First of all, here’s hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and didn’t have to work too hard at it!
Now—let’s see if we can drain a little of that dressing out of those stem cells, and get a few interesting thoughts going, lol.

Books being made into films seem to be a hot commodity at the moment.

This past week saw the end of the first season of HBO’s “TRUE BLOOD” series.  I’ve never read any of Charlaine Harris’ novels, but the producers of this show did a pretty good job of adapting her ideas into something that hooked me big time.

This week also so the release of Stephenie Meyer’s hit novel, “TWILIGHT” in film.  The reviews have been mixed (must confess, I had mixed feelings about the book when I read it)—but it’s gotta be one helluva thrill to see your work on the big screen like that.
Or, at least, some VERSION of it.

Years ago I thought it’d be great to see one of my books become a movie.  Now I’m not so sure.  Seems like someone else is usually hired to do the screenplay, and while people rarely remember the name of the person who wrote the script, they will remember the name of the book.  And if the film isn’t well done, wouldn’t it be a bit like having a gawd-awful cover the size of a movie screen, displayed all over the country?

And I confess my ignorance about the buying/selling of movie rights.  I always thought J.R. Ward’s “Brotherhood” books would make a very successful film/series.  Or Nora’s “In Death” volumes, or any number of classics that’ve been overlooked or badly done in the past (I’d love to see a new, stylish version of Maugham’s “Rain”, for example, or an anthology of gothic shorts from the old masters).

Would you be interested in seeing one of your books become a movie?  Or do you have a favorite book you think would make a great film?  Can you tell us why?

You know that WIP you’re fiddling with? Type your title into Google, then post the first link that pops up.  Just cut and paste the URL into the comments section, or just describe the website.

I would describe my findings, but this is a family blog.  

My title is “Touch the Darkness.”  (((((HERE’S))))) the first link that showed up on Google.   Click it at your own risk.   BTW, you can see the whole Google page ((((HERE)))).

Happy Turkey Day!!!

It’s my pleasure to announce today’s guest blogger.Gennita Low. Intrepid roofer, skilled writer of romantic-suspense, and online fun buddy–that sounds slight kinky doesn’t it? lol. But seriously, if you’ve caught sight of Gennita around the blogosphere, then you know she’s witty and thoughtful. Her post today displays some of that wit and thoughtfulness, so read on:

People are always making fun of romance plotlines, especially about the fact that they are “all the same” story.  You know, I tell them that it’s like Thanksgiving and eating turkey for two weeks straight after that.  It’s turkey, turkey, turkey. The point about romance, I like to tell my detractors, is how innovative can you make your leftover turkey dishes.  If you’re just going to eat dried-up turkey sandwiches for two weeks, of course you’re going to grow to think it’s all the same, but reading a romance and eating leftover turkey can be an adventure and a pleasure.  It’s the responsibility of us writers to offer scintillating versions of romantic plots and it’s up to the detractors to try them with an open mind. So, here are several the days-after turkey recipes with a little bit of stuffing from a romance writer’s point of view.  You may use them as answers to the usual suspects’ criticism about our genre’s plotlines.

The Simple Toasted Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
2 slices French loaf, toasted, mayonnaise, mustard, turkey breast/leftover
1 tbsp cranberry sauce or cranberry relish

Some romances are like quick snacks.  We love the simplicity of it–just the turkey, please–but we also love the little zest of a well-written love story.  The smart dialogue maybe.  Or the quirky characters.  We love the chemistry of two people coming together.  We know what we’re getting but the ingredients are delicious from the first bite.

The Turkey In Cornbread Muffin

This is the above recipe minus the bread and mustard.  You make a cornbread muffin that’s a bit browner and sweeter than usual, maybe add a bit of citrus for a different taste, cut the muffin in half and put the turkey in.

MUFFIN?  REALLY?  Well, sometimes we romance readers like simple and different at the same time.  Exotic locale.  Twisty situations.  Unusual sensual experiences.  We like our love stories to be the same, yet different.  So sometimes we provide something unexpected from the ordinary.  Perhaps the heroine who goes on vacation and decides to do something a bit out of her experience, and gets caught up in a charade.  Hmm.  Cornbread muffin with turkey.

