The Novelty Girls

Heading out tomorrow. My feelings can best be described in this YOUTUBE medley.

I’m Leaving On A Jet Plane

But Think of Me Fondly

And I’ll Be Back Soon

Cause I Dont Need Anything But You

Frankly, I’d rather go barefoot, but flat sandals are the way to go if I have to wear something

You are Flat Sandals

Casual yet flirty You look great in a simple top and jeans Your look is approachable and cute!

So far, everyone has mentioned some of my favorite time wasters–Romance Divas, YouTube, The Movie Data Base. I can add a couple of more like Amazon.com, Blog Things, and IStock Photo.
But to be a true procrastinator, a talented time waster, it takes a very keen sense of avoidance and the ability to use ANYTHING to waste time.
In other words, when I’m supposed to be working on my pitch for the RWA Conference that starts in ten days, I’ll work on my work in progress, “Regaining Command” (the third in my “Command Series).

When I’m supposed to be promoting my upcoming book “Edge of the Storm” (sequel to “Heart of the Storm” coming out the first week in August) I’ll mess around with book trailers.
The trick to time wasting is to make it LOOK as if it applies to my career, but it’s not what I’m supposed to do. Luckily, I have author friends who call me on it (*cough* Lori *cough*) and remind me to “get ‘er done”.
Am I really the only one who does this?

OK…that is such a big lie.

My favorite time wasters….

I love my Cobb author buddies!

I love my author buddies!

I love books!

I’ve really tried to cut back on my TV watching this summer. TV Guide online allows me to keep up with my two favorite soaps…Y&R and General Hospital. Plus, you can get some good celeb gossip.

I’m a movie junkie and there are always so many good movies out in the summer so I go here to look at the trailers.

Hey, it’s summer what else do you expect?

So I know I’m supposed to blog about ‘net time wasters, but that isn’t my problem this time of year. Nope. My problem is it hasn’t been under 95 in weeks and I have a pool and patio. And the sunburn to prove it.

Other than that, what am I doing?

Talking on the phone. A LOT. Cause I can. And cause sitting down in front of my computer and opening a Word document is akin to waving a red flag at a bull. Cept the bull is a kid. Three kids. Who all need my attention. Right. This. Minute. Unless of course I want them to do the dishes. Then they are incredibly busy people.

They will, occasionally, let me hit Divas, a blog or two, or Democratic Underground (hey it’s campaign season!), but mostly, no, it’s all about the pool lol.

(And everybody who knows me starts giggling. )

Since I am effectively a stay-at-home writer, I have plenty of spare time for, well, wasting. ^_^

Of course, there’s the awesome Romance Divas community, including forums and a very addictive chatroom. That’s probably my biggest time-sink, right there — talking about writing instead of writing. *whistles*

Okay, maybe not. I’m obsessed with the MMORPG World of Warcraft, and I can play that for hours on end, especially if my fibromyalgia is acting up (which it has been for quite some time *sigh*). I follow a couple of WoW-related blogs/communities, including WoW Insider and WoW Ladies

Yes, I am aware I have just admitted my total geekdom.

Add to that, I follow a plethora of blogs and journals through Google Reader and LiveJournal. Some of these are friends, author blogs, review blogs, and so on and so forth.

With all this procrastinatory goodness, it’s amazing I manage to get anything done.

Crystal started a topic that I feel I’m really well prepared for. Internet time wasters.

Youtube has really become a huge one, and Yahoo games like Bookworm and Alchemy.  Of course all the forums, Romance Divas, Passionate Ink, Samhain yahoo group etc.

Then there are all the blogs to go to, sexy guy pics on Beautiful  http://www.beautifulmag.eu/beautiful/ Not to mention youtubes evil twin…um…nevermind, thats research, not time wasting *blush*

And because this is an election year and I’m a hippie I have to check out Huffington Post, Crooks and Liars, Politico etc-for five million versions of the same three stories. I’m kind of obsessive that way. lol

Its amazing I have time to write.

Okay, this week I’m starting off a list of my favorite internet time wasters. You know, those places I go when I should be writing or working. Yeah, those places.

In my number one spot, the Romance Divas forum.

And in second place, YouTube.

And a close third, Internet Movie Database.

I thought to show my eclectic reading habits, I’d give you a ride through time as I learned to appreciate books.

Whinnie The Pooh

When I was little, my dad would read these stories to me.  Somehow, he captured all the whimsy in the characters and I’ve loved Pooh ever since.

Dune by Frank Herbert

At around thirteen, two books influenced all future reading for me.  The first huge impact was “Dune”.  I still reread this book whenever the mood strikes me.

Sword Of Shannara by Terry Brooks

This was my first real journey fantasy.  I reread it over and over taking in the details, the characterizations, the plot.  It had a massive influence over a lot of my taste later on.

But nothing changed my life quite the way “Death In A White Tie” by Ngaio Marsh did.

For many years, my father tried to get me to read Marsh mysteries.  Content with my Harlequin romances and Agatha Christie’s, I refused often driving him to distraction as I used his books as a dust collector.

