Tag Archives: postaday2011

The Dream Dinner

Posted on by

You know that question – the one that asks, “If you could have dinner with six people, living or dead, who would it be?”  Yeah, that one.  Who would you pick?  That’s not rhetorical; I’d really like to know.  Comment below with your list if you please.  Here’s mine:

  1. Benjamin Franklin: I bet he was hilarious in life.  Plus, he’s one of the founding fathers.  I kinda have to have one of these guys on my guest list, or risk being called a bad historian – which I am on my own enough as it is.  I don’t need you telling me I am too.
  2. John Lennon: Because I love him.  No, really. I do.  I’d love to pick that brain apart and just hang with him.  Combined with Ben Franklin, I think it’d be a damn near religious experience.   Hey, they kinda look alike…
  3. Jim Carrey: Don’t be hatin’.  I love me some Jim Carrey.  I love that he can go from dead serious to wacked out crazy hilarious in two seconds flat.  Also, his recent Emma Stone video had me ROLLING!!!!
  4. Mary Wollstonecraft: Because she’s like the first feminist.  She was around during the late 18th century and I can’t imagine what she saw in her life.  I’d love to hear about her struggles with being a great female thinker in a male-dominated society. (Read more) 
  5. Sigmund Freud: Can you imagine the hilarity that would ensue from a Franklin, Carrey, and Freud meeting?!?  On second thought, he and Mary might exchange a few heated words – I can’t imagine her jiving with him…  Oh, what the hell.  I’d have him along too.
  6. Emma Stone: But only if she’d be cool w/ sharing a table with Jim.  I love her timing, and I’d just like to hang with a cool chick like her.  I may or may not have a little heterosexual girl crush on her… 

 

So that’s my six.  Your turn!  Comment below babies!!

The “Love Triangle”

Posted on by

Okay authors, I have a plea for you: can we STOP with the love triangle thing?  Especially you young adult (YA) writers?  I’ve begun reading a series by Julie Kagawa – The Iron Fey.  They’re YA fantasy books, and I’ll be the first to admit I like these types of stories because YA books tend to be lighter and don’t really deal with “adult” issues that can kinda drag the reader down.  Although, I will devour a Nick Hornby whenever I get the chance, and those are far from peppy. 

My problem with Kagawa’s books, though, is that there’s this love triangle thing kind of winding up, and I’m kinda exhausted by it.  I realize that I’m still in book one, but oh my freaking literary hell.  The main character, Meghan (I like her name) is kinda starting to get caught between Puck – yes, the “real” Puck – and this winter fairy prince dude, Ash.  The guys hate each other already, because they’re from two different fairy camps and there’s this history between the two – yet to be revealed.  Insert teenage jealousies, and BAM! you have the recipe for every dang YA book I seem to come across.

I realize YA authors are pandering to their crowd a bit.  Teen girls always want two guys fighting over them – until they realize that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be – and come on let’s face it, the formula works:

Slightly awkward plain Jane girl has childhood friend who has always been there at her side.  She starts to notice that he’s not the same little boy she grew up with, he’s actually kinda hot, but she doesn’t feel that way about him – that would be like dating her brother.  Enter dark, brooding stranger…

*PAUSE* Girls, do you know what a dark, brooding stranger means in real life?  Either 1) a sadist intent on hurting/stalking/kidnapping you, or 2) a freaking mental case who is so high maintenance that you don’t even want to deal with him because sadly he’s more of a girl than you are.

Anyway, that’s the formula, and I’m sorry, but as a reader, I think I’d like to see something different.  I realize that’s some good conflict in that there love triangle, and props to those who have done it in the past.  I mean, let’s face it: male territorial shenanigans are fun to write and totally realistic, but holy guacamole!!  Can we find something else to stir things up. 

We have Edward vs. Jacob; Jace vs. Simon; now Puck vs. Ash.  Will it NEVER end?! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really enjoying Kagawa’s books; I kind of imagine them as Anime actually because there’s this talking cat, and all this fantasy stuff swirling around.  I also like that there are curse words in the books, because teenagers have horrible language most of the time.  The characters haven’t really dealt with “adult” issues yet, mainly just stuff that can be roughly translated to issues with authority, but they’re entertaining.  I do think it’s time to pick up a Hornby book or similar though, just for a change of pace.  AND, I’m not going to do the best-friend-who-wants-more-versus-the-hot-stranger-fighting-over-the-normal-girl thing in any of my stories.

Transmissions from Dating Land: Your Questions

Posted on by

Well, I realize I haven’t posted another transmission from the crazy land o’ dating in a while, but I am working on the eBook.  Life kinda threw me a curveball and well, the research has hit a bit of a wall so I’m going a new route.  I figure I can write about my own misadventures in the dating world, but I could also ask you for your questions.  I would then answer them here and in the book.

