I haven’t really written much in weeks, probably a couple thousand words at the most for a new story that hasn’t really gone anywhere other than a few intro pages. It’s not that I don’t have inspiration, I do. I have a ton of cool story ideas from post-apocalyptic to magical fantasy to horror. The problem is that I find myself in a strange place after having written my last book, which was based on a completely different and unique idea. Now I am worrying whether it was too different.
Too different from what, you ask? Well, the market, or what agents and editors say is hot in the market (especially for debut authors). So here is the dilemma – agents and editors claim to want fresh but it’s fresh with a caveat. They want fresh but not so fresh that it’s not completely identical to everything else selling in the market. Does that sound like a contradiction of terms to you? That’s because it is. How do you find an idea that’s like everything else but still fresh?
I am starting to think that this doesn’t really exist unless I copy what one other young adult author revealed was her secret strategy – to take any (non-original) story and switch up the gender of the characters, giving publishers what they want but being “different” enough. But that doesn’t make it fresh to me, underneath it’s just the same old thing. Wouldn’t readers see right through that? Interestingly, it has worked for her – she’s a best selling author of two young adult books. So is that what agents and editors want, a mash-up of already done, already “proven” ideas? Sounds like it but I don’t think that that’s what readers want, at least I’d like to hope so. I’m a voracious reader myself and when I come upon a new book with an interesting unique different idea, I’m intrigued. Simply put, the world is a diverse place, we need diverse material. Pick any book from the Hugo Awards list and you’ll see some of the diversity I’m talking about.
Anyway, that’s only a snippet of my creative dilemma as I’m sure there are other implications tied in to this like the economic climate (editors not willing to risk their jobs for unknown authors or publishers looking for tried and true), the changing landscape of the publishing industry and the digital ebook revolution, or simple economics of the cost to produce versus sales return. More than likely it’s going to be the Indies (Independent Publishers) that are going to be the ones to find the new stuff or take a chance on niche markets/ideas, but still, that’s but a sliver of the whole. It’s an undeniably daunting prospect for any unconnected unknown writer. The odds are simply not in their favor.
That said, I’m debating whether to do a test project and write the book that fits the mold. Is that selling out? Not entirely sure…but if it means selling something, I don’t have anything to lose. What’s the alternative? To do it yourself and own the onus? That’s certainly an option but that’s a very complicated discussion meant for another time.
Not super fresh, I thought. Fresh Blood definitely had its moments, but overall it just didn’t get there for me. Maybe it was because I expected a TON more from the second to last episode of the season.
Firstly, it’s disappointing that they basically gave away how they were going to kill Russell in the previews for next week but I guess the snapshot of Godric is a little sweet spot for us to look forward to considering they gave pretty much everything else away (i.e., Russell is dead).
Secondly, how are they going to wrap up (if at all) all of the other miscellaneous subplots that have for the most part been somewhat lame this season? Let’s enumerate: 1) Crystal and Jason and her meth/were-panther family, 2) Tara’s rage at everybody (although was the cathartic sex scene between her and Sam in this episode supposed to be a loose end tied up?), 3) Lafayette and Jesus and their whole weird super-natural (and now diabolic???) relationship, 4) Arlene and her baby (although maybe that’s for next season now that her “evil” baby didn’t die), 5) Jessica and Hoyt (in hindsight though as I write this, maybe that one has been wrapped up because they’re back together, although Hoyt’s mother and Summer are devilishly plotting to break them up), 6) Claudine and her fairy bunch, and lastly but not least, 7) The Authority – at least give us something to chew on between seasons. Pretty pretty please!
The shining moments between Crystal’s were-panther appearance and the completely bizarre Wiccan scene between Holly and Arlene to get rid of Arlene’s baby, was of course the confrontation scene between Eric and Russell when he offers him the sun, as well as the last part of the episode where the whole trick with Russell, Eric, Sookie and Bill comes together.
Bill: One caveat gentlemen. If you drain her completely, that’s the last fairy blood you’ll ever drink.
Eric: Hm, good point.
Russell: We are schooled. Onward to adventure!
Sookie: If this is you trying to help me, thanks for nothing.
The scene in the bar when drunken Sam completely loses it was actually also pretty funny. In a messed up way, it was cool to see the normally pulled-together Sam falling apart and swearing at everyone, even poor gentle Terry who tries to tell him that it’s just the liquor talking.
Sam: Get back in the kitchen, you shell-shocked mother-[BLEEP]!
Even so, I laughed so hard because that is exactly how Terry looks to me…shell-shocked. I actually also liked wrap up of the story between Jason and Kitch, and the whole secret that he’s using V to be able to play football longer and stronger, and that all the coaches know about it. Probably something that will go into next season unless Jason goes ballistic on them in the last episode. The part where Tara tells Andy that she knew about Eggs was cool, and I liked how Andy comes back and just explains about Maryann.
Andy: Well I don’t feel like a hero. I never wanted nothing like this to happen. It was all Maryann. He [Eggs] was innocent. God help me. If I could do it again, if I could go back and just get a hold of Jason’s gun, if Eggs would just listen and put the knife down, but he…he was bound and determined to die. I couldn’t stop him. Jason didn’t know. I’m sorry. Tara, I’m so sorry.
Honestly I think that was all Tara needed to hear that somebody was sorry that Eggs had to die. That was a good resolution of that piece.
It was good to see poor little Tommy back-pedaling like crazy when Sam fires him and kicks him out, especially how quickly he usually is to fire off his mouth. Bet he didn’t see that one coming!
Tommy to Sam: Wait. I lost my temper. It’s…it’s nothing. I’m sorry. See, see, I ain’t mad anymore!
Absolutely loved the last few minutes of the eposide when Eric turns around to Russell when they’re outside in the sun with his face is competely blistered and burned, and he snaps the handcuffs on Russell’s hand before Russell can escape.
Russell: You traitor! [BLEEP] madman!
Eric growling: Be brave. We’ll die together.
Thought Eric was very much like a Viking prince in that moment, facing death so courageously.
The final episode, which looks super-exciting based on the previews (Godric!!!), will air in two weeks on September 12, at 9pm on HBO. As a final note, loved the In Memoriam of all the vampires/creatures who met the True Death, from Maudette to Godric. Classic gory True Blood moments!
What’s that about a back door? Someone infiltrating and infecting my bits and bytes? Sounds ugly, doesn’t it? Don’t panic. It’s all sorted now, site is clean and healthy.
But honestly, it’s like a personal slight, the horridly public announcement that you have a contagious infection, and everyone should stay away or they could catch it. Is that a scarlet letter, or what? Anyway, initial shock and shame aside, I guess it was inevitable at some point according to all the posts and information out there about malware, spyware, crapware, etc. It happens, and if you don’t protect your site effectively, you could be vulnerable to attack.
So the short story is that my site got hacked with additional unauthorized users added and malicious software embedded into the code, which of course got tagged by Google and was eventually marked as a “site that may harm your computer.” Super. Enter immediate panic on my part. What to do? What to do? WHAT TO DO?
Thankfully, Media Temple, my hosting provider, along with my wonderful webmaster/husband got right on it and cleaned out all the malware (while of course I’m still running around like a chicken with its head cut off). We then requested a review from Google (via their webmaster tools – request a review) to confirm that the site was clean, which they did very quickly (thank you Google!), and now we are back to normal. Phew.
If your site has been compromised, don’t panic (easier said than done, I know). Contact your hosting provider for help, and follow Google’s step-by-step information on Cleaning Your Site. You can also refer to the WordPress FAQ My Site Was Hacked for additional information specific to WordPress. StopBadware.org also offers good information, tips to protect yourself, and forum advice from people who can help you.
Remember, use protection! That’s good life advice too.
With a big cast of action heroes (Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Eric Roberts, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, including quite a funny cameo appearance from California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger), The Expendables is cool and exciting. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of plot so after you get over the star swagger, you’re left hanging waiting for all the explosives and gun-firing and bad accents to dissipate with not much substance left over.
That said, is it exciting? You bet. With a ton of gun slinging action that pretty much never stops along with some crazy car chases and a ton of adrenaline-filled testosterone, the movie is on the go from the start. It’s an over-the-top extravaganza of manly machonistas. But outside of that, there’s no hiding the fact that the script sucks.
Rated 38% on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, The Expendables is simply an aging A-list cast thrown together haphazardly in a B-grade movie, where a bunch of mercenaries attempt to save the destruction of small country under military occupancy and the control of an ex-FBI agent. Plus, let me not forget the hot Spanish daughter of the army general who convinces Stallone to singlehandedly attempt to take on the bad guys. Save my people, Mr. Big Muscles.
Cheesy? Just a little. But I knew what I was getting into when I went to see this movie, so overall I wasn’t too disappointed. Instead, I just let myself enjoy the mad old-school action movie ride that was The Expendables and in the end, I’m not ashamed to say that I actually enjoyed it. Chock full of bullets and blood, there are some great one liners and unexpectedly quite a lot of comedy.
Trench (Schwarznegger): Give this job to my friend here. He loves playing in the jungle, right?
Barney (Stallone): Right.
Mr. Church (Willis): What’s his [bleep] problem?
Barney: He wants to be president.
Nice dig at Arnold’s political aspirations. It’s hilarious too when they keep picking on Jet Li’s height.
Hale (Terry Crews): Great, they got a small army. What have we got? (looks at Ying Yang) Four and a half men.
Ying (Jet Li): Not so funny.
It’s by far not the best movie I’ve ever seen, but it’s not the worst either. If you’re into this kind of movie, I’d say check out The Losers which is way better (and funnier). The Expendables is definitely a “wait for DVD” movie but I’d rate it a 2 out of 5 stars just for its sheer old-school chutzpah.
So Sookie is a fairy. One dumb-ass fairy. Seriously who goes running to Fangtasia when you know that werewolves are after you and that the vampire you’re running to knows exactly what you are and wants to use you for his own nefarious ends? Yep, you guessed it. A blond clueless fairy named Sookie Stackhouse who gets kissed and dismissed in the dungeon of hell. Like I said, dumb as a bucket of rocks.
I thought this episode of True Blood was a little disappointing in parts and not so disappointing in others. The whole V roller-coaster trip with Lafayette and Jesus was almost too weird, and I’m not sure I’m liking the direction that’s going too much. Sorcerers, black magic, witch doctors? Not really feeling it. Next, between True Blood‘s cool-looking vampires and the awesome effects using real wolves for the were form of the werewolves, Crystal’s black panther form was some B-grade horror movie fakeness. Did not like that at all. I also think it would have been way cooler if they had revealed this earlier in the show before we got totally fed-up with her and her strange deer-chewing, meth-dealing kin. Too little, too late at this point.
On the flip side, I did like the explanation of Sam’s back-story, and it was good to understand why he didn’t give in to his anger before his brother came along. He used to be a bad boy himself. Love that Tommy’s rage sent Jessica right back into Hoyt’s arms (not to mention Hoyt getting a drink of Jess’ blood to heal him). She and Hoyt belong together. Speaking of Jessica, I was cheering inside when she gave Arlene a piece of her mind, and her fangs, when Arlene was mouthing off about vampires. Nothing like a firecracker red-headed vamp to shut someone up. Awesome!
Thought the scene with Russell and his street-boy-toy, and the whole reenactment of Talbot’s staking was more than a little creepy. I know Russell’s gone off the deep end, but seriously, the man has issues. By the way, anyone notice that the boy-toy faux-Talbot was Michael Steger (Navid) from 90210? Ok, now that’s just become even more creepy. Ewww, 90210 is now ruined forever.
Still, apart from all that, exciting times! Just two more episodes left! The main plot-line of course is going to come to a head with Eric (armed with Sookie’s blood I’m guessing) versus Russell. It would be neat if the Authority got involved at some point in the final episodes, at least to show that they have some say/response in matters of vampire security. Not sure what the True Blood team is going to do to resolve the various weak sub-plots which I reiterated in my last post, but I’m in it for the bigger stuff anyway. And hopefully, Alcide will make a reappearance and make it all worth it.
I’d really like to say that Nanny McPhee is back and better than ever, but honestly I didn’t think that this sequel was as good as the first. Sure, there were a few poignant moments as well as some decent laugh-out-loud ones in Nanny McPhee Returns, but overall, it didn’t have much of the magic of the original Nanny McPhee.
Rated at 77% on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, I honestly expected more given that the tomatometer is usually in line with what I think about most films. In this case however, I think it was a bit off. I’d probably put Nanny McPhee Returns at about 50%.
