tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90309923857822276582024-03-19T07:05:12.496-04:00Two Left ShoesThe personal blog of romantic suspense writer Kiersten Hallie KrumKierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-53170965856822889062014-02-18T15:07:00.000-05:002014-02-18T15:07:42.749-05:00Feels Like the First TimeThis week on the<b> <a href="http://ladysmut.com/2014/02/17/every-time-feels-like-the-first-time/" target="_blank">Lady Smut site</a>,</b> I'm talking about how writing the next book always feels like starting the first one...and why my current new project in particular is different.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWblikTdUzv4os-I6UMvDOOB8CqxjpgIA84VaaIcxAdR-4aDcTnEVYUpJZqHPOBlF3flHqDHa_XMoganSrUD7xiTNe1l2WuaAzFduKesLEGkcnR9klb-xsQE8ThNsfDXlmA82dlSjQdg/s1600/crazywriters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWblikTdUzv4os-I6UMvDOOB8CqxjpgIA84VaaIcxAdR-4aDcTnEVYUpJZqHPOBlF3flHqDHa_XMoganSrUD7xiTNe1l2WuaAzFduKesLEGkcnR9klb-xsQE8ThNsfDXlmA82dlSjQdg/s1600/crazywriters.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Read to the end for a smexy excerpt from my current work-in-progress: <a href="http://ladysmut.com/2014/02/17/every-time-feels-like-the-first-time/" target="_blank"><b>THRILL ME</b></a><br />
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But wait! There's more! My detailed recap of this week's U.S Syfy Channel. run of <i>Lost Girl</i> episode <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2014/02/lost-girl-season-4-episode-6-recap-play-it-again-succubus#comments" target="_blank"><b><i>Of All the Gin Joints</i></b></a> is up on the Heroes and Heartbreakers web site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8MajDJpcodL_lao067YesCWeREw83Twyd1zc1exU7gYd2M_y_uAEaLJRXP48JIbs73X8ReaRX_BCYmP1DrHCspN_cgmz4-NXJj6KQU-aUrc8D8GiydzGf5kGVU47abaZ4lBMdrD530U/s1600/DysonholdsBoback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8MajDJpcodL_lao067YesCWeREw83Twyd1zc1exU7gYd2M_y_uAEaLJRXP48JIbs73X8ReaRX_BCYmP1DrHCspN_cgmz4-NXJj6KQU-aUrc8D8GiydzGf5kGVU47abaZ4lBMdrD530U/s1600/DysonholdsBoback.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Already watched the full season on Canada's Showcase channel? We're still processing all the crazy from that wild <i>Lost Girl</i> season finale on the Heroes and Heartbreakers <b><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2014/02/lost-girl-season-4-episode-13-discussion-no-way#comments" target="_blank">discussion forum</a></b>. Come obsess and speculate with us.Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-58731233631281510472013-12-09T13:20:00.000-05:002013-12-09T13:20:10.380-05:00Aphrodisiacs That Fail to Arouse<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBuiFuKpyKd3fHk1-xvLcLRmadxih838kU1EOLLnm26vHUbCJJC1C6Kn7JWNMUSx7mx1kyIByDeAyu8DMb-qwHcbPdhNWB5TiFsAhyCemwvLCepQoldDydA9tEKwTgatVpZtD6UvFoHA/s1600/cherry+on+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBuiFuKpyKd3fHk1-xvLcLRmadxih838kU1EOLLnm26vHUbCJJC1C6Kn7JWNMUSx7mx1kyIByDeAyu8DMb-qwHcbPdhNWB5TiFsAhyCemwvLCepQoldDydA9tEKwTgatVpZtD6UvFoHA/s320/cherry+on+top.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's Cravings Week over at L<a href="http://ladysmut.com/">adySmut.com</a>.<br />
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Today I'm taking a look at food aphrodisiacs that fail to float my boat.<br />
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Head on over and see why...Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-24305342640606370892013-11-11T10:19:00.001-05:002013-11-11T10:19:30.297-05:00Going Against Type<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzf3GOZSlscKeV0yurqYzNmRFTvx5xax-ZTtBdfzy_bk5hdTX2oJaub9CmcfdchS_rgyhSopTBG_Xe6NmUotNZPEoGlivakZIz-vzqDFcMRAwDmk7pZsQHwzeoClCctXoMfi-d47Flro/s1600/hughinasuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzf3GOZSlscKeV0yurqYzNmRFTvx5xax-ZTtBdfzy_bk5hdTX2oJaub9CmcfdchS_rgyhSopTBG_Xe6NmUotNZPEoGlivakZIz-vzqDFcMRAwDmk7pZsQHwzeoClCctXoMfi-d47Flro/s320/hughinasuit.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fine man in a suit is everyone's type...<br />especially when he's Hugh.</td></tr>
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It's Monday, which means it's my turn to be witty and wise over at the<b> <a href="http://ladysmut.com/2013/11/11/going-against-type/" target="_blank">Lady Smut blog</a></b>...or at least my turn to <i>fake</i> being witty and wise until you lot figure me out.<br />
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Today I'm rambling on...and on...and on about type. We all have a type, a set parameter of qualities that we look for in a romantic other. But when we go against type...story happens.<br />
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Come on over and take a gander. Leave a comment! Go wild!Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-553763778879541002013-11-04T20:42:00.001-05:002013-11-04T20:42:35.802-05:00Give Me the Wolf<span style="font-size: large;">Over at <b><a href="http://ladysmut.com/2013/11/04/forget-the-bloodsuckers-give-me-the-wolf/" target="_blank">LadySmut.com</a></b> this week, I'm talking about a few of my favorite supernatural wolves in the paranormal genre of TV and books...and why they're so much better than any vampire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And yeah, it includes him:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXaWwH2SCor25cfjYl_ie6Aq4nbdfs1HAVoEY0GzKfIFyYDf1DJQhdF1mqgyRt7K0c7zwgkam-dUzXO-CxdwaFYFnfsxFCFzStewaqYZdJ4358-RdpEvxwyGWTq5qySHaYeLX9TOIyOA/s1600/joe-manganiello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXaWwH2SCor25cfjYl_ie6Aq4nbdfs1HAVoEY0GzKfIFyYDf1DJQhdF1mqgyRt7K0c7zwgkam-dUzXO-CxdwaFYFnfsxFCFzStewaqYZdJ4358-RdpEvxwyGWTq5qySHaYeLX9TOIyOA/s320/joe-manganiello.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And you <i>know</i> it includes him: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdPoaCLKfq8WR5_ot7fmLFe5DcN7eDU7Y2zuu2vs2dv6XwkIdmddYWWV2_Xqg7D9pAzfoDo10P88_j2OKfQ-9L-qPKXaqk6FeUvbNDf6wkORROlpf_40CDztMOkHR3hze-B2rpabyNhw/s1600/dysononroofS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdPoaCLKfq8WR5_ot7fmLFe5DcN7eDU7Y2zuu2vs2dv6XwkIdmddYWWV2_Xqg7D9pAzfoDo10P88_j2OKfQ-9L-qPKXaqk6FeUvbNDf6wkORROlpf_40CDztMOkHR3hze-B2rpabyNhw/s320/dysononroofS3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Come on. Did you think I'd write a post about werewolves and wolfshifters and <i>not</i> include my wolf? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Silly readers. </span>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-65711223554898042952013-10-29T20:59:00.000-04:002013-10-29T20:59:13.661-04:00Are We Losing the Fun in Fandom?Over at <b><a href="http://ladysmut.com/2013/10/28/losing-the-fun-in-fandom/" target="_blank">LadySmut blog</a></b>, I'm talking about the most recent dust up over fan disappointment with the end of the <i>Divergent</i> series as it's third installment, <i>Allegiant</i>, hit the shelves last week. Are fan entitlement and an unprecedented access to authors and showrunners causing us all to<b> l<a href="http://ladysmut.com/2013/10/28/losing-the-fun-in-fandom/" target="_blank">ose the fun in fandom?</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhOYX9uK6csc1edTRJopk8A5brGot7KQfWGhreZRjmdzlrmFSAwvWdyHF2c10elsZYMh9nZAD_zs2u6JPZ-rb0Bn7DKVkYyYPJr6fX1CS-uXmjEdnj0cNdcQ9WyuaNYZWBpHEv8ztTiY/s1600/fandom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhOYX9uK6csc1edTRJopk8A5brGot7KQfWGhreZRjmdzlrmFSAwvWdyHF2c10elsZYMh9nZAD_zs2u6JPZ-rb0Bn7DKVkYyYPJr6fX1CS-uXmjEdnj0cNdcQ9WyuaNYZWBpHEv8ztTiY/s400/fandom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Come over and discuss!Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-35386638300057472372013-10-14T10:12:00.002-04:002013-10-14T10:12:23.945-04:00Music Be the Food of Love...and Writing<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm talking about music and writing today on <a href="http://ladysmut.com/" target="_blank"><b>LadySmut.com</b></a> and how the one can inspire and feed the other. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhX4oHv1mDoiZyYVohPzJaFLyWvwdOAhSg4JEhW4C2GU78vXH0B_U4uxPbGXv_nEgT6YOihMUsWhFjIZZpQm6EiHBmGEc6qHFC9PWOvcKavMecxTmr0jsqXs5RwA1CE8UhZiA8PDZdFI/s1600/cool-music.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhX4oHv1mDoiZyYVohPzJaFLyWvwdOAhSg4JEhW4C2GU78vXH0B_U4uxPbGXv_nEgT6YOihMUsWhFjIZZpQm6EiHBmGEc6qHFC9PWOvcKavMecxTmr0jsqXs5RwA1CE8UhZiA8PDZdFI/s200/cool-music.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Come on over and share some of the music that inspires you.</span>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-65522307562672718632013-10-07T10:58:00.001-04:002013-10-07T10:58:05.994-04:00The Lost Pornographic Age of the DinosaursNo doubt, paleontologists across the land are wondering how they miss such a salacious era while Michael Crichton is probably rolling over in his grave that he didn't think of it first.<br />
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Over at Ladysmut.com, I'm taking a disgusted look at <a href="http://ladysmut.com/2013/10/07/the-lost-pornographic-era-of-the-dinosaurs/comment-page-1/#comment-2917" target="_blank">dino porn</a>.<br />
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Yeah, you read that right. Unfortunately.Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-41615410182401939762013-09-23T15:37:00.000-04:002013-09-23T15:37:08.231-04:00Bet You Thought, "Now Why Don't She Write?" I'm delighted to announce that I am the newest addition to the staff at LadySmut.com.<br />
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"Lady Smut is a blog for intelligent women who like to read smut. On this blog, we talk about our writing, the erotic romance industry, masculinity, femininity, sexuality, and whatever makes our pulses race."<br />
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While I write smart, sharp, and sexy romantic suspense novels that yet do not fall into the erotic romance category, I do enjoy the savvy voice and intelligent, frank discussions these ladies have displayed on their blog this past year. I'm excited to add my off-kilter perspective to their ranks.<br />
