70 Days of Sweat

Okay, I participated in the first one and did pretty well. Started the second one, and got nothing done. So now trying for the third time :). I have tons of stuff I want to get finished, including another full length novel I have been working on, on and off for a while. Sooooo. Sven, MAKE ME SWEAT!!!

Saturday's Rant

Okay, I am not a small woman, I never have been. Apparently growing up I was smaller than I thought, but as an adult, I have always been on at least the chubby size. I am also short. So be it. I live with it, I embrace who I am, I love who I am, even if I will never be America's Next Top Model.

I love to dress my heroines in fancy dresses that I could never afford, or would never have a place to wear, or can never find in my size and height. One of my writing partners once told me she loved the dresses I "designed" for my heroines, and that made me feel good, because I often spend a lot of time looking for ideas and then mixing and matching to be what I want.

I also love the fact that so many places have adopted the idea that plus sized women are women, too, and that they should have beautiful dresses for proms and weddings, special occasions and the like. BUT If you are going to advertise yourself as a place for Plus Sized clothing, a place that has only "Fashion for sizes 14W-34W" then your freaking ass models should be AT LEAST a size 14. Seeing a skinny ass bimbo that looks good in a freaking gunny sack wearing an outfit that will look horrendous on most plus sized women is ridiculous. How the hell can I tell how my heroine's size 20 body with DD breasts is gonna look in that low cut thing when the model doesn't even have BOOBS!!!!!!.

Lane Bryant got in trouble for doing this years ago. At least now most of their models are about a size 14. That at least is something. But dammit, can't these other sites learn from them? WTF!!! You know, even if I become rich enough to be able to buy whatever I want, there are certain places I will NEVER go to, or catalogs I would never buy from because of this very reason.

My new favorite site for clothes : IGIGI They have REAL plus sized women in their catalog. Women that have curves and bumps and everything, and still they show them sexy. I am in love. Hell, even if I am not crazy about every single outfit they have, the point is they present them REALISTICALLY. Kudos to them!!!!!! And even this site has mostly forms. You can't see how the clothes look on a plus sized woman, but at least(with a couple exceptions) you aren't forced to look at someone the size of your freaking thigh wearing the entire dress.

Anyone else know of any other sites?

Since I have no new news of my own to offer, other than I have subbed a few more stories lately, I thought I would share another release from a friend. :) I hope no one minds.




The Agency: Serpent's Kiss
by Michelle Hasker
cover art by Reneé George
ISBN (13): 978-1-59596-959-0
Genre(s): Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Theme(s): Shapeshifters
Series: Agency
Length: Novella


Agent John Macallister is so deep undercover he’s not sure who he is anymore. Fortunately the Agency has sent one of their best operatives to rescue him -- from himself. Only problem? She’s a giant anaconda.

Sleeping with the man you’re guarding is a bad idea. Especially if you’re a snake shapeshifter pretending to be nothing more than a six-foot-long, yellow anaconda and you’re in love with the man you’re guarding. As if not being able to have sex with John isn’t bad enough, they’re in the middle of a drug dealer’s paradise and everyone wants him dead. Kim doesn’t know which is harder, keeping John alive or keeping her hands -- and her identity -- to herself.

What is Your Nerd Type

I retook this, not really sure why, but I found the old link and had to retake it :D
I really AM a nerd :D

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Literature Nerd   Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works. It's okay. I understand.
Science/Math Nerd
Social Nerd
Drama Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Anime Nerd
Musician
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

I'm a Knowledge Slut

I have come to that conclusion very recently. I am a knowledge slut. I kind of always knew it, at least in regards to things like trivia and stuff like that. Growing up (and even up til recently) I was one of those people you wanted on your Trivial Pursuit team because I knew all this useless trivia. Things there was little to no reason to know about. Of course, most of that came about as a result of my reading. I read anything and everything, even back then.

Now, get older, life gets in the way. I married another knowledge slut, books fill the house. And cable comes into the house. (we used to live somewhere it wasn’t a possibility) Now we have 150 channels to choose from, many informational for the most part like Discovery, History Channel, etc.

But, I have realized that my sluttiness doesn’t only extend to book/fact/trivia knowledge. It also includes sexual activities. (See, you knew I would bring this around to sex somehow) A friend wrote a story recently and based one of the minor characters on me. Which can be pretty normal, but something this character did made me go. “DAMN! I do do that.” She asked her friend for details on her sex life. But not just little bit, but her friend did something with multiple men, and this not me character had never done that kind of thing, so she started asking questions, details, and getting all excited to hear about it. Now that is definitely me.

