Diary of an adult runaway

The Great Blog Restart!

Hi there. Yes, I've missed you, too! The thing is, I want to blog but I can't think about what, so until my mojo kicks back in, I'm taking the easy way out and use a journaling idea I saw on Pinterest, from whence everything good comes.

Here goes.

1. Listening: to Secrets of the Bestselling Sisterhood, from the RWA 2011 Conference CDs. As usual, JAK & SEP (now known as JAXEP) tell it like it is.

2. Eating: not crab, which is making me cranky--oh wait, crabby (sorry)--because I reaaaalllyyyyy want crab. Crab cakes, crab dip, crab linguine. I can see a trip to Costco in my near future.

3. Drinking: Limeade

4. Wearing: jackets, still! But tomorrow's promising to be warmer. All I'm askin' for is 26C. Enough to bring out the dragonflies and heat up the lavender.

5. Feeling: melancholy over Steve Jobs's death. My first ever computer was an LCII and it--and every other Mac I've had since--helped bring my writing to life, it was so much fun, so easy to use. I loved turning it on and hear a woman's dulcet voice say "Welcome to Macintosh." The creations Jobs helped bring to the world not only sparked my imagination and worked painlessly, they're beautiful pieces of design. I'm going to miss him.

6. Wanting: this poster:

Needing: some kind of contraption that fits around my front door frame and sucks every bit of cat hair off my clothing before I appear in public.

Thinking: of course, now I can't think.

Watching: Season 2 of Mad Men and thinking (a-ha!) there's not one character I really like. Except maybe Sterling.

Enjoying: Mel Scott's debut novel, Shadow Kin:

What about you?

This, my friends, is how it's done

 

This book is absolutely awesome. But a little hard to read when you're busy taking down notes. Mr. Tropper, you have once again exceeded my expectations.

Now who do I see about the drink I snorted out my nose when reading the cheesecake-up-the-ass scene?

Release day: Bite Me!

Yes, I know, it's me, you're itinerant blogger. I promise I'll get better soon (ha!) but I'm just running by now to say you MUST buy this, the first release by über-fab Melissa Francis:

I've ordered my copy from the Book Depository (free shipping anywhere in the world!) and can't wait to get stuck into it.

I'm sure it's going to be a welcome change from the book I just slogged through. The tween protagonist was described in reviews as "precocious" and "witty" but, for me, she sounded too old for her age. The mother was flat-out a whiny pain in the ass and the manner in which family secrets were revealed was annoying. Silly me, I kept reading when I should have set it aside but I was waiting for the book to redeem itself. Oh well, at least it had a pretty cover ;-)

Read this book

The other morning I woke up at 4.44 and couldn't get back to sleep. So it kinda makes sense that I picked up Lisa McMann's Wake. Here's the blurb:

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.... 

This is a really, really smart write and a read that will keep you up even if you're not hit by a sudden bolt of insomnia. It's a YA that doesn't talk down, the prose is minimalist, almost like a dream, yet the characterization is spot on. Excellent ending that had me instantly ordering the sequel, Fade. And is it wrong to have a crush on an 18-year-old character? Hmm. Too late! 

Top 10 books of 2008

Yeah, I know, most people did their lists 2 weeks ago but what the hell, here's mine:

From top to bottom:

How to Talk to a Widower, by Jonathon Trollop: I just love this man's writing, it's full of heart and understanding and prose that's both touching an witty.

The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama: I read it because it was Obama and came away so impressed by his prose and applauding his ideas.

Candy Girl, by Diablo Cody: before she wrote Juno, Diablo Cody spent a year as a stripper. The book is interesting, funny, and damn good writing. Writers wanting to learn about voice should pick up this book.

Dirty, by Megan Hart: the best erotica writer around, she mixes great sex with true emotions that really make me worry about the characters. She doesn't shy away from the tough stuff, either. Plus, she gets the best covers!

A Version of the Truth, by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack: although I have an aversion to co-written fiction books (why? I don't know!) I picked this book up primarily because it's set in Topanga Canyon (note to an editor--or was it an agent--who, in an interview, said people don't choose books according to location: this reader most definitely does) and was thoroughly delighted by this commercial fiction release with a good dollop of "serious" literature.

The Shock Doctrine, The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, by Naomi Klein: scary, brave, informative.

