Julia London's Blog, page 39

Weddings

I attended a family wedding this weekend–my cousin tied the knot.  I thought it was a lovely wedding and it reminded me how re-affirming weddings can be about the power of love.  No matter how high the divorce rate or how much our world has changed, people still find each other and want to commit to each other for the rest of their lives.  It makes me happy.  It makes me feel hopeful that the world will continue to twirl around and our children will find someone to love, and their children will find someone to love.

I was a doofus and didn’t take a phone in with me, so I don’t have any pictures.  But that’s okay–the bride was beautiful, the groom proud, and the family ready to party.  We are very reliable that way.

Let’s talk about weddings:  What was yours like?  What’s the best wedding you have ever been to?  What’s the worst wedding (no names!  They may not now it was the worst).  If you could have do-overs, what would you do differently in your wedding?

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Seduction of Lady X

ON SALE MARCH 27

The would-be Earl of Ashwood sets his romantic sights on a forbidden prize in the enchanting third novel from Julia London’s addictively sexy new series.

The surprising news that dashing steward Harrison Tolly, illegitimate son of the Earl of Ashwood, is the rightful heir to his father’s estate comes at a most inopportune time. With a wedding on the horizon and a baby on the way, a new life of privilege and prestige would be a blessing but for one problem: his heart belongs to another woman.

Harrison keeps his desires for his employer’s wife, Lady Olivia Carey, so hidden that even she does not know of his devotion. Her callous husband, Marquis Carey, went into a rampage after Olivia’s troublesome younger sister returned from her tour of Spain pregnant, and Harrison impulsively stepped in to save the entire family from scandal. Now, like Olivia, he is trapped in a loveless arrangement. When a tragic accident claims the marquis’ life soon thereafter, can Harrison seize his chance and cast aside one sister for another? Or will doing so expose the Carey family’s darkest secret—and ruin his only chance to win Olivia’s heart?

For a behind the scenes look at Hadley Green, please visit the Hadley Green scrapbook

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The Best Show You're Not Watching

Since we've been blogging recently about favorite shows/movies, I thought I'd continue the trend and tell you about a wonderful show I watch–one I suspect you're not watching, but should.  It's called Sandwich King and it airs on the Food Network on Sunday mornings at 11am (go ahead and set your DVR right now–I'll wait.  Seriously–go do it now )

The premise of the show started out as the cute tagline: make any sandwich into a meal and any meal into a sandwich.  Now the tagline is the equally clever: life is better between two pieces of bread.  Besdies the fact that sandwiches do indeed make great meals, what makes this show so great is the host–Jeff Mauro. 

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Jeff Mauro, aka The Sandwich King, in his Food Network show kitchen

In 2011 Jeff won Season 7 of Food Network Star and Sandwich King debuted on the network last August.  The DH and I were instant fans of Jeff's because he is just so darn likable!  He has an adorable family (wife and son) who have been featured on his show (as well as his dad, who's a hoot!).  Jeff has a great sense of humor and is always joking around which makes the show lots of fun. 

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Jeff is goofy and charming. (images from Food Network website)

Plus his recipes and ideas are really cool.  He's from Chicago and each week he features a one of his favorite places to eat in the city.  He then turns that meal into a sandwich in his own kitchen, giving it his special Sandwich King twist.  We've already tried out his meatball sub (fabulous!) as well as several others and they've all been hits.  On last week's episode he made oven baked onion rings that made our mouths water–we'll be trying those babies out this weekend.  For more info on Jeff and his show and his recipes, check out foodnetwork.com.  And seriously DVR his show–he makes sandwiches more fun than you ever thought they could be.

Have you ever seen Sandwich King?  Do you enjoy watching cooking shows?  Which ones?  What's your favorite thing to cook?  And hey–if there's a recipe you'd like to share–we'd love to have it!

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Coming soon to a theater near you…

Sadly, there aren't that many movies hitting the screen that I'm excited about anymore. I'm not sure if it's the state of Hollywood or the fact that I'm not 21 anymore (though just barely past that, of course). But I've been to a couple recently, and that means I've seen trailers. And most of the trailers don't have me bouncing in my seat ready to hand over my money.

The Hunger Games, a book I loved, left me cold as a film.

I enjoyed Mirror, Mirror for what it was (a movie I could take both my kids to see) but thought it paled in comparison to kids movies of past years or other takes on fairy tales (like Ever After).

