Ditzy Chix and Cindy Dees Rock!

Sunday, March 25, 2007

My Madonna Key pal Cindy Dees is a Rita finalist in the Long Contemporary category!!! Woohoo!!!! While I'm admittedly disappointed that not one Madonna Key book finaled, it may be the power of the series grows from book to book due to the tight weaving of all the interconnecting threads.

And get this, three of the Ditzy Chix are either Rita [Kristi Gold for Short Contemporary] and Kimmi Duffy and Mary Gardner for Golden Heart...how cool is that!!!!!!!!!! What a stellar awards ceremony it's going to be at National this year. I'd better take plenty of throat losenges as I'm going to be yelling a lot. :) Carol

AI: Peter Noone

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Okay, okay. I know I go long periods of time witihout posting and then post a bunch at once. My mother if she was alive would be smiling indulgently at this post. As I sat on the sofa tonight as American Idol came on, I perked up when they announced the theme was the 60's. Now I was a teeny-bopper in the 60's, playing the music with the volume turned up all the way. So I would have been in 7th heaven with the songs alone.

But oh no. I virtually shrieked when they announced the 60's stars who had worked with the contestants: PETER NOONE OF HERMAN'S HERMITS!!!!!!!

I idolized him. I bought every album, every magazine with either a picture or an article on him. I kept and probably still have a scrapbook. When the Hermits performed at the Ohio State Fair, I waited in line for hours to get close to the stage. The first time my heart was broken was when Peter announced his engagement...how dare he...didn't he know the perfect girl was waiting for him?

To this day, I'm still a fan. Two years ago when the newly formed Hermits performed at the Kravitz hall, I was there and buying both a CD and T-shirt.

And my heart still goes pitty-pat. :) Carol

P.S. Up until tonight, I thought the girls were kicking major butt. However, Peter hammered home to the guys that it was the melody in the 60's that mattered and darn, if the boys overall gave their best performances tonight.

Something tells me I'm into something good....singing off-key as I go to dig out my Herman's Hermits CD




Dancing with the Stars

Ho-hum. The opening episode was less than exciting. There were a few possible performers who might develop, but on the whole everyone was stiff and uncomfortable. To give them credit, the shorter rehearsal time may be having a significant impact. I think it's a shame that the show continually gives the one dancer..Sheryl, Cheryl...whatever her name is...who has won the past two seasons one of the more coordinated stars. I think it would be more interesting if the last season's winner gets one of the worse to work with. I'd like to see one of the other dancers get the spotlight as they're all talented.

And beef about Entertainment Tonight. I admit; I've watched the show for years. However, I'm either walking out of the room or switching the channel lately. They really need to get off the Anna Nicole drivel. They have gone on and on for months now; it's like one of those old sensational magazines from the 50's. Please. There are so many disfunctional people in Hollywood. Find one of them to beat to death for awhile. :) Carol

RIO Award of Excellence Nominee!!!!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

For the life of me, I couldn't access my blog last night to post the glad tidings...SHADOW LINES has been nominated for the Reviewers International Organization's Award of Excellence in Romantic Suspense!!!!!! I'm soooooo thrilled. Here's first the list and then the link to the list of nominees. We'll find out the winners next week. :) Carol

2007 RIO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE SHORT LIST OF NOMINEES

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
72 Hours - Shannon Stacey
A Whisper in the Dark - Linda Castillo
Drop Dead Gorgeous - Linda Howard
Hit Hard - Amy Fetzer
Home Before Midnight - Virginia Kantra
Killing Me Softly - Jenna Mills
Shadow Lines - Carol Stephenson
Time to Run - Marliss Melton
To The Brink - Cindy Gerard
Veiled Legacy - Jenna Mills
You Belong to Me - Patricia Sargeant

http://rioreviewers.blogspot.com/

Harlequin Readers' Choice for Madonna Key!!!!!

While SHADOW LINES didn't win Fav on the Edge of Your Seat book, Madonna Key won for Favorite Continuity/ Mini-Series tonight at the Harlequin Red Carpet ceremony. Woohoo!!!!!!!

:) Carol

The time change

Monday, March 12, 2007

I really, really, really wish they would quit mucking with the time. I do not adjust to the leap forward changes. In fact it may take me up to two months before I have my legs back under me. I'm very sensitive to any changes in my sleep environment [vacations are for fun, not rest for me], and screwing around with the time is a major 'no-no' to my body. I have a 9 a.m. phone conference with a doctor tomorrow morning, and I just don't know how I'm going to make it. I will, but I'll be miserable. Then on Wednesday, I have a 9:30 a.m. motion hearing in Fort Pierce...meaning a two hour drive for me. Can we say 'getting sick'?

Sigh, Carol

Babes in Bookland

Sunday, March 11, 2007

This afternoon I attended a booksigning by Rhonda Pollero and Karen Kendall at Joanne Sinchuk's Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore. Rhonda and Karen are members of the Babes in Bookland group and boy, are they a hoot and a half!! The Babes in Bookland graciously sponsored the Saturday breakfast at our recent 'Fun in the Sun' Conference, and you couldn't meet a nicer, more entertaining group of authors. After today's booksigning, we all went out to dinner and had a great time. If you want to check out the books or blog of these talented authors, go to

www.babesinbookland.com


:) Carol