Category Archives: Distractions

March 17, 2014 · 12:05 PM

Luck of the Irish & Jason Mott fans

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Irish or not, I’ve just drawn the names of five people who are extremely lucky for the day! Rather than using a boring old computer program, I got festive and cut out 19 scraps of green paper bearing the names of those who entered Jason Mott’s fantastic autographed book giveaway, and then drew them out of a hat. (No, I did not use a leprechaun hat, and I don’t own anything from Notre Dame, but I am making corned beef tonight, so my conscience is at ease.)

Thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to Bobbi, Whitney, Carrie, Andrea, and Lisa. Expect your autographed copies of THE RETURNED in a few weeks! In the meantime, I highly advise that everyone download The Returned‘s free prequels (The First, The Sparrow, and The Choice). You can finish all of them in an hour, and they’re a great introduction to the world Jason created.

Now, while I sit here and ponder what March 17 means for those of us who can’t tip one back, I’d like to leave you all with a list of The Celebrity Cafe’s top 10 green drinks for the holiday. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Filed under Author Interviews, Contests, Distractions, Misc

January 20, 2014 · 10:06 AM

Books provide SHelf Help for the winter blues

Are you feeling blue today?

With spring months away and no more holiday lights to distract us, mid-January can seem … well … bleak. For many, this is the heyday of seasonal affective disorder–that quarterly depression that my mother thinks is hooey and that I combat with a sunlight desk lamp.

I’m not going to contribute to the myriad articles out there suggesting you:
• invest in light therapy (mine was a gift),
• pester your doctor for Zoloft (pills ain’t the answer, man),
• sprint around the block every time you want a cookie (though I’ve done it; it sorta works),
• or nix the coffee (it suppresses serotonin, which is bad; but it also makes me less like the Incredible Hulk in the morning, which is good).

However, as a writer who can attest to the therapeutic benefits of the pen (or keyboard, or iPad, or whatever), I WILL suggest that you follow Vintage Book’s lead and seek solace between the pages of a book. And I do not mean the sort of book you find in the dreaded self-help aisle. What I mean is more along the lines of … wait for it … SHelf Help 😉 Continue reading →

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Filed under Distractions, Industry News, Misc

November 25, 2013 · 4:24 PM

Short, sweet & awesome

In case you need a laugh. I’m 99 percent this is intentional:

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Filed under Distractions

November 8, 2013 · 9:46 AM

Why every writer needs a dog

There from the beginning

The great Jennifer Weiner (author of Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, my personal favorite, Goodnight Nobody) doesn’t need to give advice to the legions of writers salivating over her wild success. With 10 bestsellers and 11 million copies in print, she could easily spend the rest of her life in seclusion, mailing out manuscripts for instant publication, and cashing in royalty checks. Instead, she is constantly going on Twitter to make adoring fans laugh; on Facebook to provide glimpses into her life; and all over the web to answer questions and make hope-swollen writers feel a little bit at ease.

A few years ago, when I decided to stop dreaming about becoming a novelist and do something about it, I found a great deal of guidance from a spot on her website. In addition to the numerous pages reflecting her success, there was one titled “For Writers.”

It was filled with great advice. But the best, hands down, was this: GET A DOG Continue reading →

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Filed under Distractions, Puppy Love, Uncategorized, Writing Process

October 30, 2013 · 10:48 AM

Halloween movies for scaredy-cats

Image courtesy of supakitmod / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have a confession to make. I’m a wuss. Not when it comes to roller coasters, thrill rides, or helicoptering around Hawaii with no doors, mind you. But try to get me into a haunted house and there’s an extremely good chance I’ll wind up clocking some 15-year-old “zombie” making minimum wage, while screaming at the top of my lungs and flinging metal props to aid in my escape.

And yet, I love Halloween. I love the colors, the fanfare, the ability to let yourself go and embrace some inner wild side. (So… the same reason your nice muffin-baking neighbor is reading 50 Shades of Grey… again.) What I don’t like is watching deranged psychopaths maim, torture, or murder people. The world has enough of that already, IMHO, so it isn’t fun for me. I get that other people can detach themselves and just enjoy the story, but… need I remind you about that poor 15-year-old “zombie” who now has to go to his Fall Fling wearing an eye patch? Continue reading →

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Filed under Distractions, Hollywood

October 23, 2013 · 12:12 PM

Time for a cute puppy break

This video was taken a long time ago, back when my 90-plus pound dog was a tiny puppy. But when I woke up this morning and my Weather App said it was 38 degrees outside, I just knew it was going to be one of those days.

P.S. Check back in the coming weeks for exciting news about my book.

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Filed under Distractions, Puppy Love

January 22, 2013 · 10:29 AM

Revision Vision

I finished the second book in the Desperately Ever After series over the holidays, and now it’s on to those wonderful weeks of revising.

Luckily, while I sometimes want to throw my computer at the wall, I do in some sick and twisted way love revising. This is when the layers really start to emerge.

For me, the first draft puts me at JFK airport on a two-hour layover. The second, third, and come-what-may drafts get me out onto the streets, strolling Riverside Park at sunset, smelling the chestnuts at the corner of 43rd and Madison, soaking in the lights at Times Square, riding the glass elevators in the Marriott… you get the idea. Continue reading →