When I procrastinate, looking for/at music/videos is one of my favorite time sucks. And Lindsey Stirling does the most amazing covers, especially when she teams up with Peter Hollens. Watch the videos. Enjoy a mid-week break. 😉
Game of Thrones:
Radioactive
Skyrim
What’s the song/theme you’d like to hear Lindsey cover?
I’m home, in case y’all haven’t figured that out. 😆 The Only and I made it home about 1 a.m. Monday morning. I slept in until almost 10 Monday and dragged @$$ all freaking day. *sigh* Of course, having 500+ emails to wade through, plus 130 blog entries.
The trip was awesome… I can show you the bruises in all their technicolor glory. Vegas and the Hot Mojave Knight event was terrific too. 
We left a bit before noon on Friday, arrived a bit after noon in Vegas–gotta love the two-hour time difference. 😆 Coming home, we left at 7:30 p.m. and arrived after midnight so 😛 On the trip out, we shared a row with a darling young lieutenant on a mission of romance. Ladies, there are still keepers out there! Gentlemen, let your romantic side show. Trust me, it’s a quick way straight to our hearts. Why yes, he will appear as a hero in a book one of these days. Why do you ask? 😉
The Only and I landed, retrieved our luggage, found our way to the car rental center, picked out a Toyota Camry, and installed Jack. Jack is my Australian car boyfriend. His last name is Garmin. With his help, we found the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino easily, got checked in, and went for a late breakfast because…protein! And the Grand Cafe serves breakfast 24/7. 🙂 After food, we registered and Only got to work taking pictures. She’s producing a photo CD so in a week or two, I’ll have AMAZING photos to share! In the meantime, here’s two I snapped with my iPhone. I’m such a social media dud. I forget to actually take pictures, tweet, or FB events. I’m too busy enjoying.
That’s Christian, Scott, and Matt. The pics Only took are made of awesome!
Friday night was the wine-tasting meet and greet or the trip to Hunk Mansion to see the male strippers. Only and I opted for the quieter evening. The wine was good, company even better, and our own Knights were in attendance. I did FB some pics of that.
Saturday, after a much too early start, we had a full day of panels, intimate chats, and then the costume party and banquet. There will be pictures. Eventually. No, seriously. Once again, social media failure on my part. Sunday was the book signing, fond farewells, and for Only and me, a trip to Hoover Dam. Where I tripped. Over a poorly painted curb around a walkway. Yeah. Knees, hands, and wrist. Did you know that airline barf bags make excellent ice packs? Southwest Airline flight attendants rock! I’m still in the Ace bandage but I can sort of type.
The good news is, I plan to start knocking out words on CHRISTMAS MOON, especially since that word count over there needs to be reset to zero. I promise to add more moments from HMK too, but I’d rather illustrate them. Oh, and I have swag. Much swag to share–here and on FB. 😀
So…how was your weekend and what is your week shaping up to be? And have you ever had a spectacular trip? 😉
Something really cool happened yesterday. I decided that I wanted a black skirt to wear at the book signing in Las Vegas. Normally, I don’t start planning a trip wardrobe until the night before when I start packing. But this is a quick trip and the majority of my luggage will be filled with table decorations, swag, and books. And my costume for the party Saturday night.
I’ll mostly be wearing jeans but I have this really cool pair of boots that would look awesome with a skirt. So…I needed a skirt. None of the ones I have are quite right with the jacket I want to wear. Consequently, this necessitated a shopping trip. The nearest “mall” is the open-air Outlet Shoppes. There are some awesome stores there, including Dress Barn. They have REALLY awesome clothes and if I, you know, *worked* for a living, I’d be in there all the time. So…that’s where I went to look for a black skirt.
I found a teal one, a camel one, and a dark brown on. Teal or camel would have worked but for some reason, I still wanted black. A wonderful clerk offered to help me look and voila! Found on that fit, was a great price, and so I checked out. While explaining my lack of fashions, because I work in either sleep pants and a tank or sweats and a tank, it came up that I’m a writer. Two clerks were there now and they wanted to know what I write. So I told them.
