Felicia Holt

I'm now at feliciaholt.com

2010-02-05T20:00:00.001+01:00

Just to clarify - I don't use this blog much anymore, so if you are looking for me, writer Felicia Holt, also more or less fondly known as Flicka Holt, I have my own website.

It's at http://www.feliciaholt.com

Please drop by and say hi!

Hedy's birthday!

2009-11-09T15:09:00.002+01:00

Once upon a time, Hedy Lamarr incarnated the wicked temptress in movies such as Samson and Delilah. She debuted very young, making films in her native German tongue, but after a failed marriage and a rather spectacular escape from her fascist husband that included drugging him and fleeing into the night, she ended up in America.

She was a very hard working actress – in the years between 1940 and 1949, she made no less than 18 movies. She also had two children, and together with friend George Antheil she invented something that we still benefit from. See, Hedy wasn’t just a pretty face, she also possessed considerable mathematical talent and she and George Antheil, as their own personal contribution to the allied forces, invented an early version of frequency hopping. It actually used a piano roll to change between 88 frequencies and was intended to make radio-guided torpedoes harder for enemies to detect or jam. It was never used at the time, but it was implemented in the USA in 1962, when it was used by U.S. military ships during a blockade of Cuba.

But time would put Lamarr’s and Antheil’s ideas to better use – today they serve as a basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology, such as COFDM used in WiFi network connections and CDMA used in some cordless and wireless telephones. Kinda like an example of how to turn swords into ploughshares. Or, considering how much sex related stuff that probably passes through WiFi-connections on a an odrinary Thursday, a practical example of using technical innovations to make love not war.

Either way, Hedy was a pretty remarkable lady and I figured she deserved a shout-out on what would’ve been her 96th birthday.

A star is torn

2009-10-03T16:13:00.002+02:00

Once upon a time – say, about eighty years ago – Jeanne Eagels was the brightest shining star on Broadway.

Starting out as the cash girl in a department store, she soon got into acting and at the tender age of 17, she moved to New York to fulfill her dreams and became a Ziegfeld Follies Girl. From there, she went on straight to the top, headlining Broadway show after Broadway show.

Then her tendency for self-medication got the better of her and her career began to decline. She missed performances and was finally banned by the Actors Equity from appearing on stage for 18 months. Though she did make a few movies, there was no denying she was heading for a fall.

At the age of 35, her body had finally had enough. She died suddenly on October 3, 1929, most likely from alcohol or heroin abuse. She was posthumously nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Letter, but the Oscar went to Mary Pickford for her role in Coquette.

"She talked fast and gestured with her hands. Few knew or understood her. She was explosive, mercurial, neurotic, loyal, generous, and sweet. She usually ignored all except the humblest members of her company. She hated most managers, interviews, movies, gossip, autograph seekers, night clubs, and Actors Equity. She liked dogs, auction sales, dill pickles, and ice cream with cherries. Her philosophy was Never deny. Never explain. Say nothing and become a legend."

Sweet Tooth Friday: Candy Loving

2009-10-02T06:27:00.000+02:00

1. chocolate covered strawberry, 2. Whipped Cream and Strawberries with a Chocolate Cupcake, 3. Candy Apples, 4. mallow sundae, 5. candy coated dreams, 6. White Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcake, 7. * Candy Dreams *, 8. Lovely Cupcakes by Dri Kobata, 9. Strawberry Daiquiri

Thursday Thirteen: Thirteen Things I Can Reach From Where I'm Sitting

2009-10-01T05:56:00.002+02:00

In order to give you some insight into the harsh, gritty facts of my life, I will list 13 random things I can touch by reaching out - without getting up.

1. Glass of chardonnay. I will start with this as it might explain a lot about the rest of the post.

2. Eloisa James' A Duke Of Her Own. I have been putting off reading this, because after this book the series is over and there will be no more Outstandingly Witty Georgian Romance. Until my WIP is finished of course. But that may take some time (see #1).

3. One stuffed little doggie. I got him as a present by a then-boyfriend on New Year's Eve 1992 and he has far outlasted the relationship. His full name is Ludwig von Apfelstrudel and we have a very deep and meaningful relationship.

4. Wasabi peas. Much like me & Ludwig, we have a deep and meaningful relationship.

5. The couch Ektorp from IKEA. Actually, as my behind is touching it right now, I don't really have to reach out for it.

6. Moleskine notebook & Moleskine volant. Where I go, so does Mr. Moleskine.

7. MacBook. I should name it, since we have such a deep and meaningful relationship. We even go to bed together every night. Would 'Harry' do, you think?

8. Remote. This is not for TV nor for DVD or other exciting gizmo. It's for my lights. Because clearly getting up and switching them on and off is hard work. I don't do hard work.

9. While on one level sort of immaterial, I still think I might say I could reach out and touch the internet from here. And just for the record, I'm so old I remember when there was no internet and we had to talk in person, and OMG, imagine what would have happened with the swine flu and stuff if that had still been the case. This is so much more hygienic, no? And before you ask, yes, me and the internet totally have a deep and meaningful relationship. DUH!

10. iPhone. I have a friend whose husband got his first iPhone a few years ago. One night when he was playing with it (yes, this is how it really went down), he turned to her and said: "You know I love you as much. It's just in a different way." That could have been me. Only I would have been lying. Unless the person I was addressing was 'Harry', of course.

11. One angel picture that my mother had in her room as a child. I'm adding this to underline that, indeed, there is a spiritual side to me. It's just very deeply hidden. Like, underneath layers of information technology.

12. One acoustic guitar. This does not imply that I have a secret Bob Dylan complex (although I do have a very deep and meaningful relationship with Bobbie), only that I own a guitar which I occasionally use for making up various little songs. Which of course, if unchecked, could evolve into full a Bob Dylan complex. You won't know it has until I start speaking very nasally and perming my hair and by then, it'll be too late.

13. One paper bag, full w romance novels. It's behind the couch and meant to be transferred to the attic, as there are only so many paperbacks that can line a room before it turns into a health issue. Checking which one was on top, I found it was Eloisa James' The Taming Of The Duke, which I hadn't realized until now was written by the same Eloisa James as the other one. Not because I think there are tons of Eloisas lining the streets but because it was years and years since I read this one and I didn't even notice the name of the author then. Anyway, that means I got to touch Eloisa TWICE tonight, not to mention two SEPARATE dukes, and how is that for an evening, eh?

