I'm pleased to announce

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

That I'm under contract again. I didn't want to announce it 'publicly' until I had actually signed the official document, but today I sent it off to Harlequin offices in Canada.

The project is a Harlequin romance novella in association with NASCAR; I'll be part of a series with 16 novellas in 8 volumes. My release date is August 2010. I loved working with other authors in the Madonna Key series so I'm looking forward to being part of this adventure. I only know a few names of the other authors involved right now, but I know they're fabulous writers.

Racing, writing, romance. Life is good. :) Carol

Inkheart

Sunday, January 25, 2009

I thought I was going to spend the weekend sick. A flu bug has been rampaging through my office, and on Thursday, something began to slam into me. Fortunately, many things on my calendar had cleared out so I could leave and go home to doctor myself. Normally, if I can catch symptoms early enough, I can avoid getting thoroughly sick.

I mainlined grape juice, hit cold/flu medicines and slept the afternoon away. On Friday I had an evidentiary hearing but as the day went on, my cold symptoms lessened and by Saturday morning, I was fine.

I took advantage of the cool/cold weather we've been having and cleared out the brush from another section along the house; then I cleaned up and went to see "Inkheart". I hadn't seen many ads for it, but Brendan Fraser's always a fav. To my surprise, Paul Bettany and Helen Mirren were also in the movie.

A movie about characters in books coming to life? The movie had me from the get-go, and I'll definitely buy it in DVD when it comes out in that format. :) Carol

Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

A friend recommended the series of thrillers by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child so I read the Cabinet of Curiosities. Boy, was it heart-pounding and I was intrigued by the character special FBI agent Pendergast. I learned that this book was actually the 3rd Pendergast book, which caused me to buy Pendergast #1, Relic. I had no idea that the movie was based on this book, and I'm glad I didn't. Although there is a 'horror' component, first and foremost is the grab-by-the-throat action penned by these authors. I had to wait nearly a week until tonight when I had enough time to finish the last 100 pages in one sitting. I did not want to finish the last stretch in bits and pieces. I also enjoyed the paranormal aspects.

When the movie came out, I avoided it because I'm not a horror fan [the Mummy movies are about as 'horror' as I care to get]. However, since I did love the book, I checked out the cast credits and was disappointed that key characters didn't make it to the movie, let alone Pendergast. But as I read the reviews, I think I'm grateful that his character didn't make it. He's a modern Sherlock Holmes, and without the right treatment, would be ruined.

So here's hoping someday the right producers come along who can do Pendergast justice. In the meantime, I'm on to Pendergast book #2.

:) Carol

Countdown to Shootout

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I have my fingers crossed for a good, solid Super Bowl game. So many times the game doesn't live up to the hype or the playoff games. I was really happy for Kurt Werner [sp]; I cheered for him at St. Louis and I'm cheering for him at the Cardinals. I just hope the Cardinals didn't spend 'it' all on the game against the Eagles and play with the same heart and spirit against the Steelers. I'm already considering what 'goodies' to snack on while watching the game.

I saw "Hotel for Dogs" over the weekend and enjoyed it...after all...what's not to like? Adorable dogs and cute kids. Lots of laughs and a few tear-jerking moments.

And the prelude to the NASCAR season is almost upon us. The Budweiser Shootout happens 2/7/09 with the grand event the Daytona 500 on the 15th. Vroom, vroom. :) Carol

Tony Stewart was in town!!!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Ack!!!!! I can't believe it. Cutey Tony Stewart was in town today doing promo at the Home Depot headquarters in Boca. New number is 14 and his new car is a spiffy red Chevy with a big 'Old Spice' sign on the side and 'Office Depot' on the back. He said he's running in the shoot-out this year so we'll get to watch his new team in action before the Daytona 500. Coooooool. :) Carol

RIP: Ricardo Montalban and Patrick McGoohan

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Boy, I took a hit this week with the deaths of two of my star icons from when I was young. I always liked Ricardo Montalban; I swooned over him and Esther Williams in "Neptune's Daughter". Of course, "Fantasy Island" was must-see-TV in our house every Saturday night. He was a class act.

Then Secret Agent man Patrick McGoohan is gone!!!!! Loved, loved, loved the show, the tune and him; what a voice. He also could play quite a nasty villain.

Gentlemen, thanks for all the wonderful TV moments. Carol

A bird in the Super Bowl

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

One team in the Super Bowl will be a 'bird' and possibly 2 birds. Unbelievable. I think every NFL team named after a bird is in the final play-offs: Eagles, Ravens, and Cardinals. Steelers are the sole odd ball in name this year. I can hardly wait to hear the sports casters have a field day with this development this coming weekend.

Happiness is AI. I didn't bring any day work home and only spent the commercials trying to finish up packing away the last of Xmas decorations. Man, the contestants are so young this year...so many 16-17-year-olds. I can't remember all the names of those I liked, but the girls 'Stevie' and Ariana stood out, and I enjoyed Deanna's singing and her personality. For the guys, I enjoyed the construction worker and the last guy they had on tonight. Of course, they didn't show everyone who made it through the Phoenix auditions so there's always the mystery. However, in the past seasons, the one who becomes 'Idol' normally is one of the seen auditions. I wasn't blown away by anyone in particular, but very interesting. :) Carol

AI

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Okay, I admit. I can't wait for the new season of AI to begin next week. That new 'world' dancing show didn't cut it with me because of the judging...too close to the old way of judging ice skating. Consequently, with no Dancing With the Stars until spring, I need a shot of AI. Since people have no shame in getting their 2 seconds of fame on TV, I have no shame in laughing my head off at the bad ones.

However, the biggest pleasure for me is trying to spot the ultimate winner in the try-outs. I spotted Carrie Underwood from the get-go and cheered for her throughout the whole process. And look at her now. She was stunning last night on the People's Choice Awards.

On the photography front, for January I ran three different shots of the Golden Gate Bridge in SF so here's the 1st one. :) Carol

1 out of 4

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Well...only one out of my 4 football teams won: Vanderbilt. Dolphins stumbled but they still had the greatest turnaround in history...something for the Detroit Lions to hold on to. Bearcats also lost as did the Buckeyes. But I was proud of the Buckeyes; they turned a game that was supposed to be a blowout into a very close and hard-fought game.

When it comes to college games, all I hope is the kids on both sides play with heart and the very best they can on the game day. I really can't wish ill to a particular side since I know it means so much for either school.

There's always next year. :) Carol

46 days and counting until Daytona 500

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!

I don't do resolutions...I always viewed the concept as having a negative connotation. I'm more of a goal setter. First goal of the year was met today when I packed away all the Xmas decorations in the living room after watching the Rose Parade.

In my youth, my folks and I would watch the parade, have an early dinner and then watch football games for the rest of the day. Granted, Ohio's winter weather helped to determine the day's events, but there were so many great games. Now all the bowl names have changed and are spread out. I didn't even know that my alma mater Vandy played Wednesday. I'm thrilled that the Commodores won, but I would have loved to seen a wee bit of the game. Fortunately, I learned Cincinnati is playing tonight [my law school] so I'll catch a little of the game. Then Ohio State [team I grew up watching because I was born in Columbus] is playing Monday.

Of course, I'll take a break from college football to watch pro on Sunday as the Dolphins are in their first play-off game since something like 2001. I'm thrilled that Chad Pennington got the NFL come-back player of the year, and I'll be cheering for him to get player of the year. He so deserves it.

Below is the front photo from my 2009 calendar; I got rave reviews from all my friends. Now to enjoy the Stephenson tradition of spareribs and sauerkraut.

:) Carol