Release Date: Eris

I've received my release date for Eris

14 June 2010

My website will be updated with an excerpt in the next week or so -- more than likely after I return from Lori Foster's Reader-Author Get Together next weekend. I'm choosing something after chapter nine since that was the last chapter I posted to my newsletter. Things have changed in the editing process since then, but I wanted to show off some never-before-seen stuff. :D

The first chapter will appear on my promo blog on release day. I'm also planning a contest or two.

Stay tuned.

Blog Talk Interview (29 May)

Check me out Saturday, 29 May at 6pm EST. I'll be on the blog talk radio station One World One Voice being interviewed by Raven Starr.

Stop by and listen in.

Movie-o-Meter And #1s

Okay, I know someone somewhere is probably wondering what's up with all the #1's I have in my Movie-o-Meter list. Don't worry. I didn't forget how to count.

Of the movies I denoted to be #1 (for me, some others may disagree), I couldn't place one of above the other. I struggled with which would take the coveted place of first when I realized they each could have it. Why? Because each movie is a different genre. I don't pit my favorite anime against my favorite TV cop drama, so I won't do that with my movies.

#1 - How to Train Your Dragon
Up until Just Wright and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, this movie was the uncontested champion of the summer. No other came close. Afterwards, it still holds that spot but not as securely. As a result, it is my number one choice of Best Animated Summer film (that includes all forms of animation). It may have some competition with Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, but we'll see.

#1 - Just Wright
As I said in the review, Just Wright isn't my normal choice for a movie theater movie. I need special effects if I'm going to part with $6 - $8.50 (yes, my theater is just that high). I got a free movie pass and saw it for free when I would have gladly paid to see it, though I didn't know that would be the case until after. It is my favorite Contemporary Summer film. It will probably have no competition since I don't plan to see any of the other contemporaries that are coming out this summer... not in theaters at any rate.

#1 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
And this would be the favorite of the Action-Fantasy films. Just so we're clear, I consider most every action movie that is releasing this summer to be an Action-Fantasy, not all but most. There's a thin line between Action and Action-Fantasy. I know it when I see it.

Will there be more categories? Who knows. I hope not. I'd have to change the Movie-o-Meter to a list of my favorites and forget the others. :P

Movie Review: Prince of Persia The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time


Basic Premise
Dalston is a prince of Persia -- brave and bold. He seeks adventure, not honor. When the dagger that can turn back time falls into his hands -- along with its keeper -- he embarks on his greatest adventure yet. He must deliver the dagger to a safe place, out of the hands of those who would abuse its powers.

Movie Review: Shrek Forever After

Shrek Forever After



Basic Premise
Shrek has a wife, kids, good friends, and comraderie. All he can think about is everything he used to have -- solitude and the fear of the villagers. He makes a seemingly harmless deal with Rumplestiltskin to have 24 hours as a "normal" ogre. What he gets is a world where his friends don't know him and his family is gone. He has until the end of the day to reverse the deal or else it'll stay that way forever.

Book Haul (RT Con Follow-Up)

It's been a little bit since RT Con Columbus ended, and I've finally gotten around to tallying up my books. It's just a little belief that I should have something physical to show for shelling out that much cash (and being that exhausted) for a convention. Call me a merc, but that's the way I am.

Even though I got two or three repeats (same publisher sponsoring multiple events), I made out pretty well. :D

$792.06 in books. That's almost $800.00 and almost twice as much as last year. That's pretty funny considering I thought I hadn't gotten that much. I missed a lot of free book events (free-for-all in the goody room, for instance). I guess I should thank Dorchester since it was three of their events where I cleaned up (specifically the prom night event).

I'm a happy Renee. Now to figure out which to keep and which to give to my beta reader and which to just give away.

Writing Update 18 May: New Cover

Well, dear followers, we are one step closer. :D

Lookie lookie what I found waiting for me in my inbox when I got back from the movie theater.

That's right. It's my new cover. I still don't have a release date, but this is one step closer. :D

Movie Review: Just Wright

Just Wright


Basic Premise
Leslie Wright is a physical therapist looking for... Mr. Right. What she gets is Mr. Let's-Hang-Out. She's every guys friend when she wants to be so much more. Enter Scott McKnight the franchise player for the Nets. She's his biggest fan, she knows all the stats, but all he sees is Morgan -- Leslie's god sister. Leslie is everything NBA players typically want in a wife, but is she what Scott wants.

Movie Review: The Losers

The Losers


Basic Premise
An elite special forces team has been set up and taken the fall for one of the biggest international tragedies in years. They want to get home, clear their names, and get revenge on the man who set them up... not necessarily in that order.

Movie Review: Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2


Basic Premise
Tony Stark has (in his own words) privatized world peace. His technology is unique, or so he thought. It seems he has a rival with means and motive to bring him down. Man versus machine versus intellect. Tony has to find the answer before his entire empire comes crumbling down around him.

Writing Update: 11 May 2010

Woot! Eris edits are accomplished (first round at any rate). I ended up rewriting one chapter completely (except for two paragraphs). Not because the editor asked me to but because I didn't like the flow of that chapter. :P

Believe it or not, it's actually longer now than when I first submitted it. The editor wanted certain parts explained better. *shrug* You want the long book longer. No problem. *eg*

Now, it's on to Rite Men for Maya. I plan to tweak a few chapters of that and get it submitted. Hopefully that's only a day project since (a) the book is finished already, (b) the tweaks aren't that extensive, and (c) it's a novella.