Saw the trailer for a movie that teams up Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and the Easter Bunny to save the world. OMG. This did not look good, and I wasn't the only one who thought so…Catherine (age 10) leaned over and told me in no uncertain terms that it looked "dumb" and that neither she nor her little sister would want to see it. (Big sigh of relief).

This Means War with Reese Witherspoon (who I really like) looks wretched. Reese, Reese, what happened? You're too talented for that?

As for Battleship, the Avengers (oh, gag me) and Dark Shadows…can I just say Oh My God and be done with it?

About the only movies that come to mind that I'm truly interested in are the new Spiderman movie (because I'm curious and the trailer looks reasonable) and Prometheus (because if it's anywhere near as good as the Alien movies then I'll be a happy girl). Here's hoping.

There must be others coming that look fun, and I'm sure some quality movies will come out closer to the holidays, but until then, I'm just underwhelmed.

Okay, I take it back: I can't just say Oh My God and be done with Dark Shadows. Seriously, people (and by People I mean Johnny Depp), What. Are. You. Thinking?? Supposedly Depp is a huge fan of the show, has always wanted to play Barnabus, and was the driving force behind getting the movie made. This is a cult tv show with a huge following. This period in time in entertainment history is big on vampires. So what happens? The show becomes Burton-ized and instead of doing an actual Dark Shadows movie we get the big screen Brady Bunch treatment. Camp times seven. What is up with that? More important, who do they think is going to go see it? Not fans of the show (my husband and daughters love the show and beg to watch episodes every night — the kids, not the husband). They've seen the trailer and are truly baffled and think it looks "stupid." My husband uses stronger critical language. Nor is it for folks like me who know the show exists, haven't watched it regularly, but would be happy to see a well done vampire gothic. But campy vampires that look like something more wretched than Love At First Bite? Oh, Johnny, Johnny…what were you thinking? Barnabus is spinning in his coffin, I'm sure. (**okay, I just went to Rotten Tomatoes and saw that the film was written by Dan Curtis, who did the series. Now I'm not just annoyed at Depp, I'm annoyed at Dan. Heck, maybe it will be brilliant. But I'm not convinced. Not convinced at all….)

So what movies are you looking forward to seeing? Or, for that matter, are you planning to avoid?

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Confessions of a 40-Something Fan Girl

The other night, I had a dream that I was in the first few rows of the audience at a Duran Duran concert and Simon Le Bon was singing right to me! Looking right at me! Be still my heart. And I woke up and said, "Are you kidding me? I'm over forty and still dreaming about Duran Duran?"

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Duran Duran Then

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Duran Duran Now

Of course, I do like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Sometimes, I even think about responding to Simon's tweets, as if he is talking to me. Maybe it's no surprise that I might still have dreams, too. I've been a fan of these guys since I was 14 years old. Longer than I've known my husband. In a way, this makes Duran Duran my longest relationship. Wow. Good thing I'm not as obsessive as I used to be.

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Johnny Depp, Young

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Johnny Depp, Mature

This makes me think about what else I have loved for years and years and years. Actors? James Spader, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, have loved them all since the 80s. TV Shows? I've been hooked on Survivor since it started in- gasp- 2000 (24 seasons). Books! Oh, don't get me started. Too many to count. Though, Pride and Prejudice has been my favorite book since fifth grade, which was over 35 years ago, so get back Duran Duran. I've officially loved Fitzwilliam Darcy the longest.

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Oh, Mr. Darcy!

I wonder if all this makes me a loyal fan, or simply too set in my ways? How about you? Have you been a fan of something for a very long time? Bands? Musicians? Actors? Books/fictional characters? Or do you go with the flow and change with the times? 

 

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Just Give In…

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Up the Titanic!

I don't know if it's just me, but lately it's been All-Titanic, all the time.  We've had TV specials, and books, and Titanic (IN 3D!!!!!).  We've had recreations and documentaries, and yes, a new mini-series, frankly, I'm getting a little seasick.    We're coming up on the 100 anniversary of the sinking (April 15, 1912), and as I finished my taxes this weekend (YIPPEE!!!), I thought, did the IRS give these people an extension?  I think not.

Some of you with more class than I (yes, Jacquie, I'm looking at you) will raise your eyebrows at Kathleen's mocking of such an important event.  Yes, yes, I get it.  The Titanic is a boat (a ship!), and held a lot of rich people and a lot of rich people died, but — news flash to the world — rich people die every day, and they aren't even unlucky enough to be on a big boat (a ship!) called the Titanic.  I mean, hello, didn't they see the movie?

And I know… that my heart… willl (gasp) go on… .  Forgive the Celine Dion interruption, I just wanted to remind you people of the "It's A Small World" nature of James Cameron's titanic adventure.

It took me about three years to see the original movie, because there was something very lemming-like about the Titanic movie and repeat after me, Kathleen is no lemming!  However, eventually I saw it, and thought it was good, blah, blah, blah.  But Mr. Cameron, Titanic is no Terminator, which will live in the annals of great storytelling of all time!

This has turned into a ranting sort of post, but I had to get this off my chest.  ENOUGH WITH THE TITANIC.  THEY'RE DEAD!  GET OVER IT!

Sorry.  I just needed to vent.

And in other world news, Mike Wallace died, and I feel like the cadre of great journalists is getting smaller and smaller (Yes, Geraldo, you are no Mike Wallace).   North Korea is launching missiles at anyone who will pay to watch.  Yesterday was Easter.  Friday was the start of Passover.  Newt Gingrich is still running for President (and I know… that his heart willl (gasp) go on….).  Stocks are poised to go down today.  Hunger Games is still number 1 at the box office, and James Bond will be drinking a beer in the new James Bond movie.

So, what's up in your neck of the woods?  Are you a Titanic-aholic, or can you just say no?

 

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Spring Fling!

It's been a truly glorious spring week at Chez O'Reilly.  Spring is always very special here, but then the trees pop in white and  pinks and yellows, it's hard to do anything but smile.  Seriously, it's like there is some genetic imperative to have your mouth curve in the upward direction.

 

We have a lot of Bradford pears on our block, and they all grow their white blossoms and then, usually about 10 days later, they start to get the Bradford Pear dandruff and the blossoms litter the street like some Yankees ticker-tape parade.  It's very fun.

And then there are the daffodils.  I'm not a big fan of daffodils.  They always look some plastic to me, and I suppose, it's because I never grew up with daffodils in spring, but the daffodils start to poke their heads up.

And then there are the Japanese maples… And they grow these tiny light red buds that are like tiny little baby hands, starting out clenched and then slowly uncurling into leaves.

Every year at spring, I feel so lucky to have another spring and see the world start over again.  It's a very refreshing feeling, like you wipe off the dust from the previous year, and get rid of the enveloping winter coats, and you don't have to remember to take your scarf and uh-oh, don't lose those mittens!   And you get a few moments to live… and smile.

 

How about y'all?  Is spring sprung there?  Texas, you had some scary weather this week.  Favorite spring flowers,  or favorite Easter candy (Hershey's Kisses in pastels for the win!)?

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Guest Blogger: The Incomparable Marsha Canham

Sherri and I have known Marsha since we were first published–babies, really–and she told us the (then frightening) story of how she outlined a book.  When her editor asked her for one (and in all fairness, they ask us all…we ALL have to do them), Marsha informed her she didn't outline books.  When they insisted, she put a book on a piece of paper, traced the outline, and sent it in.  She won.  She's the USA Today bestselling author of some fabulously spicy historical adventures, and she has recently entered the world of self-publishing.  Welcome Marsha! 

Eight years ago I thought my head was going to explode. I had been writing and published since the early 80's, and pretty much figured I knew what I was good at, how long it took me to write a book, what kind of book my readers had come to want and expect. I had just come off an extremely wonderful high after having The Iron Rose voted one of the seven best fiction books of the year by Publishers Weekly. It was well received, it sold well, and because I had set it up nicely for a sequel, and because the editor who had hired me was enthusiastic about pirate books, I thought I had it made in the shade.

The devil scoffs at those who think that way *snort*

The editor who hired me was no longer there. A new young thing took her place and when she found out I was planning the sequel, she wagged her little finger and said no, no, no. No one is interested in a pirate book. They're old fashioned and today we want vampires! We want ghouls! We want zombies! We want you to write one like THAT.

This devil scoffed.

It took another month of back and forth before I compromised and agreed to write another medieval…no ghouls in site…but honestly, my heart wasn't in it. They didn't accept my title, wanted me to "tone down" the violence, thought it was too long, thought it was too graphic and ended by saying: the next book you write "will" be a Regency because that's what's selling and that's what the readers want.

This devil refused and went on hiatus.

