Happy Halloween!

Stop-Motion Hero

So what is it about this guy?

I went to see The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D last night with The Girl. I'd seen this when the kids were young, and kinda, sorta fell in love with Jack Skellington then. I'm still in love, but I can't figure out why.

He is the strangest of heroes to capture anyone's heart. Initally he is the scary Pumpkin King who delights in scares and thrills and mischief. But he feels like something is missing from his life. Then, he discovers Christmas. WHAT'S THIS? has got to be one of the neatest movie songs out there. It expresses utter fascination, marvel and wonder at discovering something new. So Jack decides he's going to bring Christmas to Halloween town, which fails miserably, and his attempts at playing Santa out in the real world also fail. Because he is meant to be what he is. And only when he realizes that he should be himself, and not someone else does he really shine.

So there it is. Probably that's why I love him so much. He tries new things, then learns what works best for him. And there's something a little sexy about that skeleton, too.

Anyway, the 3-D version was sort of a disappointment. You expect exciting things jumping out at you at one of these, but nothing like that. They just enhanced the 'depth' of the film, I believe. So, wasn't worth the extra two bucks, besides price of admission, to see that. But I did get to swoon over Jack.

REMINDER: Tomorrow night at 8:00 Eastern the Nocturne authors celebrate one year of being in print over at eHarlequin.com!

M

L'esprit d'escalier

So have you ever been in a conversation and fell silent because you couldn't think of a thing to say to a witty remark or argument? And then, as you were walking off, or even later, the brilliant reply comes to you! That is what the subject line refers to. "The wit of the staircase" as it is translated. You always think of the perfect thing after the fact.

I've just had a 'l'espirt d'escalier' moment. I should have been using Johnny all along to promote KISS ME DEADLY. I've gotten lots of emails from readers stating how they enjoyed the book. Thanks! And they always mention Himself, and the fact it was so cool he appeared as Johnny Depp for most of the story.

What can I say? If Himself appeared to me, that's who he'd look like.

So maybe I should have been advertising that 'cameo' appearance in the book to entice readers to pick it up? It's a thought.

You see, Himself (the Devil Himself) appears to others in the guise of their greatest temptation. Himself has no clue who he looks like, unless he looks in a mirror. And the person wouldn't know they were looking at the devil, unless they recognized his eau de brimstone cologne. :-)

So who would Himself appear to be if he showed up on your doorstep?

Snow and Mr. Frost

So I put an order in for snow the other day. I need it. I'm ready for it.

My current WIP, which I started on Wednesday (and, oh yeah, I'm at page 100 already; I so rock!) is all about snow. The heroine is a snowflakologist, and the hero, well, he's Jack Frost. The story is just screaming onto the page, and it's fun, so I'm trying to wrangle some angst into it too, because this is a Nocturne idea. No, no sale yet, but my fingers are crossed.

I do love writing stories set in winter. I think the season actually becomes a character. All that snow and ice and frost patterns on the window. It's just a clean, cool world in the winter time (if you get snow). I can't imagine Christmas without snow, or a frigid Jan and Feb. What must it be like to live in a climate that doesn't get snow? I've never known otherwise, so it boggles my mind.

So a lot of my research for this story comes from the fabulous snowflake photography done by Kenneth Libbrecht. Check out his website for his amazing photographs and interesting facts and info about snowflakes here.
M

2006's 10 Best

I am currently enthralled by this book, THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. I love natural history books, and have read them on varied subjects, from the senses, to brains, to salt, snow, opium, etc. This book attempts to follow the omnivore's delimma of food choice, and how our food system has become so over-processed. It is very hard to find a complete natural, organic meal nowadays. The author spends a lot of time on how much all our food is comprised of corn, he spends another section of the book following the food chain from grass to cow, to chicken, to the dinner plate, and I've just started the section where the author seeks to 'hunt' his own meal.
It's fascinating stuff. And very thought-provoking. I've almost virtually given up on fast-food myself, because it just doesn't do anything for me, but I still love my Chicken McNuggets. I'd say they're about 90% corn, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
This book reminds me how much I want to see the documentary King Corn, which is also about the corn industry. Hope that shows up in a theater close to me.

Anyway, there's a sticker on the front of this book. The New York Times Book Review named it one of the Ten Best Books of the Year. Wow! That's like, from all the books that were published in 2006—ten of thousands, or maybe even hundreds of thousands—this book was one of the very top ten. That's very impressive. And now I'm inclined to seek out this list, and see if there are any other titles that might interest me. So here's me, pausing to do an Google search...