But see, now I realize that it isn’t cause I am a nosy bitch that I do it. I am just an information slut. I need to know these things. How they happen, when, what it feels like, etc. Not just because of my writing (although that helps) but because I have this insatiable need to KNOW.

Evil Author Things

You know, as an author I get to do an awful lot of evil things and not get in trouble for them. Now I am not talking things like mass murder – although I wouldn’t put that past me in a future book. I am talking about those little evil things we all do – or want to do – in life but just can’t.

I was talking to my critique partner the other day, and she was writing a story in first person. The heroine was purposely making the hero mad. Doing little things like burning his marshmallows (yes, I am talking about s’mores here, get your mind out of the gutter.) then smooshing them so they ooze out of the crackers. (her words). This proceeded to piss the poor man off. And still the heroine continued to annoy the hell out of him. (He’d refused her sex, can you think of a better reason to punish him?)

Well, Michelle said that she loved it. That she was having loads of fun pissing off this man. And it struck me that some authors are born kind of evil. We get way too big of a kick out of stuff like that. Take for example, I was in the middle of a sex scene at the same time, and I realized I had my hero torturing the heroine. Not letting her do things cause he was too busy pleasuring her to let her pleasure him. (Yeah, I know, such a horrible torture, isn’t it?)

And then there are the times where nothing goes right for the heroine. Where she can’t change a tire because the lug nuts are too tight, when she drops things because she is nervous cause the hero is talking to her. When her mother starts yelling at her for her horrible taste in men right after her heart gets broken by the ex-boyfriend.

You know, I, too, truly enjoy too many of these scenes. So now that I think about it, I’m worried. What does that say about me as a person? Hehehe

Michelle Hasker's The Bodyguard: Nash

Title: The Bodyguard: Nash
ISBN: 978-1-59632-606-4

Author: Michelle Hasker
Cover Artist: Croco Designs
Price: $4.99



Michelle Hasker’s The Bodyguard: Nash
Series: The Bodyguard; Previous Book: The Bodyguard
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novella

Philly bartender Victoire Duramel picked the right night to lose control of her magic. The night Fae bodyguard Nash Dupree sensed his soulmate and a strong, untrained magic violently unleashed.

Struggling under the strength of her power, Victoire accepted Nash's help without question. Now he wants to train her and teach her how to control her magic. But there's a price. Her heart and soul.

When she denies him, Nash refuses to let her go. He'll do whatever he must to guard the feisty witch and have her for his own.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal sex, mild bondage, violence, voyeurism.

My Awesome Crit Partner

Okay, I have to do some bragging on Michelle again. What? It's my blog, I can write about whatever I want.

She released a short story earlier this year with Loose Id, The Bodyguard. I love the story. It is awesome. And apparently I am not the only one. She just got this incredible review from Romance Junkies and I wanted to share it with everyone.

It got 5 out of 5 Ribbons. A PERFECT SCORE!!!!! WOOT WOOT, Way to Go, Michelle.

THE BODYGUARD is filled with fast-paced action, a wonderful cast of characters and a plot that that kept me enthralled from start to finish. I applaud Nicolas’s character and his determination in helping Elena overcome her fears, no matter what it took. I also applaud Elena’s strength and how she never gave up. THE BODYGUARD is a heartfelt story that will dwell in your memory long after you read the last word. A job well done, Ms. Hasker. I highly recommend this book.

AND she already sold the second in the series. I can't wait!!!!!!

I am so proud of my Michelle

Michelle's New Release

Lookie, Michelle Hasker, my crit partner and author extraordinaire has a new release. Damn woman pops them out faster than I can think of them. I will never be able to keep up with her.

Kate's Muse

Author: Michelle Hasker
Artist: Jinger Heaston

ISBN: 978-1-60168-068-6
Genre: Contemporary erotica
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Publication Date: 11/02/2007
Sexual Content: Erotic
Price: $1.99


“You’re fired, damn it!” Kate shouted at the ceiling, slamming her fists on the desk for emphasis. “You’ve done this to me for the last time. I’ll find myself a new muse and to hell with you!”