Wicked Game, by Jeri Smith-Ready: I enjoyed this even more than her Aspect of Crow series, which is saying something. Very smart, sexy and lots of cool music references.

A Time It Was, Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties, by Bill Eppridge: Life photographer Eppridge was there on the '68 campaign trail, including in the kitchen of the Ambassador hotel--and it's his photos of a mortally wounded RFK that have been blazed into our memories. This books is about much more, though. It's about a life that symbolized hope for so many.

Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen: love, food, summer, magic. That's all you need to know.

Me and a Guy Named Elvis, by Jerry Schilling: too many memoirs by Elvis's "friends" are self-serving and self-aggrandizing. This book is the first I've read where I really felt it showed the true relationship, partly because Schilling does not big note himself and also compassionately acknowledges the weaknesses--of himself and Elvis, the guy he met during a game of pick-up football when he was 12 and E 19. The story of a true friendship with a remarkable person by a true friend.

And look what's on the horizon!:

A Certain Slant of Light, by Laura Whitcomb: about a teenage girl who realizes someone can see her, after 150 years of being a ghost

The Lost Recipe for Happiness, by Barbara O’Neal: already read, but back on the pile to read again because I loved it so much

This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen: 2 books by one of the best YA authors around

Wake, by Liasa McCann: another paranormal YA (and H/T Isabelle for the heads-up) about a girl who gets sucked into other people’s dreams, some not so nice

Spook, by Mary Roach: the author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers writes about how science tackles the afterlife

Hostile Takeover, by David Sirota: how big business and special interest groups have hijacked deomcracy

Breach of Faith, by Jed Horne: about the people caught in Hurricane Katrina and the catastrophic failure of the Bush administration to do, well, anything

Time of My Life, by Allison Winn Scotch: what would you do if you woke up one day and it was 7 years earlier? Would you make all the same decisions?


I’m reading Hostile Takeover during my commute and Time Of My Life at home, though that was put on hold because I saw Twilight on Friday night and LOVED it so Sophie slipped me the book. Read that yesterday and I think, overall, I liked the movie better ::gasp!:: The tension was set up better than in the book, the movie was so visually compelling and plain fun, and let’s face it, Robert Pattinson is shiny and pretty. We saw it in a cinema with about 850 seats but only about 100 people scattered about the middle, and it was kind of like being in a large living room because everyone was so into it and reacting to it—when Bella and Edward finally kissed, one guy called out “Ouaaaaaaaaaaai” (yeaaaaaaaaah) and applauded, and we joined in. I had my hand over my face half the time and was muttering “Watch out!” and “Oh, the poor guy” and "don't go, it's a tape!" Much better than I was expecting it to be, and I loved the shots of Oregon (including the scene in the mill, which I recognize as being near my friend Kassandra’s place).

Ok! Off to work on my own book.

Reading/watching

Okay, so my numbering’s going to look a bit skew-whiff here because I’m numbering it as of when started, not finished. So here goes:

Book #9: A Version of the Truth. Simply put, loved it and will order their first book.

Book #8: Forget About It by Candice Crane. As I suspected/hoped, the pace started to pick up on this one. But then came the train ride to Bruges and I wanted something slimmer to carry with me, so I took along Book#10.

Book #10: Promise Not To Tell by Jennifer McMahon. Really well-written in many ways but left me somewhat cold and I didn’t totally buy the ending. Still, a good read.

Jumped back to #8 but then yesterday arrived Book #11: Me And A Guy Named Elvis, by Jerry Schilling (with Chuck Crisafulli). No big surprise that I listen to Elvis Radio a lot, and Jerry often visits. He’s a soft-spoken, considerate, thoughtful man, and he’s been loyal to Elvis throughout it all. So I was interested to read his story, and his author’s note told me this would be a book I could trust:

I wouldn’t want to speak for Elvis Presley and tell you that I was his best friend. But I can tell you this: He was my best friend.

