...but up to date on my Wordpress blog. Visit me there for news and updates all the time.

Thirteen Random Songs from my
"Jamming Music" Playlist

(aka, Songs you would find me dancing and air-guitaring or fake-drumming
around the house to
if you happened to come by while they were playing...)

1. You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC)

2. Pump it Up (Elvis Costello)

3. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

4. It's the End of the World as We Know It (REM)

5. Roll With the Changes (REO Speedwagon)

6. Supernova (Liz Phair)

7. Song for the Dumped (Ben Folds Five)

8. Keep Your Hands to Yourself (The Georgia Satellites)

9. I Will Follow (U2)
10. I Melt With You (Modern English)

11. Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin)

12. Kiss (Prince)
13. Harder to Breathe (Maroon 5)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Tags: ac/dc, led zeppelin, music, thursday thirteen, u2

Having been in a household with three children for the last ten years, I've seen my fair share of Disney movies. (Well, to be honest, I saw a lot of them before we had kids, but I've seen a lot more since then. Like, every one that's been made.)

Anyway, in honor of Halloween coming upon us, I wanted to devote a blog post to my very favorite Disney villain.

She's elegant.
She's beautiful, in a horrific sort of way.
She's smart.
She's powerful and can shapeshift.
She puts Prince Phillip in a dungeon! Woohoo!

She's the magnificent Maleficent.

I've always loved her. Sleeping Beauty was my favorite Disney movie when I was younger (and still is)--I adore the Middle Ages, which is basically the time period of the movie. I always thought Aurora was the most beautiful of the princesses (great hair!).

And Maleficent. Cool, calm, evil, and so very elegant.

About four years ago, we went to a Halloween party and I made my own Maleficent costume. (I wish I had a scanner so I could post a picture!) Even though it was home made, everyone knew who I was the minute I arrived. It was those horns that gave it away.

Oh, and the purple eyeshadow.

And I'm not ashamed to admit that when I was creating the villainess for my Gardella Vampire Chronicles series, I used what I liked about Maleficent to create the character for my own Lilith. (Yes, I know Nora Roberts's vampire queen's name is Lilith too.)

I wanted her to be frighteningly elegant and calm, and surprising too, in some ways.

My Lilith isn't dressed in flowing black robes, and she doesn't have purple eyeshadow up to her eyebrows. But in some ways, she's my tribute to Disney's fabulously evilly gorgeous Maleficent.

So...who's your favorite Disney villain? And why?


(PS, my other favorite Disney villain is from the absolutely hilarious Emperor's New Groove.

Her name is Yzma. She looks like she could be Maleficent's great-great-great-grandmother, doesn't she?)</span>

Tags: disney, maleficent

Go here.

Select a product. Ask to see the side effects.

Enjoy.

(And remember who sent you, okay?)

Tags: beefcake. hot guys

Tags: '80s music, '80s trivia

There are certain little things in life I just wouldn't want to live without. I could, sure, but I wouldn't want to.

And I'm not talking about things like my computer (I'd certainly die without that!), my cell, my car, etc. I'm talking about the little things that make life so much easier.

For example, an apple slicer. I must use it five or six times a day. We eat a lot of fruit in my house, and I use the slicer for apples and pears. Constantly. It never even gets in the dishwasher; I have to wash it by hand all the time.

My newest favorite makes-life-easier gadget is the Tide-to-Go Pen!

My aunt introduced me to this little baby when my five year old daughter splashed ketchup on my white pants. She whipped out this pen and showed me how to use it, and I was hooked.

If you haven't used one, get thee to a store and buy a package of three. One for your purse, one for your diaper bag (if you still carry one), one for the kitchen, keep one at your desk, etc. They literally erase stains--as long as they are fresh--of pretty much any type. Even chocolate from my daughter's white shirt! Great invention. Love it.

I also love duct tape and binder clips. You can do so much with just those two things--I swear you could probably fix a leaking roof (Holli!) or even a flat tire.

My other very favorite little gadget is something I never leave home without. I carry it in my purse--I'd even leave my planner home in order to make room for this nifty little item if necessary.

It's my leather book weight. I love to read while I'm eating (at restaurants or when I'm eating at home alone), and this little gem is one of the best gifts I've ever received. And the comments I get! I can't tell you how many times someone has come up to me in a restaurant--customer or waitstaff--to take a look at it. Love it. If you're a bibliophile, or know one, this is a great inexpensive gift.

