Fun Sites for Fans of YA, Fantasy, SciFi

Here's a fun, super awesome list of websites to indulge your fantasy, sci-fi, young-adult, paranormal urges:

BuddyTV  "BuddyTV is every TV watcher's friend. With the website, users can read news about their favorite shows and actors and interact with other fans in our rabid community. Users can also play addictive games on the sites such as Trivia, Personality Quizzes, and Celeb Rater."

The Vampire Diaries Promo

Zerotime Paranormal Publishing Ghosts, UFOs, Vampires, Werewolves, Unexplained Mysteries

Witchcraft The Wonderful Craft of the Modern Day Witch

Desktop Nexus Desktop Wallpapers - Tons of fantasy, supernatural images

E!Online Vampire news, pictures, videos

E!Online Werewolf news, pictures, videos

Hundred Zeros Download free ebooks

Bitten by Books Paranormal review site with bite

Mythical Realm Bringing myths and legends to life...all kinds of creatures, etc.

The Walking Dead on AMC, cast, episodes, games, blog

The Vampire Diaries Fansite

These sites should keep you busy and entertained for a while. Have fun!

Engrossing Babble about "The Walking Dead", Season 3

Engrossing Babble about "The Walking Dead", Season 3

Oh, how we've waited for the new season to begin. Soon. Only a few weeks from today and we'll be knee deep in blood, gore, conflict and awesome zombies. And watching our favorite characters fight for survival! How could I forget that?!

The Walking Dead, Season 3, Cast Photo/Promo, AMC

Although our favorite characters keep getting killed off. RIP Shane. And Dale and Sophia. And…

Also, I have a serious issue. I have Dish Network. They dropped AMC. I am not a happy camper. We don't want to deal with switching providers. So…I am hoping I do actually find it available online to watch somewhere. Anyone have reliable, safe websites they recommend that the NEW season's episodes of "The Walking Dead" will definitely be playing on??? Even if I have to pay a few bucks? Free would be nice.

I have not read the comic books and as such, am not aware of possible plots and characters that/who may be showcased in the television show…

And thus, my burning questions and thoughts are:

Who was the hooded person that saved Andrea from being chomped on by the zombie? Will Andrea meet up again with the gang? I hope so.

What in the world did that hooded person have with her? Two zombies, minus arms, on leashes?

Rick has definitely become more aggressive and is asserting his authority…trying to maintain power. And feeling like he has something to prove, like he's not the bad guy here, just trying to survive.

I think I read somewhere the new season takes off 8 months later?? Not sure.  And with Laurie massively pregnant. Can't imagine…And Laurie was super ticked off with Rick last we saw, after discovering Rick (& son Carl's) involvement in killing Shane. Knowing the situation with Shane and Rick…and Shane's state of mind, I don't think Laurie should be hateful and so mad at Rick.

Will miss Shane… :(  He added a lot to the storyline.

Darryl – I think the actor playing him is doing a superb job! He seems to feel more like he's part of the "family" now. Or that he's an important part of something.

Glen & Maggie – I'm liking their relationship. (What else has she played in?!)

And the view of the prison in the distance, as a parting shot on the finale! Very cool! I can see all kinds of scenarios and scenes played out there. I wonder who is in there now? Prisoners? Or did they escape? Is it filled with zombies? Humans? If there are zombies, "kill" them off, clean the place up and make sure the fences and walls are secured and the gang could have a safer place to stay.

I heard mention of a "Governor"…I wonder who he is and if he's helpful or bad?

The special effects continue to amaze me for a television show. Like watching a movie! Totally grosses me out and makes me squirm on my couch! Well done! *hand clapping*

And of course, I still wonder EXACTLY what caused the zombie outbreak…the zombie apocalypse? Have I missed something that might have been mentioned about why this happened? I know that everyone is infected…if they die normally, they'll still turn into a zombie. But what caused this in the first place? And is there a way to fix it or cure it?

Ahhh…how my adrenaline soars as my mind tosses over different possibilities with "The Walking Dead". Truly fabulous show.

