Julia London's Blog, page 48
January 9, 2012
Everything In Its Time
An earring, a murder, a legend…
Years ago while vacationing in Scotland, Katherine St. Claire believed she'd found the love of her life. She shared a night of passion with a stranger, in a hotel castle called Duncreag. But come morning, her lover had disappeared. And she has spent the last eight years trying to convince herself it was all a dream…
Living in the 15th century, Iain Mackintosh remains haunted by the memory of his greatest love. Eight years ago, she disappeared, leaving behind a cairngorm earring as the only evidence of her existence. Iain's family wants him to stop pining for this fantasy woman and submit to a sensible marriage. But Katherine suddenly returns to him and reveals to him where—and when she's from…
I'm so excited to announce the re-release of my very first novel, Everything In Its Time. First published in 2000, it has been out of print for almost ten years. So whether it's for the first time or the tenth, I hope you enjoy reading Katherine and Iain's story! Buy it now from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords And check out www.deedavis.com for reviews, excerpts and more.
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January 8, 2012
Sometimes the duckling becomes a swan
I was watching an old movie with George Clooney last night, thinking about his growth from awkward geekiness (Facts of Life) to superstar leading man. Some men it seems just get better as they get older. And some of them surprise us, emerging from adolescence into adulthood with a "wow". So just for fun here are a few I thought of as I was wandering down the path of ducklings to swans:
Obviously George is was my inspiration. George now is pictured above. But here's George then.
And sticking with the hot TV doctors trend let's have a look at Patrick Dempsey then and now.
Not to mention Neil Patrick Harris, then and now.
Of course doctors aren't the only ones on the list. How about TV serial killer, Anthony Michael Hall?
Or just for fun, here's Ralphie from A Christmas Story (Peter Billingsly) and Ralphie all grown up.
So how about you? Can you think of other guys that have grown into themselves so to speak? Or maybe someone who has gone the other way?
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January 5, 2012
Young and at the Top of Their Game
So Darren Criss, from Glee, is all set to take over for Daniel Radcliff on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business for three weeks. And quite frankly I'd kill for a ticket. Criss is a triple threat, he can act, he can sing and he can dance. And he isn't too hard on the eyes either. But what interests me the most about him is that he came to fame principally through putting himself out there on You-Tube and the like. He was quoted in an interview (and I'm paraphrasing) recently as saying that he never takes no for an answer. And I believe it. He literally made his own fame. Or at least managed to set the stage for it.
And he's not alone. Justin Beiber, who I am told rules the teen universe (along with Taylor Swift), was also discovered on the cyber waves of the internet. (Maybe it's the new soda shop…where coke floats 
were served and starlets were discovered for those of you who are too young to remember). The dude is everywhere these days! He even has his own fragrance—for women no less. And all the proceeds go to charity. (I know this because a certain someone sent me a sample for Christmas 
) I can't say that I've got Beiber fever. I've honestly never heard him sing. But I do admire his ability to get himself noticed and from what I read, like Criss, his work ethic. (And then of course there's the hair).
Which brings me to another uber-artist. One who has managed to take the idea of performance art mainstream. Lady Gaga. Both she and Beiber were featured on the Dave Clark Rockin' New Year (yes, my life is so boring I watched the New Year ring in from my sofa—and yes, I missed the Beiber performance so I'm still unanointed.) She fascinates me. Not just because I love her music. And I do. But because I am held captive even though sometimes appalled by her performances. She is hugely talented. But more importantly she's smart and savvy. And apparently fearless. Her songs are the kind you simply can't get out of your head. And when the lyrics contain the words "I'm beautiful in my way/Cause God makes no mistakes/I'm on the right track Baby/I was born this way" maybe that's not such a bad thing.
What about you? Do you have Beiber Fever? Are you a Gleek? Is Bad Romance constantly running around in your head? What do you think of new media and the internet's role in redefining of the way we look at entertainment?
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Kathleen's Best of 2012!
At this time of year, there is always the lists. Best of, worst of, words that need to go away. Harper's Bazaar has their "Best Dressed of 2011" List.
Best Dressed? Really? Really? A Definite Kirsten Dont in My Book
The 100 best Twitter accounts. #1 was @kathleenoreilly!!! Haha, no, that belongs on @humblebrag. #1 was Tim Siedell, (@badbanana) who I have no idea who he is. However, I do like his tweets. "My favorite holiday drink is the Little Drummer Boy. It's one part rum, three parts pum." And this one: "Turned my brain off for the weekend and now I can't stop coming up with ideas for Adam Sandler movies."
I would like to be a professional Twitter writer. Imagine spending an entire day thinking and speaking in 140 characters or less. Imagine writing a love scene in 140 characters or less. "Tom! Stella! There! Yes! Luv U. Luv That. Fster. More. Tom! Tom! Stella! Ur glorious face shines with a glow that all heaven cannot… "
There's the Best Cruise Lines:
Best and Worst Movies of 2011 with Tree of Life and Red Riding Hood hitting the worst list. However it should be noted that any list that includes Rise of the Planet of the Apes in the Best films should be taken with a grain of Mediterranean Sea Salt (Best Spices, 2011!).
NPR gives us 2011's Best American Poetry, which I think is sort of sad. Did people write poetry in 2011? If they couldn't do it in 140 characters or less, I'm NOT impressed.
Hollybaby gives us the . The top "winners" (Words we need to lose in 2011!) were Moroccan (Mariah Carey), Bear Blu (Alicia Silverstone) and Zuzu (Tania Peterson), named for the bird in Lion King, because you know, "Scar" is too cliché.
Time magazine has a Top 10 Everything of 2011, because they needed to top the top lists, and EVERYTHING seems to top that, although I'm waiting for the Top Gazillion List of 2011, which will be an all-inclusive, feel-good list, created by crowd-sourcing. (Hey, look, Kathleen O'Reilly is 43,783,906,837 on the list!!!).
However, one of my favorite lists are the banned words list from Lake Superior State University in Michigan. A University famous for its list! This is not a top ten list, but a top eight list, because I guess they banned a couple of words from the list. The words include "occupy" "amazing" "the new normal" and "thank you in advance" among others. I was kinda (word banned in 2004) surprised that "thank you in advance" made the list. I don't hear that a lot. In fact, I don't hear "thank you" at all. People do not thank me. They only look at me with puzzled faces and furrowed brows, eyes accusing me of all sorts of faldural, a word which I could not find in any dictionary, but I SWEAR that I heard this all the time growing up. If anyone knows this word, please educate me on the proper spelling.
And that wraps up this edition of "2011 in Lists." Thank you in advance for playing.
So, the question for everyone is, what is your favorite list? What's on your best of worst of 2011 list? Do you hate lists? Do you love lists? Are you think the word "list" should be banned? What people should be banned in 2012?
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January 4, 2012
Getting Back to Work
Where to start? I have taken a couple of weeks off. I didn't intend to do it, but I found my motivation lacking over the holidays. My house was filled with little kids more days than it was not, and there was all the holiday stuff to do.
But now, I have to get serious and get back at it. I have proposals and concepts to write. I have a book to plot. I have a lot of promotional stuff to do, as I have two new books coming out in February and March! (If you want to know what, you can read all about them right here). But getting back into the groove is sooooo haaaard.
Its kind of like exercise. If you don't do it for awhile, getting back into it is really difficult. But once you start exercising again, you really hat to miss it. Right? Okay, sort of. Work is like that. When I am in the thick of writing a book, I can dash all kinds of stuff — blogs, guest blogs, copy, whatever. But when I haven't been working, even this blog, one I've been doing forever, becomes hard. What will I say? What pictures will I use? And when will I do it? I have to go to the post office. Is it possible to write a Whine Sisters blog AND go to the post office all in one day? That seems like a lot to do after doing so little for two weeks.
I have to make a list. Yeah, that's how I'll get back into it. I'll make a list of all I have to do and start checking them off, one by one. That seems like a good day's activity, doesn't it? Make a list and maybe squeeze in unloading the dishwasher? Or should I push that off until tomorrow?
Do you have a hard time getting back into the swing of things? What's on your to-do list this week? What are you goals for the year?
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January 3, 2012
I'M IN LOVE
Well, it's finally happened–I've upgraded. Out with old, in with the new. And I'm in love.
With my new smart phone.
Yes, my new Motorola Atrix 2 has stolen my heart–and I don't even know everything it can do yet. Oh, but the pleasure it's already brought me! The FREE Kindle App has me sighing with delight! So many books! And so easy to read on my new baby. It's like I wanted a phone, but got a FREE Kindle, too! Heaven!
And the games! Hello, Spider Solitaire! Greetings, Tetris, my old friend. And I can't wait to try out Words with Friends.
And the camera–such great pictures! Here's one we took last night at our neighborhood NYE party:
Happy New Year from us guys to y'all!
And Pandora! Such incredible music! And FREE! How can this be?? How did I live without this phone all these years? My DH got the same phone–our Christmas gifts to each other–and he's in love as well. And the best part is, since the DH is so much more tech savvy than moi, I'm letting him figure out the tough stuff then he shows me. Perfect or what? We've already got our phone calendars set up with our New Year's Resolution Excercise Program. A phone that helps you stay in shape. Again, I ask–perfect or what?
