WANTED

Have you seen it yet? I saw it this morning and I REALLY liked it. I'm a huge action movie fan and this one did not disappoint me.

I love the movies and i'm one of those people who is happy to suspend my belief for the fun of it. Cause come on...You cannot curve a bullet.

The craziest line in the movie belonged to Morgan Freeman and I would love to put it here but i'll save the good spoilers for when the movie has been out longer. lol

And like Angelina Jolie or not she really does make a great action star. The guy sitting next to me REALLY liked Ms. Jolie and my husband and I had a good laugh after the movie about his reaction to her naked backside. Very fun.



And as usual every time I see another action/adventure type movie it reminds me how much I love that genre and want to write more of it.

My problem or question I guess about that is this. Why is it okay or even expected that in the movies they get to take all kinds of creative license with reality (see the above comment about curving the bullet) yet when my books get edited I get my hand slapped for writing anything unrealistic unless its attached to a paranormal element or sex. i.e. why cant my hero carry his gun tucked into the waist of his pants at the small of his back? its cool. its convenient if not practical. lol

Despite the level of realism I will continue to write action and adventure into my books. I like fast cars and sexy motorcyles, handguns and knives, hand to hand combat and lots and lots of explosions. So much fun. hehehehe

If you like a fun action flick go see Wanted. The last line of the movie (spoiler but not a big deal out of context)says it all.


WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY?

Have a great weekend.

Eliza

What makes a Dark Romance?

I have three books out now and still don't know what it is. Do I write it? Am I even close?

Honestly I don't think so. My books although a good story I think they lack the sense of hopelessness you find in many darker romances. I can't seem to get rid of every chance of hope. It's just not possible. For me to write a romance I need that hope, that one glimmer of what could be, what should be, what will be. I need it and I think my readers need it.

Does that mean that my romances are just fluffly bits of entertainment. I don't think so. Even romances that appear fluffy can still carry a dark element. Something to catch your heart and send it on a mad dash. I think every romance has a dark element. It has to in order to make the happily ever after truly worth it.

So I am asking readers what do you like a bit of dark or a lot of dark. I think you know my answer to this question. And also please let me know who your favorite dark author is.

Right now my favorite is Gena Showalter with her Dark Series. It is a bit dark but the payoff is so worth it I can't seem not to buy these books!

Leila Brown

www.leilabrown.com

www.leilabrown.blogspot.com

~Addictive Erotic Romance You Can't Resist~

Busy Packing --

I'm busy packing so that half of my family can go on vacation. The 'boys' are heading off tonight while my daughter and I anxiously await her doctor's appt. The update on that is I received a call on my cell phone from a number I didn't recognize. Thank goodness they left a voice mail. It was the Dr's nurse saying that they had moved the location of their clinic AND had a new clinic day. I held my breath, thinking this was going to be yet another delay. To my relief, her appt. has been moved up to Monday! Yippeee - I'll have an answer to all my questions (hopefully) one day early. Whew.

Since I'm not quite all 'here', I'm going to point you to something neat I saw on the Cobblestone Press The Vampire Oracle Blog this morning. It's a Wordle. Here's mine with all of my book titles (released and upcoming)



You can get your own at http://wordle.net

Things to do & A change of plans...

Yikes! That's quite a long title, isn't it? But you know, I feel like I've been changing my writing plans every single week for the last two months. No, hold on a sec, I have! Lol. You see, I decided that although writing a bunch of first drafts is super awesome -- because my muse loves to dish out the stories and I love to write them -- it doesn't quite get the project/s finished.

So, I decided to stop writing anything new in May (I think) to concentrate on revisions. Of course, the revisions involved several short stories, a long novella and two novels. I wanted to get this all done by the end of June. And you know, I'm currently working on the last thing on my to-do list, so it's not too bad. I'm now more than halfway through the final draft of my 86k novel. It's great, I'm really caught up in it... but I'm also doing edits at the same time. Yeah, I know, sometimes I even wonder where I find the time.

This week's going to be super busy, but I hope to have both edits and the revision completed by Friday night. One edit has already been done and emailed back to my editor, and I've already started the other one. I actually really enjoy the editing stage, it really helps make the story shine, doesn't it?

Anyway, cross your fingers for me.

Now, this brings me to the second bit of my post. I honestly thought that July would be my writing-something-long-and-new month, but I just realised that my daughter goes on her two week break at the end of next week. Okay. Since it would be totally insane for me to embark on writing a new novel while she's home, I've decided to push it back another month. It looks like August will be the month. Still, I do intend on writing a few shorties next month.

So, I have a question - do you plan your writing projects by the week, month or just as they pop up? Please, do tell. Oh, and what do you do when other stuff arrives as well? :D


Yolanda
http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

Surprise, surprise!

Today, I thought I'd blog about a couple of surprises I faced in the past twenty-four hours. One has to do with my books. The other does not. I guess I can cover the book-related one first, make you wait for the other one :)

Animal Urges was reviewed in the Romantic Times magazine this month.

"Both tales entertain with strong characters, action, a bit of humor and hot sex scenes."

I'll take it!

Thanks to Gail Pruszkowski for the unexpected review!

And now for the non-book-related surprise.

The Bachelorette, DeAnna, gave Graham the boot. Were you shocked? My mother-in-law was convinced DeAnna was going to pick him because he's the "bad boy" of the group. But at the end of the day, Mr. Bad Boy was left with no rose.

I'm convinced our bachelorette made the right decision. What about you? Were you surprised? Shocked? Glad?

Tawny
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
DARK MASTER, a Recommended Read (Dark Angel Reviews)
WANTON NIGHTS, Changeling Press
Wicked-Hot Erotic Fiction
www.tawnytaylor.com

The darker side of Cinderella

So Shell and I (along with her lil 'un and a friend's lil 'un) went to the happiest place on earth. Yes, Disneyland. And during our time there we went to Ariel's Grotto for a Princess Luncheon. As the various princesses are making their way to our table to greet and chat with us, Shell whispers to me, "Do you think that after being here all day, smiling and being wholesome, that they are really freaky at home? Like heavily into kink or BDSM?"

And I of course almost choked. Could you imagine? And as a writer my mind went into overdrive. What would happen if there was a super wholesome chick who had a dirty little secret? What would she do to protect that secret? Isn't it awesome when inspiration comes in the most unlikely of places?

Anywho, because I'm still quite exhausted and a little traumatized by the perve in the room next to ours at the hotel, who felt up my bra (thank God I wasn't in it) I'll leave you with this.

Dark and Twisted Television

Superheroes at the box office got me to thinking about the paranormal on the small screen.

With the cancellation of Blood Ties and Moonlight, the paranormal is dwindling on the boob tube. (does anyone else still call it that or am I just making myself seem old? lol)

I can't tell you how much I still mourn the loss of Buffy and Angel.



(and yes Joss Whedon is my Master) I was so obsessed with those shows that a friend of mine and I used to call each other every commercial to discuss what just happened. Geeks we were. But seriously was there every anything much better than David Boreanaz getting all Grrr or James Marsters admitting to being Love's Bitch? sighs.

So what's left?

Supernatural...



I will confess that I didn't start watching this one until recently so I have been renting the series discs and slowly catching up. (Gotta love netflix) I don't know why I didn't think I would like it but it is turning out better than I thought it would. The classic car and classic rock really get me. Oh yeah and the two cute guys. *g*

Ghost Whisperer...I'm not feeling it. Too bad really since we have so little choices.

Heroes...Are they ever coming back?

Reaper...



OMG have you seen this one yet? I amuse easily so yeah I think this one is a lot of fun to watch.

What other paranormal shows are you watching that I am missing? I don't have much TV time so I tend to find things after they have been on a while.

But there are some new ones a coming.

Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. WOOHOO!



HBO's True Blood - thank you Charlaine Harris.



Can't wait to see what everyone has to say about their favorite paranornal TV shows.

Have a good one,

Eliza

Diva of the ....Light?

What a lucky Diva I am - my first two postings get to be about special days. The first was Friday the 13th (shiver) and today is the summer solstice - the longest day of the year. Guess that makes me a Diva of the Light today...

I started researching the solstice, because everything is fodder for an author's toolbox. I found some cool celebrations from the past...some that linger on into the present.


Druids celebrated Alban Heruin ("Light of the Shore"). It was midway between the spring Equinox (Alban Eiler; "Light of the Earth") and the fall Equinox (Alban Elfed; "Light of the Water"). This midsummer festival celebrated the apex of Light. During this time, the crowning of the Oak King took place. At his crowning, the Oak King falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King, God of the waning year.

In ancient China, the summer solstice ceremony celebrated the earth, the feminine, and the yin forces. It complemented the winter solstice which celebrated the heavens, masculinity and yang forces.



In ancient Gaul, the Midsummer celebration was called Feast of Epona, named after a mare goddess who personified fertility, sovereignty, and agriculture. She was portrayed as a woman riding a mare.

Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires! It was the night of fire festivals and of love magic, of love oracles and divination. Pairs of lovers would jump through the luck-bringing flames of the fire and it was believed that the crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump. The fire's power would reveal information about future husbands and banish spirits and demons. Bonfires also generated sympathetic magic by giving the sun's energey a boost so that it would remain potent throughout the rest of the growing season and guarantee a plentiful harvest.




In ancient Rome, the festival of Vestalia lasted from 7-15 June. It was held in honor of the Roman Goddess of the hearth, Vesta. Married women could enter the shrine of Vesta during the festival. At other times of the year, only the vestal virgins were permitted inside.

In ancient Sweden, a Midsummer tree was set up and decorated. The villagers would then dance around it. Women and girls would customarily bathe in the local river, this magical ritual was intended to bring rain for the crops.




So, how are you going to celebrate the summer solstice?

Sold!

I'm totally dancing on air right now (look out below!) - remember the contemporary older woman/younger man story I told you about? It was my first contemporary and I was feeling a bit insecure about it. It's the first time I've written a book without the paranormal element and boy did it feel weird not to have vamps, shifters, weres and spirit guides running around trying to take over the story.

I submitted said story to both my pubs. One didn't like it at all, the other loved it! So with a few tweaks to the plot, a bit more suspense and some (u-hem) grammar correction, I can now announce that the book, CARAMEL KISSES, has been sold to Ellora's Cave! YAY!!!!

Contracts are in the mail and I'll be putting a blurb and excerpt up on my website soon on the Sneak Peek page.

Oh goodness, I almost forgot to tell you what the story is about - it's the story of a woman named Sydni Cannes. She's an executive, high rolling, six-figure babe who's worked her butt off not only to make it in life, but to put her younger sister through school. Well, Syd has had less than stellar luck in the 'guy' department and has simply buried herself in work and responsibilities instead. She isn't a man hater, but simply doesn't want to deal with Mr. Right, Mr. Right Now or Mr. Warm Pulse. A life without the drama is simply fine with her. Well, that and her trusty B.O.B.

Thankfully her younger sister knows Syd is missing out on enjoying the companionship she deserves. So what does she do? She talks her Syd into letting her hair down for a night. The result? Sydni lands in jail! Low and behold, her knight in shining armor come to bail her out is none other than a co-worker she's been avoiding like the plague. Yes, Drew has come to save her from the humiliation of the county clink. Gorgeous as all get out, the man is too charismatic by half, too damned good looking, several shades too light and...eight years her junior! All wrong! Hell, if Sydni didn't know better, she'd think it was all planned from the beginning...

Stay tuned... *tj giggling like a kid in a candy shop with a million dollars to spare!*

Superheroes & More Superheroes

Okay, what is a superhero? According to Wikipedia, superheroes 'are fictional heroes who possess abilities beyond those of normal human beings.'

