SHERRI AND CHARLOTTE

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-21T17:01:00.000-05:00

I will be spending Christmas with family. My husband's busy travel schedule has slowed down, son has been living at home for the past year trying to write and doing voice auditions, daughter is home from college for the holidays, and the corgi is doing well after a scary emergency surgery.

Wishing you well, safe, and happy through the season and into the New Year.

If you're looking for some good reading or gifts, try:

Monster Classics:
Grave Expectations (Gallery Books, September 2011)
Jane Slayre (Gallery Books, April 2010)

Paranormal Romance:
To Hell with Love (Zebra Books, July 2008)
Naughty or Nice (Zebra Books, September 2009)

or for your new e-reader device,
Masters of Seduction, a romance anthology featuring authors Marsha Canham, Virginia Henley, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Jill Gregory, Sherri Browning Erwin, and Julie Ortolon.

Cheers!
Sherri

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Finale

2011-12-18T14:38:00.001-05:00

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(156) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(156) have had a great season, and finally ended up in a tie. I've almost caught up, at 154, which really isn't bad considering how I tanked early on. Here are my predictions for the finale:

RI: It's down to Brandon and Ozzy and someone's coming back in the game. I think it's Ozzy. Which means Brandon goes to the jury and let's go from there...

1. Sophie has played a solid game, going along with Coach when it suited her, keeping Albert in check when necessary, using shrewd strategy, and sharing witty asides with the camera. I hope she wins.

2. No question that Coach kept control of his tribe and made some really strong moves, like swaying Cochran to Upolu's side by playing on his fear of drawing rocks, and telling Brandon he had to wait to see what God wanted him to do... that was all a strategy, right? Hmm. Unfortunately, I think he played a little too hard to win over the jury.

3. Albert had a bad time at the last Tribal Council. Brandon's little "gift" of the immunity necklace will get Albert into the final three, but not in the way that he intended, as a beloved hero and wise player. Albert now looks like a jerk to the jury and can't win-- which makes him a perfect candidate to bring to the end.

4. Rick simply hasn't been heard from enough for me to think he goes much further. He's in with the right people, but someone's gotta go... and it might all come down to who wins immunity. And I don't think it's Rick for the win.

5. Ozzy (or Brandon)- whoever comes back in the game will need immunity to stay in the game, and I'm not sure that's going to work out for Ozzy. Though it most certainly could, which would give him a shot at winning over the jury. But I'm going to say he ends up on the jury, and not making a final argument to win.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week 12

2011-12-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(152) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(152) are racking up the points while I'm still down a few, at 149. Here are my predictions for the week:

1. Team Sophie! I just can't rank her second. She's my top pick.

2. He's using the Boston Rob playbook, but will his team finally turn on him or will he skate to success?

3. I think Albert rocks the boat, but maybe not hard enough to make it capsize. His alliance with Sophie could hold him in another week.

4. Crazy enough to bring to the end, if everyone can stand him that long.

5. We haven't heard enough from Rick to make me think he makes the final four-- but stranger things have happened.

Bonus: Another RI editing fakeout. Do they really expect me to believe that Edna beats Ozzy? I'm not buying it. (Though, they did make it look like a pretty certain Edna victory... why would they do that if it really happened?)

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week 11

2011-12-06T23:02:00.000-05:00

We're getting down to the wire. I'm locked in competition with Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(146) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(145), and let's face it-- I'm not catching them. It's all due to a bad decision I made early on, but never say quit. I'm at 141. Here are my predictions for the week:

1. Sophie, playing a smart, strong (but not too strong), safe game is in a good spot headed toward the end.

2. I think they will continue to let Coach think he's calling all the shots, and maybe he is.

3. People have to know who he is in order to vote him off.

4. He's unstable, creepy, and misguided-- and still the best bet to take to the end.

5. I wish he could make it all the way, but I have a feeling he might be a little too outspoken.

6. If things go according to previously revealed plans, Edna is next to go-- but maybe there will be some surprises. I don't like being wrong, but I love surprises.

Bonus: Are we supposed to believe Cochran will beat Ozzy at R.I? I don't think so.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Ten

2011-11-30T16:38:00.001-05:00

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(140) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(137) continue to outdo me (133), but I'm chock full of determination. Here are my predictions for the week:

1. Sophie is the safest for the week, as far as I can see. She's got some moves, but Albert is more vocal, therefore, more likely to go before Sophie. Team Sophie!

2. Isn't it time someone turned on Coach, questioned Coach, maybe made a big move? Yes, but doesn't seem to be happening. Coach has borrowed the Boston Rob rulebook and it seems to be working for him.

3. After watching last week's recap show (parts of it, while baking T-Day pumpkin pies), I was surprised no one booted Brandon sooner. Since when are chicken shenanigans swept under the rug at Survivor Central? But since he's still there, I have to think that someone wants to bring him to the end.

4. Hey, there's a guy named Rick on the show. You didn't notice?

5. Albert has made some noise of disagreement with Sophie and Coach, and that might make him stand out a little. But I don't think Albert's time has come.

6. Not a lot of positive things to say about Edna. She's there. Coach seems to want to keep her. But what does she bring to the table? The fact that no one will vote for a coattail rider in the end? Might keep her around. I'm thinking it won't.

7. Cochran's time has come. Upolu has been all about sticking together and I can't see them screwing that up now. Plus, the ads for the week make it look as if Upolu starts turning on each other, and I can't see it happening until all the Savaii have been cooked. Cochran could be a good one to bring to the end, but can they trust him that far? Selfish schemers are dangerous. I would be happy to be wrong and see Brandon sent packing, but I think this is how it has to be. The good news? Ponderosa will get a lot more interesting. Or annoying. Hmm.

Bonus: Let's see... Ozzy vs Dawn vs Whitney? Ozzy hangs on at R.I.

People's Sexiest Man Alive

2011-11-18T09:47:00.001-05:00

Bradley Cooper! Charlotte agrees wholeheartedly. She still sees him as the perfect St. John Rivers for the film version of Jane Slayre.

Who do you think is the sexiest man alive?

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Nine

2011-11-16T12:54:00.000-05:00

After a heart-stopping moment last week when I thought Dawn was on the chopping block after I gave her an honorary number one top spot, I am done with tempting the Ranking fates. Didn't I learn my lesson earlier this season?

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(122) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(120) continue to outdo me (115), but for how long? (Well, okay, it looks like I'm not catching up. They have been spot on.) Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin:

1. Maybe a little favoritism at work here, but I think she's playing a solid game.

2. Sophie and Albert seem tight, but I wonder what happens when it comes down to remaining Upolu?

3. He gives the appearance of running the Upolu show, and I think he believes that he is.

4. He's probably the best bet to bring to the end, but that doesn't mean I want to rank him any higher
until necessary.

5. Speaking of those you want to take all the way, Cochran might be looking good about now.

6. Still not making any waves, or scoring any big immunity wins.

7. I don't see her making a case to save herself if it comes down to it. I'm not sure Sophie and Albert like her, or trust her, and that side alliance with Coach could end up costing her.

8. I think Dawn might have pushed the envelope with trying to win over Upolu, giving Whitney the edge to stay a little longer.

9. Being too nice to her new Upolu friends might have marked her as a strategist willing to do anything to stay in the game-- which is dangerous for people who don't want you to endear yourself and stick around. Plus, I don't want to risk overestimating Dawn again. :)

RI Bonus:

Ozzy is determined to cook fish for all his friends. I think he stays around.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Eight

2011-11-09T11:54:00.001-05:00

By my counting, it would be Week Nine, but I'm going to switch to Gordon Holmes numbering after missing last week due to power outage (8 days without power!). I did manage to get on Twitter to say I think Keith was going next (I might have mentioned Albert and Edna, too, but I'm taking the points, and the bonus for Ozzy beating Christine- which I did guess). Big cheers for Comcast for restoring my cable and Internet. I know the crews have been working hard.

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(101) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(100) continue to outdo me, but for how long? (Well, okay, it looks like I'm not catching up. They have been spot on.) Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin: 96 points.

1. Is Dawn really at the top? Probably not, but I'm giving her the honorary spot this week because she lasted much longer than I initially thought she would, and I feel bad for counting her out too soon. Go Dawn! Or should I say, stay Dawn!

2. My favorite, and a really great player with fun and shrewd insights. I don't see the possibility for her to misstep so soon after merge.

3. Edna is another player I counted out too soon. It seems annoying the tribe might not be such a big deal when there are bigger targets around.

4. Urgh. Still here. Doesn't seem to be catching anyone's particular notice at this point in time. I fear for this one hanging on to the end.

5. He should be a target at this point, but he seems to have avoided notice in favor of... Rick?! I have no idea how that happened. Maybe I missed something in my rushed watching of last week's show after the fact, but the vote went to Rick.

5. Yes, my top is former Upolu heavy. But that's where the numbers are after Cochran's TC choice to vote Keith and I'm sticking with it.

6. A Coach blindside would be the way to go if anyone was looking to take out the most obvious leader of his former tribe out there. But I think he's safe.

7. He's a flipper and a weasel to some, but a good prospect to take to the end for a savvy player who might sense the fact that no one from either side would currently choose to give Cochran the prize. Otherwise, he might still be useful in the numbers game.

8. She might want to start to worry, but I think there are bigger targets to steal the attention of voters before they turn to Whitney.

9. Finally perhaps ready to reap the rewards of being outspoken (read as loud, cocky, and occasonally bullying).

10. He came back from RI once. It makes sense to let him go take his chances there again after a) playing his idol last week and b) playing the tribe with his terrible acting job after merge.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Seven

2011-10-26T10:21:00.001-04:00

I'm not catching up to Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(78) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(75) for as long as they keep riding their hot streak, but I want to think I'm getting there. This week, I have no choice but to go for the obvious. All signs (meaning CBS promos and extraneous Probst commentary) point to Redemption Island in a big risk move for... wait for it... Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin: 71 points.

1. My new favorite, the one with the most sense, and most intriguing insights, of the game. More Sophie, please!

2. Jim's scheming has him on top for this week, but I suspect not for long. Depends on where the numbers fall at merge.

3. Sophie's partner at the top, but now that Albert's starting to put himself out there, can he last?

4. and 5. The dynamic duo of Keith and Whitney could go far if they stick together. Time for an adorable nickname. Wheith? Kwhitney?

6. Maybe not as powerful as he wants to believe, if he keeps thinking he calls the shots.

7. Who? Yeah. That guy.

8. Shudder.

9. Dawn has the good fortune to have Cochran around to take the spotlight off her.

10. Cochran, not exactly a challenge master, and I'm not sure I could live with him long out there.

11. Edna survived last week, when I was pretty sure she was going to go. This week? Still not sure.

12. Does he really think he can go to RI and still get back in the game? Stranger things have happened. But his team will have to lose this week, and it could be one big tease. I'm taking the gamble (again, things don't go well for me when I gamble, but...)

Bonus: I can't bring myself to bet against Christine.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Six

2011-10-18T20:47:00.000-04:00

I'm on a roll! Last week, I had Elyse in the bottom spot and gained some points (14), plus bonus points for predicting Christine's RI defeat of Stacey(1), bringing me to a total of 58. Of course, I'm still trailing Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(64) and Andrea Boehlke(61), but gaining ground. Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin: 58 points.

1. In charge of his alliance and sailing forth with an idol in his pocket and no danger of immediate elimination that I can see.

2. Keith's strength is keeping him safe, but he's not strong enough to take the big risks so far. We'll see how far he can go.

3. I had my early doubts about Sophie, but she has quickly become one of my favorite players, and she's in a good position with her tribe, for now.

4. Albert, quiet, likable, dependable, not going anywhere yet.

5. Jim and Cochran made big moves last week that are more likely to cost Cochran if the fallout hits differently than expected.

6. Ozzy looks like he's going to be in trouble in the previews, but he does have that idol and should know enough to play it if needed. Not that he has shown tremendous foresight in the past...

7. Rick continues to play an uneventful game. I can't help but him somewhere in the middle for ranking purposes.

8. Whitney could be in trouble if Ozzy regains some love and decides to break up the tribe power couple. Whitney is more dispensable than Keith pre-merge.

9. Dawn could have allied herself with the new power players on her tribe, or she could still be in danger of being cut for not being strong at challenges. It's a new Dawn?

10. Cochran, making the big moves. But does this make him a hero, or more vulnerable than ever?

11. Brandon should probably rank higher. He's hanging on long enough to be seen as the perfect putz to bring to the end. But I just can't stand his constant power struggle with himself. This would have been the perfect season to add animation to Survivor, a cartoon devil and angel pair to sit on Brandon's shoulders. But unnecessary, because I think Brandon sees them anyway.

12. Mikayla continues to torment Brandon, plus stands on the outside of the main alliance as a result. I think Mikayla could be going soon but...

13. We've suddenly seen a lot of Edna, particularly of Edna annoying everyone on her tribe. Is her side alliance with Coach enough to save her? Maybe not this week, Edna.

Bonus:

Elyse is a strong player, but Christine knows the ropes. She's one determined woman.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Five

2011-10-11T19:29:00.001-04:00

Bouncing back! Last week, I had Stacey in the bottom spot and gained some points, plus bonus points for predicting Christine's RI defeat of Mark Papa Bear Anthony, bringing me to a total of 43. Of course, I'm still trailing Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(49) and Andrea Boehlke(48). I need them to slip big so I can catch up-- but I don't think it will happen any time soon.

This week:

1. We see Jim and Cochran scheming, and Ozzy and Elyse cuddling. What we don't see much of, beyond tiny teasing glimspes, is that Keith seems to be quietly in control. Or at least, no one is gunning for him yet. Well played.

2. Can there be any question that he's the boss over at Upolu? He's looking pretty safe to me.

3. Remember Grant? Albert is to Coach what Grant was to Rob. Unless tables turn down the line, that might work out about as well for Albert.

4. Whitney seems pretty tight with Keith, and she's ducking the spotlight that seems to have landed on Elyse.

5. Playing strong and silent seems to be working for Rick.

6. On the opposite end of the spectrum, running his mouth doesn't seem to be hurting Jim, oddly enough.

7. I'm liking Sophie more and more. Not seeing enough of her, but liking her.

8. If his scheming catches up to him, or he makes some glaring errors in a challenge, he's toast. But for now, he's looking like he might be contagious, spreading the paranoid thinking around behind Ozzy's back. Very interesting.

9. His little TC breakdown makes me want to say he's at risk, but I'm learning that is not going to happen as long as Coach wants to keep him.

10. Brandon seems to have backed off Mikayla, for now, but he'll be after her again after last week's TC comments on how she feels about his Hantz connection.

11. Letting his guard down could cost him big, and soon, and packing for home with another unused Immunity Idol in his pocket.

12. Lucky for Ozzy, there's still Dawn (the weakest? Maybe not.) and Elyse (his cuddle buddy). A split vote could get either one of them.

13. Ooh, Edna! Who knew you were so annoying to your teammates? And you don't seem to believe it, which means you could talk yourself right out of camp. But don't worry, your giggles will haunt Mikayla's dreams as if you are still there.

14. Someone's got a target on her back all of the sudden, thanks to the schemy Cochran. But will it work? Will you really go next? I find it hard to believe, yet too hard to resist the nagging feeling that says it might be all up for Elyse after last week's Jim-Cochran undertones.

Redemption Island Bonus:

I think Christine might just do it again! I can't see Stacey beating her.

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Four

2011-10-03T11:56:00.003-04:00

Last week, I went wild with a new theory... and I got burned. Now I am way behind (at 27 points compared to Andrea and Gordon's 32 and 33) and starting over, going back to my traditional method (totally guessing what happens instead of trying to figure it out by who gets airtime).

1. A surprising number one, considering he was termed a "temporary player" by Christine (now playing at Redemption Island) but Coach has a handle on his team, lead them to an Immunity challenge victory, and seems to be driving decisions. Go Coach!

2. Keith is in Ozzy's good graces, but proved he's thinking on his own when we ran to Whitney with vital information. He's a player, and he's ready to do what it takes to win. But is he trusting the wrong people?

3. Strong, solid, silent when it counts, and in the right alliance. Will he go all the way or become disposable at merge? For now, he's sitting pretty.

4. Keith's go-to girl, and she's using her wiles. Or is she just flirting? I don't give her much credit for having a strategy yet but she knows enough to not make waves and make friends with the right people.

5. I'm finally getting to know Sophie better, and I'm finally believing that she is a solid player. Plus, I love her camera confessionals. She might be my new favorite.

6. I'm starting to think that he might be the loudmouth, underhanded bully that someone might see as perfect to bring to the final. Oh no! But he'll credit his savvy gameplay and believe himself a Survivor Mastermind, naturally.

7. I've been hesitant to discount Rick since he chopped through those ropes in one fell swoop during one of the first big challenges. I was afraid he was on the outside of his alliance, but now I think he's just wisely not running his mouth all the time.

8. I don't think much of Elyse, but that's probably a good sign for her so far. I think she's allied herself with the right people and runs no risk of getting the boot any time soon.

9. If Coach is now a power player, then Edna, who has his ear outside of his core alliance, is not leaving yet. She's useful.

10. As much as it pains me, I have to admit that Brandon is not looking like he's on the way out. He's in a vital alliance. His wavering doesn't seem to be scaring anyone as much as it should. He might start looking like a good fall guy to bring all the way. Would anyone vote to give this creep a million dollars?

11. Brandon's kryptonite. If he had his way, she would be gone. But clearly, though they're keeping him around, no one's in the mood to indulge Brandon and lose a strong player. But can her spirit handle his deflating comments?

12. He might not be challenge-strong, but is he a master of the game? About to make a move? It could happen.

13. If Cochran makes the right moves, as shown in previews, Ozzy could be in trouble. Is Ozzy really in danger, this early, and with an idol under his belt? It could be an awesome blindside.

14. Can Dawn hang on after the other old guy on her team, Mark, got the boot last week? She's rallied after Week One and I don't think anyone wants to vote her out... but desperate times call for losing weak players.

15. Christine's best buddy hasn't won any favor at camp. If someone's got to go, she's the best candidate to go next.

Redemption Island Bonus Guess: I think Christine might just beat Mark to hang out at RI a little longer.

Survivor South Pacific: Week Three Power Rankings

2011-09-28T12:08:00.001-04:00

Last week, I tied Gordon Holmes with 17 points, beating out Andrea with 15. This week, I'm taking big risks that will either put me behind or drive me to a strong lead (not that I'm actually allowed to play- I'm an Armchair Ranker.)

My new strategy is to keep track of who gets actual airtime, how often, and try to build a ranking from that. Which would mean that Stacey is... totally safe? Which seems to go against all logic. But you have to figure that if someone gets lots of airtime, they are either going soon, or going all the way. It's rare that a player gets no air time right before they get booted, but it does happen maybe twice a season. So is Stacey one of those rare occasions? Could be. Taking a chance. My rankings:

1. Keith showed that he is both thinking, and thinking ahead. It doesn't hurt that he is strong and fit. I think his chances of going all the way are phenomenal. Provided he stays under the radar after merge.

2. Albert is strong and playing a good game so far, putting himself out there in support of Coach just a little, but not too much.

3. Whitney. Pretty, quiet, playing it safe (and no camera confessional time that I can recall).

4. Found his idol, and seems to be in charge on his team. Go Ozzy.

5. Looked like Coach was going to be in trouble at the beginning, but has he bounced back? He looked pretty secure at Tribal Council. And let's not forget, he rates loyalty almost as important as strength. This might not bode well for loyal-but-weak Edna.

6. Brandon's pick to go home. Isn't it ironic that Brandon claims he would never let a pretty girl get in the way of bringing his family a million dollars, and yet, his gunning for Mikayla caused him to betray his alliance? Hmm. Coach's desire to keep Mikayla over Brandon's protests might bode well for her.

7. Rick, the strong, quiet cowboy. I'm not sure he's in Coach's alliance as much as people think he is. He seemed fairly out of the loop, which might mean trouble for Rick down the road.

8. It's a new Dawn. After my early misgivings and Dawn's early breakdown, I had my doubts. But she has bounced back with a new attitude, and a friendly approach. Maybe Gordon was right. Dawn could go far.

9. Not much going on with Elyse. We hardly know her. I think that means she is safe for now.

10. As disturbing as it was that he gave himself the nickname of Papa Bear in ep 1, we didn't see enough Mark in ep 2 to think he's homeward bound.

11. The man is outspoken, annoying, rude, and he thinks all too highly of himself. This formula has worked for some Survivors in the past. I hope it backfires on Jim.

12. Edna. Last week, she had airtime and gained the unenviable distinction of being on a "need to know basis" with Coach. It could mean an early exit.

13. I think people are giving Sophie far too much credit as being in with a strong alliance. She hasn't shone in challenges, and she doesn't seem to be a star at camp, either. I can't see her lasting.

14. After last week, Stacey should be the obvious choice to go next on her tribe. But yet, I get the feeling we haven't seen the end of Stacey. We've barely seen Stacey, actually, aside from her connection to the ill-fated Christine. This might buy her a few weeks. I think she might be effective at scrambling for a new game plan.

15. Sure, he's lovable in his own way, and potentially useful to Ozzy's long-term strategy. Does this make him safe? I'm not so sure.

16. Hantz. Need I say more? After flaunting his alliance betrayal at last week's TC, a smart Coach might be gunning to be rid of the disloyal creep. I know, I know. It doesn't look likely. But I am ever hopeful (and taking a good lead if I am right).

Redemption Island Bonus: I'm going against Andrea and Gordon for the simple joy of bucking the trend and saying that Semhar will beat Christine at the RI challenge. Her beat will go on.

Survivor South Pacific: New Season, New Power Rankings

2011-09-21T11:54:00.002-04:00

Gordon Holmes is facing one of my favorite Survivors, last season's Andrea Boehlke, to compete in the Survivor Power Rankings week to week. I like to pretend I'm invited to play along (well, Gordon did actually invite me to play along unofficially, but no promises of a shout-out if I best him this time... hmmm).

Let me just say that Gordon looks rather fetching in mud and they should make him official and put him in the next Survivor cast. I'm suggesting the nickname Mudskipper. Gordon "Mudskipper" Holmes. On with the rankings! (all pictures lifted from Gordon at Xfinity).

Cute girls skate along for a long time in the game, as long as they can compete (and sometimes even then...)

Strength is needed... for now. And Albert and Keith have also been smartly staying in the background.

Ozzy and Coach aren't in any danger yet, if their tribes are smart, but maybe soon.

Rick's quiet strength could keep him around a while... or wait, those camera confessionals might be telling. He has been talking some smack, hasn't he?

My least favorite player so far this season, means Jim could be around awhile.

10.

Not liking Brandon much either. Bodes well for him, I guess.

11.

12.

Lovably neurotic, but had better start playing smarter.

13.

Gordon and Andrea have Sophie well in the safety zone for now, but I just can't see it. Weakness isn't valued early, and she doesn't strike me as strong, or really game-savvy. Ditto on Dawn and Mark. Papa Bear? Ew, now there's a ticket home, coming soon.

14.

15.

16.

17.

Physical weakness and expressing strong opinions puts Christine and Stacey at the bottom of my picks. Christine had a bit more air time in week one. Doesn't bode well for Christine.

Stay tuned! We'll see how well I've done after tonight's show. I won't beat Gordon, since his Christine pick is the same, but I could make a good start. Wish me luck!

Charlotte Wants...

2011-07-20T09:20:00.000-04:00

More Bradley Cooper. (Yes, she's a little obsessed, ever since she saw him and thought he would be the perfect St. John Rivers).

Bradley in Huffington Post.

Awesome Jane Slayre Art!

2011-06-10T11:22:00.000-04:00

by urasei

Grave Expectations: Howling Happy!

2011-05-15T12:19:00.001-04:00

I love the cover for August release GRAVE EXPECTATIONS!

It's not even a full moon yet, but I was howling with joy when I saw it. The blue, the tagline, and especially the quote from Library Journal. Wow! I'm excited. Is it August yet? What do you think of the cover?

Survivor Finale!

2011-05-15T11:30:00.000-04:00

It is down to the final four-- but wait! There's four more at Redemption Island! How will it all shake out? My prediction:

TEAM SHERRI

First, for a change, let's tackle the Redemption crew. When does the RI player come on board? It seems they are going for the third of the final three. I'm not happy with this season's RI twist. I think it was a good idea. I understand they need to keep shaking up the formula, trying new things. But it should have ended at the merge. The RI players don't have to play the same social game. As a result, I would be disappointed if Matt came back to win it all, because he really hasn't had a chance to play his game out. Sure, he can win challenges, but the whole strategy part falls off, and that's my favorite part of Survivor.

I'm hoping Mike and Grant go down first. Mike was part of Zapatera, and none of them deserve to win, to me, after they did themselves in with throwing that challenge. Though, good riddance to Russell Hantz. After he was allegedly responsible for releasing spoilers on past seasons, I don't think he deserves to be brought back again. I'm shocked that the producers allowed him back. Grant, great player, but he stayed loyal to Rob to the end, and I seriously fault him for that. So, my RI pick to win is...

Andrea had to play a social game, and she made a conscious decision to make some moves. Unfortunately, they were stupid moves that kept her from a possible win. She should have worked against Rob, not with him. But I would still love to see her win if only to show up the Mean Girls who pretended to be her friend while talking smack behind her back. Mean Girls suck. Go Andrea.

But let's face it. Andrea has won a few challenges, but can she beat Mike, Grant, or Matt? Any one of them could come back in it to win it. And then, it remains to be seen if Rob and Phillip are battling it out in place of any of the current RI four. In that case, Rob remains a contender. My second place pick to move on is Matt.

So how does it shake out to the finals?

I think Ashley is finally making moves, and those moves will be to pair with Natalie in getting rid of Rob and Phillip, probably in that order. Unfortunately, I think we will see Natalie and Ashley in the final. And since Natalie hasn't ticked anyone off, as Ashley has, she is a strong possibility to win it all.

#1 Natalie

#2 The winner of RI. I'm going to say that's Andrea, but it could be Matt. Or Mike. Maybe Grant. I'm ruling out the others.

#3

Crazy might make it pretty far in the game, but can it ever really win? No, Phillip. No, it can't.

#5

Rob is the most deserving of a win, having controlled his tribe for nearly the entire game, not to mention winning many challenges, and making some pretty shrewd decisions. His experience shows. But that's also why I have been rooting against him. I don't like it when Survivor brings back old favorites.

What I want to see is an old school Survivor season. No big gimmicks or twists, back to basics. Sixteen strangers (not straight from central casting) stranded with very little, and lots of time to scheme. Those were the days.

And there we have it! How did you feel about this season? Who do you pick to win?

Survivor Power Rankings- 5/11

2011-05-10T10:04:00.000-04:00

The agony of defeat, yet another week of losing to Gordon Holmes. My record is getting shaky now, almost as many wins as losses. Check out the Survivor Power Rankings of Gordon Holmes on Twitter for XFinity, and his top rival Sash (Matt Lenehan), then compare mine, and feel free to make your own. Sliding into the last week, who will outwit, outlast, outplay? This week, like last week, the better question is who will start to play against Boston Rob?

TEAM SHERRI

#1 I've been back and forth between Ashley and Natalie at the top. This time, I give it to Ashley. She might be seen as more of a competitor and less of Rob's dishrag.

#2. Natalie has played it safe. Too safe to win jury votes? But safe enough to stick around.

#3 Grant. Strong, and I'm hoping, smart. Smart enough to take Rob out before Rob starts gunning for him?

#4 Phillip's special brand of crazy, act or no act, could earn him a spot at the final tribal council. Or get him sent home next.

#5 Rob has played the game. Perhaps he has played it so well that he doesn't realize he's going to need to use that Immunity Idol? Maybe not so masterful after all, Mariano. (Or my desperate attempt to beat Gordon and Sash with a whacked-out theory of Rob's departure goes awry and Rob wins it all...we'll see.)

