Whaddaya know–just in time to start promoting the next Gardella Vampire Chronicles book, Victoria steps into the spotlight in her first-ever public interview!

And guess who's interviewing her.

No, not Barbara Walters, or Katie Couric…or even Ellen (thought what I'd give for a chance to see that!). No, no.

Instead of sitting down to chat with one of the reigning queens of "getting to know you," Victoria Gardella Grantworth has been interviewed by none other than Jezebel, the star of Jackie Kessler's witty, edgy, sexy HELL ON EARTH books (the first being Hell's Belles).

Did I mention that Jezebel is a demon? Actually, to be more precise, she's a succubus.

So, for the curious…the interview is posted here. Enjoy.

Saw this headline and nearly spewed my (innocent) tea into my four-month-old Mac's screen: Animal Activists Want Chimp Declared a Human.

Yeah.

Here's the link to the article. I must confess, I didn't read it. I just saw the picture of the chimp and the headline, and that was it: I surfed away before the old Mac got a shower.

(Incidentally, do you think there's any Freudian reason why I keep typing "Max" instead of "Mac"?)

(Nahhhh.)

And, finally (as if this were actually an interesting post or anything–see what happens when a girl turns 40? She goes on hiatus, and when she comes back, all the posts go to hell.), just in case you somehow missed it, Rises the Night comes out a month from today. So mark your calendars!

(I'm still available for guest-blogs and/or interviews in late May/early June. Email me if you have an idea or invite!)

So I've been on hiatus for a few days. It was my birthday, then my mom's, plus I had to finish up a project, and today is my son's birthday–how about a gaggle of nine year old boys hanging around your house? Pretty crazy.

Which is why I played hookey this afternoon (in preparation for tonight's craziness) and went to see the new Drew Barrymore movie. 

Lucky You is really Huck Cheever's (Eric Bana) movie more than Billie Offer's (Drew Barrymore). And while it's not the chick-flicky romantic comedy I expected, I really enjoyed it.

Huck Cheever is a professional poker player–following in his estranged father's (Robert Duvall) footsteps. Their relationship and competition is more the focus of the movie than Huck's and Billie's. Billie is never in a scene without Huck, but he's in every scene in the whole movie.

And since Eric Bana's no hardship to look at, well, I'm not complaining. Nice arms, that man has. Very. Nice. Arms.

Annnnywayyyyyy….I liked the movie. I'm not a poker player, and while I do understand the tenets of the game, I didn't really pay that much attention to it–and the movie did a good job of making it clear what cards needed to fall where, so I didn't have to really think. Which I never want to have to do on a Friday afternoon when playing hookey at the movies anyway.

Ya know?

So. I liked the movie. It wasn't action-oriented or cheesy or mooshy. It was a nice story set against the backdrop of the World Series of Poker (and since the father of one of my good friends just played–and did very well–in the World Poker Tourney in Vegas, it was very timely), with a decent story and some good lines. And the ending wasn't nice and pat either.

I recommend it. And besides, Drew is adorable as usual. 

If you've never followed my bloglink to The Wet Noodle Posse, you're really missing out.

It's a full-featured ezine for women, and every month we update every feature from Travel to Crafts, Recipes to Superheroines, and everything in between. It's like getting a free magazine every month! Plus you'll get to meet a slew of other talented authors.

Check it out. You can start here to learn how we got the name The Wet Noodle Posse.

Well, at least I feel beautiful…after all the massaging and pampering, who wouldn't?

We had a great time…and the best part was that after all my spa treatments and a great dinner, we went to the casino where I won $397 playing craps. Which paid for all the spa stuff, plus dinner. So I was very very happy!

And then when I got home, I had a nice little package from my editor with a copy of Rises the Night…hot off the presses! (And let me tell you…the cover in person….wow! Believe me, the Internet just doesn't do it justice.)

So to celebrate, I'm going to give that copy away to the winner of my "birthday" drawing…and the winner is:

Charity

Congrats, Charity! I'll be in touch!