Marie Sexton's Blog, page 9

30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 20: The Marie Sexton FAQ

Today’s post topic was something sort of lame, so I’ve come up with my own topic. Or, more accurately, a “Marie Sexton FAQ” – a list of the answers to the questions I get asked the most. (Listed in no particular order.)

Coda Questions
Q: Do the Coda books have to be read in order?

A: Not really. You can read a rather wordy explanation of the order they can be read in here.

Q: Will there ever be another Coda book?

A: Probably not. Then again, I’ve said that multiple times in the past and ended up adding other books to the series. But at the moment, no, I have nothing in mind.

Q: Coda is your bestseller, so why not write more? Why not write a sequel for Matt and Jared?

A: Because those characters have their HEAs now. In order to write another book about a specific couple, I need to create conflict for that couple. Do you really want me to stir up trouble for Matt and Jared just for the hell of it? Sure, I could. After all, they have Trouble (whose name starts with an A) living just down the road. I could throw a big molotov cocktail into the middle of their happy life, but the thought of doing that breaks my heart.

Q: How come the couple we hate (Zach and Angelo) gets more books than the couples we love (Matt and Jared, Cole and Jonathan)?

A: The number of books each couple has is in direct correlation to how fucked up those people are. Matt and Jared are two pretty solid, grounded guys when they meet. Once they get together, they pretty much have everything they need or want. Ditto Cole and Jonathan, once they get Hope. But Zach and Angelo? Those two guys were pretty screwed up. They were both carrying a lot of baggage when they met, so it took them a bit longer to find their HEA. Dom and Lamar also have a lot of baggage. In theory, they could use another book, but I’m not sure that will ever happen.

Q: Are you ever going to “fix” Zach and Angelo by making them monogamous.

A: No. Zach and Angelo would tell you they don’t need to be “fixed.” Their relationship works perfectly for them. Your moral misgivings aren’t their problem.

 

Between Sinners and Saints Questions
Q: How much does Jaime’s mom know about what happened to him, and/or why didn’t she do more to help him?

A: Jaime’s mom doesn’t necessarily KNOW anything, but she has a pretty strong suspicion. She’s about 98% sure of what happened. She even went to the police about it (although Jaime doesn’t know this). The police told her what they often tell victims of abuse and/or rape: that it’d be a matter of “he said vs. she said,” that Jaime would have to undergo an invasive physical exam in search of evidence, and if it ever went to trial (which was unlikely) he’d have to relive it all on the stand. Even then, they told her, chances of getting a guilty verdict were slim to none. Add to all of this the damage done to the family as a whole if she pressed charges against her sister’s husband, and the fact that she had very little money and was dependent on her family for childcare, and she decided it just wasn’t worth it. She justified this by reminding herself of how traumatic it would be for Jaime to relive the incident. She made sure the uncle never had time alone with Jaime again and hoped Jaime would recover. Later, after Jaime’s suicide attempt, she scraped together money for counselors as much as she could. Unfortunately, she wasn’t ever able to really talk to Jaime about what happened. Basically, she did what she thought was best. It just wasn’t enough.

Q: Does Jaime ever make peace with his mom?

A: Yes, although I’m not entirely sure how that plays out, other than that Levi and his family have to help them both through it.

Q: Does Levi’s family ever fully come around?

A: Yes. Levi’s family ends up being incredibly influential in the fight to have same-sex relationships accepted by the Mormon church (something that I fully expect to happen eventually, albeit not anytime soon).

Q: You seem to know a lot about the Mormon church. Are you a member?

A: I was raised in the Church, but I’m an atheist. I’m not even remotely active as a Mormon, but most of my relatives are active to one degree or another.

Q: Do the Coda boys ever meet Jaime and Levi?

A: Yes, they do. I’ve even written part of it (although not much). Will I ever share that story snippet? Unlikely, but not impossible.

 

Will There Ever Be a Sequel to (fill in the blank)?

(I will preface this section by stating that as things stand right now, with me on hiatus and not writing at all, the easy answer to every one of these questions is “no.” But, for the sake of discussion, I’ll base these answers more on whether or not I’ve ever seriously considered writing the sequel in question.)

Q: Promises?

A: No. See Coda section above.

Q: Between Sinners and Saints?

A: Unlikely, but not impossible.

Q: Blind Space?

A: A definite maybe. I’ve had an idea for this floating around in my head ever since I wrote the first book. It has one fatal plotting flaw that I haven’t yet managed to solve.

Q: Oestend?

A: Also a definite maybe. I have several ideas of how this could play out. Those Oestend books aren’t easy to write, but I admit, they’re my favorites. I think about my Oestend boys a lot.

Q: Tucker Springs?

A: Highly unlikely.

