Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Hey, Publishers! Get an APP For That!

I have a suggestion to all publishers, NY and e.

Get an app for your website.

Yes, we can access your home page via the internet, but think of how much easier (and much more fun) it would be if you had an app.  We could click on it, and immediately be able to access your new releases, as well as peruse your backlist.  Plus you could add all sorts of goodies for your readers.

Just think about it.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Dani Harper is My Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!

Join us tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio.  Dani Harper will be reading from her newest release, A Leap of Knowing from Cobblestone Press.

Show time is 11 pm et/10 pm ct

Don't miss it!
****
When a great black dog predicts your death, there’s only one thing to do. Take it home and feed it.


Seeing isn’t always believing.


Morgan thought she’d outgrown faery tales. Yet the successful veterinarian is hard-pressed to find a scientific explanation for the giant black dog that’s following her, or for the powerful – and naked – man who’s steaming up her dreams.

Rhys is a proud warrior forced to serve the Fair Ones by heralding the death of mortals. When he meets Morgan Edwards, he’s tempted to change her fate. But only by accepting his incredible story can she change his.

Can Morgan learn to see with her heart in time to save the man who has claimed it?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

New Contract!

Good news!  I just signed a contract with Carina Press to publish my erotic sci-fi romance novel Beauty's Alien Beast.  Carina Press is a subsidiary of Harlequin Books.

Publication date is targeted for July 25, 2011.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Questions and Answers from the AARP Forum

From the American Association Of Retired People


Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger, sexy women who are interested in them?
A: Try a bookstore, under fiction.

Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?
A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finish the basement. When you're done you'll have a place to live.

Q: Someone has told me that menopause is mentioned in the bible. Is that true? Where can it be found?
A: Yes. Matthew 14:92: "And Mary rode Joseph's ass all the way to Egypt ......"

Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your 60-plus year old husband?
A: Tell him you're pregnant.

Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly wrinkles?
A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Seriously! What can I do for these Crow's feet and all those wrinkles on my face?
A: Go braless. It will usually pull them out.

Q: Why should 60-plus year old people use valet parking?
A: Valets don't forget where they park your car.

Q: Is it common for 60-plus year olds to have problems with short term memory storage?
A: Storing memory is not a problem.  Retrieving it is the problem.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?
A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.

Q: Where should 60-plus year olds look for eye glasses?
A: On their foreheads.

Q: What is the most common remark made by 60-plus year olds when they enter antique stores?
A: "Gosh, I remember these!"

SMILE, You've still got your sense of humor, RIGHT?

(Thanks, Jo!)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

I'm Nominated for a Bookie Award!

RUNNER'S MOON: CHALLA has been nominated for a Bookie Award in the Sci-Fi category!

The Bookie Awards are being presented by the Authors After Dark network - the same people who bring you the AAD Paranormal Weekend.

To vote go here to their blog.

Thank you!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Tonight, HEARTCRYSTAL on Blog Talk Radio!


Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio, I will be reading from HEARTCRYSTAL (the sequel to my HeartFast series.)

Both of these erotic sci-fi romance novels were #1 Best Sellers for Whiskey Creek Press Torrid!

Show starts at 11 pm et/10 pm ct

Don't miss it!
*****
They were the Guardians. Sixteen special men and women with incredible powers, who had sworn their lives to the protection of their galaxy, while upholding the laws of their world.

For Master Hunter and StarLight, it seems the worst is over. With StarLight still recovering from her near-death experience with the Ombitra, they are ready to resume their lives as the first-ever married Guardian couple in history. Ready for a new life filled with love and extraordinary passion.

But there are unknown perils when working in outer space. There are dangers beyond description--unforeseeable events and catastrophes that can bring nightmares to any sane person.

They had sworn they would share a lifetime together.

The universe had other plans.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Soundtracks to Write By - Harry Gregson-Williams

 I write to soundtracks.  I know a lot of authors who write with songs playing in the background, but because I am a trained vocalist, I can't "listen" to songs because my brain automatically tries to pay attention to the words.  So I opt for soundtracks, and - boy! - do they stir my imagination!

Every so often I'm going to highlight a particular composer, as well as his works, that I have placed in my Must Play folders on my iPod and iPhone.  And the first one that I found myself drawn to was the music of Harry Gregson-Williams.

Incredibly, the man has over 70 soundtracks to his credit, of which several have won him numerous awards.  My overall favorite?  His METAL GEAR SOLID series.  Running a close second are those of his NARNIA series.  He's also done KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and MAN ON FIRE, as well as PRINCE OF PERSIA and X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE.


You can listen here to part of his METAL GEAR SOLID Main Theme.