Nanny McPhee returns at Aggie’s behest (the baby from the first movie played by Maggie Smith) to help a young mother (played admirably by Maggie Gyllenhaal) with her three unruly children and their two spoiled cousins while their father is away at war. As usual, a scary-looking Nanny McPhee appears when she is needed but not wanted, and leaves when she is wanted but no longer needed (with hotness makeover complete). She has five lessons to teach these five youngsters, and goes about doing that in her unique stick-thumping manner. Although it’s a tad bit violent and reminiscent of a tween Fight Club when the children are beating the crap out of themselves, Nanny McPhee does manage to complete the first of her lessons. But then, toss in a creepy uncle who wants the children’s mother to sell the farm to save himself from debt (and the two heifers after his kidneys), an inanely random bomb diffusion, a weird blackbird addicted to putty, an unsightly (really unsightly) amount of poo, and a forged telegram that their father has been killed in action, and I’m not sure that the outcome can be anything amazing. Instead, it’s a hodge-podge of random events with a ton of fairy dust thrown on top of it to disguise its complete lack of anything magical.
That said, I didn’t leave the theater saying that this movie was terrible. It did have some redeeming moments too, like when the children stick up for each other, or their mother’s unswerving unconditional love (at moments when most mothers would go completely ballistic, like when they ruined her cherished wedding veil), or when their father comes home at the end because his son knows it “in his bones” that his father isn’t dead. Overall however, it just wasn’t near anything as good as its predecessor.
Emma Thompson is wonderful as Nanny McPhee, but the main storyline completely undermined how incredible she is in this role. I can certainly appreciate that this film is of course directed toward kids, but I just didn’t feel the magic. Don’t get me wrong, the actual magic was there – fairy-dust-making stick thumps, synchronized swimming piglets, sky-writing barley, and flying motorbikes, along with disappearing moles and unibrows. It just didn’t feel as original and extraordinary as the first film which also seemed to have more of a more fluid and emotionally-connective story. The magic went far deeper. The pacing of the film also felt odd to me, dragging along in parts and racing along in others which made it seem very fragmented and choppy. Things happened too much at random, and then didn’t get resolved or were ignored.
Nanny McPhee Returns does convey the right messages to children like not fighting, sharing, helping others, as well as more adult messages like taking leaps of faith, but it just didn’t come together for me as much as I wanted it to. I would rate Nanny McPhee Returns 2 out of 5 stars. Younger children will enjoy it, and as other reviewers have said, parents will probably enjoy their delight more than any of their own from watching the film themselves. I’d say wait for DVD.
First thing is that I have to apologize for going a whole week without writing about last week’s True Blood episode. I only watched it off my DVR yesterday as I’ve been away fighting monsters of my own (3 foot long eels). Blech! You’d think I could handle the nasty little buggers being addicted to all the blood and gore that is True Blood, but no. Still, that’s a story for another time.
Anyway. So two things stuck with me after this episode.
1) Franklin’s wasn’t dead! But now he’s dead for real courtesy of Mr. Stackhouse.
Franklin (with disdainful English diction): You do realize that I’m a vampire. You could empty every round in me and I’ll heal.
Jason: Not if I got wooden bullets.
2) Russell is one crazy psychotic vampire (not to mention creepy, carrying around his little crystal chalice of Talbot entrails…ewww).
Russell: We are immortal because we drink the true blood, blood that is living, organic, and human. Make no mistake, mine is the true face of vampires! Why would we seek equal rights? You are not our equals. We will eat you. After we eat your children. Now time for the weather. Tiffany?
Classic!
Overall the episode wasn’t bad, it just seemed like it was a lot of catch-up/build-up for future episodes to move the main plot along with Sookie/Russell/Bill/Eric, and attempting to wrap-up the smaller sub-plots with Jason and Crystal, Sam and his family, Lafayette and Jesus, Tara and her post-Franklin rage, Jessica and Hoyt, etc.
Speaking of sub-plots, still don’t know what the deal with Sam’s brother is or even why Sam finally loses it because he gets his buttons pushed about everyone walking all over him. So predictable! The relationship between Crystal and Jason is still annoying me, it just doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Of course Crystal is not going to leave her “kin,” they’re her hillbilly pack. Come on already! I really think Sam’s and Jason’s characters have been undermined this season with this story direction. It’s boring and lame.
Still happy about Lafayette and Jesus but I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop on poor Lafayette. Either Jesus is going to turn out to be some non-human or one of the other True Blood uglies is going to take him out.
Love the little scene between Jessica and Hoyt, especially when he tells her how much he hates Summer. That was awesome because I can’t stand Summer. I just want to crush her with my bare hands! Plus, I love Jess.
Hoyt: I [bleep] hate her. She will not stop talking!
I wasn’t sure about the addition of Holly but now I am excited to see what she brings to the table this late in the season, especially after all the tweets that she is a witch. The main question I have in my head is whether she knew what happened to Tara and said that she was a rape survivor in the meeting so that she could get close to her, just like she knew about Arlene’s baby. Speaking of the baby, when she was sitting with Arlene and Arlene was saying that her baby was evil, there was a moment there. Something baaaaad is going to happen! *shiver*
Now for the good stuff. Really loved the scene between Nan and Eric when he was being interrogated. It was good to see that there is actually an Authority or some authority anyway (a bunch of faceless guys in a room over a webcam does not an Authority make, but we shall see). Also, anyone else notice that after claiming that she only drinks TruBlood to Eric, Nan is just like any other vampire with her little human suck-toys? She certainly seems to have a lot of power for a vampire who’s supposedly just the face of the American Vampire League.
Nan: Listen, you whiny little bitch…you brought us this steaming pile of shit, and you’re going to make it go away. Now bring me his fangs or I will have yours.
Lastly, what in tarnation is Sookie? We have Bill miraculously going to her secret dream place where he meets up with Claudine, and obviously she tells him what Sookie is, but we still don’t know! Dammit. Like the twist that Hadley’s kid (Sookie’s nephew) is also the same as Sookie, but now I really need to know why the vampires all have such a huge interest in her.
I am guessing that all this is going to come together in the last couple episodes somehow as Sookie undoubtedly will have to be the one to kill Russell (possibly working together with Eric and Bill) if only because he is 3000 years old and stronger than any other vampire.
Can’t wait for the next episode! True Blood airs on Sundays on HBO at 9pm EST.