You know, I really like the sounds of that. It really does seem to group characters with paranormal abilities too, right? So, I guess it's no surprise that I enjoy watching superhero movies, then. I loved the Spider-Man movies, The Fantastic Four movies, The Punisher, and Daredevil.

Last night, we went to watch The Incredible Hulk. You know, I thought it was a little too soon after the other Hulk movie, but now that the hint of the Avengers has been established, I really got interested. Of course, Edward Norton was enough to get my interest too. He's an awesome actor. And he didn't disappoint. I gotta say, in the end, I LOVED the movie. I left the movie theater feeling all excited and glad that we decided to watch it. It's obviously going to lead us somewhere else. And I can't wait!

Actually, I got into the same happy, excited, geeky mood I did after watching Iron Man.

Awesome!

That reminds me, Iron Man also had an awesome actor cast as the superhero. He really did make the story that much better. You know, several times I even forgot these guys weren't even real - the green monster and the red metal guy, that is. :D Lol.

Anyway, now that the Avengers look as if they'll hit the screens sometime in the future, I'm absolutely hanging for a THOR movie. I have to admit that Thor is one of my fave superheroes. I mean, what's there not to like about him? ;) I've been fascinated with the Norse god for a while now, so the superhero is just an extension of that.

All this superhero talk gets my muse itching to write one, too. Actually, I've already got a heroine inside my mind, and even her hero... I just need to sit down and brainstorm a whole lot more. If only we had more hours in the day.

Last week I finished reading this book and am looking forward to this one as well. There are a lot of superhero things going on at the moment. Yay!

Anyway, the next movie I'm looking forward to watching is The Dark Knight. Oh, and for a superhero movie that's a little different, I can't wait to see Hancock. What about you? Are you enjoying these superhero movies? And which other one would you like to see made into a movie?

Yolanda
http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

A New Release and Call for Help

Available Now!
Veiled Pleasures

Line: Aeon,Anthology
Series: None
Book Length: 252 pages
Book Type: Trade Paperback

Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing

ISBN: 9781419957680
In Stock: YES
Price: $12.99

To Buy: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-4307-veiled-pleasures.aspx

"…In the outer reaches of the Crab Nebula, in a godforsaken corner of the sprawling Milky Way galaxy, lies Asteroid 6969, depleted of its resources. Those who can afford to leave have gone. The town has become a den of iniquity—law and order have vanished. Travelers are advised caution when entering the area. The Federation has removed Asteroid 6969 from its jurisdiction. Anything that happens there is your own problem…"
- From The Revised Galactic Dictionary, section fifteen "Asteroids", appendix A

Tiger Gold by Samantha Winston

As soon as Captain Lance Rocket arrives on Asteroid 6969, he knows he's going to have problems. Not because of the bath in the bordello, but because of an auction. A young woman had been auctioned off to the highest bidder. The winner, some sadist pirate, is torturing her on the other side of the wall. What can a space captain do? He gets out of the tub and, stark naked except for his stun-gun, breaks the door down. And sees Heidi handcuffed to the bed. She's naked. She's got huge gray eyes, red-gold hair, and a body to damn a saint. Now he's really in trouble…

Siren's Dance By Tawny Taylor

Nik Nyuth, about to inherit his father's intergalactic shipping corporation, has come to the infamous Asteroid 6969 to taste the forbidden.

Shaya Maureau, a dancer who has paid dearly for early mistakes in life, wants to leave Asteroid 6969. But, she can't afford to buy her freedom and knows the lure of an "easy" escape is fraught with danger. Surrounded by evil, she strives to protect herself by trusting no one and hiding her only remaining possession—her face—behind a protective veil.

The moment they meet, Nik is spellbound by the mysterious dancer with the veil. But earning her trust will be nearly impossible. Fortunately for Shaya, Nik's powers of persuasion are as potent as…the siren's dance.

