And you thought you were safe...

And you thought you were safe...from me waxing on about my favorite TV show, American Idol. It's not the time of year I obsess over it and every other blog post at least mentions AI. However, I found this awesome video of Adam Lambert performing live on stage "Whole Lot of Love". Not only do you get to hear his awesome voice and see his performing artistry (this guy was very pro before he ever joined AI), you get to see concert goers throw dildos at Adam and Adam kick one back. I kid you not. Click on the You Tube video below to see for yourself. Why would someone throw dildos at the guy? Because he's gay and they don't like him? Because he's gay and they do like him? Some other reason? You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Great Mysteries of the Universe

Today, I've been pondering the great mysteries of the universe. These are some things that trouble me. Do they trouble you, too? The big question is "why"? Why do Starburst Fruit Chews only sell their candy in bags with multiple flavors? Why can't I buy a bag with only strawberry flavor chews? Why didn't I marry a doctor, lawyer, or CEO of a big corporation that earns a lot of money? Why didn't I buy Intel or Yahoo when I could afford it? Why didn't I listen to my dad and earn my degree in computer science? Why didn't I get brothers or sisters? Why do my kids have to argue everyday? Why are some people poor while others are dirty rich? Why did the Beatles have to break up? Why didn't Adam Lambert win American Idol? Why has it stormed everyday this week, canceling all of my daughter's softball practices? Why did I have to lose so much of my hearing? Why did my mother have to die so young? (She had cancer and died when she was 58.) I could go on and on. I'm in a ponderous mood since a family member died two days ago. Why didn't I visit more often? Why did I not stay in closer touch? Why do I get so tired after a long day at work that I put things off until "tomorrow"? Sometimes "tomorrow" never comes. Sometimes "one more day" stretches into a week, a month, and even a year. Sometimes it becomes "never". Some of things are out of my control, although I plan to lobby Starbursts for strawberry only packages. I have to take better control over those things I can. With this in mind, I scheduled vacation at the end of this month. I will visit my family and friends in Ohio and I will stay in much closer touch. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Excited but sad

I'm excited but sad. Tonight is American Idol's last performance night for the 2009 crew. I can't wait to see it. I've already pretty much made up my mind to vote for Adam even though I also like Kris. OMG! DD#2 just said we lost the TV signal. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We can't lose the TV signal on American Idol's last night, when the voting counts the most. I've been saying we need rain, but not a flood, not enough to take out our cable. Honestly, the TV signal didn't go out until I started writing this post. There was a lot of awesome talent this year. Danny was my favorite idol in the beginning, but then Adam took the limelight. I still liked Danny a lot and hoped he'd final at runner-up. Now Kris has shown how good he is. And Allison was awesome, too. I will be extremely upset if I can't see Idol tonight. Maybe someone above wants me to work on my edits, not watch Idol? Um.... Here's an excerpt from "American Beauty" to entertain you in case you can't see Idol, either. An Excerpt From: American Beauty © Copyright Ashley Ladd, 2003. All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc. He must’ve dozed off, for he awoke with a start when silky hair caressed his cheek and a lace-covered breast grazed his arm. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” a very sultry, husky voice crooned. “I brought home your favorite – Prime Rib and chocolate covered strawberries.” She perched on the couch beside him, leaning over him, her creamy breasts almost falling out of a slinky, frilly creation he was sure was illegal throughout the First World. Had he thought of her as a sprite? Temptress was more like it. No, siren was the apt description. Those dusky aureoles peaked out at him again and his blood pressure shot sky high. He swallowed hard, his pulse hammering and his breathing uneven. His cock sprung to full attention. He knew he should move away, make a joke, or do something to diffuse the dangerous situation, but he couldn’t. Not when she scooted back and rubbed against him, torturing him inhumanely. She smelled of lilacs, vanilla, and strawberries. Then he realized it was an oddly smoky vanilla scent, and fresh juicy strawberries. He pried his gaze from her tight nipples and noticed for the first time how the dim lights flickered from candles on every surface. “Is it my birthday?” His voice crackled, sultrier than hers. His cock ached to get out of his palace and play. Down boy! It had only suffered a female drought for a few days, not the eon it felt like. Kirsty licked her shiny lips, slow and languorously, her pink tongue just peeking out those luscious lips, promising pleasure beyond compare to any man brave enough to take up her invitation. And she undoubtedly invited him. But why? Until tonight, she’d been sweet and teetered on the shy side. Why had she morphed into this voluptuous seductress who knew all the moves, and flaunted her voluptuous body in sucking distance, to drive him so wild to forget himself and his mission? Stars twinkled in her eyes and she ran a fingernail down his chest, which she let hover just below his navel, at the snap of his jeans. Her nipples strained against the see-through lace, taut little buds teasing him unmercifully. He longed to touch the outer rim of her dusky areole, and his mouth went dry. He could taste it deep inside his mouth. “What do you want for your birthday?” She leaned over him, and her bodice gaped open to give him a nearly full view of the gorgeous breast. He sucked in his breath unable to tear his gaze from the perfect view. When she sat down again, rubbing against him, his shaft strained to be free. He didn’t know how much more torture he could stand. Never had he restrained himself before and he could barely remember why he needed to now. The female was not only willing, she was begging him to fuck her. “Hungry?” He almost fell off the couch, but rolled into her instead, increasing his pain to even more excruciating levels. “Starved,” he admitted, hoping she didn’t plan to tease and torture him all night like this. If she seduced him, as she surely seemed to be doing, he could succumb. Even Crowe couldn’t fault a red-blooded man for being unable to resist the lures of a nearly naked seductress. “In that case,” a slow smile dawned over her face making her glow, “Open your mouth wide. I have something special for you.”

Good Times

I know the economy's bad and peple look at you cross-eyed if you cough or sneeze, but there's still a lot of good things to celebrate. Today, for instance, one of my co-workers had a birthday. Actually, yesterday, another co-worker had a birthday, too. And although my hubby's birthday was a couple weeks ago, we're going to have cake and ice cream with the family tonight. That's a LOT of birthday cake and partying for one week. Last night my daughter's softball ended for the city team. That means another party is on the way. This also means I won't be chained to the softball field nightly and can write/critique/edit/and read more. I plan to start back on my Thursday 13 blogging, too. Yipee! A lot of my author and reader friends just returned from RT (Romantic Times book convention in Orlando) and are pumped on writing, reading, and life. A lot more are gearing up to go to Lori Foster's Readers' and Writers' event in Cincinnati this summer. I'm hoping to but not holding my breath - we'll see. Adam's still on American Idol even though it was a close call. Whew! I'm sooooo glad he's still the competition. I can't wait to see what he'll do each week. His entrance last week has got to be the sexiest entrance in Idol history. I had lunch with two good friends today. I still see a lot of books coming out weekly, so we're still reading and buying books. April was a really beautiful month in Florida and May's starting off pretty, too. I guess the Prozac's working (well, the Lexapro - I figured more people know what Prozac is). I wish I could go to SunFest to see David Cook live, but oh well... I have an edit to do (which means I'm being published) and I don't want to spend that much money - and I've been buying birthday cakes galore this week. :) Plus, I want to critique, blog hop, walk, and Twitter. Oh, and maybe catch a movie. I'm a movie-a-holic. Give me buttery popcorn, a big soda with lots of ice, a huge screen, and a dark theater and I'm in seventh heaven. entered in the drawing for the sequel to Truth, Justice and the Vampire Way - "Blessed Be". You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Britain's Got Talent, Too! You've got to live your dream

Hear Susan Boyle's awesome performance on You Tube

Britain's got talent, too. Of course I already knew that as I write for an absolutely wonderful British publisher, Total-E-Bound. I've never seen the show but would love to. You know what a big fan I am of American Idol.

Here's Adam Lambert, front runner of this season's American Idol. At least he's my favorite. I thought I'd like Danny best and although I still like Danny, Adam's awesome and the best. The more I see Kris, I like him a lot, too. Isn't Adam a cutie? I'll definitely have to base a hero on him. I LOVE the way he shakes his hips. :) But the real story here is, you've got to live your dream. You have to believe in yourself no matter if someone else snickers or is somehow mean to you. You should use your God-given talents -- no matter what your age. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Deadly Vixens

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to be a Deadly Vixen. Well, according to the hubby, I already am, but that's another story... I'll be the resident Saturday author/blogger. Please drop by and give me a hard time...uh, I mean support me in this new role. Join us as we blog about paranormal and writing topics each week. http://www.thedeadlyvixens.com/ Ah hell... I can't hold my fingers. I have to comment on American Idol. You know I'm totally addicted. You know I'm still totally in love with David Cook. I still listen to DC's CD so much my daughter moans and she can't wait for the demise of AI. Perish the thought! I thought I was gaga over Danny this season, that he was for sure the winner. I still think he has a good shot. But so does Adam. Adam blew me away last night. Totally. Unless something changes with next week's group, this is another boys' year. I'm honestly sorry to see Nick go. He's so funny he'd be fun to keep around - like Taylor and Sanjaya. You have to see it so here goes. To quote Ryan, this is the first time one of the contestants went to second base with the American Idol logo. LOL So here's Adam. In case you haven't been able to tell yet, I like the rockers. :) God, but he'd make a great hero for one of my books. Don't you think? And here's Danny, my other fave this season. In looking for his video, I'm seeing there's already Danny haters because the Idol judges are pimping the fact his wife recently died. Although I feel for the guy big time, I like him because he has an awesome voice and is a good performer and I honestly think he's one of the best this season. For some reason, You Tube won't let us see last week's HERO performance, so here's another performance. And here's my favorite David Cook song - even if it's not on his album (which is great, too). Always Be My Baby. I will try not to go on about AI this year too much. Hell, I have one son DC's age and one older. And I'm married. Okay - I need a 12-step DC program. I'm whipping myself to get back to my writing and drooling over my heroes - the ones I write. I'm going now. :) Oh! After I by the new Brooke White CD. I love her new song that she performed on Idol tonight. One more Idol favorite - Constantine from Season 4 - my favorite song of his - "So Long". Oh! And I already know American Idol Season 10 winner. His name is Michael Davis and he's awesome. My friends and I at work are going to make sure he auditions. He performs for us at work all the time - yesterday in fact. He actually went to the AI auditions last year but arrived too late and they wouldn't let him in. We will NOT let him miss the next audition, even if we have to raise the money and escort him to the auditions. Wouldn't it be fab if I'm right? Honestly, Michael is fab. He's more of a Christian pop singer - at least at work for us. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

War!