OMG! Sally Field moment! One of them has read the Moonstruck books and loves them! Her daughter reads them, too, so I ended up autographing some postcards and passing over bookmarks, etc. It was crazy! But soooooo cool.
Anyway, that’s a long story to say the most fun a writer has is when she connects with a reader, out of the blue, to talk books and characters and what’s next. There’s a moment of instant connection that resonates on both sides, but especially for the author. We tend to be solitary creatures. To discover that we’ve touched someone’s life is heady stuff! Much better than wine. Almost as good a steak. Okay. Kidding. Mostly. I love a good steak.
Anyway, when was the last time you connected with someone out of the blue? And as you know, I’ll be winging my way to Vegas tomorrow, to return late Sunday night. No post tomorrow and doubtful there is one on Monday unless I find wifi. I’ll be tweeting and FB’ing with updates and pictures. Especially of the knights. 😀 Have a great weekend, everyone! See y’all on the other side.
And now for something new and different…
My friend and fellow OKRWA author, Alicia Dean, has instituted some Wednesday fun: Want, Wed, Waste. She offers up three hunks (real life or fictional) and we get to decide if we want them, will wed them, or waste them. I got in on the fun today and had to decide among Robin Hood, Sir Lancelot, and Zorro. Stop by her blog HERE and see who I picked for what and why. And leave a comment with your own choices!
Uh oh, guess what day it is. Guess what day it is. Huh? Anybody? Liza, hey, guess what day it is. Aw c’mon I know you can hear me. Mike Mike Mike Mike Mike, what day is it Mike? Wuuhahaha. B.E., guess what today is….
Okay, I couldn’t resist. That one always makes me laugh. So does the Mastercard commercial with the little kid obsessed with pirates and he sees a nice old guy with an eye patch. Haven’t seen it? Enjoy! Have seen it? Enjoy it again! 😉
I’m marking off the last few things on my Get Ready For Vegas list today. And trying to get over the hump in my writing. Chapter 3 has me stumped. Still. Yes, the same Chapter 3 I was bitching about on Facebook yesterday. 😛
So distract me! What’s your favorite commercial currently? Mike Mike Mike Mike Mike!!!!! I need a little Mayhem in my life. 😉
October is:
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This campaign started twenty-five years ago and has now captured the national stage. You will see NFL teams sporting the pink. The Susan G. Komen foundation is sponsoring runs, walks, and all sorts of awareness activities. You’ll see pink ribbons, tee shirts, shoes, bumper stickers, posters, and other paraphernalia sprouting throughout the month.
National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month
I’ve been adopted by a lot of dogs and cats during my life. Granted, I’ve had a few purebreds, bought from reputable kennels. I even bought one from a pet store–though that was more to liberate Micco from a cage he was quickly outgrowing. One of our most memorable rescues was Baby Doll. A rottweiler, she’d been locked in an abandoned drug house. We discovered she’d been tortured trying to make her mean. It didn’t work. The shelter adopted her out once but she was returned because if the kids put plates down where she could reach them, she’d snatch food off and run and hide. We took her to keep her off death row. Best damn dog ever! She was trained as a search-and-rescue dog and even though she had some quirks–she hated to be left alone and would paw her way into the pantry, pick up a loaf of bread or a box of cereal and hide it in our closet just in case we didn’t come home–Baby was gentle, loving and loyal beyond belief. I have hours of Baby Doll stories but I won’t bore you. If you are looking for a Forever Friend, go adopt! If you can’t adopt, consider making a donation to your local shelter.
NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION MONTH
This is a “duh” as far as I’m concerned. This year’s focus for National Fire Prevention Week (which just ended) was Prevent Kitchen Fires. Look for tips, think safe, and be fire wise. Also, change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Don’t have smoke detectors? WHY THE HELL NOT?!?!?!?! Go get some. Right. Now. Go!!!!
National Anti-Bullying Month
Nearly everyone has been there — bullied or harassed by peers. And that means both physically and emotionally. According to some studies, there is one bullying incident every seven minutes. If you spend much time on social media, you see it happening to everyone, not just our kids. Talk to your children, if you have them. Talk to your friends. Don’t remain silent. Stand up to the bullies. And don’t let those in positions of authority to ignore it when it happens!