Any thoughts? Or answers? Feel free to comment!

What to do with the Bad Guy in the Story

What to do with the Bad Guy in the Story? (Or, What to do TO the Bad Guy...?) That is THE question. (Or, questions.)

Dioboss / Free Photos

Confused? So am I. I'm undecided about this issue as I write my book. (I'm half finished, by the way. Don't you think I should know this answer by now?!) I keep flip-flopping from:

A) Kill him off at the end in a big, climatic way
B) Keep him around for Book 2 in the series
         B1) Make him suffer...some *evil cackling*

And do you REALLY think I'll tell you which outcome for the Bad Guy I choose? HA!! No way! You'll have to read the book to find out.

But this has been a quandary I've battled from the beginning of this story. (Hmm...does anyone use the word quandary anymore? Definition: a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma.)

Another quandary: How "bad" do I want the Bad Guy to be? Like - super evil, killing machine, psycho "bad"? Or - somewhat evil, self-centered, unstable "bad"?

I've sat staring at my computer, thinking: Do I actually want him to have killed someone? Maybe he did kill somebody, but didn't mean to. But he's supposed to be the enemy. But that doesn't mean he has to murder somebody. Or maybe it's essential to show how "bad" he is - what he's capable of doing...

Oh I hope I've got you wondering, "What in the world is she babbling about? And who is this bad dude in her book? Who's he killing - or wanting to hurt?"

Refresher for you:  Rocked – The Chelsie Valdar Saga – 1. "A modern-day Viking warrior teen, Chelsie Valdar, must find an ancient ancestor's mystical sword before the impending Apocalypse and flee to safety with her brother. Several Bigfoot and an outcast werecat help with the search and offer protection, especially when an enemy is infatuated with Chelsie and wants the sword all for himself…the clock is ticking and time is running out."

Don't worry, I'll post when it's officially published. In the meantime, back to work :) And if you'd like to post your opinions on these quandaries about what to do to/with the Bad Guy, go for it! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Books I've Read Recently = Inspiration

Yes, I'm still writing "my latest" novel...about half finished. Hang in there, it'll be worth it! Just a reminder what it's all about: A modern-day Viking warrior teen, Chelsie Valdar, must find an ancient ancestor's mystical sword before the impending Apocalypse and flee to safety with her brother. Several Bigfoot and an outcast werecat help with the search and offer protection, especially when an enemy is infatuated with Chelsie and wants the sword all for himself…the clock is ticking and time is running out.

It's important to keep reading while writing (for inspiration, for a "break", to enrich our creativity) and so, I'd like to give shout-outs to authors and their books I've read during the last six months or so.

People who follow me on Goodreads or who visit my website and browse through the Goodreads widget of books I've read, will have an idea of what I've been reading. Here is my list of books I've read that have most inspired me, starting with the last read first:

>>Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy

(Notes: Something a little different for me. Not a fiction story. Very inspiring. Had me laughing and crying and tugging at my heart. Incredible life...beating the odds, conflict, love of cats, cat care tips scattered throughout, Jackson had a rough life, for sure.)

>>Attic Clowns Volume Two by Jeremy C. Shipp

(Notes: Four short stories. Very creepy, very odd, messes with your mind and reality.)

>>   A Pack of Wolves by Eric S. Brown

(Notes: Nice change of pace from normal werewolf story. Set in the past. Good horror scenes. Never know who's gonna get kicked off next.)

>>Alexander Death (The Paranormals, #3) by J.L. Bryan

(Notes: Looking forward to the next in the series...find myself rooting for the bad guys at times. Very interesting storyline and love dynamics between the different characters.)

>>Tommy Nightmare (The Paranormals, #2) by J.L. Bryan

(Notes: The 2nd in series, cool and different concepts for who and what characters are, kept me on edge of seat.)

>>  Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, #1)  by J.L. Bryan 

(Notes: The 1st in series, was very intrigued reading something NOT vampire & werewolf related, loved learning about Jenny and her relationships.)

