Candice Bundy's Blog, page 12

Petting Zoos and Goat Peeves

Last week I visited my sister and her family San Antonio. My son and their daughter get along wonderfully, and to keep them busy over the week we ended up visiting bouncy places and animal parks with petting zoos. Let's discuss the abominations known as petting zoos. Who dreamt these crazed things up? I understand [...]

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story is Kenyon's second foray into YA fiction and feature's the 14 year old Nick Gautier and his challenges growing up as a very unique and terrifying brand of demon while also trying to survive high school and girl friends. This series is a bit of a retrospective and parallels what's happened in her Dark Hunter series but gives a new perspective through young Nick's eyes.

In this volume Nick and his 'friends' (this is a loose term, as some of his friends are also sworn to off him if he turns evil at any point in his journey) battle against a new coach who's got devious plans to use and abuse him. It's enjoyable overall, but I simply wasn't drawn into the story like I was into the Dark Hunter books. Yes, I know this is meant to be a different creature, and it's a YA audience, but the writing style feels different. I may continue with this series simply because I don't want to miss out on any plot twists that may tie back into the main Dark Hunter series.

The series arc moves forward with a tidbit more information on Ambrose, sprinkles more on Nekoda and Caleb, and of course familiar faces like Mark, Bubba, Ash, Kyrian and the others. I think I enjoyed Nick's humorous internal dialogue and how he joked with Ambrose the best.

Overall the plot with the coach was interesting and fresh, however the first 20% of the book felt rehashed to me with no new content. Also, both this and the first Chronicle of Nick were fairly short books, which although is common with some YA authors, isn't the norm for Kenyon and isn't for many YA authors (i.e. Rowling, Meyer). Thus the content, for what I'm used to from Kenyon, felt light.

As an example, Grim (i.e. Death) is tasked with teaching Nick how to use a pendulum as a scrying tool along with his special grimoire (which he got in book one). Early on he shows him how to locate someone on a map, then how to use it for yes/no, this all seems fairly basic. In the next scene Nick complains that Grim trains him for hours with it to exhaustion, but no details are given. This felt like a cop out. I'm sure there are plenty of books on pendulum techniques out there, yes? Adding in another one or two for color would have spiced things up.

Hopefully things will speed up in the next two installments.

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Beneath the Skin by Adrian Phoenix

Beneath the Skin by Adrian Phoenix

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this book Dante, Von, Heather, and Annie flee Seattle for New Orleans, and along the way have to face more and more government agencies gunning for them (how many are there now?) and the Fallen come fully into play.

A big plus: the issues Phoenix had in books one and two of this series with rapid point of view switches and overly obtuse and cerebral character moments are now a thing of the past. Her writing overall feels more polished and clean as well, allowing Phoenix's haunting world to glimmer brighter.

I think I enjoyed this book best so far because it was the most cleanly written of the three, the complexity of the Fallen was an engaging new world, and Dante is beginning to awaken to his powers as the half-vampire/half-Fallen. Heather even gets some brand new skills.

Of course the story isn't over yet, but the ending is bittersweet, bringing us needed closure and asses we'd like to see kicked in the next installment. The challenge the author faces is in introducing so many adversaries for Dante and Heather, can the reader keep track?

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Tagged: Adrian Phoenix, Beneath the Skin, book review, New Orleans

A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix

A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book after seeing a review talking about how underrated the series and author were. The reviewer also promised a creative stab at vampires, and I'm all for something truly fresh and not just rehashed.

This urban fantasy book reads as a murder mystery, with FBI Agent Heather Wallace hunting down a serial killer and running across a cadre of vamps and immortals along the way. The lead vamp, Dante Prejean, is the lead singer for a band in New Orleans and is also the killer's target. (On a side note, the author adores NIN, and I have to wonder if she's modeled Dante after Trent Reznor, who used to live in the Big Easy and has similar music/performance wear tastes.)

The vamps are overall you standard fare. However, Phoenix has added Fallen angels into the mix in the form of Dante's pal Lucien (and others, presently just alluded to) which spice up the mix. We aren't sure where the Fallen are taking us, but Lucien is hiding a number of secrets.

The serial killer is also nicely demented and honest. I never doubted his perspective or motivation. Even without the paranormal elements the mystery side of this story holds water without issue, and that will keep me reading into the series.

