The Rauch Motel

Um, yeah, so… this is new

Posted By laurie on November 11th, 2009

I decided, being a web designer and all, that having a hosted blog over on wordpress.com was really not the best showcase of my abilities. (What’s that saying? The shoemaker’s kids go barefoot, and the web designers have boring pre-fabbed blogs that aren’t even on their own domain?) And, while I love being known as grammar geek, there’s more to me than just grammar.

So, welcome to The Rauch Motel.

The name started as a joke… I used to answer the phone with it when I lived with the parents. Most family members got a kick out of it (yes, you pronounce the name kinda like the bug… yes, I’m just that lame. ), ’til my grandmother made reservations for herself and her bird, Joey. Two days later, she fell at work, dislocated her shoulder, and came to stay with us for a few months while she got better. My mom forbade me from answering the phone like that ever again. But she never said anything about blogs…

I’m not completely sure about the decor around here… it’s a free template that I tweaked a bit, but eventually I’ll have something new and all me. But it’ll do for now. And, I’ve pulled all of the posts and comments from my old blog and another blog I started and pooped out on, so that’s how you may have managed to comment on a blog you’ve never been to before.

But, here we are… there will be posts about our mini dashchund Oscar, who oddly enough is the biggest search term that brings visitors here, about the fixing up T and I are doing in our new move in ready house (the one with no electricity in the top-half of the house, and the kitchen cupboards still in boxes in the dining room), about all things web design, and some grammar/editing posts.

Reservations not required…

Posted in News

Comments (1)

A funny…

Posted By laurie on November 10th, 2009

Granted, I’m feeling more than a little old after celebrating a birthday this past weekend, but I did get a kick out of this ad:

Web Designer Depot is doing a whole post on funny ads, but this one was my favourite. Hey, if I have to get older, I might as well embrace it…

Posted in Stuff

Comments (0)

An interview avec moi

Posted By laurie on November 9th, 2009

Yep, today I’m over at the Samhain Blog, where Bethany Morgan is doing an interview with me. Rumour has it I reveal who my favourite editor is…

Posted in Editing, Samhain

Comments (0)

Why I think Kanye’s a brilliant marketer

Posted By laurie on September 14th, 2009

Don’t get me wrong… what he did to Taylor Swift at the VMAs? Totally bad form. You just don’t do that to anyone, let alone a teenager who’s accepting her first award and is probably scared shitless to be there.

But here’s the thing… Kanye probably didn’t have a hope in hell of winning any of the awards he was up for… and it was for video, not even for the music, and his competition was pretty big. But at the end of the awards, who’s the one person everyone was talking about? Kanye.

And in six months, when people think back to the VMAs, they’re gonna be like… who was it Kanye interrupted while giving her speech? Oh, I don’t remember. But damn, Kanye’s a douche.

And, really, that’s probably his biggest goal from standing up there and crapping on that poor little girl. He wants people talking about him. And looking at blogs, twitter and forums after the fact? Kanye is the number one topic of conversation… even though he didn’t win anything. Even though there were much bigger stars and much bigger awards coming out of the event.

Because, honestly? Beyonce’s video was the best video ever? Really? I mean, I’ve never watched the whole video, I’ve actually never been a big fan of watching music videos – I’ve never even seen the one I’m in, for Pete’s sake – but from what I’ve seen, all she does is dance around in a little leotard, right? How is that the best video ever?

But what he was talking about? Not the point… Beyonce was just an easy excuse. The whole point? Look at Kanye.

So, douche move? Totally. Brilliant marketing move? Oh, hell yeah.

Posted in Stuff

Comments (0)

Call for Submissions: Red Hot Fairy Tales

Posted By laurie on September 1st, 2009

How did Belle tame the wild Beast? Did the carriage turn into a pumpkin… or did Cinderella? And just what was going on with Snow White and those Dwarves?

