Cat in a Red Hot Rage
by Carole Nelson Douglas

Premise: This the 19th book in the Midnight Louie Mystery series. This volume brings into play the Red Hat Sisterhood - an organization for women over 50 that encourages freedom, fun, and that life is not lost once that benchmark is reached. For PR wiz Temple Barr, this gig should have been a piece of cake - that is until murder enters the scene and Electra Lark, Temple's fun loving landlady becomes the prime suspect.

Review: For those of you still screaming from the cliff hanger in book 18, you will still be screaming. Aside from some very subtle hints, we still don't know what exactly has happened to Max after the piece of sabotage at the Neon Nightmare club. But there is still plenty going on to keep our minds occupied and away from the happenings with Mr. Max Kinsela. Things continue to heat up between Temple and Matt. Lines have been drawn and crossed! We get info on Electra Lark's past and even get to meet her ex (or is he?). Louie has his own problems, as now that Electra has been fingered for possible murder, it wrecks his plans to get the crew of stray cats (and his Mom) taken in and fed by the neighbors. His daughter (though never proven and he will never admit it), Midnight Louise, harps on him about needing to find out what has happened to Max Kinsela and is not happy Louie's attentions are being split to the Red Hat Murders at hand. And let's not forget Lieutenant Molina, who makes a late but definite flashy entrance as she too continues on her own Max hunt and gets bit as she once more crosses the line of the law. Carole Nelson Douglas once more takes us on a fun ride of all that is Las Vegas and sets us up nicely for what else is soon to come. *** 3/4!!



Tags: Book Review; Gloria Oliver; Cat in a Red Hot Rage; Carole Nelson Douglas

Book Review - Hannibal Rising

Hannibal Rising
by Thomas Harris


Premise: Taking you back to World War 2, we meet Hannibal Lecter as an eight year old and walk with him through the paths of memory to a childhood destroyed by war, as so many were in that time. Losing partial memory due to the trauma of one specific event, Hannibal is eventually found by his uncle and taken in. But though the war is over, tragedy still strikes his life, and the horrid pall of those moments not remembered still haunt him, wanting resolution.

Review: Though this book is about Hannibal Lecter, the terror and horrors portrayed within are different from those covered in the others books - so if you are looking for the same as the previous ones, you might be disappointed. But keeping that in mind, it is well worth reading! Most of the atrocities are not perpetrated by Hannibal, which only makes them even more gruesome because things like this truly happened during the war. The book is imbued throughout with the wonderful flavors of Europe, and for an even greater treat, we get an oriental touch brought in through with Lady Murasaki. That Hannibal was not a normal child is evident from the first. That he walked a fine line which he crosses back and forth always aimed toward its predetermined conclusion is never in question. But it was fun watching him do it. We see his first love, his first enemies both on the side of the law and outside it. Even a rival for the woman who has his affections. Whether you agree with Harris's view on how his creation came to be, this book offers a colorful look into a chaotic, volatile time in history and the things being faced by those who lived in it. Just for that, it was definitely worth the read. All the rest was a wonderful bonus. ***3/4

Tags: Book Review; Gloria Oliver; Hannibal Rising; Thomas Harris

Madten’s Mother’s Day Contest – Still time to win!

I am giving you all an extra chance since info posted around had bad dates. Here's my excerpt for the week. Just answer the questions at the bottom of my entry at MADTEN. Feel free to look at the excerpts from the others for a chance to win their books as well!


Vassal of El
by Gloria Oliver

Now they would whisk her away. Her days of toil and trouble were over. Homespun clothes would be replaced forever with fine robes. If she continued tripping over everything in sight, there would always be those there to catch her before she hit the floor. Her every need would be attended to. The girl he’d traveled with this while would soon be nothing more than a memory.

All three councilors stood up. “So, tell us, Aen,” Valerian prompted. “How is it you’ve been returned to us?” The eyes in the chiseled, handsome face stared into her own as he towered over her.

“Sir,” she said meekly. “It was my friend’s doing. He knew what the markings on my back meant and knew where I needed to go.”

“Friend?” Valerian stared questioningly at Rux. Then his gaze registered Torren’s presence in the background for the first time. “A grub?”

“What? Where?” The oldest of the councilors stared about in confusion until he followed Valerian’s gaze. The stooped councilor took a shaky step back. “Dom Rux, what is the meaning of this?”

Torren looked out over them, not at all surprised by their reaction.

“Please, gentlemen, calm down,” Rux pleaded. “He’s the one who brought the Vassal to us. Without him she wouldn’t be here. And it was on Aen’s request he was to remain until the council’s acceptance of her identity.” The ambassador’s wings quivered with agitation. “Surely this makes his presence here acceptable.”

The two older councilors slowly conceded the point, though they wouldn’t make direct eye contact with Torren. He wondered if they’d ever even seen a Lander up close before.

“And what exactly would make a Lander give the Chosen such uncharacteristic charity?” Valerian’s question was aimed directly at him. “Could it be you’re expecting monetary compensation, knowing the high worth we place on the Vassal?” His sarcasm was heavy.

“Valerian!” Rux stared from the councilor to his unusual guest and back again.

Torren felt his jaw tighten, his gaze not leaving the councilor’s face.

“Speak up,” Valerian taunted. “Have you nothing to say, Lander? Is the truth too obvious to be said?”

“Stop it!”

All eyes turned in amazement to stare at Larana as she interposed herself between the two men. “You, you shouldn’t do this. He’s not one of them. He’s one of you!”

Rux turned to meet Torren’s eyes, but Torren lowered his to the floor, his heart pounding. Was she guessing, or did she actually believe? Though he’d not said anything about it to her, he coldly realized the evidence had been there for her to make her own conclusions about the truth. He hadn’t counted on this.

“My dear,” Valerian said, stepping forward to sweep Larana into his arm and pull her away from Torren as if she were a silly child. “It’s true he has our coloring, but he has no wings. Only the Vassal grows no wings amongst the Chosen.” His hard gaze returned to Torren. “At most, he might be a half breed, begat by foul means. And as such, and having been raised amongst them, he is one of them.”

Larana seemed to almost wilt beside the councilor as he held her clutched in his arm, half covered by a wing, as if he were claiming her for his own. With a shiver, she forcibly pulled away, shaking her head. “You don’t understand,” she insisted looking at the others. “He is one of you.” She turned to face her friend. “Torren, tell them. Make them understand.”

He shook his head slowly. Let them think whatever they wanted. It was time for him to leave.

“Torren?” Rux was staring at him with sudden intensity. “As in the son of Lar?”

Question 1 - Larana is being referenced by the councilors by another name - what is it?

Question 2 - What do the councilors assume Torren is?

(ANSWER in the COMMENTS at MADTEN!)


Tags: Contest; Gloria Oliver; Vassal of El; Madten

Book Review - The Prodigal Troll

The Prodigal Troll
by Charles Coleman Finlay


Premise: This is the story of Maggot, a human child raised by Trolls, and his journey to understand his past, where he came from, and where he should go for his future.

