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Archive for January, 2012

Medusa, A Love Story Book Trailer

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

My book doesn’t have a release date yet, but that didn’t stop me from having a blast making the below trailer…

Keep in mind that I didn’t spend any money on it so it’s NOT Hollywood caliber awesomeness. No, this is ‘mom who came home to her computer after dropping off kid four and spending all day creating said video (having way too much fun) until she realized it was time to go pick up kids again’ kind of awesomeness. Which is still kind of awesome, right?

I’ll now admit that I was so caught up in it, there was still coffee left in my cup at 2:30. I know. I KNOW. How crazy is that?

Anyway, after some very supportive input, I’ve tweaked the images, music and timing. I like it. I imagine there might be another (dare I say BETTER) one before the book comes out.

I guess this was me taking a creative break without totally taking a break??

Medusa, A Love Story

This isn’t ‘live’ on YouTube yet, you guys are my test audience. So, sound off.

Does it make you want to read the book?

Does it hold your attention?

Suggestions are welcome. Enthusiastic praise and flattery highly encouraged!

 

 

Underworld 4 – End of a Love Affair

Friday, January 20th, 2012

I’m starting with positives:

Kate Beckinsale, you are one of the most beautiful women ever. IF my books are ever made into a movie, you must play one of my Goddesses! Because I adore you. And the following review makes me sad…

 

Now we’ll move on the the negatives: (SPOILERS – Alert! – SPOILERS!) – You’ve been warned…

I am so so sad. Because, when I grow up (a long, long time from now), I wanted to be Selene, the kick-butt yet justice dealing Death-dealer – at least for Halloween…

Now, well, not so much. At least not Selene from U4… Selene from U1 & U2 (and snippets of U3) – I’ll always adore!

Underworld 4 is bad.

It’s not just the lack of:

the lack of Michael (real Michael, not stand-in CGI Michael)

the grainy dark filming style

the MUSIC – the same haunting, mood-inducing theme and filler music from the first 3

Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen

or rain…

It’s not only because out of a 90 minute movie, 45 minutes (maybe more) heard less than three lines of dialogue but saw Selene being thrown into various shatter-able things. Or that Selene, who is smokin hot, spent half the time looking smokin hot in slow motion – close-up, panoramic, running, walking, standing, posing, looking thoughtful, looking angry, looking… You get the picture. Again, she’s hot, but Selene is more than that. She’s kick-butt judge and jury, the fighter on the side of ‘right’. Not at all as she is portrayed in U4:  she’s a killing machine (like cold-blooded, cruel, murder kind of kill) humans, lycans, vampires – you name it. Which was wrong!

So so sad… *Sigh*… Next…

It wasn’t that Selene and Micheal’s daughter (who we were told at least three times was ‘unique’… kind of like her father?) looked like a Monster High doll when she did her shape-shifting, look at my fangs pose.

And, if she’d never been outside of the clinic for her 12 yr existence, why did she have a British accent? Her caretakers didn’t. Is it in the vampire gene, perhaps? It’s a puzzle.

 

It wasn’t the elder of the vampire clan that tried way too hard to be Bill Nighy… Can anyone other than Bill Nighy pull this off? No, no they can’t.

It might have been the super-gigantic giggle inducing lycan. It might have been the newly ‘tweaked’ lycan look. It might have been the all-too-predictable side story of father-son, Dr and gigantic giggle inducing son – or their abysmal performances.

It was a combination of all of the above. It was just bad.

I MISSED you Scott Speedman.

 

But, after watching this film, I understand why you sat this one out.  I’m so so sad…

 

Series Planning

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

I’m grappling with timelines.

My series books are completely independant from one another, but there are overlapping incidents.

This shouldn’t be too big a deal, but it’s getting to be. Kind of. Becuase I know that readers will spot any inconsistencies or flubs I make and I don’t want to disappoint or lose any readers.

For example, I’m very clear about each of my Olympians’ ticks and features, down to eye-color. So if, for example, Poseidon has the palest blue eyes in Book 1 and 2, he certainly can’t have grey eyes in book 3. I realize this is a dumbed down example, but you get the point.

How to keep the events ordered and clear?

Note cards?

 

Software? (I will totally use software if it will make me as happy as the woman in the picture!!!)

 

 

Story Bible?

I’d love to hear what’s been most successful for you. If you’re in a sharing mood that is :) ??

Mom Post

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Things I never thought I’d hear from my kids:

  • “My teacher was making a model to explain gravity with a penny and hanger. But she was worried that the penny might fly off and hit one of us. This is the same teacher that set the kid on fire…”
  • “Look, over there, that’s the boob mall.”
  • “There’s this wicken chick in my class…”
  • “I didn’t say I didn’t do it. I’m just saying I don’t remember doing it.”
  • “I had a dream I was bitten by a cobra and you didn’t act like it was a big deal.”
  • “I don’t know how to go back and get more monkeys, but the chain needs to be longer.”
  • “Hey, hey now, that was unnecessary.”
  • “Not cool, Mom, not cool.”

