Julia London's Blog, page 7

Full Circle Stop

Life has a funny way of looping back on itself.  Events from the past meshing together with events of the present or sometimes even the future.  Many, many….MANY years ago, I took a senior trip to New York City.  You can just imagine a bunch of theatre nerds from North Little Rock, Arkansas out and about in Manhattan in the late 70’s.   It was overwhelming, it was eye-opening, it was amazing.

We stayed on 42nd street in a hotel I only remember because the girls managed to blow the lights on our entire floor when we all plugged our hair-dryers in at once.  We visited all the requisite sites.  The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Lincoln Center, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue (for a little shopping—I bought a nifty apple green suit I wore for years).  And of course we crammed in as much theatre—off and on Broadway as possible.

The Tony’s were scheduled the week we were there in a theatre across the way from our hotel window.  We had almost as much fun watching the comings and goings as we did touring and playing in the city itself.   I even found time to lay myself across Barry Manilow’s limo, he wasn’t present of course, but I had a little brush with stardom nevertheless.

For me the highlight of the trip was the musical Pippin.  (Although A Chorus Line was a very close second).  There was just something in Stephen Schwartz’s lyrics that touched me at some elemental level.  Not to mention the magic of Bob Fosse’s choreography.   I carried Pippin in my heart (and quite literally on my realistic tape player) for years.  The music symbolized for me, not only an amazing story, but a particular time in my life.

 My love for Manhattan ignited during that trip all those years ago.  And so it wasn’t all that surprising that many years later when offered the opportunity to live in the city, I jumped at the chance.  (And it also won’t come as a shock that both my husband and daughter were serenaded many a night with the music from Pippin and stories from my time there.)  I’ve had a magical ten years in Manhattan.  A real life dream come true.  And just like my previous trip, there are so many memories.

But all good things must come to an end.  And so it is with bittersweet feelings I bid Manhattan adieu as we turn to our new adventure in Connecticut.  And what better way to come full circle than to have attended the revival of Pippin!  This is the first revival of the musical since it’s run back in the 70’s.   So I was very nervous.  After all I’d had thirty plus years to build it into something beyond reality. Not to mention the expectation I had built up for my husband and daughter.

So it was with trepidation as well as excitement that we entered the Music Box theatre.   With baited breath, I waited as the lights dimmed and the music rose.  Pippin was, and still is, my most favorite musical (and the Tony voters agreed—Best Revival of 2013!).  It was as relevant today for me as it was all those years ago.  And I remembered the magic that is theatre, that is Manhattan, that is intrinsic to all forms of the arts.

So it is with a full circle stop that I leave Manhattan and head to the Connecticut countryside.   This time with my iTunes version of the musical playing in my ears…

Maybe I’ve finally found My Corner of the Sky…

And in another full-circle stop moment…this will be my last post as a full-time member of the Whine Sisters.  I have loved every minute I’ve spent here, but life has a way of demanding more.  And I feel as though my time is needed, not only for the new adventure I’m facing, but also to dedicate to writing.  So I’ll pop by when I can and maybe, if they let me, I’ll do a post now and then.  But right now, it’s time for a new chapter!

How about you?  Any old memories that you’ve had the chance to relive and relish all over again?

So as I wave goodbye, I’m going to send one lucky commenter a signed copy of Dire Distraction.  Comment on this post and you’ll be automatically entered to win!

Share this:

Whining and Dining and a bit of Good-bye’ing

I have a lot of stuff cooking these days.  Changes on the home front (both kids out of school for the summer — and both kids going to public school next year! (Yikes!)  Not to mention my husband switching jobs (that’s another story for another blog on another day!) and my writing schedule being pretty intense (but in a good way).

Lately, I’ve been trying to organize my life as well as my stuff.  I’m clearing out clutter (Goodwill loves me), buying things like Elfa closets and hanging racks for the garage in order to organize the stuff I keep, cleaning out old computer files, scanning documents to get rid of paper, and just generally trying to simplify my life so that I have more time to do stuff with my family (and still get my work done).  I’m even trying to cook more!  That’s actually fun, although I am not a natural cook and there is little more that I hate more than cleaning up after a full-fledged cooking extravaganza.  But if I can get the kids on board, then it’s worth it!