Why do people have to call during American Idol? I mean, I want complete silence, complete concentration. It's my thing and I just want to be left alone to watch it and hear every word. It was going good until hubby came home from his second job at the very end and his phone started ringing. Since Monday, he and his umpiring buddies have been brooding over an illegal player who happened to be a great pitcher. And the team she was on won the game over our team. To hear hubby tell it, he's concerned what would have happened the league if the girl would've hit someone without signed papers. I'm sure that's part of it, but I imagine that's not all. Hubby takes his softball VERY SERIOUSLY. He's also having a war with the high school coaches of my daughter's team. I'm ready to take him and the coaches over my knee and paddle all three. Seriously, they're all three acting like 3-year olds - except that my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter is a whole lot cuter and more endearing than these three. It's bad enough they have to act so badly, but I don't appreciate me or the daughter being caught in the middle. Nor do I appreciate having my American Idol interrupted. Oh well... I'll get over it. I don't know if the hubby will, at least not before hurting himself or the coaches. Okay, it's time for me to escape into the latest book I'm writing, the one I just said I can finish in 2-3 weeks tops. If it wasn't so late at night, I'd escape to Borders or the park. Or maybe I should just go to bed, put on my sleep mask and ear plugs (yes, I wear them nightly because hubby keeps the TV on late and would keep me up late otherwise). You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

I've got bananas!

I absolutely LOVE this song and David Cook. Tonight, I wrote at Borders for several hours, and while writing, I replayed this song several times. I can't get enough of it. It's so romantic, so sexy.




I LOVE Jason and his rendition of Hallejulah in Season 7.

Here's some Florida pictures my daughter took on the way to Borders.

We have bananas! Well, almost. Being from Ohio, it tickles me that I have my own banana tree. I planted it a couple years ago.



(Um, just tilt your head to the right until I learn how to rotate the pics). :) These really are bananas.




This is what the bananas look like without tilting your head. :)



This is a pic of a neat palm tree my daughter likes. I feel like I'm living on Gilligan's Island. This is so unlike Ohio.


We don't know if this is the same egret we photographed a few weeks ago, or if it's another, but we found it in the same place so there must be a nest there. I guess egrets like Taco Bell. (They're always beside the Taco Bell parking lot.)

I'll play with PSP tomorrow to rotate the pics so you won't get a crick in your neck.

Guest Blogger: Author Sandra Cox

I'm very pleased to welcome my blogging friend and fellow awesome author, Sandra Cox.

Please join me in a big round of welcome for Sandra. Please ask her a lot of questions and also visit her blog at:

1. What type of books do you write?

I currently write paranormal romance and YA fantasy. I also have out a western romance and a metaphysical nonfiction coming out.

How many are published, what are their titles, and who are they published with?

The Crystal, Boji Stones, Silverhills and Rose Quartz are published through cerridwenpress.com

Shardai, the YA fantasy is through wings-press.com

2. When did you start writing fiction and what inspired you to write in your specific genre(s)?

I started writing more years ago than I care to admit to:)
I write what I like to read, romantic suspense with a paranormal angle.

3. Where do you like to write? Is there anything you like to listen to while you write?
I'm a mole. I write in the corner of the basement. Okay, only half mole, I do have two windows. I listen to fairie music, Norah Jones and Leonard Cohen

4. Do you have a website(s)? If so, what are they? If any are a blog, are you an avid blogger and why?

sandracox1.com

sandracox.blogspot.com

I started out as a lacksadaical blogger. I've been nudged toward the avid blogger side of the spectrum by Ms. Amarinda Jones who makes every effort to keep the froggies in line and hopping toward the finish line:)

For any of you out in blog land that may be head scratching at the froggy remark,

our Cerridwen Press editor's yahoo group is called The Pond.

5. Do you have any critique partners or writing buddies and if so, tell us a bit about them. Mona Risk: To Love a Hero, critiques my CPs. I've got a couple of buds from FTHRW that take a gander at my cat fantasies.
All the buds excel at their craft.

6. Will you be making any author appearances in the near future on or off line and if so, where and when?

I'll be Beverly Bateman's site the first part of June.

www.beverleybateman.com
www.myspace.com/okwriter

And I'll be visiting with Jennyfer Matthews May 30th.

7. Besides writing, what do you like to do and what are you passionate about?
Like all writers, I love a good book. I also enjoy going to the movies, settling back and munching on popcorn while a good flick is rolling. And I love to shop. I'm a bottom feeder. Deep clearance racks draw me like magnets.

8. Where were you born and where do you live now? Have you traveled much and if so, where, and how have your travels enhanced your writing?

I was born in Kentucky, my husband was born in Illinois, my daughter in Ohio and my son in Wisconsin. We've pretty much toured the Midwest but now reside in North Carolina.

Oh yes and my daughter was married in Italy.

As far as traveling enhancing my writing, it helps broadens one's writing base.
Sabina Comte, Black Opal, is from Italy
Maureen O'Hare, Boji Stones, is from Wisconsin

9. What is your household like? What is your typical day like?

A typical day in the life of Sandra Cox. Hm, a bit boring but here goes. Up at 6, shower, get ready for work, feed six cats and play lunch room monitor while they eat. Do the work thing, come home in the evening, grab a diet pepsi and head downstairs to the computer to write. Whew.

10. What are your goals and dreams for the future?
I would like to be successful as a writer, for people to know who Sandra Cox is and what she writes.