Okay, that was easy. Here they are:

ABSURDISTAN by Gary Shteyngart
THE COLLECTED STORIES OF AMY HEMPEL by Amy Hempel
THE EMPEROR'S CHILDREN by Claire Messud
THE LAY OF THE LAND by Richard Ford
SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS by Marisha Pessl
FALLING THROUGH THE EARTH by Danielle Trussoni
THE LOOMING TOWER: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright
MAYFLOWER: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick
THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
THE PLACES IN BETWEEN by Rory Stewart


Hmm, so I think I'd like to try something out of my comfort zone from the above list. Either The Looming Tower or The Places In Between. Any votes?

M

Read a good vamp lately?

So this is the deal. I have a stack of KISS ME DEADLY sitting here on my desk, and I'm not sure what to do with them. So, I'll give them away! I've got five or six to send out. How can you get your hands on one of these super-duper-neat-o vampire stories? Well, it'll take some work, but I have faith in you.

I've done this before, but I'll repeat the drill: Send me a title for The Ultimate VampList that I do not list. For the entry to be accepted you must include: Title, Author, Publisher, Pub date, and ISBN. ALL those must be included. And if you know which genre it fits on the VampList, tell me that too. I haven't updated in about a month, and I do know there are titles I haven't entered yet, so there are titles out there.

But do not send me a title I already list. That means, you'll have to check the VampList before entering. There's more than just the first Horror page. There's a drop-down menu at the top of every page that lists all the categories.

Send to: toast faery @ g mail.com (Take out all the spaces. I get so much spam, I'm wondering how wise it is to list an email address online.)

First five or six people to send me titles, gets a copy of KMD! Now go for it!

M

A zillow ways

Have you heard about Zillow? It's a site where you can type in your home address and it'll bring up a map that lists the current property value of your house—and your surrounding neighbor's houses. I guess realtors use it a lot. I just discovered it, and it's a little bit addictive. I can't access it using Safari or Explorer, but was able to with Firefox.

And now the really bad thing? I'm doing all my friend's houses. I tell you, it is addictive. And interesting! Heck, it lists my house at 100K more than we paid for it (but about 50K less than what we'd hope to get should we sell). But it's pretty competitive with the rest of the neighborhood. So I could see where this would be a good tool if you're selling or buying.

But it's also some weird online waste-a-little-time fun. Go on, type in a friend's address. You might find out how many bedrooms and bathrooms they have, or that they live an a house valued over 500K. Or that they've got a pool in their backyard. Or that they're the only house on the block without a pool. Wow. Sneaky cool fun. :-)

M

Almost done

When I fill out the Art Fact Sheet online for the current story I'm working on, that means I'm almost finished! The publisher has this nifty form online where the authors can fill out details about the characters, scenes, and story synopsis. It's not necessarily the easiest form to use (and it's not Mac friendly; I have to use my son's PC to access the form), and I'm still waiting for them to list 'vampire' as an occupation choice, but it is likely very helpful to the art department.

So I'm going to fill out the fact sheet for THE DEVIL TO PAY today. (The title may change to DESIRED THINGS; I really like that title, but I'm going to go with whichever my editor likes.)

I've also got the Reader Letter, Teaser, Dedication, and Blurb prepared. This is stuff you usually get asked for after you've handed the manscript in, and when the book goes into production, but I've always done it in advance. It's easier to do now, while I've got the story in my mind, than to try to remember what my theme, or the character's goals and appearance was six or nine or more months from now. I print all those things up, and send them in along with the manuscript, and then I truly am done with the story.

So here's the best representative pic of my hero I could find...And I like to post a link to this pic on the AFS so the art department can see what I had in mind. While I started this story using a pic of David Belle (founder of French parkour), he gradually morphed to the more quietly agressive pose Christian Bale has here. A single expression can entirely define a hero for me. And this one worked.

The heroine, in my mind, sort of looks like Dianne Lane. Worldly, elegant, beautiful, yet vulnerable. I have a picture I tore from a magazine sitting on my desk to inspire me.

And then there are the roses. Wild roses that are literally alive and act as defensive protectors for the witch against the vampire. In vampire folklore wild roses planted by witches repel vampires. Works in my story, too. :-) And my heroine's house is surrounded by wild roses with vicious thorns. I hope they show up in the cover art.