Dukes and dogs and white wine. Pretty much how I live.

BANGED UP by Jeanne St. James

2009-09-25T08:14:00.004+02:00

BANGED UP is NOW available!

Banged Up was released at Liquid Silver Books!

BLURB:

Mace Walker can’t wait to get home.

Being buried deep undercover for the past two years, on the most complex case of his career, has torn him down physically and mentally. Now the FBI agent has come home to recover after having his leg badly injured from a gunshot wound. Arriving home late one night, his relief is short-lived as he’s faced with a stranger pointing a gun to his head, acting like he is the one who doesn’t belong there!

Colby Parks, a biochemist at the local university, had come to town a year earlier to escape an abusive relationship. She vows never to put herself in that situation again.

Then the perfect opportunity comes along: house-sitting for Mace’s sister while making the house she purchased habitable. But she couldn’t anticipate this big snag: the one wearing the tight Levi’s and worn leather jacket, looking like he had just escaped prison.

Being forced to share a house creates sparks between them in more ways than one. However, things take a turn when their pasts catch up to them, threatening to pull them apart forever.

READ AN EXCERPT HERE

READ THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER ONE HERE

BUY IT HERE!

Sweet Tooth Friday: Sweet Love

2009-09-25T06:06:00.000+02:00

This may well be the cutest thing I ever saw.

It just left me sitting here with this HUGE goofy, happy smile on my face.

Best of luck to Jill & Kevin!

Thursday Thirteen: 13 ways to say 'I love you'

2009-09-24T04:00:00.000+02:00

You know I love you, right? Well, let me count the ways in which I love you...
Wow, incidentally, I ended up with 13 different ways! And it's Thursday. How appropriate!

In French: Je t'aime
In Finnish: Mina rakastan sinua
In Filippino: Mahal kita
In Italian: Ti amo
In Swedish: Jag älskar dig
In Dutch: Ik hou van jou
In Thai: Chan rak khun (to male)
In Greek: S'agapo
In Japanese: Aishiteru
In Farsi: Doset daram
In German: Ich liebe dich
In Romanian: Te ubesc
Icelandic: Eg elska tig

Image by Fanny.

If I ever need a second pen name?

2009-09-22T19:07:00.000+02:00

Your Evil Name Is Jezebel Rhiannon

Muhahahaha!

What's Your Evil Name?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therap

Graphic Design

2009-09-20T14:43:00.003+02:00

I'm fiddling around with the thought of getting a proper website. I have figured out the technical solution and what host I'd like to use, but what about design? Personally I don't like sites that are overloaded with images (and don't get me started on flash or audio - gah!).

Also, I'm designing it myself since spending a ton of money on a custom website when I have absolutely nothing to sell yet seems a little stupid. I'll go with a free template and change things around a little to customize it. But I'm no wonderful graphic designer - in fact, I'm probably too stupid to use Photoshop even if I had it - so that means I won't even have a spectacular header. I'll make one, but I can't manage fancy.

So I'm thinking about keeping it very plain, almost stark, in colors and layout. It also seems appropriate since the projects I'm working on are so very different from each other. It's hard to find a common denominator. It's not like I'm all historicals or have an obvious theme like fantasy or paranormals. I'm not even consistent in mood or themes.

I have no idea how it'll turn out. If it looks awful, I'll soon be bleating for a designer to come help me, but then at least I'll know any money I spend is absolutely necessary because I'm a total idiot.

What are the key essentials for you in a website? What kind of design and color settings do you like?

Swine Flu Craze

2009-09-19T10:07:00.001+02:00

I have a cold. At least I hope it's a cold and not swine flu. But if it is, I sure as heck ain't telling Pooh bear!

Pic from johnbullas

Sweet Tooth Friday: Chocolate Love

2009-09-18T07:46:00.000+02:00

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Great Things About Being A LOFNOTC

2009-09-17T20:00:00.000+02:00

I don't know if you know Amanda Palmer? If you don't, she's a brilliant musician who goes all out in most things. Gutsy. I've had a huge girl crush on her since forever, but unfortunately Neil Gaiman snatched her up before I had time to act on it.

Darn that Neil and his messy Casanova hair.

Anyway, a while back, Amanda Palmer introduced LOFNOTC. That stands for "Losers On Friday Night On The Computer." It was a twitter gathering for all of us losers hanging around the net on a Friday night. Or as the official slogan put it: "Don't stand up for what's right. Stay in for what's wrong." It made being a Loser On Friday Night seem rather less pathetic (if you want the full story, go to Amanda's blog but beware as there will be four-letter-words a-plenty).

Anyway, that story aside, I love being a loser on the computer on Friday nights. And here are the reasons why:

1. I get my best writing done on Friday nights. I'm relaxed and happy and still under the delusion that this is the weekend when It Will Be Done.

2. YouTube. Helloooo, you gotta love YouTube. Just check this vid out and tell me you don't love it.

3. Research. I love it. And there is no better place than Wikipedia for it and no better time to indulge in it than a Friday night.

4. Romance Divas Board. You'll always find people there who don't bat an eyelid when you talk about the voices in your head. This is especially true since my Friday night is most (US based) people's afternoon thus allowing me to catch all the non-losers too.

5. It's allowed to write under the influence. I like my inner editor best when she's dead drunk.

6. Blip.fm. You can sit on your behind and twitter annoying links that will have 50 people accidentally listening to the brilliance that is Mudhoney.

7. While we're at it - twitter. It's like the world biggest cocktail party, only you don't have to dress up.

8. You can write, chat and be on the phone all at once. While watching TV and twittering. To the sound of Mudhoney. It's the overstimulated modern writer's wet dream.

9. Makeup Geek. Seriously. I'm addicted to her tutorials. And in front of the computer on a Friday night is an excellent time to try out a new look.

