NEW MEMBERS PLEASE READ

[Lynda Coker]

Make yourself at home. Help us make this the preferred destination for all those who enjoy...Life's Journey. With so many sites to choose from, we thank you for spending time with us.

ALLOWED CONTENT:

In order to comply with Ning's rules, no erotic material can be posted on this site. This would include covers WHICH ARE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT, erotic in nature, contain nudity, and excerpts and blurbs with hot ratings. This site must be accessible to all ages. (Think thirteen years and up) PLEASE BE SELECTIVE WHEN UPLOADING BOOK COVERS. If your book cover or excerpt is questionable, DO NOT POST IT.
We are not allowing books, blogs, forum discussions, or comments involving: Alternative lifestyles, Dark Romances, BDSM, or material such as incest, forced sexual encounters, sexual relations with minors, etc. Again, this site is not age restricted, therefore, every member must give serious consideration to the photos, book covers, blurbs, blog material, comments, excerpts, etc. If this factor cannot be controlled, I will be required to delete the questionable material in order to preserve the integrity and promotional advantages for everyone. Members are at liberty to post their website, myspace, facebook, etc. on their community page. Think of Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction as a mini web presence that can be an effective vehicle for meeting new people, all of which can then visit your bigger sites for a more complete coverage of your work.

As you may have noticed, we now have group access. Those of you who start groups will be fully responsible to see that your group complies with the standards set out above.

This community is going to grow and become a web destination for many writers and readers alike. Many exciting features and opportunities will be implemented as time goes by. Since we're just getting started, change is inevitable. Please have patience, and help us make this a quality site with worthwhile content.

Thank you again for choosing Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction.

[BobbyRobert]

Amen to that doll. I try to promote the site as much as I can. I tell people it is a classy site and judging by the authors and readers here now, it is a CLASSY site. Sure there maybe some that want to abuse it, like give them an inch, they'll take a mile. It is up to us authors and readers to police ourselves. If people want to complain, then fire away at ME. I'm a big boy I can take it. I am also a Marine so there is nothing that will shock me. It's like I tell people, if you got a problem talk to me or other authors. If I can't (which is unthinkable) help, I am bound to know someone than can. There may be many that don't cotton to ole Bobby, that's your fault. If you don't like somthing then by all means let Lynda know about it. I've found in the short (very) short time I've been here that she is able to help me through greatly. Now remember when you talk to me type slowly because I can't read fast. Also I'm just and ordinary man doing ordinary things in a very complex world. I'm also a REDNECK so be patient with me. You can tell I'm a writer as I don't know when to stop. Therefore I'm stopping! Good day to you all! BobbyRobert

[Sandy]

Hi BobbyRobert,

Loved your rant. It was just right, not too much and not too little. I have a friend whose husband is an old Marine, and I think his father before him. I'll have to friend her and get her to this loop.

Sandy

[BobbyRobert]

Doll, you remind me of Goldilocks in the Three Bears; "not too soft, not too hard, but just right." I thank you for your acute observation by reading between the lines. But I was not ranting doll. Just stating the obivious. WE are ALL in this together. Only WE can make a difference. That way if it goes (God forbid) belly-up then WE have only OURSELVES to blame! BobbyRobert

[Sandy]

Oh come on, Bobby, you were ranting. lol Even if it was the obvious. You're right about us being the ones to make a difference. Hang in there!
Sandy

[BobbyRobert]

Doll, you had me ther for a minute, well maybe not a minute, how about 30 seconds? That won't float either? Then it was 5 seconds before I remembered what rant meant. It is old Galec for: to be enraged. I'll admit I was enraged at knowing some people just love to cry, belly-ache and complain but never wanting to do anything themselves. I'll also admit I love to complain, mainly because it's FREE, but at the same time I was raised if you don't do it yourself, no one else is going to do it for you! Your absolutely right doll, Bobby did RANT! I apologise to those of you that took offnese, but at the same time, I'm an American and GOT the RIGHT to speak my mind as all of YOU do too! BobbyRobert

[Sandy]

BobbyRobert,

We all deserve to rant once in a while. I now remember where I picked up that darn word, rant. My Irish mentors used, and I latched unto and can't rid myself of the word. lol I agree if you're going to complain you should do something to change it, but most people don't.

Sandy

[Christine London]

Thanks for this site, Lynda. As a writer and reader of ficiton of distinction, I appreciate a place I can go and meet folks that likewise get lost in the land of well woven words. Here's a bit about a writer's conference I attended last weekend that perhaps y'all might find of interest.