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Head on over to read my debut post "<a href="http://ladysmut.com/" target="_blank">A Poor Kind of Hero</a>" and find out why I think some "classic" heroes fail to make the grade.Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-77601048180254384392013-09-11T10:07:00.000-04:002013-09-11T10:07:04.695-04:00Always Remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6HOokmm1zjgUxdUoh7X1onmjn0pLu5f9D1ZlJakIxVNKn09tmHQROPxpCzhM05qeg32Dzf5q9afLQPot6qcH_Ls5gdxBIXzeKmLRAKrbZm8NBolWoTjg73WjNahJ6tua8PkTdZC5RPU/s1600/TheLadyandTheTowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6HOokmm1zjgUxdUoh7X1onmjn0pLu5f9D1ZlJakIxVNKn09tmHQROPxpCzhM05qeg32Dzf5q9afLQPot6qcH_Ls5gdxBIXzeKmLRAKrbZm8NBolWoTjg73WjNahJ6tua8PkTdZC5RPU/s640/TheLadyandTheTowers.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-42044327832632071922013-05-06T12:34:00.001-04:002013-05-06T20:32:39.970-04:00I Lurked On The #RT13 Twitter Feed#Bittercon is real, it’s here, and it’s fueled by fond, good-natured jealously for all the romance (and other genre) writers and readers who attended the RT Conference
last week in Kansas City, MO. RT stands for the <i><a href="http://www.rtbookreviews.com/" target="_blank"><b>RT Book Reviews</b></a></i> magazine (formerly <i>Romantic Times</i>). I was a constant presence (real or imagined) at #Bittercon as I was not able to attend “RT” this year. To avoid wallowing
completely in freakish misery, I avidly followed the nonstop nearly 24-hour
Twitter feed for hashtag #RT13. I lurked, I admit it, I have no shame. Here are but a few of the not-entirely-surprising revelations my lurking uncovered about #RT13.<br />
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Romance writers love their funky shoes (I APPROVE) and are
not shy about posing in them, which is good because <a href="https://twitter.com/angelajames" target="_blank"><b>Angela James, Editorial Director for Carina Press</b></a>, was there to take their pictures. That’s probably how I know that <a href="https://twitter.com/karinacooper" target="_blank"><b>Karina Cooper</b></a> has <i>the most</i> fantastic shoes
on the planet (though I hear <a href="https://twitter.com/SmartBitches" target="_blank"><b>Smart Bitch Sarah Wendell</b></a> runs a close second). Karina's <a href="http://instagram.com/p/YkxWiPAgO3/" target="_blank"><b>peacock shoes</b></a> especially turned me several shades of blue green with envy. (UPDATED at 8 PM with a link to the <i><a href="http://instagram.com/p/YkxWiPAgO3/" target="_blank"><b>peacock shoes</b></a></i>!! Thanks Karina!!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The costume parties make me glad for the time I spent on a
theatre’s run crew that made me a whiz with the quick change (usually when
there’s a man involved). (I’m kidding.) (Maybe.) They also brought home the fact that I don’t have <i>nearly</i> the sufficient budget or creativity required for the costumes for all the parties
at this conference. Imelda Marcos wouldn’t have the budget for the costumes for
all the parties at this conference. Though she would have the <i>shoes</i>.</div>
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I’m gonna need some tats applied before I attend RT14 in New
Orleans or lose any and all cred with these tricked out, bad-assed writers.
They will be fake because I am a wimp. Also, I have a hard time deciding on a lipstick color,
I’m hardly going to be able to choose an image with which to be painted for
eternity without <i>years</i> of planning
first – and likely therapy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Author <a href="https://twitter.com/E_L_James" target="_blank"><b>E L James</b></a> of <i>Fifty
Shades</i> infamy attended incognito (I had “came” as the verb there first, but
then this <i>is</i> an RT list, so…) She
declared herself in a panel but without rancor or fisticuffs, revealed she was
only there to support a friend, re-registered under her real fake (i.e. pen) name,
lost her badge in the men’s room, and has had an identity crisis ever since.<br />
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Larry Kirshbaum, publishing legend and current head of
Amazon Publishing, does a mean striptease. On a dais. In front of hundreds of women. As you do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The craft workshops never end. Even late in the evening at the hotel bar, you can still find erotic romance authors who are all to willing to demonstrate...techniques.<br />
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Holy crap, TEENAGERS READ!!! Brace yourselves: they can be
so keen to see a favorite writer that they will bypass the escalator and RUN UP
THE STAIRS to be sure to get the signature of their Fearless Leader. Then,
overcome with the sauce that is awesome, they will comp squat <i>right there</i> on a hotel lobby floor (no,
it’s not a misdemeanor) and START READING. FROM A BOOK EVEN. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The RT Book Fair is MASSIVE. Authors are trapped at their
tables for hours, signing books and meeting lovely fans. Fortunately, some people
are happy to resupply the belabored authors gamely battling hand cramps with coffee, water, penis-shaped candy, and, if you’re author
<a href="https://twitter.com/caramckenna" target="_blank"><b>Cara McKenna</b></a>, a bottle of Smirnoff Ice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/andrewtshaffer" target="_blank"><b>Andrew Shaffer</b></a> is <i>everywhere</i> - sometimes trotting around with <a href="https://twitter.com/JillShalvis" target="_blank"><b>Jill Shalvis</b></a>' skull (she was mobbed at the book fair and thus stripped of her skin) and occasionally wearing a horse's head though thankfully not in the Corleone style. Seriously, the guy is like the inadvertent mascot of the RT twitter feed, which <i>would</i> offer one explanation for the horse's head...</div>
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In her acceptance speech for winning the RT Book Reviews
Reviewers Choice for Best Steampunk Novel of 2012 for <i>Tarnished</i>, Karina Cooper revealed that her husband had sold his
Magic cards to help pay for her trip to RT13. <a href="https://twitter.com/tiffanyreisz" target="_blank"><b>Tiffany Reisz</b></a> tweeted in response
that her father paid for her first RWA National Conference, and <a href="https://twitter.com/OliviaKelly_" target="_blank"><b>Olivia Kelly</b></a>
added that <i>her</i> dad paid for her trip
to RWA Nationals in 2012 and reads all her stuff. Conclusion: our heroes do not only exist between the pages of our romance novels. We dig the good (live) men. They are real and amazing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Everyone fangrrls over <a href="https://twitter.com/JudeDeveraux1" target="_blank"><b>Jude Devereux</b></a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JulieGarwood" target="_blank"><b>Julie Garwood</b></a>. <i>Everyone</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Given that I was a far-off observer of said goings-on, below are but a few of the more memorable tweets from #RT13. WARNING: Don't be drinking anything when you read them or it'll come out of your nose for sure.<br />
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One last thing for those who still inexplicably doubt or poo poo the impact of Twitter. If there could be anything to solidify my certain attendance at RT14, it would be the RT13 Twitter feed. That's grassroots, first-person, hand to hand, <i>free</i> marketing and publicity generated there for anyone and everyone to see for both <i>RT Book Reviews</i> and every single person mentioned and/or tweeting. Turn your nose up at <i>that</i> unbelievers. I dare you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
*crying* @<a href="https://twitter.com/victoriadahl">victoriadahl</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/laurendane">laurendane</a> and me demonstrating cowboy hand job pantomime in the bar. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rt13">#rt13</a><br />
— Alyssa Day (@Alyssa_Day) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alyssa_Day/status/330522259284443136">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/victoriadahl">victoriadahl</a> No Spanx at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23bittercon">#bittercon</a>.<br />
— SonomaLass (@SonomaLass) <a href="https://twitter.com/SonomaLass/status/330522858096832513">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tired teens with tons of books from YA Alley. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a> <a href="http://t.co/wwLCHAAOsu" title="http://twitter.com/RT_Magazine/status/330730789400633345/photo/1">twitter.com/RT_Magazine/st…</a><br />
— RT Book Reviews (@RT_Magazine) <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_Magazine/status/330730789400633345">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
OH at RT: oh god I'm sorry we've had this conversation before. That's ok you were probably drunk<br />
— Lauren Dane (@laurendane) <a href="https://twitter.com/laurendane/status/330756693103345664">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"when I sucked on it, I realized it wasn't mine." <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23nocontext">#nocontext</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Diana Rowland (@dianarowland) <a href="https://twitter.com/dianarowland/status/330786431314305024">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Did I just crawl acros a table? Maybe. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Kiera Cass (@kieracass) <a href="https://twitter.com/kieracass/status/330786933473177600">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What do you do after the book fair at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rt13">#rt13</a>? You find a corner and read of course. <a href="http://t.co/hiQYbejpIF" title="http://twitter.com/SmartBitches/status/330772271037829120/photo/1">twitter.com/SmartBitches/s…</a><br />
— Sarah Wendell (@SmartBitches) <a href="https://twitter.com/SmartBitches/status/330772271037829120">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yet must... Keep... Tweeting.... “@<a href="https://twitter.com/badnecklace">badnecklace</a>: I am falling asleep sitting up. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a>”<br />
— Soap Opera 451 (@SoapOpera451) <a href="https://twitter.com/SoapOpera451/status/330787036845973504">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Having an interesting conversation about cow shifters in the lobby of <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Crista McHugh (@crista_mchugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/crista_mchugh/status/330797793834852353">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Overheard: "Stay away from his buttocks." *Snort* - @<a href="https://twitter.com/riewrites">riewrites</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rt13">#rt13</a><br />