Q: One More Soldier?

A: Unlikely.

Q: Family Man?

A: Probably not. Trey and Vinnie are happy as they are. They don’t really have much else to sort out.

Q: Trailer Trash?

A: Maybe. But it probably wouldn’t be novel-length.

 

Will you ever write a book about….

(Assuming the same disclaimer I made above)

Q: Chance from Lost Along the Way?

A: Very possible.

Q: Jackson from Roped In?

A: That was always the original plan, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

Q: Dylan from Winter Oranges?

A: Entirely possible, as soon as I figure out who could handle him.

Q: Simon and Frances from Oestend?

A: I already did. I confess, I’m always confused when people ask me this question. Frances and Simon already have a book. Half of one, at any rate. Will I ever write another book about them specifically? No, but if I ever write another Oestend book, you’ll certainly see them.

Q: Alissa from Oestend?

A: It’s entirely possible her story will make up at least part of the third Oestend book, if I ever get around to writing it.

Q: Wren from Apartment 14 and the Devil Next Door?

A: Maybe.

Q: Football, since you’re such a big fan?

A: Very possible. I have one sort of halfway planned, but I think it’ll be a monster of a book, so I keep chickening out.

 

Random Other
Q: I don’t like your co-written books as much as your solo books. Why do you keep writing them?

A: Because writing is a lonely job, and cowriting can be fun.

Q: Do you read your reviews?

A: Rarely. Reviews are for readers, not authors. Back when I was on social media, I’d read them if I was tagged directly. Now that I’m not on social media, no, I haven’t read a single one. (Publishers will usually alert authors of certain reviews, but I’ve specifically asked my publishers not to do it in my case.)

Q: I’ve seen the purses you make. Do you sell them?

A: Yes, you can find them in my Selz store.

Q: Where do you buy your shoes?

A: Mostly from Amazon.

 

That’s it!

Those are the questions I get asked the most often. Did I miss one? Leave it in the comments and I’ll do another Q&A post in a day or two.

 

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30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 19: 15 Minutes With Somebody Famous

Today’s topic is supposed to be, “If you could have 15 minutes with any celebrity, who would it be and why?” Honestly, this just isn’t my kind of question. I’ve had a very hard time thinking up famous people I’d care to spend time with. After all, “famous” people are still just people, and for the most part, I don’t really dig people. But I can’t think of anything else to babble about today, so I’m going to give this a shot.

And I’m going to assume I can choose from historical figures.

So, here we go.

30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 18: Something About My Shoes?

Today’s topic is supposed to be about my shoes. I’m not even kidding. Many of you know how much I love shoes, but making a whole post about them seemed sort of boring, so I’ve decided to go a bit more metaphorical.

Popular Conventions for Conventions
Irregular Choice

Anytime a conference or a convention rolls around, somebody trots out the usual old advice: “You’ll be walking a lot, so wear comfortable shoes.” Anybody who’s ever met me at a convention knows I never listen. It’s one of my only chances to wear some of my funkier shoes, and I’m not about to pass that up. Wear your slippers or your Crocs if you like — to each their own! — but I’m pulling out my Irregular Choice, thank you very much.

In this case, I’ll go ahead and choose the less comfortable option.

But I’m not here today to talk about conventions, either. I want to talk about life. (And a little bit about social media.)

Random Airport Wisdom

Back in August, my family traveled to Minnesota to visit my sisters. The security line at DIA that day was enormous. We checked our bags, then took the escalator down to the lower floor (where security is). It wasn’t just the three of us, of course. We were in a large clump of people who shuffled down the aisle and ended up in this huge security line. The problem was that the line of people coming down from the escalator merged with a line of people who happened to already be on the lower floor, and some woman behind us freaked out because she’d already been in line, but now this second line was merging with hers.

In short, we were cutting.

On one hand, I get it. She’d already made progress in this line. Now a second group of people is being forced to merge into her line, and in her estimation, we’re all line-jumping. For those of us coming down from the second floor, that was simply where the lines merged. It wasn’t as if anybody was intentionally pushing in at the wrong place. What it really boiled down to was that airports are busy and frustrating and sucky, and long security lines make things worse.

Was It Worth It?

Of course not.

Now, I don’t know this woman. I don’t know if she was heading home from a business trip or a funeral, or headed out for her dream vacation in Morocco. All I know is, neither one of us could control the security line. She chose to let a bit of airport mayhem ruin her day, and I in turn chose to let her anger ruin mine. Did either of us benefit?

No.

Do you see what I’m getting at?

We each made a CHOICE, and we both chose poorly. Metaphorically, we both chose to wear tight-toed, 5-inch heels to that particular convention of clusterfuckery.