It’s Not Easy Being “E”



"In 2000 at our first convention many of you were amazed that we had any Erotic romance sub-genre categories at all. A scant ten years later we have five and by 2020 you will all probably be astounded to hear when we’ve announced our twentieth.” The room rumbled in corporate chuckle. Authors and industry professional sat about lavish linen draped tables in their black tie finery. All facets of the burgeoning electronic books industry were in attendance enjoying fillet mignon, salmon and champagne to celebrate ten years as the wave of the future. Like a tsunami, this wave is growing in magnitude and intensity across the digitally accessed globe.

The Electronic Publishing Internet Connection’s (EPIC) annual conference was held this past weekend in Portland, Oregon. Still a young industry, the electronic reading world had a blast celebrating their tenth year as a strong voice in the world of the future, paperless literacy. Our global membership consisting of published authors, publishers, editors, cover artists and other industry professionals had the opportunity to network, attend a wide range of professionally targeted workshops given by expert colleagues and launch “New Voices” into the world of writing.

The New Voices division solicits entries globally from public, private and home-based schools in an attempt to inspire young writers and poets. All winning entries are published in an anthology, which Epic offers as a fee download on their website, through the New Voices link. http://www.epicauthors.com/newvoices.html Each year’s winners are invited to attend the annual EPIC conference where they have the opportunity to mingle with published authors and learn more about e-books.

Established in 2000, the EPPIE is the longest standing and most inclusive e-book award in existence today. With categories in nearly every fiction and non-fiction genre as well as poetry, entrants hail from all over the world and the competition for the coveted EPPIE is fierce.

Was the awards show on par with Hollywood? You bet. Creative people everywhere have lots in common, amongst which is a penchant for humor, drama and eccentricity. It is evenings like this that provide solace to folks who spend many of their waking hours in the solitary pursuit of eternity. Can you think of a time when you were more consumed in a world of creation than between the covers of a good book?

As the old year went out and the new emerged, I took a few moments to try to inspire my fellow writers with some prose. It is we, the weavers of words, that hold the past and future in our hands recording for generations the experiences and thoughts of our time.



Through The Lens Of Eternity


There was a moment today
Amidst the bustle of life
When I paused to wonder
Why

Not the imponderables
That clog the consciousness
When faced with a really
Good textbook or lecture

Not the questions that tug
At the back of the mind
When the beautiful imperfections
Of nature are set eyes upon

Not even why this time of year
Causes so much stress
And friction between people
Who love each other

No
It was messier than that
Grander than that
Deeper than that

Why have I been given
This gift of words
To touch, to inspire
If they are to fall
On only a few

Who decides who reads
Who hears
Who is touched
And who is not

What providence brings me to you
One who has the gift
Broadcast to the ages
Between the covers of a book

What will it matter
In the end?

A hundred years from now
In front of a fireplace unbuilt
Eyes unborn will
Fall upon a book

My book, your book
In question, in inspiration
Those eyes will perceive
What we saw

And through the lens of eternity
Our minds will touch
Links through time
Thoughts yet to be imagined

They will smile
A warm swell in the chest
Eyes scrolling to the sky
In wonder



...just another ordinary miracle today



Cheers,
Christine London

[Lynda Coker]

Christine, beautiful reasons for continuing to weave words of priceless quality and endurance. Thank you so much for sharing this. I have just now begun to learn a little about the Eppie, I appreciated your shedding a little more light on this toipic.

[Christine London]

You are welcome, my friend.
Christine London

[Sandy]

Christine,
I love your poem. As it rains outside my window this morning, and I gaze up at the dark dreary sky I realize I'm seeing another ordinary miracle today.

I've heard of the Eppie, but didn't realize it was for writers of epub books. Nice to know.

Have a wonderful day.

Sandy

[E. Don Harpe]

Wish I could have attended the EPPIE award show, Christine, but it was a bit too far for me to travel with costs the way they are right now. As an author with two stories (one I wrote alone and one I co-wrote) in the 2007 EPPIE winner sci fi anthology Twisted Tails II, I"m always glad to see someone recognize the award as the best is e-publishing.

I don't think I'll have any problems with the rules of the board, but sometimes I do get quite outspoken. I've learned to stay away from political topics and threads that take potshots at publishers. I say any published book is a good thing, and don't like it when someone posts a better than thou attitude.

More later, as time permits.

Harpe

[Christine London]

Hey Harpe,
The Eppies will be at Lake Las Vegas next spring. Start counting you pennies now...it promisies to be grand! Hope to see you there.

Christine