Harry Gregson-Williams MP3


Go have a listen over on Amazon for more samples!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Now I Remember Why...

I went to the movies last night.  At the theater!  And once more I remembered why I and so many others like me are now opting and waiting for the DVD releases to see them.

Dear Movie Houses,

If you're wondering why your ticket sales are down, don't blame the DVD and Pay-Per-View markets.  Blame yourselves for allowing patrons to talk and text on their cell phones during the film.  Not only is their conversation annoying, but all those bright lights are distracting.  Plus they make it visually hard to keep my eyes focused on the screen.

You need to have someone routinely walk up and down the aisles, patrolling for rude behavior.  Like the guys sitting two rows over who loudly use foul language as if it was totally acceptable in a public venue.   (My husband said I should have moved, but where?  It was crowded, and would another seat elsewhere really have been any better?)

Or the people a few rows down who like to raise their arms for some unknown reason.  I guess to see if they could make shadow puppets.  Who know?  They were too far below for their arms to block the screen from where I sat, but not their hands.  It made me pity the people sitting directly behind them.

These are just a few reasons why I was reminded to stay home and catch the flick at a later time.  And with the advent of those huge flatscreen HD TVs, you can get the same, if not better quality, viewing experience -- minus the idiot patrons.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Movie Review - PRINCE OF PERSIA: The Sands of Time

This is one of the rare times my chosen movie has not been a horror flick.  I chose this film because of the previews, and the fact that Jake Gyllenhaal looks scrumptuous.

Basic premise - Dastan is an orphan boy who is adopted by the current King of Persia, and raised along with his other two sons.  Fifteen years later, Dastan has grown to be a worthy warrior.  And when he and his brothers are sent to a country to overthrow it and gain the "riches and weapons" their spies have said it contains, Dastan is the first to breach the city's walls and allow the Persian troops to overcome the inhabitants.

However, Dastan soon realizes that he has been set up, and there are no riches or weapons. Worse, the person behind the deception is someone he has come to trust and love.

Every second of this movie is a visual feast.  Sadly, the director tried to make it into the video game it was derived from, and that's where the movie suffered the most.  The best scenes are the non-confrontational ones.  Yes, the fight scenes are exquisite and rich with CGI, but they soon become too complicated and difficult to follow (and swallow).

On the other hand, Harry Gregson-Williams's score is a masterful triumph, and I immediately went to purchase it.  (More on Mr. H G-W at a later date.)


Still, despite its overblown grandiose designs, this movie is worth a Saturday afternoon rental, AND it's safe for children over 13.  (Hey, it's a Disney film!)  Which is why I give this movie a : 

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Pumpkin Spice or Apple Pie Playdough

For those of you with children or grandchildren, this makes wonderfully smelly playdough just perfect for this time of year.

Pumpkin Spice Playdough

5 1/2 cups flour

8 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 1/2 ounces pumpkin pie spice

2 cups salt

3/4 cups oil

4 cups water

orange food coloring (2 parts yellow to 1 part red or orange gel coloring)

1. Mix all ingredients together in a heavy bottomed sauce pan.


2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until dough forms. The mixture becomes very thick so a big wooden spoon works well for stirring.


3. When a ball begins to form, transfer dough to a floured surface. Knead the dough until it is smooth.


4. When dough is cool store in an air tight container.

Apple Pie Play Dough Recipe

3 cups flour

2 tablespoons oil

3 cups water

1 1/2 cups salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

a few tablespoons each of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a large heavy bottomed sauce pan.


2. Stir constantly over medium heat. The mixture will be soupy for several minutes and then suddenly it will stick together and form a rough ball.


3. When it thickens and sticks together, remove the pan from the heat and continue stirring.

4. Turn the hot ball onto a floured surface, and began kneading as it cools.


5. Sprinkle the spices onto the dough and continue kneading.


6. Store in a large zip-lock bag or other air tight container.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

"Because I'm a Man"

Because I'm a man, when I lock my keys in the car, I will fiddle with a coat hanger long after hypothermia has set in.


Calling AAA is not an option. I will win.

Because I'm a man , when the car isn't running very well, I will pop the hood and stare at the engine as if I know what I'm looking at. If another man shows up, one of us will say to the other, 'I used to be able to fix these things, but now with all these computers and everything, I wouldn't know where to start.' We will then drink a couple of beers and break wind, as a form of holy communion.

Because I'm a man, when I catch a cold, I need someone to bring me soup and take care of me while I lie in bed and moan. You're a woman. You never get as sick as I do, so for you, this is no problem.