11. When you were a kid, what did you imagine the year 2008 would be like? Is it anything like you imagined?
When I was a kid, I never thought about the future. Lived solely in the present. Nothing past 1999 was imaginable.

12. If any of your books were made into movies, who would you like to play your leading men and why?
Good question. Not just one person comes to mind. I would like the option of sitting back and seeing the eye candy try out for the lead rolls. Don't you think that would be fun?:)

13. If you weren't a writer, what else would you want to be?

An animal behaviorist.

14. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us? If so, please do so now.
Black Opal, the third in the amulet series is released this Thursday. It can be purchased at cerridwenpress.com
Thanks to everyone who stopped by.


Thanks for having me, Ash. Appreciate it. It’s been fun.

You're so very very welcome, Sandra. Good luck on your book. Many happy sales and reviews!

Y'all run, don't walk, to get your copy of Black Opal by Sandra at www.cerridwenpress.com




Awesome cover, isn't it? Love it!

Excerpt from Black Opal:

She stared intently at the computer screen. She¢d broken the code and figured out her father¢s password. It¢d been easy. The warden said her father had written her name and the word amulets in his own blood before he died.

Scanning the screen, she read:

¢Legend has it that out of all the mortals on earth five women found favor with the gods:

Sophia whose face was pitted and ravaged by pox,

Pelagia who had the body of a woman and the mind of a child,

Olympia a poor widow with children to feed,

Helen, who lost four of her children to the plague and begged the gods to spare her remaining child, and

Zoe, a young queen whose village was razed and plundered and, she herself taken as a slave.

Moved, the gods created five special amulets in the form of armbands for the women to wear on their forearms.

For Sophia an amulet forged with beauty and creativity.

For Pelagia an amulet forged with knowledge.

For Olympia an amulet forged with wealth.

For Helen an amulet forged with healing and

For Zoe a golden amulet, with a black opal at its center, forged with power.¢

The air conditioning in the room was cold enough to leave goose bumps but Victoria Price didn¢t notice. The black leather chair creaked in protest as she leaned back, her breath leaving her lungs in a hiss.

The pain in her hands made her glance down. They were fisted so tight the moon-shaped crescents in her palms, where her nails dug in, were filling with warm red blood.

Don't miss my other blog for the day: About American Idol of course - spoiler - I do name the winner.

American Idol Finale - Spoiler Warming

There's no way I can NOT blog about American Idol tonight. If I didn't, you'd know aliens took over my body.

My David won!!!

My friends here know that David Cook is my David. If only I was younger and single...

I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo very happy. Did you hear me screaming for joy? I'm sure my Aussie and English friends could hear me. No one can hear me now as I have no voice left. But that's okay as long as Cook can sing and I can hear.

I was sooooo pissed though. Right as AI was beginning to announce the winner, one of DH's cronies came to the door and the dogs went crazy. When my dogs go crazy, they're louder than me screaming. Did you hear them? I was ready to murder these extremely discourteous men. How dare they interrupt the final moment on Idol.

Then as David Cook was singing the winning Idol song, DS#3 got out of bed long enough to try and talk through it. Then DS#3 got angry at me when I asked him to be quiet through the song.

Y'all, we need bigger and more spaceships for this Mars mission to take the men back. I've decided, however, to let Bobbie the cat stay here on Earth with me. He's being a sweet heart again.

My younger daughter drew this cartoon below - it's supposed to be a Martian apologizing to the women of Earth for supplying the space ship to the men for coming. Too bad the dialogue isn't larger.



Oh! I also want to congratulate both Davids. Both did awesome and both are winners. Although Cook has been my fav all season, I do recognize he's also very talented.

And Jason sang Hallejulah again. I think he's awesome, too.

Michael Johns and Carly really should have finished higher. I still think they're awesome, too. This was a fantastic season FULL of great talent. My favorite season is still Season 4 with Carrie, Bo, and Constantine, but this season runs a very close second.

I'm already having AI withdrawal and I'll be watching my reruns.

It was also funny tonight. Ben Stiller and Jack Black were the back up "dancers" to Gladys Knight, and of course, they were hilarious. Hopefully I can find a You Tube clip of it for you and if so, I'll post it. :)

And Donna Summer came out of retirement. I was the disco queen in the 70s. Ask my friends, I LIVED at the disco, first in Ohio, and then in Mississippi.

American Idol - Warning - dont' read if you've not seen yet

The David's went head to head tonight.

Simon says Archuletta won. So did Randy. (I wasn't sure what Paula was saying).




I disagree. Cook did.





Although I think Archuletta is a sweet, cute boy, I'm not in love with his voice. I'm not in love with his style. I wish great things for him and I'm sure he'll go far.

But Cook is the really awesome one.

But we'll see what America says tomorrow night.

Either way, I'll be first in line to buy Cook's albums.

I'll also be there to buy Jason's, Carly's, and Michael's albums.

Isn't Jason cute? Despite the dreadlocks? Maybe because of them? I like the purple glow.

I'm already in withdrawal. I won't see David Cook or Jason perform weekly. :(

Of course, I'll go back to Borders and write more, and go to the gym and exercise more again.

I'm sure you know who I voted for - I've only gotten through once. Who did you vote for?

To Blog or Not To Blog

My goal is to blog every day, even though I thoroughly dropped that goal last week.

But my mind's drawing a blank.