Watching:

Underbelly. Question: how good is Vince Colossimo as Alphonse Gangitano? My answer: fantastic. (Not to mention the guy playing Carl Williams.) Okay, so he’s channelling a little of Eric Bana as Chopper Reid, but that’s okay by me, and he actually got me to, well, not care about Gangitano so much but think maybe he could have been reformed. But who really knows? Those guys weren’t just killing each other but ambushing police and, in the case of Jane Thurgood-Dove, innocent citizens. It was our own real-life Sopranos, with people killing each other then turning up as pallbearers, cops stealing ecstacy and guns from the lock-up, the whole deal. My brother’s ex was in a car outside his house (in a “nice” neighbourhood) when he saw someone hit the ground—Gerardo Mannella, the latest “fruitshop owner” to be killed—and a man running away. I was on the tram going through Malvern on a lovely sunny afternoon when I saw the police descending on a side street—someone else had just been shot. Off and on, over the period of a few weeks, there were cars right outside my house (another “nice” neighbourhood), in what was obviously shifts and they were obviously watching the guy across and down a  few doors, a young guy who always roared into his drive in his black convertible. I went next door to my neighbour the cop and said “You know what’s going on here, right?” and he just gave me this look and nod and left it at that. Not long after, while I was at the hairdresser’s one Saturday morning, choppers started flying over. Jason Moran had been killed just a few blocks from my house. (Which is why it makes me laugh when people ask me if living in Paris is dangerous. Hell no, not after the “nice” suburbs of Melbourne!)

American Idol: You know, I don’t care if Michael Johns had a record deal before. He did something I didn’t think anyone could ever do: made me love Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which has freaked me since I first heard it when I was 6. Plus, he's Australian--come on! Also loving the Irish chick (another deal, another so what—if this is the way for her to realize her dream then I’m all for it) and the rocker nurse. Party on! Though I did agree with Simon about that Kyle guy, I wanted him to go through. He did something I never thought anyone could do, too: made me appreciate Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up without wanting to stab myself in the eye with a fork.

So You Think You Can Dance (Australia): eh. I can’t work out if the blond judge is genuine or pretentious, and I can’t shake the feeling they’re being somewhat condescending to some of the dancers. Regardless, watching this kind of dance on TV doesn’t move me as much as watching it live, so this is probably the end of the road for us.

Breaking Bad: note to self: don’t watch while eating dinner.

Celebrity Rehab: What’s the deal with that Chyna chick? And how sweet is Mary Carey? Dr. Drew makes me laugh. He's a cool mix of cynicism borne of experience, and hope.

Outta here!

Yes, even MORE books!

Just as well I'm surrounded by good books these days because I've been fighting off the 'flu for the past week and all I've wanted to do is read. Which is what I've been doing, when not hacking up half my body weight in snot. (Ha!) So here's the state of play this week:

Book #5 (for the year): Earl Emerson's Primal Threat. Thank God I was assisting at a meeting on Thursday, because once I got everyone seated and the Powerpoint presentations set up, I huddled behind the PC and gulped this down. Most of the book takes place over one day and you'd think that would drag, but--as usually happens with me and Earl--I had to put my hand over the page to stop from jumping ahead.

Book #6: An erotica collection that made me titter much more than it titillated me. Just not sexy at all, and the dialogue was some of the clunkiest out there. Didn't bother finishing it. Shame. The cover was great.

Book #7: Tales Of The City. It was while first reading this back in '94 that I came across the term fag hag and you can go ahead and call me that because I adore Armistead and will be hagging all over him when he hits town in the spring. I had a sudden craving to reread this, partly because I wanted to get my hands on the funky new packaging, and it's as fresh as reading it for the first time. Note to author of Book #6: read Maupin to learn dialogue. And characterization--he can nail a character with 1 trait. 2 problems: 1. reading this after Michael Tolliver Lives is bittersweet, because Mouse is still with us but not everybody is, and 2. now I'm going to have to buy the whole series with these new covers. I'll end up like Keris, with 53 different versions of the series. But I can think of worse things--both with having all those books and with being like Keris, come to think of it!

Book #8: Forget About It by Candice Crane. Hasn't grabbed me as quickly as Stupid and Contagious did, but I have the feeling it will still satisfy. However, progress was interrupted today by the arrival of...

Book #9: A Version Of The Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack. I kept seeing this all over Florida and I'd pick it up then put it down, thinking I'd get it off Amazon. Oh, how I wish I'd kept it in my grubby little hands and thus had it to read on the flight home, instead of that stupid romantic suspense that shall remain nameless. Probably just as well I didn't, because this had me wheezing with laughter on the metro ride home (the parrot screaming "dumbfuck!" did it for me). It's funny, insightful and set in Topanga Canyon. Plus there's a hottie on the horizon. Can't ask for much more than that!