But it's too early to start wondering about cover art. This story isn't even scheduled yet, so I can only guess it'll be out in 2009 some time. Right now, I'm just going to ride this 'It's almost finished!' feeling. It's a good one.
M

I've posted a new contest to the right. Another scavenger-hunt type contest that features half a dozen authors giving away books and prizes to one lucky winner. Check it out!

So are you ready for Halloween? Have you bought goodies and carved pumpkins yet? I suppose I should go pick up some treats. I usually do it early, because if you wait a week or two beforehand, all the good stuff is gone! And I'm not talking candy good stuff, I'm talking little prize kind of stuff. I don't give away candy anymore. Kids can get enough of that. Last year we gave away PlayDough, which was a big hit. One year it was superballs and spiders.

Here's a pic of a pumpkin I'd like to carve: Saw this book at the tradeshow a week ago. Fun stuff inside. It's got the bloody pumpkin, and frankenstein pumpkin and Carrie pumpkin, or the brains leaking out pumpkin. Some guy had too good of a time coming up with all the horrifically cool carved pumpkins. Unfortunately, if we set carved pumpkins out on our front step, it only takes a few days for them to end up smashed on the road. Kids around here are just plain mean sometimes. So we'll keep ours out back on the deck this year.

Do you carve pumpkins for Halloween? Do you get trick-or-treaters? What the coolest costume you've ever worn for Halloween?

The Pilgrim Year

What do you think of this painting by John Byam Liston Shaw? I discovered this years ago, in a little new-age shop. It's on a postcard that I've never mailed, and bought only because the picture struck me so deeply. It's hard to see details in the pic above, but I find the whole thing subtly wicked.

There's a gorgeous woman leading an old man (presumably the pilgrim) into a boat with one hand, while she clutches the hand of a cherub. The cherub looks worriedly over its shoulder, not at the strange ghostly wraith at its feet, but to the two women lounging on the shore. One of those women holds a scythe. In the background, on the left, is a hooded dark figure who is the most interesting to me. So much going on in this picture!

I've searched the internet for an explanation behind this painting, with no results. And maybe that's a good thing. Sometimes it's neat to invent your own ideas about art. I think I have to write a story about this picture some day. It will be glamourous and dark and hopeful and dreadful.

M

Empty brains

Did the signing at the Mall 'O this past Saturday. I was very nervous about speaking, and I didn't have to. Luck arrived and the organizers decided all the authors wouldn't speak, but just sign. Whew! And I actually had notes about what to say. But no regrets over that missed opportunity, whatsoever. The signing was fine, but, as is with previous signings we have done in groups at the mall, they are not well-attended. I think it is because the bookstore moves us to a 'court', a wide empty area in front of one of the anchor stores. It's not a well-trafficed area, because most mall walkers, simple walk 'by' us, not 'through' us. There's no chance to even get their random attention. If the signing were simply held in the book store, we would attract people who are there because they want books, and even if they've never heard of us before, they will sometimes browse, and we might get some new readers. I hope for future events like this, they move us back inside the store.

Anyway, I'm working furiously to finish my Nocturne over the next few weeks. And as always seems to happen, once I'm close to writing 'the end', it's like my mind knows it can move on. I've already put this story to paper, so the brain can start ruminating about the next story. But I'd really like it to wait a few weeks. But it won't. So right now I've got faeries on my mind, and I'm taking notes, and writing snippets of dialogue because I don't want to lose this stuff, but doesn't my brain care that I really just need to concentrate on finishing the vamps?

This is interesting because I read an article in Scientific America MIND recently about how the brain only stores information it needs to store. It makes room for new stuff. So if you think you're absent-minded, it's not because you are, it's because your brain knows you don't need that stuff. (Usually larger chunks of stuff, doesn't affect the short-term memory so much; so if it is short-term stuff you're losing, then maybe you are absent-minded.) :-)

Anyway, this reaffirmed what I've always known about myself. I can drop information like that. I don't remember movie plots or book plots even a few months after I've seen and read them. It's because my brain knows I don't need that stuff cluttering up things in there. And it's cool because I can watch a movie a year later and it's new to me. Same with my stories, I can't tell you the plots of some of my earlier stuff, or even names of characters. I don't need it now. Good, Brain.

