Pushing Daisies Cancelled!

Okay, totally off topic, but I'm officially devastated that Pushing Daisies has been canceled. I hate that TV has become so formulaic that quirky interesting shows don't have a chance. It's all either crime shows, medical shows or crappy reality shows. RIP Pushing Daisies, I will miss you and Chuck's gorgeous dresses. Some of my favorites below:

Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera

Forever My Lady is not your traditional romance. I would actually call it more of a love story. Dio is a gang member, a child of the streets with an alcoholic mother and an absent father. His childhood sweetheart, Jennifer has had a life just as rough as his. After a violent incident, Dio finds himself in a work camp for juvenile offenders. As you would imagine, he's not happy to be there but finds himself growing and changing both physically and intellectually. Dio's journey from his gang past to trying to be a responsible adult is a slow journey filled with setbacks.

The relationship with Jennifer is revealed in a series of letters between the two. It becomes evident fairly early on that the desire is one-sided. Not surprising, considering the circumstances of their parting. Dio's path to maturity and forgiveness is challenging and heartbreaking at times. I think the happy ending is more of a personal accomplishment rather than the happily ever after delivered in your typical romance. I don't want to spoil the story too much but if you're looking for something that breaks the mold of the romance and features characters in a more urban setting, you might consider Forever My Lady.

Christmas Craft Show

If you happen to live in Southern California, come see me at the La Habra High School Christmas Craft Show December 13, 2008 from 8am to 3pm. I'll be there with tons of other vendors selling my Hide-a-Book covers and I would love to meet you. Support independent crafters and buy some unique gifts made with love for people on your holiday shopping list. There will be lots of other Etsy sellers there so you'll be sure to find some great stuff. Admission is free and there will be food, drink, raffles and most important...shopping!

November Book Giveaway

Jeff Rivera has kindly offered up a copy of his new book Forever My Lady as a reader giveaway. To enter the giveaway, what I would like to know from you is how you feel about men writing romance. Simply leave a comment below by November 18th, 2008 and be sure to include your email address in the form (it won't show when posted). A review of Forever My Lady will follow soon. Good Luck!

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

Attractive young woman? - check, low rise jeans with back exposed? - check, tattoos? - check, city background? - check. Even though Magic to the Bonelooks like your cliched urban fantasy, this book deserves a deeper look. I typically don't pay much attention to cover quotes since they're usually BS. But this one has a quote by Patricia Briggs (who I really like) so I decided to give it a chance.

Allison (Allie) Beckstrom is the daughter of a prominent and ruthless business man. Her father has made a fortune harnessing the magic that flows like electricity through Portland. He's also pissed off quite a few people along the way (like his daughter). Allie has successfully managed to keep her controlling father out of her life completely. That is until one of her poorer clients calls her for help. A young boy has been the victim of a magical offload, the price that must be paid when magic is used. The magic has her father's signature on it forcing Allie back into his sphere of influence.

Allie is compelled to find out the truth even if it means bringing down her powerful dad. She has some unexpected help from a mysterious former employee of her father, Zayvion Jones. Zayvion is there when she needs someone the most but can she trust this mysterious man? Their feelings for each other combined with his secrets have the power to blow up in her face.

I liked this book more than most urban fantasies because Monk creates a new world without relying on the short hand of the paranormal that most fiction writers use. She starts from scratch with a world that has discovered magic as an element in a completely natural and scientific manner. I also liked that the relationship between Allie and Zayvion was not the primary focus of the story. The plot was well written and completely unpredictable. I will definitely be looking for Monk's next book. According to her website this book begins the series. If you're looking for a fresh, new urban fantasy you might try Magic to the Bone.

Release Date: November 4, 2008
ISBN: 9780451462404

The Men of Romance: Jeff Rivera

There aren't a lot of men out there writing romance, so it's pretty cool to see authors like Jeff Rivera getting into the genre. In this female dominated industry, I think it's great that there are guys with a different perspective to offer. Lord knows that some of the traditional romance tropes can get a bit tired.

Jeff Rivera is an author whose novel, Forever My Lady is being released by WarnerBooks/Grand Central at the end of the month. He took the time to answer some questions about his new book.

What does it feel like to see your book in bookstores after years of struggling?
I don't want to just say it's a dream come true because it's much more than that. To me it's a symbol that all those crazy books you read about visualizing and "The Secret" really do work. If you're willing to put in the effort, I believe anything is possible, corny as it may sound.

What was your writing process like in writing Forever My Lady?
Well, I was working a job I hated in the morning then I'd force myself to sit down and crank out as much as I could. There were times when I was wondering if I was doing it right, quite frankly. I wanted to give up half way through the book but something kept me going. (Probably the thought of being stuck in that God awful job for the rest of my life)

One thing about your characters is that when you first meet them you don't necessarily like them, then you get to know them. Why did you do this?
I think that's the way real life is. Do you have any friends that you didn't like when you first met them? Then you get to know them. It was also a message to people misjudged my little brother when the first met him and didn't give him a chance, not a chance to really get to know him.

Why did you create a character like Grossaint who was a racist in a love story?
I think he represented to me people who have so much hatred and fear in their hearts and yet when you get to know them they are really not that different from you or me. I tried to make sure Grossaint had more to him than just a flat stereotypical racist character.

Forever My Lady is available on your website?
Yes, www.JeffRivera.com, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold!

I Got to Meet David Sedaris!

Friday night my lovely sister came into town and took me to see David Sedaris in Long Beach. We got really lucky arriving early to the theater and discovered that he was signing his books. So we immediately bought a few and jumped into line. I told him that coming to see him was my birthday present and so he said "Wait, I've got something for you", then rummaged around in a plastic bag and handed me small bottle of lotion from his hotel. He later said that he likes to have a bag of hotel toiletries, packets of aspirin, and condoms to give out during signings. Very odd but funny.

Of course, David was just as funny and engaging in person and he read stories for a solid hour and a half. I would love to go see him again next time he's in town. He said his next book will be a collection of animal stories. Should be interesting...

Above is a picture I snuck while standing in line.

Some of his books: