WINNER!

Accckkkkkk!! With the release of my new book and other life craziness I forgot to pick a winner. So sorry Top Downers.

Minna, you win a copy of Charming the Devil. Please send your address to lgreiman@earthlink.net.

Thanks everyone for all the great comments.

Are you listening?

I just finished a book one of my book group buddies gave to me, NO ONE YOU KNOW, by Michelle Redmond. I liked it a lot, it's a women's fiction story that is about sisters and has a murder mystery entwined. Nice. At the back, as part of her reader's guide, she included a couple of coffee cocktail recipes and her playlist for the book. Though she says she writes in silence, the songs listed helped her as she developed the story.

Curious, I listened to a few of the songs. Some I knew and enjoyed. Some just didn't match the rhythm of the story as I felt it. I confess, I really enjoy Top 40, classic rock, just Regular-Jane pop-type stuff so some of her list wasn't to my taste. Surfer Guy was a music major in college and he appreciates different types of music more than I do (though he's resisting enjoying any of the rap/hip hop that Son2 is exposing him to, while I like some of it). In the end, the author's playlist didn't add to my enjoyment of the book (which again, I liked a lot).

I have my own playlist for each manuscript which I listen to as I write. Some songs are just made for the book. I listened to Jason Mraz's "If it Kills Me" which is about a friend wanting to be a lover, which matches the secondary storyline of my next book, CRUSH ON YOU. Right now I'm listening to the Glee cast version of "Taking Chances," along with other songs for the manuscript-in-progress. I'm still searching for the exact right mix. I thought about putting my playlists on my website, but am waffling. Maybe it's too personal? What I like might turn off someone else (or expose me as the complete music tweenager that I am--I have Hannah Montana stuff on my iTunes!).

To readers: Are you interested in the author's playlist if they have one? Do you think it might enhance your reading experience--or diminish it?

Buy now!

With yesterday's announcement from Apple regarding their new must-have iPad, I joined the world (mostly the women) in a snicker.  Who named that thing?  And were there any women present during that meeting?  I think not.  Any woman would have nixed the name like that.

Ok, I want one.  Who doesn't when it's announced with such fanfar and pronounced magical?  Yes, they use that word in their advertising.  We can hold magic in our hands now!  It's so George Jetson, so Minority Report.  Must.  Have!

It's priced to buy, too.  Beginning at only $499, who can resist?  (Strength, give me strength to resist.  I don't need it, I want it.)

What else do I want?  I want one of those SlapChops.  I saw the commercial one night about five times during an hour and a half TV-watching session.  The announcer is slick, droll and we're going to 'love his nuts'.  Seriously!  But look!  Just a few slaps and you can get skinny again, one slap at a time.  One slap!  Easy to clean, easy to store.  Only $19.95, but if you call now you get a 2nd set free.  You know we're not going to do this all day...   Someone get the phone!

So do I want this stuff, or has the magical marketing spin burrowed beneath my skin and invaded my very nervous system?  Those marketing pros really do know how to grab your attention.  Why don't they hire these guys to represent say, a charity foundation or a homeless shelter in need of donations?

I guess the slick sell has become a part of our collective breathing.  And millions just buy, buy, buy because they've inhaled that air.  I want to know what you've bought spur-of-the-moment because you took a breath of that air.  Come on, confess!  You must have a ginsu knife or a slapchop or even a chia pet stuffed in your closet somewhere.  And if you haven't succumbed yet, you've got something in eyesight.  So what must-have item do you want?

Me?  I can honestly say I've never bought anything off a TV comm—wait!  Ok, so maybe I did.  The Sleep Number bed.  Over a decade ago.  Order right now and get the mattress for a 90-day free trial!  We ordered.  We loved.  We paid for the thing after 3 nights.  Still love that bed.

Michele

And the winners for Cathy's books are:

QLady and Cissycat! Both of you have won Cathy's two most recent releases! Please contact her with your snail mail addys at: http://www.catherinemann.com/cm/index.php/contact/

Congrats!

Welcome Guest Author: Catherine Mann

"Catherine Mann - Dog Days of Writing"

I never thought I'd be the whacky dog lady. The eccentric writer, sure. But the dog lady? Nah. Not me. I'm a clean freak. My pantry's packed with rows of Chlorox wipes and I'm the first the hit the sale bins of anti-bacterial hand Bath and Body Works. I kid you not, this one time I needed to be fingerprinted for approval as a babysitter for DCS, and the fingerprint expert accused me of bleaching off my prints!

Soooo, how does someone like me become the dog lady?

Well, writing is such a solitary profession, I worry about having a life outside my house. (Other than going to Walmart to buy more Chlorox wipes.) A valued mentor of mine once reminded me of the importance of "living your life as you seek to write about the lives of others." With 8 books coming out in 2010, that's easier said than done. Little did I know the answer would be found in my youngest son's service project.

We began fostering motherless puppies for the Humane Society in the beginning of 2009, puppies dumped at the shelter too young to be adopted and in need of extra attention. I expected it to be a frustrating, messy project, but resigned myself to helping my kids learn from the experience - and then move on! We already have two dogs and a cat of our own, after all.

