Summer Reading

Every site is showing their lists of summer reads. Heck, you might have your own. I'm curious, besides what you've listed or marked on GoodReads, what do you hope to read this summer? Old? New?

For me, the list is long and hopefully I'll find time before the baby comes to get some reading done (and writing!).  But here's what I'm hoping to read this summer (in various genres):

Wuthering Heights
Jane Eyre
More of the Stephanie Plum series (I'm on 7 now)
The Renfield Syndrome
Blameless
Contentment
Endure
Eventide
Demon Hunting in Dixie
The Start of Something Good
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar


What's on your summer list?

Memorial Day 2012

If you're in the USA, you probably know that today is Memorial Day. Hopefully that means that you are spending the day with family and friends, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and generally enjoying the fact that it is Monday and you aren't at work.

If you managed to get lucky (like a few of my friends who are currently bragging about their weekend), you might be at the Indianapolis 500. 

It's easy to get lost in the fun of the day and forget to take note of what the day is really about. Memorial Day has been in practice since the late 1800s for the purpose of remembering the men and women of the armed forces who have given their lives for our country.

We have a lot to be thankful for in this country, but that has come at a cost. More than 1 million troops have been killed defending our freedom (and the freedom of others) around the world. Of course, the cost doesn't stop there. Those individuals have families and friends who are affected. In Nursing Second Chances, my heroine's sister is grieving the loss of her husband who was killed in battle.

If you know someone who is or has served, take a moment today to thank them. They are putting their lives on the line so you don't have to. And, of course, don't forget to remember those who are no longer with us.

Would You Rather...Be a Ninja or a Pirate?

Posted by Suzanne Lilly
Twitter @suzannelilly


There's a new game in town, and it seems everyone is playing it from kids in grade school to adults. It's called

Would You Rather?

The premise is simple. You ask someone ridonculus questions such as:

• Would you rather be a ninja or a pirate?
• Would you rather have a horn on your head or a giant pimple between your eyes?
• Would you rather have all your texts made public or have a camera record everything you do?

The students in my class are all about this game, and they take the questions quite seriously. When asked, "Would you rather have a three foot long tongue or have lizard skin," I watched as several girls stretched out their tongues, crossed their eyes, and tried to see how far their tongues can reach right now.

You can play the game in groups. We do it using a strategy I call "one side or the other." People decide on an answer, then rush to one side of the room or the other to show what they would rather. Another way is to have people with one answer stand up and the other answer stay sitting. Small groups of three or four can just share their answers. It always ends up in laughter and fun.

Want to play? Just post your answers in the comments. Have fun!

1. Would you rather

a. Play minor league baseball on an unknown team?

b. Be a world famous, championship winning table tennis star?

2. Would you rather
a. Have your dog eat your birthday cake?
b. Have your dog eat your best friend's birthday cake? (The one you worked all day to bake?)

3. Would you rather
a. Look like Lady Gaga?
b. Look like Jack Nicholson?

4. Would you rather
a. Fall madly in love with the Hunchback of Notre Dame?
b. Fall madly in love with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

5. Would you rather
a. Be able to read people's minds?
b. Be able to see into the future?

Since I asked you, I'll play too. Here are my answers,

1. a (This was a tough one, but I play ping-pong worse than baseball, so...)
2. b (I can't stand to see my friends cry!)
3. a (At least LG can take off the makeup. I think.)
4. a (There's something magical about that bell tower.)
5. b (I don't want to know what people are really thinking!)

It's Conference Time!

A year ago, I was convinced I needed to attend the Lori Foster Reader & Author Get Together in Cincinnati, Ohio. I can't even begin to explain how nervous I was. First off, I've never been on a solo road trip, ever and OH is like 5 hours from me. Second, I was going to get some conference experience but I didn't want to be overwhelmed and I didn't want to go by myself. Third, I was meeting two wonderful ladies that I've never physically spoken to except over email and Twitter!
Yikes!
Talk about nervous. And I didn't even stop to take a pee break. Although, I arrived a little late (time difference). You should have seen me. I was trying to find my friends by sending messages across Twitter.
But I wouldn't change a minute of it. That weekend among my new/old friends, writers, publishers and readers was the best. LF is a very casual and is geared more towards the relationship between readers and authors while I've heard many other bigger conferences might be focused more on the industry. I'll try and tackle a big dog conference next year.
I get to do it all over again this year in 9 days! Except, this time I'll be a little more prepared. I'm arriving early, making at least one pit stop and instead of walking into a room and not knowing anyone, I'll know tons of people. There will be about 15 TMP authors there this year and 3 of us are Creekers!  I've met my bestie Julie, but now we'll get to meet Maggie Greene *claps*.
The conference is now closed ( I think it sold out in a matter of a week) but if you're attending, please be sure to stop and say hello Friday while some of us are signing. Or better yet, grab us and let's talk the Creek.

It's Summer!

Summer is (finally) here! At least where I live. The unbelievably hot weather coordinates perfectly with the time I was supposed to be outside working on the garden. I know you all probably think that I look gorgeous covered with sweat and dirt, but you're wrong. I look like some monster the neighbor kids should be running from.

In case you haven't figured out whether it's summer in your area, I thought I share some of the early signs.

• The cat starts shedding so much you wonder if someone managed to sneak another cat (or three) into your home without telling you.
• The stink bugs begin their assault on your home. Those that don't make it die in locations that are hard to reach and clean.
• The sun stays up suspiciously late, making it impossible for me to get anything done before 10PM.
• Marching bands start practicing for parades. Early in the morning. On days I'm supposed to be sleeping in.
• My work (at a university) looks like a ghost town, making me feel even worse for having to be there.

How do you know it's summer?

Is it Puppy Love or Love at First Sight?

Posted by Suzanne Lilly
Twitter @suzannelilly



Do you believe in love at first sight? I have to say that it happened for my husband. He was convinced I was THE ONE the minute I walked in the door. Me, not so much. It took me a while to warm up to him, but in the end it all worked out. You can read all about our disastrous first dates on my Teacherwriter blog.

This little video of Lexy and Lucky made me think of love at first sight. Animals make friends, and while some people think animals can't love, when you see a video like this, you wonder. This cat and dog are very affectionate and it's obvious they care about each other. Their cute antics and the dog's expressions are about as adorable as anything can get. It makes me want to adopt another dog.

Mariah Davis, my heroine from Shades of the Future, works at the Happy Paws Rescue Shelter as a volunteer, and her experiences have convinced her animals have feelings.  Dr. Costa, the veterinarian in charge, has inspired Mariah to become a veterinarian in Honey Creek when she finishes college. She wants to help as many animals as possible find loving homes.

In honor of her hopes and dreams, I'll be donating 10% of all the royalties from the book Shades of the Future to the ASPCA. Let's hope that with all of us working together, we can put an end to animal cruelty, and let more animals have the happiness that Lexy the cat and her chihuahua friend shared.

We have a cat that came to us from a foster home, and we've saved many other pets over the years. How about you? Have you ever adopted a pet from a shelter or foster home? How do you feel about animals and love?

Enjoy the video! Be sure to watch the bonus material at the end. It's too funny!

Once Upon a Time...

A writer got a crazy idea for a book about a woman who moves back to the small town she grew up in to help her sister. Despite that woman's dedication to not finding a reason to stay, she finds a gorgeous hunk of a man who makes her want to change her mind.

So I wrote it down. Then I edited it a ton. Then I sent it to a publisher. Then the waiting started. Followed by a lot more waiting. One day, I got an email back from the acquiring editor saying they wanted to publish  it. After a lot of screaming and jumping up and down around the living room, I said yes.

That book is Nursing Second Chances and it now available! There is something strange, exciting, and terrifying about opening up the internet and see that the crazy characters who wouldn't leave you alone are now available for anyone to see!

Please be sure to stop by my blog this week to check out the information and prizes I'll be giving away!

Who Will Win the Battle of Katniss and Bella?

Posted by Suzanne Lilly
Twitter @suzannelilly

Image from thehungergames.wikia.com

Image by Little, Brown

Certainly I'm going to make some enemies with this post. If you adore Bella Swan, you may want to stop reading now.

You're still here. Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Between The Hunger Games and the Twilight Saga, I've decided Katniss can kick Bella's patootie, any time, any place, and with or without a bow and arrow.

Bella is a wimpy heroine. For years I've been saying I want strong women in books, not tear-prone girls who hang out with guys in sparkly makeup. Edward and Bella's relationship is so incredibly wonko on so many different levels.

My Twilight fan friends hate me when I get started on that soap box.

Young women everywhere now can root for a kicka$$tacular heroine quite capable of defending herself. Thank you Suzanne Collins, (and her publisher, of course.) Katniss doesn't need a vampire or wolf guy to fight off the baddies. Plus, she can be soft when she needs to.

That's right, people. She sings to Prim and Rue, then picks up her weapons and shows the enemy who's boss. I want to learn how to slice an apple with an arrow from fifty yards like Katniss.

Who do you think is better? Katniss from District 12 in Panem? Or do you prefer Bella, from someplace on the West Coast  of the U. S. where it rains alot? (Are those tears on her cheeks or raindrops?)

Krspoof rewrote the lyrics to "Moves Like Jagger" to address this uber-important issue. These two savvy young women donated their fabulous acting skills and created this video. Steven Spielberg, watch out. There's some new talent in town.

Are You More Like Katniss or Bella?

Take this just-for-fun quiz to find out. 

1. I like to shop for sparkly makeup and give it to my boyfriend.
2. Forget the makeup. I'm all about sharp, dangerous objects. I don't give them to my boyfriend.
3. I wait by the phone for my boyfriend to call.
4. Waiting? Who's waiting? I just go out and have a good time. If he wants to come along for the ride, fine.
5. I like to play baseball in a forest clearing with my super strong peeps.
6. Super strong peeps? I outwit, outplay, and outlast them.
7. I like to drive around in a rusty truck looking like I need help.
8. I like to ride on a high speed train with people that wear a different hair color every day.

If most of your "yes" answers are odd, you are Bella-esque. Sweet, beautiful, and guys fall all over themselves to protect you.

If most of your "yes" answers are even numbered, you rock the districts with Katniss. More power to you!

Your turn to tell it like it is!

Who is your favorite, Katniss or Bella, and why?

Psst! Don't be afraid to say you like Bella better. Nothing bad will happen if you do.

Really.

Stop crying.

You can count on those sparkly vamps to keep me straight. :-)

• Video entertainment courtesy of Krspoof on Youtube.

Winner! Winner!

Congratulations Ashley Maker! You are now the proud winner of Ice Princess!  I will email you shortly with the details.

And since I'm feeling extremely generous, Gabrielle Brynn, you are also a winner.

Thank you ladies for playing and look for an email from me soon.

Is It Love? The Long Walk to Find Out

Posted by Suzanne Lilly
Twitter @suzannelilly

He loves me, he loves me not. I'm ashamed to think of the countless daisies I destroyed as a girl wanting to know if my latest crush loved me back. How many flowers did you turn into no petaled nubs trying to find out if it was love?

There's a better way to discover if it's love that you're feeling. College students at Ohio State University have for decades been using an absolutely unscientific, totally romantic way to find out if they would share wedded bliss. It's a secret tradition not known by many outside Ohio or the hallowed halls of OSU.

Photo by Navin Rajagopalan on Flickr

The beautiful campus has an oval green space with trees and walkways that rival any park setting. Through the center of the Oval, as it's called, is a long brick walkway, aptly named The Long Walk. It begins on the west side at the statue of William Oxley Thompson and stretches eastward, ending at a seal in the walkway. Lovers walk the path, hand in hand. If they can make it from one end to the other, with their hands still clasped, they kiss at the seal. Their commitment is sealed with a kiss. (Bad pun, I know.)

That doesn't seem too hard, does it? If living and loving together for the rest of our lives is that easy, we should all be so lucky. It seems reasonable to think that if a couple can't make a walk across campus holding hands, it's hard to imagine them walking through life together.

Mariah Davis, the heroine in Shades of the Future, had grandparents who made the walk and lived many blissful years together. But she may find the walk is too much for her to handle, even though she loves Kevin Creamer more than anything. Mariah has sunglasses that help her see into the future, but they're not showing if she'll ever get to make the Long Walk with Kevin. She can only hope he'll still be there for her when she's ready again.

How do you feel about things like this? Do you think they're old superstitions or do you think they ring true?

Contest! Contest!

In honor of Ice Princess releasing this week, I'm offering a free digital copy to a lucky duck! The contest starts today and runs until next Wednesday, May 9, 2012.  All you have to do is 1) leave a comment with email addy on this post and 2) become a member of the Honey Creek blog. On May 9th, I will pick a winner at random.

Good luck to you all!