Fast forward eight years to the ebook revolution. Thanks to Julie Ortolon, I was nudged, pushed, shoved into taking a second look at a couple of backlist books that were collecting dust. A bit of revising, polishing, dusting and I reissued them as ebooks via Amazon and Smashwords. After seeing that they actually DID sell, and that self publishing could be a successful way to re-enter the world I loved and had hated to give up years ago, I quickly dashed off letters to former publishers and got the rights back to all but three of my backlist books, including Across A Moonlit Sea and The Iron Rose, the unfinished trilogy.

Thanks to Kindles and Nooks and iPads, the wave kept rolling and building and a lot of other authors climbed on board and started reissuing their backlist and being discovered by a whole new generation of readers. More than that, some of us began to think about wading into even deeper waters by writing and publishing original books straight to digital, thus bypassing the 20-something editors who had ghoul fetishes.

While all of this was going on, the sequel to The Iron Rose had still been rolling around in the back of my mind. It was Gabriel Dante's story and I wanted to tell it in my way, in my style, and that's just what I did.

The Following Sea was released as an ebook this week. I will admit to a lot of stress and nerves, mainly because I *have* been out of the game for the past eight years rolling around in the garden with my grandchildren. I've edited and revised and edited again hoping the muse hasn't slacked off. I had it read by two women who don't normally read romances, and a man who had NEVER read a romance before, wanting opinions, suggestions, corrections from all of them before I took a deep breath and pushed the "upload" button.  Honestly, it's like writing that first book all over again, with all the doubts, the nerves, the anxiety, the excitement, the fun, the thrill, the hopes, the anticipation…

But I'm back and hoping to stay for a while. I still have Jonas Dante's story to write, and then there is that forest back in Medieval England, and an assassin looking for the hidden son of the Lost Princess of Brittany…the man who should be king….

The Following Sea is available at Amazon and Smashwords

Do you love a good pirate romance? Or do you prefer vampires and ghouls? Errol Flynn or Johnny Depp? Are you a natural born rebel, or do you prefer to follow the rules?

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Dancing With the…WHOA–Who is THAT?

As I do every season, I tuned in to the new edition of Dancing With the Stars which started a couple weeks ago.  I love the costumes and the dancing–watching the pros like Derek Hough move in ways that defy logic, and the celebs improve with each passing week.  I hadn't even heard of a few of the stars scheduled to appear this season- a classical singer, a Disney channel kid, some male model/Cuban tv star dude.  Who are these people?

Well.  Let me tell you–those three have knocked my socks off.  First–the singer.  Her name is Katherine Jenkins and she not only has a voice like an angel, she looks like one and dances like one as well.  Plus she's from England, so she has a cool accent.  I love her and want her to win.

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Katherine Jenkins

Then there's the Disney kid, Roshon Fegan.  He's about 19 and totally cute with a mile-wide smile and wow, can he dance!  He did a Michael Jackson-inspired samba that made my jaw drop.  I love him and want him to win.

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Roshon with his pro partner, Chelsie Hightower

And–saving the best for last–there's the Cuban model/tv dude.  William Levy.  If you haven't yet heard of him, rest assured you soon will because he's going to be everywhere.  And the world will be a much more beautiful place because of it. He starred in some Jennifer Lopez video and is known as the Cuban Brad Pitt, but that moniker doesn't do him justice.  That FACE!  That SMILE!  That BODY!  That ACCENT!  Ay Caramba!  Not only is he probably the most beautiful man on the planet, the dude can dance.  And even better–he dances with his shirt undone.  If you haven't seen this gorgeousness in motion, you need to get yourself to You Tube RIGHT NOW and watch him.  Go ahead…I'll wait…He is gorgeous and a fabulous dancer and I love him and want him to win.

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William Levy--who was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for their Spanish edition. They chose well, my friends.

It would seem that there are going to have to be three winners this year, and that's all there is to it.

Are you watching Dancing With the Stars?  If you're not, what the heck are you doing on Monday nights instead?  Because you REALLY need to watch William Levy dance.  Or breath.  Or just sit there.  You really do.  Believe me, you'll thank me.  So–if you're not watching DWTS, what are you watching?  Anyone else watching Revenge or Once Upon a TIme?  Seen any good movies?  Did you see the Hunger Games?  Like it?

Oh–and be sure to drop by tomorrow when we'll have a guest blogger–the fabulous Marsha Canham!

 

 

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