Melissa, I haven't started Wicked yet. It was going to be next, then Primal Threat arrived then the others and, well, the witch got pushed aside. Truth be told, I didn't even read the first page before I bought it. I just saw the cover, read the premise (how clever is that?!) and tossed it in the basket. Only later did I see some kid wearing a t-shirt and figured out it was on Broadway. I'll let you know how it goes for me.

So yeah, the plan is: Wicked (which also happens to be the title of my WIP, and at some stage Cora dons a witch outfit but I think that's where the similarities end), then Cracked (Dr. Drew) then Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley then Modoc. Yep, I couldn't resist :-)

Books. Books books books!

One of the most wonderful things about spending Christmas in Florida was wandering through Borders or Barnes and Noble. Amazon's a great resource but nothing beats being in a store with 100,000 books and knowing that you're bound to find something fabulous and amazing.

Which I did. Some I bought, others are on my humongous Amazon wishlist. Only problem is, my eyes are way too big for my belly, and I don't have as much time to read as I'd like. But here's what I've read so far this year:

1. Stupid, annoying romantic suspense that shall remain nameless.

2. Pour Your Heart Into It by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Informational and inspirational. Released in '97, though, so it'd be interesting to read an updated version.

3. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. Enjoyable and novel, although she sometimes went off on tangents. They didn't last very long and usually had something to do with the world she'd created, but a few times I was "Wait, what does this have to do with anything?" The other thing I wasn't keen on is too many male characters being possessive of the female lead. Yes, I get that they're alpha wolves, etc, etc, and I'm sure that's part of the appeal for many readers. But it doesn't do much for me, except if it's really well done, à la the Sookie Stackhouse series. Would I read more of the Mercy Thompson series? Not sure--I'll have to see if Amazon has an excerpt from book 2 and then decide.

4. Heartbreak Town by Marsha Moyer. I so wanted to love this book, just like I loved The Return Of Lucy Hatch and The Last Of The Honky Tonk Angels. But I have to ask: when did Ash turn into such a jerk? Seriously, that guy doesn't need understanding, he needs extreme therapy. And hey, yes, we all know the realities of relationships, so it was kind of like following a good friend along as she went through a really rough time in her life, which is a tribute to the author--even while you want to grab the character and slap some sense into her. The writing was still beautifully lyrical and I love how she brings a small Texas town to life; still I felt as though there was too much "I took a shower, did the dishes, put on this dress, drove to Geneva's house." That said, I'll be first in line to plonk down my $13 in change or whatever for the 4th (and final) book, out next month. Bring it on! But kick some Ash Farrell ass,okay?

Reading now: Primal Threat by my boy Earl Emerson. I love Earl. He's 1 of my 2 automatic-buy-whatever-the-cost authors (the other being Barbara Samuel). I read on his site that this book is different from anything he's written but so far there are many of the hallmarks of his other stand-alones: set in the Seattle area (where Earl lives), features a firefighter (which Earl is) who has some kind of trauma in his past, who's generally respectful of women but hasn't been able to sustain relationships (until he meets the heroine during the novel, a heroine who is smart and resourceful and kicks his ass on several levels), is distrustful of rich people and those in an organized religion (both of which it seems this latest heroine is), has a problem with authority (although not so much with this one yet) and there's always some idiot who thinks the hero is an idiot and does his best to make his life hell. Obviously, it doesn't bother me because I keep coming back for more and I always will~especially since there's going to be a new Thomas Black mystery out next year, the first one in...7 years? Booyah!

And even though I've got quite the TBR pile at the moment, I'm still lusting after more. One I really, really want sounds quite amazing, though I'm coming about 20 years late to the party, is Modoc:

In case you don't know the story, here's the Amazon blurb:

Modoc is the joint biography of a man and an elephant born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, Modoc the daughter of his prize performer. The boy and animal grew up devoted to each other. When the Wunderzircus was sold to an American, with no provision to take along the human staff, Bram stowed away on the ship to prevent being separated from his beloved Modoc. A shipwreck off the Indian coast and a sojourn with a maharajah were only the beginning of the pair's incredible adventures. They battled bandits, armed revolutionaries, cruel animal trainers, and greedy circus owners in their quest to stay together. They triumphed against the odds and thrilled American circus audiences with Modoc's dazzling solo performances, only to be torn apart with brutal suddenness, seemingly never to meet again. Hollywood animal trainer Ralph Helfer rescued Modoc from ill-treatment and learned her astonishing story when Bram rediscovered her at Helfer's company. His emotional retelling of this true-life adventure epic will make pulses race and bring tears to readers' eyes.