I do have to add a mini-postscript that Russell, despite being a complete lunatic, does make some good points about current society. Could True Blood be delivering a public message about excess and morality? Hmmm.
“Now the American Vampire League wishes to perpetrate the notion that we are just like you. And, I suppose in a few small ways we are. We’re narcissists. We care only about getting what we want, no matter what the cost, just like you. Global warming. Perpetual war. Toxic waste. Child labor. Torture. Genocide. That’s a small price to pay for your SUVs and your flat screen TVs, your blood diamonds, your designer jeans, your absurd garish McMansions! Futile symbols of permanence to quell your quivering spineless souls.”
That’s it! *shakes fist to sky* No more designer jeans for me!
One big unicorn, strong and free, thought he was happy as he could be. Then three little kittens came around and turned his whole life upside down. They made him laugh, they made him cry. He never should have said goodbye. And now he knows he can never part from those three little kittens that changed his heart.
I had the near-forgotten pleasure of viewing Despicable Me in a real live drive-in theater, complete with miniature playground, deck chairs, and honest-to-goodness speaker boxes on poles between the cars. We did get reception on a radio station so it wasn’t entirely all old-school. It wasn’t 3D but still, what a great experience!
Rated at 79% on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, Despicable Me lived up to its hype. More delightful than despicable, Despicable Me is a great family film that is sweet, funny, and endearing for adults and children alike.
Surrounded by a slice of suburbia in his hidden uber-outfitted, underground lair, Gru is a super-villain who is plotting his biggest crime yet…to steal the moon. All he wants is to win his mother’s approval. With the help of three orphaned girls to infiltrate his nemesis’ lair by selling cookies, he manages to steal back a shrink-ray (crucial in his plan to shrink and steal the moon). But what he doesn’t plan for is everything else it takes to raise three little girls, like meal time, play time, telling stories, and goodnight kisses. After they turn his life completely upside down, Gru decides to send them back to the orphanage. In the end, Gru and his Twinkie-like minions (who are hilarious – case in point, the photocopying of their bare bottoms and giggling like crazy had me in stitches), manage to pull-off the heist, but Gru realizes that what he really wants in the world is to be with his three girls. He wins his mother’s approval when she finally tells him that she’s proud of him for becoming a dad.
Gru: It’s like my heart is a tooth, and it’s got a cavity that can only be filled with children.
With a ton of great humor, Despicable Me is a heart-warming movie that will make you only want to see it again and again and again. Gru has some great one-liners as a first-time parent that were hilarious.
Gru: You will not cry, or sneeze or barf or fart! No annoying sounds.
Agnes: Does this count as annoying? (puffs her cheeks)
You can’t help but fall for the girls, especially Agnes, the one with the giant doe eyes and an unhealthy obsession with anything fluffy.
Agnes (staring at a plush unicorn at a fair): It’s so fluffy, I’m gonna die! SO FLUFFY!
She reminded me of the little girl in Monsters Inc. Super adorable!
Despite Gru’s gruff exterior, the girls look past all that, and start to see all the good things in him that would make him a great dad. Their love is immediate and unconditional. Like Gru, at the heart of it all, they just want to be accepted and loved, and find their own place in the world with a loving family of their own.
Edith: Mr. Gru is nice.
Margo: But scary.
Agnes: Yeah. Like Santa.
An enjoyable experience that I didn’t really expect, I would rate Despicable Me four out of five stars. The Twinkies probably warrant their own star. Absolutely loved em! I’m saving the final star for a 3D viewing which I heard was fantastic, so this rating is to be updated at some point. For now, Despicable Me is 95 minutes of superbad goodness. Enjoy!
If you’re shy, easily offended, or don’t like blood, turn away now. This ain’t for the fainthearted.
The True Blood Rolling Stone cover is mad sexy! It’s everything that True Blood is about – vampires, blood, nudity, sex, and rock n’ roll. Ok, maybe not so much the rock n’ roll part but definitely the first four with lots of intrigue, various other paranorms, and a lot more sex than just the one word above implies.
Featuring Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse), and Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton), the cover, like the show, is bold, dramatic, and provocative, typical of many past Rolling Stone covers.
Absolutely love Alan Ball’s comment to Rolling Stone, “To me, vampires are sex, I don’t get a vampire story about abstinence. I’m 53. I don’t care about high school students. I find them irritating and uninformed.” Hilarious.
Check out the latest issue of Rolling Stone on newsstands now. The article will be available online on Friday, August 20th for Rolling Stone subscribers.
I love sleeper spy agent movies! Salt was non-stop action even though its run-time was only an hour and thirty-nine minutes, which in my opinion definitely goes to show that longer isn’t necessarily better as is the case with many inflated Hollywood movies these days. The spy-thriller plot is complex enough to keep you guessing, and Angelina Jolie turns out a great performance in this film, mixing in a little Lara Croft with some Mrs. Smith action from her acting repertoire. Although it’s only rated at 58% on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, I still enjoyed it from start to finish.
Evelyn Salt is a CIA operative, sworn to defend her country. When a KGB defector shows up at CIA headquarters and says that Salt is a trained Russian sleeper agent (insinuated into American society as a child as part of an elite operation), who is going to kill the Russian President, Salt is immediately on the defensive. She wants to make sure her husband is safe so she breaks out of lock-down causing a massive full-on agent chase with some nice trailer-truck leap-frogging stunts. In a complete reversal of what I expected (that she was a good guy), she makes her way to NY, assassinates the Russian President, and then turns herself in. Escaping police custody, she meets up with the Russian defector on a barge where he kills her husband in cold blood. Masking her devastation, Salt learns that it is all part of a greater plot to kill the US President and start a multi-nation war to bring down the United States. She eliminates everyone on the barge, and heads to the White House to stop a series of carefully pre-planned events involving a lot of sleeper Russian agents like herself. In a heart-stopping sequence from where one of the Russian spies makes a move on the US President, Salt makes it to the safe-bunker where she learns that her CIA partner is also part of the Russian mission, and is about to set off a nuclear missile. She breaks in and stops him but not before the SWAT team takes her down, believing her to be the bad guy. In the end, she manages to escape with the reluctant help of the main agent in pursuit who believes her account of what really happened.