The daughter's trying to pull me out the door to go to Borders. She obviously wants to read more mangas. Maybe she didn't finish reading the manga she was reading Saturday. I know I should write, but am tired. I feel like staying home and watching American Idol. But if I stay home to watch it, I'll love it while it's on, but then be bored after. Then again, hubby probably won't let me watch it on the TV in our bedroom if I don't get home till late. I just want my cake and to eat it too. But then again, what good is having cake if you don't eat it? I never understood that expression. It's so silly.

Life as a manager isn't bad. However, I'm way more exhausted than I was. I think it's more mentally than physically exhausting but the end effect is the same. I don't get a second to breathe or take breaks the way I used to. I'm constantly being interrupted. It's hard to get a project done without a million interruptions. (It's even hard to get to the ladies room).

I finally feel like I'm using my MBA. I enjoy the meetings and teaching my co-workers. For years it felt like I spent all that work, money, and time for nothing. It wasn't easy going to school full time while I worked full time and raised young children.

Not everybody at work realizes I'm a manager yet. In fact, some people still think my predecessor is manager. My boss forwarded an email to me that should have been sent to me. Instead it was sent to the former manager, himself, and the other department. Our former manager hasn't been manager in over a year. I've been manager for about three months now. I know it's not a big deal, but...

Oops! Hubby just found Smokey and the Bandit on TV - he's the ultimate remote control surfer. Except he absolutely loves this movie. You know what this means, right? I'll have to kill him if I want the TV to watch American Idol.

Don't get me wrong, I like Smokey and the Bandit, too. But I like American Idol more. Like? Did I say like? Obsessed is more like it. Besides, I think I can recite Burt Reynold's lines in my sleep.

Yikes! Hubby IS reciting Buford T. Justice's lines. I said I could, not that I would. He's such a nerd - the hubby.

Good news!

My newest release at Total-e-Bound, "Brit Party" is #3 on the Top Ten bestseller list. Woo hoo!

Next up: World domination!!!!

Here's another step to my World Domination quest: I just received this email from my publisher (TEB at www.total-e-bound.com).

"To celebrate our one year anniversary, in July we will be releasing the Lust Bites short stories as three volumes in eBook and print. Our anniversary release date will be 7th July.

The volumes will be as follows:"

Lust Bites Volume 1

Amuse Me
Lexie Davis
Faithful Beginnings
Lacey Thorn
Lust Detector
Ann Cory
Hot and Humid
Shermaine Williams
Misery Loves Company
Ellen Ashe
Confessions of a Nympho
Ashley Ladd (last but not least!)

Remember this one? If not, here's your chance. :)

This time, I'm eastbound and down...

Brit Party, David Cook - American Idol, Florida Fires

Woohoo! Brit Party is #4 on the top 10 list at Total-e-Bound. I read the book last night and I have to congratulate my fellow authors. You rock! I loved the stories and I'm honored to be part of this anthology.

You know me. I had to watch American Idol and it just ended. I won't lie. I voted for David Cook - more than once. He is soooo good. And he's soooo cute. He's like a mix of Constantine and Chris Daughtry. I couldn't ask for better. My fingers and toes are crossed. Of course, he's a winner whether he gets the crown or not. I predict huge things for him. He's awesome.



By the way, the fires in my part of Florida are out - for the moment and we're safe. It's so dry and so hot down here, though... It was 97 degrees Saturday and I got really sun burned. I hear the fires are still raging in Central Florida - where I was last weekend. (Hubby still has NOT sent me the pics - I'm getting really really pissed now and am about to raid his computer and send them to myself. If only I remembered his password...)

Here's more about our new book.



by Ashley Ladd | Lisabet Sarai | Brynn Paulin | Lacey Thorn | Dakota Rebel | Desiree Holt |

'Maggie's Menage' by Lacey Thorn

Maggie had spent a lifetime trying to win the love and affection of her father, but nothing seemed to work. Now he was asking her to seduce and marry one of two men that he had selected for her...for the good of the family name and company. But Maggie has other plans. Plans that will leave both men thinking of her as something other than a wife, and leave her father's plans for marriage in ashes.

Alex and Patrick were there to investigate Dom Houston and through the carelessness of his assistant managed to get in to see the man himself. But it was the blonde haired beauty that commanded their attention from the get go. And when she arrived at their hotel room later in the day, neither was willing to walk away. If Maggie wanted a ménage then they were more than willing to give it to her.

But for two of them it would be more than they could have ever imagined.

'Boy Toys' by Brynn Paulin

Dana's job title is scientist not babysitter. She's irritated when her boss slates her to accompany department bad boys, Christopher and Jason, to a meeting in London on her weekend off. Since her job transfer to England, she's hidden her attraction to the much younger men. Unfortunately, the attraction seems to be growing every day and every night she fantasises about them. Three days virtually alone with them will be no fantasy and might instead be an embarrassing disaster. But...

Jason and Christopher have had their eyes on Dana since she joined their department. Through a little finagling they've arranged for her to be part of this trip. They're sure her project is a spot on compliment to theirs and her presence will be an ideal addition to their bed. Now all they have to do is convince her that the bad boys will make her perfect boy toys. Forever.

'Best Mates' by Ashley Ladd

Lovers Alec Russert and Kevin Cosby feel horrible for their best mate, Jennica Chapman, when her current beau dumps her. And yet, they're glad he's out of her life.

Unfortunately, thirty-six year old Jennica thought this was her last chance to have a baby, and she's much more upset about this than losing the boyfriend. As Alec is feeling his biological clock also, he suggests to Kevin that they help her out of her predicament.