Five weeks later, I realized those four little Rottweiler/Retriever puppies gave far more to me than I did to them. Suddenly, I was out in the world again for their vet visits at the shelter. My family and I spent more time in the yard together - and got to know our neighbors better. In fact, my chronic back troubles eased considerably thanks to the extra walks with my hubby and puppies. My stress level lowered. I sleep better.

And miracle of miracles, I still met my deadlines.

Having found a surprise calling, we fostered 21 puppies overall in 2009, all of which have gone on to be adopted into forever families. As I write this now, three Pomeranian/Chihuahuas are scampering around my feet with our dogs. Sure, I still freak out every now and again, chasing after puppies with Chlorox wipes in my fingerprintless hands. But I'm a much happier and more productive person overall for finding the value in stepping away from the computer and taking in the world around me.

So here's my question for you.... When we foster puppies, we're given the joy of naming them, but sheesh, we're beginning to run out of ideas. What are some of your inspired pet names? And if you've got a fun story behind the name, please do share! I will choose two winners from the wonderful folks who post and send an autographed copy of one of my January releases – RENEGADE (Berkley Sensation) and BOSSMAN’S BABY SCANDAL (Silhouette Desire.)

Cheers!
Cathy
Catherine Mann
BOSSMAN'S BABY SCANDAL, Silhouette Desire - On Sale Now!
RENEGADE, HOTSHOT & DEFENDER, "Dark Ops," Berkley Sensation - On Sale Now!
http://catherinemann.com
***
USA Today best-seller Catherine Mann pens military romance for Berkley and steamy contemporaries for Silhouette Desire. A RITA award winner, she has over two million books in print in 20 countries. She resides in Florida with her air force flyboy husband, their four kids and menagerie of pets! FMI: http://catherinemann.com

Wine 101.1 - Buying Tips

When I first started buying wine, I was nearly paralyzed by the options out there. Walk into most liquor stores and chances are they'll have several aisles of wine. Walk into a wine shop and whoa! So how do you know what to buy?

Over the years I've learned a few things worth sharing.

First off, price does not necessarily equal quality. I may not have the most educated palate, but I do okay. I've had ten dollar bottles of wine that I've liked better than fifty dollar bottles. Vineyards that have spent years cultivated their name and label can charge more. That's just the way it goes. Sometimes the wine is worth it. Sometimes it isn't.

Don't be afraid to check out several of your local wine specialty shops, especially if the wine you want to buy is for an important occasion. When in doubt, ask ... works when buying wine and the chances of finding someone knowledgeable about wines is better at a specialty store. Tell the person helping you about the occasion and what you want to spend per bottle and chances are he or she will be able to set you up with a couple different options.

If you walk into a wine shop and discover every bottle they stock costs more than your last paycheck, obviously you're in the wrong store, but most wine shops I've been in have a wide range of prices. Chances are you'll find something that fits your budget. Also, many wine shops schedule free tastings, so you can sample before you buy.

Check out the clearance tables. Just because a wine is selling for half off doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it. You just might find some great deals.

Wines are stocked on the shelves counter-intuitively, to me at least. I always expect the expensive wines to be lower to the ground, less chance of breaking, right? But no. That's not the way it works. Generally speaking, the higher on the shelf, the more expensive the bottle.

Sometimes going for a funky label is best. I think it was Kylie who mentioned in the comments of my last wine post that she and her dh did that once for a party and the bottle turned into a conversation piece. No sweat!

Certain types of wine varieties are less known and, thereby, seem to be better values. For example, I'll bet you that after the movie SIDEWAYS became so popular that pinot noirs instantly went up in price. Everyone knows cabernets, merlots and chiantis. So try a lesser known variety for value's sake. Malbec, tempranillo (Spain's cabernet), barbera, syrahs, sagiovese. All good choices.

Blended wines might be a good choice when you're having guests and aren't sure about specific tastes. The blended wines tend to be smoother, milder and therefore also have a wider pairing ranging - in other words they may pair better with a larger variety of foods.

My favorite countries for good values are Argentina, Spain and Chile. New Zealand's up there too. Let's face it, while I love many California wines, land costs are high in that area. The price of the wine is going to reflect those costs.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Buy a few bottles you want to try and check them out. Sales are a good time to try out new varieties and to stock up on your favs. Red wines will last for decades if stored properly on the side in a relatively cool location. Whites last for years, too, although not as long as reds. Many stores will give you discounts on cases even if you mix varieties.

When in doubt, look for wine ratings. I've notice many stores affix tags to their shelves showing ratings by the likes of Wine Spectator and Robert Parker. They aren't 100% reliable, but they are helpful.

A great time to experiment with new wines is at restaurants. You're only committed to one glass, so if you don't like it, not a big deal.

So what's worked for you when buying wine? Do you have any great buying tips?

Helen

And Monday's winners are. . .

Gosh, the comments were all so much fun, we decided to give away 4 copies of Manhunting!

Congratulations to:

Barbara E.

Laurie

Virginia C. and

Lanae T.

You lucky people, you! Send your snail mail address to bkrahn007@gmail.com and we'll get the books right out to you! Happy Reading!

Contemporary Me. Who knew?

WooHoo! Today I become a "contemporary" author.