For instance, on Facebook the other day, a friend asked, “Is it too much to ask for me to get a guy who’s not a douche bag?” (To which I answered, “No, it’s not too much to ask, and this is why…”)  Other questions could involve navigating the wide world of Facebook, or who should text who first.  Be creative, people.  And I’m going to be funny about answering them, because I’m not a relationship expert, but I can turn a phrase pretty well.  They can be silly questions too.  Be stupid about them if you want.  I’m game.

So there you go!  Comment below, par favor.  I’ll answer the questions here (probably) with some snarky remark, and then I’ll put them in the book and extend my explanation there.

In other writing news, after the Great Virus Crisis of 2011, I have fixed my computer, thank you Baby Jesus!!!!!!!  I was sweating that one because I would have lost a whole day’s worth of editing (can you say “Sixty pages lost”??).  Also, I’ve begun querying agents for the novel.  If you haven’t read the first chapter, you can find it here.  The title – until my soon-to-be agent decides on a better one – is Wake of Darkness.  I’m excited.

I’m also batting around the idea of a short story or book with the title The High Road to Taos.  Not really sure what it will be about, but I fell in love with that name after I heard it the other day.  I’m chomping on some ideas and I’ll probably start outlining something soon.

And, with Wake of Darkness going to agents and the rewrite officially done, I’m turning back to a little chick lit piece tentatively titled Lunch Dates (but that title will change too.  W.O.D. has had like 6 titles.  Crazy!)  I’ll start hacking that one apart soon, but it’s not so intricate as W.O.D. was, so I should be able to pound it out pretty quickly. 

Um, and then I’ve got a short story/flash fiction compilation that I’m putting together.  It’s full of zombies, espionage, and the green fairy.  And of course there’s the other stuff I’ve got going: a psychology study guide for a Florida school district, the Sheldon Cooper fan blog, some magazine stuff – that sort of thing.

And can I just say how much I’m LOVING that summer is over?!  Don’t get me wrong: I love my princess, but I got so much work done yesterday – I couldn’t believe it.  Baby girl went into first grade and she didn’t want me to walk her into class – not that I minded.  I mean, I love my baby, but I’m not the weepy type of mommy who’s hurt by her desire for independence.  I love that she’s comfortable enough with school that she’s all, “Mommy, I’ve got this.”

So yeah, that’s what’s up.  Now, post yo’ questions below homies.  I lurve you all!

The Real “Brainy Babe”

Posted on by

Some people blog openly, talking about the ins and outs of their daily lives with reckless abandon, writing about anything that strikes their fancy and to hell with the silly notion of privacy.  Others blog behind the protective veil of the Internet, hesitant to reveal anything that could connect them with the blog, securing their virtual privacy in anonymity. 

For me, my blog is a kind of public journal – basically the stuff that comes out of my grey matter that I don’t mind sharing with you.  Granted, I don’t haphazardly throw stuff on here, because it IS going to be read by you Internets and well…I’d like to maintain at least the semblance of being a normal person.  Kidding!  (Pretty much)  I do have actual journals I jot very personal stuff in, but those will never see the light of day.  Because you can’t reveal plans to take over the world!! Mwahahahaha ahahahaha!

Er, what?  My inner monologue must be broken again…  Ahem.  Sorry. 

Well, no matter!   Point is, I post as myself.  The person you read about here is the same one you’d meet in real life, although I’m less witty in person – I’ll admit my humor usually works better on paper.  And I’m okay with that. 

Do I reveal all on ‘The Brainy Babe’?  Um, did Houdini share his secrets with the world?  No.  Am I pretty candid about what’s going on in my life or what I’m thinking about?  Why yes, yes I am.

I suppose the next question would be, “Why?”  Quite simply because I don’t mind writing about myself.  I don’t mind sharing my flash fiction, or sample chapters from a novel in progress with you.  I like to pass on info about good books I’ve read (and warn you away from the literary crap I’ve encountered).  I like to talk music, history, and I’m pretty up front about my divorces.  

Does some of this help people?  I don’t know, but I know it can’t help anyone if I’m not honest about things.  That’s something a writer must be: honest.  I figure that my friends and the important people in my life already know these nitty-gritty details, and they love me, so why not share it with the rest of the world?  Yep, I get negative comments about some of my opinions (note to self: do not disparage Kevin James again), but I get far more positive ones comments than negative, so I figure I’m doing something right.   

Despite writing as myself, I still don’t put it all out there for your reading pleasure.  There are several things about myself that are frankly none y’ bidness.  Those details stay with me, and trust me, you’ll live without reading all that stuff.writing

This site actually started off as Doodles on A Notebook.  I’m still partial to the name.  I think I started in the end of 2009, but don’t quote me on that one.  You’ll still see references to Doodles here and there.  My Twitter account is actually still @doodle_gal.  I’ve thought of changing it, but I just can’t.  The Brainy Babe seemed to be an upgrade, a change of pace, and every once in a while you need some change.  And you know what? It’s been worth it.  I’ve “met” some really great people, and a few very interesting ones as well.  My digital circle of friends is diverse and really fun.  I’m grateful for all the kooky people I get to “hang” with online.  Y’all are the best!

xoxo