The chemistry between Heather and Dante, once it happens, is genuine and not overdone, but at times it gets a bit artsy and cerebral. Heather over thinks most things, which is typical of her character, but it would be nice not to have it happen during a simple kiss. The author treats the romance with a wide camera angle lens.

The reason I gave this three versus four stars? Phoenix changes character perspective frequently, and with all of the internal dialogue going on it's often difficult to keep track of who's speaking. I found myself having to back up and re-read sections frequently, and that's just annoying.

However, I did like it, enough to continue reading the series to see where things lead. Phoenix brings a good deal of creativity to the stage, and I can hope the technique and style improves.

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Tagged: A rush of wings, Adrian Phoenix, book review, nin, trent reznor

Oh my, what are you reading?

I have a question out there for those of you with e-readers (or those of you who wish to purchase e-readers). Is the primary reason you purchased (or wish to own) an e-reader so you'd be able to hide what you're reading?

Seriously?

Are you so afraid that someone will spy upon your book covers and gasp oh my! and avert their eyes, perhaps hide their children from view that you ponied up the cash and purchased an e-reader?

I ask this, because somewhere around 80% of the ebook market is in the combined romance category. And Avon Books just announced last week they are starting up their digital romance Avon Impulse brand (where print versions will be available only on demand) because then "fans can read e-editions in public without fear of embarrassment". How kind of them. Why bother printing books fans are too overcome to read in public? Yay for e-readers! Now we romance readers are no longer consigned to closets and basements! Whoopee!

I think the publishers miss out on some other tangible benefits to the readers.

1) Price: ebook pricing is almost always lower than the print version.

2) Immediate Delivery: I don't have to travel to a book store to pick up the next book in a series. I effectively have the store right here with me! A must for the voracious reader!

3) Genre Stigma: I don't just read romance. Wow, now what do you do with me?

4) Author Loyalty: ebooks make it easy to find other books published by the same author, and with immediate delivery to access those books.

5) Book Library: I keep all of my books in a nicely compact format. I can highlight and bookmark areas of interest to me, and those stay in my collection.

6) Environmentally Friendly: No more trees or ink are being processed for me to satisfy my voracious habit. There's less in the way between me and the artist.

And that's just my short list. What are some reasons you have for using an e-reader, or wanting one? Are you one of those who do prefer to hide your romance covers? Please, do share. No one will tell.

Tagged: e-readers, ebooks, embarassment, publishing, reading, romance

A paranormal proposal…

I've been privy to some conversations recently with girlfriends, and surprisingly they've been less-than-glowing in regards to previous suitors. I know–this never happens–right? And I'm thinking, what could possibly redeem these situations? Could anything have been done (I mean, besides relationship counseling)?

As an avid reader (and fledgling writer) of paranormal romance there are certain, well, trends I can't escape noticing. All paranormal suitors possess a number of key elements that your average man sometimes lacks. I mean, first off, these typical heroes live in books, custom designed for the heroine, waiting with baited breath on every word she says. They are also superhuman in many ways, but again, they live in books.

What if we had access to a paranormal finishing school, of sorts? Would you send your partner, or ex, off for some 'refinement'? How's this for a top ten list of possible enhancements?

1. Mysterious superpower - Something wonderfully powerful, but not pesky enough to get in the way. Vampire? Sure, but still able to have sex and procreate without blood flow, even if that defies science–okay? Werewolf? No problem, just don't force him to be a beast when the moon is full unless he wants to be. Fairy? Well don't let him read my mind all the time, and I'll keep the iron to a minimum, alright?

2. Sexy, smoldering eyes - Everyone loves those eyes, the ones that undress you with a glance and linger on every curve and caress every hollow. Eyes you want on you for hour after hour–or is that just me?

3. Kissing – Sometimes you need soft, gentle kisses. Sometimes teasing taunts. And sometimes you need lips that ravish and pin you down, stealing your breath and robbing you of conscious thought. Sometimes.

4. Heartthrob Body – And with the instant hard pecs, washboard abs, and perfectly shaped rear you also get god-like stamina as a side-benefit. Of course that stamina can be fully sated by his perfect partner and no other.