10. You can have wine while doing this. And you can chat with your friends. See above.

11. You can learn all about 18th century underwear.

12. There's free stuff for you to read all over the internet. Like here.

13. No one expects you to wear anything but comfy jammies and you're allowed to eat ice cream straight from the container.

Excerpt Monday

2009-09-14T06:29:00.000+02:00

This is my first time participating and my excerpt is from a story called "The Lady In The Red Dress." It involves art theft, kittens and the kind of love that defies death.

It's not finished yet, and I figured I would ask you to help me with it. See, the heroine is being a little secretive. She refuses to tell me her name. I've tried several, but I never seem to come up with the right one. So I thought - how about you read this excerpt and then tell me in the comments what you think I should call her?

________

Museum of National Heritage, London, England
3 am

I reached out and someone grabbed me from behind.

To say I almost peed my pants would be the understatement of the year. The only reason I didn’t scream my lungs out was the hand clamped straight across my mouth.

Unfortunately, the hand also managed to squash my nose, making it impossible to breathe. I fidgeted and fought, but whoever had grabbed me had gotten a good grip with one arm around my waist, pinning my arms to my sides. As I felt my lungs contract with want of air, I started to panic. Thankfully, God must have been watching, because my assailant suddenly let go of my nose, and I inhaled so deeply my nostrils flared.

Even before I heard him whisper ‘sorry’, I knew it was a man. I knew, because I even shaky from oxygen deprivation and dizzy from fear, I recognized him the second I caught his scent.

“Don’t fight,” he whispered.

Silently seething, I nodded; then shook my head. Darn, how to explain I wasn’t about to? Obviously, he got the message, because he relaxed his grip a bit.

“We’re going to take a little walk,” he said in a hushed voice, and we began inching back towards the hall. Walking with my back pressed to his chest was hard, but we did pretty good. Right leg, left leg, right leg. Moving in time came naturally.

Just like last time.

Thinking about last time made me uncomfortably aware of how closely pressed to me he was. I could feel his hard body against my back and his arm around my waist and it wasn’t a bad feeling. I almost groaned. What kind of person is dumb enough to contemplate desire for a man burgling her museum and dragging her off to an unsure and possibly hazardous future in... In…

Where were we?

I glanced about. We were standing by the elevator, right by the service facilities. I was caught by a sudden premonition and started fidgeting. God, don’t let me die in the men’s room. In the Austen Room, if I have to die, or – as a last resort – even the restroom for the disabled, but not the men’s room, please.

“Stop,” my kidnapper ordered me. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

I quieted down, but remained on my guard.

“I’m going to let go of your mouth,” he continued, his mouth close to my ear. “But don’t make any noise or you’ll just draw the others, and you don’t want that. Agreed?”

I nodded. If they were more than one, I certainly wouldn’t stand a chance. Possibly I didn’t have much of a chance just with him. He was at least a head taller than me and considerably heavier and stronger. But I felt some, although possibly misplaced, trust for him.

He carefully eased his hand away, and I obediently remained silent.

“Good,” he whispered and opened the door to the men’s room. I tried to object, but he pushed me inside, following closely behind.

After the dimness of the hall, the stark light bathroom light was almost blinding. He turned me towards him, twisting my arms behind my back. He was dressed all in black, a balaclava over his face, but what good was that? I’d know those eyes anywhere. Those eyes reminded me of good things; my grandmother’s brownies, freshly-ground coffee, Mississippi
Mud Cake. Too bad they were fitted to such an asshole.

Holding my hands behind my back with one hand, he suddenly yanked at my shirt, ripping it open. I yelped, and he pushed me against the wall, covering my mouth with his hand.

“Shhh.” His mouth was close enough for his breath to tickle my ear. “I’m not going to hurt you. Don’t worry. But scream and I don’t know what will happen. You understand?”

I nodded, feeling utterly vulnerable as he continued to tear my shirt up.

Guiding me towards the sink, he grabbed my arms and pushed me to the floor and with practiced ease, he tied my hands to the piping with the tatters of my shirt.

“There,” he said with obvious satisfaction. “That should hold you for a while. Long enough, anyway.”

I yanked at my fetters. It was obvious I wasn’t going anywhere. I cursed, using every four letter word I could think of.

He made a sound of disappointment and crouched down in front of me. “Such a foul mouth on such a pretty girl.”

“You’ll never get away with this,” I wheezed. God, how original! I sounded like Nancy Drew, girl detective.

My kidnapper obviously thought so too, because he made a coughing noise. It rankled me so bad I couldn’t help myself.

“I know who you are.”

Facial expressions are kind of hard to read when the face is covered by a mask, but I was ready to bet my last dollar (which I keep in a cookie-jar in the kitchen for sentimental reasons) that he was lifting his eyebrows.

“Really?” His dark eyes contemplated me under the thick fringe of his lashes.

I nodded. “You may not remember me, but I remember you, Ryan.”

“I hate to rain on your parade, babe, but telling me you know me isn’t all that smart. I guess I should just smother you in the sink so you can’t tell on me.”

“You wouldn’t,” I said sternly, trying to conceal that I wasn’t really too sure about that.

His eyes crinkled and he patted my head.

“Of course I wouldn’t, Birthday Girl,” he said, letting his gaze slide over me, making me very aware that I was wearing nothing but a lacy bra and skirt that had hiked up almost to my hips. “Wouldn’t that be a terrible waste?”

I felt a shiver run up my spine and it wasn't just that it was cold in here. “So you do remember.”

He ran his fingers through my hair; just firmly enough to angle my head back so I had to look up at him. I felt my breath catch in my throat at the thought of what he must remember. Even now, sitting half-naked in the men’s room in the Museum of National Heritage at three o’clock in the morning, I felt something heavy and dark pool in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it. I could recall with perfect clarity the way he’d tasted, the way he’d felt. As if that moment of bliss hadn’t been years away but just seconds away. As if time wasn’t linear but circular and we'd suddenly ended up back at that very same place where we left off last time.

“I knew the minute I saw you,” he said.

“You did?” I croaked.

“Oh, yes,” he murmured. “Some things you don’t forget.”

His hands skimmed through my hair in a soft caress and I felt my cheeks flush and my lips part while my pulses slammed in helpless desire. He leaned closer and tilted my chin up with a single finger.

