Ginger Voight's Blog, page 22
November 21, 2013
The scavenger hunt begins NOW
Send your answers to the following questions to ginger@gingervoight.com by Monday. Those with the most correct answers will be entered to win the drawing. A winner will be chosen by Thanksgiving night and announced on my Facebook Author page. This is for a free copy of the holiday super bundle, "The Complete Books of the Groupie Universe," PLUS a $25 gift certificate.
And guess what... EVERYONE who participates gets a free digital copy of one of my books. YOUR CHOICE.
Have fun and GOOD LUCK!! :D
1. What is the name of the song and artist used for the book trailer for "My Immortal"?
2. Ginger's first novella was inspired by what song/artist? BONUS what grade was she in when she wrote it?
3. What did Ginger give her husband for his 40th birthday, and which of her talented friends helped her pull it off?
4. What books are included in the mega-bundle The Complete Books of the Groupie Universe?
5. Who does Ginger cite as her idol?
6. Which of her books are Ginger's favorites?
7. What are the titles in the new biker series Ginger wants to release by the end of 2014? BONUS: What was the song/artist that inspired them?
8. What book is Ginger reading right now?
9. Ginger also publishes straight erotica under a pen name. What is that name and which title is available?
10. What two physical characteristics make Fierce's Jordi and Jace atypical?
11. In Ginger's short story, "The Waiter," what was the waiter's name and what was unusual about him?
12. In what US city do "Groupie's" Vanni and Andy meet?
13. What is the name of the heroine in "Taste of Blood," and what makes her special?
14. "Under Texas Skies" was inspired, in part, by what theme album by what classic rock group? BONUS: Where was the photo on the cover taken?
15. Ginger herself cites being a groupie to which three celebrities?
16. Ginger's "Comic Squad" opens to which two characters?
17. Which best-selling author provides the foreward to "Dirty Little Secrets"? BONUS: What charity do a certain percentage of the proceeds of sales go to?
18. Ginger wrote a script based on her favorite TV show. What was the name of the show and the name of the script?
19. Which of her heroes does Ginger say she married in real-life?
20. What is the name of the song/band used for the Groupie trailer?
21. Which author inspired Ginger to add "Easter eggs" within her books and join the worlds within her universe? BONUS (and it's a toughy) Which of this author's books affected Ginger in a memorable way when she was a teen?
And guess what... EVERYONE who participates gets a free digital copy of one of my books. YOUR CHOICE.
Have fun and GOOD LUCK!! :D
1. What is the name of the song and artist used for the book trailer for "My Immortal"?
2. Ginger's first novella was inspired by what song/artist? BONUS what grade was she in when she wrote it?
3. What did Ginger give her husband for his 40th birthday, and which of her talented friends helped her pull it off?
4. What books are included in the mega-bundle The Complete Books of the Groupie Universe?
5. Who does Ginger cite as her idol?
6. Which of her books are Ginger's favorites?
7. What are the titles in the new biker series Ginger wants to release by the end of 2014? BONUS: What was the song/artist that inspired them?
8. What book is Ginger reading right now?
9. Ginger also publishes straight erotica under a pen name. What is that name and which title is available?
10. What two physical characteristics make Fierce's Jordi and Jace atypical?
11. In Ginger's short story, "The Waiter," what was the waiter's name and what was unusual about him?
12. In what US city do "Groupie's" Vanni and Andy meet?
13. What is the name of the heroine in "Taste of Blood," and what makes her special?
14. "Under Texas Skies" was inspired, in part, by what theme album by what classic rock group? BONUS: Where was the photo on the cover taken?
15. Ginger herself cites being a groupie to which three celebrities?
16. Ginger's "Comic Squad" opens to which two characters?
17. Which best-selling author provides the foreward to "Dirty Little Secrets"? BONUS: What charity do a certain percentage of the proceeds of sales go to?
18. Ginger wrote a script based on her favorite TV show. What was the name of the show and the name of the script?
19. Which of her heroes does Ginger say she married in real-life?
20. What is the name of the song/band used for the Groupie trailer?
21. Which author inspired Ginger to add "Easter eggs" within her books and join the worlds within her universe? BONUS (and it's a toughy) Which of this author's books affected Ginger in a memorable way when she was a teen?
November 20, 2013
My unlikely and unexpected love affair with a time-traveling alien from Gallifrey
There are two things you should know from the start.
1. Though I have diverse tastes, some genres leave me cold. Whether movies or books, I just can't into certain things, fantasy and science fiction landing fairly high on my list of movies/books/shows to avoid.
2. I'm married to a man passionately loves fantasy and science fiction.
Truth be told, my husband is a huge geek. He's been reading comic books since he was a kid and has inhaled more sci-fi books than I even knew existed... at least two at a time, every single week, since we met nearly 15 years ago. Along with my Danielle Steel books, he added the likes of Jim Butcher.
Within the first month we started to hang out, Steven was flabbergasted that I, at the grand ol' age of 29, had not seen the original Star Wars trilogy, which he corrected with a movie marathon within a few days of my startling confession.
When I met Steven, he was balls deep in Magic: The Gathering. His room was filled with long boxes full of comic books and movie collectibles. His time was spent between competitively shooting darts, playing Magic or adding weekly points to his AMC rewards card. He was essentially Leonard from The Big Bang Theory. So I got a quick education in all things Geek long before Geek became en vogue. I learned quickly that there is no enthusiasm that quite matches the intensity of fanboy enthusiasm. They passionately love these worlds that capture their interest, which meant Steven was going to immerse himself in every Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, DC, comic book, sci-fi and fantasy movie/book/show that came along.
Like I said, I'm way more selective when it comes to choosing movies/TV shows/books, having done my fair share time in Super Girlfriend mode with my first husband watching action guy flicks, war movies and westerns. (ICK.) But... I did try my level best to wrap my mind around my new love's interests. We actually spent our first date in Hollywood, where he saw that Tron (the original) was playing at the El Capitan. This became the very first movie we saw together.
Despite this, there was a second date.
As much grief as I give my darling hubby, honestly I love the fact that he is a geek. The things he loves are things others have created, and I dig that. I don't understand competitive sports, but I get the art of storytelling, which is found in every single one of his interests - WWE aside. (I had to draw the line somewhere.)
The better the storytelling, the more likely I am to follow my happy hubby into Geekland. Without him, I likely would have never been able to appreciate The Bang Theory as much as I do, often out-geeking every single female on that show. (For instance, I know why The Red Hulk should have never been able to pick up Thor's hammer, and can pretty well give you a heavily researched commentary on the matter.)
If I hadn't met Steven, I might not have met and fallen in love with Tony Stark...
Or the entire cast of the Avengers...
....Daryl Dixon...
....and a man who goes only by "The Doctor."
When I wrote an article on my top 10 Groundbreaking TV Characters, this Doctor came in at #1.
A character known only as “The Doctor” hit the ground running in the 1960s and has long endured as Britain’s (and the world’s) favorite alien. This humanoid Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey traverses about the galaxy in between different planets and pockets of time, saving multiple races from dire menaces such as the Daleks and Cybermen. What makes the Doctor so completely original is that this character is not dependent upon any specific actor, though by 2010 eleven different actors have played the part. Thanks to a crafty writing provision, the Doctor can regenerate up to twelve times – becoming essentially a new person with each regeneration. Not only has this enabled the series to run for so long, it also frees up the writers with countless possibilities how to tell the Doctor’s stories. He can be an old man or young, stodgy or dapper; the interpretation of the character is often as unique as the actor who portrays him. The original series ran from 1963 to 1989, and was successfully relaunched in 2005. Though his face and his companions may change, the sci-fi television world is a little safer knowing that the Doctor roams the galaxy in his trusty TARDIS, protecting what is good and righting what is wrong.
Steven met The Doctor in the first installment of the series, during the unparalleled reign of the scarf-wearing, curly-haired Fourth Doctor through the late 70s, early 80s.
When this series relaunched in 2005 with decidedly more impressive technology, he was completely on board. In fact, he was a bit like a kid on Christmas morning. I was a little slower to follow. The story picks up with The Ninth Doctor, played by Chris Eccelson, who wore leather and looked far more like a superhero than his predecessors. Still, it remained mostly background noise every Saturday. Like I said, sci-fi often leaves me cold so I usually found other ways to spend my time. Despite the much cooler visuals and a budding romance between The Doctor and his lovely traveling companion, Rose, this show really didn't start to grow onto me until #9 regenerated into the Tenth Doctor.
Instead of the brooding action Doctor that Christopher Eccelson often brought to life, David Tennant's Doctor was every bit as cute and funny as he was smart and strong. Like so often in my life, I started to pay attention the minute he made me laugh. During his five-year tenure as The Doctor, I ended up falling down the rabbit hole of fangirliness without even knowing it at the time. I really didn't know how far I had fallen until I learned that David Tennant would be leaving the role. Not only did I skip his last episode and his regeneration (if I didn't see it, it didn't happen,) but I couldn't bring myself to watch the entire first season with his successor, the Eleventh Doctor played by the boyishly charming Matt Smith. He wasn't MY Doctor, so I couldn't bring myself to watch another in his place.
See, that's what they don't tell you about Doctor Who. It'll break your heart, repeatedly. Whether The Doctor must say goodbye to his faithful companions or we say goodbye to him, the entire series is built upon one simple premise:
This man has no limits within all of time and space... except those limits of his own two hearts.
He is a character tasked to save the Universe and all its inhabitants, a job he's had for hundreds and hundreds of years. Those brave souls who join him in this noble quest are usually bound by the constraints of mortality that he simply does not have. This makes his road even lonelier. Just as he cannot stay in one form, neither can his companions stay with him for more than their season.
And as it so happens, The Doctor hates goodbyes and endings every bit as much as we do.
He must love enough to save entire worlds... yet this abiding passion often leaves him completely alone.
This is the heart and soul of the Doctor Who universe, and this is why I fell head over heels for the most tortured and lonely character ever penned. His is the epitome of our human condition. We risk the inevitable pain of loss just for those few moments of genuine connection with one another. We want it. We need it. We long for it... even though we risk our very heart to have it. I have wept openly in front of my TV at every triumph and every disappointment, every moment of hope and every moment of loss. He is us and we are him, which you know for a fact the minute you meet a fellow fan. When it's all said and done, this character binds us to one another every bit as much as it connects us to this fictional character.
What a wonderful, beautiful, impossible achievement for any storyteller.
Doctor Who inevitably became a weird kind of cornerstone for our marriage. It is something that I never, ever would have found without Steven, and something he can totally share with me. In a way, he is my Doctor and I am his companion. I even enlisted my wonderful, talented friend Chris Bonno to immortalize us as such to commemorate Steven's 40th birthday.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of this groundbreaking series. This Saturday I will tune in to watch the 50th anniversary episode, The Day of the Doctor, in a historic simulcast that will broadcast in 75 countries across the globe. I'll get to see my Tenth Doctor again, and likely lose him again, in what will surely be a love letter of this amazing franchise to their legion of fans.
This takes what makes Doctor Who so special, this power of connection, and spans the entire world for one epic moment in time. We Whovians instantly bond with those who understand and appreciate the special magical language of this fandom. No one will understand the mourning process following a regeneration, or the exquisite heartache of saying goodbye to beloved companions like another Whovian can. Only they will understand why I'm sitting here BLUBBERING at the end of "Journey's End" as I write this blog.
If you have not yet been introduced to the storytelling power and tremendous heart of this sci-fi show about a shape-shifting alien, I recommend two episodes that capture the brilliance and genius of this show:
You'll quickly learn the same two things I learned courtesy of my wonderful hubby's shameless passion for this time-traveling alien from Gallifrey.
1.) No matter how fun the adventure or how charming and entertaining the doctor, your heart will ultimately shatter. Repeatedly. 2.) It will be totally, completely and wonderfully worth every single moment.
1. Though I have diverse tastes, some genres leave me cold. Whether movies or books, I just can't into certain things, fantasy and science fiction landing fairly high on my list of movies/books/shows to avoid.
2. I'm married to a man passionately loves fantasy and science fiction.
Truth be told, my husband is a huge geek. He's been reading comic books since he was a kid and has inhaled more sci-fi books than I even knew existed... at least two at a time, every single week, since we met nearly 15 years ago. Along with my Danielle Steel books, he added the likes of Jim Butcher.