I'm hoping RI goes down to two players, or one, and showmancers Matt and Andrea are the final two, going against each other to get back in the game. My money's on Andrea. Sorry Matt. I think you're finally outplayed.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Survivor Power Rankings- 5/4

2011-05-04T10:19:00.000-04:00

Oof! Another bad week for me. Defeat! Six weeks of Power Rankings (which I just misspelled as Wankings, then corrected- that's a whole other game, LOL) and four wins over Gordon, one over his cohort Matt. Check out the Survivor Power Rankings of Gordon Holmes on Twitter for XFinity, and his top rival Sash (Matt Lenehan), then compare mine, and feel free to make your own. Sliding into the last few weeks, who will outwit, outlast, outplay? This week, the better question is who will start to play against Boston Rob?

TEAM SHERRI

#1. As much as I hate to put Natalie at the top of the pack, the safest move now seems like making no move, and not standing out. Natalie doesn't stand out. She stands behind. Which, in some weird twist of fate, makes her stand above the others. Unfortunately, I prefer players who play to the end instead of taking a ride there.

#2 Ashley is like Natalie, only more disappointing because I thought she would have a brain. She's more outwardly bitchy than Natalie, so more likely a target.

#3 Rob is still the man around camp. But are his days numbered? I keep hoping, and then I'm on the fence because he is the one player who has consistently played the game.

#4 Phillip, the ever-annoying. Taking Phillip out would be a great precursor to blindsiding Rob.

#5 Grant. Strength is dangerous when Rob wants to keep control badly enough to try to convince you to take your chances on Redemption Island. Grant, don't be a hero. Stay and send Rob packing instead.

#6 Things are looking pretty grim for Andrea after she sold out her showmance lover Matt. Expressing remorse for dirty deeds gets you a ticket to Redemption Island when you're dealing with Mean Girls Ashley and Natalie. But will it be a one way ticket? Time will tell.

I think Matt is due for retirement, but might stick it out another week. Steve and Mike could be strong RI players. Ralph? I don't think he stands a chance.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Survivor Power Rankings- 4/27

2011-04-26T16:16:00.002-04:00

For five weeks now, I've been doing Survivor Power Rankings to compete against Gordon Holmes on Twitter for XFinity, and his top rival Sash (Matt Lenehan). Four out of five weeks, I've beaten Gordon. He got me two weeks ago. Sash has beaten me once, but I have tied with him three times and beaten him once. This week, I hope to win again.

TEAM SHERRI

#1 I'm keeping the faith that Ashley has some big moves up her sleeve. If only she ever wore sleeves.

#2 Natalie. Natalie and Ashley seem to be tight, with Andrea as kind of a third wheel. But I'm guessing Ashley is the brains of the bunch, so I'm giving her the top spot this week with Natalie as a close second.

#3 I've had Andrea in the top spot for a few weeks now, but I think she's working her way down the rankings with the dwindling hope that Matt might be coming back in the game. And even if he did, would she sink him again instead of playing alongside him?

#4 Grant. I don't think we've seen enough of Grant to suspect he is on the outs yet, but will he outlast Rob? If he starts playing the game, he will.

#5 Rob. This might be the week when things stop going Rob's way. A surprise twist has never worked in Rob's favor on Survivor.

#6 Ralph. His lack of apparent intelligence might be working to make him look like a lack of a threat, next to Steve.

#7 Phillip might finally convince his team to get rid of him. If anyone is scheming to take out Rob with a blindside, best to get rid of Phillip first before Phillip can spoil the surprise.

#8 Steve has held on longer than I expected. Much longer. But maybe his time is finally up.

RI Winner: Mike and Matt. Matt seems like he has had it but Julie, a good competitor, might not be quite as good as Mike and Matt in the end.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Survivor Power Rankings- 4/20

2011-04-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

I enjoy reading Gordon Holmes Survivor recaps on fancast for XfinityTV. I also follow Gordon on Twitter, and after a bit of uninspired trash talk (on my part), he challenged me to make my own power rankings for Survivor (and I beat him, three weeks straight, yay! Last week, I phoned it in and he got me).

Each week, Gordon goes head to head with last season's Sash (Matt Lenahan). Let's see if I can beat the boys this week. (I've only tied with Sash so far, totally got beat last week).

TEAM SHERRI

#1 Andrea. A vote with Rob is a vote to stay safe, and Andrea is staying safe. I want to see someone start playing smart and plotting to get rid of Rob.

#2 Natalie. Staying so low on the radar that people forget you're even playing? It might keep you around, but does it sway a jury?

#3 Ashley. I'm hoping Ashley is about to make a move. I'm losing faith, but I keep hoping.

#4 Rob. Unfortunately, I don't see any danger for Rob yet. Soon, maybe. Soon.

#5 Grant He's strong. He's likable. He's... maybe getting tired of Rob's controlling ways? Fingers crossed.

#6 Ralph. Ralph is going to pull out any tricks he can to stay safe another week. The problem is, Ralph is more hairy than he is tricky. Ralph is more hairy than he is anything. The man is a human hairball.

#7 Phillip. Do I really think Phillip is going tonight? No. Do I see that it will likely put me ahead of Matt and Gordon if he does? Absolutely. Maybe he finally goes too far in annoying his tribe.

#8 Steve. If not Julie, Steve or Phillip. Both men are seen making waves on the previews and Steve seems like the most obvious to go home. But...

#9 Julie. Last week, Julie called Rob out for running a cult. I can't imagine this will sit well with the Robfather. Tonight, Julie sleeps with the fishes, er, with the other guy at RI anyway.

RI Winner: David. I'm hoping the producers want David back enough to give them a very difficult puzzle challenge at RI. At any rate, I think Matt's at the end of his luck and Mike might not be as tough as he looks.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

In the Nick of Time!

2011-04-13T19:42:00.001-04:00

#1 Andrea.

#2 Natalie.

#3 Ashley.

#4 David.

#5 Julie.

#6 Rob.

#7 Grant

#8 Steve.

#9 Phillip.

#10 Mike.

#11 Ralph.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Survivor Power Rankings: Merge Time

2011-04-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

#1 Andrea. With Matt potentially back in the game, Andrea could show that she has some moves. And if not, she's no one to worry about for now anyway.

#2 Natalie. Merge means weak players are safe. Natalie is about as weak as they come.

#3 Ashley's a good competitor according to Probst, but I haven't seen it yet. Maybe her best moves are yet to come?

#4 David, on the outs with own tribe, has serious swing vote potential, which keeps him safe for now.

#5 Julie, a strong female with the ability to win some Jury sympathy, more threatening than she looks.

#6 Rob kept his immunity a secret, and that could pay off with a new bunch gunning to get him out. I don't see a blindside getting to him... yet.

#7 Possibly the strongest physical player in the game, he can't escape notice. Or can he win immunity?

#8 Steve ran the risk of looking weak, but now he might end up looking a bit stronger thanks to his NFL past.

#9 There's always a chance that Phillip annoys everyone so much, he goes home.

#10 Smart money is on Matt beating Sarita and making it back into the game-- but where will he fall in the rankings? I'm guessing he can't last long.

#11 If Ralph perchance survives, the next target is on Mike.

#12 Ometepe has the numbers going into merge, unless some serious flipping goes on. Counting on word to get round of Ralph's immunity idol-- meaning the blindside is imminent.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

2011-03-30T17:26:00.018-04:00

I've mentioned that I'm a Survivor fan. I enjoy reading Gordon Holmes Survivor recaps on fancast for XfinityTV. I also follow Gordon on Twitter, and after a bit of uninspired trash talk (on my part), he challenged me to make my own power rankings for last week's Survivor (and I beat him, yay!). Each week, Gordon goes head to head with last season's Sash (Matt Lenahan). Let's see if I can beat the boys this week.

My rankings:
TEAM SHERRI

#1 Natalie. Ridiculous as it seems, I see Natalie at the top of the pack right now. Zapatera's on a losing streak. Around Ometepe, no one has targeted Boston Rob but it might happen- at last- if Phillip is on his way out. Phillip, of course, would need a lot of help from a team who can't stand him. While others on her team are standing out, not in a good way, pretty and quiet Natalie is way in the background, a great place to be.

#2 Also not causing any trouble, and much needed by his tribe, Grant.

#3 Mike is the Grant of Zapatera (sorry Steve). He's strong and needed, for now.

#4 Julie keeps questioning the decisions of her team... but so far so good for Julie.

#5 Ashley's in a good spot, simply because there are too many more worthy targets at this time.

#6 How long can you stay in charge without a target on your back? I think Rob is pushing the limits.

#7 Can Steve beat the rap that he's -gasp- weak, a charge leveled by Stephanie and Krista on their way out?

#8 Rob has to be getting worried about a Matt-Andrea reunion. Better it happens at Redemption Island, for his purposes-- and he still seems to be running the Ometepe show. But things aren't always what they seem...

#9 Dave has been showing us some bad play. He either redeems himself, or he's gone. I'm still betting on him to do better.

#10 Ralph! He's ready for a blindside. I can't take much more of his manshirt, and I can't believe that Dave wouldn't hatch a plan to save his own skin by convincing everyone else to vote for... let's say Ralph. That idol could be dangerous, and would better serve a wise opponent if it were back in the game.

#11 Karma's a bitch, and so is Sarita... I don't think she'll last much longer with her performance in challenges called into question last week.

#12 Will they keep teasing us with Phillip, or has his time come at last? I'm guessing it's that time. I'll miss him.

Matt wins again!

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Survivor Power Rankings

2011-03-21T13:51:00.019-04:00

My rankings:

TEAM SHERRI

#1
#1 David. After watching realization dawn on David last week at TC when Krista lined up the allies and he wasn't in a pair, I suspect David's supermind will concoct some super new plans to put him on top after merge. Stephanie may be Zapatera's biggest known threat now, but they'll underestimate the wrath of a David scorned.

#2 Possibly the brainiest of Rob's Zombies, I think Ashley will see a better plan than sticking with Rob after merge.

#3

Natalie and Andrea are in that safe cute girl zone. I don't expect big moves, but I don't think they will stand out as threats.

#4 If Matt comes back in the game, Andrea has some play. If not, she'll be wise to stick to the cute girl strategy of speak softly but look good in a bikini.

#5 Rob simply can't make it to the end without Ometepe getting wise that he has outlasted his usefulness to them in the game.

#6
As it gets down to the wire, Grant's strength will become his weakness to staying in the game. For now, he's in good shape.

#7 I expect Mike and Sarita, who seem to have set themselves up as mouthy leaders at Zapatera, to be big targets at merge if Rob and his merry bunch can sway David to their side.

#8 Bad call on leaving Stephanie in charge of puzzle-solving, worse in making David feel unappreciated.

#9 Julie hasn't agreed with her tribe's strategies, and I expect she will get more vocal, and less safe to keep around, as this team pays the price for their egos getting out of hand.

#10 Now that everyone at Zapatera knows Ralph has an idol, it's a matter of time before the big blindside takes him out.

#11 Stephanie and Krista targeted Steve for elimination, and it might not be long before the rest of the tribe starts thinking maybe Steve is a weak link.

#12 Painted into a corner, she simply can't last much longer. I don't think she has the moves to stay in this game past one more Zapatera loss.

#13 Phillip's pink panties are in a bind. He has made himself annoying and most expendable at the next Ometepe Tribal Council.

I think it would take the whole Brady Bunch to come on and work with Krista to keep her alive against Matt. But stranger things have happened. (Not stranger than the Brady Bunch suddenly showing up on Survivor. That would be pretty darn strange. Stranger things than Matt getting beat by Krista- but I don't think so.)

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Snow!

2011-02-07T16:29:00.002-05:00

So much of it. My Massachusetts town has had about 82 inches of it now, which is more than I can ever remember having in my area. It was pretty at first, but now I've had it. Spring can't come soon enough. How are things where you live?

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T11:06:00.004-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the lair,

not a creature was stirring but some vampires-- and Jane Slayre.

The vampires sneered, all full of derision,

but Jane staked their black hearts with skillful precision.

She brushed dust from her hands, and went back to the house,

smoothed back her hair, and straightened her blouse;

Rochester waited, in his nightclothes.

Jane went straight into his arms, planted a kiss on his nose.

"My dear, you look frazzled. You should be in bed."

"But I couldn't sleep, darling, without you," he said.

"Well, here I am now. And in bed we should be.

Santa won't come if we stay here near the tree."

"You're right," he agreed, heading off to the stairs.

Jane replied, "One minute, I'll be right there."

She adjusted the stockings and checked on the fire,

put out cookies for Santa, and turned to retire.

When a gloved hand reached out, touching Jane on the arm.

Her instincts were roused. She would come to no harm.

She reached in her pocket, for stakes sharper than her fear.

No vamp dare attack her in the home she held dear!

Turning on her heel, she prepared for her strike,

when she realized it was Santa, and his helper elf Mike.

"Oh, Santa." She laughed. "I'm happy it's you!"

She dropped the stake and whispered under her breath, "Phew."

She offered some cookies, but he turned to get busy.

He and Mike worked so fast that it made Jane feel dizzy.

In a blink, presents were delivered and stockings were filled.

Jane was amazed, and in fact, she was thrilled.

"Presents? Why, thank you!" she said, hands on hips.

He winked at her, then, and put his finger to his lips.

"No thanks required," Elf Mike said, "For you work hard, too."

"We're happy to do it. We celebrate you!"

Jane was so touched. Her eyes? They had teared.

But before she could say more, poof! Santa and Mike disappeared.

She heard them exclaim, though they were out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!"

Full Moon Means Wereoprah Book Club!

2010-10-23T11:19:00.005-04:00

It's that time again. Wereoprah has come out with the full moon to announce her next Book Club Selection. The first was JANE SLAYRE, of course. And we all know you read and loved JANE, proving that Wereoprah is the go-to source for paranormal picks. The next...

J.K. Beck's WHEN BLOOD CALLS

“A red-hot page-turner!”
—New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole

Attorney Sara Constantine is thrilled with her promotion—until she finds out that she must now prosecute vampires and werewolves. The first defendant she’ll be trying to put away? Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius kisses a beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s hoping only to avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss ignites into an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows that Sara is determined to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not a monster. And that might mean making the ultimate sacrifice.

We'll have J.K. BECK with us as a special guest to discuss WHEN BLOOD CALLS during the next full moon (Nov. 21). Please read and join us. Waoooooooh!

