In honor of the Oscars airing tonight, I thought I'd start a new gig, as they say in show business, called Movie Sunday, Lights, Camera, Action, and touch on books that have been made into movies or television series. Today, I'm talking about One for the Money written by Janet Evanovich.
First up: One For the Money! I first discovered Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series when I lived in California. Fortunately for me, Janet was already on her 10th Plum story and I was able to read all 9 one right after the other, thanks to my local library. Since that time, I've been hooked. So hooked that I've tried to emulate her writing in my contemporary romances. Once, while in the airport waiting for my plane to take off, I saw a woman I thought was Janet and stalked this poor thing by following her to her gate and sitting down across from her. When I noticed her discomfort, because I was staring at the poor thing, I figured I'd put her out of her misery and bluntly asked if she was Janet. She released a nervous laugh and said she liked her writing, but no, she wasn't Janet. Hey, I only wanted to pick her brain on writing. LOL But I digress. Okay, so now we're up to 18 and I find myself getting frustrated because I want to see her with Joe. And while I know there's lots of controversy about who she should wind up with, I'm still routing for Joe.
Okay, so onto the movie. First, I never pictured Stephanie as Katherine Heigl. I pictured Stephanie as this tiny girl with dark short hair and thought the actress should be Moria Kelly. Actually, I would have chosen a different cast all together. I pictured Joe as a younger, Jason Beghe, and Ranger as Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, not the hot looking guy who portrayed him in the film.
Don't get me wrong, the actors chosen were all good in their roles, but it pulled me out of the story somewhat because I kept seeing my own characters. Did I think the movie was as good as the book? On a scale from 1-10, ten being the best, I give it a 6.5.
Okay, now it's your turn to discuss what you thought. Click on the word comment even if it has a number in front of it. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Hot and Deadly Blog Hop
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
LIKE TO COOK?
I’m pleased to announce Dishing Up Romance, book # 1 in my three-part series of Romancing the Chef’s Toque is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon and includes 32 of my recipes. If you like to cook, or even if you don’t, this book is a fun read.
Over the last couple of years, several of you have asked me about what happened to Cassie Pirelli, my heroine in Cupid’s Web. Well here’s your answer—she’s the lead character in this book and she's just as zany as she was before. And believe it or not, she’s gone to culinary school and doing her externship at a restaurant. To refresh your memory, this gal can’t boil water and she had no interest because she had too many great cooks in her family and was afraid she couldn't measure up. Surprised? Uh, you won’t be when you read about Smother-the-Flame, Crème Brulee. Does that tell you anything?
And if you’re looking for a discount, Amazon and Barnes and Noble are currently having a price war and lucky for you because B&N is selling Dishing Up Romance for $14.08, that’s a 41% savings to you. Hurry before they change the price.
For those of you who purchase Dishing Up Romance, I'd love a review posted on either B&N or Amazon's site to whet the appetite of the masses! Bon appetit!
Over the last couple of years, several of you have asked me about what happened to Cassie Pirelli, my heroine in Cupid’s Web. Well here’s your answer—she’s the lead character in this book and she's just as zany as she was before. And believe it or not, she’s gone to culinary school and doing her externship at a restaurant. To refresh your memory, this gal can’t boil water and she had no interest because she had too many great cooks in her family and was afraid she couldn't measure up. Surprised? Uh, you won’t be when you read about Smother-the-Flame, Crème Brulee. Does that tell you anything?
And if you’re looking for a discount, Amazon and Barnes and Noble are currently having a price war and lucky for you because B&N is selling Dishing Up Romance for $14.08, that’s a 41% savings to you. Hurry before they change the price.
For those of you who purchase Dishing Up Romance, I'd love a review posted on either B&N or Amazon's site to whet the appetite of the masses! Bon appetit!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What Do you Think? Who's Right and Who's Wrong?
This is an article from the associated press and written by David Streitfeld which was posted in the NY Times.
Amazon.com removed more than 4,000 e-books from its site this week after it tried and failed to get them more cheaply, a muscle-flexing move that is likely to have significant repercussions for the digital book market.
Amazon is under pressure from Wall Street to improve its anemic margins. At the same time, it is committed to selling e-books as cheaply as possible as a way to preserve the dominance of its Kindle devices.
When the Kindle contract for one of the country’s largest book distributors, the Independent Publishers Group, came up for renewal, Amazon saw a chance to gain some ground at I.P.G.’s expense.
“They decided they wanted me to change my terms,” said Mark Suchomel, president of the Chicago-based I.P.G. “It wasn’t reasonable. There’s only so far we can go.”
With each side unwilling to yield, Amazon pulled the plug, and all of I.P.G.’s books for Kindle disappeared. The physical books were not affected. A spokeswoman for Amazon declined to comment.
The dispute quickly reignited fears in some corners about the power Amazon enjoys as the shift to e-books accelerates. Amazon is dominant in both the physical and electronic markets for books.
“This should be a matter of concern and a cautionary tale for the smaller presses whose licenses will come up for renewal,” said Andy Ross, an agent and a former bookseller. “They are being offered a Hobson’s choice of accepting Amazon’s terms, which are unsustainable, or losing the ability to sell Kindle editions of their books, the format that constitutes about 60 percent of all e-books.”
Amazon’s decision to remove the digital titles was its most drastic such action since it briefly removed the physical books and the e-books published by Macmillan in a pricing dispute two years ago.
That time, Amazon eventually blinked, ceding to Macmillan and the other major publishers the ability to set their own e-book prices. This time, by selecting a group with less leverage, it may get its way.
“Presumably, this is a move Amazon is planning to make with other distributors and publishers as their contracts come up for renewal,” said Lorraine Shanley, a publishing consultant. Unless there is an outcry, she said, Amazon will not be likely to retreat.
The dispute underlines the escalating struggle between Amazon and publishers and distributors over control of the e-book market.
Margins with physical books were traditionally low, which meant that bookstores, publishers and distributors often did no more than scrape by. When Amazon began, it sold books at deep discounts but still had to depend on the good will of publishers.
With e-books, the situation is more fluid. Readers expect them to be cheaper, which Amazon has been able to encourage because it is now a publisher as well.
Traditional publishers, however, have their own modest margins to worry about. They worry that if e-books are priced too low, the public will devalue their worth, and the publishers might wither away — something, they fear, that would suit Amazon just fine.
The only two essential parties in the reading experience, Amazon executives are fond of saying, are the reader and the author. Middlemen like I.P.G. — one of Amazon’s three “distributors of the year” in 2008 — are seen as dinosaurs in this framework.
Among I.P.G.’s 500 clients are the American Cancer Society, Aptly Spoken Press, Bees Knees Books and Change the Universe Press. Until this week, I.P.G. had 4,443 titles available on Kindle.
Mr. Suchomel said the publishers were solidly behind I.P.G. “They were almost unanimously positive, saying, ‘Don’t change your terms,’ ” he said.
I.P.G. is trying not to inflame the dispute. It declined to say precisely what terms Amazon was seeking, although it told its publishers a deal would have “substantially” affected their revenue. On the home page of its Web site, it referred to the issue briefly and discreetly.
On Amazon, the Kindle button for the I.P.G. titles is gone. The classic groupie memoir “I’m With the Band” by Pamela Des Barres was listed as being available only in paperback and an audio edition. But in what might have been a sly message from Amazon, there was a button to click to tell the publisher you would like to read the book on Kindle.
I.P.G. told its publishers to immediately begin stressing that their books were available in other electronic formats, including from the Amazon rivals Barnes & Noble and Apple. It also told them to contact their local independent bookstores and point out that they could now sell something that Amazon would not.
“They’re trying very hard to look on the bright side and make this a David and Goliath situation,” said Ms. Shanley, the consultant.
Mr. Suchomel said that the next step was up to Amazon. “We’re not going to go back to them and say we changed our mind,” he said.
So what do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one. Do you think it's good business? Is Amazon using too strong a hand to get their way, or is this just a challenge of egos?
Amazon.com removed more than 4,000 e-books from its site this week after it tried and failed to get them more cheaply, a muscle-flexing move that is likely to have significant repercussions for the digital book market.
Amazon is under pressure from Wall Street to improve its anemic margins. At the same time, it is committed to selling e-books as cheaply as possible as a way to preserve the dominance of its Kindle devices.
When the Kindle contract for one of the country’s largest book distributors, the Independent Publishers Group, came up for renewal, Amazon saw a chance to gain some ground at I.P.G.’s expense.
“They decided they wanted me to change my terms,” said Mark Suchomel, president of the Chicago-based I.P.G. “It wasn’t reasonable. There’s only so far we can go.”
With each side unwilling to yield, Amazon pulled the plug, and all of I.P.G.’s books for Kindle disappeared. The physical books were not affected. A spokeswoman for Amazon declined to comment.
The dispute quickly reignited fears in some corners about the power Amazon enjoys as the shift to e-books accelerates. Amazon is dominant in both the physical and electronic markets for books.
“This should be a matter of concern and a cautionary tale for the smaller presses whose licenses will come up for renewal,” said Andy Ross, an agent and a former bookseller. “They are being offered a Hobson’s choice of accepting Amazon’s terms, which are unsustainable, or losing the ability to sell Kindle editions of their books, the format that constitutes about 60 percent of all e-books.”
