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Night Time Bumping
 No, not THAT kind of bumping. Get your mind out of the gutter!! But I did get your attention, didn't I?Nope, I'm talking about the Things That Go Bump In The Night thing...the spooky stories, the chills you get when you're all alone and you hear a noise in the dark.Yep, the paranormal. See, at the moment, I'm writing one book while at the same time, coming up with ideas for the next one. And the next one is another paranormal for Silhouette Nocturne.Plus, I've got half an idea for a mainstream paranormal that's taunting me. Don't know about anyone else, but sometimes, when I get ideas, they're just a snatch of a scene. Or a line of dialogue. Or an image of something that I then have to work like crazy to figure out and add to.And while it's a little nerve wracking and sometimes extremely frustrating, at the same time, that's the fun part of being a writer. Day dreaming. Letting your mind wander down roads most people never travel. And really, aren't those the most fun roads to take??
Not a Scholar...
 Okay, I just love this picture. That's my dd, Sarah and my Grand Dog, Bristow. He was still pretty new to the family then and Sarah was trying to convince him that his new doggy crate was a Happy Place. So she'd sit in there with him....no greater love, huh?Well, Bristow's a few months older now, and he's graduated from Obedience School. Barely. I think it was a mercy diploma. Because he's just so darn cute. And lovable. And the class clown.When all the other doggies were lined up sitting, standing, heeling, and in general, being perfect little robotic dogs, Bristow the Independent, insisted on greeting everyone. He rolled on the asphalt, kissed the teacher and ran when he should have been laying down. He's his own dog, people. Creative spirits cannot be quenched. He don't need no stinkin' diploma!!I'd rather have love than obedience anyway..........
Giving Thanks
 Lots of Thanksgiving blogs this week, hmm?? Now ordinarily, I can bitch and moan with the best of them. Too much traffic, idiot drivers, crowded malls, spilled lattes, DH annoying me, kids making me nuts, book stalling, new synopsis not forming. Bitching is easy. It’s the thankful thing that seems so much harder. And I wonder why. I mean in the grand scheme of things, we all have more to be thankful for than to bitch about. So maybe it’s important to every once in awhile sit down and actually count some of our blessings. Here are some of mine— My family...Yep, even when they drive me insane, I can’t imagine my life without them. When the DH, the kids and I are all together, we spend most of our time laughing. SUCH a gift. They are the loves of my life. Then there’s the huge extended family...and I mean huge. They’re loud and funny and a little crazy which is why I like ‘em all so much. (I just have to remind myself of that when they’re back to making me insane.) My job...Oh yeah. A big one. Yes, I moan about the days when the book is going nowhere or I can’t figure out the characters or dear God, I need a scene! ANY scene! But this is a great job. I sit on my couch, with my laptop and I daydream for a living. It just doesn’t get better than that! My friends...Some people go their whole lives and never find the kind of amazing friends I’ve been blessed with. These women are smart, funny, ambitious and generous. Their hearts are as big as their imaginations and that’s really saying something. They’re always there. In good times and bad. Together we’ve laughed and cried and celebrated and bitched and moaned and without them, my world would be black and white instead of the Technicolor wonder it is. So to all of you (and you know who you are), thank you. Tomorrow, the family will be at my mom’s house for Thanksgiving. We’ll miss my dad, as we have every year since he passed away. He was a great storyteller and always had the household rocking with laughter. At mom’s place, there’ll be enough food for three armies, wine, (see above, re: crazy family,) enough noise to deafen us all for a week and enough love to remind us all of just how much we have. We’ll laugh and talk and share stories from all of the holidays past. We’ll toast my dad—whose ashes are in a blue and white Biscotti jar with a view of the big screen so he can keep up with the games—and I know that wherever he is, dad’ll be stopping by long enough to help us give thanks.
Autumn??
 Well, I was actually going to blog about my Grand Dog and obedience school, but until Blogger lets me put up his picture, that has to wait! So instead, I thought I'd gripe about Autumn--or the lack thereof. Isn't the picture pretty? You think cool weather, coming holidays, families gathered around a roaring fire. Cozy. Not here. Nope, In Southern California, we've got HEAT. Let me be clear. Not the 'gee it's a little warm today' kind of heat. Nope. This is the families gathering around the fan, heat. The call the A/C repair guy and get him back out here, heat. This is not fall leaves. This is dead grass. This is not holiday time. This is head to the beach. Yes, yes, some of you out there have got actual snow and you're probably sneering at me right now........But I'd like a little weather! Some change of season! Some reason to actually use my new umbrella. And hey, maybe dig out shoes other than sandals. Happy November!!
Beach Reads In January!
 That's right, there's a great beach read book coming out in January!! Well, the end of December, actually. Right about the time you're all looking for a little relaxation. You'll need something to help you recover from running yourself ragged all December long! Something to make you want to curl up with a nice cup of something hot and spicy... This is soooo the book for you! I got lucky. Jennifer Apodaca gave me an ARC of the book--(that's Advanced Reading Copy)--and it was terrific! Not only are Holly and Wes great characters, but Jennifer introduces us to an entire world that's just so damn much fun. There's a great romance here, but there's also a fabulous mystery. And a mystery WITHIN a mystery! Intrigued?? Curious?? Well, you'll just have to run out to your closest bookstore on Dec. 26th and get yourself a copy of THE SEX ON THE BEACH BOOKCLUB. Trust me on this. You'll be glad you did. And you'll be emailing Jennifer begging her to tell you when the next one's coming!!
Rocking Kate's Vote!!