Kindle giveway, plus gift card.

2010-09-06T15:17:00.003-04:00

I'm in a race! Help me win, and you could win, too.

Authors Julie Ortolon, Deborah Cooke, Julianne MacLean, and Lori Devoti have challenged me to be the first among us to add a thousand new members at our fan pages. I'm starting at 391, and I need a thousand more. Just "like" me at Sherri Browning Erwin Readers and we could both win. If I reach my goal first, I get to choose the winner from among my followers.

I shouldn't be telling you, but you could increase your chances of winning by "liking" Julie, Deborah, Julianne, and Lori, too. The author who adds a thousand new members first gets to choose the winner at random from all of her followers. It could be me (tell your friends!) but it could be one of them.

Sherri Browning Erwin Readers

Julie Ortolon, Author

Julie MacLean, Romance Author

Author Deborah Cooke Fan Page

Lori Devoti, Author

More details:

We're racing to see who can add 1000 new "likes" to her Facebook Page. Not the first to reach 1000, but 1000 new likes. The author who wins will draw one name from ALL the people who like her page to pick the winner.

The Prize: A new Kindle Wi-Fi! But wait, there's more...

Bonus Prize: A $50 Amazon Gift Card. The author who wins the race will also draw one name from everyone who subscribes to her newsletter. To subscribe to my newsletter, just put your name and email address in the Newsletter box at the right side top of this page. By signing up, you'll be entered to win both prizes.

Now, let the race begin!

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries, Final Day, Final Thoughs

2010-08-17T11:58:00.004-04:00

August 1, 2010

Alcohol units: 5 (gasp, really? Yes. But sample sizes.)

Workshops: 0

Ego: Grounded (conference is over!)

7:00 a.m. Awake and ready to enjoy the day! The plan is to shower, dress, finish packing, check out, and bring our bags down to bell services for the day while we (Julie and I) hit the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

8:00 a.m. Julie has never been to the Magic Kingdom, and I know she's going to love it. I hope she does. What if she doesn't? The bus is on time and we arrive for opening ceremonies. No doubt-- she loves it! We see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and other characters at the park opening, and we're ready to hit some rides.

Lines are low and crowds are almost non-existent. What a beautiful morning! I take Julie on a little tour, stopping for rides along the way. The theming and details have won her over, but wait until she gets on a ride. We start with Adventureland and the Jungle Cruise, laugh at the corny jokes, and then on to Pirates of the Caribbean, and a surprise-- "no roller coasters" Julie thinks she can handle Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

In fact, she loves it and wants to ride again! But so much to do, so little time. We're off to the Haunted Mansion. A walk through Fantasyland. I convince her to try Space Mountain. Fun, but not on her list of things to do again. It's getting late and we opt to head for Epcot for the rest of the day.

11:00 a.m. Julie has never ridden the monorail, so we catch the resort monorail to the Transportation & Ticket Center and then the Epcot monorail. We're in the park by 11:30, in time for lunch. We're hungry! We meander through Future World and catch the boat across the lagoon to Morocco, close to our destination, France! Lunch in France. We add our names to the list of walk-ins at Chefs de France and shop around France until noon. I buy a beret and French milled soaps for my daughter, extra birthday treats, and we're finally ready to wait to be seated.

Julie has the crepe basquaise, a large crepe filled with smoked chicken. peppers, onions, and a cheese, with a nice French white. I opt for the plat de cote de boeuf au cabernet avec pates, beef short ribs braised in cabernet with pasta, pearl onions, and mushrooms and a glass of French red, recommended by the server, from her hometown. Julie's crepe slightly trumps my beef, but both are delicious and service is wonderful. We finish lunch and step outside, where Julie is instantly enchanted by a little street performance, an adorable Frenchman doing handstands on a tower of chairs.

While Julie is caught up in awe, I pop over to the refreshment stand and buy us each a Grey Goose slush, dessert!

We shop in Morocco, in Japan, and head for Italy. In Italy, the charming server talks us into doing the Epcot Wine Walk, 2 2 oz sample glasses in each country, Italy, Germany, and France for $20. Why not? We take our wine and watch another street performance, this one an Italian clown having a ball with his audience (literally, throwing balls to people, too fun!). Then, on to Germany (more wine) and China (tea!), Norway for the Maelstrom (always too short), and Mexico for the boatride (just right). Time is running out. A brisk walk to France for our final wine samples, and back through the International Gateway for the ride back to the Dolphin to claim our bags and get the Mears Shuttle to the airport and home.

Reflections:

It was a productive, educational, fabulous conference! What I learned: networking with friends can be more informative and helpful than attending workshop after workshop. Publishers want to see more paranormal, historical, suspense, and small town contemporaries. The world is changing fast and with digital sales making up more of the sales pie, brick and mortar bookstores are feeling the crunch. Now more than ever, the author has to be their own promo machine and get the word out.

The Dolphin was a fabulous conference hotel. Great service, well-organized, able to handle a crowd. I wish we could have more conferences at Disney World. One plus is that I got to hang out with friends in a non-business setting, get to know people better as people, not just as authors, and we all had a lot of fun. Big Cheers to everyone who worked so hard for the RWA to make the conference possible.

Looking forward to next year, New York City!

Fun Stuff- Win Books

2010-08-14T14:06:00.003-04:00

Agent Extraordinaire Janet Reid is hosting the Slay Me with Laughter: Brains and Janes contest on her blog, running from now until Sunday night. You can win Robin Becker's Brains, Molly Harper's Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, and Sherri and Charlotte's Jane Slayre. Check it out!

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries, Day Five

2010-08-10T10:52:00.014-04:00

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Alcohol units: 3

Workshops: 1, or 2 (?)

Ego deflators: 0 (It's a low-key day.)

Ego boosts: 1 (Great talk with my agent, always helps me feel pumped up).

8:00 a.m. No rush waking, but I'm feeling energized. Last day of conference, RITA ceremony tonight. I follow Julie's lead and start packing some things as I get ready for the day.

I'm starting to wonder about attending the RITAs. I love the ceremony, and seeing everyone all decked out. But I'm really missing my dear friend Kathleen Givens, my usual conference roommate and companion. She passed away on January 1, and though I've made it through conference in great spirits, I'm starting to wonder if I can make it through a long ceremony of sitting and contemplating the career paths of my friends and fellow authors without getting weepy (okay, without dissolving into messy sobs) over Kathleen. Losing a best friend is like having a part of your heart ripped out and it has made for an emotional roller coaster of a year.

11:00 a.m. First workshop of the day, another PAN session. I think I've only attended PAN sessions after all this time. I meant to make it to a few other workshops, but the schedule hasn't allowed for it, or I haven't had enough interest. The PAN sessions, though, are great, and this one doesn't disappoint. It's on Career Planning with agents Steven Axelrod, Kristin Nelson, and Karen Solem. The talk is more on the state of the market in general and how they are guiding their authors into it, but it's fascinating and I learn a lot. Social media is key in starting a buzz for most authors now. Facebook and Twitter, check.

12:00 p.m. I meet Dee Davis and Terri Brisbin for lunch at Fresh. It's great to catch up with friends! Terri is a dynamo, and an incredible author. And she manages to pass when Dee and I head up to raid the dessert table. If that doesn't make her an extraordinary human being, I don't know what does.

2: 00 p.m I meant to attend a PAN session on the market, and I think I did, but I don't even remember now if I did or not! Gasp! What does that say about me? Perhaps that I had already started to consider heading to the Magic Kingdom for some time on my own tonight instead of attending the RITAs and my head was already on Space Mountain? Who can say? Why can't I remember?

I do know that I stopped by the art gallery and bought myself some beautiful dolphin earrings, one of a kind, that remind me of my friend Kathleen Givens. They make me smile. I'm so glad I picked them up.

3:00 p.m. Meet my agent for a glass of wine. We're both in good spirits, having a productive time at conference. We have a great talk, and that's all I'm going to reveal.

4:30 p.m. My friend Kathleen O'Reilly calls to suggest we have dinner together. She's not sure about dressing up for RITA either. She might skip the dinner part and sneak in late. But for now, the plan is for dinner at Shula's Steak House. Excellent plan!

6:00 p.m. Kathleen and I meet at Shula's and we're escorted to a lovely table for two in the back of the dining room. It's very stately and male-feeling in decor, dimly-lit, and it's a quiet respite after being surrounded by the high-pitched hum of female voices all through conference. I'm instantly relaxed. And hungry! The menu is written on a football. Nice touch!

But the football thing is really just for show, because next thing you know, one of two waiters (yes, we had two servers for the two of us, it's a very fancy restaurant experience) comes out to present the menu live, with a platter of the beautiful cuts of steak all on display.

At the risk of embarrassing myself, full disclosure, I got the cowboy steak, a 22 oz ribeye. (Hey, I didn't eat it all!). Kathleen got the slightly more demure NY Strip (I think, memory is getting hazy). Both steaks are cooked perfectly to our specifications and are really impressive hunks of meat (exactly what most romance writer conferences are lacking, with the exception of Romantic Times with their Mr. Romance pageant, of course, har har). We started with wedge salads (yummy, iceberg with just the right amounts of bacon, balsamic, and blue cheese). And added sides of creamed spinach and double-baked potatoes. And of course, lovely glasses of fine wine (a cabernet for Kathleen, pinot noir for me). And after all that red meat to rebuild our strength...

Chocolate souffle! One souffle, plenty big enough for two, one of our two servers informed us. Well, it was big enough for four. He spooned it out on plates with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream, and I wished I had more room after all that steak... though I managed a few bites. Yum. Yum. YUM. What a fantastic meal! What wonderful companionship! Kathleen and I talked and laughed and caught up. A really great night. And a really big bill, Shula's isn't cheap. But hey, we're worth it. (And yes, I think it really is the best steakhouse on Disney property, with Canada's Le Cellier falling far short- still good, but more on the chain steak restaurant by comparison, while Shula's is high end steakhouse- and the Yachtsman Steakhouse maybe coming slightly close).

But my night does not end here, dear reader. Oh no! After I get back up to my room, I decide to change and head to the Magic Kingdom.

At the Magic Kingdom, I fit in a ride on my favorite, Pirates of the Caribbean. Then, Haunted Mansion (another favorite, and spookier when all alone). Then I just meander, take in the park, enjoy the sites, the details of Main Street, the smiles on kids' faces, and oh yay! I'm in time to catch the Main Street Electrical Parade! I haven't seen this one in ages. It has been out of the park, in favor of SpectroMagic (which is also good). But the music of the parade fills me with instant joy. So I've missed the RITA awards? I don't have any regrets. The music of the parade is in my head and heart as I head back to the Dolphin from the Magic Kingdom. What an incredible night! Congratulations to all RITA winners, though I was not there to applaud you.

And tomorrow, conference over, headed home... but not until I show roommate Julie around the Magic Kingdom (she has never been!) and World Showcase. Stay tuned.

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries, Day Four

2010-08-10T09:15:00.011-04:00

Friday, July 30, 2010

Alcohol units: 3

Workshops: 2

Ego deflators: 1 (no cocktail party invites)

Ego boosts: 1 (out of books early at Pocket Signing- woot!)

7 a.m. A little trouble waking up this morning. The conference grind (late nights, not to mention all the running around Disney World) is getting to me. I wanted to make it to a 9 a.m. workshop, but I think maybe I can sleep one more hour...

7:30 a.m. Julie (perky, sunny Julie) is up getting showered and ready to go. I put the pillow over my head and groan. Yeah, I'm not making the 8:30 a.m. workshop...

8:00 a.m. I manage to sit up in bed. (Applause? Thank you!). And check some text messages. Julia London wants a conference update, and I oblige. Julie seems to be waiting around expecting I will find my perky and join her. I left my perky on the bus. Sorry, Julie.

8:15 a.m. Julie goes off to a workshop and I manage to drag myself out of bed to the shower. Julie calls not long after to report that the workshop was a bust (great workshop, but more suited for a beginner) and that she will wait for me in the lobby and oh, she forgot her earrings, please bring them. I decide to get the "hitch out of my giddy-up." (some TX expression I picked up from Dee Davis, but I am probably using it wrong) and go.

9:15 a.m. I am ready and meeting Julie in the lobby with her earrings. We head to Robert Gottlieb's PAN session on literary agents. Informative, interesting. Julie has to leave early, so I take notes for her.

11:00 a.m. Spotlight on Pocket. I'm a Simon & Schuster author, technically Gallery not Pocket. But it pays to keep up with the buzz, and who knows. I meet up with Molly Harper again. I take notes. Big news: Pocket is launching Pocket After Dark, an online community for romance readers and writers. How exciting! Will check that out. Also, editor Lauren McKenna mentions my bff Julia London's amazing books, especially her latest, One Season of Sunshine. Yay! (note to self: remember to text Julia later). And my agent comes over as the session wraps up to say hi to Molly and me, but we'll catch up more later.

12:00 p.m. Time for lunch! I'm meeting dear friends Virginia Henley, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and roommate Julie for lunch at the Dolphin's Fresh Mediterranean Market restaurant. Jacquie and Virginia are colorful and gorgeous as usual. Of all days, I picked today to wear black! Oh well. We're all happy with lunch, but Jacquie is especially thrilled that there's a dessert bar included complimentary with lunch. When she returns with her dessert bar selections, she declares "This really IS the happiest place on earth!"

2:00 p.m. I'd wanted to hit a 2:oo workshop, but I have a signing at 3 and take some time to go back to my room to relax, freshen up, and call home instead. My husband is picking up his new car today and his excitement is contagious. My new car, he reports, will be delivered on Tuesday after I get back from conference. Yay! New cars all around (if only, having an Oprah moment).

3:00 p.m. Show up to sign books at the Pocket Authors Signing. The publisher gives books away, which means lines are long and crowds get crazy, but it's so fun! Fortunately, my worst fears (that people will not even want my book for free, ha!) are not realized. In fact, I'm out of books in less than twenty minutes. I'm the first author to run out! (I had two boxes, forty books. I'm not going to think about how many other authors had and that they probably had more... I will just take my George Costanza "I'm outta here!" grand exit).