But all of this organizing and streamlining of my life had also shined a spotlight on the fact that I’m overwhelmed!  And after much whining and wailing and gnashing of teeth, I’ve decided that this is the season of not just the end of an era on a personal front (husband’s job, kids’ school) but also on a blogging front.  And today is my official last day blogging here at Whine Sisters.  I love it here and I love my fellow Whiners (and I will pop in and see what’s what!) but I also want to strive to find that balance in writing, blogging and spending quality time with family and friends (that non-cyber time!), and so this step back made sense.

Not so much a goodbye as a “catch you later,” because I will still come around.  And, hey, y’all know where to find me!

And as for today, I leave you with a taste treat.  I haven’t made this, but I had it last weekend at Capital Grille in Dallas, and it was amazing:  Mozzarella wrapped in proscuitto and then broiled (possibly slightly pan-fried; I’m not sure).  Amazing. And it seems to be so easy! I’m going to experiment at home.  Maybe I can find the time to get it right!

What’s a dish you’ve had at a restaurant that you’re dying to make at home?  

Share this:

Weekend Reads: Star Island

Good news: I found my Kindle. I’ve been missing it for almost a year. Apparently, I tucked it into a box of paperwork one day when I was in a rush to clean up, and only a recent search for papers turned it up again. So I am traveling with my Kindle again, yay! I have an iPad, but it’s heavy and bigger. I love reading on my Kindle. I just loaded it up with all good things.

I’m actually reading Carl Hiaasen’s newest, Bad Monkey (you have to love a book called Bad Monkey). Just starting it. But it reminds me of how much I loved Star Island.

From Goodreads:

Meet twenty-two-year-old Cherry Pye (née Cheryl Bunterman), a pop star since she was fourteen—and about to attempt a comeback from her latest drug-and-alcohol disaster. 

Now meet Cherry again: in the person of her “undercover stunt double,” Ann DeLusia. Ann portrays Cherry whenever the singer is too “indisposed”—meaning wasted—to go out in public. And it is Ann-mistaken-for-Cherry who is kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by obsessed paparazzo Bang Abbott. 

Now the challenge for Cherry’s handlers (über–stage mother; horndog record producer; nipped, tucked, and Botoxed twin publicists; weed whacker–wielding bodyguard) is to rescue Ann while keeping her existence a secret from Cherry’s public—and from Cherry herself.

The situation is more complicated than they know. Ann has had a bewitching encounter with Skink—the unhinged former governor of Florida living wild in a mangrove swamp—and now he’s heading for Miami to find her . . .

Will Bang Abbott achieve his fantasy of a lucrative private photo session with Cherry Pye? Will Cherry sober up in time to lip-synch her way through her concert tour? Will Skink track down Ann DeLusia before Cherry’s motley posse does?

All will be revealed in this hilarious spin on life in the celebrity fast lane.

I read Hiassen when I’m in the mood for a good laugh. If you love reading gossip pages and speculating on celebrity behavior, you’ll love Star Island. Actually, you’ll also love it if you’re in the mood for something a little off the wall. That’s Hiaasen exactly, the man writes hijinks and mayhem, off the wall. And sometimes, we all need a little glimpse of the ridiculous.

Do you love madcap adventures? Are you, like me, guilty of indulging in the occasional gossip fest? 

 

Share this:

An Interesting Coincidence!

     So, last night, the mister and I met with a sales rep from a home-improvement-company to discuss some home improvements.  After arriving quite late and apologizing profusely, the talk got going with the sales guy and the mister going back and forth in the initial exchanges. As a wife-of-a-certain age, I’ve noticed that during most discussions about home improvements (a new fence, fixing the garage door, installing a swing-set for the kids) end up being between the men involved. THAT is the subject for another blog, but as they talked and asked and answered questions, I did what any writer would do — I noticed the sales rep.

C’mon! It’s my responsibility as a writer to notice details about people around me. Right, writers?

What did I notice? Well. . . (and I explained this all to my hubby after the guy left and the coincidence was revealed)… his face was definitely photogenic. Very masculine, bright blue eyes, dark wavy hair, very much hero material there. And his physique was. . . noticeable too! LOL! Tall, muscular, strong arms, nicely built. Because of the lack of a light behind him, I couldn’t really assess all his attributes, but I gave it a try! LOL!

