe Confusion Syndrome to me. Too many contemporary RS Gabes. That definitely should be a topic at GabeFest 2010. I'm so glad you enjoyed NAKED EDGE that much, Mary. Truly, that's just wonderful.
Hey, Jenn — So far you're the only person who could watch it, so I'll get it in the mail to you. I know you'll enjoy it.
As for the bill — thank you! Yesterday went very, very well. I left Denver feeling excited and a little amazed that it was really happening. I'll do an update on that soon.
Pamela, great work on the bill, it must feel great to have such an impact.
Netflix didn't have the documentary so I may end up joining the video round robin. I am very interested in watching it. I love reading. It just opens so many avenues of learning. I googled/YouTubed rock climbing & skiing vids after NE and saw some amazing climbs and athletic feats.
Mary G., I was thinking of reading NO CHANCE too, let me know what you think.
Did someone say GabeFest?!?! :)
Congrats on the SPJ award!! How cool...and well deserved. You have me very curious about how things are in Utah prisons. I'm twisting the arms of a few reporter friends still working in journalism here to help me out. I don't have press credentials anymore. They're so convenient to have...maybe I need to do some part time work and get them back!
Anyway, one of the difficulties I've encountered here in Utah with the "shackling" in medical facilities, is that a guard was overpowered and murdered a couple of years ago by an inmate who WASN'T shackled during a medical procedure. So the "climate" isn't right for that kind of bill. It was a sad story, but the inmate was a very dangerous, young, powerfully built MALE...not a 9 cm dialated female in transition, bent over in pain. I'm still working on it.
Let us know how your bill fares, I'm anxious to see how easily it passes and what obstacles you encounter along the way.
Love your fry bread recipe. We have "Navajo Tacos" for dinner quite frequently here. YUM! Fry bread is also quite good with fresh sliced strawberries and whipped cream. Probably not culturally accurate, but nevertheless, delicious.
Can't wait for the I-Team interviews!! I think they need to take place on a hot summer day, around a swimming pool...with everyone shirtless. ;)
Diane
Hi, Scorpio — It does feel good. At one point when we were sitting around a table — me, an ob/gyn from ACOG, two women representing the Latina reproductive rights group COLOR, the senator, her intern, and the lawyer from Legislative Legal services — I got kind of a head rush because I realized that we were really doing it.
I met the doctor and the two women from COLOR ahead of time to make sure we were on the same page. Both groups had been interested in doing a bill like this but hadn't planned to go forward till next year.
Then we went upstairs to the senator's office. She arrived a few minutes later. I spent maybe 15 minutes explaining the need for this bill and the issues surrounding it. Then we went line by line through the draft of the bill I'd written and changed the text. The lawyer from Legal Services knows how people can fight over wording so she was trying to help us craft something where no single word would result in wrangling. "What do you mean by 'restraints'? Is postpartum recover part of delivery?" And on and on and on. Now she'll write up a draft that passes legal scrutiny... and then it will be a bill and will be introduced into the Senate.
Aren't those YouTube videos amazing? Watching guys ski off cliffs or ski extreme powder or huck themselves... And the rock climbing is like poetry. When I watch my brother climb, I'm amazed at how graceful he is. Me... Not so much. :-)
OK, I'll put you in the lineup for the video.
Christy Reece and I were joking that we needed to host a GabeFest because we both had Gabes in our releases this month. Then someone (was it you, Mary?) discovered something like 11 other Gabes in recent romantic suspense novels. Too funny!
Hi, Diane — Thanks!
You know, if you're going to write something about it, you can probably say you're a freelance reporter. You just need to arrange something with a paper. I suggest finding an alternative newsweekly -- there's one in Salt Lake -- and seeing if they'd be interested in a story.
Of course, that means researching and writing an article.
How horrible that the guard was murdered. But, yes, there's a huge difference between a big man and a laboring woman. That's one thing we talked about yesterday with the senator — how prison rules are mostly made for men because they account for the biggest percentage of the population and can truly be dangerous.
I'm so glad you're interested in it. There might be a chapter of ACOG in Utah (American College of OBs and GYNs). If so, I know they want to do something about it, so maybe you can help them in some way.
Even handing the story to a reporter somewhere as a concerned citizen could move it forward in your state.
Ooooh! I love the idea of the interview being done around a pool with the guys shirtless and maybe in shorts. *wink wink* I'll see what I can do. :-)
Scorpio
Go get No Chance right now. I broke my rule about reading suspense at night. I was up reading it till 2:30AM. I only put it down because I had to work today. Already sent this to Christy
and it was only Chapter 2:No Chance is just taking my breath away. I just read the first love scene with Gabe & Skye.
I don't know how you managed to write a love scene that is both tender, reverent & passionate at the same time. Just brilliant so far.
Hi Pamela
It wasn't me that found all the Gabes. Maybe Kara. What a great idea though.