Review: Think Tarzan of the Apes, except replace it as Maggot of the Trolls. Told from different points of view, the reader gets a full sense of where Maggot came from, even if he doesn't know the details himself. The world Mr. Finlay grabs your interest and it is fascinating to see how the different cultures and races are affecting each other, Maggot caught somewhere in between. And amidst lies, deceit, and concepts Maggot has never encountered, he tries his best figure out how he can fit into the world of man - especially after he has found the woman that both excites and tortures his spirit. ***1/2!

Tags: Book Review; Gloria Oliver; The Prodigal Troll; Charles Coleman Finlay

Mother's Day Contest at the Madten Blog

WIN A FREE AUTOGRAPHED NOVEL...VISIT OUR AUTHOR'S BLOG!

In honor of Mother's Day, The Ten Mad Authors Blog is giving away
free autographed copies of the authors' most recently published books.

Simply visit the blog at:

madten.wordpress.com

The contest will run from May 7th until May 13th with winners
announced on Mother's Day.

Books range in genre from mystery to fantasy to alternate reality
to young adult-fantasy. Titles include: Arturo el Rey, by Joan Upton
Hall, Lady of the Lake, by J.C. Hall, Death Game, by Cheryl Swanson,
and Vassal of El, by Gloria Oliver.

Moms, we're doing this to honor you, but you don't have to be a
mother (or even a father) to win. Don't miss the chance to discover a
great new author and get a free autographed copy of their latest novel.

Tags: Contests; Gloria Oliver; free books; Madten

Jensen Ackles in Dallas! A Few Good Men at Casa Mañana

I thought it would behoove me to spread the good news. Jensen Ackles, the actor who portrays Dean Winchester in the CW's show Supernatural, will be at the Casa Mañana theater June 5th through 10th with Lou Diamond Phillips! They both will be staring in the play "A Few Good Men". Saying I am psyched is an understatement. Heh.


Tags: Jensen Ackles; Dallas; Casa Mañana; Supernatural

Sanitize ME!

Greetings!

Did you miss me? After a week of taking in the sea air and sun, I am BACK! For those not yet privy to the info, hubby and I were off on a Disney Cruise for out 25th wedding anniversary. We had a blast! And fortunately, I think it also gave me a few topics to milk, errr, share with you all now that I have returned.

First things first though... If you wish to be tortured by pictures of our trip - click here! As of today, I still haven't uploaded all of them. I'm at 250+ right now at the website and adding more daily. Gotta love those Sony Disc Cameras! Booyah! (Since I took over 2 disks worth of pics, should amount to over 500 photos when I am done. Bwahahahahaha) Oh, and no, I am not in any of the pictures, except maybe one as a reflection. I know a lot of people feel they must put themselves in pictures to prove they were there, but personally, why would I want to taint the subject of the photo with my presence? I know I was there -- I took the darn things! Heh heh.

As to this week's topic... Sanitize me!

You may or may not recall when there was a big scare some time ago where a whole ship full of people on a cruise ship became violently ill from a nasty bug of some sort. This created a scare amongst travelers and the companies making their living from their vacation habits. Personally, it made sense to me that if someone was sick and you have them in an enclosed zone (such as a ship) and the sick person is milling and interacting with others that the chances of giving the sickness to someone else is highly likely. Heck, just look at any office environment, throw in a stubborn worker with a cold, who just won't go home, and watch the fun begin.

Anyway, ever since we booked our cruise a year ago, I never even thought about the scare or what it would mean to my travel experience. Well, as I found out the moment we hit Port Canaveral, Disney certainly had!

First thing we were asked upon reaching the desk to get our World Pass cards and get in line to board the Disney Magic was "Have you either of you been feeling ill or had any diarrhea in the last day?" If the answer was "yes" you were taken to see the doc and immediately isolated. (At least I believe that was the procedure, I didn't see anyone admit to it!)

Second thing was that as you went past the Mickey Mouse ears leading to the gangway, Disney personnel were on hand to pass over a sanitation wipe so you could thoroughly clean your hands before laying a finger on the ship.

Rachel, the cruise director, admonished everyone to please wash their hands frequently, using soap and warm water. And before you could enter any of the ship's restaurants, there were plenty of attendants at the entrance to give you a wipe or let you use some of that cleaning clear goo stuff. No wipe hands, no eat. :P

Each time we docked at a port of call, the dispensers and crew were there on your return to get you sanitized before you went aboard. Cleaning crews could be spotted all over the place at all hours as rails, floors, and restrooms were kept totally immaculate and wiped down. And your personal room attendant (who not only cleaned, but straightened, and came back at night to turn down the bed and leave cute little animals made of a blanket or towel for your entertainment!!!) kept the place spotless.

The wipes were such a prevalent thing that even the entertainers used the concept in their shows. The Ventriloquist made jokes about the wipes (and the jet engine toilets, but that's another matter). The juggler, who asked for volunteers from the audience, came to a complete stop as he was about to hand out his sticks to the two kids, then voila, popped out a bucket of wipes out of the back for them to use before they could get cooties on his stuff. Too darn funny really.

In no time we were used to having to do the little extra thing. By the end of the cruise, we expected it. When we left, we began to miss doing it!

I understand why it was done, but I sure never expected it. And it made for a fascinating tidbit on the trip.

The whole time though I wanted to come up with some clever line I could use on the people handing out the wipes. The only thing I could come up with was "Wipe Me" - and somehow that just didn't seem right. At the airport, however, one of our dinner companions from the ship gave me the perfect line. Wish he'd mentioned it sooner.

So...Sanitize ME!

Tags: Cruise; Gloria Oliver; Sanitation

The One Way Street

Communicating with others is something we do on a daily basis in one form or another. Yet though we practice this art all of our lives, at times it is one of the most neglected aspects of it.

Lack of communication is normally cited as one of the major causes of issues at work, at home, at play. It is so easy to do and yet so taken for granted, that often it gets totally forgotten or ignored. Yet without it, misunderstandings and more can ensue. Sometimes with devastating results.

As an author, communicating is a very important part of the process of writing. Books are a definite form of communication -- with them we impart knowledge, feelings, locales, situations, reactions. And the more apt we get at showing these things, the better we get at communicating with our readers. So in some ways it has been a hobby of mine to keep an eye on communicating and communication and how these relate to everyday life and therefore hopefully teaching me things to better improve my writing. (Not that this means I ever learn anything or have gotten better at it! lol! But we must trudge on as best we can. Even I, the clueless.)

Yet there is more to learn from seeing how communication relates to life than just the writing we do. It also teaches us about relationships, human behavior -- direct correlations that can be used in the societies and organizations within the stories we create.

By this point you're probably scratching your head thinking - "yeah, that's all well and good, but what does any of this have to do with the weird title?" Ah, we're almost there! It's all about that whole communicating thing again.

One communication deficit which I have noticed occurring from groups of two to hundreds of people is the One Way Street.

In an optimal situation, communications would would work like a giant, double decker superhighway, with information/feelings flowing from and to other individuals, regardless of their status, sex, or age. Normally, however, you get anything but a free flowing highway. Throw in some construction, some pitted roads, detours, and communications get jumbled, lost, discarded.

Unfortunately, what tends to be most prevalent is that some never even make it out to the car, let alone drive. Signs get posted forbidding admittance and at times there is no road! (But I digress as I go off alone down a path of metaphors and cute phrases and make everyone gag. Okay...back on track...)