Recurring Themes

If you’ve read my books (especially Coda), you’ll know this is one of my recurring themes. We can’t control the world. The only thing we can control is how we react to it. Like Kasey Musgrave says, “You’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t, so you might as well just do whatever you want.” (This was, in fact, one of the theme songs for Shotgun, and there’s a reason Jared gets to be the person who sums it up for Dom.)

For myself, I’ve taken this a bit further, and it’s a big part of why you don’t see me on social media these days. It’s not that I don’t care about issues. I really do. It’s just that I care about my sanity too.

And frankly, I’m sick of all the yelling.

Anti-Social Media

Social media is full of rage. It’s full of people blasting their opinions in frenzied egomaniacal bursts. I get it, because we all see people doing and saying things we don’t like. We think that if we just yell a little louder or use a few more F-bombs while stating our position, we’ll convince them otherwise.

Here’s the thing though: it doesn’t work.

Has anybody EVER, in the history of social media, changed their opinion about something important because of a tweet?

No. No matter how much we bluster and yell and stomp our feet, the entire world is never going to fall in line with our exact idea of how things should be.

“But…” somebody will say, “that’s how change happens.”

No sweetheart, it isn’t. Change happens when people actively LISTEN. And NOBODY’S listening. You can stand on that soapbox all day with your bullhorn, but until somebody decides to LISTEN, you won’t change a thing.

But… But… It Must Work!

No. It really doesn’t. Internet rage is like the guy who shows up at the end of Broncos games and stands by the exit holding up a big sign that says “Jesus Saves”. I’ve seen him there almost every game for twelve years now. He waves his sign in the air and yells and points at people and practically jumps up and down on his box (yes, he actually brings a little box to stand on).

Here’s the real question though: how many people do you think have had their lives changed thanks to his sign? Sure, a few fellow believers might give him a high five, but do you think ANYBODY, on their way to the car, has had a spiritual revelation? Do you think even one person has stopped and said, “Please sir, tell me more?”

No. I’d bet everything I own he’s converted exactly zero people.

Shouting at people never creates positive change. I guarantee, the only people listening are the ones making fun, or the ones who already agree.

So… Do Nothing?

Of course not. But if you really want to change the world, get off Twitter. Go find somebody on the other side of an issue. Sit down, face-to-face, and have a heart-to-heart with them. Don’t yell. Don’t lecture. You have to listen, too. That’s the only way true change ever happens.

If that’s too hard (and I get it, because I’m allergic to conflict), then find a worthy (reputable) cause and throw some money at it. Charities, causes, and and campaigns ALWAYS need money. Better yet, volunteer some of the most valuable commodity you possess: your time.

But whatever you do, don’t kid yourself that raging on Facebook or Twitter counts as activism. Hitting “like” never saved a life, and changing your avatar isn’t doing a god damned thing.

Isn’t This Post About Shoes?

Yes, in a round-about way. We’re about halfway between a tangent and a long walk in the weeds, so bear with me.

It all comes back to that old metaphor of life as a journey. We don’t get to control where it begins or where it ends. We don’t get to control the road, or the obstacles, or the people we have to deal with along the way. We don’t get to control whether or not our line has to merge, or whether the airport will have twenty security points open, or only one.

The one and ONLY thing we get to control is HOW WE REACT.

In other words, we DO get to choose which pair of shoes we put on to make our journey. We can spend our days raging and shouting and pointing our fingers until we’re blue in the face. That’s the torturous high-heel option, where we generally make ourselves miserable but don’t actually change a damned thing. Or we can choose something a bit more practical. Maybe the heavy-duty, comfortable work boots (where we close our browser and go actually WORK for change), or our comfortable, fuzzy slippers (which is more of a “lead by example” philosophy), or our ratty old Crocs (which must be the “Screw you, I do what I want!” option).

For myself, I may choose high heels for conventions, but for my day-to-day life, I choose the slippers. Or maybe my $12 knock-off Kedz. Because I recognize the irony in ranting pointlessly on the internet about how people on the internet won’t stop pointlessly ranting. The internet will continue to be full of porn and rage. I can’t change that. But I CAN choose how much I let it ruin my day.

And that’s why I’m boycotting social media.

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30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 17: What Makes Me Laugh

I’m not really sure how to get a full blog post out of “what makes me laugh.” Should I talk about what types of humor I prefer? No, because I don’t really know. I know which things DON’T make me laugh, like over-the-top slapstick and intentionally embarrassing people, but beyond that…

How about if I just share a handful of YouTube videos?

This Scene…

…from the Big Bang Theory, where Sheldon attempts to buy Amy’s forgiveness by giving her jewelry.

This Scene…

…from Justified, where Art explains why the crook they’re looking for is “awesome.”

(The powers that be have blocked that video, but you can also see it here.)