— Kendall Grey (@kendallgrey1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kendallgrey1/status/330799865154117632">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/loreliebrown">loreliebrown</a> Are you sure you weren't trying to free a house elf? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Mala Bhattacharjee (@badnecklace) <a href="https://twitter.com/badnecklace/status/330803775319187456">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"The secret is fresh orphans." <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Kiera Cass (@kieracass) <a href="https://twitter.com/kieracass/status/330798809925951488">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Overheard @ <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a> "I know what Amazon is doing. They're building the Death Star."<br />
— Valerie Bowman (@ValerieGBowman) <a href="https://twitter.com/ValerieGBowman/status/330812224157388800">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
OH at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a>: "Don't look at me, I gave up panties years ago." --NYT best selling author<br />
— Louisa Edwards (@LouisaEdwards) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouisaEdwards/status/330814277755752448">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The fans mobbed @<a href="https://twitter.com/jillshalvis">jillshalvis</a> and she ran out of books and also skin. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a> <a href="http://t.co/U2MffYjICY" title="http://twitter.com/andrewtshaffer/status/330749303335301120/photo/1">twitter.com/andrewtshaffer…</a><br />
— Andrew Shaffer (@andrewtshaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewtshaffer/status/330749303335301120">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
OH at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rt13">#rt13</a>: “There’s no juice in there. It’s hard as a rock.” Who said it? Three guesses, and the ones without @<a href="https://twitter.com/victoriadahl">victoriadahl</a> don’t count.<br />
— Karina Cooper (@karinacooper) <a href="https://twitter.com/karinacooper/status/330884449912897536">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
@<a href="https://twitter.com/scalzi">scalzi</a> is spouting gems of wisdom like: "some kids go to Hogwarts, some kids get home schooled." <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TaoOfScalzi">#TaoOfScalzi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Leanna Renee Hieber (@Leannarenee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Leannarenee/status/330896396658020352">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I'd take the boob over the bootOverheard at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a> Rotflol<br />
— Kat (@The_Book_Tart) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Book_Tart/status/330893603767459840">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
And then @<a href="https://twitter.com/andrewtshaffer">andrewtshaffer</a> trotted in wearing a horse head. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rt13">#rt13</a> <a href="http://t.co/FCK8LXtYrK" title="http://twitter.com/jayewells/status/330902609441464321/photo/1">twitter.com/jayewells/stat…</a><br />
— jayewells (@jayewells) <a href="https://twitter.com/jayewells/status/330902609441464321">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
OH at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rt13">#rt13</a>: "I'm the boob whisperer."<br />
— Sara Brookes (@Sara_Brookes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sara_Brookes/status/331191412081184768">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I just watched @<a href="https://twitter.com/tiffanyreisz">tiffanyreisz</a> ride @<a href="https://twitter.com/andrewtshaffer">andrewtshaffer</a> while he wore a horse mask.<br />
— Sierra Dean (@sierradean) <a href="https://twitter.com/sierradean/status/330905403548377088">May 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The world would be a really sad place if we could only have one book we could loveOverheard at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/sylday">sylday</a> <3 her!<br />
— Kat (@The_Book_Tart) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Book_Tart/status/330813109574983682">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Oh, God. This is some weird shit. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23RT13">#RT13</a><br />
— Victoria Dahl (@VictoriaDahl) <a href="https://twitter.com/VictoriaDahl/status/330536974383464448">May 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-34256988710675133312012-06-20T07:00:00.000-04:002012-06-20T09:50:02.388-04:00Writer's Kiss of DeathAlways keep reading. It's a stalwart mantra, one that's been drummed into me - and rightly so - by published writers, colleagues, agents, and editors on multiple platforms in the last four years. You'd think this would be a no brainer for the woman who, as a girl, would walk home from grade school nose deep in a book. And who, present day, has been known to snatch a paragraph or two at a red light. Yes, I pay attention to red lights. Occasionally, I even wave at them as I go by...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqSWugyhDa-D3fWZ55xoveqKGvGbgTEBh92q-hQx4NYSyrJoF-ww50mYJ5o25KBWm0sKn55pK12F0Qhbklqfi-qP4Mbw9f_cqziXR8frQYqn8JkuQ6fxjwGY167G-yfa3lePLisay9UE/s1600/babybook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqSWugyhDa-D3fWZ55xoveqKGvGbgTEBh92q-hQx4NYSyrJoF-ww50mYJ5o25KBWm0sKn55pK12F0Qhbklqfi-qP4Mbw9f_cqziXR8frQYqn8JkuQ6fxjwGY167G-yfa3lePLisay9UE/s200/babybook.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books. They do a body good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was the kid who read by flashlight long after my parent's patience had ended and <i>Light's Out</i>! echoed down the short hallway from their bedroom to mine. In the fifth grade, I stacked <i>The Outsiders</i> upright behind my textbook to read during Mrs. Luxembourg's class. Oy, what a harridan. In the eighth grade, I hid the burgeoning covers of my old skool romance novels face down on my stack of books to, unsuccessfully as it turned out, avoid getting mocked for my reading material. If I start reading a book at 9 o'clock with the avowed intention to ONLY read for an hour, I know I'm deluding myself, right up to the 2 AM mark when I turn the last page. I will fight sleep, snap at loved ones, <i>ignore my cats</i> when wrapped up in a good book. I always have <i>something</i> on me to read, usually more than one item too, and to leave my house sans a book or magazine is equivalent to going out without my girdle - if I was a 1950s housewife.<br />
<br />
Here is my shameful confession: I haven't read a book since April. Hello, my name is Kiersten, I am a bookaholic who has not read a book in three months.<br />
<br />
Oh. The horror.<br />
<br />
Reading is essential. Yes, all right, it's fundamental too. Yeesh. But for a writer, <i>not</i> reading is the kiss of death. Reading enriches writing; by experiencing the excellent - and occasionally seriously crappy - writing that is out there right now, particularly in romantic fiction (the excellent part, not the crappy) (tho I guess that's there too), one hones and shapes one's craft. I whole-heartily subscribe to this philosophy.<br />
<br />
And yet. See above.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VaCIqVHtk9BkWBGzHuHfUUBEqhIZjR9ZkiItZ0yUIvJ19E1sUtFE45eO42baHVDGPYArW72ybfFZLSTPc4VhPVZgvFDXQkhAaNbnbFRDLNwRYiGaRy1MrIvgqCHZFlUEo9roQBTVH6Y/s1600/leaningtowerofTBR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VaCIqVHtk9BkWBGzHuHfUUBEqhIZjR9ZkiItZ0yUIvJ19E1sUtFE45eO42baHVDGPYArW72ybfFZLSTPc4VhPVZgvFDXQkhAaNbnbFRDLNwRYiGaRy1MrIvgqCHZFlUEo9roQBTVH6Y/s200/leaningtowerofTBR.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Leaning Tower of TBR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I <b><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/06/first-look-loretta-chase-scandal-wears-satin-june-29-2012" target="_blank">read a review</a></b> today on <b><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/" target="_blank">Heroes and Heartbreakers</a></b> for Loretta Chase's upcoming new release <i>Scandal Wears Satin</i> and realized to my chagrin that despite my mad worship of her writing and books, I have yet to read <i>Silk Is For Seduction</i>, her first novel in this series. It teeters on the top of my leaning tower of TBR along with Carie Lofty's <i>Flawless</i>, Zoe Archer's <i>Devil's Kiss</i> and Roxanne St. Claire's debut contemporary <i>Barefoot in the Sand</i>. I <i>salivate</i> for these books. Not to mention that an unbroken binding is like the wag of an accusing finger from the publishing world. What is my dang problem?<br />
<br />
Well, there's the fact that I'm gutting the center of the WIP and restructuring the arcs all of which must be done by RWA Nationals. As you can see by the ticking countdown clock to the right, that outstanding event is coming lickety split, hence my impending aneurysm. And then there's the Internet, specifically social media. I'm never not hooked up to
something, even if it's only the caffeine-fueled IV in the crook of my
arm that goes by the name of Twitter. Sleep. Sleep comes into play from time to time. I gots skillz,
baby. Mad skillz. But even I need to sleep or so I'm told. I should just
have my sleep removed and be done with it, but then my Id might
manifest in the form of a green oversized demon who could then kill and
destroy everything in its path, except - no, wait - dammit, <a href="http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Life_of_the_Party" target="_blank"><b>Whedon already beat me to that</b></a>. Of course, there's <i>Lost Girl</i> and my recapping duties therein, but really, when I think about it, it actually helps infuse what sleep I get with lovely, wolf shifter related dreams....what?! Finally, there's guilt. Oy, da guilt. Every time I plan to read a new book, I think of all the things I should be doing instead, like, say, one and two and three above.<br />
<br />
What really sux is that I am <i>deeply</i> missing out. Missing out on excellent stories and storytelling. Missing out on juicy word choice and complex characters. Missing out on honing my craft by examining the paths of those who go before. <br />
<br />
Is there something you like to do, something you not only enjoy but is also essential to your work in one way or another, that you're not doing? How do you deal? Leave a comment. Win a book. It's that easy.<br />
<br />
