The outtake I posted yesterday is one of my all-time favorites. It’s a scene that pre-dates the blog. In many ways, it predates Trevor’s Song and my gazillion attempts at Trevor’s predecessor (which I still vow to get right!).

It’s one of the original scenes I’d envisioned with Mitchell and Kerri, back when I was constructing their relationship in my head. It could even date back to March of 2000, which is when Mitchell and Kerri first came to life. (Yes, you Trevor fans, they came first. Trevor would say I saved the perfection for later.)

My original idea with Mitchell and Kerri was to play with the idea of two people who happened to be each other’s muses. And then Trevor entered the picture, I couldn’t tell the Kerri-Mitchell story the right way, and … Trevor took over. For those of you who know him, you’re not surprised. For those of you who don’t, if you follow the link in his name, you’ll come to his bio page. At the bottom of the page (and for all my characters), you’ll see a list of blog posts featuring that character. Go have yourself some fun.

Back to the topic at hand: Kerri’s First Two Drawings. I swear, some of my favorite moments are these quiet ones. Visit Rain and Hands, Inspiration and, to a bit of a lesser degree, Hearts.

This one trumps them all. Maybe because I’ve imagined it so many times. Maybe because it fits my definition of romance and I’ve always wished for such yearning and tenderness in my own life. This isn’t to slight the Tour Manager in any way. This is to say that all those romantic movies I watched as a kid and the sappy songs I used to love? They did a number on my head. No wonder I’ve turned away from them so thoroughly. They set down a bar that simply can’t be attained in real life. So, I’ll let Mitchell and Kerri attain them in their fictional life, instead.

Part of me thinks that one of the reasons we writers write is to live out our fantasies. I have no desires to be a rock star or be married to one; Hell, when I almost made a career in the music business, it was with aims of working behind the scenes, for a record label.

But part of me knows that I write to create this sort of stuff in my life, and to share it with my readers. To give us all a few minutes in which we DO wish we were people like Mitchell and Kerri, or that we had a Trevor in our lives.

One final note before I’m done babbling: the end here isn’t perfect. The scene doesn’t end here; it ends with a torrid kiss and then Mitchell sweeping Kerri back to her futon for another round of hot sex. Maybe one day all you eroti–chicks will work some magic on me and I can write that sort of stuff without squirming and blushing. But for now… use your imagination.

And come on back for more.

I’ve got all these things I’ve been wanting to share with everyone, so I’m sending the bands into their practice spaces, I’m parking the journalists in front of their computers, and telling the chef, the artist, the groupie, and the roadie to go about their business for the week. Let’s talk books! 1. My eroti-chick friend Lisa Andel is reporting that her book Dead Again is now in print. My link will take you to the post on her blog about it; you can buy it from the links she provides. 2. My other eroti-chick friend Tilly Greene has the same wonderful thing going on! Here’s the link to her blog about the release of Zandia. 3. Not quite an eroti-chick but still an erotic writer nonetheless, TA Chase also has seen one of his e-books make the jump into print. No Going Home is the name of his book. Check it out. 4. This is a big deal because e-books have to sell a certain amount before the publisher will venture into print with them. After all, the costs for print books are higher. So if you’d like to explore (or further your explorations) of erotic literature, these three would be great places to start. If you’ve never read an e-book and wonder what the fuss is about but really don’t want to read on the computer or buy a reader, this is your chance to see what’s up. Best of all, you can hold these puppies in your hand and turn the pages. 5. Contests! I’ve got two contests to tell you about, and I’m not running either one of them! 6. First, we have my bud a Bookworm, over at A Book Blogger’s Diary. She’s giving away a copy of The Tea Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly. 7. As I said to her, the timing is sort of funny because I’d read about this book on someone else’s blog (if it was you, apologies; I read about 400 feeds a day and yeah, things get blurry fast) and was intrigued. And then, the day she posted this contest, I’d been reading an old Publisher’s Weekly from November, and there was the review. I was hooked all over again! 8. I almost didn’t share the news of this contest ’cause you know. I’d like to win it and all. Maybe if you win it, you’ll share it with me? 9. My other bud, Cheesy Giraffe, is having her very first contest. Sorry, you non-US folk, but this is a US-only contest. And no, I won’t let you ship it to me and I’ll ship it to you. Not even if you’ll publish Trevor for me. Now, if you’d design me a ShapeShifter t-shirt I could sell the rest of you groupies, we can talk… 10. Patience pays off. You guys know what a Joann Sfar fan I am, right? I’ve listed every one of his books I don’t already have on my wishlist at BookMooch and finally, finally, I was able to get my hands on The Professor’s Daughter. While not my favorite of his (I think The Dungeon series has that honor. Yes, even over the Rabbi’s Cat), it’s still darn good. Get your own, though! 11. I really like science fiction/fantasy art. It just appeals to me. And so, I read Irene Gallo‘s blog. It’s a dangerous place to be; I came across this gem. Since you’re too lazy to click the link, I’ll tell you it’s called The Plucker and it’s an illustrated novel by this dude named Brom. 12. The Tour Manager came home from the office on Monday (yes, he does more than tend to my every need) and told me he had my birthday present for me. Nevermind that I’m an April baby, he had the present and he was handing it over. 13. I’m very glad he did. It’s gorgeous and I can’t wait to read it. The Tour Manager rocks. Hey, before I go, am I the only lucky RT attendee who got kicked over to the overflow hotel? I’m wondering if, given that the whole idea of having a room was to have a nearby retreat and place to change my clothes, I should save the money and just sleep in my own bed.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thirteen (?) Things that happen Every Spring 1. Trevor swaps his leather jacket for a leather vest over a denim jacket. 2. Trevor rediscovers the pack of cigarettes he left in the leather vest when he wore it last. 3. The cigarettes are now stale. He offers them to Mitchell. 4. The Deadly Metal Hatchet beheads daffodils. 5. Fozzy buys the longest shorts a guy can get away with, hoping to hide the scars on his leg. Then he makes his annual call to the plastic surgeon to see if anything can be done about them. 6. Big Buck’s wife Beverly fires up the mobile grills and begins to get ready for the summer barbecue cook-off season. 7. Walter gets ready for a new tour. 8. Eric throws Cadbury Crème eggs into the audience. 9. They’d rather have his guitar picks. 10. Chelle swaps her long-sleeved concert t-shirts for the short-sleeved concert t-shirts. 11. Pam’s classes fill up with women worried about bathing suit season. 12. Roadie Poet, Hambone, and More begin fielding offers of work on summer tours. 13. Lyric offers her yearly discount on her favorite stockings to anyone with a prom ticket. 14. Susan’s world continues to grow. And grow. And grow. Sort of like the dandelions in her front yard, only more entertaining.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Remember at the end of January when I posted the Chicken Scratch outtake? When I posted it and read over it, I realized that it was… not up to my usual standards, even for an outtake, which I tend to think of as unpolished and rough anyway.

To me, this was rougher than usual.

But to a lot of you guys, it was great. A few of you commented that if I thought that was rough, you’d hate to see how things looked with some polish on them.

I decided to rise to that challenge. After all, I wasn’t happy with some things in the outtake. And who can resist a chance to show off a little bit?

If you go over to my website and scroll WAAAAAAAY down to the bottom of the home page, you’ll find a cleaned up Chicken Scratch outtake. It’s a .pdf and you can download it and read it. Come on back here to tell me what you think of it after its makeover; you can’t leave comments over there anymore, thanks to spammers.

If this is a big success with you guys and you tell your friends and spread the word, and lots of people stop by to check it out, there will be more of them to come. After all, I’ve got almost two years worth of outtakes on this here blog, and I’ve got a bunch more waiting to be shared with you.

But for now, let’s start with one.

Happy reading!

March is International Women’s History Month, or something like that. Since that dovetails nicely into the discussions around here over the past few weeks, I figured I’d invent thirteen women who will one day be discussed. By someone.

Some of these women you’ve met before. Others I created just this week. Let me know who you’d like to see more of and, just like the list of bands the other week, I shall do what I can to oblige.

Thirteen fictional women who changed the world 1. Zeynep Goldstein. This not-terribly-observant Muslim woman married a not-terribly-observant Jew and, without meaning to, found a way to begin to bridge the centuries-old hatred between the people of the two religions. (Although, as a Jew, I didn’t know of this hatred until about ten years ago, at most. Must be a hidden hatred, or am I that sheltered?) 2. Toni Lauren Smith — One of eight children, Toni and her husband Leon decided to seek fulfillment by not contributing to the world’s population problem. Instead, they work tirelessly to promote the conservation of the world’s green spaces and the flora, fauna, and wildlife that dwells within in. (If you think she wasn’t inspired by a certain blogger, you’re nuts.) 3. Maureen — Also known as More to Roadie Poet, she is helping (along with the real-life women out there) that women do belong in the often-sexist world of roadies. 4. Aliyah — Created last week, all I know about Aliyah so far is that she’s a chemist, doing research in a New York City lab into alternates for petroleum. Her partner is a big-shit record producer, also in New York. She keeps him grounded and proves, yet again, that it takes a good woman to make a man great. 5. Sara Deaver — a single mom who teaches her community and social circle how to live with grace under pressure. 6. Alina Kozlova — A historian by training, Alina brings history to life, with the help of a team of sociologists, pyschologists, and every other -ologist she deems necessary. First through articles in a national news weekly magazine and then through her own books and later podcasts, Alina makes history sexy — and reminds us of the relevance of the past in today’s world. 7. JC Montecino — The US Government’s top IRS fraud inspector. Despite long hours on the job, JC raises a family of seven children. With the help of her stay-at-home husband who somehow finds the time and energy to constantly be renovating at least one room of the four-bedroom house. 8. Pauline Smolinski — A Holocaust survivor, at 80 she begins a new career as a Food TV host. As a judge of Iron Chef America and all those food competitions where people create crazy things and win ten grand for it, she’s not afraid to show what’s what in terms of the importance of food and nourishment. 9. Beverly Buck — Big Buck’s wife. Those of you who hang around know that Big Buck’s Best Barbecue is one of those places in the fictional city of Riverview that no one can get enough of. Beverly is responsible for creating Bodacious Sauce. She’s also the one who takes the mobile barbecue on the road, proving that women can barbecue with the best out there. 10. Sassy Brody — A lawyer whose rising star has people hoping she’ll be named US Attorney General. 11. Ruby Red — fashion designer to the stars, she helps turn the musical culture into something other than sex and the ghetto. 12. Bunny Fitzgerald — At the tenderish age of 20, Bunny Fitzgerald took the skateboarding scene like a storm. The first female pro with a reputation as good as Tony Hawk’s, Bunny takes that board and flies with it. Rumor has it that Shaun White thinks she’s hot, but the idea of being Bunny White scares her sleepless. 13. Lyric Maker — You’ve met Lyric on these pages before. Stay tuned; there’s more of her to come. LOTS more.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Yep, I’ve gotten some of the big storm that’s pelting Cleveland and Buffalo and Carmi in Ontario. The best part is that I’ve got the house to myself for a bit over 24 hours; I’ve been soaking in the solitude — even if my plans to have dinner with a friend were nixed by slow road crews. Oh, well. It can’t all be perfect.

Two of my friends have releases this week!

Aline de Chevigny (Damn, that’s hard to spell!) released Toss of a Coin. The link will take you to her blog about it and you can follow those links to buy it. (Have I mentioned that being home alone has made me lazy?)

And my dear friend Joely Sue Burkhart has The Rose of Shanhasson about to explode onto the e-book market, too. Same thing with the links.

Check them out, pick them up. Wouldn’t it be cool if, five years from now (or less), they hit the best-seller list and you can say you read them when?

I’ve some new fiction for you tomorrow. Stay tuned.

***Sticky Post! Scroll down for this week’s good stuff!***

Barb, the lovely editor at Front Street Reviews, was surprised at how harsh I was about Don Bruns’ St. Barts Breakdown, given how much I liked it.

I don’t think I was harsh. I was trying to be balanced and fair.

What do you think? And, maybe more importantly, do you want a chance to see for yourself? I’ve got TWO copies of St. Barts Breakdown here — but one is about to find a place on my shelf.

That means I’ve got a spare. And it can be yours, so you can read it and tell me if you think I was being too harsh on Michelle and Jordan (and maybe even leading man Mick Sever, even though I basically liked him).

You know the rules…
1. Head on over to Front Street Reviews and check out what I had to say about the rest of St. Barts Breakdown. (This part isn’t mandatory, but it’d sure be nice. I spent a good week working on that review! That’s six days longer than the average outtake!)

2. Leave me a comment here on this very post, telling me you want to read it.

3. BE SURE TO LEAVE CONTACT INFORMATION. A link to your blog, your e-mail, whatever. But I’ve got to have a way to tell you that you’ve won. Please, don’t leave your phone number. I hate the phone and won’t call.

4. On Saturday, March 8, I’ll have The Opening Act (that’d be my kids, for you who don’t hang around here — and why not?) pick a number based on the number of entries.

5. This contest is open to everyone on Planet Earth. Yup, I’ll ship around the world. If you’ve won in the past, so what? Enter again. You might win again, but I make no promises.

6. I will register this book at BookCrossing.com. I love watching my books travel the world. I love seeing what others think of them. That doesn’t mean you’re obligated to do a darn thing with BookCrossing, although if you’re going to remove the lovely book plate I’ll be putting inside, don’t tell me. That denies me the chance to know what happens to a book that passed through my hands — and anyone who comes after you to experience the fun of BookCrossing.

7. You’ve got until Friday night, March 7 to enter.

Good luck! And really, get your hands on this book. Danny Murtz is a trainwreck you don’t want to miss out on.

As always, thanks to my promo crew for helping spread the word: Breeni, Laura Williams, Prizey, and a Book Blogger’s Diary. Am I missing anyone? Please let me know!

This is my 69th Thirteen. And we all know the obvious fun that the number 69 inspires. Unless you’ve got a partner who’s lousy at it.

Since it’s obvious to play with the concept of 69, I must be like Trevor and ignore the obvious. Therefore, I present something different this week.

My Booking Through Thursday post last week got me thinking. Bunnygirl and Thomma Lyn and I got into this discussion about the best women in fiction and how they’ve got strong personalities, but are told they are TOO strong to be published.

Needless to say, I want to fix that. I’m just not sure how. Let’s see if my thoughts on the subject give us any ideas.

Thirteen Thoughts About Strong, Fictional Women 1. I’m fascinated by the fact that this discussion happened just a few weeks before the Jewish holiday of Purim, which celebrates the story of Esther. Esther stood up to her husband the king, even though she faced death to do so. But it was her or all the Jews. How could a strong woman NOT take that risk? 2. A great novel about Esther, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah, is The Gilded Chamber, by Rebecca Kohn. See? Here’s an example of a strong woman character who made it into print. Even though she’s a historical figure. Maybe that doesn’t count. 3. As a child, I was inspired by women like Esther. I wanted to be a strong woman like her — and like Princess Leia. Leia was the first woman I’d ever seen who picked up a gun and held her own, in all arenas. She was tough. I wanted to grow up and be her. 4. I look at my own fictional characters and wonder if I’m fitting the bill, myself. Am I creating the sort of woman I want to be? 5. I think so. Kerri is an artist. She’s cool. She’s got it all, she knows it, she appreciates it. As any of you who were here earlier in the week saw, she’s got a past of her own that she had to overcome. Without bitterness. It’s one of the ways in which she’s similar to Trevor, who also has no bitterness toward his upbringing. If you can call it an upbringing. 6. Then there’s Chelle. Chelle grew up dirt poor and, without a college degree, found a way to wiggle into being a rock journalist. Sure, she writes for the city paper, not Rolling Stone or something, but she’s popular. Those of you who read her posts here on my blog know that she’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind. 7. I’ve got Val and Pam roaming around, too. Pam’s not ever going to be confused for being a strong woman, although in her way, she is. She can’t help it that Mitchell turns her into a simpering idiot. As for Val, she’s assertive when she’s comfortable. But as you may have noticed, she prefers to hang in the background. 8. However, none of those four women are math/science women, which is the sort of character Bunny and Thomma Lyn are looking for. That, of course, means a challenge for me. 9. You haven’t met Heather yet, but she might be someone I develop more, especially once I get Trevor’s Song into print. Yes, that’s a hint of things to come. 10. I’ve got an idea for a new character, named Aliyah, but nothing concrete yet. And even if I do flesh her out and write her story — which would have to center on her strength and her career — is there a point if I can’t get it published? 11. For Trevor and situations like this, I wonder what the strong approach is: self-publish and do it ALL myself (but also retain ALL control over my vision) or go for the traditional, royalty-paying publisher and the respect that is inherent with that pathway. I mean, anyone can self-publish in this day and age. But is giving up control a way of selling my vision out? 12. I have long dreamed of owning a publisher of my own. Yes, that’d get me in print, but it would also take care of situations like these. Lots of people in my comments last week — and as I visited others who participated in BTT — were all saying that they like strong women. They want more. 13. Without money, business acumen, time, and a million other things, this is only going to remain a dream. So the problem remains… How do we get strong women into print? Anyone? Bueller?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Hey! This was Post #400!

