Today is officially my 2nd Runniversary!!!! I have been a runner for two years now and I’m very proud of that. Running was never an activity that I enjoyed, but if you know me personally or read my blog you now that it has come to be many things to me, including a personal, physical challenge and a creative outlet. I’ll be honest, one of the things that brought me to running was the technology. I’m a bit of a feedback freak and Nike’s gadgets for tracking information, allowed me to run outside and still get the info that I craved. It truly won me over. So, to celebrate my competitive nature, here are my stats…
In two years I have gone on 122 runs for a grand total of 94 hours and 40 minutes. I have run 585.25 miles and burned 57,859 calories. Woo hoo!!!!
What’s your favorite form of exercise? Are you a runner? What do you love and have about hitting the pavement? Have I convinced you to start running????
Also, we have a winner for the ARC of IN A FIX by Linda Grimes!!!! Drum roll please…
I got to read an ARC of Linda Grime’s debut novel IN A FIX!!!!
How did this wonderful thing happen to little old me? Well, Linda and I are Wolf Pack Sistahs. We share the same amazing agent–Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary!!!! And to prove how wonderful Michelle is, she has allowed me to use my ARC of IN A FIX for a contest giveaway. I’ll pause for a moment while you to get excited…
While I’m waiting for you to stop jumping up and down, I’ll tell you a little bit about Linda Grimes and IN A FIX…
In a Fix
September 4, 2012
Tor Books
The start of an original new urban fantasy series starring human chameleon Ciel Halligan
Snagging a marriage proposal for her client while on an all-expenses-paid vacation should be a simple job for Ciel Halligan, aura adaptor extraordinaire. A kind of human chameleon, she’s able to take on her clients’ appearances and slip seamlessly into their lives, solving any sticky problems they don’t want to deal with themselves. No fuss, no muss. Big paycheck.
This particular assignment is pretty enjoyable… that is, until Ciel’s island resort bungalow is blown to smithereens and her client’s about-to-be-fiancé is snatched by modern-day Vikings. For some reason, Ciel begins to suspect that getting the ring is going to be a tad more difficult than originally anticipated.
Going from romance to rescue requires some serious gear-shifting, as well as a little backup. Her best friend, Billy, and Mark, the CIA agent she’s been crushing on for years — both skilled adaptors — step in to help, but their priority is, annoyingly, keeping her safe. Before long, Ciel is dedicating more energy to escaping their watchful eyes than she is to saving her client’s intended.
Suddenly, facing down a horde of Vikings feels like the least of her problems.
“A fast-paced, sexy romp with characters as original as its intriguing premise!”
— DIANA GABALDON, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF OUTLANDER
“Linda Grimes’s fast paced supernatural debut is fresh, fun, and sexy, and heroine Ciel Halligan faces both the outlandish and the deadly with a perfect balance of equanimity, irreverence, and nerve. I can’t wait to see where her wild adventures lead her next!”
— VICKI PETTERSSON, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC SERIES
If you follow my reviews, you’ll find that the majority of what I review is Young Adult novels. But I really do enjoy reading other types of books, particularly when they are books from people who have already won me over with their personality and writing style. Linda Grimes is one of my Wolf Pack Sistahs. We’re both represented by the lovely Michelle Wolfson, giving me the squee-worthy opportunity to read Linda’s debut novel as an ARC.
IN A FIX is kick-ass creative! I found the idea of Aura Adaption to be extremely interesting and never did Grimes lose control of the concept. The premise wasn’t bogged down in back story and considering all the people moving going on, I was extremely impressed that I always knew who was who–unless I wasn’t supposed to.
Ciel was an extremely likable character. Flawed and fun, with just the right amount of gumption. And the boys??? Gahhhh Grimes had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out which one I liked more. Seeing as they were all pretty steamy, it was a lot of fun trying to decide. I raced through this debut novel and I can’t wait to read more by Linda Grimes. <3
Linda Grimes grew up in Texas, where she rode horses, embarrassed herself onstage a lot, and taught high school English to students who were more interested in heckling her at the theater where she moonlighted than in learning to conjugate verbs. Somewhere after horses and before teaching, she spent a semester abroad at Stockholm University, where she picked up enough of the native language to become linguistically entertaining. At least, her Swedish teacher seemed entertained when Linda, while attempting to relate, in Swedish, how her aunt had laughed at her, instead claimed her aunt had peed on her. (In Linda’s defense, you’d be surprised at how similar “laughed at” and “peed on” sound in Swedish, at least to American ears.)
Linda currently resides in northern Virginia with her theater-god husband, who succumbed to her charms after seeing her in a musical number at the now defunct Melodrama Theater in San Antonio. (There’s nothing like a rousing chorus of “If You Wanna Catch a Fish You Gotta Wiggle Your Bait” to hook a man for a lifetime.) They managed to spawn two brilliant and gorgeous children—a daughter and a son—both possessed of such generosity of spirit they will no doubt fight over who gets to support their parents when the time comes.
Like her globetrotting main character, Linda has spent her share of time overseas, where, among other things, she witnessed—up close and personal—a police takedown of purse snatcher in Paris, became a bit too acquainted with a gun-running couple in Ireland (through a misunderstanding while breaking into the ruins of a castle closed for the season), and almost froze to death in an ice cave in Switzerland. She has since decided that writing is slightly less hazardous than travel, and tends to stay firmly planted behind her keyboard, torturing her characters instead.
*** You probably want to know how you can win my ARC of IN A FIX. In the comments, please tell me who’s appearance you would like to slip into? Who would you like to be an Aura Adaptor for? Be sure to leave your email address in your comment so that I can let you know if you’re a winner!!!
BTW…You can find out more about Linda Grimes and her debut novel IN A FIX here…
Due to a wicked bout of the flu PLAGUE that hit the whole family, I went running on Monday for the first time in weeks. I knew my first run back would be a little on the slow side, but I was just anxious to get out there. Why? Because running releases more than just sweat. I love this picture because it’s actually how I visualize what’s happening to me when I run. Except, there is another component that I see in my mind’s eye. It isn’t always just what I leave out on the road that’s important–it’s also about what I find along the way.
On Monday I also finished the first draft of my second novel, THE OPPOSITE OF GRAVITY. *happy dance* For me, drafting is a long and painful process. I can not adequately express the joy I feel right now to have a very functional draft to work off of. I LOVE revision and now I’m finally there–sort of. Because for me, writing has it’s own kind of heartbeat. It’s own rhythm. When one thing ends–another begins. The closer I draw to the end of one book, the more the next book starts to move, stretch and grow inside my head. So, as I run, I do this thing that I sort of think of as “unhinging my mind.” When I’m running, I turn off the logic setting and I let my mind travel at random. I allow it to move from one thought to another in the hopes that my subconscious will be the compass–leading me to my own truth.
BINGO!!!!
The plot thread, that was missing from book #3 CHASING ADAPTATION, just appeared in my head along a number of other cool and interesting possibilities. And as my feet pounded the pavement, I had this insane feeling that as I was actually running through the collective conscious, with my mind open like a butterfly net, collecting ideas at the same rate as I was dropping “garbage” behind me. And it felt amazing.
Where do you look to find clarity and inspiration for your writing or your life? What sends your internal compass in the right direction?
For Mother’s Day I watched the original Footloose movie with my husband and my three boys. This scene has always been one of my favorites from the movie. And here are the rest of the boys who get a shout out from me…
*My husband for encouraging my boys to dance. He tells my boys that it’s cool to be a good dancer and feel comfortable on the dance floor. I love him for that.
*My three boys for dancing with abandon and not caring what anyone else might think about them. They dance because it makes them feel good.
*Ren (Kevin Bacon) because he knows that there are things worth fighting for and he treats people, particularly women with respect, which is something I teach my boys all day, every day. And his hair. And for making dancing cool.
*Willard (Chris Penn) because all it takes is one person to reach out and be your friend–to make a difference. And because he is persistent about learning to dance. Hard things take time, but they are usually worth the effort. And because he’s got the moves.
*Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow) because it’s never too late to admit that you might have made a mistake and then its never to late to make a change–especially for the people you love.
*Writer-Dean Pitchford for creating a screen play that shows the dangers of banning books and limiting minds. He illustrates how alike we are within our differences. He wrote with layers and nuance…
Ariel: [to her father, the town preacher] I just don’t know that I believe in everything you believe in. But I believe in you.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I’m standing up here before you today… with a very troubled heart. You see, my friends…I’ve always insisted on… taking responsibility for your lives. But, I’m really… like a first-time parent… who makes mistakes… and tries to learn from them. And like that parent… I find myself at that moment when I have to decide. Do I hold on… or do I trust you to yourselves? Let go and hope that you’ve understood… at least some of my lessons. If we don’t start trusting our children… how will they ever become trustworthy?
Ren: [addressing the town council, reading from his notes in the Bible] “From the oldest of times, people danced for a number of reasons. They danced in prayer… or so that their crops would be plentiful… or so their hunt would be good. And they danced to stay physically fit… and show their community spirit. And they danced to celebrate.” And that is the dancing we’re talking about. Aren’t we told in Psalm 149 “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Let them praise His name in the dance”? And it was King David – King David, who we read about in Samuel – and what did David do? What did David do? [paging frantically through Bible] Ren: What *did* David do? [audience laughs] Ren: “David danced before the Lord with all his might… leaping and dancing before the Lord.” [smacks table in front of Reverend Moore] Ren: *Leaping* and *dancing*. [stands up straight] Ren: Ecclesiastes assures us… that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to laugh… and a time to weep. A time to mourn… and there is a time to dance. And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. See, this is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life. It’s the way it was in the beginning. It’s the way it’s always been. It’s the way it should be now.
*And to Kenny Loggins for writing some of the best songs on the soundtrack…I know all of them by heart. They make me want to dance. Let’s hear it for the boys!
Now we have to decide the next great movie to see with the kids. What family friendly, but extremely awesome movie do you recommend? What blast from the past has stuck with you over the years?
I have a winner for my individual contest from the YAmazing Race! The lovely Jamie Strain has won a pre-order of TOUCHING THE SURFACE and a bunch of swag!!!! Congrats Jamie. <3
The Giant Space Squid Prize Pack (Gina Damico, Marissa Burt, Elissa J. Hoole, Marissa Meyer, Jenny Lundquist, Kimberly Sabatini, Shelley Coriell, A.G. Howard, Suzanne Lazear, Katie McGarry)
Goes to….Carina Olsen
The Flying Grizzly Bears Prize Pack (Kathleen Peacock, Sarvenaz Tash, J. Anderson Coats, Kat Zhang, Talia Vance, Sara Walsh, Laura Ellen, Erin Jade Lange, Laurisa White Reyes, Elisa Ludwig)
Goes to…Amber Robinson
The Land Sharks Prize Pack (Lauren Morrill, Lizzie K. Foley. Chanelle Gray, Tamara Ireland Stone, Jay Kristoff, Corrine Jackson, Joanne Levy, Anne Greenwood Brown, Elizabeth Norris, Diana Renn)
Goes to…Gabrielle Carolina
The Killer Penguins Prize Pack (AC Gaughen, Shannon Messenger, Tracy Bilen, Susanne Winnacker, E. M. Kokie, Zoraida Cordova, Colleen Clayton, Claire Legrand, Jessica Spotswood, E.C. Myers)Goes to…Petra Ippendorf
The Exploding Flamingos Prize Pack (Heather Anastasiu, Lissa Price, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Jill Hathaway, Catherine Knutsson, Jessica Souders, Tiffany Schmidt, Ellie Rollins, Elizabeth Richards)
Goes to…Amanda Galliton
The Laser-Eyed Iguanas Prize Pack (Hilary Weisman Graham, Anne Nesbet, Tom Ryan, Dan Haring, Fiona Paul, McCormick Templeman, Megan Miranda, Gina Rosati, Lynda Mullaly Hunt)