Standard disclaimer applies. They make me say that. Images courtesy of Google Images.Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-54702183552055692942012-05-30T07:00:00.000-04:002012-05-30T10:31:42.625-04:00Not Polish for Nothin'Summer has slammed into New Jersey like damn and wow with all three Hs - hazy, hot, and humid - in full account. All I have to do is take one step out of my personal wind tunnel created by cross-posted fans and I'm awash in a perpetual coating of sweat. Lovely.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSm5Rq3FWNqRBVMaiSaj9l5ENbs36nFmzw-BY47Khr7ihOFtjEJPe04gci3LNBd7MwBrXxTX-Kj5q2XqrA-o6o-m7mId2LITNE_-geIQDgVyx_uSObbFKJ_2i2b4H07GSoVVX-1TKfJ_o/s1600/bradleybeach1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSm5Rq3FWNqRBVMaiSaj9l5ENbs36nFmzw-BY47Khr7ihOFtjEJPe04gci3LNBd7MwBrXxTX-Kj5q2XqrA-o6o-m7mId2LITNE_-geIQDgVyx_uSObbFKJ_2i2b4H07GSoVVX-1TKfJ_o/s320/bradleybeach1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's better in October!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thus I enter the hair dryer-free portion of my calendar year when I pin up my bangs and roll down my windows and let nature and 75 mph on route 287 dry my hair for me instead. But the rest of me still has to get out of the apartment in a reasonably presentable state for the day job.<br />
<br />
Yesterday morning, I grabbed my necklace and sandals and immediately plopped myself in the wind tunnel to cool down from that massive exertion. Needing both hands for sandal wrangling, I put the necklace on the bed behind me. I mean, how far could it go?<br />
<br />
Pretty dang far, because the irksome thing vanished. Poof! Like some pissed off <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_%28folklore%29" target="_blank">brownie</a></b> swept in and snatched it. Honestly, I was so baffled, I spent about .5 of a second seriously considering that possibility. Hollis, perched on the end of the bed purring as she does during my morning ablutions (how did I wind up with a morning cat?!), couldn't be bothered to care, though she was not happy when I shifted her to see if perhaps her ample belly had smothered my necklace when I wasn't looking.<br />
<br />
Commence ten frustrated, increasingly sweaty minutes of looking for the stupid thing. I had to decamp without it as I needed to hit the grocery store on my way in to the office for the week's provisions. I went to the store, got to the day job, and proceeded through my morning set up routine. En route to the office kitchen to toast my bagel, I felt something dangling down my leg.<br />
<br />
Yup, it was my necklace, which had managed to hook itself on and around the button of my trouser pocket. The back pocket. On my butt cheek.<br />
<br />
This means that I sat on it whilst driving, walked around the store with it dangling from my rear, and ditto during the long walk from my car to my desk.<br />
<br />
I am not Polish for nothin'. <br />
<br />
My boss bravely performed de-butting duties, laughing like a loon all the while. When relaying this story to my friend, she stopped me to point out that somewhere along the way, I'd also lost an earring! (Later found on the floor of my office.) If ever there was a day a should've stayed in bed...<br />
<br />
Maybe this is the beginning of a new jewelry line - charms and jewels to adorned the buttocks. Dangling chains to shape and accentuate the gluteus maximus. 'Cause <i>that's</i> the part of my anatomy to which I really want to call attention!<br />
<br />
I ended up in the office kitchen guffawing as my bagel toasted, wondering what the rest of my day would bring, how it would ever top this, and whether I'd survive if it did.<br />
<br />
Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.<br />
<br />Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-14801836464618218872012-05-24T12:41:00.000-04:002012-06-20T10:26:06.973-04:00Social Media Links and Tips<br />
<div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.06in; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of converting my organically grown know how of social media into a workshop and delivering it to my local RWA chapter, the New Jersey Romance Writer's of America. No one threw tomatoes or called me a fraud, so result!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">I promised to provide them the links I showcased during the presentation. But should they alone have all the fun and brain-aneurysm inducing infodump?</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.06in; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Perish the thought. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Below are listed a few places to find some of the tips and information from publishing professionals that helped guide me to be the social media goddess of all I survey that I am today. OK, so maybe just a demigod. All right, fine, compared with these people, I'm barely a sidekick, but even the sidekick gets a showcase episode once and a while.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A broad tip of the fashionable hat to author <b><a href="http://www.caridad.com/" target="_blank">Caridad Pineiro</a></b> for leading me to some of these links in the first place. She absolutely has her own chair in the social media pantheon. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Links to Social Media Tips for Writers </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://gigaom.com/collaboration/tweeting-101-a-twitter-cheat-sheet/" target="_blank"><b>Tweeting 101:A Cheat Sheet</b></a> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/tumblr-tips-for-writers_b49877" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Tumblr</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"> Tips for Writers</span></span></b></a></div>
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<a href="http://kikolani.com/how-to-develop-a-routine-to-manage-social-media.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">How to Develop a Routine to Manage Social Media</span></span></b></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Pinterest</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><a href="http://www.rachellegardner.com/2012/03/pinterest-things-writers-should-know/" target="_blank">: 13 Things Writers Should Know</a> </b>by Rachelle Gardner, agent<b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><a href="http://bloggingwithamy.com/pinterest-tips/" target="_blank">The Ultimate List of Pinterest Tips</a> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/2011/12/12/5-things-i-wish-authors-knew-about-twitter/" target="_blank"><b>Ten Things I Wish Authors Knew About Twitter</b></a> by Angela James, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Carina Press Executive Editor </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who to Follow?</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are several places to find the handles of publishing peeps who you may wish to follow on Twitter grouped by categories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Bookstores:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://wefollow.com/twitter/bookstore">http://wefollow.com/twitter/bookstore</a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Literary
Agents:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/best-literary-agents-on-twitter_b17189">http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/best-literary-agents-on-twitter_b17189</a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">Digital
Publishing List:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://futurebook.net/content/digital-publishing-twitter-list">http://futurebook.net/content/digital-publishing-twitter-list</a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;">Libraries:</span><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/best-library-people-on-twitter_b11945">http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/best-library-people-on-twitter_b11945</a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://lindybrown.com/blog/2009/01/libraries-on-twitter-updated-list/">http://lindybrown.com/blog/2009/01/libraries-on-twitter-updated-list/</a></span></u></span></div>
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Trade Directory</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Good Twitter Hashtags to Follow</span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">#amwriting</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">#amediting</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">#editreport</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">#askagent</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">#pubwrite</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline;">#womeninpublishing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Feel free to add your own social media suggestions and recommendations in the comments below.</span></div>
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</span></div>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-27451141412696311002012-04-12T07:00:00.000-04:002012-04-12T10:31:44.877-04:00Overcome by ObsessionObsession.<br />
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Overwhelming. Overpowering. Overheated.<br />
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No, I don't mean the fragrance.<br />
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We all have it, that one (or two or three) thing(s) that we can't let go. That habit, that object, that one kind of food, that quirky behavior that stretches the bounds of reason and makes our inner id chortle with glee.<br />
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I have an addictive personality. Not that you become addicted to me (though, come on, admit it, you really do), but rather that on the rare occasion when I truly latch onto something obsessively, I am a total goner. No half way mark, no moderation. Complete and total blow out. Though I do wonder why my obsessions can never be about something <i>good</i> like exercising regularly or writing 10,000 excellent words a day.<br />
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Because I am who I am, most of my bat-crap crazy levels of obsession occur around media - movies, television shows, and books. We have a term for it in Romancelandia - to <i>glom</i> or <i>glomming</i>. I glom, you glom, he, she, it, gloms. (<i>Sidebar</i>: speaking of conjugation, five years high school Latin and the only verb I took with me is <i>efficio</i>: to make out. I make out. You make out. We make out....)<br />
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<i>Glomming</i> is what occurs when one discovers a new-to-you author whose writing hits all your happy spots and that's before you find out he/she has a lengthy back list of work for which you must now set aside your entire life and <i>glom</i> onto these titles in order to immediately read them all back to back to back. When glomming, one loses all sense of time and place outside of the obsession. I call this the James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser effect.<br />