This Scene…

…(among other) from The Closer, where Taylor can’t stop laughing at Brenda’s predicament. (Just the first 30 seconds or so…)

(And if I still haven’t convinced you that The Closer is awesome, check out this fantastic write-up of it by June Thomas on Slate, originally published several years ago. )

Many Scenes…

…from the first two or seasons of That 70’s Show, but especially the episode where Hyde is “running a dojo of cool” by teaching Jackie to be Zen. (For the record, I don’t acknowledge a single episode after Hyde and Jackie broke up. They clearly belong together.)

There. Those are the first things that come to mind. It probably goes without saying that I also laugh at videos of dogs doing funny things and cats acting like freaks.

Please Share Yours!

What makes you laugh?

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30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 16: My TBR Pile and Wish List

Today’s topic was supposed to be “dream travel destinations,” but I already covered that (albeit very briefly) in my post on Places I’d Move To. So, instead of travel destinations, I thought I’d talk about something anybody reading this blog probably appreciates: BOOKS.

My TBR pile is huge. (I’m sure I’m not the only one.) I also have an enormous wishlist on PaperbackSwap (check out this post for more information on that wonderful site). I thought I’d take a few minutes to go through the books at the top of those two lists. (In both cases, this is only the tip of the iceberg.)

My TBR Pile
Those Girls , by Chevy Stevens

I only recently discovered Chevy Stevens. I started with Still Missing and Never Knowing. Both books are written in an interesting style, almost in second person, as the protagonist speaks to her therapist, with much of the story told almost as flashbacks. In both cases, I thought, “This can’t work.” But in both cases, it did. I was absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I found the third book, Always Watching, significantly less enjoyable, but I still intend to read all of Chevy Stevens’s other books.

N0S4R2 , by Joe Hill

For those who don’t know, Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son, and he’s following in his father’s footsteps as a master of horror. The first book I read by him was Heart-Shaped Box. I don’t remember it all that well. I didn’t necessarily love it, but I enjoyed it enough that I went and looked up all his other books. The next one I read, Horns, absolutely blew me away. Joe Hill is one of those authors who can do everything I hate, and yet still manage not only to keep my attention, but to leave me wanting more.

The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear , by Walter Moers

I honestly don’t know how I stumbled across this book, but it really intrigued me. One of the covers boasts a quote from the Washington Post that describes the book as “Equal parts J.K. Rowling, Douglas Adams, and Shel Silverstein.” The book itself is littered with funny little cartoon and drawings, and it features a band of tiny little pirates. How can anybody NOT be interested in at least checking it out?

The Last Days of Newgate , by Andrew Pepper

I have a thing for historical mysteries, when they’re well-written. I also have a thing for the “sometimes thief” character trope, so of course this book landed on my list.

Tom Piccirilli

One of my greatest regrets as an author is that I didn’t discover Tom Piccirilli’s work early enough. He lived just up the road from me, in Estes Park, and I would have loved to meet him and pick his brain. Alas, by the time I discovered his work, he was already in the end-stages of brain cancer. (Cancer sucks.)

Tom Piccirilli never bothered to confine himself to a single genre. He’s mostly known for bizarre noir-style horror, but he also wrote cozy mysteries, westerns, and some fantastic psychological thrillers. I’ve read about half of his books so far, but still have quite a few left to read. Seriously, nobody does tight point of view and vivid noir characterization like Piccirilli. He sucks me in every time.

If you’re curious, check out The Cold Spot (boasting one of the greatest opening lines of all time), Shadow Season, Dead Letters, or Every Shallow Cut.

 

My Wish List
Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident , by Donnie Eicher, and/or Mountain of the Dead , by Keith McCloskey

I love unsolved mysteries. (Who doesn’t?) I could spend all day watching Disappeared on ID Network, or The Unexplained Files, on… whatever channel it’s on. And of all the unsolved mysteries in the world, the Dyatlov Pass Incident is one of the most fascinating. For those who don’t know this story, I’ll summarize:

In late January/early February 1959, nine college students went camping/skiing in the frozen mountains of Russia. They never returned. They were later found dead in the snow, only partially clothed. Their tent was shredded, indicating that they for some reason cut their way free rather than using the door. Some had died of hypothermia, but some of their bodies were lined up in the snow, carefully arranged in a line. One of them was missing her tongue. Even stranger: many of them had suffered massive internal injuries, but without a single evident external injury. The Soviet government subsequently classified the case as Top Secret and closed the area off for years.

Nobody has ever determined what exactly happened to the deceased students.

Intriguing, isn’t it?

The Unseen, by Katherine Webb

This is one of those books I mentioned in my PaperbackSwap post: I had it on my wishlist and received a copy after a brief wait. I kept it on my shelf for at least a year, and never read it, so I eventually posted it for trade and sent it on to another reader. Then, a few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of The Misbegotten by the same author. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed it, so now I have The Unseen book BACK on my wishlist (I really should have read it the first time!) as well as The Night Falling.

The Woman in Cabin 10 , by Ruth Ware

This book has been everywhere lately. If you haven’t seen it on a bookshelf somewhere, you must be living under a rock. I almost bought the hardcover in an airport bookstore, but talked myself out of it. I’m waiting for the paperback.

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton , by Edith Wharton

I love ghost stories. I love Edith Wharton. When I found out she had a whole book of them, the logical thing was to add it to my list. The thing is, my mother-on-law keeps telling me not to buy it, because she swears she owns a copy of it somewhere. One way or another, I’m getting a copy eventually.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle , by Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson is one of the all-time masters of horror, best known for The Haunting of Hill House, and The Lottery. Apparently this one is currently in production as a movie, as well, so I’ll definitely want to read the book first.

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t): Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame, by Brene Brown

I confess, this book confuses me because there seems to be three different versions, all with the same title, but with different subtitles. One of the other subtitles is “Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power”. I’m not sure if the text inside is the same or not. Either way, I’m interested.

Your Turn!

First of all, have you read any of these? If so, tell me what you thought. And let me know which books are at the top of your TBR pile. (Hint: What should be on your TBR list? How about my “best friend’s little brother” story, Making Waves? It comes out Thursday! Buy links are below.)

ARe

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

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30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 15: Something I Miss

Well, here I am, halfway through my 30-day blogging challenge! It’s been good to have a reason to sit down at the computer each day.

Today’s topic is “something I miss”. Rather than one thing, I think I’ll wax nostalgic about a few different things.

Padawan
Padawan

My husband and I adopted Padawan from the local Humane Society back in 1998(ish). He had these short little legs and a big barrel body. The Humane Society guessed that he was half German shepherd and half beagle. He’d been a stray up until then, and boy, he was happy when we brought him home.

Who’s a Good Dog? Not Padawan.

The funny thing about Padawan is that in many ways, he was NOT a good dog. He was a troublemaker, through and through. Padawan was smarter than any dog has a right to be, and he dedicated every bit of those doggy wiles to getting more food. We built elaborate systems to keep him out of the trash, and he managed to bypass every single one of them. He knew how to wait for the perfect distraction (like the doorbell ringing) before snatching food right off the kitchen counter. That scene in Putting Out Fires where Matt plays tug-of-war over a steak with Scooby? I was party to that scene more times than I can count.

Despite his skinny little legs and that fat barrel body, Padawan could jump five-foot fences without batting an eye. He’d often take off down the road, in search of treats. We’d find him by following the trail of tipped-over garbage cans. He once went missing when we were camping in the mountains. We found him about a quarter mile down the road, begging at somebody else’s campfire. (They said, “We knew he wasn’t a stray. He’s too fat for that!”)

One day, Padawan came prancing into the house with a full, raw pork chop in his mouth. The man two houses down was grilling in his back yard, and Padawan managed not only to jump both fences (twice!), but to wait for the perfect moment to snatch that chop so he could bring it home. My husband heard the man telling his wife, “It wasn’t a raccoon! I’m telling you, it was a dog!”

Extra Stubborn

Padawan was also stubborn as hell, and scared of loud noises. If he heard a noise that scared him (a car backfiring, a nail gun, the sudden “Pfff” of an airbrake on a semi) while on his walk, he’d absolutely REFUSE to ever walk that route again. He’d just pull his head right out of his collar and run back home. By the time we moved from the first home we lived in with him, we only had one route we could take on our walks, and I can’t tell you how many times I had to carry that fat little dog home because he refused to take another step. (And he could pull himself free of a harness with the same ease.)

My husband and I have a hundred different stories about the ways this dog made things difficult. But he had personality in spades. His name still comes up at least once a week in our house, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing him.

Jon
Very old picture

Jon was my best friend from the time we were thirteen until…. I don’t know when. He was the Maid of Honor in my wedding. Sometime after college, he moved to Phoenix and got married. (And even though they share a name and both live in Phoenix, he has almost nothing in common with my character, Jonathan.)

It’s not like Jon and I ever stopped being friends. It’s just that it’s become hard to keep in touch. His parents no longer live in Colorado, so he has no reason to come back here. I hate talking on the phone, and he hates being on the computer, so we can’t seem to ever settle on a way to communicate. We’ve barely spoken in years, but I still miss him all the time. (And hopefully he won’t kill me for posting this picture from roughly twenty years ago.)

Band

Yes, I was a band geek, and although I don’t miss a single other thing about high school, I do miss playing in the band and orchestra.

