Musings by Bunny.

*Pokes head in door and looks both ways* You haven’t seen any AARP members around? There’s about six of them, with Mo-Peds? No? *Steps in* There was this altercation at Macys. Oh never mind. I have someone I’d like you to meet. *Reaches through door and pulls scraggly looking woman in a toga through*

This is Delia, she’s a muse. *Shoves Delia towards screen* Say hello, Delia.

“Hi.”

Come on, don’t be bashful. Say hello to the nice people. *Raises pitchfork* Say hello you dysfunctional thought process, before I stick you with this pitchfork and roast you over a spit till you’re well done!

“Hi, I’m Delia and I’m a muse.” *glances nervously at Bunny* “Er, Bunny has so graciously asked me to visit this blog.” *gaze flits towards Bunny and back to the screen* “I couldn’t say no...” *Leans closer, wringing hands* “Oh god, help me. I’m being held host…. Ouch. That’s sharp”

Stick to the subject sister, or there’s more where that came from. *Tail twitches*

*Sighs* “I’ve been on holiday lately.” *stares at pitchfork* “but I just wanted all of you to know, I’m back.”

*Knocks Delia out of the way and crowds screen* What this miserable Inspiration Wannabe is trying to say, is that if you’ve been missing your muse, I found her. I’m holding her hostage to the highest bidder. Shall we open the bidding at one soul? *Raises eyebrow and snags back of muse’s toga, shaking her and rattling her teeth* Do I have any opening bids? A whole lot of inspiration here. *Shakes her again, sending muse into tears*

Oh, shut up. You never want to say anything until it benefits you. It’s all about you, you, you. Unless you’ve got something good to say, zip it shut. *Shakes head* You can never trust these muses, they are fair-weather friends, leave you high and dry when you least expect it. But, I’ve got one for the very low price of one soul. *Leans closer to the screen* A bargain.

*Sighs* No takers? Come on, it’s one miserable soul. I know she’s not much to look at, but when you don’t have one hanging around… Well, let’s just say she’s a real steal. No really, I snuck into this New York Times Bestseller’s house the other night and… *Looks around* Did you hear that? Mo-Peds? I think their stalking me. Deck one old lady and they turn on you. I’m telling you, I had those shoes off the clearance rack first. The old Biddy deserved it. *Glances around and grabs Delia in a chokehold* I’ve got to go, but you know where to find me.
Ciao!

Had to Post This

Andrew Olmsted was a soldier in Iraq. He kept a blog. He wrote his final words in the event of his death and asked a friend to post them if that day ever came. It did. On January 4, 2008, Andrew's last words were posted.

This is worth taking a few minutes out of your day to read and consider. The honesty, humility, and humor of his message is profound. May these final thoughts reach millions.

Rest in Peace, Major Andrew Olmsted.

http://andrewolmsted.com/

And You Thought P2PC was Far-Fetched. *smirk*

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23261794/






Guess what's coming? Mind-controlled games. Now you know the spin I put on this in P2PC can't be far behind. *looks at Dawn and Flick and smirks*

Later this year, Emotiv Systems Inc. plans to start selling the EPOC neuroheadset ($299). The headset's sensors detect conscious thoughts and expressions as well as "non-conscious emotions" by reading electrical signals in the brain. The company demonstrated the wireless gadget at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

I'm telling ya....Holotron Mindshare can't be far behind. ;) Ok, so Drea's version is quite a bit more streamlined. Remember, they'll have 1500 years to perfect it.

Bunny's Picks. Jim Butcher, Susan Grant...

Hello out there. *Taps glass and presses nose against computer screen* My name is Bunny. I’m a demon. *Places hands on hips and steps back* Why is that so hard for everyone to believe? You. *points at person in the back laughing* I’d stop while you’re ahead. I really would. I might look cute and sweet with this tail and horns, but Buddy, I’ll hurt you. *Tail twitches and flames jump in eyes*

*Hops up on desk and crosses long legs* There’s always a heckler in the group somewhere. Usually it’s a telemarketer. Don’t worry; I know where you live… You don’t know how many of them I end up torturing on a daily basis. They just don’t know when to keep their mouths shut. Oh where was I….

