Monday: Good, Bad, and Ugly

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Silver James

lol monday coffeeWe’ll start with the ugly. *points to picture* This is me on Monday morning with no caffeine in my system.

The Good: Lawyer Guy is out of MICU.
The Bad: He’s not home yet and there is no release date on the horizon.

The Good: Moving along on revisions/edits of COWGIRLS DON’T CRY.
The Bad: I have plenty of time so I’m procrastinating a little. Okay, a lot.

The Good: I’m caught up on all my DVR’d TV shows.
The Bad but Good: All my favorites are coming back after the Olympic hiatus.

The Good: Lots of reading done, and enjoyed the books I read.
The Bad: I bought even more books to add to the TBR pile.

So…was your weekend good, bad, or ugly?

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Friday is Dog Tested…

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Silver James

I forgot I hadn’t posted anything for today. Here, have a series of commercials that crack me up every time I see them. Meet The Barkleys, from Subaru’s Dog Tested, Dog Approved series of commercials.

Have a great weekend!

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The Universe on Miracles

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Silver James

universeThis has been a month of miracles for me and mine, so when this little gem from the Universe popped up in my inbox, I knew I had to share it.

A word on miracles…

Silver, don’t let those that have not yet transpired, blind you to those that have.

It really fouls things up.

Tallyho,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Silver, mountains will be the least that we’re going to move.

Here are my miracles this month:
Lawyer Guy surviving his brush with death, and that he’ll be coming home from the hospital soon.

The Only and Baseball boy finding, contracting and closing on their house all in two weeks’ time.

Getting my call on Valentine’s Day, with a two-book deal with me dream editor at Harlequin after working on it for way longer than I want to admit.

What about you? Did you have a miracle–large OR small–this month?

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Wednesday’s Words – Concealed

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Silver James

Writer's MindOMGWTFBBQ! Yesterday was release day for CONCEALED IN DEATH, the latest addition to the Eve Dallas/In Death series. I opened it up on my Kindle while waiting in line at the post office. And seriously considered letting people go in front of me so I could continue reading.

While “conventional wisdom” varies, an author has a very limited time to catch and keep a new reader’s attention. Hence, the importance of having a killer opening–and not just in Romantic Suspense. 😉 A writer has to know *WHERE* the story should start, and use language that will intrigue, entice, seduce, or simply grab the reader. There are online classes and panels at almost every writers conference dealing with this subject.

Well, I’m here to tell you that LaNora definitely got it right with this book.

Neglect could kill a building brick by brick. It was, to his mind, more insidious than hurricane or earthquake as it murdered slowly, quietly, not in rage or passion, but with utter contempt.

Or perhaps he was being a bit lyrical about a structure that had served no purpose other than housing rats and junkies for more than a dozen years.

But with vision, and considerable money, the old building, sagging its shoulders in what had once been Hell’s Kitchen, would stand strong again, and with purpose.

Roarke had vision, and considerable money, and enjoyed using both as he pleased.**

Okay. Maybe it’s just me but the language on that first page jerked me upright, gave me a Gibb’s Slap(tm), and then stared at me with a raised eyebrow. Meanwhile, Iffy wanted to know why the hell I don’t string words together like that. I’m workin’ on it!

Quite frankly, I want to be Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb when I grow up.

Do you have a favorite opening in your work or a book you love? And how long do you give an author when you start a book? I’m not talking about a beloved author who you’ll read everything and anything, but a new-to-you author. Happy Hump Day!

**Excerpt from CONCEALED IN DEATH, Penguin Group, (c)2014 Nora Roberts

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Tuesday’s Taste Buds – Celebration Station

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Silver James

°I’m still running back and forth between home and the hospital, plus expecting to get my revisions back from HE (Harlequin Editor 😉 –STILL celebrating!) so this is quick, down and dirty…but oh-so-yummy! Two ingredients, about 30 minutes, and you get the best biscuits ever!

Silver’s Best Biscuits

1 1/4 cup SELF-RISING flour
1/2 pint whipping cream (unwhipped – LOL)

Mix flour and cream in a medium bowl until dough forms. Roll out on floured surface to about 1 inch thick. Use a glass or round cutter of the desired size to cut dough. Bake in greased pan with sides touching in preheated 400° oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

coffee faeThey’ll be light and fluffy and perfect with gravy, butter, jam/jelly, syrup, or anything you want to put on them.

And no, I didn’t make any to take a picture. You’ll just have to trust me. Enjoy! And share any quick/easy recipes you have.

Oh, and they’re perfect with a side of coffee. So here…have some coffee fae. 😉

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Spectacular Monday

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Silver James

cute-puppy-pictures-hello-im-here-to-make-your-monday-suck-lessFor those of you who didn’t hear me screaming on Valentine’s Day (or see my news on Facebook or Twitter), I am now a Harlequin author. An editor I’ve wanted to work with forever called Friday and offered me a two-book deal with the Desire line. I’m still having odd moments of Snoopy Dancing(tm) and Squee!

There will be cowboys. And cowgirls. And hopefully way more than the two books–since those two brothers have four more like them at home. 😉 For the time being, the working title of the series is For the Love of a Cowgirl. The first book is COWGIRLS DON’T CRY and the second book is THE COWGIRL’S SWEETHEART. Revision letter arrives tomorrow and I can’t wait to get started. Trust me, there will be lots of updates on the project. This has been in the works for quite awhile but I’ve played it rather close to the chest because I didn’t want to jinx anything! 😆

Should I mention that I first submitted to Harlequin back in 1991? Or thereabouts. I’ve slept since them. While they turned that book down, they were encouraging. Life kept intervening, then other stories and opportunities, but I’ve come full circle and I’m just thrilled to be able to say, “Why yes, I DO write for Harlequin!”