Amazon’s decision to remove the digital titles was its most drastic such action since it briefly removed the physical books and the e-books published by Macmillan in a pricing dispute two years ago.
That time, Amazon eventually blinked, ceding to Macmillan and the other major publishers the ability to set their own e-book prices. This time, by selecting a group with less leverage, it may get its way.
“Presumably, this is a move Amazon is planning to make with other distributors and publishers as their contracts come up for renewal,” said Lorraine Shanley, a publishing consultant. Unless there is an outcry, she said, Amazon will not be likely to retreat.
The dispute underlines the escalating struggle between Amazon and publishers and distributors over control of the e-book market.
Margins with physical books were traditionally low, which meant that bookstores, publishers and distributors often did no more than scrape by. When Amazon began, it sold books at deep discounts but still had to depend on the good will of publishers.
With e-books, the situation is more fluid. Readers expect them to be cheaper, which Amazon has been able to encourage because it is now a publisher as well.
Traditional publishers, however, have their own modest margins to worry about. They worry that if e-books are priced too low, the public will devalue their worth, and the publishers might wither away — something, they fear, that would suit Amazon just fine.
The only two essential parties in the reading experience, Amazon executives are fond of saying, are the reader and the author. Middlemen like I.P.G. — one of Amazon’s three “distributors of the year” in 2008 — are seen as dinosaurs in this framework.
Among I.P.G.’s 500 clients are the American Cancer Society, Aptly Spoken Press, Bees Knees Books and Change the Universe Press. Until this week, I.P.G. had 4,443 titles available on Kindle.
Mr. Suchomel said the publishers were solidly behind I.P.G. “They were almost unanimously positive, saying, ‘Don’t change your terms,’ ” he said.
I.P.G. is trying not to inflame the dispute. It declined to say precisely what terms Amazon was seeking, although it told its publishers a deal would have “substantially” affected their revenue. On the home page of its Web site, it referred to the issue briefly and discreetly.
On Amazon, the Kindle button for the I.P.G. titles is gone. The classic groupie memoir “I’m With the Band” by Pamela Des Barres was listed as being available only in paperback and an audio edition. But in what might have been a sly message from Amazon, there was a button to click to tell the publisher you would like to read the book on Kindle.
I.P.G. told its publishers to immediately begin stressing that their books were available in other electronic formats, including from the Amazon rivals Barnes & Noble and Apple. It also told them to contact their local independent bookstores and point out that they could now sell something that Amazon would not.
“They’re trying very hard to look on the bright side and make this a David and Goliath situation,” said Ms. Shanley, the consultant.
Mr. Suchomel said that the next step was up to Amazon. “We’re not going to go back to them and say we changed our mind,” he said.
So what do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one. Do you think it's good business? Is Amazon using too strong a hand to get their way, or is this just a challenge of egos?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday's Pop Quiz - Are You Right or Left Brained?
Here's Monday's Pop Quiz
Okay, so I took a quiz this morning and here are my results.
You Are 25% Left Brained, 75% Right Brained
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.
So now, it's your turn. Try it and let me know your results.
http://blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/
Okay, so I took a quiz this morning and here are my results.
You Are 25% Left Brained, 75% Right Brained
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.
So now, it's your turn. Try it and let me know your results.
http://blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Valentine's Day - a real treat!
I didn't post yesterday because I was wrapped up in love with my hubby. Our day was extra special all the way around.
I got up early and made hubby's favorite scones--something I haven't made in a while because they're fattening. Nevertheless, I thought he should have something special to start his day.
Before dinner, we did our exchange of presents. He'd already given me a bouquet of flowers two days earlier. Bob is the epitome of a true romantic and I'm the luckiest woman on the face of the planet. We read cards first which always make us cry--we're mushy to the core, but even though we express these in words and actions every day of the week, somehow Valentine's Day makes it all the more special.
I opened my present and there was a vase with a silk flower glued inside. I was a little puzzled until he flipped the switch and the bud slowly opened up to a full bloom with a note inside that said, "Love you Lots!" I'll be posting a video on FB in a while so you can see it. Of course, I was like a little kid receiving her first gift--just the sweetest gift.
I gave him chocolate covered cherries and a bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream.
After our lobster dinner, we headed for the movie theater to see The Vow and it's an incredible movie! The love is so intense, you feel every heartbeat the characters feel. I highly recommend seeing it with someone you love. On a scale from 1-10, 10 being the best, this film gets an 11. And something I didn't know until the film ended, this story was based on a true story.
Hope you had a wonderful day too!
I got up early and made hubby's favorite scones--something I haven't made in a while because they're fattening. Nevertheless, I thought he should have something special to start his day.