Praise for Veiled Pleasures

"This is a wonderfully erotic story that will leave you believing that dreams do come true when trust and love are allowed to flourish. " Euro Reviews

"At first glance you may think this is a fluffy erotic-sex tale. Although the erotic love scenes leave nothing to the imagination, there’s more to the story. Don’t be misled; there is depth in Shaya and Nik’s characters and a few surprises along the way." Fallen Angel Reviews
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Forwarded with Permission*
Dear Friends,

One of our own, author Jo Leigh (aka Jolie Kramer) lost her husband on June 13 after he courageously battled cancer. If you don't know their story which is the stuff romance novels are made of, you can read it here: http://www.joleigh.com/blog/archives/00000121.html and see their wedding picture here: http://www.alisonkent.com/blog/archives/1232

In addition to being a fabulous friend to so many and a mulit-RITA nominated author who has written for Harlequin Blaze, Temptation, Intrigue, Special Projects, Silhouette Intimate Moments and Meteor Kismet, Jo is known across the country for the amazing writing classes she teaches, including one on plotting that is incomparable. She has been incredibly generous to so many in sharing her knowledge and expertise.

Unfortunately, Jo has been left with a lot of medical expenses she will be struggling to cover as they had no health insurance, and we would like to help her out by holding several fundraising auctions. If you have items to donate - books or book baskets/collections, critiques, ARCs of upcoming releases, mentoring opportunities, web or promotional material design work etc., please email the item description to the following email address: forjoleigh@gmail.com This is the address we're using to organize the items.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Alison Kent, HelenKay Dimon, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Tyler
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tawny
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
DARK MASTER, a Recommended Read (Dark Angel Reviews)
WANTON NIGHTS, Changeling Press
Wicked-Hot Erotic Fiction
www.tawnytaylor.com

It's A Paranormal World

Hi, everyone! I’m Cynthia Eden, and this is my very first post here at Divas of the Dark. (And it’s sure nice to be here!)

I figured I should begin by telling you a bit about myself. Right now, I’m busy writing sexy (well, I hope they are sexy!) paranormal suspense novels for Kensington Brava. My first single-title, HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT hit store shelves in May.

HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT tells the story of a psychologist who only treats paranormal patients and the wolf-shifter detective who steals her heart. Of course, they are tracking a serial killer during the whole heart-stealing process…

I’ve also written books for Avon Red, Red Sage, and ImaJinn Books. No matter which publisher I’m contracted with, I notice that one thing always seems to happen to me—paranormal elements creep into my stories.

What can I say? I just love the paranormal. Always have. Growing up, I was a vampire addict. Couldn’t read enough vampire books, couldn’t see enough vampire movies.

These days, I tend to lean a bit more toward the shifters, but I do still have a soft spot for vampires.

I’ve often wondered why I enjoy the supernatural so much—and I think it comes down to the fact that I want to believe (I’m so like Mulder!) there is more to this world than just meets the eye. I love the idea that there could be secrets and mysteries churning beneath the surface of our lives. The notion of a paranormal world—it’s exciting to me.

But what about you? Why do you enjoy paranormal stories?

Have a great week!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT--Available now from Kensington Brava
WHEN HE WAS BAD--Available now from Kensington Brava
Believe in monsters. They believe in you.

Happy Fathers Day!

Too all the men who make our lives wonderful and to all those men make us want to bang our heads against the wall...

Happy Father's Day!

Do you VOODOO?

First can I say how excited I am to be here? Thank you all for the warm welcome, i'm looking forward to blogging here.

I apologize for my first post being so late in the day but as it so happens this week I am in deadline hell. The next book in my Pentacles of Magick series is due on Monday and I still have about 9k to go. Needless to say i'm stressing a bit.

This installment is set in New Orleans, a city I have never been too yet I love everything I know about it. I'm fascinated really and hope to get there for a visit sooner rather than later.