In other news, I was asked to participate in a Christmas anthology for Wild Rose Press. Guess who is finally going to get his own story! Why yes, it would be that wily fae harper, Abhean. Look for more announcements and the book around Christmas 2014.

Lawyer Guy is on the mend, though still splitting time between home and hospital. NRCA books are going in the mail tomorrow. I didn’t win the Powerball, though it felt like I won the lottery this weekend between the call from Charles at Harlequin and LG’s swifter-than-expected recovery.

Books. I’ve read them! I finished Christine Warren’s HEART OF STONE. I liked it. I’ll stay with the series, but probably continue getting the books from the library. Finished Jayne Ann Krentz’s GRAND PASSION, a 1994 book of hers. While a contemporary, it was fun to see that some of her ideas for more current books/series of the Arcane Society variety seemed rooted in earlier works. I also finished JB Lynn’s THE NEUROTIC HITWOMAN HUNTS A GHOST. Haven’t gotten the review done yet but I will. If you love your mystery with some light comedy and talking animals–well technically, only Maggie, the heroine, can hear them–you should read the series. I’m currently reading Donnell Ann Bell’s THE PAST CAME HUNTING, a romantic suspense. Good stuff so far!

That’s pretty much my weekend. What did the rest of you do?

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A Kiss is NOT Just a Kiss

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Silver James

Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy this A to Z of movie kisses. You definitely want to stick around for Z. It’s one of my favorites!

May you always have romance in your heart!

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Universal Calm and Fear

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Silver James

universeI may or may not be around. Lawyer Guy was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon. Nothing earth-shaking but I’ll be betwixt and between with family obligations and I may not have anything fun for tomorrow. Just depends on how much computer time I get.

In the meantime, these are two messages from the Universe that I’d like to expound on but since they can probably stand alone and I’m in a hurry? This is what you get. Make of it what you will.

Everyone’s scared, Silver.

Few carry on. Keep calm, 
 The Universe

I mean really carry on, Silver, as if it were your reason for being.

Behind your greatest fear, Silver, lies your greatest gift.

You’re welcome,
The Universe

And your greatest gift, Silver, will be the example you become.
© http://www.tut.com ®

Like I said, LG’s health is not life-threatening but on-going and stuff happens. But I think the Universe may be on to something in the overall scheme of things. Feel free to talk among yourselves. 🙂

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Wednesday’s Words – I’m Reading

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Silver James

ShareTheBookLoveI finished off my RITA and Golden Heart judging/reading and now I’m back to reading for pleasure. Here’s a few odds and ends that caught my eye or that Iffy made me write down so I wouldn’t forget. 😉

From Christine Warren’s newest book, HEART OF STONE (though she “stole” the title to Roman’s book) about a gargoyle guardian and the human female he falls in love with.

The hour-and-some minutes’ drive back to Vancouver convinced Ella of two things: one, in spite of his human size and shape, Kees could still do a pretty damned fine impression of a mute, motionless statue; and two, curiosity probably hadn’t actually killed the cat, just driven it to suicide. Ella certain intended to kill something if she didn’t get answers to at least a few of her questions pretty damned quick.

A couple of notes here. Kees rhymes with “peace” and he was in human guise because his bad ol’ gargoyle self wouldn’t fit in the SUV. 😉 This is a new series for Ms. Warren. So far, its okay. I like Ella, the heroine. She’s snarky.

A favorite line from the Princess Bride that came up in a different context:

I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it’s over, I do not know what to do with the rest of my life. ~Inigo Montoya

Tell me there’s not a story there!?! Which is why I wrote it down. Inspiration for “some day.” 😀

And finally, one from me that will go in a future book but I’m not telling which one. *bwahaha*

This was a dark and silent mourning. The pale faces around him stayed closed, locked up tight. Emotion had no place here.

So what are y’all reading today? Any good words to share?

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Tuesday Tease – Sade’s New Orleans

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Silver James

I finally got around to downloading the photos I took in New Orleans back in December so I thought I’d share a few of them with y’all today. I have them in thumbnail to save room and band width. You can click on the photo to enlarge it and then just hit the back button of your browser to return to this post. 😉

Deja VuView from Sade's booth Deja VuFirst up, this is Deja Vu–the bar and restaurant that Sade called home when she lived in NOLA. Her apartment was on the 2nd floor and she could use the balcony. And the second pic is the interior view from her corner booth. If you remember the opening scene from THAT OL’ BLACK MAGIC, this would be Sade’s sightlines to the door.

And while Sade is more a dog person, the cats of New Orleans fascinate her–as they do me. 😆

NOLA Fine Art CatNOLA shop catNOLA street cat

And finally, one of her favorite places at Jackson Square–Psychic’s Row, which is the promenade between the Square and St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere. This is one of the benches where she would sit and people watch, a puddle reflection of the cathedral’s steeple, and finally, a doorway that intrigues us both. 😉

Jackson Square BenchSt. Louis Cathedral steeple reflectionNOLA Door small HDR

I have more pics to share sometime in the future. Until then, enjoy this little virtual vacation to New Orleans, courtesy of Sade and the Penumbra Papers.

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