PRINCE POPPYCOCK

The graphics are a significant upgrade from the Prince of Persia that was on the Apple computer, but they are not amazing. Players will experience the game on a two dimensional environment (ala Castlevania). You will encounter a myriad of trapped doors, hazardous spikes, and deadly blades. Jumping from platform to platform makes up a great deal of the gameplay (too much for my taste)

You Can Puke, But You Cant Quit

You've heard me say this before, but it could stand repeating. It's that important.

I just paid someone to kick my ass.

Today was my first day with Justen, my personal trainer. He's a nice guy - tall, good looking, quiet spoken - and he gave me an ass whoopin'. And, leave it to me to find a trainer who has published a novel.

I did squats, crunches, push ups, worked with weights and weight machines. He even gave me homework and wants me to do 45 min. of cardio every day. He's a man on a mission to see me reach my goals. At the end he put me on a table and stretched me out. When he stretched my back, I forgave him for everything he'd pushed me to do during the hour before. It was that good.

When you watch the Biggest Loser on TV and you see those poor folks vomiting from the work out, guess what, that's not staged. Trust me. I didn't vomit during the workout today, but after, when Justen was giving me my homework assignment, I had several green moments. The last time I was this exhausted was after the Mud Run. Justen says it will get better. I'm going with my gut and trusting him on this.

I'm about to jump in the shower. Okay, maybe not jump, more like ease into it. I think I have enough strength now to undress and turn on the faucet. After all, I have a day job to get to.

So what about my morning writing? Glad you asked! I got up at 5 am today and banged out nearly 5 pages on Murder In Vein before going to the gym. Just 20 days until the manuscript has to be turned in.

Oh yeah, and just 432 days until the 2011 LA Marathon!

I definitely have my work cut out for me.

And that puking not quitting thing? It also applies to book deadlines.

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Friday Flashback on Saturday. I Know, Right?

I never got around to posting the Friday Flashback yesterday, so I'm doing it today. Now, I know I come across as this total rocker girl, and I am. But, I have a secret side of me that absolutely loves Christian rock. I do not talk about my faith on my blog, but I have crazy mad love for my God.

I know these songs do not fit into the flashback category, but I'm really missing my mom today, and right after she passed I listened to these songs over and over again. They helped me get through the loss.

Honestly, I cannot listen to this song without crying my eyes out. I think it's one of my favorite songs ever. Simply beautiful.

Third Day is another one of my favorite bands. I love this song and wanted it to be played at my mother's funeral, but it didn't happen. It's a beautiful song and another one that brings me to tears. Geez, I've cried through this entire post. I can be such a baby!



Okay, next week it's back to the rockers. Promise.

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IT'S ALIVE!

Murder in Vein, the first book in my new Fang-In-Cheek mystery series, is now LIVE on Amazon and BN.com – nearly 4 weeks early! This means it should reach brick and mortar stores in the next few weeks.

Hard Cover Edition Update - Murder In Vein is also coming out in a limited hard cover edition! A first for me and for Midnight Ink! For those of you who would like the hard cover edition, it will be out sometime in September and will cost about $24.95. There will only be 500 printed, and for starters it will only be available through mystery book stores and some other independent book stores, so you may have to order it to make sure you get your copy. Because of the limited amount of copies, we cannot guarantee that hard cover copies will be available at all of my signings.

Signed Copies - If you would like a signed copy of the hard cover edition of Murder In Vein, you might try The Mystery Book Store in Los Angeles. Since they will be hosting the launch of Murder In Vein on September 18th at 5:00 p.m., I am sure they would be happy to take orders for signed copies of the hard cover edition, or signed copies of the trade paper edition.

WOW! What a ride!
For those of you who don’t know the story behind this book, just a short year ago Murder in Vein was just an idea in the back of my brain. Something I hadn’t even discussed with my agent yet. And now look … it’s a book! My initial contracts are for 3 books in this darkly funny mystery series. I am currently half way through book 2 in the series.

A big shout out to my agent, Whitney Lee, who recognized the potential of my different spin on the vampire genre, to Terri Bischoff, who was determined to obtain this series for Midnight Ink, and to Midnight Ink/Llewellyn Worldwide for fast-tracking production.

Shortly after the ink was dry on the contracts, Terri called me and asked if I could deliver the manuscript in two months, instead of the nine months stated in the contract. I nearly had a heart attack. After all, I have a day job! She outlined Llewellyn’s reasons for the change and let me digest it for about 30 seconds. It made sense from a marketing and sales standpoint, but could I do it? Not one to back down from a challenge, I took a deep breath and said YES. In the words of the elegant Tim Gunn, I would just have to “make it work.” And I did, working like a mad woman every minute I wasn’t at my office, giving up holidays, parties and relaxation to get Murder In Vein on the page.

And now it’s an undead book!

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Little Girl - WOW!

As you all know, I love TV. But of all the shows I watch, my guilty pleasure is America’s Got Talent. Really. I watch it. Every sappy, scary, embarrassing moment.

I wallow in joy watching people following their dream, whatever it may be, just as I follow mine of being a novelist. I don’t watch American Idol at all. I prefer America’s Got Talent. Yes, it’s cheesier and more bizarre in its range of contestants, but it also has more variety in acts and ages. It’s not just about young people trying to be the next big singing sensation. It’s personifies what I believe and preach: That dreams can be pursued at any age and from any circumstance.

Last night was You Tube night. All twelve acts came from video entries on You Tube rather than through the normal audition process. Four of them will move on to the finals with the other traditionally chosen finalists. For these four acts, it’s like finding the Golden Ticket in a Wonka Bar. Of the twelve acts, one stood out – way out – for me: Jackie Evancho.

WOW! WOW! WOW!

Jackie Evancho is a ten-year-old opera singer. Yes – 10! And she sounds like a thirty-year-old seasoned Met performer. She has to be heard to be believed. At the end of her performance I was a teary mess. She’s THAT good.

Every season I am blown away by several acts and cheer them on, hoping they make it to the end. I loved all of the finalist last season, but my favorites, Barbara Padilla and Lawrence Beeman, didn’t bring home the prize. Some of my favs for this year are Prince Poppycock, Arc Attack, Murray, and Haspop. There are some great pop signers in the finalist line up, too.

But after last night, I’m Jackie Evancho all the way to the end.

Jackie Evancho isn't a star in the making - she's already a star.

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