But one day, at about fourteen or fifteen, I finally broke down and read this one.  I FELL IN LOVE.  I devoured every Ngaio Marsh I could get my mitts on and still have them all.  Though Christie entertained me, Ngaio Marsh uplifted me.  From then on, I read mysteries.   Lots of mysteries.

And one of the mysteries that changed my reading habits forever was “Gaudy Night” by Dorothy L. Sayers.

No one had more influence on my reading and writing than this author, another one of my father’s favorites and now one of mine.  Because of this book, I read John Donne poetry and other works of classic literature that Sayers quotes here.  Her depiction of a mystery writer struggling to solve a crime is so unique and, believe it or not, it’s not bloody or violent.  I reread this book every year when it’s rainy and grey outside.

For the next two decades, I read mysteries, suspense, detective stories and romance took a back seat.  I attempted to write a “good mystery” and never finished a story.  Life got busy and reading became an escape and very random.  At any given moment, I could be reading Elizabeth Peters, Robert Heinlen, Iris Johanson, Anne McCaffery or Julie Garwood.  But then, one author and two series sparked a love of romance that coincided with my decision to write seriously.

The Three Sisters Island Trilogy

This was a trilogy I discovered when I got really desperate for something to read at my mom’s house.  I was pregnant, tired and wanted something “easy” to read.  Instead, I was captivated by Robert’s characters, her sexual tension and her awesome story.

That led me to finding the “Night Tales” collection at Costco.  Once I discovered La Nora, I was hooked.  I devoured a lot of her books–some I liked some I didn’t.

I went on to read one of my favorite series books, The Donovan Series by Elizabeth Lowell.

I love the classics too–Jane Austen especially–and I have a weird nonfiction habit which involves reading Winston Churchill’s “Birth of Britain” series (five volumes) and Barbara Tuchman.

But for the most part, I love my romance.

I was happily content reading and writing romantic suspense, paranormal romance and fantasy romance.  And then, I discovered Erotic Romance and life was never quite the same.  And the Redneck is VERY grateful.

My first Erotic Romance was a happy accident.  Romance Divas needed a reviewer and I wanted to give it a go.  My first review was “Stolen Goddess” by Tawny Taylor.

This book was SO AWESOME!!!!!!!  It led me into an entirely new world of erotic stories with romance and a happy ending.  *Happy sigh*

But the book that began my journey into WRITING erotic romance was one of the best romances I’ve ever read.

“Natural Law” by Joey W. Hill

Since I’ve begun writing there have been several books that I’ve fallen in love with by my favorite authors.

“Go Between” by Dayna Hart.

“Full Swing” by Crystal Jordan.

“Bound By Love” by Loribelle Hunt.

“Paul’s Dream” by Rowan McBride.

Anything by Eden Bradley.

There is a whole universe of books out there that I’ve had a chance to read because I began a career in writing.

Now, I’m still likely to read a mystery or suspense, but I’ve added so many more genres to my collection and so many authors.   Ahhh so many books, so little time.

With summer here, I’ve been devouring books it seems. I don’t think a week has passed that I haven’t visited the library or Barnes & Noble for “something” to read. So, in honor of this weeks theme I’ll share with you what I have read, what I am reading, and what’s in my TBR pile.

Have Read:

I’ve had the Tale of Despereaux in my school library for a year or so and never got around to reading it. Then, my youngest daughter started reading it and telling me about it. So, we picked up the CD on tape at the public library and we read/listened to it together, along with my oldest daughter. Very cute story if you’re in to YA/Mid Grade stuff. She has another one, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane that I plan to read also.

I’ve gotten really into Nora’s In Death series this summer. I think I’ve read at least 6 or 7 of these this summer already. I’m really loving Eve and Roarke these days. The one pictured above I actually finished today.

Am Reading:

Boy isn’t that a lot of books up there. Well, my brain works in mysterious ways. It likes variety. The daughters and I are again listening/reading Inkheart. We’re only about 4 chapters in but I’m/we’re liking it so far. There’s supposed to be a movie coming out some time this year staring Brendan Frasier. For my sci-fi side of the brain, plus my constant craving for the new Star Trek movie that’s coming out soon, I picked up a novel to get me through the agonizing wait. This of course picks up at the end of the last movie when Riker goes off to be the captain of the starship Titan. This is the first book in the series and I picked up the second the other day. The True Meaning of Smekday is a kind of sci-fi novel as well but it’s a YA/mid-grade novel. It’s OK so far. A Vintage Murder - been waiting for this one for a while. I’m glad the author allowed the heroine to end up with the hero I wanted her to. It’s a cozy mystery, and this series is one of my favs.

TBR

Inkspell is the second book in the series and I also have this on CD so the girls and I can listen to it and read it together and The Red King is the second book in the Titan series.

I’m not going to even mention how many other books are on my ever growing book shelf. But as an avid reader and librarian…this will never ever end.