Happy Birthday Fred Rogers

I wanted to take a moment to talk about one of my life influences today. I talk a lot about writers, film, and genre stuff, and how they jump-started me into becoming the person I am today. Before that, though, there was another influence in my life, an influence so great yet so subtle, that I didn’t realize he was teaching me to value myself and be a good human being. He’s gone now, but I think it’s important to touch on great people from time to time, and since today is his birthday, it’s even more timely.

People kind of assume that kids are resilient and don’t pick up on emotional subtleties until adolescence. I don’t know why adults forget that being a kid is hard, but they do. There are a lot of unique pressures on children, plus you’re trying to figure out what you are to the rest of the world and where you fit. I was no exception, but thankfully, like so many others, I had a great neighbor waiting for me everyday when I turned on the TV.

That’s right, I’m talking about Mr. Fred Rogers, not only an advocate for public television and a  stand-up teacher for children everywhere, but probably one of the most valuable humans that ever walked the planet. Yes, in some ways he’s been reduced to memes and jokes, but seriously, he was a huge influence on my life. It’s so easy to get caught up in daily drama, but not only was he fantastic about explaining experiences (going to school, how things worked, medical conditions, the right way to treat people), he also reminded children everywhere that they were worthwhile. This is different than entitlement, way different than giving children material objects so they can keep up with the kids around them. This is a genuinely kind person reminding us all that we’re worthwhile just the way we are, that at our core there is something valuable about us that can’t be taken away. I can’t tell you how many times I went back to that show even as a teenager and young adult – sometimes we just need to know that someone is proud of us, that someone is glad we’re around.  Not only did he talk to us all as intelligent people, but he showed his lessons in the form of awesome puppets and creatures. Seriously, the guy was responsible for creating whole make-believe places – that definitely had an effect on me as a kid and jump-started my imagination into hyper-drive. Through the land of make believe we got opera, we saw misunderstandings and how to fix them, we learned a lot.

As a person, too, Mr. Rogers practiced what he taught. We’re talking about an ordained minister who chose to talk about treating people well instead of shoving a specific dogma down people’s throats in a public forum. We’re talking about a man who talked logically and calmly to senate when they wanted to cut funding of public television. We’re talking about a man who was family and social values incarnate, who didn’t hold anything against anyone, who strove to make us understand that everyone has something to offer. This is someone that shows us that it really isn’t worth it to fight over who’s right – we should talk calmly and try to understand each other’s viewpoints. We should value everything around us, even our own feelings. We should remember that we’re people worth being proud of, worth liking, worth being here.

For me, personally, he was a Godsend. As a kid I was all kinds of awkward and that lasted up through like my twenties. Life seemed confusing at the best of times, and I’m someone who likes to know how things work and what to do in certain situations. I loved his show for the analytical aspects, but I needed the self-esteem boost, sometimes badly. Not only did the make believe portions reaffirm that it was okay for me to be an imaginative kid, but the whole show got me thinking about what I had to offer. Plus, I was introduced to a lot of great music and simple lyrics by watching that show, and that definitely influenced my love of music as I grew older. As I said before, I’m human enough to admit that I’ve gone back to the show a few times here and there, especially when going through some low parts of my life when I desperately needed to be reminded that I was all right. It may sound childish or silly, but don’t we all need that affirmation? Isn’t that what being human is all about? And if seeing those examples, even as an adult, leads me to be more considerate in my own life, then I’m all for it.

So today I say Happy Birthday to you, Fred Rogers, wherever you may be,  and thank you for all the amazing gifts you’ve given us. For the music, for living your beliefs, for your kindness, for your imagination, not only am I thankful, but I’m very, very proud of you. Hopefully your time here hasn’t been in vain, and we just need a little reminder now and again of what it means to be good neighbors to each other. Thank you so much just for being you.

To spread the celebration, I want to share a couple of links – this article at Cracked.com caught my eye, and if you read it, watch the video, and read the comments, I think you’ll see just what an effect Fred Rogers had. Plus, it’s way more eloquent than I am at the moment. You can find that article HERE

And there’s a petition going around to make March 20 officially Mr. Rogers Day. If you feel like jumping on board, you can sign the petition HERE

Author Interview: Penelope A. Riley

I love getting the chance to talk to all sorts of different authors and creative types. As I’ve said before, I may write in some darker genres, but I also have a huge, huge love of children’s literature. I definitely count the books that I grew up with and the storytellers I was brought up around as some of my biggest influence. I’m really pleased to be able to talk to someone with talent and experience in the world of children’s books! Please welcome for today’s interview, Penelope A. Riley, author/illustrator of the Duckie Dan Adventure Books!

SJ: Every writer has some sort of process. Give us a glimpse into yours. Do you meticulously outline? Do you write depending on what calls are out there?  

PAR:  I decide on my subject from what children face in their everyday life.  My little duck character is the main critter and through the book the children, 3 -9 years, learn how they can solve a problem and that they are not the only one with this problem.  I then outline the main points I want to tell.

SJ: Bonus question – Do you put on a cape and do a chant before hunkering down to work? Sacrifice anything? Along with your process, what’s your quirkiest writing habit?

PAR: I have my little Duckie Dan sitting on my desk and we talk the details of the book out together! I would say my quirkiest writing habit is talking to the stuffed toy duck!

SJ: Are you a meticulous planner or do you believe in the muse? Where do your ideas come from? Do they filter in through your dreams? Do they show up at inopportune times and whap you upside the head? Do they result in a shady deal with a dark power?

PAR: I guess I believe in the muse.  My ideas come from my childhood. The parents or children that read my books or talk to Duckie Dan on his facebook page offer future subjects.

SJ: bonus question – If your muse had a physical manifestation, what would he or she look like and how would she or he act? Is it a sexy superhero version of Callisto? A sharp-tongued rogue? A reptilian alien? Do they have a catch phrase?

PAR: My muse, the sensitive grandma figure who is Grandma Hattie in the books.  It is really me and when I read to the kids or appear at signings I always dress in my hat with a flower on it and my boa of many colors.  The catch phrase for all The Duckie Dan Adventure Books is “My, oh my”.

SJ: What’s the book/story that’s closest to your heart? Is there a piece that you clearly feel is a piece of you? Do you play favorites?

PAR: Marr-Lee the Homesick Moose is the story I identify with most because as a child I started traveling to my cousin’s house for the whole summer.  I remember the pains of homesickness and what I did to overcome it. Duckie Dan is always my favorite, but don’t tell anyone! He is always tucked in my suitcase and travels the world with me.

SJ: If you could only write one genre ever again upon pain of being sacrificed to Cthulhu, what would it be and why?

PAR: I found my love; it is not only with words but the illustrations involved in writing children books.  Not only fun to write the story and enhance it with my drawings but I love to see the expression on the children’s faces as I read and tell them of our travels.

SJ: What’s your biggest frustration as a writer? What do you consider the downside, or is there one? Is there any cliché that makes you want to wring people’s necks?

PAR: My biggest frustration is … I am too wordy.   The age group I write for is supposed to have about 2,000 to 2,300 words. It is very hard to take out words and still maintain the story you want to tell.  Sometimes it is also difficult to decide what type of drawing would be the best to depict your story.

SJ: If you had to be stuck in one of your own books/stories for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If you had to stick a loved one in one of your own books, what would it be and why? An enemy? 

PAR:I am in every one of my books as Duckie Dan’s Granny and when I show the children my illustrations, they all recognize me.   My grandchildren are in the first book of the series, “Duckie Dan the Traveling Man”, because we are traveling to England and then touring Europe together.