So what about you? Do you retain information easily? Or does your brain release the unnecessary stuff so you can fill it up with the new?
M

Random organization

Echeveria Setosa. It's a cute little succulent that is fuzzy and when it rains, it collects raindrops and the whole thing sparkles. I'm in the process of putting my garden in order. I know that sounds strange, but it's because I'll be moving all the succulents in for the winter very soon. And this year I want to do things right. I have no idea the names of more than half my plants. Or how to care for them. Succulents, while I grow them because they are virtually carefree during the summer so long as they get sun, are very touchy to try to take inside. Some need to go dormant, some don't, some need cool, some heat, some light, some not so much. Last year I lost over half my plants because of lack or organization.
That's Crassula Gollum, so named after the LOTR character. Supposedly that character has suction-cup like fingers? It's a neat plant, but though it looks strong and stocky, one bump will knock a leaf off like that.

So organizing is my thing. I don't think life would work as well for me if is wasn't organized. Though, I go at it in a very random manner. I have piles and stacks of 'stuff' all over the house. Waiting for organization. And yet, within those stacks I know exactly what is there; it's organized in my brain. I do a lot of brain organizing. If you're looking for something you lost in the house, ask me. I can point you to the exact pile it's lurking in. Mess with my piles? You mess with a very precise organization system.

I love this one because of its name, Echeveria Metallica. That so rocks. And it's a nice, meaty, two-hand-size plant. But again, strangely delicate. I've never been able to overwinter one of these. These year, with my new system, pictures and details on care on the back of index cards, I'm hoping to have a survivor.

My stories are organized in the same random stacking sort of method. I keep a file for all the story stuff, pictures, scribbled notes, the original synopsis (which, I rarely refer to, because it always changes), an outline, and assorted euphemera. (I love that word: euphemera.) But to look at the file and the mess of scattered papers and images I use while writing, you might never guess at the underlying organization.

I have a very specific way I write, and while I think I'm a seat of the pants type of writer, I know I'm much more organized. I always do that stream-of-thought draft first. Then I do a read-through. Then I hit the file and see what things I need to add, what I need to learn about my characters, how to tighten the plot, make the story really work. It feels random, but it is a groove I get into with each new story.

This is Senecia "Blue Fingers". It's the first time I've had it, and it grew beyond my expectations. About two feet tall, and while the flowers are small, ugly and barely worth the effort, they smell so amazing. Sweet and vibrant and, well, they make me wish I were a honey bee. :-) Not sure at all how this one will survive. I think I've already decided it won't, because I can't find a lot of care information for it. But I'm going to give it a try.

Which is often how I feel about my stories about four fifths of the way through them. This one won't work. It'll never survive. I just don't know what to do with it. But they always seem to thrive and make it to a readable, and hopefully enjoyable, finish.

So what about you? Do you like organizing? Are you more than labels and boxes and files sort of organizer, or do you follow a more organic method?

And does anyone know about succulents? About ninety percent of my plants were never meant for Minnesota weather, but I'm stubborn, and enjoy them. I need some help here!

M

System Failure

What is it that makes you shudder, develop the chills, or just makes you nervous? Public speaking used to do it to me, and to some degree it still does. But over the years I've had opportunity to speak at my local RWA chapter, and I'm getting better. I don't blush deep red anymore. I don't stutter (so much). And I don't shake either. In fact, sometimes I might even get on a roll, while speaking, and forget I'm standing before an audience, and just start to ramble. Rambling is not good, but it's far removed from the other end of the spectrum I used to occupy.

But there's a close cousin to public speaking that just kills me. Reading aloud to a group. As in, reading an excerpt from my book. I simply cannot do it. My voice shakes, I shake, I lose my place in the text, the whole thing is just a disaster.

I don't know why that is. If I can speak to an audience, actually look into their eyes, and talk knowledgably about a subject for an extended period of time, why can I not read, head down, not even looking at anyone? I've only done this twice. And both times were disasterous. It's like I flashback to middle school, when the ninth grade class that attended Kingo Lutheran would trek seven or eight blocks through the snow to the church during a free period in school. We'd have communion classes in the choir section of the church. The pastor would go around the group, and each of us would have to real aloud out of the bible. For a long time. I still remember how nervous I would get, how I only wanted to be anywhere else but there. The church has scarred me for life.

:-)

Anyway. So tomorrow is a busy day. I'm signing at Harlquin's booth at the annual Midwest Booksellers Association tradeshow. An awesome event because all the publishers, big and small, are there to promote their Spring releases. After I sign, I can walk around and check out who is coming out with what next year. It's fun, informative, and I usually get a few ARCs to take home and read.

That's in the morning. Tomorrow night, at the Mall of America (5:30 - 7:30 in the Macy's court) I'm part of a group booksigning. And get this. Some morbidly clever organizer of the event decided that each author would read from their latest for 5 minutes.

My heart just stopped beating.

I'm not going to do it. Because I can't do it. It just won't happen.

So what to do? I'm wondering if I can get by with talking for 5 minutes (strangely, so much easier!) about how I came up with the idea for the book. It's going to have to suffice. I don't want to torture any mall-goers with my horrible reading voice, nor do I particularly care to expose my bizarre defect to the world. Sigh...

So stop by tomorrow night. Or not. The less people there, I'm thinking, the better. Until of course, it comes time to buy books and have them signed. :-)

M

KISS ME DEADLY is also featured as the Bloodlines book of the month for October. Bloodlines is the fan site for the Blood Ties TV series, based on the vampire novels by Tanya Huff. Stop by some time this month and post in the forum about KISS ME DEADLY! You'll find the topic under the "Bloodlines Book Club" heading.

M

Oh, man! I just watched Tivo'd Dancing With The Stars. They picked Wayne Newton over sweet, charismatic Albert Reed! That's just nuts! I'm bummed...

KISS ME DEADLY and moi are featured at Coffee Time Romance for October. There's a chat list, and I'll be there to answer questions about the book and whatever else. Stop by and say 'hey'!

Dancing With The Stars: Okay, Wayne Newton has to go tonight, but I suspect they'll have Jane or Floyd in the bottom two as well. Bummer about the dress slip with Jennie G. It was her partner's fault. She was trying so desperately not to cry! Poor girl. Helio impresses yet again. Now there's a guy who loves to have fun.

So recommend some good new TV shows for me to check out. I tried half an hour of MOONLIGHT. Yuck. Haven't been able to catch CHUCK yet. Want to watch PUSHING DAISIES on Wednesday. Anything else out there I shouldn't be missing?
M

Vampires and witches and faeries, oh my!

A new month begins today! I love October. The crisp air, crackly leaves, cool breezes that make me tug out my sweaters and want to go for walks. We've got a bonfire pit in the backyard, and this is the best time of year for that. It's also The Girl's birthday month (she would kill me if I did not recognize that; she's only been reminding people since August, or possibly even since October 2006). :-)

October also means I've got a month left to finish a novella and a Nocturne. Thirty-one days. It seems like a long time. But I woke up this morning thinking "A month? I gotta put the peddle to the metal!" A month is not so long when you consider I have to send in the Nocturne by snail mail (which cuts off about a week of time, so I can be assured it gets there on or before the due date). And I'm not sure if I can email the novella. Hope to have some contact with that editor soon, so I find out.

So the Nocturne stands pretty close to finished, but it needs fine tuning. I've mentioned the title, The Devil To Pay, but I'm seriously liking DESIRED THINGS now, too. And I still need to decide if I want that historical flashback scene, which is cut into two chapters. A lot of space to step out of the current story and into back story. Not wise to do that to readers. I feel it should be short, to the point, but I've fallen in love with my mini-flashback tale, so to speak. I know I should cut it out, maybe save it for something I could offer on my web site. But if I do that, that means I need to add in another scene or two, to take up the space. Hmm... Lots to think on with that one.

Now the novella is finished, but I'm taking this week to polish and make sure it is spectacular. It's titled, "Dust Me, Baby, One More Time". I can say now what this is attached to. I recently sold into a novella at St. Martin's Press. The theme is 'faeries gone wild'. I hope they keep that as a title for the anthology, because that would so rock. But who knows? So all the stories are faeries and they are humorous, funny, and hopefully, laugh-out-loud. Something different for me? Not really. I know, I've done dark angsty stuff. But you know, I did once have a historical e-published years ago that Romantic Times said was, "absolutely hilarious" and they highly recommended it. (Yeah, it surprised me, too.) So there. I can do funny. And I like the freedom of having funny to work on as a bit of a vacation from dark. Oh, and the other authors in the anthology? Lois Greiman, Leandra Logan, and MaryJanice Davidson. What about that lineup, eh? I have no idea when it'll be published, but I'm guessing some time next fall.

M