Movie Recaps: Thor & Priest

Shyaporn is at it again, and we love him for it. :D

Remember that these things make more sense if you've seen the movie so you can get the jokes.


Thor in 60 seconds



Priest in 30 seconds

Movie Review: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides


Basic Premise
Jack Sparrow is back and he is on the trail of the fountain of youth. His only issue is that the trail crosses Black Beard, the one pirate that all pirates fear.

Balticon 45 Schedule

Balticon 45

The Maryland Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention

Memorial Day Weekend - May 27-30, 2011

Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD

Learn More

Here's my schedule for those who want to track me down.

Fri, 5:00 PM, Salon C, Vampire/Paranormal TV shows (Film/TV)
Moderator: R. Allen Leider; Panelists: Lisa Adler-Golden, D. Renee Bagby, Wayne A. Hall, Gail Z. Martin

Fri, 7:00 PM, Salon B, Broad Universe Reading (Literary: Readers)
Moderator: Jean Marie Ward; Panelists: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, D. Renee Bagby, Roxanne Bland, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Kelly Harmon, Gail Z. Martin, Roberta Rogow, Phoebe Wray

Fri, 10:00 PM, Parlor 1041 Anime: Why Do We Love It? (Anime)
Moderator: Jean Marie Ward; Panelists: Grig “Punkie” Larson, Ruth Lampi, D. Renee Bagby

Fri/Sat overnight, 12:30 AM, Maryland Foyer -- Reading -- D. Renee Bagby

Sat, 9:00 PM, Valley Ballroom, Masquerade (Special Events)

Sun, 10:00 AM, Belmont, The Shadow of the Torturer: The Writer as God -- Round Table Discussion (Literary: Writers)
Moderator: DC Wilson; Panelists: J-F Bibeau, D. Renee Bagby, Carl Cipra, Elaine Corvidae, Mike D’Ambrosio, David Forbes, Laurie Gailunas, Brian Koscienski, L. Jagi Lamplighter, DC Wilson, Leona Wisoker, Alan Zendell

Sun, 3:00 PM, Salon B, Did We Win? SF and its Takeover of Popular Culture (Film/TV/Filmmaking)
Moderator: Ray Ridenour, Panelists: Joshua Bilmes, Laurie Gailunas, Ian Randal Strock, D. Renee Bagby

Sun, 5:00 PM Belmont, Authors and Publishers — Small Press Publishing Round Table (Literary: Small Press Publishing)
Moderator: Joshua Bilmes; Panelists: D. Renee Bagby, James Chambers, Mike D’Ambrosio, Phil Giunta, Katie Hartlove, Reesa Herberth, Neal Levin, Michelle Moore, Maria V. Snyder

Sun, 9:00 PM, Maryland Foyer Autographing - D. Renee Bagby, Michele Bekemeyer, and Jessica Shearer-Wilson

Website Alert -- Up And Running

http://dreneebagby.com and http://zenobiarenquist.com are officially moved. The two sites are completely separated (something I've always wanted to do) and working beautifully. There are still a few little fixes here and there, but the majority of the work is complete.

Please be sure to update your links as ALL of the internal links have changed.

Newsletter Contest Winner #3 (May) + RTC Winners #1

It's time to announce the winners of my monthly newsletter roll call. Actually, it's past time, but I got busy re-vamping my websites and let the time get away from me.

Remember, you have to be subscribed to my newsletter in order to play (hint hint).

May 2011 Newsletter

Box-o-Books Contest Winner

Deidre Cartwright (MO)

And, because I have joined the authors of Romance Trading Cards, I am also giving away the first set of my RTC cards in my monthly newsletter contests.

RTC Contest Winners

Jody Faltys (NE)

Kelly Thrash (AR)

Veronique Cummings (NY)

Cathy MacDonald (CA)

Christy McKenney (PA)

Bridget Wolfe (PA)

Sherry Strode (KY)

Candy Bezner (NY)

Tara Woods (AL)

Melissa Keith (VA)

CONGRATS!

Join me next month on my newsletter for another box of books, another round of RTC cards giveaway, and more winners.

Website Alert

This is a quick alert so people don't panic.

