Live to Love on the Edge Blog

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Thursday 13 – Must See Shows on Television

With the new television season almost here, I am chomping at the bit for new episodes of some of my old favorites as well as some interesting new ones.

So today’s Thursday 13 is a list of those Must See Shows on Television!

1. Hawaii 5-0. Okay, I must confess that I’m wondering why there are so many remakes of movies and television shows. Because their safe bets? Regardless, I have to confess I am waiting for this one although a better name for the show is probably Hottie 5-0. 😉

2. Fringe. It’s The X-Files on steroids. Totally love it! Can’t wait to see what happens with Joshua Jackson and FBI Agent Olivia Dunham.

3. The Big Bang Theory. What can I say? I love nerds and these guys are amazingly funny. 😆

4. Chuck. Nerd becomes super-computer and super-spy. Love it!

5. NCIS. Great ensemble cast and Mark Harmon. ‘Nuf said.

6. Blue Bloods. A family of New York cops with Tom Selleck as the head of the family. Tom is still Guilty Pleasure material.

7. Modern Family. OMG! This has to be one of the funniest shows ever.

8. 30 Rock. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey are amazing together.

9. Bones. The sexual tension between Bones and Booth is great and I love all the “forensics”.

10. Undercovers. Sexy lead man and romantic suspense. Have to check it out.

11. Criminal Minds. Have liked this one for a long time. Looking forward to see how things develop this season.

12. House. What can I say. The House character is quite a piece of work and now he’s in love! Should be fascinating.

13. Chase. This one is about U.S. Marshals and seems really interesting.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday Thirteen. I welcome you to add any of your “Must See Shows” in the comments section.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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!

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Wicked Wednesday – STRONGER THAN SIN

STRONGER THAN SIN by Caridad PineiroToday is a busy day! The release of STRONGER THAN SIN is just a little over a month away, so I have a slightly wicked excerpt from STRONGER for you today. For Mature Audiences only.

But for those of you who are aspiring writers, you can also drop by for some tips from me about writing dialogue at the Backspace Writers Blog. Just click here for Part 1 of the Dialogue discussion. Part 2 will be out on Friday.

For those of you who may be new here, STRONGER THAN SIN is the second book in the SIN HUNTER series. Two more will be out in August 2011 and Spring 2012. Books 3 (THE LOST) and 4 (THE CLAIMED) introduce an exciting new race of people capable of all kinds of extraordinary powers who descend on the Jersey Shore for an epic battle.

But back to STRONGER THAN SIN which features Jesse Bradford, an ex-football player who can no longer play due to a degenerative bone disease. The heroine, Dr. Liliana Carrera, was a fan favorite from SINS OF THE FLESH. I loved the way this story came out! There is something about the power of love and the redemption of Jesse in this story that made it wonderful for me and I hope you’ll like it also.

For now, here’s a little excerpt for you and again, Mature Audiences only. This scene occurs later in the book when Jesse and Liliana are finally acknowledging the feelings they have for one another.

If you cannot see the excerpt below, you can click here for the excerpt or cut and paste this link into your browser:

http://www.scribd.com/full/37478269?access_key=key-2d72v8iyvhtff1m3mr0q

Stronger Than Sin Excerpt

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Kiss Me, Kill Me – Improvised Weapons for Your Characters

KM FawcettOn today’s Kiss Me, Kill Me Tuesday we’ve got a very special guest – KM Fawcett who is a Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Isshinryu Karate and co-owns The Tenchi Isshinryu Karate Dojo, located in Lebanon, NJ with her husband. She is also a certified women’s self-defense instructor with the FLAG (Fight Like a Girl) Program. KM writes sci-fi romantic thrillers and paranormal romances, and loves kick butt heroes and heroines. When not writing or teaching karate, you can find her blogging about martial arts and writing action at the Attacking the Page website.

Sit back as KM chats with us on how to improvise weapons for your characters!

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In a fight, anything can be used as a weapon. If you’ve seen a Jackie Chan Movie, you’ve seen many unique improvised weapons, from ladders to bicycles to jacket sleeves. So, why not make your fight scene unique too? Adding a little razzle-dazzle with an improvised weapon can make an ordinary fight scene exciting and memorable.

First, think about where your fight scene takes place. What are some common (and perhaps some not so common) items available in the area?

A really simple example is the good old bar brawl. What’s available? You’ve got all the old standbys: bottles, stools, chairs, tables and pool cues. Maybe a pinball machine or a jukebox or a window someone can get thrown into. These have all been done before. Now…think of some unique bar items a character can use as a weapon. The tip jar, a fist with a roll of coins taken from cash register. What about taking the cord to the Neon beer light to strangle someone? Think outside the box. Make your scene stand out.

But you’re setting isn’t a bar, it’s in a dark and spooky old mansion. What can your character use to protect himself from Miss Scarlet in the library with her deadly lead pipe? The old standbys are letter openers, heavy paper weights, ashtrays, figurines, statuettes, vases, an avalanche of books and wall sconces. Can you think of something more unique? Curtains, tiebacks, or drapery cords can be used for strangling, the settee pillow over the face can suffocate someone, break off the leg of a vintage ottoman for a hard hitting weapon, a shard of glass from a picture frame can be used to stab, cut or slit a throat. Make a list of what might be available and then choose something interesting. Or use an old standby weapon, but imagine a unique way your character can utilize it.

Try this brainstorming exercise for fun. What improvised weapons could your characters find in a parking lot? What improvised weapons could they find in a bathroom? Leave your answers in the comments section.

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So how did I improvise some weapons recently? In SINS OF THE FLESH, Mick Carrera walks into the office of one of the Wardwell scientists. As he’s walking in, he’s scoping out what he can use as a weapon and spies a heavy bookend. He decides that he can use it to either bash in someone’s head or break one of the large plate glass windows in order to escape.