This was the week to Tag Susan For a Meme She’s Already Done. One of the reasons I didn’t stick with academia was that I hate repeating myself.

So this Sunday Best is better than that stupid meme. It’s about people OTHER than me. People who deserve your attention.

1. My eroti-chick friend Christine had a new release this week, Wizard’s Thief. You eroti-readers might want to check it out here. I think Christine is awesome, even though I have yet to read her fiction.

2. Ann Aguirre has a new book out, too. Get your hands on Grimspace! I hear it’s killer.

3. One of my favorite Thirteeners has her first release, too. Xakara’s debut is out through Samhain. Get it and tell me what I’m missing!

4. Want a peek at Jennifer Estep’s latest cover? Mark your calendars for September 2 and start counting the days!

5. Sort of about me, but more about Linda Fairstein. I finished the copy of Bad Blood that she was kind enough to send my way. It was her best book yet! Full of fascinating facts about a part of New York City 99% of the world doesn’t get to experience, and Coop at her best. She’s one gutsy woman, Coop is. Relating back to this week’s Booking Through Thursday question and the discussion that followed in the comment trail, Alexandra Cooper fits the bill.

6. Speaking of Linda, remember this date: March 12. That’s when Killer Heat will be released. I hope Luc comes back, and that’s all I gotta say about THAT.

Trust me. This is a series you can jump into at any point and be able to follow what’s up, so g’wan and click my links. Buy Bad Blood. Pre-order Killer Heat.

Heck, buy ALL these books. But I’ll warn you now: Bad Blood is the only one I’ve read, so if you take my suggestions but don’t like what you encounter, well, have your head examined. (although if you read Jennifer Estep’s two current books and don’t like them, I’m sure the person examining your head will have lovely drugs for you.)

Good thing I finished this early this week; the week’s sports news (scroll down) has me bummed out.

Thirteen Bands I’ve Created 1. ShapeShifter, obviously. And admit it, you’re a ShapeShifter fan even though you don’t like heavy metal. 2. Deadly Metal Hatchet. The fledglings around here. They suck, but they’re fun and sometimes, you need fun. 3. Walter Cicewski. He’s one of those guitar guru-types whose backing band is a revolving door. Many of his backing musicians go on to huge musical careers, thanks to what Walter taught them. He’s never had huge success, but it’s been huge enough for him. 4. Hammerhead. You’ll meet them when you get to read Trevor’s Song. You’ll never forget them. If you can find the few passing mentions of them on this blog, more power to you. 5. Tech Support. The ShapeShifter roadies got together during a band hiatus and decided to make some music. 6. Carrion. I haven’t done much with them yet, but stay tuned. They have a part in a current WIP. 7. Bitterness. Same thing. 8. Temple of the Book. If you’re too rushed to read the whole blog about them, here’s what Chelle has to say: They’re not all acoustic, they don’t wear ponytails and the only glasses were the ones they were drinking their beer out of. And they rock. Hard. Geoffrey, the guitarist, might be able to out head-bang some of you regulars, and that’s no joking on Chelle’s part. 9. The Gathering Rising. I created The Gathering Rising in response to literary agent Nathan Bransford‘s blog about the many books he’d been seeing queries for that involved those two words in their title. I asked Nathan what kind of music he liked to listen to, and created this band in his honor. I think his tates lean too literary for him to represent me well, so this wasn’t a kiss-up on my part. It was just something fun to do. 10. Nerdvana. I created them around the same time as The Gathering Rising. 11. Vanessa Kontempt. You guys haven’t met her yet and I’m not sure when you will. She’s a girl from Riverview, the only band on this list to be from there other than ShapeShifter (which is funny, given what a musical mecca Riverview becomes). Cross Britney with Courtney Love, throw in some Susan magic, and you’ve got Vanessa. The woman’s a disaster. 12. Jim Shields. A guy sort of like Ozzy. ShapeShifter was touring with him (and his latest backing band) when Mitchell’s hair turned green. (You mean you missed Green Hair Week? The shame!) 13. Jock La Feet. Another New Orleans band; Chelle’s review of them was her first appearance here on the blog.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Go check them out, or come back and check them out. Let me know if there’s anyone you want to see more of around these parts; you may have noticed lately that I’m itching to expand the world, get into some new things. Since I aim to please (although I believe that if I please everyone, I’m not being honest somewhere along the line), if you continue to inspire me the way you have in the past, I’ll strive to bring you bigger and better all the time.

Like other Pittsburgh sports fans, I’m reeling today. First, the Pens go and trade away two of my favorite players, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. ColbyJack, as we sometimes call him in my house, is a heck of a great dude. Funny as hell. And a good foil for Sid the Kid.

Christensen, by all reports, would be a ShapeShifter fan. The man likes my music. And he’s got a wicked wrist shot.

I hope they both come back during the off-season and return to the nest as free agents.

And a huge and warm welcome to Marion Hossa and Hal Gill (Hal Gill!) and the other guy no one’s paying much attention to, winger Pascal Dupuis.

Hockey players have the best names.

While I’m sighing, let my happy sigh turn into one of sadness. Man, we lost an institution today. Myron Cope gave up the good fight this morning. I’ve got chills as I’m typing this. Myron was one of my heroes; when I protested that a voice like mine would never be broadcast over the airwaves, Myron was held up as an example of how voice doesn’t matter, content does.