Writing

I debated whether or not to list this one.

In some ways, I don’t miss writing at all. In others, I do. I don’t miss the edits or the revisions. I don’t miss the blog tours or the drama. Basically, I don’t miss anything about the way writing has been for the last few years. I guess what I do miss is the way writing was way back in 2009 and 2010, when I just couldn’t wait to get up in the morning and put more words on the page. I had a resurgence of that enthusiasm a couple of summers ago, when I wrote Lost Along the Way and Winter Oranges. But for the most part, it’s been a long time since I felt that kind of enthusiasm for it, and I do miss that sense of purpose.

The Chuck Wagon
Not the actual Chuck Wagon from my youth, but you get the idea.

I spent the first eleven years of my life in Evanston, Wyoming. For just a couple of short months each summer, there was an outdoor restaurant called the Chuck Wagon at the top of the hill. All the cooking was done outdoors in these huge pots over open flames. Most of the seating was outdoor picnic tables, but there were also a handful of tipis and covered wagons with tables in them (I liked the covered wagon tables the best). The food was served on paper or styrofoam plates with plastic cutlery, and you cleaned up after your meal by dumping all your trash into the giant bonfire burning in the center of the space. (This was the late seventies. Nobody was worried about the ozone in those days.)

The thing about the Chuck Wagon is that I still remember exactly the way it smelled as we drove up the hill. For those couple of months, that entire section of town was permeated with the smell of the bonfire mixed with the mouth-watering aroma of pot roast in thick, brown gravy. Man, it was good. If I could go back in time, I’d definitely eat dinner there one last time.

Your Turn

Tell me what you miss!

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Available for PreOrder: Accanto

For my Italian readers:

Un libro della serie Coda

Il giovane Dominic Jacobsen sospetta di essere gay e ne ha la conferma quando un ricco ragazzo proveniente da fuori città sale sul sedile posteriore della sua GTO. Gli basta una serata con Lamar Franklin per convincersi di aver trovato l’uomo dei suoi sogni. Sfortunatamente, quella serata sarà l’unica cosa che avrà prima che l’altro lasci il Colorado.

Quindici anni dopo, Lamar torna a Coda, dopo aver messo fine all’ultima di una lunga serie di pessime relazioni. È solo, depresso e tormentato da telefonate notturne anonime. Ormai sul punto di arrendersi, si trova faccia a faccia con il passato.

Da quando aveva diciassette anni, Dominic sogna di incontrare di nuovo Lamar, ma questo non significa che sia pronto per vivere una storia. Affrontare i pettegolezzi tipici di una piccola città e i soliti drammi di una grande famiglia è già difficile, ma ciò che più lo preoccupa è perdere la custodia della figlia adolescente, Naomi. L’unica soluzione è assicurarsi che lui e Lamar rimangano amici e nulla più. Dovranno tenersi addosso i vestiti, qualsiasi cosa accada.

Semplice. Che si riveli un bene o un male, Lamar sembra però pensarla in altro modo.

 

Accanto will be released by Dreamspinner Press on October 25th.

PREORDER IT HERE

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30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 14: A Problem

Today’s post is supposed to be about a problem I have, or have had in the past. This one’s tough. In fact, I’ve fallen a bit behind (meaning I have fewer posts in reserve) because I couldn’t decide what to do with this topic. Do I bullshit my way through it, like I did with the education post, or take it seriously? Or do I give it up and do something off-list instead?

I still don’t quite know. Let’s see what happens.

The Styx

Frankly, the biggest problem I have is a Styx song.

Sittin’ on this bar stool, talking like damn fool.

Got the twelve o’clock new blues.

Well, I’ve given up hope on the afternoon soaps,

And a bottle of cold brew.

Is it any wonder I’m not crazy? Is it any wonder I’m sane at all.

Having too much time on one’s hands may not seem like much of a problem. It’s certainly something of a first world problem, at any rate. The real issue is that last line. Some days it feels like I’m losing my damn mind. Other days, it’s an uphill battle against my old buddy, depression.

Why So Much Time?

Well, I’m so tired of losin’, I got nothing to do,

And all day to do it.

I’d go out cruising, but there’s no place to go,

And all night to get there.

Is it any wonder I’m not a criminal?

Is it any wonder I’m not in jail.

Is it any wonder I’ve got too much time on my hands?

It’s ticking away with my sanity.

It’s the bane of the stay-at-home mom. Or of the full-time author. Or of the bored housewife. I am all of those things, and yet…

Not quite.

I don’t really qualify as a stay-at-home mom these days because I only have one kid, and she’s in school all day.

Image by © Camerique/ClassicStock/Corbis

I don’t qualify as a full-time author because I’m not writing.

Bored housewife? Yeah, that one I can claim. God knows there’s plenty of housework to keep me busy, but who the hell wants to spend eight hours a day cleaning up after other people? If I wanted to do that, I’d join some kind of housekeeping service and get paid for it. I try to tackle at least one chore each day (not counting cleaning the kitchen, which is a daily job), but I never seem to get ahead of the mess.

So, Do Something About It

Activity is the best weapon I have against depression, although working up the energy to be active is easier some days than others. Sometimes I sew*. Some days I read. Some days I turn into a lump and watch TV. Sometimes I manage to go for a walk, although that happens less than I’d like. I went really crazy a couple of months ago and started applying for part-time jobs, but nothing worked out, and to tell the truth, I wasn’t all that sure I wanted to tie myself to a job anyway. I can volunteer at my daughter’s school, but that only takes up a couple of days each quarter.

In the end, it’s the same old battle, fought the same old way: one day at a time. Some weeks, I get to Friday feeling like I’ve had a great week. Other weeks, ever second seems lot last an hour. But…

It is what it is.

Ed Boyd?

And just so I can end with a bit of levity, let’s go on with the song.

I’ve got dozens of friends, and the fun never ends —

That is, as long as I’m buying.

Is it any wonder I’m not the president?

Is it any wonder I’m not Ed Boyd?

Wait. What?

The funny thing is, I think that’s even what they say in Rock of Ages (the play — I don’t think this song is in the movie). When the character sings, “Is it any wonder I’m not Ed Boyd?”, his friend responds, “I don’t even know what that means.”

But in double-checking the lyrics for this post, some people claim it actually says:

Is it any wonder I’m null and void?

That makes a lot more sense.

 

 

*If you’re interested in supporting my sewing habit, check out the “Handmade Purses and Wallets” category in my Selz store. You have to pay shipping on the first order, but if you order more than one item (not counting ebooks, which obviously don’t incur shipping charges), you can use discount code PY71YTYB to get free shipping on all additional items purchased that same day. (In other words, order a purse or wallet, and you can add on a signed paperback [or three] for no additional shipping.)  

30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 13: PaperbackSwap

Today’s topic is supposed to be “someone who fascinates you and why,” but for better or worse, I couldn’t come up with anybody, so I decided to talk about one of my favorite websites ever: PaperbackSwap.com.

What Is PaperbackSwap?

PaperbackSwap is exactly what it sounds like: a website where people trade books. Granted, it’s geared toward folks like me who still prefer to read physical books over ebooks. But it isn’t just paperbacks. They also have hardcovers, textbooks, books on CD or tape… anything with an ISBN. I’ve been a member for ten years, and in that time, I’ve received over 400 books through PBS. PaperbackSwap is also where I met Ethan Stone, back before either of us were published.

Up until recently, the site was free. Last year, they instituted a membership program, with three different levels. I’m a standard member. For me, it’s absolutely worth $20 per year, but there are less expensive options, for those who trade less often.

How Does It Work?

It’s simple: you list any books you have that you’re ready to send on to new readers. When somebody requests one of your books, you send it to them. (You pay the postage, but you can buy the postage directly through PBS and send the book from your mailbox without any special trips to the post office.) Once your book is received, you get one credit. You can use that credit to request any item from anybody on the site. Then, sit back and wait for the mailman (or mailwoman) to deliver your new-to-you book!

New releases often have waiting lists. Just add the book to your wish list. Books from small presses may not come up too often, but mass market paperbacks cycle through at a regular pace.

Other Fun Stuff

There’s a member forum where you can meet people and talk about anything from politics to what’s for dinner. I like to browse the Book Bazaar, where people trade things that can’t technically be listed for credits (like damaged books or ARCs). They have a market where you can buy new books at a discounted price. There are also places where you can look at maps of your trades, or lists of the most traded books. There’s a school donation program, a recipe section…

All kinds of stuff.

Basically, it’s a fun site to kill a bit of time on. I wasn’t lying when I said it was my favorite website ever. I’ve spent a stupid amount of time tracking down books, requesting them, sending them away, then sometimes requesting them again later when I decide I want to reread the book. (Also, on more than one occasion, I’ve requested a book, then never read it. Eventually, I decided to repost it because I was low on credits. Then, I ended up reading another book by the same author and realizing I really should have read that book when I had it! So then, I go request it a second time. I’m a dork that way.)

Is It a Scam?

I once saw somebody say PBS was a scam. I don’t understand that claim. I’ve been using the site for ten years, and I love it. Now, I have one friend who worried that she might be swapping a book with a $19.99 cover price for a book with a $6.99 cover price. That is a possibility. Only audio books are more than one credit. Other than that, all books in the PBS system are created equal. You can choose to only request paperbacks, or only request hardcovers if you like, but for myself, I figure it all comes out in the wash. I’m getting rid of a book I no longer need, and in exchange, I get a book I want. That’s fair enough for me. How much those books cost back when they were new isn’t really an issue for me.