What a One Way Street is is a situation where communications should be flowing back and forth and instead seems to come entirely from one side only. As an example, let's use a boss and his employee. (Mind you the roles can be reversed on this easily and often are.) The boss sends memos or has chats with the employee and keeps them updated on what's going on and what expectations he has of them. He informs them that his door is open and to please feel free to bring up anything amiss so he can help work them out. Basically, the boss is doing what one hopes he will do - his job!

Not hearing from the employee, the boss will assume all things are fine, for surely he told the employee to come to him with any problems.

The employee, meanwhile, is actually very unhappy. He hangs in his corner and complains to his friends. The gripes fester and boil. He has all these problems and his boss never helps. His life is the pits. He knows the boss is in his office just surfing the net leaving him with all the work all day. Yet whenever he sees him, he smiles and says everything is swell.

So the boss is going along thinking all is good and fine when - wham! Something will happen that will bring all the dirt up into his face when he least expects it. (And that's if he's lucky! He might just continue on cluelessly for who knows how long!) It will be a blow from left field - totally unexpected. And worse, might not be able to understand why it happened in the first place or correct it.

Take a look around your work place, home, social setting. I mean really look. You'll see what I am talking about.

The saddest part is, the employee will probably never come to realize he was not holding his end of the highway and wasn't communicating as he should have with his boss despite the free toll tag. (Humans don't read minds you know! Despite the belief of some!)

The bigger the group, whether work or social, the more chance of there being one way streets. And as long as communication flows only one way, the road is ripe for misunderstandings, resentment, and imagined slights to ensue. All leading to eventual IMPLOSION!

People thrive on adversity - even if they have to make it up themselves! :P

So don't be a One Wat Street! Get out there and communicate!






Disclaimer: No boss's or employees were harmed in the making of this blog. Any similarities to actual persons or places was not intentional, and no such knowledge should be inferred from the above.:P




Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Communication

Movie of the Week - Firehouse Dog

Firehouse Dog
Staring: Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Bill Nunn, Scotch Ellis Loring, Mayte Garcia, Teddy Sears, Arwen/Frodo/Stryder/Rohan

Premise: This is the story of Rexxx and Shane. Rexxx is a super pampered dog star who is believed dead after an airplane accident. Shane is the son of a fireman, who is still trying to deal with the loss of his uncle, also a fireman.

Review: This is an incredibly cute story. The facial expressions they put on the dogs and the scenes they steal for them out of James Bond, 10, and other places were just too cute! There are some heavy issues that are dealt with, which are handled pretty well. Josh Hutcherson does not disappoint, doing a very good job as Shane. There's action, adventure, some very heartfelt moments, and a mystery to boot. Fun film! ***1/2!!! (Hubby Rating: Worth the Price of Admission.)

Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Firehouse Dog

Movie of the Week - Meet the Robinsons

Meet the Robinsons
Staring: Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Matthew Josten, Angela Bassett, Laureie Metcalf, Stephen J Anderson, Adam West, Wesley Singerman.


Premise: All Lewis has ever wanted is a family. However, somehow, no matter what he tries, he is never picked by any of the couples who come to the orphanage looking for a boy. His time is almost up. So he decides the only thing he can do is find his original parents and that they will now be in a position to take him, unlike when they left him at the top of the orphanage stairs. To do this, he invents a Mental Recall machine. He takes it to the science fair, where he will use it for the first time and see his mother. However, he meets a strange boy called Wilbur, who says a man in a bowler hat will be after Lewis. And that is when everything starts going terribly, terribly wrong.

Review: There are two versions of the film out. One in regular format, the other in Disney 3D. If you can, definitely go see it in the 3D. This movie was an utter blast! I have not laughed so hard in a long time. Lots and lots of very subtle jokes, many of which are definitely for the over 35 crowd. Frank Sinatra and Las Vegas references, old stereotype villains but with many twists, not the least of which was a pot belly. A great time travel yarn! **** (Hubby Rating - Worth Full Price of Admission)

Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Meet The Robinsons

Movie of the Week - TMNT

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles - TMNT
Staring: Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Patrick Stewart, Mitchell Whitfield, Ziyi Zhang, James Arnold Taylor, Mikey Kelley, Nolan North

Premise: The ninja turtles are back! Leonardo has been gone a year on some solitary training to become a better leader. Meanwhile, the other three brothers have been trying to cope as best they can, taking up part time jobs. All this changes, when a planetary alignment which occurred over three thousand years ago, comes upon the world once more. Working through some internal issues, the turtles are once more thrown into having to save the world.

Review: This movie is a must for any fans of TMNT. The CGI work is utterly AWESOME! The one scene where the rain falls on the back of Rafael's armor was amazing. Comedy and angst, action and combat, way too much fun. Shredder is even mentioned and a couple of hints of possible things to come. This, unfortunately is also Mako's last film. He died during the making. He will be mised. Also, the same CGI company that did the film, has possible future plans to do a production on the Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman (Aka Battle of the Planets - no 7-Zark-7)! After seeing their faithfulness to the TMNT, I am definitely hoping they get to do KNG as well! ***1/2!

Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; TMNT

A problem for Authors - The Impostor Syndrome

Some friends were talking recently and a subject came up that is near and dear to most of us authors (and others) out there, but is rarely talked about - The Impostor Syndrome.

This is the feeling deep inside that you aren't at all good, that you have no right to be up there on that panel talking to fledgling writers, that your publisher is crazy for ever having agreed to publish your book. No matter how much actual success you gain, you just can't reconcile yourself to the fact your talents did that! It must be luck, or a coincidence, or someone helping you out - no way could it actually be you.

At home, safe and sound, this feeling of being a fraud is not so strong. It mostly rears its ugly head when you are out there, in front of con goers, other writers (especially if you admire their work), or anyone else who approaches you that has heard you are a writer. For some, the feelings of being a fake and the guilt at daring to put themselves out there as something they know they are surely not can be extremely depressing, and actually paralyzing, keeping them from presenting themselves to others - the biggest fear being that someone somewhere will figure out their shame and expose them to all.

I did a Yahoo search on "Impostor Syndrome" just wondering what I would find. There were a lot of hits. Talentdevelop.com has the names of several major actors and actresses who have suffered from this - Nicole Kidman, Jodie Foster, Don Cheadle, and more. Caltech and Cornell both have a section on the syndrome at their site. Numerous psychologists have done papers on the subject.

One interesting fact I noticed is that this syndrome seems to be most prevalent in women. (Dang it!)

Okay, so now that you're nodding your heads knowing what I am talking about and some of you feeling you have this thing, what can you do about it? Hey, don't look at me! I have this too! And I am no expert. But...

To me, some of the feelings generated by the syndrome stem almost into the realm of phobias. I know some definite facets of it reflect in my shyness, my inability to toot my own horn, my embarrassment when others do it for me, and my not wanting to force people to buy my books but rather entice them into it so it's is their own decision.

But what I have done (and it sort of works for me), and what others I know are so good at you would never ever think they doubt themselves or their relevance, is to create an Author Persona. Basically what it comes down to is making a professional copy of yourself, one that gets down to business and has no doubts. You don't have to reinvent yourself! Just think of a more outgoing more confident you (even if by just a little) and give yourself some props to help you slide into the role.