So...tell me about some of your favorite gadgets/gizmos. What little thing can't you live without and why?


And don't forget to watch Studio 60 tonight!

As you know, my January release has been described as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Pride & Prejudice," and on some level it's true.

It's about a girl, rather like Buffy in the sense that she finds out she's a vampire hunter, but quite a bit unlike Buffy in other ways (ie, she doesn't complain about it, she actually embraces the chance to be different...at least at first). And this girl happens to live during Regency-era England, which is roughly the time in which many of Austen's books are set.

Anyway, using a high-concept phrase like "Buffy meets Jane Austen" is an easy way for me to give someone a quick preview of what the book is about, in the broadest sense...until a Brit with a delightfully dry sense of humor gets hold of the concept, and writes to me thus...

"I'm seeing Mr D'Arcy[sic] backing away, the camera zooms in onto his exposed, vulnerable throat.... Afternoon tea with the vampire. Won't you walk with me in the moonlit garden?

"Later, Darcy is safely festooned with garlic, and has a high collar embroidered with silver crucifixes.

"At Northanger, the plague of zombies is most troublesome. Yesterday we lost a coachman to them, they ate his brains, and then chased a parlourmaid, who found refuge in the orangery. It is most inconvenient, as one can hardly take a stroll in the rose garden without zombies bursting through the privet hedges. Fortunately old Tom, the gardener, and two of his boys, can be employed to keep them at bay with their pitchforks.

"Emma is strangely pale, wears a velvet band around her throat. These days her behaviour is a little odd. She sends messages by her maidservant that she is 'Indisposed', and will remain in her room throughout the day- yet by evening time, she comes down to dinner, and is a lively, vivacious girl again. Poor girl, she has terrible insomnia, goes out in the night for long walks, returning just before dawn.

"The walks seem to be doing her a measure of good, for she returns lively, refreshed, and rosy-cheeked."

Not exactly what I had in mind, but amusing nonetheless.

Thank you to Ersatz Soubriquet for his charming description of what came to mind when he heard the pitch-phrase about my book!

(You should know by now that I'd take any opportunity to post a pic of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.)

Tags: buffy the vampire slayer, colleen gleason, jane austen, the gardella vampire chronicles, the rest falls away

I've set my DVR to record Studio 60 on Monday nights (and HEROES t00) ever since the pilot a few weeks ago.

The first show was good, the second better...and then I went to watch the third show (which aired October 9th) earlier this week and noticed that the DVR hadn't recorded the show which aired this past Monday the 17th (see, I thought I'd get a two-fer and watch them both at one time). No dice.

Something happened and it didn't record. I think it's my Music Man's fault for turning off the cable box, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, long story short...the third episode was better than one and two, and then they showed the teaser for the episode which aired this week...and Sting was on it.

Sting. (The one guy I'd throw it all away for if he walked through the door.)

Plus the plot's getting thicker and hotter and I'm loving it.

And so this is where the Net comes in. I just watched the fourth episode from the nbc.com page.

And I got to see Sting play the lute and sing Fields of Barley.

And I got to see Matt and Harry almost kiss.

And I got to see Jordyn McDeer kick some old-boy patootie.

And I got to see Danny start to fall for Ms McDeer.

If you aren't watching this show, you should be.

It's funny, smart, literate, and romantic. (I mean, on what other prime-time show do you get references to August Strindberg?) There are a couple great themes that are developing in a very interesting social commentary.

Go. Check it out.

Tags: matthew perry, sting, studio 60

I've decided I have to start cross-posting on LJ and Blogger. So here goes...


Thirteen Random Books from my
Towering, About-to-Fall-Over
To-Be-Read (TBR) Pile

....which one should I read next?

1. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

2. The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

3. A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

4. Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

5. Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton
(Advance Review Copy. Woohoo!)

6. Barbarian Prize by Deanna Ashford

7. Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

8. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

9. Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling
(I haven't read it yet because I'm waiting for Book 7...I want to be able to read them back to back. But I'm dying to read it.)

10. Broken Music by Sting

11. Naked in Baghdad by Anne Garrels

12. These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

13. A Reputable Rake by Diane Gaston

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Tags: books, diane gaston, diane setterfield, jane austen, sting, the thirteenth tale, thursday thirteen

I saw yesterday that there's a movement to sort of re-identify the Seven Wonders of the World, mainly because all but one of them no longer exist.

I guess if they're no longer standing, they don't consider them wonders? I suppose that makes sense.