Before dinner, we did our exchange of presents. He'd already given me a bouquet of flowers two days earlier. Bob is the epitome of a true romantic and I'm the luckiest woman on the face of the planet. We read cards first which always make us cry--we're mushy to the core, but even though we express these in words and actions every day of the week, somehow Valentine's Day makes it all the more special.
I opened my present and there was a vase with a silk flower glued inside. I was a little puzzled until he flipped the switch and the bud slowly opened up to a full bloom with a note inside that said, "Love you Lots!" I'll be posting a video on FB in a while so you can see it. Of course, I was like a little kid receiving her first gift--just the sweetest gift.
I gave him chocolate covered cherries and a bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream.
After our lobster dinner, we headed for the movie theater to see The Vow and it's an incredible movie! The love is so intense, you feel every heartbeat the characters feel. I highly recommend seeing it with someone you love. On a scale from 1-10, 10 being the best, this film gets an 11. And something I didn't know until the film ended, this story was based on a true story.
Hope you had a wonderful day too!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Happy Saturday!
The first words I typed out for my blog this morning was T.G.I.F. until I looked at my calendar and noticed it was Saturday. Holy Cow! Where the heck did Friday go? I guess I was too busy to notice, yet if I think about it, I did watch Blue Bloods last night which only airs on Friday nights. Funny how that happens.
I have a ton of updates to do on my website this morning, finish my first round of edits on Magnetic Attraction, then start my critique partners edits. I'm pretty pleased with the way things are going with the edits and I know you're going to like it too. I'm planning to have it up on Amazon this month. A little laughter, a little spice, and . . .
Dishing Up Romance is due for release this month too. It was up for preorder on B&N at a discounted rate, but those who'd ordered it, received an email saying their orders were cancelled. I have no idea if it had to do with the printer not delivering on time, or B&Ns boycott on Amazon. I still think that whole boycott thing is silly. As I've said before, it's a competitive pricing issue and I think B&N needs to get into the game.
By the way, if you surf on over to Wattpad, I've posted another scene from The Last Witness that you can read. Check it out, and please leave me your comments. Good, bad or indifferent. Here's the link: http://www.wattpad.com/3386362-the-last-witness-k-t-roberts
And speaking of Amazon, they've listed The Last Witness for $0.89. Such a deal! The other retailers have it listed for $0.99 so if you're looking for a discount, now's your chance.
I hope you had a wonderful and productive week. Happy Saturday!
I have a ton of updates to do on my website this morning, finish my first round of edits on Magnetic Attraction, then start my critique partners edits. I'm pretty pleased with the way things are going with the edits and I know you're going to like it too. I'm planning to have it up on Amazon this month. A little laughter, a little spice, and . . .
Dishing Up Romance is due for release this month too. It was up for preorder on B&N at a discounted rate, but those who'd ordered it, received an email saying their orders were cancelled. I have no idea if it had to do with the printer not delivering on time, or B&Ns boycott on Amazon. I still think that whole boycott thing is silly. As I've said before, it's a competitive pricing issue and I think B&N needs to get into the game.
By the way, if you surf on over to Wattpad, I've posted another scene from The Last Witness that you can read. Check it out, and please leave me your comments. Good, bad or indifferent. Here's the link: http://www.wattpad.com/3386362-the-last-witness-k-t-roberts
And speaking of Amazon, they've listed The Last Witness for $0.89. Such a deal! The other retailers have it listed for $0.99 so if you're looking for a discount, now's your chance.
I hope you had a wonderful and productive week. Happy Saturday!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
EXCERPT FROM THE LAST WITNESS
The following scene takes place after a night out with Tate's detective partner, Zach Gerard, whom she resists every which way from Sunday even though she'd like nothing better, but she's afraid to take a chance.
***********
The early morning sunlight stirred Tate from a sound sleep. She moaned in pain from a headache that throbbed—the result of too many Martinis. She rubbed her temples willing the sledgehammer effect bouncing off her skull to subside and wishing she’d listened to Gerard about not having another drink.
“Oh God,” tripped off her tongue. The memory of last night rushed to the forefront of her mind. Her hand instinctively reached over to the opposite side of the bed and patted the mattress. It was empty. She blew out a steady stream of air relieved they hadn’t slept together. Content, she grabbed the extra pillow and covered her face to shield her eyes from the brightness, suddenly inhaling the residue of Zachary’s cologne embedded in the pillowcase. She gasped. “Oh no,” she said, pressing the pillow into her face. It was true. They had slept together.
Her stomach coiled. How could she have been so stupid? Yeah, he was hot. Yeah, she’d even dreamt about him, and yes, fantasized about them being together, but Christ, she hadn’t planned to act out her fantasy. She rolled over onto her stomach, the pillow now tight against the back of her head. She growled into the mattress. Why did she agree to have dinner with him in the first place? Her feet angrily banged against the mattress, causing her head to pound as though it would burst. Well, it was too late now.