SJ: Do you think it’s possible to develop a sure-fire recipe/formula for success as a writer? Would you want to, or does that compromise the art or the fun of it?

PAR: I do not think there is a sure-fire recipe other than making sure it is something that is interesting to kids, in my case.  I only write about things and places I know and I have traveled to.   To be successful, money-wise would be nice, but I think I am successful every time a child hugs me after reading to them or sends me a note after getting my book or writes to me or Duckie Dan.  I love the thought they put into questions at such a young age.

SJ: Everyone has words of wisdom for young writers, so I’m not going to ask you about that. With a few unknown writers becoming success stories, a lot of people seem to think it’s an easy career choice. What would your words of wisdom be to these people?

PAR: A lot of thought and re-writes go into each book.  You have to know your subject matter, try to make your characters real through descriptions, even to how they walk and talk. A writer has to be able to take a lot of criticism.  They need to pay attention to the basics construction of their language.  Don’t measure your success by money alone.

SJ: It seems like everyone likes to gang up on certain genres as being inferior, less meaningful, or cheap entertainment (especially if it’s speculative in nature). Make a case for the genre you write.

PAR: I think reading to children is important and creating a desire for them to want to read is just as important.  I think by bringing my love of travel into the books it will teach them a little about other lands.  The books teach friendship, facing fears, believing and safety.  My illustrations help them understand the words and open a dialog for parents or others who read to the children to discuss a subject.   The time one spends reading to a child or helping them learn to read forms a wonderful bond and certainly aids in their development.

SJ: What do you want people to instantly think of when they hear your name or your work mentioned? 

PAR: Duckie Dan, my cute, fluffy duck that loves to stow-away in a suitcase in search of an adventure. I want them to wonder what he is up to next!

SJ: Please tell us about your latest/favorite work or a little bit about what you’re working on right now. It’s plug time, so go for it! 

PAR: “Christmas Away” is the last book published and it deals with the fear that Santa will not find them if the critters are not at home for Christmas.  It takes place on a cruise ship and they all learn the secret is to BELIEVE!   

My latest, which will be out this spring, Duckie Dan Adventure Book is about fire-safety.   Duckie teaches everyone to stay safe.  My son is a volunteer fireman and a Deputy Sheriff so he has helped me express some concerns and safety issues.  The drawings of fire engines have been challenging as well as limiting the number of drawings. 

My books are a continuously expanding series.  I am working on another one that is Duckie Dan’s Mythical travels in England and Scotland.

 As the illustrator, the children usually want to know what medium I use to draw my pictures. I use colored pencils.  Why? I travel a lot and they are not messy.  If I am in an airplane I can work on my illustrations, in the hotel room or even in a car….as long as I am not driving!

The most unusual place I have read to children was on a cruise ship while sailing the Baltic Sea.  Duckie and I had just been in Russia the day before.

My Duckie Dan Adventure Books started off as a series of 6 to 8 and now I have topics for at least a dozen awaiting me.  

Duckie Dan the Traveling Man has his own facebook page and a website too!  www.duckiedan.com has things for children to do and learn about him and other lands. You can ask Duckie Dan a question on facebook and he will answer you! 

Penelope A Riley is my facebook page, so look me up.  I also have a webpage at www.penelopeariley.com and both will keep you informed of my latest writings, when they are available and other products associated with Duckie Dan Adventure Books.

Duckie Dan Adventure Books also have their own facebook page.

My books are available in print and soon all will be available in e-books.  You can get them on Amazon.com and most all on line book stores.  They can be purchase in the Authorhouse book store also in both print and e-books.  All books can be purchased through me and I will gladly sign them and ship them to your child.   If you have purchased my book elsewhere and would like them to be signed, I have a self-adhesive book plaque that I can sign and send you to place inside the book.

 

Women in Horror: Innocents

I wanted to take a look at another type of gal who we find in some horror stories and movies. By innocents I don’t necessarily mean victims. These are the women who are a little more reactionary. Maybe they’re prey to whatever is going on, maybe the events help them to find a stronger part of themselves. All of them, though have a certain feminine quality and a little bit of naivete. We want then to succeed, we want them to survive, escape, defeat the things that are after them. Because we feel for them, because they’re so likable, it often makes the outcomes of their stories that much more tragic or triumphant.

Eleanor Vance from The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – While the book is still the best (though the first movie is good, too), all of the variations usually portray Eleanor as an emotionally exhausted and downtrodden women who hasn’t gotten a chance to have much of a life. She’s taken care of her mother up to the opening of the movie, and now that her mother is gone she has no purpose. She desperately craves not only a purpose, but a place to belong. And when there’s a potentially malevolent house looking for people to torment, well…it’s kind of a match made in heaven. What makes Eleanor special, though, isn’t that she’s a victim. She doesn’t just run around screaming. Indeed, most of the actual haunting in the book is pretty vague. As the events go on, though, she becomes more and more obsessed with the house. She begins to crave the adventure it’s giving her, the affection and attention fro the others in her group…she’s almost like the middle child who finally gets a chance to shine before things go horribly wrong. Once she falls over the edge and gets too attached to the house, she’s sent away, and this one event leads to a conclusion that the reader has to make their own mind up about. Is she truly being played by a haunted house? Is she so unable to live on her own that she can’t picture a life without a purpose, without the house? The way Shirley Jackson handles her downward spiral is masterful and delicate. As I’ve said before, I’ve never had the lyrics of an art song give me chills, but Eleanor turns loving lyrics into something that could be interpreted as downright crazy. I had to read the ending of the book three times before I believed it, and even then I felt like something had been torn out of me, that surely such a kind character who hadn’t gotten what she deserved in life couldn’t have gotten that ending. Well she does, and it works because she’s so masterfully written.

Claudia from The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice - Condemned to a supernatural life simply because she was there, Claudia is probably one of the best female characters in all of horror. Say what you want about Anne Rice, it was a bold move to explore what being a growing spirit locked in a child’s body would really mean. Claudia not only exhibits the naive playfulness of a little girl, but also a child’s cruelty. As she grows older her desperation and longing to become a woman are palpable, and you really can’t blame her for all her anger. I like the fact that she isn’t just kept as a little girl type of character; indeed, the juxtaposition of adult mind in child’s body makes her even more terrifying. Add to that the tendency to play with her food and manipulate her “fathers,” and you get an emotional, soulful killer with no way to get the satisfaction she craves. She’s also desperate and brave enough to have Armand do whatever it takes to put her in a woman’s body, a longing which he manipulates to get her out of the way. Her demise is tragic, though we all know she could never be happy in the way she wanted to be.  The very fact that she shows up in so many books and haunts Louis, Lestat, and others, shows how much of an impact her character has on the series.

Delirium from The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman – The youngest of The Endless, Delirium comes across as a young girl in a world of ever-changing chaos. However, there are times when she does pull herself together and reveals that she has insights that the other members of her family don’t. Indeed, she and Death are possibly the only two of the family that have any knowledge of life outside of the end of the universe, and she also reveals that she knows paths out of Destiny’s garden where only she can go. Most of her family is fond of her and she’s often used for comic relief, but there are some really heartfelt sequences, especially when she goes looking for her brother Destruction. In her own way she tries to protect her family and often has prophetic insight (that doesn’t make sense until it’s too late, like when she tries to get Dream to help her find her dog Barnabas to protect him from danger in The Kindly Ones). Her speech and mannerisms often have bizarre consequences, some humorous and some cruel. She’s one of those characters you want to hug or dance with, and while reading the series I always tensed up a little reading about her, hoping that she’d get through the action all right. Originally Delight, something horrible happened to her that turned her into Delirium, so there’s a constant undercurrent of empathy that you feel when reading about her exploits in the series. We don’t need to know what happened because the effects of it are so palpable.