3:30 p.m. After the signing, I'm free for the day. All of my other friends are headed to cocktail parties and grand events, but I am free. I stick around to watch people get dressed and see who I can catch in the lobby. I love to see the fancy outfits. But also, it's a good time to catch up with rest, relaxation, or maybe I will head to the Magic Kingdom. Decisions, decisions.

I spend some time in the room alone, then some time catching up with Julie. I watch Julie change and leave, and then just relax some more and change and head to the MK.

I haven't been to the Magic Kingdom yet, and though I have been having a great time at Walt Disney World and at conference, it never feels like I'm really there until I see my favorite resorts (the monorail resorts), the Seven Seas Lagoon, and Cinderella Castle. As the bus pulls up to the MK surroundings, and I see the Contemporary Resort, I am recharged. At last, I'm really here!

I never get tired of the Magic Kingdom. I have a fantasy that I could live at Disney World and vacation for a few weeks at a time in the real world. I manage to fit in a ride on the newly improved Space Mountain (fun!) and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. I must be fueled by competitive drive, because it's just not the same alone. I score a measly 9600 (embarrassing!). My friends call. They're leaving the Harlequin Party and heading over to see me at the MK!

But when my friends (Dee Davis and Julie Kenner) get to the MK, we decide we're all hungry, craving sushi, and opt for a change of plans. We head for the Polynesian. My first monorail ride of the trip! I get a good glimpse of my favorite resort, the Grand Floridian, where I spent my honeymoon nearly twenty years earlier. My excitement builds when we're stopped briefly at the Contemporary, at the Transportation and Ticket Center, and finally, at the Polynesian! We check at Kona Cafe, but the wait is long. There are seats available at the Kona Cafe Sushi Bar, and that's what we're after anyway. While waiting for our sushi (volcano roll for me), we decide to skip the Magic Kingdom and do a monorail pub crawl, a drink at every resort. At the Polynesian, I get a Lapu Lapu (drink in a pineapple, winner!). We sip slowly, get our sushi, and laugh and talk. The volcano roll, delicious, with a creamy spicy sauce. We tell the server, no dessert, thanks. We have other pubs to visit!

Next stop, the boat launch to the Grand Floridian. This involves no wait, as the boat is at the dock, and a slight detour to the Magic Kingdom first before we can head back to the Grand Floridian. But it's beautiful on the lagoon at night, lights twinkling, and a wonderful ride.

When we arrive, I show off the Grand Floridian as if I am showing off my home, and it feels like it. And my friends are impressed. They seem to love it as much as I do. I wish I could show them to a room, and open all the shops, but I'm afraid Disney does not consider the Grand Floridian to be my home quite as much as I do. (Writer in residence, Disney? Call me!). We head to Mizner's Lounge, where we all order the Magic Glow Cocktail (I don't remember the official name, but the drinks are pretty!). We toast each other, yay us! And we keep our souvenir glowing "ice" cubes. You never know when they'll come in handy. Then back to the monorail, headed for the Contemporary Resort.

At the Contemporary, we know we want to go to the California Grill, but the attendant is not at the desk. We walk around a bit, then go up anyway. The woman at the desk tells us that we can go on to a table in the bar. We're all pleased with the view. But the server eventually comes over and tells us last call already happened. We're too late. But if we hurry, we can probably still get service at The Wave. Off we go!

After some poking around in the Contemporary Resort, we find The Wave. The bartender is friendly and welcoming. We order drinks (mine, the Ecotini, comes with a bracelet, cool!). We feel so pleased to have had such a great time together and decide to do a pub crawl at the next RWA. Watch out New York City! Cheers!

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries, Day Three

2010-08-08T15:51:00.016-04:00

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Alcohol units: 4

Social gaffes: Probably 1 or 2, as usual when I am in a more formal social situation.

Ego deflators: 1 (no Jane in Barnes and Noble conference bookstore).

Ego boosts: 1 (amazing dinner for Pocket authors).

7:00 a.m. Wake up refreshed, relaxed, not in need of a wake-up call. Ready to face the day! But there's no rush. The first event is lunch at 12: 15 with Nora Roberts. Enjoy a leisurely morning with Julie, who makes us coffee and shares her granola bars (what a sweet roommate!), and a call home to check in on husband and kids. It's my daughter's birthday, and I want to make sure she gets cake. Birthdays mean must have cake. After a pleasant morning, with a view of the sun shining over the Tower of Terror out my window, I shower, dress, and get ready to hit the workshops.

11:15 p.m. Julie and I head for the lobby and meet up with dear friend and fabulous author, the legendary Virginia Henley. Virginia is gorgeous, decked out in bright colors, as she always is, and she thinks I've lost weight. I do love Virginia Henley. Virginia and I catch up while Julie heads to Barnes and Noble to check out the Nook. I've been telling Julie about my Kindle, and she is torn between e-reading devices. Julie takes so long looking at the Nook that Virginia and I browse around the Barnes and Noble conference bookshop. No sign of Jane Slayre (hmph) but we find Virginia's anthology, Lords of Desire.

12:00 p.m. It's close to lunch time. We finally wrench Julie away from the Nook display and head for lunch. We end up at a table with delightful women, like Regina Jeffers. Regina and I have just met, but we realize we have something in common: we both write with long-dead well-respected women. Regina writes paranormals that play on Jane Austen's works. I've written with Charlotte Bronte. She tells me about a panel she was a guest on at the Smithsonian with Seth-Grahame Smith and Ben Winters. Ben signed a copy of Android Karenina for me, so I am a fan. Very cool! So glad I got to meet Regina.

Nora's lunch speech is fabulous, hits all the right notes for me. She talks about her dearest friends, women she met while attending RWA conferences, and I think of my dearest friends, and I miss Kathleen Givens so much. I wish Julia London had been able to attend. But I'm thankful for all my friends, for Dee, Julie K, Kathleen O'Reilly, Jacquie, Virginia, Julie O, and so many more. The friends I have made at RWA conferences give me incredible support and make my life so much richer. They're not just my conference friends or my writing friends. They're my circle, my community, the people I count on day after day even though we all live far away from each other. Thank goodness for email and cheers to RWA! So glad I joined and met all these great people, and meet new ones all the time. If you write, go to conferences. Join writing groups. Network! You won't be sorry.

The meal at lunch is not so bad. Chicken, yes, but not quite the rubber chicken we usually get at conferences. It's baked with a crumb crust and juicy, not dry, served with crisp veggies. I only have a few bites of the dessert pie. Too much good food so far at WDW.

2:00 p.m. After lunch, I attend my first workshop. Lou Aronica opens the PAN (published authors network) sessions with a talk on The State of the Industry, and it's what I expect. Good news and bad news, with an emphasis on the growth of the digital market and what it means for us, the authors. I learn a lot from Lou's talk and he leaves me with much to consider.

4:30 p.m. I meet a friend for coffee at Picabu, the Dolphin's 24 hour buffeteria. Lisa Mondello. Lisa and I met at our local chapter RWA in 1998, the year we'd both sold our first books. We've kept in touch through the years and it's great to catch up. Lisa has brought a friend, CJ Eernise Chase, another familiar face from the New England Chapter of RWA. Networking. So important, and so rewarding.

5 p.m. Unfortunately, I have to dash off to get ready for my very special publisher dinner. Pocket Books is taking their authors out to dinner, and I'm very excited. Can't wait!

6:30 p.m. Meet in the lobby of the Swan for transport to Epcot's The Living Seas, the location for the evening's festivities. I talk to Karen Hawkins and meet Molly Harper at last. So excited to meet Molly! We share an agent, Stephany Evans at FinePrint Literary Management, and an editor, Jennifer Heddle, and we've guested on each other's blogs. Then we all get on the bus to take us to the Living Seas.

Be still my Disney Geek Heart! We're taken in through the back way, an employee-only area. Ladies and gentleman, the backside of World Showcase! And Test Track. And somehow we end up behind the Land Pavilion and then, ta-daa, The Living Seas (Now also known as the Seas with Nemo and Friends, but we won't be seeing Nemo today). In back of the Living Seas. An area I never thought I would see. My excited reaction to the view of warehouses and back streets surprises some of my fellow authors. Don't they understand? People usually don't get to see this side of WDW! Before we're allowed off the bus, we have to have our bags searched. We'll be entering the park. It's procedure. Cool!

After the search, we're given the go-ahead to leave the bus. Escorts are waiting to bring us into the park through a door behind the Living Seas Pavilion. We walk in, by the seagulls (Mine, Mine, Mine). A kid asks his mom who we are and why we're all dressed up (there are about 20 of us in cocktail attire). I say we're on a special mission to ride Test Track. The mom does not laugh. Oh well. We go in through a side door to a banquet facility in the Living Seas. Sweet!

We're in a reception room surrounded by the tanks, fantastic view. Sea turtles, fish-- four divers! They come to the window by turns and wave and make gestures at our food and drink. There's pita with hummus. Champagne. Neat little name tags with our book covers. And after a second bus load of authors arrive, dinner!

We're seated at tables with an aquarium view. There's Sonoma goat cheese ravioli with sun-dried tomato nectar, shiitake mushrooms, and basil. Salad with candied pecans, apple, blue cheese, and dried cranberry vinaigrette, a palate cleanser of fruity ice. For dinner, service is family style. A platter of oak-fired Tanglewood chicken breasts with fregola pasta, applewood smoked bacon, almonds, sultanas, arugula, and sherry chicken au jus. Slow-roasted Atlantic salmon with herb gnocchi, wild mushrooms, and mustard-chive cream. Sliced oak-grilled beef tenderloin with roasted fingerling potatoes, caramelized onions, and teriyaki barbecue sauce. Wow, decadence! Red wine or white? I'm torn, and choose red.

Dinner is a little hurried, due to timing issues. We have a private viewing area set up for dessert at IllumiNations and we need to get us all out there in time for the 9 p.m. show. Escorts with light-sabre like red posts lead us through the crowds, from the Living Seas to the International Gateway gift shop. The area behind the shop is roped off, for our use only. We draw stares, of course, all those vacationing families wondering who we are and why we're getting special treatment. And there's an amazing dessert bar and an open bar. I feel like royalty! A new Disney princess.

I sample a few desserts and a drink. I'm in awe, as usual. The fireworks, staging, soundtrack, lighting, and flames of IllumiNations always leave me breathless. We all watch and ooh and ahhh. And as soon as it ends, we're led back to the waiting bus, this time around the back of the old Odyssey restaurant. I'm still in a daze of happiness as we take off for the ride back to the Dolphin. A Disney Geek's dream come true. Thank you, Pocket Books!

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries, Day Two

2010-08-04T18:11:00.007-04:00

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Alcohol units: 0

Social gaffes: 0

Ego boosts: 3 (I have a line at signing! People claim to have come in specifically to meet me! My publisher notices I have a line and tweets about it on Twitter!)

6:00 a.m. The phone rings and wakes me with a start. Ugh. The wake-up call I ordered before we went to bed at two a.m. Sleep is for wimps, I tell Julie. The Animal Kingdom awaits!

7:30 a.m. Julie O. and I are showered, dressed, and ready for adventure. We meet Julie K, Dee, and Dee's daughter at the bus stop. The bus never comes. But aha, author Jessica Scott, waiting with her adorable family, saves the day by suggesting we all share a cab. We're at the AK by the 8 a.m. opening.

8 a.m. Julie O. doesn't like big coaster rides. The rest of us can't wait to encounter the Yeti at Expedition: Everest. We split up, Julie heads to the Kilimajaro Safaris with plans to meet us at Dinosaur later. As we walk along, we're all truly overcome with the beauty of the park and Disney's painstaking way with details. Well done!

By ten, we've conquered Everest twice, met back up, and rode Dinosaur twice. Julie O. and I separate off to make lunch reservations and grab FastPasses for the safari (Julie's second of the day) while the rest of us ride Everest again (it's that good). We meet back up, go on safari and see all kind of animals (giraffes, elephants, hippos, warthogs, lions, hmm no zebra, must have been hungry lions.). The ride ends with a capture of some nasty poachers (some guys never learn) and we're off to lunch at the Yak and Yeti.

Among us, we have many tasty dishes: Seared Ahi Tuna, sesame crusted, with wasabi aioli and sweet chili slaw. Crisp Lettuce Cups filled with minced chicken breast, chopped vegetables, and a maple tamarind sauce. Tempura Shrimp with chili-plum sauce, coconut-ginger rice, and stir-fried veggies. Crisp Honey Chicken with broccoli and carrots. And Shaoxing Steak and Shrimp, marinated skirt steak with tempura shrimp, jasmine rice, chili-plum sauce, and stir-fried veggies. The veggies are crisp and delicious. The steak is tender and flavorful. The shrimp, yum, and that dipping sauce is a great touch. Everyone is very happy with their meals. After a wonderful, but filling, lunch, we all waddle like the ducks that wander around the park back to our bus. So much accomplished, and it's barely after noon!

It was pretty hot in the AK and an air-conditioned bus ride is not quite enough to undo the damage of a day in the heat. We're all looking scroungy. Fortunately, not many people are milling around near the elevators for the walk of shame back to our rooms. It's time for some R & R before the big multi-author RWA autographing to raise funds for literacy efforts in Orlando and Nashville (where the conference would have been if not for major flooding).

4:00 p.m. My dilemma begins. What to wear? What to wear? I ask my roomie Julie. Batik sundress with sweater? Or black cardigan with patterned white-black-green dress? Julie chooses the one I wasn't going to wear. It looks more "author of Jane Slayre." Though, none of my clothes actually look like "author of Jane Slayre." Hmm. Julie recommends I develop a signature style. Food for thought. (Fortunately not actual food, since I am still stuffed from our amazing AK lunch).

5:30 p.m. I went against Julie's recommendation and chose the batik print sundress. I feel good. Have a little trouble finding the autographing room. Go wrong way down hall, feel overwhelmed by huge line of waiting book fans, finally turn around and find my place. I set up and expect to have a few hours of sitting and watching the crowd line up for other authors, with the occasional buyer stopping to look at my book (my usual RWA signing experience).

