Amie Stuart ~ On the Back Porch

Caridad Pineiro is guest blogging at SFC today! Stop by and comment for a chance to win a book!

Who would have thought a song called Handlebars…or as my kids call it, the “I can ride a bike with no handlebars” song, would actually be…good. The first time my son told me about the song, I laughed! I was like WTF! Then I heard it. Just wow…..Unfortunately UMG has disabled the embed feature but you can see the vid here on YouTube.

Must have for iPod. Band website here.

Happy Weekend everyone! It’s a Dark Knight weekend here!

All’s quiet on the home front (other than that incident with a pencil yesterday) but work is busy and will only get busier through the rest of the summer. Plus of course I have a new book coming out in uh like six weeks LOL OMG WTF *nailbite*

Rachel Caine (SQUEE!!!!!!!) is guest-blogging at SFC this Wednesday so be sure to stop by. Shes’ one of my fave YA writers–I HART her Morganville Vamps series!  Next week is the lovely Caridad Pinero and then……..Kelly Armstrong *faint* on July 30. *faint again*

I’ve discovered something sad about myself. I cannot resist a challenge–I’m a contest whore. See Deanna Lee did a quick contest for the Cobblestone Writers where all you had to do was ID the movie and scene where a certain something was said–it was from a movie that’s at least 20 years old*. And I won *blush*

BTW Charlene is looking for a new title for her book.  *sigh*Another challenge

————

*The Last Starfighter

First a quick congrats to Caffey and Linda. Please email me your snail mail addresses so I can get your books out as soon as I can (please bare with me, I’m still under deadline)!

Next….I mentioned over at SFC yesterday that one of the blessings of being a writer was knowing some Damned Talented people. And I do mean damned talented! (you know who you are).

One of those people is Vanessa Jaye. I read her first review for FELICITY STRIPPED BARE over at Karen Scott’s and honestly, got a little teary-eyed. You see, I’ve known Vanessa since probably a year after I started writing. I met her on the eharlequin boards and eventually we got to be friends and critique partners and this book was phenomenal even in it’s earlier incarnations.

Even though we don’t critique anymore, I’m very proud to call her friend and celebrate her first book release. She is, without a doubt, a phenomenal writer (who needs to write faster damnit woman you’re killing me jeeeeeeeeez).

You can check out Felicity Stripped Bare here.

So I took the kids to see WANTED yesterday afternoon. GO SEE IT. IT ROCKS. I’d give the story a six or seven (esp because of a couple things toward the end) and the special effects a 10 (in part because they were uber-cool yet you weren’t bombarded with them). I can’t wait for this one to come out on video so I can see it again!

I also have two copies of Lynn Viehl’s TWILIGHT FALL to give away. Leave a comment between now and Saturday midnight (central time). Anyone’s eligible. Consider it my Canada Day/Fourth of July gift to you all.

One last thing. I was reading this post at Agent Janet Reid’s blog and it really got me to thinking. It’s not for the faint of heart. You were warned. Anyway, it got me to thinking and I wanted to ask you all a question. When’s the last time you smiled or said hi to a stranger? Do you make it a point to on a regular basis? I do. It’s a small thing, but I always think, especially if I’m in the store or something and it’s 5:00 PM and I see someone who looks grumpy, “What if they’ve had a really bad day?”

And inevitably, they always smile back.

Can one little smile make a difference? Can you change someone’s (possibly) crappy day? Help it end on a high note? Does it matter? I think it does. I really do. So go say hi to a stranger and smile.

Happy Fourth of July.

I actually blogged this week. Here about tough guys and here about what’s irking me.

And….oh darn I can’t blog about it.  And it’s really funny too.  You can read it on my Myspace blog

Back to the cave.

/boring

My Freewill Astrology:

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Welcome to Part Two of your outlook for the
second half of 2008, Leo. We’re checking up on how you’re progressing
with the challenges you were given near the end of last year. As I suspect
you’ve guessed by now, there’s one potential accomplishment that’s more
important than all the others. If you can pull it off, it’ll change your life
forever. I’m talking about the determination to take full responsibility
for your own happiness. How? By studying in exquisite detail all the
things you need to feel great, and taking aggressive steps to make sure
they happen consistently.

*grumblegrumble*

I have no children this weekend. Here’s my plans. What are yours?

Buy Ice
Wax eyebrows
Get massage (sat am)
Get pedi (sat am)
Write
Write
Write some more
Write
Write write write write write
Do laundry
Write
Buy groceries and plan out next weeks menu
Clean Fridge
Write

Do you feel the need to vent? Head on over to SFC for Vee’s open thread.

PSA: I guess ya’ll noticed the economy is in kinda bad shape and we’re all tightening our belts. In the interest of saving a few pennies, I’m passing on a coupon-less coupon!

KROGER GROCERY STORES is doing a “buy two paperback books, get one free” from June 25 to July 22. All you need is your Kroger reward card. Go forth and shop!

I have no idea if this is a North Texas thing or Kroger all over but thought it was worth sharing!