Within the first month we started to hang out, Steven was flabbergasted that I, at the grand ol' age of 29, had not seen the original Star Wars trilogy, which he corrected with a movie marathon within a few days of my startling confession.
When I met Steven, he was balls deep in Magic: The Gathering. His room was filled with long boxes full of comic books and movie collectibles. His time was spent between competitively shooting darts, playing Magic or adding weekly points to his AMC rewards card. He was essentially Leonard from The Big Bang Theory. So I got a quick education in all things Geek long before Geek became en vogue. I learned quickly that there is no enthusiasm that quite matches the intensity of fanboy enthusiasm. They passionately love these worlds that capture their interest, which meant Steven was going to immerse himself in every Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, DC, comic book, sci-fi and fantasy movie/book/show that came along.
Like I said, I'm way more selective when it comes to choosing movies/TV shows/books, having done my fair share time in Super Girlfriend mode with my first husband watching action guy flicks, war movies and westerns. (ICK.) But... I did try my level best to wrap my mind around my new love's interests. We actually spent our first date in Hollywood, where he saw that Tron (the original) was playing at the El Capitan. This became the very first movie we saw together.
Despite this, there was a second date.
As much grief as I give my darling hubby, honestly I love the fact that he is a geek. The things he loves are things others have created, and I dig that. I don't understand competitive sports, but I get the art of storytelling, which is found in every single one of his interests - WWE aside. (I had to draw the line somewhere.)
The better the storytelling, the more likely I am to follow my happy hubby into Geekland. Without him, I likely would have never been able to appreciate The Bang Theory as much as I do, often out-geeking every single female on that show. (For instance, I know why The Red Hulk should have never been able to pick up Thor's hammer, and can pretty well give you a heavily researched commentary on the matter.)
If I hadn't met Steven, I might not have met and fallen in love with Tony Stark...
Or the entire cast of the Avengers...
....Daryl Dixon...
....and a man who goes only by "The Doctor."
When I wrote an article on my top 10 Groundbreaking TV Characters, this Doctor came in at #1.
A character known only as “The Doctor” hit the ground running in the 1960s and has long endured as Britain’s (and the world’s) favorite alien. This humanoid Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey traverses about the galaxy in between different planets and pockets of time, saving multiple races from dire menaces such as the Daleks and Cybermen. What makes the Doctor so completely original is that this character is not dependent upon any specific actor, though by 2010 eleven different actors have played the part. Thanks to a crafty writing provision, the Doctor can regenerate up to twelve times – becoming essentially a new person with each regeneration. Not only has this enabled the series to run for so long, it also frees up the writers with countless possibilities how to tell the Doctor’s stories. He can be an old man or young, stodgy or dapper; the interpretation of the character is often as unique as the actor who portrays him. The original series ran from 1963 to 1989, and was successfully relaunched in 2005. Though his face and his companions may change, the sci-fi television world is a little safer knowing that the Doctor roams the galaxy in his trusty TARDIS, protecting what is good and righting what is wrong.
Steven met The Doctor in the first installment of the series, during the unparalleled reign of the scarf-wearing, curly-haired Fourth Doctor through the late 70s, early 80s.
When this series relaunched in 2005 with decidedly more impressive technology, he was completely on board. In fact, he was a bit like a kid on Christmas morning. I was a little slower to follow. The story picks up with The Ninth Doctor, played by Chris Eccelson, who wore leather and looked far more like a superhero than his predecessors. Still, it remained mostly background noise every Saturday. Like I said, sci-fi often leaves me cold so I usually found other ways to spend my time. Despite the much cooler visuals and a budding romance between The Doctor and his lovely traveling companion, Rose, this show really didn't start to grow onto me until #9 regenerated into the Tenth Doctor.
Instead of the brooding action Doctor that Christopher Eccelson often brought to life, David Tennant's Doctor was every bit as cute and funny as he was smart and strong. Like so often in my life, I started to pay attention the minute he made me laugh. During his five-year tenure as The Doctor, I ended up falling down the rabbit hole of fangirliness without even knowing it at the time. I really didn't know how far I had fallen until I learned that David Tennant would be leaving the role. Not only did I skip his last episode and his regeneration (if I didn't see it, it didn't happen,) but I couldn't bring myself to watch the entire first season with his successor, the Eleventh Doctor played by the boyishly charming Matt Smith. He wasn't MY Doctor, so I couldn't bring myself to watch another in his place.
See, that's what they don't tell you about Doctor Who. It'll break your heart, repeatedly. Whether The Doctor must say goodbye to his faithful companions or we say goodbye to him, the entire series is built upon one simple premise:
This man has no limits within all of time and space... except those limits of his own two hearts.
He is a character tasked to save the Universe and all its inhabitants, a job he's had for hundreds and hundreds of years. Those brave souls who join him in this noble quest are usually bound by the constraints of mortality that he simply does not have. This makes his road even lonelier. Just as he cannot stay in one form, neither can his companions stay with him for more than their season.
And as it so happens, The Doctor hates goodbyes and endings every bit as much as we do.
He must love enough to save entire worlds... yet this abiding passion often leaves him completely alone.
This is the heart and soul of the Doctor Who universe, and this is why I fell head over heels for the most tortured and lonely character ever penned. His is the epitome of our human condition. We risk the inevitable pain of loss just for those few moments of genuine connection with one another. We want it. We need it. We long for it... even though we risk our very heart to have it. I have wept openly in front of my TV at every triumph and every disappointment, every moment of hope and every moment of loss. He is us and we are him, which you know for a fact the minute you meet a fellow fan. When it's all said and done, this character binds us to one another every bit as much as it connects us to this fictional character.
What a wonderful, beautiful, impossible achievement for any storyteller.
Doctor Who inevitably became a weird kind of cornerstone for our marriage. It is something that I never, ever would have found without Steven, and something he can totally share with me. In a way, he is my Doctor and I am his companion. I even enlisted my wonderful, talented friend Chris Bonno to immortalize us as such to commemorate Steven's 40th birthday.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of this groundbreaking series. This Saturday I will tune in to watch the 50th anniversary episode, The Day of the Doctor, in a historic simulcast that will broadcast in 75 countries across the globe. I'll get to see my Tenth Doctor again, and likely lose him again, in what will surely be a love letter of this amazing franchise to their legion of fans.
This takes what makes Doctor Who so special, this power of connection, and spans the entire world for one epic moment in time. We Whovians instantly bond with those who understand and appreciate the special magical language of this fandom. No one will understand the mourning process following a regeneration, or the exquisite heartache of saying goodbye to beloved companions like another Whovian can. Only they will understand why I'm sitting here BLUBBERING at the end of "Journey's End" as I write this blog.
If you have not yet been introduced to the storytelling power and tremendous heart of this sci-fi show about a shape-shifting alien, I recommend two episodes that capture the brilliance and genius of this show:
You'll quickly learn the same two things I learned courtesy of my wonderful hubby's shameless passion for this time-traveling alien from Gallifrey.
1.) No matter how fun the adventure or how charming and entertaining the doctor, your heart will ultimately shatter. Repeatedly. 2.) It will be totally, completely and wonderfully worth every single moment.
November 19, 2013
These are a few of my favorite things...
Favorite color:
My favorite color is/has always been purple, though I surround myself with it surprisingly little. I have a purple laptop, but there's no purple decorating my house aside from my Fiesta dishes, which I shamelessly collect in almost every color there is. Likewise I can count my purple clothes on one hand. This is a far cry from my freshman year, when nearly every article of clothing I bought for school was purple in some way. This coincided with my Prince phase; I suspect that two are not unrelated. I'm fairly particular about my favorite shades of purple, as they are not all created equal. The deeper and richer the better, I far prefer stronger bluer hues than the reddish ones. In truth, though, I love all deep, jewel tones. As a young adult, I fell in love with cobalt and have collected it ever since.
Favorite TV show(s):
I love to laugh, so I have always historically leaned toward comedies. From Three's Company to Night Court, Roseanne to Seinfeld, I prefer the kind of laughs that teeter on just the right amount of wrong. These days my must-see TV is The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Doctor Who and The Walking Dead. (I blame my Fanboy husband for those last two.) My favorite show of all time would have to be Moonlighting, which I loved so much I did my own homage with a script:
Oh Teacher, Where Art Thou?
Favorite Movie(s):
This is a little trickier. The top three are Tootsie, Up and Hairspray, and each one vaults to the #1 position whenever I watch it. American Beauty,
Favorite Author(s)/Books:
I was a voracious reader as a kid and inhaled everything I could get my grubby little paws on. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Borger, encouraged this reading habit by giving me books to read. One of the books she gave me that year was "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls. He, too, managed that delicious line of heart and humor that I love so much, and was really the first author I noticed because of it. In fifth grade, we were reading "Where the Red Fern Grows" as a class assignment. My English teacher had let her PA do most of the reading, but when we got toward the end she had to take over because the PA was so overcome with emotion she had to leave the room entirely. Meanwhile I had my head in my arms on my desk, hoping that my classmates couldn't hear me sob like a baby. I love that emotional connection. If a book makes me cry, I'll scour libraries and book stores far and near for more from that author. Danielle Steel was a staple when I was a teen. I loved how she blended history into her stories, and because of her influence, I found I got more out of the stories that detailed a woman's journey/life instead of one central relationship. Two of my favorites of these are "Full Circle" and "Family Album." My favorite book of all time is
Turn-ons:
Humor, intelligence, kindness, creativity and a strong sense of GRR. Know what you want, go after your dreams, and I'll think you rule the world... because essentially you do.
Turn-offs:
Negativity, ignorance, superiority and cruelty.
My favorite color is/has always been purple, though I surround myself with it surprisingly little. I have a purple laptop, but there's no purple decorating my house aside from my Fiesta dishes, which I shamelessly collect in almost every color there is. Likewise I can count my purple clothes on one hand. This is a far cry from my freshman year, when nearly every article of clothing I bought for school was purple in some way. This coincided with my Prince phase; I suspect that two are not unrelated. I'm fairly particular about my favorite shades of purple, as they are not all created equal. The deeper and richer the better, I far prefer stronger bluer hues than the reddish ones. In truth, though, I love all deep, jewel tones. As a young adult, I fell in love with cobalt and have collected it ever since.
Favorite TV show(s):
I love to laugh, so I have always historically leaned toward comedies. From Three's Company to Night Court, Roseanne to Seinfeld, I prefer the kind of laughs that teeter on just the right amount of wrong. These days my must-see TV is The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Doctor Who and The Walking Dead. (I blame my Fanboy husband for those last two.) My favorite show of all time would have to be Moonlighting, which I loved so much I did my own homage with a script:
Oh Teacher, Where Art Thou?
Favorite Movie(s):
This is a little trickier. The top three are Tootsie, Up and Hairspray, and each one vaults to the #1 position whenever I watch it. American Beauty,
Favorite Author(s)/Books:
I was a voracious reader as a kid and inhaled everything I could get my grubby little paws on. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Borger, encouraged this reading habit by giving me books to read. One of the books she gave me that year was "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls. He, too, managed that delicious line of heart and humor that I love so much, and was really the first author I noticed because of it. In fifth grade, we were reading "Where the Red Fern Grows" as a class assignment. My English teacher had let her PA do most of the reading, but when we got toward the end she had to take over because the PA was so overcome with emotion she had to leave the room entirely. Meanwhile I had my head in my arms on my desk, hoping that my classmates couldn't hear me sob like a baby. I love that emotional connection. If a book makes me cry, I'll scour libraries and book stores far and near for more from that author. Danielle Steel was a staple when I was a teen. I loved how she blended history into her stories, and because of her influence, I found I got more out of the stories that detailed a woman's journey/life instead of one central relationship. Two of my favorites of these are "Full Circle" and "Family Album." My favorite book of all time is
Turn-ons:
Humor, intelligence, kindness, creativity and a strong sense of GRR. Know what you want, go after your dreams, and I'll think you rule the world... because essentially you do.
Turn-offs:
Negativity, ignorance, superiority and cruelty.
November 18, 2013
Fun With Writing!
A little bit of trivia, some author insight and shameless plugging begins NOW.
Favorite scenes:
1. The cruise ship scene in Groupie where Vanni stakes his claim at last. It was the first time we see him lose himself to what he really wanted, rather than put a bunch of other stuff (and people) in the way. He was also very GRR. And I like GRR.
2. The NYC hotel scene with Vanni and Andy in Rock Star. Like the scene above, Vanni is stripped down to his most vulnerable state. When he tells Andy, "It hurts," my heart shattered. I think that was where I truly fell in love with him.
3. Peyton's first "lesson" with Mateo in The Undisciplined Bride. It's the first time Peyton doesn't get her way, no matter how bitchy or whiny or manipulative she tried to be about it. In one simple scene, Mateo lays down the rules for their relationship. It was hot and funny all at the same time.
Favorite heroines:
1. Alice, from Comic Squad. She may only be twelve, but Alice is probably the strongest heroine I ever created. She was smart and fearless, and never backed down from doing what needed to be done. Reese, from Taste of Blood, runs a real close second.
2. Peyton from The Undisciplined Bride. Like anyone who read the book, I hated this chick from the get-go. She was a first-class, grade-A, number-1 BITCH ON WHEELS. She was selfish and entitled she didn't give a rat's ass who she hurt in her pursuit to always get her way. But as I got to know her better, I realized that under all that yucky stuff was strength and determination and truly a fearlessness to grab the world by the balls and never apologize for her flaws. In her world, being a bitch was the only way she was allowed to be powerful. She just needed to learn to channel these assets through better behavior. Enter Mateo. ;)
3. Andy from Groupie, of course. She was the first plus-size heroine I wrote who didn't apologize for her size. Despite all the ups and downs with Vanni, her self-esteem was never tied to a number on a scale. Her focus was always a little higher than that. Her identity came from who she was as a person, not some arbitrary dress size. Personally, I think that was what attracted both Vanni and Graham to her in the first place.
Favorite heroes:
Here's where it gets a little tricky. I've fallen in love with each and every one of my heroes at any given time while writing these books. I love the swagger of Vanni, the power of Mateo, and the goodness and steadfast loyalty of Jace and Jake.
In the end, however, I married my Graham... so ... make of that what you will. (I guess that makes me Maggie. I'm OK with that.)
Favorite supporting characters:
1. Lissette Goodreau from The Undisciplined Bride. When I outlined this book originally, she played a very minor part. She was meant to be this little mousy character always at the receiving end of Peyton's bad behavior. But Lissette had her own story to tell, and she let me know that right in the first chapter. Once I realized what she wanted - needed - to say, I was merely along for the ride. It was great fun and very rewarding to get to know this character and follow her journey. I'm honored she picked me to tell her story.
2. Jorge Navarro from Love Plus One, Mogul and Fierce. I can't even tell you how much I love this man. Not only did I shamelessly pattern his physical look after his partial namesake:
But he was the one character in all my books who could see and bring out the beauty in anyone. We all need a little Jorge in her ears, telling us how sexy and wonderful we are... but who can also tell us when we're being jealous shrews and to slow our role.
3. Twitch from Comic Squad. Steven told me when I outlined the story that the bad guy needed a henchman, and thus Twitch was born. He provided comic relief and - surprisingly - a lot of heart from a completely unexpected source.
Favorite Couple:
1. Peyton and Mateo, The Undisciplined Bride. When it comes to what I find sexy, power play is at the top of that list. I love the push/pull between two people who alternately yield and wield their sexual dominance. And these two Titans have that power in abundance. They were both confident and unapologetic in what they wanted, and that was a refreshing dynamic for me. And they both grew from the process, which was icing on their sexy, sexy cake.
2. Jordi and Jace, The Fierce Trilogy. When I introduced Jordi in Mogul, I anticipated that she'd be a fierce diva who didn't give a flying fig what the world thought about her. She knew she could SANG, y'all, and she was about to throw. it. down. When I sat down to write Fierce, though, I was in for a HUGE shock. Jordi was essentially me, with all the same insecurities tangled around her "never say die" nature. We had some things to work through. Fortunately for both of us, we had a steadfast companion at our side, filling our spirit with acceptance unlike anything we had ever experienced. Jace was almost TOO perfect. I never wanted to hurt him... EVER. This is not good for a writer/character relationship. So I gritted my teeth and put them through their paces, and they surprised me with an enduring love that was both sexy and sweet. He was her friend, he was her lover... he was her rock. And what did she give him in return? You'll have to read Epic and find out. ;)
3. Andy and Vanni, The Groupie Trilogy. To be completely honest with you, I didn't think that Vanni deserved Andy throughout the entire first book of the series. That is why there are two more. Vanni was a self-absorbed man-child who vaulted into the life of a celebrity, which meant he could get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it. And he made no bones, really, that was what he was going to do. Many people have expressed their displeasure regarding his "cheating," but the fact is - he never cheated. Not technically. He never promised to be faithful to Andy, and in fact told her right from the start that he couldn't make any promises beyond the moment. These same people get angry with Andy for not kicking him to the curb (which, btw, she does... repeatedly,) but in her mind, she was never gunning for the wedding ring. She simply fell in love with a man who didn't quite deserve her, and who of us hasn't made THAT mistake a time or two? Because Andy was the first real woman to tell him "no," she got under his skin until he had no choice but to turn into a guy that deserves her. By Mogul, that transformation is complete. I, for one, couldn't be prouder of the man he became. I squeal like a shameless fangirl every time he pops up in new stories.
Worst Villain:
1. Eddie Nix, The Fierce Trilogy. Most of the villains in Fierce were created to mimic the inner dialogue most women in our culture are trained to have from a very young age, and this was especially true with Eddie. He validated all those horrible things we tell ourselves about men (and the most horrible men tell us about themselves, i.e. Romeo Rose.) The hardest scene I ever wrote was in Fierce, when he was using Jordi for sex and berating her while he essentially forced himself on her. I've written rape scenes before, but this scene was so insidious that by the time I finished I literally threw my laptop across the bed and burst into tears. Essentially Jordi was complacent in her own abuse in this scene, and that resounded in many, MANY of my past mistakes. Eddie Nix is so hated among those who read the book, I have been begged to give him the most Epic comeuppance that I can, well, come up with. All I can tell you is Karma is a bitch. And so am I. *EG*
2. Talia, Groupie. Talia was probably THE most mentally unstable character I ever created, and I made the monumentally STOOPID decision to write her in the first person. That meant I had to get inside her head and witness the crazy first hand. I truly didn't like living in her head, so much so that when I do reread Groupie, I skip her chapters entirely. Once was enough. Actually more than enough. Let's be honest, she teetered on the edge of Too Much. The even scarier thing about Talia is that people like her do exist. She was inspired by a number of people I either had direct contact with OR knew others who did. Talia simply took things to the extreme. And that's a scary thing when you personally know and care about those who attract this level of crazy.
3. Mike, Dirty Little Secrets. When I wrote the screenplay that Dirty Little Secrets was adapted from, I was still relatively new to the process and resisted outlining my stories. I had a general direction where I wanted to go, but I let the details spring forth as they willed. As I brainstormed my idea with Steven, he told me that my beleaguered heroine needed a friend that she could talk to and bounce things off of. Since she was a drug addict/alcoholic, the most obvious choice would be he guy who owned the town's liquor store. From the minute I hit return to type his first lines of dialogue, I realized one irrefutable fact: Mike Beyer was a sleazeball. He was not Grace's friend; in fact he turned out to be her biggest tormenter. There were really no limits to his depravity, so much so that a fellow screenwriter suggested I tone some of it back, that it was too much. (Yeah... I kinda didn't.) (You have been warned.)
Favorite books:
1. Comic Squad. This book doesn't get a lot of attention because it's not in my more popular Romance genre, but it is my lovechild with my geek husband, Steven. As such, it includes the best of both of us. There's a lot of humor and heart with some absurdity and fun thrown in for good measure. It's a kids book, but it's not just written for kids. The theme of the story is finding the strength to be your own hero, and that's a lesson I need every day of my life. There's an underlying theme of family, which ended up being a tribute to my own mom.
2. My Immortal. This book is a very emotional love letter to the two most important men in my life, my first husband Dan, and my second husband, Steven. I really wanted to examine the idea of soul mates, and how that bond is never broken even in death. So naturally I wrote about reincarnated vampires.
3. Groupie. Not only is it my most popular book, it's an homage to my own past as a groupie, dating all the way back to seeing Davy Jones on TV for the first time when I was nine. But more than just the fantasy of landing a rock star, I really worked through some disillusionment I was personally experiencing at the time. So I anchored that sumbitch with some gritty realism. This is what happens when you write for revenge. I really wanted to throw back the veil of celebrity and examine the ugly parts. The driving theme for that series was, "Be careful what you want. You may get it." In the end, I was tremendously proud of the result. If you're looking for a mostly good bad boy, keep looking.
Biggest surprises:
1. Graham Baxter, Groupie. Just like Mike and Twitch before him, Graham was never in the original outline for Groupie. He was created in a moment, simply to give Andy someone to talk to. But the moment they met, their chemistry was undeniable. I kept wanting to go back and explore that connection more and more, until he forced an entire rewrite of my original ending for the first book in the series. Better still, he keeps popping up in several other books, this quiet pillar of strength who shines like a beacon guiding me home. (Not unlike the man he's patterned after.) Not bad for someone I didn't even know was going to show up!
2. Griffin Slade, Epic. By the time we get to book three of Jordi's journey, her life is pretty populated with people who love and support her. There's Jace of course, along with her best friend Corey. The entire Groupie Gang rallies behind her, Graham, Maggie, Vanni, Andy, Jorge, Iris and all the guys in Dreaming in Blue. They all tell her how wonderful she is and give her advice and support her and generally fill her head with positive reinforcement. This is useful because her enemies are likewise vocal, telling her how awful she is. From PING on down to Eddie, those who would hate Jordi don't mind telling her or the world that. Enter Griffin Slade. Griffin, unlike anyone else, doesn't feed Jordi's ego. He's actually quite dismissive, though he never says anything directly insulting or demeaning. In this void, Jordi must decide which camp he belongs in for herself. This depends almost entirely on her own self-esteem. Her relationship with Griffin works much like a mirror, reflecting back to her what she thinks about herself. Like many women, this causes the ultimate confusion as she bounces back and forth between does he or doesn't he? And guess what? Griffin didn't tell me much either. I got to learn who he was and how he felt along with Jordi. Is he a good guy? Is he an asshole? You'll just have to read Epic to find out.
Favorite scenes:
1. The cruise ship scene in Groupie where Vanni stakes his claim at last. It was the first time we see him lose himself to what he really wanted, rather than put a bunch of other stuff (and people) in the way. He was also very GRR. And I like GRR.
2. The NYC hotel scene with Vanni and Andy in Rock Star. Like the scene above, Vanni is stripped down to his most vulnerable state. When he tells Andy, "It hurts," my heart shattered. I think that was where I truly fell in love with him.
3. Peyton's first "lesson" with Mateo in The Undisciplined Bride. It's the first time Peyton doesn't get her way, no matter how bitchy or whiny or manipulative she tried to be about it. In one simple scene, Mateo lays down the rules for their relationship. It was hot and funny all at the same time.
Favorite heroines:
1. Alice, from Comic Squad. She may only be twelve, but Alice is probably the strongest heroine I ever created. She was smart and fearless, and never backed down from doing what needed to be done. Reese, from Taste of Blood, runs a real close second.
2. Peyton from The Undisciplined Bride. Like anyone who read the book, I hated this chick from the get-go. She was a first-class, grade-A, number-1 BITCH ON WHEELS. She was selfish and entitled she didn't give a rat's ass who she hurt in her pursuit to always get her way. But as I got to know her better, I realized that under all that yucky stuff was strength and determination and truly a fearlessness to grab the world by the balls and never apologize for her flaws. In her world, being a bitch was the only way she was allowed to be powerful. She just needed to learn to channel these assets through better behavior. Enter Mateo. ;)
3. Andy from Groupie, of course. She was the first plus-size heroine I wrote who didn't apologize for her size. Despite all the ups and downs with Vanni, her self-esteem was never tied to a number on a scale. Her focus was always a little higher than that. Her identity came from who she was as a person, not some arbitrary dress size. Personally, I think that was what attracted both Vanni and Graham to her in the first place.
