West of Mars

Yep, I haven’t been doing as many Only the Good posts as I have been. But here’s one for you:

I am off for the weekend, with Opening Act #1. We’re headed to a Boy Scout camp North of Mars, and we’re going to sled and use his new snowboard and … well, freeze. It’s colder there than it is here, and it’s only about 15 degrees here right now.

I’ve packed my Yellowstone layers. Yep, by that I mean the layers and fleece and alpaca wool and all the other good stuff I bought when the Tour Manager took me to Yellowstone over New Year’s two years ago. (Read all about it here. Just … don’t expect to see the pictures. I don’t know where they went! And here. And… here. And see what Trevor did as soon as I left!)

Scarily, those posts don’t even BEGIN to touch the experience that trip was.

Anyway… One thing I’m not bringing? The laptop. I’m not sure there’s service, and frankly, these weekends away are all about being in the moment and having fun with my kids. And the other adults we’ll be with; they’re a cool group.

The only downer is that I haven’t been sleeping well and the thought of snuggling on the couch with Opening Act #2 and watching tween girl flicks via Netflix on Demand and making French Toast for dinner appeals way more than the idea of being so darn cold (especially because it got so cold in my office today, I’ve been on the couch in the family room for over an hour now!). But… #1 got to pick which parent was undertaking this adventure, and I snookered the Tour Manager’s best friend into driving and …

Off we go. Into the wild cold yonder.

See you guys on Monday!

It’s the end of January. I’ve got the midwinter blahs, right on time.

I need ways to break the blahs. So I asked the band what they thought I should do. The answers, of course, were less than helpful.

1. Daniel suggested I grab the Tour Manager and go find some cool band playing in the city limits. Not a bad idea, actually. A pair of suede jeans, some cool boots — and a skimpy little top that is perfect for the hot confines of a sweaty music hall (because sweaty music halls are the best kind) but that makes me cold while we’re outside. Oh, and I should throw my bra onstage and then flash the guys in the band.

Hmm.

2. Mitchell suggested going for ice cream and eating it on the bench outside the shop. But I should wait for a day when it’s snowing, and I should kick my legs as I lick my cone in the snow. Despite the input of a certain librarian, he had no suggestions of flavors.

Hmm.

3. Kerri suggested putting on an old t-shirt, a pair of old shorts, and grabbing some paint brushes. A new coat of paint for the walls, or just some kids’ paints and letting my inner child have some fun. But no black, no blue, and no pastels. All bright, cheery colors, please.

Especially if I paint the walls.

Hmm.

4. Mitchell then suggested I invite all my friends over, tell them to wear their shorts and swim wear, and throw a barbecue. Trevor one-upped him by turning it into a pig roast. Daniel one-upped him by floating the idea of a rib cook-off, with profits headed to Haiti relief.

Hmm.

5. Val brought us all back down to Earth with the suggestion that the Tour Manager and I take a weekend and flit off to some Caribbean island.

Hmm.

6. Trevor suggested I put shorts on and go for a ride on the back of his Vincent.

Uhh… no. Next?

7. Daniel suggested I go test-drive a fast car. Maybe the Acura ZDX, which I’m now lusting for (buy more books, people! It starts at $45k). Or something goofy and silly that’ll make me smile.

Hmmm.

8. Kerri suggested a new hair color. Or maybe a return to the pink.

Hmm.

9. Val thinks that going for some good Caribbean food would be the next best thing to going to the Caribbean itself. Or, she did for a minute and then reconsidered. There’s nothing better than warm sand under bare feet and a sarong tied just so it dips below one hip bone.

Caribbean. Hmm….

10. Kerri’s next idea was to go shopping. In the very high-end boutiques, the ones that dress the *sniff* society types. Fill a dressing room with clothes and then walk out, empty-handed. Or with a bracelet. Or that one piece you’ll wear the hell out of and makes people wonder if it ever comes off to get washed.

Hmm.

11. Eric offered to take me to an amusement park in a warm climate. (Busch Gardens, Tampa, maybe?) Nothing like a fast coaster and a warm night. Because we all know the coasters go faster at night (or is that reserved for the Thunderbolt at Kennywood?).

Hmmm.

12. Val said if we can’t do hot and sunny, we should do snowy. Sort of like Mitchell’s idea with the ice cream, but instead, take a day and go master the damn snowboard already.

Hmm.

13. All four of the boys in the band — especially Trevor — think I should take up a new exercise regime: either pole dancing or bellydancing. Or both. At the same time.

