Adventures in Shelving

For the last six years our books have been stored in a three-drawer bureau... and a hope chest.... and the TV cabinet.... and under our bed.  We have a lot of books. 

So David and I decided to add a bookshelf all around the top edge of our bedroom like a wallpaper border.  We only managed to fill half of the bookshelves.  I have to buy more books.  (Poor me.)

While I was stocking the shelf, I realized a few things- one, that I'm not tough enough to be a librarian!  My arms are so sore.  Other observations:

-The first book I put on the shelf was "Writing Romance Novels for Dummies."  When I bought it, I was young and thought that possessing those books somehow guarenteed that I would someday be published.

- I collect copies of "Pride and Prejudice" like crazy people collect copies of "Catcher in the Rye."

- I own enough Ann Rule "woman snaps and kills her husband in a grisly manner" books to make David pretty nervous.

- I like a lot of authors whose names begin with "R" - Roberts, Rowling, Riordan, Rule..

- It's more difficult to shelve the books in alphabetical order when you know the authors by their real names, not their pen names.  I'm looking at you, Jennie Bentley.

- I like making interesting author neighbor combinations.  I put Shirley Jump next to John Jakes. I put Delilah Marvelle next to Lucy M. Montgomery.    I think they would all get along.

- Also, I put my erotica collection next to the Twilight books, because it amuses me.

- Speaking of my erotica collection, I don't know if it's because I'm paranoid, but for some reason, titles like "Taming Samantha" and "Their Virgin Captive" seem to stand out more than the other titles.

- If there is an earthquake, I am completely screwed.

Fantasy Casting: Various Half-Moon Hollow residents

Having a physical representation of your character is very helpful when visualizing scenes.  So like many authors, I fantasy cast my characters before I start a new project.  With three Half-Moon Hollow spin-off titles scheduled for this year, I've received questions about who I pictured for the additional characters I've added to the NICE GIRLS "universe."

And please note, I mean this in the least creepy, flattering way possible.



Collin Sutherland
DRIVING MR. DEAD

I read somewhere that Michael Fassbender "smiles like a serial killer, but all the girls still want to sleep with him."  That's pretty much the truth.  Fassbender can be as polished and sharp as a blade with an underlying tension in his face that seems to say, "I am debating whether to kiss you or murder you Tarantino-style."  That brittle grasp on polite "non-murdering-ness" is what makes him a perfect Collin, who spends much of his time with his palm slapped firmly over his face at Miranda's antics. 



Miranda Puckett
DRIVING MR. DEAD

Was scary runny clown mascara something that happened in one of Rose Byrne's movies?  I couldn't get the image of a wet, runny-eye-make-upped brunette approaching the door of a reclusive monster out of my head when I started DRIVING MR. DEAD.  Rose can kick butt when she needs to, but there's a vulnerability to her that I found appealing. 


Iris Scanlon
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES

I have loved Linda Cardellini ever since she embodied my cartoon hero, Velma, in the Scooby Doo movies.  And when I pictured Iris' crazy cat lady hair, I pictured Cardellini's turn as Chutney in Legally Blonde, with the tragic perm.  She's little, but tough, and I can see her smacking a vampire on the nose if she needed to.



C. Calix
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES

I will admit that I only wrote this book because of a daydream I had about a vampirized Karl Urban.  If you have never seen RED, with Urban and Bruce Willis, you must rent it now and put the DVD on repeat.  He kicks so much ass it's ridiculous, but with this world-weary, "Oh, my god, I can't believe I have to save everybody's collective ass again." attitude that I thought ancient vampire Cal would appreciate.


Gigi Scanlon
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES

I adore Molly Quinn.  I think she plays one of the best teenage girl "role model" characters on TV with Alexis Castle- smart, respectful, hard-working, with a strong moral compass.  And that's how I saw Gigi.  She's a genuinely good kid who understands that her life is not the norm, but does her best to make it easy for the adults around her. 


Ben Overby
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES

I knew my daughter's iCarly habit would eventually work against me.  When I pictured Gigi's boyfriend, I couldn't get Nathan Kress out of my head.


Jamie Lanier
NICE GIRLS DON'T BITE THEIR NEIGHBORS

Jane's ward Jamie is a blond, all-American jock, that's a young Paul Walker.  Even though he ruins everything he's in.


Ophelia
Every Half-Moon Hollow book ever

Half-Moon Hollow's teenage vampire council leader is an diabolical teenager with inappropriate wardrobe choices.  I will let you draw your own conclusions about why I pictured Miley Cyrus. 


The "Big Bad" Villian from NICE GIRLS DON'T BITE THEIR NEIGHBORS
For the sake of spoilers, I will not say who he is.  But for the people who have read the book, I pictured him as Danny McBride.

I think you know why.

All images were gathered from Google images.  I do not own the copyrights for any of them.  Also, be warned that if you Google pictures of Miley Cyrus, a lot of weird, virus-laden stuff will pop up.

Great Review for CARE AND FEEDING from Eloisa James!

Eloisa James has included THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES a great review on her Barnes and Noble Romance Reader Column.  I'm just excited that Eloisa James has heard of me!

And she gave me the best quote ever - "Cal is arguably as sexy as Spike."  SWOON!

To see the review, click here.