>>  Impish by Derrick Hibbard

(Notes: Made me think, lots of action scenes, funny and scary, different, makes you wonder who is good and who is bad.)

>>  Congregation by Aric Mitchell

(Notes: Great scary novel, kept me on edge of my seat, surprises, really made me think about good and evil, cool revelation to reader.)

>> Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

(Notes: This covers all 3 books in series...Loved them. Great stories of good vs. evil, love, family, fighting the higher-ups, massive survival situations, who lives, who dies, who ends up with who.)

>>  Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

>> The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

>>  Betrothed-The Vampire Journals by Morgan Rice

(Notes: Continuing saga in series, keeps you wondering what happens next and if the girl will ever find happiness and safety, survival, love, on a quest.)

>>  Draculas by Crouch, Kilborn, Strand, Wilson

(Notes: Four authors coordinated writing this. Amazing. Very awesome. Loved storyline. These are BAD vampires, constantly kept you on edge of your seat, who lives, who dies, massive character development.)

>>  Adam-Nightwalkers #6 by Jacquelyn Frank

(Notes: Have read most of her books, great as usual, makes you feel like you really know characters, you care for them and wonder what will happen to them.)

>>  Hollowmen - The Hollows #2 by Amanda Hocking

(Notes: Love Amanda's books, have read everything she's written, this is a sequel, zombies, survival, all the good stuff.)

>>  Desired-The Vampire Journals by Morgan Rice

(Notes: see above Morgan Rice)

>>  Origin by J.A. Konrath

(Notes: Such a great plot. Massive character development, survival, awesome mythology dealing with a demon/the devil, kick-butt action. Cool.)

One Chapter At A Time

I'm still pecking away at the latest novel. And because time is so fleeting, I think I'll do another 60 Second Update, like last week. That was fun!

>Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Challenge ended Aug. 31. Didn't finish book. Didn't get 50,000 words typed in a month (the challenge). Hit about 30,000 words, though.

Still chugging away...uphill climb.

mhartford / Free Photos

>The challenge at least kicked my butt in gear to write frequently. And to avoid soooo much "internetting"!

>One of my proofreaders told me I "made her cry" with a scene she read. So cool!

>Yes, I'm sending chapters to my proofreading/editing team as I finish them. Any future changes to those chapters, I copy/paste that portion, email it and have it proofread.

Bad, very bad.

jma.work / Free Photos

That is all!

"The 60 Second Update"

Good afternoon, I'm Gina's Brain. Welcome to the 60 Second Update. *spotlight on*

Photo by Mattox

The Brain reports:

>Writing book. Last week CampNaNoWriMo Challenge. Much time working; progress-yes, quantity-minimal.

>True Blood Finale - missed - satellite out due to storm. Watch rerun tonight.

>Watched movie "The Moth Diaries". Awesome.

>Does Dish or Direct offer wireless dvr receivers yet...as in, NO wires running through house? Hubby curious.

>Shape shifters in book I'm writing...crazy trying to decide how/when/where they should make use of power. Clothes are the issue :) Either take them off before shifting (& put back on after) or explode through clothes - thus, ruining a lot of clothes. *sigh*

And that concludes the 60 Second Update. *lights out*

Photo by annabelle

Third Week of Writing Challenge - Ahhh!

I'm still at it. The Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) writing challenge:  to write 50,000 words in the month of August.

The light at the end of the tunnel.

jainaj / Free Photos

I had upped the ante, though. I wanted to finish an entire book in one month. For me, my books tend to be around 82,000 - 90,000 words.

It's not going to happen, my lovelies.

Definitely there is no way I can finish this book in what remains of this month: less than two weeks to go. It is possible I could complete the 50,000 word challenge, but I'm not making bets on that either way. So, YES, I am continuing to write my brains out, as much as I can.

But, in this month, I've written more than I have in some time. That in itself is awesome. I'm getting something done. I'm excited about the story, toss ideas around with my husband, and find myself saying, "ooohh...but what if ___ or ___?" as I'm working on the story line.