This is the release day for my first published contemporary. . . and wouldn't you know. . . it's a BLAZE. Actually, it's a Valentine anthology built around the story of three friends who work in various aspects of the greeting card industry and always have a trade show to attend over Valentine's Day. When they meet THIS year, they make a pact to hunt for a great Valentine's Day date for next year. Let the MANHUNTING begin!

My gal, Samantha Drexel, is corporate through and through. She's sharp and ambitious and successful. . . and lonely as hell. She can't remember the last good date she had. Taking her manhunting pledge seriously, she combs through her past relationships and one in particular-- an unresolved college romance-- seems like a good bet. The old flame turns into an inferno before she learns the jerk is married and dumps water on it. She's disillusioned and embarrassed and furious with herself. . . and still dateless for Valentine's Day.

Worse-- while in the grip of that traitorous romantic bliss, she has proposed using rocker Nicholas Stack's music-- "their album" --as the basis for a line of musical valentines. Now the lying ex-boyfriend is gone, but she's stuck listening to that treacherous music again and again. Then rocker Nicholas Stack himself tries to pull out of the deal she's made with him to promote her Valentine line and she has to use every bit of her personal strength and presence to make him live up to his committment. Now if she could just quit melting into steamy puddles every time he looks at her. . .

Sound interesting? I hope you'll find it so. I had a blast writing it!

The challenges of writing contemporary weren't at all what I thought they would be. Historical heroines are usually either virgins or widows. . . anything else wasn't quite respectable in the old days. So coming up with motivation for hot-n-spicy lovin' on short notice-- that was a challenge for me. Especially so because this is a BLAZE. Know what I mean? I had to get it steamy in a hurry. And as I wrote, I loved doing contemporary dialogue and references. Quite a shot in the arm to the old creative juices!

I'm giving away copies of "Manhunting" to two commenters. So let me know. . . have you ever gone manhunting, yourself? How did it turn out?

And what do you think about the concept of manhunting-- too modern? Too predatory? Too gotta-have-a-man old fashioned?

New Reads, Old Faves

Strangely, when I'm facing down a deadline, I find myself sinking into other people's book more than ever (do no mention the word procrastination to me!). I already do a lot of reading for my BookPage column on romance, but beyond those books I have a few I thought I'd share with you.

"Book Group" books: My book group recently read THE HELP. Loved it! And then I just finished this month's selection, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. It started slow, but at about page 100 I realized I couldn't put it down. The girl of the title is unforgettable. When I was looking for my copy of TATTOO in Costco, I was intrigued by the book THE 19th WIFE, which entwines a modern mystery and a historical figure. Another that I couldn't put down.

On the romance front: I've really enjoyed a new-to-me author, Emma Wildes. Very sexy, but delightful voice. I just read LESSONS FROM A SCARLET LADY. Recommend!

Old faves: I know some of you don't re-read books. I'm one for "comfort" reading. I recently enjoyed again these two from Lisa Kleypas: DEVIL IN WINTER and SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE. One of my favorite category romances of all time is from Nora Roberts: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR. I also just re-read BED OF ROSES from her wedding quartet.

When it comes to comfort reads, must mention the Virgin River series from fab author and friend Robyn Carr. I love her stories and had one of those ::gasp:: moments when she emailed me that she enjoyed my books--and I was rereading one of hers at that very moment! What were the odds? Robyn has a very cool contest running. Enter and you might have a character named after you! http://beinvirginriver.com/virginriver/index.php?q=T1010

You know I'm always looking for book recommendations. Have one (or more) to share? I'm in the mood for mystery that has good romance in it (a la Julia Spencer-Fleming or J.D. Robb).

As I mentioned earlier this month, I have a book coming out soon. Charming the Devil. It’s not the worst book ever written. Romantic Times gave it a K.I.S.S. and a Top Pick! I should tell you all about it, but something’s been bugging me lately. Lately being for the last forty years or so. It’s pollution. I know…such a downer subject, but it’s so…prevalent: An abrupt increase in respiratory diseases caused by bad air, eggs growing in male fish found in contaminated water, a plastic island floating in the middle of the Pacific.



Recently I read a book (loaned to me by our Earth friendly Michele Hauf) called No Impact Man. It’s about a little family in New York that tried to be as environmentally friendly as possible. I highly recommend it. It made me decide to set some parameters on my own life…such as how many new products I can purchase and how far I’m allowed to drive in a week. The book also made me wonder what other ideas are out there. Who’s doing what, that sort of thing.

So, to keep this blog from being simply another boring harangue to green up, I’m including pictures of pretty men. :) And in an effort to pretend they’re somehow related to my topic, I offer you only men who have tried to make an environmental difference. (But, don’t get me wrong, women still make up the majority of people who are instrumental in eco causes.)

Voila--eco friendly hunks:





Viggo Mortenson, an outspoken advocate for reducing our dependency on dirty fuels, also takes an active part in ensuring a safe haven for wild horses and donkeys.




"The best advice I got from my aunt, the great singer Rosemary Clooney, and from my dad, who was a game show host and news anchor, was: don’t wake up at seventy years old sighing over what you should have tried. Just do it, be willing to fail, and at least you gave it a shot. That’s echoed for me all through the last few years."