Kate Sterling tossed her pen across the room and barely restrained herself from making the laptop take the same flying arc. She wanted to make something smash into the wall, needed to break something. Like her damn muse’s neck.

Pushing away from the desk, she spun around on her chair and glared at the potted palm in the corner. Shame it wasn’t a little taller. Though, she did have nine-foot ceilings… That would be high enough to make her muse dangle from a noose with his body jerking as the rope tightened until he couldn’t breathe any more. Or maybe his neck would snap when she pushed him off the stool.

“Damn, stupid muse. I hope you burn in the deepest pits of hell, your screams echoing in your ears as you burn for eternity, never finding peace from the agony of melting flesh and popping muscles and bones.”

“That’s a mite harsh, isn’t it, Kate?”

Kate shrieked and fell off the chair as she turned to look behind her. The man leaning against the wall looked exactly like her wayward muse. The one she’d just been cursing.

“What have I ever done to you, love?”

“Jesus Christ!” Kate scrambled backward as he leaned forward, his face highlighted in the glare of the light. He was her muse in living, breathing flesh. Impossible!

“No. If I remember correctly, you condemned me to burn in hell with Satan.”

“But you…you can’t be real.”

“I’m as real as you want me to be, love.”

My Reward

Okay, trying this again since it didn't work last night. I reached over 16,000 before I quit for the night. Unfortunately, I had to take 650 of that out, because I didn't like the way it went. But this morning I replaced it with about 300 new words. So we shall see how I do by the end of the night. Hope to have it done by the end. 4,000 words in one night when I still have to clean kitchen, grocery shop, put up some more Halloween, organize recycling mess. Hmmmm, maybe I will need this reward more than I thought.

My first reward

Okay, I am subbing a story this weekend, but it is too short. I needed to make it novella length, and it has been at about 11,000 for the last few months. I put it away cause I just couldn't think of how to make it longer. Well, today I have written over 4,000 words on it. So to celebrate the fact I am now at 15,000 and only need 5,000 more, I am posting my reward for the day.

noooooo, photo uploading is down for the moment. phooey. okay, will download it later.

My Rewards

Wow, I really have been remiss lately in posting in here. I have been busy at the SDJ (silly day job) and life in general, and the blog got pushed to the side. Soooo, real quick.

Sven is sweating again. Getting us ready for NaNo. Michelle Hasker has devised a way to keep herself motivated, so stealing it from her. She gives herself a reward when she does well. I am almost at my reward for the day, so had to post that I was gonna post :D I can't wait.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Okay, I find this funny. One of my favorite phrases when I am annoyed is "aaarrrgghhh" it is on my yahoo IM status all the time. So, in honor of that, I found these female pirate pick up lines from the guys that originally came up with the idea. I think number 1 is my favorite.

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Lady Pirates

By popular demand ...

10. What are YOU doing here?

9. Is that a belayin' pin in yer britches, or are ye ... (this one is never completed)

8. Come show me how ye bury yer treasure, lad!

7. So, tell me, why do they call ye, "Cap'n Feathersword?"

6. That's quite a cutlass ye got thar, what ye need is a good scabbard!

5. Aye, I guarantee ye, I've had a twenty percent decrease in me "lice ratio!"

4. I've crushed seventeen men's skulls between me thighs!

3. C'mon, lad, shiver me timbers!

2. RAMMING SPEED!

...and the number one Female Pirate Pick-up Line:

1. You. Pants Off. Now!

This site has all kinds of fun stuff and is the original creators of Talk Like A Pirate Day.

and another site with a translator

Destination Ecstasy

My newest release from Loose -Id is out. Destination Ecstasy is my first foray into the world of the Menage, and I have to say I had way too much fun writing this.






Title: Destination Ecstasy
Author: Tina Bendoni
ISBN: 978-1-59632-541-8
Cover Artist: April Martinez
Price: $3.99
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Paranormal Nontraditional Sexualities
Length: Short Story


Maia is a young woman with some personal issues she needs to work out, so when her friend gives her a two week paid vacation to a private resort in the Caribbean, she takes it eagerly. It's a great chance to do something different and have some fun. But she doesn't expect that fun to come in the shape of Dante and Kale, two of the hottest men on and off this planet.


Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Ménage (m/m/f).