Turkey Curry with Jasmine Rice
2 cups chopped leftover turkey
3 cups turkey stock
a head of broccoli
baby carrots
dice some onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
cumin powder
curry powder (or one scoop or more, depending on your ability to take spice, of canned curry spice from Asian store)
1 can sweet coconut milk
1 tsp fresh ginger
1 cup jasmine rice
cilantro
salt

Heat a little bit of oil in a big pot.  Saute onion and carrots, add garlic, spices and ginger.  Saute a few more minutes and then add turkey and coconut milk.  Stir till hot, then add rice and let simmer for 35-40 minutes or till rice is cooked.  Put in cut-up broccoli last and let it simmer for a few more minutes till veges are soft but not mushy.  Served with chopped cilantro.

Ahem.  Well, we also love complicated romances.  Sure, it’s all about the turkey leftover, but we’re throwing in all kinds of stuff now.  Adventure.  Spice.  Some Lora Leigh butt plugs.  There is no stopping us from tasting the forbidden.  And we love it because yes, the main plot line–love conquers everything and turkey leftovers get eaten, dammit–remains.  And sometimes, our taste buds get challenged a little bit, yes?

So, here are three recipes I have to help your leftover turkey challenge.  Do you have a few to add, along with your writerly take on how the “same old thing” is not really that bad when done right?  After all, if that snotty woman tells you it’s “all the same,” all you have to ask if whether she thinks sex with her husband is “all the same,” and if that is so, she needs some new leftover turkey recipes!

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

Gennita

Since this week is Thanksgiving, I will give writer’s things I am thankful for . . . .  

~ first and foremost: coffee!

~ school age children–meaning: they have a law-required place to be all day

~ family who does odd and wacky things I can use, er, um, be inspired by

~ getting to kill off the people who piss me off. . . . in writing–only–really, I swear

~ getting to fantasize about hot guys as part of the job description {umm-hmm . . . fans self}

~ having an excuse for absolutely anything I do. “I swear, honey, the [strippers, hitman, nuclear weapons info, double indemnity clauses, fill-in-the-blank],  was for research.”

~ an overactive imagination that makes “normal” people look at me sideways when I talk but writers just nod knowingly

~ knowing people who hear the voices too and aren’t locked up . . . yet 

~ friends who will go to great lengths to help you research, “No officer. I swear I wasn’t…”

~ the perks . . . free: books, bookmarks, author t-shirts out the wazoo, and the pens . . . oh the pens. {and on occasion: chocolate, condoms–haven’t understood this one yet, keychains, tea, back scatchers, rulers–the list goes on and on and . . .}

~ getting to “chat” with all the folks who visit the chica blog!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving ~

And failed miserably at them. Take a look.

So here are some tentative goals for 2008 (and isn’t it WAY too early in the year for talk like this?)
1. work on project with Raine
2. work on project w/nas girls
3. Whip TCRA into a feasable project for the agent to shop
4. Write one single title for Aphro (due 5.15)
5. Finish Forbidden (because i KNOW my agent is going to get an offer any day now!)

Out of those five things, I managed to finish one.  :badgirl:  (though admittedly the NAS project kinda got scrapped and Forbidden is still being shopped. Sidenote: that poor book is like the The Three Bears’ porridge–it’s been rejected for too much romance, not enough romance,  multiple first person POV’s and because they can’t figure out how to maret it.). Denise actually has my longer list of goals somewhere. My bonus goal was to write a YA proposal. At least I got it started so that’s good, but it’s still simmering and I”m still weighing the value of rewriting TCRA right now.

And here we are at November, and it’s almost time to set goals again. I’d *like* to do the first draft of a proposal this month. I NEED to finish a short for Cobblestone :(

AS for 2009.

I’d like to finish a WF proposal I started last spring.

I’d like to finish my YA book.

I’d like to get another Erotica proposal together.

And I think I’m going to leave it at that.

What about you? Goals? And what inspires you?

As much as I occasionally rant about the little idiosyncrasies of publishers, agents, and this crazy business, I must admit to occasionally feeling sympathy pangs.  Even the IDEA of trying to make my way through towering slush piles containing the hopes and dreams and hearts of yearning authors makes my stomach roll.

And it seems to me that, with practice and good advice, just about anyone can learn to write a decent query/pitch.
The question then is…what’s going to make your manuscript special?

Probably hundreds of thousands of wannabes storm the surly gates of publishing every year with their work.  Many hear the call.  Few are chosen.
You’ve written a romance?
You and everybody’s second cousin.
A heart-melting love story?
Been done once or twice.
A mystery with great plot twists?
Yeah?  And?
Your novel fits this publisher’s guidelines perfectly?
Take a number.

Tell us something about your current wip.  We all have one, don’t we?  Hmmm?
(And it’s a given that a unique voice counts for a great deal, but isn’t always enough to separate you from the herd, yes?).

So, without surrendering too much of your brilliant ideas for us to steal—is there something different, intriguing, or special about your MS that will make it stand out from the zillions of others, so it’s not just another competent read, but a potentially great one?
Or is that simply a matter of right place, right time, right editor/agent?

It happened again. Different setting, different details, but the end result was the same….

My recurring dream. I’ve had the same one for years:

I’m either back in high school/college/or I’m trying to get to my job, BUT I’ve (1) missed every class/work day since day one or (2) I’m so behind work that I haven’t a prayer of catching up.

Meanwhile, I’m usually trapped doing something else. In dreams, this activity can be as absurd as skiing on the stair rail.  Or trying to paint polka dots on my legs.  Or attempting to finish dinner preparations for a thousand guests and not being able to start until I find a certain pair of socks because I just can’t  cook without them.  In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “I really need to leave.  I’m late for work,” but I never make it. The closest I ever get to my destination is running down an endless maze-like hallway, but I can never find the right door. Or I’m lost in a library with rows and rows of books.

This dream turns up about once every three or four months. I’ve heard a few folks say my dream stems from anxiety surrounding a current goal or project. Deep down I’m afraid it will never be fulfilled, finished or realized. Which sounds about right since I suspect this latest episode has to do with writing (Doesn’t it always?) and the book I can’t seem to finish.

Do you have a recurring dream? If so, what is it? And what do you think it means?

I’ve known Suzanne for a couple of years now, she was part of the Struggling Writers group over on eharl  and while Suzanne wasn’t struggling in quite the same way as most of us, because she’d had a few published works under her belt, she still shared in th teeth gnashing for getting that story down on paper. What’s more she served as a mentor to many of us, sharing her experiences and knowledge.

Simple put Suzanne has a good heart, something that’s evident to anyone who’s visited her (non-writer focused) Chicken’s in the Road, her blog about making the transition from living in the suburbs to moving, with 3 kids in tow, to the family homestead in the heart West Virginia and setting up her own self-sufficient farm. I check her blog out everyday because i know I’ll come away with a smile on my face, and more likely than not, with a new bit of knowledge.

But I’m getting off topic, Suzanne is a very talented writer, and she’s here to talk about her newest release.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Something supernatural this way comes…. 

As I developed the idea for my “Haven” series, I wanted to create a tiny town where an unusual event could trigger a wave of paranormal activity.  What more fundamentally earth-shattering event is there than an earthquake?  And what more perfect place could such a series be set but in the wild and preternaturally beautiful mountains of West Virginia ?  First came SECRETS RISING and A HERO’S REDEMPTION.  Thanks to the welcome those two books received from readers, two more went right into the works with PROTECTED IN HIS ARMS out the first of December and HIGH-STAKES HOMECOMING next May. 

PROTECTED IN HIS ARMS takes Marysia O’Hurley, a secondary character brought to the fore from SECRETS RISING, on a rollercoaster, clock-ticking ride to save a kidnapped child with the help of one wildly sexy and determined lawman.  U.S. Marshal Gideon Brand knows a little girl could die without the help of the beautiful and genuine psychic.  Trouble is, Marysia doesn’t believe she’s a psychic and pursuing the link between the tragic plane crash that took her husband’s life and a missing child is the last thing she wants to face…until the bullets start flying and she isn’t only Gideon’s only hope, he’s hers, too.  Anything can happen in Haven….and quite often does. 

