My heroes have always been...

FIREFIGHTERS

There are so many reasons to respect and hero-worship firefighters. Tagging on to Marley's post, I'll point out their reputation for saving animals (helpless kittens, etc.) and their dog-friendly policy. (see the cute dalmatian pup driving the fire truck below)


In times of crisis, many people rise to the occasion and perform heroic acts, but firefighters do so on a regular basis. Risk is an everyday occurrence for them. When wildfire breaks out in California, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, or anywhere, firefighters from across the country brave the unpredictable blaze to save local residents and their homes. When hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, firefighters were on the front lines of evacuating residents from the city, rescuing those left behind, and recovering those that didn't make it.


With all the amazing things that firefighters do, it's no surprise that I've had a crazy minor obsession with firefighters for a long time. It all began when I was in school in NYC. The firefighters there are H-O-T-T!!! And, unlike some other public servants that I will refrain from mentioning, they are super friendly. Whenever a fire truck rolled by me on the street, the firefighters on board always waved hello.

Then, on 9/11, I earned a newfound respect and awe for the NYC firefighters. So many men and women went above and beyond the call of duty that day, plunging into the face of danger without care for their own safety. Many were lost that day, but all are remembered. Firefighters everywhere are phenomenal, but the ladder companies of NYC will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope the city of New York never needs their services with such sacrifice again, but if the city needs them... they'll be there.

Men that are honorable, hot, and always heroic... no wonder they are so often the heroes of romance novels (and women's fantasies).

Firefighters of the world, you are the ultimate Hump Day Hotties!


Hugs,
TLC
GROWING UP GODLY [soon to be retitled], Summer 2008 Dutton Children's Books

Oceans 13 + Me...

I love the theme of “My Heroes Have Always Been...” this week, but unfortunately, I had promised to do a follow-up on my trek to see George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon put their hands and feet in the Grauman’s Chinese Theater cement. And a promise is a promise...

To back-up a bit, this all started with the “confession” here that I had had the opportunity to meet my crush, Mark Wahlberg, but passed it up for fear of finding him “less than” the prototypical romance hero bad boy I needed for my writing. Some people understood my logic; others did not. I remained on the fence myself, wondering if I’d made the right decision.

Then I heard an announcement for this Ocean’s 13 event, and in addition to thinking it would be great fun for my friend’s visiting exchange student, decided it was also a way to test the waters and see if these guys jump-started my romance writer’s brain--or not.

So...off I went last Tuesday, in a group of five. We arrived and joined a line we hoped went somewhere. It did--we were moved with a crowd to a secured area in the street, which actually had a pretty decent view of the event, and only one set of heads in front of us, so we were happy. Here’s a view from where we stood:


However, fate had different plans for us! A security guard came by, offering VIP seats to foreign visitors, so we pointed out our exchange student, and what do you know? Our whole party got tickets and sent on our way, across the street. (Looking at the previous area photo, we moved to group on the left.)

Now, here’s the rub: this time, there were lots of heads in front of us (and, it turned out, lots of camera blockage). Which would require lots of jockeying for position, and handing our cameras around. But what I quickly realized was that while I wouldn’t always be able to see, when I could see--YOWZA!

The crowd seemed quite nice, and the one difference between them and your average Southern Californians being their unabashed starstruck-ness. So when I spotted Matt Damon’s wife, I said as much, and instead of people’s eyes glazing over, all southern California cool, I got a lot of “Wow, where? Oh, yeah, that’s her!”

So the event started. I took this picture, and may I tell you, that while I’ve always thought Brad Pitt to be a 10, in real life, he is a 12, okay? GOR-geous! I mean, I think that low guttural sound I kept hearing was me moaning...