Tarot Card Anthology: Synchronicity Vol 1 by Tina Bendoni and Michelle Hasker

Tarot Card Anthology: Synchronicity Vol 1
Michelle Hasker and Tina Bendoni
ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-60313-036-3
Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston
Price: $5.99
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Length: 8 short stories


One woman. 22 cards of the Major Arcana. Join Abigail Montgomery as she does 22 special one card readings in Philadelphia. Things are not always as they seem. Neither is Abigail, or her readings.
From a woman who needs to learn the magic of love, to another who has to accept her inner beauty. A man who learns to look within himself, and a woman who has to face Death to move beyond. Will these people make the right choices for happiness? Or will they be forever lost to love?

Awesome Book Out

Mountain Rendezvous
Michelle Hasker
Loose-Id
My crit partner, Michelle Hasker FINALLY has the second book in her Rendezvous series out. I have waited over a year for this, and last week it came out. I loved Aidan and Caitlyn in Midnight Rendezvous. Their relationship was HOT.
Now we finally get to see what happens to Caitlyn's sister, Meredith. She deserves a story of her own like no one else does.

Meredith's ex-husband was a serial killer. Was, because she killed him. Or, at least, she thought she did. But now hunky Federal Agent Slade Jackson tells her he's back and killing women who look just like her.

What's a vampire to do?

Probably banging the human agent on the case isn't the best plan. But he's smoking hot, he wants her, she wants him and she just can't seem to stop. They both better hope it doesn't interfere with the case, or she'll be screwed.

And not in the good way.

The Beautiful Red Moon

Well, thanks to one of my fellow authors over at AOER, I learned about the Red Moon last night/early this morning. And of course, me being me I had to go take pics at 5 in the morning.

Sven Says Sweat

And I haven't been doing much of it lately. The last couple weeks I have gotten 25,000 words in, though, and now that my niece is gone, I should get more. But school is also starting up, so that will cut into my writing time. If not the actual days, it will still prevent me from staying up super late (which is when I do my best work) to write. Never fear, I will get it done. Yes, I will. I will I will.

I've Been Tagged

Okay, apparently I have been tagged twice, so I guess I had better do this thing, there's no one left to tag :D

Four jobs I've had or currently have in my life:
1. Author
2. Teacher
3. Community Support Worker
4. McDonalds

Four Countries I've been to:
1. USA
2. Mexico
3. United Kingdom (England and Scotland)
4. Chile

Four Places I'd rather be right now:
1. At Tahiti restaurant
2. Lottery headquarters picking up my 300 million
3. In Bed with hubby
4. Playing with my niece

Four foods I like to eat:
1. Chocolate
2. Chicken
3. Candy
4. GOOD Chinese Food

Four personal heroes, past, present, or future
1. My mom
2. Marion Zimmer Bradley
3. George Clooney (impressive man that lives what he believes)
4. Wonder Woman

Four Books you've read or are currently reading:
1. Mountain Rendezvous by Michelle Hasker
2. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
3. Sherrilyn Kenyon's latest
4. Angela Knight's latest

Four words or phrases you would like to see used more often:
1. Please
2. Thank you (my niece told me that I use please and thank you too much when I ask her to do things around the house while she is here, I said there is never too much)
3. Live and Let Live
4. I love you

Four reasons for ending a friendship:
1. Betrayal
2.
3.
4.

Four smells that make you feel good about the world:
1. Roses
2. Jasmine
3. Warm Dryer Sheets
4. Lavender

Four Things You'd like to do before you die but never have
1. See the pyramids
2. Visit Greece and Italy
3. Make a positive difference in someone's life
4. Be a NY Times best seller


My Question: Name Four Things You Can't Live Without
1. Chocolate
2. Caffeine
3. Books
4. My computer

I don't have a my question yet, will think about it :D

My Crit Partner ROCKS!!!!

I have to take time today to give kudos to my crit partner and great friend, Michelle Hasker. We have been writing together/critting each other for a little over two years. In that time we have both been published by multiple publishers, improved our writing, pushed our boundaries, and had loads of fun.

She has four kids and how she gets all her writing done with all her family stuff always amazes me. She also sends out more for subs than I do, and it shows. She has just been offered another three contracts for another three stories with multiple publishers.

I can't say how proud I am of this woman. How proud I am to have her as a crit partner, how much my writing has grown because of her, and how much I value our friendship. I, as a person, have grown because our friendship, too. I love that woman. And she is an awesome author. Please, if you have the chance, go check out her stuff at www.MichelleHasker.com., you won't regret it.