When the discussion was done, the guy was glancing around, talking about the size of the room, and he saw my bookshelves. That led to some comments about all those books, all those romance novels, my romance novels and then the coincidence happened. The guy reveals that about 20 years ago (!?!?!) he was a cover model! For romance novels!

He couldn’t remember which titles he’d appeared on, but he said his mom still had copies of them! Wild, huh?

After he left, I started looking at some of my classic romance novels and remembering all the various cover models from the heyday of the late 80s-and 90s like Fabio, John DeSalvo, Steve Sandalis, Mike O’Hearn, Mark Consuelos (yes, Kelly Ripa’s hubby!) and more recently Nathan Kamp. I actually got to meet many of them — um….may have oiled one famous chest at a certain fan convention dressing room!

Just for fun — here’s a link to  a site all about romance novel covers — with a list of a bunch of the cover models, past and present — some fun to look at.

Now, of course, I wouldn’t buy a book just for the cover model (well, not usually!) but it was kind of cool to meet this one and to take a moment to look back at the ‘classics’. How about you? Do you know who the guys are on the the romance novel covers? Do they (or the coverart) matter to you when you buy or browse?

Share this:

Monday Moaning

I’m writing on Sunday, because I have a busy day tomorrow, er, today, but I’m guessing my Monday morning will be all about the Game of Thrones finale!

I think we won’t be seeing much of Daenerys, unless they want to give us some gratuitous lovemaking shots between her and new screen hunk Daario. I’m not really into Daario. I’m more of a Khal Drogo kind of girl (brief pause while I wipe drool from my chin). 

Speaking of Daenerys, Emilia Clarke looks so different to me out of character. Either way, gorgeous. 

But this week’s finale should be all about the victorious Lannisters and another sort of wedding, Joffrey’s. I expect plenty of action for my favorite Tyrion and some major, major developments to leave us hanging for next season. 

 

But back to my business of today. My poor dog had surgery (another ear hematoma, the other ear) and now she needs her stitches out. Then I leave her in the care of my son because I have to pack and head to the airport. I’ll be spending the week in St. Louis.

There’s a Marriott in St. Louis that has become sort of a second home for me (or third, considering Disney World is my second, or fourth considering I’m also quite at home in Wells/Ogunquit Maine). My husband manages a team out there and I travel with him between four-six weeks every year. I get so much work done in the hotel room when he goes off to work. We have friends out there now. When bad weather strikes the area, we get very nervous for them.

Of course, we’re the same people who rode out the last tornado warning in the Marriott bar. Maybe next time, we’ll take it more seriously. But if you’re anywhere near Creve Coeur, MO (just outside St. Louis) and you want to say hi, let me know. 

I blogged about meeting my husband when we were kids (before realizing we would meet again and marry) at my website. I think of it as my Paddling Pool moment. Check it out if you’re not sick of me yet. Happy Monday!

Daario or Drogo? Favorite GoT character? Don’t you love GoT weddings? So cheery and upbeat. How will we survive the wait for Season Four? Do you have a second home, third, fourth? Did you meet a significant person in your life before you knew what he/she would mean to you? 

Share this:

Weekend Reads: Dire Distraction

So this is the week!  The final installment of my A-Tac series, Dire Distraction is available now!  It’s always hard reaching the end of a series (although never say never to a writer).  But I do think that if we’re going to go out, doing it with Avery is doing it in style!  Here’s the blurb:

As the commander for A-Tac, a black-ops CIA unit masquerading as Ivy League faculty, Avery Solomon is the best of the best. He’ll stop at nothing to ensure the safety of his team, but when a mystery from the past resurfaces, he puts himself directly in the line of fire.

PUSHED TOO FAR

After years of covert missions, Avery harbors regrets that continue to haunt him. He still blames himself for his wife’s death fourteen years ago—until an A-Tac operative finds a photo that suggests Avery’s wife may still be alive. Determined to discover the truth, Avery heads deep into the hostile territory of Southeast Asia, ready for danger and violence—only to find himself captured by desire . . .

Wilderness guide Sydney Price never backs down from a challenge. She has her own reasons for wanting revenge against the men being hunted by Avery. Though she tries to deny her attraction to the tough, handsome warrior, the spirited Sidney soon finds him impossible to resist. Now she and Avery must work together to uncover the truth—and stay alive. But as the enemy closes in and old secrets unravel, the line between partners and lovers vanishes like mist in the jungle . . .