And did Myron know sports. Yoi! That man knew so much, it wasn’t funny. Whenever a transplant would tell me they just couldn’t stomach listening to Myron, I’d tell them to get past the voice and listen to what he had to say. He was so much more than a squeaky voice and a reason to drink (the Myron Cope drinking game: do a shot every time he says Yoi. Do two for a Double Yoi, and three for a triple Yoi); you couldn’t help but learn from him.

Like most Pittsburghers, I grew up on a winter diet of Steelers and Myron. Because of that, I might know more about football than the average fan — and believe me, while I’m a fan of the Steelers, I’m not a huge football fan. I’ll watch hockey games ’cause it’s hockey, but I won’t watch football because it’s football.

Over the past few years, after Myron retired, I’ve missed him in the broadcast booth. Yeah, Tunch brings a ton to the game. And Billy Hillgrove remains his steady self. But … it’s not the same without Myron.

So there’s three guys who’ve left the city. I hope two of them come back.

And the third?

I don’t think he’ll ever truly leave us.

Rest in peace, Myron. You made my world a better place and I thank you for it.

Evil, Evil Julia. Making me tell you things about myself. I’ve dragged my heels over this for a month now. Maybe it’s time to fess up.

Well, I figure you probably know all this already anyway, so … the rules.

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3. Pick your month of birth (see below).
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it!

First off, I’m not tagging 12 of you. If you do this, let me know and I’ll link to you. I can’t think of twelve people right now; I’m supposed to be writing fiction and researching agents to query, or you guys will never get to hold a copy of Trevor’s Song. I know you’d rather do that than hear me blather about yourself.

Thus, does it surprise anyone to hear I’m an April baby?

Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret.

Stop right there. Yes, I jump in both-feet-first too freaking often. (that sort of explains why I’m now a Girl Scout Leader. Oh, stop snorting coffee out your nose at that revelation!) But there’s very little in my life I regret. Not even having #2, who destroyed parts of my orthopedic makeup forever. Then again, if you knew #2, you’d understand how and why I’m willing to live with the pain and frustration.

Attractive and affectionate to oneself.
How on Earth does one show affection to oneself? Do they mean that the way I *think* they mean that?

Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous.
Yes, I generally describe myself as suave.

Emotional. Aggressive.
Yup.

Hasty.
Uhhh… maybe. Let me think about it.

Good memory.
Not anymore!

Moving.
Do you know how many years I’ve spent house-hunting? I’m not moving anywhere so fast. Although if I do, I hope it’s to land outside of Yellowstone.

Motivates oneself and others.

Sickness usually of the head and chest.
Sickness? Not counting the never-ending orthopedic problems?

Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
Ask the Tour Manager. In deference to that showing affection to self thing, I ain’t answering.

Birth Month Traits:

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

I’ve been on this Deadly Metal Hatchet kick lately, wanting to make the time to explore them more, learn their back story, bring more of them to you.

Thirteen Things about Deadly Metal Hatchet 1. Deadly Metal Hatchet is four guys who have created a gimmick for themselves that works. Think Iron Maiden’s Eddy, only more gruesome. 2. That gimmick is the Deadly Metal Hatchet, their mascot. 3. Here’s links to other DMH posts. The first. An earlier Thirteen. Chelle and the Hatchet. The perils of being a baby band. And meeting a groupie. 4. Fozzy, the lead guitarist, is the only known survivor of a Hatchet attack. That’s why the Hatchet lives with him now. 5. Fozzy founded the band as a better way to cope with a bad motorcycle accident. The alternative was to crawl into a bottle. Which he tried. 6. Lido’s the singer. 7. He figured that being in a band would take him out of town and away from the woman he loved — and who loved him back. 8. Scott’s bass drum was a Hatchet victim. Thankfully, Scott wasn’t playing it at the time. 9. Unfortunately, though, the Hatchet did its work before a show. Scott’s tech was one busy man, but it wasn’t enough and the band had to take the stage without the drums. They returned in the second song. Thankfully. 10. By that time, the audience was booing. It was an ugly show. 11. It took them awhile to get booked again after that. And when they did, they had to play the frat of one of Lido’s friends. 12. Fozzy and the Hatchet had a long talk about desecrating the band’s equipment. 13. Notice how there’s nothing about Gecko yet? Like I said, I’m still working on these guys.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I bring you…

Thirteen Reasons Why ShapeShifter doesn’t write Love Songs C’mon. Every good band out there writes love songs in one form or another. Some artists make their entire career about love songs. And then there’s ShapeShifter. It’s probably a good thing they’re fictional, because, in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are thirteen reasons why they don’t do that lovey-dovey thing with their music. 1. Love songs make Trevor gag. While that’s usually fun to watch, it’s not so fun during a show. The guy needs to concentrate, not gag. 2. Love songs make Mitchell all swoony. Which makes Trevor gag. (see #1) 3. Love songs make Daniel get all sappy and start talking about the little things about Val that he loves so much. This doesn’t just make Trevor gag; it gives him the dry heaves. IF you’re lucky enough to catch him between meals. 4. Love songs are best when they are slow. There’s nothing slow about ShapeShifter’s music. Except for love from the critics. That is very slow, indeed. 5. During a show, all those lighters held aloft blind Eric. 6. Trevor gets jealous when he looks out into the audience and sees couples making out. Those girls should be his, dammit! And the guys? They should be basking in the glory that is ShapeShifter. 7. While love songs bring about the girls, they tend to bring about the girls who whine about the lack of pink ShapeShifter t-shirts. 8. ShapeShifter’s all about saying Fuck You to the world. When you bring love songs into the mix, that takes on a whole new meaning. Not a bad one, but it loses some of its rebellion. 9. Having love songs in your catalog means you can’t conveniently forget about Valentine’s Day. 10. Guys who sing or write love songs are perceived as being tender. The only person Mitchell wants to come across as tender to is Kerri. Nope, not even his mom gets to see that side of him. 11. Ever notice how you think someone can sing until they sing a love song? Well, Mitchell doesn’t want them to feel bad. (So much for hiding that tender side, eh?) 12. Trevor believes love is for the birds and if the band were to do a love song, he’d be a hypocrite. Trevor Wolff is not a hypocrite. 13. We love ShapeShifter as they are, all prickly and speedy and thrashy. We don’t want them to change; we want them to improve.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wow. What a week. I’m laid up with The Plague that’s going around and you guys are… handing out awards to me. Is this your way of telling me to feel better?