5. Kama Sutra Knowledge - Because all that stamina only goes so far without some creative application applied. Too much of a good thing gets dull pretty fast if it isn't changed up, and happily our otherworldly schoolteachers are only too happy to fill in the gaps.

6. Intuition – And it's about time! Finally, he knows when you're pissed, and he knows when you're just needing space. You're connected, in the same skin, and he knows what you're thinking right after you do. It's wonderful and electric.

7. Cooking – Every mate will learn to be an outstanding cook at this supernatural school. Food is an intensely sensual experience, and a perfect opportunity for seduction.

8. Wardrobe/Hairstyle – Metrosexual mode activated! No more worries if the socks will match, or the tie and belt will match the jacket and shirt. Now, he'll handle it better than you do! Just be prepared, he'll know colors better now and will most likely feel confident enough to speak up when your lip gloss doesn't match your outfit. Don't take it personally, he's not nitpicking, just trying to help out.

9. Wooing Arts - Flowers when you least expect them but most need them. A sweet love letter falling out of the pages of the book you're reading. A small box of chocolates next to your purse. The little things that mean a lot, and promise more seduction later.

10. Devotion - After all, what's the use of this newly spruced up sexy wooing machine if he doesn't utterly worship the very ground you walk on? So ladies, prepare for your man to focus all his new skills on the center of his universe, you!

Ladies, I give you your man, post paranormal finishing school. Did I leave anything out? Did I go too far, or not go far enough? What would you add instead to our paranormal finishing school? And if it existed, would you use it?

Tagged: finishing school, paranormal, romance

Insomnia doesn't matter.

So says my doctor. You see I've had insomnia for years. Decades actually, truth be told. I've never slept the 'proper' amount. It's easy to blame my night owl behaviors on any number of things. I'd stay up late reading books. Or go out to coffee shops with friends. Or stay up late reading books. Or go our dancing. Or stay up late reading books. Or blame parenthood and the ten thousand reasons a child wakes you.

Oh, but you'd argue, those are all self-induced. Even the child, after all, I chose parenthood.

But yes, there are actual organic sleep issues. I awaken for no reason. I know I'm not the only one. And I lay there, for hours, wondering why I'm cursed into suck feckless boredom. Usually I get up and read a book. At least then I'm not bored.

So I went to the doctor and I asked for the pretty green Lunesta butterfly, because it seems so much safer than Ambien. I mean I don't want to be caught sleep-driving, sleep eating, or sleep-sexing. Certainly not one of those poor bastards who's stuck sleep-driving/eating/sexing. OMFG no, not I.

At this point my doctor asks me a critical question. Do I feel tired? Well, no doc, I don't. But you see, I only sleep five hours a night. It's 'not normal.'

Apparently I've watched too much television and the associated commercials. Which is to say, any at all. She explained to me that early hominids (yes, 'hominids') went to bed when the sun went down, got up in the middle of the night and 'entertained themselves' and then slept again for a while until morning. No, I didn't ask for a list of early hominid nighttime entertainment activities. I'm sure whatever you're thinking of is correct.

Anyway, she stressed that however much you naturally sleep is usually correct for you, assuming that you give your body adequate time to get it. So if you wake up, just hang out and entertain your brain. Or something.

Of course, your insomnia might matter. You might get ten hours of sleep a night and still feel exhausted. Or you might not be able to fall asleep because you're a stress monkey. If so, that blows. Sorry about that. See a doctor. Then again, you just might wake up in the middle of the night, like me, and it may not matter one iota. So don't freak out. Just hang out and enjoy it. Or read a book.

Tagged: ambien, insomnia, lunesta

The Nature of Communication

Communication is tricky at best. We interact, thinking we're on the same page, and sometimes suddenly, we find out we're not.

It's not unusual to write a phrase and find out later that what was clear to me was lost on my readers. Choice of wording is tricky, and inevitably things can get lost in translation from my brain to the paper. All writers have this happen to a degree, it's just a part of honing the craft and perfecting skills.

I recently finished reading the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, and the final book, 'Shadowfever', debuted #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, so to say she's got a healthy audience is an understatement. This dark urban fantasy series is full of flawed, power-hungry characters fighting over a dark object of of unimaginable power as they claw their way through an apocalypse in Dublin.