Oh, I can tell I'm going to need the tissues! I love animal stories but I'm the kid who never got over the ending of Black Beauty, the kid who stood outside the Wintergarden Theatre in Rockhampton, sobbing "They killed Bambi's mother!" I haven't yet read the last instalment of The Cat Who Went To Paris series. I've got it, but I just can't bring myself to read it. My 2 are running around like lunatics, but I'm aware they're 16 years old. Knowing they've had a good life doesn't make it any easier--they're beloved friends.

(Which reminds me: A few years ago when Pumpkin had the tumor removed from his leg, the well-meaning vet said, "We didn't get it all so it'll probably come back in 2 to 4 years. But don't worry, it's a slow-moving cancer and he's old so he'll more than likely die of something else before then." What. The. Fuck? Was that supposed to cheer me up? And excuse me, but no one told Pumpkin he was old. We're now at the 3 1/2 year mark and there's no sign of a growth. Fingers crossed. I know I can't keep them alive forever, but at least another, oh, 10 years would be good brilliant fucking great.)

And once I'm done reading Modoc, I want to read Zamba. Glutton for punishment? Why, yes, yes I am :-)

Some things entertaining me this week

Yes, I know, have yet to post about my most-excellent experience, but it's been a most-sucky-busy week, and so here's all I got. But it's good shit!

1. So cool to read that a feature film about the life of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is in production now, with Sean Penn as Harvey. I've always found Harvey (and Mayor Moscone) inspirational, and it'll be a delight to see San Francisco taken back to the 70s, though too bad the filming will finish before I get there in July. Just one thing: pardon the terrible pun, but Penn's going to have to stretch for this role. I've always thought of him as so tight and self-contained, while Harvey was big and open and gangly:

P.S. Twinkies, my ass.

2. I'm ther-illed that Amanda Hill will soon have a new book out, the sequel to Love Like That. Not only is she a super-cool chica who understands the value of ice skating and beer (not at the same time...although...there's a thought....) but she can fucking write! Can't wait to read more about Dalton and Roman.

3. How excellent is Breaking Bad? Seriously. Seriously. I thought Bryan Cranston was funny on Malcolm In The Middle, realized how fast he was when he won Thank God You're Here, but he's totally breaking my heart as a terminally ill everyman chem teacher turned crystal meth maker. What he's doing is illegal and deadly and, you know, wrong, but .... that poor, droopy moustache, those sad tighty whities...

My weekend in pics

Watched:

Rescue Me: Thank God I wasn't eating and/or drinking during the "Let's take a peek into the captain's urn" scene, because it was the funniest damn thing I've seen in a long time--although I laughed long and hard at Teddy escaping from rehab once he realized he was supposed to be clean and sober for life. Kudos to Leary for his Emmy nomination, but where's Callie Thorne's and Tatum O'Neal's and John Scurti's? Scurti plays Kenny with such insouciance--plus I completely want Kenny on my team for any trivia night.

And then:

Dexter Season 2 pre-airs: OMG!! Has Dexter lost his mojo? Is he ::gasp!:: turning into a human being?? And now that his hiding place has been discovered and people, including his sister, are on the trail of this new killer, how's he going to keep his secret? Best line: I will not kill my sister, I will not kill my sister, I will not kill my sister. Michael C. Hall should TOTALLY be up for an Emmy. He's magnificent in this.

And then, for the third time:

And cried again. Totally deserved its Academy Award. Harvey would have been proud.

Then I ordered:

And:

And put a lot of books (such as Caprice Crane's 2nd outing) on my wishlist. As I roamed over Amazon, it kinda bothered me that a high percentage of YA books have more sophisticated covers and titles than the big girls' love stories. I want a YA cover!

And I received:

Yes, even here, Amazon had to make good on their promise to deliver July 21, but stores such as W.H.Smith were open at midnight and did a good trade. Only started this morning, though, because I was busy writing. Now all I have to do is avoid the spoilers and I'm sure I'll have a blast.

Plus, I had a lot of dreams. Weird ones. Dragging orange and purple microsuede quilts out of trash cans. Not being able to get to work today when I had several things on deadline. Realizing the next day was Christmas and I hadn't done anything.

How was your weekend?

Just for Mickelino: