Back in the saddle...

Wow--it's harder to wrap my brain around work than I thought. It's amazing what a couple of weeks off does to the work ethic. I got kind of used to being on holiday.

But it's a new year and I've got a new book to write so here's me jumping back on the wagon.


Speaking of books, heard from my pals at Mysterious Galaxy and Chosen made the best seller list for the year. Thank you San Diego.

Mysterious Galaxy was also featured in this nice piece on Shelf Awareness just this morning.

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It's been awhile since I had any info on the Whedonverse. Are you following Buffy Season Eight? I don't want to give away too much, but if you're interested in a shocker, check out what happens to Ripper.

Joss Whedon Passes on Buffy Reboot

The Internet exploded in anger Thursday at news that Warner Bros., Atlas Entertainment and Vertigo Entertainment are planning a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer film without Joss Whedon, maestro of the 1992 film and 1997-2003 TV series.

Whedon himself fanned the flames, advising fans to "leave me to my pain" in a witty missive.

But Whedon was offered a chance to be involved with the new Buffy — and passed.

According to studio insiders, he was approached last year after Buffy rightsholder Fran Rubel Kuzui and husband Kaz Kuzui began developing a remake with Vertigo. After presented with the opportunity, Whedon decided he'd rather work on other projects (he's making Marvel Studios' The Avengers). Producers then began searching for a writer and late last year hired actress-turned-scribe Whit Anderson. The unknown Anderson, with only bit film appearances to her credit, came up with a take on the Buffy myth that was strong enough after a couple of drafts to lure Atlas, which partnered with Vertigo to set it up at a studio.

Fox, distributor of the 1992 movie, had first crack, but passed, so Warners slid in, betting that Whedon or no Whedon, Buffy can still slay at the box office.

The Cape

Following her 2002 acting debut on "Angel," Summer Glau has starred in the kind of TV series and movies that prompted fanboys to call her the new queen of sci-fi. Glau has appeared on cult favorites such as "Firefly," "Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Chuck," but on Jan. 9, her new series, the superhero drama "The Cape," premieres on NBC. And her starring role as Orwell — an all-seeing, tech-savvy superheroine — will not only cinch that "queen of sci-fi" title but also mark her greatest opportunity to win the hearts of mainstream TV audiences. Wonderwall visited Glau on the set of "The Cape" for a chat about her background as a dancer, becoming a superhero and her loyal fans.



This looks like a pretty good series.

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'Operation Dark Heart' Author Sues for Uncensored Edition

WASHINGTON — A former Defense Intelligence Agency officer whose Afghan memoir was belatedly censored by the Pentagon filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to have the book's full text restored in future printings.

In September, the Defense Department spent $47,300 to purchase and destroy the entire first printing of "Operation Dark Heart" by Anthony A. Shaffer, asserting that it contained classified information.

The book was hastily reprinted with many passages blacked out and has become a best seller. But unredacted advance copies of the book, among a few dozen distributed by St. Martin's Press before the Pentagon's intervention, are still for sale on eBay for $1,995 to $4,995.

Read the full article here . I think Mario should have included some secrets in Nymphos.

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And for my fellow writers who need a bit of inspiration for the new year, a collection of rejection letters received by bestselling authors. Some pretty well known names among them. Go here .

Talking about inspiration, here's what Hemingway's first editor told him at the Kansas City Star: "Use short sentences. Use short first paragraphs. Use vigorous English. Be positive, not negative." Hemingway later referred to that list as "the best rules I ever learned for the business of writing."

Sounds like good advice to me, too. Here's to a new year of powerful writing.