Big Day

Today is the day that the winner of the fifth and final American Title contest will be revealed at the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Orlando.

To find out what the other contestants are up to now that the contest is over, check out
http://www.magicalmusings.com

Welcome Chris Winters!

When we were in Pittsburgh in April for the Romantic Times Convention, some of us had the pleasure of meeting Chris Winters, Mr. Romance 2008. Chris is more than a handsome face and yummy body, he’s a lovely guy with a great sense of humor. Today we’re delighted to have Chris visiting us on Title Magic to answer our questions to give us a little insight into what makes him tick!

Q:In many people’s minds, models are like superheroes—super perfect and a little unreal. If you could be one of the well known superheroes from film or fiction which would you choose and why?

CW:Neo, from the Matrix. Because, although He was the One to many, he believed he was not, and asked a lot of questions based on his own experiences. He had many powers that came to be just by believing and faith. Neo had lived by theories and those theories were challenged by the levels of challenges he faced. Each challenge was different and puzzling, but Neo, through faith, had an answer towards an experience.

Q:Which superhero or villain would you rather not meet in a dark alley?

CW:I typically do not frequent dark alleys, but if I did, I would say DarkSeid. He's a fictional super villain. His powers are stamina, intellect, speed, and a few powers! It used to be myself, because when it's quiet and you are alone, your mind likes to do it's best to totally mess with you! (laughs)

Q:Which superhero woman would you like to meet and why?

CW:Wonder Woman! Point blank! Golden Truth rope? Hot legs, and a take control type gal? She's hot and always been a fantasy of mine.

Q:In an ideal world, what will you be doing in five years time?

CW:Good question! It's hard to say, actually, due to the many things that intervene my life, or the people I meet. So prognosticating my future would be a bit arduous, however, I plan on doing more television film work. I have goals, and to accomplish those goals, I accomplish objectives. I always tend to accomplish most of them because I am so determined. I hate given into failure, although I experience plenty of it. It’s my mindful stamina that keeps me going.

Q:What’s been the most romantic moment in your life? (That we can print!)

CW:The most romantic part of my experiences, I would say, is after sex you press your bodies together, right before sleeping. It’s the binding when two people hold each other and the way the skin feels. I love that feeling and I love to touch! So even after sex, holding each other, I typically rub her skin. Her legs. The small of her back. Her hair. I love to place small kisses on the back of her neck. Touching is very important! Holding a person is endless time passion.

Q:What’s your definition of romance?

CW:My definition of romance is the simple little things in life. Most think it's candle light dinners, a one day valentine's day perhaps. I say romance is a physical, mental entity. A simple caress of one's face. Just turning around and looking at them, and then having them catch you doing it. The flush of her feelings tides over, and she knows that I desire her. Perhaps, me opening the door for her, which I usually do. That's ANY door!

I also feel another important aspect is, when you come into a room full of people, you want to make your person feel important, or wanted. For example, I will tell the waiter to flirt with my woman, just to have her know she is attractive. I like it when she feels sexy, just by me showing or telling her. IT turns me on to know the guys in the room think my gal is attractive. To me, getting a person to KNOW they are
important as opposed to having them THINK they are important is romantic. It’s just the simple things.



Q:I know you’re writing a book. What’s it about?

CW:Oh, it's totally different from the romantic scene, full front. However, I will have some romance in it. It’s more of a science fiction type thing. I want to share my story concept by including my concept treatment passage:

Invisible War is a story that depicts human suffering and survival towards the destiny of human destruction. In essence, every object that exists has a continuous invisible war or conflict. The main character in the story is struggling to find himself, in addition, to stopping the person who has become the Redeemer of the world. This Redeemer is nothing but the Influencer of many, who ultimately wants the human race controlled, contained, and ultimately destroyed. During all this conflict, many factions are playing against each other in a power struggle for land,
water, and religious control. These factions believe that they will be ‘the one’ that will up rise and bring stability and law to Earth, when in the end, they were just a controlled force to destroy the other in attempt for total destruction.

In the time of The Coming, of the Ends Of Earth, humans will consistently build and re-build, hoping that peace and structure will enter their lives. The followers of many shall flock to the powers that be and in hopes that a structured society will prevail, only to find that their destiny lies within their own paths, and influenced by the destiny of others.

Invisible War is a story that opens the mind of questions. It is a story of compassion and determination. It is a story of mind psyche in which will help liberate the mind into knowing that the events of reality are separate from the events from the mind. Our bodies are the transport, and our minds are the tool to get us to our destiny…
…to our end.

Q:What’s your favorite part of writing? And your least favorite part?

CW:My favorite part is designing the world, technology and the entity existence. It’s the theories, the laws, and the characters who have little things that describe themselves in and the contributions to the story. The least favorite part, I would say. Getting mind blocks. Time would be factors as well. I hate when I am working on something, and I have 5 million other things interfere. Another problem is English. I am so horrible at it. (Laughs)

Q:When you write, do you wait for inspiration or write every day no matter what?

