Okay, I'm dying to see this movie. I think Drew Barrymore has grown up into the most gorgeous, lovely woman and I love all of her movies. (Except, I haven't seen Never Been Kissed.)

I'm not a huge Hugh Grant fan, but I do like him.

So…has anyone seen it? What do you think? Worth playing hooky one day this week to go during the day (mwahahahaaaa! now that Gardella Three is almost done)….or should I wait for the DVD?

And…what's your favorite Drew Barrymore flick? I think I'd have to pick either Ever After or 50 First Dates. Love'em. I think she and Adam Sandler are adorable together.

Actually, winners.

I decided to give away two copies of the ARC of Rises the Night, and my Music Man (though he's sick with that ucky sinus/swollen glands thing I had last week) valiantly pulled himself together in order to choose two winners from the comments (plus one entrant who emailed me privately 'cause she didn't know how to comment, so she was #72).

So, the winners are:

GYPSY and Teresa Warner

I'll be in touch to get your mailing addresses and will get signed copies of Rises the Night out to you pronto!

Congratulations, and stay tuned…'cause I'll have more to give away soon!

Thirteen Reasons You Might Want to Win
an Advance Review Copy of
Rises the Night

1. If you like books about vampires  (there are vamps galore in the book)

2. If you don't like books about vampires (there are vamps in the book, but they're the bad guys)

3. If you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the book's about a female vampire slayer…in 19th century London)

4. If you like novels by Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Julia Quinn, Liz Carlyle, Stephanie Laurens, Diane Gaston, Janet Mullany, Jo Beverly and any number of authors writing stories set in that time period (the book starts in 19th century London)

5. If you're tired of books set in 19th century London about the ton, and Society, and debuts… (the book starts there, but more than half of it takes place in Venice and Rome)

6. If you think a woman should have more than one guy to choose from during her life before settling down (the female protagonist doesn't make her choice yet!)

7. If you don't like scary, bloody, gory horror novels but are somewhat fascinated by the huge influx of vampire novels on shelves nowadays (this book is a vampire-lite book, without being light and fluffy, yet not scary or too dark)

8.  If you liked Sydney Bristow (the book's an action-adventure with a female protagonist, but in a historical setting)

9. If you read The Rest Falls Away and can't wait for June when Rises the Night will be on the shelves…. (here's your chance…keep reading for the rules!)

10. If you read The Rest Falls Away and are shipping for Sebastian (he's got lots of page time in this one)

11. If you read The Rest Falls Away and are shipping for Max (he does too!)

12. If you read The Rest Falls Away and want to get to know Aunt Eustacia and Kritanu better

13. If you read The Rest Falls Away and want to know more about Venators and their history

Yes indeed…the ARCs (Advance Review Copies) have arrived on my doorstep!

So to be entered to win the very first advance copy, make a comment in the comments section and be sure to tell me which reason(s) you want to win a copy!

(If you win and haven't read The Rest Falls Away, the first in the series, and you would rather have that instead, you can let me know when I draw the winner.)

I'll be away until Saturday, so I'll draw a winner late Saturday night or Sunday morning…you have until then to enter to win. 

Thanks for visiting my Thursday Thirteen!

No, not me. I'm referring to the news headline that features Salary.com's poll about what's the sexiest job.

According to them, last year a firefighter was the sexiest job. (I'm going to have to tell my brother, who is a self-proclaimed redneck and firefighter) about this. Somehow, knowing him, it just doesn't compute.

However, when I see something like this…well, it sways my opinion. I admit it.

The problem with this is, I know lots and lots of firefighters…and they just don't look like that. Normally anyway. So I have a hard time voting for that as the sexiest occupation.

Although maybe I'm going about it wrong–I shouldn't be paying attention to physique, should I? After all, this isn't the Sexiest Man competition…it's the job, stupid, not the guy in the job.

In that case, I think I'd have to vote for the sexiest job being President of the United States. (It's the job, not the suit in it, remember?) Power, money, private airlines, security, travel….

Naw. Maybe not.

Sexiest job?

They list: Professor, Personal Trainer, UPS Driver (UPS driver???), Cowboy, Reporter, Surgeon, Pilot, Veterinarian, Interior Designer, Soldier, Nurse, Investment Banker, CEO, Firefighter, Event Planner, Bartender, Construction Worker, Landscaper, Police Officer, Lawyer, Teacher, Photographer, Flight Attendant.

(How come musician isn't on the list? That's a no-brainer, in my book!)

 Hmm. Based on the options, I guess I'd vote for Professor. They just know so much! (Power) And they can be cute (absent-minded) or sexy (Harrison Ford as Dr. Indiana Jones?), and they have to be confident, because they get up in front of people to talk. Yep, I think that's my vote.

(I mean, look at Sean Connery too, for pity's sake. Definitely. My. Vote.)

You can cast your vote for 2007's Sexiest Profession here. 

…I'm twenty-five pages from the end of The Bleeding Dusk, due to my editor in just a few weeks. Eeep.

Anyway, thought I'd share some pics from my book release party, held at an Irish pub (what else is a gal named Colleen Gleason going to do?) complete with string trio, lots of beer, and debutant author…as well as a debutante vampire slayer.

 Oh, and a vampire too. Named Richard.

Victoria had the best line the whole evening. She was showing everyone her stake, and said, "But I cannot show you how I usually wear it, under my skirts, for, while it might very well help my dance card, it would do nothing for my reputation!" 

Victoria managed to stake her first vamp amidst the Guinness pints! 

And Susan Tucker from Borders was there with a hefty supply of books…all of which we sold, and still had people wanting more!