don't forget! you can be a weiner!!!!

 

this post has nothing to do with the weinermobile but I like the weinermobile so there it is. just a reminder about my 4 weeks of epic win contest. I'll be drawing for the winner or weiner HAHAHAHAHA thursday latenight and posting it on friday and then announcing the next contest. tell a friend!

hey, look!

over at Elana Johnson's blog there is a contest that can only be described as epic. lots of great prizes for authors. tons of ways to enter. her blog should be called Elana Johnson,Super Genius. GO CHECK IT OUT!! actually, don't just check it out, follow her blog because she has tons of great info for authors and her ebook  From the Query to the Call it chock full of crucial info for authors at the querying stage. so not only is she a super genius, she's like a sage.
ElanaJohnson.blogspot.com

Happy Valentine's Day

 

meanwhile back in reality land...I hope everyone had a super day of love. I worked and then came home to my little valentine, Maddy. being single sometimes is rough but my Maddy makes everything top notch. 

holy crap the place is haunted

 

so there I was...my head hurting so bad that I wanted to kick my own ass when I hear my daughter talking. now I'll preface this by saying we were alone in our house. now her talking is not uncommon. she has a vivid imagination and spends hours playing by herself, having epic conversations and adventures. this was different. it was like she was having a conversation with someone that she wasn't playing with. like an adult. my ears pricked up and I heard her tell whoever that she was going to be 8 in may. that was enough. I got up and went into her room and she was alone playing. I asked her who she was talking to and she told me she was talking to the man.at first I almost laughed because I thought "the man" as in the establishment but then I got serious. I asked what man and she told me xxxx. she said the name of the man who lived here before who committed suicide. pee pee pee. 

I've known there was something in this house since we moved in. the first day I heard a voice call my name. not a normal voice either. I hear noises, see shadows and my room is always freezing. whoever this is, I have spoken to it and asked it NOT to talk to my child but I guess he forgot. thankfully we are moving soon. I don't want anymore contact with xxxx. I hope he can find peace. ghosts always seem cool on tv or whatever but real ones are scary.

I'm thinking big! 4 weeks of epic WIN

after my post yesterday I got to thinking...winning begins with me so in order to get the karmic wheel spinning, I am giving away a prize a week for the next month.YAY! 

this week's big prize is a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card. just follow my blog and leave a comment to this post. I'm looking for comments about why you write or blog. what drives you?it doesn't have to be anything earth shaking just tell me the truth! if you are a blogger and you post this contest on your blog, you get +5 points. if you post it on facebook you get +5 points(you have to friend me). following my blog is a necessity.you get a base 10 points for it.sweet!!

so it breaks down...

follow my hilarious(snort) blog and leave a comment +10 points

post this on your blog +5 points

friend me and post on facebook +5 points

I'll draw the winner and email you for your address and poof!blog swag headed your way!!

good luck and thanks!

I never win anything

I hate this picture because it doesn't look like me now. see the pic below for the now me but I digress. I never stinking win anything. yes I know it sounds like I've been eating the bitter butter but it's the truth.  I enter everything and never win.not so much as a sandwich. when I was on Jeopardy...you got it. I lost. stupid rime of the ancient mariner. I so thought I had it sewn up.the category was famous englishmen and being the unapologetic anglophile that I am, I was like it's in the bag. crap no! since then I have noticed that one of the writers has a serious hard on for samuel taylor coleridge  and there are always questions about him and his work. I can't complain too much because there is also a Gator because there are a lot of UF questions too. anyway. I seriously hope my luck changes soon. Not that I hold any ill will toward anyone. I'd just one day like to read you won instead of better luck next time. if that happens, we are having one rocking party!

every girl's crazy bout a sharp dressed man

 

so I was watching this show on Sundance about the legendary Savile Row and its bespoke tailors. this was like watching soft porn for me. I am an admitted sucker for fine clothes for men.I suppose it comes from my costume design training but even before that I just dug a well dressed man. you can take a bum and dress him in one of these suits and NO ONE will know that he's not a millionaire. clothes make the man. there is just something about a well dressed man that kneecaps me and these suits are the epitome of well dressed and well heeled. also there is such a tradition and aura of mystery about these shops and their clients and the discretion they practice. they're like the swiss bank of of suit making. they won't tell you who their clientele is while the client is alive. I just love it. I passed my love of fine men's clothing to my MC Eamon. He's been a client of the legendary Huntsman & Sons since the first world war and takes great pride in his clothing. he's a clothes horse but not in the obnoxious way. I like to think that his clothing adds to his powerful appearance and mystique.(like a vampire needs mystique). but I think his clothing and where he gets it from tells quite a bit about him. and I like that. I think about him in a Huntsman suit and my little heart just flutters!

winner ...for now

well, for now the big name winner is Eamon. Sidney is now Eamon. I thought it was kind of nifty and different. I haven't written it in stone yet I'm just testing it with my betas before super editor gets it. I also changed the name of his true love from Colette to Amelie. I feel like I stuck them in witness protection and gave them a new name. but like I said before, you give someone a new name and they have a whole new appearance. I know someone, okay he's the love of my life who I keep perfect in my mind. anyway, in high school he started going by his middle name which was cooler because he felt like his name was was holding him back. well he was right. he was the senior class president and he's been a kick ass success in his life. maybe he would have been anyway but I am betting that he would have had to work much harder as Norman than Dan.

einstein's desk...I don't feel so bad now

Dr Kaku (if you don't know who that is... he's a GENIUS) posted this pic today on facebook and I thought ah, look at that. Einstein had a desk that looks like mine. I like that.
I am no housekeeper. my work spaces are cluttered but I like them like that. I know where everything is though. and I get a sense of comfort from it. I figure if it's good enough for geniuses then it is good enough for me. neat desk keepers are always baffled by me but I say let them scratch their heads and wonder. their desk will never be compared to Einstein's!

