Summer Reading

CONGRATS to Prince William and his wife Catherine on the birth of their son. What a lovely way to distract from what my UK friends tell me is an almost unbearable heat wave there.

Course it's no slouch weather here, either, with thunderstorms and heat and humidity--all the things that make Summer Summer :)

And the best way to distract from the feeling the air is a hot wet blanket wrapping around you or when the whole sky lights with jagged streaks and the boom of thunder rattles doors and windows (and nerves) is to READ READ READ (with loads of cold water, iced tea or ice cream-- or all three).

Stephen King has a sequel to 'The Shinning' coming soon. Not sure I can read it, if it's like the first. I didn't sleep for days after reading that one and I admit I still often jump at noises in hotel rooms. The Jack N. movie version cemented him, in my mind, for all time as the best actor to play an insane deranged person.

We all know the best books are those we fall in love with, either through the plot or the characters or both. Be it Romance, Horror, Mystery, History, Fantasy or Paranormal I want to love them all.  I should start a monthly book dedication-- Best and Worst. Of course, it would be my opinion only, and my tastes vary greatly from others. But it's definitely an idea spinning around in the back of my mind.

 And speaking of books. . . my hard working editor is hard at work on mine, and I should have a firm release date for everyone soon. Kylie and her Master have become very dear to me and I hope they will to you, as well.

Grab a book, some ice cream and read away the Summer heat. It's not long until Fall!

Horror Stories

I just finished Dean Kootz's, 'Deeply Odd'. I think the best horror stories are the ones like these and by the master of horror, Stephen King, who write about the every day and make it absolutely terrorifying. A possessd car can kill people, a family pet can turn into a killer, a simple trip to run errends becomes a run for your life.
As if Life isn't scary enough, these authors manage to turn the things we take for granted into the very things that could ruin or destroy our lives, or at the very least, change everything we thought we knew about where we're headed in life and who we think we are.
It's a lot like Love. It swamps us when we least expect it, changes everything we thought we knew and becomes a central part of our lives.
And let's face it: We all like that shake up from the every day, the excitment and yes, even the fear. Because we become the person we always wanted to be. If only in reading a book.
Which is why I love books :)

TB Premiere

I won't do SPOILERS (geesh, I LOVE River Song) but for fans of The True Blood show, the series premiere for the next season is a killer (hahaha). The characters are faithful to the author's voice and life breathed into them from her books and even though I think Sookie is a big fool for what she does at the end (see? no spoilers) it's exactly what her character would do.

And the word of the season, probably to go down in series history: Bilith.

I'm always worried when a series or movie based on popular books is brought to the small or big screen. It's easy to 'rewrite' and'make something better' which completely changes who the characters are, why they act as they do, etc. I thought 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Harry Potter' were fairly faithful to the books, though I do like the books better. So it's good to see 'True Blood' staying more or less true to the author's creations.

Let's hope more series and movies take a note from these and stay true to the characters. Though I do sort of wish the tv True Blood doesn't end the way the last Sookie book did. . . .

A Low Down Dirty Shame

My social media this weekend was lit up with posts over a case of an unknown author deliberating posting chapters word for word from a NYT best seller author as her own work. It's stealing, it's wrong and it's a shame. It's low down and the unknown ought to be flogged. Harsh? Nope.  Stealing makes the entire industry of authors look, and feel, horrible. There's a reason 'thou shalt not steal' is one of the oldest laws known to humankind, as is 'thou shalt not lie'.

Because it's WRONG.

Those of you who have followed the Romance Genre for years can recall a Famous Author who's work was proven deliberately stolen by another famous author (I'm not naming names; those who followed the industry will know who I mean; if you don't, email me and we can discuss it privately). The sad thing in that situation was the stolen work was published in the thief's (sorry, calling a spade a spade here, and since thief admitted she 'lifted' passages, she's a spade) name and hundreds of unsuspecting Readers got caught up in the scandal. I for one, vowed never ever again to read something from the thief, and I never have.

Writing is hard, hard, HARD work. And having your blood, sweat and tears stolen and posted/submitted/published under someone's else's name is unthinkable. Most of us would never consider such a thing. Then there are the 'bad apples' who stink up the whole writing industry. Kinda like that idiot in class, who bought a paper from the internet and now the entire class is under a cloud.