Inspiration has already been defined by the mind that already inspired itself. One cannot write just to write, unless they want to write documentation. One must write because it is something the mind takes in, and creates a world from the world you already created. Once you have the reader 'see' what you 'see', that inspiration has already spawned into them.

Q:I know you also do some acting. If you could have played any existing role in any movie what would it have been and why?

CW:I would like to play a person who would be going through a life termination illness. The research, the role, the character, and the struggle alone would be gripping. I could imagine how a person would go through something like that. Playing a villain is predictable, as well a hero. Playing a person's struggle isn't.

Q:What’s your favorite vacation spot and why?

CW:My favorite vacation spot that I like are places where I feel as if I am not near home. It could be places where I close my eyes and feel as if I am no longer worrying about everyday life. Vacation has many different meanings, but to me, spending money and lavish lifestyles aren’t vacation. Vacation would be where you could go, and feel as if you were a child again, playing, freely as if life with laughing along with you.

Q:Who’s your favorite Flintstone, Wilma or Betty?

CW:GOOD question. I kinda like the woman who takes charge like Wilma. Domination is really fun! However most women love dot be dominated, and I love it too. So I would have to say.... Betty! I love dark hair! Something about that gal. I think it is the quiet submissive type. You know, she's probably a little freak in bed. That's hot! (laughs).

Q:Oh, and final question from Savanna—do you like redheads, a redhead that purrs like a sex kitten and has a temper like Maureen O'Hara in the John Wayne films?

CW:I have to tell you this: Red heads, especially who have that auburn hair, those sexy blue eyes, and who look at you precisely like a cat, is very sexy. Tempers are hot, only when fighting in bed. A purring kitty is always nice.... Especially when she lies in my lap, as I pet her... Just like a good lil' kitty.

.:Chris Winters:.
http://www.chriswinters.com

Romantic Times Convention and Award Ceremony

By Helen Scott Taylor

I'm delighted to announce that I won the American Title IV contest. This is such an honor considering the quality of the other entries I was competing against. Here's the wonderful book cover Dorchester designed for my book, which will be released in February 2009.

Five ATIV finalists made the trip to Pittsburgh for the Romantic Times Convention. Evonne and I made the trip across the Atlantic from the UK to join Holly, Trish and Mel. It was great to meet up and although we missed the other five who didn't make it this year, we all had fun. Here we are from left to right, my daughter Katherine, Evonne, Helen, Trish, Holly and Mel.

The awards ceremony on Friday was exciting. Chris Keesler from Dorchester called all five of us up on stage before he announced the winner of American Title.

Then I made a short speech of thanks wearing my tiara! I even received a kiss of congratulation from Mr. Romance 2008, Chris Winters.

From left to right, Kathryn Falk, owner of Romantic Times, Helen and Chris Keesler from Dorchester.

Dorchester made a poster of my book cover that I got to ship home! (At great expense. would you believe UPS wanted to charge me $300 to ship it back to the UK!! Needless to say I found a cheaper alternative.)

One final pic that I must show you because my daughter is so pleased to have had her photograph taken with Fabio!

RT - A Squee a Minute

Okay, I have to say that the RT Con is completely insane. In a good way, of course, but still insane. Just in the elevator alone, I’ve seen MaryJanice Davidson (Squee!), Marjorie Liu (Squee!), Jade Lee (Squee!)and Mary Balogh (Squee!). I even passed Bertrice Small in the hallway(Squee-quee!). The only thing keeping me from pulling a Wayne and Garth style “We’re not worthy!” scene every five minutes is that the hotel is so packed, there’s just not room to do it properly. I may be geeking out, but I’m still practical, dammit.

For someone who’s a little crowd phobic, it’s really overwhelming, so I’ve been taking it all in weensie chunks. I’m taking advantage of the workshops, though. I’ve been to a couple of paranormal panels. This morning Trish, Holli, and I heard J.R. Ward and Jessica Anderson talk about world building and pacing. I’ve indulged my pen-whore addiction in the freebie hallway, and I’m dragging my poor hubby to the goody room later before we get ready for the faery ball. First, though, I’ve got to scoot if I’m going to learn how to construct the Surefire Six-Step Pitch.

There are two and a half days left, so stay tuned! :-)

Live from Pittsburgh!

The Romantic Times conference is under way, and the hotel lobby is currently filled with lots of romance writers and readers. Cover models are wandering around introducing themselves. One of the members of the vampire band that'll be playing later in the week is banging out some tunes on the bar's piano.

It's my first fan conference, so it'll be interesting to see how things progress over the next few days. It's really nice to not be responsible for anything or nervous about anything like I usually am at the RWA Conference. At RWA, I'm usually going about 90 mph and have to make myself a spreadsheet so I know where I'm supposed to be when.

One of the cool things about conferences is I get to meet up with writer friends I don't get to see anywhere else. I've bumped into pal Anna DeStefano, who writes for Harlequin Superromance, a couple of times. I had dinner with Colleen Gleason, Kelly (sorry, I don't remember your last name -- not enough sleep), and fellow American Title finalists Evonne and Holli. When I sign off, I'm going to have to find Holli so I can give her the coffeepot in my room since she doesn't have one and MUST have coffee in the morning. :)

I hear the other two ATers in attendance, Mel and Helen, are here, but I've not seen them yet. I'm guessing I'll bump into them tomorrow.