Favorite heroes:
Here's where it gets a little tricky. I've fallen in love with each and every one of my heroes at any given time while writing these books. I love the swagger of Vanni, the power of Mateo, and the goodness and steadfast loyalty of Jace and Jake.
In the end, however, I married my Graham... so ... make of that what you will. (I guess that makes me Maggie. I'm OK with that.)
Favorite supporting characters:
1. Lissette Goodreau from The Undisciplined Bride. When I outlined this book originally, she played a very minor part. She was meant to be this little mousy character always at the receiving end of Peyton's bad behavior. But Lissette had her own story to tell, and she let me know that right in the first chapter. Once I realized what she wanted - needed - to say, I was merely along for the ride. It was great fun and very rewarding to get to know this character and follow her journey. I'm honored she picked me to tell her story.
2. Jorge Navarro from Love Plus One, Mogul and Fierce. I can't even tell you how much I love this man. Not only did I shamelessly pattern his physical look after his partial namesake:
But he was the one character in all my books who could see and bring out the beauty in anyone. We all need a little Jorge in her ears, telling us how sexy and wonderful we are... but who can also tell us when we're being jealous shrews and to slow our role.
3. Twitch from Comic Squad. Steven told me when I outlined the story that the bad guy needed a henchman, and thus Twitch was born. He provided comic relief and - surprisingly - a lot of heart from a completely unexpected source.
Favorite Couple:
1. Peyton and Mateo, The Undisciplined Bride. When it comes to what I find sexy, power play is at the top of that list. I love the push/pull between two people who alternately yield and wield their sexual dominance. And these two Titans have that power in abundance. They were both confident and unapologetic in what they wanted, and that was a refreshing dynamic for me. And they both grew from the process, which was icing on their sexy, sexy cake.
2. Jordi and Jace, The Fierce Trilogy. When I introduced Jordi in Mogul, I anticipated that she'd be a fierce diva who didn't give a flying fig what the world thought about her. She knew she could SANG, y'all, and she was about to throw. it. down. When I sat down to write Fierce, though, I was in for a HUGE shock. Jordi was essentially me, with all the same insecurities tangled around her "never say die" nature. We had some things to work through. Fortunately for both of us, we had a steadfast companion at our side, filling our spirit with acceptance unlike anything we had ever experienced. Jace was almost TOO perfect. I never wanted to hurt him... EVER. This is not good for a writer/character relationship. So I gritted my teeth and put them through their paces, and they surprised me with an enduring love that was both sexy and sweet. He was her friend, he was her lover... he was her rock. And what did she give him in return? You'll have to read Epic and find out. ;)
3. Andy and Vanni, The Groupie Trilogy. To be completely honest with you, I didn't think that Vanni deserved Andy throughout the entire first book of the series. That is why there are two more. Vanni was a self-absorbed man-child who vaulted into the life of a celebrity, which meant he could get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it. And he made no bones, really, that was what he was going to do. Many people have expressed their displeasure regarding his "cheating," but the fact is - he never cheated. Not technically. He never promised to be faithful to Andy, and in fact told her right from the start that he couldn't make any promises beyond the moment. These same people get angry with Andy for not kicking him to the curb (which, btw, she does... repeatedly,) but in her mind, she was never gunning for the wedding ring. She simply fell in love with a man who didn't quite deserve her, and who of us hasn't made THAT mistake a time or two? Because Andy was the first real woman to tell him "no," she got under his skin until he had no choice but to turn into a guy that deserves her. By Mogul, that transformation is complete. I, for one, couldn't be prouder of the man he became. I squeal like a shameless fangirl every time he pops up in new stories.
Worst Villain:
1. Eddie Nix, The Fierce Trilogy. Most of the villains in Fierce were created to mimic the inner dialogue most women in our culture are trained to have from a very young age, and this was especially true with Eddie. He validated all those horrible things we tell ourselves about men (and the most horrible men tell us about themselves, i.e. Romeo Rose.) The hardest scene I ever wrote was in Fierce, when he was using Jordi for sex and berating her while he essentially forced himself on her. I've written rape scenes before, but this scene was so insidious that by the time I finished I literally threw my laptop across the bed and burst into tears. Essentially Jordi was complacent in her own abuse in this scene, and that resounded in many, MANY of my past mistakes. Eddie Nix is so hated among those who read the book, I have been begged to give him the most Epic comeuppance that I can, well, come up with. All I can tell you is Karma is a bitch. And so am I. *EG*
2. Talia, Groupie. Talia was probably THE most mentally unstable character I ever created, and I made the monumentally STOOPID decision to write her in the first person. That meant I had to get inside her head and witness the crazy first hand. I truly didn't like living in her head, so much so that when I do reread Groupie, I skip her chapters entirely. Once was enough. Actually more than enough. Let's be honest, she teetered on the edge of Too Much. The even scarier thing about Talia is that people like her do exist. She was inspired by a number of people I either had direct contact with OR knew others who did. Talia simply took things to the extreme. And that's a scary thing when you personally know and care about those who attract this level of crazy.
3. Mike, Dirty Little Secrets. When I wrote the screenplay that Dirty Little Secrets was adapted from, I was still relatively new to the process and resisted outlining my stories. I had a general direction where I wanted to go, but I let the details spring forth as they willed. As I brainstormed my idea with Steven, he told me that my beleaguered heroine needed a friend that she could talk to and bounce things off of. Since she was a drug addict/alcoholic, the most obvious choice would be he guy who owned the town's liquor store. From the minute I hit return to type his first lines of dialogue, I realized one irrefutable fact: Mike Beyer was a sleazeball. He was not Grace's friend; in fact he turned out to be her biggest tormenter. There were really no limits to his depravity, so much so that a fellow screenwriter suggested I tone some of it back, that it was too much. (Yeah... I kinda didn't.) (You have been warned.)
Favorite books:
1. Comic Squad. This book doesn't get a lot of attention because it's not in my more popular Romance genre, but it is my lovechild with my geek husband, Steven. As such, it includes the best of both of us. There's a lot of humor and heart with some absurdity and fun thrown in for good measure. It's a kids book, but it's not just written for kids. The theme of the story is finding the strength to be your own hero, and that's a lesson I need every day of my life. There's an underlying theme of family, which ended up being a tribute to my own mom.
2. My Immortal. This book is a very emotional love letter to the two most important men in my life, my first husband Dan, and my second husband, Steven. I really wanted to examine the idea of soul mates, and how that bond is never broken even in death. So naturally I wrote about reincarnated vampires.
3. Groupie. Not only is it my most popular book, it's an homage to my own past as a groupie, dating all the way back to seeing Davy Jones on TV for the first time when I was nine. But more than just the fantasy of landing a rock star, I really worked through some disillusionment I was personally experiencing at the time. So I anchored that sumbitch with some gritty realism. This is what happens when you write for revenge. I really wanted to throw back the veil of celebrity and examine the ugly parts. The driving theme for that series was, "Be careful what you want. You may get it." In the end, I was tremendously proud of the result. If you're looking for a mostly good bad boy, keep looking.
Biggest surprises:
1. Graham Baxter, Groupie. Just like Mike and Twitch before him, Graham was never in the original outline for Groupie. He was created in a moment, simply to give Andy someone to talk to. But the moment they met, their chemistry was undeniable. I kept wanting to go back and explore that connection more and more, until he forced an entire rewrite of my original ending for the first book in the series. Better still, he keeps popping up in several other books, this quiet pillar of strength who shines like a beacon guiding me home. (Not unlike the man he's patterned after.) Not bad for someone I didn't even know was going to show up!
2. Griffin Slade, Epic. By the time we get to book three of Jordi's journey, her life is pretty populated with people who love and support her. There's Jace of course, along with her best friend Corey. The entire Groupie Gang rallies behind her, Graham, Maggie, Vanni, Andy, Jorge, Iris and all the guys in Dreaming in Blue. They all tell her how wonderful she is and give her advice and support her and generally fill her head with positive reinforcement. This is useful because her enemies are likewise vocal, telling her how awful she is. From PING on down to Eddie, those who would hate Jordi don't mind telling her or the world that. Enter Griffin Slade. Griffin, unlike anyone else, doesn't feed Jordi's ego. He's actually quite dismissive, though he never says anything directly insulting or demeaning. In this void, Jordi must decide which camp he belongs in for herself. This depends almost entirely on her own self-esteem. Her relationship with Griffin works much like a mirror, reflecting back to her what she thinks about herself. Like many women, this causes the ultimate confusion as she bounces back and forth between does he or doesn't he? And guess what? Griffin didn't tell me much either. I got to learn who he was and how he felt along with Jordi. Is he a good guy? Is he an asshole? You'll just have to read Epic to find out.
November 10, 2013
Music as a Muse, Part Two
Here's a little known piece of trivia:
I wrote my first full-length novel in 1989, when I was homeless and living out of my car in Los Angeles. I was only 19 at the time, and I headed west with my then-boyfriend, eventual husband, Dan, because it had been a dream of mine to move west since I was a fairly young teen. Though I had moved to be closer to a certain member of my family, she decided she didn't want to "encourage me" to sponge off of her by letting me bunk at her place until we got on our feet. It was an unexpected turn of events where I learned a hard lesson about the limits of family at a very young age. Inevitably my struggle made its way into a story hatched in my brain one day while listening to Guns N' Roses on my car radio.
I channeled a lot of the fear, uncertainty, abandonment, hopelessness and desperation into that angry anthem, in a mainstream fictional tale about a runaway who happens upon a dangerous crime lord on the mean streets of Hollywood just as he preys upon the most vulnerable among us. In her escape, she happens to cross paths with a biker named MJ Bennett, who must save her and keep her safe, though MJ has a hard and fast rule about getting close to anyone.
Over the years that followed, several songs made it onto this particular soundtrack (or playlist) to bring my story to life, heavily influenced by my love for classic rock.
I wrote most of the story long-hand on ever-present notebook paper. Then I used a typewriter to type it old school, so I could send it to book agents and book publishers. I was sure they would love the story and love the book as much as I did. I was about twenty-two when an agent said thanks but no thanks and sent back my carefully typed manuscript covered in marks from her ruthless red pen. It was the first time I didn't get a glowing review of my work. I wasn't a kid anymore, so I didn't get brownie points for finishing a project beyond my years. Instead I was expected to have done my research and polish my manuscript to play in the big leagues.
It wasn't ready, which meant I wasn't ready... and I certainly wasn't ready to find that out. This was the ONE thing I knew I could do, and as it turned out, I couldn't do it half as well as I thought. It took me about two or three more years before I dared to write another book, realizing with distance what a gift that agent had given me.
Because I loved my first story so much, I didn't revisit it my original story. I knew the story was better than I was. I started a screenplay - briefly - but didn't get further than five pages. I've never felt confident I had grown enough as a writer to bring this story, and these characters, to life the way they deserve.
At least... until now.
The theme for my new year, starting on my birthday, is the Year of Muchness. Like so many of us, I often forget how much muchness I have because I'm so focused on all the things I have yet to accomplish. In the last many years I've done several themed years to push me outside my comfort zone. There was the year of courage, the year of boldness, the year of being unstoppable and the year of being epic.
The next step is inevitable. I've been building the skills I need to own my muchness. And the only way to do that is to do those things I think I cannot do.
By the end of 2014, I plan to bring you a brand new trilogy: BIKER WILD, BIKER LOST, BIKER STRONG. These stories will take you deep into the concrete jungle where the stakes are much higher than a happily ever after. Life, death, murder and revenge await... with a hero you might never expect.
I wrote my first full-length novel in 1989, when I was homeless and living out of my car in Los Angeles. I was only 19 at the time, and I headed west with my then-boyfriend, eventual husband, Dan, because it had been a dream of mine to move west since I was a fairly young teen. Though I had moved to be closer to a certain member of my family, she decided she didn't want to "encourage me" to sponge off of her by letting me bunk at her place until we got on our feet. It was an unexpected turn of events where I learned a hard lesson about the limits of family at a very young age. Inevitably my struggle made its way into a story hatched in my brain one day while listening to Guns N' Roses on my car radio.
I channeled a lot of the fear, uncertainty, abandonment, hopelessness and desperation into that angry anthem, in a mainstream fictional tale about a runaway who happens upon a dangerous crime lord on the mean streets of Hollywood just as he preys upon the most vulnerable among us. In her escape, she happens to cross paths with a biker named MJ Bennett, who must save her and keep her safe, though MJ has a hard and fast rule about getting close to anyone.
Over the years that followed, several songs made it onto this particular soundtrack (or playlist) to bring my story to life, heavily influenced by my love for classic rock.
I wrote most of the story long-hand on ever-present notebook paper. Then I used a typewriter to type it old school, so I could send it to book agents and book publishers. I was sure they would love the story and love the book as much as I did. I was about twenty-two when an agent said thanks but no thanks and sent back my carefully typed manuscript covered in marks from her ruthless red pen. It was the first time I didn't get a glowing review of my work. I wasn't a kid anymore, so I didn't get brownie points for finishing a project beyond my years. Instead I was expected to have done my research and polish my manuscript to play in the big leagues.
It wasn't ready, which meant I wasn't ready... and I certainly wasn't ready to find that out. This was the ONE thing I knew I could do, and as it turned out, I couldn't do it half as well as I thought. It took me about two or three more years before I dared to write another book, realizing with distance what a gift that agent had given me.
Because I loved my first story so much, I didn't revisit it my original story. I knew the story was better than I was. I started a screenplay - briefly - but didn't get further than five pages. I've never felt confident I had grown enough as a writer to bring this story, and these characters, to life the way they deserve.
At least... until now.
The theme for my new year, starting on my birthday, is the Year of Muchness. Like so many of us, I often forget how much muchness I have because I'm so focused on all the things I have yet to accomplish. In the last many years I've done several themed years to push me outside my comfort zone. There was the year of courage, the year of boldness, the year of being unstoppable and the year of being epic.
The next step is inevitable. I've been building the skills I need to own my muchness. And the only way to do that is to do those things I think I cannot do.
By the end of 2014, I plan to bring you a brand new trilogy: BIKER WILD, BIKER LOST, BIKER STRONG. These stories will take you deep into the concrete jungle where the stakes are much higher than a happily ever after. Life, death, murder and revenge await... with a hero you might never expect.
November 6, 2013
Music as a Muse, Part One
Anyone who knows me will tell you that music has inspired and driven me creatively from a very early age. My husband, who is a weird vault of all sorts of entertainment trivia, won't even challenge me to play any games that involve music questions. I've been known to cream his corn on more than one occasion, especially when it comes to 70s and 80s music. That was the era I lived by my stereo, was joined at the hip with my radio, and had a hard and fast Saturday commitment to listen in to Casey Kasem and America's Top 40. And don't even get me started on Solid Gold. That was Must See TV from 1979 on.
Basically if it had to do with pop music I generally knew about it, and almost all my childhood/teen memories are tied to what song came out when.
As virtually an only child (all my half-siblings much older than I was and out of the house by the time I was 6,) music was my constant companion from as far back as I can remember. I would sing in the middle of my living room along with Donny and Marie or Sonny and Cher. I also made one of my Barbies a singing sensation because, well, she was a superstar.
She constantly performed to all my sister's castoff 45s, courtesy of an equally castoff super groovy 1970s portable record player.
THIS was how I discovered the wonder that is Barry Manilow, making this the first album I ever requested for my own.
I still have that vinyl LP, btw. It's scratched all to hell because I played that sucker OUT, like most records I owned in those days.
I became a full-fledged Fanilow by the age of 8, and I fully blame American Bandstand for completing my conversion. It was on right after Saturday morning cartoons, so I got a weekly front row seat to all the hits that Dick Clark could introduce me to from the mid-70s until the late 80s. This included the jaunty tune Barry wrote for the intro.
In 1978 I got a radio for Christmas, so my musical tastes diversified into rock and yes - disco. But I still had a special place in my heart for the former jingle-writer who sang all the songs that my hopelessly romantic pre-teen heart could wish to hear. "Mandy" was a personal favorite.
I understood the angst of love and heartache from a tender age.
Fast forward to the late summer before I had turned 13. I remember distinctly lying in my canopy bed in a pink paradise of a room, listening to my records play,and thinking (read: obsessing) about my first significant crush. It was unrequited love all the way. He was sixteen, I was twelve. And I had learned a bitter lesson that no matter how much you love someone, they don't always love you back. I escaped, as always, into music, and Barry's album "One Voice," was cued up on the record player.
Though I had heard the song "Ships" many times before, this particular day it struck me in a brand new way. Suddenly these familiar lyrics had wings, taking off with this amazing movie happening in my head. I saw an older man and a much younger man, trying to connect though years of absence had left them estranged despite being father and son. The father wanted to reconnect, the son was angry, and somewhere in the middle of it all was a story of redemption and forgiveness. As I followed along, I realized that this story was good enough to be a book... someone just needed to write it.
I was still relatively new to the idea of writing by this age. I had discovered this particular talent just the year before, in sixth grade, thanks to a fortuitous Halloween assignment. Since then, I hadn't tackled anything more ambitious than few poems and, of course, some very primitive song lyrics. I couldn't write actual music of course, these were just lyrics I'd hum to notes I had no idea how to compose.
But as I listened to this emotional song, I could feel the characters take root in my soul. Though this may sound crazy to all those who do not write, these characters wouldn't let me ignore them or forget them. They would whisper their nagging, incomplete stories to me until I was forced to ask questions of the muse just to unravel the mystery.
Now that she had awakened, my muse unexpectedly and readily responded, leading me eagerly down the rabbit hole for the first time in my life.
This is usually how a story possesses me. An idea sparks to life and I can't stop thinking about it until I hack it into something I can work with. This first time was no different. I mentally turned it over in my head until a story emerged.
Since I was already a voracious reader, I felt reasonably hopeful that I could write a book myself. I got one of my spiral notebooks and worked furiously on this story whenever I could fit it in. I wrote between classes, or after I completed my homework or classwork in class. I'd write at night before bed, when I normally would read. And when I wasn't writing it, I was thinking about it. I wore out my copy of "One Voice" within weeks, playing it over and over again until I basically filled that notebook cover to cover. It was a story that... if I'm being honest... was more a novella than a novel, and certainly wasn't very good. There were many things I dragged out or added in order to fill the spiral notebook, because, to my adolescent brain, many words were what you needed to write a book.
But finish it I did, and I offered it to my seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Wiseman, to read and critique.
Actually, SHE offered to read it after I shyly admitted to her what I was trying to do.
God bless that sweet lady, she read that drivel from start to finish. Better yet, she gave me thoughtful and helpful advice that could build upon the rather impressive accomplishment of finishing a 70-page story in long-hand in the first place. I felt so empowered that I found an address on the back of one of Barry's albums and wrote to see if I could use his song in my dedication, because I was sure I was on the road to publication.
Before I had a chance to forget about it, I got a letter in response:
To say I was stoked was a bit of an understatement.
Unfortunately for both Barry and me, the book was every bit as awful as you'd imagine a spiral bound notebook full of clunky juvenile ramblings might be. If Barry's name was going to be on it, it had to be perfect. And it was light years away from that. I shelved it, and in fact lost it, without ever pursuing it further.
Maybe one day I will revisit that original story, my first real attempt as a "serious" writer, and bring it to life like I had wanted to do so long ago. (31 years ago... GACK) I already planted the seed by putting one of the lead characters, Ivy Cunningham, into the Groupie universe as Vanni's lawyer in Rock Star.
I often "Stephen King" my books with fun little Easter eggs like that, but that... my lovelies... is a blog for another day.
Basically if it had to do with pop music I generally knew about it, and almost all my childhood/teen memories are tied to what song came out when.
As virtually an only child (all my half-siblings much older than I was and out of the house by the time I was 6,) music was my constant companion from as far back as I can remember. I would sing in the middle of my living room along with Donny and Marie or Sonny and Cher. I also made one of my Barbies a singing sensation because, well, she was a superstar.
She constantly performed to all my sister's castoff 45s, courtesy of an equally castoff super groovy 1970s portable record player.
THIS was how I discovered the wonder that is Barry Manilow, making this the first album I ever requested for my own.
I still have that vinyl LP, btw. It's scratched all to hell because I played that sucker OUT, like most records I owned in those days.
I became a full-fledged Fanilow by the age of 8, and I fully blame American Bandstand for completing my conversion. It was on right after Saturday morning cartoons, so I got a weekly front row seat to all the hits that Dick Clark could introduce me to from the mid-70s until the late 80s. This included the jaunty tune Barry wrote for the intro.
In 1978 I got a radio for Christmas, so my musical tastes diversified into rock and yes - disco. But I still had a special place in my heart for the former jingle-writer who sang all the songs that my hopelessly romantic pre-teen heart could wish to hear. "Mandy" was a personal favorite.
I understood the angst of love and heartache from a tender age.
Fast forward to the late summer before I had turned 13. I remember distinctly lying in my canopy bed in a pink paradise of a room, listening to my records play,and thinking (read: obsessing) about my first significant crush. It was unrequited love all the way. He was sixteen, I was twelve. And I had learned a bitter lesson that no matter how much you love someone, they don't always love you back. I escaped, as always, into music, and Barry's album "One Voice," was cued up on the record player.
Though I had heard the song "Ships" many times before, this particular day it struck me in a brand new way. Suddenly these familiar lyrics had wings, taking off with this amazing movie happening in my head. I saw an older man and a much younger man, trying to connect though years of absence had left them estranged despite being father and son. The father wanted to reconnect, the son was angry, and somewhere in the middle of it all was a story of redemption and forgiveness. As I followed along, I realized that this story was good enough to be a book... someone just needed to write it.
I was still relatively new to the idea of writing by this age. I had discovered this particular talent just the year before, in sixth grade, thanks to a fortuitous Halloween assignment. Since then, I hadn't tackled anything more ambitious than few poems and, of course, some very primitive song lyrics. I couldn't write actual music of course, these were just lyrics I'd hum to notes I had no idea how to compose.
But as I listened to this emotional song, I could feel the characters take root in my soul. Though this may sound crazy to all those who do not write, these characters wouldn't let me ignore them or forget them. They would whisper their nagging, incomplete stories to me until I was forced to ask questions of the muse just to unravel the mystery.
Now that she had awakened, my muse unexpectedly and readily responded, leading me eagerly down the rabbit hole for the first time in my life.
This is usually how a story possesses me. An idea sparks to life and I can't stop thinking about it until I hack it into something I can work with. This first time was no different. I mentally turned it over in my head until a story emerged.
Since I was already a voracious reader, I felt reasonably hopeful that I could write a book myself. I got one of my spiral notebooks and worked furiously on this story whenever I could fit it in. I wrote between classes, or after I completed my homework or classwork in class. I'd write at night before bed, when I normally would read. And when I wasn't writing it, I was thinking about it. I wore out my copy of "One Voice" within weeks, playing it over and over again until I basically filled that notebook cover to cover. It was a story that... if I'm being honest... was more a novella than a novel, and certainly wasn't very good. There were many things I dragged out or added in order to fill the spiral notebook, because, to my adolescent brain, many words were what you needed to write a book.
But finish it I did, and I offered it to my seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Wiseman, to read and critique.
Actually, SHE offered to read it after I shyly admitted to her what I was trying to do.
God bless that sweet lady, she read that drivel from start to finish. Better yet, she gave me thoughtful and helpful advice that could build upon the rather impressive accomplishment of finishing a 70-page story in long-hand in the first place. I felt so empowered that I found an address on the back of one of Barry's albums and wrote to see if I could use his song in my dedication, because I was sure I was on the road to publication.
Before I had a chance to forget about it, I got a letter in response:
To say I was stoked was a bit of an understatement.
Unfortunately for both Barry and me, the book was every bit as awful as you'd imagine a spiral bound notebook full of clunky juvenile ramblings might be. If Barry's name was going to be on it, it had to be perfect. And it was light years away from that. I shelved it, and in fact lost it, without ever pursuing it further.
Maybe one day I will revisit that original story, my first real attempt as a "serious" writer, and bring it to life like I had wanted to do so long ago. (31 years ago... GACK) I already planted the seed by putting one of the lead characters, Ivy Cunningham, into the Groupie universe as Vanni's lawyer in Rock Star.
I often "Stephen King" my books with fun little Easter eggs like that, but that... my lovelies... is a blog for another day.
