Sorry for the delay, but I was waiting for my ARCs of The Bleeding Dusk to arrive so I could provide them to the winners of various contests I've had here on the blog.

So, without further ado:

The winner of the Readers Ask contest is: Chris Howard of Stuff as Dreams are Made On!

And the winner of the But Why a Meatball? Contest is: Christine d'Abo!

Congrats…I'll be in touch, or you can email me at author at colleengleason.com to claim your prize. 

Kailana at The Written World emailed me a few weeks ago and asked if she could host a fan-fic/fan-art contest for the Gardella Vampire Chronicles on her blog. I thought it was a great idea, and we came up with a decent prize….

She's got the contest posted, so pop on over and see what you think, and send her an entry if you like. 

Every year about this time, People magazine puts out its SMA issue. (SMA=Sexiest Man Alive)

I can't always say that I agree with their choices, but as time goes on, I've realized that it's just as much political choice as it is a "sexy" choice.

In other words, I might think Sting is the SMA (although Clive's coming up fast), but that doesn't mean that he's the right choice for People. The guy has to be extremely visible, big-screen, A-list, and not have made an idiot out of himself. *cough*TomCruise*cough* It helps if he has other things going for him, besides looks and A-list Status, too.

Let's take a look at the last four years:

Johnny Depp (2003)

Jude Law (2004)

Matthew McConaughey (2005)

George Clooney (2006)

So who's it going to be for 2007?

Unfortunately, I don't think it'll be Gerard Butler or Clive Owen (now don't get your panties in a wad, ladies….it's not because they aren't worthy! It's because they aren't big enough, or have enough exposure at this time).

My vote is Matt Damon (he's become HUGE with the Bourne franchise and his philanthropic work, and he's married and has a kid….a very good option, if you see what I mean). It's the right time for him. He's just exploded this year.

And he's hothothot.

So, looking at the Big Picture–who's been in the headlines, the spotlight, who hasn't embarrassed himself or done anything stupid….who do you think People will pick?

And then, who do you pick…just for you. Your SMA. *wink* You know what I mean.

No indeed.

When a movie that's slated to be released at the end of the year, during Oscar season, amid all the other big blockbuster-wanna-bes, suddenly gets shunted to…ugh….end of February, one can only say, "Yikes."

How bad can it be?

It must be reallllllly bad.

After all, February and March are the bad times for movie releases (good times for book releases, though…hint, hint)–it's after the Oscar rush, before the big summer releases.

So, it's a bummer that the movie's that bad. Don't think I'll be seeing it–Eric Bana doesn't really do that much for me, and although I like Scarjo (mainly 'cause the girl has curves and isn't an emaciated paper doll *cough*KeiraKnightley*cough*).

And really, Eric Bana had no business playing the running-to-fat, pus-running-down-gouted-leg Henry VIII. I'm sorry, but that was poor casting in the extreme. 

I've read one Philippa Gregory book–The Queen's Fool–and I enjoyed it (although I thought the love story/romance between the "fool" and her eventual husband was unrealistic, tacked on, and clumsy). I haven't read any other Gregory books, though everyone says The Other Boleyn Girl is the best.

So maybe I'll read it instead of watch it.

So, what do you think? Will you see the flick? Have you read the book?

And, since there's now suddenly a total glut of Tudor-set historical fiction…how do you feel about that? Tired of it? Want a different time period explored?

(Why can't someone do a series like that about Eleanor of Aquitaine? I would glom that up in a heartbeat.)

Oh, wait. Someone did. Roberta Gellis. The Roselynde Chronicles. Sexier than the Gregory books (wayy sexier), with more fictional elements, but…damn, they're some of my favorite books. Ever.

Don't ask me where I got that blog title, or topic.

I guess it was because I heard a snippet of that song on NPR this morning, and so now it's in my head. I'm ready to leave for a two-hour meeting this morning, then a lunch date (good grief, when am I going to write today?)…so off I'll go with that song in my head–and there could be worse earworms, no?

Which brings me to the question: Do you have a favorite "old" or "revival" musical? How about a newer one (ie, Webber, Rice/John, etc.)?

I used to be involved in theater productions in high school, and then when I got out of college, I met my Music Man doing community theater. Since I can't sing, I'm rarely onstage, but in those years just out of college, I got a bit of a reputation for being a damn good stage manager and assistant director.

I like to remind my Music Man that when we met, he was merely a cast member in a community theater production of Oliver! (to date one of my favorites, because that's how we met)…and I was the assistant director/stage manager. Which meant that he had to do what I said.

Unfortunately, that didn't last long. Sigh.

Anyway, there was, of course, much backstage hanky-panky going on–so much so that once he nearly missed his entrance.

But I digress.

So, because of my involvement with plays, I have my favorites–some of which are ones I've been involved in. Oliver! and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in particular. I love Webber's Phantom of the Opera, which should come as no surprise to anyone who hangs around here much, and I really enjoyed Spamalot.

I confess…I have never seen Les Mis, which my editor contends is The Best, and I'm desperate to see Wicked.

So…you?