First of all, something fun! Here’s a letter and a couple of pictures from Ann Cohrs, winner of our Bad Santa writing contest:
Dear Jeanne and Mario!
I just received a box of the most delicious loot! Thank you, and thank you even more for the contest opportunity.
I took a couple of pictures that I thought you might enjoy.
The lil critters take an unhealthy interest in my activities and I phear for my life.
The alien has already found the vial on the necklace. You should be made aware that it was not proper blood. It was Klingon Bloodwine, and the cheeky little bastard drank it right down and has been playing footsie with my boobs ever since. The zombie teddy is looking for brainz.
Curiously, the devil duck seems content to hold up my halo.
Yours Truly in Paranoia
Ann, wandering off to find her mother a Christmas present that will fit in the coffin box ....
Thanks for sharing, Ann! And I think the coffin box makes an excellent Xmas present box. It's small and we all know what comes in small packages...
Remember that limited edition, handwritten and illustrated book of fairytales by J.K. Rowling that was estimated to bring about $100,000 at auction? It actually fetched $4 MILLION. Amazon.com was the winning bidder. The proceeds of the sale will go to charity. Click
here to see a picture and read Amazon's thank you note to Rowling.
Speaking of, J. K. Rowling, Scholastic is ready to launch what they hope will be the next blockbuster series. Called
“The 39 Clues,” this series will be aimed at 8 – 12 year olds and features 10 books — the first of which is to go on sale next September — as well as related Web-based games, collectors’ cards and cash prizes. Rick Riordan wrote the first title in the new series and has outlined the story arc for the next ten installments. The books will be released every two or three months and written by different authors.
I’m just back from SoCal. Here are a couple of pics of signings that took place in Glendale and San Diego:
Mystery & Imagination in Glendale
Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego
Last weekend, was the Denver Book Launch which I must say, went very well. Good crowd, the new book was well received and I think we all had fun. Ron and Nina Else, proprietors of Who Else Books, were wonderful hosts. I will try to include pics next time. Got a new camera (thanks to my pal, Ron Jessee who got tired of seeing my husband run around with a throw-away) and haven't quite figured out how to dowload them yet.
Here’s a link to an
interview Aussie Tez Miller and I did last week. I loved the questions—especially the last one. Never been asked that before! In fact, let me throw that same question out to you-- for which urban fantasy author(s) would you turn gay/straight? Come on, now--fess up!
From Business Digest of December 14--- "Predatory lawyers know they can file ridiculous lawsuits against innocent product makers and blackmail them into a cash settlement - even in cases in which a user has ignored common sense."
Bob Dorigo Jones, organizer of the US's Wacky Warning Label Contest, commenting on this year's winner, a tractor label that warns 'Danger: Avoid Death', as cited by the Metro.
"Avoid Death..." Love it.
Another bit of nonsense. This from the WSJ: According to a survey by a Connecticut wealth-research firm, 75 % of 1,134 people polled with incomes ranging between $30 - 60,000 said they would be "very" or "extremely" willing to marry for money. How much money? At least $1.5 million. How much would YOU be willing to marry for (assuming you would, of course!)
For my Whedon pals-- check out this
site. Lots of pic of Buffyverse cast and crew supporting the writer's strike during Mutant Enemy Day on the picket line.
Quick reminder: January is my month over at the Barnes & Noble online Paranormal Book Club. Stop by and say hello.
Happy Holidays, everybody! Here's my gift to you-- follow the
link for a YouTube I spotted on Marta Acosta's VampWire-- Spike fans-- Merry Christmas!