Happy Holidays!

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

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

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

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

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.