Winner of The Shameless Blog Hop!

The winner was chosen from random.org. The random number was 5.

Congrats Violette from New York! Violette also owns a book review blog! Check her out here!

Grand News!!!

I'm announcing, just this morning, I signed with a publisher!

I believe I said before, that I have been researching companies that would fit me and my needs as a writer. A small publishing company that is just starting out, but they fit me. I wanted a publisher that would accept me for me, not wanting to change anything (God knows I'm not a freakin' professional), and most importantly, keep the rights to my novel.

I have visited some other authors that are with NBP (publishing peers? siblings? coworkers? I don't really know what to call them). Anyway, we're a diverse group of authors. LoL! But they have given me warm welcomes, and I already feel like I belong. I can't wait to read their stories and get to know them better.

I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I've been worrying non-stop about self-publishing and all the leg work that goes along with it. Really, I don't want to do that. I want to write. That is all. Write.

I will keep you posted on any news! You can find the latest  HERE. I know there are more than a few who are keeping up with me.

They have already put me to work on thinking about cover art, yep, MY way!!!

Mind in the Gutter? Yes... Yes it is.

I just wanted to say thanks to all participating in the Shameless Hop!

I really enjoy all the comments and blogs. It has been great fun!

If you are looking to enter in my giveaway... CLICK HERE!

I have been playing around with polymer clay. I haven't done so since a class I took in high school. I want to do some zombie heads for bookmark tassels.

I started with a zombie, but ended up with this:

LOL! 

So, now I have my very own Rob Zombie! I had fun dressing him in his frayed tuxedo. Snap! I should have done a top hat! Oh well, at least I know I still got it when it comes to clay. 

I just wanted to share. Besides, this still counts as a zombie? Right?

Anyway, did you know that the Earth is currently receiving radiation from a massive solar storm on the sun? You can read about it here!

Shameless Blog Hop Giveaway

Welcome shameless blog hoppers!
I would like to take a moment to thank the hosts of this blog hop: Jen at Red Hot Books, Brie at Romance Around the Corner & Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog

I really couldn't decide what to giveaway. I never can. I have decided on a choice:

 A pre-order for a March release. I know, I know. It's not instant gratification, but where is the fun in that? The short wait for this prize is worth it for the winner.

#4 Downside Ghosts Series

I cannot wait for this book to be released on March 27. I will be pre-order it to be shipped to your address!
If you have not read the first three of the Downside series, this could be your chance before the fourth one releases!

Or 


The winner may pick any book from the Book Depository under $10. It doesn't have to be shameless.

This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository delivers in your country. You can find out here!

Now for a very shameless picture... why have one man candy, when you can have five?

"Hi guys! Whatcha got there? Probably nothing, but you're pretty to look at."
I borrowed this picture from Poison Paradise. Seriously, I don't know where the guy comes up with these photos... but it's a must see site.

To enter in my giveaway, please leave a comment with your e-mail. You don't have to follow me, but it is appreciated. If you do, please follow via feedburner(e-mail subscriptions)... as GFC will be retiring in March.
I also have many other ways to follow me.
I will make this simple and use a random number generator on Jan. 28th. Please feel free to tell which man candy is your favorite. You can check out my man candy choices HERE!
Don't forget to check out all the other participants! 

I guess I'm IT!

Ah, the old tag you're it gig. Since I was the slowest chubbiest kid, I was always it. Not to mention, I couldn't run without laughing. Anyway, wicKED tagged me... so now it is my turn! Woot!

The Rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
4. Create 3 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you have tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about "you are tagged if you are reading this." Blah blah blah, you legitimately have to tag 3 people!

Random facts about me? 

1. When I paint my fingernails, they are never one color. I'm trying this next:

2. My mommy still knits me hats. 

My favorites. She also knits me scarves too.

3. I'm a kitchen whiz. I can cook. I take recipes and make them my own. If you cook it, I will make it better. Maybe not, but I'm pretty good. Just sayin'.

4. I don't like playing sports. I'm uncoordinated, and waddle like a duck. I'm very competitive. Those three things do not go together. I usually end up with a limp and severely pissed off because I'm a sore loser.

I'm not uncoordinated, I just trip on air. Frequently.

5. I make cakes like Cake Boss. Okay, maybe not Cake Boss. It is usually for my son's B-day. This year I made a resolution to make my family a cake for their birthdays, so I will get to branch out. 

This was my son's "Batcake." This year I'm doing a Mario 3D Land cake.

6. My answer to everything is green tea and a bubble bath. If that does not work, grab a bottle of wine.

7. I have no sense of organization. I try to, but everything just gets messed up again. Took me a long time to realize, that it's just me. I'm scattered-brained. Although, I can find things when I need to. There is a method to my madness. Example: I read a lot. So I have books everywhere, literally. I usually read more than a few books at a time. If I need a book I know exactly where I left it, and if it's not there, someone else moved it. Hehe.

8. I have a pair of these:

I wear them all the time. Skirts, shorts, pants, PJ's. I wear them with everything. I really should have two pair. I really should stop sleeping in them, and wearing them without clothing.

9. I am currently building sculpey sculptures. =) One project I am doing are original sketch bookmarks, featuring characters and quotes from my books. The tassel of the bookmarks? Sculpey zombie heads! These are my version of "book swag." I will have pictures upon completion. 

10. I am currently working on publishing a trilogy. I've written 3 books, 4 novellas, no-telling how many shorts, and am working on starting a new series. 

11. I'm slightly eccentric, but that's no secret. 

I don't mind... I've learned to embrace it.

Now the three questions wicKED wants answered:

1. Besides Halloween and Christmas, what other holidays do you decorate for? 

I don't decorate for holidays besides Halloween and Christmas. I do decorate for season. Just Fall, Spring, and Summer. We have an outdoor living area with a pool, so I enjoy decorating for spring and summer with bright colors and bright flowers. I also plant a red, white, and blue flower bucket arrangement for Memorial Day and 4th of July parties. After Christmas, it seems bleek and boring. I literally count down the days till spring. 

I do, however, have a little flag pole with different flags for all holidays. Including Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day.

2. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you? 

I've experienced blindness. For two weeks I couldn't see a thing. I suffer from a rare disorder called Intracranial Hypertension or Pseudotumor Cerebri. It's a buildup of spinal fluid in the skull. My body produces more than it should. It mimics symptoms of a brain tumor (hence the pseudo name). The worst that can happen is to go blind. Which happened to me without knowing if it was permanent. I've had it for two years under control with medication. Good news? I might be in remission. My Neuro-optho weaned me off the medication and I have been without for over a month with no headaches. This means no spinal taps for me. This disorder is individualized meaning it's different for everyone. I haven't had to have surgeries or shunts like most people do. But I am in the 5 percentage that has went blind. 

I am very lucky to wake up and see my son's growing face everyday.

February is rare disease month, and I will be blogging more on it.

3. How do you deal with negative people in your life?

I usually try to turn the negativeness around on them. Make them see a different perspective, or subtly give them a solution to a problem. It works by making them think in a different way. One thing I don't do is say "You are such a downer." That only makes it worse. Most negativity I encounter is in passing, even though it makes me sad, sometimes you just have to ignore it.

I tag 3 blogs that I would like to know more about:

It came from the Man Cave

Holly's Horrorland

Kweeny Todd

Your questions:

1. What is the hardest thing you've ever had to do?

2. What song always makes you happy when you hear it?

3. What are three things you cannot live without?

Have fun! Tag! You're it!

Napoleon Dynamite

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Hopefully, not many of you are Green Bay Packer fans. If you are, well, there's always next year.

I got diagnosed with a raging ear infection. Yeah, I think I had one when I was a baby. So, you can only imagine... my ear gradually hurting until yesterday, when I couldn't touch it, or hear out of it, or eat. Went to the clinic, on antibiotics, and I'm on the mend, I think. My ear is not any better, and is doing this throbbing thing. Ouch. It is strange for me to be sick twice in less than a month... I'm one of those people who could walk out into rain, in the middle of winter, naked... and not get sick.

  

Last night was the premiere of Napoleon Dynamite, the series. =D

If you watch The Simpson's and Family Guy this show should be right up your alley, or if you like the cult classic movie. Or like me, all of the above.

I watched both episode premieres, and did not find it lacking.

What is great about this series... the original cast does all of the voicing! Yes, yes! I was excited, and continue to be excited for next weeks episode. =)

There will also be some guest starring like Amy Poehler, Jemaine Clement, Jennifer Coolidge, and Sam Rockwell. 

If you missed the premieres, you can always stream them on-line at Sidereel.

Here is the trailer:

Yoga Ass Workout? Or Spoof?

Happy Friday the 13th!

Somehow, someway... I clicked this video to watch it (I think it was Facebook).

Somehow, Someway my 5 year old son saw it too (How can anyone miss the catchy music).

Since then, it has been a constant source of comedy in our house.

I just wanted to share. Try not to laugh. I dare you.

Not only do I always have "These glutes were made for Walking" in my head, I wonder if this is an actual exercise. I thought it was, and actually told someone it was (Yoga is my go-to exercise), but upon further research into the subject... I can't find anything. I don't know what should have tipped me off; the song, the way the butts are synced to the song, or the fact that these ladies actually let someone video record them in all of their butt glory.

I do admit... I can do it. Yep, butt master, that's me. Yes, I added that to my list of multi-talents.

Extras from The Walking Dead Hardbacks!

For Christmas, between my husband and sister, they both delighted me with all 7 of the hardback Walking Dead graphic novels.

I wanted to share some of the extras in the back because they are way too awesome not to! And because they do not grace the issues of trade print. Now, I took these with my iPhone. Trust me. It does a lot better than my scanner. I do understand that the first 7 issues of the Walking Dead were drawn by Tony Moore and the first 24 issues of the cover. He was replaced by Charlie Adlard, who does a great job drawing all the original characters. I honestly do not know who had drawn the extras... I can't stinking find the information anywhere. Yes, it drives me bonkers... so if anyone knows, LET ME KNOW!!

This one is my favorite... I like it so much it's my new wallpaper. Brilliance. 

"Look out behind you!!!" Hehe.

This one is a scene from the novel.

I still have 6 books to get through... you know I will share! No, I don't know if this is legal. Now that I think about it, I'm kinda nervous posting these. =/

You can purchase original artwork by Charlie at SplashPage!
You can buy your own copy of The Walking Dead Book 1!

Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins

I'm sure I'm not the only one excited for Dark Shadows the Movie. Based on a 1966 gothic soap opera.

Of course, I'm not excited because it was a gothic soap opera... I'm excited because it stars Mr. Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. A two hundred year old vampire, that was originally played by Jonathan Frid.

The character was only written in for 13 weeks originally to up ratings, but Barnabas became popular resulting in a permanent part becoming the star of the show. 

We all know Depp's above average talent for becoming the unusual.

Anyone know the movies above? I do, I do.

 One of my personal favorites.

Anyone know the movies of the three above? I do, I do!

Oh, I must note that during Rango... he trips up onto the windshield of Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo. I caught this while watching it with my sister. Of course, she had no idea what Fear and Loathing is. I did some research. I wasn't the only one who noticed.

Cowinky dink? I don't think so.

Anyway, back to Barnabas... So, we all should have great excitement over Mr. Depp's new role... I found a few pictures of him in costume.

Anyone else excited about this? Did I miss an unusual role? And seriously, I could search all day for photo's of Johnny Depp... just take a lookie!