If I’ve forgotten to list you and the award here, please let me know. We can blame it on a fever delirium. Really, it probably was.

Leeanne, who is one of the coolest chicks around — and who I hate to bug for WordPress advice (yes, I’m flirting with it) — gave me a new award: The Blogger of the World award. She says I take her to places she’s never been and that I make her feel wordly. Well, how is THAT for high praise?

And then there’s my collecting friends, who gave me this one. I mean, come on. How can you NOT use the words Yum Yum the right way?

Robin, bless her heart gave me this one:

Megan was kind enough to pass this along. Have you met Megan yet? She’s cool.

Whew. All these accolades… for me to sift through the almost 300 blogs in my reader (yes, I’ve culled a few; this is why it pays to delurk from time to time!) and pass along each one as justly as possible would probably take a few days. And while I’m feeling better, I’m still worn out and need a nap today (not to mention the Penguin game this afternoon).

If you’re a regular around here, if you know who Mitchell‘s favorite person on the planet is, consider yourself rewarded. Be sure to let me know you’ve taken it so I can make a big fuss over you. It’ll be well-deserved.

If you don’t know who Mitchell’s favorite person on the planet is, you should hang out here more often and check out the archives.

And finally, here’s the deal. Bunnygirl is hosting a Valentine’s Day themed Flash Fiction carnival. With the big red day fast approaching, why not whip up some fiction and shoot Bunny the url? You know you want to — and saying, “But I’m not as good as you, Susan. My stuff sucks next to yours” will only accomplish one thing: me spitting my water at the computer screen before I collapse in peals of laughter.

What a dumb reason to hold yourself back. Trevor does not approve. Then again, neither does anyone else who hangs around this joint. Except for maybe Springer, but he’s another story (hopefully to be developed into a novel of his own).

If you’re not the carnival type, check out Scribbit’s Write Away contest. Michele is cool. Actually, she’s probably cold this time of year, but you get the idea. She’s giving away Alaskan yummies this time around and her theme is love. How can you resist? Two places to share your writing for the single theme of love.

Love makes the world go ’round. Unless you’re Trevor; then it makes your bill at Lyric‘s place higher.

Yo. Trevor still here. This blogging gig sucks, but Susan’s sick. Really fucking sick. Not getting off the couch sick.

So I’m gonna make fun of her this week.

Thirteen Comments from the Peanut Gallery 1. Mitchell: Look! She’s a shadow of herself! Trevor: Who let you in here? Did that woman of yours wise up and throw your ass out? 2. Remember this whiny post? Ha. It’s got nothing on that blob parked on the couch. 3. We all know she writes book reviews over at Front Street Reviews. Mitchell: That’s why over on her sidebar, it’s listed under “byline.” Which is a play on Chelle, in case you hadn’t noticed. Trevor: Like I give a fuck? Let me get back to the story. 4. Beats the shit outta us where or how it happened, but these Bostick Communications people picked up Susan’s name. Not a bad idea, except their oh-so-researched targeted marketing has her deleting about five e-mails a day. Mitchell: Stays silent. Trevor: Gets mad that Mitchell won’t play the straight guy. 5. They’re all for Christian lit and non-fiction! Why the fuck would you send a Jewish novelist an offer to review your Christian lit or non-fiction????? 6. Mitchell: She reviewed LL Cool J. And that Brian Wilson book. And White Bicycles. Those weren’t fiction. Trevor: They were about music. Mitchell: LL Cool J’s book was not about music. It’s a workout book. Trevor: You ought to know. You’re sleeping with it under your pillow, in the hopes you’ll wake up and look that good. Mitchell: Actually, I loaned it to Daniel. I think he’s using it. Trevor: He would. 7. Now, here’s a good one to show you how out of it Susan is. The Tour Manager called to tell her that this new doohickey showed up. Mitchell: It’s a trainer, for her bike. You need that part to make the joke work. Trevor: Yeah. Her trainer. It was waiting at the office for him. And Susan’s first thought? What’s she doing there? Mitchell: I think it works better if you know that Susan’s got a personal trainer. Or if you hear her tell it. She’s got the space cadet thing down the past few days. 8. Eric: Oh, hi guys. Want to practice when Daniel gets back? Mitchell: Where is he? Eric: Off driving Susan’s car. He wanted to know why it’s won Best Car awards a bunch of times. Mitchell: I can’t believe she’s letting him. Eric: I was right there. She said, “Mmm-hmmm.” Didn’t even open her eyes or anything. Trevor: Is that how #2 got permission to play on the computer for a few hours? Mitchell: Hours? Trevor: Hours. Mitchell: Damn, she is out of it. 9. Trevor: We suck at ragging on Susan, know that? Mitchell: Yep. Eric: Everyone’s giving her awards again, too. Mitchell: The two things have got to be related. Trevor: Ya think, Super Brain? 10. Eric: She’ll have to catch up on the awards when she’s feeling better. Trevor: At this rate, that’ll be in another week. Mitchell: Think I ought to call Amy again? She’s awfully out of it. 11. Trevor: This sucks. You can’t rag on someone when she’s this pathetic. 12. Eric: Oh, look! She’s up! Mitchell: I think she’s hungry. Since Val’s not here, I’ll go see if I can help. 13. Trevor: Yum Yum.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Tour Manager was kind enough to give me, an asthmatic, his upper respiratory infection. So I feel lousy and am keeping this week’s Sunday Best simple.

