And for the Grand Finale...

Hope y'all enjoyed! :D

'Nuff Said

What if I just have the computer do a search for it?

Some people will bring empty gallon containers.

And while you're at it...

With apologies to Mr. Heston

Come by and Chat With Us!

And you can take that to the bank!

When you REALLY have to get it off your chest.

Mooney Does Movies: "Starship Troopers 3 - Marauder"

First off, let me say that I LOVED the very first Starship Troopers movie. The whole cast rawked big time, and the story line and CGI effects were first class all the way.

The second ST movie was "meh". I could take it or leave it because I missed seeing Casper Van Dien in the second installment.

So you can imagine my excitement when I heard about ST3 - Marauder coming out WITH Van Dien back as Johnny Rico. On top of that, also in the cast was Jolene Blalock (Star Trek: Enterprise) and Amanda Donohoe.

Well, I've finally gotten to see this direct-to-DVD movie, and in the immotal words of Richard Roeper of "At the Movies" -- SKIP IT.

It's a cornier, campier (but not in a good way) extension of the bug plot, except this time there are some people who worship the Brain Bug as God. No, not "a" god. God.

The CGI effects are 60/40 -- you can clearly see the blue screen behind them, or the wires. Or, in one instance, the camera crew reflected in the glass. For the cherry on this sundae, the acting is pathetic.

Oh, I'll give it short kudos for a couple of good ideas. The scorpion is neat. And the gorey gruesomeness was okay. As for the little pillbug bombs...ehh, the jury is still out on those.

But overall I just can't seem to put my finger on exactly why this third time 'round didn't work for me. It was much closer in "vision" to the first Starship Troopers movie, but the heart was missing. The violence is plentiful, including a lot of heads exploding and decapitations. The R rating comes from the gore and a strip scene where seven troopers led by Rico get indoctrinated.


Overall, I have to give this movie a big, fat, empty new moon.

Save your pennies and wait for it to come out on cable if you feel you must see it.

I'll Be At Barnes and Noble in San Antonio Today! Come Say "Hi!"

Say What?

New Contract!

Great news! Red Rose Publishing has just contracted my little mainstream short entitled SANDCASTLE. This sweet Christmas story will be released in time for the holidays! Whoohoo!

Blurb:
Terrie Myers never believed life would give her a second chance at anything. Little did she understand the draw of a little girl with dreams of a knight in shining armor. Or the magic of hope that would turn those dreams into reality.

If at first you don't succeed...

Do they differentiate between family, friends, and the Girl Scouts selling cookies?

A Sweet, Unexpected WOW!

Molly Daniels won an ebook copy of SANDEFLAY. And to my utter delight and surprise, did a quick review of it on her blog.

http://www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

All I can say in reply is YOU MADE MY WEEK! :D Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Box of Ritz Crackers Optional

Considering the source :)

But we can't promise it won't be habit-forming.

Ain't It Da Truth!

Coffee Time Romance Loves JOURNAL!

JOURNAL-THE JUDGEMENT CARD
GAIL SMITH (Linda Mooney w/a)
ISBN# 97819346786952008
Tease Publishing www.teasepublishingllc.com
E-Book $2.99
38 pages
Paranormal/HorrorRating: 4 cups
Buy: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook70302.htm?cache
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRhnr3ORfj8

Donna Prewalt is on the move from St. Louis back to Alabama. The journal tells the story of her life on the road as she tries to return to her family. Since the Big Bang has destroyed most human life, she is fighting to stay alive. Between the zombies and the hunters, she is constantly on the run.

Mitch is working with the hunters, trying to get rid of the zombies. He becomes responsible for helping Donna stay safe.
Since a meteor crashed to Earth, creating a world of horror for the few living people in it, Donna keeps a journal of her life as she tries to find out if her family is still alive.

This story contained such spine chilling descriptions that this reviewer’s imagination worked overtime. The author created a world of such horrific images jam packed into a wonderful story. The adventures of Donna and Mitch are realistically written so that at times it felt as if I were right there with them. While the ending was unexpected, I can say with certainty that this will not be the last book I read by Ms. Smith.

I'll be SO glad when this election year is over!

Unfortunately, there's the other 10%

You gotta wonder about some people...

Good Question!

Happy Birthday, Daddy. I miss you.

My daddy often said, "You know you're getting old when the fire department has to come to help put out the candles on your birthday cake."

SANDEFLAY is at Fictionwise, and 15% Off!

SANDEFLAY is Now Available
at Fictionwise, and at 15% Off!

So hurry and get your copy
while it's still a New Release!

http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook71207.htm?cache

I can think of a runway or two where this would fit.

Come Chat With Me Today at Fallen Angel Reviews Chat Loop!

I can think of soooo many places where I need to wear this one.

Just think about it...

From the Romance Round Table

http://www.romanceroundtable.com/?p=390#comments

I won the last round of Friday Fiction! Wheeeee!!

Thank you and lots of virtual hugs to those of you who voted for me!

That's for Emergencies Only!

2 of my videos WON!

Normally I don't enter contests because I don't feel I have a fighting chance. But I entered the book trailer video poll/contest with The Romance Room email chat loop because those wicked three authors are friends.

Wow! I can't believe 2 of my videos earned enough votes to WIN!

HeartFast - sci-fi romance category
CODE 30 - horror category

The videos are below, if you'd like to take a gander at them. Now please pardon me while this old woman tries to do a cartwheel!

Say again?