I’m very pleased to announce an open call for submissions for a new, yet-to-be titled Summer 2010 anthology. I’m open to any genre, M/F, M/M, or multiples thereof. I’m looking for your super-hot take on the fairy tales we grew up with and… there must be a Happily Ever After.

The anthology will include novellas from 20,000 to 25,000 words in length and will be released individually as ebooks in August 2010 and in print in Spring 2011.

Submissions are open to all authors, published with Samhain or aspiring to be published with Samhain. All submissions must be new material, previously published submissions will not be considered. Additionally, manuscripts previously submitted, whether individually or for past anthologies, will not be considered either. Please be aware that manuscripts submitted to this anthology cannot be resubmitted at a later date unless by invitation from an editor.

To submit a manuscript for consideration, please include:
The full manuscript (of 20,000 to 25,000 words) with a comprehensive 2-5 page synopsis. Please include a letter of introduction/query letter. Full manuscripts are required for this as it’s a special project.

As well, when you send your manuscript, please be sure to use the naming convention FairyTales_Title_MS or FairyTales_Title_Synopsis. This will ensure that your submission doesn’t get missed in the many submissions we receive, and makes it easy for me to find in my ebook reader.

Submissions are open until February 1st, 2010 and final decision will be made by February 15th, 2010. Please send your submission to editor@samhainpublishing.com and include Red Hot Fairy Tales Anthology in the subject line. Questions and queries can be addressed to Laurie M. Rauch (laurie@samhainpublishing.com)

*permission to forward granted

Posted in Editing, Samhain

Comments (0)

Peanut, Peanut Butter… Jelly.

Posted By laurie on August 2nd, 2009

I have had this song in my head for over a week and it’s driving me crazy. So now you get to have it in your head:

My senior kindergarten teacher was Bram’s sister in law, so I remember he came to our class to sing with us a bunch of times. Though, it’s kinda scary how I still remember not only the lyrics but the hand gestures too.

I guess it could be worse… I could have made you listen to skinamarink…

Posted in Stuff

Comments (3)

I got Inked

Posted By laurie on July 30th, 2009

An interview I did with Lara Rose, over at Romantic Inks is up today.

I reveal a deep, dark secret, and I heard rumours of a contest…

Posted in Editing, Samhain

Comments (0)

The Ties that Bind

Posted By laurie on April 30th, 2009

I’m so pleased to announce that I’ve selected the participants in my Bondage anthology, which has now been titled Binding Ties. I received a lot of really great novellas and it was a really, really tough decision. Thank you to everyone who submitted.

Binding Ties will include the following novellas:

Bound By Design by Natasha Moore
Maison Domine by Skylar Kade
The Initiation of Isabella by Jenna Ives.

I’m really looking forward to working with theses authors on what I think is going to be a really great (and really hot) anthology.

Thank you again to everyone who worked so hard on their submissions for this anthology and congratulations to Natasha, Skylar and Jenna!

Posted in Editing, Samhain

Comments (1)

The big bargoons

Posted By laurie on March 29th, 2009

So, with the big move starting on Tuesday (we take possession on Tuesday, but don’t actually leave my house ’til the 15th…), T and I have been out and about trying to find furniture that’s brand new to us (as in, not hand me down from the parents), looks good and isn’t completely out of our budget.

This morning, while procrastinating the whole packing thing by surfing design blogs, looking for inspiration, I came across this announcement. I’ve done the warehouse sale thing before, and I know these things get really busy really quickly, so I literally ran upstairs, jumped on T’s head ’til he woke up and dragged him outta the house.

We made excellent time across the city, and managed to score this totally gorgeous sectional for the new family room:

It was one of the last few items they had that wasn’t sold out, and we paid only 30% of the original price.

Even better, it’s big and comfy for lounging around on to watch TV (the big screen is our next big purchase), and could double as a guest bed in a pinch.

I’m seeing it against chocolate brown walls, with cream trim, and pops of blue and green…

Now, on to the kitchen.