Good morning. How many of you found your way to the new URL for the blonde today? I see Steven did, of course. And Mark!. Look, there's Skippy too. That's great. I feel like the Romper Room lady looking through her magic mirror.
Speaking of magic, I've returned from trip number 63 to the Magic place nearby. This time the occasion was the THIRTEENTH anniversary of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's MGM Studios. If you ever get the chance to attend one of these special events, do it. We almost had the park entirely to ourselves Friday night.
The park closed at 10:00 Friday night with the final Fantasmic show at 10:30. My Prince and I arrived around eight o'clock. With most of the park attendees waiting in line for the first Fantasmic show, we headed to Star Tours. Nothing like a hyper-light speed flight with a droid to get you ready for a night of excitement. No line at all. Perfect. We were seated front row center.
After returning to earth, we headed for one of my favorite spots in the Studios, Writers Stop. Staring at the display carousel of paperback novels - many of them romances - I created a new goal for myself: to have my book for sale in Writers Stop. That combines two of my favorite things - Disney and my own books!
We sat for a while on New York Street drinking coffee. I'd never noticed before, but you can actually hear the sounds of the subway trains when you're sitting on the sidewalk bench. No detail overlooked. That's my Disney!
Then we headed for the Tower. I will admit to being Terrorized before we even got inside. I've done this ride dozens of times, but I'm always scared. It's like the Carly Simon song (and the ketchup commercial!) AN-TIC-I-PATION. They know exactly how to scare me. If you've done this, you know that the elevator drops in a random pattern. This was the first time I've been all the way to the top THREE times in one ride. It was, well, terrifying. My Prince has permanent marks in his right arm from my fingers gripping him while I screamed like a little girl.
When we got off, we skidded into Fantasmic just in time for the second show. It was, as always, wonderful. Mickey once again saves the day. Some imagination, huh?
Well, we couldn't leave the special Tower of Terror party without one more ride on the broken elevator. By now the crowd was thinned to the special event people only. The wait time outside the Hollywood Hotel said "13" minutes. See? No detail overlooked. Of course, we had to ride again.
This time I wasn't nearly as scared. There was absolutely no wait, and our car was filled with veterans. The ride was thrilling. Even when we were all the way at the bottom, when usually you start to unbuckle your seatbelt, we were whisked back up to the top for one more spectacular drop.
It was great fun, and I'm glad we were invited to attend. Now, it's back to the real world and facing an altogether different kind of terror - the blank page!!!
Have a wonderful day! Good writing to all.
Susan
Monday, July 16, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
We Said Goodbye to Roger....
The memorial service for Roger was held yesterday afternoon. At one point the chaplain encouraged people in attendance to share their special memories of Roger. One lady from his bowling team talked about the Halloween that he dressed as a woman. I have been encouraged by many to post that photo, so here it is:
The service was nice with a kind chaplain saying nice things and lovely music playing that made all of us tearful. But I couldn't help thinking how much fun Roger would have had if he could have been there. He thought of his coworkers as family and truly loved all of us. He would have had a great time laughing with us as we brought up the old memories.
We miss you, Roger.
Love,
Susan
Remember - the blog address changes tomorrow!
The service was nice with a kind chaplain saying nice things and lovely music playing that made all of us tearful. But I couldn't help thinking how much fun Roger would have had if he could have been there. He thought of his coworkers as family and truly loved all of us. He would have had a great time laughing with us as we brought up the old memories.
We miss you, Roger.
Love,
Susan
Remember - the blog address changes tomorrow!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Kiss on the Hand May Be Quite Continental...
But Diamonds are still this girl's best friend.
Writers are notorious for googling themselves, and I'm no exception. I've admitted to it before, and I'm not ashamed of it. This time, I found another review for TOUGHER THAN DIAMONDS. What makes this one especially significant to me is that it's not a romance review site; it's a mystery review site.
Christine Speakman of Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine writes:
"Those who know my reviews know I’m not a romance-type fan; however, I must state “Tougher Than Diamonds” is one of the best quick summer reads. It will satisfy those who love romance with their mystery and those who just want a fun fast-flying mystery."
