A Zen Moment with Annie

This photo was taken on Christmas Day at my mom's ranch. Annie was sitting quietly, taking in the view, sniffing the air for the scent of horses, rabbits, ponds, chickens, and cats. She wasn't angry that she was sick, she didn't blame anyone or ask for anything. She was just taking it all in and living in the moment.

They're Here!

My ARCs arrived! Each time the novel passes through another stage on its way to publication I'm filled with excitement and a lot of, Holy cow, is this really happening? This is the first time I got to see the book with its final cover design and typeset pages, so there were squeals of joy, and, I'm not ashamed to admit, one seriously crazy happy dance! My hubby took some pictures of me holding the ARCs, but as I'd just crawled out of my cave ( office) and was giddy with glee ( looked like Annie when she's fetching a stick), no one gets to see them!

Oh, Happy Day...

Today is a good day for a couple of reasons. First, the Dutch rights to STILL MISSING sold to De Bezige Bij, a fantastic publisher, who represents Karin Slaughter and James Patterson among many others. So I'm very excited about that. And I can finally enjoy last week's Czech and Slovak translation rights sale because Annie is feeling better!

When my baby is unhappy, I'm REALLY unhappy. Yesterday we went back to one of her vet's ( she has three, really more of a team at this point, but this clinic has mattresses instead of metal tables, which Annie thinks is pretty cool!), and added some new meds and got an acupuncture treatment. I thought there was NO way that was going to go over well. But she was a trooper. She gave me--and the needles in her legs--some funny looks, but she hung in there. My life has become a series of timers and pills and droppers ( I even had to make up a timetable) but if it helps my fur-child, I'll gladly do it all and more. Today the tide seems to have turned. Fingers ( and paws) crossed!

Aren't They Pretty?

The only thing better than having chocolates sent to you, is having FANCY chocolates sent to you!

These heavenly ( and wow, were they ever heavenly!) delights were sent by the lovely folks at Brilliance Audio and are handcrafted by Patricia, of Patricia's Chocolates in Grand Haven, Michigan. I'd never seen artisan chocolates before. Aren't they beautiful? They were almost too pretty to eat! Almost....:) I'd really like to say I savored them over the course of weeks, but, well, then I'd be lying! Life is short, sieze the chocolate!

Cute Video

I'm always a sucker for anything animal related, but throw in a heartwarming story about overcoming obstacles and being accepted for who you are? I'm mush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

Inglorious Basterds and 500 Days of Summer

Now there are two titles you don't usually see side by side! What can I say? I like contrast.



Inglorious Basterds was not a movie I expected to like. I'm not a huge Tarantino fan because I usually find his stuff pretty gruesome, but hubby wanted to see it and I'd tortured him with a bunch of bad picks recently, so I owed him one. Turns out, I liked it. There were definitely some gruesome moments that had both of us diving for pillows to hide our eyes, but the suspense was excellent. Lots and lots of tense moments. The acting by Christoph Waltz was mind blowing. He was simply incredible, the perfect villain. In writing they say you need a " worthy protagonist" and he was certainly that. Thank God he won a Golden Globe or I would've thrown something at the TV.



As for 500 Days of Summer. I love movies like this. Clever writing, quirky characters, and something to believe in. A few years ago, I might have hated this movie, or at least cried all the way through it. But now that I'm with my " one" I adore movies that show it really is possible to find your soul mate. You can meet someone who changes how you look at everything--in a good way. And the kid sister in this was just brilliant, very well done!



Okay, that's it for now! No movies tonight, I have another drama in mind. American Idol. Every season I swear I'm going to quit this show, then I'm lured back in by Simon's accent and brazen disregard for people's feelings. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ellen on this, not sure how she'll fare giving musical feedback, but the girl is funny!

Some Movie Reviews

In the midst of all the recent doggie drama, husband and I have been watching a lot of movies this winter. I'm a huge movie fan and if I'm not walking the puppy, reading, writing, or eating, then movies are my favourite escape.

There are the ones you see just because you want to see something, but you know they're not going to be that great, so you're more forgiving when they, well, really aren't all that great. Then there are the ones that you heard amazing things about or saw a fabulous clip for, so you go all excited and pumped up and you're super disappointed. The depth of the disappointment being in direct relation to the height of your excitement. Over the next few days I'm going to give the low down on some that I enjoyed, or didn't enjoy, for various reasons.

First up: AVATAR. Huge raves, of course. Husband and I missed the first show we went to because we had no idea just how popular it was and it had already sold out. I was bitterly disappointed because I'd been looking forward to it all day ( between us, the popcorn was a big factor) and because when something is taken away from me I REALLY want it. But quick-thinking husband suggested we make it our Boxing Day event. It forced me to wait for a few days, but also made it more of a special occasion. Husband is so smart.

Again, we underestimated how many others were going the same day and ended up way in the front and to the side. Not so easy on your eyes, especially in 3D. But regardless, I enjoyed it. Storyline wise there were no shockers--plot was basic and full of predictable characters, but sometimes, you know, predictable can be nice. Visually ( 3d induced headache aside), it was beautiful and for the time that I was in that movie I was in another world. Isn't that why we go in the first place? To be transported.

On New Year's Eve we decided to see another movie SHERLOCK HOLMES. Again, we underestimated how many other people had the same idea--we'll get it right one of these days--but this time husband hunted down some great seats while I ensured we were loaded with popcorn, which was equally loaded with the perfect amount of butter. ( It's imperative you monitor the butter layering or half way down the bag you're eating Styrofoam) This movie, I hadn't heard a lot about and I didn't have a huge SHERLOCK HOLMES history, so I had no preconceived notions. But I think Robert Downey Junior is fantastic and he didn't disappoint.

There was a lot of action, some good comedic moments, and they did a great job of showing the friendship between Holmes and Watson. Unlike the normal "hey, pass me a beer and did you get laid last night" male stereotypical friendships that so often get portrayed in movies, they weren't afraid to take it to a different level, mainly around Sherlock's possessiveness, which in my opinion, made Sherlock more human and likable. I didn't think he had as much chemistry with Irene, the character played by Rachel McAdams. I got more of a kid sister vibe there then any real love interest. And it felt like the movie may have been a bit longer than necessary, but I was tired, so that may have added to my is-this-over-yet feeling. Mostly I enjoyed the scenes where Sherlock figured everything out brilliantly and the mystery was solved :) I wish life came together that easily sometimes!

Over the next couple of days I'll try to blog about a couple more we saw recently. DISTRICT NINE, ALL ABOUT STEVE, UP, HARRY POTTER, and 500 DAYS OF SUMMER.

The Good and the Bad.

I haven't been blogging for a bit because my poor little Annie is still sick, and seems to be getting sicker.



When I'm not taking care of her ( read:obsessessing over every symptom and visiting vets), then I'm working on my next book and planning my marketing for STILL MISSING. And speaking of STILL MISSING, I do have some good news. The foreign translation rights have sold to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which is wonderful! Now how do you say, "Please keep your fingers crossed for Annie," in Czech?