Sue Snell from Carrie by Stephen King - While she is one of the girls who originally bullies Carrie, Sue is more of a typical high school girl. She”s popular but more of a beta type, and she is genuinely aware of her place in the social structure and what it must be like to be in Carrie’s position. Carrie becomes a cause for her, to the point where she sets her up with her own boyfriend Tommy for a prom date. Sue is likable and we get to know her through her own ponderings about what her good deeds mean: would Tommy fall for Carrie? What if her own intimacy with Tommy has resulted in a child? As the prom reaches its eventual conclusion she rushes out and witnesses the death of Carrie, horrified and sympathetic. So often everyone is caught up with the title character and her mother after reading this book, but Sue Snell jumped off the pages at me when I read it. It’s like a random high school girl was tossed into a Stephen King novel. She didn’t necessarily mean anything by joining in the bullying, just like so many girls go along with things because it’s happening and better someone else than them. She’s an amazing vantage point for the reader, evoking both sympathy and irritation. She becomes a scapegoat to those who want someone to blame for the whole Black Prom incident, but her words really tie the whole book and all the doctor and court additions in the novel together. She firmly points out that they were kids when the events happened. They were acting like kids. It’s a strong statement, and whether you agree with her or not, whether you see her as part of the problem or someone who attempted to redeem herself, she’s a character you can admire, get frustrated by, and feel sorry for.

Kirsty in The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker – Although Julia is the consummate female villain in this book (unfortunately I couldn’t decide how to categorize her, but she’s also a favorite of mine), Kirsty is inherently good. In the novella she’s the friend of Rory who is secretly in love with him. She looks out for him, and is worried by Julia’s strange behavior. Suspecting her of having an affair, Kirsty is nearly killed by Frank and ends up accidentally solving the puzzle box. Kirsty is smart enough to tell the Cenobites about Frank and make a bargain for her freedom. Once Frank is taken back by the Cenobites, it’s Kirsty that’s entrusted with the puzzle box until someone else seeks it out. Whether they hope that she’ll become tainted enough to join them or whether she’s too good to be affected by it, the development is still kind of amazing and horrifying. Through everything that happens, her lasting impression in the book is that she feels that she doesn’t sense Rory in the box, and wonders if there are other boxes that can be solved to find him, maybe in heaven or paradise. Her optimism and faith in Rory, despite the fact that he’s unavailable and she doesn’t make a pass at him, is kind of amazing. In fact, while reading this for the first time I wasn’t exactly sure what Kirsty was to Rory. It’s that subtle and slow. Is it any wonder that she’s reincarnated into his counterpart’s teenage daughter in the movie Hellraiser? I like her because she believes in Rory, but she’s not stupid. She’s aggressive enough to get herself out of danger, and bold enough to deal with the Cenobites in a way that saves her own skin and soul without degrading herself or destroying her character. Again, it’s almost like a random good girl next door just happened to be dropped into a Clive Barker novella.

Ophelia from Pan’s Labyrinth - A girl who is captivated by fairy tales, you can either take this film as-is, with her bravely performing the tasks given to her by the faun, or see it as her fantasies while she deals with her cruel stepfather. Whatever your interpretation is, Ophelia is generous enough to ask for help for her mother, childlike enough to fall prey to a standard fairy tale technicality, and innocent enough to either believe in fairies or innocent enough to see them. She’s also kind enough to not sacrifice her brother for her own gain. The whole movie is a mash up of wartime cruelty (and some fairy tale horrors) pressed up against the brave actions of a truly amazing and sweet little girl. She doesn’t come off as syrupy or trying too hard. She’s simply a child trying to get home or hoping that she’s someone special (the Princess Moanna of the Underworld). Whatever your interpretation, whether you believe she makes it back home byway of her own sacrifice or whether the last few minutes are the fantasy of a dying girl, this movie is intense and Ophelia is an exceptional protagonist. While this film is technically dark fantasy, it’s also very, very dark, so she definitely makes the list.

Christine in Poseidon’s Children by Michael West – A resident of a small island where the inhabitants have shape-changing abilities, Christine is also the daughter of the Teacher, and has the gift of leadership passed on to her. What makes her interesting, though, is that she’s also a rebellious girl, ignoring the warnings of her parents and her mother’s teachings to fall in love with Karl Tellstrom, a young man with a thirst for revenge against humans. Despite being sucked into his cult, she still remains likable. You feel sorry for her. She’s obviously in love, obviously doesn’t want to believe the one she loves and the father of her unborn child is crazy enough to commit genocide. She wants to believe in him, wants to believe that things are as black and white as he makes it out to believe. All through the book she’s played against her parents and against another love interest, as well as different humans who get mixed up in the action. At the final hour she realizes how wrong she was and helps protect her people from the man she loves, eventually leading them to a new, safer location. Still, she isn’t instantly zapped with a leadership vibe. She isn’t eloquent. She’s nervous, terrified, and brash. She’s believable, but the way she approaches her people makes it realistic that they would jump ship and follow her. And the fact that she can change into a killer fish person just makes it an extra bonus.

Cecy in From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury – A gentler read than the rest, the book still uses a lot of horror standards and turns them on their heads. Cecy is one of the first and most important members in the makeshift Elliott family featured in the book. She mostly sleeps in the attic but can project herself out all over the world and possess anyone at will. It’s how she experiences life and learns. Although portrayed as seventeen, she’s also revered and rumored to be one of the older ones in the house. One of the most beautiful appearances she makes is in The April Witch, where she longs to be in love. Sending herself out astrally, she puts herself into another girl and tags along on her date, enchanting the young man, even though she can never truly have him. This still doesn’t dissuade her from trying to set up a meeting face to face, though it seems a fruitless endeavor.  It’s a sad story full of longing on many levels. What’s fascinating is in other parts of the book she exhibits innocent cruelty, like when she tells Timothy of her travels as she goes along, hopping into a woman and leading her towards a bubbling mud pit, only exiting once the woman has stepped into it. From her new host of a bird she watches the woman sink until her fingertips are buried. Although she longs to be in love and you get the sense she doesn’t know what that means, in another story she inhabits the grandfather’s mind and goads him with exploits of how she’s hopped into the minds of couples making love and other creatures in heat. She plays her own brand of tricks, taunting young Timothy (the only mortal in the house), yet she’s also there to comfort him, as well. When danger comes to the house, she’s the one that drives it away, and comes up with the plan to get everyone to safety once they’ve been discovered by the village. It’s an odd conglomeration for a character, yet it works with her beautifully. Through it all, her quest to be in love and be loved isn’t forgotten (proving that her heart really is determined and innocent) and her ending in the book is bittersweet and beautiful. She has a childlike meanness at times, but that balances out her kindness and makes her that much more believable.

The horror genre takes all types of women to make it tick, and the stories mentioned wouldn’t be the same without these characters. They’re the balance, the light to the shadow, even if they have shadows themselves. They provide a distinct sense of feminine energy without descending into over-the-top territory. These are examples of innocence done well. If they meet their demise, you feel for it. It hurts to lose them, even in a story. If they succeed, you also feel it and are happy and relieved for them. They may not be as experienced or aggressive as their badassed sisters, they may have their heads screwed on better (initially at least) than their crazy siblings, but they’re far from boring. They have their own place in the genre, and lend their own magic to the stories they appear in.

Women in Horror: Badasses

Yeah yeah, valentine’s day, love and stuff, etc etc etc. But what about those ladies that make our hearts suffer palpitations? What about those books and films that feature women that might actually rip your heart out or have to fight to keep their own organs in their chests?

So now that we’ve talked about those awesome crazy ladies, it’s time to talk about another group of women in the horror genre: badasses. Now here’s the thing. There were a lot of women I could have considered, especially given the slasher genre. I had to think long and hard as to whether I would include a lot of the final girls, or girls that lasted more than two movies in a franchise, or what. Here’s my thing: it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a lot of those movies, and although I can’t argue that some of those gals are pretty cool, I’m also trying to take a look at characters who aren’t just cool because they manage to stay alive. I mean I like staying alive, myself, but I really wanted to focus on the girls that are somewhat aggressive (in various ways) in their titles. I guess to a certain degree you could argue that all of them are reactionary to a point, too, but to me these girls don’t just exist to be reactionary or to be the final girl. You end up either learning about them and cheering or learning about them and shuddering. Sometimes both. So, without further delay, here is my list of female badasses in the horror genre.

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Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise – There is one thing to stay alive because you’re suddenly faced with something stalking you, but there’s something about Ripley that puts her above the whole final girl cliche. Not only is she incredibly tough and determined, she also has a lot of other things to deal with besides kicking alien butt. Think about it: she’s time and again betrayed and used by corporations who want to exploit the very thing that’s tried to repeatedly kill her. She finds out that while she was in stasis that her daughter has died – no wonder she’s so intent on keeping the little girl safe in Aliens. And then there’s the whole thing where she finds out the Alien queen is inside her, so she decides to sacrifice herself to keep the thing from causing more havoc. And since I just pretend the whole Alien Ressurection thing didn’t happen, we’ll just leave it there. But seriously, Ripley’s existence becomes a horrible pattern of killing aliens, surviving, being put into stasis, and dealing with emotional trauma. And yet she manages to go after the threats without completely breaking down, and manages to stick it to the corporation who wants to use her for nefarious purposes. This was probably one of the first horror movie series I accidentally saw as a kid (back when versions were aired on TV…something I’m sure my parents appreciated). You know, it never occurred to me that Ripley was a woman…of course a woman could go around saving people and defeating the aliens! Why shouldn’t she? I’d say that experience has definitely stayed with me, especially in my creative life.

Sonja Blue from the Nancy A. Collins books – As much as some of the graphic contents makes me shudder, I love love LOVE Sonja. Hers is an epic story of how a naive socialite is nearly killed by a vampire (among other things), yet she survives. That’s unheard of in that world. She not only survives being victimized and nearly killed, but she slowly grows into her powers and becomes a tough as nails slayer – all the while battling her own vampire self , who loves spreading mayhem and destruction. Emotionally she has to deal with the fact that her past is pretty much dead to her – the scenes where she remembers her past life and interacts with her parents are heartbreaking. She also has to deal with different love interests and what it really means for a vampire to have feelings for mortals. She goes through Renfield-types, guys who mean well, guys who can fight…you name it, it blows up in her face, either because of her own nature or the world she’s a part of. And through it all she’s intent on tracking her maker down and destroying him. She steps in and helps mortals who are preyed on by supernatural creatures in hiding, all while handling emotional and mental experiences that would probably push anyone else over the edge. A furious vampire fighter with a really interesting delicate side and an even more interesting psychotic side, she is one of the best tough characters in horror there is, male or female.

Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs - A small town girl who overcomes a tough upbringing to become an FBI agent. Not only that, but she has to go up against one of horror’s most notorious serial killers again and again. Not only does she manage to get Lecter to help her deduce Buffalo Bill’s location, but she also gains enough of his respect that he doesn’t kill her when he escapes. Plus, she also kills Buffalo Bill. In Hannibal she not only has to deal with superiors trying to put her career to a screeching halt, but is involved in a complex cat and mouse game trying to not only find Lecter, but also the killer that hunts him. She not only helps to save Lecter from a grisly fate, but ends up surviving his attempts at conditioning her in the aftermath (in the book). In the movie version of Hannibal, she’s respected enough by Lecter that he maims himself to escape at the end of the film rather than her. Granted, she’s a quieter kind of badass, but you have to think of the kind of steel you’d have to have to continually talk to a killer like Lecter – especially once he’s escaped. Sticking to your guns and even trying to help him takes a whole lot of grit. Even without that, she deals with a lot of crap from her superiors and fellow agents in Hannibal. And if you really want to think about what kind of a strong woman she is, think of this – in the book version of Hannibal, they actually become lovers. And she’s seen alive with him three years after the fact. So obviously there’s something to her if she can stay alive and earn that kind of admiration from Hannibal freakin’ Lecter. Whether you agree with that ending or not, she’s obviously smart enough to figure out complex situations, strong enough to hold her own, and gritty enough to stand up to or take part in terrifying people and situations.

Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer  - This one is pretty obvious. I mean this is a teen girl kicking undead butt repeatedly, plus trying to juggle it with her own emotions and her regular daily life.  Granted, she’s definitely more badass in the TV series than the film, but you have to admit that just the mere concept of her character is pretty freakin’ bold compared to other teenage girl characters in horror. In the series she battles not only demons and the undead, but sometimes friends and family dynamic, as well as the whole dealing with various forces of darkness thing. It’s a really interesting character and a really fascinating take on not only subverting a horror cliche, but on what it means to be a young woman faced with that kind of heavy responsibility as a whole.

Laurie Strode from the Halloween franchise – All right, I’ll give you one slasher franchise.  Not only does she fight back in fairly ingenious ways, but she has to come to grips with the fact that she’s related to the guy who tried to kill her. Not only that, but in H20 she’s determined to finish the job that she didn’t do the first time around. In the remake, it’s also fascinating that she has the same psychotic tendencies as her brother, and has them slowly come more and more to light as the movie goes along. There’s obviously something to her because she’s brought back time and again not only in the movies, but in the comic continuations.

Carmilla from Carmilla – Granted, she’s not mutilating bad guys or tearing apart victims right and left, but there’s something to be said for a really manipulative vampire that masquerades as a young girl. She obviously lets her more primal instincts guide her,  but is smart enough to pull off a fiendish con that gets her new victims. Plus, she’s bold enough to befriend young female friends before attempting to prey on them, right in the same house as their parents. She’s decidedly old school, but cunning and creepy in her own right.

Pearl from American Vampire – She starts off as an idealistic girl who wants to be a star, but after nearly being fed to a group of elite Hollywood vampire goons, she’s saved and turned by vampire outlaw Skinner Sweet. I like Pearl because not only does she retain her likability – she’s very loyal to her human husband and protective about their vulnerability to other vampires and slayers – but she will also get her hands dirty when she has to. Whether it’s fighting off her former friend, facing down a group of prohibition-era human blood runners who attempt to drain her husband to feed vamps, or the WWII-era creatures that attack her husband while he’s in service…she is a force to be reckoned with. She has a unique set of killing abilities and is just as lethal as her sire. What’s also interesting is that although there’s obviously some attraction to Skinner, she remains loyal to her husband and is eventually the one to finally get the best of the notorious outlaw. I also really like that she’s depicted in her vamp form in no uncertain terms. So often artists try to draw female vamps as uber sexy, even in monster form, but she looks like an utter nightmare and a killing machine. Plus, in her human form she’s not unattractive, but she’s not the buxom bombshell we’re used to equating with female vamp. It’s refreshing – everything about her character is refreshing, and although it looks like vol. 3 is the last of the series, I’d love to read more of her adventures

Death from the Sandman series - I love this interpretation of this character. She’s not the intimidating figure of Death that we’re used to seeing, but there’s something about her that’s just as strong. Sure, she acts the big sister to Dream and other members of the Endless, sure, she’s a lot of fun through a lot of the series, but when she has to be serious, she definitely means business. She’s willing to keep doing her job through all eternity, and for the most part isn’t really bothered by it. And she’s also willing to put Dream in his place – something that would mean dire consequences for most people or immortals. Let’s not forget that in the first volume it was HER that the cultists were trying to capture and not her brother – and Dream explicitly states that they’re very lucky they got him instead.