Here’s a picture of the guys putting their feet in cement. It was taken by my friend (as was the stage shot at the top of this blog):


After a time, I wandered around a bit. And found myself in an incredible position, behind the stage area, with a direct shot of George Clooney (with his back to the cameras) saying something deliciously wicked to Brad Pitt. His eyes were glittering, his brow was arching, and his mouth was pursed in that perfectly evil smile of his. I’ll never know what he said, but wow, the way he said it! He was every bit as sexy and smooth as I’d dreamed.

After the ceremony ended, the guys came toward the crowd barriers. My friend took these two:




(And notice the women hugging each other behind Brad, and that horrendously awful boil on the guy's hand in front of George!)

I took this one as Matt Damon signed an autograph down a bit from us.


Matt stopped and signed an autograph for our exchange student and talked very briefly to her, which was terrific. Even though I had the camera in my hand, I was suddenly stunned by his presence...his looks, his smile, his voice. It short-circuited my writer-girl senses!

So...summary time. Did seeing these guys in the flesh help or hurt my romance writing? Help. Big time. So if anyone knows Mark Wahlberg, tell him I’m up for a meet!

Tina
www.tinaferraro.com
Top Ten Uses for An Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring 2009

My heroes have always been...

...people who take care of little animals.

I'm one of those types who cries at the drop of a hat when I see any kind of ad or mailing about mistreated or abandoned animals. My heart goes out to them so much because they're so helpless. They can't speak up and go, "Hey, can you help me over here?" So, I've always admired vets, their assistants, and rescue workers who, in the face of a disaster, are as concerned about the animals as the humans.

Case in point, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, literally thousands of pets were either abandoned or unable to be evacuated with their owners. Groups like the Louisiana SPCA went in and rescued pets in the heavily flooded areas. The Guard even helped out whenever they found animals.



It touched my heart seeing beloved pets reunited with their owners.



But many are still in shelters without their owners. Organizations like the Humane Society and the SPCA work hard to help these pets find loving homes.



It must be so hard not to get attached to all the little animals you work with in a time like this. But God bless these people for the work they do. Animals are strong-willed and smart and can take care of themselves for the most part, but I have to say that I greatly admire all the men and women who put themselves out there on a daily basis to help our animal friends.

My husband and I rescued an abandoned cat many years ago. She was probably 7 or 8 when we took her in and she had many medical problems. But we got her to the vet and got her on the right track and she was with us for another 7 years before crossing over the Rainbow Bridge. Here's my Puddy Tat:



And let's not forget our favorite boy here on Books, Boys, Buzz...Knut the Polar Bear in Berlin. Thomas Doerflein, one of the zoo keepers, has dedicated his life for the past six months to raising Knut so he would survive. He's definitely one of my heroes! As is everyone at the Berlin Zoo.



For more information on these wonderful heroes, visit some of these websites:

Louisiana SPCA
Mississippi SPCA
Boston's MSPCA Angell Memorial Hospital
Kitty Angels
Greyhound Rescue
Humane Society

Thanks so much to those people who help out the animals!!



We hope you'll stick around all week and let us know who your heroes are, as well.

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - May 2008
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

Still reading: Twilight...

My Bookshelf

Unfortunately, hubby has stolen my digicam for his trip to India, so I'll have to use my magical words to explain my book organization system :)

In one of the hallways of our condos, we have a ceiling to floor bookshelf that takes up a whole wall. This shelf is crammed with every book I've ever owned. In one corner, I have my YAs (Tina Ferraro, Barb Ferrer, Mari Mancusi, Simone Elkeles) . The middle is filled with women's fiction and my mystrey novels. (Nadine Dajani, Diana Peterfreud, Shannon McKelden, Jeffrey Deaver, Janet Evanovich() The other corner is filled with my husband's adventure (Jeffrey Archer, Tom Clancy) novels.

The lower shelf is full of our computer science books.

As for keepers vs. giveaways, I keep every single book I ever get. I never borrow from the library and I never give books away. Every single book has some sort of great sentimental value to me and I hang onto each and every one of them.

I better build a second bookcase!

Like most of the other BBGs, next to my bed is a TBR stack. Right now at the top of the stack is ANGEL'S CHOICE and NEW MOON. I've heard such good things about both that I'm reading them simultaneously!

So that's my organization. Not terribly exciting, I'm afraid. :)
-------------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com
HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008

Kinda bookshelves...

Well, I don't have photos of my bookshelves, so the picture of the desk at which I wrote my debut Never Cry Werewolf will have to suffice.

It's since been donated to another up and coming writer who was a member of a weekly critique/goals group I went to in my old home town.




















The desk was purchased with money left to me by my great aunt Opal. It had great built in shelves which I filled with reference books and magazines, mementoes, and YA paperbacks.

I always have a bulletin board nearby with clips of things, pictures, inspirational card, etc..

Currently, I have a friend's portable desk (which I can lift and carry myself, yay!) and I use a book shelf I found in the alley in the back of my apartment building. All it needed was a good cleaning. That shelf is filled with paperbacks and reference books and sits next to my roommate's iron baker's rack which is filled with "brainy" novels and books on the human condition. I would like to say I've perused his collection, but alas... my TBR pile is too big.

Speaking of my TBR pile, the other place I keep books is in a massive stack next to my bed. I read every night. Sometimes I have two or three books going at a time. I also keep a journal there -- a book in which I write all the things I'm grateful for and make lists to remind me of the good things in my life.

Happy Writing!

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
Coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

I dream of custom built bookshelves.........

But for now I share a 900 square foot house with 2 toddlers, a man/boy and a dog. I am currently fighting for book space with diapers, wipes, and more toys than you could possibly imagine. SO....for now, I am pretty much limited to my nightstand (see below) where I keep a few of my favs and my TBR pile. I also have my pretty plaque that my bookclub made for me there. Simone, your book is right on top of Diana's which is the very bottom one. Tina, I gave my copy of your book to a girl who was drooling over it at the prom dress charity. Can't wait to get an autographed one!

I also have two designed writing shelves in the hall closet sharing space with the racecar bandages and anti-bacterial ointment. I keep all the hard copies of my revisions, writing books, ink cartridges, my RWA badge from last year, Tera's Prison Break DVD's so I don't forget to pack them in my suitcase next month, file folders, my pathetic hole puncher that only you can only put about four sheets of paper in at a time and tons of boxes of discounted Christmas cards that I keep buying and never using.

I also try to keep a book in my purse at all times in case I get stuck somewhere with nothing to do. This hardly ever happens when you have two toddlers, but I keep hoping. Right now residing in my knockoff Kate Spade is Serena Robar's latest which I haven't gotten to read a page of yet.

I did find this in the back though. hehehehe! Yep, that's me sandwiched in between MaryJanice Davidson, Julie Kenner, Johanna Edwards, and Serena! I thought I would die of happiness when I saw it!

Since I don't have much room, I take all of my books to the library. I swear I've stocked their young adult section singlehandedly. Someday I dream of custom built bookshelves where I can keep all my treasures, but for now, I figure I'll share these stories with other people who can't afford to go out and buy them new!

What I'm reading....The Celebutantes by Antonio Pagliarulo

Steph~

All that matters is what's inside...as long as your outside is wearing the tiara!

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, July 3,2007, Berkley Jam Books

WWW.STEPHANIEHALE.COM

Bookshelf Meme with tagging involved...

Some people go to dinner parties and look in the medicine chest and bathroom drawers to see what kind of interesting medications people have. Not me. I sneak peeks at people's books and bookshelves.

People who come to my place would see the following:



This is our second bedroom which is known as "The Writing Room." It overlooks the harbor and is painted in a lovely three-version shade of the same blue. Very calming. This particular bookshelf sits under the window and, as you can see, houses a lot of crap. The books here are mostly annuals from high school, my husband's non-fiction books, our Anne Rice collection, and a lot of his political books.



Back in the corner, behind my writing desk, is another bookshelf that's kind of funky in its build. We got it eons ago at Crate and Barrel and it houses a lot of our Hollywood books. Things like how to write screenplays, entertainment guides, autobigraphies of Gable, Grant, and Chaplin, to name a few. My husband's two prized book collections (Maupin's Tales of the City and The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet) are here.



To the left (...to the left...every book I own is to the left, to the left...) is my bookshelf. It's sectioned off into the top section with most all of my cooking books, the next shelf with all of the travel books, maps, and guides, and then the rest is dedicated to my romance novels. You can't really tell, but where Mr. Bigglesworth and Austin Powers sit, the books are stacked three deep. I have every Sandra Brown and Barbara Delinsky book ever written. (Including the ones Sandra wrote as Laura Jordan, Rachel Ryan, and Erin St. Claire.)



This is my Young Adult bookshelf. As you see, it's a little sparse, but there's a reason why. I only started reading YA two years ago, whereas I've been reading romance and women's fiction for 28 years. (I know!) So, it was only fitting that I get the YA shelf ready to hold even more books. As you see, one shelf features my critique partner's, Diana Peterfreund, books with a picture of us. That section will only expand when the rest of her Secret Society Girl books and her new killer unicorn YA urban fantasy series hit bookstores.



One shelf has my First Love by Silhouette books. It's a complete series of all the books they put out starting in like 1981. These books were amazing and my best reading friends. As you can see by how beat up they are, they got read a lot. My niece "inherited" the books and read them to death, as well, showing that the stories stood up for generations to come. You can bet I'm keeping these forever!



The top shelf is for me. See those Greek temples? Well, those are antique bookends that my husband bought for me for my last birthday. They are to hold...my sorority books when they come out. Get it? Sorority...Greek... Awww... Also on that shelf are fellow Puffin authors, like my friend, Linda Gerber and her Students Across the Seven Seas books.



More books. No order. Mix of mine and hubby's with some "household" stuff in there, as well. I think that's the binder with all of our mortgage information in it.



Here in the living room, in the secretary I inherited from my grandparents, is my collection of "vintage" books. The red ones up top are all classics with copyright dates going back to the 1930s. I have one book of "Plays for Little Actors" with an 1896 copyright date! (Also, note the pic of dear old Dad when he was in the Navy in WWII and the dried flowers in the middle are what's left of my wedding bouquet.)



I should be embarrassed to show this, but what they heck. This is the kingdom of books that lives next to my side of the bed (note photographic placement of five-fingered slippers from The Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France. LOL!) These are the "must read soon" books that line my bedroom. These are the books that constantly get rearranged into preference order and the stacks move according to my reading mood. If a book is really luck, it gets moved up here...



...to the bedside table. (I took these pics a while ago, so both of these books have been read and stored back in The Writing Room.)

So, that's a look at my condo full of books. This doesn't include the myriad cookbooks in my kitchen, or the boxes full of books in the closet at my sister's house in Florida that I sent to her to read.

Now, I tag, Alexgirl, Elizabeth Mahon, and Mel Francis.

Where is the strangest place you store your books?

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - May 2008
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

What I'm reading right now: TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer

Bookshelf Meme (& Ocean's 13)

Today’s the day I go to Grauman’s Chinese Theater in hopes of sneaking a peak at The Ocean’s 13 hunks. I’m bringing a camera, but I guarantee the best pictures will be taken by the media, so please don’t count on me. Honestly, I think the best I’ll come back with is something like, “I managed to see the top of Brad Pitt’s head. His hair is blond.” Anyway, I’m hoping it’s fun!

Now, onto my Bookshelf Meme!

I had always planned on having a proper, British library with floor-to-ceiling shelves and a rolling ladder (inside my proper British mansion). Alas...I live in a tract home in Southern California. Some years ago I realized that my growing book collection was starting to compete for space with my growing family, so I decided to start giving some away. (Books, that is. ;=) So that said, I only have about 20 shelves of books now, just the special ones!

The most important thing to know about my system is that there’s a strong division between TO BE READ:


And READ AND DECIDED TO KEEP:


As far as delving any further into my keeper organization, I don’t think I could begin to do my chaos justice. It's just sort of where things fit. But occasionally I’ll rearrange the order of my shelves when I’m stressed or bored. That's the one kind of housekeeping I enjoy. Does anyone else do that?

What I’m Reading Now: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen!

Tina
www.tinaferraro.com
Top Ten Uses for An Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring 2009

Bookcase Meme (Tag, You're It)

We have another fun new theme for our BuzzReaders this week--and I actually get to kick it off!!! (So if this all goes awry it's not my fault, I'm flying blind here.) This week you get a sneak peek inside the lives of writers... well, at our organizational habits when it comes to books, anyway. Without further ado (and babbling) I present: MY BOOK STORAGE.

1. The Main Bookshelf. (see photo below) This one is in my closet behind my desk and holds most of my writing life. On the top shelf I have a few reference books, some books on writing and on marketing, and a whole bunch of calendars and spiral notebooks. The second shelf holds more reference books (like Edith Hamilton's Mythology and the Eyewitness Guide to the Greek Islands) and my writing binders. One of the binders holds all my business papers (like contest certificates, contracts, and--my fave--rejection letters). The rest of the binders are my book binders, where I keep my notes, research, and character collages for each book. I'm also a bit of a graphics geek, so I make cover mock-ups, too. Finally, the bottom shelf holds my travel guides (also research) and the handout books from the past four RWA conferences.
2. The Keeper Baskets. (I know, technically not "shelves") On the top shelf in my closet I have three fabulous baskets from Ikea that are the perfect size for books--this is where I keep all my keepers. (At the front of the class right now are TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS by BuzzGirl Tina Ferraro, HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION by BuzzGirl Simone Elkeles, my fave Jenny Crusie GETTING RID OF BRADLEY, and new fave SPYING IN HIGH HEELS by Gemma Halliday)


3. The Nightstand. Right next to my bed, the dozen or so books I'm supposed to be reading right now. Like the copy of Stephenie Meyer's NEW MOON Steph sent me, the uber-cool-sounding JACK'S WIDOW by Eve Pollard, and THE WEDDING by Coleen Murtagh Paratore (that Marley recommended).

4. The To-Be-Read Crates. (not shown) I also have a stack of three milk cartons in the corner. Two of them are full of books I have yet to read. They're really, really full. The third is full of books I've read and have decided won't make it into my keeper baskets--they're ready to go to Goodwill.

That's pretty much my book organization strategy. I can't wait to see what the rest of the BuzzGirls (and BuzzReader) do with their books! We BuzzGirls got tagged with this meme via Diana Peterfreund (and BuzzGirl Marley) so check out her post on the matter. Now it's your turn.

Hugs,
TLC
GROWING UP GODLY [soon to be retitled], Summer 2008 Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... Nothing (I'm busy trying to hunt down a freakin' edited version of The Stand for my deal with Tina)

My favorite book to movie....

What qualities make up your perfect man? Is he sexy? Tough? Romantic? Rich? Charitable? Funny? Insightful?

What if there was a male who existed who had all of these qualities AND he wrote the most romantic book of all time(okay, this part is purely opinion)?

He exists people, and his name is Nicholas Sparks. If you aren't familar with Nicholas, check out his website http://www.nicholassparks.com. You won't be sorry. Have you heard of a little book called The Notebook? You know, the one that was made into a film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. If you haven't read the book/seen the movie stop reading this and rush to the nearest bookstore/Blockbuster nearest you! You will not find a more romantic movie.


The story of The Notebook makes you believe in true love. I don't think I would have felt the same way about this book/movie if I hadn't known what kind of a person Nicholas Sparks is. I mean, any author can write about love, but Nicholas makes it come alive because of the person that he is. Do you know that the first thing he bought with his first advance was a new wedding ring for his wife? He asked her to marry him again! How sweet is that? I'm thinking he's pretty lucky to have her too considering she's had five kids for him! :) In her defense, he is quite the hottie. While reading his bio, I realized that his story isn't a fairy tale of being discovered one day. His family has had plenty of tragedy mixed in with the bliss. It only makes me love his writing more!