Romantic, emotional, chilling and otherworldly…. Welcome to Haven, WV. 

This book was a gigantic leap of faith for me (and, I must say, for my editor) as it included a plane crash, mafia hitmen, high level federal judges, U.S. Marshals, paranormal activity, and more, all set in the wilds of West Virginia.  In the midst of writing this book, I was pretty sure I’d lost my mind.  But it was the most fun I’ve ever had with a book and I hope readers will find it wildly fun, too. 

You can read an excerpt from PROTECTED IN HIS ARMS here.http://suzannemcminn.com/books/ 

Buy the book here (please, LOL).  While the book won’t be in stores for another week or so, it is shipping from Amazon now!http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373276125/authorsuzan0d-20/ 

And please visit my daily farmhouse journal for wacky farm animals, recipes, country living stories, a fabulously fun forum (check out the forum!), and more at www.suzannemcminn.com.  I write from my 40-acre farm in the wilds of

Do you have that one friend who is a dork? You know the one who is constantly goofing around, tends not to be serious . . . ever . . . laughs at everything? My thinking is –as warped as it may seem–if folks are laughing all is right with the world, so I strive to facilitate that as best as possible.

And on that line of community service I feel I provide, and to keep the dorkiness at an all time high, I cannot stand lulls in conversation. Quiet, is for when you are home alone–not when you’re with friends. I may not always present bright or earth shattering quips of whit and knowledge, but I will dern sure make the quiet . . . not so much. Shoot even when you’re with others, I hate the quiet. While I will never initiate the conversation standing in line I dern sure will keep it going as long as the other person is trapped in my presence.

I think this comes across as a problem in my writing lately. My dialogue goes on and on and I find I have to go back and trim down the less than whitty banter and K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). My youngest child unfortunately has the same affliction and well, I wanna pull my hair out–so I know why I have been threaten with toilet paper and bodily harm.

(After the last few weeks serious is HIGHLY over rated! so excuse me if I goof with ya)

I was going to blog about Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother–and if you haven’t read it, you should. Everyone over the age of 12 should read it. Don’t whine about it being a YA novel. Just go buy and read. Anyway…I’m getting ahead of myself. And I’m about to get political so if that sets your teeth on edge, I won’t mind if you skip this one.

Do you think we should bail out the Big 3 automakers–especially AFTER we (and by we I mean us, taxpaying *Joes*) already loaned/gave them 25 BILLION dollars?  Don’t get me wrong. I feel horrible for everyone working the assembly lines who fears for their job/security/future, but as Ashton Kutcher said on Bill Maher on Friday….let the oil companies bail ‘em out since they’ve been in bed together for years. I guess that old addage about laying down with dogs and waking up with fleas still holds true. I have long believed the reason it took us so long to finally get (and improve upon) eco-friendly vehicles is because of the relationship between oil and the car makers.

And furthermore, where do we draw the line? Do we just tell Circuit City to suck it cuz that’s the price of doing business? Why would we contemplate bailing out the automakers and not a retail store? Again…where’s that line?

In other news Citigroup is laying off 50,000 people. I just like wow…

——-

*Edited to add link to Michael Moore interview. I have to say, it’s hard to feel sorry for a co that screwed their employees so bad.

Michael Moore: When I made that film, there were still 50,000 people working at General Motors in Flint. I mean they had eliminated 30,000 jobs, but there were still some jobs there.

Today, I think there’s less than 12,000 working in the area, so it has devastated Flint. Flint was one of the first towns to go. When I made that movie almost 20 years ago, I hoped that the film would be a warning to other cities that this corporation was intent upon removing jobs from this country and taking them to Mexico and Brazil and other places.

When I made that movie that year, General Motors made a profit of over $4 billion, and they were still laying off people simply to make a bit more money, the people who helped to build the company, the workers in their hometown of Flint, Michigan, they just forgot about them and took the money and ran.