Surprisingly, I stay on my feet awhile. People keep coming, stopping, not just walking by. People say things like "I saw this at the airport." (Yay!) Or, "I bought this last week." (Love it!). One woman (Colleen) has the book, loved the book, came in to the event hoping to meet me. (So cool!). And it's all a blur for a bit because people keep coming and picking up the book. (An actual line!) Then Linda and Gene from MA introduce themselves. They were vacationing at WDW and saw that I would be signing. (Wow, fellow MA residents meeting me in FL!). Then a line again. And Suzie Townsend from FinePrint Literary Management (I'm with Stephany at FinePrint) apparently recommended my book to a few people (xo Suzie, Thanks!). It's an incredible signing for me and I am overwhelmed by the turnout and the number of people who picked up Jane Slayre.

7:30 p.m. The signing is wrapping up and it finally feels quiet enough to leave. I sign the four books left just in case anyone comes in or wants them afterwards.

8:00 p.m. Julie, Dee, Dee's daughter, and I change clothes fast and head to Disney Hollywood Studios park. We can't get enough. The line for Rock n Roller Coaster is too crazy, but we manage to ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, and Great Movie Ride plus grab a bite before park closing time. (Thank you, evening Extra Magic Hours). I tried the chicken and ribs with baked beans and coleslaw at Fairfax Fare. The beans are good, though not the New England style I prefer. The cole slaw, not bad. The chicken and ribs, though, have a fake smoky taste and are not that good. I recommend giving Fairfax Fare a pass. Dee and her daughter fared better with a cheese pizza and a hot italian deli sandwich at Catalina Eddie's.

We head back and I get to bed just after midnight. A good thing, because Thursday is the first full day of conference and I expect a busy day. But before bed, at midnight, a phone call to my daughter. It's her birthday! She's turning 17. And yes, I am at Walt Disney World without her, but I know she forgives me. "It's business." :)

Confessions of a Romance Author: The RWA Diaries Day One

2010-08-03T10:42:00.021-04:00

Julie Ortolon, Sherri, and Dee Davis.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Alcohol units: 1 margarita, 1 wine flight (three 2 oz glasses).

Social gaffes: 1 *appearing at conference in disarray.

Ego Deflators: 2, not recognized by bigger authors in the room. Put off for seating at Kouzzina (do you know who I AM?!).

3 a.m, my bedroom. Radio alarm goes off. Tainted Love. I try not to take it as a sign... at least it isn't Bad Romance.

5:30 a.m, Bradley Airport. Have cleared security after five scans of carry-on bag. Who knew eyelash curler could be confused with a deadly weapon? March to gate and prepare to board plane. Flash smug grin to suckers who did not sign on to Southwest early enough to score prime A21 seating number as I have. Choose window seat in front of wing. Wonder if the Lost crew would approve my choice.

8:30 a.m. Orlando. Smooth flight, easy landing. Now to find ground transportation to whisk me to the Dolphin Resort, site of the Romance Writer's of America 2010 Conference, the 30th anniversary of RWA. At Mears counter, run into fellow romance authors. End up in motor coach with 5 women en route to RWA, and one lone businessman who looks very scared indeed. "Please drop me off first," he begs the male driver, as he moves from the back into the front passenger seat. The men will stick together. Safety in numbers. "I have appointments. And stuff."

9:00 a.m. I'm going to Disney World! I can't really see anything out the windows of the motor coach from my middle seat, but excitement builds. Especially after we drop off our businessman. Almost there!

9:30 a.m. At the Dolphin at last! I glance around the lobby as I head for the check-in line. It's beautiful, with whimsical decor and a large Dolphin fountain at the center. Disney theming, check. Though, technically, the Dolphin is a Starwood property, located at Disney, and not a Disney hotel. As I realize when they let me check in and my room is ready (actually ready!) before 10 a.m. (this almost never happens on Disney property for me). I check in, check my 10th floor view (of the Tower of Terror, yes!), fix my hair, hope I won't look like too big a dork in the lobby in my park clothes around other romance authors (navy polo dotted with Mickey silhouettes, tan shorts, white socks and Asics running shoes), and head out.

All clear, no authors spotted. I sprint past the Dolphin fountain to Guest Services to buy my park pass. My new publicist calls to discuss our PR plan. Not now, Tom, I'm in Disney World! But of course, I talk with him. He's sorry he can't make it. He would have been at conference if it had stayed in Nashville as originally planned. We'll have to meet in person some other time.

10:15 a.m. Time to get my ride on! I'm supposed to meet friends (authors Dee Davis, Dee's daughter, and Julie Kenner) at the parks, but I can't seem to get in touch. We discussed possibly meeting at the Animal Kingdom, so I head there on the bus. Halfway there, a text message. They're at Hollywood Studios. I get off the bus at Blizzard Beach (a water park, one stop before the Animal Kingdom) and change buses to go back to Disney Hollywood Studios. I wish I had managed to connect with them before bus. The Studios is an easy boat ride from the Dolphin. But-- I'm at Disney World! All is well.

11:14 a.m. By the time I arrive at the Hollywood Studios, my friends are on to the Great Movie Ride. I decide to wait at the ride exit so I don't miss them. (How did we survive before cell phones and easy texting?) I sip a frozen lemonade while I wait. Good stuff. I've been in Disney World for over an hour and I still haven't ridden anything! I'm sweating and I start to panic. What if I miss my friends and wait here all day while they are having fun? What if they think my park outfit is dorky and unprofessional? What if they notice the pounds I've gained and they all look fit and trim? What if... They come out and end my torture. They look the same as they always do to me (adorable and welcoming-- they're my friends! And also in park clothes and sweaty, yay! Hugs all around.)

11: 42 a.m. But everyone is hungry, so we head to the Backlot Express. It's air-conditioned, bonus. Dee's daughter grabs a table. The rest of us order and bring the food. I have the double cheeseburger (though I only want a single) with fries. Dee's daughter has chicken breast nuggets with fries. Dee has the grilled turkey and cheese with arugula and red peppers with fries. And Julie has the Southwest Salad with Chicken, mixed greens with tortilla strips, black bean relish, avocado, and cilantro vinaigrette. We all agree our food is okay, meets but does not exceed expectations with the exception of Dee's turkey sandwich, that she declares really good. The addition of the red peppers moves it beyond the ordinary. I remove a patty from my cheeseburger. It's just too much food. Even if I wasn't painfully aware of every pound I have gained since last RWA conference.

12: 30 p.m. After lunch, we head for Star Tours. Julie claims it as her favorite ride. I don't reveal that I get nauseated on Star Tours. Usually, I do better with a full stomach and the lunch was fairly filling. I think I will survive. And I do. Star Tours has a minimal wait, maybe ten minutes in line. We get the front row. I've ridden many times, but have never been in front. We all agree that the ride is dated and could use some updates, but it's still a lot of fun making our simulated journey to Endor that goes awry.

1:00 p.m. After Star Tours, we split up again. My friends have FastPasses to Rock n Roller Coaster and I decide to browse the Star Tours gift shop for a gift for my editor, a suspected fan of Star Wars. I find something that she probably already has, but pick it up in the off chance that she doesn't, and meet my friends outside of RnRC. We opt to ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror next, and I'm thrilled. One of my favorite rides! And it does not disappoint.

2:00 p.m. We're all hot and tired and ready for a break. But, we're disheveled and a bit sweaty. Dare we walk through a hotel lobby of romance writing professionals? We call it our new Walk of Shame and brazen on through, of course running right into Teresa Medeiros, Christina Dodd, Emily March, and other professionally-attired authors who eye our appearance with suspicion, but manage warm and friendly greetings. Except, no one seems to know who I am. Perhaps that is best in my current attire. The worst has happened. We have been spotted in our natural park-going state. After picking up our registration packets, we might as well head for the lobby bar.

We run into my conference roommate, author Julie Ortolon, who is all checked in and of course lovely in fresh citrus colors and crisp white. Trademark big hair, chunky jewelry, and no sign of perspiration. Julie! She'll get to stand out in comparison to the rest of us. "Look, we do clean up nicely. When we clean up."

Claire Delacroix aka Deborah Cooke joins us at the bar and Eloisa James pops in to introduce her friend Laurie Kahn, who is producing a documentary on the romance genre. Julie O. and Deb get into a heated discussion of... well, what happens at the RWA bar stays at the RWA bar.

4:00 p.m. We all head to our rooms to unpack, refresh, and get ready for dinner. I feel much better after a shower. We all choose park clothes that will be acceptable for a casual restaurant, with plans to hit Epcot after the meal.

7:30 p.m. Julie Kenner, Dee Davis, Dee's daughter, Julie Ortolon, and I meet in the lobby and proceed to meet Whine Sister and friend Jacquie D'Alessandro at the Dolphin's sister resort, The Swan. Jacquie is, of course, adorable in peach sweater and skirt. We walk across the Boardwalk to Cat Cora's Kouzzina, admiring the sights and stopping for pictures along the way.

At Kouzzina, check in does not go smoothly. They mistake me for another party. I correct it on the way to the table. We return to the hostess desk and wait some more. They give us a buzzer so that we can wander around until our table is ready. The buzzer buzzes. They find my name, but try to seat the 6 of us at a table for 4. We return to the desk and wait some more. Finally, we're seated and eager for a great meal.

We opt to share some appetizers. Crisp Calamari and Lemon - Coated in Three Flours with Spicy Yogurt and Garlic Yogurt. Spanakopita - Traditional Phyllo Pie of Spinach, Feta, Leeks, and Dill. And some sort of grilled goat cheese served with thick crispy toasts. The calamari is the big hit. Yum.

Some of us order wine flights with our meal, like the Cat Flight, 'Cat Flight' - Cat Cora's Own "Coranation" Wines $17.00

Coranation, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley - Well structured, with ripe apple, blood orange, spice and pear notes that are juicy and refreshing, with terrific focus.

Coranation, Chardonnay, Russian River - Cat Cora designed the perfect Chardonnay for her cuisine with tropical fruit, vanilla, and spice.

Coranation, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast - Cherries, cranberries, cinnamon, clove and rose petals with clove, vanilla, and roasted pecan nuances.

Yum, yum, and yum. All good. We toast our absent sisters, Kathleen O'Reilly (joining us tomorrow), Julia London, who could not make it to conference this time, and Kathleen Givens. But the big highlight of the evening, besides the love and laughter that flows faster than the wine, is the food at Kouzzina. Once the food arrives, we all sample each others and the conversation ceases except for occasional exclamations like "OH." "Ohhhhh." and "Oh my gosh." I joke that we were having foodgasms. Yes, the food is that good. Jacquie and I have the Fisherman's Stew - Scallops, seasonal Fish, Shellfish, Fennel, Grilled Bread, and Ouzo Butter. Julie, Julie, and Dee's daughter have the Slow-cooked Lamb Shank served with Oven-baked Gigantes Beans and Pepper Sauce. Dee orders the Kouzzina Trio - tasting size portions of Pastitisio, Char-grilled Lamb Burger, and Cinnamon-stewed Chicken with Orzo, and the lamb burger was the biggest surprise of them all. Not your ordinary burger. Well worth a try.

And finally, dessert. We decide to split the traditional Baklava, and it's amazing, served warm with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. We linger and say our goodnights to Jacquie, who will not be joining us in parks. (I don't know how she could pass it up).

10:00 p.m. We fight off our urges to descend into food coma bliss and move on to Epcot, where the Cast Member (Disney employs cast members, not mere employees) at the gate goes above and beyond the call of duty to make our night extra special (I can't say more, but yay for CMs who go above and beyond). It's just after IllumiNations, and the crowds are headed to the main entrance. Epcot is open till midnight for Disney resort guests only. It's dark and the countries are all lit up and twinkling. I enjoy showing Julie O (who has never been) all the sights and she is obviously impressed, as we all are, by the beauty of World Showcase at night. But we're here to ride and Test Track awaits.

The standby line at Test Track advertises a 40 minute wait, but we don't have long to enjoy the park. We opt to break down the group to take advantage of the much shorter Single Rider line. Great idea! We're on the ride in 10 minutes. Julie K and Julie O (our first timer who declares herself scared of roller coasters) get to ride in a car together with a really sweet family. The rest of us are all broken up. But it's so fun! I love the rush of that last high speed ride around the track. Julie O says "Can we do it again?!"

But no, we're off to Spaceship Earth. The animated ending and Judy Dench narration is new to Dee and daughter, and they laugh when they see their future selves. After Spaceship Earth, we decide to wait in the long line for Soarin. It's a half hour to park close, so why not give it a go? And no one is disappointed. The wait is just about the whole half hour followed by one excellent ride (even though we end up in the bottom row). After a wonderful time, we drag our way back through World Showcase, keeping each other from falling down in exhaustion along the way, to the International Gateway, straight onto the boat, and to our beds.

Tomorrow, it's the Animal Kingdom, the big booksigning, and maybe more time at Disney Hollywood Studios at night.

Signing at Disney World

2010-07-22T15:10:00.006-04:00

If you're in the Orlando area on Wednesday, July 28, please swing by the Dolphin resort to say hi! I'll be one of hundreds of authors signing books to benefit literacy efforts in a fundraiser by the Romance Writers of America. Signing authors listed here.

Park admission is not required to stop by for the signing in the Dolphin's Grand Ballroom, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Three hour parking is available at the Dolphin. You can find authors alphabetically. I'll be in the E row, for Erwin. See you there!

In Loving Memory, Drake 11/02/1999-6/29/2010

2010-06-30T10:47:00.005-04:00

In September of 1997, I started sending my youngest child to preschool so that she could reap the benefits of socializing with kids her own age (and not just her older brother), and I could finally devote more time to writing. My dream was to publish my first novel before turning thirty, and that big birthday was looming, just over a year away. Tick tick tick tick...

I'd written two full manuscripts, medieval romances heavy on period drama, and hadn't had much luck at interesting an agent or editor. I decided to try something new, try writing something more like my favorite Jane Austen books, just to see what would happen. At about the same time, I started researching dog breeds to find the ideal pet for my family. We weren't ready to add a dog, but thought we might do it in the next few years, when the kids were old enough to learn about animal care but young enough to really bond. I discovered pugs and added one to my Work-in-Progress, the one that went on to become my first novel, contracted for publication by Dell Books in August 1998 (two months before my 30th birthday, huzzah!). And, with my newfound author confidence, I convinced my husband that we should look into bringing a pug into our lives sooner than planned.