Motherhood = the cure to boredom.

 

 

The Importance of Book Trailers

Monday, January 9th, 2012

I didn’t know they (they = professional book trailers) existed. I mean, they’re a big deal. There are awards for book trailers? Go figure.

(I’m not talking about fan trailers, which are super cool BECAUSE a FAN loved your work so much they MADE a trailer!!! That is one of the coolest things, ever!)

Apparently I live in a cave. One I must venture out of to embrace and pursue all things concerning digital promotions and social media… Lots and lots and lots of work to do.

Anyway, One of my critique partners was about to release her debut album (Sandy Williams engrossing urban fantasy ’The Shadow Reader’ – you can but it here) and I found her book trailer on YouTube. I was stunned. Being the film lover I am, I was totally jazzed about this innovative way to sell your book.

IF people know they exist, of course ;)

Not all book trailers are created equal. I clicked on to the next one if it didn’t hold my interest and winced when one was poorly acted. Other things that I found distracting – trailers that didn’t tie in or ‘fit’ with the book cover, didn’t really show you what the book was about. Or, even worse, misled you about what the book was about.

It’s given me food for thought. I’d like to make a trailer – but only if it’s really good.

Here is one that I loved. It’s fun, quality of the work that captures the books vibe.

Thoughts are welcome. If you’ve made one, were you pleased? Do you think it helped with sales? Any faves you want to share? Authors, this is a time to post your link! Don’t be shy ;)

 

 

 

 

Where do they come from?

Saturday, January 7th, 2012

As a newly signed author, I still blush profusely when I tell people I’m going to be published. Then, almost 100% of the time, they’ll ask, “Where do your ideas come from?”

For me,  all over the place! Dreams, songs, movies, trips, or conversations. A glimpse of something that needs revealing – and I’m there…

I have a passion for tragic love stories. Maybe it comes from growing up as an Air Force kid – travel is an inspiring tool. Maybe it comes from spending a lot of my childhood in the community theaters in which may parents performed. Or maybe it’s because I have a heightened sense of imagination. I like to live in my head. Some of the best conversations i’ve ever had were with characters… Is this a good thing? I’m not going to analyze! :)

My Greek series started with a song. This song (before being tied in to the Water for Elephants trailer) stirred such vivid images that I HAD to put them on paper. Thank you Florence! And once I did, Medusa’s story was born. In the time it took me to drive home from my critique group (the amazing Shake A Spear ladies that are the reason I stuck to it) in Dallas, I was bursting with the need to write.

Tragic? No doubt. We’re talking Medusa. BUT, beautifully so :) . Of course, you’ll have to read it to determine that for yourself ;)

So, tell me – fellow writer’s and artists – where do you get your inspiration??

 

I’m a Princess

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Social Media and Networking is a daunting task. If  you’re like me, you’re okay on the computer – FB, blogs, and occasional tweets (still have a LOT to learn there). So the idea of working with other like minded people, people you know and admire, is supremely appealing.

It’s with sheer delight to share that I’m now a Plotting Princess!

 

Plotting Princesses

 

This blog offers a lot. Writing advice, interviews, insight into the profession, or personal anecdotes from the lovely ladies that are the Plotting Princesses. And now i get to be one of them - Yippee!

:) I’m not at all excited.

Keep a look out for my postings there AND continue to visit me here, too. I now have two ways to share my brilliant reviews and heart-stopping life events with you. I know, I know, you’re thrilled too ;) !

 

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Number #1 wanted to see the newest Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol movie for her 15th (she’s a New Year’s Eve baby). I wasn’t excited – it’s one of those franchises that was on the tedious side.

But then I saw that The Simon Pegg was going to be in it. And, even with Paul, I adore Mr. Pegg so singularly that I felt (almost) excited about sitting through two hours of Tom Cruise indulging his ego.

What I watched was anything but an ego trip. I have to say I enjoyed every minute. Tom was in great shape, but willing to admit that he was a bit less invulnerable than he’d tried to be in the last two MI films. The plot was coherent, too. Which was very nice.

But it was the cast that made this film so great. Simon Pegg was fantastic (YAY!), but Jeremy Renner, and Paula Patton (WOW!) rocked it. From the chick that was vulnerable while remaining believably capable at kicking butt, to the smart and sensitive ex-op agent who carries a heavy secret – these guys played their characters without coming across cliched or tried and true.

And, yes, Mr.Cruise was back on top. Good job, Tom. And Congratulations on a stellar movie!

Looking for a movie outing? This won’t disappoint.

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