Yes. *snaps fingers* I was in the process of introducing myself. As I said, I’m Bunny. Some of you have already met me. *Waves to the girls* I thought I’d pop on to the blog and put my two cents, er two dollars, *shakes head and waves hands in air* Hundred dollars worth, in. I may be called Bunny, but I’m not cheap. *Snorts* As if.

I was reading this story the other day and I had to ask myself. *glances at fingernails, rummages through handbag and pulls out file* you can never get a good set of French tips up here. I’m telling you, if you want to see a spa, you should go to Hell. No, really. Their warm mudpacks are to die for.

What is that! *Eyes pop open in disbelief*
Damn it. My cuticles are mangled. Just mangled. It has to be all this flipping cold weather you’ve been having up here. I’m telling you, living in the South is the only way to go. *grabs hair and examines ends.* Split. I should have known. There isn’t enough conditioner in the world to keep up with all the dry heat you people pump into your homes to stay warm. It’s not worth it, living up here. Trust me. Well, all except for the winter clearance sales. *Lifts foot and turns new stiletto heel in the light.* Lovely isn’t it? I got the best deal on them. Of course, I had to beat the hordes back. *Snort*and I’m called a spawn of Satan? Please... Have you ever hit the clearance racks on senior citizen discount day? Those little old ladies mean business. I’m telling you, I was sure that bite was going to leave a scar. Don’t worry, I got her number. You can’t live forever sister! *Twitches tail and shakes pitchfork*

Um, where was I? Oh yes. I was reading this story the other day and I had to ask myself, to whom these authors are selling their souls to get published. I know daddy didn’t sign a couple of them, I checked the archives and files. *Huffs*

I’ve also read some pretty decent stories lately. So here’s a little list I tossed together. Books I suggest you add to your TBR (to be read) pile. *Taps chalkboard with pitchfork* We’ll call these Bunny’s Picks. *Smacks the chalkboard harder and bares fangs* Pay attention! *Leans closer to the screen* As I was saying. These are Bunny’s Picks! Not Dawn’s. She’s only a vessel in my world domination plans. When I’m not planning to take over the world with the minions of hell, I read. So if you’ve got questions, ask me. *takes a deep breath and flutters lashes* Okay?

Let’s start with anything by Karen Marie Moning. I love her stories. Evil Fae and Druids. Yummy. I particularly like Adam Black. Ummmm. *Fans self*

Jim Butcher. Who doesn’t love him? My personal favorite is "Dead Beat". It's part of the Dresden Files and the first book in the series I read. Okay, so I read stuff out of order. *Rolls eyes* So sue me. We own all the lawyers anyway. Well, most of them. The nice thing with this series is you can, if you're so inclined, read it out of order. It's probably better that you don't. You'll get a better picture of the events leading up to each story if you start with book one, "Storm Front", but it's nice knowing they can stand alone. The series isn't Romance, but it’s a must read for anyone that loves Urban Fantasy.

Donna Kaufmann. “The Black sheep and the Princess”, “Great Scot”, “The Black Sheep and the Hidden beauty”. These are mainstream romance/erotica that will leave you wanting more. I particularly love the Unholy Trinity. The first book in the trilogy about these bad boys is “The Black Sheep and the Princess”.

Here’s a book I got for Christmas from Laurie. The “Down Home Zombie Blues.” Linnea Sinclair pulls out her bag of tricks and hits you with the Sci Fi world building that will launch you into space. Who doesn’t like a romance with zombies and aliens? And the zombies aren’t what you’d think. Lots of surprises in this story.

And of course I can’t leave Susan Grant off this list. Her alien romances are fun. Quirky titles, sexy men, and of course, out of this world, love stories. Here's three to start with: “Your Planet or Mine”, “My Favorite Earthling”, and “How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 days.”