In January 1999, we brought the kids to a local kennel to see some pugs up close and decide if we could make a match. The four of us huddled on the floor surrounded by pug puppies. Puppies everywhere! They wiggled and bounded right into our hearts and we knew we had to bring one home. But which one? My husband's only caveat- choose a female. We have to have a female (easier to train, in his opinion). But the tiniest, most tenacious of the bunch happened to be a male. He bit on to my daughter's flopping shoelace and would not let go. We all looked to my husband. "Please please please! We love him." And so the runty little male became a part of our family.

What to name him? All the way home (over an hour ride), the pug shared my lap and the four of us tried out names. Riley? Munchkin? Peanut? I finally suggested Drake, in honor of a rakish charmer in my first book and the name of our favorite tavern in our favorite vacation spot, the Sir Francis Drake in Wells, Maine. A Drake's Cakes truck drove by as we deliberated, and it seemed like fate. Drake! We had a Drake.

Drake was never the brightest dog on the planet, but he was lovable and so sweet, the most good-natured creature I've ever known. He hated to be alone so much that even as a tiny puppy, he learned to climb over the child safety gate that separated my work space, the kitchen, from his safe space, the living room. Maybe he was brighter than he let on after all. Two years after adding Drake to the family, we added a corgi, mostly as a companion for Drake. Before long, the corgi decided she (yes, a she-- the husband was right about training a male) was boss and Drake was her minion. But he didn't care, as long as he had more company.

About a month ago, Drake started bleeding from the mouth. He still managed to eat (not much could keep that boy from food) but it was gruesome and trying. The vet discovered squamous cell carcinoma in his mouth, and she told me what to expect, and that short of removing his jaw, not much more could be done. I brought him home and told the family, who nearly refused to believe me. But he seems so happy. Look, he's still eating. Maybe the vet was wrong. But I knew.

Some days, he seemed fine. Other days, the blood was overwhelming. Many times, I ended up on the floor, feeding him out of my hand. And then he started skipping meals. And he started losing weight. And then he became weaker, lethargic. His breathing became labored. And... more unpleasant things started happening to poor Drake until finally, he couldn't eat at all. We had one last weekend. The kids finally accepted what was happening. I called and made the appointment with the vet. Drake preferred the floor to my lap. Maybe it was easier to breathe. I almost expected to wake up and find him already gone, but no. There he was, attempting to wag his tail, ready to go out for his walk. As long as I carried him.

I carried him, his precious weight in my arms, all the way to the vet's office while my husband drove the car. I stroked the velvet wrinkles of his forehead as he drifted off, and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. Just like that, he was gone. But he'll always be with me.

The way he used to run into the dishwasher in his haste to get to his food bowl. How he would lick my pants before settling into place on my lap. His occasional attempts at speech that sounded like he was saying "Golf!" The cock of his head as he tried to make sense of my end of the conversation. Drake, my beloved pug. Always in my heart.

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T11:45:00.003-04:00

Father's Day here is filled with the sound of vuvuzelas. My husband is recuperating from unexpected surgery on Friday (Wednesday, excruciating neck pain. Thursday, all day at the ER. Surprise, you need immediate surgery to save your spinal chord from permanent damage- yipes! Friday, operation. Saturday, Sunday, recovery mode) and is struggling to find a pain-free position in front of the World Cup soccer on TV. I'm about to go visit my dad and my grandfather with gifts and good cheer.

One of my best memories of Dad? Sharing his lap with my big sister as he read us the Sunday comics in funny voices. One of my best memories of my grandfather, who was like a dad to me in many ways? When my big sister got invited to cool parties and I was left out, he would have my mother dress me up and he would take me as his "date" to fancy restaurants, just the two of us. Good times! And probably why I listed frogs legs and escargot among my favorite foods when most kids were appreciating pizza and mac n cheese. Yay, Dads!

Wishing fathers everywhere a very happy day! What are your best memories of dads?

Glee's principal: Jane Slayre Reader?

2010-05-27T08:20:00.002-04:00

According to Bronte Blog (one of Charlotte's and my favorite websites):

Another high school, albeit fictional, is the one in Glee. LA Dance Examiner posts a recap of the latest episode of the series:

It all begins with Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) informing Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) that wearing goth isn't going to be allowed. Why? He's afraid of vampires. Do you think Figgins has read "Jane Eyre"? Plenty of goth, but no vampires. (Ian Ono and Jana Monji)

Well, he might have read Jane Slayre.

Indeed, Bronte Blog, he might have. :)

Romance Writers of America: We're Going to Disney World

2010-05-12T18:23:00.012-04:00

Yes, I'm a member of the Romance Writer's of America, and I'll be headed to Walt Disney World's Swan/Dolphin Hotel for the RWA annual conference from July 28 - July 31.

I have some answers for RWA members who maybe aren't as familiar with the parks and resorts as I am. (I have a little Disney obsession. I even honeymooned at WDW's Grand Floridian Resort 20 years ago and have been back too many times to own up to since).

Our resort:

The Swan and Dolphin are gorgeous hotels that share some Disney perks but are not actually Disney hotels. They're part of the Starwood group of hotels. Don't worry, there's a Starbucks-like Java Cafe! Why is this important? Coffee at most of Walt Disney World is notoriously bad. If you're on your way to the parks and you need your morning buzz, make a stop at the Java Cafe for your fix before heading out.

Transportation:

Parks closest to the Swan/Dolphin: Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM). Both are within walking distance, but you might want to take one of the boat launches to the park gates instead. Believe me, you'll be doing plenty of walking at the conference, or in the parks. (Comfortable conference shoes have never been more important!).

There is bus service to the Magic Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom, the Downtown Disney area, and the water parks. Transportation to any Disney location is easy and you probably won't require a cab unless you're in a hurry. As a general rule, count on an hour to get anywhere not in our resort's immediate area (and be happy if you get there sooner).

Resorts within walking distance of the Swan/Dolphin (for dining, drinking, or shopping):

Disney's Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is not just a resort-- there are nightclubs and fun activities. You can rent little boats to zip around the lagoon, or tandem bikes. (You can rent boats at our hotel too, and bring your bathing suit! Fabulous pool, with poolside bar for drinks and snacks).

There is no direct resort to resort transportation, but you can catch a bus to any resort from Downtown Disney or any park. Similarly, there is no park-to-Downtown Disney transportation, but you can pop to the nearest resort and grab a bus to Downtown Disney from there.

Parks:

There are four major parks at Walt Disney World.

1) The Magic Kingdom. The most popular park, known for Cinderella Castle and the classic rides you've always associated with WDW. In fact, many people accidentally refer to the Magic Kingdom as Walt Disney World, when it's really just one part of it all. Highlights: Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

2) Epcot. There are two parts to Epcot- Future World and World Showcase. Bonus, you could walk over to World Showcase from our conference hotel, grab a Grey Goose Slush from the France Pavilion, and head back for your next workshop before you're even missed! (Okay maybe you would miss half a workshop, but then try the Grand Marnier Slush next, or a Fiesta Margarita, or a bubble tea...). Highlights: World Showcase (shopping!), Norway's Maelstrom, Soarin', Test Track, Spaceship Earth (the official name for what a lot of people refer to as "The Big White Ball"-- yes, I am really this much of a Disney geek, thank you).

3) Disney Hollywood Studios. The park formerly known as MGM. Highlights: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania (challenge your friends!), the Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, and the new American Idol Pavilion.

4) Animal Kingdom. Not a zoo! Disney actually promoted it that way when they opened. There is an animal reserve, and plenty of animals and animal education programs. But there are also attractions (rides aren't just rides at WDW, they are attractions). Highlights: Expedition Everest, Dinosaur!, Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali River Rapids (you will get soaked). Also, Legend of the Lion King and Finding Nemo.

Also, there are two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) and the Downtown Disney area, which used to be an adult oasis of dance and comedy clubs, but has become more of a family destination with a few great shops and restaurants. The clubs have closed, but there's still an incredible Irish pub (Raglan Road) and House of Blues for live music at night.

But isn't July really busy at WDW? How can I avoid the crowds?

Aha, stick with me kids. I'll give you the inside scoop.

If you plan on hitting parks, you might want to buy a multi-day park hopper pass. This will allow you to visit as many parks as you like per day. Breakfast at one, lunch at another. A base ticket will restrict you to one park a day.

How many days? A six day pass is only a few dollars more than a three day pass, so if you spend a few extra dollars, you can steal away to the parks whenever you want throughout conference (some parks are open until one am, with extra magic hours). Remember what I said about the Grey Goose Slushes? Right inside Epcot's gates.

Now which parks on which days to avoid crowds can get a little complicated with Extra Magic Hours thrown into the mix.

If you're not planning on taking advantage of Extra Magic Hours, (getting into certain parks early on certain days, or staying in certain parks up to three hours past closing on certain days), stick to the parks not holding EMH(Extra Magic Hours). Listed as below.

Best Bets:

Sunday July 25: Animal Kingdom

Monday July 26: Magic Kingdom or Epcot

Tuesday July 27: Animal Kingdom

Wednesday July 28: Magic Kingdom or Epcot

Thursday July 29: Animal Kingdom

Friday July 30: Epcot

Saturday July 31: Magic Kingdom or Disney Hollywood Studios

Sunday August 1: Animal Kingdom

For updated park schedules and parks with Extra Magic Hours, check the resort's website or the Walt Disney World Calendars.

Dining:

The most popular dining places can book up to 180 days in advance at Walt Disney World, so it's important to plan ahead and try to make ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations) for places you really want to try. Don't worry, you'll be able to find great dining on short notice, too.

Best Place for a Publisher Dinner: California Grill. There's a private dining room with access to a fireworks observation deck. Really special views!

Runner-Up: Jiko, due to the excellent South African wine list and the unique atmosphere of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Best in and around our hotel:

Il Mulino- Italian.

Todd English's BlueZoo- Seafood.

Flying Fish- Seafood (Boardwalk).

Cat Cora's Kouzzina- Greek/Mediterranean.

Best place to grab a bite without reservations. This includes lunch. Also best place for lunch: World Showcase. Runner up: Lunch or tea at the Grand Floridian.

Best park for dining: Epcot. Worst? Disney Hollywood Studios. The very best dining at Disney tends to be in the resort hotels. Bonus: No park admission required.

Best place for breakfast with your agent/editor: Outside the conference hotels, for more privacy, try Grand Floridian Cafe, Kona Cafe, or, close to our resort, Kouzzina (Kat Cora's place).

Most unique atmosphere:

San Angel Inn (Mexico, WS), Sci Fi Dine In (A Drive In theater! DHS), Sanaa (Indian/African at Animal Kingdom Lodge, with a view of animals). Raglan Road (Irish pub, Downtown Disney), 'Ohana (Polynesian Resort, always crowded, hard to book). Biergarten (Bavarian village, Germany, WS.)

Best Place to Feel Like a Princess: Cinderella's Royal Table at Cinderella Castle, but I prefer the Grand Floridian (also, best place for the Harlequin Party, at a Grand Floridian Ballroom, or maybe they can rent out the Atlantic Dance Hall, fun!). *Apparently, Harlequin went slightly off property to an also lovely location.

My Favorite Disney Dining:

California Grill (Contemporary Resort)

Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian Resort)

Grand Floridian Cafe (Grand Floridian Resort)

Raglan Road (Downtown Disney)

Boma (buffet, and I usually hate buffets- Animal Kingdom Lodge)

'Ohana (cheesy fun at the Polynesian)

Flying Fish Cafe (Boardwalk)

Chefs de France (World Showcase)

Tokyo Dining (World Showcase)

My Favorite Quick Service Dining at WDW:

MK- Columbia Harbour House

Epcot- Yakitori House, Tangierine Cafe.

Animal Kingdom- FlameTree Barbecue

Downtown Disney- Earl of Sandwich, Cooke's of Dublin

Dolphin- Picabu, a 24 hour cafe.

Best Places to grab a drink:

Dolphin's Lobby Lounge

Boardwalk's Jelly Rolls (Dueling Pianos) or Atlantic Dance Hall (Yes, Jacquie D'Alessandro, I said Dance!)

ESPN Club (Boardwalk)

Beach Club's Martha's Vineyard

Yacht Club's Ale and Compass

Grand Floridian's Mizner's Cafe

Polynesian's Tambu Lounge (try a Lapu Lapu!)

World Showcase- Pick a country. Wine Tastings in France, Germany, Italy. Refreshing frozen drinks at France, Mexico, China, Japan (non alcoholic green tea slushes and bubble tea!).

Cheers, RWA! Looking forward to a fabulous conference!

Still have Disney questions? Ask in the comments, and I will do my best to answer.

Bronte Sisters Power Dolls!

2010-05-10T11:42:00.000-04:00

Jane Slayre in People!

2010-05-01T11:53:00.006-04:00

This week's People magazine:

Jane Slayre on Page 61:

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

2010-04-20T23:42:00.007-04:00

Today would be Charlotte Bronte's 194th birthday. And it's also the official release date of Jane Slayre in the UK. YAY! Lots to celebrate. :) By picking up your very own copies of Jane Slayre and Jane Eyre? Why, yesssss. Great idea.

Cheers!

Weekends

2010-04-20T14:01:00.006-04:00

Sherri's Weekend:

Went to New York City. Signed books at some Borders and Barnes and Noble stores. Made some new discoveries. Chocolates at Teuscher. Craftbar. Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes (red velvet!). Terraza Toscana (handmade fresh pastas and wild boar stew over polenta, yum). Chicago(great cast, loved Bianca Marroquin as Roxy and Raymond Bokhour- great name!- as Amos). NIOS.

Charlotte's Weekend:

Dear reader, werewolves prowl amongst us. Quite by chance, I discovered a singer named Beyonce while trying out this websurfing of which Sherri seems so fond. It became apparent to me while listening to her howl a song called Halo that she is likely one of Bertha Mason's kind. Be warned. There might be many like her. She is yet young and lovely (when the moon is not full) but thanks to Jane Slayre's adventures, we all know what became of dear Bertha. I shudder to think that the lob hombre might again become an epidemic.

