By The Way...

Just thought I'd mention that I'm on the Unique Enterprises Author Loop with a stack of other writers at

http://ue_authors.bravejournal.com/entry/21891

for anyone interested in developing their characters.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen People I'd Love or Hate To Have For Dinner

1. Naturally I'd love to have my CPs over. Firstly, Kristen for her legendary shmoozing abilities, providing she took out personal insurance for her bling -- I don't think my house insurance would cover it.

2. Gina, coz she'd bring baby Niley who is just as cute as can be. As long as Gina doesn't bring a red pen to correct the commas on my menu card.

3. Selah, if she promises to keep the twins out of her soup.

4. Maggie, coz she's just completely hugable, plus I could ask her to use her legendary computer skills to fight the gremlins in my laptop.

5.Gemma, if she's not too busy with her new TV fame.

6. and other celebs, like Mary-Kate Olsen, because she'd be really cheap to feed.

7. and Ghandi. Ditto. Especially now.

8. and former Secretary General of the U.N.--Kofi Anan--cake? Sounds like someone to have around during last course.

9. But not Martin Luther and his Diet of Worms

10. or Lucretia Borgia, who might adjust my condiments

11. not Mama Cass Elliot if I'm serving ham

12. or Mike Tyson -- he takes the concept of putting the bite on people too literally

13. or Hannibal Lector -- ditto

How about you? Feel free to tell me why I should include you on this list. :-)

Thank you for making me a part of this...

Ever feel like the meat in the sandwich? I moderate for a great writer's board and mostly things go pretty smoothly. Except when they don't. Why is it some people take your moderator job as a personal insult, like you are out to get them? Yeah, I volunteered my time to do this for you so you could play, safe, fun, and free because I'm a nasty person. Um, hello?

To be fair, they didn't blame me, they blamed the girl who volunteers her time to help me, who never grumbles, is always there, never asks for praise or even thank you girl. And that makes me boil. As far as I can see, the kid deserves a medal, a bouquet of flowers, or at least a little gratitude.

Sigh. People. When will they learn that we're not out to get them, we're trying to help them. Anything else is something they're projecting from within themselves.



Sauce, anyone?

In a Spin...

Looking for a sweet read?
Spinning Wildly
by Elle Fredrix

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Purchase Here





Although Megan Dempsey hates amusement parks, she hates disappointing her 12-year old son even more. So when his plans with a friend fall through, he ropes her into going along. Things go downhill from there. First, an incident with a mustard-oozing hotdog paints her breast golden. Then running into-literally-Mitchell Carter, a man who has stirred her emotions for more than year, mortifies her even more. When their paths repeatedly cross, she recognizes interest in Mitch's gaze. Megan's day is about to get a whole lot better!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Reasons Why You
Must Love Pigs!

1. Pigs are helpful for promo. I share my name with that famous Aussie pig who coined the phrase," I want my Mom!" What most of you probably don't realize is that before edits trimmed Babe's speech, it was,"I want my Mom to read Babe King Romances!"

2. Pigs are Self-Sacrificing. Take that well-known American, Porky Pig-- "Your favorite Ham!" Despite working with an affliction (that incurable stutter,) Porky offers himself up as a smorgasboard of both ham and pork. What more can you ask?

3. Pigs are humble. Charlotte got it right when she wrote that in her web. Can you imagine humans taking on some of the roles pigs do?



4. Pigs are NOT greedy! You've probably heard, "don't throw pearls before swine." That's because pigs will work for peanuts, soygrits, even swill, and never hold out for jewels.

5. Plus, being pink, they need no further adornment.

6.Pigs are not racist. They often work best with other animals. For eg in combination chop suey.



7. Pigs are not fakes. Their curl is completely natural.

8. Pigs are sensible. They take pride in their weight. There is no anorexia nervosa in the porcine world.

9. Pigs are considerate. Initially they were included in the musical scale.

Doh-Ray-Mi-Far-Sow

but agreed to be taken out so the other animals wouldn't feel intimidated.

10. Pigs keep their litter close so it doesn't become an ecological nightmare.

11. Pigs are patient. A sow will put up with a boar all her life with no more than a few grunts of complaint.

12. Pigs have sty-le.

13. Yet despite all these admirable attributes, they never hog the limelight. Pigs are noble. What's not to love?

The Things You See

People Can Be Ruff

Just a reminder that Bloodlines and Heartstrings, leading story in the Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers comes out in August. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen examples Of Awesome Southern Speak!

Mark Twain once wrote: "Southerners talk music!" Aint that the truth! I am loving the way my soutern characters speak in "Theft of the Golden Hooha" (Yeah, I ditched the pussy name.) My only regret is that the soutern speak is from secondary characters so I don't get to do a lot of it. But here, for your listening pleasure, are a few gems I wish I could fit in and can't.

Warning: Those with bladder problems should not proceed beyond this point!

1. Quoting Peter Rabbit McGarrh, circa 1978: "And if that ain't true, grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry, and Mona Lisa was a man."

2. Bonnie Horton: "about as useful as gooseshit on a pumphandle"

3. Barrie Blake: "happened faster than a knife fight in a phone booth."

4. Susan of Baton Rouge : "It's drier than happy hour at the Betty Ford clinic."

5. Sherry A.: "If a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped."

6. Derek N. : "I'll hit you in the Adam's apple so hard you'll be spitting cider for a week."

7. Derek N. : "It stank so bad it'd knock a buzzard off a gut wagon."

8. "What yer tellin me don't amount to a 'blivit' . . ." (a blivit is 10 pounds of manure in a 5 pound bag --didn't you always wanna know that!)

9. Paula T. : 'Ain't nobody gonna mess on me and call it apple butter!'

10. Paula T."He's so ugly, he didn't get hit with the ugly stick, he got whopped with the whole forest!"

11. Don McL : "Busier than a cat covering crap on a marble floor."

12. Don McL : "My cow died last night so I don't need your bull."

13. Mark : "A face like a bulldog licking catpiss off a stinging nettle."

How I wish I could put in more. I LOVE the South. Someday I hope I too can be Gone With The Windbags. :-)

Shoe!

Get behind me, Satan! I tell ya, I've never really been into the shoe thing my CPs have going on, but I'm starting to wonder if that is just lack of time, funds and walking ability. (I haven't been able to walk in heels since I shattered my leg 2 years ago.)

I'm doing some research on designer footwear for my characters --or it started out that way -- and I find myself slavering over scraps of leather.
Like this


Or this


And though I could never wear them, I love these!


And these!


What is happening to me? Have I crossed over?
I think I've caught the addiction!

Ready ... Set ... Stop!

My current MS is set in NYC, with a side trip to Alabama, and while I love researching the places/people/accents etc, I'm finding the writing very hard going for two reasons. These are actual places my readers know well, so if I get things wrong, they'll throw my book at the wall. Actually, it won't get that far, because the canny eds/agents won't let it eke through into print!

So I can't step in and let my imagination take over creating the place. But equally, there is much that maps and research don't provide. I'm constantly nagging on the American girls over at RD for all sorts of things -- smells, where the garbage/trash gets put etc. So many details I just take for granted when setting work in Australia or an imaginary place.

I wonder if I am up for this? So far, I don't want to give up. It's just an aggrevation, but the story is still hauling me through those unknown places at an exciting speed. The characters still tugging on my heart to help them through. I guess I'm not the first to battle this problem.

Um..........

It could have been worse!

One of the Things I Love About Americans

...is their accent! I'm currently trying to get the dialogue for my latest MS (NY & Alabama) right. Hooee, it's a challenge. Anyway, in my roving, I came across this little bit of fun and couldn't resist seeing what part of America sounds most like country Australia.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast   Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
The South
The Midland
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Reasons Why I'm digging my current MS 1. It's written in the same "blurt" first-person style as The Marian Kind, only this tale is longer and more complicated. So if you love that novella, you should love this one, too. 2. I'm only 53 pages in so I'm still in the honeymoon phase, you know, that bit before you realize that your hero can't possibly do what you've written unless he has 3 hands and has conquered gravity. 3. I'm still playing with the title. I was gonna call it "Deck-a-Pussy", since it is loosely drawn from James Bond's "Octopussy" and is set at Christmas time and revolves around the theft of ... you guessed it, a pussy! But I dunno. Maybe I should call it "Second Chance at the Pussy", or Pussy on the Road Home". hint: those who don't get this, read my last blog post. 4. I get to make sexist remarks and attack both women's lib and the men's movement. That way I can offend everyone. 5. I get to research both NY and Alabama, alternating between haute couture and oat cuisine. And what's not to like about "coon" dogs and corn pones? Love it! 6. It's got pigs in it. 'Nuff said. 7. My heroine wears French knickers long after she should have thrown them out, tries to resist Ben and Jerry and doughnuts, and doesn't. Yep, I love her. 8. My hero is a take charge, controlled, make-it-happen guy. He floats my boat, even when I find myself up the creek without a paddle. 9. Did I mention he's rich? 10. And I have several dope heads. Not the hero, though. He's nobody's dope. 11. It's not every day (or book) you get a fork and spoon fight. 12. There's a chick called Iggy. I did consider Eggy, but thought I'd be understated and subtle since, you know, I'm like that. ;-) 13. My crisis happens at a funeral. I have written about funny weddings before, Brides Maid in Heaven, but making a funeral humorous is a real challenge. Rolling up sleeves, sucking into my coffee. Did I mention I love my new MS? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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What's in a Name?

Despite the fact that publishers want to change your title more than half of the time (so you can't get too attached to it,) apparently making a bad choice of title can effect your chances when submitting.