 It's that time again, people!!Kate Carlisle has made it into Round 2 of the American Title III contest! This is a contest sponsored by Romantic Times Magazine and Dorchester publishing house. The winner of this contest gets a publishing contract with Dorchester--and of course the fun and thrill of WINNING!!So here's the deal. For the next two weeks, voting is on at Romantic Times website! Last time we voted on best opening line--this time, you're voting for the best hero/heroine description. Of which KATE'S is best!! We've made it easy for you to vote, too! Just click on the Vote For Kate button on this blog! An email will pop up and all you have to do is hit Send! Couldn't be easier to help dreams come true!!So what're you waiting for??Vote already!
New Cover!
 Just saw this cover for the first time early this week! Gorgeous, isn't it?And no, you're not reading the title wrong. It really is MORE THAN FIENDS.....and a damn funny book if I do say so myself!It'll hit the shelves in June 07 from NAL, just in time for all of you to grab a copy to do some beach reading!!It's a first person paranormal with plenty of attitude--and I had a great time writing it! The heroine is Cassidy Burke-and the day she turns 32, her world implodes.Interested???
Stargazing
 So, my ds and his girlfriend Vanessa came over for dinner last night. Dinner was just a sidelight to the evening, though.What they wanted, was for the DH to drag out his giant ass telescope and show Vanessa the moon.It's been hot and clear here for two weeks. Not a cloud in the sky. The DH drags out the telescope and let me tell you, that puppy's huge and heavy! He sets it up in the back yard, fiddles around with a zillion dials to get it just right. We look up. You guessed it. Clouds. But after dinner, the star gods smiled on us. The marine layer blew out of the way and the sky was wide open for gazing. We brought out the wine, huddled in sweatshirts, because naturally, it got cold, too, and oohed and aahed over the moon and quite a few stars for a couple of hours. The DS is not satisfied, though. He wants Vanessa to see Saturn. And Jupiter. (Which, I have to admit look very cool through DH's telescope. So, when the stars shift and come back into alignment, we'll all be out there again. Hoping for a clear night, cold wine and lots more laughs.
Tagged by Dana!
 Yep, I'm copying from myself! This is the blog I posted today over at Deadline Diaries But for some reason, Blogger let me post my picture over here!! Anyway, if you don't hit DD regularly, this should be new for you!Okay, I got tagged by Dana Diamond a week or so ago and I’m just now paying up! The object of this little exercise is, someone tags you and you have to come up with 5 interesting or funny facts about yourself. Not as easy as you might think... 1. Cary Grant called me ‘Darling’. Yes, my all time favorite movie star actually spoke to me when I was a kid. At Disneyland. My friends and I were there, heard a sales clerk talking about him and I set off on a HUNT. I did laps around Disneyland until I finally tracked Cary down by the Jungle Safari ride. He was with his daughter and his bodyguards and largely being ignored by a crowd who apparently didn’t notice the STAR in their midst. I stopped about ten feet from him and shouted, “Mr. Grant?” and asked for an autograph of all things. And he said, “I’m sorry Darling. This isn’t a good time.” He was gray haired and long past his prime and still one of the most sexy men in the known universe. Of course, as soon as he spoke, he was ENGULFED by a crowd of people. So I probably ruined his day at Disneyland even though he MADE mine! 2. I saw my dog’s ghost A couple of weeks after my darling Golden Retriever Abbey died suddenly, I saw her again. She was sitting right beside me, just as she always did and for a minute, I almost forgot the pain of losing her. 3. My daughter and I got drunk and burned Christmas dinner. That sounds really bad, doesn’t it? A couple of years ago, I was making Lasagna for Christmas dinner. It should have turned out great. My Sicilian mother in law’s sauce recipe alone made it worthwhile. Then Sarah and I started drinking wine. We had a great time until we checked on the Lasagna and found tomato sauce flavored crackers. And the DH got my daughter and I laughing hysterically on video tape! Oh, and we had sandwiches for Christmas dinner! 4. I was once surrounded by hunting dogs. Yes, went to the mountains with the DH. We scaled what felt like Mt. Everest and when we reached the top, I was so proud. Until I saw a group of people walking toward us and the DH told me “they took the road”. Uh-huh, thanks, babe. And later, while looking for a little girl’s room out in the Great Outdoors—six hunting dogs showed up out of nowhere at a very inconvenient moment and fought me for space! Needless to say, I won. And, also needless to say, that was my last foray into the Great Outdoors. 5. I crashed the roof of my car. Yep, that’s right. My VW bug had dents all over its poor body. Then my dad noted that the only place that hadn’t been touched was the roof. You guessed it. Two days later, I drove the car into the DH’s (then boyfriend’s) shop, wrapped the rope handle for the giant door around the front bumper and brought it down on the roof. My dad learned to not challenge me in any way! So, tell me what you’ve got! Give me some of your interesting or fun facts! Trust me, it’s not as embarrassing as the hunting dog story!
Tag!
 Yes, I've been tagged. By Dana Diamond. Very nice woman. But sneaky. (Love you, Dana!)Anyway, the point of being tagged is, you have to name five interesting or fun facts about yourself. And give them to the world!!! Or, however much of the world drops by our blogs to take a peek into the weirdness of writer's lives. At any rate, I thought about answering that tag here. But then I decided I'll be dishing my 'interesting' facts over on the team blog, Deadline Diaries next Wednesday, instead. And because I must do it, so must the team. So I'll be tagging all of my co-diarists as well! Drop by next week to find out for yourself if Maureen is really interesting......or just a writer.
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