Tate peeked out from the corner of the pillow to check the clock on the nightstand. Not much time left before she had to report in to work, and she didn’t have much time to figure out how she was going to handle the situation. But handle it she would. She was happy he was gone. Facing him now would be awful. She rolled over onto her back, clutching her head in her two hands. Determination took over, and she forced herself to raise her head to get out of bed, only the room was spinning around like a top. She closed her eyes and flopped back down on the pillow. The pounding thud of pain intensified, and she worried her head would explode. But that was the least of her problems at the moment. Taking in deep breaths of air, she convinced herself she needed to get out of bed. Why did she drink so much? And, why the hell did she sleep with her partner?
Counting to three, she sat upright. Nausea worked its way up into her throat and she bolted out of bed and into the bathroom. She threw the lid of the toilet seat up, leaned over and emptied the contents of her stomach, then slumped over the bowl unable to move. Slowly, she raised herself up, holding onto the cabinet, and turned on the faucet, dipped her head under the stream of cold water, and turned from side to side, taking in a gulp of water to rinse the acrid aftertaste in her mouth. Convinced nothing but mouthwash would work, she reached for the bottle already on the counter and took a swig, swirled it around, and spit it back out.
The pounding in her head increased and ibuprofen came to mind. With a quick intake of air, she managed to remove the lid and poured four pills into the palm of her hand. She turned on the faucet, guzzled back the pills, and washed them down with the water from her cupped hand. The sound of a key turning in the lock gave her pause. She heard footsteps, and froze.
“Hey, Jesse, are you all right in there?” Zachary asked.
She gasped again. What had she done? She peeked around the corner and groaned when she saw him looking so chipper.
Zachary came to the opened bathroom door, a bag containing breakfast in his left hand, and a florist’s box under his arm. He set it down on the counter next to her. The smell from the bag of food rushed up her nose. The nausea returned and she slumped over the bowl one more time, kicking the bathroom door shut with her foot, hoping to discourage him from gaping at her.
When she finished, she started the water running in the shower and stepped inside the stall, pulling the shower curtain to the closed position and stood under the steady flow of water.
“Hey, sweetheart, you don’t need to hide from me. I’ve seen worse than this.”
Christ, she thought, now he’s calling me sweetheart. Another groan escaped from her mouth. What the hell have I done?
Her stomach churned and she ran for the toilet again, vowing never to touch another ounce of alcohol, especially since Zac was outside the door listening to her. A short while later, he reentered the bathroom, and pulled the curtain aside.
“Hey, Jesse. Are you ever coming out of that shower?”
“Go away.”
“Now that’s not what you said last night.” She watched him stoop down and wipe the water off the floor with a towel from the rack.
“Forget about last night. Forget about me. I’ll be out of the department by the end of the week.”
He chuckled. “Oh stop it. For god’s sake, we’re not children. We’re consenting adults.”
“Don’t remind me.”
He smiled and headed for the door. “You’re even beautiful when you’re barfing.”
“Oh, shut up.”
When she heard the door shut, she stepped out of the shower and reached for the oversized towel, wrapping it tightly around her body and shuffled into the kitchen.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Shut up,” she said.
“Uh oh, somebody’s grumpy.” He was clean-shaven, and dressed in dark brown dress slacks, a striped, brown, black and white shirt, and tasseled loafers. She looked away. She didn’t need to see him looking so hot, but the masculine scent of his cologne only reminded her of the foolish mistake she’d made.
He held a container out to her. “Here, drink this Ms. Martini Girl. This will make you feel better.” He smirked and pointed to the florist’s box. “These were at your front door when I returned. Have you been keeping something from me?”
“No. It must be a secret admirer.” Disturbed by her current state of mind, she couldn’t believe a minute ago she was dreading the fact that she’d slept with him, yet now knowing he gave her the flowers caused her heart to palpitate.
She lifted the lid, and gasped when pieces of dead, black roses scattered over the floor.
***********
The early morning sunlight stirred Tate from a sound sleep. She moaned in pain from a headache that throbbed—the result of too many Martinis. She rubbed her temples willing the sledgehammer effect bouncing off her skull to subside and wishing she’d listened to Gerard about not having another drink.
“Oh God,” tripped off her tongue. The memory of last night rushed to the forefront of her mind. Her hand instinctively reached over to the opposite side of the bed and patted the mattress. It was empty. She blew out a steady stream of air relieved they hadn’t slept together. Content, she grabbed the extra pillow and covered her face to shield her eyes from the brightness, suddenly inhaling the residue of Zachary’s cologne embedded in the pillowcase. She gasped. “Oh no,” she said, pressing the pillow into her face. It was true. They had slept together.
