readings

I've now watched all five parts of Torchwood: Children of Earth. I'd planned to wait for them to show on BBC America, because I'd heard that they would air here the same day that they aired in the U.K., and wouldn't be cut beyond some f-bombs. But when I found out that they would be aired earlier in the U.K. after all, I figured I couldn't trust them on the cutting issue, and went to the magical internet fairies for them. I'd been warned that episode 4 would make me angry, and...

( Well, here's where the major spoilers start. Seriously, they're massive. )

Spoilers are welcome in the comments.

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/friday-videos-like-obstacle-courses/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/friday-videos-like-obstacle-courses/#When:09:35:57Z

As Gry Heidi said when she emailed me, “perfect sport for the alpha-male hero.”

I like the part when they’re running through chest-deep water, and her head is underwater upside down. My nose burns just looking at it.

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/desktop-illustration-evolution-of-hero/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/desktop-illustration-evolution-of-hero/#When:09:11:20Z

Jan Oda asked if she could get the Evolution of a Hero illustration from Beyond Heaving Bosoms as a desktop wallpaper.

Behold! Ahoy! And also, WOOT! Artist Carol Main, who drew the original illustration, not only beefed that bad boy up for desktop wallpaper usage, but colored that mofo as well. Enjoy! Right click and download, please!

Thank you Carol!

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/rogue-digital-seminar-details/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/rogue-digital-seminar-details/#When:18:59:02Z

We've got a time: 8:30 AM
On a date: July 16
And a Room: The Harding Room

While we have some great sponsors including: Books on Board, Red Sage Publishing, Samhain Publishing, Quartet Press, and Smart Bitches, this is a streamlined event and we would ask you to bring your own tea, coffee, hashbrowns or donuts. That's right, it's BYOTCH-D.

For the Rogue Digital Conference

Kassia Krozser of Booksquare.com and a frequent speaker on the publishing circuit and the head of a new romance epublisher, Quartet Press, will start us off by focusing on digital issues, particularly the contrasts between traditional print publishers and digital publishers. She will be highlighting the efficiencies of the latter, challenges (and strengths) for the former, and questions authors (and maybe readers) should be asking. Kassia will touch on timing of reversion of rights, territorial rights in the worldwide digital audience, chunked content, and the spectre of being paid on the net.

I will discuss digital promotion and some self publishing numbers shared by authors as well as the results of the Smart Btiches eBook Reader …

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Just a quick note before I take off to do errands. TV said (and I always DO WHAT THE TEEVEE SAYS DRAT IT) to get out before noon and stay home out of the heat and pollution afterward.

On a critique-group mailing list, a critter said that the book under discussion had a major problem in that the heroine was "inconsistent." She thought the character should be completely revamped to be believable.

Now, what was it that bothered the critter? The heroine is a vice president of sales in a large corporation. She's tough, realistic, and practical. Frugal, not a money-waster. Wears navy blue business suits even on casual Fridays. But she has a quirk: she keeps catalogs such as Victoria's Secret, Frilly, Rockabilly Girl, and the like at her desk, and now and then she flips through them and orders a totally frothy dress or prom dress or something else outrageous. She never wears them or goes anywhere to wear them, but she has them in one of her closets at home "just in case" she ever gets an invite to a place she can wear them. (To business banquets she wears something designer and subdued.)

I say this is not inconsistent, but a character quirk that deepens the character and makes her more real.

The crit group is dithering.

What say you?

(It's not one of my books, or the heroine's obsession would be something much more offbeat, such as . . . you don't wanna know. *grin*)

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/my-soul-to-lose-your-prequel-to-gain/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/my-soul-to-lose-your-prequel-to-gain/#When:08:03:08Z

Rachel Vincent’s My Soul to Take hits stores on 1 August, kicking off Harlequins new Teen line of books. If you’d like to read a prequel to the series, Harlequin has a PDF for you - 87 pages of free reading to holler at your curiosity. You can download a copy of My Soul to Lose from this here Hot Pink site, and read more about the book at Harlequin Teen.

I have to say, I love prequels, ancillary stories or even really well-constructed chapter samples available as free downloads to promote a book. I think digital promotions like that are so effective, and so interesting. It’s easy for reader to tell if s/he likes the voice or the style of the book, and there’s no risk to trying out the free material.

Do they work for you? And specifically, do you like this prequel and does it make you interested in the book?

http://jenniferweiner.blogspot.com/2009/07/best-friends-forever-comes-out-tuesday.html

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER comes out Tuesday (but you knew that already, right?)

In the meantime, three more events in St. Louis AND San Francisco, which were the top two vote-getters in my Facebook poll. Come see me...

Saturday, July 18: St. Louis, The Ethical Society of St. Louis (9001 Clayton Road), 8:00 pm

Tuesday, July 21: El Cerrito, Barnes and Noble El Cerrito, (El Cerrito Plaza), 7:00 pm

Wednesday, July 22: San Francisco, Book Passage Bookstore in the San Francisco Ferry Building (1 Ferry Building, #42), 8:00 pm'

Finally, a note for Kindle users -- I know the book is currently priced at $14 for Kindle, as opposed to $9.99 you pay for most titles. Amazon is responsible for setting the price. My understanding is that they list titles they expect to do well for $14 and then, after a week or two, the price drops to $9.99...but because it's Amazon, not the publisher, making the decision, I can't tell you how the price got set, or tell you when the price will change. All I can say is that I hope you decide that BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is worth $14, and that you enjoy the read.

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/links-news-npr-and-wtf/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/links-news-npr-and-wtf/#When:14:27:44Z

Oh my sweet holy mother of WTF, why did I not know of this majesty? Thanks to Wendy, we can all feast our eyes and tempt our pocketbooks with this:  Sandra Lawrence’s Bedroom Adventures - “Raptures Voyage.”

Bedroom Adventures are fantasy role-playing game versions of popular historical romance novels.  They have been created as private entertainments, each to be enjoyed by a loving couple on an intimate occasion.

Each Bedroom Adventure is designed to play over and over again.  No two games are ever alike.  While love’s quest might become bliss in one game, it could easily turn to scorn in the next.  Regardless, a couple can enjoy many exciting fantasy episodes while never leaving the comfort of their own private boudoir.

I might have to own it just for the box and art alone. What cover is that?!

Plus, thanks to the many, many people who sent this link: NPR talks romance again! This time: a profile of Jack Murnighan, a dude who digs romance:

Back in my haughty grad-student ignorance, I looked down my pince-nez at the lot of them. I had seen the covers, read the titles, knew their popularity, but …

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This schedule adjustment thing is getting ridiculous. Today I was up at 6:30. That may have had something to do with the fact that I went swimming yesterday, which meant I slept really well last night. The annoying thing is, there isn't much I can do with the extra time when I get up that early. The library doesn't open until 10, and although I'm awake, I'm not really in the frame of mind to write. Today I did some yoga and read the newspaper thoroughly.

It's another Virtual Vicarious Vacation Friday! For those who missed the announcement last week, I've decided that since a lot of us aren't getting to travel this year, I'll share some of my old travel photos (sadly, mostly from business trips). While I'm on the subject of vacation alternatives, like the "staycation," I've got an entry for the "people unclear on the concept" files. A local Realtor had a full-page ad in the newspaper this week, advertising the fact that with these homes you could have a real staycation. The homes had such features as a Napa Valley-style wine cellar, an in-home movie theater, a water park-style swimming pool, etc. If you can afford a home like that, I don't think a staycation is really an issue for you. You can just take your private jet wherever you want to go.

This week, we're in Washington, D.C., giving a little preview for those going to the RWA conference, and a couple of these were taken during the last DC conference.

First, to give you a little glimpse of the neighborhood where the conference is held, this shot looks up Connecticut Avenue toward the convention hotel area. I think that bridge is called the Francis Scott Key bridge, but I'm not absolutely certain and I don't have a guide handy to double check. I went to Georgetown for lunch with some friends, and they had an event they needed to get back earlier for, so I wandered and explored Georgetown on my own (even though it was raining), then checked the map and realized it wasn't actually all that far from where I was to the hotel, if I took the right route, so I walked all the way back.