There aren’t a lot of special effects or CGI, just awesome plain vanilla action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found Angelina Jolie’s performance as a spy to be exactly what it needed to be – great fight scenes, decent acting with not a ton of needless dialogue, and a great poker face. She is a spy after all! The convoluted conspiracy theory plot had me guessing as to where Salt’s loyalty lay, but in the end, she did prove to be one of the good guys and saves the world from nuclear disaster. I loved the twist where she shoots the Russian President with a paralysis toxin from a spider, because she knows that if she doesn’t do it, someone else will do it for real. I thought the fleshing out of the real plot (complete world anarchy) was believable, and Salt ends up being the rogue Russian-turned-American spy who brings the whole conspiracy down.
Overall, Salt was good, mindless but engaging fun. As an action film, in my opinion it held its own against the Bourne movies or even the James Bond franchise. Just because Salt’s a chick doesn’t mean that she can’t lay a good beat-down on the bad guys. Cool, action summer flick, plus the boys will like the part where she, um, takes off her undies to block a surveillance camera. Part Bond, part Basic Instinct, what’s not to like? I would rate Salt 3 and a half out of 5 stars.
Super intense True Blood episode with some mad angst, mad fighting, and mad sex (all kinds, pick your poison – vamp/vamp, boy/boy, boy/girl, vamp/girl). Lots of boy-boy action again in this episode between Jesus and Lafayette, and also between Eric and Talbot. Booyah. Not to mention Eric’s man-tease after Talbot tells him imperiously “I’m bored. Take your clothes off.” Classic. I did think that their kiss was very awkward, not like Lafayette and Jesus, but then again they are two primal vampire males versus the two human nice boys, right?
Eric’s game to somehow exact vengeance on Russell is starting to get ramped up, especially when he pledges his allegiance that he has been searching for him for one thousand years, for “a true leader, one strong enough to unite us all.” He definitely knows how to play Russell, and seems to have him in the palm of his hand. Still, I don’t know if I like him in this submissive role (I want the Eric from last season), but I am sure it’s all a means to an end. “I will show you just how deep my loyalty runs…” To us, the viewers, his underlying threat to Russell is unmistakable. I cannot wait for when he takes Russell down.
No surprise that Tara is having crazy sex dreams about Franklin, after all she drank his blood. She is also definitely torn about Sookie’s feelings for Bill which she admits to still having, but I think a lot of that is a combination of how Bill treated her when she first arrived at Russell’s place and of course her terror of Franklin. She’s seen what a truly horrific vampire is capable of, no wonder she’s ticked off. Speaking of, I guess I was wrong that Franklin is dead since Talbot mentioned that he had to scrub his brains out of the linen. Unless…vampire brains can regenerate? Hmmm.
Glad that Jesus is back in the picture with Lafayette. Love how he gets Jean to hand over the knife…little bit of sweet mixed in with a whole lot of crazy in this episode, which was a nice change. The twist with Lafayette having a lot of power is also cool although I’m not sure how that will play out with all the other vamps, weres, shifters, light-bearers, and other paranorms in the True Blood world.
Crystal and Jason also have some sex of their own too, but we still have yet to see what she and her family are. I am guessing from the man eating the raw deer and the weird little hiss that maybe they’re some kind of were-coyotes or other wild-cat creatures. Love when Jason goes all Rambo and threatens Crystal’s father to stay away from her, “me and the whole sheriff’s department are going to come after you, and your hillbilly freak show! You feel me?” Go Jason! He always jumps then thinks, but it’s what makes him Jason. I really hope they make him a cop and validate him just a little bit.
Things are also heating up with Sookie – I really need to know what she is, and what her cousin Hadley revealed to Sophie-Anne and Eric. It has to be big otherwise why would Eric risk sending Hadley to warn Sookie? Speaking of Eric, anyone else notice that he always seems to be bleeding from the ears and/or nose? What is that about? Anyway, I knew that he was going to take Talbot out, and of course, sex is when they’re the most vulnerable considering that Talbot is older (and stronger) than Eric. Poor Talbot, he really does get the, um, short end of the stick. I mean stake.
“Oh poor Talbot, are your diamond slippers chafing.”
So Eric soothes the ruffled feathers of Talbot while Russell goes to track Sookie. When Talbot realizes that Eric is going to kill him, the look on his face was a classic B-movie horror still. I think I actually felt sorry for Talbot, he had some good one-liners especially when he told Russell he was going to babysit his wife and then calls her a putana in the same breath. Oh Talbot, we shall miss you and your wifely antics!
The Sookie/Debbie showdown was cool, glad to see there was no cliched hair pulling, just some good old fashion punching, head-smashing, and face-slashing. Nice! I actually liked the fact that she didn’t turn into a wolf. Must have been a power thing to take Sookie down while in human form.
Love how Bill provokes Russell to save Jessica, “are you a coward, or are you just lazy?” It made him seem so badass even though he knows that he was going to get his butt kicked because Russell is 3000 years old. Of course, Bill ends up being saved inadvertently by Eric as Russell feels it acutely when Talbot is killed so he disappears.
I was also really hoping for some Hoyt heroics, like maybe he would save Jessica from the werewolf. It was almost too predictable to see her killing the werewolf – it’s not like she’s weak, she’s always been strong so I expected it. I just didn’t get what was the sense of having Hoyt drive by at that moment if he didn’t have anything to do with the moment.
And now for the grand finale of this episode (no pun intended). The sex scene at the end between Bill and Sookie might have just eclipsed the sex-scene between them after he climbed out of the dirt grave in a previous episode. That was some of the most angry, emotional, intense make-up sex ever seen on True Blood! But you know it was coming…those two can’t stay apart for long, even with Alcide getting his flirt on. Umm….Alcide…
Looking forward to what happens when Russell gets back to his dead love, and how Eric handles the situation! Only 3 more episodes left! True Blood airs on HBO on Sundays at 9pmEST.
I have never been disappointed by a Jack Reacher novel, until now. In fact, I own every single one of the Jack Reacher novels. All of them, and I love them all equally. But not anymore…I guess the other shoe had to drop sometime with 61 Hours.
In summary, it’s not an overly complicated plot. Reacher stumbles into a scenario, as he always does, where he lends his assistance to the local police force after of course confirming he isn’t the bad guy. Someone’s moving a lot of meth in their area, and they think it’s a bunch of bikers squatting on an abandoned ex-Air Force base which has miles and miles of underground space beneath it. They are right but they need to find the big guy, the one behind it all, a drug lord named Plato, before he kills their only witness (Mrs. Salter). Reacher gets help from his old MP team and it’s new CO, Susan Turner, to find out more about the base. After a few predictable kills (Mrs. Salter and Reacher’s police force buddy), the final showdown occurs in the base with the drug lord who gets triple-crossed by his own guys and some unnamed random Russian guy, and ends with Reacher running for his life to escape a massive explosion.
