Blog Archives - shakespeareswitch

Dear Friends and Birthdays! Many, Many Thanks!

9/28/2013

How can I not share this! This is a bouquet that Lisa Young did (I have her link on this website, BTW). She grows all of these flowers in her harden and every year she would bring me bouquets when we worked together at Eastmont. I truly miss those bouquets, so what better present?! Unless it's dinner out and a movie with Richard, apostachuta leftover from my brother, decadent chocolate cake with my co-workers, an after work get together with friends, old and new, a box of salted caramel chocolates, happy birthday songs throughout the day, cards, compliments, and encouragement. Helps me remember what a wonderful world we live in. Additionally wonderful because I can share the experience on this website and facebook.
We are, all of us, made so very much richer by each other.

UTAH RWA Heart of the West Conference Coming Soon! 10/11-12/2013! Come join us!

9/25/2013

I love this poster! Created by Tiffinie Helmer, a talented author and artist, it's promoting our chapter's conference, which is just coming up. If you're a writer - please come join us for great seminars, fellowship and inspiration. I always walk away eager to attack my next book - and more capable of doing so!

Check out the details at: http://www.utahrwa.com/HOWConference.html

Yes! That's my book on the bottom row! Toooo excited!

New Lavender Site

9/16/2013

I found a great website devoted to Lavender!

Mountain Valley Growers sells an assortment of organic herbs. The variety of Lavender that's available is astounding! I can't wait to begin planting next spring. You can bet I'll include as many varieties as possible in my garden next year!

Let me list the varieties:

Spanish Lavender: dark purple, pineapple-shaped flowers. May be referred to as French Lavender.
Kew Red Spanish Lavender: smaller with medium pink flowers.
Yellow Lavender: pineapple-shaped flowers with a lemon chiffon top bracts. The leaves are pungently scented and the plant grows tall and wide.
Sweet Lavender: Largest and fastest growing with the longest flower wands.
French Lavender: traditional gray leaves. This is a large, fast growing shrub which is also referred to as everblooming Lavender.
Goodwin Creek Gray Lavender: hybrid of French Lavender with a shorter growth and darker flowers.
Woolly Lavender: gray foliage and dark purple flowers that loves the heat of summer.
Pinnata Lavender: zone 10 that grows fast with long flower wands and twisted spiral shaped flowers.
English Lavender: large leaves, tall, robust growth with great color and fragrance.
Munstead Lavender: loves head.
Hidcote Lavender: dark purple flowers. This plant prefers cool climes.
Hidcote Pink Lavender: pink flower spike.
Jean Davis Lavender: pink flower. This plant has a fruity-flavored taste.
Miss Katherine Lavender: pink English flower that's small and has a wonderful fragrance.
Sachet Lavender: Medium purple flowers that grow for a longer period and has a heady, sweet scent.
Sarah Lavender: Small plant with a short flower spike, showy dark purple flowers, great for window boxes and containers.
Royal Purple Lavender: darker purple, very fragrant.
Vera Lavender: thought to be the true English Lavender grows best between 2500 and 4500 feet. Considered the best for medicinal and aromatherapy uses.

FANTASYCON - coming soon!

9/15/2013

The Salt Lake ComicCon was an overwhelming success, both in the number who attended and in the variety of events offered. There were more things to see and experience than I can describe in a single blog. So I'd like to highlight some of those I found particularly exciting. One was the looked-forward-to FantasyCon which was introduced with a beautiful display of fantasy artwork in a Grecian Temple-like hall. The structure was impressive and the artwork displayed was moving. I'm told they're looking at Las Vegas. Maybe after Salt Lake's success, however, they'll consider bringing it here!

Salt Lake City ComicCon

9/6/2013

If you're a geek, historian, scifi fan, or just like to rub shoulders with people who like to dress up, YOU'VE GOT TO GO to the Salt Lake City ComicCon this weekend! I went last night with my sister, Carol, and brother-in-law, Phil. We saw celebrities, authors, artists, and an assortment of craft artists that made my head spin. Carol got to meet her long time favorite, Adrian Paul (The Highlander Series). William Shatner will be there on Saturday. Way, way too much fun.
TO MY WRITER/READERS - this is a great way to do a booksigning. I saw several authors sharing booths and the crowds were staggering! Tonight and tomorrow I thought I'd try out my new "shakespeareswitch" dress.

Brent Steffensen

9/3/2013

Sorry to those who don't know who Brent is, but I have to brag a bit. He's an American Ninja Warrior, an Alpha Warrior and my nephew. Last night they had Stage One of this season's American Ninja Warrior on and we gathered as a family to watch - not realizing that BRENT IS IN TOWN! He came and joined us for the show (and the family dinner/swim party), then narrated his performance for us. It was a great treat.
So what does this have to do with Shakespeare's Witch - well, he is family after all and family was crucial to Beatrice, Henry and Will. And he does prove the importance of tenacity. Being a stuntman/athlete is not an easy profession!
Thanks, Brent, for the great shot!

Nearly in Business!

9/2/2013

I continue to be awed by the amazing world we live in. Today I activated my "square," which is free and comes with an account. It allows me to take credit cards from my readers purchasing books at my signings. It's small and hopefully efficient, and frees me from the constraints of the traditional brick and mortar bookstores. For me, that's a good thing.
Though I do worry about the brick and mortar book stores. I love them, after all. And when I'm pressed to purchase a birthday gift immediately, there's no substitute. Heck, I love the smell of old timey bookstores. I remember lounging with fellow writers as we critiqued each others word in several.
Still - I'm excited to get closer to being officially in business. Any day now, I should have navigated the demands of CreateSpace and finally post my books! Stay tuned!

First Day of September

9/1/2013

Next week Salt Lake is having a Comicon! I'm very much looking forward to it. I've only been to one before. It was in Denver and I got a chance to meet my girlhood hero, David Hedison. He played Capt. Crane in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea." I promised myself when I was twelve that I'd meet him one day. He turned out to be a true gentleman. Here I am with my dear sister, Carol, posing with David back in ... hmm ... a while ago (I can't remember the year).
So this year I get to attend my second comicon as a published author having, as of today, completed the initial process for publishing another five books. I'll be dressed in my Shakespearean dress, complete with smock. It was during the Denver comicon that I decided to pursue writing as another career.
How about you? These conventions are just fun events, especially when they mark the completion of life long goals! This year I get to meet Capt. Kirk! Good thing we're all aging at the same pace.

Author

Jodee Steffensen
AKA
J.D. Steffensen

Jodee (J.D.) Steffensen

Historical and Romance Writer, Amateur Herbalist, and Seeker of adventure, new knowledge and all things good!

Hobbies? I've adored cats all my life. I came to love Shakespeare when I was introduced to him in college. I developed an interest in herbs when a dear friend was diagnosed with cancer. I learned about the complex politics of Shakespeare's world when another friend gave me a book, "Shadow Play," by Clare Asquith.

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