November 1, 2013
November 21st. #savethedate
November is my favorite month of the year. As a kid, it meant my birthday and a score of new toys and gifts. As an adult, it means a time for reflection on the year before and goal-setting for the year ahead. It's a time of renewal. A new year of life, and anything is possible. As you get older, you see THAT is the most priceless gift of all.
To celebrate my favorite month, I've decided to make it a worldwide party for my readers and, dare I say, fans. I want to hold a Scavenger Hunt, and I'd love for you all to participate.
In honor of completing EPIC, the third book in my FIERCE TRILOGY, I've decided to bundle my GROUPIE universe books together for a low price this holiday season. The following titles will be included:
GROUPIE
ROCK STAR
MOGUL
FIERCE
UNSTOPPABLE
EPIC
Along with two standalone novels: LOVE PLUS ONE
And a special surprise title where a GROUPIE Easter egg has been dropped.
If you were to buy these eight e-books separately, you'd pay more than $23. But the special holiday gift-giving bundle is ONLY $9.99. That's eight books, with best-selling fan favorites, the highly rated spin-off series and two standalone novels for less than $1.25 per book.
And, for my birthday on November 21, one observant fan can have the whole bundle FOR FREE.
It's time for the FIRST ANNUAL GINGER VOIGHT GROUPIE SCAVENGER HUNT!!
I got the idea from this book that I'm reading, READY PLAYER ONE, in which the last will and testament of an eccentric game designer offered any gamer that could crack a massive online game and find a well-hidden Easter egg hundreds of billions of dollars as a reward. I like this idea, and I don't want to have to die to host one of my own.
From now until November, I'll be tweeting or updating Facebook dropping clues to a questionnaire I will post the evening of November 20th. You will have the entire weekend following my birthday to answer the questionnaire and submit it to win. The people who have the most answers right will be entered into a drawing, and whoever wins gets the Big Holiday Bundle FOR FREE and... guess what... I'll even throw in a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble so you can do a little YOU-shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. That brings the value of this giveaway to nearly $50!!!
It's my birthday... but YOU get the presents!!
This questionnaire will include questions about my books, from free samples readily available on the Internet, as well as personal questions about the birthday girl (me) in general. Fan my Author Facebook page HERE, follow me on Twitter HERE, and befriend me on Goodreads HERE, which links back to this blog. These four, along with my website, will be the places you will find ALL the answers to the questions.
Let's have some fun!
To celebrate my favorite month, I've decided to make it a worldwide party for my readers and, dare I say, fans. I want to hold a Scavenger Hunt, and I'd love for you all to participate.
In honor of completing EPIC, the third book in my FIERCE TRILOGY, I've decided to bundle my GROUPIE universe books together for a low price this holiday season. The following titles will be included:
GROUPIE
ROCK STAR
MOGUL
FIERCE
UNSTOPPABLE
EPIC
Along with two standalone novels: LOVE PLUS ONE
And a special surprise title where a GROUPIE Easter egg has been dropped.
If you were to buy these eight e-books separately, you'd pay more than $23. But the special holiday gift-giving bundle is ONLY $9.99. That's eight books, with best-selling fan favorites, the highly rated spin-off series and two standalone novels for less than $1.25 per book.
And, for my birthday on November 21, one observant fan can have the whole bundle FOR FREE.
It's time for the FIRST ANNUAL GINGER VOIGHT GROUPIE SCAVENGER HUNT!!
I got the idea from this book that I'm reading, READY PLAYER ONE, in which the last will and testament of an eccentric game designer offered any gamer that could crack a massive online game and find a well-hidden Easter egg hundreds of billions of dollars as a reward. I like this idea, and I don't want to have to die to host one of my own.
From now until November, I'll be tweeting or updating Facebook dropping clues to a questionnaire I will post the evening of November 20th. You will have the entire weekend following my birthday to answer the questionnaire and submit it to win. The people who have the most answers right will be entered into a drawing, and whoever wins gets the Big Holiday Bundle FOR FREE and... guess what... I'll even throw in a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble so you can do a little YOU-shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. That brings the value of this giveaway to nearly $50!!!
It's my birthday... but YOU get the presents!!
This questionnaire will include questions about my books, from free samples readily available on the Internet, as well as personal questions about the birthday girl (me) in general. Fan my Author Facebook page HERE, follow me on Twitter HERE, and befriend me on Goodreads HERE, which links back to this blog. These four, along with my website, will be the places you will find ALL the answers to the questions.
Let's have some fun!
October 30, 2013
PING: A post-paparazzi confessional
If you've been reading along with my Fierce trilogy that concludes in just 20 short days, you know that I take a direct aim at the gossip-mongering paparazzi faux news machine in the media through the fictional group, PING. (Photojournalist International News Group.) Since I write a lot about the nature of celebrities, there was no real way to avoid it, so I often make it work for my stories. It often drives the plot forward as an antagonistic force, which is basically the way that I see these so-called "news" outlets.
In America, "Hollywood" and all its inhabitants (i.e. celebrities) are the shiny, pretty things that draw interest much like royalty in other countries. The only thing we like more than watching them reach the stars is watching them fall back down to earth again, which I'm afraid says much more about what's wrong with us, rather than what's wrong with them.
Celebrity "news," as in who is dating whom, who is pregnant, who said what about whom, and the like are distractions from real problems and progress, as are any snarky "celebrity blogs" written for no other reason than to leech off the famous by tearing them gleefully to shreds. That's why you're likely to stop random Americans on the street and find many have absolutely NO clue who represents their district in Congress, but can name of all the Kardashian clan. More people vote for Reality TV talent shows than for the president of the United Effin States. This dumbing down of our nation is no accident. Hal Sparks and his band Zero 1 covered this succinctly in their hit "Animal."
The only thing you know is what I tell you
The only thing you buy is what I sell you
And you can't hear it if it isn't on my station
The doctor's afraid that you'll no longer be his patient
Make the poison sweet so you can swallow
I'm filling you with food that makes you hollow
And every story turns into a paper dragon
A million words but only one that you can hang on (hang on)
I lead you follow - Animal
I lead you follow - Animal
I lead you follow - Animal
I lead you follow
And to tell you how voracious our appetite is for the monster of celebrity, we create "stars" out of fairly unremarkable people in the Reality TV spectrum, who haven't an iota of unique talent. They're generally pretty, provocative and drive our insatiable lust to tear down those who we perceive in stations of life higher than our own, including any unfortunate soul enjoying their 15 minutes of fame.
We have collectively decided in some psychotic way that we are entitled access to celebrities simply because we watched TV, bought a song on the Internet or paid for a movie ticket. (Hint: We aren't.)
But where there's a demand, there will always be a supply... and that's where these gossip-mongering, glorified peeping Toms come in.
In full disclosure, however, I have to confess that I was once part of this media machine. I worked for a "celebrity photographer," which walked a very thin line of "the paparazzi." The distinction came down to this: if you were invited and approved to attend an event where celebrities understood this kind of press was expected, you were part of the "press." If you were stalking and ambushing celebrities when they were just trying to live their lives, you're the paparazzi.
My boss wasn't the kind to hide in the bushes or ambush celebrities in the airport, but her colleagues definitely were. I attended more than one event, shocked and dismayed that these rude fucking assholes (who deserve every iota of that contempt) would hurl insults at celebrities just to get them to turn and face them so they could snap a shot. They didn't care if the pictures they got weren't smiling and happy, because certain publications had a market for EVERY photo you can imagine.
Rag mags who perpetuated celebrity gossip LONG before the age of TMZ would fax their very specific requests. They wanted "fat" pictures of females, or angry, shocked, surprised photos of those going through personal crises. And we would check our catalog to see if we had anything that fit the bill, because a photo placed is money earned. And we could sleep at night because these photos were taken with celebrity consent. If there was a bad photo among them, it was just their tough luck.
In this age of Instagram, most of us have our images scattered far and wide across several media platforms, but generally we can control how these photos are used. Even if your dickhead friends post those embarrassing Facebook photos for shits and giggles, tagging you for a joke, you can simply untag them and move on with your life.
Now imagine having little control past posing (or hiding) from a photo and having ZERO say in how they are used beyond that, even if it includes your small kids, and you'll understand why so many celebs beat the crap out of these guys.
My boss justified her participating in this speculation machine by saying these particular magazines didn't print gossip they hadn't somehow researched and knew to be true. So it was manipulated, but not necessarily inaccurate. I'm not completely sold that is true, especially since there are so many "well-known" secrets in the industry that never see the light of day. What drove the celebrity "news" then is what drives the celebrity "news" now: whatever will drive the advertising dollar. It doesn't have to be true, the conjecture and speculation just has to be titillating enough for you to click the link and drive traffic to their website.
I officially broke ties with places like TMZ over the way the "breaking news" of Michael Jackson's death was handled. Everyone wants to break the news first, but gossip-mongers don't need actual "facts" to print the "possibility" of a major news story. So for hours no one knew the truth, keeping everyone who might care about such a thing waiting for confirmation over the rumor - myself included. And the ironic part? It was nobody's goddamn business.
Michael Jackson was an icon with a legion of loyal fans, but NOT ONE OF US were entitled to hear about his death until HIS FAMILY decided it was time to announce it. If that were you or me, we'd have been livid that this "news" broke while we were still trying to process the loss of a loved one.
That was the day I realized I was feeding the monster. We were all ravenous animals chasing after the titillating tidbit of a shocking celebrity death, so much so that we actually legitimized TMZ and their selfish, greedy agenda to feed/feed/feed what we were willing to gobble until we choked on it.
After that, I avoided TMZ like the plague. The whole idea of what they do had become distasteful. I'll never forget that day in my office in 1998, when the news broke that Phil Hartman's wife had murdered him in the same house where their children slept, only to later shoot and kill herself in the family home. It was such a tragic ending or a seemingly decent man, but there was no time for those in the "industry" to mourn. Everyone scrambled to get photographers on the scene so they could get THE shot of the gurney wheeling Hartman's body from the scene.
I feel sick just thinking about it. Had I been in a much stronger emotional place, it would have driven me to find a new job. It was callous and opportunistic and heartless - basically the opposite of what I know as human decency. This wasn't just a photo of someone looking "fat" - this was a major tragedy. And for people in my industry, it was one more opportunity to make money. A LOT of money.
Talk about vultures.
Last year I went to the Dark Shadows premiere so that my son, who had drawn a photo of Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, might get his drawing signed by the person who had inspired him. Sadly I was reminded of the ravenous glut of celebrity hounds thanks to the autograph mongers (don't EVEN get me started,) who are just as rude and entitled as the paparazzi. But this is what happens when you exchange people for profit.
Writing about the secret lives of celebrities (my own, not real folks,) gave me the opportunity to exorcise some of that animosity and disgust. Sadly, it's part and parcel with fame, so much so that not a whole lot of people can empathize with the celebrity who "chose" to be in the limelight.
But just like dangerous stalkers in GROUPIE, the paparazzi driving so much of the conflict in FIERCE are depicted exactly as they should be: completely unnecessary complications people must survive in order to do that which they love. They're the bad guys, the antagonists, who feed into this idea that celebrities are public domain. If you're like my characters, who happen to live and love in that world, this is a GINORMOUS pain in the ass. Having any private life at all usually means you have to play the game to some degree, even if it's not validating their speculation with vehement denials that would only fuel the fire. Letting a rumor run its course until some other story comes along (and it will,) is very often a common line of defense, even when it means millions of people you don't know will judge and hate you as a result, which would jeopardize your very livelihood because you, essentially, are your brand.
If you can imagine living your life this way, and how much it would S U C K, then congratulations. You've grasped the larger idea of celebrity gossip and have elevated to a great mind. You're also ready to read how Jordi Hemphill navigates this tricky terrain when the rest of her world is falling apart.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT* of EPIC, the conclusion to my New Adult coming-of-age FIERCE trilogy. (*May contain spoilers for readers new to the series.)
After a shower and some breakfast, I killed time waiting for Maggie to come over for our exercise session by sending a text to Vanni. I needed his input on what to do about my birth mother. He was a fellow orphan like me, so he had been my closest confidante throughout the process I began when I came home from Iowa.
“I’m scared,” I confided in the text.
Though I knew how busy he was juggling the new season of Fierce, he was quick to reply. “You’re fearless,” he corrected.
I laughed. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
“I know you better than almost anyone,” he reminded. “I see you, Jordi. I always have. And I think you should do it. You’ve spent too long and lost so much to carve out this future for yourself. Don’t let regret stop you now.”
I was still torn with what to do by the time Maggie arrived in her sweats, carrying a towel in one hand and a DVD in the other. When she produced said DVD, I dissolved into hopeless laughter just reading the title. “Belly dancing? Are you serious, Mags?”
She waved away the rest of my giggles. “As a matter of fact, I am. Scoff if you want but there are a lot of health benefits to belly-dancing, and I thought it would be a fun way to strengthen your core, release your stress and relieve your back pain.” I glanced at all the women on the jacket of the DVD, all of whom combined probably didn’t weigh what I weighed. They were slight wisps of femininity, with a fluid grace that made me feel like a thundering hippo in comparison. “And look completely and utterly ridiculous,” I added.
Maggie took the DVD from my hand. “Who’s going to see but me?” she asked with a pointed look.
I shrugged. She was right. We moved the furniture from in front of our big screen TV and started our new workout. The beginning was fairly generic, warming up the body the way I’d become accustomed to warming up before a workout. Some of the moves involved the hips and pelvis more, and I tried not to think of how utterly ridiculous I must have looked. It wasn’t so much a dance, but a serious of exercises. Within a few minutes, I realized that it was, in fact, a low-impact workout which wasn’t too intimidating when slowed down and broken into simple steps. Once the tempo increased, I was able to pull off the movements in a way I never would have expected.
I guessed I had all the numbers on Fierce to thank for that.
Unlike the dance numbers on my reality show, however, the belly-dancing actually felt more organic. When I said as much to Maggie, she said, “It’s designed to work with the body rather than against it.”
After two more routines, we brought the workout to a close. Maggie left the DVD with me before she was off and running back to the studio. Out of curiosity, I cued up some additional workouts on the DVD, just so I could see what I was getting myself into. Since I was still feeling pretty good, I decided to walk through some of the different steps. It wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I might have feared. In fact, it was even kind of fun.
There was a smile on my face as I grabbed a glass of water flavored with cucumber and mint, opened up my computer and checked my social media.
As usual, letting the “real world” invade the sanctity of my hermit hole was my one-way ticket to a bad mood. I found that Eddie Nix was trending, along with Shelby Goddard. Curiosity got the better of me and I clicked on the link, which was a candid shot by PING to announce how chummy Eddie and Shelby were now that he’d moved to Tennessee to go to school. Miles O’ Rourke was also quick to post his opinion on how the cozy couple seemed to be comforting each other through their troubles, being run over by that big ol’ train of celebrity.
@MilesKnowsItAll Sources close to the couple say they’ve been inseparable since Eddie landed in TN.
A pic was posted alongside, showing Eddie escort Shelby toward a restaurant, her head down and his arm up to shield her.
@MilesKnowsItAll Looks like our dear Shelby finally found a true hero. #eddieandshelby
I felt bile rise in my throat as I stared at the photo. She looked dainty and small in his strong arms, much thinner even than the last time I saw her. She looked all of twelve, and it hurt my heart to realize that she had been thrown back into the shark tank that was her family home in Tennessee. Worse, a barracuda like Eddie was determined to hitch his wagon to her broken cart. Despite my common sense screaming at me, I decided to dig a little to find out exactly what was going on. It was even worse than I could have predicted. Eddie was taking political science classes, no doubt to cozy up to Coy Goddard, who had recently thrown his hat in the ring to run for state senate.
He was a lying, no-good, snake in the grass. And poor Shelby was the defenseless mouse about to be ingested. I opened up my desk drawer and withdrew the security DVD that would stop all his lies and his nefarious plan right in his tracks. I could send this to her for no other reason than to protect her from trusting the wrong person – again – but I knew it would come at a great cost. My tapes with Jace would be released far and wide, and I could only imagine how the media would receive that.
It made me think about my song and my stupid, silly attempts to belly dance. If that tape got out, I really would be a colossal joke for anyone out there who had an opinion.
And I already knew that just about everyone did.
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
If you haven't yet read the first two books of this highly-rated New Adult series, the bundle is now on sale at Amazon for only $3.99!!
In America, "Hollywood" and all its inhabitants (i.e. celebrities) are the shiny, pretty things that draw interest much like royalty in other countries. The only thing we like more than watching them reach the stars is watching them fall back down to earth again, which I'm afraid says much more about what's wrong with us, rather than what's wrong with them.
Celebrity "news," as in who is dating whom, who is pregnant, who said what about whom, and the like are distractions from real problems and progress, as are any snarky "celebrity blogs" written for no other reason than to leech off the famous by tearing them gleefully to shreds. That's why you're likely to stop random Americans on the street and find many have absolutely NO clue who represents their district in Congress, but can name of all the Kardashian clan. More people vote for Reality TV talent shows than for the president of the United Effin States. This dumbing down of our nation is no accident. Hal Sparks and his band Zero 1 covered this succinctly in their hit "Animal."
The only thing you know is what I tell you
The only thing you buy is what I sell you
And you can't hear it if it isn't on my station
The doctor's afraid that you'll no longer be his patient
Make the poison sweet so you can swallow
I'm filling you with food that makes you hollow
And every story turns into a paper dragon
A million words but only one that you can hang on (hang on)
I lead you follow - Animal
I lead you follow - Animal
I lead you follow - Animal
I lead you follow
And to tell you how voracious our appetite is for the monster of celebrity, we create "stars" out of fairly unremarkable people in the Reality TV spectrum, who haven't an iota of unique talent. They're generally pretty, provocative and drive our insatiable lust to tear down those who we perceive in stations of life higher than our own, including any unfortunate soul enjoying their 15 minutes of fame.
We have collectively decided in some psychotic way that we are entitled access to celebrities simply because we watched TV, bought a song on the Internet or paid for a movie ticket. (Hint: We aren't.)
But where there's a demand, there will always be a supply... and that's where these gossip-mongering, glorified peeping Toms come in.
In full disclosure, however, I have to confess that I was once part of this media machine. I worked for a "celebrity photographer," which walked a very thin line of "the paparazzi." The distinction came down to this: if you were invited and approved to attend an event where celebrities understood this kind of press was expected, you were part of the "press." If you were stalking and ambushing celebrities when they were just trying to live their lives, you're the paparazzi.
My boss wasn't the kind to hide in the bushes or ambush celebrities in the airport, but her colleagues definitely were. I attended more than one event, shocked and dismayed that these rude fucking assholes (who deserve every iota of that contempt) would hurl insults at celebrities just to get them to turn and face them so they could snap a shot. They didn't care if the pictures they got weren't smiling and happy, because certain publications had a market for EVERY photo you can imagine.
Rag mags who perpetuated celebrity gossip LONG before the age of TMZ would fax their very specific requests. They wanted "fat" pictures of females, or angry, shocked, surprised photos of those going through personal crises. And we would check our catalog to see if we had anything that fit the bill, because a photo placed is money earned. And we could sleep at night because these photos were taken with celebrity consent. If there was a bad photo among them, it was just their tough luck.
In this age of Instagram, most of us have our images scattered far and wide across several media platforms, but generally we can control how these photos are used. Even if your dickhead friends post those embarrassing Facebook photos for shits and giggles, tagging you for a joke, you can simply untag them and move on with your life.
Now imagine having little control past posing (or hiding) from a photo and having ZERO say in how they are used beyond that, even if it includes your small kids, and you'll understand why so many celebs beat the crap out of these guys.
My boss justified her participating in this speculation machine by saying these particular magazines didn't print gossip they hadn't somehow researched and knew to be true. So it was manipulated, but not necessarily inaccurate. I'm not completely sold that is true, especially since there are so many "well-known" secrets in the industry that never see the light of day. What drove the celebrity "news" then is what drives the celebrity "news" now: whatever will drive the advertising dollar. It doesn't have to be true, the conjecture and speculation just has to be titillating enough for you to click the link and drive traffic to their website.
I officially broke ties with places like TMZ over the way the "breaking news" of Michael Jackson's death was handled. Everyone wants to break the news first, but gossip-mongers don't need actual "facts" to print the "possibility" of a major news story. So for hours no one knew the truth, keeping everyone who might care about such a thing waiting for confirmation over the rumor - myself included. And the ironic part? It was nobody's goddamn business.
Michael Jackson was an icon with a legion of loyal fans, but NOT ONE OF US were entitled to hear about his death until HIS FAMILY decided it was time to announce it. If that were you or me, we'd have been livid that this "news" broke while we were still trying to process the loss of a loved one.
That was the day I realized I was feeding the monster. We were all ravenous animals chasing after the titillating tidbit of a shocking celebrity death, so much so that we actually legitimized TMZ and their selfish, greedy agenda to feed/feed/feed what we were willing to gobble until we choked on it.
After that, I avoided TMZ like the plague. The whole idea of what they do had become distasteful. I'll never forget that day in my office in 1998, when the news broke that Phil Hartman's wife had murdered him in the same house where their children slept, only to later shoot and kill herself in the family home. It was such a tragic ending or a seemingly decent man, but there was no time for those in the "industry" to mourn. Everyone scrambled to get photographers on the scene so they could get THE shot of the gurney wheeling Hartman's body from the scene.
I feel sick just thinking about it. Had I been in a much stronger emotional place, it would have driven me to find a new job. It was callous and opportunistic and heartless - basically the opposite of what I know as human decency. This wasn't just a photo of someone looking "fat" - this was a major tragedy. And for people in my industry, it was one more opportunity to make money. A LOT of money.
Talk about vultures.
Last year I went to the Dark Shadows premiere so that my son, who had drawn a photo of Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, might get his drawing signed by the person who had inspired him. Sadly I was reminded of the ravenous glut of celebrity hounds thanks to the autograph mongers (don't EVEN get me started,) who are just as rude and entitled as the paparazzi. But this is what happens when you exchange people for profit.
Writing about the secret lives of celebrities (my own, not real folks,) gave me the opportunity to exorcise some of that animosity and disgust. Sadly, it's part and parcel with fame, so much so that not a whole lot of people can empathize with the celebrity who "chose" to be in the limelight.
But just like dangerous stalkers in GROUPIE, the paparazzi driving so much of the conflict in FIERCE are depicted exactly as they should be: completely unnecessary complications people must survive in order to do that which they love. They're the bad guys, the antagonists, who feed into this idea that celebrities are public domain. If you're like my characters, who happen to live and love in that world, this is a GINORMOUS pain in the ass. Having any private life at all usually means you have to play the game to some degree, even if it's not validating their speculation with vehement denials that would only fuel the fire. Letting a rumor run its course until some other story comes along (and it will,) is very often a common line of defense, even when it means millions of people you don't know will judge and hate you as a result, which would jeopardize your very livelihood because you, essentially, are your brand.
If you can imagine living your life this way, and how much it would S U C K, then congratulations. You've grasped the larger idea of celebrity gossip and have elevated to a great mind. You're also ready to read how Jordi Hemphill navigates this tricky terrain when the rest of her world is falling apart.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT* of EPIC, the conclusion to my New Adult coming-of-age FIERCE trilogy. (*May contain spoilers for readers new to the series.)
After a shower and some breakfast, I killed time waiting for Maggie to come over for our exercise session by sending a text to Vanni. I needed his input on what to do about my birth mother. He was a fellow orphan like me, so he had been my closest confidante throughout the process I began when I came home from Iowa.
“I’m scared,” I confided in the text.
Though I knew how busy he was juggling the new season of Fierce, he was quick to reply. “You’re fearless,” he corrected.
I laughed. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
“I know you better than almost anyone,” he reminded. “I see you, Jordi. I always have. And I think you should do it. You’ve spent too long and lost so much to carve out this future for yourself. Don’t let regret stop you now.”
I was still torn with what to do by the time Maggie arrived in her sweats, carrying a towel in one hand and a DVD in the other. When she produced said DVD, I dissolved into hopeless laughter just reading the title. “Belly dancing? Are you serious, Mags?”
She waved away the rest of my giggles. “As a matter of fact, I am. Scoff if you want but there are a lot of health benefits to belly-dancing, and I thought it would be a fun way to strengthen your core, release your stress and relieve your back pain.” I glanced at all the women on the jacket of the DVD, all of whom combined probably didn’t weigh what I weighed. They were slight wisps of femininity, with a fluid grace that made me feel like a thundering hippo in comparison. “And look completely and utterly ridiculous,” I added.
