Featured Film Friday

I am a huge lover of vampire movies. There aren't many I haven't seen, so when a new one (new to me anyway) comes along, I devour it pretty quickly. Pun intended.

I recently got to see a new one called Let The Right One In. It's Swedish and yes, it has subtitles, but there's not much dialogue, so don't let that stop you. It's violent and romantic and sweet. It's Twilight without the sparkles and angsty teenagers (the MCs are 12 years old, more or less). I adored it. If you're a Netflix member, you can watch it right on your computer.

Here's the trailer. Tell me what you think! Especially if you've already seen it. And feel free to recommend any vamp movies you think I might not have seen.

Oh, What A Feeling!

I think writing is a lot like happiness in this quote. If you push at a story too much, you can end up frustrated and magic-less. But if you give yourself over to the story, stop thinking so much and just let it unfold, you can get some great stuff.

That's what's been happening for me this week. Monday was a frustrating writing day, so I futzed around and got little accomplished. Tuesday, I told myself to get over it and just tell the story. To stop worrying if it was brilliant. Who cares if it's brilliant if there's nothing on the page!

Then the writing came. And man, that's the best feeling in the world.

It's so good to be writing again!

Word Of The Day

Ineluctable

\in-ih-LUCK-tuh-buhl\ , adjective:

1. Impossible to avoid or evade; inevitable.

Please use in a sentence. Best use wins a better vocabulary. You're welcome.

Pants On Fire

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about the controversy this cover has started. Come chime in!

Back to the grind

My family has left, my bags are (finally) unpacked from RWA Nationals and the week is fresh and new and ripe with possibility.

I have big plans.

This week I'm going to finish the short story I've been laboring over AND I'm going to get back to some kind of regular exercise.

Because starting August 1st, I'm going into heavy duty writer mode. I have the whole month mapped out with daily page goals but my personal goal is to beat my monthly page goal by hopefully 10 pages. (And lose 10 pounds.) I've got contracts and deadlines now so it's high time I started acting (and writing) like A Real Writer.

If you don't see me around the internets quite so much, you'll know why.

Caturday! Without Cats

Just thought I'd share a shot of some of the sandhill cranes that hang out in our backyard. That's Hotrod's hand. I call him the bird whisperer because, as you can see, they really, really like him.

Bested by the short stacks

After a grueling day yesterday that included both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, numerous rides, several water related games/rides that got me much wetter than anticipated, miles of walking in about 90 degree heat, two stuffed dinosaurs and many drinks/snacks/meals, we arrived home safe and sound.

Immediately after getting into the house, the 2 and 1/2 year old and the 5 year old got a burst of energy unlike anything I'd seen before. I believe they could have run a marathon.

Of course, they spent the day riding in style in a double stroller. Why aren't there strollers for adults? I'm not too proud to ride in one, just saying.

Today will be spent recovering from yesterday.

More family fun

Today we're headed to Universal Studios for big fun with the short stacks. I've never been to Universal with kids this little before (5 and 2 1/2) but both parks (US and Islands of Adventure) seem to offer a lot for kids that age.

I'm sure I'll be needing a nap the same time they do.

Zoo Fun!

Today we're headed to the Brevard Zoo! I know you're all riveted by this news. The Brevard Zoo is small but tons of fun - you can feed the giraffes, take a kayaking trip, or play in the waterpark.

I love the zoo probably as much or more than the kids. I could sit and watch the leopards for hours. Are you a zoo person? What's your favorite animal?

Bedtime Stories

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about bedtime stories. Come over and tell me what your favorite was.

Home!

I'm home from RWA Nationals and I'm completely wiped. However, I will be returning to the airport this morning to pick up my dad, mom, brother and his two kids (ADORE!) who are all coming to stay for the week. So, if I'm not around much you know why.

I'll still be doing my best to post some pics and some tidbits about what went on, so don't completely abandon me!

Now I must figure out how to wake myself up enough to make that return drive...extra strength coffee, anyone?

(That pic is the inside of the Orlando airport, in case you were wondering.)

Caturday!

Plez tell mi muther to come home from confurence. Dad don't feed us az gud.

I'm-a Leavin' On A Jet Plane...

I'm off to RWA Nationals in DC. I'll be reporting back, so stay tuned!

Gatorday!

This is what I see lately when I look out my back windows. I know, you're jealous you don't live in Florida too...