Yes, gentle readers, I'm in love. With a tiny device that is WAAAAY smarter than I'll ever be. And I kinda like the dude who bought it for me, too. You know–Santa (And Santa's helper ain't bad either).
Have you made any New Year's Resolutions? Do you have a smart phone? A Kindle? What's your technology of choice? Has 2012 been good to you so far? (I sure hope it has!)
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January 2, 2012
Don't Meet Your Idols
First bit of advice for the New Year: don't meet your idols. [image error]
Chances are, when your idol happens along, you won't be ready. You might be like me, holding leftover spicy green beans in a garlic chili sauce from P.F. Chang, reeking, feeling like your stomach might be about to explode, when your husband (buying underwear, naturally) calls and says, "Um, I'm standing right next to Tedy Bruschi. You might want to get in here."[image error]
Of course, I ran for the department store counter, tummy trouble forgotten, garlic green beans put to the back of my mind… and there he was, standing a mere four feet from my husband as husband waited in line to pay for his undies. Retired Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi, the man I have admired for years and watched on Sportscenter (based in nearby Bristol, CT) just hours before. TEDY BRUSCHI! Maybe no one to you, but a legend to football fans, to Patriot fans, to me. [image error]
In person, Tedy seemed taller, leaner, more handsome than I ever imagined. And I said, "OMG, it really is HIM!" as I watched him walk by, and he flashed me a self-aware half smile. I might have run after him, if I didn't suddenly remember that I was holding very odiferous leftovers and staring like a lovestruck fool as my husband paid for his underwear. For his underwear! And there I was, holding the P.F. Chang stinky leftover bag that made the Brookstone sales clerk stagger back a few steps in horror as I paid for my previous purchase. Yep, I stunk. And there he was, Tedy Bruschi. [image error]
Reader, I loved him too much to subject him to my reeking leftovers. I had too much self-respect to be known as that reeking crazy P.F. Chang leftover lady. But damn! He was fine in person, so fine. One of the best looking men I have ever seen. Next to my husband, who was confident enough to call me in to meet a man he knows I lust over.
I missed my chance. I did not get to meet my idol. I wonder how different things could have been had I been ready, dressed up, smelling like a rose, no leftovers in sight, husband? What husband? But no. This is my life. The man of my dreams walks by and… the man of my reality pointed him out to me, and we laugh about it now together.
Idols are great. They make us wonder. They let us dream. But reality? So much sweeter. In 2012, I hope your reality is even better than your dreams. And if you get a chance to meet your idol, you're not holding stinky, garlicky leftovers.
Have you met your idols? Were you ready? Who do you want to meet by chance?
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Grave Expectations
Heaven knows, we need never be ashamed of our wolfish cravings. . . .
Bristly, sensitive, and meat-hungry Pip is a robust young whelp, an orphan born under a full moon. Between hunting escaped convicts alongside zombified soldiers, trying not to become one of the hunted himself, and hiding his hairy hands from the supernaturally beautiful and haughty Estella, whose devilish moods keep him chomping at the bit, Pip is sure he will die penniless or a convict like the rest of his commonly uncommon kind.
But then a mysterious benefactor sends him to London for the finest werewolf education money can buy. In the company of other furry young gentlemen, Pip tempers his violent transformations and devours the secrets of his dark world. When he discovers that his beloved Estella is a slayer of supernatural creatures, trained by the corpse-like vampire Miss Havisham, Pip's desire for her grows stronger than his midnight hunger for rare fresh beef. But can he risk his hide for a truth that will make Estella his forever—or will she drive one last silver stake through his heart?
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January 1, 2012
Rivals for the Crown
Two childhood friends are caught in a web of intrigue, conspiracies and love as a valiant nation's freedom hangs in the balance.
1290: Turmoil erupts when Scotland's child queen perishes en route to claim the crown. Two bitter foes – John Balliol and Robert Bruce – emerge at possible successor, but England's Edward I has his own designs on Scotland.
In London, Edward has expelled all Jews from his kingdom. Rachel de Anjou is heartbroken to leave behind her best friend, Isabel de Burke, and travel with her family to the Scottish border town of Berwick. Danger is everywhere, but the tall, dark Highlander Kieran MacDonald presents a risk of a different sort.
Isabel, appointed as lady-in-waiting to Edward's queen, attracts the notice of two men – Henry de Boyer, an English knight, and Highland outlaw Rory MacGannon. As the enmity between Scotland and England reaches its violent peak, each woman must decide where her loyalty – and her destiny – lies.
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December 31, 2011
Happy (Almost!) New Year!
The weekend's starting in 2011 and ending in 2012. How cool is that?
What's your number one new year's resolution? Mine is to put up blog posts longer than three sentences, bwahahaha!
But seriously, here's wishing everyone a safe, happy, wonderful new year filled with friends and family and joy galore.
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