After that I'm going through Contractually Bound Love again to see what I can tweak and then submitting that to pub #2. Pub #1 said no. *shrug* Oh well. I was sad for all of two seconds and then I had to go to RT Con. It only sucks because I have the absolute perfect promotion idea for this book that would have probably been a big hit at RT Con. Guess I'll have to save it for another venue.

THEN, after those two, I can jump back into one of my WIPs. More than likely Pet's Pleasure, but we'll see who's talking to me when I get that far. :D

Movie Review: A Nightmare On Elm Street

A Nightmare on Elm Street


Basic Premise
One friend dies, but he's just crazy. Another friend dies, and it's just a wacky coincidence. Everyone is having the same dream about a man with knives on his hands and suddenly you can't be paranoid enough. Something happened in their past that refuses to stay buried... not unless it can take them with it.

THANK YOU! (RT Con 2010 follow-up)

I wanted to take a moment (after somewhat recouping from the Romantic Time BOOKlovers Convention in Columbus, OH) to thank everyone who helped to make the Spoonful of Frivolity party hosted by myself, Stephanie "Flash" Burke, Camille Anthony, and Dana Marie Bell such a HUGE success. It was the talk of the convention and there are pics all over facebook of the event (thanks so much for that, Kate Douglas).

I have a list below of the contributing authors. I know the list is not complete because some people hand-carried stuff and everything was too hectic for me to keep track properly. I apologize for that and I'm sorry if I missed listing you and you did contribute. Just comment on the blog post so you get proper credit too. :D

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Charles Paz (Mr. Romance 2009), Franco D'Angelo (runner-up 2010), and DeLonn Donovan for attending the party and for contributing to the prize totes. I know the ladies who won appreciate those signed tees and head shots. The guys were a huge hit wearing tank tees two sizes too small (Flash did that on purpose, guys) and letting women tear those tees from their muscled physiques. (Hey, if anyone got a pic of the various tearings, I would love to see it.) You guys made the party and I totally appreciate you fitting us into your busy schedules. So I'm passing out HUGE cyber-hugs all around.

To PJ and Marilu Mann (I know this is two people ;P) and all the others who were scrambling and helping us set up before the event, your help was very much appreciated. You got us going on time and that was really great of you all. So thank you, thank you. I couldn't have gotten the bags stuffed and ready without you all.

To all of the readers and authors who attended the event, thank you so much for showing up. We had guesstimated 50 and had prepared for 50. I think there was close to 100 with standing room only. The energy you all gave off was a huge rush and kept me going through the rest of the day (though it did wear off and I crashed before the EC Red party, so I ended up sleeping through that but it's all good). I and the others wanted everyone to have a good time and I think that happened. So thank you all for having a good time. And I know some of you took lots of pics. Please feel free to share them.

To Dakota Cassidy and the other ladies in her event (the one that followed ours, sorry for not knowing the name), I apologize for our party running over. We got so into it that we totally lost track of time. It looked like your event was a huge hit too.

Thanks to Stephanie "Flash" Burke for the absolutely GORGEOUS hats she made for "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" first line contest. I got pics of them all (with someone else's camera). You'll have to wait for Camille Anthony to load them all to see these amazing hats she created.

HUGE HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to Judith Rochelle (awa Desiree Holt) for all that she did (she knows what that was). It was great meeting you, lady. I hope to see you again. If you're ever in Baltimore, MD area, you have to hang out with me and Flash.

Below is the list of authors who contributed books for the prizes and/or promotional items for the goody bags. As I already said, if I missed your name, please feel free to leave a comment on the blog so you get proper credit because this event wouldn't have been as much of a success without the prizes and goody bags.

(No particular order):

Cindy Pape Tara Nina LaVerne Thompson Barbara Monajem Amanda Young Elysa Hendricks Giselle Renarde Beth Caudill Sandrine O'Shea JoAnn Smith Ainsworth Liz Fielding Debra Parmley Leanna Renee Hieber Margaret L.Carter Sheniqua Waters Jean Marie Ward Avery Beck TJ Michaels Hywela Lyn Saskia Walker Teresa Noelle Roberts Michele Hart NJ Walters Elizabth Amber Renee Wildes Liz Kreger Heidi Betts Vanessa Kelly Anne Kane Helen Scott Taylor Michelle Hauf Tory Richards Debbie Wallace Nancy Haddock Kris Kennedy Linda Barrett

Vonna Harper Laura Bickle Anne Marsh Lynnette Hallberg Kimberly Lang Judi Fennell Linda Robertson JL Wilson Marcia Colette Margaret Mallory Farrah Rochon D. McEntire Christyne Butler Chelle Cordero Collin Kelly Jane Toombs Kay Stockham Marcia James Kate Pearce Jackie Ivie Nina Pierce Beth Henderson Susan Lyons Patricia Sargeant Carolan Ivey Karen Wiesner Allison Brennan Alexis Fleming Kate Douglas Nicole Austin Monica Burns JoAnn Ross Tilly Greene Christine McKay Desiree Holt / Judith Rochelle

To the contributing authors, just so you know, Flash and I have the practice of not throwing away promo. If you send it to one of us, we will find some way to give it to potential readers. For those who sent more than the 50 requested, I'll be taking the extra to Lori Foster's Get Together and handing it out there.

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who contributed, helped, attended, and/or just sent happy thoughts. I had a great time at the party.

*HUGS*