Mi Familia

That's me and my awesome brother, Matt! As you can see, he got most of the Italian coloring. Although I am now much blonder thanks to Vincent and my trip to the salon yesterday. lol

My brother was only here for five days, but it was wonderful to see him and hang out, even if he does like to cannonball into the pool every stinking opportunity he can to splash me.

I miss my brother already. I wish he lived closer. He's a great dad, though, and his kids come first.

Do you have brothers or sisters? Are you close to them?

Yikes, that's cold!

We have no hot water. Yesterday we had to have a new hot water heater installed, which we did, but this morning when Hotrod went to shower, we found out we still don't have hot water.

Also? There was a gator sunning himself outside our house in the backyard this morning.

I'm pretty sure the apocalypse is right around the corner.

Goals

How do you set your writing goals? Daily? Weekly? By the word count or number of pages?

I take the number of pages I'd like to accomplish over a given period of time (400 pages in 4 months, etc.) then break it down into a daily page goal based on writing five days a week. That way if I write an extra day, I can get ahead or have a day or two to catch up if I fall behind.

I'd love to hear what the rest of you do.

Good news Tuesday!

Come share your good news with me over at Fictionistas today!

Eat at Jimmie's

That's what we're doing this morning. And by we, I mean my mom, dad and brother who just got a wild hair and decided to drive down from Maryland on Friday. Hotrod will be headed off to work like a good worker bee.

Jimmie's is sort of a legendary spot around here, especially for breakfast. I've taken my parents there, but not my brother, so today I'll be fattening them up then taking them to Lowes for some home improvement type purchases. Both my dad and brother are home builders, so whenever they come down, I have chores for them. What? That's what family is for.

I'll take pictures of the massive breakfast and report back tomorrow. (You can actually friend Jimmies on Myspace. lol) What are you doing today?

Caturday!

Does this box make me look fat?
Um, no. You do that on your own just fine.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

It's been a big, big week

This has been one of the craziest, but best, weeks of my life.

First I got my very awesome Samhain cover. Then I found out I was selected to be one of the people who gets to try out a Sony reader for 2 months. Then yesterday, the biggest news of all...

My agent, Elaine Spencer, sold my urban fantasy to Orbit in a three book deal!

I feel pretty blessed right now. And I want to say thanks to my friend and Romance Divas co-founder, Jax Cassidy. Jax has always believed in me, always been a strong supporter of my work, always encouraged me when I wasn't feeling so great about this business, always told me I would sell. And while there have been other people in my life who've been there for me, Jax and I have pretty much been in this together from the beginning. So not only is she a talented writer/author herself, but she's a great friend. (And my webmistress!) I hope you all have a Jax in your life.

I have a cover!

This is the cover for my September 1st release from Samhain. Hotness, yes?

Here's the blurb:

Alrik Gunn knows from bitter experience that change isn’t always for the better. From the woman who annihilated his Viking clan to the goddess who tricked him into centuries of slavery, betrayal has dogged his existence. The Goddess of Love is going to let him avenge his family, but for a price. As a Phoenix—a merchant of change—he must grant a human woman three chances to change her life.

When former Irish dancer Calleigh McCarthy tosses a carved-bird statue that belonged to her ex into a roaring bonfire, she unwittingly summons an honest-to-god Phoenix. A sexy, irresistible Viking who offers her an unbelievable bonus—three get-out-of-her-crappy-life-free cards. She’ll take it, even if it means guarding her cautious heart against the dark pain behind Alrik’s eyes.

Alrik has vowed never to let love sway him again, but Calleigh's innocence and kindness throw him off balance. Yet even as his need for revenge fades and his love for her grows, he is bound to let her make her choices without interfering.

One wrongly chosen word, and any chance for happiness—for either of them—will go up in flames.

I know you all want to buy it, but you're just going to have to wait!

You know what they say about the green ones...

I'm sending Hotrod off to work today with about 6 dozen M&M cookies for his company picnic (employees only or I'd be going too). M&M cookies are one of my secret weaknesses. I love cookies anyway, but I love the extra crunch of that candy shell. Mmmm...

Anyway, I'd never used this recipe before but these came out AWESOME so I thought I'd share. Make these with red, white and blue M&M's and you've got a perfect July 4th treat.

Red's Ultimate Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 12-ounce package M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional - I did NOT use nuts, but I may have thrown in an extra handful of chocolate chips)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies and nuts, if desired. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are still soft. Do not overbake. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container.

MAKES ABOUT 50 COOKIES. I actually doubled the recipe and it came out great.