Eye Candy Tuesday-Double the fun!

Look at these wonderful specimens. Double the fun is my thinking.

Green Day Copyright Infringement of Scream Art

Immediately following a Green Day concert in LA last August, local artist Dereck Seltzer began receiving calls and emails, alerting him that his ‘Scream Icon’ art was being used as the backdrop to the show. Seltzer was surprised, since he had no previous contact with the band. Scream Icon was copyrighted by Seltzer in 2003. When he approached the band, complaining that they had used the art without regard for the registered copyright, they offered him concert tickets in settlement. Green Day continues to use artwork in promotional materials and backdrops.

Seltzer filed a complaint in the Central District of Los Angeles and is suing Green Day for Copyright Infringement, and unfair competition and false designation under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act. However, Green Day’s attorney, Don Passman claims that "Green Day received Mr. Seltzer's image from a responsible company and was unaware that there could be any copyright or other issues."

It’s hard to be too careful about usage of graphics and artwork, and it’s important to know the actual source. Although it may seem harmless, much of it is legitimately copyrighted material. Even more important to be careful when dozens of sold out stadiums will be viewing the art in question.

NEW! English Rose Collection :: In my Etsy shop

I just finished listing a lovely new Twigs & Honey Collection: The English Rose Collection. I love the softness and vintage look of English Roses. Just like real roses, these ones are all one of a kind and unique. No two will be alike. I have hand dyed, hand painted, and hand sewn them with brooch pin and hair clip backings so you can wear them in your hair, clothes, purse, belt, wherever! Enjoy!

Here are all your choices:

Wear them in your hair:

Wear one or a ton!

Wear one on your jacket:

Or wear many on your jacket:

Or just let them sit there so you can enjoy all the prettiness:

The Twigs & Honey English Rose Collection, available in my Etsy shop HERE.

Sneak Peak! :: English Rose Collection

Coming this week!

Hand dyed, hand painted, hand sewn, just for you. Death by prettiness. Each one is unique and ready to go, so get ready!

How To Write That First Novel

[NOTE: I’ve been fortunate over the past five years to be intimately involved with a writer’s group that has allowed me to become acquainted with numerous authors, publishers, screen writers, and literary agents. They have talked openly about the publishing industry in general and their specific genres, and have offered considerable advice. Over time, I’ve grown to realize how valuable that guidance was. So over the next few weeks, I hope to share some of that wisdom with you.]

“What do I have to do to be a writer?”

Write.

Believe it or not, it’s as simple as that. Writers write. It’s what we do. But you’d be surprised how many potential authors forget that.

I’ve met several potential authors who have bragged about all the work they’ve done on their project. One had a detailed outline of their proposed novel. Another had 3x5 cards filled with biographical notes for each character. A third had a notebook in which he kept hours worth of research. When I asked them how far they had gotten in their book, they admitted they had not written anything yet. These people completely miss the point.  Research, plot, and character are necessary, but not anywhere near as important as actually writing the book.

So get out there and start writing.

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re a published author and have plenty of time to write. I don’t.”

No one has time to write. You have to make time.

The sad truth about publishing today is that, unless you are a well-established name like Stephen King, K.J. Rawlings, or Dan Brown, most writers maintain a day job (or have a very understanding significant other with a well-paying job and a lot of patience).  I get up at 5 AM, rush around to feed the rabbits and get dressed, and am off to work by 6 AM.  If I’m lucky, I get home around 5 PM. Then I have to feed, clean, and spend time with the rabbits; do chores and errands; and try to have some meager semblance of a social life.  I’m lucky if I get five hours of sleep a night.

I fit writing into that hectic schedule because I love to write.  I need to write.  It’s my passion.  To do that, though, I have to make sacrifices.  When I’m in full-fledged writing mode, my Xbox sits idle and my stack of books to read grows taller and taller.  And I don’t want to admit to the number of times I’ve spent several hours cranking out a chapter, only to be greeted afterwards by sets of mopey brown eyes and furry dejected faces giving me that why-didn’t-you-play-with-me look.

Anyone who truly and passionately wants to write can find time during the day to do so.  Get up an hour early or stay up an hour late (as long as you devote that entire time solely to writing).  If you commute by public transportation, use that time to write.  Devote some of your “down time” to writing.  Sure, you might have to forego watching American Idol or curtail your time surfing cute pet sights on the Internet, but are these really more important than getting your book written?

“Oh, come on.  How much writing do you really expect me to get done in an hour a day?”

Let me put it this way.  In that hour, anyone can write a single page.  If you type in double space, the way manuscripts should be drafted, that’s approximately 300 words a day.  If you do that every day for a year, when you’re done you will have 365 pages totaling over 100,000 words.  That, my friends is a novel.