Brad Pitt, long interested in architecture, joined with Global Green USA to promote the rebuilding of New Orleans, which remains devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Pitt headed a jury for Global Green's Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans Neighborhoods that selected the top 5 ecologically sound designs for rebuilding that city. The designs required energy-efficient building materials and green building stratgies. Pitt has since moved with his family to New Orleans.


Matt Damon has joined an organization that attempts to halt the tons of junk mail delivered to American homes each day. He's reconciled his famous forces with website GreenDimes.com in an effort to endorse environmental efforts to avert and ultimately save the trees used for junk mail letters and envelopes from being chopped down. Damon says, “For an estimated dime a day they can stop 70 per cent of the junk mail that comes to your house. It’s very simple, easy to do, great gift to give, I’ve actually signed up my entire family. It was a gift given to me this past holiday season and I was so impressed that I’m now on the board of the company.” The GreenDimes.com organization also plants a tree for every new member.


Last fall, Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law to cut the state's greenhouse-gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 and followed with an executive order requiring a dramatic drop in the carbon content of transportation fuels. He has vowed to fight attempts to reopen the California coast to offshore drilling.
(I would have included this pic even if I couldn't have found
something eco friendly that he'd done cuz...yikes.)


In many ways Redford has become the public face of the NRDC; he now sits on the organization’s Board of Trustees. “I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?”

So there you have it, a bunch of pretty faces...and other pretty stuff...who are trying to make a difference

And now I ask you, what can we as individuals do to make Mama Earth happier?

I’m offering a copy of my newest book to a commenter who's willing to give us a viable suggestion.

www.loisgreiman.com

Debra - Connected

Gentle readers, I am writing to you from the uncomfortable chair of hubby's hospital room.  All is well.  Put worry aside.  We've finally done the full knee replacement we'd hoped to delay.  (Hubby is a little young for it.)  Multiple knee surgeries over the years couldn't help.  Recent MRI showed zero cartilage, new spurs since last January's most recent surgery, bone remodeling, and something the orthopedist pointed to on the imaging and said, "Well, that's just not right."

So, at 4 am Wednesday morning we staggered out of bed, toddled off to hospital, coughed up a big fat check for deductible and annual out-0f-pocket maximum, and we were in surgery by 7:30 a.m.

I say "we."  No one cut on me, but in the best relationships isn't it always "we?"  I think so.  We're a unit and have been since the day we met.  That mindset works for us.  We each have separate careers, friends and hobbies.  We aren't joined at the hip, but we are always connected.

I like that.  I mentioned in a comment on our blog, that marriage was a lifestyle that suited us.  "Us against the world" is nice.  Family, hubby, dearest friends or kids...it's always nice to know you're connected.

And here's the kicker.  This blog began as a little riff on hospital amenities these days.  I thought I had something clever to say about being connected electronically and how the world has changed, how dependent we are on our band width that I would be in the hospital with my husband and still blogging.  But that observation isn't what came out of my fingertips.

Writing is like that sometimes.  The deeper meaning of your scene rises to the surface just in time to give you the most wonderful bit of fiction, extra depth, juice you can use to push the emotions.  We just have to be willing to connect, to see where it takes us.

Are you willing?  Do you plan your writing or your life and then see the connections rise to the surface, and trust them to steer your direction?

Welcome Jessica Scott - author soldier!

First, thanks so much to Cindy Gerard, not only for inviting me to guest here at Riding with the Top Down, but also for the amazing support she showed me while I was deployed to Iraq. When I sent up a shout out for help on school supplies, she was right here, leading the charge. Not only that, but she was also gracious with her time to answer questions and offer support in this brutal business called writing. So my hat’s off to her.

When she initially asked me to blog, I wasn’t sure what to write about that I hadn’t already covered during my year in Iraq. I blogged pretty regularly from my home blog www.jessicascott.net/blog but also spent a lot of time on other industry blogs. I noticed, however, that there was not a place for military romance readers to gather, nor was there a single spot for military romance writers to gather. I’m a member of the RomVets, a group of women writers who are all military veterans but our Yahoo Group is private. I wanted to create a public forum where military romance fans could gather and talk to their favorite authors. So, after sending out feelers to some of my favorite military romance authors to see if they’d be interested in posting on a military romance forum, I linked up with Dreamforge Media by recommendation from Stephanie Tyler and Croco Designs to come up with the design for Romance Roll Call (http://romancerollcall.com).

Cindy has joined us over there a few times already and has dates for the future. We’ve also had Catherine Mann as a regular and Stephanie Tyler is on board as well. The forum is for all aspects of military romance, from book spotlights, to writing craft to simply military life. We’re a growing community, so please stop by to check us out. Also, if you know of someone who’s written about military characters, regardless of the time period, send them our way. We’re always on the look out for guest bloggers!

And yeah, all this took place while I was in Iraq. I’m an active duty army officer whose coming up on her 15 year anniversary in service. I spent all of 2009 in Mosul, Iraq with the First Cavalry Division. People wondered how I could write during all that. In truth, there are twenty four hours in a day and when all you have to do is pull shift and go to chow, filling that twenty four hours can be challenging. So I wrote. And wrote and wrote. I’d landed an agent while I was there, which was a pretty heady feeling, but alas, that relationship wasn’t meant to be, so I’m back on the agent hunt. I’ve had some fantastic rejections on my manuscript and that’s okay. I learned so much while I was there, both about myself as a leader and myself as an author.

The hardest lesson I had to learn and finally apply was to slow down. I used to think (and tell my agent) I’ll have that revision to you in a week. Except that it was no where near what it needed to be revision wise. Learning to really revise and edit myself is the greatest lesson I took from my deployment. I drafted 11 novels while I was there, but those only count if you consider that 5 of them were complete do overs on the original drafts. Oh and none of them will ever see the light of day:)

So I had a lot of time. Being signal is like that. Once the network is established, maintaining it is the easy part. I wrote and I blogged and writing really kept me grounded. The social network of support I had from the writing community was incredible and I will always remember to say yes whenever I can to help a fellow writer out because of that support. The coolest thing I was able to do while I deployed was fly in a Blackhawk helicopter. The ride is so smooth. It’s awesome and gives me new respect for the pilots and the crews. My biggest accomplishment so far was having one of my blogs published by the New York Times. You can read about it at the At War Blog (http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/what-is-it-like/). I’m really proud of that piece, not only because it was accepted by the Times, but because it really was a profound moment for me in Iraq. It was the line I crossed between being a soldier and being a combat veteran. There really is a difference, one I hadn’t really fully understood until that moment.

I returned to the states in early December and am now back on full time mommy duty. It’s intense, to say the least. Getting back home as also held its own challenges. By the time I sit down to write at night, I’m exhausted. Those days where I could crank out 5000 or 6000 words are over. Some nights, I’m lucky to hit 600. But I keep going at it because the stories are in my head and they won’t let me rest.

If you’re interested in my further adventures, feel free to stop by Romance Roll Call (http://romancerollcall.com) or my home blog http://www.jessicascott.net/blog. Thanks again, Cindy, for inviting me to stop by!

Post coming soon!!

My apologies. Ice storm created an early morning change of plans and i'm just now back home.
I'll have Jessica's blog posted in a few minutes.
SORRYYY

Winner of Joss Ware book

is Beth Werrell! Beth please send an email with your snail mail addy to books@colleengleason.com. Congrats!

Welcome Author Colleen Gleason / Joss Ware

Riders, you're in for a treat today! We've got the fabulously talented Colleen Gleason / Joss Ware in the convertible with us. If you aren't familiar with her Gardella Vampire Chronicles, perhaps you've heard about the back to back releases she has beginning this month. I dare you to read about her new series and not be intrigued!

About three years ago, I was talking to someone about trends in romance novels. Vampires were hot, of course, and demons and shapeshifters were starting to get really popular as well, but this person said, “I think there’s going to be a trend toward post-apocalyptic romances.”

Huh, I thought. Wow. Then I immediately discarded the thought. I was writing the Gardella Vampire Chronicles at that time, and post-apocalyptic zombies were about as far from historical vampire slayers as you can get.

But then, one day, I was chatting with one of my critique partners, and she said, “I think you should write a post-apocalyptic romance.”

And I started to think about it. The more I thought, the more fascinated I became with the idea…or, more accurately, the challenge, of writing a romance set in such a dark time. I loved the idea of having a world that had all of our knowledge in technology and science, our pop culture and fashion…but without the infrastructure and civilization that we are used to today.

But, yet, the problem of dealing with the devastation of the earth and civilization and all these people dying bothered me. So I decided to start my series fifty years after the horrible events that ruined the world and destroyed the human race.

I knew I wanted there to be a strong connection between our world (in 2010) and the new world (of 2060), so I decided to build the series around a group of guys who somehow “miss” the catastrophe and suddenly find themselves in this strange new world. And those men became The Awakening Heroes.

Making the decision to set the series fifty years after the end of the world helped that. I did keep some of the flavor by including journal and diary entries (and in one case, a blog) at the beginning of chapters in order to fill in the reader on what had happened fifty years earlier…but by setting the stories a generation or two after the Change made it a lot easier.

The first book in the series, Beyond the Night, introduces readers to Dr. Elliot Drake who was an ER physician in Chicago before he somehow got himself catapulted into the future…or whatever happened.

He was the kind of guy looking for a woman to settle down with and have a family—he grew up in a family with lots of female cousins, living with his aunt and his father—and he wanted that for himself.

But when he finds out that everything has been destroyed, he has inconceivable adjustments to make. And he has to figure out how to live in this new world, how to carve out a life of normalcy for himself. He’s a doctor, too, which means he has all of the knowledge of a physician…but none of the drugs and equipment or facilities he’s used to having.

He also learns that during whatever happened to him that he survived the Change, he also acquired a paranormal skill to heal by his touch. Wow! What a thrill…until he learns the repercussions of that skill.

If you put yourself in the place of these characters, what would you miss most about our current times? Colleen will be giving away a copy of Beyond the Night to one lucky commenter today! (U.S. only, please.)

Winner of Cindy's Gerard 1-18-10 book giveaway

Congrats to LIZA. You're the winner of my 1-18-10 book giveaway.
let me hear from you with a mailing addy so I can get your book in the mail

Stressed - Who me???