it's february and this might brighten your wintery blues

OMG if he showed up anywhere near me...anyway. I've been noticing a lot kinda angsty, worried posts from writers I know. I hate that. maybe it's the long winter. maybe it's publishing or maybe it's just the mysteries of the ether.I don't know. I keep wishing for my chums to break out of it. a few days ago I had my bout of it and Super Editor brought me out of it. everyone needs a Dorrie. she's so awesome. she is my one person fan club. she said in an email that she was anxious to read how I had managed to bring everything together in my rewrites. that was one of the best things anyone has ever said to me. it gave my sagging confidence a much needed boost. I know it's an awesome story that IS different from other vampire stories but hearing an actual publisher turned editor say it is made my day.

less accountant more sexy

I've been thinking that maybe my mc needs a new name. I get the impression(real and otherwise)that his name might be a detractor. how hot can a vampire named Sidney be? it sounds more like an accountant or someones grampa. NOT a sizzlin vampire. names are very important. he rises above his name obviously because he is sexy and hot and chicks dig him but I'm giving serious consideration to changing his first name just to see. I checked around on some name websites and picked a couple out. I'm thinking Bowen or Damon. they sound kind of suave and mysterious. anyone who wants to put their 2 cents in please feel free. this is really bothering me.

an interview with my MC

Today on Elana Johnson's blog I saw an awesome older post about interviewing your characters and I was like MAN!that is BRILLIANT.so I thought I would kick things off by interviewing my main character, Sidney Rutherford.

Sidney joins me this evening impeccably dressed in a suit. The top two buttons of his shirt are not buttoned and he's sans tie. His handshake is firm and his touch lingers just long enough to cause you to blush.

Alison Beightol-It’s great to be able to speak with you Mr. Rutherford.I know you don’t like to give interviews.
Sidney Rutherford- My pleasure. I was willing to make an exception for you.( his slow smile after the word ‘you’ has me HOOKED!)
AB-I know you usually prefer to make your home in London or New York. Tampa seems so unusual for a person such as yourself.
SR-(He nods)Yes, I certainly would have never seen myself there. However these past few years have landed me in odd places because of relationships. I’ve developed a tolerance for the weather in Tampa. The sun however is another story.
AB-Do you see yourself staying in Tampa for a long time?
SR-More than likely. I have a lot of “family” there.
AB-On a personal note, what is going on in your personal life?
SR-(He narrows his eyes at me but covers with that same sexy smile)I’m very happy in my current relationship. She’s a delight.
AB-More than your former wife?
SR-(Again with the fleeting irritation.I know I’m pushing his buttons but hey.) Lauryl’s happy now and we’re still close. I still am her maker and we’re bound to one another.
AB-She says your people skills suck and not in the good way.
SR-(He leans forward some) Now, do you honestly believe that?
AB-(I feel my face flush as his gaze intensifies.)Um, no.
SR- I didn’t think you would.(He pulls his Black berry from his pocket and reads a text message. He laughs to himself and texts back to whoever the message is from. BTW, he texts as adeptly as a 14 year old girl.)
AB-(Something in me makes me think I was just glamoured.I cross my legs nervously and he looks up from the Blackberry at me.) Did you just…?
SR-I did.
AB-Doesn’t that bother you?
SR-(He turns the phone over in his hand a few times before putting it back in his pocket)No.Did it bother you?
AB-(I feel my face flush again.)No.
SR-(He smiles and looks at his watch.I get the hint)
AB-Well I’ll just wrap things up by thanking you and wishing you happiness with your new relationship. Also, good luck with the project you and Marta are working on.
SR-Thank you. (He tips his head slightly to the side) Have you eaten?
AB-No.
SR-I haven’t either and I’m starving.
AB-(I feel my eyes widen) So, I’ll just be going now.
SR-I always enjoy having lovely ladies for dinner

it was the fried pickles, I know it!

so there I was, eating fried pickles, when my characters started to talk to me. they have a weird habit of just dropping in on me when I am least expecting it. so I just started writing. before I knew it, I had written 6 pages of the follow up to Primigenio. wow. that was awesome. I love when my characters talk to me. they say great things, do crazy things and sometimes make me laugh. which is nice because it's like I am on radio silence from the publishing world. I haven't heard from super editor about my fight scene and it's driving me nuts. sigh.

Rhinehoth...did you get that?Rhinehoth.go read it!

okay no cookies, which makes for suckdom. anyway I am ending my day of crap on a happy yet embarrassing note. I ordered my first for fun book from amazon a bit ago. while skulking along on suburban vampire, I saw a new book called Rhinehoth by Brian E. Niskala.I watched the book trailer  and was like holy crap!that's for me! so I tootled over to the big A and ordered it. I also fanned his page on facebook and the author emailed me!which was made of awesome!! so it just goes to show the world our little online vampire/fiction community rocks out loud!!! so... go check out this book!it sounds awesome and I will do my fist ever book review when I finish it. I'm so excited because I never get to read anything for fun. such are the perils of being a student.

my vampire can go out in the sun and he looks GOOOOOD

yeah so I finished my fight scene. it was short and sweet. I focused mainly on my mc and another vampire and their fight against the hunter. in the periphery I wrote about the other fighting but it was mainly Sidney and Marta. I'm quite pleased with it but it's in the hands of super editor so I'll soon see.
as for the pic and the title of this entry...in my on going time wasting I found this. Yummy Sam Neill in sunglasses. or who I picture Sidney as wearing  sunglasses. it's always nice to imagine things that your characters do. I found one picture of Sam Neill swimming but I don't think Sidney swims. he could but I don't think he would. nevertheless, I saved that pic for a rainy day when I need I candy.