What Would Charlotte Think?

2010-04-13T16:27:00.007-04:00

Who really knows? Charlotte and I have a lot of fun here but truth be told... she's dead (shh, not too loud, don't scare her off). I hope the news doesn't shock you. So while Charlotte is not around to answer for herself, the UK's Telegraph and Argus went to the next best source: Ann Dinsdale, the collections manager for the Bronte Parsonage Museum.

And what Ann says may surprise you (a warning to the purists).

"The Brontes' association with the gothic tradition lends itself to such adaptations," Ann said. "Jane Eyre is a strong, independent character with moral integrity so I can see how they've used that aspect of her. If it inspires people to read the original, fine."

She added, "It doesn't surprise me that it's being used in such a way; there are literally hundreds of adaptations of the Brontes' novels, including comic books. It illustrates how much they are part of popular culture, and continue to inspire writers."

Asked what Charlotte would think of her heroine as vampire slayer, Miss Dinsdale said: "I think she would be non-plussed."

Miss Ann Dinsdale, my new favorite person of the week! You can read the whole article, which is pretty freaking fantastic, at:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8096716.print/

Janeslayre.com

2010-04-13T13:04:00.003-04:00

Fabulous new website for Jane Slayre, thanks to Simon & Schuster. Great job! Explore and enjoy.

And for Charlotte, yes, a little Bradley Cooper.

Happy Jane Slayre Day! Jane is now in stores everywhere.

Jane Slayre, Video Interview

2010-04-11T13:08:00.001-04:00

Jane Slayre, In the News

2010-04-07T20:17:00.003-04:00

Movie blog Cinematical asks "Can Jane Eyre Slay Buffy?"

Amusing speculation, but Jane Slayre and Buffy fans all know that the two would pair up and fight on the same side, never against one another. There's room for both! But I'm honored that Jane is getting so much attention.

Charlotte: Who is Buffy?

Sherri: She started as a movie character, a teenage girl who finds out that her destiny is to fight demons. Much like someone else we know. And then there was the TV show, which is one of my favorites, no surprise.

Charlotte: Does Buffy date Bradley Cooper?

Sherri: No. Buffy has a complicated romantic history. In the Joss Whedon series, she was in love with a vampire named Angel. Actually, Angel and Mr. Rochester would be a more interesting match-up than Buffy and Jane Slayre. They share some similarities. Actually, Jane Slayre has her own sort of Scooby gang.

Charlotte: You've lost me.

Sherri: She meets her Willow early on in Helen Burns. She has her Angel in Mr. Rochester. There are really a few Giles types. Miss Temple. St. John Rivers.

Charlotte: As portrayed by Bradley Cooper? (raises brow).

Sherri: Possibly. It's a little too early to speculate. Who knows? Maybe Leo or Brad would want the role. But back to Jane's own Scooby Gang of sorts. You know, I don't think she has a Xander.

Charlotte: A Xander? She does have fine Egyptian daggers and then the crossbow and stake-o-matic. What does a Xander do?

Sherri: Xander's not a weapon. He's a wisecracking friend. But maybe she doesn't need a Xander because she has no shortage of snarky thoughts on her own, and plenty of friends. Like Diana and Mary. Mrs. Fairfax. Adele. Sophie. Georgianna! I think Georgianna might be sort of a Xander. Or maybe she's more of a Spike. She's really more of a Big Bad...

Charlotte: Now you've really lost me.

Sherri: Ah, but there is a Cordelia. Blanche Ingram!

Charlotte: Ugh. Do not speak to me of that horrible woman. Tell me Cordelia meets a nasty fate, if she's anything like Blanche.

Sherri: Actually, she goes on to lead a life of adventure in the spin-off series Angel.

Charlotte: (rolls eyes). It figures.

2010-03-23T17:34:00.006-04:00

Sherri: Charlotte, I'm a guest this week on author Molly Harper's Blog (Thursday March 25). I've had my hair done for the occasion. Want to see the before and after? Here's the before, on the left.

Charlotte: (yawn) What exactly do they "do" to it? Why not just pull it back in a bun so it's out of your way?

Sherri: Right. The 19th-century governess look is so in.

Charlotte: In what? What is it in? What you do go on about sometimes! Why did I agree to write with you, again?

Sherri: You didn't. Your work is in the public domain so I just-- Never mind. You agreed that we're perfect together, remember? Witty, charming...

Charlotte: Of course I am. But what do you bring to the table? (smirks).

Sherri: Hey, I'm the one who raised the bar for the next generation of monster classics. Ask Library Journal.

Charlotte: You wouldn't have managed the "enthusiastically recommended for all" without my involvement, and you know it.

Sherri: (bows) I concede.

Charlotte: So? What did they "do" to your hair? You never showed us.

Sherri: Here's the after. To the right.

Charlotte: (looks over). It's exactly the same. What do you mean?

Sherri: Not the same. It's shorter. Bouncier.

Charlotte: If you say so. What does it cost to have your hair done?

Sherri: (rolls eyes). You don't want to know.

Charlotte: Not a problem for 19th century governesses. (smoothes hair). A fool and her money are soon parted. (smiles knowingly).

Sherri: Absolutely. I'm also giving away a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble at Molly's blog on Thursday.

Charlotte: Hm. Perhaps I'll see you there.

Charlotte's Day Job

2010-03-18T15:58:00.006-04:00

Sherri: Charlotte, look. Lapham's Quarterly has published a chart comparing famous authors' day jobs and salaries. You're included.

Charlotte: $1838? They seem to think I made quite a lot of money.

Sherri: Er, yes. I suppose. (wonders if she should mention it's an adjusted figure.)

Charlotte: It's rubbish. I don't care to look.

Sherri: I used to work at a bank before I started writing seriously. I would come home covered in ink because I couldn't resist playing with the rubber stamps and ink pads when business was slow.

Charlotte: (rolls eyes.) Always into mischief. Quite like some of the children I watched when I was a governess.

Academy Awards 2010

2010-03-08T12:55:00.003-05:00

Sherri: Charlotte, Bradley Cooper was at the Oscars last night. Here he is, chatting with Ryan Reynolds.

Charlotte: Bradley who? I don't know who you mean. Who is this Oscar fellow?

Sherri: And you can check out some of the Oscar fashions here, here, and here. What do you think? Who was best dressed and who was worst?

Childhood Dreams

2010-03-03T09:00:00.007-05:00

Sherri: Charlotte, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Charlotte: (blank stare).

Sherri: Charlotte?

Charlotte: (startles, averts gaze from Bradley Cooper's picture). Hm, pardon?

Sherri: Your childhood dreams? You must have had some. We're talking about them at The Whine Sisters today.

Charlotte: My childhood dream? To survive. Infant mortality was much higher in those days. It seemed a miracle to grow up at all.

Sherri: (rolls eyes). Yes, but--

Charlotte: I'm quite serious. Have you not remarked on Jane's experiences at Lowood? The poverty? The inadequate protection from the cold? The scanty portions of food? Awful food.

Sherri: The zombies...

Charlotte: (casts icy glare).

Sherri: All right, so no zombies.

Charlotte: We faced exactly the same conditions of Lowood at the Clergy Daughter's School at Cowan Bridge, Lancashire. I lost my two elder sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, to tuberculosis there before our father brought me home. It permanently affected my growth and development, I do believe, as it did Jane's.

Sherri: But Jane Slayre learned she had hidden strengths, the ability to fight and kill--

Charlotte: Jane Eyre learned to survive. Charlotte Bronte picked up her pen and created an imaginary kingdom with her surviving siblings: Emily, Anne, and Branwell. Have you not researched? Why does everyone seem to think I've written one book when I have a whole shelf of--

Sherri: Of course, I know about the Anglia Sagas. And the Green Dwarf. The Professor. Villette.

Charlotte: You do? (straightens up).

Sherri: Everyone does.

Charlotte: Everyone? (smiles).

Sherri: (nods) It's just that Jane Eyre has been considered your masterpiece. You have to admit that Jane's story has it all.

Charlotte: Adventure. Intrigue. Romance.

Sherri: Vampyres. Zombies. Werewolves.

Charlotte: Oh, but if one more person confuses my Jane with that insipid Jane Austen again, I'll--

Sherri: Charlotte, now, it's only because Jane Austen is so beloved a literary figure, as is your fictional Jane Eyre, and you're writing at similar times...

Charlotte: Off with your head!

Sherri: Ah, now, that's Lewis Carroll. Alice in Wonderland. The Tim Burton, Johnny Depp movie is opening this weekend. Would you like to come and see it with me?

Charlotte: You expect me to see a film when there are books to read?

Dr. Seuss... Now with Vampires!

2010-03-02T11:27:00.005-05:00

I'm kidding! I don't think the Seuss fans want to worry about supernatural mayhem invading their happy rhymes. They're a little young for zombies, after all.

But it is Theodor Geisel's (Dr. Seuss's) birthday. I grew up loving Seuss rhymes, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and I have enjoyed sharing them with my own children (Hop on Pop, over and over again), and one day (far from now), maybe grandkids, who knows.

Dr. Seuss is beloved everywhere, but it's especially interesting to live in an area rich with Seuss atmosphere. Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) grew up not far from where I live, on Springfield's Mulberry Street (It Happened on Mulberry Street). One can drive over Mount Tom and get the sense of being the Grinch on his mighty sleigh ride into Whoville, especially in winter. Driving from Holyoke to Easthampton over Mountain Road in winter snow feels about as risky as being Max the dog driving the Grinch's sleigh. Fun times. My town borders Forest Park, once supervised by Theodor Geisel, which hosts a Suess-inspired Christmas light parade (Bright Nights). There's also a New Year's Day Balloon Parade, and a sculpture garden in Springfield dedicated to Seuss and his delightful characters. If you're ever in Springfield (maybe to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame), check it out. Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! Thanks for the memories.

Zombies! Oh my!

2010-02-25T09:09:00.008-05:00

Charlotte: Ack! It's Abbot! Where did you find her? She is the spitting image of Jane Slayre's Miss Abbot. I would know her anywhere.

Sherri: Well, you should. You created her.

Charlotte: You're the one who suggested she be a zombie.

Sherri: I thought you didn't want to give me any credit.

Charlotte: (shrugs). You might have some good ideas. From time to time. But where did you find her?

Sherri: That's not Abbot, Charlotte. It's Madonna.

Charlotte: The Madonna?

Sherri: Probably not the one you're thinking. Madonna Ciccone. 80s icon? Celebrated pop star? Michigander turned Brit?

Charlotte: Oh, one of your friends from Michigan?

Sherri: (shakes head). No, I only lived in Michigan(Canton) for a few years. And not while Ms. Madge was there, as far as I know.

Charlotte: Madge? I thought you said she was Madonna?

Sherri: (sighs) It's a nickname. You know, like Rochester tends to call Jane "Janet."

Charlotte: So you and Madge are friends, then?

Sherri: No, I've never met her. She's a celebrity. I think the paparazzi made it up. Or maybe she is Madge to friends. I have no idea.

Charlotte: It was so much easier in the old days, before Internet and Paparazzi. But, if she's famous, why hasn't anyone saved her?

Sherri: Saved her?

Charlotte: She's a zombie, isn't she? The sunken cheeks, the pallor? Where are all the slayers? Someone should save her from her mortal bounds and send her soul on to peace.

Sherri: She's not a zombie. It's just a rather unfortunate picture.

Charlotte: Hm. I'll take your word for it. Speaking of pictures, have you any more of that Bradley Cooper fellow?

Sherri: Aha! I knew you liked him.

Charlotte: Ahem. No. It's simply for a character study. I was thinking of writing some more about St. John's adventures in India.

Sherri: Really? Sounds like fun. Can I help?

There Be Vampyres

2010-02-16T17:15:00.005-05:00

Vampires live amongst us. Or so Charlotte maintains. So how do you spot a vampire in order to successfully avoid becoming liquid lunch?

Top Ten Tips for Identifying Vampires:

1) Dark, blank eyes. Not necessarily black eyes. Some have blue, green, hazel, black, or brown. But vampire eyes have an eerie, opaque quality-- and be warned, the darker the hue, the closer to feeding time. Also, shadows under eyes and pronounced, though not always sharpened, canines.

2) Vamps have vicious tempers. They tend to feel passionately and go to extremes. Something that makes an average person angry will send a vampire spinning out of control. Expect threats and even violence. Vampires are especially prone to road rage and random attacks, both physical and verbal.

3) Language peppered with expletives. Vampires are fond of cursing. Do you know someone who uses exceptionally vulgar, bad, or offensive language on a regular basis? Probably a vampire.

4) Lack of reflection. It is true that vampires don't cast a reflection in mirrors or shiny surfaces. However, they do show up on film and can be photographed. (Note: Unless they have found a way around it, as they have to protect themselves from deadly sunlight with sunscreen/sunblock products).

5) Vampires don't work well with others. They try to group up, for safety and more success in hunting, but they often turn on each other. The self-employed, those who can't seem to hold a job, or loners in general-- possibly vampires.

6) Vampires are among the most self-centered, self-obsessed beings known to man, with an inflated sense of self-importance. You probably think this blog is about you, don't you? In that case, you might be a vampire.

7) Inability to accept blame. Vampires thrive on blaming others for their own lack of ability, mistakes, or lapses in judgment.

8) They don't have good judgment. Vampires exhibit an absence of rational thought, a seeming inability to connect cause and effect.

9) Makeup. Vampires wear a lot of makeup, particularly obvious in female vampires, to distract from their facial hollows, natural pallor, dark shadows, and hungry eyes.

10) Obsessive natures. Obsess, obsess, obsess. Not all people with OCD are vampires, but tread carefully because it's a definite warning sign. Also, a tendency toward risky and/or addictive behaviors.

Most vampires eschew employment of any kind, but for those who work--

Popular Vampire Vocations: Writer, Actor, Artist, Promoter, Lawyer, Agent, Insurance Adjuster, Bill Collector, Realtor (oddly enough), Fame-whore, Politician, Pundit, Blogger, and Reviewer. Also, those who work with animals (easy snacks always at hand) or in hospitals. Especially fond of indoor occupations, or working the night shift.