I visited the authors forums and enjoyed sharing revelations of the final tome with fellow readers. You know, who guessed certain plot points correctly, what Moning's next series spin-off might entail, etc, etc. But then there were the questions by some that made me wonder–did you read the same book as the rest of us? The answers they got back were uniform and wonderfully politely handled, true to the plot the majority remembered (happily I counted myself in that group). But seriously, their comprehension in some cases was so far off the mark, I'm not sure where they even got the ideas. Moning is a great author, with awesome editors–is it just not possible to communicate clearly with every reader?

Now, from another angle, I've been reading Mark Morford's 'The Daring Spectacle: Adventures in Deviant Journalism'. This is a compilation of his articles from 2000 – 2010, and he's lovingly added in select hate mail for your reading pleasure. Why? Because hate speech, when brought to light, loses its power. And they're funny in their ignorance. At least that's my personal take.

In the hate mail you get the impression that the writers saw the word 'homosexual' and fired up their emails, unable to even process the remainder of the content of the message due to the power of the trigger being tripped. Granted Morford is unabashedly straight (not that it matters), but the gay-bashers don't take the time to get their facts straight, all that matters is he defended gay rights in a column, and this deserves a page a vitriolic hate because he must be gay. What?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Literacy is the challenge of our time. Reading comprehension is not a given. Healthy debate requires understanding the issue. Perhaps I only say this because I've written too many training manuals and user guides. It's much harder to write directions than people think. Try it sometime. It's a true education in how the human mind processes input, and how we tend to leave out assumed yet necessary steps.

What communication challenges do you suffer due to comprehension? Due to hate? I hope none. I hope when you find these issues in others, that you do your best to point them in the direction of education and open-mindedness. Of course, I did say 'homosexual' up there…

Here are some literacy statistics is from my friend Ursula's 50 Books in One Year blog this week. How do these apply to you?

From The Literacy Company on reading:

46% of American adults cannot understand the label on their prescription medicine.
It is estimated that as many as 15 percent of American students may be dyslexic.
50 percent of American adults are unable to read an eighth grade level book.
There are almost half a million words in our English Language – the largest language on earth, incidentally – but a third of all our writing is made up of only twenty-two words.
In a class of 20 students, few if any teachers can find even 5 minutes of time in a day to devote to reading with each student.
Out-of-school reading habits of students has shown that even 15 minutes a day of independent reading can expose students to more than a million words of text in a year.
The average reader spends about 1/6th of the time they spend reading actually rereading words.
When the State of Arizona projects how many prison beds it will need, it factors in the number of kids who read well in fourth grade.

Those are some sobering stats! How about these:

1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
57 percent of new books are not read to completion.


Tagged: college, communication, cosmic zen, devil's advocate, Egypt, homosexual, Karen Marie Moning, mark morford, peaceful revolution, Shadowfever, The Daring Spectacle

Just say hells no.

When you become a parent you know there are certain talks you have to look *forward* to. And at the ripe age of 7 my son does his best to seek out every nugget of knowledge we're willing to impart. Last night we reached a new level of discomfort for both of us.

We'd been doing his writing homework, and he'd been trying to squirrel out of it by bargaining for more play time in the now in return for more homework time later. As if that ever works out! (However, stubborn runs in the family, so odds are he won't stop trying either.) When I wouldn't relent he explains that a certain classmate (let's call him Adam) told him that he takes a medicine to help him 'concentrate' and get his homework done in one minute. Adam then further offered to procure said medicine for my son, so that he too could get his homework done in one minute! What joy! What rapture! My son was so happy to share with me how soon he'd be be magically homework-free like Adam!

Oh, hells no! I was in no way prepared for the concept of drugs in first grade! I mean yeah sure these are prescription drugs, but why do these boys think they can just pass medicine around like candy? But I look into his eyes and I know the answer.

The desire for a quick fix is hardwired into our psyches. If it's offered, seems relatively legit and doesn't stink such that we can smell it, we'll eat it up, hook line and sinker. If a pill makes the homework disappear, yay pill! Right?

Now, do I think the not-so-suave Adam could actually have delivered the likely ADD drug to my son? I seriously doubt it. Then again, kids are crazy resourceful and unpredictable.

