February 29, 2008

Just thought you'd all like to know that my editor and I have agreed on a title, and it's been approved at the publisher. 

So the fifth and final Gardella book about Victoria will be titled

As Shadows Fade

and is scheduled for release March 2009!

Thank you for all your help in drumming up title ideas. It was a tough choice! I can't remember who suggested this one, or something like it…J, maybe? 

ETA: No, it was Deneishia who suggested As Shadow Fades…then we tweaked it and it became As Shadows Fade. Thanks again, Deneishia! I'll make sure to officially thank you in the acknowledgments. 

February 29, 2008

Haven't done this in awhile, and since I'm brain-dead and have nothing fascinating *snort* to write about today, why don't you play along and make my day.

Finish the sentence.

Before I walk out of the house…. 

February 27, 2008

You know I write action scenes, and that Victoria gets a little rough sometimes with the stake.

But she'd never go this far. Trust me.

February 26, 2008

A few weeks ago, I went to pick up my daughter from a friend's house. When I got there, another vehicle was in the driveway, running.

There was no one in the car.

When I went inside, I saw that another mother was there to pick up her daughter, and I said, "Is that your car in the drive?"

She nodded and said yes.

I said, "Running?"

She said, "Yes, I like to keep it warm."

I replied, "Did you know that's really bad for the environment? An idling car?"

(I wanted to say, "No one's in it! Why are you keeping it warm?" But I didn't.) (And yes, it's Michigan, but it wasn't that cold…and if it had warmed up on the way to this house, it wasn't going to get that cold in five minutes. Good grief.)

So I went on to explain, calmly, that an idling car is worse for the environment (because of higher gas mileage/emissions and wear and tear on the engine) than one that is actually being driven.

Not to mention it was a complete waste of gas.

Oh, and I might mention that 1) it was some big-ass SUV-type vehicle, and 2) it wasn't a situation where she'd left the car running just to run up to the door to get her daughter. She'd gone in, and had been chatting with the other mother in the kitchen–and then proceeded to stand there for at least another five minutes while I was there.

I couldn't believe it.

And then on Sunday, I went to pick up a friend of my son's, and when I pulled up I saw a car (another huge SUV) in the garage with its lights on, running. Expecting that car to be backing up at any moment, I parked off to the side and walked up to the car to say hi. No one was in it.

I knocked on the door from the garage to the house, figuring someone was just getting their jacket or purse or something. No answer after three loud knocks.

Went around to the front of the house and rang the bell. A minute later, the mother answered the door with her hair in curlers. Her hair in curlers. Ie, she wasn't nearly ready to leave to wherever she was going.

How long had that vehicle been idling? By the time I left, a total of at least five minutes later, there was still no one in the vehicle ready to leave.

It drives me crazy.

Please. Please. Please. Don't idle your car!

If it's going to be sitting there for more than 10 seconds, according to the experts, turn it off. Watch your lines in drive-thrus, too (try not to get in a long line, or if you do, turn off the car)…also when you pick up kids from school, run errands, etc.

And please…take a look at the links I posted. Especially this one. Help to make the world a greener place. 

And can you make a commitment to turn off the car and eliminate at least five minutes of potential idling this week….? And next? 

February 25, 2008

Definitely NSFW. But had to post, 'cause MaryKate clued me in.

This needs no introduction.