Maggie took the DVD from my hand. “Who’s going to see but me?” she asked with a pointed look.
I shrugged. She was right. We moved the furniture from in front of our big screen TV and started our new workout. The beginning was fairly generic, warming up the body the way I’d become accustomed to warming up before a workout. Some of the moves involved the hips and pelvis more, and I tried not to think of how utterly ridiculous I must have looked. It wasn’t so much a dance, but a serious of exercises. Within a few minutes, I realized that it was, in fact, a low-impact workout which wasn’t too intimidating when slowed down and broken into simple steps. Once the tempo increased, I was able to pull off the movements in a way I never would have expected.
I guessed I had all the numbers on Fierce to thank for that.
Unlike the dance numbers on my reality show, however, the belly-dancing actually felt more organic. When I said as much to Maggie, she said, “It’s designed to work with the body rather than against it.”
After two more routines, we brought the workout to a close. Maggie left the DVD with me before she was off and running back to the studio. Out of curiosity, I cued up some additional workouts on the DVD, just so I could see what I was getting myself into. Since I was still feeling pretty good, I decided to walk through some of the different steps. It wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I might have feared. In fact, it was even kind of fun.
There was a smile on my face as I grabbed a glass of water flavored with cucumber and mint, opened up my computer and checked my social media.
As usual, letting the “real world” invade the sanctity of my hermit hole was my one-way ticket to a bad mood. I found that Eddie Nix was trending, along with Shelby Goddard. Curiosity got the better of me and I clicked on the link, which was a candid shot by PING to announce how chummy Eddie and Shelby were now that he’d moved to Tennessee to go to school. Miles O’ Rourke was also quick to post his opinion on how the cozy couple seemed to be comforting each other through their troubles, being run over by that big ol’ train of celebrity.
@MilesKnowsItAll Sources close to the couple say they’ve been inseparable since Eddie landed in TN.
A pic was posted alongside, showing Eddie escort Shelby toward a restaurant, her head down and his arm up to shield her.
@MilesKnowsItAll Looks like our dear Shelby finally found a true hero. #eddieandshelby
I felt bile rise in my throat as I stared at the photo. She looked dainty and small in his strong arms, much thinner even than the last time I saw her. She looked all of twelve, and it hurt my heart to realize that she had been thrown back into the shark tank that was her family home in Tennessee. Worse, a barracuda like Eddie was determined to hitch his wagon to her broken cart. Despite my common sense screaming at me, I decided to dig a little to find out exactly what was going on. It was even worse than I could have predicted. Eddie was taking political science classes, no doubt to cozy up to Coy Goddard, who had recently thrown his hat in the ring to run for state senate.
He was a lying, no-good, snake in the grass. And poor Shelby was the defenseless mouse about to be ingested. I opened up my desk drawer and withdrew the security DVD that would stop all his lies and his nefarious plan right in his tracks. I could send this to her for no other reason than to protect her from trusting the wrong person – again – but I knew it would come at a great cost. My tapes with Jace would be released far and wide, and I could only imagine how the media would receive that.
It made me think about my song and my stupid, silly attempts to belly dance. If that tape got out, I really would be a colossal joke for anyone out there who had an opinion.
And I already knew that just about everyone did.
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
If you haven't yet read the first two books of this highly-rated New Adult series, the bundle is now on sale at Amazon for only $3.99!!
October 29, 2013
Autographed books, $0.99 sales and low-price bundles, OH MY!!
So, two big things are happening in the next couple of months. One: I will celebrate another birthday in November, and Two: we're heading into my favorite part of the year: HOLIDAY SEASON. Yes, it's true. I'm a sap who decorates the tree right after Thanksgiving dinner, and will listen to every Christmas carol and watch every holiday movie while I decorate my home like the biggest Ginger elf you ever saw.
In honor of these two things, I've decided to make this completely outstanding year even more EPIC by sharing my favorite things with my favorite people... namely all of YOU. Think Oprah, but without all the free cars and billion-dollar budget. I don't have Oprah's money... few of us do. Which is why I want to make Christmas gift-giving a little merrier (and easier) for the rest of us.
You may not know this but I'm a bit of a thrift shopper who loves a bargain. This was the necessary byproduct of living from paycheck to paycheck as a wage slave most of my adult life. When you've worked an entire hour of manual labor for less than $4, you quickly learn the value of money. This is the main reason I've kept all my prices lower than many mainstream e-books. I know what it takes to live on a budget, while sparing a few dollars to feed some of my favorite obsessions like movies and books. So now, for Holiday Season 2013, I'm gonna pass that all down to all of you!!
I've knocked several titles down to $0.99 for a limited time throughout the shopping season. If you haven't read these before, this is your time to stock up OR gift your favorites to other people.
As you may notice, several genres are included in this sale, including a Middle Grade book (Comic Squad.) If you love what I do, you can pass it along to those who read outside the romance genre at a very reasonable cost!
Don't worry, I didn't leave out your favorites. Over at All Romance Ebooks, I'm holding a sale for the first books of the GROUPIE and FIERCE trilogies for $1.99. Dive into either series for a fraction of the cost!!
This is also the best time to buy bundled e-books. I've dropped the prices on all the best-sellers. I even brought back my three-for: three stand-alone Rubenesque romances in one economic volume!! Why buy one book for $4.99 when you can own three for $3.49?
AND if that isn't enough to spice up your gift list, I will be offering AUTOGRAPHED PAPERBACKS directly to YOU! Can't make it to a book signing? No problem! You can purchase my books directly through my website and I will send you books autographed personally to you! Best of all I'm matching the LOWEST INTERNET PRICE. So get those orders in quickly!
Are YOU ready for the holidays? I know I am!! Join me!
In honor of these two things, I've decided to make this completely outstanding year even more EPIC by sharing my favorite things with my favorite people... namely all of YOU. Think Oprah, but without all the free cars and billion-dollar budget. I don't have Oprah's money... few of us do. Which is why I want to make Christmas gift-giving a little merrier (and easier) for the rest of us.
You may not know this but I'm a bit of a thrift shopper who loves a bargain. This was the necessary byproduct of living from paycheck to paycheck as a wage slave most of my adult life. When you've worked an entire hour of manual labor for less than $4, you quickly learn the value of money. This is the main reason I've kept all my prices lower than many mainstream e-books. I know what it takes to live on a budget, while sparing a few dollars to feed some of my favorite obsessions like movies and books. So now, for Holiday Season 2013, I'm gonna pass that all down to all of you!!
I've knocked several titles down to $0.99 for a limited time throughout the shopping season. If you haven't read these before, this is your time to stock up OR gift your favorites to other people.
As you may notice, several genres are included in this sale, including a Middle Grade book (Comic Squad.) If you love what I do, you can pass it along to those who read outside the romance genre at a very reasonable cost!
Don't worry, I didn't leave out your favorites. Over at All Romance Ebooks, I'm holding a sale for the first books of the GROUPIE and FIERCE trilogies for $1.99. Dive into either series for a fraction of the cost!!
This is also the best time to buy bundled e-books. I've dropped the prices on all the best-sellers. I even brought back my three-for: three stand-alone Rubenesque romances in one economic volume!! Why buy one book for $4.99 when you can own three for $3.49?
AND if that isn't enough to spice up your gift list, I will be offering AUTOGRAPHED PAPERBACKS directly to YOU! Can't make it to a book signing? No problem! You can purchase my books directly through my website and I will send you books autographed personally to you! Best of all I'm matching the LOWEST INTERNET PRICE. So get those orders in quickly!
Are YOU ready for the holidays? I know I am!! Join me!
October 17, 2013
Something is coming. And it's going to be EPIC.
No, really. EPIC is releasing in time for your holiday season!
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
If you haven't yet read the first two books of this highly-rated New Adult series, the bundle is now on sale at Amazon for only $3.99!!
Though Barnes & Noble have yet to publish Unstoppable, they too are offering the economic bundle of both books so you can get caught up in time for the November release of Epic.
Here's the blurb for all of you who are dying to see what happens next!:
In book three of the Fierce Trilogy, "Epic" brings this Rubenesque coming-of-age series to a close, tying up the final crises keeping our intrepid but beleaguered reality couple, Jace and Jordi, from their fairytale ending.
Plus-sized singing sensation Jordi Hemphill is on the quest of a lifetime. Set adrift in the previous book, "Unstoppable," she must fill new, gaping holes in her family tree. It begins as an escape, but it ends up the ultimate confrontation of the demons that continue to haunt her from her abusive past. Worse, she still struggles through current scandals, splashed on every tabloid for the world to see. As a result, her career stagnates while Jace Riga is on a rocket to super-stardom, tearing the star-crossed lovers even further apart.
Though she has filed for divorce, she is still regrettably tied to Eddie, her weaselly husband in name only. He gleefully proceeds with his plan to woo and ultimately con Jordi's estranged friend, Shelby Goddard, to tap into her family's wealth. He moves to Tennessee to cozy up to her domineering father, Coy, who has just announced his run for the Senate. Together he and Eddie get closer and closer to a seat of power, while Shelby continues to languish in ill health and depression. Jordi debates on whether she can make the sacrifice needed to save her friend, but it could pound the final hammer into her career and end her own dreams of super-stardom for good.
It doesn't help that a fellow musician, Griffin Slade, drives her insecurities even further down the tubes. This unapologetic ladies man feeds into all of Jordi's insecurities as they are thrust together in project after project. His aloof demeanor only underscores all the rest of her esteem issues, all of which threaten to drive her back to her one true comfort: food.
Jace remains stubbornly steadfast, trying to save Jordi from her self-destructive behavior. But this final lesson Jordi has to learn alone. She can no longer depend on Jace, her family, or the world giving her the validation she has been denied for so long. She must dig deep, work hard, and let go - or else she'll lose everything she's fought so hard to achieve.
In the end, only Jordi can save Jordi. This is her journey of self-discovery, and at long last, self-acceptance.
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
If you haven't yet read the first two books of this highly-rated New Adult series, the bundle is now on sale at Amazon for only $3.99!!
Though Barnes & Noble have yet to publish Unstoppable, they too are offering the economic bundle of both books so you can get caught up in time for the November release of Epic.
Here's the blurb for all of you who are dying to see what happens next!:
In book three of the Fierce Trilogy, "Epic" brings this Rubenesque coming-of-age series to a close, tying up the final crises keeping our intrepid but beleaguered reality couple, Jace and Jordi, from their fairytale ending.
Plus-sized singing sensation Jordi Hemphill is on the quest of a lifetime. Set adrift in the previous book, "Unstoppable," she must fill new, gaping holes in her family tree. It begins as an escape, but it ends up the ultimate confrontation of the demons that continue to haunt her from her abusive past. Worse, she still struggles through current scandals, splashed on every tabloid for the world to see. As a result, her career stagnates while Jace Riga is on a rocket to super-stardom, tearing the star-crossed lovers even further apart.
Though she has filed for divorce, she is still regrettably tied to Eddie, her weaselly husband in name only. He gleefully proceeds with his plan to woo and ultimately con Jordi's estranged friend, Shelby Goddard, to tap into her family's wealth. He moves to Tennessee to cozy up to her domineering father, Coy, who has just announced his run for the Senate. Together he and Eddie get closer and closer to a seat of power, while Shelby continues to languish in ill health and depression. Jordi debates on whether she can make the sacrifice needed to save her friend, but it could pound the final hammer into her career and end her own dreams of super-stardom for good.
It doesn't help that a fellow musician, Griffin Slade, drives her insecurities even further down the tubes. This unapologetic ladies man feeds into all of Jordi's insecurities as they are thrust together in project after project. His aloof demeanor only underscores all the rest of her esteem issues, all of which threaten to drive her back to her one true comfort: food.
Jace remains stubbornly steadfast, trying to save Jordi from her self-destructive behavior. But this final lesson Jordi has to learn alone. She can no longer depend on Jace, her family, or the world giving her the validation she has been denied for so long. She must dig deep, work hard, and let go - or else she'll lose everything she's fought so hard to achieve.
In the end, only Jordi can save Jordi. This is her journey of self-discovery, and at long last, self-acceptance.