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Guilty Pleasure Scott Adkins

Today’s Guilty Pleasure is Scott Adkins, a British martial arts expert and actor who has appeared in a number of movies and television shows. You may recall him from X-MEN:WOLVERINE as Weapon XI or as Agent Kiley in THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, but also look for him in NINJA, a March 2010 release in the United States.

Besides being way buff and handsome, he is an amazing martial artist with black belts in Wushu, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Judo and Jujitsu.

If you cannot see the video below, you can click on this link or cut and paste the following link into your browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFkO84QKmpE

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Fun Friday – Fashion Night Out

It’s not often I get to play tourist in New York City, but tonight is one of those nights! Tonight is Fashion’s Night Out in NYC and I’m hoping we’ll be able to take in some of the sights since we also scored some discount tickets to THE ADDAMS FAMILY. (If you’re in the city on Sunday, you can catch the cast performing “Just Around The Corner” @ 11:30AM @ Broadway on Broadway In Times Square!)

It’s a treat since we’ve all been hard at work and need a little break. I also find these little mini-vacations quite creatively stimulating so I’m hoping they’ll help with the various revisions I’m doing as well as the assorted last minute details for the upcoming release of STRONGER THAN SIN.

If you’re in the area it’s not too late to do Fashion’s Night Out. Events start at 6 pm. and you can map out an itinerary by clicking here.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

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Thursday 13 – My favorite U.S. Cities

I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to visit a number of cities in the United States, so today I am sharing some of my favorites with you.

1. New York City. My hometown is my favorite hands down. There are so many unique things to see and even after living there virtually my entire life, there is still so much I have yet to explore!

2. Philadelphia. A beautiful town with a great city center and filled with history, arts, amazing museums and food!

3. Boston. Another city filled with history, museums and food. For those who love to walk, doing the Freedom Trial is an inspiring way to relive America’s past.

4. Miami. What can I say? The Cubanita in me loves the Art Deco sights of South Beach and dropping by Versailles and La Carreta in Little Havana.

5. Baltimore. The Inner Harbor is a great place to relax. Drop by the amazing Barnes & Noble in the Power Plant. Visit the Science Center or National Aquarium as well as the Inner Harbor shops, Fells Point and Fort McHenry where the Star Spangled Banner was born.

6. San Diego. OMG, what a great place, especially on the 4th of July. For those who love fireworks, park yourself on the sand in Mission Bay to watch shows for several hours from a number of nearby areas.

7. Santa Barbara. A gorgeous coastal town with a mission that is not to be missed.

8. New Orleans. For a town with a diverse mix of cultures and amazing food, this is the place for you.

9. Chicago. Beautiful architecture and a vibrant urban scene make this a great city to explore.

10. Orlando. Disney, Sea World, Universal and lots of other attractions make this a fun place to visit.

11. Washington, D.C. History, monuments, cherry trees and nearby Arlington make this a great place to visit and immerse yourself in American history.

12. Las Vegas. So much to do without ever spending a penny gambling. Amazing shows, good food, spas, themed casinos and the nearby Red Rock Canyon make this a must visit location.

13. Atlantic City. It’s no Las Vegas, but of course Las Vegas doesn’t have the wonderful Jersey Shore right outside its casinos. Definitely worth it.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday Thirteen. I welcome you to add any of your favorite U.S. cities in the comments section.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

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Kiss Me, Kill Me – It’s All About Location!

When working with a location in your novel, it’s important to keep in mind a number of things:

1. The tone of the book: Where you set your novel can have an obvious impact on the overall atmosphere of the work. A centuries-old inn on a rocky and foggy New England coast may be better for establishing a gothic feel than the glittering streets of Miami. On the other hand, setting a novel in an unexpected locale, like Miami for a vampire story, may be provide novel ways for you to expand a mythology or create an alternate world.

2. Roadways and the native lingo: My husband just finished a book and said to me that it was obvious the writer was not a New Yorker, although apparently the main character in the book was supposed to be a New Yorker. How did hubby know that? The writer made references to roadways in a manner in which natives would not. For example, a reference to 95 when coming off the George Washington Bridge (aka the “GW” to a native). While it may be 95 on the map, most natives would equate that road with heading to the Turnpike (aka the New Jersey Turnpike). Another one to watch out for if you’re writing about New York City (aka Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas is the official name for 6th Avenue, but it’s rare for a New Yorker to call it Avenue of the Americas.

3. Foods: Food can add a great deal of color to your novel. For example, a reference to “tomato pie” would be appropriate for certain settings in New Jersey. What’s “tomato pie” you wonder? It’s a type of pizza and common in many areas (but not in New York City where it’s not common to refer to “pizza” as “tomato pie”). The reference is more common along the Jersey Shore and in Trenton, which is famous for its “tomatoe pie”. In the shore and Trenton areas, “tomato pie” is usually a thin crust pizza where the cheese goes on first and then the sauce.

4. Media attention: It sounds sanguine, but deciding where to set your story may help with getting media attention for your work. A local author setting a novel in a hometown location: Perfect for getting the attention of the local newspaper, community groups, etc. and setting up signings.

5. Local Customs and Superstitions: When choosing a location (or creating your own), are there any local customs or superstitions that you can include? A haunted house or site of buried treasure? A tale about the town’s founding or history? For example, while researching the area of the Jersey Shore where I’ve set SINS OF THE FLESH and STRONGER THAN SIN, I discovered that Captain Kidd anchored off what is now known as Sylvan Lake in Bradley Beach and buried part of his treasure between two trees near what is now known as Brinley Avenue. You can bet that will make it’s way into a book someday!

I hope these things help you with choosing and working with the location in your novel.

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