Jessica from The Crossing by Joe McKinney - As soon as I started reading the book, I was sucked in and intrigued by this character. She’s a stark contrast to the narrator: she lives in the infected zone, so she not only has to keep on the run from zombies, but she has to deal with the elements, survival, plus the fact that she’s a woman. While trying to find coyotes (people who help those in the infected zone into safe territory), she’s nearly subjected to some awful behavior at the hands of some really deplorable guys. While the narrator panics, she coolly dispatches them. You can tell that the whole of her experiences in the zone have affected her because she’s so capable at surviving. What really puts her over the edge into this category is not just that she’s smart, strong, and fast, but ultimately what she chooses to do once she crosses back into the rest of the United States. Never has the phrase you can’t go home again ever been so ominous, yet she makes her decision and accepts it as readily as she’s done everything else throughout the book.

While I will admit that you have to do more to just survive to be on this list, I like a lot of these entries because they manage to deal with not only the horrors their fighting against, but also every day atrocities. Ellen Ripley is a mother faced with loss. Clarice Starling has to deal with something of a glass ceiling and job politics. Buffy has her calling and her daily life. Pearl is determined to stay with her husband and remain in love even though it’s a very dangerous prospect. Jessica deals with not only the hardships of survival, does it doubly so because of her gender, but ultimately does the bravest action in the whole damn book. Sonja Blue has to face every aspect of her old life vs.the horrors and complexities of her new life, plus the looming of her vampire part of her mind she calls The Other. Whether their actions are overt or subtle, manipulative or tough as nails, these gals are not messing around.

It’s the end of the world as we read it…

Well, hopefully we’re all still here! I know, I know, everyone’s heard quite enough about the end of the world by now. The thing is, though…it’s a hell of a plot device. I have to admit that when I was in my early teens, I went through a stage where I overdosed on all things post apocalyptic (specializing in Schwarzzeneger films, though I wasn’t picky) and I still really get a kick out of the topic. I don’t know what it is…I certainly wouldn’t WANT to go through something like that, but it’s a great metaphor for the human condition. Plus, in those types of books/movies/whatever you usually get to put a lot of great personalities up against each other. And there are so many ways things COULD go wrong, there really is never going to be a loss of ideas for this genre. So in honor of the Mayans, today I present my list of some of my favorite post apocalyptic/end of the world type fiction (that I can think of right now).

The qualifications for this list isn’t big…it just has to involve a huge change in human society or an end of the world type scenario. Granted, this is far from a full list (since I haven’t read EVERYTHING on the subject).

- The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury – a series of shorts revolving around man’s escape to Mars around the time of implied nuclear destruction of earth. Does a fabulous job of bringing up a lot of shortcomings/high points of humanity by placing people against an unfamiliar backdrop. The first story, especially, which involves a Martian couple is just heartbreaking, while other tales are downright chilling.

- Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – thus proving the end of the world is just the beginning of a grand space adventure. Hilarious, ridiculous, and thought-provoking, this series was a high point of my high school years. It definitely makes you wonder about people a few times.

- World War Z by Max Brooks – Zombie Apocalypse anyone? The whole book revolves on the zombie war and the restructuring of humanity afterwards – by far one of the best worldwide zombie books I’ve EVER read. The movie will never be able to do it justice.

- Walking Dead – I’m still reading the comic series (haven’t gotten to the TV series yet), and I love how this focuses on the personalities and how they clash or mesh with each new conflict. This is by far an excellent series, really sophisticated and it doesn’t treat the genre lightly, which I appreciate.  Basically deals with a group of survivors after a zombie plague and their various struggles to stay alive and find safety.

- I am Legend by Richard Matheson – Please read this, even if you’ve watched the movie. Read this instead of watching the movie. Just trust me. While parts of the most recent attempt at putting this on screen were very good, the ending isn’t true to the book at all and destroys the entire buildup of the first part of the movie. There’s so many levels to this book, from the main character’s solitary quest to the twist at the end.

- Total Oblivion, More or Less by Alan De Niro – This is one of those titles that isn’t for everyone. I love it, and I love the fact that I’m not quite sure whether to take it as tongue in cheek or completely serious. The idea of the world ending by random vikings and electricity mysteriously giving out and a family rafting down the Mississippi is awesome. The plot twist of plague being thrown in is even more fascinating. There are definitely very serious elements to this book, not so serious elements, and some that just plain make you wonder what the hell is going on. It’s a great combination, and a title I enjoyed a lot.

 

Now there are a couple that I haven’t read yet that I really want to…Mainly…

The Stand by Stephen King – I know, how have I not read this? The huge scope of this book intrigues and terrifies me a little bit, but it is on The List.

Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham – I first heard about this title in a Japanese short story I had a translation to, and it took me a while to realize it was a real book. I have to admit, I’m intrigued by the double whammy plot: humanity losing their eyesight from a comet and then becoming susceptible to killer plants. I’m definitely interested in reading this one.

 

So what am I missing? (and I know I’m missing a lot!) What are some of your end of the world type titles?

 

Music Monday: NKOTB’s Life Lessons Pt.2

So in some regards, my stubbornness and ability to stick to my guns was…maybe not born from being a NKOTB fan, but that definitely helped. For better or worse, those hazings because of my fan status probably make it a little hard for me to get vocally into any fandom these days…I’m always a little afraid of talking to groups of fans, whether it be of a music group or a movie/fandom, because I’m well-aware of how some people can get, and I think we’ve all scene that I probably don’t need any more drama in my life on that front. I like what I like but I’m generally going to be quiet about it until I know how people are, that kind of thing.

Memories of those daily dramas showed up again when I was thirteen – by that time I’d moved on to other interests, but I’d kept my tapes and still listened to them now and again for nostalgia’s sake. And then when people found out…yep. Certain classes like gym and home ec took on whole other dimensions of hell…partially because of drama I created for myself (I was still learning how to navigate friendships, especially when friends liked me but didn’t like each other). By that time, though, I knew it wasn’t permanent. I was slowly discovering that you can keep walking through the damndest things if you can just hang on for a while.

More time passed, and through the years I…didn’t forget about that part of my life, but I think I put it away. The band seemed to be over, and I’d moved on (though it was great training for becoming a David Bowie fan in a small town).

So when news of the reunion tours started…I was apprehensive. I hoped it would go well. I wanted things to go well, because deep down I still loved the band. The only reason I really haven’t been to a show is because family things needed to be taken care of, health got in the way for a bit, and I just plain missed the boat, so to speak. I still have never been to a NKOTB show, which is a shame because I think it would be fun, and a good bookend to that early part of my life. But que sera and all that crud.

Anyway, as I’ve grown into adulthood, as I’ve tracked down the albums again…I’ve discovered something. Listening to those tunes…my god, it’s like a time machine. It’s like I’m back in my hometown, attempting (badly) to do cartwheels or running through the sprinkler with popsicles with my friends, listening to the tapes. Those songs…I get people may think they’re simplistic or silly, but dude, don’t you think we need that sometimes? I want to be able to put cares and problems away and just enjoy myself. I like going back to that time when I could believe in those lyrics.

I will admit, though, that I have burned all the upbeat songs onto a CD so I could have a break from the love songs. Being a terminally single (and headstrong) chick, sometimes that gets to be a little too much. However, I have noticed a certain quirk…

It started when I walked a bit more and would listen to the greatest hits album while attempting to jog without dying. There are some great beats in those songs, but there’s one in particular that took me right back to my egotistical pre-teen self…

For whatever reason, when I listen to The Right Stuff, I stand taller, strut better, I just…I have no idea. I don’t know why that song suddenly makes me feel like the most amazing female on two legs, but there it is. I don’t know if it’s connected to how I felt about the tune when I was younger…god knows my group of pals and I thought we were IT back then. Seriously, it’s amazing and hilarious how awesome kids’ egos are. We were completely convinced that we were the type of girls worthy of having those songs written about us. And yes, we weren’t even like thirteen yet. Like I said, awesomely delusional. I wish I could bottle that ego and spray it on me now when I need it.

Interestingly enough, I didn’t always feel that way about the other relationship songs. I mean I got love, I got longing and all that – I think people of all ages are wired to feel those things. But some songs…just felt too big. Too…out of my league. Something. Cover Girl was the big offender at the time…I was very aware that there was no way my gawky, preteen, awkward self could be considered that amazing. What was interesting was that when I started listening to these songs again  much (much much MUCH) later, I still felt that way…maybe not insignificant, but not up to par. Needless to say, I skipped over it for the longest time…until it actually came up on a local radio station known for playing anything. Stuck in traffic, I didn’t want to lift a hand off the wheel and change the channel, so I was forced to actually listen to the words. And somehow…that little egotistical part of me from way back in reared it’s head. It was time to do something about that insecure part of myself, time to take things in hand. I mean, if I didn’t feel deserving of myself, then who the hell else would?

I’m known for my flippant remarks at times, and one of my mainstays is commenting that whatever song that comes on the radio was really written about me. I apply this to the Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, hair bands, and everything in between. In some ways it’s a smart-ass joke…because yeah, sure, I’m really the type of girl featured in hair band videos. Sure. And yet…it’s an ego boost. So that day in traffic, that long-lost ego decided to claim Cover Girl for my own and not look back. It’s one of my faves now, and I’ve stopped feeling left out when I hear it. I mean hell, I’ve got myself, so that’s something.

It’s interesting to me that a “boy band” could teach someone to stand by what’s important to them, just like it’s interesting that even at this old, decrepit age I can learn how to be a little easier on myself, even love myself a bit more by hearing certain songs in a new light. But I suppose that’s the beauty of music in general, and what makes a really good song…it speaks to all types of different people, and makes it easy for any type of person to claim it for their own.

 

Music Monday: NKOTB’s life lessons pt 1

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Music Monday, but something happened the other day that made me realize I still have something to talk about.

And if you’re cringing or surprised at the title…look, I have a wide range of tastes. It may be a little odd to see that the classical music elitist/musical theatre girl turned classic rocker chick also has a taste for boy bands, but hey, I grew up in the eighties. It was bound to happen.

So what spawned this new post and why am I bringing it up now?

I was at the library the other day, thumbing through the new titles, gleeing over the new Zeppelin bio and some other things when lo and behold, I came across an NKOTB bio. At first it was like seeing an old friend at the other end of the hallway. You know the drill, the person you kind of squint to make sure what you’re seeing isn’t a mirage. The whole “Is that…it IS you! Well how the hell are you doing?!” Kinda deal. I mean I haven’t been living under a rock…I’ve heard and like the new stuff, I saw all the new tv appearances, I haven’t been to a reunion show (more on that later), but it’s the first time I really came face to face with the fact that yeah, they’re still around and that’s for real. It wasn’t something I’d thought about until now.

The second thought was more of a flash of panic as I plucked the thick title out…a panic that directly contradicted my glee. Somewhere, from the dark recesses of my mind a thought bubbled up. A thought that was something to the effect of..

Crap, I’d better hide this under something else and check it out before anyone sees and can pummel me in the bathroom…

Thing is, when I was like ten or eleven, I’d just moved to a new area. New town, new people, new demographic. This was probably at the height of the NKOTB storm, and like any good little tween fangirl, I had a fair amount of merch and had no problem showing it off. It was what girls did at my old school. It wasn’t just expected, it was all there was to talk about (or listen to if you could smuggle a tape deck out to recess).

The new school? Hoo, boy, not so much. This was very much the land of country music, and other groups (whose names escape me now) were the kings. So what did this mean?

It meant I got the crap knocked out of me daily for liking a music group.

Not always literally, mind you…there are only a few occasions when I can directly remember someone (or someones…tween girls tend to move in packs) putting their hands on me. If I wasn’t ducking out of range, then I definitely heard about how inferior, awful, disgusting, and worthless my tastes (and therefore how worthless I) was. Now it seems petty and ridiculous. Back then I was trying so hard to be liked, while also probably being one of the most awkward preteen girls in the history of the species. Seriously, I had no sense of anything. It definitely was a time when individuality and quirkiness were not appreciated, not by peers and not by adults in the system, either. I never quite figured out if the daily tauntings and hazings would have happened to me no matter what (probably), and if the school system let it happen because it was the day and age of letting people work out their own problems…I’d even venture to say that some people probably thought I’d learn to act like everyone else faster if they let things take their course. (Ha, guess who won that battle…)

Of course, this presented a problem…did I give up what I loved, what I was comfortable with just to try to make people like me? We’ve all done it…said what people want to hear just to get them to leave us alone (or to accept us). Or did I stick to my guns and enjoy what genuinely made me happy. I know people have said countless things about New Kids on the Block, but their music genuinely makes me happy. It was a safe haven when I came home, it was some shred of acceptance and good stuff offered up by someone other than my family who had to like me because we were related. Granted, the whole conundrum probably screwed me up for a while, but I have to say that looking back I’m amazed that I made the choice I did…

I can still remember an art assignment where we had to choose our favorite band and embellish the logo the teacher drew for us with different geometric shapes and patterns. It probably didn’t help that the list of my fave bands included a lot of hair metal and random acts like Lionel Riche (whom fifth graders at that point didn’t listen to…), but it really didn’t help that I chose to proclaim my adoration and support of…you guessed it…New Kids on the Block. Even the art teacher asked me if I really, really wanted to publicly make that choice.

I would like to say people admired my stubbornness, my attempt to remain true to myself. I’d love to say everything was great after that and I started making friends and life was hunky dory. Nope, that was the day I got jumped in the bathroom. It really didn’t help that I tried to throw their insecurities back in their faces…yeah…if there’s anything worse than an awkward, whiny chick it’s one that acts like she knows everything as tries to be arrogant, too.

At any rate, despite the confusion of that time period, despite the hell I probably put myself through to a certain extent…it prepared me for a lot of life that lay ahead.  One of the qualities I pride myself in is my tenaciousness. Those who know me well know I’ve gotten through my share of difficult situations and when I believe in an idea I don’t back down. I just don’t. I may back off, I may bide my time, but I don’t put it out of my mind.

I really don’t hold a grudge anymore, either. Kids are kids, and I’m sure people who let it happen thought they were helping to make me socially savvy, a trial by fire sort of deal. I wouldn’t repeat the situation, and I will admit that I’m always keeping my eyes open and looking out for the underdog – especially those who aren’t quite prepared to defend themselves or perhaps go about it the wrong way.

I’ve gotten a little savvier about it through the years. I don’t let people run roughshod over me just because I happen to like certain things. I don’t let people degrade me because we have different opinions. That has changed. But now, hearing songs like Hangin’ Tough and No More Games…well, I have to admit, they’ve become mantras in a sense. I walk to them, jog to them, blast them when I’m sewing if I’m frustrated. They started out as songs to cling to in depressing times, and they’ve become ways to vent my frustration at things bigger than myself. And ways to remind myself that I’m a hell of a lot stronger than I think I am sometimes.

Autumn Harvest Blog Hop

I love autumn. It’s my favorite season. Everything is changing, people start coming together, it’s easy to appreciate the beauty of nature. This is the season where I want to be outside all the time (if it isn’t too rainy), the season I love pulling out my sweaters and hoodies. It’s also the season for reading.

What is it about fall that inspires us to curl up in blankets, snuggle up with a mug of something, and read all day? What is it about the chilly weather that makes it easier to plunge into the pages and other worlds? Does something about the crisp fall air inspire magic? Does it make our minds more susceptible to belief? Is it because we haven’t reached the stress of the holiday season and can really enjoy the changing of the seasons? I’m not sure what it is, but I love it. I read all genres during the fall – I crave all genres. Horror, chick lit, manga, YA, urban fantasy, cozy mysteries…bring ‘em on! I love the possibility of fall, and even reading about fall brings me a little bit of peace of mind.

What are your favorite fall titles? Do you like curling up with a book or some new titles on the ereader this time of year like I do? Do you crave certain genres or will anything do?

And of course, we can’t have a blog hop without a giveaway, soooo…be sure to leave a comment (With Your Email!)  What will you be entered for? Well first off, you’ll be in the running for the main hop contest where you could win one of the grand prizes:

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Be sure to hit as many blogs as you can – each comment on a blog enters you for the grand prizes, so you can enter more than 200 times!!

Now, for my giveaway….whoever comments on my blog will be entered to win a PDF copy of my first novel, In the Red! This is one of the few times I’ve offered the book as a giveaway away from the official blog tours, so you definitely want to get in on this! Curious about the title? Then check out my official trailer…

Be sure to check out the hop website link or  linky list below for all the other awesome blogs involved on this hop, and thanks for stopping by!

You can check out the rest of the hop sites HERE or use the linky list below!

1. Carrie Ann Ryan	2. Lia Davis	3. Fated Desires
4. Heartthrob Haven	5. Cozy Mysteries, Crazy Life	6. Savannah Chase
7. Gabrielle Bisset, Erotic Paranormal Romance	8. Sandra Sookoo	9. Rosanna Leos Room
10. Eden Connor	11. Melisse Aires	12. ReneeField Blogpost
13. Carolyn Rosewood	14. Twinkle Lights	15. Stacey Joy Netzel – Author
16. Lynn Myshe Joseph	17. Jazmine Devyne	18. Aine @ House Millar
19. Cate Dean – Author	20. dlindunauthor. blogspot. com/	21. Jesse Kimmel-Freeman
22. Bella Street Writes	23. Jenna Jaxon	24. Cynthia Woolfs Blog
25. Carrie-Annes Magick Theatre	26. Maureen Fisher: Sassy Romances & Smokin Hot Heroe	27. Stacey Brutger
28. Cari Quinn	29. Dana Delamar – Gritty, Steamy Romantic Suspense	30. Rebel Writer: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
31. Kristina Knight, Romance Author	32. DeAnna Felthauser	33. 3 Through History: Love in the Time of Republicans
34. Daryl Devore	35. Greg Carrico, Live the Story	36. [Insert clever quip here]
37. Debbie Behan Fantasy Author	38. Romance The Book Blog	39. Debs Daydreams
40. Kristal Baird Erotic Romance	41. karen Y. bynum	42. Stephanie Queen
43. Liz Matis – Tao of Liz	44. T. C. Archer	45. Tarah Scott
46. Amber Kallyn	47. Natasha Blackthorne ~ Erotic Historical Romance	48. Lynn Cahoon – A Member of the Council
49. J. K. s Blog (Julie Kenner/J. K. Beck/J. Kenner)	50. Karen McCulloughs blog	51. Writing with Kristine Cayne
52. Natalie G. Owens	53. Musings of an Independent Artist	54. Christina Phillips aka Christina Ashcroft
55. Margay Leah Justice	56. Mollys Musings	57. Jordan L. Hawk
58. KittysInnerThoughts	59. Janice Seagraves, Romance Writer	60. Diane Burton ~ out of this world adventures
61. Susan Frances	62. Tmonique Stephens	63. Tmonique Stephens
64. Doris OConnor	65. Love is a Many Flavored Thing (DC Juris)	66. Author Rosa Sophia
67. bookswagger. com	68. Zee Monodee	69. Lolita Lopez
70. Ann Grant	71. Ranae Rose	72. ptmacias. blogspot. com/
73. ptmacias. com	74. Hotter Than Blood Erotica	75. She Likes it Verbal
76. Do You Want Mayo With That?	77. C. I. Macias Author	78. Feathers Passion
79. Cocktails and Books (INT)	80. Suzan Butler	81. starr words
82. H. C. Brown Author Of Sizzling Romance	83. Selah Janel	84. Reviews By Molly
85. Black Velvet Seductions Readers Blog	86. Lindsay Avalon	87. DeAnna Felthauser
88. Hennessee Andrews	89. Malia Mallory	90. Im kinda a big deal. . .
91. Tory Richards	92. Kimbers Life	93. Romancing History
94. Adriana Kraft	95. Alexandra OHurley	96. Lucy Felthouse
97. L. B. Shire. com	98. Suzzana C Ryan Erotica	99. Madeline Sloane
100. Tami Brothers – Live, Love, Write! (Int)	101. Krystal Shannan ~ Where Love and Destiny Collide	102. My Reading Obsession
103. Deb Sanders	104. I Love Shape-Shifters. com	105. Book Review Diva
106. Mrs Mommy Booknerds Book Reviews	107. Angelica Dawson	108. SMARTMOUTHTEXAN (US)
109. Kacey Hammell	110. Deanna Lynn sletten	111. Harvest New Books
112. Tara Mills Romance	113. A Passion for Romance	114. Reading Reality
115. Mia Downing	116. SnifferWalk	117. Hot Listens (INT)
118. Monique Morgan – Author (Int)	119. Romance and Beyond	120. Thea Landen
121. Dianne Hartsock	122. Dani Wade	123. Paranormal Hotness – Author H. A. fowler
124. Alicia and Roy Street	125. The Cats Mreauow	126. Katherine Kingstons Blog
127. Kim Carmichaels Blog	128. JJordan	129. Charlene Blogs
130. Nancy Reece – Blonde Not Dumb	131. Gem Sivad	132. Lacey Wolfe
133. Authors Cookin On A Dime	134. Kharisma Rhayne	135. Author Kissa Starling
136. Jen McConnel	137. Celia Kyle, Erotic Romance Author	138. Author Alexa Grace Website
139. Cera duBois	140. Romance Writer Sara Walter Ellwood	141. L. C. Giroux -Steamy Romance -Smart, Sexy, Fun
142. Blackravens Erotic Cafe (INT)	143. Blackravens Reviews (INT)	144. AJs Reading Nook (INT)
145. The Readers Roundtable (INT)	146. Dark Divas Reviews (INT)	147. HEA Romances with a Little Kick (INT)
148. Dana Mason Romance	149. Nikki Prince	150. Sweetest Taboo Book Blog
151. Mimmis Musings	152. Deena Remiels Place	153. SJ Thomas – Writing Paranormal Romance
154. The Creepy Chills and Sexy Thrills of Halloween	155. Karyn Good	156. Wendy Ely
157. Paty Jager	158. Life is a First Draft	159. Gloria Harchars Blog
160. Vanessa Morgan (INT)	161. Toni Kenyon	162. K. E. Saxon
163. Naughty but Nice	164. KC Klein Romance With an Edge	165. Intentional Insights – Q&A From Within
166. Fierce Dolans Writing Utopia	167. Candace Shaw, author fun, flirty and sexy romance	168. Cathryn Cades Blog
169. Books Amour	170. Michelle Clay ~ Paranormal Romance Author	171. Reginamayrosss Blog
172. Shay Lacy	173. Constance Phillips, A Writers Musings	174. Victoria Adams
175. Juliette Springs. . The Darker Side of Romance	176. Ally Thomas	177. Victoria Embers, Author of My Vampire Lover series
178. Bonnie Bliss	179. Louisa Bacio — Love Knows No Bounds	180. Sadie Hart
181. Words are Timeless	182. Anastasia Vitsky, Governing Ana	183. Word Affair – Barbara Winkes
184. Taryn Kincaid	185. Vanna Smythe – Fatnasy Author	186. Sandra Bunino
187. ST Bende	188. RomCon (Romance Readers Convention)	189. MK McClintock Blog (Int)
190. Ambrielle Kirk	191. Jane Wakely	192. Beth D. Carter
193. J. R. Pearse Nelson	194. Karen Erickson Romance Author	195. Paranormal Romance Author with a Thing for Wings
196. Cynthia Gail	197. Yellow Sky Dispatches	198. Bunk House Heat
199. Melthegreatest Blogspot	200. Ute Carbone	201. Critters at the Keyboard . . .
202. Beth Yarnall	203. Romancing The Law	204. lovebychocolate
205. Harvest Blog Hop	206. J. D. Faver~Bad Girls Need Love Too	207. Tara Manderino
208. Elke Feuer	209. Jennifer Conner Best Selling Romance Author	210. Kindlehooked
211. Author Carol DeVaney	212. Passionate about Books	213. Official Site of Allison Cassatta
214. Bridgette OHare-Harlequin Finalist/Paranormal Rom	215. Lisa Rayns	216. All About High Heat Romance
217. Melinda Dozier – Contemporary Romance Author (INT)	218. Cherry Home Decor and a Book Giveaway!	219. Alexandra Anthony-The Vampire Destiny Series
220. Daring Adventures In Writing – Morticia Knight	221. Timeless Quills ~ Historical Romance	222. Rohn Federbush (INT)

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Howloween Blog Hop!

You may not realize it if you follow this blog, but I stinkin’ love Halloween. (heh. heh. heh.) There’s something freeing about this time of year, whether it’s walking through the leaves or wondering what’s grabbing your leg while you’re trying to rake them. (What? You don’t do that to people?)

I actually grew up quite the scaredy-cat, so it’s the joke of the universe that I’ve turned into a horror aficionado. I love all the possibilities, though. There are far less limits in horror than there are in a lot of other genres. It’s a chance to let the imagination run wild. Halloween’s a lot like that for me, too. I turn into a romanticist this time of year…everything is beautiful, everything is crisp and cool and happy and cuddly. Apples are snappy, doughnuts are cakey, the air is just right, and I get to make whatever costume my heart desires!

Still, I miss the days where kids actually trick or treated at night (I know, right?), and were encouraged to be creative in their outfits. I miss the days when specials were on every day up til Halloween and there wasn’t any fuss about whether Halloween should even be a holiday. Of COURSE it should! When else can we face our fears! When else can we laugh at skeletons and dance with vampires? When can we face our mortality head on and make a celebration of it?

I was lucky as a kid – we were encouraged to make our own outfits, help decorate the house (I used to run around imagining I was a witch for a full month), we participated in community events…it was a big deal. It was a lot of fun before winter set in, a chance to let your energy and imagination loose before we were cooped up for months and months. My mom had a special touch with crafts and could turn tights and stuffing and cloth into a life-size (well six-year-old size) mummy. We hung ghosts in the trees, made scarecrows, decorated the huge picture window with leaves that sparkled in the sun…it was awesome. It was a chance to see my parents as people who could have fun and not just Mom and Dad.

So how about you? What’s your favorite part of Halloween? Do you still wish you could trick or treat? Do you live for carving pumpkins? Are you a party person and have to rock the most elaborate costume ever?

Be sure to comment (and leave your email) for a chance to win a FREE PDF copy of my vampire/horror story, Mooner! PLEASE NOTE – Your comment has to be on THIS POST to qualify, which is why I’m making it sticky.

Like many young men at the end of the 1800s Bill has signed on to work in a logging camp to earn a fast paycheck to start his life. Unfortunately his role model is Big John, the camp’s golden boy known for blowing his pay as fast as he makes it. On a cold Saturday night they enter Red’s Saloon to forget the work that takes the sweat and the lives of so many. Red may have plans for their whiskey money, but something else lurks in the shadows, something that badly wants a drink that has nothing to do with alcohol. Can Bill make it back out the shabby door or does someone have their own plans for his future?

Click the cover for more info!

And if you want to trick or treat to more of the blog hop, be sure to check out the list at the Blog Hop Spot!

NBP Back to School Blog Hop!

Oh, school. How I do not miss you. Don’t get me wrong, there were things I liked about it, but it took me a long time to realize that I liked school because I thought I was supposed to. It didn’t mean I actually did. I was just too much of a goody goody at the time to do anything different.

Partially I suffered various types of bullying as a kid, and I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect. There were good times: school musicals (before I took them too seriously), field trips, and English projects.

I will always be the grand high queen of the project, especially if it was English or literature. That was an area where I could easily go above and beyond, and I may admit to taking great relish in wiping the floor with my classmates, because it was one of the few areas I could actually beat them at anything. There was the time I bound my own children’s book (with jacket and illustrations, and it was YA novel length), the time I made pioneer food for the class and a hand-bound journal of a trip my group took in a covered wagon, the senior anthology project that ended up taking two volumes and was an exploration of the masks people wear to get through life (no I’m not making that up. I was pretty done with all attempts at a social life by the time I was seventeen), and then there was the time I brought a life-size dummy of a corpse to school..

Oh, the good old days when you could get away with things like that. This was also a senior project, for a speech segment. We had to do some sort of presentation and I think I did a speech from Shakespeare’s Cymbiline (as one does). Anyway, the character Imogen is mourning what she thinks is her husband (he’s beheaded, she can’t tell it isn’t him), and I got it in my head that I needed a dead body. My parents had this mannequin torso from a haunted house, so we put leggings and a tunic on him, stuffed the arms and legs and gave him glove hands, painted the neck, and I actually dragged that thing through the halls of school and never once got taken to the principal’s office/had the cops called on me/got expelled/got suspended/etc.

Actually, people considered it quirky behavior for me to drag a life-size dead body down the hall along with my giant backpack. It probably had something to do with the fact that he was floppy and dressed up in Shakespearean garb. Oh, the good old days. I don’t remember what I got on my speech (yes I do, I’m pretty sure it was an A), but I’m pretty sure I had more fun dragging that thing places and putting him in teacher’s chairs before the bell rang than I did actually doing the speech.

I know, I can’t believe people thought I was cute back then, either.

So in celebration of the good old days, let’s get to the contest!

In the comments, tell me your favorite school memory – it can be from any grade, good or bad. Also leave your email. I shall put it through the randomizer, and the winner will have their choice of my NBP titles in PDF form!

Be sure to check out the rest of the awesome people on this hop!

1.	Selah Janel	2.	Zillah Anderson
3.	Ellie Potts	4.	Kharisma Rhayne
5.	Michael Mandrake	6.	Erica Pike
7.	Samantha Drane	8.	Dakota Trace
9.	Ray Sostre	10.	toy davis
11.	Love is a Many Flavored Thing	12.	Topaz Promotions