Yayyy! JOURNAL is sitting at #1 for Tease Publishing on Fictionwise!

Quick! Before it moves! LOL! JOURNAL, my pure zombie horror novella written under the pen name of Gail Smith, is currently sitting on the #1 slot for my publisher, Tease, over on Fictionwise! And for Horror overall, at the #9 position!

http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/teasepublishingllceBooks.htm?cache

JOURNAL represents the Judgement Card in the Dark Tarot series. It's the hand-written account of one woman's struggle to survive in a world gone DEAD.

Atta way to go, MacGyver!

Come Chat With Me Today at Rites of Romance Review Chat Loop!

Does it come in an IV?

We interrupt this month for a rant.

All right. You guys know me. At least, most of you have a pretty good idea of what kind of person I am. I'm an optimist, pure and simple. If there's a problem, I find the silver spot hiding somewhere, and go on. If I cry, bitch, or moan, it's done to a very few, and off I go with life.

I hear a lot from people about having to promote themselves, especially those with e-publishers. They don't think it's fair. They can't find the time. The list is pretty long, but in the long run promotion is necessary because people aren't going to be interested in buying your book if they don't know you exist. Or if they do see your book, you gotta grab their attention long enough with the cover or blurb or excerpt to entice them into buying it.

Then there are the reviewers. Sheesh, just thinking about the astronomically high pile of books they have to wade through every month just floors me. I feel lucky in the fact that I have "sort of" made a name for myself to where my next release might catch the eye of a reviewer already familiar with my work.

But this rant isn't about e-publishers. Or about reviewers. It's about getting a frigging CHANCE.

I have just gone to three review sites to read what's the latest. On a rough count, I would be safe in saying that 6 out of every 10 reviews is for a NYC release - Avon, Penguin, HQ, you get the idea. I also read through four of my favorite blog sites. Guess what? Same thing. Same books, too, pretty much.

And guess who's getting the majority of ad space? Not all, mind you, but most of it. Yup. That's right.

Okay. That's the Biz. But here's where I get to the point where I'm ready to cry. On two separate email loops I'm on (and I'm on plenty, geesh! LOL!), people - mostly other e-pubbed authors - are asking for suggestions as to other books they could read and enjoy. Guess what names and books are brought up?

Big NYC Names, and Their Big NYC Titles.

Mind you, I love my own NYC authors. But, geez Louise! Why not suggest ANOTHER E-PUBBED AUTHOR OR HER BOOKS? Are e-pubbed authors so inconsequential that we don't even rate a SUGGESTED READ?

And it's not just on e-mail loops where this happens. It's on blogs, too. And on bulletin boards.

Go on. I dare you. If you have a blog, or your own e-mail loop, ask "Can you suggest a good book to read?" Then see how the reponses lean heavily toward the NYC houses. Does this mean e-pubs don't put out anything of quality worth noting?

I think we do!

Instead of rolling your eyes...

Come Chat With Me Today at the Midnight Seductions Yahoo Group!

For the Trekkie In All of Us

Populated by its own characters, too!

August is Smart-Ass Month!

My daddy, bless his heart, was a Leo. He was also the best damn salesman for 32 years for a radio station in Austin, Texas.

Of all his attributes, he was best known for being a smart-ass. But the good kind. The kind that made people laugh or grin in response.

So, as a way of honoring my father, I'm dedicating his birth month on this blog as Smart-Ass Month. Every day I'll be uploading a button or a magnet I've found that dragged a chuckle out of me.

Hope you enjoy!

WOW! Romance Junkies Gives SANDEFLAY 5 Blue Ribbons!

Sandeflay, is a parallel planet to earth, where the inhabitants fall into two categories: the creatures your nightmares are made of that come through the duct that forms between the two worlds, and the "Extinguishers" who deal with these creatures and close the ducts.

Collin, one of Sandeflay’s finest, has exceeded the time that an "Extinguisher" stays in service. Along with his pet tygren, he lives simply and is up most nights dealing with closing ducts and the monsters that come through them. Dedicated to the job, he has no time for the paraplegic that lives one floor below. When she literally falls into his arms, he takes on board more than he bargains for.

Miranda has always felt that she can deal with anything life throws at her, and painfully aware of her limitations, she keeps her hopes realistic. When she is helped by the handsome stranger from upstairs, she accepts it at face value and is determined not to get flustered by his display of interest.

Collin is instantly attracted to Miranda, and although she thinks it’s out of pity, he must convince her that what he feels is the real thing. When things go wrong in their building, he has no choice but to return to Sandeflay. Perilously injured and not sure of his survival, he begs the powers that be to bring Miranda to him.

From the moment Miranda arrives on Sandeflay, she knows she has limited time to have everything she has always desired with the man of her dreams. When unexpected miracles happen and new revelations are made, can Collin and Miranda’s love be third-time lucky for two people who will do anything to be together?

SANDEFLAY is an absolutely stunning read by Ms. Mooney; her characters are endearing and her fictional world of Sandeflay is a place I would be delighted to visit.

I went through a whole range of emotions while reading this book including love for the characters and the world of Sandeflay, empathy for Miranda and her limitation along with the seemingly unwinnable situation between Collin and herself, respect for the sacrifices that Collin has made for his planet, his job and his pet, and heartbreak when the plot took some nail biting twists and turns.
The love that Collin and Miranda have for each other is so strong it is a thing of beauty. Ms. Mooney has surpassed all expectations with SANDEFLAY.

~Reviewed by jhayboy
Romance Junkies