Amazon     Barnes and Noble   Kobo

 

So how about you?  Are you generally happy to have a series end or are you usually sad?  Sometimes it’s a little of both, right?

Share this:

A WITCH’S HANDBOOK OF KISSES AND CURSES

Share this:

Storyboard Success! (But I have new questions)

(With an updated photo that doesn’t give away the ending.  Because I’m a goober.)

 

SUCCESS!! I present to you the storyboard I promised in my last blog post on “How Do You Organize.”  I believe the stakes were that if I didn’t present you with a fully developed story pinboard, that you all had permission to email me pictures of scary clowns.

Nothing motivates me like the looming threat of exposure to scary clown pictures.

So I created this story pinboard for an undisclosed romance project. I can’t tell you what it’s about, so we’ll just call it “Passions Under Development.”  I created character sketches, wrote out index cards for each chapter, highlighted the heroine’s major issues and the romantic conflict.  I even posted pictures of visual references to help me plan out the people, geography, architecture and clothing style of the world I was building.  And in the middle, I pinned the “BIG QUESTION” as posed by the brilliant Nancy Holder during her seminar at the RT Booklovers Convention in Kansas City – “How can I make my character’s life even more complicated?”

(Well, OK, I put it in a less classy, slightly more obscene, way, but the essential question still holds.)

Whenever a writer is stuck or confused about what should come next, Ms. Holder said we should refer back to the Big Question, and it will show us the way – because complications and obstacles will be what makes the story compelling and interesting.

So, I’m all set, right?

Well…

Here’s the problem.  Due to other contracted projects, I can only give myself until the end of June to finish Passions Under Development.  I have about 20,000 words written, which gives me a solid start.  But for all intents and purposes, I am holding my own personal NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  And I’ve never participated in NaNoWriMo, because I find the concept intimidating and slightly scary.   But, I’m going to try my best to have a rough draft on June 30.

So, my question for you is:

What is the fastest you have ever completed a full manuscript?  And what was your experience like?

 

PS No clown pictures!

Share this:

GoT: Rains of Castamere

Are you watching Game of Thrones? Are you still in shock this morning?

The episode was called The Rains of Castamere, but fans of the books know it as The Red Wedding. And we’ve all been on the edge of our seats waiting to see how it would play out all season. If you haven’t read the books, I can only imagine how great the shock. Major players dead, again. We haven’t seen the likes of it since Ned Stark’s death in Season One, though Season Two had plenty of surprises also.

Here’s a recap for those who like to relive such things: Entertainment Weekly. 

All I can say is… if you think you have seen it all, tune in next week.

Your reaction?

Share this:

Weekend Reads: The Uninvited Guests

Another cover grabbed me at the bookstore. Plus, I was tempted by the setting, a grand old Edwardian house. It turned out to be a good beach read, exactly what I wanted. But let’s just observe what a difference a cover makes. I was drawn to this one:

But the bottom one was the one I found on Goodreads. That book, I would not have picked up. You?

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones, from Goodreads:

All their preparations had been in vain. Emerald’s birthday celebrations had begun in confusion and disarray. She cast about for something sensible to say, something that would reassure her mother and friends that an hospitable timetable would be re-established, and was about to suggest the library, and tea, when she halted, arrested in movement like a musical statue.

 

She was obeying a prompt, an instinct left over, perhaps, from an earlier time; the instinct that stops a mouse in its short-sighted tracks when a cat is watching it from a chair; that makes a dog lying by the fire tremble, and whimper, when there is no one near to see.

 

And as she stopped, there came, of a sudden, a hard gust of wind behind her, striking her through her dress, forcefully, blowing all thoughts of convention from her mind. The heavy front door was closed, but the chill struck Emerald’s back, finding its way through the jamb and hinges – through the solid wood itself, it seemed, as a cold wave will sometimes catch one as one leaves the sea and knock the breath from the body.

 

– from The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

The Uninvited Guests had romance, intrigue, and it was readable without being all-out consuming. There were some nice little twists, even if I saw them coming, and… yes, Jacquie, it had a happy ending. If you’re looking for something a little different, this could be it.

Which cover would you choose? What are you reading?

Share this: