Archive for December, 2009

What’s on my iPod – Curse of the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean Soundtrack

 
Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

Today is my favorite day of the month! It’s Excerpt Monday again. I can’t believe that is number 8 for me. For this month’s excerpt, I thought I might put up part of a scene from the second book in the BROKEN series called RENEGADE. This is still a work in progress.

          “Where are we going?” I asked as bubbles of giddiness popped in my stomach.

           He paused on the other line, but I could hear the smile. “Surprise, but dress warm.”

           “Okay.” I didn’t press him further because I knew he wouldn’t give in anyway.

          I rummaged through my closet, having even less warm clothes than I did summer outfits. What I did have was layers, and that’s the best I could do to dress warmly.

          The SLK whipped into Pembry’s fire lane promptly at nine am Saturday morning. The dorm and surrounding campus still slumbered in alcohol induced hangovers, study crazed lethargy and just plain too friggin’ early laziness. I pushed on the double doors when the Mercedes glided to a stop. He stepped out dressed in a black Under Armor long sleeve shirt and a thick Northface jacket. Unzipped and hanging open despite the freezing temperature, it wasn’t like he needed any of it anyway. The sun crested on the horizon, and though it would be bright, it would provide little warmth. When he noticed my multi-layers of long sleeve shirts under the pea-coat, he laughed at my bundled state of immobility as he opened the door for me.

           “So, where are we going?” I asked again.

            The ignition purred to life, emitting a wave of white smoke behind, and he put the car in drive.

           He looked over with a sparkle to his sapphire blue eyes. “One of my favorite places to go when it gets cold.”

          “That doesn’t help,” I said. He was definitely tight lipped about this surprise.

           We drove through Wenham and hit the highway north toward the forest and state park. Snowfall still covered the park’s one lane road, and Caleb was forced to slow his speed to a crawl. He twisted his hands on the steering wheel, agitated. Despite his excellent driving, the German performance sports car slid every now and then. He turned off the main drive, and we continued a few more yards until Az’s Range Rover appeared through the snow laced pines. He pulled the Mercedes into the shadow of the bulky SUV and killed the motor. He raced around to open my door before my hand even brushed the handle. Sometimes, I loved that he did that, and sometimes, I felt more independent and wanted to open my own door. He just smirked, and I covered my face with my hands. Did he always have to know what I was feeling?

              From the trunk, Caleb yanked out a large black canvas duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. His hand reached in and pulled out two sticks – hockey stick – then handed them to me.

             “You carry these. We walk from here.”

            I shrugged and followed him to the tree line and inch thick snow covered trail. Footprints already stamped out a path, and I attempted to stay in the packed snow so my feet didn’t get wet and freeze.

           Disappearing into the cover of pines and maples, we walked a good mile before the tracks in the snow stopped. He dropped the bag and proceeded to remove his jacket and shirt. My breath caught in my throat at the sudden exposure of that lean taught chest. I’d seen it before, but glistening in the filtered sunlight, the sight sent ripples of electricity through me. With a wicked grin, he draped the coat over my shoulders and placed the shirt in my hand.

           “We fly from here.”

~~~

So, to kick it off, your hosts:

Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

and

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)

Joining us this week:

Danie Ford, Womens Fiction (PG13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG13)
Jeannie Lin, Contemporary (PG13)
RF Long, Fantasy Sword and Sorcery (PG13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG13)
Christa McHugh, Paranormal Romance (PG13)
Debbie Mumford, Fantasy (PG13)
Jo Lynne Valerie, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)

Kendal Ashby, Erotic Contemporary (R)
KB Alan, Erotic Paranormal Romance (R)
Penny Dune, Romantic Suspense (R)
Inez Kelley, Contemporary Romance (R)
Jeannete Murray, RomCom (R)
Christa Page, Regency Paranormal (R)
Michelle Picard, Paranormal (R)
Jeanne St James, Erotic Rom M/M (R)
Danielle Yockman, Historical Romance (R)

Sara Brookes, Fantasy (NC17)
Emily Ryan Davis, Erotic Contemporary Romance (NC17)
Ella Drake, Erotic SciFi Romance (NC17)
Angeleque Ford, Erotic Contemporary Romance (NC17)
Jamal W Hankins, Dark Fiction/Fantasy (NC17)
Bryl R Tyne, Transgender M/M (NC17)

What’s on my iPod : Breakin’ Me by Jonny Lang

Well, it’s officially two weeks till Christmas! I thought I would run down my list of must-watch-on-some-random-cable-channel holiday films. The first three are my UTMOST favorite Christmas movies because I can quote atleast half the film from memory. So, leave a comment if you agree with them or if you have a different order of faves, or if I left one off worth mentioning.

1.) All time fave, hands down and never miss it….National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I mean what holiday would be complete without watching the affable Clark Griswold a.) staple himself to the roof, b.) get stuck in the attic only to find presents of Christmas past, c.) have his brother-in-law show up in a Winnebego with toxic dump leakage…CLASSIC. I laugh just thinking about it.

2.) ELF – This is my new all time favorite, and really, it’s a tie with Christmas Vacation because Will Ferrell is the NEW Chevy Chase. Favorite line : “Hello, Buddy the Elf. What’s your favorite color?” Oh, and of course : “Santa’s coming! Santa’s coming! I know him.”

3.) A Christmas Story. This is one that I always catch in bits and peices throughout the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year was the best, though, because TNT (I think) had a marathon that ran all day Christmas Eve. After I put the kids to bed, I sat my mom down on the couch and told her she had to watch this movie because she grew up in the 50’s. We laughed so hard.

4.) Miracle on 34th Street. I prefer the remake because the little girl, from Matilda, is just so precious. I cry just thinking about it.

5.) It’s A Wonderful Life. I will only watch this one in black and white – remember about a decade ago they decided it would be cool to colorize old b&w films. I didn’t think it was cool, and there’s just something about watching this one in black and white. Favorite line : “Teacher says, everytime a bell rings an angel gets its wings.” <grin>

6.) The Preacher’s Wife. Sorry to say but I love the remake. I mean hello, Whitney Houston singing and Denzil.

7.) Bad Santa. Snicker- enough said.

8.) While You Were Sleeping. It’s probably not really considered a holiday film. I threw it in because it does take place at Christmas, and I love a great Sandra Bullock romantic comedy.

9.) The Santa Clause. I love Tim Allen. What can I say?

10.) Home Alone. Classic. It’s toward the bottom becasue it was more of a great 90’s movie that I loved when I was in high school. The kids love it now, especially my 7 year old son.

11.) The Polar Express. My kids love, I love it, the grandparents love it. And Tom Hanks, gotta love it!

12.) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Jim Carrey version is ah-ight. I love watching the cartoon because it carries the cadence and rhythm of the original Dr. Seuss book.

13.) I decided to lump together all those wonderful claymation and cartoon classics like the Rudolph stories (my favorite of those is the one where Rudolph goes to the island of misfit toys to save baby New Year – that’s my birthday!), and the ones about how Santa became Santa, and I love the old cartoon (I can’t remember the name) about the mice that live in the clock tower that chimes to bring Santa but the one little mouse doesn’t believe and breaks the clock.

So, I know there are others out there. What’s you favorite holiday film, classic or new?

On my iPod : Yes by Coldplay

I’ve continued my interview with my heroine of BROKEN, over on my musings blog page. Check it out here.