And finally, it’s National Crime Prevention Month
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) designated October as National Crime Prevention Month in 1984. Remember McGruff, the Crime Dog? Yeah, they’re the ones who created him. Be aware of your surroundings. Take care of yourself and your neighbors. Report suspicious activity. For tips on how to do so, check out the NCPC website.
On the fun side of things, October is also National Pizza Month and National Book Month. You know what that means, right? Go get a pizza and a book! 😀
The weather is changing. Today is chilly with overcast, rainy skies. It’s the start of a new week.
I’m thinking chili for dinner, to go with the NLC playoff game. That’s National League Championship. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. My dad was a HUGE Dodgers’ fan, back when they were the BROOKLYN Dodgers, and until they snuck away from Brooklyn in the middle of the night and moved across country. He never forgave them. Somehow, I managed to grow up to be a Cards fan. He forgave me for that. 😉
I’m working on the Moonstruck Christmas novella. I’m not thrilled with it, but I hope it’ll get better. The main thing is to get the rough draft down on paper. I have to remind myself this is just a little something extra–a side trip, like pulling off the highway onto a scenic overlook. I just haven’t found my “oh wow” view yet.
I still have a couple of things to finish up before the trip Friday. I have to drag down one of the suitcases and see if everything will fit. I’m really-REALLY hoping I don’t have to drag books home. If I do, that’ll be good for y’all. I do some giveaways. 🙂
Did you have a good weekend? And…it’s Monday. The start of brand new week. What opportunities are on your radar? What are you going to do with the gift of the new week? Me? I’m going to get as much done on the Christmas story as I can, in between errands and chores.
It’s Friday! A week from today, I’ll be doing final packing, gathering up The Only and then we’ll be jetting our way to Las Vegas for Hot Mojave Knights! We can’t wait!!!
In the meantime, this little gem from the Universe popped up in my inbox.
Nobody, Silver, is who they are based upon one decision, one day, one path, one chance, one relationship, or one anything else.
Every day is brand new and opportunity never stops knocking.
Who’s there?
~~The UniverseP.S. Silver, not even 10,000 lifetimes could contain who you are.
© http://www.tut.com ®
Even the morning after a night of insomnia is full of promise and opportunity. I can look at it as a way to get a jump on my day, or I can pout because I didn’t get my full complement of sleep. If I don’t get finished today, there’s tomorrow. If the path I’m on comes to a dead end, I can look for a fork in the road. I’ve received a lot of chances, and given a lot of them. That’s what makes life interesting. And heavens, who wants to limit the people who touch our lives? Each relationship brings something new and exciting.
You know what they say, right? About one being the loneliest number? It’s true. And the Universe is right. Each one of us needs to live like we have 10,000 lives waiting for us!
Today is my opportunity to start a new WIP. Who or what is knocking on your door today?
I’m behind on getting the secondary characters’ page set up with photos and bios so you’ll just have to meet them here until I get caught up. Today, I managed to snag Romulus Jones, the alpha of the Jones werewolf pack and he’s… *blinkblink* I’m not quite sure what your relationship with Caleb is, Mr. Jones.
Mister? Just call me Rom, darlin’. Everyone in the Jones pack is related by blood or marriage. I s’pose you could say the pup an’ me are cousins, of a sorts.
You decided to send him to live with Mathias and basically grow up as Sade’s pet, since she didn’t realize he was a werewolf. Can you tell us why?
Sure. Caleb was an orphan. Granny Bea had her hands full watchin’ all the young’uns even with their folks to ride herd on ’em. When Mathias asked fer a favor, who was I t’say no? Never hurts to have a master vampire who owes you a favor.
But why Caleb?
Cuz I figured Caleb would be a smart one. Most wolf packs are sorta…insular. We don’t cotton much to folks outside our society. That’s gonna cause us shit one o’these days so Caleb was sorta…what’d’ya call it?