I have started the process of porting my domains to the new site. I'm not sure what wackiness will happen in the interim.

Please be assured my old site and my new site are very much alive and well and working properly. However the domains leading to either might be a little temperamental. Thanks for your patience while I complete this process.

Finalists Prism Awards

2011 Prism Award Finalists

hosted by RWA Chapter FF&P (Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal)

DARK PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY
Assassin's Heart - Monica Burns
Enemy Lover - Karin Harlow
Tempting The Enemy - Dee Tenorio
Tsunami Blue - Gayle Ann Williams


LIGHT PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY
Blood, Smoke and Mirrors - Robyn Bachar
Don't Kill the Messenger - Eileen Rendahl
A Highlander's Homecoming - Melissa Mayhue


FANTASY
Bloodsworn: Bound by Magic - Kathy Lane
The Phoenix Charm - Helen Scott Taylor
The Prince of Val-Feyridge - Helen Johannes
Stormwalker - Allyson James
Wild Cards and Iron Horses - Sheryl Nantus


FUTURISTIC
Blaze of Glory - Sheryl Nantus
Body Master - CJ Barry
Enemy Within - Marcella Burnard
Midnight's Ghost - Sara Brookes


EROTICA
Bad Dog and the Babe - Cricket Starr
Petals and Thorns - Jennifer Paris
A Touch of Lilly - Nina Pierce


NOVELLA
Dragon Witch - Kathy Kulig
Hearts Untamed - Pamela Palmer
Iron Shoes - J. Kathleen Cheney


YOUNG ADULT
Inside Out - Maria Snyder
Picture the Dead - Kelly Barrales-Saylor
Shade - Jeri Smith-Ready

First Review: Chamomile Nights

Sensual Reads has weighed in with 4.5 Stars for Chamomile Nights!!

"Zenobia Renquist begins a new series with one hot story guaranteed to heat up the life of any reader. Café Midnight is a store that everyone will want on their street."
~ Candy, Sensual Reads

Movie Review: Priest

Priest


Humans and vampires have warred since time immemorial. The humans finally won with the introduction of the priests -- humans with special abilities and the only ones able to kill vampires effectively. No longer needed, the priests have lost their purpose and been cast to the fringes of society... until the vampire threat rises again.

New Release: Chamomile Nights

Café Midnight: Chamomile Nights
by Zenobia Renquist

Publisher: Changeling Press
ISBN: 978-1-60521-614-0
Cover Art: Bryan Keller
Genre: Paranormal, Magic, Interracial, Erotic
Price: $3.99

He's serving up a cup of hot sex with a hint of relaxation.

Patrice is the backbone of her company. She's never met a problem she can't conquer, except her stress. She's stretched to the breaking point until she finds Café Midnight. Her waiter serves up a cup of relaxing tea with hot passion on the side. She's found a way to truly relax, but is she willing to let her sexy waiter serve her at home?

Buy Now

Vote for Charmed Lover

Charmed Lover is up for Best Cover and Best First Chapter in the D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters Best of April 2011 contest. So I'm shamelessly begging for votes. :D

Pretty please, vote for me.

GDRWA BBA Finalists

The Greater Detroit Chapter of RWA is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2011 Booksellers' Best Award Contest


Traditional

Christmas with her Boss by Marion Lennox
Her Lone Cowboy by Donna Alward
Oh So Sensible Cowboy by Jessica Hart
Saving Cinderella by Myrna Mackenzie

Short Contemporary

Alessandro and the Cheery Nanny by Amy Andrews
Hill Country Holdup by Angi Morgan
Led into Temptation by Cara Summers
Taken Beyond Temptation by Cara Summers

Long Contemporary

A Cold Creek Baby by RaeAnne Thayne
A Cowboy’s Plan by Mary Sullivan
Can’t Stand the Heat by Margaret Watson
The Family Plan by Susan Gable

Single Title

Around the Bend by Shirley Jump
On Folly Beach by Karen White
Shut Up and Kiss Me by Christie Craig
Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas

Romantic Suspense

Body Heat by Brenda Novak
Broken by Shiloh Walker
Deadly Intent by Kylie Brant
Second Chance by Christy Reece