So, that's day one of RT. The other ATers in attendance will be posting on-site updates throughout the rest of the week, so stay tuned!

Hitting the Road

I'm almost packed. In a few hours the hubby and I will take to the highway in our little Metro en route to Pittsburgh for my very first Romantic Times convention. Between the social events, the writing workshops, and the (squee!) huge book fair, I know we'll have a fantastic time! But what I'm looking forward to more than any of the events, is having the opportunity to meet, face to face, some of the wonderful people I've been talking to online since ATIV began last fall. ATIV finalists and fellow Title Magicians Helen, Trish, Holli, and Evonne will be there, as will ATIII winner Jenny Gardiner, ATIII finalist Judi Fennell, and lots of other American Title alumni.

Are you going, too? If so, let us know so we can say howdy!

If you're not going, never fear. Most of us Magicians are arriving with cameras and notebooks in hand and will blog about the fun, so TM readers'll get bonus content in between the week's regular posts.

All right. Time to stick the elf ears and the monkey slippers in my duffel bag and hit the road. See y'all on the flip side!

The Magic of One Spirit

The new year, 2008, is the magic of ONE. 2+0+0+8 = 10 = 1+0 = 1, ONE. Simple if you’re familiar with numerology, originally brought forth by Pythagoras. No, he wasn’t just a math genius guy. He was also a man who studied the sacred vibrations of numbers, the harp string vibrations of our world. Or frequencies, what our universe is composed of, what we are all composed of at the subatomic level, according to the quantum physics’ geniuses, the ones who speak of other dimensions as reality now.
The magic of ONE. What’s your vibration, baby? Sort of like my boomer generations’ what’s your sign? ONE is the pioneer’s spirit, those who built our beloved country. Now those who adventure into space, those who roam over the globe and beneath the oceans searching for what has not been discovered yet. Hey, Bigfoot is still out there. Or as Fox Mulder of the X-Files said, the truth is out there.
ONE, ambition and drive and aggressive focus for getting done what needs to be done, for bringing forth your dreams, for achieving the new world, whether it’s your personal realm, or contributing your magic to our world. ONE is bringing forth the renaissance, born from what has been, and born from all of us, the ONE SPIRIT of us all. Yes, it’s the magic of our words written as novels, the magic of brushing art upon the canvas, the magic of a sculptor’s hand as the clay is shaped. It’s the magic of shaping and creating life. Your life and the lives of us all upon this world, upon this Earth.
ONE is also about winning. The year of ONE is the time for all of us who have worked hard toward our goals to gain whatever is rightfully ours. Yeah, on a side note, this Title Magician is more than eager for this welcome turn of events! To state it with excessive mildness. Yes, now is the time to ask yourself, what victories do you want in your life? And what victories do you want against the current dark forces running this world? BTW, Darth Vader is resurrected, and very much alive, in case you haven’t noticed.
ONE is also about wanting to be heard as an individual. Your individual voice. Your individual ideas. Everything you value most – mind, heart and spirit. Everyone’s voices raised up to the heavens – for, the tidal force of ONE SPIRIT will be heard this year.
ONE will be fast-paced. The hyper speed of a starship, I ask? Can any year be faster than last year? I ask in personal reflection, my head spinning like an out of control gyroscope. No, not exactly unusual, but how fast can a head spin?
This year of ONE is also about regeneration, the regeneration of the human will, the magical regeneration of our imaginations into higher, more rarified fantastical realms – those other dimensions out there. Picture this writer rushing to explore even more of her fantasy otherworld realms.
Another key aspect of this ONE year is our ability to reclaim more of our personal power, more of our personal magic to create our lives. Always a good thing IMHO. For, it is this personal magic, this new sorcery creation of our lives which will bring forth our highest-inspired renaissance upon the world, and within our own individual realms.
May I humbly suggest we bring forth more playfulness into our ONE year? Ever turkey leg-enjoy the merry and ribald atmosphere of the Ren Festivals? Yes, my fellow magicians, there is a great and sorry dirth, or dearth, of playfulness upon our Land (except as I’ve read, at the Romantic Times Conventions, fairies and vampyres and mermaids and all wild things, where all manner of jolly and naughty wildnesses ensue). As well, there is a tremendous and sorry dearth of the regal color-sumptuous gowns of the Renaissance in our world. Okay, I admit it I just want more excuses to wear them.
Playfulness, imagine puppies tumbling and frolicking with each other. Imagine kittens racing like mad things, wrestling with each other – playing. And here, I whisper into Sparkles, our resident fairy’s tiny petal ear...fairy dust, fairy dust over one and all...wave, wave your purple star wand, so delicate and so shimmery...playfulness, yes, more – much more playfulness, I say.

And now, there are Four Title Magicians remaining in the American Title IV contest.
Congratulations on your advancement.
I shall tempt the goode and generous-hearted readers with the hope that all of the American Title entries may be posted for your enjoyable reviewing.

Happy One Spirit year to all! Savanna Kougar