This week I added a small role for a Voodoo Priestess and her shop but had to do some research. Sure i've read some basics on voodoo and seen the movie glimpses but that wasn't enough to give this character justice so I found myself hunting the internet for more information.



What I found was a font of rich and interesting information with endless possibilities for not only this story but stories of the future. (Voodoo is also well known in Savannah and i'm about the start a new Savannah paranormal series)From the dolls, to Gris Gris bags, to aromatherapy oils there are many simple and complex aspects to Voodoo that go far beyond what we see on TV.

Of course when a few people I know found me looking for information on Voodoo, they told me I should be very afraid and stay away from that. I didn't think that was a very fair assessment but I laughed it off. People who are afraid to explore things they don't know sure miss out on a lot of fun and fascinating things and there's lots of things I like to do or look into that seem to make people squirm. lol

One of my favorite new Voodoo resources is the website New Orleans Voodoo Crossroads

If any of you have ever researched Voodoo I would love to hear what tidbits you have to share or any resources you enjoyed. Or if you have been to New Orleans I would love to hear your impression on the voodoo aspects of New Orleans from a visitors perspective. I am always open to learning as much as I can about a story element. It's important to me to get it right.

Have a good one,

Eliza

Paraskavedekatriaphobia anyone?

Paraskavedekatriaphobia - according to Wikipedia anyway, is fear of Friday the 13th. I've known people who were incredibly superstitious. One woman I worked with would not even drive her car on Friday the 13th for fear of getting into an accident!

Our family must be a little on the strange side (okay, I know we are and I'm sure there's a slew of us out there), but we embrace Friday the 13th. I suspect it's our way of whistling in the dark - but we go out of our way to befriend black cats, walk under ladders, and step on cracks in the sidewalk.

And as soon as it gets dark tonight, we'll fire up the DVD and watch a scary movie. Tonight, we'll either be Returning to the House on Haunted Hill or if we decide to not leave the house, we'll be regretting that One Missed Call.

So, what do you do on Friday the 13th? Hide out at home or tackle the zombies on the front lawn?

(xPost) Big Cats! Jaguars

If you've read my books, such as Jaguar's Rule, Spirit of the Pryde, Primed to Pounce or Egyptian Voyage, you know I really have a thing for large cats. I don't mean overweight Garfield types, but lions, tigers, jaguars and the like. I was thinking about my need to schedule my family's next camping trip to enjoy the great outdoors, and a thought came to mind - what would it be like to run up on one of my favorite animals in the middle of the night? I mean, if he wasn't after ME, of course ;D



Ever wonder what a jaguar sounds like? Well, I've got an answer for you. Choose from the several selections on the player below, close your eyes and imagine yourself in the jungles of Belize in the middle of the night...

Strangely enough, the sounds didn't scare me or make me feel afraid. But after you listen to them, tell me whether they curled your toes! Especially, sound clip number three. Whew!

Love, TJ (a/k/a Big Cat Nutball Extraordinaire)

Dexter & Sweeney

First of all, I'd like to welcome Cynthia Eden, Leila Brown, Ericka Scott and Eliza Gayle to the Divas of the Dark. It looks like we're going to have more activity here from now on. :) And that's a great thing!

The hubby and I started watching the first season of Dexter last week. By the weekend, we were watching the last two episodes of season two. Wow, how did that happen? Well, it's pretty simple, we enjoyed it so much that we couldn't stop ourselves from watching more...

This show is awesome, on so many levels. Not only is the story engrossing, but the character of Dexter Morgan is amazing. On the surface - to those around him - he looks like a quiet nice guy, who also happens to be a little awkward. But below the surface, he's so much more. A forensics blood spatter specialist for the Miami Metro Police Department by day, and a serial killer by night, he sure has his hands full. See, he doesn't just go around killing any old person that pops up. Nope, he only kills scumbags. The bad people who either slip under the radar or literally get away with murder. He might be a little deranged, but hell, he's helping Miami. Getting these bad people off the streets can only help keep the streets safer, right?

