People's Sexiest Man Alive

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?

Fun Stuff- Win Books

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!

Signing at Disney World

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!

Jane Slayre in People!

This week's People magazine:

Jane Slayre on Page 61:

Jane Slayre, In the News

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.

Zombies! Oh my!

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?

It's All About the Romance...

(Sherri and Charlotte engage in one of many imaginary conversations.)

Charlotte: About the romance? For you, perhaps. It is really all about one woman's journey. You always get so carried away with the romance.

Sherri: I like romance. What's wrong with love? I get tingly when I think about Mr. Rochester and Jane alone in that arbor. Poor Jane took so long to catch on to his intentions.

Charlotte: You're giving away plot points!

Sherri: Um, Charlotte? I think they know.

Charlotte: They don't know about the vampyres creeping up on them and how Jane has to-- oh. Right. That didn't make it through edits in the original.

Sherri: Exactly. People will get to read that scene in entirety for the first time in April.

Charlotte: April! So many months away. Back to my point. It's not about the romance. That was only one leg of Jane's very long journey to becoming her own woman. Independent. Strong. Self-reliant...

Sherri: And very much in love with Rochester. You were independent, and you were in love. You know how it works. So tell us more about your handsome professor.

Charlotte: I don't know what you mean.

Sherri: (raises brow) You know. The married one. What really happened with him? Did you have an affair? Enquiring minds want to know.

Charlotte: No comment. (looks down, smooths skirts).

Sherri: Fine. Well, I can't help thinking about what might have happened if Jane had stayed with St. John Rivers.

Charlotte: She would never have survived the heat and hardships of India.

Sherri: Are you kidding? Jane? Jane's tough! She survived some major hardships. Starvation. The elements. Being raised with vampyres. What's a little heat next to slaying demons? Jane could live through anything.

Charlotte: I suppose I can't argue with that premise.

Sherri: Besides, St. John was hot. Wasn't he?

Charlotte: India. India is hot.

Sherri: But St. John... purrrr. I imagine he looks a lot like Bradley Cooper.

Charlotte: Who?

Sherri: Brad Cooper? Blond, blue eyes... have a look.

Charlotte: I prefer Mr. Rochester.

Sherri: Yes, I know. Rochester's not bad, either. I'm thinking Clive Owen? Gerard Butler? Joaquin Phoenix (without the crazy beard, though it helps to envision him as... oh right, never mind.)

Charlotte: (rolls eyes) Go read your gossip sites. Imagine how much you would be improving your mind if you weren't always, as you call it, "surfing the web." Oh, pardon. His eyes really are blue, aren't they?

Sherri: Bradley Cooper's? Aha, you did notice.

Charlotte: No comment.

(To be continued).

Victorian Christmas

Charlotte Bronte's Christmas celebrations were probably comfortable but not lavish affairs, though many new Christmas traditions were introduced in the UK during Charlotte's time with the reign of Queen Victoria.

Christmas trees became popular. Father Christmas became a celebrated figure. Christmas crackers added livelihood to Christmas dinner, which was probably a Christmas goose or turkey for Charlotte. In Jane Slayre's time with the vampyre Reeds, the holiday guests doubled as the meal-- now that's household economy. And of course, who didn't look forward to Christmas pudding, and finding the silver sixpence and thimble for luck? (If you were Jane Slayre, you needed it :))

And the winner is...

It's a tie. People seem mostly torn between the two (photos by Andrea Burns). I'm playing with both of them on my websites and social networks and you'll just have to wait and buy JANE SLAYRE on April 13 to find out which one made the final cut.

Speaking of winners, I think it's time I gave something away. All commenters in the next week are eligible to win a copy of my Christmas paranormal romance, NAUGHTY OR NICE. I'll choose a name and announce on Dec. 18.

Happy holidays!

Time for New Author Photos!

Oh-oh. I hate posing for the camera. But it must be done. Gallery needs a new author photo for JANE SLAYRE . Charlotte obviously won't be joining me in this, unfortunately. Misery loves company.

So I have been warming up with Apple Photo Booth. What do you think? Hair straight or curly?

That Is All

JANE SLAYRE available for pre-order.

Gone Hunting

Hunting zombies, that is. I'm mid-revisions on JANE SLAYRE, finding creative new ways to save the world from zombies, vampyres, and werewolves. Awooooo! This is too much fun.