A pilot program?
Yeah. Like that. He fits right in now. With humans. Other magicks. It’s a good thing.
You appeared early on in Sade’s life, Rom. Can you tell the readers what was going on?
*spit* Damn fae. They kept snatchin’ ‘er and takin’ ‘er to Vegas. Under the rules of the last treaty, Mathias couldn’t go chargin’ in t’get ‘er back. But I could. I could sniff ’em out. An’ then, if I couldn’t steal ‘er back, Mathias sent Roman. Ain’t nobody in their right mind argues with a gargoyle Sentinel.
Yeah, Roman can seem a bit…intimidating. I’ll throw the floor open to our readers now. Any of you have questions for Rom? You will answer them, right?
Well sure, li’l lady. I’ve got nothin’ else goin’ on t’day. Y’all ask away.
Anybody have questions?
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What’s a chicken soup book? That’s a book you reach for when you need a hug, or a laugh, or something to make you feel better. It’s the book you’ve read over and over and over and could read it again tomorrow and be happy for doing so. It’s a book that when you see it on the shelf or someone mentions it, your fingers itch to pick it up, open it, and start reading.
I have one of those books. JD Robb’s NAKED IN DEATH. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read this book. I have my original paperback in the shelf on the wall next to my desk (and just slightly behind my desk chair since I’m in a corner). It’s a 1995 version. I also have the book in hardback (it wasn’t originally published in HB but has been reprinted) and in digital. I read it in digital format now to preserve the books. But that paperback sits on the shelf, face up, where I glance it whenever I go for my phone, which lays next to the book.
The IN DEATH books aren’t for everyone. Those of us who love them do so with a rabidity that can be frightening. The discussions of who should play Eve and Roarke if a movie/TV series is ever made makes the flame wars over Twilight and 50 Shades look like a water balloon fight. La Nora’s fans are more polite but just as vociferous in their opinions.
Last week, after not reading for several weeks, I was down in the dumps and NID migrated from the bookshelf to my desk. I don’t know how. No, seriously. I don’t remember picking it up and moving it. But it sat there, with it’s shiny copper cover calling me with a siren’s song. Despite having literally hundreds of unread books on my TBR shelves and Kindle, I gave up. I grabbed the book and started reading, transferring eventually to the digital version.
I remembered, as I read, why I wanted to be a writer. The language, the sparse descriptions that are so rich they melt in your mouth like dark chocolate, the characterizations, the subtle layering of backstory… *deep sigh* Reading this book taught me how to write. I just thought I knew how before picking it up. And I came to the series late–2003. That’s when I discovered it–about 20 books in. I started with a library copy but was so hooked, I started buying them used so I could read them in order. Then, with SURVIVOR IN DEATH (which is like #23 if you include the anthologies), I started buying hardback copies. Someday, I hope to have them all in hardback. But I digress.
When I finished NID, I read the next two in the series because I have another favorite scene and I couldn’t remember if it was in book 2 or 3. It’s in 3. And despite wanting to reread the entire series, I managed to stop after three and start on other books, including the most current, THANKLESS IN DEATH. To look back over the course of the series, to see the growth and change of Eve and Roarke… It boggles me.
I want to write like that. I want to create characters so beloved by readers. Some day. I have hopes for Sade and Sinjen, despite their slow start.
So anyway, I want to know. What’s your chicken soup book? Or books? Which book do you grab when you need that comfort read, the words and story familiar and safe? Oh, and happy Hump Day! 😀
I’m doing a blog hop today and it went live about an hour ago. Click through to COFFEE TIME ROMANCE to say hi and get in the running for a free copy of THAT OL’ BLACK MAGIC. If you already have a copy, I’ll work out another fun “freebie” if you win.
I took the weekend off. As in, didn’t even turn on the computer. It took all morning to get through all the emails. WHY do I do that to myself? 🙄
I have to hit the grocery store today and do laundry. And other paperwork stuffs. Even after a whole lot of coffee, my brain just doesn’t want to work. I sort of look and feel like this. 😆
Have a great day! And come see me at Coffee Time!
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