Because I'm a man, I can be relied upon to purchase basic groceries at the store, like beer, milk or bread. I cannot be expected to find exotic items like 'cumin' or 'tofu.' For all I know, these are the same thing.

Because I'm a man, when one of our appliances stops working, I will insist on taking it apart, despite evidence that this will just cost me twice as much once the repair person
gets here and has to put it back together.

Because I'm a man, I must hold the television remote control in my hand while I watch TV. If the thing has been misplaced, I may miss a whole show looking for it.

Because I'm a man, there is no need to ask me what I'm thinking about. The true answer is always either sex, cars, sex, sports or sex. I have to make up something else when you ask, so don't ask.

Because I'm a man, I do not want to visit your mother, or have your mother come visit us, or talk to her when she calls, or think about her any more than I have to. Whatever you got her for Mother's Day is okay; I don't need to see it.

And don't forget to pick up something for my mother, too.

Because I'm a man, you don't have to ask me if I liked the movie. Chances are, if you're crying at the end of it, I didn't. And if you are feeling amorous afterwards, then I will
certainly at least remember the name and recommend it to others.

Because I'm a man, I think what you're wearing is fine. I thought what you were wearing five minutes ago was fine.

Either pair of shoes is fine. With the belt or without it, looks fine. Your hair is fine. You look fine.
Can we just go now?

Because I'm a man, and this is, after all, the year 2010, I will share equally in the housework. You just do the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, the vacuuming, and the dishes, and I'll do the rest...like wandering around in the garden with a beer wondering what to do.

This has been a public service message for women to better understand men.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Hell Explained by a Chemical Student

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term. The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.  One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Thelma during my Freshman year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over! The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Thelma kept shouting 'Oh my God.'

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I'll Be Reading from HEARTFAST Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!

To celebrate the release of the 2-in-1 megabook of my Number One Best Sellers HEARTFAST and HEARTCRYSTAL from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, I will be reading from book 1 tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio!

Show time is 11 pm et/10 pm ct.

Don't miss it!
*****
They were the Guardians, sixteen special men and women with incredible powers who had sworn their lives to the protection of their galaxy, while upholding the laws of their world.
It was a world that, eons ago, had suffered a devastating plague that had rendered more than half its population unable to reproduce. As a result, in order to assure the survival of their species, the HandFast law was enacted. Every month, twenty couples were drawn by lottery. Couples whose sole purpose would then be procreation, the continuation of the species. For the length of one year, two complete strangers would follow the edicts of the HandFast, until the woman conceived. Once that was accomplished, the couple was no longer bound to each other, and they could go their separate ways while the child was given to a couple unable to bear children.

It was a cold and impersonal law, but it worked.

However, the Guardians were exempt from having their names drawn in the lottery. The very nature of their jobs, risking their lives day in and day out to protect their galaxy, precluded any thought of bearing children.

Which was why, when StarLight and Master Hunter heard their names called out to be HandFasted, their neat, orderly lives were turned upside-down. Gone was the comfortable companionship they'd known. Gone was the brother-sister working relationship and the friendship.

Now they would be forced into an intimacy neither had wanted, nor expected.

Neither would they be prepared for the overwhelming passion they would find in each other's bodies, as well as in their hearts.

And things would only get more complicated and dangerous. Because their names had been deliberately placed on the lottery, and the drawing had not been a fluke. Instead, it was the first step in destroying their world and every Guardian living.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Then Why Call It a LAPtop?

First there was the warning about laptops overheating.

Then there was the warning about laptops burning the legs, not to mention what the 125+ degree temperature could do to men who hope to have a family some day.

Maybe it's time the name was changed to something else.

(Image from whatheck.com)

Friday, November 12, 2010

The Darwin Awards

The Darwins are out!

Yes, it's that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honoring the least evolved among us.

Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38 caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

And now, the honorable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger.. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies.. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast... The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street by sucking on a hose, he got much more than he bargained for.. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Wow. Just...wow.

Once again Amazon has managed to leave me utterly speechless.

I have been waiting for Mr. King's latest selection of short stories, and when it released Tuesday, I went straight to Amazon to check the prices.

To whit:

Hardcover - I can buy at $14.90 from Amazon, or for $13.40 elsewhere (list price is $27.99)

or

for $14.99 on Kindle 

Which is why I came to the decision to wait, and hopefully the ebook price will drop to $9.99.

But wait!  It gets better!  Go to its listing here on Amazon and scroll down to read the "tags" like:

publisher greed
never at that price
agency 5 price fixing
absolutely too expensive
9.99 boycott
too expensive for kindle

(Me thinks this price war is going to get interesting.)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

It's Bad Enough

...that we have to tolerate saggy pants that show underwear.

