Watcha Readin' Wednesday - Galleys!

Just looked over my very final, very real, very exciting galleys (galleys, to those not in the publishing industry, means something like a last draft, where the file is formatted so all the pages appear exactly like they'll be on genuine PAPER pages!!) of All Fore Revenge.

Oh yes, I am in Pumpedville today, friends and neighbors.

February 2, 2009 is the release date for All Fore Revenge IN PRINT.

Pardon me while I happy-dance away now.

Piper
Romance is sexy!

'Tube Tuesday

I stumbled across this girl (Hotforwords.com?) while looking for Tube vids about New Years Resolutions. Poor thing seems to have a somewhat noble idea by teaching people the etymology of words, but I fear the male segment only thinks about one word while she's delivering her lesson: boobs.

Nevertheless, the thinking is sound. Breaking down "resolution" into its precise meaning does make accomplishing your goals more do-able.

Check her out. Her delivery is somewhat silly, but she has a point...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4keG1oT_2g

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Things that Don't Suck - not a lot, not a little, not even at all

When I was small (I mean when I was a kid, not when I was 10 years younger and 40 lbs lighter) I had a cute little board book called Happinesss is a Warm Puppy. It had pictures of all the Peanuts gang and what made them happy. The point of the book was that there are lots of wonderful things, but what makes us happy varies from one person to the next. And that's okay.

I wish I still had that little book. There were some real gems inside. Like the warm puppy, Linus' blanket, Schroder's piano...

Today I'm going to deviate from my normal Monday whine (hey, it's the last Monday of '08, I'm over their awfulness for now) and list some things I think most everyone loves. In no particular order:

• A warm puppy. Or how about a grown dog, who loves you so much he/she sits on your feet and stares up at you with that adoring look?
• When your cat snuggles up with you and purrs his little heart out
• Holding a sleeping baby
• Hot cocoa
• Those fuzzy chenille slipper socks (yes, you're seeing a pattern with warmth here. Well, it IS winter, ya know)
• That very old, slightly outdated, but incredibly comfy sweater you've had for decades.
• A box of chocolates
• Indiana Jones (if you disagree, you're wrong. Get over it. )
• Bacon
• Gift cards
• Checking the bank account balance and NOT being alarmed
• Watching kids sled
• Looking at sleeping kids
• Little boys who tell their mommies they are pretty. And not fat.
• Bubble baths
• Foot massages
• The movies 10 Things I Hate About You and The Wedding Singer. Some things, in the words of Young Cornfuscius, "Just never get old."

Those are a few of my "favorite things". Oprah's list might be fancier, but mine is "priceless". LOL Anything you'd like added to the list?

Autumn

Got romance?

The Day After...

Happy Friday to ya! Don't have a real Friday funny, and I'm lucky to get online at all.

There's a blizzard outside (at least I think we could call it that. It's impossible to tell how much snow is coming down and how much is blowing UP) and my net access keeps fizzling when snow coats the satellite dish, which means I have to go tromping outside where I sink to my thighs and get my boots all full of snow (dh tells me there's a miracle known as Gatorz and I'm going to get some...) in order to sweep/scrape/chisel the snow and ice off. And then restart the router so I can do it all over again when Ma Nature gets the best of us.

Neato. Just think, we could be inside some nice toasty mall, elbow to elbow with throngs of cranky returners, providing the roads are plowed and we can even get to a mall...

In any case, Santa bought me a bright shiny new electronic toy with his Christmas bonus! I'm still learning all about it. Will try to get it figured out by Monday and post some info.

Okay, I'll give you a hint: Starts with "S" and ends with "ony Reader".

Stay warm, y'all.

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Merry Christmas!

To everybody out there, have a great holiday.

My your gifts be all you wanted, and your guests be amicable!

And in case anybody's not being nice now that St. Nick's flight is another 364 days away, here's a song you can sing them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzXKWKaxt3c

Sorry for that, but it is a classic. And nobody did it like Seuss.
Merry Christmas!

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Autumn Piper
Got romance?

Watcha Readin' Wednesday

This week's review selection is Unexpected, by Lori Foster. It was published by Kensington back in 2003. I bought it a Friends of the Library book sale after reading Jude's Law (bought it at B&N) and Jamie (borrowed from library). Since I do love libraries and can't afford to buy everything I read, I like to support my local branch when they have a used book sale.

Unexpected is a fast, fun read. (I finished it in under a week, even with all the extra holiday busy-ness.) Rich-guy-with-an-Average Joe-past Eli hires mercenary tough-chick Ray to help him rescue his younger brother from Central American guerilla kidnappers. The attraction between Eli and Ray is instant, all-consuming, distracting to the point it hampers her performance as a mercenary, and most of all - since she hates rich guys - unexpected. It's one of those attractions the characters deal with on every page, much the way we find ourselves utterly occupied when we're first infatuated.

If you like a kick-ass heroine who isn't afraid to speak her mind (and I do, which is part of why I had a hell of a time selling Lone Star Trouble), then you'll love Ray. If you like a hero who knows what he wants and will stop at nothing to get it - or her - then you'll fall for Eli.

I'd rate Unexpected a Nice Bang for Your Entertainment Buck. Well worth your time and money. When you're done, pass it on to someone who’ll enjoy it and keep the author on your radar.

Autumn
Got romance?

On the nightstand: Good Grief, by Lolly Winston. Loving it.

'Tube Tuesday

Because it's Christmas and I'm feeling sappy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X23MoTtVplE&feature=related

Merry Christmas!

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Peekers, Confess!

This is not a sucky Monday because I don't have to work (no Things That Suck today). So I'll turn my attention to holiday matters.

First up: Car commercials, urging people to give the gift of a luxury auto this Christmas, you know, to top those marvelous childhood memories of The Very Best Christmas Ever. yeah right. As if! I'm thinking the people who can afford to give a freaking Lexus this Christmas (especially this year!) probably aren't sitting at home on their LaZboy watching Bones or CSI. I'd think they'd have high-end charity functions to attend or they'd need to comb their toupee and practice saying, "You're fired".

Next up: For the first time ever, I've purchased and wrapped the kids Christmas gifts ahead of time. Which means on Christmas Eve after we return from the MIL's (a bit tipsy from selfmedicating with wine) I won't have to stay up late wrapping presents!!! big yayy! But while wrapping and listening to Jack Johnson yesterday, I got to thinking about kids peeking at their gifts.

Confession time: I'd like to hear some stories about people who've peeked inside the giftwrap, or snooped in the closet (or browsed through the bank account online) to see what they're getting. Or maybe even spied on Santa. Poor Mr. Cornfuscius snuck out and hid behind the couch when he was young, and was absolutely devastated when he caught "Santa". In fact, I think he's still destroyed over it!

So here's your chance to fess up. Don't worry - Mom and Dad don't read this, so they'll never know.

Merry Monday!

Piper
Romance is sexy!

PS.We'll be reviewing Lori Foster's Unexpected this Wednesday - that was a fast read!

Friday Kid Funny

Ahh, the glory of that last-day-before-Christmas-break feeling! The teacher gifts are all prepped and packed (giving the gift of gambling this year - scratch tickets, baby), we've got a pile of snow for sledding, and the kids are stoked.

Me? I'm planning to use those early mornings after Mister heads off to work (while the kidlets are still snoozing) to write. I've got a story to finish, and it better be soon. January's looking like a very busy month for me work-wise. I'm already booked for almost all of it.

And speaking of work, that's where I got this week's funny. Last year I subbed in a first-grade class right before Christmas break. We read some story about Santa (helping the parents with their subterfuge...) and had stopped to discuss something about being good. One little boy raised his hand and said, "Yeah, or you'll get COLESLAW." Took me quite a bit of head-scratching, but I finally made the connection. Coal/coleslaw in the stocking. Heh. Poor lil dude has probably never seen real life coal, and really, for a 6 year old, getting a pile of shredded cabbage is every bit as offensive as a prehistoric rock!

Merry Friday!
May the Christmas spirit guide you to a pausing place beneath the mistletoe with someone hunky.

Autumn
Got romance?

Fables, Fiction...Subterfuge?

Who knew a dude in a red fur coat could cause so much extra work?

Yes, I'm talking about Santa. When your kids are toddlers, it's so much fun telling them the fairy tale. And so darn easy to keep up the ruse. They dictate a letter to you and wander off to play, no questions.