Her stomach coiled. How could she have been so stupid? Yeah, he was hot. Yeah, she’d even dreamt about him, and yes, fantasized about them being together, but Christ, she hadn’t planned to act out her fantasy. She rolled over onto her stomach, the pillow now tight against the back of her head. She growled into the mattress. Why did she agree to have dinner with him in the first place? Her feet angrily banged against the mattress, causing her head to pound as though it would burst. Well, it was too late now.
Tate peeked out from the corner of the pillow to check the clock on the nightstand. Not much time left before she had to report in to work, and she didn’t have much time to figure out how she was going to handle the situation. But handle it she would. She was happy he was gone. Facing him now would be awful. She rolled over onto her back, clutching her head in her two hands. Determination took over, and she forced herself to raise her head to get out of bed, only the room was spinning around like a top. She closed her eyes and flopped back down on the pillow. The pounding thud of pain intensified, and she worried her head would explode. But that was the least of her problems at the moment. Taking in deep breaths of air, she convinced herself she needed to get out of bed. Why did she drink so much? And, why the hell did she sleep with her partner?
Counting to three, she sat upright. Nausea worked its way up into her throat and she bolted out of bed and into the bathroom. She threw the lid of the toilet seat up, leaned over and emptied the contents of her stomach, then slumped over the bowl unable to move. Slowly, she raised herself up, holding onto the cabinet, and turned on the faucet, dipped her head under the stream of cold water, and turned from side to side, taking in a gulp of water to rinse the acrid aftertaste in her mouth. Convinced nothing but mouthwash would work, she reached for the bottle already on the counter and took a swig, swirled it around, and spit it back out.
The pounding in her head increased and ibuprofen came to mind. With a quick intake of air, she managed to remove the lid and poured four pills into the palm of her hand. She turned on the faucet, guzzled back the pills, and washed them down with the water from her cupped hand. The sound of a key turning in the lock gave her pause. She heard footsteps, and froze.
“Hey, Jesse, are you all right in there?” Zachary asked.
She gasped again. What had she done? She peeked around the corner and groaned when she saw him looking so chipper.
Zachary came to the opened bathroom door, a bag containing breakfast in his left hand, and a florist’s box under his arm. He set it down on the counter next to her. The smell from the bag of food rushed up her nose. The nausea returned and she slumped over the bowl one more time, kicking the bathroom door shut with her foot, hoping to discourage him from gaping at her.
When she finished, she started the water running in the shower and stepped inside the stall, pulling the shower curtain to the closed position and stood under the steady flow of water.
“Hey, sweetheart, you don’t need to hide from me. I’ve seen worse than this.”
Christ, she thought, now he’s calling me sweetheart. Another groan escaped from her mouth. What the hell have I done?
Her stomach churned and she ran for the toilet again, vowing never to touch another ounce of alcohol, especially since Zac was outside the door listening to her. A short while later, he reentered the bathroom, and pulled the curtain aside.
“Hey, Jesse. Are you ever coming out of that shower?”
“Go away.”
“Now that’s not what you said last night.” She watched him stoop down and wipe the water off the floor with a towel from the rack.
“Forget about last night. Forget about me. I’ll be out of the department by the end of the week.”
He chuckled. “Oh stop it. For god’s sake, we’re not children. We’re consenting adults.”
“Don’t remind me.”
He smiled and headed for the door. “You’re even beautiful when you’re barfing.”
“Oh, shut up.”
When she heard the door shut, she stepped out of the shower and reached for the oversized towel, wrapping it tightly around her body and shuffled into the kitchen.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Shut up,” she said.
“Uh oh, somebody’s grumpy.” He was clean-shaven, and dressed in dark brown dress slacks, a striped, brown, black and white shirt, and tasseled loafers. She looked away. She didn’t need to see him looking so hot, but the masculine scent of his cologne only reminded her of the foolish mistake she’d made.
He held a container out to her. “Here, drink this Ms. Martini Girl. This will make you feel better.” He smirked and pointed to the florist’s box. “These were at your front door when I returned. Have you been keeping something from me?”
“No. It must be a secret admirer.” Disturbed by her current state of mind, she couldn’t believe a minute ago she was dreading the fact that she’d slept with him, yet now knowing he gave her the flowers caused her heart to palpitate.
She lifted the lid, and gasped when pieces of dead, black roses scattered over the floor.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Self Publishing - Now It's War by Derek Haines
I found this very interesting post this morning on a blog by Derek Haines, and he's given me permission to repost it. www.derekhaines.ch/vandal
Self Publishing – Now It’s War!