I don't know how some writers can write so fast and whip out an entire book in a month. The fastest I've written a book was in 2 - 1/2 months. They must write 12-18 hours a day, every day, and only take time out for potty breaks, eating, and occasionally showering. They must not need to pause, think over something they've previously written or are about to write, sit and stare at the screen and re-read paragraphs to make sure they make sense. They must have someone else they can rely on to take care of household chores, cook, clean, wash, run errands, take care of pets, pay bills, cut grass, do dishes, and about 20 other things that come up in life.

Alan Cleaver / Free Photos

For me as I write, there are simply too many "things" to think about in the story, figure out, research,  and my dreaded need to edit/revise AS I type. I've gotten much better at stopping my urge to do instant revising as I go, though. And life happens around me. Responsibilities and chores I either have to take care of or can only put off doing for so long (see the previous paragraph).

So, some of you may say I'm whining...that we all have the same 24 hours in a day...that I'm making excuses. I don't think I am. I'm stating facts. And I don't have someone I can delegate chores to. And I don't have money to pay someone else to do some of those chores. And I do choose to hold off doing or eliminate certain chores.

And here comes my POSITIVE outtake on this:  Even if I can't complete the monthly challenge, I feel I have won something anyway. My "win" or reward or accomplishment will be: I AM WRITING CONSISTENTLY. I DON'T WANT TO STOP. I'M NOT GIVING UP ON MY GOAL TO FINISH THIS BOOK IN A TIMELY MANNER. Also, I've learned quite a bit about realistic writing goals.  I like creating quality work and great stories and sometimes that cannot be rushed and completed in a such a short span of time (one month)...or at least I am not able to write that freaking fast.

"The Break Free Tree" - Awesome Image for Creativity

Eddi van W. / Free Photos

So here's to my work-in-progress, titled Rocked - A Chelsie Valdar Saga - 1, a rapid but not slapped together completion ;) Hang in there, my Chosen Sidekicks! (did you read my posting a few months ago about readers/fans having their own name? Thanks to Braelyn for reminding me!)

Special for Amazon Prime Members; Writing Challenge Update

UPDATE FOR:  Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series-Book 1. My publisher just finished a weekend giveaway (FREE ebook) for this novel for the Amazon Kindle (KEEP READING FOR ANOTHER SPECIAL).  Oops! -- Sorry if you missed out on Saturday and Sunday! I blasted the social networking sites with the info to let people know, but everyone doesn't LIVE on the internet and it's impossible to read and catch all posts! I am aware of this impossibility to read everything…the number of connections I'd LIKE to keep up with…ain't gonna happen! BUT another special runs until November 5, 2012 --  The ebook format for Unknown Touch will be available for FREE for Amazon Prime members. 

Reminder:  I am still fully involved in the Camp NaNoWriMo Writing Challenge. How many thought I'd drop out by now, huh?!  *screeching record sound!* Nope, I am still trying to complete it. I am having a hard time cranking out the number of words needed per day in order to get this baby done by the end of the month. I won't lie. It's tough and LIFE still must be attended to, at some point, as it takes place around me.  So, perhaps I won't have a completed manuscript by August 31, 2012, but I should definitely be able to meet the challenge of writing 50,000 words by the deadline. *cheering*

Therefore, this blog post MUST be brief. It is imperative I use my time wisely and to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE the actual book!

Here's a cute image that I desperately need to live by (at least for August):

August 11 and 12, 2012 - Get Unknown Touch FREE

My first book, Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series-Book One,  will be available for FREE to EVERYONE on the Amazon Kindle on August 11-12, 2012. FREE, I said!! So here's the direct link, below the book cover. Now go get it!! Then if you like it, look for Unknown Scent-Werewolf Series-Book 2 !! (Gee, no suggestive selling there, huh?!)

http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-Touch-Werewolf-Series-ebook/dp/B004LROK86/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

~~~~~

Back to writing my brains out on Rocked-A Chelsie Valdar Saga-1.

Writing Challenge Update

I'm fully involved in the Camp NaNoWriMo virtual writing challenge. This will be short. If it is too long, you should crack the whip and yell at me and say, "Bad Gina! Get back to writing. August is only so long and you need to work on that book!"

Fast fingers!

KatieKrueger / Free Photos

It's been rough. I won't lie. I tend to write and edit at the same time. Which can be good and bad. Good in that once it's finished, little editing needs done, which feels awesome! Bad in that editing (which I call revising, too) as I write the book (paragraphs and scenes, etc.) sucks up an incredible amount of time. That is time I desperately need to write and FINISH the book (or at least the 50,000 words per month challenge with Camp NaNoWriMo) by the end of August.

I'm still psyched. I am writing and I am getting something accomplished. Which is better than the dry spell I've had of late. So I'm not trying to beat myself up...too much. :)

I have word and chapter and page goals as a guide. It hangs 4 feet in front of me right now. I do not have writer's block, thankfully, but am so critical with trying to make everything "sound right" and make it the best I can. I realize I cannot work this way if I'm attempting an actual writing challenge and am trying to just let it flow - let the words fly out of my brain and on the page and don't worry about mistakes or picking a "better" word or improving the sentence structure, etc.

It's difficult. But that's why this IS a challenge, right?! It's not supposed to be easy!

Challenge!

Ian BC North / Free Photos

~~~~~~~

Some info about Rocked - A Chelsie Valdar Saga - 1:
>It's written in first person, like my other books.
>A difference - it's written in present tense, not past tense. You are living the experience with Chelsie.
>It's present day, not 20 years in the past or future.
>The short synopsis: A modern-day Viking warrior chick, fighting for her best chance at survival with The Apocalypse approaching and a Bigfoot stalking her.

Writing in present tense has been very difficult for me. Another challenge...but getting easier the more I write.

~~~~~~

And I bumped into a reader fan the other day at Walmart. She asked when the next book is coming out! She wrote notes on the first two to help her keep track of things (Unknown Touch-Werewolf Series-Book 1 & Scent-2). And is waiting to find out what happens next to Kara, Daniel, Dominic and the rest of the gang. I explained I'm actually writing a different series at the moment but will hop back to the Werewolf Series next. That pumped me up - reader loyalty and anticipation. Nice.

So, enough ranting and rambling. Back to typing many, many WORDS for the next novel!

I'm at Camp for August-Writing My Heart Out

Dear Fans, Friends, Family, and Righteous Supporters:

This summer, I'm going to camp. It's a virtual writers' retreat where novelists (or aspiring novelists) from around the world gather to bash out 50,000 words of fiction in a month.


It starts today. The virtual creative writing camp is called Camp NaNoWriMo. BTW, that stands for National Novel Writing Month. While I'm there, my goal is to finish an entire novel during this one month.


That's right! I've committed to the Camp NaNoWriMo goal of writing 50,000 words in a month plus MORE since my novels average 80,000 - 90,000 words! And that would be for this month of August... *throat clearing* ...of THIS year!! Not by next year! So, stop chuckling! (You can follow my progress on any of my social network sites. Here's my Twitter link. And on my site you can see the Twitter feed.)

And to reach my goal, I am going to need all the encouragement I can get!

So take that, "normal" summer camp and your archery classes, any fishing lessons, pottery or painting or other craft classes, tree identification, swimming, insect collecting, playing sports, sweating buckets doing chores, hiking nature trails...wait - that last one sounds okay! As long as my laptop is charged and in my backpack so I can plunk down on a tree log in the shade and type scenes to my new novel!!

Camp NaNoWriMo is free. But I'm also raising money to help the nonprofit that puts it on every year to keep the virtual campfire glowing and keep the inspiration flowing for me and thousands of my fellow campers all around the world.

Every dollar I raise will keep my spirits high as I write my way towards the realization of my creative goals. More importantly, your contribution will help the Office of Letters and Light, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that hosts Camp NaNoWriMo, build a more engaged and inspiring world.  I'll receive some truly nifty prizes for my fundraising efforts on behalf of The Office of Letters and Light. Your donation will help provide free writing resources for even more kids, teens, and adults around the world! 

Or, there are a number of inspirational items in the online Camp Store that will help get me through the month. You could send me a Camp NaNoWriMo Care Package full of campy encouragement, a Camp NaNoWriMo T-shirt declaring my goal for the month, a Campfire Mug to fill with writer fuel, or a poster for my writing nook.

Here's my Camp NaNoWriMo Sponsor Link for anyone who'd like to sponsor me.

Sponsor

I will post brief updates throughout the month on my progress, like the number of words written and how I'm doing. I will partially go into hiding while working on this project but will occasionally visit all my social network sites to pop in a few one-liners and say that I'm alive. Feel free to give me a shout out...give me a few days to respond. 

Thank you so much for your support as I write my novel. Wish me luck! I need the encouragement to survive this month at "camp"!

Gina Marie Long

A Liebster Blog Award

A Blogging Award!

I have been gifted a Liebster Blog Award by Carrie Sorensen of Chasing Revery. How exciting to post this and the images below! Thanks Carrie!

Liebster means "dearest" in German and Google says it means "favorite"…put it all together and it's an award for a dearest or favorite blog. That is mighty nice!

The broader idea behind receiving a Liebster Blog Award is to pick about 5 other bloggers who are up and coming with less than 200 followers and pass the award on to them…a little networking to draw attention to everyone's blog!

**My thoughts (free to share): People are super busy with their lives including any writing/marketing projects. I understand 100% and respect this. So no one should feel obligated to do this and no one should get upset if someone they send this to doesn't participate. Personally, I am happy to recommend other great blogs by a variety of authors plus this makes an interesting post for my own blog!** J

These are the "original rules":

1. Thank the giver who gave the award to you and link back to their blog.
2. Reveal your top five picks for bloggers and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog with your posting similar to this.

Hopefully the people you’ve sent the award to will forward it to their five favorite bloggers and keep it going!

~~~~~~

My top blog picks are further down the page…

**If you have won this award already, that's awesome! I'm still keeping you as a blog to check out!**

~~~~~~

NOTE: ABOVE, I posted what I believe to be (after researching online) the original rules for the Liebster Blog Award and found an additional image. But when Carrie sent ME the award, the rules had several (fun) changes added to them, which she was simply following the suggestions from the person who sent HER the award. I have that alternate version BELOW. My suggestion for those I give the Liebster Blog Award to (if you are interested in participating), is to choose whichever option you have time to work on.

So, you have either the original/short version posted above or the longer version below with the additional steps (which do take much more time). If you are short on time but like the concept, just follow the original rules above and do not worry about the extra steps below!! If you want to get more elaborate, like I did, then choose the following:

These are the "alternate rules" (longer option):

1. Thank the giver who gave you the award and link back to their blog.

2. Reveal your top 11 picks for blogs/bloggers (this version--no limits on how many followers they have).

3. Copy and paste the award image on your blog with your own posting similar to this, making your own changes as necessary.

4. Share 11 facts about yourself.

5. Answer the 11 questions sent to you.

6. Come up with your own 11 questions for the next round of people who you give the award to…and they can choose to answer if they wish.

7. Then pass on the award to those 11 bloggers you've picked by leaving a comment on their blog about the award you're giving them. Include your link back to your blog…so they can see what this is all about.

~~~~~~

Passed Award to These 11 Bloggers –

1) Nighthawk Short Fiction  - A BLOG dedicated to the art of short story writing in the areas of surreal and imaginative fiction in the tradition of The Twilight Zone.
2) Dana's Blah Blah Blog - Fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal writing, paranormal investigations, travel and desert musings.

3) SK Yule – Paranormal Romance Writer - a little bit of everything from writing/author links, paranormal, erotica and contemporary romance excerpts to random thoughts on many different subjects.