But, they're the ones in for a shock when Jennica tells them they may be too tame for her sexual likes. It turns out that Jennica is a submissive and she loves to be bound and spanked by her master. The shock wears off quickly when Alec and Kevin decide that Jennica will like two Dom masters much better than one.

Soon they realise their best mate really is their best mate, and that she's always owned their hearts.

'The Wager' by Dakota Rebel

Menage-a-Trios with a twist, and a vampire bite.

A weekly game of Billiards between a couple becomes interesting when the stakes get raised to include a pair of friends in the payoff.

Sadie and Will are vampires who have a wager based on a weekly billiards game they play. Their stakes are always sexual and this week will be no different. But for this week's wager they decide to include a couple of their friends, Dave and Tony, in the payoff. If Will wins, he gets to watch Sadie have sex with their friends while he watches and gives instructions as to what he wants to see. But if Sadie wins, she wants to instruct their friends on what to do to Will.

The the game begin!

'Four Play' by Desiree Holt

How many is too many, or is it not enough?

She loved the ménage that her lover Michael Collins had introduced her to, but now here they were, spending a week at Duncan MacLaughlin's cottage in Scotland and Holly Martin wasn't sure she was ready for the surprise he promised her.

No details, just a wide grin. The surprise turned out to be Jim Grainger, a friend of Michael and Duncan's, who was as much into a foursome as the other men. With all that testosterone flowing around her, and three very gorgeous and sexy men to play games with, Holly suddenly realises she loves a sexy numbers game.

'Monsoon Fever' by Lisabet Sarai

Divine temptation lies in wait in an ancient and mysterious land.

In their first years together, Priscilla and Jonathan enjoyed a marriage based as much on physical passion as on love. However, the travails of business and the tribulations of the Great War have taken their toll. When Jon's father dies in faraway India, the couple travels to the father's isolated Assamese tea plantation to settle his affairs. Far from the bustle and distraction of London, left alone to endure the monsoon rains while Jon struggles to complete the final harvest, Priscilla realises how much she misses Jon's touch.

Anil Kumar arrives with business documents for Jon to examine. The charismatic native enchants both Priscilla and Jon with his god-like beauty and charm. In separate incidents, each of them succumbs to Anil's lustful attentions. Will the illicit desires excited by the handsome Indian be the final stroke that destroys their marriage? Or the route to saving it?

Here's an excerpt from my story "Best Mates":

'Best Mates' by Ashley Ladd

Jennica Chapman felt so low she didn’t think she could sink any further. Hurt and angry, she ripped up all the pictures she had of her ex, Thad, threw them in the sink and lit a match to them. As she watched the flames devour Thad’s handsome but sleazy face, she gritted out between her teeth, “Up in flames with you. Kev and Alec had you pegged. Why didn’t I listen?”

Afraid the smoke was getting too thick and would set off the fire alarm, she turned on the tap and doused the flames. Catching her blurry reflection in the tap’s chrome, she stared at her distorted reflection. “Because you’re a blithering idiot. Because you wanted a baby so badly, you would’ve settled for the wanker.”

Mad at herself for letting the last two years tick away as her eggs grew stale, she scoured the sink and threw Thad’s ashes into the rubbish.

Unfortunately that didn’t make her feel much better. Neither did cranking up her music, soaking in the tub, or digging into a quart of Ben and Jerry’s.

Her door shook with a sudden pounding and she rolled her eyes. Not in the mood to fend off a door-to-door salesman, and in particular hoping never to lay eyes on Thad again, she ignored it.

The hammering increased and Alec called out, “I’m not going away. I know you’re in there, Chapman.”

A rush of affection for her best chum washed out some of her raging anger. She raced for the door and flung it wide. Ecstatic to see friendly faces, she threw herself first into Alec’s arms and then Kevin’s.

She didn’t know which was more handsome. They were both heartthrobs. Alec was the ultimate bad boy rocker with unruly hair that grazed his shoulders and a perpetual roguish smile that would melt her heart if he were straight—sometimes it did anyway. Bohemian, he always wore ragged jeans, a shirt that lay half-unbuttoned exposing a matt of very sexy chest hair, and gold earrings. Also like usual, he wore a sexy five o’clock shadow on his lean cheeks. She thought it the sexiest thing on earth. Well, maybe the second sexiest… She had a hard time suppressing a naughty grin and keeping her gaze from drifting south to the sexiest thing between his legs.

Kevin on the other hand was the clean-cut, London book editor who always wore preppy clothes. His blond good looks and clear blue eyes had broken more than a few hearts, male and female. He kept his hair tapered short and well-groomed. Often she wondered how the two had hooked up, but she’d shrugged it off as opposites attracting.

Well, I'm off to prepare for work tomorrow and get some writing done. I wanted to finish a book I started a few years ago. I love the idea. But rereading it I HATE what I wrote.

Oy!

So instead of trying to fix it, I'm just going to start from scratch. If you're a writer, have you ever done that?

There's an even older book I want to fix, but I've changed it so many times, it's all out of order and it's a pain. But on the whole, it's pretty good so I'm not going to scrap it and start from scratch. But it'll take longer to fix than I'd hoped. I'm not exactly the patient sort but I'm trying to reign myself in and take the time it requires to do it right.

Thursday Thirteen

My Thirteen Favorite TV Shows of All Time I'm bushed tonight, so I'm not going to expound too much. Beyond having an extremely busy day at work, I finished the Heat Wave story I'm writing for TEB and I watched daughter #2 play a tournament game - her team won and she got the game ball for her awesome catching tonight. 1.... American Idol! (Season 4 was the best, but Season 5 and this year are good, too) 2.... Smallville (duh! I love Superman) 3.... Star Trek (the original series) 4.... Star Trek Voyager 5.... Sliders 6.... McHale's Navy 7.... Hogan's Heroes 8.... Charmed 9.... Scarecrow & Mrs. King 10... Lois & Clark (see #2) 11... Star Trek Next Generation 12... Bewitched 13... I Dream of Genie

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

What the ???

What the ??? I've tried several times to upload a couple of YouTube videos for today's blog, but it's not working. At least not yet. If ten or more videos of the GoPhone commercial with MeatLoaf or MeatLoaf's video of "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" show up, you know why. I've uploaded video to my blog from YouTube before and I could swear I used the same steps. Oh well... Sorry no pics tonight like I wanted to give you. I almost named this blog "Blonde & Blonder". We call #2 daughter "blondie" even though she has beautiful dark brown hair. She does ditzy things. My dryer broke yesterday so I took laundry to the laundromat tonight. I told the daughter to load the washers while I loaded some clothes we'd washed at home into the dryer. So awhile later, she mentions that she couldn't wash the rags (wash cloths it turned out) because there was a sign "Do not wash rags in top loading washers". When I read the sign it said "Do not wash rugs in top loading washers". Uh huh. Right. Yes, she knows how to read. I think... But I said Blonde and BLONDER. Yep, I did a blonde thing, too. I spilled soda on my brand new purse. Oy! While we were at the laundromat, American Idol came on. I could barely hear it but luckily we record it. So when we got home, of course, we watched it. It's pathetic...I know the American Idol voting number by heart. I'm dying to say more, but I daren't as I'll spoil the show for my Aussie friends who come here. But I'd be willing to bet who'll win. I just can't say here (and it's killing me).

American Idol Predictions and Idiocracy

I'm still mourning the loss of Michael Johns on American Idol. I really thought he'd be in the top 3 this season.

Even though I was dead wrong about this, I'll go out on a limb and make my prediction about this Season's winners. Here goes. David Cook and Carly Smithson will be #1 and #2, not necessarily in that order. Jason will finish #3 (click on the video below. I've never liked dred locks before, but he's so adorable with them. And I love his version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" pictured here.)

David Archuletta will finish #4 Brooke will finish #5 Kristie Lee will finish #6 Sayesha will finish #7. However, if there's an upset, it will be that Carly is voted off early and in that case, I think Jason will be in the top 2. I've been guessing the #1 winner right for the past few seasons, if not the rest of the lineup. I really thought Chris Daughtry should have won his year, so I was wrong then. And I thought Constantine should have finished #3 in his season.

I'm watching "Idiocracy". I rented it again. I normally don't enjoy silly movies, but I this one works for me because the main character played by Luke Wilson is sane and trying to deal with an insane world - like a lot of the plots in my books. In case you've not seen it, Luke Wilson ("Joe") is the most average joe in the military and is put into suspended animation in a military top secret project. The project got shelved, he got lost, and he awakens in the year 2505 to a much different world. Unfortunately, it's not a better world, but a world in crisis. Suddenly, he's the smartest man in the world - by a long shot. Everything's nuts. It's not the Star Trek future. In this world, the buildings are leaning against each other and held together with big ropes or rubber bands. There's a highway overpass that's broken in half where cars just drive over - why do I always giggle at this scene? It gets me every time. :) The idiocy really annoys me in this movie, and yet, I like the movie. I think Luke Wilson and his costar, Rita, the most average woman in the world of 2005 when the army experiment was done, makes the movie. Get a glimpse for yourself. View the video above.

This and that

I can't believe Michael Johns was voted off American Idol tonight. I'm in deep, deep mourning. He was my first favorite this year. And he's soooooo cute. I'll miss him very much. I really hope he picks up a recording contract.

I thought I was over being sick, but obviously I'm not. The bad coughing returned this afternoon. I called the doctor and now she says I have bronchitis. Great! I already missed one week of work and used a week's vacation time on it. I can't afford to miss more. The hubby made me stay home tonight and not go to the daughter's softball game. I really love to watch her, but I don't feel well. So I'm watching a rerun of Desperate Housewives big tornado episode. I missed it the first time, and I've no idea why it's being replayed tonight, but it is, soooooo. So this will be a short post tonight.

Before I go, I have to say the bathrooms at the day job have weird working toilets. Automatic flushers were installed a month ago. In two of the stalls, the damned things flush before you even sit down. And then they flush every time you move. They grab the seat covers before you can use them. In a couple of the other stalls, they've stopped working.

And why is it that several women at work talk on their cell phones in the bathroom? It's not exactly private. And why would they want the person on the other end of the line to hear flushing, and worse? Ewww.

Oy!!! I can't believe the stupid thing I just did. I accidentally posted this to my publisher's blog. I posted and then when I checked, it wasn't on MY website. It finally struck me that I could have posted it to the wrong blog. Voila! That's where it was. Hopefully, I got it off quick enough no one noticed it was in the wrong spot. It would be very embarrassing.

What is your favorite Beatles' song(s)?

I'm FINALLY watching this week's American Idol. David Cook is up now singing Day Tripper. He's awesome. I think he's now my fav although I also love Carly Smithson and Michael Johns and Jason is so adorable. David rocked out with "Day Tripper" and that's not even close to my favorite Beatles' song. I liked it better than last week's performance by him which Simon liked better. Oh well, I won't die because I disagree with Simon. IF I was on American Idol and had to choose a couple Beatles' songs to sing, what would I pick? What would you pick? My favorites are: I Should Have Known Better All My Loving And I Love Her Across the Universe Ticket To Ride When I'm 64 Norwegian Wood Something Things We Said Today But to sing for competition? For a ballad I'd choose "Something" or "Things We Said Today", but then I'd want to rock out the next week, so maybe "Can't Buy Me Love" - I don't know that I could be the heavy rocker enough to sing Helter Skelter or Back in the USSR. I promised Daughter #1 I'd take her to Cold Stone to get an ice cream. Can you believe I've never been to Cold Stone? I hear it's fab and there's one in the same plaza where #2 son, Keith, works. I know he stops in there for an ice cream a lot. I usually stop at Carvel or Dairy Queen. Keith tells me Cold Stone is way better. I'm into new experiences so I'll give it a whirl. My favorite ice cream is United Dairy Farmer's Rainbow Sherbet. Believe me, I'll probably hit UDF even before Skyline Chili when I get into Cincinnati in June. I can't wait.

70's songs

This week’s theme songs on American Idol are 70’s songs.

I was a teenager in the 70’s and thus I love 70’s music.

So far, most of the competitors in this competition haven’t chosen great songs. A couple chose pretty good songs. Brooke did a good job of singing Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”. I liked Carly’s rendition of a Heart song.

I know the Eagles refuse to let the American Idol competitors sing their songs. I say that, because one of my favorite songs of all times is “Hotel California”. I loved the Eagles in general – “Desperado”, “Take It To The Limits”, “Heartache Tonight” – to name a few of my favorites.

I guess the kids on Idol are too young to know the 70’s songs because they’re not choosing many good ones.

How about “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb? One of my very favorites.

Here are many of my other favorites from the 70s.

"Knights on Broadway" (Bee Gees). “Careless Whispers”. “More Than A Feeling” (Boston). “Sister Golden Hair” (America). “More Than A Woman” and “How Deep Is Your Love” (Bee Gees). “Last Dance” (Donna Summer). “Ramblin’ Man” (Allman Brothers). “If I Can’t Have You” (Yvonne Elliman). “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” (Meatloaf). “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen). “Night Moves” (Bob Seger). “China Grove” (Doobie Brothers). “Best Of My Love” (Eagles). “Philadelphia Freedom” (Elton John). “Three Times A Lady” (Commodores). “Crocodile Rock” (Elton John). “YMCA” (Village People). “Baby Hold On” (Eddie Money). “I Go Crazy” (Paul Davis). “Free Bird” (Lynyrd Skynyrd). “Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynyrd Skynyrd). “Just When I Needed You Most” (Randy Vanwarmer).

Googling 70s songs, maybe I didn’t like them as well as I thought. I’ve always loved 50’s and 60s music. I skipped over 80s and 90s music and really only started listening to contemporary tunes since I got into American Idol.

Speaking of American Idol, I voted for Carly and Brooke tonight. I got home too late last night to vote for any of the boys.

To answer (was it Molly?) from my yesterday’s blog post, usually at this point in the competition, it’s not as exciting. We’re just getting to know the players and it takes most of them a little longer to get comfortable enough to show their personalities. So I’m going to stick with it. Other than Sanjaya and Blake last season, I didn’t think anyone stood out as being really fun.

Here's an update about yesterday's power outage: My friend at work said the trouble started when a fire broke out at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Station in Florida. That caused circuits to trip and grids to go down. It took several hours for Turkey Point to get up and running again. My town is obviously not powered by Turkey Point. And on one mention from comments to yesterday's blog. The Ren-Faire is a Renaissance Festival where everyone pretends to be in the 16th century. Check out: http://www.renfaire.com/ It's a lot of fun with knights, bawdy women, ladies in waiting, life-size chess games, archery competitions, mud wrestling, jousting, etc.

Florida Power Outage

Everybody around me was abuzz today with the news. It seems most of my state, Florida, was out of power. Our power at work didn't go out. After lunch, I got a CNN alert email and a moment later, my boss asked the lady sitting behind me if she'd heard anything on her radio about it. Then we clicked over to CNN. I was surprised that the outage was so widespread, that Washington DC was reportedly concerned about it, that they'd ruled out terrorist's as the cause. They ruled out terrorists??? Doesn't that imply that they thought it possible terrorists did this? I guess I've started feeling safe again, about 7 years after 9-11. Perhaps I shouldn't get so complacent... On a completely different note, I'm watching American Idol. If you didn't already know, I'm hopelessly addicted to it. From the beginning, I liked Michael Carrico, and Carly. For the past couple weeks, I also like Jason Castro, too. At first, I couldn't get into Robbie, but tonight he reminds me of Bo Bice and I adore Bo Bice. So far tonight, however, no one's blown me away. Not even close. However, I do like the personalities a lot this year so far. I think it's going to be a good year. I hope someone will be as fun as Sanjaya and Blake, and so far, I've not seen that. Hopefully they'll start to feel more comfortable and let loose.