If you’re an author, get ready for a very nasty battle ahead. Barnes & Noble’s decision to remove all Amazon published books marks something akin to a declaration of war.
Following hard on the heels of Amazon’s demand for exclusivity with their KDP Select program, it is now becoming clear that self publishing is being used as a tool in a commercial war.
For authors this makes for grim reading as the whole essence of being self published is in being independent. Having to decide on one distribution platform, and therefore one online retailer forebodes badly.
Barnes & Noble announced this week that they would not be selling any titles that had been published by Amazon’s publishing wing — both indie published through their KDP (Kindle Digital Publishing) and CreateSpace platforms, as well as their new publishing imprints. Source
In reading this decision by B&N, it would appear that even ebooks published independently on Smashwords and then distributed to B&N, will be withdrawn from sale if they are also available on Amazon in either Kindle, or paperback format published by Createspace. So where does that leave the authors?
While there are alternatives to Amazon and B&N, the market share of the other online retailers is so small, it is a folly to think that these could supply any worthwhile volume of sales. So as a self publisher or small press, it comes down to a choice of devils. Logically, Amazon, as there is no doubt that they deliver the greatest volume of sales.
While this is a ‘no brainer’, the danger that lies ahead is that it leaves one totally open to changes in Amazon’s publishing terms and conditions, which can and are updated regularly. There is no notification of these changes and unless you visit the page regularly, you won’t know that the rules have changed.
Then, if you do happen to dislike these possible changes in the future, what are the rules regarding moving your book to another retailer? Current KDP Select rules would indicate a period of at least 90 days. But who knows? The only thing that is for sure, is that self publishing authors are about to lose their independence and freedom of choice.
Self publishing has been around for a while now, but ebook publishing is still in its infancy. However, this little infant is turning mega bucks of profit for the likes of Amazon and B&N. This being the case, I expect it is going to get very dirty from here on in.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's what I'm finding so interesting. While I can understand both sides, quite honestly, Amazon out sells B&N 10 to 1. I know of a few Indie author friends who were selling like crazy on Amazon, very little on B&N, then sent them a letter telling them. They didn’t get much of a response, sales did pick up somewhat because B&N did a little advertising, but the numbers dipped back down when they failed to continue advertising. If you build, they will come!
My indie pub, The Last Witness is written by my alter-ego K. T. Roberts and listed for $0.99 by all the retailers, but Amazon took it upon themselves to list it for $0.89. It's called competitive pricing, and frankly, I'm disappointed B&N is whining when they could be doing the same thing. It's nothing personal B&N, it's called survival of the fittest.
So here’s another thing. My traditionally published books from Avalon Books, in hard cover is up for pre-order. Amazon has listed it for the normal price, while B&N has discounted it almost $8.00. Is that not doing the same thing as with indie books?
If push comes to shove, it's Amazon hands down. Sorry B&N, but I think it's time to put on your big girl panties and join the competition. This is no time to take your marbles home just because you don't like the way the game is played. Add your own spark to the fire by making it even more competitive.
What do all of you think about Barnes & Nobles boycott against Amazon?
Self Publishing – Now It’s War!
If you’re an author, get ready for a very nasty battle ahead. Barnes & Noble’s decision to remove all Amazon published books marks something akin to a declaration of war.
Following hard on the heels of Amazon’s demand for exclusivity with their KDP Select program, it is now becoming clear that self publishing is being used as a tool in a commercial war.
For authors this makes for grim reading as the whole essence of being self published is in being independent. Having to decide on one distribution platform, and therefore one online retailer forebodes badly.
Barnes & Noble announced this week that they would not be selling any titles that had been published by Amazon’s publishing wing — both indie published through their KDP (Kindle Digital Publishing) and CreateSpace platforms, as well as their new publishing imprints. Source
In reading this decision by B&N, it would appear that even ebooks published independently on Smashwords and then distributed to B&N, will be withdrawn from sale if they are also available on Amazon in either Kindle, or paperback format published by Createspace. So where does that leave the authors?
While there are alternatives to Amazon and B&N, the market share of the other online retailers is so small, it is a folly to think that these could supply any worthwhile volume of sales. So as a self publisher or small press, it comes down to a choice of devils. Logically, Amazon, as there is no doubt that they deliver the greatest volume of sales.
While this is a ‘no brainer’, the danger that lies ahead is that it leaves one totally open to changes in Amazon’s publishing terms and conditions, which can and are updated regularly. There is no notification of these changes and unless you visit the page regularly, you won’t know that the rules have changed.
Then, if you do happen to dislike these possible changes in the future, what are the rules regarding moving your book to another retailer? Current KDP Select rules would indicate a period of at least 90 days. But who knows? The only thing that is for sure, is that self publishing authors are about to lose their independence and freedom of choice.