But in my opinion, it's a whole 'nother problem if parents are coming onto campus looking like this.

Am I the only person who thinks this is wrong?  We have young girls from ages 4 to 11 at our elementary schools who are being exposed to this by men and parents coming to pick up their siblings and kids.

Why is this considered to be "acceptable" just because the guilty party is an "adult"?

Monday, November 8, 2010

Kayelle Allen is My Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!

Tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio, I will be hosting Kayelle Allen.  She will be reading from her m/m erotic sci-fi romance Surrender Love.

Show starts at 11 pm et/10 pm ct

Don't miss it!

***
In the beds of countless lovers over the centuries, the immortal Luc Saint-Cyr has been mastered as well as master. Commanded and commander. When his mortal lover leaves him, the distraught Luc withdraws and throws himself into work. His entertainment company hosts a ceremony for their most successful rock group, and Luc meets drummer Izzorah "Rah" Ceeow, one of the feline Kin race. Rah's velvety, golden furskin and dark hair captivate Luc. Pert cat's ears and a quick smile lighten his mood, and one look into Rah's emerald eyes, deep and tranquil as a forest pool, and troubles cease.

Rah's a virgin, but Luc's too fascinated by the quiet depth of Rah's inner peace to rush him into sex. Seducing Rah and savoring his surrender will be as delicious as taking him. No matter how sexually starved Luc is, he will allow Rah to give himself when he is ready to surrender his innocence, to offer himself to Luc's command. Rah will beg to be taken. Luc's anticipation and desire are palpable; as real as his hunger for faithful, unconditional love.

But to gain Rah's love, how much of himself is Luc willing to surrender?

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Another Questionable Christmas Gift

Yes, you aren't reading the title wrong.  The secondary title reads "An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art".

I guess the book would be beneficial to hunters and campers, but you have to admit the cover is catching. 

You can find copies here on Amazon.  Read the description and reviews while you're there.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Questionable Christmas Gift


I was Christmas shopping this weekend, and saw this.  Would you really buy this (or use this) in lieu of your regular charging station?  Who would want to charge their phones in a pot that looks like someone needs to mow it?

Can we file this under "Gifts to Give People You Don't Like"?

Friday, November 5, 2010

Caffeine Handicrafts

If you can see the "origin", it says Brazil, El Salvador, and Guatamala.

So how come at the bottom it says "Handcrafted in Texas"?

How does one handcraft coffee beans?  Or did I miss that class when I was taking a nap?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Re: Returning an Ebook

I noticed the other day that one of my books on Amazon for Kindle had been returned.

Umm, how does one "return" an ebook?  How does one go about asking to return it (considering there's no such thing as physically sending it back)?

Was it because they thought it was a different/new book and discovered they already had a copy?  (If that's the case, didn't the blurb ring a bell?)

Or can you actually return a book you don't like, even if it's in electronic format?

I's confused.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Discouragement


For some reason I can't explain, no matter what success I have, there will always be someone who will try and find a way to demean or belittle that accomplishment.  I've faced it all my life -- first with family, then with "friends", and later with co-workers and acquaintances.

Does it hurt?  Hell, yes!  But I go on because I have three things to sustain me:  my husband, my belief in myself, and my faith.

So, with that being said... onward!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

EPIC eBook Awards 2011

Here's my finalist logo I can display. Isn't it purdy?


You can read the list of all the finalists here.

I would love to be able to go to the presentation in VA, but it's the weekend before Spring Break, and the school district does not allow faculty to take off prior to holidays (or else be docked full pay.)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Cheri Valmont is My Guest Author Tonight on Blog Talk Radio!

Cheri Valmont is my guest author tonight on Other Worlds of Romance on Blog Talk Radio.  She'll be reading from her newest release, RIMNOR BREEDING PROJECT, from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

Show begins at 11 pm et/10 pm ct.  Don't miss it!

*****

Cikor-Rim is a planet where slaves are separated into two classes: Breeding and non-breeding.
Valka PeshKirmin, High Princess of the Kazphyrian country of Zorase, is captured and sold into slavery while doing her one-year duty as personal guard. Her failure to complete this final task destroys her hope of taking over as ruler of her country.
Sandor Ressou is resigned to being a stud in Rimnor’s Breeding Project. He suppresses all painful thoughts of his former role as heir to the throne of Gamhin on Kazphyr. But during his duties he encounters the defiant Valka and rediscovers his desire to reclaim his name and his life.
Valka and Sandor expose secrets which threaten their love and lives. So they hatch a dangerous plan to escape the Rimnorians and thwart their scheme to take over their home planet of Kazphyr—and ultimately the entire galaxy.