Amie Stuart ~ On the Back Porch

Uhhh Apparently I need to answer my phone more often. HANDS ON finaled in the Ok-RWA National Reader’s Choice Awardscontest like a month or something ago, and didn’t know it *L* < –loser sign

I also read Smoke Screen last night (finished–since we have NO TV or INTERNET)….It rocked. I”m adding it to my list of books read for 2008.

And in the interest of shameless self-promotion, NAILED got this lovely review from Harriet Klausner:

This is an exciting erotic romantic suspense that grips the audience the first time the bounty hunter sees the voyeur and never slows down even with a few obvious but delightful twists. Bonnie and Wynn are a delightful pair as he detours from the mission that his dad sent him on. Amie Stuart NAILED this fine tale due to the lead coupling.

I will be the first to admit that I”m the worlds biggest rule-breaker when it comes to my writing. I’m not afraid to try anything, especially in regards to POV. There is, however, one unwritten rule you don’t see discussed much. The one about the cat. You know–as in don’t kill it. This *seems* to hold true for movies too. But why?
(BSG SPOILERS BELOW–so if you didn’t watch last week’s episode yet, you were warned)
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Needs a new title….and what better way to find one than to hold a contest!

Drop by…weigh in.

Also Denise is continuing the book pimpage at SFC today.

And for the record–since I’m keeping track, I finished up CJ Lyons Lifelines this weekend. You can read my review at SFC but it’s totally worth buying.

This weeks’ behind the book is with one of my favorite people–Mary Fetcher (writing as MJ Fredrick), so stop on by! (and read her sale story–it’s not to be missed)

Otherwise not much going on. I did finish Kitty Goes to Washington and I think I actually loved it more than the first book. I’m dying for the third but it’s crunch time so it’s all writing all the time for the next month!

MY AI recap is below the cut
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I’m over at SFC blogging about…BAD SEX!
And over at Naughty and Spice blogging about….blurbs…and showing off my new cover for MUS.

As reported, I managed 19 pages on Saturday. GO ME! A part of me wants to stop and edit, a part of me wants to push on. A part of me wants to work on sixty million other things. My editor wants edits LOL so I’ll be doing that tonight and tomorrow.

Speaking of bad….I really do have a reason to blog besides telling you I’m blogging somewhere else…..People, do your research. I know most of the folks who read this blog are seasoned authors (I assume so from who I see comment) so this is kind of preaching to the choir but you know if you don’t know something ask someone, or Lord GOOGLE IT! Yes I read contest entries this weekend. I had some wonderful entries that weren’t perfect and some perfect entries that weren’t wonderful and I had some entries that left me scratching my head.

I also finished Grisham’s The Appeal(thank you Lynn). While I really liked it a lot, I can’t really blog about it the way I’d like without posting a big-ASS spoiler, so I won’t. It was classic Grisham though….for the most part (but the large cast got real confusing real quick). One thing I can blog about is the stark contrast between the two opposing sides–the obscenely rich business owner with his trophy wife, and a child he doesn’t want and the poor, bordering on bankruptcy, trial lawyers who literally gamble everything to do what’s right and how important their family is to them. It was very day and night–and even more interesting after Shanna Swendson’s presentation on world building on Saturday.

SCREWED:

Happy Monday Pookas!!!! I’m over at SFC today taking it down to the bare bones. Stop by and play!

Accountability Update: Saturday I managed about 8 or 9 pages on SCREWED but I got TONS of plotting done which is mega-good. Page count isn’t as big a concern as I’d thought (but my fingers are still crossed. Makes typing kinda hard but we’ll figure something out). I am reminded once again why I said I’d never write suspense. *sigh* My goal this week is 19 pages. I’d like to cross that 100 page line.

Otherwise, I had a lovely afternoon out with Lyn and Dennie (we had to case out places for our May conference–stay tuned because Margie Lawson is coming to down! SWEET!)

Other than writing and plotting and cleaning out the DVR, I cleaned my room *falls down*, cleaned out the fridge, did most of the laundry and cleaned up the laundry area (and chewed the kids out about cleaning up after themselves and doing chores. Old rules are back into effect so look out!).

Also finished Patricia Briggs’ Moon Called–really enjoyed it and will definitely be picking up the next book (yes I KNOW I’m behind–don’t remind me).

And…….last but not least, *sob* my Kevin went on his first date. Okay okay so they’re JUST FRIENDS, but still… and she’s so CUTE!!!!!!!! *sigh* damn…..

So, what’s new in your world?

SCREWED:

Remember when I posted about Exxon’s record profit a few weeks back?

Check this out…..

General Motors reported a fourth-quarter loss of $722 million on Tuesday and offered more buyouts to all 74,000 of its unionized employees in another bid to keep its turnaround from stalling…(snip)For all of 2007, GM posted a loss of $38.7 billion, the biggest ever for an automaker.

Interesting…….in ways that turn my tummy.

Now on to the Mavericks attempt to get Jason Kidd. MARK CUBAN WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING???? You’re trading off nearly the ENTIRE starting lineup for Jason and someone we’ve never heard of? WTF?!

Here’s the breakdown: He [Devean George]and point guard Devin Harris, swingman Jerry Stackhouse, center DeSagana Diop, guard Maurice Ager, two first-round picks and cash [reportedly 3 million dollars which is probably pocket change to Cuban] were to be sent to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.

The upside is, NJ will reportedly buy out Stackhouse’s contract so he can RETURN to the Mavs. I love me some Jerry. And don’t get me wrong, Kidd can play some mean ball (and he’s HAWT HELLO can I rub your head, sugar? *drool*) but he’s OLD!!!!!! Yes, he’s younger than me, but in basketball years, 30-something is old. Hello, did you see what they did to Shaq (who, btw, is like 35 or 36 and injured)?

Update from Bailey!:

The NBA will investigate the possibility the Mavericks and Stackhouse violated league rules with a prearranged agreement for the forward to return to Dallas after reaching a contract buyout in New Jersey and sitting out the 30-day waiting period, sources said. Several league sources said the NBA will consider forbidding Stackhouse to re-sign with the Mavericks this season as punishment for public comments the forward made on Wednesday that suggested tampering could have occurred.

If it comes to that, the deal is dead. Dallas owner Mark Cuban wouldn’t complete the trade for Kidd without a belief that he could bring back Stackhouse this season. Ultimately, sources say, Mavericks management decided that losing Stackhouse would be too hard of a hit to the Mavericks’ depth, too steep a price to pay for Kidd.

And then…….last but not least, Texas has finally rescinded a, ahem, personal massager law and Smart Bitches is celebrating. I think the contest is closed but no blog day should pass by without sharing this image.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office, which represented the Travis County district attorney in the case, has not decided whether to appeal, said agency spokesman Tom Kelley.

Um dude, might want to cut your losses, k? Cuz it was a stupid law to begin with.

It’s Friday. No writing, but I did start reading the bestest book ever last night! OMG I’ve been dying for some good chick lit women’s fiction. Okay fine, chick lit. I don’t care if it’s “dead”, because I wasn’t one of those folks who glutted myself on it in the first place. So anyway I started reading this book last night and I could TOTALLY see Mik writing this. It’s sarcastic, it’s funny, but it’s not bitter which is what makes it work especially since it’s a “post-divorce” story. And of course, it’s about something ALL WOMEN can relate to.

Last but not least, I’m gonna ask ya’ll to pray for my good friend Kody. He’s a young’un undergoing some very scary surgery on Monday. *sigh* (Aunt Amie Loves ya bud!)

I’m out…….have a good one.