“Much as I’d love to reminiscence about old times,” he whispered, “I really got to go.”

He got up, and I tried to kick him. He jumped aside and chuckled.

“Go to hell,” I snarled. “You were a bastard then and you’re still a bastard.”

__________
Links to other Excerpt Monday writers

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Click the banner to be taken to a list of more free reads!

Free Excerpt Coming Up!

2009-09-12T17:58:00.003+02:00

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share.

September's issue is going up on Monday and that's when I'll pop my excerpt cherry by participating, so defintitely check back on Monday for a free read AND the chance to name one of my characters!

For more info on Excerpt Monday, click on the banner above.

Sweet Tooth Friday: I Want Candy

2009-09-11T13:08:00.000+02:00

Because, like a wise woman once said, too much of a good thing can be wonderful.

At least until the revolution comes...

Death of a Flapper

2009-09-10T15:17:00.005+02:00

During the late teens of the last century, no girl was more beautiful or more celebrated than Olive Thomas. Painted by Vargas, married to Jack Pickford and the girl who gave the flapper a face, Olive Thomas wasn’t just The Most Beautiful Girl in New York (a title which she won in 1914), she was a rising Hollywood star and the world was her oyster.

Then one night in the early fall of 1920, she and her husband were out doing the rounds of Montparnasse, toasting and, it’s been said, doing more than just a little nose powder. Upon returning to their hotel she, for unknown reasons, managed to imbibe her husband’s syphilis medicine (a mercury bichloride solution) and despite the efforts that were made to save her, she died on Sep 10th, 1920, only 26 years old. Today, hardly anyone remembers her name.

“I think that you die when your time comes and not until then. I feel the same about other things as I do about death. I don’t think you can change anything that is going to happen to you any more than you can change anything that has happened to you. That’s why I never worry, and that is why I don’t think people should get conceited and think themselves better than others.”/ Olive Thomas on death in June 1919

PS. The moral of the story? Stay away from men with syphilis, I guess…

World's Oldest and Most Famous Pinup Boy

2009-09-08T20:41:00.004+02:00

You have your historical characters trying to come up with a truly outstanding male physique for comparison. Odds are, you'll dig up Michelangelo's David.

I mean, we all know David is a fine looking man but, personally, I'll admit I never really looked at him that closely. Until now. And, I have to say, he IS fine looking.

He also turns 505 years today. Yup, that's right. It was in 1504 that Michelangelo completed him. Pretty well preserved for a guy that age, or what do you say?

Anywhoo... Happy birthday, Dave!

Awesome closeup by Jess J

Lacks Discipline, Has Library

2009-09-07T07:29:00.001+02:00

I'm fairly disciplined.

With that said, I'll admit that when I'm at home writing, I easily get distracted.

The phone.

The household work.

The books. Etc.

So for me, writing outside of home is good. But where do you go?

The most common answer seems to be Starbucks. But we don't have Starbucks where I live, and most cafés do not approve when you flip your laptop open. A lot of them even have anti-laptop policies. They dampen the churn, see.

So what to do? I had no idea until the obvious occurred to me.

The library.

They have study seats, a hush-policy and all the research facts the internet may not have. Plus, nothing to do except staring into the wall - or writing. I'm easily bored, so I write.

So that's my new fave writing spot. And best thing is, I have a sister who is in med school and you know what those med students do ALL the time? That's right - they study. Most often at the library. So I have company too.

How brilliant is that?

RESISTING KANE by Stephanie Adkins

2009-09-06T21:08:00.001+02:00

Resisting Kane is now available from Phaze Books!

Past inequities are hard to forget...and harder still to forgive. After fifteen years, high school classmates Madison Carey and Terence Kane are forced to work together to stop a madman whose sole purpose is to seek revenge...with her life as the prize.

Click HERE to read an excerpt.

Click HERE to buy from Phaze Books.

Visit Stephanie at: www.stephanieadkins.com

Happy birfday, LA!

2009-09-04T16:23:00.003+02:00

On this day, exactly 228 years ago, 44 Spanish settlers founded a little settlement they called El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula (the City of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of the Little Portion). Since then it’s grown a little bit.

Happy Birthday, Los Angeles! May you continue to spew out smog and movies with mass-appeal for many years yet!

Image by Just A Slice

Sweet Tooth Friday: Oreo Cookie Cream Pie

2009-09-04T12:00:00.002+02:00

This cake contains nothing that's good for you, except a whole world of creamy, chocolate-y sweetness. And if that isn't good for you, then I don't know what is.

Incidentally, I always make this for my birthday. Which is soon. Looking forward to it already!

You need:

36 Oreo cookies

4.5 tbs butter

0.5 tsp instant coffee

26 large marshmallows

1 .25 cup whipping cream (before whipping)

0.75 cup milk

How to:

Chop 10 of the oreos and put aside.

Take the remaining 26 cookies and smash them in a food processor or similar.

Melt the butter and mix with cookie crumbles and instant coffee. Press evenly into the bottom of a greased springform pan. Chill.

Heat the milk on a low temperature and melt the marshmallows in it. Make sure you stir so it doesn't burn. Remove from heat and let cool for about 15 min.

Meanwhile, whip the cream.

Mix the whipped cream with the milk/marshmallow mixture (this is most easily done by starting with half the cream and then adding more). Blend in the chopped oreos (the ones you started by putting aside, remember?).

Pour filling in the now chilled pie crust. Smooth and refrigerate for app 4 hours before serving.

Decorate with more crushed oreos or fresh strawberries.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Terrible and Terrific Things About Love

2009-09-03T06:25:00.004+02:00

So - love. There are many kinds of love and many shades to it. Sometimes you believe in it, sometimes you hate it. But it's an essential part of life.

Especially if you're a romance writer.

Here are 13 things someone said about love that resounded with me.

1."We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
- Unknown

2. "Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. 'Pooh?' he whispered.
'Yes, Piglet?'
'Nothing,' said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. 'I just wanted to be sure of you."
- A. A. Milne

3. "Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up."
- Neil Gainman (The Sandman)

4. "The only abnormality is the incapacity to love."
- Anaïs Nin

5. "I know most girls, they get weak in their knees for what’s beautiful, you know, that’s all they see, that’s all they want. But I’m not like that. I don’t just see what’s beautiful. I fall for the other stuff. I love what’s not perfect. It’s just how I am."
- Wendy in Les Poupée Russes

6. "You must never let them know that you care or they will kill you."
- Charles Bukowski

7. "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
- Dr. Seuss

8. "There are four questions of value in life... What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?
The answer to each is same. Only love."
- Johnny Depp

9. "You are the body hidden in the trunk
You are the habit I can't seem to kick
You are my secrets on the front page every week
You are the car I never should have bought
You are the dream I never should have caught
You are the cut that makes me hide my face
You are the party that makes me feel my age"
- Like A Friend by Pulp

10. "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
- Charles M Schultz

11. "An integral part of any relationship is knowing that you could be killed in your sleep at any time."
- Trent Reznor

12. "I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
- Marilyn Monroe

13. "To love is to suffer and there can be no love otherwise."
- Fyodor Dostoevsky

And btw, I love that last Banksy painting so much.

Images by SarahWynne & Simon Booth

the best a man can do?

2009-09-02T15:29:00.000+02:00

I don't know why I think this is so funny, but I do. Creepy, creepy casanova-wannabe Dr. Secretan is serenading a colleague in the car (after being shocked at finding out that Freddie Mercury was gay). If you haven't checked out Green Wing yet, you must!

"What's wrong with that? The best a man can do, eh?"

Yeah, yeah, what else is new?

2009-09-01T19:36:00.001+02:00

This test brought to you by Blakeney Manor.

Find out:Which Scarlet Pimpernel character are you?

Brave, heroic and very clever. I KNOW! Tell me something new!

Seriously, I love the Scarlet Pimpernel. Growing up I saw this very TV-version so many times I know most of the dialogue by heart. And I'm not alone. If someone in my family says: "That explains it!" three other immediately reply: "The gentleman in my boudoir is not Armand St Just but Louis!"

Not to mention how useful the phrase "Those English and their stuuupid sense of fair play!" can be. And Ian McKellen says it so well!

I really need more fencing in my current WIP....

So who are you?

Mess No More

2009-08-31T12:21:00.004+02:00

I'm not tidy.

In fact, whenever I do anything - write, make brownies, get dressed - I leave a mess. It has even been said that had I been a band I would have been called "...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Discarded Clothing."

Same with research material. A file here, a clipping there, a picture file on an external hard drive I rarely use.

It's a mess.*

So this weekend I did a HUGE fall cleaning. After looking around at the digital notebooks etc. I had been recommended, I didn't really feel wowed by any of them. So I decided to keep it simple - I designed about 10 different templates in my ordinary word processor, using my favorite character sheets, my favorite plotting chart etc. Then I stuck 'em together in one file and suddenly I had a great world building book, tailored to my needs. I suppose you could keep them as separate files in a specific folder, too - depends on how much info you want to cram into it, I suppose.

I spent quite some time copying the info I had spread all over the place, but it was well worth it. Finally I have all the information I need in one place. And it looks pretty too! I feel a lot more inspired just browsing my new WIP book.

All in all it took maybe three hours, including some plot adjustments I made. And I've been putting this off for months! The best thing is, I can use the template for my next WIP. It can even be tailored to the feel of that particular WIP by simply changing fonts.

So tell me, how do you store info for your writing projects?

*Not my desk; image borrowed from sparkle glowplug

Sweet Tooth Friday: Chocolate Extravaganza

2009-08-28T16:16:00.003+02:00

Today is eye candy only. No calories, all fun!

1. 6-29-09, 2. I Heart Cake Truffle Box of 12, 3. Tin Roof Sunday Ice Cream, 4. dark chocolate truffles, 5. mini chocolate cupcakes, 6. chocolate pluot cupcakes, 7. Chocolate Beet Cake, 8. Chocolate Face 2, 9. Chocolate Cupcake with Dark Chocolate Frosting

Thursday Thirteen: Movies I Can Quote

2009-08-27T07:01:00.000+02:00

If I were to list my top 13 favorite movies, this list might look different. Still, considering these are all movies I know the dialogue of almost by heart, I suppose I must have seen them a lot of times. For some reason.

1. Lord Of The Rings. This would be the whole trilogy as I can't distinguish between them. I'm not ashamed of this one. I've loved Tolkien since I was eight and sneak-read Lord of the Rings when my sister picked them up at the library. Typical quote: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you."

2. Fletch. Wee-eell, I have to blame this one on my ex who forced me to see this about 4,000 zillion times. Not that there aren't good and useful lines in it. Typical quote: "Alan: You'll be wearing rubber gloves. Do you own rubber gloves? Fletch: I rent 'em. I have a lease with an option to buy."

3. Romancing the Stone. Do I need to justify this? The opening sequence is awesome. Plus, it taught me Cartagena is in Colombia. Typical quote: "Now I ain't cheap, but I can be had."

4. The Breakfast Club. Yes, I was a teenager in the 80's. There's just no getting around The Breakfast Club if you were. "You're an idiot anyway. But if you say you get along with your parents, well, you're a liar too."

5. Highlander. OK, OK. This is also because of my ex. Funny thing is, I can hardly recall the plot, but I still know half the dialogue by heart. Typical quote: "I took his head and raped his woman before his blood was even cold."

6. Adam's Rib. This is my favorite movie. The. Favorite. With a capital F. I could go on for hours about its outstanding awesomeness but I won't. I'll just say: SEE IT if you haven't. Typical quote: "Amanda: And after you shot your husband... how did you feel? Mrs. Attinger: Hungry!"

7. Star Wars. Yes, it's the curse and sign of geeks everywhere that they know most of Star Wars by heart. We use it to locate each other in bars. Typical quote: "When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master."

8. Grease. My little sister loved this. She watched this every afternoon for two years, I swear. Typical quote: "You know, if we fix up this car, it could be make-out city."

9. Army of Darkness. I'm a dork. What can I say? I love this movie more than words can say and in terms of quotes it's the best. Tyical quote: "Arthur: Are all men from the future loud-mouthed braggarts? Ash: Nope. Just me baby... Just me."

10. Top Gun. I blame this on youthful folly. And the volleyball scene. Yeah, the volleyball scene... *sigh* Anyway, typical quote: "I feel the need... The need for speed!"

11. The Mummy. It's so adorably cheesy. I love this! Plus it features a librarian heroine and contains eons of Egyptian historical inaccuracies, so what's not to love? Typical quote: "You know, nasty little fellows such as yourself always get their comeuppance!"

12. Working Girl. 80's power suits FTW! Typical quote: "I have a head for business and a bod for sin. Is there anything wrong with that?"

13. Constantine. Yeah, I love this. It has Keanu Reeves being really, really good for once; it has demons and angels; it has exorcism and Rachel Weisz - and it has super-fab low key sexual tension between the MC:s. The only thing I don't like is Peter Stormare at the end. Overdoing it by the dozen. Typical quote: "You are going to die young because you smoked 30 cigarettes a day since you were 15 and you're going to go to hell because of the life you took. You're f****d."

Quote of the Day: No 1 Rule For Reviewers

2009-08-26T12:33:00.003+02:00

"I think that rule number one for book reviewers should probably be Don't Spend The First Paragraph Slagging Off The Genre. Just don't. Don't start a review of romance books by saying that all romance books are rubbish but these are good (or just as bad as the rest)."

- Neil Gaiman

Love Can Be Murder By Sierra Wolfe

2009-08-26T07:15:00.003+02:00

Alexander Forsytheʼs house is haunted. One wouldn’t think a hundred and three year old vampire would let a little ghost bother him, but this particular house guest has outstayed her welcome.

Alex detests witchcraft, but after discovering his ghost, Abbie, is the ancestor of the local witch, Willow Cowan, his choices are limited. Alex calls on Willow to help evict his ghostly tenant, but he begins to wonder if the sexy spell-caster might be more trouble than the ghost.

Willow thinks Alex needs her magical abilities to remove the spirit from his house. What she doesnʼt realize is that his specter is her long lost ancestor. Sheʼs not sure she wants to help the gorgeous vampire in his ghost hunt, until she sees a long lost family heirloom on display in Alexʼs house.

Alex is adamant that the necklace belongs to him.. Itʼs been in his family since it was created for the wife of a distant ancestor. The necklace had been given to every wife of the first born son. Heʼs reluctant to give away his precious heirloom to a witch.

Can they learn to work together and get past their differences? Or will Abbie be the one obstacle they can’t remove?

You can check it out at The Wild Rose Press. Remember, it’s available on Wednesday August 26, 2009!

For more information on Sierra and what she's working on, stop by her website.

Intelligent, Witty, And Tremendously Attractive

2009-08-25T13:56:00.000+02:00

You are Elizabeth Bennet!

Take the Quiz here!

Thank you for that! See, if I had to be one of Jane Austen's heroines I would most likely pick Elizabeth. She just seems to have the most fun! She's funny and witty and pretty and thinks herself just a little more clever and a little less vain than she really is. If I'm going to be honest here, I always found her far more interesting than Darcy.

And this raises a rather interesting issue for me - often when I see romantic novels discussed, I realize that people are all about the heroes. Not so for me. Not that I don't like a good hero - I just don't feel for them like I do for the heroine. For me, she is what makes or breaks the novel.

When I tried to break down my likes and dislikes, I realized that I have "A Type." You know, just like you may find that all guys you go for are tall and dark, or beefy and blond, or (in my case) have huge noses. And my heroine type has the following traits:

- spunky
- not nearly as smart as she thinks
- still pretty smart, and definitely smarter than most others think
- witty, preferably in a self-depreciating, smart mouthed way
- brave, as in stands up for what she thinks is important
- resilient
- pretty average and averagely pretty
- passionate about something other than passion

Now that I've realized this, I'll start working on broadening my horizons. Certainly other types of women are attractive too?

peas in a pod? (take two)

2009-08-24T19:38:00.004+02:00

OK - which one is Peter Lorre and which one is Pete Doherty? Because I honestly can't tell.

The First Draft Is Kinda Like PreViz

2009-08-24T12:47:00.001+02:00

The first draft of anything is s**t.

No, I didn't make that up; a guy called Ernest Hemingway did. And since he wrote quite a few books that are generally considered, well, not s**t, I like to quote that.

Me, I always compare everything I churn out with the very best published stuff I can find and then I'm ready to give up because my First Draft isn't as good. But does it matter? Does the first draft have to be good in order for the final book to be good?

Not according to my friend Ernest.

Not that he's the only one. To mention someone else, Joanna Bourne refers to her first draft as "a bloated nonsense monster" and as far as I'm concerned, her books turn out great in the end, anyway.

For me, right now, it's like this: I have a plot. I have scenes plotted out. Then I write them and sometimes new things happen, but generally I stay on the plot. And that's it. I write the plot, and I fill in the dialogue but I can't do any nice, snazzy, fancy writing. If I do that I'll lose momentum and I'll be dragged down into a never ending bog marsh of constant revisions. I can't dwell on sensorial details, though the story will need them. I'll toss 'em in occasionally but not very prettily written. And sometimes I need a simile, one specific for my character and really witty, but I can't come up with it right away. So I just skip those. Just to mention a few things that my First Draft bugger lacks.

What I get is the skeleton of a story, the bare minimum. First this happens, then this happens. She says this, he says this. And then lightning strikes. Or whatever. But it's not a full story. As a full story, it IS s**t.

But it's the embryo of a story. With time and revisions and polishing and many, many hours in front of the computer and gallons of coffee and hopefully some cruel and cutting critique, it will be great. I just need not to treat it as what it's not and compare it with stories that have already gone through that transition.

I saw some 'behind-the-scenes' stuff from the making of LOTR today - the part where they talk about making a short film out of the storyboard and the making 3D previz animations of the scenes before shooting them. That's when it hit me - that's how I should look at my First Draft. It's like previz!

If you don't know what previsualization is, Wikipedia explains it like this:

"The advantage of previsualization is that it allows directors to experiment with different staging and art direction options – such as lighting, camera placement and movement, stage direction and editing - without having to incur the costs of actual production. On larger budget project, the director works with artists in a visual effects department or with dedicated previsualization service companies. Previsualizations can include music, sound effects and dialogue to closely emulate the look of fully produced and edited sequences, and are usually employed for complex or difficult scenes that involve stunts and special effects. Digital video, photography, hand-drawn art, clip art and 3D animation have all been used either singly or in combination to preview sequences."

It's more like a very extensive synopsis. Which is exactly what my First Draft is. But it's not until the second draft is done that I should start thinking of it as a real story. Then, third draft (I think) it might start looking like what it should be in the end.

So I'm going to decide my First Draft is like those previz shots - it's about test driving the story. Not creating it - just yet. That'll happen later when I add the truly marvelous writing that will turn it from an ugly larva into a beautiful butterfly.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it. And if you tell me differently, I'll sic Ernest on you!

Sweet Tooth Friday: Chocolate Martini

2009-08-21T12:46:00.000+02:00

You say chocolate? You say martini? You have my attention!

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Songs for a soundtrack

2009-08-20T07:05:00.000+02:00

I wish someone would make a movie with this soundtrack. I don't know exactly what it'd be about, but I'm pretty sure it would be beautiful and all shades of wonderful.

Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrands
Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
Aphrodisiac - Bow Wow Wow
Whatever Happened - The Strokes
Is It Wicked No To Care? - Belle & Sebastian
Rockers To Swallow - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Good Morning Britain - Aztec Camera
There She Goes - The La's
Baby, I Don't Care - Transvision Vamp
I Don't Like Mondays - Tori Amos
Weapon Of Choice - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Veronica Fever - The Raveonettes
Bastards Of Young - The Replacements

Image by angelsk

Current TBR pile

2009-08-19T17:58:00.001+02:00

Well, top three items, anyway.

I'm looking forward to curling up on the couch with these babies and a glass of wine. With any luck it'll rain as well.

A chaise is a shaez is a shay?

2009-08-18T11:46:00.000+02:00

The story I'm working on recently took a turn I hadn't expected. Thinking it over, I decided that it was much better than my original idea, so I decided to roll with it. The change involved that the travel I had planned would take place off-stage, now became a vital part of the plot. Unlike my original plan, the trip would also no longer be by private carriage, but by public means - stage coach or rented carriages. Stage coach was my original idea, and it makes for so many
great scenes, but I just can't wrap my mind around my characters doing anything so horribly common if they had a choice. Plus, don't get me into the headache it would be to try to dig up proper time schedules for a stage coach between A and B in 1753 including what inns they might have used. That is just asking for trouble.

No, they would have to use rented carriages. And since every text book I've read has spoken of the excellent system of post-chaises, it didn't seem like it would be very complicated. That is, until I dove into the issue a little closer.

You see, the cheerful declarations on the comfort and speed of the post chaise system, which are usually described as regarding "the 18th century" are, once they are examined all built upon quotes from the late 1770s and onwards. Before that, the sources suddenly started to diverge.

I've come across a reference to the system of "riding post" - which means changing horses at various inns - that goes back to at least the 16th century. Then all descriptions are very hasty, until references from the late 18th century are made (also quite a few are really Regency, being passed off as "18th century" - don't get me started on how that annoys me). There is one book from 1767 called Kitchin's post-Chaise Companion through England and Wales but that is the first firsthand source I found that mentions it. On the other hand, one book states that:

"In 1743 the system of travelling post, which so long before as 1664 had been common in France, was introduced into England by one John Trull, an artillery officer, who obtained a patent for letting carriages for hire across country."

- Carriages & Coaches by Strauss

That gives the impression that a post system for carriages might still have been a new thing for my characters, who live in 1753. On the other hand, glancing at the storyline of Tom Jones, A Foundling by Henry Fielding, which is written in 1749 and takes place in 1745, Tom and Partridge happily travel by post - although if this means a coach or if they are riding, I don't remember. Sophia Western is also traveling about England in it but I couldn't find what means she's using. Anyway, I seem to be able to assume that a post system for carriages could at least have been available for my characters in 1753. If I decide it was on the route they travel.

But what kind of vehicle would they have traveled by? All accounts talk about "post chaises" but what IS a chaise? According to Wikipedia a chaise (and I have also seen the spellings chaize and shaez as well as shay and chay) is:

"A chaise, sometimes called chay or shay, was a formerly popular, light two- or four-wheeled traveling or pleasure carriage, usually of a chair-backed type, with a movable hood or calash top. The name came from the French for chair, through a transference from a sedan-chair to a wheeled vehicle. The two-wheeled version, for one or two persons, also called a gig or one-horse shay, had a body hung on leather straps or thorough-braces and was usually drawn by one horse; a light chaise having two seats was a double chair . The four-wheeled pleasure carriage type was similar."

Most often, a post chaise is claimed to have been yellow, but again, these quotes are all from 1780s and on. Anyway, the described type of carriage was in use in France already by the late 17th century, but it seems that anything similar did not exist in England. Again, Strauss claims that:

"The door of these first post-chaises 'was hinged at the bottom and fell forward on to a small dasher like a gentleman's cabriolet,' and there was a window on either side. 'It was hung upon two very lofty wheels,' says Thrupp, 'and long shafts for one horse, and the body was rather in front of the wheels, so that the weight on the horse's back must have been considerable. It was suspended at first upon leather braces only, but later upon two up-right or whip springs behind, and two elbow springs in front from the body to the cross-bar, which joined the shafts and carried the step.'"

And yes, I looked up Thrupp's book but it didn't go any further into detail than that. Certainly, I find no account of the typical post chaise type with good springs and a large window in front that made Dr. Johnson exclaim:

"If I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty woman."

until the 1770s and no mention of them being yellow until Regency time. Then again, the "term chaise was also used for any light carriage or pleasure cart." Also, I've seen it used just for just any type of carriage or coach too (it is what the French word means after all) so I guess my characters might have thought of it as a "post chaise" no matter what type of carriage it was.

So, to sum it up. I am going to dig out Tom Jones and reread it. I meant to do that anyway. I will continue to try to find some proper books on carriages that don't just gloss over the mid-18th century (or try to pretend that 1784 IS mid-18th century). Meanwhile, I am going to assume that they could indeed travel by post in a smallish carriage that opened in front in 1753.

If anyone could help, I'd be much obliged!

Picture from Strauss' book, which as far as I could find is out of copyright

The Silver Casket by Debbie Mumford is out today!

2009-08-18T09:44:00.001+02:00

The Silver Casket
by
Debbie Mumford

Cat Logan, a young American with a recent degree in medieval literature, travels to Scotland to discover her Celtic roots. She finds more than she bargained for when a mysterious silver casket (rumored to hold the desiccated heart of a long dead Scottish laird) transports her back in time to the 1400s and the man whose heart she holds in her hands.

Publisher: Freya's Bower
Genre: Time Travel/Historical
Rating: Tangy
Book Length: Novella

Available Tuesday, August 18, 2009

peas in a pod? (take one)

2009-08-17T19:42:00.002+02:00

Is it just me or is there an uncanny resemblance between Robert Mitchum and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age?

Horrible temptation of evil internetz

2009-08-17T11:37:00.000+02:00

I write every day.

Sure, I do.

Only sometimes the proportions between the time I actually write, and the time I nominally write but in reality blog, hang around on Facebook or surf for pictures of hot shoes, are a little bit askew.

I try, I really do, but the 'net calls out to me in siren tones: "Coooome, just a liiiittle click. Just one pointless visit to a blog to check out what Mary-Kate Olsen wore the other day." And, yes, such is the depth of my depravity - I actually look at pictures of people famous for being famous. All so I won't have to do what I love best.

I've heard other writers complain about the same thing, though, so I'm probably not the only one. I recently got a tip that's working fairly well for me - pick an album, and while it's playing you must write the entire time. No surfing, no coffee making, no... OK, if you absolutely have to go, you might be excused.

But seriously, any tips are more than welcome. How does one keep from getting distracted if one is a weak vessel who is easily led into temptation?

Image by turtlemom4bacon.

quote of the day: on lycra bodystockings

2009-08-15T10:26:00.002+02:00

"My old grandmother used to say, 'People who love people don't ask people to wear lycra bodystockings.'"
- Neil Gaiman (on twitter, to gf Amanda Palmer)

This one cracks me up. Especially since it seems she convinced him to do it in the end.

Sweet Tooth Friday: Yummy Swedish Chocolate Balls

2009-08-14T19:59:00.002+02:00

Yes, it's a funny name, and yes they're yummy.

4 cups regular rolled oats
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tablespoons strong coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
1/3 cup coconut flakes or chocolate sprinkles

Mix the oats, sugar, and cocoa together in a bowl. Add the butter, and use your hands to mix the ingredients together to make a thick dough. Mix in the coffee, vanilla, and chocolate until thoroughly blended.

Place the coconut flakes in a small bowl. Pinch off small amounts of dough and roll between your hands to make small balls, about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Roll the balls in the coconut flakes/sprinkles. Refrigerate for at least an hour before eating.

The story I can't write (yet)

2009-08-14T12:57:00.000+02:00

This story came to me in about 5 minutes. I heard a story from a co-worker and bam! I knew. I knew the plot, the characters, the... Dang it, I even knew the cupcakes.

The plot:

+

The girl:

+

The cupcakes:

I thought it through in the shower yesterday, and realized I even have the individual scenes worked out. But I can't do it now, because I am doing another story and I can only focus on one thing at a time. I'm stupid like that.

So I'm saving this for NaNoWriMo. I think I could punch this sucker out in 30 days, no problem.

Please return in November and watch me eat my words.

1. Wedding dress photo by Thisyearsboy 2. Screenshot from "Treat me Like Your Mother" by The Dead Weather 3. Cupcakes by SweetElegance

Thursday Thirteen: Opening Lines

2009-08-13T12:29:00.003+02:00

Everybody knows the importance of the first chapter. But what part of the first chapter is the most important? That’s right, the first page. And what part of the first page is the real crucial part? Mhm. The first sentence.

Not that I think you should normally start your writing by trying to find the perfect first sentence - opening lines are often like the cherry on the birthday cake, which you can't put there until you've baked the cake, whipped the cream and layered the darn thing together. But they do a lot for the overall impression...

Here are my 13 favorite opening lines (off the top of my head). They're all very different, from very different books, but they all have in common that they grab you by the hair and pull you in:

1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice

2. “There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife.” Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book

3. "Call me Ishmael." Herman Melville, Moby Dick

4. “Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.” Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind

5. “I was never a virgin.” Susan Isaacs, Lily White

6. “We were somewhere around Barstow near the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” Hunter S. Thompson, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

7. "She grew up in a land of fairy tales and miracles." Karen Essex, Leonardo's Swans

8. "It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York." Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

9. "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." Rafael Sabatini, Scaramouche

10. "It was a pleasure to burn." Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

11. "Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. "J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

12. "Marley was dead, to begin with." Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

13, "In 1940, when I was thirty-one and an old maid, while the whole world waited for war, I fell in love with John Berringer." Susan Isaacs, Shining Through

So what are your favorite first sentences?

Image via A Y U M i

Jinxed by Inez Kelley

2009-08-12T17:32:00.001+02:00

So Inez Kelley recently debuted with Jinxed on Samhain. Sounds like a perfect read if you're looking for a quirky contemporary.

Frannie learned the hard way that a McHottie doesn’t always equal marriage material. She’s happy with her vanilla life. She has friends, a career and a double-D-powered vibrator. Then Fate shoves her, literally, into Prince Charming’s lap. His declaration of love at first sight is cute—and spikes her bullcrap meter into the red zone.

She’s more than willing to give in with her body. But she’s barricaded her heart behind castle walls—and permanently welded the gates shut.

Tragedy taught Jinx that time is too precious to waste, so when a series of uncanny coincidences thrusts Frannie into his life, he holds on tight. He knows she thinks he’s several fries short of a Happy Meal, but he’s determined to breach the fortress around her heart and give her a Happily Ever After.

Even if he has to carry her fanny-first into his kingdom.

If you're still not sure after that, read the excerpt.

You can get JINXED at MBaM.

Also check out Inez' website www.inezkelley.com.