4) Beth Fehlbaum Books - a writer, teacher, survivor of childhood sexual abuse, manager of an eating disorder, and advocate of those who have not yet found their voices. I write contemporary YA fiction and interview other authors.

5) CHASTITY'S PLACE -Erotic and Romantic interviews, reviews, and blog posts by author Chastity Bush.

6) Nicole Zoltack - writes fantasy, paranormal, horror, romance, historical (medieval), contemporary; for adults, YA, MG, and PBs; novels, short stories, and flash pieces.

7) Cheryl Bradshaw Books - A Place to Embrace our Love of Books...where Cheryl blogs about books and all things Cheryl.

8) Aric Mitchell - horror genre--slashers, monster movies, twist endings, and anything else that goes bump in the night.

9) Karly Kirkpatrick - Young Adult Author in a Paranormal World.

10) Self Publish or Die - Create Your Dreams, Emily Walker.

11) Writing with Kristine Cayne - Twisted secrets, extreme passions, and deadly desires.

~~~~~

11 Facts About Me

1. I'm an only child. I guess that's what they still call it. No brothers, no sisters. Very bored as a teenager during summer vacations, staying home by myself.

2. I have a sweet tooth. Mmmm…chocolate, pies, cakes, cookies. But I do not bake anything. And try not to buy much of the high-calorie stuff.

3. I have a tortoiseshell cat named Jessie, after Jessica Alba.

4. I don't particularly care for westerns – movies, books, etc.

5. When my hair was cut super short my high school freshman year, I did NOT ask for it. The beautician did "her own thing." I cried.

6. I do not have one single houseplant. And I don't do any gardening.

7. My husband and I would like to move to Montana.

8. I cut my own hair and have for most of my adult life. (I am a licensed beautician, although no longer practicing as of 2 years ago.)

9. I have no idea how to use a sewing machine.

10. I broke my collarbone in 8^th grade (or was it 7^th?) while playing "keep away" with a ball and several other kids…another girl (my size) rammed into me and I fell to the ground…was unconscious a few seconds…came to and discovered my collarbone was broken.

11. I am a full-time author and writer. No other jobs…at least for now. I've published two young adult, paranormal thrillers. Am also a web writer and prepping to offer desktop marketing.

~~~~~

Carrie's 11 Questions for ME-

1) What is your favorite movie from the 1950's or before?

"The Wizard of Oz"

2) Which band do you most wish would come back after 'disappearing' or retiring?

Journey is the first that came to mind.

3) What is your favorite book that you don't think many people would know?

"Draculas" by Konrath, Crouch, Strand, & Wilson

4) What song is stuck in your head right now? (Because you know I just put one there - sorry.)

"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

5) How many animals do you have? How many do you wish you had?

One cat. No more.

6) What is your favorite type of cookie?

Macadamia Nut (but give me any type & I'll devour it).

7) What place do you never want to go back to because it's so perfect in your mind you don't want to ruin it?

Our Kansas road trip. Many interesting places, believe it or not, for Kansas! But no need to return.

8) How many paces from your computer place to the fridge?

8 paces.

9) Did you actually have to count, or did you already know?

Turned, looked at floor and started estimating a foot length at a time to the fridge.

10) How old were you when you no longer believed in Santa Claus?

Young…about 1^st grade.

11) Did someone spill the beans or did you figure it out on your own?

The teenage babysitter told me.

~~~~~


My 11 Questions –

1) Coke or Pepsi?

2) Pizza or Chinese Food?

3) Vampires or Werewolves?

4) Have you ever gone to Comic-Con or something similar?

5) Favorite TV shows?

6) Do you prefer paper books or ebooks?

7) Name one pet peeve.

8) Do you like to cook?

9) Do you live in a big city, medium sized city or small town?

10) Do you normally go to the theater to watch movies or wait till they come out on DVD?

11) What's your favorite type of music to listen to?

Whew! This wiped me out, but I feel a huge sense of accomplishment in my networking ability and making connections. Hooray J