Over at Book Ends they are discussing titles they never want to see again. These include:

SECOND CHANCES

Anything with “DESTINY”

Anything with “CODE” (Amanda are you reading this! lol)

MIDNIGHT CROSSINGS

DEEP/STILL WATERS

THE LONG WAY/ROAD HOME

HOME AGAIN

FOOL’S GOLD

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

Lucky for me none of my titles are on the list, but it does make me shake my head. My first ever novel was called Between the Gutter and the Sky, which fits the story, but it will never sell. If I ever dig that puppy out of the dust bunnies, I'll have to re-name it. I remember Allison Rushby talking about her first novel-- "Possums in the Sun" or something, which is quite some way from "All Men Are Bastards.Com", huh?

How about you? Any embarassing titles you want to share, or cringeworthy recognition on the No No list?

Book Place

No, not a children's TV program, but a new way to promote. In my typical Luddite fashion, it has taken me ALL day to set myself up there, though I must admit that includes the little sideshow ... er, slide show I'll share with you here.

And tomorrow I WILL get back to writing. My new MS is screaming at me to come back. :-)

Look What My Clever Little CP Has Done Now!

Not content with 2 recent Rita finals, she's now set for TV!

My CP, Gemma Halliday's double RITA nominated novel, Spying in High Heels, is in development for a television series on the USA Network!!! It’s currently one of five new shows being developed for their fall 2007/2008 season.

Spying in High Heels follows shoe designer Maddie Springer, who in an effort to track down her missing boyfriend, realizes that her knack for fashion also serves another purpose: it makes her a great detective. Maddie's uniquely female perspective helps her pick up clues, using her designer's eye to discern tell tale shapes, colors and patterns, among other things. Along with her best friend Dana, an out-of-work actress, Maddie decides to open a detective agency operating out of her stepfather's hair salon.

Not all shows in development make it to the air, but this one should! If you want to see Maddie and Ramirez on the small screen, write to the USA Network and tell them you heard about SPYING IN HIGH HEELS and can’t wait to watch it. Or, if you’ve read the book and liked it, tell them that, too! Contact the programming department at the USA Network:feedback@usanetwork.com

In the meantime, read up on Gemma's books, including Undercover in High Heels & Killer in High Heels.

The girl is a sweetie and her work is awesome. I'm glad she's getting the recognition she deserves. Go, Gemma!

Life After Cheese

Babe King, cheese blimp after scoffing a WHOLE Brie.... burp, would like to announce that she is never eating cheese again. I WOULD like to announce that, but it just wouldn't be true. Pity.

So instead I'll announce that my mate, Jax, is now in print, with a 3 novella anthology. Yay!

ONE WICKED WINTER is now available!

Published By: Amber Quill Press
Release Date: April 2007
Written as: Cassidy Kent

A sexy first date, an unexpected encounter, and a torrid reunion. Three smoldering stories of reckless passion stoke the fires of one very wicked winter…

Dear John

In her last year of high school, Dane Harley, a foster kid with no direction, met John Stratton, a Pittsburgh rich kid with a penchant for trouble. She visits him a decade after disappearing from his life, only to discover he’s moved on. Their subsequent affair speaks of the torrent of passion and love that still binds them.

Santa’s Helper

CEO Noel grants a boy’s Christmas wish by escorting sexy single mother Maura around Manhattan on Christmas Eve. The spark between them is immediate, but the distance between Park Avenue and the Jersey suburbs is immense. Are their worlds too dissimilar to merge or can they bridge the distance with love?

What Lies in Winter

Workaholic Hayley vacations in the mountains and meets author, Nicholas. He might be a solitary beast but Hayley is hell-bent on disrupting his peaceful balance. A blizzard makes them share quarters and their fiery personalities melt the ice caps off the mountains.

I wonder... if I put out a 3 novella anthology, would it be The 3 Little Pigs?

The Marian Kind

Here I was working...working...working on my second first person rom com sus MS and boom! Happy news that curled my newly-dyed, chocolate-brown hair.
The Marian Kind has been picked up by the first person I offered it to, and will come out in Freya's Bower's Summer Lovin' collection. How exciting! Talk about almost instant gratification. This novella took less than 2 months from concept to contract! I'm still stunned by how easy it came out. From the moment I switched to first person, I never looked back. Marian was a total hoot to write.

Freya's Bower are already asking me about covers and such and have made me feel really welcome. I think this will be a lot of fun to work with them. Definitely a cheese party at my place tonight! :-)

Michelle's New Book

Love's Blessings by M.G. Braden
- Now available from By Grace Publishing

Janelle Trent has been desperately trying to have a baby. Can she surrender to God when the treatments don't work?

Kevin Trent loves his wife, baby or not. Can he show his wife that they already are a family? Or, will he walk away, taking with him all their hopes and dreams?

Can two people in love move past heartache to find each other, and possibly a miracle, again? Sometimes we search so hard but are unable to see that we already have Love's Blessings.

Given 4.5 Hearts from The Romance Studio - you can buy Love's Blessings today from By Grace Publishing