So last night we have the drug talk. At age seven. What the fuck?!? Today I talked with his teacher so she could alert  Adam's parents to his willingness to share his 'concentration' pills supply. Hopefully they can reign in the wee drug lord before his career blossoms.

I also impress upon my son that he doesn't have concentration issues. He concentrates on what he cares about just fine, often for hours at a stretch. So no honey, no ADD/ADHD drugs for you. Not ever. You may have to be inspired to care about things other than math or science, but that's what we call parenting, yes?

Now one of the things I've loved about having a home-based business is knowing that my son gets to see the creation of a product in action. Live, 4D, real-time, hands-on, true-life, creation. Not with the writing…that's too abstract. I'm referring to the wine making he sees on a daily basis. He gets to live the journey along with us, and thus he knows what goes into the process and just how long all the steps can take.

I find a certain zen to spending a day bottling and labeling wine, or brewing up batches of mead. I suppose I could rail against how long it takes to get through each of those processes, but I find them visceral and real. As with all things in the winery, you go until things are done, and when my son helps, he plays along and has a great time. (Now I just need to make homework into a game for him too!)

Every day we face the challenge of tuning in or tuning out. Will you take the pills and zip through the day, feel as little as possible just to get to the end as quickly as possible? Or will you live every minute as if it were your last? Eek every second of lush beauty out of today?

What, is that too dramatic? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Today is just another day, right? It's not like it matters or anything… Not like you could do anything useful with it. Right?

Tagged: ADD, ADHD, drugs, Living, Parenting, Zen

Freezepocalypse 2011, or the blizzard that wasn't…

It's day two of freezepocalypse 2011, and children all across the Front Range in Colorado are rejoicing in the second of two 'snow days' off from school due to blistering cold temperatures and our apparent inability to deal with what's normal weather if you're in Iowa or Minnesota or whatever. I know when I was a kid we went to school when it was this cold. Is there fear from the schools that they'll be sued by the parents if a child suffers frostbite? Or just that parents here in Colorado aren't used to these temperatures, aren't prepared for it, and therefore kids will inevitably suffer if they don't act? Are the schools right?

Not that my first grade son is complaining…no, he's relishing every minute of it. The irony of calling them snow days is there's very little actual snow, only about 1-2 inches here. The temps have been around -15 in the morning with the wind chill another 10 to 15 degrees colder. Last night here it fell to -23 at the lowest, which is a record low for us. I'm hoping our micro-vineyard with our hybrid vines emerges unscathed through this winter. They are rated to -20, so this will be a winter to test their cold-hardiness.

Not sure if you're discovered Bluntcard.com yet, but here's a nice one that fully summarizes my thoughts on the Freezepocalypse.

Snowpocalypse

Now, on to other things. I must confess I'm secretly enthralled with Mark Morford's weekly columns. It's partly his succinct and hard-hitting writing style, and partly the topical and amusing content. For instance, college kids are more invested in compliments than sex, and you can apparently improve your metabolism by turning down your thermostat. He also speaks to the GOP plans to redefine rape this week. Because, you know, if you aren't beaten into a bloody pulp during the rape, then Congress doesn't consider it an actual rape anymore, right? Now, I suspect this has more to do with their desire to pinch pennies anywhere they can and this is just yet another place to cut costs, and women's rights simply aren't top billing to the GOP.

Finally, I'm going to talk about my publisher's yearly charity anthology because it's the right thing to do. Dreams & Desires, vol. 4 is now available in eBook for $5.99 and in print for $14.95.

By purchasing this collection, you can help turn someone's nightmare into the pursuit of dreams. Every year, four million women are assaulted by their partners. At Freya's Bower, we want to do our part to bring this statistic down to zero. To this end, all net proceeds from every Dreams and Desire anthology volume 4 purchased will go to A Window Between Worlds, a non-profit organization that provides art supplies and training for art as a healing tool free of charge to battered women's shelters across the United States. Through education and support, we can make a difference.

If you read romance, consider picking this up as it benefits a worthy cause and will also expose you to a number of new authors.

Until next time…

Tagged: A Window Between Worlds, bluntcard, bluntcard.com, congress, Dream's & Desires Volume 4, facebook, freezepocalypse, Freya's Bower, GOP, hybrid vines, mark morford, metabolism, rape, sex, women's rights