If you don’t want to take my word that it’s legit, check out the Press & Media page.

Ready to Sign Up?

If so, tell them I sent you. You can find my profile here.

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30-Day Blogging Challenge, Day 12: Favorite Movies (with Giveaway)

Yesterday’s post was on my favorite TV shows, and that was easy. Three shows immediately rose to the top of the heap. But my favorite movies? That’s harder.

My Type of Movie

First of all, I’m not into deep or emotional movies. If it’s billed as “powerful” or “poignant” or “heart wrenching,” I’m just not interested. I’ve had a couple of people over the years scoff at the fact that I have no interest in “worthy” movies. What the fuck ever. I go the movies to be entertained, not to have my life changed.

But, which movies do I consider my favorites? Here are the ones that come to mind, in no particular order.

Star Wars

I’m a huge fan of the original trilogy. I remember seeing Star Wars as a kid and being blown away, then anxiously awaiting episodes V and VI. I watched the movies, read the books, and dreamed up intricate subplots involving my own characters (one was Han Solo’s younger sister, and the other was Darth Vader’s daughter and second in command). But unlike a lot of other Star Wars fans, I’m kind of over it. The prequels were awful, and I was fairly underwhelmed by The Force Awakens. I’m excited to see Rogue One, but I’m trying not get my hopes up too much. In many ways, I wish we’d been left with just the original three movies. I feel like the Star Wars legacy has been greatly lessened and little bit tainted.

Star Trek (2009)

I didn’t watch the original Star Trek TV show. I watched The Next Generation (although mostly in syndication), and a season or two of Voyager, but all in all, I don’t consider myself a Trekkie. Still, I love the  Star Trek reboot with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto.

Signs

I know, I know. I’ll totally get laughed at for listing this movie as one of my favorites. Why would an alien species who can’t tolerate water come to a planet that’s made largely of H2O? The thing is, I don’t care. What I love about this movie is the dialog. I love Merrill in the closet with a tinfoil hat on his head, and the girl in the pharmacy who feels the need to confess her sins, and the old man who thinks it’s all a conspiracy to sell soda.

The aliens are just gravy.

Chocolat

This is one of the few cases where I think the movie is better than the book. Maybe it’s simply because I saw the movie first. Regardless, Chocolat is just such a great movie, and it definitely helped inspire Lost Along the Way.

The Avengers

Confession time: I’ve become a huge fan of the Marvel universe, although I’ve never read a single comic book. I like the Iron Man movies, Winter Soldier, and Deadpool. I watch Agents of SHIELD, Jessica Jones, and Daredevil. But if I had to pick ONE favorite from among them, it’d probably be The Avengers. I really like the way Joss Whedon snuck in so much humor.

Oliver!

The 1968 musical Oliver! has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. It won five Oscars (including Best Picture) and three Golden Globes. The beginning is a bit boring, though. I usually sort of skip through to where Oliver gets to London.

Orange County

I can’t explain my love for this movie, but I could have included a dozen clips from it in this post. For those who haven’t seen it, Orange County is about a high school senior who dreams of going to Stanford to study under the tutelage of his favorite author. Unfortunately, his application is denied because his counselor sent in the wrong transcript.

His burnout brother, played by Jack Black, offers to take him to Stanford so he can appeal the decision in person, but of course everything goes wrong.

Orange County stars Colin Hanks, John Lithgow, Jack Black, and Catherine O’Hara, and features cameos by Chevy Chase, Lily Tomlin, Ben Stiller, Harold Ramis, and Kevin Kline. Orange County is juvenile and silly, but there’s something at its heart that I just love. Maybe it’s because it’s about being a writer. Maybe it’s because the protagonist’s parents are even more screwed up than mine. I’m not really sure. But two or three times a year, I just have to put this movie in and watch it.

V for Vendetta

Remember, remember, the fifth of November…

V for Vendetta probably wins as my absolute favorite movie. I love superheroes and antiheroes, and V is both. And I really dig the political themes and the symbolism. In short, I love everything about this movie.

Your Turn

What are your favorite movies? Please share in the comments.

And A Prize

This has nothing whatsoever to do with movies, but my paperback copies of Wrench Wars just arrived yesterday. This anthology contains all four Wrench Wars novellas (two written by me, and two by L.A. Witt). Leave a comment, and I’ll choose one person to receive a free copy. (US only. Sorry!) And don’t forget, Making Waves (the last Wrench Wars story) will be released on Sept 29. You can preorder it here:

ARe

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

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