Erotic

Nothing Denied by Jess Michaels
Pleasure’s Edge by Eve Berlin
Riding the Night by Jaci Burton
Wings of Desire by Arianna Skye

Short Historical

Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin
The Captive by Joanne Rock
The Unmasking of a Lady by Emily May
Whirlwind Secrets by Debra Cowan
Wicked, Sinful Nights by Julia Latham

Long Historical

Secrets of a Scandalous Bride by Sophia Nash
The Irish Warrior by Kris Kennedy
The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig
Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan

Young Adult

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
The Alpha Bet by Stephanie Hale
The Gentleman Poet by Kathryn Johnson

Novella

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman
Mistletoe Magic by Sandra Hyatt
Snowbound and Seduced by Amanda McCabe
The Fiercest Heart by Sharon Sala

Inspirational

Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot
The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight
Wedding Cake Wishes by Dana Corbit
Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander

Paranormal

Captured by Julia Rachel Barrett
Don’t Kill the Messenger by Eileen Rendahl
Haunting Warrior by Erin Quinn
The Mists of Time by Susan Squires

Best First Book

Butterfly Swords by Jeanie Lin
Captured by Julia Rachel Barrett
Hill County Holdup by Angi Morgan
Wings of Desire by Arianna Skye

Congratulations to all the finalists!
Winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference in NYC

Movie Review: Thor

Thor


Basic Premise:
Thor is the son of Odin, the heir to the throne of Asgard and an arrogant, battle-hungry youth who doesn't see the consequences of his actions until it's too late. Now he's stripped of his powers and banished to Earth, leaving Asgard in the hands of his brother Loki, who only seems concerned with his own interests.

Movie Review: Fast Five

Fast Five


Basic Premise:
Dominic Toretto is on the run after Brian O'Conner and Mia Toretto bust him out of jail. They find themselves in Rio de Janeiro in the middle of a new batch of trouble when their paths cross a powerful mafia boss. The entire Fast and the Furious crew are needed to pull of this new job. And they'll need to do it quick because the FBI has sent their top team to bring Dominic and Brian back to justice.

Jan-Apr 2011 Top 5 Movie Recap

I dub this the winter/spring movie season, and I also dub it over. :P

Here's a recap of the movies that made my Top 5 list from all those I saw from January - April 2011. This really doesn't say much since there weren't that many movies that caught my eye. May will blow that out of the water though.


Top 5 of Jan-Apr 2011

#1 - The Mechanic

#2 - I Am Number Four

#3 - Red Riding Hood

#4 - Battle: Los Angeles

#5 - Beastly

Zombies = FAIL

I got this article link off of FB and had to share it. This article is hilarious!!

7 Scientific Reasons a Zombie
Outbreak Would Fail (Quickly)

Favorite Quote #1 - Remember, the whole reason hunting licenses exist is to limit the number of animals you're allowed to kill, because if you just declared free reign for everybody with a gun, everything in the forest would be dead by sundown. Even the trees would be mounted proudly above the late-arriving hunter's mantles.


Favorite Quote #2 - [Zombies] main form of reproduction is also their only source of food and their top predator. If they want to eat or reproduce, they have to go toe to toe with their number one predator every single time. That's like having to fight a lion every time you to want to have sex or make a sandwich.

Six Sentence Sunday - 01 May

This is my sixth installment in the 6 Sentence Sunday. Fitting that this most auspicious anniversary be celebrated with six sentences from the title that placed as a Paranormal finalist in the 2010 National Readers' Choice Awards hosted by the Oklahoma Romance Writers.

Eris by D. Renee Bagby (Eternal Truths, Book 1):

Eris said in a firm voice, “We’ve already been through this, Ranulf. I refuse to jeopardize your friendship with Lucien, and nothing either of you says will convince me a relationship with one of you wouldn’t do just that.”

“Why does it have to be with one of us?”

“What does that mean?”

“You could be with both of us.”

She had no doubt he meant his words in all seriousness.

*****

Two more excerpts are available on the Siren-Bookstrand site. And, you can visit my promo blog to read the entire first chapter as well.