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In television, this translates into lost time watching marathons of a show's DVDs, which can span multiple seasons back to back to back if so available. Ditto movies. And that's before we get to the Internet communities that dish and squee and generally happily lose their collective shit over a found mutual love for a shared obsession.<br />
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I am nearly gone and absolutely lost in <a href="http://www.syfy.com/lostgirl" target="_blank"><b><i>Lost Girl</i></b> </a>as my newest obsession. You may have noticed as subtlety is not a virtue I tend to cultivate. When I stumbled on the show's U.S. debut in January, I was not prepared for how quickly I would get sucked under its spell. And while not perfect (this is me managing expectations, but if you like urban fantasy genre, you should <i>totally go watch it</i>), it hits my empty Whedon spot on multiple levels and that makes me only too happy to shrug <i>eh - whatever</i> at those glitches and move on.<br />
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There is no zealot like the newly converted and boy howdy, did I tell the world about my new obsession, warning my friends and family that I was/am totally aware of how absurd I sound and yet I could/can not stop it. One night during the <b><a href="http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference/" target="_blank">LSFW conference</a></b> last month, my friends pulled up pictures of the show on an iPhone so they'd know what I was yammering on about, and collectively burst out laughing at the manic expression that came over me at the sight of sexy, sexy wolf shifter Dyson <i>in situ</i>.<br />
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You gotta be able to laugh at yourself, guys, and I <i>excel</i> at it.<br />
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I gotta say, I was not prepared for the emotional black hole that arrived after I watched the<b> <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/04/lost-girl-episode-13-succubus-family-values#comments" target="_blank"><i>Lost Girl</i> Season 1 finale</a></b> in January. I was in mourning for nearly two weeks and
an absolute nightmare to to live with, I promise you. Huzzah, show, for turning my insides out with emotional turmoil. I managed to limit my downward spiral to a total Twitter meltdown after the finale aired for U.S. audiences this past Monday night. Personally, I
think that shows growth. <br />
<br />
It's been a long, long time since I went this far down the obsession rabbit hole. Not like this level
of madness can last for long without a restraining order eventually coming into
play. By that point, real life is (hopefully) already on the job,
dialing me back from
the abyss. Yes, I realize how ridiculous it all may sound to someone who doesn't quite Get It, but that's the <i>point</i>. Obsession is ridiculous. Ridiculous and crazy and consuming and often inescapable. <br />
<br />
Here's the thing - I freaking love it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSfzYqs_WF0tEi92ncif2TBe61IIdjYOsF1aH5DtWDY02FUxRJzwftfv9pCl3pfCzwPaH-qOQk17N3f-1y8pVrqwj20GlqInmDLGvvavmdtFiKBzfsKrf7BDhSmDYPUDdlbuV-orTYi0/s1600/dysonstattoo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSfzYqs_WF0tEi92ncif2TBe61IIdjYOsF1aH5DtWDY02FUxRJzwftfv9pCl3pfCzwPaH-qOQk17N3f-1y8pVrqwj20GlqInmDLGvvavmdtFiKBzfsKrf7BDhSmDYPUDdlbuV-orTYi0/s200/dysonstattoo.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot tattoo alert!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love writing my stream of consciousness recaps for <b><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/04/lost-girl-episode-13-succubus-family-values#comments" target="_blank">Heroes and Heartbreakers</a></b> as though there are 300+ people sitting around me laughing and snarking along (plus it lets me write off all my Internet data mining as <i>research</i>. Win!) We're having the best conversations in the recap comments, deconstructing character and motivation, laughing at the sharp dialogue, deep pathos, and shallow digs, reveling in the woman power that is Bo and the sexual frankness the show promotes through her character, not to mention the greatness that is Kenzi and her wicked sharp words, while marveling over Dyson, the big bad wolf boy who hits all my hero hot spots, and his smokin' back tattoo.<br />
<br />
I love having <i>passion</i> for something again and the inspiration it breeds in me. I love the romance and the fantasy and converting my friends to the show so they can go mad with me. I love meeting and chatting with other fans (dear Lord, I am a <i>fan</i>) in the great online community that's developed on Twitter (holla!). I love that this is a media savvy cast who not only greatly appreciates their faedom, but interacts with them online and occasionally in person at events. I love the strong, true work they are bringing to this show every single week and that thrill that sparks my veins and makes me silly grin when one
of the actors who has entertained me so well in and made me care so
much for this show and these characters follows me on Twitter. <br />
<br />
I seriously <i>dig</i> the crazy.<br />
<br />
Because that's what it takes, what's required in order to create art in any and every incarnation. It takes crazy obsession - with your medium, with your content, with your characters, with your craft, with the voices in your head and the images and word pictures they evolve into on your screen, on your page, on your canvas, or on your stage. We need to dive down the rabbit hole to find the weird rooms with strange food and, OK, sometimes slightly perverted or off-kilter characters in order to produce something magical.<br />
<br />
We <i>need</i> to be overcome by obsession in order to create greatness.<br />
<br />
By the look of things, I am well on my way.Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-14659414025478687782012-04-03T21:23:00.002-04:002012-04-03T22:20:10.648-04:00Tis the faeson. Today's detailed recap for <a href="http://www.syfy.com/lostgirl" target="_blank"><b><i>Lost Girl</i></b></a> episode 12, <i><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/04/lost-girl-episode-12-the-rich-and-succubus#" target="_blank"><b>(Dis)Members</b></a>, </i>or as I call it, The Rich and Succubus,<i> </i>is up at <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/" target="_blank"><b>Heroes & Heartbreakers.</b></a> How did I react to the super spoilerific love scene embedded below? "I am a puddle on the floor." There is <i>beaucoup</i> romance tonight between the big, bad wolf boy and the sexy succubus, all of which left me with a ridiculously giddy grin on my face on every re-watch. Check out the clip, or even better, go watch the episode on SyFy channel, then come read the recap and chat with us about what's sure to be fleeting happiness for our heroes.<br />
<br />
Once you go fae, you never go back. <br />
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<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SrRHCm5Ovz4" width="500"></iframe>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-6612894824974669402012-03-27T13:10:00.000-04:002012-03-27T13:11:40.207-04:00Lost Girl - Faetal Justice: Succubus on a MissionAnother week, another post about <i>Lost Girl</i>. Today's <i>post facto</i> detailed recap for <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/03/lost-girl-episode-11-succubus-on-a-mission" target="_blank"><b><i>Faetal Justice</i></b></a> is up at <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/" target="_blank"><b>Heroes & Heartbreakers.</b></a> We're already chatting mightily about the goodness that is a shirtless Dyson, a snarky The Morrigan, and deep, if perhaps lightning fast, relationship progress on the Bo and Dyson front, making me a happy, happy recapper.<br />
<br />
Look! A clip!<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="170" scrolling="no" src="http://www.syfy.com/_utils/video/embed.php?/videos/small/_vid18138856" width="300"></iframe>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-9119512515541994682012-03-13T13:09:00.000-04:002012-03-13T13:09:09.521-04:00Lost Girl - Fae Day: Judge, Jury & SuccubusSome day soon, I'm going to have a non <i>Lost Girl</i> post on this site again, but until then, go to <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/03/lost-girl-episode-9-judge-jury-and-succubus#" target="_blank"><b>Heroes and Heartbreakers</b></a> for my detailed recap on the latest episode <i>Fae Day</i>. <i>Bean sidhes</i> and goblins and trials - oh, my!<br />
<br />
See a sneak peak of the episode below, which thankfully includes some hot wolf this time...not that that's a deal breaker on anything - but it helps!<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="170" scrolling="no" src="http://www.syfy.com/_utils/video/embed.php?/videos/small/_vid18053400" width="300"></iframe>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-14387271227126835462012-03-06T22:56:00.000-05:002012-03-13T13:11:05.058-04:00Lost Girl Recap - Vexed<i>Vexed</i> is the best episode of <i>Lost Girl</i> yet, a game-changer, and I may have got a tad overzealous recapping but day-am. Filmed as the original pilot to sell the series to the network, it also had the hottest cold open I've ever seen that wasn't on pay cable, emotionally charged, integral to the mythology of the show, and seriously sizzling. The recap is live at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1428662766"><b>Heroes and Heartbreakers</b></a><b> </b>so click on over...and you can start with the preview below.<b><br /></b><br />
<a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/03/lost-girl-episode-8-succubus-vexed" target="_blank"><b><br /></b></a><br />
<iframe width="300" height="170" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.syfy.com/_utils/video/embed.php?/videos/small/_vid18025874"></iframe>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-2708471343410593022012-02-28T11:16:00.003-05:002012-02-28T11:16:52.034-05:00Still Happily Lost in Lost GirlIt's Tuesday morning, and you know what that means - my <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-7-along-came-a-succubus" target="_blank"><b><i>Lost Girl</i> recap</b></a> for last night's episode <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-7-along-came-a-succubus" target="_blank"><b><i>Arachnofaebia</i></b></a> is up at <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-7-along-came-a-succubus" target="_blank"><b>Heroes and Heartbreakers</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Check out the tense clip below and then head on over for the recap! <br />