When they get a little older, they're still foolable, though you've got to come up with an evidenciery facade, such as footprints, letters of reply, explanations about the mall Santa and why he smelled like beer, special wrapping paper from Santa.

The plot thickens.

Then your kids can spell and you and dh can no longer spell out certain ideas - you've got to make up a secret code language. You now need special gift tags for the gifts with special paper, wrapped away and secretly stowed in the attic, not to be put under the tree until Christmas Eve. Scraps of the special paper must be disposed of discreetly, the remainder of the roll hidden away. Christmas morning, there'd better be reindeer teeth marks on those remaining stubs of carrots you left for Santa and Rudolph. And the handwriting on Santa's gift tags had better not be the same as Mom's or Dad's. Oh, and those letters to Santa? Signed and sealed in secret - and they watch you slide them into the mailbox at the post office.

Oh, the trickery, the spy games (ever try to steam open an envelope that has that sticky type seal instead of the old glue kind, huh?), the bald-faced lies. And bringing in the older kids to help? It certainly smacks of conspiracy.

Well, no matter. I'm 99% sure my youngest knows what's going on. She's masterminded a plan to sneak out to the couch and sleep - wait for Santa. Daddy did the same when he was a bit younger than her, and reports it broke his heart. I imagine she'll feel the same way.

Now I wonder - will next Christmas be easier without all this sneaking around, or will it just seem empty?

Autumn
Got romance?

Watcha Readin' Wednesday

This week I'm reading....

...A contract! For my contemporary romance, Lone Star Trouble (formerly known as Blame It On Texans).

I'm very excited. Naturally the contract is confidential so I can't actually review it here, but Lyrical Press seems to really be professional and ambitious. I'm confident and pleased to be along for the ride on this rising star in the publishing industry.

On Cloud Nine,

Autumn
Got romance?

On the nightstand: Unexpected, by Lori Foster

'Tube Tuesday

A must-see for anybody who's ever read or written a romance novel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD0z1hSXTJM

Love it.

Autumn
Got romance?

Things that suck more than Mondays

A few more...(you don't seriously think I'll ever run out of stuff to whine about, do ya?)

• Oversleeping
• Sleeping later than you intended on the weekend and waking up with that damn-I-just-wasted-a-bunch-of-my-day-off feeling
• Self-editing
• Not knowing what to buy that "special someone" for Christmas
• Knowing precisely what you want to buy that "special someone" but not finding it
• Knowing precisely what you'd like to buy that "special someone" but being too poor
• Getting a gift from someone on your not-sure-if-we'll-exchange-gifts-this-year-list. When you didn't get them anything!
• People who whine too much about Christmas angst...

Merry Monday!

Piper Denna

Romance is sexy!

Merry Friday!

Today I'm spotlighting Stephen King - yet again. Stumbled across this video on youtube, where he appears to be guest speaker, possibly at a university somewhere.

As usual, his advice is spot-on when he tells aspiring writers they should write a lot, but also read a lot. I knew this teacher in California who kept telling me she wanted to write, but she hadn't read a book in years. (The fact that that this person is a strong influence on 20+ kids every school year - who we're supposed to encourage to read - is another issue entirely.) It seems she didn't have time! Uh, what? You think if you don't have time to read, you're going to somehow make time to write? Here's the link (just a one-minute clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqp7A0B7abc

I love what he says there at the end about reading something and thinking you can do better. Too funny, as usual.

TGIF!

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

p.m. post

My sincere apologies for today's tardy post.

I was only supposed to work in the afternoon today - had planned on a quiet morning blogging and editing one of my manuscripts which is heading off for copy edits soon.

Instead, I was on the way to school with my kids and got a call asking me if I could cover the entire day for this teacher instead. So I delivered the kidlets and rushed home lickety-split, fixed hair and makeup, dressed, scarfed Instant Grits, packed a lunch, and cruised again.

And let me tell ya, the rest of the day has been every bit as hectic, from overlyenergetic 5th graders to waiting thru the line at Walmart pharmacy not just once but three times! while they got dh's prescription charges in the system. Did I mention we returned items, too? Oh yeah, it was THAT kind of day - the one-person-at-service-desk-with-10-people-in-line kind of day.

Good news is, tomorrow we have no school. Which means the kidlets and I are going nowhere.

yayyy!

All I want for Christmas is time to write.

Autumn
Got romance?

Watcha Readin' Wednesday

This week's review selection: Seduce Me At Sunrise, by Lisa Kleypas, 2008 St. Martin's Press.



FYI - any fellow authors out there, I bought this book the same day I watched the trailer on youtube:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDHsMMd-nS8



In case you're wondering, YES, trailers do sell books.

I'm notorious for starting book series in the middle and this is no exception; it's the second book about this particular family. I will find Mine Till Midnight soon, so I'll be prepared when #3 comes out early next year. But I digress. About this book:

It's 1848. Win is one of four daughters of a wealthy family. A bout of scarlet fever a couple years previous has left her with a weak heart and lungs - generally frail. However, she goes to France for an extended stay with a doctor who nurses her strength back with a healthy diet and exercise. Now she wants nothing more than to return home to Kev, who she's loved since the first time she saw him.

Kev is the orphaned gypsy boy a wealthy family took in and raised as one of their own. He's uncertain of his place in the world and determined to earn his keep with Win's family, though they'd never require him to. He's bitter most of the time, forever an outsider. Only one peson warms his heart, and she has since the first day he met her.

This book was virtually unputdownable for me. Even in my hectic world. I loved Kleypas' contemporary work, and her historicals haven't let me down. She gives us conflicted characters we can relate to. Their problems become our problems. The sexual tension is hot. Fantastic. Her descriptions are just enough to set the mood, without all the tedious details about what each layer of clothing consisted of and how long it took to don. I realize many historical readers love all the description, but I'm just not that reader. I loved reading this book because the story keeps moving.

I rate this book a Nice Bang for Your Entertainment Buck. I'll happily share it with a pal and certainly watch for Kleypas' next debut. I found just one flaw: a particular line of dialogue where the characters are discussing London society. "Gossip travels at full throttle." Unfortunately, it really stopped me. I even did searches on the net, hoping I was mistaken, but alas, the term "full throttle" is used only in regards to liquid fuel engines - none of which were available in 1851, at the time of this conversation. It was the equivalent of a wall-banger for me, but really, why the heck would I bother to throw the book across the room if I'd rather keep reading toward the fabulous happily ever after?

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!



Get Your Own Copy! A book you love so much, no way are you loaning it out. Worthy of high praise and frequent recommendations – but trust us, if you let someone borrow this one, they’ll “forget” to return it. Don’t miss the next title by this author.

Keeper. You won’t regret either time or money spent with this book. It has a permanent spot on your shelf. Recommend it freely and lend it carefully to that trustworthy “inner circle” of reader friends. Put the author on your To Be Read list.

Nice Bang for Your Entertainment Buck. Well worth your time and money, but not necessarily worth a re-read. Pass it on to someone who’ll enjoy it and keep the author on your radar.

Borrow It. An okay read, but try to borrow it from a friend or library. This author will likely improve with experience, so remember him/her.

Don’t Bother. We won’t sink into varying degrees of badness – one size fits all in our “not worthy” category. Do remember, this is just one opinion, so take us with a grain of salt.

Tube Tuesday

Why remain snowbound in some remote cabin, when you can build your own snowshoes and walk out?

From BBC to Youtube to you... so long as you've got nylon twine, binding material, and ulimited access to small flexible sticks, you're set!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ROh_mAaPt8

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Special report

We interrupt today's regularly scheduled "Things That Suck" for an especially sucky math lesson by Mrs. Cornfuscius.

(3 little girls) + (1 slumber party) + (exhaustion after big night-swimming trip to the hot springs) = spats + (hurt feelings X tears) + (1 little girl going home at 1 a.m.)

I think moms should get overtime pay for days like these!

Autumn Piper
Got romance?

Friday 'Fuscius

With sick kids, two days spent subbing in 2nd grade, and now dear daughter's 11th birthday, it's been something of a wild week. Please excuse the uber-short blog for today.

Mrs. Cornfuscius says: You know life is too hectic when you put on your makeup and rush off to work, only to discover halfway through the day that you forgot one key element: mascara! (in case you're wondering, Mrs. 'Fuscius' eyelashes are about the length of microsuede fibers, so yes, it IS a big deal to be without mascara.)

Autumn
Got romance?

Do we still believe in fairy tales?

In case you missed this month's issue of The Lyriodical, John B. Rosenman wrote a thought-provoking article (from a man's point of view) on why women's fiction (and especially romance) always must end happily.



He and I had a fun discussion about the subject, but what it boiled down to is: Because it's women's fiction. Naturally we want a happy ending. Men like to finish a book or movie on high alert, forecasting evil on the horizon a la every episode of Batman, Spiderman, Hulk... yuck. Need I go on? Whereas we chicks have an innate desire to believe happily ever after is attainable. We're in a romance for the warm, fuzzy, awwwwsome ending! Clearly we do not read a contemporary romance for reality's sake. If we did, there'd be epilogues like this:



TWO YEARS LATER


At eighteen months old, Romeo Junior is the apple of mommy and daddy's eyes. Too bad daddy doesn't get to see him much - he's working extra hours, as mommy is expecting Baby #2 soon. She got demoted from her demanding fashion job for missing so much work when Junior had all those ear infections. Then her cute classic car broke down for good and it made more financial sense for her to stay home in the suburbs and babysit full-time for the family next door, than to assume the burden of a payment for a new car. Juliette's got a closet full of cute outfits from the old days, but none of them fit, even before the second pregnancy. Now she spends her days in stretch denim and hoodies, some without stains. Lunch means Kraft Mac-n-Cheese with preschoolers instead of Chili's with her pals from work. The hot body Romeo worshipped isn't likely to make an encore, but he swears he doesn't mind. Well, he has to work out extra hard these days to fight the beer belly, too. And those buff, buff shoulders and pecs have gone the way of Juliette's perky bosom, since they left the city and their gym membership. It's all good, though. He's up for a promotion. If things go well and he gets a good enough raise, they'll be able to afford their dream car - a new Honda minivan! Let their old single friends laugh at them through MySpace. They've got their parenting group pals and neighbors. And each other. Which was all they really needed, right?

Reality in novels? No, thanks.

Happy Thursday!

Autumn Piper
Got romance?

Watcha Readin' Wednesday

At long last, I've finished Duma Key, by Stephen King. And yes, I did finally have to "get my own copy".



After middle-aged construction baron/millionaire Edgar Freemantle is struck by a construction crane, he loses an arm, much of his vocabulary, his wife, and frequently, his temper. But what he gains from the accident - a connection to something, dark, evil, and ancient - is the focus of his story.



Edgar's voice is authentic, your average midwestern guy. (I imagined Jack Nicholson.) The other characters are vivid, the story - at least to me - realistic. For the most part, I didn't find this novel quite as creepy as most of King's work, but that's okay. Edgar's not alone in his fight against evil. He gets help from his friends Wireman and Jack, and also from a little old lady who well knows the power he's up against.

I'd rate this book a

Keeper. See ratings system below.

Autumn
Got romance?

Get Your Own Copy! A book you love so much, no way are you loaning it out. Worthy of high praise and frequent recommendations – but trust us, if you let someone borrow this one, they’ll “forget” to return it. Don’t miss the next title by this author.

Keeper. You won’t regret either time or money spent with this book. It has a permanent spot on your shelf. Recommend it freely and lend it carefully to that trustworthy “inner circle” of reader friends. Put the author on your To Be Read list.

Nice Bang for Your Entertainment Buck. Well worth your time and money, but not necessarily worth a re-read. Pass it on to someone who’ll enjoy it and keep the author on your radar.

Borrow It. An okay read, but try to borrow it from a friend or library. This author will likely improve with experience, so remember him/her.

Don’t Bother. We won’t sink into varying degrees of badness – one size fits all in our “not worthy” category. Do remember, this is just one opinion, so take us with a grain of salt.

Guest blogging

Today I'm the guest blogger on the Lyrical Press blog.

Bounce on over there and take a gander, will ya?

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Things that suck more than Mondays

And still more...

• Foundation smeared on the white sweater you want to wear today.
• Scraping ice from car windows
• Losing your purse pen
• ALL the night time talk shows, except for Leno and Letterman
• When your bookmark falls out of your book
• Growing out of your shoes during pregnancy and never fitting back into them

Happy first-o'-the-holiday-season Monday to all!

Autumn

Got romance?