Just like a mother should never say she has a favorite among her children, a writer should not pick a favorite book. But I will say this: Of all the books I've had published to date, TOUGHER THAN DIAMONDS is my favorite. So I'm especially happy with this nice praise from a Mystery Reviewer.
"Ms. Carnell wrote with a clear simplicity that’s refreshing and fast-pacing. There’s never a dull moment, and her characters are not at all boring or duplications of other romance-mystery stereotypes."
It doesn't get much better than that.
Read the whole review - and find more fun stuff - at this website
And remember that on Friday your bookmarks won't work any longer. You'll need to change them to susancody.
Have a great day!
Susan
Writers are notorious for googling themselves, and I'm no exception. I've admitted to it before, and I'm not ashamed of it. This time, I found another review for TOUGHER THAN DIAMONDS. What makes this one especially significant to me is that it's not a romance review site; it's a mystery review site.
Christine Speakman of Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine writes:
"Those who know my reviews know I’m not a romance-type fan; however, I must state “Tougher Than Diamonds” is one of the best quick summer reads. It will satisfy those who love romance with their mystery and those who just want a fun fast-flying mystery."
Just like a mother should never say she has a favorite among her children, a writer should not pick a favorite book. But I will say this: Of all the books I've had published to date, TOUGHER THAN DIAMONDS is my favorite. So I'm especially happy with this nice praise from a Mystery Reviewer.
"Ms. Carnell wrote with a clear simplicity that’s refreshing and fast-pacing. There’s never a dull moment, and her characters are not at all boring or duplications of other romance-mystery stereotypes."
It doesn't get much better than that.
Read the whole review - and find more fun stuff - at this website
And remember that on Friday your bookmarks won't work any longer. You'll need to change them to susancody.
Have a great day!
Susan
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Live from the New Office...
Yes, it's true. Despite the ongoing saga of the Tile Guy, the multiple coats of paint, the stuff The Boy left behind, I have finally moved into the new office. Yesterday, I persuaded the young Cable Guy to activate the internet access for me in this room. Then I undertook the daunting chore of moving the computer. Unbelievably, I managed to disconnect every wire and reconnect each one of them correctly. On the first try!
So here I am in the new office with my Snow White Rose colored walls, my not-the-tile-I-picked floor, and my beautiful view out the front window.
Life is full of changes. Having been offered a contract by The Wild Rose Press for "A Lotus-Covered Door," I have decided to begin publishing my work under my real name. No, Delia Carnell does not exist beyond the beautiful covers of my LI and CP books. That name was chosen over a pitcher of sangria and anangrams of Cinderella. It served me well, but I'm eager to launch my real self into the world. From now on, my work will be published under the name Susan Cody. That's who I am. At least that's the name on the title to the T-Bird.
To that end, I'll be making some changes in cyberspace. www.susancody.com already exists, but there isn't much on it just yet. My new MySpace page is myspace.com/susanvcody. I guess somebody already had Susancody. I had to add the V.
And the Blonde in the Red T-Bird will be making a corresponding change the end of the week. So when you click your bookmarks and you can't get anywhere, just change the name. You should be just fine.
Okay, I've got a lot of work still to do. Like figure out where I'm going to put the printer and whether the connecting cable is long enough. Have a wonderful day!
Susan
PS - I will probably continue to use the name "Delia" when I place my order at Starbucks.
So here I am in the new office with my Snow White Rose colored walls, my not-the-tile-I-picked floor, and my beautiful view out the front window.
Life is full of changes. Having been offered a contract by The Wild Rose Press for "A Lotus-Covered Door," I have decided to begin publishing my work under my real name. No, Delia Carnell does not exist beyond the beautiful covers of my LI and CP books. That name was chosen over a pitcher of sangria and anangrams of Cinderella. It served me well, but I'm eager to launch my real self into the world. From now on, my work will be published under the name Susan Cody. That's who I am. At least that's the name on the title to the T-Bird.
To that end, I'll be making some changes in cyberspace. www.susancody.com already exists, but there isn't much on it just yet. My new MySpace page is myspace.com/susanvcody. I guess somebody already had Susancody. I had to add the V.
