Pepper!

Here's our new baby girl--one month old today! Isn't she tiny? Smaller than her littermates (of which there are seven, youch). Maybe she's taking after her mother, who is a collie, rather than her father, a black lab.

Poor thing was so nervous she kept shaking and half the pictures came out blurred. But here she is--that's my hand in the picture by the way, for scale purposes. Oh, and that's my I found Jesus...he was behind the couch t-shirt, in case you're wondering. She seemed to like it. Kept licking Jesus. Of course, she also licked my nose and fingers and tried to eat my ring, so I don't think she was expressing a preference.

James Marsters is mine

Y'see, when Amelia asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I said James Marsters. And bless her, she went out and got him! In full Fool For Love punk gear, too. Love that ep.

The books on the right represent part of my TBR pile. Actually I've read the Linnea Sinclair and the paperback Kinsella, they just got stacked there. Through the mirror, you can see a reflection of my computer, showing this very blog! How exciting! And yes, my shoulder as I'm standing there taking the picture. But unlike that famous eBay one, I'm actually dressed. Although I'm glad the flash obscured my face 'cos I'm wearing no make-up.

Oh yes, and in the top left you can see my first royalty cheque. Framed. Yes yes oh yea!

Okay, I'm still procrastinating. I really have to go and finish East Side Story (yes! I finally named it! Just as well as it needs to be written by the end of the month. As in, tomorrow Ack!). But look, I have a blurb for it and everything:

Faeries and vampires hate each other. Everyone knows that. So why does Ruarc of the Unseelie have a vampire in his bed?

Maria knows she’s supposed to hate faeries, but she has no idea why. So far, Ruarc’s saved her life, fed her the most potent blood she’s ever tasted, and given her the best orgasm of her life.

But something’s after Ruarc, something dark and nasty, and it certainly isn’t going to let one fledgeling vampire stop it.

With grateful thanks to Leonard Bernstein and Bryan Adams for the title inspiration...

Thursday Thirteen: things I will not do today.

Thirteen things I will not do today 1. Eat more than half a bar of the chocolate Fester sent me. 2. Watch TV when I should be writing. 3. Eat crisps. 4. Ignore the contest entries I have to judge by the end of the week. 5. Fantasise about stories I'm not writing. 6. Ignore the story I'm meant to have finished by the end of the week. 7. Have imaginary conversations with the Spike figurine Amelia gave me for my birthday. 8. Ignore the edits I said I'd have finished by the end of the week. 9. Go to the pub. 10. Drink more than four cups of coffee. 11. Fantasise about new puppy. 12. Forget about the sock I took off the other day and now can't find. 13. Fantasise about any of the following men: David Tennant, James Marsters, Nathan Fillion, the hero I'm supposed to be writing, Luke, the guy I met in the pub the other week. So far, I've failed in only... twelve of those. When the pub opens, I shall probably fail number nine too. ETA: Okay, I failed number nine. But I succeeded in number four, and that counts for something, right?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday: Look What I'm Getting!

So I'm a cynic? Ooooh, really?

Your Candy Heart Says "Get Real"

You're a bit of a cynic when it comes to love. You don't lose your head, and hardly anyone penetrates your heart. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: is all about the person you're seeing (with no mentions of v-day!) Your flirting style: honest and even slightly sarcastic What turns you off: romantic expectations and "greeting card" holidays Why you're hot: you don't just play hard to get - you are hard to get

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Okay, I promise I'll post something properly tomorrow. Honest.

Puppy puppy puppy!

We're getting a puppy!

She's about three weeks old, a black lab/collie cross, and completely gorgeous! No name yet...will apprise you when we've picked one out (because I know everyone is dying to hear). Went to see her today, only girl left in the litter, and when she licked my mum's fingers I knew we were sold.

Puppy!

The Doctor is back!

I've missed him! Okay, we know I have a massive crush on David Tennant. I'm so happy to report he'll be back on my TV (and yours, if you get BBC One) next Saturday.

Have no idea what I'm talking about? Clicky here for trailers and associated gubbins. The site has sound, but you can click it off at the bottom right of the picture.

Incidentally, The Doctor was my most gigantic inspiration for Finn of Duty and the Beast. After months of trying to persuade internet friends that David Tennant is 100% adorable and failing, I realised that it's because all I can do online is send pictures (I don't know why, but even after three modems and two computers on broadband, I have the worst trouble streaming video files). And in pictures, it's hard for David's charisma to shine through. On film though... Krisma city. With a kicking K.

Hey look, I have a crush on someone because of his personality, not his looks. Does this mean I'm growing up?

Dogs and hats

So, today we went to Wood Green Animal Shelters to see about getting a new dog. Sadly, while they had some really lovely dogs, none of them could be rehomed with cats, and the Sugar and Spikelet are obviously our first priority here. Well, mine anyway. So we'll keep trying them, and in the meantime check with the vets and in the local papers about puppies. But, things are definitely progressing!

On a totally unrelated note, look at the hat I bought for Patrick's wedding! Thank you, Patrick, for giving me an excuse to buy such a monstrously frivolous creation. I shall be bugging several other people of my acquaintance to get married now, so I can wear it more than once.

Thursday Thirteen: fictional characters I have a massive crush on

Thirteen fictional Characters I have a Massive Crush on 1. Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. I mean, obviously. Man's a gorgeous babe. 2. David Tennant's Doctor Who (see yesterday, man in kilt). Enthusiastic, eccentric, like a giant puppy leaping around the universe. Completely adorable. And in the Madame de Pompadour episode, where he got Reinette's letter? Oh, I was crying for him. 3. Phin Tucker from Jennifer Crusie's Welcome to Temptation. Have I mentioned how much I love this book and worship JC? Not in the last five minutes. Phin is hawt, and he's smart, and he loves his daughter, and he's stuck doing the job in front of him, even if he doesn't really want to. 4. Richard Sharpe from the Bernard Cornwell books, but especially from the ITV films. Oh, Horny Sean. How thou makest my petticoats flutter! 5. Benedick of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. He's just very, very funny. And he treats Beatrice as an equal. And he'd do anything for her. "I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?" Swoon! 6. Captain Mal Reynolds of the Firefly class Serenity. Embittered and angry, but incredibly loyal, committed to his crew, and when he believes in a cause he doesn't give up on it, no matter the cost. And he's damn funny. And he's pretty hot. 7. Daniel Craig's James Bond, Casino Royale. A blunt instrument? Well, maybe. But he's a hammer with feelings. That bit where he sits down with Vesper in the shower, fully dressed, turns the heat up, and puts his arms around her...oh, my. That's not a blunt instrument. Plus, those eyes! 8. Luke Sharpe, the Sophie Green Mysteries. Is this cheating? I don't care. Luke started out as a boilerplate sexy, suave spy, not a lot of depth to him. Then he revealed a love of Buffy reruns, a family who didn't care for him, a liking for cats, and a slowly developing tendre for Sophie. And now I'm totally in love with him. Does anyone know how Pygmalian did it? 9. Lara Croft. Hah, that's done you! I have a total girl-crush on her. come on, who wouldn't? If I did girls, I'd so do her. 10. Joe Morelli, the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. Tough call between him and Ranger, but you know, Ranger scares the shit out of me. You could take Morelli home to your parents. Well, probably. 11. Sam Vimes, Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. He does the job that's in front of him. Hes not that bright, not very well educated, his second- and third-in command can run rings around him, he's fathoms out of his depth at any social occasion his wife drags him to, his boss is a Machiavellian genius...but if you want something doing, and you want it doing thoroughly, and you want some entertainment while he's doing it...get Sam Vimes. 12. Striker, Almost Human. Striker actually has several books of his own, but they're a big old mess and the stories suck. But I fell in love with him aeons before he became Chance's father. He's a complete psycho, he doesn't like anyone, he enjoys hurting people, he thinks explosions are fun, he has the emotional intelligence of a child. He's be an evil overlord if he could be bothered. He's the opposite of that bible passage about love being forgiveness and all that. He's basically a monster. But, if he loves you then he's your monster. And he'd do anything for you. Plus, he's inhumanly hot. 13. Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Come on, you didn't think I was going to forget him, did you? What can I say that I haven't already? The hotness is a given. The sarcasm still makes me shiver. That narrow-eyed, sideways-slant, cheeks-sucked-in look makes me go fluttery in places that are usually private. He's not a master vampire, he's not all-powerful. He makes mistakes all the damn time. He has the soul of a poet and the brain of a monster. But he tries. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday

It's snowing!

Which is mad, because on Friday I was sitting out in the sun, in a short-sleeved dress. March, eh?

Er...that's really all. Unless you want to hear about the entire hour I spent at the blood donors. There'll be some happy vampire out there...

I'm the best mummy in the world

It's official. My cats said so. Well, not them, but the card they gave me. Well, not that they gave me exactly, but the one my mummy bought on their behalf. But, at least my mummy thinks I'm the best! And look, Sugar must have approved, because here she is with the card, and she's not glaring at me or anything.

Anyway. Obviously, today is Mother's Day in the UK, which means that yesterday was Fathers Desperately Trying To Buy Flowers And Cards Day. Except in my house, because a) it was my birthday, b) my brother and I are quite old enough to do this for ourselves (although you wouldn't believe the times I've got a phonecall late on the Saturday before from my brother, asking if I can get him a card, because he's forgotten) and c) this year, as the year before, my mother requested no cards, no flowers (she bought me 25 purple tulips yesterday) and no presents. Well, she is impossible to buy for anyway. Instead, bro and I are making lunch and dinner for her. That's what she asked for. Oh, and obviously that we clean up afterwards.

This works fine for me, because spending money I don't have on presents she won't want is acknowledged by both of us as a really stupid thing to do. However, I will just raise my hand and boast that I did get her the best Mother's Day present ever a few years ago, when we took her to see Bryan Adams, who she adores. We're going again this year, but not today. Obviously.

What's the best present you've ever got someone?

Nearly 25

Yes, I know. It's a horrible age. Well everyone seems to hate me for it. But you know? I'm going Lucy Diver on this one.

I've been away since Monday and this is just a fly-by to let you know I didn't relax myself to death. I know, it's a constant worry. Tomorrow, I will be 25. Tomorrow it's St Patrick's Day. Tomorrow my brother and my dad will come home fromAustria and tell me repeatedly how silly I was to not go skiing with them this year (because in their hotel there was a salad buffet for the entire duration of dinner! How could I say vegetarians weren't catered for??).

While I was away I got my first review for Sophie and it was FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC (if you don't like my language, then you will hate the book; also, what the frilly heck are you doing here in the first place??). So, picture me flying high. Even after a week of pizza and cider.

This week also marks the Maneater cover being on display at the Changeling Press blog; go and have a gander at Sahara's fantasitc cover work. Also, tell us what you think about St Patrick's Day, Irish themes, SciFi, Nathan Fillion, whatever.

Also, today is Red Nose Day, which for those who don't know is when the Great and Good of British comedy talent get together to raise money for charitable causes, most noticably those in Africa, and those at home in the UK. Intersperced with the funniest comedy you'll see today are the most touching films about poverty, AIDS, abuse. This year's lineup includes David Tennant (look close and he's in a kilt), Dawn French, Sting, Richard Armitage, the Little Britain team and Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig, people!

Last I saw, they'd raised about £15million. Yes, that's great--but it's also equal to about 25p for every person in Britain. Even I can afford that, and I'm broke beyond belief. National minimum wage is well over a fiver per hour (minimum wage, how I miss you!).

So, here's my birthday wish: since I'm 25, this year, go and donate 25p to Comic Relief this year. Or more. While you're there, go and see how damn entertaining they are--and tell me if you can't find someone there who either makes you laugh or turns you on or both. Because if they can't do either, what are you doing here?