I know there are 'fanfic' sites that allow famous characters like Star Wars and Twilight to have their own 'stories' written by people other than the original authors. I admit to reading a Doctor Who story about the Doctor and River's child and her adventures. The thing is, openly admitting, "yes, I am using characters and/or scenes developed by another author and adding to them" is a whole different animal than, "Hey, lookie! I wrote this fab scene/chapter/novel and you have to read it." One gives credit where credit is due, one is flat out stealing.

I don't mind someone sharing my work AS LONG AS MY WORK GETS THE CREDIT AS MY WORK/WORDS. I hope saying that doesn't come back to haunt me, where half the section is lifted and mis poted as someone else's own. Isn't that horrible I even think that? In addition to everything else writers have to worry about, we are now supposed to worry about some moron thief stealing own words and passing them off as his/her own. It makes me sick.

So, Lesson here: For those of us who live, breathe and wake with characters, plots and stories dancing in our heads, we're way too filled with our own to steal anyone else's. If you have to 'borrow' or 'add to' someone's idea, character, or plot, regardless how 'well written' it is, IT IS NOT YOUR OWN. Give credit where credit is due.

Don't be a stinking bad apple.

I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan. And I just discovered the Doctor WHo books (yes, I'm way behind the times, I know). But with the announcment of the 11th actor leavng the role, and the search for the next Doctor ongoing, I admit I'm paying more attention to the gossip and blogs and posts and comments about Who might be the next Who.

He will have to be Brittish. Or Scottist. Or Australian. Or, omg, Irish. Mmmmmm accent. Smart, witty, know what to do in every situation and yet be vulerable. Love the TARDIS above all and treat her like the Lady she is.

Plus, I'm Team River. She's His Love. Always. Forever.

And, important to me, the Companion has to be strong, fun loving and not dopey in love with him. Sure we all love--or hate-- the Doctor, depending on what he does or says. But the reason I never warmed to some of the previous companions is that they were so dopey about their feelings they couldn't see straight.

And. . . I can't stand a dopey female character. Sure, be so in love with someone you can't eat, sleep, talk, think about anything but HIM/HER. But never lose sight of the fact you are also YOU. Think this way: YOU are a fab cake, wonderfully delicious and amazing, the best unique one on the earth. Whoever you choose as your 'One' should be like icing on your cake: compliment what's already there, not change the basic structure.

So Who should be the next Who?

BIG DAY!!!

I'm SIGNING THE BOOK CONTRACT FOR SHE WAITED TODAY!!!! I am beyond excited :)

In all the excitement, I do want to say: It's easy to get lost in the excitement and simply sign. After all, this Publisher wants my book! And while my Publisher is amazing, has great people and an excellent reputation, the age old, tv Judge Judy advice still holds true: READ everything you sign. Read it completely. A first time, a second, a third. Let someone else read it, someone who deals with legal issues and contracts (and has a savy business sense). Not because you don't trust the Publisher. Not because you think there's 'hidden' meanings in the clauses. But because it makes sense. Because it's the smart and PROFESSIONAL to do.

Writing is a talent, a joy, a pain. But Writing for Publication is a Business. For the Author, for the Publisher, for the Reader. For the Author to follow deadlines and edits and reviews and hopefully, make some money doing what he/she loves. For the Publisher, it's to make money, and to be the company promoting and Publishing the next best seller and simply an excellent story. And for the Reader, its knowing your hard earned money is well spent on a story that will leave you breathless, let you escape and take you away.

So as I sign this Contract, I hope I've fulfilled all the above. I'm moving from Writer to Professional Writer, and I can't thank my Publisher enough for the opportunity to share my story with Readers.

Now. . .buckle your seatbelts and grab some chocolate. SHE WAITED is coming soon!!!!!!

Wow

I tend to read the book before the movie, tv series, etc. So even knowing what was going to happen in 'The Red Wedding' of  'Games of Thrones', a week later, I'm still saying WOW.
Without giving away too much (as River Song in Doctor Who says, "Spoilers"), some beloved characters die, and in pretty violent ways. I read it, I knew it was going to happen, and still I was breathless, crying and yelling at the tv for the characters to, "RUN!!!".
Sighs. Deaths further the plot, sometimes, and when we lose a beloved book/movie/fictional character, it's a sign the author did a awesome job creating a living person on the pages. But it still makes me want to smack Mr. Martin, lol