Boys in bands… *sigh*

I’m over at Drey’s Library today, talking about what it is about Trevor that makes him such a great character.

Come see it through my eyes — and then share it through yours.

By now, you ought to know what a Jennifer Estep fangirl I am. I just finished her newest book, Spider’s Bite, and so… I had to ask.

You guys know the drill, right? I ask ONE question to an author about her (there haven’t been any men yet!) new release. That question is a simple one: What song makes you think of your book?

Jennifer picked Human, by the Pretenders. (Jennifer and I share a taste in music!)

Here’s why:

The song “Human” by The Pretenders makes me think of my main character, Gin Blanco. On the outside, Gin is a tough-as-nails assassin and ready to battle any bad guy who comes her way. But on the inside, she has a lot of inner demons, including her guilt over not being able to save her murdered mentor/foster father as well as all the bad things that happened to her the night that her mother and older sister were killed by a Fire elemental. The line from the song “I’m only human on the inside” just really sums up Gin’s character.

Here’s a link to the song at YouTube. Let me know what you think. And pick up Spider’s Bite! It’s available now. In fact, here’s a buy link, to Powell’s.com (Yes, I’ll earn a commission. No, I won’t spend it on myself. When I have enough moolah, I’ll give a book away to one of YOU.)

Now, Chelle here got a toughie for you, so don’t come back and complain when you hear somethin’ you didn’t wanna. Anyone remember Gene McLean, the dude who made them horrid death metal growls for Forbidden Hope that gave Chelle here nightmares?

Yeah, yeah. We all heard of Forbidden Hope, especially us who ruled the scene in the nineties. We heard about how they broke up in ‘98 and how Pluck Remy went on to make that Fermented band happen and get so huge and all. But what none of us heard about was what happened to ol’ Gene. Gene McLean, the meanest dude with the rhymin’ name.

Turns out, no one knows what happened to our boy. That child went and vanished on us as if he’d been spirited away by some underworld demon come to get his voice back. Probably was.

Two months ago, word got out. Pluck went and did what no one thought could ever happen. He dissolved Fermented. Just … up and said to all them members of that hard-workin’ band to go and find themselves new gigs. Told ‘em all it’d been fun but there was a door they all gotta walk through and hope it don’t hit ‘em on them hineys.

Next thing, we be gettin’ word that Pluck’s found Gene. Brought him back into the fold or whatever it is those two had goin’ on. They be bringin’ back Forbidden Hope and there’s death metal heads all over the place havin’ all sorts of unmentionable sorts-a dreams over this news.

Ever seen a happy death metal head? That is some scary stuff right there, boys and girls. But that’s how you all was. Comin’ up to Chelle at shows and tellin’ her all about how great it was gonna be. Forbidden Hope. Back together. Rulin’ the world the way they should have back in the day.

Now, this is the bad part. Chelle here’s gotta break your hearts.

Word came down tonight that Gene McLean got down with the business end of a shotgun. No one knows why. Word came down from Pluck hisself, along with the request that we not bug the Pluck man for a bit. He be needin’ to grieve.

Chelle don’t blame him. Around these parts, there’s people wonderin’ if bein’ saddled with a girl’s name gone and done Gene in at last. Wonderin’ if the magic between him and Pluck couldn’t hold up over the years. There’s a million reasons why Gene coulda gone and done this.

Chelle ain’t sure why someone would up and off themselves like that. All she knows for sure is that it’s stupid. No matter who you are, there’s people who love you. Or like you. Or need you.

Or all of the above.

You hear me? No matter how bad it gets, when you face that demon who’s gonna take it all away from you, say no. Look for that angel who’s never near enough when you think you need her the most.

That’s the one you wanna say yes to.

You heard it first and you heard it here: Say yes to livin’. Without you, who’s gonna be readin’ Chelle’s columns?

***
This Sunday Scribblings came together because of the real-life story of Joe Ptacek, the singer for a nineties death metal band called Broken Hope. He was 37. I was never a fan of the band, but that doesn’t really matter. His story’s a tragedy.

I’ve been reading too much Captain Underpants ’cause I want to giggle, all Beavis-like, at the idea that I’ve started a movement. (”I said movement!”)

But maybe I have. I sure hope so.

You’ve been hearing a LOT about me trying to sell LOTS of books so I can donate part of the royalties to charity (So far, we’ve raised about $12. That’s it! I was hoping for … more).