*Checks watch* Well, I better run, people to torture, souls to collect, and a manicure to get…
Hey, I’m a busy girl. Possession isn’t easy. *leans into screen and blinks* Don’t look at me like that. Possession is 9/10ths the law. Besides, I am legal. *Reaches in purse and finds green card* Did you know that I practically had to sell my soul to get this, and I don’t have one? I offered the immigration officer a package deal and they slipped me…. Uh, never mind. *shakes head* Legalities. Damning evidence. *Flips cell phone open and reads text* Get out! How much?

I really need to go now. I just got a red hot tip on a shoe sale downtown. If I don’t move, the Cue-tips will get all the good deals.

Ciao. Hugs and Kisses.

*Vanishes in a puff of smoke. Reappears and grabs purse* Can’t forget my plastic. Don’t leave home without it. *Smiles*

Ta!

Naughty Towels

I couldn't resist posting these. *smirks*

So what's the newest project?

So, I'm about halfway through the re-write on AG and about halfway through the first draft of L. I've had to rewrite one chapter due to my computer crashing and loosing the chapter before I backed it up.

I've started the re-write on Blame it on Mars. I've been scrubbing chapters from IBH Inc. for the presentation to the Thayer Middle School writing class, and thankfully the date has been pushed back to April 22. I'll keep you all posted how that went. A whole day with kids that are 13 and 14. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to spend the day with these future writers, and how honored I am that they asked me to come in and do this. They are a great group of kids, a lot of them come from poverty level homes, and difficult situations. I think I will get as much from them as hopefully I can give to them. Two of the writers, one in particular is such a powerful writer, her stories brought tears to my eyes.

Writing the YA story has really given me a deeper appreciation for the writers who produce these stories. They're not easy.

What else. I've been chin deep in tax season at work, hip deep in black-belt prep, and I have two portraits I've been commissioned to paint. Plus I'm teaching my Sensei how to draw and paint animals.

Then throw in my teenage sons, basketball tournaments, art events and overall keeping one eye glued on them, especially the older son with the steady girlfriend...

And keeping the husband happy...
Ho boy.

So, It's been a busy month. Just thought you might like to know why I've been so quiet. What's new in your world?

What I'm Reading Now

HOW TO LOSE AN EXTRETERRESTRIAL IN 10 DAYS


Author: Susan Grant

Genre: [Probably obvious, but] Sci-Fi Rom

Where am I: About three-quarters done.

What I think so far: Likin' it!

ETA on book review: In the next two weeks

Added note: Since we're on the discussion of cover art in another post, this is my idea of a perfect cover for the novel. I would be ecstatic to get one this good. And notice...no faces. Leaves the readers to their imagination, so no conflict with what's on the cover and what they see in their head.

Have you ever...

Have you ever read a book, where the cover art completely conflicts with the story?
Recently I read a book, and it was well written, but the attention to detail paid by the author, was not shared by the publisher.

The image created of the heroine is very distinct. She has black hair, so dark it has blue hi-lights. The cover art portrays her as a light blond. I can't begin to tell you how much that irritates me.

Now, as I've told you before, I'm not shallow, but little descrepancies like this really can throw me off the story. I've been known to buy a book for the cover art. Yes, I said it. If you don't think the average romance reader does, your mistaken.

Where was I going with this? I felt a bit betrayed, mislead. Not by the writer. She wrote a solid story. If a publisher hires an artist to do the cover, they should read the story. How else are they going to get it right?

Don't give me the whole, "This isn't how an artist works", because I know better. I know how an artist works. If I was hired to paint the cover art, I'd read the story. Not only to ensure I got it right, but for inspiration. It's a beautiful cover, but it doesn't belong with the story. For the publisher to slip on this, shows how little they care. The reader will lose trust. Hopefully not in the writer. We all know how little control a writer has over these things. What makes me mad is I know that it takes months, sometimes years to write these stories. If someone would have taken a couple of days to do their research, this wouldn't have happened.

Let this serve as an example of why we should do our research, and I'm not talking to just the writers. The Devil really is in the details. Do your research.

Book written by: Julia Latham, and the story is "One Knight Only."

ARMED AND MAGICAL (ARC) Book Review

ARMED AND MAGICAL (ARC)
By Lisa Shearin
Ace Books
Urban Fantasy
Release date April 2008

Pardon me while I take a moment to enthuse. (Is that a word?) This is, without a doubt, one of the best reads I’ve had in a long, long time. There are twists, turns, shocks and surprises—all contained in a fast-paced story. Unpredictable would be an understatement and the witty dialogue, both spoken and internal, is exceptional.

ARMED AND MAGICAL is the much anticipated Raine Benares Adventure sequel to MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND. I read it in a day. I could not stop. It rolled from one engrossing, hooky scene to the next. There is much to discover and some absolute pound-fists-on-the-table-and-kick-heels-in-glee surprises. When Raine isn’t immersed in a situation full of terrific humor, she’s up to her ears in bite-your-nails creepiness.

By page 6, Raine’s got trouble—BIG trouble—and I’m once again pulled right into the crux of the action by the first person POV as villains pop out of the woodwork, a major character is in jeopardy, and an innocent is snatched. We’re off!

Raine Benares is a seeker, a finder of lost things, and a sorceress of moderate powers. Make that a world-wise, quick-witted, been-around-the-block-a-few-times sorceress from a family of rogues and criminals. She’s savvy and unpredictable, and you never know what she might say next. Tell Raine to keep quiet? Not gonna happen. In MLTF, she found something she wasn’t looking for that attached itself to her with the tenacity of a Pit Bull. Mychael Eiliesor, a fellow elf, Conclave Guardian and paladin (read that: top cop) came into her life to help her shake off her disturbing accessory, but his job often puts him at odds with her instincts. Mychael is her self-appointed protector, but Raine resists being protected, and coming from a family of criminals that view Mychael’s sort with suspicion, she has doubts about his true motivations. Tam, nightclub owner, exotic bad boy, and goblin with a dubious past also finds himself entangled in Raine’s business, though an entanglement of a different sort is more what he has in mind. Tam has a damning secret, and when Raine discovers who and what he was—and may still be—she is smart enough to heed his warnings. Or try to.

As with MLTF, there are many who might qualify as “villain material,” but two stand out in their special charming, slithery way. Sarad Nukpana is back in all his evil glory, and Rudra Muralin, a goblin with a dark past (or make that an even darker past than most goblins) presents a new force for Raine to contend with. There is also large and well-drawn contingent of minor characters, including incorrigible kin, loyal Guardians, corrupt officials, seedy minions, and an overbearing, malevolent librarian that reigns over his turf like a dark thundercloud.

It is a rare case where a sequel bests the original in brilliant style. MLTF was a delight. ARMED AND MAGICAL is even better. The lightning pace makes for a quick, engrossing read, but real-life ingredients like politics and legal matters add rich complexity and twists to the story. The element of surprise is always present. You just never know what…or who…might pop up next. Magic is used in imaginative and surprising ways and in at least one scene had me ROFL at the irony when Raine takes on a very convincing disguise and suffers the consequences. Paybacks are hell, huh, Raine?

If you love an imaginative Fantasy romp with a winning blend of laugh-out-loud humor and chilling suspense, this novel is a “Must Read.” Look for it in April 2008.

This is a condensed version of a review I posted on the the Toasted Scimitar Fantasy Pub. http://www.toasted-scimitar.blogspot.com/

Decluttering

How much stuff do we really need? I look around my home and wonder how much I could get rid of without missing it. They say that if you haven't used or looked at a possession for 6 months - then it can go. Husband is out the door then! (Don't mean it, really) I have an attic of toys saved just in case my kids ever have kids - since neither of them are even married not going to be soon, jigsaws I have loved - will I ever do them again, ski gear ( well that would be OK but the four sets of old style skis and five assorted ski poles??) a trumpet (son never did get the hang of it) violin (I never got the hang of it - just as I mastered using all the strings I found you had to move your hand up and down the neck too) etc etc. In the house it's just as bad - DVDs , videos we'll never watch. Ornaments that mean nothing. Clothes that haven't been worn for years let alone 6 months. A room with a pile of daughter's possessions even though she hasn't lived at home for a long while. Ditto with son. Amps, guitar leads, girlie magazines (oops wasn't supposed to find those) and in the bathroom a million skin care and hair products - all part used and deserted. Everything could go, but for one thing. Well, it's more than one thing. My books. Hundreds of them. Ok, I admit it, thousands. I'm anal enough to have them sorted alphabetically and by genre - well upstairs at least. The romances are tucked away in an upstairs room, the thrillers and suspense and factual ones are downstairs. If I like a book, I can't part with it. I'm physically incapable of letting it go. Will I read it again? Possibly not but I have to keep it. If I get rid of all that other clutter, it will leave me more room for my books. Ooh, great idea. Now, what can I get rid of first?

What are you reading???

I've been to Borders again. The trip resulted in several books. Of course you all know I have the Diana Palmer book, with the great cover. "The Morcai Battalion." Turning into an interesting read.

Yes! Another Donna Kauffman book. "The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty." I don't need to tell you how much I like her work. I was extremely pleased to see it and had to add it to the pile. (near the top) Whoo Hoo.

I got a J.R. Ward book, "Lover Revealed." The edginess of these stories have really grown on me. The names as Flick mentioned, are a little off the wall, but I don't seem to notice anymore.

Yes, Lynn Kurland. Her books are sweet and great reads for down time. Her books would get a "G" rating in the movies. So if you're looking for smoking hot, down and dirty sex, these books are not for you. I like them, as sometimes its nice to read something just for a sweet love story, which all of her books are.

"Divine Evil." Nora Roberts. So far a very good book. I'm about half-way into this one. It's about the occult, murder and small towns. Enjoying this one, immensely. I've also got her book, "Blood Brothers."

Then there's Melanie Jackson, "Divine Night." I've read one of her others and though the switch to French in the text and back to English over and over was annoying, I liked the characters. She has compelling characters that are not necessarily nice people. I like that a lot. If you can tolerate the occasional shift in dialect, these are not half bad...

Then there are the books (required reading) for my black belt. Since I've got less than a year, I better get started with them. Not only am I required to read through them, I have to work through them and yes, share them. They are: "Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Cronic Pain." (I say just divorce his ass.) "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Yeah, I've heard great stuff about this one. Perhaps this would be a good one for a woman that needs a little focus. And here's a big one "The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is The Key to High Preformance and Personal Renewal." Say that fast three times backwards. I dare you...

I'll let you know how they are. *Crosses heart* If I start quoting the Dali Lama and Tony Robbins, you know what happened. Peace.

Scouting Mission: The Outback Stars

Dawn, I haven't read this one but found it on Tor-Forge. It does sound your cup of tea, and you know me, always promoting debut novels. The author, Sandra McDonald, is a former Navy officer.

THE OUTBACK STARS by Sandra McDonald

Lieutenant Jodenny Scott is a hero. She has the medals and the scars to prove it. She's cooling her heels on Kookaburra, recovering from injuries sustained during the fiery loss of her last ship, the Yangtze, and she's bored -- so bored, in fact, that she takes a berth on the next ship out. That's a mistake.

The Aral Sea isn't anyone's idea of a get-well tour. Jodenny 's handed a division full of misfits, incompetents, and criminals. She's a squared-away officer. She thinks she can handle it all. She's wrong. Aral Sea isn't a happy ship. And it's about to get a lot unhappier.

As Aral Sea enters the Alcheringa -- the alien-constructed space warp that allows giant settler-ships to travel between worlds, away from all help or hope -- Jodenny comes face to face with something powerful enough to dwarf even the unknown force that destroyed her last ship and left her with missing memories and bloody nightmares. Lieutenant Jodenny Scott is about to be introduced to love. Author Sandra McDonald brings her personal knowledge of the military, and of the subtle interplay between men and women on deployment, to a stirring tale that mixes ancient Australian folklore with the colonization of the stars.

