Saturday, November 29, 2008

Remembering Why

Through a series of random link-clicking, I found a post on a blog I've never visited that made me remember why I write.

Check it out on Murderati.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The turkey is thawed. The sweet potato biscuits are done. Dessert is in the fridge. The house is (mostly) clean. And my feet hurt...but in a good way.

I did take an hour out of my cooking/cleaning schedule to watch "Bones." Okay, so it wasn't quite an hour, because I was up and down during commercial breaks, vacuuming and measuring ingredients out. Anyway, I mention it because of the small amount of amusement I get from seeing actors guest star on more than one series with one another.

Tonight's ep guest starred Gina Torres ("Firefly"!), who seems to be making the rounds, since I just saw her on an episode of "Eli Stone." It mostly amused me, cuz Gina also guest starred on David Boreanaz's other series (you may have heard of it), "Angel." Kinda like when Adam Baldwin guested and I was giggling because Angel and Hamilton were at it again, I was giggling tonight because Angel and Jasmine were at it.

Well, not *at it*, but you know what I mean. Yes, the small things in life amuse me. Maybe Alexis Denisof with stumble his way into the Jeffersonian sometime soon (since he's back on TV again, a la last week's "Private Practice").

Also, in honor of Turkey Day, I leave you with an amusing email that's been making the rounds.

Recently I received a parrot as a gift.

The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.
Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obno x ious and
laced with profanity.

I tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently
saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else I could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, I was fed up and I yelled at the parrot.

The parrot yelled back.

I shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

So in desperation, I threw up my hands, grabbed the bird and
put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed …… then suddenly there was total quiet.

Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that I'd hurt the parrot,

I quickly open the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto my outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully
intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.."

I was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.

As I was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in
his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Battlestar Galactica Returns

Okay, so it doesn't return until spring 2009. But the new trailer is out, and DUDE.

I. Can't. Wait.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Why Are Copy Editors So Awesome?

Because they prevent from you using the word "recreation" when "re-creation" is the one you want, thereby giving the noun of the sentence (the female figure, in this case) an entirely new (and innuendo-laden) meaning.

Yes, copyedits have arrived. I'm pleased to say I seem to know my way around a comma and (as of getting through 306 of 401 pages) no egregious errors in continuity. One more step toward having that bound book in my hands. It's also my last chance to make any significant changes (not that I think I need any, but the option is there).

Busy week? Ha! Copyedits...hosting Thanksgiving...high school reunion on Friday...someone pass the rum...

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Time Ticking Away

I had a moment of self-awareness this evening while watching "24: Redemption." It had nothing to do with my adoration of Kiefer Sutherland (that's nothing new), or how excited I am for the new season to start (hello, He Who Does Not Stay Dead!). It occurred to me that even while it's been off the air for a year and a half, that ticking clock has never really gone away.

I can trace my own affinity for ticking clocks and time crunches directly to this show, and I think it may have unconsciously affected me when I originally wrote THREE DAYS TO DEAD. Evy's three days are counted down by a ticking clock of sorts, that traces the hours as they pass her by. When I sat down tonight to watch the "24" movie, and that familiar clock started to tick, I immediately flashed to my own manuscript.

It's funny how we can connect things sometimes.


And on a slightly spoilerish note, I have a message for any remaining old pals of Jack Bauer's: just paint a big-ass target on your back and get it over with.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Another One Bites the Dust



I believed in Eli Stone. Too bad the execs at ABC didn't. *sigh* Another worthy show gets the axe.

At least season one is available on DVD (it's going on my Christmas list). Hopefully they'll release season two.

*sniffle*

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Name Meme

I found this meme on Jeaniene Frost's blog, with a "consider yourself tagged" message attached. So here we go.


Name Meme:


1. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names)

May Charles (hmmm....)


2. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)

Elwood Arthur (sorta fits)

3. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 2 letters of your last name, first 4 letters of your first name)

Mekell (I think I'm going to use this....)

4.DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

Red Cat (sounds like a superhero)

5. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you live)


Renee Berlin (HA!)

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite alcoholic drink, optionally add "THE" to the beginning)

The Blue Whiskey Sour (*snicker*)

7. FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)

Keng (*giggle*)

8. GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie):

Cookie Dough Oreo (seriously?)

9. ROCK STAR NAME: (current pet's name, current street name)

Anya Jefferson (boooooring)

10. PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on)


Piggy Janice (*falls down laughing* Yeah, my first pet was a guinea pig named Piggy...sue me, I was five)

Thursday, November 13, 2008

It's Like a Class Reunion

Only not.

So I've said a few times that I'm trying to tune in and watch the final season of "E.R." Tonight's episode was touted as featuring Anthony Edwards, in a return as Dr. Greene. Naturally, I zoomed home from work to watch it (come on, who didn't think the beating heart of that show died when they killed off Mark Greene?).

The ep started with an intro from former castmate Eriq laSalle, extending condolences on the loss of show co-creator Michael Crichton. *sniffle* Then not only did we get a good twenty minutes of Dr. Green scenes set during the tumultous diagnosis of his brain tumor, we were also treated to cameo appearances from (SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET) Laura Innes (Kerry Weaver), Abraham Benrubi (Jerry), and Paul McCrane (Robert Romano).

As a diehard Romano fan, I was especially fond that that little exchange. Romano yelling at Greene for holding up his chemo, saying "No one told you to go and get cancer." Romano storming off, then pausing. Realizing. I just sort of smiled.

As far as November sweeps go, it wasn't a huge episode. But it was worth watching.

Now I'm all nostalgic for first season episodes. "Love's Labour Lost" anyone? Best. Episode. Evah.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

It's the Little Things...

...that make me grin like an idiot.

Like finding myself on someone's Amazon list for upcoming UF series (without an actual Amazon listing yet).

*grins*

Concentration and PSA's

I know I've been a little quiet lately. Blame it on the feverish desire to finish the first draft of AS LIE THE DEAD (which I did, on Sunday), and with it, the insane schizophrenia that always attacks me when I finish a first draft. I tend to aimlessly wander the internet, read blogs, watch TV, and stare out the window, wondering where the hell my concentration went. It only lasts a day or two, until I figure out on what to refocus my poor brain while I let AS LIE sit and marinate for a while.

I think I know which project to tackle next, but now, here's a quick PSA.

Inspired by several other authors/blogs, including agency sib Jaye Wells and posts at the AW Watercooler, BUY BOOKS.

BUY BOOKS, PEOPLE.

I posted not long ago about supporting your favorite retail stores by buying something at full price. Now I'm also asking you to support the book industry by buying a couple of books at a brick and mortar bookstore. Just a seven-dollar paperback. With gas prices nearly cut in half since September, it can't be that hard to scrape together a few extra dollars.

SO GET THEE TO A BOOKSTORE.

What have you bought recently?

Here's my list:
One Foot in the Grave, Jeanine Frost
Hotter than Hell, anthology edited by Kim Harrison
Unleashing the Storm, Sydney Croft
Tempted, Megan Hart
The Iron Hunt, Marjorie M. Liu
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Mysteria Lane (anthology that includes PC Cast and Gena Showalter)

Saturday, November 08, 2008

The Gift that Keeps on Giving




<---- This is the pillow that goblins bought.

And it's niiiiiiiiice.

When I got my first advanced, I treated myself and my best friend to dinner at a nice restaurant (crab dip, OMG, it was amazing), and a movie. Didn't really splurge on anything, since a good chunk of the money is going toward silly things like credit card bills and student loans.


Last week, I received the Delivery & Acceptance check for THREE DAYS TO DEAD. I hadn't intended to splurge today, but I was browsing through Bed, Bath & Beyond, checking prices on electric blankets and space heaters, and I found this nifty little gadget. It was the sample they had out that did me in.

When I took it to the checkout, a very bubbling clerk asked if it was a gift. I just smiled and said, "Yep, a gift for me."

The only bummer is that I can only use it for twenty minutes at a time. :-)

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

R.I.P. Michael Crichton

After a private battle with cancer, author Michael Crichton passed away at age 66.

I admit to having only read "Jurassic Park" (a copy of "Timeline" has been sitting on my self ever since the movie came out), but I've been a long-time fan of "E.R." Some of his forays into television producing have been hit-or-miss, but the realism and humanity of "E.R." has lasted a decade and a half.

We've lost a great storyteller.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Counting the Days

Days Until Thanksgiving: 22

Days Until Sis's Baby Shower: 38

Days Until Christmas: 50

Days Until My Head Explodes: __????

Monday, November 03, 2008

Round-Up

Happy November! And GOOD LUCK to everyone busy with NaNoWriMo. I had too many other things to juggle this month to manage it this year. But there's always 2009.

Clarkesworld Books has temporarily re-opened their online bookstore in order to liquidate some stock. They're having some amazing sales on SpecFic, so check it out!

The awesome folks at Fangs, Fur & Fey are having two great discussions on Urban Fantasy. What is Urban Fantasy today? Terminology and History.

Agent Kristin Nelson has a fun Behind-the-Scenes blog entry on how the cover art was put together for one of her clients.

In Hollywood news....

FOX's "24" finally returns with a two-night, four-hour event beginning Sunday, January 11th. I'm so excited to see this show return, after a year and a half off the air. I'll forgive them for season six, as long as season seven has lots and lots of "He Who Was Dead." *eg*

And with a season that had divided fans and critics, "Heroes" just lost two of their original producers. Not good. Honestly, I love what they're doing. If everyone says on the same path, the story gets boring. I like seeing good guys become bad, and vice versa. It keeps it interesting.