Well, not really. I guess. Since killing is wrong, no matter what the intention.

The best thing about this show is how it makes you really think and question what is right and wrong. I mean, while I was watching season two, all I wanted was for Dexter to come out untouched. I'm cheering for a serial killer. Sure, he's got a conscience and all, but he's still a killer. See? It's amazing how thought-provoking this show is. Not to mention that when you compare him to some of the other characters, he seems quite sane. Oh, and let's not forget about the traumatic events of his childhood, or Harry's code and secrets.

I can't wait for the next season.

Oh, and now we move onto Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The hubby and I watched this on Monday night. Wow, it was bizarre. Once again, we have a man who has reason to want to kill. I mean, his life, wife and child were stolen from him when he was falsely sentenced to a life of hard labor. I can totally understand why he returned to get revenge on the corrupt judge... but what actually goes on above Mrs. Lovett's pie shop is totally gross. :/

My gosh, I was shocked. But hell, it was a dark, violent and interesting movie with singing. Johnny Depp was awesome, as usual. And I'm a fan of Tim Burton too, he gives everything such a macabre-color-washed look. Yet, still manages to make it look beautiful.

Anyway. My post today is about two fictional serial killers. Each in their own format, but no less intriguing. So, how often do you ask yourself what is right and wrong when revenge and justice is concerned? Do share, I'm very interested.

Yolanda
http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

At least it's not crack...

So it's been quite a while since I've blogged on DoftheD. Yes, I'm a bad girl and I apologize. Not only haven't I not been blogging, I haven't really been doing any writing of any kind.

Why? Because I need to go to rehab. Yes, they tried to send me to rehab and I said, no, no, no.

What is my drung of choice you ask? The Sims 2. Or what Shello calls the devils game. I can play this game for hours and since I am trying to find out where the vampires hang out (yes! they have vampires) wouldn't playing technically be research?

No? Are you sure? Anywho. I'm working on a novella right now about a chick whose like a coin. She has two distinct sides and its hard to balance. Have you tried to balance a coin on its side? It's nearly impossible right. Right.

Anywho. Moving on from my slight addiction (I can stop any time I want) to some news around the DoftheD water cooler. Did you see some new names and new book covers?

Cynthia Eden, Leila Brown, Ericka Scott and Eliza Gayle have joined DoftheD. Yay! There's a schedule with everyones blog date but don't let that stop you from coming back on a daily basis. We love comments and love guests.

Welcome ladies and thank you for joining us.

Chivalry and Bitches (xPost)

Now this is a hot topic personally. But before I get started you can blame this all on my friend and fellow author, Marilyn Lee. If you don't know Marilyn's work, she's a kick butt author who writes Shifters, Weres and Vamps with so much personality you expect them to jump off the page and bite you (oh baby!). Her contemporary books are off the chain, too.

Well, the other day on the Ladies of the Club blog (another cool group that Marilyn and I both belong to) she started the topic on asking whether we, as woman, think chivalry is dead. The discussion was being had on other blogs where it seemed that some women don't mind if their men called them bitches, as if the word 'bitch' has become the new endearment rather than 'baby' or 'honey'.

Now is that ri-goddamned-diculous or what? Like Marilyn, I have strong opinions about this. If chivalry is dead with a man, then he's not the one for me. Do I need him to tie my shoes? Not. But I do expect to be treated with care. Now, I am so NOT a high maintenance woman. I don't nag, whine or pout. But...well, anyway, this is what I wrote in response to her blog (click HERE for the original post at Ladies of the Club):

TJ SAID: "Mary, this is a subject that just frosts my cookies. Basically, makes me mad, pisses me off, etc. Is chivalry dead? It depends on the guy. I happen to like polite, courteous men. To me, that's chivalrous. I've had men tell me that they like opening doors for women, but stopped doing it when the woman bit their heads off for being nice. Which, in my opinion, is simply stupid.
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