Link: http://www.tor-forge.com/theoutbackstars

Terminator Fans Take Note

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premiers tonight on FOX for a two-night run. I'll tune in to this one. Hope it's well made and fits the original story line. Different actors, of course. I think the actress who played River on Firefly is in it. Can't think of her name right now. Summer Glau?

Looks great. But we'll see. ::: puts on Show Me hat :::

Here's the link: http://www.fox.com/terminator/

Dream Wall

I've just come from Lisa Shearin's blog and had to post this. Lisa just had her first two book covers made into posters for her office wall. Here's a link, so you can take a peak: http://www.lisashearin.com/blog.cfm

What a great idea. Someday I hope I can do the same.

In the meantime, I have to settle for my Star Wars poster (All I Need to Know About Life I Learned from Star Wars), my '56 Thunderbird photos, and my famous quotes in their lucite frames.

The Devil Inside

Okay, just finished a novel by Jenne Black called "The Devil Inside."

If you're religious, you might not like this. If you have an open mind, it's a great read.

Morgan Kingsley is an exorcist. A sexy, leather wearing exorcist with an attitude. Her job is to get demons out of people who have been illegally possessed. If she does, she saves a human life. If she doesn't the law executes the human and demon by burning them alive.

She's the best at what she does. She's gets the toughest cases, ones that others won't touch. When she gets called to Topeka Kansas to exoricse a demon from an 11 year old child, Morgan bites off more than she can chew. Just as she's sure the demon is going to transfer to her, and she'll be the one burned alive, something strange happens. The demon retreats. It retreats and chooses destruction instead of possession of Morgan.

From that point on, things get a bit hairy. Morgan has to call in her best friend, another Exorcist, to read her aura and prove she's not possessed. Val declares her demon free, and soon Morgan is free from jail.

But something is wrong. Morgan starts sleep walking and begins to wonder if her friend was wrong. Why wouldn't the demon jump? Why did it retreat? Morgan finds a note in her own handwriting upon waking. "The demon didn't take you, because you're already possessed."

In a world where being possessed means you'll eventually end up a vegetable or worse yet, burned alive for harboring an illegal demon, Morgan's got trouble, big trouble.

Soon Morgan finds herself framed for murder and running for her life. To make matters worse, a radical group has kidnapped her boyfriend and they are sending her tapes of the torture they're inflicting on him... All because of "The devil Inside"

This story smokes. Plenty of heat. Plenty of sex. Not for the faint of heart.

Damn!

There are book covers, then there are BOOK COVERS.

I just spent $25.00 without batting an eyelash. I know nothing about the author, nor did I care. When I'm done being in love with the art on the cover, I'll let you know what the story is like.

Okay, it caught my eye when I walked into the book store. I snatched it up and couldn't put it down. I'm really not this shallow, and I'm sure the story is great, she's a NY Times Bestseller, but this is a book I had to have because of the cover...

It's much more impressive in your hands and the back is just as beautiful.

When it comes to art, I'm a hard one to please. I know what I like and I know what I don't. I like, I like a lot. It's nice to see cover art where the artist wasn't afraid of faces and they have a fantastic imagination. I'm not crazy about purple, but wow, the entire cover is this dusky purple that just sucks you in. It stood out from everything else around it. I'm planning on reviewing this one, I'll let you know at the end of the week, what I think of the story.

The Book is by Diana Palmer, it's called "The Morcai Battalion" and I haven't got a clue who the artist is, but thumbs up my friend, your cover is awesome.

Writing for young adults.

My eight grade son's writing teacher has asked me to come to the class in February and share some Sci-Fi with the kids. I think it sounds like fun and I've been getting together a group of writers interested in having some of their material read to these teenagers. The input will be pretty good, I'm sure.

During the process of writing young adult, appropriate material, I have come to the conclusion that it is hard to write for kids.

My work tends to be a little dark. I use naughty words and yes, it's romance so I have sexual content. Writing something that doesn't include any of these things, has been a challenge. It's interesting to see how switching gears affects my writing.

If you haven't written Young Adult, give it a try. It really is a challenge, you can learn a lot from this exercise in restraint. Young Adult Writers, I salute you.