Mr. Child, you are a talented writer no doubt, you had me turning page after page and wanting more Reacher just as you always do, but you broke one simple cardinal rule. Reacher does not get the girl. I’ve never been rooting for two people to come together more than I did for those two. I felt really cheated because there was an unconscious build-up with Susan Turner looking into his file and getting more involved with him mentally and emotionally (and vice versa), especially during their last telephone conversation…and then you just ripped it away! Uggh!
Normally I close a Jack Reacher novel with a sense of “that was freaking awesome!” Not this time – I honestly wanted to hurl the book across the room, because not only was I denied any kind of actual face-to-face with Reacher and Susan, I don’t even know if my hero is even still alive. The book ended far too abruptly with Reacher trying to get to safety and Susan being shipped off to Afghanistan and all major agencies cold-casing the whole thing. On top of all that, the plot was way too predictable and so were the surrounding characters. I had Chief Holland pegged as the killer from the second he started being over-solicitous to Mrs. Salter.
As with all of Lee Child’s novels in this series, the writing was fast-paced and brilliant, but I felt inordinately let down by the content. Then again, maybe my expectations of Jack Reacher are abnormally high.
I would give 61 Hours probably 2 and a half stars, if only because despite it all, I still love Reacher.
I haven’t enjoyed a comedy/action film recently as much as I enjoyed Kick-Ass. Rated at 75% on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, it definitely lived up to expectations. And as much as I love random, no-thinking-required comedies, this one actually had a few good messages, and when you add in a Sin-City-ish ton of blood and a badass eleven-year-old, you’ve got a little something something.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s probably going to rub you the wrong way from the start. I mean it’s totally warped. You’ve got a father shooting his kid in the chest so that she can get used to the feeling of being shot (although later on we learn that he used “low-velocity” bullets…awww). Said kid swears like a sailor and kills bad-guys like a tiny ninja without blinking an eye. She reminded me of the school girl in Kill Bill. So it’s probably going to scrape against what’s been ingrained into you as socially acceptable because it really isn’t on many levels – little girls shouldn’t be foul-mouthed killing machines for one. That aside, it was a pretty good flick, but you have to put yourself in the mindset of Kill Bill. It’s going to be gory and off-putting but it’s going to be cool in its own sick twisted way.
So what’s Kick-Ass about? Dave is an ordinary high-school boy, more of a nerd than anything, and he asks the question of why don’t more people try to help others. Why aren’t there more real-life superheroes? After being mugged and bullied, he buys a costume online and tries to defend people, calling himself Kick-Ass. The first time he gets completely creamed (and stabbed) ending up in the hospital with all kinds of metal in his body and messed-up nerve endings. The second time he gets You-Tubed sticking up for a guy being beaten up by thugs, and suddenly Kick-Ass is an online superstar.
In his adventures, he meets two other “superheroes,” Big Daddy and Hit Girl who have their own agenda – to take down the big-boss kingpin drug dealer who framed Big Daddy and killed his wife. Hit Girl is eleven and is Big Daddy’s own mini-me killing machine (she asks for switch blades on her birthday…awesome!) Meanwhile the drug boss thinks that Kick-Ass is responsible for killing his men even though it’s really Big Daddy, so the drug boss’ son decides to dress up as a superhero (Red Mist) to lure in Kick-Ass and the other two. In the end Big Daddy and Kick-Ass are captured but are rescued by Hit Girl. Big Daddy dies a fiery death. Together, Hit Girl and Kick-Ass finish what Big Daddy started, taking down the drug boss in an adrenaline-filled, bullet-blasting, bloody extravaganza.
5) Don’t let your kids watch this movie or get switch blades for their birthday
I would rate Kick-Ass three and half stars out of five. In Tarantino-esque fashion, it’s ingenious, irreverent, violent and vulgar, but like me, you’ll watch it and probably enjoy it.
Normally when I get accosted in book stores by women older than me raving about a young adult book they’ve recently read (and I mean raving, she couldn’t stop), I usually nod and carefully inch my way backwards scanning for nearby exits. That was the case with The Hunger Games. Needless to say, I didn’t immediately buy the book at Barnes and Noble, and got the heck out of dodge. A few days later, scrounging around for something different to read, I came upon The Hunger Games, so I purchased it. Boy, am I glad I did. I finished that book in 3 hours flat. It was different for sure. It was exciting. It was heart-pounding. It was sweet. And it was good.
Suzanne Collins is a solid writer. The language flowed well, especially after the first tenth of the book which didn’t really grab me initially, and at times I really got pulled in by the descriptions of the territory so much so that I had to go back and re-read little things I missed on the previous page. I’m also a chronic speed-reader, so I’m sure that didn’t help when I got engrossed.
The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic future where there are no longer U.S. states but twelve districts surrounding a Capitol in a country called Panem. The Capitol is full of excess and gluttony and wealth, while each of the twelve districts has to fight for basic necessities like grain and water and oil. District 12 is the last district, and is the poorest. Each year, as a punishment for a prior rebellion of the districts against the Capitol, two young people (one boy and one girl aged 12-18) are chosen from each district to fight to the death while it is all broadcast on live TV. If you’re like me and are thinking of The Condemned, a 2007 film, where a bunch of death-row convicts are placed on an island and have to fight to the death streaming live over the internet, with the winner getting a free pass out of jail, I will tell you that it was quite similar in concept. Even down to the sponsors of the event sending floating parachutes with weapons or food to the combatants to give them an edge.
The big difference of course is that these are teenagers fighting to survive. But conceptually, it is pretty much identical. The main protagonist is a girl called Katniss who is headstrong, clever, protective of her family, hostile yet compassionate, and multi-dimensional. She is fierce, and she had me at hello. When her little sister’s name is drawn in the selection for District 12, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She along with another boy who has loved her since they were children, Peeta, head to the games at the Capitol. As part of their strategy, they are coached to go into the games as a pair (and not traditionally as solitary fighters because there can only be one winner). Not unexpectedly, this connection is what saves them both in the end.
The first thing I noticed once they got to the Capitol was the huge dichotomy between life in the Capitol and life in District 12. One favors a life of indulgence and excess, the other one of hardship and suffering. I thought Suzanne Collins did a great job of communicating this and it was one of the many things that gave added depth to the book. This was a world that I could really sink my mind into.
Once the actual games commence, following an Olympic-style introduction ceremony, it’s all about survival and not getting killed. I found myself becoming so tied into Katniss and what she was feeling each second of the day during the ordeal that I could not put this book down. When she was hurt, I felt hurt. When she was sad, I felt sad. Kudos to the author for being able to weave this kind of reader response with such finesse. In the end, after finding and losing allies, almost dying, avoiding some pretty tight situations, and yep, falling for her District 12 partner, Katniss and Peeta make it to the end, and in an unprecedented turn, are declared twin winners. The plot is pretty intricate so I know that I am leaving out a lot of other little plot things here, but that wouldn’t be fun, would it? Giving away all the good stuff that makes this novel a keeper? You need to go read it yourself and get lost in this world. It is worth it.
One thing that I loved about this book was that it had a beginning (started a little slow, I have to admit), a middle, and an end. I really cannot stand books that end on cliffhangers expecting you to go buy a sequel to find out what happens. That’s not fair to readers at all. That’s like watching a movie that ends telling you to “tune in for the sequel.” Um, no thanks.
I would rate The Hunger Games 4 out of 5 stars. Great read with lots of cool twists, and solid characters that you can really connect with and feel something for. No one-dimensional Sallies here. The action is literally non-stop, and you will react emotionally to this story even though it’s sci-fi fiction. It’s gritty and raw and dramatic. I enjoyed it immensely, so yes, an indirect shout out does need to go out to the raving lunatic fan in Barnes and Noble. Thank you, crazy lady, you made my day by bringing my attention to this book.
If you’re looking for Victoria’s Secret, this isn’t it. I still don’t know what that particular secret is. The one I’m talking about has been out for a while now and is less about lingerie and more about positivity.
The Secret is one of those things that you need to remind yourself about from time to time, especially when you get bogged down in the day-to-day grind which can wear you down to a tiny, disgruntled, emotionless nub. After finding myself in such a place, I picked The Secret up from my bookshelf and re-read it the other day. I know that many people may think that it is new-age hogwash or something thereabouts, but there’s really something to be said for the power of positive thinking. Positive thoughts attract positivity and negative thoughts, negativity. It’s simple and it’s powerful.
Case in point. I bought three cups of coffee yesterday from Dunkin Donuts, one of them was a tall ice-decaf, the other two were hot medium regulars. My instant thought was how horrible would it be if one of these tipped over in my car. And then, that was like wildfire in my brain no matter how much I tried to tell myself otherwise. I made it all the way home and dropped the iced coffee off to a neighbor. In the one minute drive to my own house…you guessed it, one of the two remaining cups tipped over and flooded my passenger seat just as I pulled in front of my house. Newman! It’s a small example, but it got me to thinking. If I hadn’t obsessed about it – basically putting it out there that I subconsciously wanted it to happen, then would things have been different?
So what’s my point, you ask? Well, stop for a second. Let’s not obsess about the power of thought and will, and being all skeptical about making things happen by thinking about them. We know you’re not Harry Potter. But at the end of the day, do you want to be that grumpy, unhappy person that nothing good ever happens to? I don’t. I want lots of good things in my life. And if that means that I need to push positivity out and make myself a human super-soaker of the stuff, then I’m game. Seriously, do you have anything to lose? Get a smile on, think about all the good things you already have and be grateful for them, visualize all the things you want, and put it out there!
Well, well, well. Lorena has finally bitten the big one (no pun intended) and is no more than a pile of vampire sludge. Yep that’s what’s left of her in the photo falling on top of Bill (Debbie’s…er…”vampire burrito”).
As Sookie said, that is what happens when vampires die. Um, so then that of course just goes to say that Franklin is definitely not dead. He may wake up with a slight headache but he is alive which means that Miss Tara is in a whole heap of trouble. What’s that line again? Hell hath no fury like a vampire bludgeoned in the head while it’s sleeping? Bring on the freak!
But back to Bill and Sookie. So surprise, surprise, Bill doesn’t burn in the sun after drinking…um…stealing a whole heap of Sookie’s blood almost killing her in the process. That was almost a given I think with all the light coming out of her before, so it was just short of an OMG moment for me. If you looked carefully, you’d have seen that there was still some mild evaporation, but he definitely wasn’t getting his crispy on. Does that mean it’s temporary? Or is it permanent? Is Bill something else now? Something in the Wesley Snipes Blade category perchance? And what about Sookie?
Speaking of, this brings me to the next scene when Sookie is in the hospital and has the dream with all the dancing, naked people drinking from the fountain of light. That felt a little Maryann-ish to me (crazy maenad from last season). Claudine even looked like Maryann. And honestly, all that dancing was just weird. Still, obviously there’s a big revelation coming. Something to do with the light and the dark is my guess, and of course Sookie’s true nature. Fairy? Water nymph? Angel? Moonchild? Mermaid? I did like the twist that she had no blood type, that was cool.
So what does Claudine mean by “Do not fear the water. It wasn’t the water that killed them?” when Sookie hears her thoughts? Is she talking about Sookie’s parents? And when Bill shows up and they all run away from the “dark,” obviously from Bill, that was a little strange. Claudine: “He will steal your light…do not let him take it from you.” Thought it was a little too much when Sookie wakes up screaming when she sees Bill. I know he almost killed her but come on, she’s seen and been through a lot worse. Plus she supposedly loves him, and she knows what he is. Again, come on.
Moving on. I love me some Pam! She is so sassy! I was dying laughing when she was mouthing off to the Magister even though she was lying there wrapped in silver chains when he brings her the Tiffany’s earrings.
Pam: How’d you know I was a Tiffany’s girl?
Magister: Most women are, and those who aren’t just think they’re not [...] They’re sterling silver.
Pam: Excellent, they’ll match my chains.
Russell actually got some major backbone in this episode, now that he has gone completely off the reservation.
“I no longer recognize The Authority. There’s a new [bleep] authority in town!”
Classic. Once more, the Magister’s severed exploding head was just tad too much but I guess it’s True Blood style. Can’t wait to see what Eric’s going to do to Russell later on vengeance-wise, and how he’s going to do it, especially since Russell is so old and powerful. Would be neat if there really was an “Authority” that will come into play later on. TBD.