WAY back in November, I joined this challenge. The idea was to read five books from your To Be Read pile between November and January 30.

I thought I’d let you know how I did. The Tour Manager was kind enough to give me, an asthmatic, his upper respiratory infection. So I feel lousy and am keeping this week’s Sunday Best simple.

WAY back in November, I joined this challenge. The idea was to read five books from your To Be Read pile between November and January 30.

I thought I’d let you know how I did.

Here is my last post, checking in and talking about what I’d read so far.

And check out what I did between December 15 and the end of January.

The Sex Club — LJ Sellers (read my review at Front Street Reviews!)

The Garden of Eve — KL Going

Spin Some More — Red Garnier

White Bicycles — Joe Boyd (read my review at Front Street Reviews!)

The Historian — Elizabeth Kostova

The Loop — Joe Coomer

Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil — Nancy Atherton

Visions of Sugar Plums — Janet Evanovich

The Reluctant Swordsman — Dave Duncan (no link because Powell’s only links to the e-book version and I did not read this version.)

July 7th — Jill McCorkle

State of the Onion — Julie Hyzy (watch Front Street Reviews for my review!)

A couple of cool things of note:
1. There are NO books in here that I disliked and refused to finish. This is a super-long stretch for me. Maybe I’m finally getting better at picking books.

2. That said, I don’t get what all the fuss over The Historian was about.

3. Pleasant surprises? The Reluctant Swordsman, a fantasy novel from the 80s. The Loop, a quirky read that had been on my Wishlist since my Grad School days. See? Patience does pay off.

3. Lots of reviews, possibly more than I intended. Yes, reviews keep me from writing, but it’s also good to stretch and discipline my brain, which likes to be about as disciplined at times as Trevor’s. (and yes, he’s yowling a protest at me for that dig.)

4. I really like Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity series. They are fun, smart, and just right. I really like KL Going, too. Even though The Garden of Eve is aimed for a younger audience, it still kicks. I’ve got a few more of each of these authors’ books on the Mountain Range that is TBR.

5. I’m already eager for the next in the new Julie Hyzy series that was kicked off by State of the Onion.

6. Despite this list, it’s still not enough. In fact, one more book arrived in January than I was able to read. At this rate, I’ll be caught up in 2011. Maybe.

7. I’ve begun reading for the Jewish Lit challenge. Just wait to see what I’m about to blitz you with.

See ya later for the Poetry Train. And keep an eye out for Trevor. He’s escaped my grasp and is leaving comments on the blogs owned by friends of mine. I think he’s going to take this getting-his-story-published business into his own hands. Watch out!The Tour Manager was kind enough to give me, an asthmatic, his upper respiratory infection. So I feel lousy and am keeping this week’s Sunday Best simple.

The Six Things Meme, doubled (plus one) Both Donica and Gecko (the blogger, not the member of Deadly Metal Hatchet) have tagged me for the six things meme, the one where you talk about six non-important habits/quirks/things. Here are the rules. * Link to the person who tagged you. * Post the rules on your blog. * Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. * Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. * Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website. But… this is me, and God forbid I follow the rules. And you guys like the band more than you like me, so … onward! These first six are smokin’! 1. Trevor had his first cigarette at ten and his first joint a week later. Why bother to smoke if you’re not going to smoke the good stuff? 2. Trevor had to convince Mitchell smoking was cool. 3. Daniel started to smoke when he was fourteen. He’s not really sure why; he gravitated toward the burn-outs in school and loved their music and smoking was just part of the scene. He never thought much about it. 4. Daniel’s grandmother had a cigarette a day while he was off at school. He never suspected. 5. Eric took up smoking when Trevor got all over him about being the pastor’s kid. Cigarettes don’t do it for him, but pot does. 6. Kerri tried it once, coughed, and decided there were better things to do with her life and better highs to get. That doesn’t stop her from hitting Eric or Trevor’s joints every now and then (usually when Mitchell’s not watching. As if he doesn’t tipple…). This six is cold. 1. Kerri grew up in Pittsburgh. She’s familiar with snow; it’s no big deal. In fact, living in Riverview, she sort of misses it. 2. Mitchell, Trevor, Daniel, and Eric had never seen snow until they went on tour. 3. Mitchell likes to build snowmen. 4. Trevor likes to throw snowballs. At Mitchell’s head. Mitchell’s aim, once provoked, is better than Trevor’s. Trevor milks the resultant sore areas for the girls. Go figure. 5. Eric’s a snow angel sort of guy. 6. Daniel just watches and laughs. And wishes for a white sand beach. As for me (your thirteenth bonus fact), yes. Now to tag… nah. That’d be playing by the rules. If you’re so moved, do the usual: link back to me and holler that you have so I can come giggle with you.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will try to link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Man, it’s been a busy week. And wait until you see what I have for tomorrow’s Poetry Train, too! I may have to post it a bit unfinished; we’ll see. You’ll like it, regardless. And if you love it, once I polish it, if you ask nicely enough, maybe I’ll make it available as a PDF or something and you can have your very own copy to sleep with. Or whatever it is you do with those things.

But in the meantime, before I can hop on the train (and why don’t you join me on it?), let me address the Sunday Best. The best of my week.

This week, even though two great books arrived for my reading and reviewing pleasure, the best has to be a plethora of awards.

First is Pussreboots and Breeni, who both awarded me the You Make My Day Award.

Is it tacky to give it back to them? They both make my day, on a regular basis.

The rules say I’m supposed to pass this on to at least ten people. Ten’s a big number (even though, as Puss says, “[Susan’s] blog goes to Eleven.”)