If you haven't seen The Notebook (which, I can't imagine), here's a summary.

Duke spends everyday going to a nursing home reading from a notebook to an elderly woman. The woman doesn't remember him, but he keeps going back everyday in hopes that she might remember even if only for a few minutes.


The notebook is filled with the life story of Noah and Allie. Two teenagers from different backgrounds who fall head over heels for each other. Allie's parents eventually move her away to split them up and keep his letters from her. Then WWII intercedes to keep them apart. Noah loses his best friend and comes home confused. He takes his energy out restoring 200 year old home while Allie is busy preparing for her nupitals to another man.






Allie comes across a newspaper clipping of Noah and realizes she has to see him again. They realize they never stopped loving each other. Allie has to make some hard decisions about who she is going to be with.





This is the romantic scene of a movie I have ever seen. Check it out.
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS2BpORASX0


What makes the movie even better for me is that Noah and Allie, oops, I mean, Ryan & Rachel are together. Yes, I know their engagement has been kind of on and off but I have high hopes for them. So, the next time that someone tells you that men like Noah Calhoun don't exist. Tell them, that they do, but they go by the name of Nicholas Sparks!




What I'm reading...Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Steph~
All that matters is what's inside...as long as your outside is wearing the tiara!
REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN
July 3,2007, Berkley Jam Books
WWW.STEPHANIEHALE.COM

Stay Golden...

Well, the Buzz Girls have beat me to the punch this week. Bridget Jones’ Diary, Pride and Prejudice, Circle of Friends, Clueless – you guys have listed several of the best there is.


So... I have to go old school on you peeps...


I give you – The Outsiders.




Not only do you get the fabulous messages of S.E. Hinton’s book and the great line, “Stay golden, Pony Boy” – you get the debut of a gaggle of 80’s hotties: Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze – and in a bit part, my leftover pre-teen crushee Leif Garrett.



The movie is a beautiful interpretation of a spare, moving book that is worth re-reading – and is a classic YA. I recommend the book and the movie.

Both of them have stood the test of time, and are as

applicable to today’s teen readers (heck, any readers!) as they were back in the day.


Hugs and Happy Writing!

Heather


Heather Davis
is the author of Never Cry Werewolf
coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

A Tale of Two Chicklits

For book-to-movie week, I am going to report on two chicklit novel(las) that have been made into two of my favorite movies ever.

First up, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. Truman Capote's novella was short, succint and hit very close to the heart. I remember reading this coming-of-age story of Holly Golightly in high school and when I found out a very famous movie had been made I had to check it out.

In this case, I liked the movie more than the book. The glamourous, exquisite Audrey Hepburn, the dashing George Peppard as Paul "Fred" Varjack, the adorable cat who brings them together, and of course Tiffany's! After watching his movie, I went out and bought a little sleeveless black dress (from Forever 21, not Givenchy!) and wore my hair in an updo for about 6 months. I love love LOVE this movie.

Next up, IN HER SHOES. When I read Jennifer Weiner's book way back in 2003, I fell in love with the genre and knew I wanted to write a book like that someday. The extremely realistic story of two sisters who hate each other, yet can't live without each other really struck true for me.

In this case, I liked the book more because I felt the movie left out big parts of Maggie's growth, like when she goes to college and works for the older woman.

I never imagined Cameron Diaz as Maggie, but I felt that Rose was perfectly captured by the immesenly talented Toni Collete.

So that's my tale of two chicklits. What chicklits have you guys seen that you loved as both books and movies. Which chicklits do you wish you could see on screen?

--------------------------------------

Dona Sarkar-Mishra

http://donasarkarmishra.com

HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008