Yeah, me. And probably you. I’ve got to tell ya, these days it really does seem that ‘the hurrier I go, the behinder I get.’ We make the best laid plans … to meet a deadline, to lose a few pounds, to treat ourselves better, to appreciate all of the good things life has to offer, to make better use of our time. It all looks good on paper and then, blam. Life interrupts.

I was having one of those days today. I had a book due, our son is about to have surgery, my DH is suffering with some heavy duty back pain, I still haven’t de-Christmased our house, or solidified plans for my next book, or figured out why I'm having such difficulty all of a sudden with computer related eye strain, why I don't get Twitter, AND I had a bad diet day. And just for good measure, add in a generous dose of guilt over feeling put upon by my minor problems in light of the horrendous suffering in Haiti. In any event, I was about to head for bed and attempt to sleep the pressure away when I realized, whoops, I had a blog post to write for tomorrow. I felt stressed. But I figure you already got that.

So, I bop out onto the web to troll around for ideas on a blog topic when what to my wondering eyes did appear but an article tailor made for my current situation: Stress. I know. It’s like kismet, right? Anyway, it was just what the doctor ordered and I figured why not share what I learned with you all. So here goes.

According to a recent article by Drs. Stephanie McClellan and Beth Hamilton, the intense demands of modern-day can and do take their toll on women (and men) in many ways. Okay, so these days we’re not bouncing across the prairie in covered wagons sans microwaves and dishwashers or giving birth without benefit of anesthetic or sterile birthing rooms, but, that’s not to say we don’t have our own unique set of stressors. Since stress can play a heavy duty role in the way we manifest disease, getting a grip on the issue is crucial. Stress can make you feel pressured, rushed, edgy or just totally exhausted. It can cause sleeping problems, loss of sex drive, weight gain, chronic pain or heart problems.

Conclusion: We need to do something about it. Ever searching for ways to help a girlfriend out, I’ve done the research for you (I know. I’m a gem) and have come up with a list of suggestions to help you untie those knots, lift those spirits and diffuse that tension. Ready? Here goes.

1. Take a calming Breath: This is a fundamental relaxation technique that all stress types should practice. You have probably taken a deep breath before plunging into something – a difficult conversation, serving a tennis ball, trying not to cry. This will work while standing in line, sitting at your desk or preparing a meal. When you sigh, you are unconsciously using a relaxation technique by inhaling more air than usual and exhaling. Breathing deeply has a calming and centering effect, and you can do it anyplace, anytime for a quick fix for acute stress.

2. Smile or Laugh: When you smile or laugh, endorphins are released from the brain. These endorphins are naturally produced chemicals that make a person feel good. A hearty laugh can also give the body an internal workout. The process of laughing instigates a cycle that makes you breathe faster and makes your muscles tense. Then your muscles relax, your breathing slows and your heart rate decreases. Smiling and laughing allows you to connect with something other than tension or stress, so think of a fond memory or focus on someone or something that makes you happy.

3. People Watch: Take a moment to enjoy the energy and excitement occurring right in front of you. During your lunch break or while running errands is a great time to let go of yourself, take in your surroundings and watch others. Even if just for a moment, this will help you to refresh and regroup.

4. Go Nuts Over Chocolate: (Yeah baby!!) To boost your brain and calm stress, eat a handful of walnuts and a piece of dark chocolate. Walnuts are full of omega-3s, essential fatty acids that elevate the mood, and tryptophan, an amino acid that, when combined with dark chocolate, provides your brain with the soothing effects of the beloved anti-stress messenger serotonin.

5. Listen to Music, flip Through a Magazine or read a chapter from a super hot romance novel (How convenient: You’ll find several GREAT titles right here on Topdown) Sometimes allowing yourself to be distracted momentarily is a helpful way to refocus in moments where you feel stress building up. By withdrawing your senses from life’s demands and what is troubling you, you can gain control over your attention. Honing in on the music playing in a store or flipping through a magazine while in the checkout line is a great way to relieve whatever might be provoking stress in the moment.

6. Practice these Eight Words That Can Change Your Life: It’s not all that difficult when receiving an invitation or a request to say, “Let me get back to you on that,” then look at your schedule and see if the invite warrants the effort. It’s a great way of managing your time and giving you the space you may need to reflect on the importance of every event you are invited to.

Okay. Wha'da ya think? Can you work with these ideas? Do you see value or benefit in them? I figure they're a good start but surely we can expand the list. How do you combat stress? What’s your ‘go to’ ‘sure fire’ ‘never fails ya’ technique to deal with stress? I want to know. We'd all like to know. And since I'm dealing with yet one more stresser this month (oh, no, another birthday!!!) I'll give away an autographed copy of FEEL THE HEAT (or a book of your choice) to some generous commenter.

Thoughts On Tragedy...and On Telling the Story

I am torn about blogging tonight. Earlier in the week I had a plan. I was going to recommend three of the movies I saw over the holidays. Suddenly I can't even tell you what they were.

We generally steer the convertible clear of the heavy stuff, but there's nothing else on my mind tonight. The images from Haiti are heartbreaking. We're mostly about storytelling here, and one of the weird things about writers is that we observe almost everything from two perspectives at once--the person we are and the person who might tell this story.

Seeing pictures of a place that has suddenly, only hours ago, been utterly destroyed, and seeing those pictures on the screen that often entertains me with pictures that look much the same, and living as I do at any give time in one quite comfortable real world and one fantasy world that is totally within my control, I am hard-pressed to conceive of all those bodies being real. I've seen that kind of destruction before on this screen. Anything that horrific is done with special effects. Isn't it?

The numbers are inconceivable. The aerial photographs and films are the very definition of unreal. But the faces of the survivors are not. The people walking the streets of Port-au-Prince look dazed. Numb. Clearly the devastation seems no more believable up close than it is from far away. That could be anyone. That woman could be me. That child could be my grandchild. What happened? Where am I? Where everyone and everything I know?

I turn my attention to the reporters and the commentators who are charged with finding a way to tell this story to the world, and I am back in my element. I'm looking for truth. Show me what's happening. Some reporters are better than others, and I have to skip around, get the view from up high and down low, put pieces together so I can get a picture of what's going on, what might be done to help, what might happen in the days ahead.

And then I happen upon the worst kind of storytelling. It's the Big Lie being passed off as a "true story" by someone given access to the airwaves by people who accept him as an expert in his field. Pat Robertson's "true story" is that Haitian slaves made "a pact with the devil" 200 years ago when they rebelled against the French, and that this week's earthquake is just one more disaster that is the ultimate price of freedom and the victory over slavers. Oh. My. God.

Within the last 24 hours many people have condemn Robertson's TV comment. As a storyteller, it's the "true story" claim that bothers me the most. What's happening in Haiti now is real, and it's horrifying, and it's tragic. There are many prayers and promises being made by the survivors. People are offering all kinds of desperate deals, making all manner of curses. This might become the stuff of legend, but it is not the basis of history. Any teacher, reporter, commentator or minister who makes that claim now or 200 years from now should lose his lectern. And I suspect if God were going to punish people for crimes against humanity that their ancestors committed 200 years ago, many of us would be left wondering what hit us.

Storytellers owe us the truth. I write novels. Every book tells the reader right up front that it's a work of fiction, and that's the truth. Within my fiction, I treat legend as legend, and I do not twist history. If a storyteller takes any liberties--fudging on a date or using a real person in a fictitious situation--the storyteller is obliged to say so. Even in a novel!

I commend Rachel Maddow for following up her interview with a Haitian diplomat (who touched on the Robertson comment) with a short history lesson about the Haitian slave uprising and what followed throughout the Western Hemisphere. I remember a little bit about Simon Bolivar, but I was prompted to refresh my memory. Prompted to seek some real knowledge of a neighboring people who are suffering and have been suffering, prompted to point out their country on the map and look up earthquakes with my grandchildren, who ask only, "Who's going to take care of those children?" And since it's almost President's Day, I offer them a bit of American history. "Here on earth, God's work must truly be our own." (JFK)

A Fascinating Arrangement

Yesterday Oprah's show featured various styles of marriage across the world.  The mail-order bride from Ukraine was interesting, but the couple from India fascinated.  Did you know that 90% of marriages in India are arranged?  They believe in bringing a couple together based on compatibility as opposed to love.  (Although certainly love is something they hope for.)  Here in America we marry for lurve.  We love him, we want to marry him, we want to have his babies.  Sigh...  And then four years later his snoring drives us nuts and he's sleeping around with the younger, cuter neighbor, and it's D-I-V-O-R-C-E.

But back to the arranged marriage.  Did you know that worldwide over 60% of marriages are arranged?  That means over half the marriages in the world are put together in a means different than what we Americans consider traditional.  It's astounding.  And yet we are the ones with the highest divorce rate.  Hmm...

The idea of such a union is something I love to ponder.  I enjoy reading arranged marriage romances.  In fact my April release, HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND is an arranged marriage between a werewolf and a vampire.  (Hey! Werewolves and vampires are people, too.  Erm...mostly.)  It's a weird fantasy of mine, actually.  I often wonder what it would have been like to have lived a few centuries earlier and to be delivered to my future husband's arms and married without even knowing him.  Of course, he'd have to be tall, dark and brooding.  I'd discover the tragedy he hides deep inside, and heal him with my newly-learned love for him.  Sigh...

Er, sorry.  Well, it must be a popular fantasy because those arranged marriage romances sell like hotcakes.  And obviously it works in India.  I like the idea of being matched to my intellectual and emotional equal.  And the way they do it, the potential pair meets once (with much family around), and then if they wish, are allowed to go on a date.  And usually within one or two meetings the blushing young couple decide if they wish to procede with a marriage.  It seems rushed, but the relatives make darn sure the two are compatible before they shower them with marigolds and dance for three days.

But really?  Do you think it does work?  If you'd lived a different life, or even in a different time, do you think you'd be open to an arranged marriage?  Is love so important?  Because really, it isn't always lurve but rather infatuation.  Anyone know someone in an arranged marriage?  How's it workin' for them?
Michele

Just a little Dementia...

Okay, you remember I made no resolutions this year, right? Obviously not, or I would have resolved to be more organized. To write more things down on my calendar. To *look* at my calendar!

