On Wednesday, August 26th, I’m having a special guest blog by Lisa Jackson. She’ll be giving us a super sexy excerpt from her latest release, LEFT TO DIE. In addition, I’ll be picking two lucky winners to receive a copy of LEFT TO DIE, T-Shirt and notepad from everyone who leaves a comment before midnight EST on August 26th. The two lucky winners will also receive a box of books and a CALLING vampire novel t-shirt.
Plus — anyone who leaves the name of my next release (hint — it’s in December) as part of their blog comment will also get an autographed copy of HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE.
Also remember, anyone who places this FURY CALLS widget on their website/myspace/facebook is eligible to receive a FREE CALLING t-shirt. Just load the widget and e-mail me a link to where I can find the widget. T-shirts will be available while supplies last.
Here’s the FURY CALLS Countdown widget. Just click on GET THIS WIDGET to get the code!
Had to share this with you! What supposedly happened with Julie Andrews turned 69. Turns out it’s not true but it was still so funny I had to pass it on.
FYI — I love Julie Andrews. Two of my most favorite movies are Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. My mom actually took us to see The Sound of Music one Easter when it played at Radio City Music Hall. I had chills on my arms as I watched the movie, especially at the end when they start to cross the mountains in order to escape the Nazis. I remember turning to mom and saying something like, “Just like us. We had to run away, too.”
Anyway . . .
Julie Andrews Turns 69 (Source of Story unknown)
To commemorate her birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan ‘s Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was ‘My Favorite Things’ from the legendary movie ‘Sound Of Music’. Here are the lyrics she used:
(Sing It!) – If you sing it, its especially hysterical!!!
Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin’,
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’,
And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I’ve had,
And then I don’t feel so bad.
Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please share Ms. Andrews’ clever wit and humor with others who would appreciate it
I was sad to hear of Christina Applegate’s cancer news and that she had opted to undergo a double mastectomy at the age of 36. She’s cancer free now, but let’s say a prayer that she heals quickly and stays healthy!
Most everyone may remember Christina as Kelly Bundy, but I came to really respect her when she took the lead role in SWEET CHARITY. Christina broke an ankle during the Boston run, I believe, and then when it looked like the show was going to close, Christina stepped up to the plate to keep the show going.
Since “Charity” is my nickname, we went to see her in the show and she was great. We really really loved the show and so did others since Christina was nominated for a 2005 Emmy for her role. More recently, Christina was nominated for a Golden Globe for the ABC show “Samantha Who?”.
Here’s the promo for SWEET CHARITY featuring Christina!
I have to confess that the first time I saw him, I was not sure if I found him handsome, but the more and more I see him, the more I find him attractive.
I just caught him over the weekend in NO RESERVATIONS which didn’t do all that well at the box office. I remember the movie being billed as kind of a romantic comedy and even the posters and covers for the movie (shown below) make it seem lighthearted and it was anything but that.
Could be why it didn’t do well. No one wants to go see a romantic comedy and have it be a serious movie. BUT — I liked the movie. It was quite touching in parts and Aaron was downright sexy. I wanted to see more of him and Catherine, but the director kept on closing the door every time that it was starting to get romantic. NOT!!! Especially if it’s supposed to a romance. But again, I would recommend it.
Here’s an interview with him about his role in THE DARK KNIGHT, the latest Batman movie:
It happens often. You go to the bookstore and see a cover that looks familiar, but the title is different. Turns out, it’s a different book with a very similar cover. I had that happen recently with the JEWEL OF MEDINA (that we discussed the other day)(shown below) and another book titled SISTER TERESA. At first glance the women on the covers looked very similar to me.
Of course seeing them side-by-side now makes me realize they don’t look that much alike, but now I dare you. Actually, double dog dare you to say that the two covers which follow don’t look alike!
Last year I conducted a poll on multicultural fiction. I had a number of published authors (about 40) from diverse backgrounds offer their opinions on the state of mutlicultural fiction in publishing.
One of the topics on which I polled authors was Literary Segregation, namely, the practice of shelving books based on the author’s ethnicity or race or on the content of the book. This is something that happens in a number of book stores. I can’t speak as to whether it happens at many libraries as in general, I have not seen it done in my local libraries, but if you are aware of the practice at such locations, please chime in.
The vast majority of the writers were not in favor of this practice. Many felt that it reduced their sales and limited their opportunities for cultivating new readers who were not multicultural. During a recent discussion at the RWA National Conference, this issue arose once more and the consensus of the group that participated was again that this practice hurt diversity authors.
What do you think about this kind of segregation? Do you go to such sections in bookstores and/or libraries?
There seem to be many bookstores with African-American sections. Do you see similar sections for Latino books?
Many of you have been asking about the next book in THE CALLING vampire novels and I wish to thank all of you for writing and letting me know how much you love the series! It really makes it all worthwhile.
The news on THE CALLING is that the next book, FURY CALLS, will be out in March 2009 from Silhouette Nocturne! Remember that if you download the FURY CALLS countdown widget and put it on your website/social network page, you can get a free CALLING t-shirt!**
Get this widget!
ARDOR CALLS, featuring Stacia, one of my favorite vampires, will be out in 2010 along with VENGEANCE CALLS. VENGEANCE introduces two new characters for you, including one who is a different kind of immortal.
To help you with the gap between FURY CALLS and the other books, there will be a Nocturne Bite e-novella titled HONOR CALLS which features FBI ADIC Jesus Hernandez who you have seen in a number of books. To also help you bridge the gap, I’ll be writing a series of free short stories for you to let you know what’s been happening with Diana and Ryder behind the scenes of all the books.
My editor and I have already spoken about another book for Diana and Ryder, so I’m really excited about that although it will likely be a long way off. In the meantime, here’s your first free short story read in THE CALLING:
This free read occurs in the months after the conclusion of DEVOTION CALLS.
**T-shirts while supplies last! I am in the process of sending out those to the first people who posted the widget, so look for them soon if you’ve already done that.
Diana Reyes stared at the pile of files precariously stacked on the side of her desk. Earlier that night she had just finished the last of the paperwork from the day before when an apologetic clerk had dropped this fresh load in her office.
Anger surged through her at the thought of another day at her desk, checking references and other information so that the subjects of the files would receive their proper security clearances. This wasn’t why she had joined the FBI, but then again, there had to be some kind of punishment for failing to prevent the deaths of so many agents during her last real assignment.
Those deaths and the nearly crippling injuries to her partner David Harris weighed heavily on her mind as did the personal aftermath from the night of the failed raid.
The santero’s words to her from months earlier still troubled her.
I can’t heal what you have.
What she had, Diana thought, laying her hands out before her and staring at them hard.
Human hands. Warm and filled with life. But within that life was something new. Different than before. And something that worried her still.
Deciding that she couldn’t linger a moment longer, she escaped the confines of her office, racing past David’s empty one and onto the elevator.
Out on the street before Federal Plaza, she stopped and breathed in the warm summer air. Thick and humid. The faint scent of garlic wafted from the Italian restaurant a few doors down. Her stomach growled with hunger.
She hadn’t eaten dinner that night, but she’d grab a bite later with Ryder.
Right now, she had something else to do. Something that called to her more than the physical demands of her body.
With a blast of inhuman speed, she surged to the nearby subway entrance. She stopped to catch a breath and still the wild beating of her heart. A wave of weakness ripped across her body, reminding her that all was not right.
The superhuman healing and powers that had taken over her body after her injuries during the raid were slowly leaving her. Worse, even her everyday tasks seemed to take more of her energy than before.
She worried that soon she might not have the strength left for even the every day things and after that . . .
Diana drove that thought away and headed for the subway for the trip up to Spanish Harlem.
Ricardo may have told her that he couldn’t heal what she had, but she had never asked him just what that was.
On Wednesday, August 26th, I’m having a special guest blog by Lisa Jackson. She’ll be giving us a super sexy excerpt from her latest release, LEFT TO DIE. In addition, I’ll be picking two lucky winners to receive a copy of LEFT TO DIE, T-Shirt and notepad from everyone who leaves a comment before midnight EST on August 26th. The two lucky winners will also receive a box of books and a CALLING vampire novel t-shirt.
Had to share this with you! What supposedly happened with Julie Andrews turned 69. Turns out 
Last year I conducted a poll on multicultural fiction. I had a number of published authors (about 40) from diverse backgrounds offer their opinions on the state of mutlicultural fiction in publishing.
Many of you have been asking about the next book in THE CALLING vampire novels and I wish to thank all of you for writing and letting me know how much you love the series! It really makes it all worthwhile.