Now for the other sub-plots. The Sam thing is still getting on my nerves – I mean his parent’s hold on Tommy just seems too ordinary within all the paranormal extravaganza that is True Blood. So they need him for dog-fighting. Big deal. I don’t get it, he’s still a human fighting as a dog for money. Boring. Jason and Crystal and the meth-head cousin? Boring. Summer wanting Hoyt to taste her biscuits? Ok, not so bad.
Overall, things are heading in the right direction but tonight’s episode left me with mixed feelings. I felt confused almost as if too much happened too fast and not enough happened at the same time. It wasn’t that it was lacking in any action, it just felt not as pulled together as it usually is. It was more like a giant avalanche of crazy plot-lines. As a side note, I did love the Post Mortem after the episode with the video montage of Lorena and Bill’s life. That was outstanding!
Only five episodes left! True Blood airs on HBO at 9pm on Sundays.
I’m a couple weeks late after the newest Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer came out but I only saw it when I went to see Inception. It looks like it’s going to be phenomenal! I do have to say though that this whole splitting the last book in a series into two movies is just wrong. Harry Potter, Eclipse…I mean come on…we’ve bought and read all the books, we’ve gone to all the movies, we’ve bought the DVDs…do you have to stretch the beejezus out of the last one? Come on!
Rant said, the Harry Potter trailer looks awesome. I could almost be convinced that it would be worth it to see it in two parts. Almost. All I can say is that they have to do it right – and not just stretch it out painfully so that they can make the two movies. They both have to have standalone substance.
Holy crow, True Blood! Blood, guts, gore, and more. Way to wake Tara up! I think I am now a little afraid of her badassness – biting Franklin in the neck and then bludgeoning his skull to flatness with a grisly-looking spiky hammer! Outstanding! Although I do have to say that I don’t think Franklin is dead because all I was thinking was “cut his head off, Tara, cut it off!” Between that, burning, and staking, it’s really the only real ways to kill one of those sneaky suckers. Love how she takes charge to rescue Sookie and then they tandem kick the bejeezus out of the guard. That was just spectacular. I think I almost liked Tara in that moment. Almost.
Eric didn’t really impress me much in this episode but I guess he’s tortured by other things like almost-forgotten family vengeance. I did enjoy him putting the beat-down on Sophie-Anne.
Eric: “I’m older and stronger than you…I only submitted to you in the past because of respect…I will rip your head of and throw it in the pool, and I will have fun doing it!”
Hiss hiss, snarl snarl.
But that was just a snippet of the old Eric. I know he’s only being a sycophant just to get close to Russell but it’s bordering on skeevy. Definitely a lot of mano-y-mano action in this episode between Eric, Russell and Talbot (little jealous man-wife), and of course, Lafayette and Jesus (hot orderly boy if you’ve forgotten). Speaking of those two, I honestly have to say that that was the best boy-boy kiss I have ever seen on TV. I was totally cheering for Lafayette! Well, until of course he totally ruins it all when Jesus finds out that he’s a drug dealer. Silly Lafayette.
The other sub-plots are moving along but aren’t interesting enough for me to think about with any huge amount of brain space. Sam and family engaged in a shady dog-fighting ring. Blah. Jessica and her random eating habits. Blah. Jason and Crystal’s on-the-sly outdoor extravaganza. Blah. Still think she’s a werewolf by the way.
Can’t wait for next week now that Lorena finally has Sookie in her clutches! Definitely need to see some more of that supernatural killing force from her! And of course more of Alcide seeing that we only got a tiny little teaser of a view….although he was naked after morphing from wolf form so not complaining too hard.
Previews for next week look awesome! True Blood airs on HBO at 9pm on Sundays. Get yours!!
Just a quick post to say that the queries are out. Typically, every agency has rules but you know what, I’m a sales person at heart and I want to sell my product. So I’m out there trying to sell it, hard core. If this isn’t viewed as a business, then that agent is never going to be successful selling your book. They have to passionate about your work, as much as you are, and they have to have sales savvy. Plus of course have lots of contacts, and not the eye kind.
So you probably know by now from my extensive posts on querying agents (shame if you don’t), my query process basically means that I have a researched list of anyone looking for new clients in my category/genre, and then it’s “Hi yo, Silver, away!” That’s the Lone Ranger for you young’uns. Why the list, you ask? Well it’s such a subjective process. So go for anyone who would be a good fit for you and your book. Seriously, what if you get someone on a bad day, and then you’re screwed from the whole agency? Come on. At the end of the day, they’re human too, so make sure you cover your bases.
Repeat slowly – it is a business, and again. It. Is. A. Business. A business to make money.
Everyone in the entire publishing industry views it that way, so why shouldn’t you? I’m not saying don’t respect the rules, but bend them if you have to. I mean this is your dream, is it not? As my Aussie friends say, harden up. Push the limits. And remember, it’s the law of numbers – a rule I learned in Sales 101. The more you send out, the more responses you’ll get, and the greater chance for an offer, or maybe fifteen. I got 8 offers the last time so there’s something to be said for that law. And of course having stellar writing which comes in a close second. Or first. Seriously, that’s first.
Response has been fantastic so far. Lots of interest, so fingers crossed that it will just be about me connecting with the person who’s going to take me to the next level. My Mr. or Ms. Right-Agent. I can’t wait. Wow, this could be like an episode of the Literary Bachelorette or something. *Caution – too much query excitement can cause random delirium and some serious verbal vomit. Thank goodness it’s here and not in el query or el novel.
No kidding. It feels like everything is coming to boiling point. Writing a new book, a literary one mind you…no urban fantasy here, just evil masquerading as nice, normal individuals. Seriously, you don’t need to be a vampire or a werewolf to be inhuman. Strip away those top layers and sometimes you will be disgusted to see what you find in the very people around you. That’s not to say you don’t find good things too, but more often than not, there’s darkness lurking. It’s the human condition.
But I digress.
So between writing my third book, publishing the first one (hoping fervently that it will take off like a rocket), and getting a new literary agent for the second book (new series), it feels like my world is entering hyper-drive! But I’m not complaining! Don’t get me wrong…it’s just overwhelming. But oh so good!
If you’re interested on learning how to query an agent, check back to my links on that subject. I’ll keep you posted on progress of all three. Query-city next week!!