And the Blonde in the Red T-Bird will be making a corresponding change the end of the week. So when you click your bookmarks and you can't get anywhere, just change the name. You should be just fine.
Okay, I've got a lot of work still to do. Like figure out where I'm going to put the printer and whether the connecting cable is long enough. Have a wonderful day!
Susan
PS - I will probably continue to use the name "Delia" when I place my order at Starbucks.
Monday, July 9, 2007
"We had it all..."
Anyone recognize the song "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins? I've always had a special fondness for that song. I love the Florida Keys. I love the Bogey/Bacall movies. ("You do know how to whistle, don't you, Steve?") And Bertie lives nearby. I've seen him a couple of times at local music fests.
But this morning, I call up the song by way of sharing with you my review for TOUGHER THAN DIAMONDS in the Grand Dame of all romantic fiction reviews, ROMANTIC TIMES. Here's the quote:
"Carnell's hero and heroine hum with sexual attraction from their first meeting. They are no Bogey and Bacall, but they're a good facsimile."
I can't begin to describe how that pleases me. I did have the old black and white detective movies in mind when I wrote this one. I wanted Jake to have an edge. I wanted Rebecca to be beautiful with an icy veneer. But we know that's only an act to cover the pain in her heart. And only one man can break through.
Thank you very much to Ms. Barb Anderson of Romantic Times for "getting it" and for liking it.
Available now at www.cerridwenpress.com
Have a great day!
Delia
But this morning, I call up the song by way of sharing with you my review for TOUGHER THAN DIAMONDS in the Grand Dame of all romantic fiction reviews, ROMANTIC TIMES. Here's the quote:
"Carnell's hero and heroine hum with sexual attraction from their first meeting. They are no Bogey and Bacall, but they're a good facsimile."
I can't begin to describe how that pleases me. I did have the old black and white detective movies in mind when I wrote this one. I wanted Jake to have an edge. I wanted Rebecca to be beautiful with an icy veneer. But we know that's only an act to cover the pain in her heart. And only one man can break through.
Thank you very much to Ms. Barb Anderson of Romantic Times for "getting it" and for liking it.
Available now at www.cerridwenpress.com
Have a great day!
Delia
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
The Tile and the Grout
Sounds like a great book title, doesn't it? Well, this one is definitely not a romance. To protect his identity, and to keep me from getting sued, I'm going to refer to the Tile Guy as....Tile Guy. Here's our story:
Tile Guy talks to me on the phone, asks a few questions and says he can do the job Monday and Tuesday. Monday morning comes, no Tile Guy. I call him, leave a message, he calls back. "Didn't I say we'd start Tuesday?"
No, you did not. You KNOW you did not say Tuesday. You said MONDAY. So apologies happen and we agree he will start Tuesday. Monday around noon he calls to say he's at the home improvement store, and they don't have the tile I picked. I direct him to the other home improvement store, which is the one where I bought a sample tile.
Monday afternoon at 5:30, he calls from the other home improvement store. (It's about a fifteen minute drive between the two. I don't get it.) He can't find the tile there either. He puts me on the phone with the tile employee at the store. He doesn't understand. I get in my car and drive there with the sample tile in my hand, walk into the store, go directly to the tile I chose and say, "There it is!"
Oh. That's a marble tile. Yeah? So? Well, that's going to cost a lot more.
A. Lot. More. Okay, I'll choose another tile. Everything they have at the home improvement store is ugly. I agree to go to a tile specialty store first thing in the morning to pick a tile.
Tuesday morning, 8:59 am, we're standing on the sidewalk when Tile Girl unlocks the door. I choose a tile. I call Tile Guy on the phone, tell him I've chosen a tile. He says to wait there until his guy gets there so I can lead him to my house.
What? The guy can't read a freakin' map? No, he can't. Okay, we wait. (Well, in the meantime we drop my car off at my mechanic's, but that's another story). Assistant Tile Guy shows up; we drive to my house with ATG following.
ATG and AATG start doing tile. I leave to go to the home decoration store. The cell phone rings. It's Tile Guy. They say they don't have enough tile. The room is bigger than I told him.
Once during this entire process did it ever occur to Tile Guy, the PROFESSIONAL, to come to my house with a tape measure? Look things over? Maybe measure it???
Guess not.
They left to buy more tile. They'll be back tomorrow to finish the job. I'm not giving them any of my hot dogs, baked beans or potato salad. So there!
Tile Guy talks to me on the phone, asks a few questions and says he can do the job Monday and Tuesday. Monday morning comes, no Tile Guy. I call him, leave a message, he calls back. "Didn't I say we'd start Tuesday?"
No, you did not. You KNOW you did not say Tuesday. You said MONDAY. So apologies happen and we agree he will start Tuesday. Monday around noon he calls to say he's at the home improvement store, and they don't have the tile I picked. I direct him to the other home improvement store, which is the one where I bought a sample tile.
Monday afternoon at 5:30, he calls from the other home improvement store. (It's about a fifteen minute drive between the two. I don't get it.) He can't find the tile there either. He puts me on the phone with the tile employee at the store. He doesn't understand. I get in my car and drive there with the sample tile in my hand, walk into the store, go directly to the tile I chose and say, "There it is!"
Oh. That's a marble tile. Yeah? So? Well, that's going to cost a lot more.
A. Lot. More. Okay, I'll choose another tile. Everything they have at the home improvement store is ugly. I agree to go to a tile specialty store first thing in the morning to pick a tile.
Tuesday morning, 8:59 am, we're standing on the sidewalk when Tile Girl unlocks the door. I choose a tile. I call Tile Guy on the phone, tell him I've chosen a tile. He says to wait there until his guy gets there so I can lead him to my house.
What? The guy can't read a freakin' map? No, he can't. Okay, we wait. (Well, in the meantime we drop my car off at my mechanic's, but that's another story). Assistant Tile Guy shows up; we drive to my house with ATG following.
ATG and AATG start doing tile. I leave to go to the home decoration store. The cell phone rings. It's Tile Guy. They say they don't have enough tile. The room is bigger than I told him.
Once during this entire process did it ever occur to Tile Guy, the PROFESSIONAL, to come to my house with a tape measure? Look things over? Maybe measure it???
Guess not.
They left to buy more tile. They'll be back tomorrow to finish the job. I'm not giving them any of my hot dogs, baked beans or potato salad. So there!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Hurts So Good...
After seven straight days of hard physical labor, I took today off. Not that this was a conscious decision. More like, I couldn't move. So the day was completely wrapped up in movies and cross stitch.
Here's one of the movies - In Love and War, starring Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnell. He plays Ernest Hemingway in Italy during WWI. She's his nurse. It's really good, but I especially enjoyed it because I feel as if he's an old friend having visited his home in Key West several times. And I think he's a pretty good writer.
I don't see any great return to writing for at least another week. The Tile Guy starts tomorrow, and I have to pressure wash the outside of the house. Wednesday is, of course, the Fourth. There's a trip to Disney on the schedule for later in the week. I guess I'm "on vacation."
Here's one of those silly "What Kind of ____ Are you?" things that makes the rounds of the blog-o-sphere.
Not sure I agree with this. I would have sworn I'm Camille. But I have to admit, the picture really looks a lot like me.
He he.
Have a great day!
Delia
Here's one of the movies - In Love and War, starring Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnell. He plays Ernest Hemingway in Italy during WWI. She's his nurse. It's really good, but I especially enjoyed it because I feel as if he's an old friend having visited his home in Key West several times. And I think he's a pretty good writer.
I don't see any great return to writing for at least another week. The Tile Guy starts tomorrow, and I have to pressure wash the outside of the house. Wednesday is, of course, the Fourth. There's a trip to Disney on the schedule for later in the week. I guess I'm "on vacation."
Here's one of those silly "What Kind of ____ Are you?" things that makes the rounds of the blog-o-sphere.
| Who Should Paint You: Roy Lichtenstein |
 |
What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatartistshouldpaintyourportraitquiz/">What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?
Not sure I agree with this. I would have sworn I'm Camille. But I have to admit, the picture really looks a lot like me.
He he.
Have a great day!
Delia
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