So what are you waiting for?  Close down the Internet, call up your word processor, and start writing.

NEXT BLOG: How to write well.

Crab Lasagna Rolls baked in Shrimp Alfredo Sauce and Speedy Hazelnut Bundt Cake

The crab Lasagna Rolls baked in Shrimp Alfredo Sauce may not look gorgeous on the plate BUT the flavors meld wonderfully! The Canadian Snow crab used is slightly sweet mixed in with fresh parsley, freshly grated Parmesan and cottage cheese. The Alfredo sauce makes a large amount and the remaining sauce can easily be used for a separate pasta dinner. Fresh Alfredo sauce is worth the effort to make and once you have tasted the difference, your taste buds will never want to go back to store bought.
Buy a loaf of freshly baked French bread, slice the the center horizontally, add a mixture of 1/2 c. butter (melted), 2 T. olive oil, 4 cloves garlic minced, and 1/2 t. kosher salt (all ingredients mixed and left alone for 30 minutes before applying to the bread halves). Wrap in foil and Bake in a 300 degree oven for 20 minutes. Slice and serve with the pasta dinner. Delicious way to sop up the Alfredo sauce!

Crab Lasagna Rolls baked in Shrimp Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:
****START SAUCE WHILE COOKING LASAGNA NOODLES****
Crab Lasagna Rolls:
1/2 pound flaked or lump crab meat
4 regular lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup cottage cheese
1 egg
3 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Additional grated Parmesan (optional)

Shrimp Alfredo Sauce:
1 stick butter
2 onions, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 cup minced celery
Garlic to taste
1 pound medium shrimp
1/2 cup flour
2 c. whole or 2 % milk
1 c. heavy cream
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup clam juice
1/4 c. parsley, minced
Salt and white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 c. Chopped mushrooms
1 beefsteak tomato cut into thin slices

Directions For Crab Lasagna Rolls:
Beat the egg. Thoroughly combine crab meat, Parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, egg, fresh parsley and onion powder.Divide filling into 4 equal portions. Spread filling mixture on each noodle.

Roll noodles tightly, and place seam-side down in an 8-inch square baking dish.

Pour shrimp Alfredo sauce over top. Add thin slices of tomato. Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with additional grated cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

Directions for the Shrimp Alfredo Sauce:
In a saucepan melt butter and add onions, green onions, celery and garlic.

Add shrimp and cook until shrimp turn pink. With cooked shrimp, add at the last 5 minutes. Add flour and stir in completely. Add about half the whole or 2 % milk and half the cream. Let simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Add more milk and cream to desired thickness. Add Worcestershire, clam juice, fresh parsley, salt and white pepper to taste, cayenne if using and chopped mushrooms.

Simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes. Pour over crab lasagna rolls and top with thin slices of tomato.

I do not make a habit of using boxed cake mixes but we enjoy the texture and flavor of this recipe and the cake has become a family favorite over the years. You can change the liqueur to different flavors and end up with the same great results. Amaretto is another liqueur I use for this recipe. VERY tasty!

Easy Hazelnut Bundt Cake

1 cup chopped pecans

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup Hazelnut liqueur

Glaze Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup water

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup Hazelnut liqueur

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over bottom of pan.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in eggs, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup oil and 3/4 cup Hazelnut liqueur. Beat for 5 minutes at high speed. Pour batter over nuts in pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto the serving dish. Prick top and sides of cake. Spoon glaze over top and brush onto sides of cake. Allow to absorb glaze repeat until all glaze is used up.

Directions for the Glaze:

In a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup Hazelnut liqueur.

T.I.'s Clothingline Sued by Akoo for Trademark Infringement

Recently, Akoo Clothing, launched by rapper T.I. (real name Clifford Harris, Jr.), received considerable media attention for a sexually explicit billboard in New Jersey that was protested and subsequently taken down. The publicity stunt may have backfired though, as the billboard also got some unwanted attention from Akoo International, a social music television network.

Akoo International filed suit for trademark infringement against the clothing label Akoo, stating that they own the registered trademark and have used the name for years. Both parties operate in the music industry, and Akoo International was concerned that consumers could easily confuse the brands.

“Our primary obligation and goal is to prevent confusion among our consumers,” said Akoo International CEO Niko Drakoulis, “which is among the most basic objectives of trademark law.”

Interestingly, this is T.I.’s second suit of 2010 for intellectual property offenses. He was sued for copyright infringement in January for allegedly stealing parts of his hit song “Why You Wanna” from the 2004 song “Reverance” by Motoe Blizzid.