Two authors have joined me in this effort, and I want to tell you who they are, so you can buy THEIR books if you won’t buy mine. (*sniff* books make great gifts, you know!)

First is Sue Lange. You can buy her collection of short work (the stories even have intros, like The Demo Tapes do!) via Smashwords. It’s called Uncategorized, and yes, I’ve read it. (here are some of my thoughts, in case you missed them) For a whopping $1.99, you can read it, too. AND help make a donation to Haiti.

Second is my good friend Wylie Kinson. I love Wylie; talking to her is like talking to a super-strong breath of fresh air. She’s got two books out via Ellora’s Cave, and while I’ve only read the one (Law of Averages), I’m confident in telling you to pick up both these books and settle in for a steamy read. These books are on the pricier side (yes, sarcasm intended); one’s priced over five bucks and the other just under four and a half.

So. Check out some Susan-approved authors. If you hear of more authors who’re doing the donation thing, let me know I’ll help spread the word. Many of you have been helping spread the word about me, so please. Let me return the favor.

Let’s do some good in the world. Royalties to help Haiti.

I swear, today’s Booking Through Thursday is a retread. I’m even going to begin my answer the same way I did the last time.

But first, the question:

Who’s your favorite author that other people are NOT reading? The one you want to evangelize for, the one you would run popularity campaigns for? The author that, so far as you’re concerned, everyone should be reading–but that nobody seems to have heard of. You know, not JK Rowling, not Jane Austen, not Hemingway–everybody’s heard of them. The author that you think should be that famous and can’t understand why they’re not…

Answer: ME! (especially since until the end of the month, I’m donating at least 50% of my royalties to the Red Cross, in response to the earthquake in Haiti. What a good time to buy my books.)

Want a less ego-centric answer? Jennifer Estep. Anya Bast. Ann Aguirre (although she’s well on her way). Carrie Lofty. India Edghill. Marcia Muller (she’s been around forever but has never really broken out. What a shame. She writes great stuff.). Cody McFadyen. KL Going. Don Bruns. Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Sheesh. Dig around the index here. Go under “Books” or “Susan’s Book Talk.” Find the books I’ve talked about. Ninety percent of them are written by non-best-selling authors. That’s because I prefer the hidden gems, the non-best-sellers-that-shouldn’t-be-non-best-sellers. I’ve started trends before. No reason I can’t do it by championing some of my favorite books.

I decided today was going to be a Sweatpants Day. After all, I wasn’t really going anywhere. Why get a good pair of jeans dirty when I was going to be cooking and writing all day long?

That, of course, made me think of our favorite band.

1. Sweats are perfect for the tour bus. Especially for overnight trips.

2. As the band gains popularity, though, they often feel the need to change into jeans before going into the hotel.

3. After all, their fans are hanging out, waiting for autographs, pictures, whatever they can get from the guys.

4. Trevor, of course, once vowed to wear sweats the first time the band walked a red carpet at an event.

5. Everyone ignored him, trusting that his vanity would win out when the actual time came.

6. It did.

7. Of the four guys in ShapeShifter, only Eric and Daniel are likely to hang out in sweats.

8. Trevor says he likes his pants tighter.

9. Mitchell doesn’t like to feel sloppy. Or so he says.

10. Kerri thinks he just wants to show off his legs.

11. Kerri also wonders what he’s got to show off, and why he’d want to. Showing off is more Trevor’s thing.

12. Still, sweats make for a comfy way to pass a long, boring day on a tour bus.

13. Just so long as there’s no one to see you, I guess.

Remember, I’m donating a portion of my royalties between now and January 31 (at least) to the Red Cross. It’s the least I can do, don’tcha think? Books make great gifts, remember — and I’ve posted a coupon code for the print version if you buy through Lulu. Read all the details yourself.

Come visit with me over at Drey’s Library, where I’m the January Featured Author. Today, I’ve written about the books I love. Which, I’m sure you guys know, is a wide cross-section of goodness.

I need suggestions to add to my wishlist, though, so stop on by and see if you can make the list grow to 2100. Yes, Two Thousand One Hundred.

I guess when I created the characters of Mitchell and Kerri (guitarist and artist, respectively), I wasn’t that far off the mark. After all, lots of rockers make art in their free time. KISS’ Paul Stanley is one of the most visible of them.

Enter David Lee Roth.

I gotta say, I like the demon with the drumsticks. And the woman with the hair and the weird skivvies. The warring fingers are a bit of a mindfuck, no?

Go on. Give me some perspective that I’m missing…