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<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="170" scrolling="no" src="http://www.syfy.com/_utils/video/embed.php?/videos/small/_vid17970597" width="300"></iframe>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-90180464533484153152012-02-22T07:00:00.000-05:002012-02-22T10:29:58.016-05:00A Jersey Girl Went to Texas... <br />
I went to Texas. Seeing that in print makes my eyes squint and my head tilt. It's weird. Innocuous, Out of place. Me. In Texas, which always sounds in my head in William Shatner's voice from <i>Miss Congeniality</i>: TEX-ASS!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-RV3LHi_SQcE3M3ZmexHqQESDu7ipTou5prl8GQCQUkk9rnkqDxwjztAUzb2ivOKm2hUa0_AvPEt2SeK48ITuaHsT36QiBamuTuUKZaJcywimix-bhCItaRtlYNJfhprQI-UMxm2rso/s1600/EmilyCertificate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-RV3LHi_SQcE3M3ZmexHqQESDu7ipTou5prl8GQCQUkk9rnkqDxwjztAUzb2ivOKm2hUa0_AvPEt2SeK48ITuaHsT36QiBamuTuUKZaJcywimix-bhCItaRtlYNJfhprQI-UMxm2rso/s200/EmilyCertificate.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
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I went to Texas because, as I *may* have mentioned before, I was a finalist in the <a href="http://whrwa.com/emily/" target="_blank"><b>West Houston RWA Emily Awards</b></a> in the romantic
suspense category. This is the first time I've finaled in a writing
contest and I wanted to enjoy the experience to the hilt. Since I came home a
winner - I did!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6XfNgVg4zIa0_fVOekDjECQr9fXDoSLfEz_phFg1rPkq6idWH4JJD-mNVqsW1ViMjAWUbq86G8Tl_bEFWmZhL37OZNnl7SQx-Eg7Tx3E-UbZwX1uE93MkD4l_8WZoTgnHMpKC-pGq3E/s1600/totalbadass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6XfNgVg4zIa0_fVOekDjECQr9fXDoSLfEz_phFg1rPkq6idWH4JJD-mNVqsW1ViMjAWUbq86G8Tl_bEFWmZhL37OZNnl7SQx-Eg7Tx3E-UbZwX1uE93MkD4l_8WZoTgnHMpKC-pGq3E/s200/totalbadass.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
We made a weekend of it, the four of us: historical romance writer <b><a href="http://www.vickydreiling.com/" target="_blank">Vicky Dreiling</a></b> who had pushed me to enter the Emily in the first place, myself, my conference wife <b><a href="http://www.annebakerbooks.com/" target="_blank">Anne Baker</a></b>, (who brought me this great <i>push me</i> button that says things like "Go for the gold! But not in a mean way! Go for it in a character-building way!" and the magnet to the right, which I think we all can agree is deliciously apropos), and Harlequin writer <a href="http://www.kristigold.com/" target="_blank"><b>Kristi Gold</b></a>, whose North Texas accent had a blast with my Jersey ears. We laughed, we talked, we ate and drank and talked about the publishing business and writing and then laughed some more. Good friends are the things that get you through the hard times - but it's a blazing joy to have good times to celebrate with them too.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vh-G681L-BYVJss8-9o5vutKRWWYt87j5tS0CGZKWoqsxh09c0X8IPODbbGxhEEQ02IhW02nNybevAZoXRAU80JqW0EsQHY8TZJdnqDXWdTik_96f5U4rx-2n5ojD9bnelz3aIdi-oU/s1600/0213121722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vh-G681L-BYVJss8-9o5vutKRWWYt87j5tS0CGZKWoqsxh09c0X8IPODbbGxhEEQ02IhW02nNybevAZoXRAU80JqW0EsQHY8TZJdnqDXWdTik_96f5U4rx-2n5ojD9bnelz3aIdi-oU/s200/0213121722.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily Pin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The members of West Houston RWA were utterly warm and welcoming, rolling out the Texas and romance hospitality all at once. I had such a lovely day among them, meeting new people, talking about romance, and pitching to agents. Such warmth and instant camaraderie is a unique aspect of romance writers. We're not perfect and any time you get a bunch of women together, the claws almost always will come out eventually whether in private...or, with us, usually in print. But on the whole, the support and generosity in the romance community is one of its finest and most enduring traits.<br />
<br />
I love to fly. I love being above everything, as though the whole world has stopped, all the dramas that fill my life pausing while I'm in the air. I love having the unknown ahead. When I drove through Ireland in '99, I didn't even have hotel reservations anywhere.Wherever I landed was where I stayed (made for some interesting nights, I'll tell you). There was a freedom in that, fear sometimes, utter and total panic once or twice, but excitement and liberty above all.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuqAYojesUzAtVmua1pZ65e5A4_sLFvF76rRywXOTAYhE0o5seRGN3UwYWwHbyHpTkcUwRNugVl2GtWmM4NQVasRPQdyyZHeguzX5b7gB4wER2vIRTYL0fpA8oyTtLNvrWVytjmwGjmE/s1600/0210121054a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuqAYojesUzAtVmua1pZ65e5A4_sLFvF76rRywXOTAYhE0o5seRGN3UwYWwHbyHpTkcUwRNugVl2GtWmM4NQVasRPQdyyZHeguzX5b7gB4wER2vIRTYL0fpA8oyTtLNvrWVytjmwGjmE/s200/0210121054a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trip out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I haven't flown anywhere for a few years now, but this short trip to Houston was enough to spark my wanderlust. I'll be in California this summer and Arizona after that and I can't wait to get going.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN92G2uxank9AFVTWBPDZmuCCP_LNbXERPk_B4UoPIGpECYpIXDpI8YLgcGzB-KooKqBDJNAbSQms5RUY1-qAwJ2f0KrsCpX7D0QK8C2rhIWBX0BiOLKorBg8fbPwZH2Ip4DqaMKFzg00/s1600/0210121145b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN92G2uxank9AFVTWBPDZmuCCP_LNbXERPk_B4UoPIGpECYpIXDpI8YLgcGzB-KooKqBDJNAbSQms5RUY1-qAwJ2f0KrsCpX7D0QK8C2rhIWBX0BiOLKorBg8fbPwZH2Ip4DqaMKFzg00/s200/0210121145b.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World's above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sure, I dread those evils of flying we all live with these days: the boarding and the squishing and the bag fees and the dark thrill of being crammed into a tiny metal tube and propelled into the air 30,000 feet above the earth. I actually love take offs and landing, the thrust of power, the success of wheels touching down again. Once I'm settled in my seat and the window shade is up and the air is clear to the horizon - ah. There's a whole 'nother world up there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPssza1zliUFmq3GFTeT-mXuNurqRRt9F8GYEHx2g9d-HnrY9njh12vjbJBTQYIxWugUJYSNHYtlGp2VSOTznADzC_qrNvdRygnNekdJ5Lstrsqh46YPQqSfXzhjbG80HL2ZDK7-aMLA/s1600/0213121723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPssza1zliUFmq3GFTeT-mXuNurqRRt9F8GYEHx2g9d-HnrY9njh12vjbJBTQYIxWugUJYSNHYtlGp2VSOTznADzC_qrNvdRygnNekdJ5Lstrsqh46YPQqSfXzhjbG80HL2ZDK7-aMLA/s320/0213121723.jpg" width="320" /></a>Still, I could never be an astronaut. My rampant imagination would work overtime on all the ways I could die before ever breaching the atmosphere and I'd hyperventilate at the first glimpse of a space suit. But when I'm on a plane, I fully understand the passion astronauts have for space travel, the driving need to return to space almost from the moment they land. It must be an extraordinary thing to look through one of these tiny windows and see the entire world laid out before you in celestial banquet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW17P2h8hMpR-4mSF-9X9MFyPCaMOBKn7GQLSCDvEEVsA_gnGbxS9ebyucUvYmgke3ep_TvAZKgfF1ffctXEzX1vql5-9bNdGa-dnFLZZrrMctR8YR9ONTSZ8mF6GaIOOiVHmLH1YuY5E/s1600/Galveston+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW17P2h8hMpR-4mSF-9X9MFyPCaMOBKn7GQLSCDvEEVsA_gnGbxS9ebyucUvYmgke3ep_TvAZKgfF1ffctXEzX1vql5-9bNdGa-dnFLZZrrMctR8YR9ONTSZ8mF6GaIOOiVHmLH1YuY5E/s200/Galveston+005.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's an oil platform...somewhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had the rare treat of being able to meet up with a wonderful Internet (and now real-life) friend that Sunday. She drove us down to Glaveston and the Gulf Coast in seriously crappy weather and we had a great time babbling away to each other. Our sunny moods defeated the cold and cloudy day and we parked and walked along the shore line as I snapped shots with my reluctant Canon camera until in desperation, I finally reverted to the phone cam. What an absolute treat it was to see a visit a new body of water and pick up unique rocks and shells, like I was a kid again at Sandy Hook.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTzkkCRgDszERJhXerIOmvVcjADTNbyMBHxjmMn7dKUx9uJaO5IHBsyI7XIdjvbfmSwZPe-Sn5-ztWYiH5yLJpUlx5XT_pG5b6XrdSTQHdyq1d6f6denzF2U5Mkfy8sQeX0V8bJxIxN0/s1600/0212121511a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTzkkCRgDszERJhXerIOmvVcjADTNbyMBHxjmMn7dKUx9uJaO5IHBsyI7XIdjvbfmSwZPe-Sn5-ztWYiH5yLJpUlx5XT_pG5b6XrdSTQHdyq1d6f6denzF2U5Mkfy8sQeX0V8bJxIxN0/s200/0212121511a.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lou_utWTipl_gO2XpYIM1PQAssSaEkdqi1WUizARuPyo_KS4ErdGBVeyyaxkHa3xeFwmYNyvdoVD7x2KLPiG1l-_faAAkyfZLqwyAoHa4Vvlxb3O9yNZlubE1lKgum3MpUSd5xlRb8U/s1600/0212121510a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lou_utWTipl_gO2XpYIM1PQAssSaEkdqi1WUizARuPyo_KS4ErdGBVeyyaxkHa3xeFwmYNyvdoVD7x2KLPiG1l-_faAAkyfZLqwyAoHa4Vvlxb3O9yNZlubE1lKgum3MpUSd5xlRb8U/s200/0212121510a.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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I went to Texas. And I won the contest. And I saw the Gulf. And it's not even March yet. Who knows what else 2012 has in store for me?<br />
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Stay tuned.<br />
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<br />Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-52958553876561462282012-02-21T07:00:00.001-05:002012-02-21T10:39:06.867-05:00My latest recap for last night's <a href="http://www.syfy.com/lostgirl" target="_blank"><b><i>Lost Girl</i></b></a> episode is now <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-6-succubus-soup" target="_blank"><b>live</b></a> at <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-6-succubus-soup" target="_blank"><b>Heroes and Heartbreakers</b></a>.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-6-succubus-soup" target="_blank">Check it out</a>!</b><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="170" scrolling="no" src="http://www.syfy.com/_utils/video/embed.php?/videos/small/_vid17883498" width="300"></iframe>
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<br />Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-90354728600381288132012-02-07T10:07:00.001-05:002012-02-07T10:14:18.604-05:00Lost Girl at Heroes and Heartbreakers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbKTvuemzVvdbQfgdZeTk2KI3RU5fpOAHzBjCr9ZHm2_SF2qfwSPpbek0jmLgDiFvpogxdmz_74aCc7qEe7AfHZKW2hWOjN9sUEnKBqOmZtzPPbQXfLA31LMdxZyf9xhmX7YQBJazRSM/s1600/lostgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbKTvuemzVvdbQfgdZeTk2KI3RU5fpOAHzBjCr9ZHm2_SF2qfwSPpbek0jmLgDiFvpogxdmz_74aCc7qEe7AfHZKW2hWOjN9sUEnKBqOmZtzPPbQXfLA31LMdxZyf9xhmX7YQBJazRSM/s400/lostgirl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Remember how I said that I was totally obsessing on the new (to the U.S.) series <a href="http://www.syfy.com/lostgirl" target="_blank"><b><i>Lost Girl</i>?</b></a> No? Come on! It was just <a href="http://www.twolftshoes.blogspot.com/2012/02/coping-my-way-through-january.html" target="_blank"><b>last week</b></a>!<br />
