Everywhere a snip-snip

First, let us take a moment to properly revel in Kate Beckinsale's gorgeous PVC-covered kick-ass vampire self in the Underworld movies.

*sigh*

Lovely. Now we can move on to the next order of business: my extreme grumpiness last night. What can I say? It was late, I was tired and I'd severely irritated myself. But I didn't mean to come out sounding so damn irritable in my post. We're all good now. The Book is much, MUCH better for my realization and now I have a novella waiting in the wings. I realized (once I could think clearly) that the reason I was fighting so hard to put that scene in this story was that I just really love the backstory between these two characters. I wanted someway to make it frontstory. Which is great!--for the novella I'll be writing someday. Their history, as much as I love it, doesn't belong in this particular adventure. But, I had a couple of ideas on how it would make a great prequel as a short story or novella. So, once I'm done with this one, that's what I'll be writing. Then maybe I can sell that, then everyone in the universe will read it, love it and want more, More, MORE and then I can publish the subsequent stories as full length novels! Ta-Daaa! Perfect. In fact, thank god I screwed that up.

In other news, I read a book this weekend. The latest Mona Lisa installment from Sunny, MONA LISA CRAVING. Sunny's books are heavily influenced by the works of Laurell K. Hamilton and Anne Bishop (whom she credits in the acknowledgements section of the first book, Mona Lisa Awakening). I find her books very enjoyable. She always leaves me wanting more and this most recent installment was no exception. I was distraught to read I'd have to wait a whole year for the next book! If you're a Hamilton or Bishop fan, I'm sure you'll like these books. I particularly enjoyed the most recent, Mona Lisa Craving. It's storyline has elements that I find irresistable -- a strong yet tortured hero who can only be saved by the strong yet tender heroine. Add in a healthy dose of supernatural elements, some good fight scenes and a rousing sex scene or two (and boy oh boy does this woman know how to write a sex scene!) and I'm yours. Forever. I'll buy everything you ever write. So, if you're looking for a good weekend read, pick up Mona Lisa Craving. If you're new to the series, start with Mona Lisa Awakening, then check Sunny's website for a list of subsequent novels and short stories.

It bears mentioning that she has some of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. Very non-traditional for the genre but just gorgeous. She's also one of the nicest writers I've met. I had the opportunity to have dinner with her, Rachel Vincent and Vicki Pettersson at the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention last April. I've professed my undying adoration for Rachel and Vicki time and again, so there's probably no need to reiterate it here. Though I'm tempted. ;) Sunny was elegant and kind, a true personification of the word nice. Simply a lovely person. Oh and hello? People? She's been on Geraldo. Very cool.

I'm currently working on SUCCUBUS ON TOP, the latest by Richelle Mead. If you haven't read Succubus Blues yet, you are seriously missing out on some great writing. Richelle's books are *hilarious* with great plot and characters to boot.

I have more to say, but it's late and this is long already. Besides, I'm supposed to be writing (I mean *writing* writing) so I'm going to close for now. Hope all is well in your corner of the world.