In my case, I have clothes that I specifically use when I am the "writer". They are fancier than my usual fare (Tomboy here! Tomboy!) and they make me look professional (I hope) - like I might actually know something. Others I know dress more casually, but still have something to set them aside from their everyday facade -- they use things like funky vests, costumes (some even dress like their characters), neat hats, buttons, what have you.

Mind you, this professional alter-ego in no way makes any of the fears of feeling like a fraud disappear, but it can help you put enough of a lid on them to manage and do what you are there to do - whether it be a panel, a signing, a chat, sitting behind a dealer's table and smiling, whatever. And of course, like anything, the more you do it, the easier it gets.

If we're very lucky, maybe even that feeling of being a fake will go away too someday. (Right...) :P

But it will let you function. And functioning before the fans and our peers as an author is something we must do! So go get 'em! We rock! Don't ever forget that!




Tags: Impostor Syndrome; Gloria Oliver; Writing Life

Book Review - Shaman's Crossing

Shaman's Crossing
by
Robin Hobb

Premise: Nevare is a second son. And as such, his future has been decided since birth - he will be a soldier. But when his well meaning father gives him over to an old enemy to learn their ways, Nevare's path takes an unexpected turn that will work at destroying that expected future. As grows older and joins the academy, not only will he find that the structured world he has been led to believe exists, is not as black and white as he'd been told, but that he could be used as a weapon to destroy all he holds dear.

Review: Wonderfully detailed world, with well constructed societies, politics, etc. The prose was smooth as silk and a delight to read. I was totally fascinated by the differing cultures and social structures as well as the hazing and other difficulties at the academy. Only difficulty I had was that the main problem was often subdued and was minimally hinted as ever getting to have an impact. When it does, it does it BIG, but it took its sweet time. Yet this only bothered me subliminally, the rest keeping me quite busy and content. ***3/4!!

By Hook or By Crook

One of the most important components of a short story is the hook. In a story, the hook serves the same purpose as it does on a fishing pole. It is where you put a mental worm to entice the reader and get them to bite, hopefully reeling them all the way in so they will go ahead and read the story.

In short stories, the hook normally is the first line or second line, definitely in the first paragraph. It’s just enough of a tidbit that it will entice the reader’s mind and make it hungry to find out what this is about. Just like many components of writing, it can be its own art form. And sometimes can be difficult as heck to come up with.

With the changing times and faster pace brought on by TV, music videos, cell phones, PDA’s, IM’s, PC games, game consoles (basically springing up concepts of instant gratification or fulfillment) hooks (short and fast ones that is - for there is always a hook somewhere) are becoming more and more of a necessity in novels as well.

The concept is very much like what they teach you out in the business world about the 30 second pitch. Most people have an attention span of 30 to 60 seconds to get grabbed by something and make an impression before the rest of it becomes so much background noise. So when preparing to go out there and seek employment, you are encouraged to come up with a 30 second blurb about yourself to make an impact on the prospective employer, give them useful information, and hopefully make a good lasting impression. (As they say in the field, no matter what the truth is, if you make a bad impression in those first few seconds, regardless of all that happens after, that first impression will stick around forever.)

So what makes a good hook?

Hooks can be composed of text or description, what matters is the reaction they bring out of the reader.

Here’s the first line of “Price of Mercy” (my latest novel which is now looking for a home.) The first line reads:

“I’m sorry, dearest, but your services are no longer required.”

BOOM - right off the bat, our fertile imaginations explode with questions and assumptions. It is obvious the speaker is acquainted with whom they are speaking. Might even hint of a rather close relationship. The second half of the sentence tells us that there’s trouble. Immediately we want to now what services are being spoken of and make us wonder why they are no longer required. Also peaks our curiosity as to how badly this may affect the possible protagonist.

Of course this tiny piece of worm would not be enough to get the reader to bite, but you’ve irked the curiosity just enough to get them to move on to the next sentence.

Jarrin blinked, his throat going dry, sure he’d heard wrong. “No longer…?”

Now you’ve met the protagonist, and from his reaction your original suspicion that the first sentence was a dose of bad news is reinforced. More of the worm has been exposed (and with any luck!) things are looking mighty tasty.

“Required? Yes, you heard right.” The baroness’s voice was even. She was sitting in her favorite divan, her pampered poodle, Precious, curled up on her lap.

By this point, they’ve hopefully bit and you start in on the business of showing time, place, setting.

Martha Wells came up with an awesome hook in The Wizard Hunters (The Fall of Ile-Rein Book 1)

It was nine o’clock at night and Tremaine was trying to find a way to kill herself that would bring a verdict of of natural causes in court when someone banged on the door.

Instantly the reader springs with several questions at once. Why would Tremaine want to kill herself? Why does she need it to look like natural causes? What has driven this person to this course? (CHOMP) The reader has bit the hook. The curiosity has been enflamed and now must proceed or never get answers. They’re hooked!

Grab the nearest book at hand and check out those first few lines. See what beautiful worms they dangled before your eyes on the hook to get you to bite. Come back here and share those great hooks and lets be enticed together.

Tags: writing; Gloria Oliver; The Hook

Book Review - Lady of the Lakes

Lady of the Lakes

by JC Hall

Premise: Corryn has waited over a year to meet again the mysterious knight he saw near one of the cursed lakes. His own sad past has forced him to try such unusual means, and there are no guarantees of success. But when he once more meets the knight, the latter is engaged in combat, and despite Corryn's attempts to help, the warrior is wounded and the infant in his charge stolen. Worse, the knight cares not for his help or is even willing to consider having him as a liege man. Yet Corryn forces his help on the warrior as the wounds knock the latter unconscious. As Corryn bandages the wounds and tries to make the warrior comfortable, he gets an unexpected surprise - and with that his life begins to take many unexpected turns.

Review: (This review is from an ARC copy - release of the book should be imminent.) A thoroughly enjoyable book. JC Hall has created a vibrant world full of magic, adventure, and intrigue. The high speech of the nobles will take a little getting used to and the introduction and instruction of magic/mental powers seems to come out of nowhere where Corryn was concerned, but aside from these two minor issues, the story was griping, the characters interesting, and made for a great ride. ***1/2!

For the World is Flat and you'll fall off the edge

There are times in your life when something that never made any sense all of a sudden takes on the sharpest of meaning. An epiphany - a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization (www.thefreedictionary.com) I've had a few of these over the years -- some have been more poignant than others. (like the one I had on writing itself!) My most recent moment of startling realization came about several weeks ago while I was traveling to Virginia Beach, VA to attend Epicon.

While the plane was coming in for a landing at the airport, I saw something out the window which really got me thinking. What I saw, as we came toward the coast, was the horizon. And the more I looked at it, the more it gave the impression that it came to an end and just dropped off to nowhere, like seeing a waterfall from upriver.

(hm, I seem to be on a vision kick these last two posts...could it be a trend? Naw.) :P

Seeing such a view, I suddenly understood where all the old tales of a Flat World and the edges you would fall off from might have come from. Eyes and light can play all sorts of tricks on the beholder, giving the viewer visions of things they are left alone to interpret. So I could very well see how such a view off of a coast as I had seen in the East (and then remembered seeing something similar in the West) could have given seafarers the wrong impression of how things actually were.

To us modern folk visions like these mean nothing. We know better. But what of those who didn't know anything else, who only had their eyes with which to attempt to reason what they saw? Can you imagine the courage it would have taken for someone believing strictly in their senses to have sailed toward this seeming precipice to see just how far they could go before the end? It boggles the mind.

Going to California last year, I ran across two other illusions. The first was on the way to San Diego on the plane. Out the window, where the mountains were covered with clouds, they seemed to fade/be eaten out of existence. As if the land itself were being sucked into some unfathomable void. The second was from the ground, staring out toward the ocean. The clouds rose from the water up high to the sky, a giant wall stretching upwards and left to right all the way around. It made the world look as if it were contained in a giant bowl.

Without science, without the basic education and beliefs we're given as children, what would such sights inspire within us? Amazement, wonder, fear? Of such things tales would be made. Traditions and knowledge imparted to help those who see it cope with the unknown. Setting of boundaries to give a tenuous sense of control or understanding of the world around us. (Yeah, I think about weird stuff. What can I say?) :P

Have any visual illusions you want to share? Epiphanies of your own?



Tags: life; Gloria Oliver; epiphany

M.D. Benoit's Virtual Tour

From 28 March to 11 April, M. D. Benoit will be going on a virtual book tour to promote her upcoming alternate reality novel, Synergy. During that period, ten people will host her on their blog for one day. There will be discussions on the book, Synergy, its themes, characters, interviews with the author, reviews of the book, etc.

Every day, on her own blog, Life’s Weirder than Fiction, she will announce where she will be that day, as well as talk a bit about her host.

Synergy’s Virtual Book Tour will culminate with a Virtual Book Launch, on 15-16 April. M. D. can be contacted at mdbenoit (at) gmail (dot) com.


Tags: Virtual Tours; M.D. Benoit; Synergy

Eye glasses - How we take the simple things for granted

I was very lucky in that for over 40 years I had no need of glasses. If anything, my vision was better than normal. I even had these really cute gold flecks in the wood brown of my eyes that gave them a neat bit of character. My vision though got a little fuzzy after 40. I totally noticed it when watching the screen at the movies, so I had it checked. That first time the doc said my vision had downgraded from beyond good to mere 20/20 - which is till awesome vision. No glasses needed just a little of the effects of aging. Cool!

A year later, I went back as I was having fuzziness again. To be honest, I expected the verdict. I had seen it happen to my mother, so figured I would follow in the family pattern - it was still a shock anyway - the vision had deteriorated again and I would need glasses. Eek! (Yeah, I know those of you who have worn glasses most of your life are just so totally laughing at me. But hey, this was a new experience for me!) :P

I found a frame, they made my lenses to spec, and I joined millions of others in having my vision assisted by glasses so I could read clearly. (Weirdly enough those gold specs I was secretly always very pleased about, disappeared. Guess that part of the eye muscle went defunct. I miss them!)

It took a while to get used to cleaning them, wearing them, putting them away, but I definitely liked my vision being clear again. And, not to brag, I thought I looked pretty spiffy in the darn things too! :P

Went back for a check up last year and wham, another surprise - they were switching me to bifocals! Talk about depressing! (Visions of ancient librarians looking over their glasses at you in disapproval went spinning through my head.) It seemed like my vision was just taking dive after dive. But I took all this a lot more calmly than the last time. At least I had vision to correct!

I was offered bifocals with or without lines. The gentleman at the lens place told me it was harder to go to unlined if you got used to lined, so I took the plunge and just went straight to unlined. Heck what did I know about what a difference it might or might not make. (Yes, I am totally clueless most of the time about most things.) Don't know if I had a hard time because it was or was not lined since I had nothing to base the experience on, but boy, for a couple of weeks I had to be careful with sidewalks and curves! I needed a warning sticker - objects are not as close as they appear! lol. But in good order I did get used to them and life proceeded as usual.

Haven't gone for my check up this year yet (2007 has been an explosively busy year so far for some reason), yet did have a little episode that has me not only writing this but being eternally grateful to whoever invented the concept of glasses in the first place. (Seems no clear credit can be given for the invention of glasses, though they seem pretty sure it was either the Chinese in the 12th century or the Italians in the 1280's. Though supposedly Emperor Nero used an emerald to assist his view during some games, so who knows.)

Anyway, Saturday night I was just signing off EQ2 (online game) and was getting up out of my chair when I heard something hit the floor. I looked for whatever it was and thought it was of a rather odd shape. When I picked it up, I realized it was actually a lens out of my glasses! A screw had come loose and flown from the frame and released the lens so it could fly and be free. I left hubby a note for when he came in (in case he made a stop by his PC), put the glasses back in their case and went to bed.

In the morning I tried to do some emails before we were supposed to leave to go to my Mom's for lunch. The lettering was blurry but legible. I didn't even attempt a book though, the small type would be beyond me and I knew it. My Mom wanted help with a puzzle, and I got a nice little headache from trying to concentrate enough to see the details on the pieces. Playing online again that evening, the words in the text boxes were blurred and I misread things a couple of times.

Went in to work late on Monday, and was pacing outside the lens store eagerly awaiting for them to open. The lady there spotted and opened up a few minutes early and had me fixed up in seconds and didn't charge me. I was just glad I could SEE!

As a writer, I am filled with imagination. This is not always a good thing. For you see, just as I had semi-panicked when I was told I needed glasses, the same types of scenarios ran through my mind when the glasses were broken and I had to do without -- the fear of having to go through life without being able to READ! Reading is a huge part of my life, whether it be for editing, enjoyment, creating, work, or other recreation - I do it almost constantly in some form or other. And thinking of not being able to do it, sent chill after chill through my body. And heck, what if I turned blind? Ah the paths my imagination can lead me to aren't always pretty. Brrrrrrr. I've imagined life for people who read back in the middle ages, when there were no glasses. Felt the misery as their sight began to fail, and that one enjoyment is stripped from them and there being not one thing they could do about it. *shiver*

So here I am, typing this out just so I can say one thing to those innovative people in ages long ago that were smart, ingenious, and imaginative enough to come up with a solution for this problem - THANK YOU!(bold) I for one am totally grateful for this one invention in our day and age we so easily take for granted. Kudos to you! (Long may we Read!)



Tags: Reading; Gloria Oliver; glasses

Stephen King’s Easter Eggs for Writers

In the world of DVD’s, an Easter Egg refers to a hidden message or feature.

Well Stephen King has been putting them in his books. And I don’t mean the trivia or little items he puts in that tie to his other books or works by other authors/singers, but rather revelations/insights of what it is to be a writer. Bits that will resonate with other authors for the truths they are, inserting a layer to the work just for those who share the craft or those who are becoming addicted to it.

Two titles scream with this easily overlooked subtext (well easily overlooked by anyone but a writer that is) and they are Misery, and King’s latest release, Lisey’s Story.

Mr. King sells millions of copies each year. The masses love him, a lot of critics hate him. I double love him, not only for his stories and the beauty of his craft, but for these extra bits of his writer’s soul he is sharing with those to whom the words also sing.

His writing secret/popularity seems to stem from the awesome real life detail he places in his books. Some of it is dirty, but all of it is real - and I am not talking about murder, violence, or abuse (though those certainly add to it), but I mean the little things - brands of cars, music, food, likes and dislikes, nicknames, pet names, snot, bowel movements or lack thereof, urinary infections, dirt under the fingernails, everyday more unpleasant things that we all have to deal with but don’t necessarily talk about in normal conversation. These details ground the reader in vivid reality so that when things take a left turn, they are oh so much more plausible. (That doesn’t even count his evil ways of giving just enough hints of things to come to keep you turning the page - we all want to see the train wreck after all - human nature at its most basic.)

Anyway, back to the Easter Eggs…

Misery saw print back in 1987. At that time in my life I was just beginning to struggle with trying to understand the craft of writing and finding my voice so I too could weave tales to entertain others. The book dealt with the darkside of fandom, of obsessions taken too far. But it was also all about writing! About the generation of ideas, of stories wanting/needing to be told. It reveals how writers aren’t always in control of what they write, or when they can write - how sometimes the writing possesses and rules them - not the other way around.

On the technical side, you get insights on the business of writing and being published. How all is not money and glory, but how there are difficulties, a darker side. How some can take something as simple as a story, something meant to entertain, and take it where it was never meant to go.
But like I said before, all of this is presented as subtext, part of the details, the grounding, but to those who have the bug, it added a whole new dimension to the work, it was revealing and wondrous. It created a connection to one who has gone the distance, and gives hope and inspiration to those who wish to follow the same road.

(On a personal note: Of all his books, I think this one is the most terrifying. Though in the movie they break parts instead of cut them off, I still haven’t been able to work up the courage to see it.)

Lisey’s Story is one of King’s most recent releases. This one too has loads of treasures for authors. I loved how he used the characters to pay homage to his wife’s support over the years and also reveal a side of the business to the reader most never think about - the writer’s spouse! And just like Lisey, many of them go with their husbands/wives to conventions and offer support, company, a myriad of other little things, yet they are virtually unknown and mostly ignored. It also points out that sometimes fans forget the author is a person and come with the same baggage, lack of confidence, and problems as anyone else. They just don’t normally see all that, since what they are shown is the professional persona all writers need to culture and maintain. Writers are people too!

Other info shared talks about where her husband got his ideas - from his experiences, his life. And that you have to work at stories, they don’t come out beautiful or perfect every time. Sometimes a path taken only leads to dead ends. (Been there! Done that!)

He also brings up the idea of a word pool even as he uses the concept of time as a pool, where a dropped pebble resonates through the whole and moments in time are not necessarily linear but can intersect. Lots of little gems. (Got me so wound up I had to do this post!)

So if you are looking to learn about writing, the business, the darkness - these books are for you. A lot of great stuff in there. And the stories themselves are awesome! Enjoy!

Tags: Easter Eggs; Gloria Oliver; Stephen King

Book Review -- Lisey's Story

Lisey's Story

by Stephen King

Premise: Two years after the death of her husband, Lisey is finally getting around to cleaning out the converted barn where he spent so much of his time creating books and short stories. Yet as she begins this ardous task, Lisey runs into a couple of problems - resurfacing memories of things she thought she would never have to remember again, and a man who has taken it upon himself to threaten her on behalf of an educator wanting to get a hold of her husbands papers.

Review: I totally loved this book! Though as will be explained in a following post, a lot of it has to do with the fact that Stephen King has put in a lot of stuff in this one for others of the craft. Don't get me wrong though, despite the fact I found a subcurrent to add way more enjoyment and content for me, it is still a great read for anyone else too. He does his usual evil hints that keep you going as you get flashes of what will be coming and feeding you just enough to wet the appetite. Also loved how he structured the time element to demonstrate the concept of pool time (time being like ripples on a pond) rather than time being a liner thing. Up to one point you have 3 points in time all tied/affecting each other. Very nicely done. ***3/4!!!!!

Tags: Book Review; Gloria Oliver; Lisey's Story; Stephen King

Movie of the Week - Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Staring: Ioan Gruffudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Newton, Romola Garai, Ciaran Hinds, Ruffus Sewel, Jeremy Swift, Michael Gambon

Premise: William Wilberforce has reached a low point of his life after health and frustration take their toll after a fifteen year battle to abolish the slave trade in England. As some well meaning friends try to match him with a wife, Wilberforce flashes back to long term battle and how he came to be to his current point in life.

Review: This film is full of people I've seen elsewhere, which made it a total treat! The second Dumbledore from the Harry Potter films, the father from Big Fish, Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four, Caesar and his trusty slave from HBO's Rome, the protagonist from Dark City. But even without that fun, this film was very very good. Slavery as regards England is not a topic often discussed, so I was eager to see it for the information it would impart. Excellent acting by all involved. And a good showing of all the views and sides and what made the subject so very hard in those times. The addition of the song Amazing Grace and the man who created the song, make all the facts and struggles even more poignant. Excellent showing! ***3/4!!

Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Amazing Grace

Movie of the Week - 300

300

Staring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoros, Vincent Regan, Michael Fassbender, Tom Wisdom, Andrew Pleavin, Andrew Tiernan

Premise: Persia has asked the Spartans to submit to their rule. King Leonidas has refused and killed their emissary at the insult of such a request. Now Leonidas tries to unify his people to meet the threat of Persia and the continued freedom of Sparta, only to run into stumbling blocks from traitors, greed, and others hungry for power. Having been stymied by the very laws he seeks to protect, he engineers another way of doing what he knows what must be done with the help of 300 of Sparta's greatest warriors.

Review: I'd been awaiting this film's release ever since I heard about it at Comicon in San Diego. Have always loved Frank Miller's work in the comic book field, so was definitely looking forward to this. While like Titanic, the ending is a foregone conclusion, how we got there made all the difference! It was awesome to see the shield and spear fighting style of the Spartans actually demonstrated and with such vigor. The backgrounds and feel are almost surrealistic, converting the movie into a work of art. No surprises in the plot, but you don't care as the actors ooze with talent through every line. Definitely a must see! ***3/4!!!

Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; 300

Movie of the Week - Wild Hogs

Wild Hogs
Staring: Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H Macy, Ray Liotta

Premise: Four middle aged men -- the rich guy, the family guy, the plumber, and the geek -- find themselves too settled in their ways and missing the men they used to be (or had wanted to be), so they get together to go on a week's road trip to the west coast. Of course, with these four, the trip sounds a lot easier than it will actually be.

Review: These four guys work really well together. Travolta was quite funny, especially when squirming with guilt. Heh heh. Some gorgeous shots of the countryside and a nice feeling of what it is like to ride. Lots of funny or cute moments. Great relaxing film. ***1/2!!



Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Wild Hogs

Movie of the Week - Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia

Staring: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Bailee Madison, Robert Patrick

Premise: Jesse leads a very subdued life, trying to stay out of the sights of bullies or his family members, finding escape only in his drawings. When a new girl moves into town, Jesse finds himself drawn to her as her imagination sparks his own, and they create the land of Terabithia.

Review: Big kuddos to Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, and Bailee Madison! These kids were awesome! Utterly loved the very first time Jesse's imagination is fired up by Leslie. The blend of fantasy, imagination, and reality were excellent. Especially as you see how some of the real life issues Jesse is suffering to translate into the imaginary world. Awesomely done! ***3/4!!




