Archive for November, 2008

I was going to put the title as “Terrific Tuesday” but i’m getting bored with the alliterative titles

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Alison Kent’s Maximum Exposure, due out December 08. Wow…i mean, seriously, wow. Read the excerpt on the link above and then imagine a whole book like that and about ten times better. Honestly, go read it. I’ll wait.

Now that you’re back, here’s the blurb (in case you didn’t read it on her site):

Finn McLain is no stranger to unusual assignments. But the gorgeous stranger who just asked him to photograph her for an erotic art exhibit—that’s definitely a first. Finn came to Miami to dig into the personal life of boutique manager Roland Green for a lovesick gallery owner, and hadn’t planned on sticking around. But the boutique’s owner, Olivia Hammond, has just made him a proposal that’s as hard to ignore as Olivia herself. She’s got caramel-kissed skin, a body that makes grown men tremble, and a wild sideline as an exhibitionist. Ooookay. Yet despite her willingness to “let people look,” Finn’s convinced there’s a hell of a lot Olivia’s not revealing. And that’s the most intriguing prospect of all…

Olivia has never been shy about using her sexuality to get what she wants. But then, she’s never wanted a man quite the way she wants Finn. What he thinks about her shouldn’t matter, yet it does. Through every candid photograph and every heated encounter, Finn is getting closer, intent on getting beneath her shell—and for once, Olivia is tempted to let him. But first they have to contend with the fact that Finn’s simple investigation into Roland Green is getting dangerously complicated…and Olivia isn’t the only person in town who’s not what she claims to be.

In a city throbbing with sex appeal, two wary lovers are about to play the ultimate game of show and tell, where temptation is raw, wild, and hot enough to make you sizzle…

What this doesn’t mention is the other couple, and for me, they’re what make the story. Roland (Olivia’s store manager) and Jodi (assistant to said love sick gallery owner) have an awesome relationship. Not least since Roland is gay and initially not interested in Jodi. but Jodi is persistent….

SPOILER ALERT! aaand we find out in chapter two that Roland Green, is actually Roman Greyle, Undercover agent with the DEA and totally straight. END SPOILER ALERT

But yes, Roland and Jodi have a fiery relationship that needs to be read to be believed. All i’m going to say is Jodi, Roland, swimming pool. You REALLY have to read it to find out. i mean Whew, seriously. The scene just blew me away.

Both growing relationships are given good “screen time” so as a reader i didn’t feel left out on any important developments, and although the main emphasis is on Livia and Finn, the two pairings play off each other and inter-cross really well.

Olivia and Finn are initially on two separate roads heading in opposite directions. Livia is fiercely strong and independent, and Finn just wants to finish his PI work so he can finish his beach house. He has no idea that he’s going to be roped into acting the photographer for an art gallery owner taking pictures of a woman who likes people to “watch”.

Finn is constantly trying to work out Livia’s reasons and motivations of letting people see her in compromising ways while fighting his attraction. Livia for her part is dismissive of Finn’s less that happy reactions to what she sees as a natural part of herself.

As the book progresses the roads they’re on start merging as their relationship goes from business to pleasure. There’s an equally good scene to the Pool one i mentioned above. Not to spoil anything all i’m going to say is: camera, boutique, hot!

The book is amazingly written. It’s hard to pull off a book where a lot of the action is photo’s being taken but Alison Kent does it, not only well, but with flair. I got strong visual impressions of what was going on and i could almost perfectly picture every photo mentioned.

She also weaves in the sensuality and sexiness of the characters actions (especially Livia’s) without detracting from the main over arcing storyline or digressing into sex for the sake of it. Each encounter we see has a deeper and deeper meaning for the characters until their very souls are laid bare before each other and the camera.

As for Jodi and Roland, there is great personal risk as well as professional risk in Roland being with Jodi but he never backs down or cowards out of it.

This book is WELL worth the money and if you haven’t ordered it, what the hell are you waiting for?? You get two happy endings for the price of one, and so much sizzle and heat between the pages you may have to take a cold shower!

5/5 stars. Well done Alison!!

Been another busy day here in Casa O’Donovan. Lecture at nine, Student market stall from 11 – 2.30 ish, homework, dinner, and i have Circus Soc in umm ten minutes or so.

So instead of a full update, you get this, another video blog. I am aware no one really watches them but you get to find out why i love my fiance, see my new earrings AND find out how to pronounce my real name. See, that’s worth it right? (and if i have enough comments i’ll send give one of the commenter’s a prize, deal?)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxo2VI51ShI&hl=en&fs=1]

Today is check in day with Sven. It’s been almost a week since we started 70 days of sweat and i have achieved less than i wanted, but still a reasonable amount.

I ended up doing a total of 2118 words Friday night and collapsed into bed at gone 1am sometime. I did 237 words throughout the week as well making my total 2355. That means i am behind but not too badly i think. I’m not going to be manic about this round and beat myself up for every missed day because to be honest, i have a lot more going on in my life than just my writing.

I have university which includes lectures, socializing, homework, essays etc. and i live in a flat rather than with my parents (like i did for the first round) so i have to cook for myself, so thats a few hours out every day too. I’m trying to exercise more, and i’m traveling to see people like my parents and fiancé, and to go shopping. i went to Cardiff twice since Monday and spent the weekend at my fiancés house, that’s a lot of time out that is usually free that i can write in.

But i still want to write everyday and occasionally i skip days because i cant think around a block in my story, or i can’t work out what my characters reaction will be to certain events.

But 2355 is still a good total given how much i’ve had going on. it’s not the 6k i wanted, but i’ll get there.

And on that note, i’m off to write.

I was so busy in lectures and then writing that i forgot to blog!! It is now actually Saturday by my time, but the good news is, i just broke 45K on my WIP. Oh yeah baby! I am rocking the wordcount today. I’m going to carry on but it’s over 1500 already.

I think that deserves a little celebration, don’t you?

I found a cool meme on Dana Belfry’s blog and decided to give it a go. Oh. My. God. it was scarily accurate! check it out, it gives you three different results based on your name, birthday, and i *think* your favourite number.

The first one is totally me! I love the shiney things (yes, with the ‘e’ in shiney). And i don’t know what others think but i guess the other two are accurate as well. Most people don’t understand the way i want to lead my life (aka, pretty much as a 1950’s housewife) and i do have a lot of resolve

Tell me what you think.

A love transcending race and culture…a secret that could cost everything.

The Wolf’s Sister by R.F. Long

Elite Fey’na warrior Shan is driven only by hatred for Gilliad, the Lord of River Holt, the human responsible for the brutal slaying of his innocent sister. Vengeance will be his as soon as he can find a way to confront his enemy. His mind is set; his path chosen. Then he meets Jeren…

Jeren of River Holt flees for her life, desperate to escape the clutches of her brother, Gilliad, before his misuse of magic consumes what remains of his sanity. She finds safety and protection with Shan…but only so long as she hides her kinship with the Lord of River Holt. As they are pursued across the northern snow plains, their deepening trust turns to love. A love that could shatter when he learns who, and what, she is.

Read an excerpt

BUY HERE

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEd5qJxOeWA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1]

** You can also try and win it…scroll to the bottom of this post for details. **

more animals

Got a bad cold, had a rubbish few days….wake me up next week.

Today is going to be quite manic. In fact it’s going to be so manic i’m actually writing this on Sunday at 23.12

I have a lecture at 9am- 11am closely followed by me catching a bus to the train station. from the train station i will go to cardiff, to get to a tattoo shop to check the price of my design. Then i will be heading to my former place of employment, Dunelm Mill (aka the hell hole of death) to pick up some cheap remnants of fabric to start doing crafts with. Then i will be heading to my parents house, hopefully eating, and picking up some wool, knitting needles, crochet hooks, how to quilt books among a few others, as well as a bag full of jewelery for me to sell here in university.
then from there i will be heading back to my uni room and cooking dinner (sweet and sour with the sauce from scratch) for myself and my fiance, closely followed by exhaustion.

And of course Monday means that it’s the 70days of sweat challenge! Woot! My name is fifth on that list and i am so going to rock it this round. i’ve been gearing up this last week, getting back into my WIP, and have actually managed to do 1007 words today (more than i’ve written for a few months in one sitting). So after dinner i’m probably going to be writing. Nothing like making it awkward for myself is it?

Most people have that lovely image of Sven sweating to keep them motivate. I made this:

This is my goal. I want to be able to see my name on a cover one day. and by God am i going to work hard to get there.

Happy Monday everyone!

PS let me know if you’re also in Sweat70! i love to go around the blogs cheering people on. you’d be surprised how much it helps.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PLWPB0DUeY&hl=en&fs=1]

Umm… no one actually. I didn’t even get any comments guess i just have to keep my wonderful bookmarks to myself.

Anyway. Today i went and did some shopping and got my writing supplies (read, caffeine and cheesy crisps ) and now i have to make some potato salad for my dinner and, of course, write.

I was in a bit of a mess yesterday because Angela James, chief editor of Samhain, (let’s not be coy about it – my dream editor) said she wanted more submissions to Samhain. I reaaaaaaallly want to send Vigilante to her, but as you can see on the sidebar, it isn’t finished. I would love to test the waters and send her the first three chapters but i’m so scared that she’ll reject it that i’m really not sure if i should.

I’m not sure of the policy, but generally speaking you only send a partial if they request it specifically after you have queried. Now i know she said “In fact, if you have something wonderful, you can even send it directly to me. I want it. ” but quite frankly i think she means the whole MS… and i don’t think it’s wonderful (yeah i’m really pessimistic about my stories).

Sure i love the story and the characters, but will she? If she rejects the partial i’m, let’s be blunt here, gonna be shit outta luck. I want this novel to be sold to Samhain more than anything in the world. But if it’s not up to scratch and i get an R, what do i do? (obviously the correct answer here is finish it and submit elsewhere, but yeah, dream editor and pub!)

So should i send a partial to her slush pile explaining it’s not finished and find out now if Samhain wants it, or do i wait until it is finished and edited within an inch of its life and then send it?

What do you think?