But let’s see…

1. Amy Ruttan makes my day, and not just because she gave me the next award. Amy’s got a happy-go-lucky attitude that shines through her blog and always makes me smile. Even when the EDJ is making her nuts.

2. Joely, who’s just all-around awesome and whose dedication and discipline leave me speechless.

3. Thomma Lyn, who is on the same wavelength as me concerning cats and the outdoors. (hey, TL, remind me to send you the link to the live feed from Yellowstone!)

4. L^2. I’m not a dog person, but Stella and Willow are trying to change that.

5. Red, whose unflagging enthusiasm to get me into print keeps me going when I’m frustrated.

6. Spy Scribbler, who always makes me think about the writing process. And who doesn’t live that far away from my Martian self; we totally ought to do the face-to-face thing one day.

7. Of course, Rhian, who has cool posts and hosts the Poetry Train. And has graciously offered to make ShapeShifter’s logo come to life for us. Three cheers for Rhi and that offer aren’t enough; we need more like eighteen. Per minute.

8. Robin, who hangs out around her island and is going to keep me sane when I’m playing single parent and she’s hosting the Tour Manager around that island…

9. She’sawriter is a new read of mine. She’s making a great community for writerly resources. And turning me on to new places to hang, too.

10. And Frigga, from Any Apples. I hate to admit I missed musical Fridays and that I’ve gone out of my way some days to make sure I’m alone in the house so I can play to my heart’s content. So I won’t. I will own up, though, to having her picture blog in my reader. Cool stuff.

Whew. That was a lot of people, and this post is long.

But I have to acknowledge the new Roar

that Amy gave me. I needed it; the day she awarded it to me, I got a rejection letter from an agent who had the gumption to come out and say that Trevor doesn’t fit nicely into today’s marketplace. Makes you wonder what’s wrong with the marketplace that they don’t want a cranky rock star with a bad attitude. And an ugly cranky rock star with a bad attitude, to boot. But still.

So what three things hook me about a book?
1. Characters who could be alive. You know. Sort of like Trevor.
2. Prose that allows me to picture things in my head. Who needs movies when there’s writing that’s this clear and wonderful?
3. A willing suspension of disbelief. I mean, do you REALLY think people like Trevor exist? Of course not; he’s too much like the rest of us. You can’t possibly have the kind of success that ShapeShifter’s had and not have to insulate yourself from real life, even a little bit. Yet it’s fun to think about and believe in.

And to pass it along? I’m picking this time a writer who is more of a blogger than an actual writer, per se. It’s Bob-Kat, whose posts are incredible. She takes me places and shows me the world. Her posts linger in my brain, and I suspect many of my groupies around here haven’t met her yet.

That’s it for now, boys and girls. (Be glad Mitchell’s not here; he likes calling his audiences pussies.) Lots of awards that’re giving me warm fuzzies. I’ll be back soon with a new outtake…

Before we rock this week’s Thirteen, let me plug the Blue Ribbon Bloggers, where I’ve been hanging out since being invited to join. Hanging out means NEW POSTS that don’t appear here, gang. Keep an eye on me over there; you never know what trouble I’ll be stirring up!

Speaking of trouble, you may have noticed that there’s been none to be found here at the Meet and Greet; my personal life’s had enough of it. That’s why I’m pleased to bring you another set of pictures from Yellowstone. Relax and enjoy with me.

1. Trevor: Hey, wait just a fucking minute, here! You set up this blog for me, Trevor Fucking Wolff, not for some four-legged, shaggy thing you could only see in a fucking telescope.

Eric: The man’s got a point, Susan. We haven’t been seen on this blog since December 27th. That’s a long time for us.

Mitchell: Trev’s right. The whole point of this blog was to promote the band and the book about the band.

2. Daniel: But, guys, these pictures are pretty cool. Check out this one. It looks like something Kerri would paint.

3.

4. Mitchell: If she painted science fiction book covers. And trees.

Kerri: I usually don’t do trees, no. But that is a cool picture. So’s this one.

5. Trevor: If we’re going to do the fucking pictures, let’s show the good shit. Like this one.

6. Trevor: This is Fatso. Or that’s what Susan named her.

Eric: Poor thing came right over to Susan’s group when they got out of the vans to look for wolves. She was looking for handouts.

Trevor: That’s how you know it’s a coyote. Wolves are too cool to beg.

Daniel: It’s a dangerous thing for any animal to learn. We have to keep them wild.

7. Mitchell: Look how close she was to the cars.

Daniel: Scary. When the Tour Manager got down on one knee to take this picture,she started to approach him.

Mitchell: Can’t imagine what Susan would do if the Tour Manager got taken out by a coyote.

Trevor: It’d have been cooler to be taken out by wolves.

8. Daniel: Look. Susan got other shots of coyotes. Check out this one. What’s it standing on?

Eric: A frozen river. Check out the next one.

Trevor: Is that bird fucking with the coyote?

Mitchell: Looks like it.

Trevor: Must be a girl. Only girls fuck around like that.

Kerri: And what’s the coyote doing? It’s not fucking around?

Mitchell: Hell, no. It’s trying to figure out if the swan’s for lunch.

12. Trevor: Speaking of lunch…

Mitchell: Save it for next week, Trev. If we push Susan too far, she’s likely to ban us from the blog again.

Daniel: She does it long enough, the groupies will revolt.

13. Eric: Give her time and she’ll get the balance back. Right now, there’s a lot to show everyone.

Daniel: Where you going?

Eric: To look over the rest of the pictures. Anyone coming?

The band scampers after Eric, fighting to see the rest of the shots.

So much for my nice, quiet blog… Somehow, with all the stresses in real life this past week, this sort of verbal sparring is as welcome as the pictures. While you soak it in, don’t forget about the Blue Ribbon Bloggers! Click on my name to see my posts.