Self publishing has been around for a while now, but ebook publishing is still in its infancy. However, this little infant is turning mega bucks of profit for the likes of Amazon and B&N. This being the case, I expect it is going to get very dirty from here on in.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's what I'm finding so interesting. While I can understand both sides, quite honestly, Amazon out sells B&N 10 to 1. I know of a few Indie author friends who were selling like crazy on Amazon, very little on B&N, then sent them a letter telling them. They didn’t get much of a response, sales did pick up somewhat because B&N did a little advertising, but the numbers dipped back down when they failed to continue advertising. If you build, they will come!
My indie pub, The Last Witness is written by my alter-ego K. T. Roberts and listed for $0.99 by all the retailers, but Amazon took it upon themselves to list it for $0.89. It's called competitive pricing, and frankly, I'm disappointed B&N is whining when they could be doing the same thing. It's nothing personal B&N, it's called survival of the fittest.
So here’s another thing. My traditionally published books from Avalon Books, in hard cover is up for pre-order. Amazon has listed it for the normal price, while B&N has discounted it almost $8.00. Is that not doing the same thing as with indie books?
If push comes to shove, it's Amazon hands down. Sorry B&N, but I think it's time to put on your big girl panties and join the competition. This is no time to take your marbles home just because you don't like the way the game is played. Add your own spark to the fire by making it even more competitive.
What do all of you think about Barnes & Nobles boycott against Amazon?
Monday's Pop Quiz - What Kind of Kisser Are You?
Happy Monday! I took a quiz this morning and here's what it said about me. What Kind of Kisser Are You?
You're a Romantic Kisser
For you, kissing is all about feeling the romance.
You love to kiss under the stars or by the sea.
For you, the perfect kiss involves the perfect mood.
It's pretty common for kisses to sweep you off your feet.
Okay, you're next! Have fun and post your responses so the rest of us can live vicariously through you. :-) http://blogthings.com/whatkindofkisserareyouquiz/
You're a Romantic Kisser
For you, kissing is all about feeling the romance.
You love to kiss under the stars or by the sea.
For you, the perfect kiss involves the perfect mood.
It's pretty common for kisses to sweep you off your feet.
Okay, you're next! Have fun and post your responses so the rest of us can live vicariously through you. :-) http://blogthings.com/whatkindofkisserareyouquiz/
Thursday, February 2, 2012
My 5-Star Review of A Little Slice of Heaven by Gina Ardito
I just finished reading A Little Slice of Heaven by Gina Ardito and here's what I had to say about it.
A Little Slice of Heaven is a heart-warming and humorous tale about Gianna Randazzo, a compassionate woman who feeds the masses, including a homeless guy named Kyle who's been down on his luck. Her generosity turns his world around when she gives him a job in the family pizzeria, a room, and food for his belly. Once Kyle's cleaned up, Gianna believes good things come to those who wait and she's convinced her wait is over.
An invitation to her ex-boyfriend's wedding has her feeling slightly intimidated, but she's taking the high road in spite of her feelings. Despite the testy relationship between she and Kyle, she finds herself falling for him, and what better defense against the ex than to see her happy with a hot-looking guy as her date.
When a startling discovery about Kyle hits Gianna right between the eyes, she's devastated and loses her belief. Kyle tries to explain but the only thing she wants to hear is his goodbye.
I'm a huge fan of this author because I know she'll have me laughing one minute and crying the next. Each of her stories weave a satisfying tale and I know she'll always give me the happily ever after I'm waiting for.
If you haven't read this book yet, run, don't walk to the nearest bookstore and purchase a copy, or download it onto your eReader. You won't be sorry.
A Little Slice of Heaven is a heart-warming and humorous tale about Gianna Randazzo, a compassionate woman who feeds the masses, including a homeless guy named Kyle who's been down on his luck. Her generosity turns his world around when she gives him a job in the family pizzeria, a room, and food for his belly. Once Kyle's cleaned up, Gianna believes good things come to those who wait and she's convinced her wait is over.
An invitation to her ex-boyfriend's wedding has her feeling slightly intimidated, but she's taking the high road in spite of her feelings. Despite the testy relationship between she and Kyle, she finds herself falling for him, and what better defense against the ex than to see her happy with a hot-looking guy as her date.
When a startling discovery about Kyle hits Gianna right between the eyes, she's devastated and loses her belief. Kyle tries to explain but the only thing she wants to hear is his goodbye.
I'm a huge fan of this author because I know she'll have me laughing one minute and crying the next. Each of her stories weave a satisfying tale and I know she'll always give me the happily ever after I'm waiting for.
If you haven't read this book yet, run, don't walk to the nearest bookstore and purchase a copy, or download it onto your eReader. You won't be sorry.
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