My excuse (and you knew I'd have one) is I just finished a book. So what's new, you ask. Well, nothing, sadly. Meaning the deadline snowballed, getting closer and closer and the pages were not coming and my muse was on a beach in Tahiti drinking Mai-Tais.

I spent the last two weeks writing *one half* the book. That's right. 226 pages in 13 days. Sound like fun? Actually, it wasn't as bad as it sounded.

Because my muse flew in about that time, apparently refreshed from her beach time and pretty much just told me the story and I wrote it down. There were a few stumbles along the way, of course. She didn't have *all* the plot points figured out. But the story went in at 4 AM Monday morning.

I'm still a bit sleep deprived, and given my lapse today obviously the gray matter hasn't recovered! But I'm ready to de-Christmas my house before starting the next book. And I'm thinking next year I am definitely *not* going to have a deadline over the holidays. I can do Christmas OR I can do a deadline. Not both.

What stresses you out the most? Is it a time of year or an event? Any ideas for staying more organized?

Wine 101

I'm a wine slut. I'll admit it right up front. I've never--well, practically never--met a wine I didn't like. So I've been wanting to blog about this for a while, even though I know this has absolutely nothing to do with writing. Still, it seems like such a huge topic that I'm not sure where to begin.

At the beginning, I suppose.

My interest in wine all started close to fifteen years ago when my father-in-law passed away. He was a wine connoisseur way before wine became as popular as it is today. This was a guy who bought wine futures, he knew so much about the market. I never even knew there was such a thing as wine futures until meeting him. He basically paid for most of the wine he drank by trading out either the futures or cases of wine that had appreciated in value for newer, cheaper wines.

He had a very good relationship with one of our local wine shops and actually stored his cellar with them while he was traveling. If a wine he held in his cellar appreciated too much, he wouldn't drink it. He traded it out for something less expensive. Because you know what? You don't have to spend an arm and a leg for a nice bottle of wine.

When he passed away, my dh and I bought about half of the wine in my father-in-law's cellar, even though we didn't know much about wine at the time. It's been a fun thing to have, especially for my husband. I've been happy to learn a lot about wine as a result.

I could probably write several blogs on the whole topic of wine, but I thought I'd start with some basic information. If you already know all this, sorry to bore you. It was all very confusing to me in the beginning. And if I get my facts mixed up, I apologize up front. I'm going mostly from memory and we all know how accurate that can be for a woman "of a certain age."

Merlot, Cabernet Savignon, Shiraz/Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and such, are all types of red grapes. Savignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Reisling, and Grenache, and such, are all types of white grapes.

On the other hand, Chianti, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Sauterne, and Rioja, to name a few, all refer to the region in which the wines are made.

Don't be afraid to try lesser known types of grapes. There are often great deals. Reds like Carménère, Malbec, Tempranillo, Sangiovese/Brunello, and whites like Pecorino and Muscat (sweet) are all great wines. You may just find a new favorite.

Personally, I think you should stay away from the gimicky labels. I've tried too many of them that, well, suck. But you don't need to spend more than $15/$20 for a nice bottle of wine and for every day stuff $10 oughta do it. Did you know that women are the big wine buyers in the U.S., so a lot of the labels are directed toward us? Try stuff, but don't fall for all that marketing crap. Sometimes the best wines have the most simple labels.

There is no doubt that certain types of food go with certain types of wine. Generally speaking the stronger the flavor of the food, the stronger the wine should be, simply because it needs to hold up against the power of the food flavors. But absolutely do not worry about it. You like whites, order a white even if you're having prime rib. You like reds, get a red, even if you're having shrimp or fish. You'll see for yourself what wines hold up with what foods.

Red wines, given optimal conditions, stored on their side at a cool temperature, will last for decades - we're talking fifty years. Whites, not so much. Except for Sauternes. They last for a very long time and will actually improve with age. If there's a cork you have to turn the bottle every so often to keep the cork moist.

A common misconception is that a normal screw top on wine means it's a cheap bottle. Used to be. Not anymore. Cork is expensive and believe it or not, they're beginning to discover that the safest way to store wine, in other words keep oxygen away from the wine, is with a screw top.

Box wines aren't what they used to be. Try one of the better brands and you may be pleasantly surprised. The box wines don't let oxygen at the wine, so an open box can last much longer than an open bottle.

Some other stuff I've learned through the years.

Sauternes, the sweet desert wines, are made from moldy grapes. They call it the "noble rot." One of the most famous Sauternes is called Chateau d'Yquem and is, of course, made in the Sauterne region of France. My father-in-law used to say it should only be drunk on bended knee. He also used to say in a self-deprecating way that the only difference between a wino and a wine connoisseur was about $10 a bottle.

White wines generally have a higher alcohol content than reds.

If you don't like the first taste of the red wine you ordered, let it sit a few minutes. Oxygen interacts with the wine and may help to smooth out the flavor.

Pinot Noir grapes do better in colder climates, so chances are that a Pinot from Oregon or Washington will taste better than one from California.

When they say one glass of wine a day is good for your heart, they mean red--white doesn't work the same way--and only 6 ounces. I know. Dang.

Do you like wine? Was this this useful info? Should I do a second installment of Wine 101? What's the most interesting thing you've ever learned about wine?

Helen