If you live in the UK you should be able to pick up Familiar Stranger in February! I like the little gold flourishes they added to the cover. Cute. Hope I get some copies.
M

  

Download free eBooks at www.HarlequinCelebrates.com!

If you haven't read it yet, you can pick up a copy of KISS ME DEADLY!

Michael Sheen double header

What a great weekend for movies! I saw Rise of the Lycan on Saturday and Sunday morning went back for Frost/Nixon.

Let's start with Frost/Nixon.
Normally this movie would hold no interest for me. I'm just not that interested in politics. Oh, sure, I remember Nixon. But I was about 10 when he resigned, so it had very little impact on me. I just knew he was a president no one liked, but wasn't sure why. I had no idea what Watergate was, and honestly, I'm still a little foggy on the details.
The movie didn't go into those details, which was fine. It starts after Nixon gives his resignation, and follows the course as one man, a famous British talk show host, David Frost, decides to interview Nixon would really bring up his ratings and television exposure. He went into it unprepared, and even as the interviews began you could see he didn't have a grasp on the gravity of what he was undertaking. But it all came together in the final interview when Nixon kinda/sorta/mostly confessed.
Both actors, Sheen and Langella were riveting. I just couldn't look away, and I kept telling myself, "You're getting into this story, when you shouldn't be." I can see why Langella was nominated for awards. He doesn't look much like Nixon, but man, did he feel like him. And of course my fav, Sheen nailed the role.
The first thing I did when I got home from this movie? Went to YouTube and searched for the actual Frost/Nixon interviews. I watched for an hour, fascinated. They followed the interviews almost to the word, and the facial expressions captured on the silver screen were very close to the small screen originals. Great movie.

Werewolves and vampires! How can you not love that combination? I read somewhere that the movie was not released for advance reviews, and when that happens it's usually because the movie sucks. Well, I didn't think it sucked. It was much better than #2, and I'd say almost as good as #1. It was short, and a lot of the focus was on the control of the lycans as slaves and Lucien's romance with Sonja. Yay, I say! A paranormal romance! And though the real battle stuff didn't come until the very end, it was interesting enough, I think, for those just looking for some head-flinging and sword-swinging to keep them satisfied.
Sheen owned the role of Frost, just as he owns Lucien. He just embodies each role he plays. I admire him for that. He is the werewolf. And when he's battling his forbidden vampire lover's father, and is knocked down, and yells, "I love her!" You really feel it, and ache for the poor guy. Ah, those paranormal romances. Don't ya just love em?

M

High hopes

Know how many movies I've seen in the theater this year?  Zero!  A big fat 0!  That's just wrong.  Usually I see on average, a few a month.  Well, UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS is out tomorrow.  I've been waiting for this movie for over a year.  Sure, I  know, it's the third in a series, and #3s usually don't fare too well for plot and well, everything else.  But my hopes are high because this is a prequel to the previous two movies and focuses on the werewolves rise to power.  The gorgeous blue and black coloring returns. The trailer promises much action and fight scenes.  Super cool medieval/modern weapons.  And always the battles between vampires and lycans.

Their leader Lucien is played by Michael Sheen, an amazing actor.  The man acts his gorgeous heart out in a movie that you expect to be more surface spectacle than actual feel-the-role emoting. He's my fav Brit actor. (Which reminds me, Frost/Nixon is finally at our local theater; I may have to do a Michael Sheen double header this weekend.)  I used to hate werewolves; Sheen's performance makes me love them.  

Sorry, guys, no Kate Beckinsale strutting around in her tight leather in this one.  It's a couple hundred years before she even came onto the scene, I believe.  And much as I'm not too keen on who they chose to play Lucien's bride, if you've seen the first movie, then you know how this one ends, so that makes it all better.  :-)

I'm wondering if they'll bring the story up to where Lucien makes the deal with Kraven?  (Brand ripped from his flesh, and all?)  Or will there be yet another movie to cover that dirty deal?

I bought the soundtrack at iTunes last week and there are quite a few good songs on it.  My fav so far is "Steal My Romance" by Ghosts On The Radio and a club mix of "Miss Murder" by AFI.

Be there today:  12:00 E/11:00 C

Vampire Vixens Contest

Check it out at:  www.vampire-vixens.com

You may all be tired of hearing me gab about how fab the Kindle is, but well, I did just discover another great use for it.  I just finished editing a Nocturne Bites story using the Kindle.  It's so cool.  I emailed the Word document of the story to myself and it downloads automatically to the Kindle.  Then I read it and made notes for corrections.  

It is remarkable how different a story can read to me just by viewing it in a different format.  I sit here every day, staring at the manuscript form on the screen.  But just seeing it on the Kindle screen, in book form, changes things.  I find myself reading the story as a reader, not necessarily a writer.  And things pop out, fixes and errors I may have missed dozens of times on a computer monitor.  It was nice working with the short story, only 12,000 words.  Not sure how it would be for an 80K novel, but I may try it.  

So to prevent myself from going over the story yet one more time (because seriously, I can go over and over and over something) I just emailed it off to my editor.  The Nocturne Bites are all edited electronically, which is nice.  I don't have to print up the manuscript and pay postage to mail it.  

Fingers crossed my editor doesn't freak over the POV!  For some reason this story wanted to be told in first person.  I've done it once before with a Bombshell, and loved it.  This time around it started showing up on the page in 1st.  I think it worked.  Only editorial, and ultimately, readers, can tell for sure.

I've got some fresh new ideas for the Rogue Angel, so it's back to that story on Monday.  And I'm thinking Tuesday should be a vacation day, spent watching inaugural stuff on TV.  Maybe.  We'll see.

M

It's that time of year...

...if you're an RWA member.  The RITA contest judging begins.  I got 8 books to judge in the mail yesterday.  I volunteer to judge every year, mostly because I believe if you enter you should judge.  Though, I don't enter.  I'm not big on contests.  And I never feel my Nocturnes have enough romance to really qualify.  But I also volunteer to judge because it forces me to read books I might not normally pick up, and new-to-me authors I may have missed.  I got 6 new-to-me authors this time, and for once, all the books interest me.  That usually never happens!

The only downside to judging is the time frame.  Scores are due March 9th.  That gives me less than two months to read 8 books.  Normally, if you'd handed me that stack, I'd say "thanks, I'll have them done in a year."  I am not a fast reader.  And I usually have three or four books going at once.  Now I have to shove aside all my 'for fun' books (including Stranger!) until I get these off my desk.  Oy.  [Okay one more downside is when I get a cowboy book.  Those are not my favorites.  It can be the most well-written book, I just don't care for cowboys.  Just like some might not care for vampires.  We all have our dislikes.]

What startles me is that some of you can read a book or two a day.  What's with that?  I think it's cool.  But seriously?  Do you actually retain the story after reading it so quickly?  Did you catch everything?  I'm sure you do.  I've meet a few like you at signings who are such voracious readers it awes me.  Major coolness.  8 books would be a breeze for you.

I did get 50 pages into the first book last night, but only because it started on page 8.  Are you like me?  Before you read the book, you have to check all the back stuff first, the ads, the author's notes, the back cover.  Then switch to the front stuff, reading all the quotes, the dedication and reader letter.  I have to read all that before I can start a book.  It's a ritual.

I like those extras, even though it's a pain writing them myself.  Just had to hand in two reader letters for two books, and a dedication.  Coming up with the dedication is a struggle for me.  Oh, but in one book, I did put a play list of songs at the end.  Hoping editorial will keep that in.  It's the theme songs and sort of soundtrack for the story.  I love it when I know what kind of music the authors used/listened to for their books.

Any other kind of front or back matter you enjoy seeing in books?  What's something missing?  Something you'd like to see offered in books that would enhance your reading experience?

M

Crazy cats and TBR piles

So how's your New Year going? Give up on that resolution yet? I'm still going strong with my 'goal' for the year to remove stuff. Did the cupboard over the stove yesterday. Seriously. How many candles can one person have? I tossed them all, save for the soy ones. Those are nice, though they may still have wicks with lead in them. Gotta be careful of that.

Last year I was determined to get through my TBR pile. Didn't happen. In fact, it only grew larger. All you readers can certainly relate to that. Well, I'm really determined this year. Already went through two paperbacks. They didn't capture my attention so I skimmed them. I've never skimmed before! It was kinda freeing. I've read two eBooks, one was A Mind Of Its Own (if you want to know what it's about, look it up at Amazon) but it was a very dry read, too much Freude in it. I just finished Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan, which was very interesting and helpful and free. Did I say free? Yep, I think you can still download it at Oprah.com (maybe until Wednesday?) for free. If you have credit card debt (I don't) or are paying for a child's college or just want to know what to do with your money and how to save and be smart with it, this is a must-read.

As for fiction, I skimmed one of J.R. Ward's Brotherhood books. I read the first two, and liked them, but the series just isn't yanking my chain anymore. Not sure why. She's an amazing writer. Go figure. And I just start Stranger by Megan Hart last night. I love Hart's stuff, and feel like I want to savor this one so I can enjoy it longer. Because when it's done, then what? Ah, but I see she has a few releases this year, so that author habit should be nicely fulfilled. Also started the anthology titled Immortal, edited by P.C. Cast; a young adult collection about vampires.

The funny thing about kitties? They become cats like overnight. I just looked at Max the other day and decided he'd become a full-grown cat. But he still acts like a two-year old on crack. Have you ever seen a cat push down a winged-chair like it was nothing? He does it daily, makes a mad dash through the living room, takes a flying leap, and crash!  Currently the chair is laying on its side. I'm getting tired of picking it up. And his favorite toy? Not some fancy schmancy doo-dad from the pet store, oh know. Take a few pieces of candy wrapper tinfoil, ball them up into a wad, and toss it. Keeps Max happy for a loooong time. Go figure.

On the writing front, I worked on a bunch of unsold stuff last week because it was in my brain demanding attention. But the rest of this month is for drafting out the Rogue Angel story.

What about you? How's your New Year going so far?
M

I'm blogging over at Midnight Moon Cafe today.

Lately every time I walk into Borders the cover for The Way Of Shadows by Brent Weeks attracts me. It's a fantasy novel about, I think, a league of assassins. Sounds so cool. But for some reason I never buy it. Well, I just did, and it only cost me a buck. If you like cheap, almost free books, then the publisher, Orbit has a sweet deal. They're selling $1 eBooks for the next few months. I can't wait to read this one. If I like it, it's a trilogy!

http://www.onedollarorbit.com

M

The Vampire Wire

Have you checked out Marta Acosta's blog, The Vampire Wire? It bites. (Trust me, that's a good thing.) I'm interviewed at the blog today. Stop by for a chance to win the complete set of my Bewitch The Dark series!

M

Charging full on into stuff removal.  Have cleaned the hall closet and found a leather jacket none of the menfolk in the house would claim.  It's charity now.  And who would have thought a closet could collect so darn many dustbunnies?  There was an entire herd in there.

Hit my office closet today.  I had a stuffed vampire.  Hmm...  Tossed out a bunch of old promo stuff that I had for Seraphim.  That was five years ago and I still had stacks of postcards.  I saved a few for memories.  And man, do I collect the journals!  I have all sizes, sorts and shapes.  I never write in them.  But I've determined which can be used as note paper (those with easily tear out pages) and now will start using.  I never have a small piece of paper to jot notes when I need them, but now I do.  No more buying of notebooks and journals!

So I've been working on my Nocturne Bites, "After The Kiss".  It's a follow-up to MOON KISSED, which will be out next September.  It's kind of cool to revisit characters in a shorter format, and just focus on one or two issues that I didn't really get to touch in the main story.  How much do I love my werewolf Severo?  Yet how much do I wonder how readers will or will not like his name?  A lesson in being careful when you name your secondary characters.  Severo popped up for a few pages in KISS ME DEADLY.  It was an appropriate werewolf name, alpha and maybe scary.  But for a hero?  Well, it's grown on me, can't imagine him with any other name (though I did try a new one on him; didn't work).  Let's hope readers won't be bothered by it!

I'll be blogging at RWTTD tomorrow, and there's an interview with me at The Vampire Wire.

M

Hey, everyone who sent me Xmas cards! Thanks! I appreciate it. It's fun to go to the Post Office and find a bundle of cards waiting for me in my PO box. I admit I didn't do so well on sending out Xmas cards this year. I think it's part of thinking more eco-consciously. Don't want to waste the paper, yet I don't do e-cards either, because I think they are stupid. Did send out some cards, but, ah well. Please know I love all the cards sent to me! I hang them on the kitchen wall and one giant section is covered with them. Very fun to look over.

I always like to hear from fans. You can write me at: PO Box 23, Anoka, MN 55303. And yes, I get letters from prisoners. It's cool that the prisons get romances books! Seems my fantasy series is big in the prisons. And the darker vampire stuff. Who'd a thought? I don't mind receiving letters from anyone, but I don't write back. Don't have the time. If you want to hear back, you have to include an SASE, and then I'll stick my current bookmark or some promo in there and send back to you.

Green tip for right now: Do you all recycle your plastic bottles? I hope you do! Did you know the bottle caps usually get tossed in the garbage? Most recycle centers don't process the caps. But you can save them and bring them in to the nearest AVEDA store. I'm starting a bottle cap pile because I'm very keen on recycling whatever I can. That includes all plastic caps that are considered 'rigid plastic', meaning, if you try to bend it, it won't bend or break. That rules out plastic covers like sour cream cartons, but not the peanut butter covers, they are rigid plastic. Do something good! Recycle!

M