AmyC has some more nice things to say about my writing, this time in a combined review of Crossing Swords and Bound by Steel. Here's a bit of what she wrote:
The depth of the relationship between Gil, Lianon and Kaela was extremely well thought out and very satisfying. The plot, the characters, their relatioships and interactions were wonderful, making both Crossing Swords and Bound by Steel highly engaging reads.
Mmmmmmm yummy, now that's good review!
Of course, now I have to get off my lazy butt and finish Chancellor's Bride. :)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Oooh! Oooh!
In the "Squee" column, just lookit what I got! I knew I was getting it, I'm even the one who wrapped it, and I'm still all excited.
*Victorian tinsel strategically placed to obscure my mild-mannered alter ego.
You know, one thing I love about Samhain is that they have so many titles available from MBaM in SONY pdf. Including mine, heehee! AND even if you've already bought them in a different format, you can go back to your bookshelf and get them in SONY. Yay for my TBR pile!
In the "Total bummer, I haz sad" column, my dog started peeing all over the house yesterday. I'm hoping it's just a bladder infection, but whatever it is, the vet won't be back in his office until Tuesday. So if Slip doesn't like cranberry juice, she's just gonna have to stay in that cage for the next several days. Poor dog...
If it isn't a bladder infection, I don't know what we're gonna do about it. Heroic measures are out of the question for us. But as big a pain as she is, I'm not quite ready to send her off to that big old dog-hair covered couch in the sky...
But adding to the "Squee" column, my kids haven't gotten into a single argument so far today. We didn't forget to go to the liquor store yesterday when it was still open. I made $150 in 6 hours at work on Christmas Eve, our turkey is smelling totally blammo, and I have ten scratch and win Bingos to get through before supper. Oh, and I'm two glasses down, so I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy, too.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Hugs and big ol' sloppy kisses for all of you!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
I feel like a kid again...
...Christmas just does that for me. Not the getting, but the giving, the stuffing of stockings and piling of loot under the tree. The kids shaking parcels and trying to figure out what on earth is inside them before ripping them apart and holding that treasured whatever-it-is aloft and doing a victory dance...
The turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes with a gallon of gravy, and an excuse to drink before noon, dammit! Being with family when we're all half-cut and laughing at just about anything.
I love Christmas. Love it.
Whatever holiday all of you all are celebrating, have a great one!
XOXOXOX
The turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes with a gallon of gravy, and an excuse to drink before noon, dammit! Being with family when we're all half-cut and laughing at just about anything.
I love Christmas. Love it.
Whatever holiday all of you all are celebrating, have a great one!
XOXOXOX
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
An Early Christmas Squeeeeeee...
Lookie what I found!
(Actually, AmyC emailed me yesterday to give me a heads up that she was really enjoying Healer's Touch, and I've been pretty damn stoked ever since.)
Behold, yon snippet:
This was truly an erotic romance, not merely explicit scenes. With the voyeurism so prominent throughout, it plays on your senses. The book is not riddled with explitive words, but has scenes that are highly charged regarding the nature of them, rather than the blunt usage of nouns describing anatomy.
Without a doubt, I am a fan of Ms. Saell and will continue to follow her work as it's published. Her compelling prose will grip you and sink under your skin.
And this is doubly awesome since I believe Healer's Touch is the reviewer's first foray into the realm of hot girl-on-girl action in her steamy romance. I'm totally thrilled that she liked it so much, and I'm all pinned and needled over the fact that she's reading Crossing Swords as we speak.
I tell ya, there is nothing cooler than to find out someone really connected with something you wrote. If you could package that feeling, it's all I'd want under the tree this year.
Well, that and a Sony...
(Actually, AmyC emailed me yesterday to give me a heads up that she was really enjoying Healer's Touch, and I've been pretty damn stoked ever since.)
Behold, yon snippet:
This was truly an erotic romance, not merely explicit scenes. With the voyeurism so prominent throughout, it plays on your senses. The book is not riddled with explitive words, but has scenes that are highly charged regarding the nature of them, rather than the blunt usage of nouns describing anatomy.
Without a doubt, I am a fan of Ms. Saell and will continue to follow her work as it's published. Her compelling prose will grip you and sink under your skin.
And this is doubly awesome since I believe Healer's Touch is the reviewer's first foray into the realm of hot girl-on-girl action in her steamy romance. I'm totally thrilled that she liked it so much, and I'm all pinned and needled over the fact that she's reading Crossing Swords as we speak.
I tell ya, there is nothing cooler than to find out someone really connected with something you wrote. If you could package that feeling, it's all I'd want under the tree this year.
Well, that and a Sony...
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Global Warming...
...where are you?
In all my years living on the North Island, it's never been so cold for so long so early in the season. I mean, yes, we've had snow in the past. It typically falls for a few hours sometime in January, then melts before the kids have time to finish building their snowman. Sometimes it sticks around for a day or two--just long enough to pay for the local body shop owner's vacation in Mexico--before our regularly scheduled rain resumes.
And yes, we've had freezing conditions before. But I've never seen the water that runs in ditches and cascades down the embankments along the highway frozen solid. Last year, for a week or so, I had to go out each morning and break the crust of ice on the top of the water in my dog's bowl. This year, we had to bring the bowl inside--once we'd chiseled it off of the surface of the deck--because it had four inches of solid ice in it. As I watched a group of poor, brave, foolhardy, insane kids sledding across the street, the wind tore a Crazy Carpet from a little girl's mittened hand to carry it half a block before depositing it on the roof of my neighbor's toolshed. Guess when you only get snow a few days a year, it's hard for a kid to pass up the chance to play in it--even when you stand to lose a body part.
Now I know all of BC--all of Canada, in fact, and a good portion of the States--is in a deep freeze. And I know, those of you in Winterpeg or Edmonton or Toronto or Halifax are probably muttering under your breath right now about where I can stuff my wussy -5C (to which I will give the standard British Columbian's reply of "But, it's a damp cold."). But with gale force gusts nudging the windchill down to -10 and lower, with snow piling up inside my carport, with the windows rattling and the heat in my barely insulated house cranked, I feel like I've earned the right to moan.
So hear it is, my big whine: It's effing cold. I don't like it. So if the Sierra Club or whoever is in charge of this global warming stuff wanted to send some my way, at this point I wouldn't complain. Come on. All I'm asking for is five degrees.
In all my years living on the North Island, it's never been so cold for so long so early in the season. I mean, yes, we've had snow in the past. It typically falls for a few hours sometime in January, then melts before the kids have time to finish building their snowman. Sometimes it sticks around for a day or two--just long enough to pay for the local body shop owner's vacation in Mexico--before our regularly scheduled rain resumes.
And yes, we've had freezing conditions before. But I've never seen the water that runs in ditches and cascades down the embankments along the highway frozen solid. Last year, for a week or so, I had to go out each morning and break the crust of ice on the top of the water in my dog's bowl. This year, we had to bring the bowl inside--once we'd chiseled it off of the surface of the deck--because it had four inches of solid ice in it. As I watched a group of poor, brave, foolhardy, insane kids sledding across the street, the wind tore a Crazy Carpet from a little girl's mittened hand to carry it half a block before depositing it on the roof of my neighbor's toolshed. Guess when you only get snow a few days a year, it's hard for a kid to pass up the chance to play in it--even when you stand to lose a body part.
Now I know all of BC--all of Canada, in fact, and a good portion of the States--is in a deep freeze. And I know, those of you in Winterpeg or Edmonton or Toronto or Halifax are probably muttering under your breath right now about where I can stuff my wussy -5C (to which I will give the standard British Columbian's reply of "But, it's a damp cold."). But with gale force gusts nudging the windchill down to -10 and lower, with snow piling up inside my carport, with the windows rattling and the heat in my barely insulated house cranked, I feel like I've earned the right to moan.
So hear it is, my big whine: It's effing cold. I don't like it. So if the Sierra Club or whoever is in charge of this global warming stuff wanted to send some my way, at this point I wouldn't complain. Come on. All I'm asking for is five degrees.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Dudes, I'm up for grabs...
...or rather, my first loverly book is, over at Ciar Cullen's blog.
Apparently Ciar is not a Scrooge. Far from it, she is amply imbued with Yultide cheer. She is overflowing with generosity and love for her fellow reader. She's got Christmas spirit out the ying-yang, and is looking to spread it around. If there are any of you all who have still not bought, begged, stolen, won, absconded with or otherwise procured a copy of my debut, Crossing Swords, now you have the chance to rectify the situation.
Just mosey on over to Ciar's, leave a comment telling her how desperately you're jonesing for my book, and in the New Year you could be the proud owner of your own shiny new digital copy.
Or, if you've already experienced the sheer bliss that is my timeless prose, check out the other titles she's promoting through her contest. A few of them are from fellow Samhellions and I betcha there's at least one up there that you'd enjoy. Who knows? You could discover an author you adore.
Do it. You know you want to...
Apparently Ciar is not a Scrooge. Far from it, she is amply imbued with Yultide cheer. She is overflowing with generosity and love for her fellow reader. She's got Christmas spirit out the ying-yang, and is looking to spread it around. If there are any of you all who have still not bought, begged, stolen, won, absconded with or otherwise procured a copy of my debut, Crossing Swords, now you have the chance to rectify the situation.
Just mosey on over to Ciar's, leave a comment telling her how desperately you're jonesing for my book, and in the New Year you could be the proud owner of your own shiny new digital copy.
Or, if you've already experienced the sheer bliss that is my timeless prose, check out the other titles she's promoting through her contest. A few of them are from fellow Samhellions and I betcha there's at least one up there that you'd enjoy. Who knows? You could discover an author you adore.
Do it. You know you want to...
Friday, December 19, 2008
Attention Samhain Readers!!
In the spirit of transparency, the PTB at Samhain have pledged to provide a list in the New Year of their top ten bestselling books of 2008.
And because the most awesome, unique, spectacular, groundbreaking, top-quality stories (not talking about my own books, necessarily, heh) are not always the bestsellers (okay, now I am, lol), they're also giving all you readers a chance to speak up about which Samhain books you loved most. AND they've provided a place to tell them what you love about Samhain, what you think they could do better, what you want to see more of, etc.
So here's your chance, guys. Let them know what you think. And if you don't happen to pick one of my titles as your mondo-ultimate-OMG-it's-the-best-book-EVAH!!1!-all-time fave, well, I forgive you. I mean, hey. Spirit of the season and all. :D
And because the most awesome, unique, spectacular, groundbreaking, top-quality stories (not talking about my own books, necessarily, heh) are not always the bestsellers (okay, now I am, lol), they're also giving all you readers a chance to speak up about which Samhain books you loved most. AND they've provided a place to tell them what you love about Samhain, what you think they could do better, what you want to see more of, etc.
So here's your chance, guys. Let them know what you think. And if you don't happen to pick one of my titles as your mondo-ultimate-OMG-it's-the-best-book-EVAH!!1!-all-time fave, well, I forgive you. I mean, hey. Spirit of the season and all. :D
Monday, December 1, 2008
Hooray, I have a headache!
No, really. Hooray!
I have a headache. I've had it since Friday. And yes, that's a good thing. I spend a lot of time lying down when I have a headache, not reading or watching TV or even sleeping. Just lying there, not quite asleep. Thinking. Playing scenes in my head. Letting my mind wander.
And that's when my best ideas are born. That's when the magic happens. Revelations occur in random flashes of brilliance that sometimes hurl me from my half-slumber, heart pounding and out of breath with the sure knowledge that this--this is the way I need to go. Forget all the crap I thought I knew about my characters and their stories. I knew nothing. I was a fool. Now I know better.
Saturday around 6 PM, I learned something about the villain in my current WIP that completely invalidates all the plotting I made myself do a couple weeks ago. It also makes every aspect of the story that much more perfect, makes everything fit together with perfect elegance. It was one of those POW! moments when my subconscious kicks in and overrides everything else. And damn, if that isn't almost better than sex.
About ten minutes after 6, another revelation hit me, an epiphany about the nature of my creative process--an amalgam of headaches, parental guilt, and getting things done. Last December, I got my tubes tied. Consequently, I was able to go off the birth control pill. When I did that, I went from having three migraines a month, to one--or none. And my daily word count plummeted. Between being more busy than ever, recently becoming a single parent, and no longer having an excuse to lie around on the couch playing pretend in my head, I hit a creative lull. Lie down? Who has time to lie down? What kind of mother lolls around daydreaming when there's laundry to be folded?
Well, this kind of mother, from now on. As of today, I've scheduled in two mornings of downtime every week for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, that will get my muse back on speaking terms with me, and my wordmeters chugging back along.
And if not, well, at least I'll be well rested. :)
I have a headache. I've had it since Friday. And yes, that's a good thing. I spend a lot of time lying down when I have a headache, not reading or watching TV or even sleeping. Just lying there, not quite asleep. Thinking. Playing scenes in my head. Letting my mind wander.
And that's when my best ideas are born. That's when the magic happens. Revelations occur in random flashes of brilliance that sometimes hurl me from my half-slumber, heart pounding and out of breath with the sure knowledge that this--this is the way I need to go. Forget all the crap I thought I knew about my characters and their stories. I knew nothing. I was a fool. Now I know better.
Saturday around 6 PM, I learned something about the villain in my current WIP that completely invalidates all the plotting I made myself do a couple weeks ago. It also makes every aspect of the story that much more perfect, makes everything fit together with perfect elegance. It was one of those POW! moments when my subconscious kicks in and overrides everything else. And damn, if that isn't almost better than sex.
About ten minutes after 6, another revelation hit me, an epiphany about the nature of my creative process--an amalgam of headaches, parental guilt, and getting things done. Last December, I got my tubes tied. Consequently, I was able to go off the birth control pill. When I did that, I went from having three migraines a month, to one--or none. And my daily word count plummeted. Between being more busy than ever, recently becoming a single parent, and no longer having an excuse to lie around on the couch playing pretend in my head, I hit a creative lull. Lie down? Who has time to lie down? What kind of mother lolls around daydreaming when there's laundry to be folded?
Well, this kind of mother, from now on. As of today, I've scheduled in two mornings of downtime every week for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, that will get my muse back on speaking terms with me, and my wordmeters chugging back along.
And if not, well, at least I'll be well rested. :)
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