Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Step Brothers

No, it doesn't open until this Friday, but I had the privelege of watching it last night in a special screening. If I had the choice, I wouldn't have picked STEP BROTHERS as the movie I would have watched in a theater, but my friend had tickets given to her from her job and she invited me. I don't get a chance to spend a lot of time with my friend (whom I've known since the 2nd grade), so I was excited about this evening. Plus, it was at the ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE. I've never been there, but I've heard a lot about it, and it met or exceeded my expectations. It was worth it just for that experience.



The movie is what you would expect from Will Farrell and John C. Reilly. Corny, funny, crude. The girl that exited the theater was asked her opinion on it from a reviewer, and she said it was the most awful movie she'd seen. I know some people would probably be offended, but I say you should know what to expect, considering the actors, the screenwriter, the producer. (Hint: Will FarrelL!)



It was crack up funny, even better because I was sitting in an awesome theater with my friend and drinking wine and eating pizza. Come on! What could be better that movies, wine and pizza???

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Sandra Brown talks about movies...

My all-time favorite author, SANDRA BROWN, is at http://goodbadandunread.com/2008/07/22/sandra-brown-talks-movies-and-books/#comment-67360 today, blogging about movies and books. Stop in for your chance to win her upcoming release, SMOKE SCREEN.

Oh...what a dream come true. To win an autographed copy of Sandra Brown's novel!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Don't Forget!

The Wild Rose Press wants you to have a SONY eReader!

All this summer (June 11 – August 31), every time you purchase a title by any of these sponsoring authors (see list below), you will be eligible to enter our drawing to win a SONY eReader. The drawing will be held on Tuesday evening, September 2, 2008 at our weekly chat (9:00 p.m. eastern). (You do not need to be present in the chat room to win).
When you purchase any title from these authors simply email your order number to:
SONYREADER@thewildrosepress.com

FREE READS DO NOT COUNT AS PURCHASES. Make sure you have a current email address and/or include your contact information so we can find you if you win.
You may enter as many times this summer as you wish. If you purchase more than one title in the same order, feel free to send two emails and include the order twice. We will verify that you did indeed purchase more than one title.
The following are the sponsoring authors for this wonderful contest. Please look for their author information on our web site and enjoy some fabulous reads this summer from these participating authors. If you click on the author's name it will take you directly to their books on our site.
Donna L. Bolk
Allie Boniface
Linda Carroll-Bradd
Laurel Bradley
Rachel Brimble
Charlotte Chalmers
Elaine Cantrell
Pam Champagne
Christine Columbus
Sandra Cormier
Cheryl Cornell
Amy Corwin
Sharon Cullen
Donna Dalton
K.M. Daughters
Debbie Doggett
CarolAnn Erhardt
Valerie Everhart
Samantha Gentry
Cindy Green
Kathleen Grieve
Larry Hammersley
Stacy Dawn
Sharon Horton
Tara Nina
Anna Kathryn Lanier
Marly Mathews
Nicole McCaffrey
Donna Michaels
Stacey Joy Netzel
AnneMarie Novark
Cindy Spencer Pape
PL Parker
Katie Reus
Jane Richardson
Donna Marie Rogers
Pam Roller
Emma Sanders
Kathleen Scott
Carol A. Spradling
Debra St. John
Lily Stone
Browyn Storm
Leanne Tyler
Brenda Weaver
Nita Wick
Teri Wilson

For information about the Sony eReader click here
For questions on this contest, please contact LisaDawn MacDonald at
lisadawn@thewildrosepress.com

or Rhonda Penders at rpenders@thewildrosepress.com

Please put the words SONY eReader contest question in your subject line.
Good luck!
*No purchase necessary to win the SONY eReader. If you do not purchase a title, you may enter the contest by mailing a post card to The Wild Rose Press, Sony eReader Contest, P.O. Box 708, Adams Basin, NY 14410. Please include your name, email and contact information. In addition, you must write down three titles from any of the participating authors. Postcard entrants will be added to the names of email entrants and a winning entry will be drawn on September 2, 2008.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

August Rush

August Rush was an amazing movie, despite some of the credibility issues. Because the movie was so deep, it was easy to look over some of those issues (such as Julliard taking a child without calling the police and reporting him as missing or as a runaway).

It was better than I expected and brought out emotions that just made me want to cry, jump for joy, and every emotion in between. Plus, the music was amazing. It's a movie I would like to own.

(Yes, I keep saying amazing, but that's truly what the movie was. How else can I describe it?)

Music is an amazing art, however I feel a lot of people try to drain out everything around them with music instead of letting it empower them. I went to the river one morning, and before long there were a whole slew of people with their radios turned up as if we all wanted to hear their tunes. As much as I love music, sometimes it drains me. I thought of the movie and the child, who walked around the world listening to the melody of the earth and letting it empower him and his calling.

The wind whipping through the trees, the birds and their chirping, the water as it flowed down the rocks and to the other side. People's voices and intonations. Once they turned on their radio at the river, I couldn't hear or appreciate any of those sounds.

I used to fuss at my husband because we'd take the boat (when we had one) out on the lake and he always wanted the music on. "My ears ring when there's silence," he would say. My argument was "of course your ears rings, because you're always trying to have noise around you." Why not enjoy the music that nature offers? Why not let nature empower you, instead of drowning it out every chance you get? Then, when you do hear a good song, you can enjoy it that much more.

There are days when I can't write with music. I need silence. But then there are time when I can't get going without music. If you look up music in the dictionary, it calls it an art form consisting of sound and silence. Pleasing and harmonious to the ears. I love how that kid in August Rush found the music in everything he did, and once he picked up a musical instrument he was just amazing, because it came from the inside of him.

So...let's do something fun. If you are listening to music, turn it off. Listen to the sounds around you. Does it conjure up any emotions, any memories, or make you feel a certain way? Use that in your writing (or you painting, or in whatever it is you do). And tell me what you hear.

I hear the whir of the air conditioning, the soft murmur of the television in the next room, and the tap tap tapping of my keys as I'm writing. Every now and again, the computer will prattle. But as I let those noises connect with me, they seem to communicate with each other, and it makes me feel peaceful.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

8 Things I Love About Summer

Okay, I'm back and I'm going to try to stick to my previous blog schedule. Of course, I can't promise anything, but I want to get back into blogging and what better way than to do it on the Top 8 of '08 day!

Here's the top things I LURVE about Summertime!

1. Barbecues

Food


2. Swimming

swimming


3. Sunshades

sunshades


4. Camping

Camping


5. Watermelon

WaterMelon


6. Pina Coladas

pina colada


7. Summer showers

summer rain


8. Vacations

On vacation

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Six Random Things...

I've actually done this before, but I was tagged by my dear friend, THE DUCK, so I've decided to try to come up with some new things about me. However, I'm not going to play by the rules this time. I'm not going to tag anybody new, since I did it a few months ago. So, here's 6 random things you may or may not know (or care to know, LOL) about me:

1. My ear lobe piercings are uneven. When I wear certain earrings, it's more noticeable. One side is lower than the other.

2. I have a lot of freckles.

3. I have a lot of ideas but not near enough time or energy to follow through with them. I love to learn new things, but if something doesn't interest me, I won't even try to learn. If it does interest me, I'll put in 110%. I also get bored easily.

4. I've always wanted to learn to play the drums.

5. I'm moody. Some days I'm very cheerful and extroverted, other days I just want to be left alone. I also have a propensity for negativity and have to fight it on a daily basis.

6. I love to travel but hate to fly. I actually have a slight anxiety disorder when the plane is about to take off. Otherwise, I'm usually not an anxious person.