The convention hotel is in walking distance of the Washington National Cathedral (though, mind you, my definition of "walking distance" isn't exactly based on normal human beings and I am mildly insane when it comes to walking). You'll need a map, though, as the way isn't marked and you'll have to weave through some residential neighborhoods (some very nice ones) up a steep hill to get there. But there's a big payoff, as it's a spectacular sight (I took this the day before the 2000 RWA conference).



I think my favorite memorial on the Mall (so far -- I haven't been there since they built the WWII Memorial) is the Korean War Memorial. It's very haunting. I must really like it because I found very similar photos from a couple of different trips.

My 100 word zombie story "'Til Death Do Us Part" is in the premiere issue of Shock Totem, which is now available to purchase here: http://www.shocktotem.com/shop.html

Or if you're going to NECON, you'll be getting a free copy with your con schwag.

And the invite antho bought "Kindest Cut". Huzzah! I'll release details when I get the thumbs-up.

The acceptance email was great all-around, as acceptance letters tend to be, although I was particularly pleased that it called out the first paragraph of the story specifically, as my writing group had a grand old discussion about it. In fact, that paragraph is pretty much the only thing that remained intact between the version that the writing group saw, and the version that I submitted.

I'm headed out to the airport for ALA, but I couldn't pass this one up.

There is a Wall Street Journal article that talks about the high quality of literary YA fiction. (Thank you, Anne M. for the alert!)

Enjoy.

(I promise to post from ALA. And I'll be tweeting, too.)

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/friday-videos-like-obstacle-courses/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/friday-videos-like-obstacle-courses/#When:09:35:31Z

As Gry Heidi said when she emailed me, “perfect sport for the alpha-male hero.”

I like the part when they’re running through chest-deep water, and her head is underwater upside down. My nose burns just looking at it.

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/desktop-illustration-evolution-of-hero/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/desktop-illustration-evolution-of-hero/#When:09:11:49Z

Jan Oda asked if she could get the Evolution of a Hero illustration from Beyond Heaving Bosoms as a desktop wallpaper.

Behold! Ahoy! And also, WOOT! Artist Carol Main, who drew the original illustration, not only beefed that bad boy up for desktop wallpaper usage, but colored that mofo as well. Enjoy! Right click and download, please!

Thank you Carol!

1. Today, I leave for Chicago and ALA. I honestly cannot believe I am going out of town again. I counted it up and this is my sixth flying trip since the end of May. Which is a lot for anyone, but especially someone who normally tends towards a hermit-like status, like myself. I am doing my best to rally, though, and I know I will before I get there, because ALA is super fun and I'll get to catch up with so many people. Just a reminder, if you're going to the convention, you can find me at the Penguin cocktail party tonight and at Anderson's bookstore in Naperville with Laurie Halse Anderson at 7pm on Saturday (call 630-355-2665 for more details). Sunday, I'll be at the YALSA YA Author Coffee Klatch and the BBYA Pizza Party. I'm signing at the Penguin booth, #2120, from 10:30-11:30 on Sunday. Then it's back here to stuff my suitcase in the closet and collapse for a few days. I've never been to Chicago before, though, so I am hoping to get in some shopping, which I hear is great, as well as some deep dish pizza. Oh, and wind. I will be expecting wind!

2. Because of all this coming and going I am SO behind on my TV it's ridiculous. I mean, I have TWO episodes of Weeds to watch, a show I usually can't wait even five seconds to get to. While in Cape Cod, we had the most basic of basic cable, most of which was showing Michael Jackson coverage, so I was glad we'd brought along some DVDs for the few times we wanted to just relax for a little while. What really did the trick? The Office. Thirty minutes, season three, and it always made me laugh out loud. I loved it so much I bought season four to take with me to Chicago. If I have a free moment and am not sleeping (unlikely, but possible) I'll be all about the Scranton party. Ain't no party like a Scranton party, cause a Scranton party don't stop......

3. I've written here off and on about our trials and tribulations with the deer and how they've made it SO hard to have plants and a garden. This year, we put up a fence, but I was hesitant to get my hopes up that they, and the rabbits, would not find some way to scale it and pick everything clean, as they always do. But it worked! We have had greens and beans and squash and now I have sunflowers and zinnias. It's amazing. Check out the latest bounty:

This week, I made the first batch of spaghetti sauce using our tomatoes. Man, it was good. I am planning to make a LOT and freeze it for the winter. We're like pioneers! (Okay, pioneers with a freezer. And, um, a coffeemaker. But whatever.)

4. One of the results of all this traveling is that I have TOTALLY missed out so far on one of our serious summer rituals, watching The Tour de France. Normally we are in from Stage 1, but we were gone, and now we are trying to both catch up AND avoid spoilers because of the time difference, which is not easy. But Lance is riding again, which is SO inspiring, and by all accounts it's been really exciting so far. With me gone this weekend, I have a feeling my husband will watch nothing BUT cycling. Break out the red wine and blue cheese, we are touring!

5. Do you ever feel like so much has happened, and you wish you could just go back and SLOOOW it all down so you could enjoy it all over again? That's how I feel about the last month or so. I mean, taken alone, ANY of the stuff that happened---the book hitting number one, being on GMA and Today and in EW, me on NPR---would be huge. But altogether, with the traveling, it's just like a crazy big fun blur. But it has been fun, so fun, and I'm kind of sad to see this leg of it all end. I wonder if once I'm home, or even next month, it will be too late to try to still savor it all? Eli and Auden would say no, it's never too late. I hope they're right. On a sort of related note, I was reading US Weekly last night and there's Lauren Conrad, whose LA Candy came out the same day as Along for the Ride. First, she does NOT look all fried and exhausted like I do. She is cute and fashionable and fresh-faced (in my defense, though, she also does not have a toddler. Just saying.). But in one quote, she says, "I'm almost done with my second book!" And okay, I'm not trying to be competitive, but WHOA. I haven't even started my next book yet. Uh-oh. Guess it might be time to get back to work?

Have a great day, everyone!

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JillShalvis/~3/AYNbuT-WQnk/

http://jillshalvis.com/?p=2734

I know, I know, I showed you this cover only last week. But guess what?????

I FINISHED THE BOOK YESTERDAY. Whew. I’ve sent it in to my editor, and washed my hands of the whole thing. Well, until the revision stage. I gave you guys a quick peek at chapter one a few weeks back. Here’s another peek from that same scene. Shh, don’t tell anyone, and remember, ROUGH draft:

Harley jerked to her feet and paced the length of the kitchen, which means she got about five feet before turning around and smacking right into the hard wall of TJ’s chest. He stood there, filling the kitchen with his larger-than-life presence, making the room seem even smaller than it was.

“Want me to tell you what I think?” he asked.

“Are you about to agree with me?”

“No.”

“Then no.”

He smiled, laugh lines fanning out from his sharp green eyes. “Still stubborn.”

“And you’re still . . .” She couldn’t think of an insult. With an annoyed huff, she moved toward the front door and opened it for him. “Thanks for coming. We’ll have to do it again sometime. Buh-bye now.”

TJ smiled, reached over her head, and shut the door. “Let’s do it again now.”

She laid her head against the door, resisting the urge to smack it to the wood. She felt him lightly run his fingers down her spine, which caused a sensuous shiver. When he spoke, the amusement was gone from his voice, replaced by a gut-wrenching gentleness. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed money, Harley?

So there you have it, your second exclusive excerpt. Don’t forget, both Instant Attraction (book one) and Instant Gratification (book two) are on sale now.

Okay, enough pimping. I have a daughter to cuddle. I’ll give you one guess which teenager needed four stitches today after taking an elbow to the eye in a basketball game . . . I’d cry over the scar, but it’s the fifth one on her beautiful face. (Big, long suffering mom’s sigh inserted here)

What are you waiting for? Go forth and buy Instant Gratification, and/or my other current release, DOUBLE PLAY. I have a hospital bill to pay.

I don't think England is a good influence on TheMadProfessor. It seems to inevitably bring out an attack of budget emails, each more impossible than the last, which inexorably lead me to the conclusion that maybe I should find a way to break my other leg, just to get away from them. ( Read more... )