Anyway, the Swiss foundation (New7Wonders) spearheading the change has a list of twenty-one finalists, and they're asking for people to vote on which monuments should be included.

I remember learning about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and then it seems to me there was a list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, etc.

Interestingly enough, the criteria for inclusion on this new "potential Wonders" list is that the item must have been finished before the year 2000.

If I were making the decision, I'd still be looking at monuments and buildings that were:
1) built before modern technology (ie, without the use of gas or steam machinery) and

2) are grand in scale

3) have some sort of cultural or sociological meaning

...so this would be my list:

1) The Pyramids at Giza~the only one of the original Seven Wonders that is still standing. I think it's a no-brainer why these mammoth objects should be included in the updated list.

2) The Great Wall of China~it meets my criteria in the sense that it's ancient, and of course it's mammoth enough to be seen from space. Various walls were built as early as 200 BCE, and as late as the 17th century as a protection. It was built by the man-power of criminals, prisoners of war, and political dissidents, who were also in danger of being attacked by brigands during the construction. The wall was made to protect and provide a line of dermarcaktion for various Chinese Dynasties.

3) Angkor Wat (Cambodia)~Built in the early 12th century, this temple is considered to be the largest religious structure in the world. Originally built as a Hindu temple, its main structure (shown here) later became a center of Buddhism. The towers are shaped like lotus buds, common aspects of Khmer architecture, and the entire design of the temple is harmonious and balanced. (Read more here about this interesting structure.)

4) The Colosseum (Rome)~As I'm writing my third Gardella Vampire Chronicles book, which takes place in 19th century Rome, I'm researching this amazing building as the site of one of the scenes. I don't know why it wasn't included in the "original" Seven Wonders, but I'm putting it on my list.

This amazing amphitheater was built using the pulley system, which allowed the workers to lift the massive blocks, and was designed to be as comfortable to ancient Romans as our Superdomes are today. There were 80 ground-floor entrances, three tiers of seating, bathrooms and running water throughout, and a removable roof that could be pulled over the viewers in the case of inclement weather. We don't even have that feature in our arenas now! It could seat 50,000 people. Definitely a Wonder!

5) Macchu Picchu (Peru)~The most familiar symbol of the Incan Empire, Macchu Picchu is set amid the lush green mountains of Peru. Not merely a city, but more of a retreat for important Inca nobility, it was built with the mountains in the background so as to appear like Incan faces turned up toward the heavens. The structure is made with polished dry-stone walls, cut to fit perfectly together without mortar, in a technique called ashlar. The space includes temples, sanctuaries, apartments, and gardens.

6) Stonehenge (England)~Truly another ancient marvel, these massive stones were somehow raised and arranged in a perfect alignment. There are many theories as to why and what they were used for, but most experts agree that the placement had to do with their alignment with objects in space during the ancient times.

(Interestingly, Graham Hancock's Footprint of the Gods discusses the amazing similarities between the placement of structures at Stonehenge, Giza, Angkor Wat and one other location in the Western Hemisphere that I cannot recall at this time. Very interesting theories.)

7) The Taj Mahal (Agra, India)~I must admit, I'm a bit biased by including the Taj in this list. It's not as ancient as the other items on this list (built in the mid-17th century), but it's so breathtakingly gorgeous and architecturally perfect that it get my vote.

A monument for the Shah Jahan's deceased wife, its pearl-like beauty is most appreciated when one sees how the architectural style evolved from previous temples and monuments that weren't quite perfect, and ended here, where it could get absolutely no better. We have balance, we have minnarets of the perfect height and placement, we have symmetry, and the epitome of the onion-shaped dome. Built with white marble inlaid with precious gems that catch the morning and evening sun, the Taj is glorious. Perfection and glory. I really hope to see it in person some day. (Maybe a Gardella book set in India is in line?)

So that's my list. Here are some of the others in contention. Which ones would you include? Which ones have you visited?

Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Chichen Itza Aztec site, Yucatan, Mexico

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Easter Island Statues, Chile
Eiffel Tower, Paris
Hagia Sophia church, Istanbul, Turkey

Kyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan
Kremlin/St.Basil's, Moscow
Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
Petra ancient city, Jordan
Statue of Liberty, New York
Sydney Opera House, Australia
Timbuktu city, Mali

Tags: angkor wat, colosseum, eiffel tower, seven wonders of the world, stonehenge, taj mahal