Tags: Movie Review; Gloria Oliver; Bridge to Terabithia

Marketing Madness

The first of this month's featured author's is JC Hall. Her upcoming book is called Lady of the Lake.
Publisher: Zumaya Otherworlds, SF/F Imprint of Zumaya Publications
Publishing Date: March 2007
Genre: Fantasy
Subgenre: romance, sword-and-sorcery

"She knew only the importance of duty and honour. He understood that devotion could transcend time, space and worlds."

Unwittingly burdened with a devoted new squire, Jess Lochlen must teach him the skills he must have in order to be of any use to her. For she is on a double mission—to recover her captured infant cousin, and to determine if treachery is stalking the Rogrovian throne. Her cousins and brothers-in-arms turn out to be more hindrance than help, and she's in dire need of all the help she can get. But as her young squire's feelings turn from loyalty and devotion to love and desire, and their journey across his homeland becomes a race against time—to save not just her infant cousin but the Rogrovian King—she finds herself wondering if he's any help at all.

Just a song. Just another sad, love song, that was all, naught more. But a song that made a grown man’s color fade from his face. A song that made his lady cry. A song that spoke of love and loss, and more, of worlds where time was a factor gone astray. Where a traveling stranger went away for a hand of years and returned to find half a century gone by.

Different worlds kept different times, he supposed that was the moral behind the tale.As if there were truly worlds and worlds, as natural as lands and lands.

Land and land, world and world—she had once said, long and long ago—one is much like another.

He chewed his knuckles to the bone, thinking and thinking himself to sleep. Dreams assailed him throughout that long night, dreams of him and his lady separated, rent apart by the vagaries of time and space.

And in his dreams, he kept losing her, following and searching the heavens from afar. And in his dreams, the Argentene no longer shone, less the one significant star.

And in his dreams, his lady’s footsteps faded into the Lakes, the unhallowed lakes through which he could not follow. And in his dreams, the seasons slowly passed, till the fertile earth turned fallow.

And still, still, still he found her not.

And in his dreams, he feared he would grow old while searching his world for her. Till he threw himself in one unhallowed lake, and passaged his way to the stars.

Tags: Book Marketing; Gloria Oliver; Madten

Feedblitz Subscription has been added!

Just recently found out about Feedblitz! Seems this is a way to get a subscription service added to your blog where people can add themselves to receive blog updates via EMAIL!

Sounded kinda spiffy, so I thought why not! So if you wish to automatically get any new postings to this blog, just add your email on the right bar and voila!

Totally convenient, I say! I need to add myself to some too. Heh

Gloria Oliver
http://www.gloriaoliver.com/
Unveiling the Fantastic





Tags: Feedblitz; Gloria Oliver; Email Subscription

Book Review - Glass Houses

Glass Houses - The Morganville Vampires Book 1
by Rachel Caine



Premise: Claire Danvers is one of the youngest students at the Morganville College. Her over protective parents fear she is too young to go to the large schools out of state. Unknown by them, however, is the fact that Claire is being picked on by the bullies of the dorm. When things get out of hand, Claire decides she needs to move out before they kill her. And so she ends up at Glass House, and meets the current tenants Michael, Shane, and Eve. Through them she realizes the town has a BIG secret, and that the people targeting her have a lot of power in town.

Review: This book was a blast! Claire is a genius and in college but still all teenager. As she is thrown into the complexities of Morganville and its darker denizens, she also has to deal with growing feelings for boys, how to get around the bullies, and figure out how to stay in school! A lot of questions get answered by the end, but she still leaves us in a nasty cliffhanger! (Rachel Caine must die! Okay, maybe not, but can I choke her a little?) Fast paced and loads of fun! ***3/4!!



Tags: Book Review; Gloria Oliver; Glass Houses; Rachel Caine; Young Adult

Book Review - Strange Robby

Strange Robby
by Selina Rosen


Premise: A serial killer is on the loose, except he is only killing criminals. Frustrated by the system and its tendency to not punish the guilty, Spider and Tommy are reluctant to solve the case, since the "Fry Guy" is cleaning up the streets. But when the SWTF starts sniffing around the case, everything gets a lot more complicated as hints of dark secrets enter the scene.

Review: Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are full of life, are multifaceted, and deal with several complex issues and circumstances. Loved how the seemingly simple matter of a serial killer kept enlarging into bigger and bigger things. Fast paced, exciting, exploring relationships and different aspects of life, our goals, and how things don't always work like we think they should. Blackmail, love, trust, secret organizations, psychic powers, politics, and more! ***3/4!



Tags: Book Review; Gloria Oliver; Strange Robby; Seline Rosen

E-book Week March 4th through 10th

As my books are both in print and e-book, I figured I should help out with Read an E-Book Week!
The Madten Authors group will be having a contest during this week where visitors can read excerpts and by answering a question for each one in the comments section, will be elligle to win a that E-book for free!

For those not in the know, E-Books come in a variety of formats and can be easily read on your PC, Laptop, PDA, and even dedicated E-Book hand held devices.

My main publisher, Zumaya Publications will also be doing a buy 1 get 1 free promotion on the E-book version of their available titles and I will post that when I get the info here as well.

Here's the Zumaya Press Release on this:

More than 30 talented authors have joined forces with their publisher, Zumaya Publications, to double your ebook fun during Read an eBook Week, March 4-10.

Between March 4 and March 12, buy one ebook from any of those authors and get another absolutely free. You can choose another book by the same author or mix and match, and have your pick of science fiction mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, paranormal romance, non-fiction and even books for kids.

"This is an opportunity for us," author M. D. Benoit says, "to show that we believe that ebooks are a fun way to read and that readers have the choice of more than one medium when they buy our books."

Take advantage of this special sale, during Read an ebook week only, by visiting http://www.zumayapublications.com/bookstore.html anytime after midnight March 4 and purchasing any of the superb Zumaya titles listed. Then, send a quick note to readanebook@zumayapublications.com from the email you used to make your purchase with your free ebook choice, and we’ll send it to you—simple as that. There’s no limit to how many times you can make a purchase, or how many titles you can buy at one time. Get one. Get them all. Enjoy.

“Zumaya Publications has a book for just about everyone’s taste. We’re delighted to give readers the chance to sample the work of these fine writers,” noted Zumaya Executive Editor Elizabeth K. Burton.

Zumaya Publications LLC is a trade publisher of fine, award-winning fiction and select nonfiction headquartered in Austin, Texas. Zumaya books are published in trade paperback and ebook formats. For the complete catalog of Zumaya titles, visit the website at http://www.zumayapublications.com.

Good Luck All!

Movie of the Week - Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider
Staring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Matt Long, Raquel Alessi, Peter Fonda, Donal Logue, Brett Cullen, Wes Bentley

Premise: A young Johnny Blaze tries to save his father from lung cancer by making a deal with the devil. But the devil doesn't just want his soul, he wants his service. And even as he back stabs Johnny on his deal, he warns him that one day he will come to collect his debt. As Johnny reaches the peak of fame as a stunt motorcyclist (courting death with more and more daring stunts - some would say a death wish), he finds the sign he has been looking for, a possibility of a second chance. But that's when the devil decides to come collect his service.