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Well, <i>someone</i> noticed (ahem) and now I'm the official recapper for <i>Lost Girl</i> over at <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/" target="_blank"><b>Heroes and Heartbreakers</b></a>. I've been dialed in to the H&H web site since its debut as it celebrates romance (yay!) in all genres, sub and otherwise, but doesn't limit itself to novels alone, looping in great TV shows (<i>Downton Abbey</i>!) and movies too. It's a fantastic forum community and I'm thrilled to join its staff of bloggers.<br />
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My first recap post went live today and you can find it <b><a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2012/02/lost-girl-episode-4-drunk-succubus#" target="_blank">here</a></b>. Please head on over and take a read even if you're not into Fae and succubi and hot werewolves (what's <i>wrong</i> with you?! ). <i>Lost Girl</i> is ably filling the gaping hole in my television life left by the lack of Whedon, and I'm having a fantastic time with the recaps.<br />
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I hope you will too.<br />
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<br />Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-85150434124805207392012-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:002012-02-01T07:00:05.435-05:00Coping My Way Through JanuaryThe month of January is tough. It's long. It's dark. It's pissy. For me, it's full of doctor's visits and medication renewals and wondering exactly how long I can get away with not taking down the Christmas tree. Here are a few coping methods I developed this year to get to that glorious day of 31. <br />
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<b>WHAT'S SMOKIN' ON THE BOOB TUBE?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBLZRzY4dZaJWhVCJU9wEKt-Ns42HEc_f-YFVUON1WBHrL4cmk3mqC3BGtBIuLO9vCCUrujCB9V6xmsQnibqhZxH5kcG_OKKDwKGjS0IJkYsQ5bs2VHGyMLYfNUnxgbyQGxuchclZIBs/s1600/Justified-Wallpaper-justified-13027063-900-563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBLZRzY4dZaJWhVCJU9wEKt-Ns42HEc_f-YFVUON1WBHrL4cmk3mqC3BGtBIuLO9vCCUrujCB9V6xmsQnibqhZxH5kcG_OKKDwKGjS0IJkYsQ5bs2VHGyMLYfNUnxgbyQGxuchclZIBs/s200/Justified-Wallpaper-justified-13027063-900-563.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><i>Justified</i></b> (Tuesdays at 10 PM on FX): <i>Justified</i> is back. All hail Elmore Leonard, Graham Yost, and Timothy Olyphant.When the cold open of the season opener is a Boyd and Raylan fistfight in the Marshals' office, I know it's gonna be a banging season. But then, when is it not? The dialogue feels particularly sharp this season and I can't tell if that's the writers hot on their game or if those are the pieces lifted from Leonard's new <i>Raylan</i> novel. As long as it this fast and furious, I don't think I really care either way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_ktbiVeNpeu1EE68N6gTg8pXS6JeoXDNBt4TYjyq23fNFNpdjAZG_u65qK-pB-RjPkmpcXS7sb1xGCYSULEDy5fg1gigU9QhvlkJP2esyKpw12pDvIuDoeSCJfQN2aq6-_G_2v_f4JY/s1600/lost+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_ktbiVeNpeu1EE68N6gTg8pXS6JeoXDNBt4TYjyq23fNFNpdjAZG_u65qK-pB-RjPkmpcXS7sb1xGCYSULEDy5fg1gigU9QhvlkJP2esyKpw12pDvIuDoeSCJfQN2aq6-_G_2v_f4JY/s200/lost+girl.jpg" width="131" /></a><b><i>Lost Girl</i></b>: (Mondays at 10 PM on SyFy):<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKO-CwJjeyb9tUcGFUKnn6_GuKxFZfP3lm4TSSZuZukBQ2BJrN8gRpw2hT5mtrFcl1hqBS3WBGbHzAjyIbkMf06Dm5vmrF6pziGeHWn3e6WNcQZhQPv_Iwig9O_pQgsxQbfTEJy2z5kE/s1600/dyson.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKO-CwJjeyb9tUcGFUKnn6_GuKxFZfP3lm4TSSZuZukBQ2BJrN8gRpw2hT5mtrFcl1hqBS3WBGbHzAjyIbkMf06Dm5vmrF6pziGeHWn3e6WNcQZhQPv_Iwig9O_pQgsxQbfTEJy2z5kE/s200/dyson.png" width="188" /></a> An urban fantasy show, newly imported from Canadian, about a orphaned succubus named Bo who was raised by humans and has suddenly discovered the world of Fae to which she belongs. Divided into Light and Dark fae factions, Bo remains Switzerland while filling the gulf between sides (and her wallet) by acting as a PI. I am totally hooked on this show. The writing is sharp and funny and Bo kicks-ass with the best of them. This is the closest I've seen a show get to a Whedonesque oeuvre without blatantly copying it. Yeah, it's got some dodgy CGI and Bo and her wiseass sidekick Kenzi wake up with perfect hair (so shiny!and such lovely braid combinations!), and polished make up, including what may be the heaviest eyeliner application I've ever seen, and I grew up in the 80s... <i>in New Jersey</i>. But I'm loving it all the same.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPTaXOp0-PtP0yy3WpMYiQGawb3N7Y2Ql8uNP8jIKsLp4TnLH4RbeyObKohfVR6yOZQ5PgkOGLcn2yiSurxJCWLz3Yb9aE-QexfhWpRcA9kiBKEx4annaXFmty1AMgLv3XmKUcE4vVY0/s1600/not+chris+martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPTaXOp0-PtP0yy3WpMYiQGawb3N7Y2Ql8uNP8jIKsLp4TnLH4RbeyObKohfVR6yOZQ5PgkOGLcn2yiSurxJCWLz3Yb9aE-QexfhWpRcA9kiBKEx4annaXFmty1AMgLv3XmKUcE4vVY0/s200/not+chris+martin.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely Not Chris Martin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The pub that serves as neutral ground between the fae factions is called <i>The Dal Riata</i>. I wrote one of my first Celtic history papers in Oxford on the Dal Riata migration. Super major points. Plus there's a hot werewolf and I am totally into his voice. Yes, his voice, all low and rambly. No, I'm not lying. (OK, the tat on his back is totally hawt too). And the man to wolf transition in the second episode was sizzling. Since I'd missed the character's name in the first episode, I took to calling him Not Chris Martin (NCM) because he reminds me of Coldplay's lead singer, and now it's stuck.<br />
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I love me a good back story. The murky mystery of Bo's intrigues me and I also really like that, for once, the will-they-or-won't-they manufactured sexual tension between Bo and NCM is out the window in the very first episode. Hey, she's a succubus. The woman needs to feed...<br />
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<b>STAY BACK 100 FEET. HERE BE BOOGIE DRIVIN' </b><br />
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<b>Train:</b> <i>Drive By</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzlRz93yCaMZXIPuINVxTC0noDUeRB_XOOV_d4nupyR-XYhuWjbZxcTD4oIfNKfe9cmAC0yta56IMWOYe5Xu9qzjlbGudbds-0grRwGGzdNQOM3gBfriLBFY203Kmoe6y1F_oUbIhI_8/s1600/Train+-+Drive+By.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzlRz93yCaMZXIPuINVxTC0noDUeRB_XOOV_d4nupyR-XYhuWjbZxcTD4oIfNKfe9cmAC0yta56IMWOYe5Xu9qzjlbGudbds-0grRwGGzdNQOM3gBfriLBFY203Kmoe6y1F_oUbIhI_8/s200/Train+-+Drive+By.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I love Train's songs. Either they're full of pep and jaunty lyrics or they're beautiful love songs whose words break your heart into tiny, erudite pieces. <i>Drive By</i> is their latest single; I downloaded the day it was available. It's a song about a one-night stand that quickly turns into something more. The minute I heard the chorus I was sunk:<br />
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<i>Oh I swear to you, I'll be there for you<br />This is not a drive by-i-i-i-i</i><br />
<i>Just a shy guy, looking for a two-ply</i><br />
<i>Hefty bag to hold my-i-i-i-i-i-i-love</i><br />
<i>When you move me, everything is groovy</i><br />
<i>They don't like it sue me,</i><br />
<i>Mmm, the way you do me</i><br />
<i>Oh I swear to you, I'll be there for you<br />
This is not a drive by-i-i-i-i</i><br />
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Seriously, I'm bopping in my bed as I write this. They had me at "groovy."<b> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6DLldlDkiz7z2Bc_yQlufA_qZPtIhqcxlhyYms7wDNPXwNNu4IHIKuJYOh-AOHzXelo6vgSYTzSlLJF1PsJctXNcKuBwB24oBaicsa6upPB-q1HDAfmUAO9W9ISeZE_BCw8hvjUW66g/s1600/Daughtry-Renegade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6DLldlDkiz7z2Bc_yQlufA_qZPtIhqcxlhyYms7wDNPXwNNu4IHIKuJYOh-AOHzXelo6vgSYTzSlLJF1PsJctXNcKuBwB24oBaicsa6upPB-q1HDAfmUAO9W9ISeZE_BCw8hvjUW66g/s200/Daughtry-Renegade.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Daughtry:</b> <i>Renegade</i>.<br />
Daughtry fills a certain slot in the rock oeuvre, namely the one <i>Creed</i> left behind with Scott Stapp and is still scrambling to reclaim now that he's back in the fold. Whenever I hear a Daughtry song, I think of the expression on his face the moment he was cut from American Idol several years ago (I saw the news clip; never ever watch the show). He was so shocked, so completely dumbfounded that he was being cut.<i> </i>Yet, that was likely the best thing that could've happened to his career. He's had a cavalcade of hits and even tho they sound, to me, like variations on a theme, I enjoy the fact that at least there's not an auto tuner involved.<br />
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<i>Renegade</i> is the first Daughtry single I've bought. From the hard-driving rock beat, to the stinging lyrics, to the barely restrained, vibrating compulsion to get the hell outta town and <i>get on with it</i>, I am in.<br />
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<i>Don't you wanna feel like a rebel?<br />
A renegade on the run?<br />
Real live wire in the cross fire ridin' shotgun<br /><br />
Not talkin' 'bout a deal with the devil</i>
<i><br />
I said nothin' about sellin' your soul<br />
But call it what you will<br />
If you start to feel out of control<br /><br />
Here we go</i>
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Can you hear the sound of the turnin' wheels?</i>
<i><br />
Burnin' the road like it's never been donec<br />
I'm breakin' out of this town like a renegade<br />
So baby, get ready to run<br /><br />
Don't have any time here left to kill</i>
<i><br />
Don't wanna go down like the settin' sun<br />
So let's break out of this town like a renegade<br />
Can't wait another minute, I'm right here ready to run</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHY1SmjmcSZu2y_6zfMJTyZXfD9MO5ad3kIFa-ZFn4pvbQgG8bfzr-sMhftx1jD8V42Tvf2srVz-1ZDY6QFiF-tOieSkBwXfN-9ayUWZWoiyjTag80etS3zR_8Ei2REIJW842j0yMXDM/s1600/PB+Cheerios.ashx" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHY1SmjmcSZu2y_6zfMJTyZXfD9MO5ad3kIFa-ZFn4pvbQgG8bfzr-sMhftx1jD8V42Tvf2srVz-1ZDY6QFiF-tOieSkBwXfN-9ayUWZWoiyjTag80etS3zR_8Ei2REIJW842j0yMXDM/s200/PB+Cheerios.ashx" width="162" /></a><i> </i><br />
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<b>MMMMM. SO TASTY</b><br />
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<b>Multi-Grain Peanut Butter Cheerios</b><br />
No, you read that right. <i>Peanut Butter Cheerios</i>.<br />
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When I was a kid, I used to drag the Cheerios box around with me (honey nut, natch). A few years ago in the Weehawken apartment, The Mother laughed to see me doing it again. Hey, comfort is as comfort does. To this day, one of my Dad-dad's running gags is to ask if I'm having Coke with my peanut butter and Cheerios for breakfast. Finally, I can say "yes" and not be a smart ass about it (although I fail to see the fun in that.). Plus, they're GOOD FOR YOU! <br />
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I've been noshing on this wonder of modern culinary science at the day job office and if you threw in a small carton of milk and an afternoon nap, it'd feel like Kindergarten all over again. Yum-my<br />
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<b>IT'S BLOODY BRIGADOON</b><br />
After last year's endless snowfall, to have a blizzard on Halloween and 60 degrees on the first of February in New Jersey is nothing short of - well, screwy. It's really screwy. But we're loving it, and I'm breaking out my lightweight shirts and soaking up the Vitamin D while it lasts. In related news, I anticipate having another head/chest cold, say, within a week.<br />
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Got any not-so-secret ways of coping with the January blues? Lay 'em on me. One randomly chosen commentator will win a book to wile away the ever-fleeting winter hours and a candle to light the way in case the power goes out.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer:</i> January did not pay for this endorsement. Neither did Train, Daughtry, <i>Justified</i>, <i>Lost Girl</i>, or Peanut Butter Cheerios. Though I'm willing to talk terms with Raylan and/or Not Chris Martin. Call me.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer part deux:</i> All images courtesy of Google Images.Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-89463090182886153182012-01-30T11:55:00.000-05:002012-01-30T11:58:58.659-05:00Man Candy Monday - The Ginger Edition<br />
I'm on the <b><a href="http://mancandymonday2.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Man Candy Monday</a></b> blog today,
talking about men of a certain flare. There's a certain panache
ingrained in men of the ginger variety, and these guys have it in
spades. Come by and have a look! Then join us tonight on Twitter at 9PM
using the hashtag #ManCandyMonday as we celebrate these seasoned men. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6lPQvDksSPeswvAu6KxhE-Tq6ILXCR4YKhF8jiwVuyAFn1xOPtPxPUUlIZShZ4DbEV1fvoJXbdSLLkKYvClGZi9pGDMd0GHFizS16JViuvkKC8ZgIXiDf7cRjFtFGBTF751DLFg0xGc/s1600/damnianlewis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6lPQvDksSPeswvAu6KxhE-Tq6ILXCR4YKhF8jiwVuyAFn1xOPtPxPUUlIZShZ4DbEV1fvoJXbdSLLkKYvClGZi9pGDMd0GHFizS16JViuvkKC8ZgIXiDf7cRjFtFGBTF751DLFg0xGc/s200/damnianlewis2.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damian Lewis</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbA45iKXPFrsqx5WVdEnDkbINGTxodLwUZm0ympnLHfO1yZAuhYbELnXBSRG98EfluVuon_iHGanF-c5SYcRvPtvd7vh9ZHioVH4D6pJUKSeAnFcohc31BJQ6LV2dWBrlQ6qo2eJaLW4/s1600/Daniel-Craig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbA45iKXPFrsqx5WVdEnDkbINGTxodLwUZm0ympnLHfO1yZAuhYbELnXBSRG98EfluVuon_iHGanF-c5SYcRvPtvd7vh9ZHioVH4D6pJUKSeAnFcohc31BJQ6LV2dWBrlQ6qo2eJaLW4/s200/Daniel-Craig.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Craig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pl29nEB3_TxAS1Y5s8qoGT1mxdCuAu0QpH0Wi451IIMsEQR1WD6XcqJu1xpZSWUfdjjC_T2mvlJXp4gl8qtDrd_sRXuo5VO2QbSunzQF9yLEpGZxcIOKodQFuxDzdBb66BZsBnpPbRM/s1600/ewan-mcgregor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pl29nEB3_TxAS1Y5s8qoGT1mxdCuAu0QpH0Wi451IIMsEQR1WD6XcqJu1xpZSWUfdjjC_T2mvlJXp4gl8qtDrd_sRXuo5VO2QbSunzQF9yLEpGZxcIOKodQFuxDzdBb66BZsBnpPbRM/s200/ewan-mcgregor2.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ewan McGregor</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgNIMZWvJxvIdblqZUUX8dBHycUit5-Cnk2Gsa4IdqAHci-LdmZFu-dsprkyI9tirtMu1jPCIWfpqN-Wh0TGEqW8qvA3lKHFWf5IR7kpJIRSpUI6tHWg0OIy5Ej6jGttEP5pxuhXMeck/s1600/fassygrin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgNIMZWvJxvIdblqZUUX8dBHycUit5-Cnk2Gsa4IdqAHci-LdmZFu-dsprkyI9tirtMu1jPCIWfpqN-Wh0TGEqW8qvA3lKHFWf5IR7kpJIRSpUI6tHWg0OIy5Ej6jGttEP5pxuhXMeck/s200/fassygrin.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fassbender (Click on shot for more)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPoWvCMT_JVUW0Ck8cUN5Ch1DpBnDcBQyHDfDR97roue4jSiiee-Skt51gRjOnbN8cgY0dCtVu4bDCKYu-Sgzbn7KCnQGmttyAEZi9FkHSe8rxt3kr8MVONl1yCd2724mixuqpLY_wSA/s1600/tony+curran+as+richard+armitage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPoWvCMT_JVUW0Ck8cUN5Ch1DpBnDcBQyHDfDR97roue4jSiiee-Skt51gRjOnbN8cgY0dCtVu4bDCKYu-Sgzbn7KCnQGmttyAEZi9FkHSe8rxt3kr8MVONl1yCd2724mixuqpLY_wSA/s200/tony+curran+as+richard+armitage.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony Curran</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbIbYtDshi8a4cULn4jTsAtDWCwP6_Vkvk4Ke4DtNtvhFPtBYaYUHJL5BR6DhkdWb7m-Av0PBsLA5cx5brlfGKlHyIhwPDsTdVMFSkq4lIJOC33GKpUTS0bsIq0GFKa0o0WOTD6IJI8Q/s1600/max+martini3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbIbYtDshi8a4cULn4jTsAtDWCwP6_Vkvk4Ke4DtNtvhFPtBYaYUHJL5BR6DhkdWb7m-Av0PBsLA5cx5brlfGKlHyIhwPDsTdVMFSkq4lIJOC33GKpUTS0bsIq0GFKa0o0WOTD6IJI8Q/s200/max+martini3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Martini</td></tr>
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[All images courtesy of Google images]<br />
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</div>Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030992385782227658.post-64739154332490503562012-01-26T16:03:00.002-05:002012-01-26T16:03:29.988-05:00A Rose By Any Other Name Is Just As ThornyMost people do not say my name correctly on the first try. Many don't get it right on the second or third attempt either.<br />
<br />
It usually goes something like this:<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Kiersten."<br />
"Oh. Nice to meet you, Kerrsten."<br />
"Kiersten."<br />
"Kristen?"<br />
"Kiersten."<br />
"Oh," person says, clearly giving up and beginning to think I'm an uptight snot for insisting. "OK."<br />
<br />
Usually, I'm a duck and this is where I let it roll off my back. Every so often though, like a cicada hitting its 17th year, I become uber sensitive to it. I had a choir director named Gordon who would use ever-changing versions of my name except the correct one, and I (fondly) called him on
it until he eventually pleaded for a dispensation to which I magnanimously said, "no problem, Grover".<br />
<br />
It's a respect issue and honestly, how hard is it to get right? First of all, I just pronounced it for you. Parrots could, well, parrot it back to me correctly given half the chance (except for the Norwegian Blue, but he has his own set of problems). It's even spelled phonetically! I'm mean, nobody calls <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard" target="_blank"><b>Kierkegaard</b></a>, Kerrkegaard, right? Of course not, because <i>that</i> would be silly.<br />
<br />
I grew up in the 80s in a land of Jennifers and Stephanies and Christines where I was almost always the odd one out. The over-sized bifocal glasses, a Dorothy Hamill haircut, and a tendency to wear striped tops with plaid pants didn't help. This was also a time when it was quite popular to have stickers and notebooks and jewelry that featured your name. No revolving kiosk of name stickers at The Hallmark Store ever had KIERSTEN - believe me, I looked. Society conditions us to conform from the a very early age, and above anything else, I wanted to be <i>normal</i>, with a normal name that everyone got right the first time and not the strange girl with the weird name. <br />
<br />
Thus in my early adolescence, I went through a phase of wanting to be called Kris; short and sweet with no need to buy that extra vowel. Two fundamental issues stood in my way: 1. I went to school with the same kids I'd been with since kindergarten who would never, ever call me Kris, and 2. The few times people did use it, I forgot they were speaking to me. Kinda important to answer to the name by which you wish to be known. <br />
<br />
Ironically, I have a myriad of nicknames, from K to K-squared to Kik and KiKi to Squirt the Flirt (thanks sis) to, well, you don't need to know that one. Suffice to say for someone in a love/hate relationship with her name, I failed to grasp the fact that the people who loved me most rarely used it themselves. My ever-evolving personality had carved out names of its own.<br />
<br />
Are we defined by our names? Or do we do the defining? Do we
display name-associated characteristics from birth or do we grow into their prophecy?
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dickensian_characters" target="_blank"><b>Dickens</b></a> famously named his characters to reflect their personalities. Scrooge, Cratchit, Havisham,
The Artful Dodger, Fagin, Drood, Fezziwig. In my own writing,
I've both set out with one name for a character only to end up with
someone different, and stayed with the same name all the way through to the happily ever
after. <br />
<br />
By the time I hit college, I'd come to own my full name, to enjoy the cadence of its five syllables, to be proud of the uniqueness of its spelling. Perhaps I finally realized I'd left normal behind a looonnnngggg time ago (seriously overrated). Or maybe it was because the naming of children had gone full circle until the stranger the name, the trendier the child.<br />
<br />
And I do so like to set a trend.<br />
<br />
Last week, my landlord's husband called me Kris (spelling mine). He always calls me Kris and after the first six months at the (no longer) new address, I stopped taking note of it. This is a man set in his ways, which more often than not are blurred by too many Pabst Blue Ribbons. He's not gonna get it. But last week, it struck a chord. <i>That's not my name</i>. And I remembered that lonely girl who just wanted to be normal with a normal name.<br />
<br />
<i>That's not who I am anymore.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Kierstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11298688570648076964noreply@blogger.com4