July 12, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff

Izzy:
Dude, let’s go swim.

Ashes:
Hell to the no, that water is cold.

Izzy:
Dude, I’m going in.

Ashes:
You are crazy–

Ashes:
Why do I bother talking to you. You don’t listen.

Izzy:
Dude. Seriously. Come in, the water’s great.

Ashes:
Get out of there, your hair is getting frizzy and you look dumb.

Izzy:
Maybe after one more dive . . .

Ashes:
Fine. Have your swim. But I get shotgun on the way home. Want to know why, ‘dude’? Cuz I’m DRY.

Izzy:
Huh. I didn’t think about that.

Ashes:
Yeah, and that’s why I’m the top dog, Iz. Live and learn. Live and learn . . .

July 11, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff

Well hopefully some of you read this month’s Flashpoint, out in stores now. Flashback will be out soon (you can pre-order here if you want to make my day). I have an excerpt from it for today’s blog post. Yes, it’s lazy of me to put up an excerpt, but in my defense, I’ve had one of those weeks that includes two broken down cars, a flat tire, soaring temps, a sky that is raining ashes from the American River fire getting ever closer, a kid who flew on an airplane without me to go to her college orientation (college! Holy smokes how did that happen??!!) and a very, very sick puppy.

So honestly, I feel like I’m doing good even getting the excerpt up.

Oh and did I mention I’m sleep deprived? Said daughter’s plane landed after midnight, didn’t get home and in bed until two, and then the @#$# cat decided to bat at my head at three.

In the morning.

And then the dog started in with the gagging noise at six. Yeah. That’s a lovely sound to wake up to. So the first person to look at me cross-eyed today gets a one way ticket to the doghouse where Alpha Man is currently residing just because.

So. Where was I? Ah, yes, the excerpt. With no further ado . . .

Excerpt:

Aidan surfaced from a deep, deep sleep, aware that something had woken him, but not sure what. He opened his eyes into his dark bedroom, lit up in black and white by the faint glow of the moon slanting in through his horizontal blinds.

There, by his bed, stood an angel.

An angel in his t-shirt, in the same black and white swaths of moonlight as his room.

She was hurting, sad, scared . . . and why the hell hadn’t he given her a suit of armor instead of just a t-shirt? Had he been looking for punishment? Because there it was, in flesh and blood and glorious curves and wild hair, and a face so hauntingly beautiful she took his breath. He was in trouble, deep trouble, because though he’d managed to resist opening his heart for her that first time, he wasn’t quite sure he would be able to manage it this time.

Then, without a single word, she lifted his covers and scooted into the bed.

With him.

July 10, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff

We’ve gone over what makes a great hero before — those eyes, that bod, the sexy smile, the outlook on life, his occupation, etc. — but it occurred to me as I struggle with my current heroine, that we haven’t really talked about that so much.

My current heroine is stubborn, tough on the outside, vulnerable on the inside, and did I mention stubborn? A mule has nothing on this woman. I guess what I’m saying is that she’s flawed. Maybe more so than any heroine I’ve written before.

So here’s my question. What makes a heroine worthy of her book, in your eyes? And can you think of your favorite ones? If you can’t remember their names, that’s okay, tell me what drew you to her. Curious minds want to know.

July 9, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff

First up, the Wild Thing in my house, taking a break from terrorizing spiders to sprawl on my bed in a rare moment of stillness:

And then! The other wild things in the woods. I caught a blur of something, or more correctly, Middle caught a blur of something, and like the good daughter she is, came screaming for me to get my camera “QUICK!”

I never hesitate when she says this, though trust me, there have been times when I should have. But that’s another story involving a strange car in the woods with steamed windows and someone bumping uglies, and we won’t go there. Anyway, I went running and was rewarded by . . .

A deer, a deer! Oh, so pretty! Wait Ms. Beautiful Deer, please wait! We want to pet you . . . Hey, where are you going–

Aw, well. She was in a hurry. I don’t think we had the kind of cookies she prefers . . .

P.S. Barbara Vey’s Publisher’s Weekly blog has a snippet on SUPERB AND SEXY today if you scroll down a bit . . . go peek here and feel free to chime in! (note: if you do, for some reason you can’t use the word SEXY in the comments, it’ll think you’re spam . . .)

July 8, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff

First up, I’ve been remiss in reminding you I have that daily online read over at the Harlequin site. A chapter a day for a month, and I think we’re about halfway through at this point. Warning though, read it (here) with a grain of salt, because apparently people are NOT liking my heroine and are NOT afraid to say so on the discussion board. Whew, those people are vocal! I almost went on there to gently remind them that this is just a silly little story, please don’t read too much into it, but then I had a cookie and decided to keep my mouth shut. And to not go back and look at the discussion again or I’d need more cookies . . .

In other news, Oldest is having a GREAT time at UCLA. Not missing me at all, sniff sniff. Here she is with the UCLA mascot, the Bruin:

So fierce, so . . . ready to leave me, lol! Aw, well. I’m almost over it. A couple more cases of cookies should do it. It’s a good thing it’s shorts season because I have these really great draw string shorts, and I can’t tell if I’m getting fat . . .

Oh! And today is the day Youngest gets her braces off. My goodness is she excited. She’s stockpiled all sorts of goodies for this grand event including all the things she hasn’t had in two years; caramel, soda, popcorn . . . Sounds like there’s probably a junk food party in my immediate future, doesn’t it? The things I do for my kids, including sacrificing my girly figure. Oh well, I do it in love, and we all know a mom’s job is never done . . .

July 7, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff

So yesterday was the day. The day I had to take Oldest to the airport, put her on a plane to Los Angeles by herself so that she could make her way to UCLA for the three day orientation for her fall admittance.

Sniff, sniff.

She packed the night before and was already gone in her head when we drove her to the airport. Alpha Man asked me if I was going to cry. Luckily, Oldest had been a pill most of the week and I told myself I couldn’t wait for her to go. So no, I wasn’t going to cry. He looked quite relieved and kept driving.

And then we dropped her off at the airport. Watched her walk through security without even looking back and I sort of stood there feeling like a sad sack. Alpha Man bought me an ice-cream, which helped greatly, and then on the way home from the airport, I got this:

The text with it said: Tiny ass plane, I’m going to die . . .

A few minutes later I got this one:

The text said: On the plus side, the emergency exit row doesn’t have anyone but me and there’s plenty of leg room. The bad side — I’m in charge if we go down.

Then after she’d landed I got this:

And a text: The stewardess told me “welcome home” when I got off the plane. LAX is HUGE. Gas is $4.69.

I texted back: LA is NOT your home and don’t you forget it. Gas prices suck. And were you able to find your luggage?

Her text: Yes, mother, I was able to manage to find my luggage.

Sigh. I am having some trouble letting go. I’m going to need a lot more ice cream.