Review: Having been a fan of the comics from way back, I was totally thrilled when I heard they were making this movie. And I was not disappointed! Flaming Skull head abounded and the demonic motorcycle was too sweet for words! Even introduced the chain and the cool jacket with metal stubs. Very much enjoyed the young Johnny Blaze segment and the stunts were cool. Nice action flick. Oh the nightmare was also very sweet. ***1/2!

Book Review - Embraced by the Shadows

Embraced by the Shadows
by Mayra Calvani


Premise: Alana has always had a fascination for the supernatural and macabre. Then she lands what seems to be a dream job, manager of a new restaurant/club called La Cueva del Vampiro (The Cave of the Vampire), with all the supernatural trappings she could ever desire. It is there, while juggling the new job, the usual clashes with her roommate, and a few issues that haunt her from her past, that Alana spies a man that appears like something from one of her recent and very vivid dark dreams.

Review: I think the setting is one of the most innovative and entrancing things about this book. Imagine - Vampires in a sunny, tropical island! Though unfortunately there is not as much description of the unusual location of San Juan, Puerto Rico as I might have liked (I have my fingers crossed this will be fixed for the print version! :P) there's still enough to give the reader a feel of a different place for these dark encounters. Alana's fall into darkness, and her eventual realization that it was never to be truly of her own choice are nicely done. Add in the extra mystery of her mother's veiled death years ago, the interesting cast of characters, and bids for immortality and you're in for an interesting ride. ***1/4! (This title is currently only available as an E-book)

Book Review - Rebel Nation

Rebel Nation
by Christopher Stires

Premise: Alternate Earth where the South succeeded with their play to separate from the Union and become their own country. Now in the present, as the Confederate States deals with a turbulent time of political change and possible brighter future for their minorities, news reporter McKenna Alexander must deal with the fact her ex-husband is rumored to have been the one who put the 5 million dollar hit on a recently released rights activist. Would even Cullen sink to such depths, or does someone else have an agenda and is just using him?

Review: Totally fascinating. If you've ever even considered reading alternate history, this book is for you! Wonderful attention to detail and world building. Great suspense, awesome prose, and plenty of hair raising excitement to boot! Characters are well developed from all sides, with plenty of insights for a nice 360 degree view. Intrigue, love, murder, hate, misguided manipulations, sacrifice, this one has it all! ***3/4!!!

Movie of the Week - Epic Movie

Epic Movie
Staring: Karl Penn, Adam Campbell, Jayma Mays, Faune A Chambers, Jennifer Coolidge, Crispin Glover, Tony Cox, Darrell Hammond, Hector Himenez

Premise: Four orphans leave their crummy lives to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

Review: The cast of characters on the movie poster pretty much says it all. lol. Nothing is sacred in this film. While not a side splitter of a film, there are definitely lots of things to make you grin. The immersion of some outside pop culture items into the movies being made fun of was a nice touch. The tour of Mr Tumnus's Crib was quite interesting. Some of the films being picked on make big splashes, especially Narnia as that one is used as the glue to hold everything together, while others get almost cameos. (The V for Vendetta Michael Jackson was so bizarre! Let alone the baby dropping reference...) Make sure to sit through most of the credits!!!!! You get a fun Umpa Loompa song and a bit with the Mel Gibson look-a-like. The end credit Umpa Loompa song is a riot. Oh and so was the Pirate song. lol. ***

Movie of the Week - Pan's Labyrinth

Pan's Labyrinth
Staring: Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil

Premise: Ofelia is uprooted to the country with her pregnant mother, to join her stepfather at his command post, where he is fighting to repress rebel forces in the mountains of Spain. While there, she encounters a fairy, who leads her down a labyrinth to a faun, who claims that she is the reborn princess of the underworld. To go home and claim her birthright, she must prove herself through a set of tests before the rising of the full moon.

Review: 1) This film is NOT for kids! Please, please, please do not take young children to this film. There is some definitely graphic violence. The R rating is well deserved. :P 2) This film is in Spanish with subtitles. While this did not bother me one bit, there are those out there who may be put off when they go in and see it is not in English. Nothing I had seen before I went to the theater even hinted at subtitles or it being in another language. So just be aware.

Very much enjoyed the film! The violence did get a little on the strong side, but it was used as a means to show the need for escapism. Ofelia is stuck in a very tense place where her new father is concerned with only two things, that his new wife bear him a son, and that he destroy the rebels. Honestly, while the Captain was a totally repugnant human being, there are hints of things never followed on showing an amazing depth and complexity to this odious man. He lives for duty and pride, but at the same time is being consumed from the inside by both. That and the legacy of his father. Enough mystery is left about the faun and the magic in the area that it is left up to the viewer as to what to believe. Most of the special effects were very subtle, but quite well done! ***3/4!!

Movie of the Week - Catch and Release

Catch and Release
Staring: Jennifer Gardner, Tymothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis, Joshue Friesen

Premise: Gray's fiance died during a buddy getaway. As she and her friends try to pick up the pieces after the unexpected death, unknown sides of the man she thought she knew begin to surface. As Gray comes to find out more about her lost lover, the more she also comes to know about herself.

Review: Incredibly cute movie! A totally dysfunctional group of people trying to deal, each in their own way, with their grief and the changes the loss of their friend has brought to their lives. A lot of growing up occurs in the film, as well as unexpected discoveries. Several characters must be seen to be believed. :P Some very cute moments, and many telling looks that spoke volumes. Thoroughly enjoyed its quirkiness. ***1/2

Marketing Madness

I've joined a new marketing group comprised of Zumaya Authors

We are called (no idea where the name came from) Fellow Golden Rule Authors. We now have a blog some of us will be maintaining with writing info, life, any craziness that comes up, maybe even themes. The blog is called Mad Ten "It's a Mad, Mad World - Writing Confessions of Ten Mad Authors . My assigned day is Thursday. (Thursday's Child has Far to Go!) I honestly have no idea what the hey I will be putting up there - heck I have a hard enough time keeping up with this blog! - but we'll see.

The ten authors (who are sometimes 8 and sometimes 5!) are in genres all across the board. So if nothing else, will bring some variety to readers looking for a taste of different things.

Another thing we're doing with the group is trying to boost each other by doing reviews, posting info, and highlighting members on a monthly basis. For February, we're pushing Joan Upton Hall and Mayra Calvani. Both of them have new books that are being featured this month.

Joan Upton Hall - 'Ghostly Tails From Americas Jails - Curl up with 36 stories, complete with photos, of historical hoosegows from all over the U.S. Each jail or prison is now a location for good guys like you to visit, transformed to museums, offices, a theater, even a B&B where the long-deceased sheriff locks up at night.

Mayra Calvani - Embraced by the Shadows - Against the exotic backdrop of Istanbul and San Juan, Alana is a young woman torn between a vampire she cannot resist, and a life she cannot understand. Endowed with her new preternatural powers, she sets out to reveal the identity of her mother's killer... But is she ready to discover the truth?

Mayra is from Puerto Rico, like me! What are the chances of two Puerto Rican Spec Fic writers ending up with the same publisher? It boggles the mind! So it sounds exciting for this book to be set in San Juan. (Sigh - something else for the TBR pile! Wheeee!)