Remember those cutting insults from middle school when someone was staring at you? “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

Er, yeah. They sounded cutting at the time. (Maybe not in the ’00s, but in the ’80s they were. I think.)

Anyway, I figured I’d better take my own advice and take a few pictures of my minty-fresh clean and rearranged office. Because that will last longer than the organized cleanliness.

Thought some of you might be interested in seeing my workspace (where I at least write my blog and do email, if not actually write new pages for my books. Well, I do write some pages here, but not as many as I might elsewhere.)

Anyway, here’s where it all (some of it, anyway), happens.

So…is your office organized (and does it stay that way)? Or do you subscribe to the mantra: “A clean desk is the clear sign of a sick mind.” (No offense to you with clean desks. I love it when my desk/office is clean. It just doesn’t stay that way!)

My ride to Mac’s Backs in Cleveland should be arriving ANY moment now, but wanted to say Hi and Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend!

I’m behind on emails and so on, but know that I’m reading them and will respond.

In the mean time, if you’re in the area, I’m at Mac’s Backs in Cleveland tonight from 5-7,and at Paperback Outlet in Warren, MI, on Thurs 4:30-6ish I think.

Here are some puppy pictures…me and Mr. Frodo!

On Book Tours. When driving on one’s own.

1. Check Mapquest and actually read how long it takes to drive from Chicago to Terre Haute.

I.e., when it says “3 hours, 54 minutes” don’t forget about those 54 minutes. It makes the trip much longer than 3 hours. It helps if you notice this before you get ready to leave.

2. Note that when driving from Chicago to Terre Haute that there is a time change from Central Time back to Eastern Time when you cross back into Indiana. Take note that you lose one hour when you do so….which makes that 3 hours, 54 minutes really 4 hours and 54 minutes. Oops.

3. Despite timing snafus, when you manage to make it to the book signing event only twenty minutes late, buy yourself a Lindt Dark Chocolate bar with Caramel to celebrate. And give half of it to Jennifer Rardin, who held the fort down while you tried to get your butt there on time.

4. Take little goodies brought to previous signing by darling Kristin B. (mini bottles of Godiva liqueur and Bailey’s) back to room after signing and relax.

So I met two of my former co-workers (we'd worked at a startup company that dealt with the health care costs of mega corporations via technological applications; I was in sales, not the tech side) for a couple drinks and dinner last night.

In the middle of the Ann Arbor Art Fair.

For those of you who aren't from Michigan, you may not be aware of the Fair, which I believe is still the biggest street art fair in the US. People who live in Ann Arbor mostly hate it, because of course, it's impossible to move around downtown during the four days of blocked streets, vendors up the wazoo, and people from all over the world.

Anyway, we planned to meet down there before we realized it was Art Fair week. Even once we realized it, we didn't change our plans because if you're going to go to the Art Fair, the best day to go is Wednesday, because it's the opening day and, being mid-week, is the least busy.

But still. I was grumpy and filled with trepidation when I left my house (and, incidentally, left some family friends swimming in the lake~where I should have been) because 1) it was bloody hot, and 2) where on earth was I going to park? and 3) how long were we going to have to wait for a table for dinner?

However. Not only did I get a metered (ie, free after 6 pm) parking place on Main Street (just three blocks away from part of the Fair and restaurant Mecca), but I met up with my two friends and we found a place to eat and a table right away. Nothing was crowded. It was busy, of course, but nothing was crowded.

Oh, and by the time I got down there, a nice breeze had picked up, the humidity had gone down, and the temp had become comfortable.

In short, it turned out to be lovely evening, including the company.

So we ate dinner, then walked a bit, then went into a different place for an after-dinner drink and dessert.

I tell you all this because…well…I didn't get home till much later than I'd planned. Which means…I didn't dive as far into the book I'd intended to read last night.

I am pleased, however, to report that between a variety of conversation topics (religion, sex, politics, etc.)–some of them quite heated, but all very cordial–that I was able to do some research.

See, both of the friends I was meeting were of the male persuasion.

I always like to hang out with guys in what I call their natural element (ie, they're not trying to hit on me or anyone I'm with). It helps when writing scenes from the male point of view, and to really see what guys think.

Plus I enjoy hanging out and being one of the guys–insofar as they'll let me. 

So even though I didn't read my book (well, I confess, I did start it yesterday at lunch and am about a third into it), it was a productive night. Research, research, research. Ahh, the life of a writer!

The only problem was, when I told them that, they thought I should pick up the tab.

Last week before I went on vacation, I held a little contest for my newsletter subscribers.

(What? You don't get my newsletter? Bummer! You missed out! You should sign up now, before you forget. Right over there, just below and to the right of my picture.)

Anyway, to have the chance to win an ARC of When Twilight Burns, the entrants simply had to tell me who they would pick for Victoria's true love–and whether they'd changed their mind since the beginning of the series.

I had many entries, and finally (randomly) picked a winner…Amy W. of PA…from all of the entries.

But there were some people who also wrote lovely epistles about why they picked who they picked, and of those entries, I also picked two winners just because I thought they should win something for their thoughtfulness. (There were lots of great writeups, too, but I picked one from each "camp" that I thought was the best.)

So, here, in their words, are their cases for Max or Sebastian. Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves if you agree or disagree. (I'm sure I didn't even need to say that, did I?) 

(uh, warning…there are some spoilers in these writeups. Just FYI.) 

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The Case for Sebastian

Oh please, oh please, oh please choose Sebastian for who Victoria ends up with, if she ends up with anyone at all.

Max would be the a good pick too. Probably the more logical pick consider everything he’s been through, and the complicated relationship he has with Victoria.

But there are a few problems with him too. Such as the fact if he did end up with her, it would be kind of of elementary school yard. You know. Boy likes girl, so boy picks on girl. It’s a little cliché. Also, the kiss they shared in the last novel The Bleeding Dusk, for me anyway, kind of sealed the deal that there was no romantic spark between them. True they’re antagonistic relationship is really interesting, and fun, but it was kind of lacking that extra spark.

The third reason for not choosing Max, would also be that, isn't he not a Venator  anymore? I know he is still fighting the good fight against vampires, but I think that he would probably be better ending up with a girl who sees him as stronger than her, and maybe unaware of the whole vampire/human struggle?

In my opinion, Sebastian would be the best choice. He has given up his family, made into a better person, and shed blood, sweat, and tears for Victoria. They’re relationship works on so many levels. I don’t see wedding plans in they’re future, only because of the type of people they are, but to establish a final relationship, the two of them works best.

Victoria needs someone like Sebastian in her life to allow her to remember, life is not all blood, and death, and what other grizzly fates she has to have thrown in her face. Its also filled with passion, laughs, and  life. Not death. Sebastian brings that to the table. Max would be all work. Rockley, would be boring, and someone else… I’m not sure.

Or you could have her not choose anyone at all. Keep her relationships open. But that’s been done so many times before. Its better to have a final conclusion after dancing around the “who” all this time.

So in the end, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaase choose Sebastian.

–from Lana P. 

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The Case for Max

A man of style or a man of substance?
 
When I learned of this contest, I was excited to receive the opportunity to articulate why I prefer one character over another. In my opinion, there are only two serious contenders for Victoria: the handsome, urbane Sebastian and the sexy, enigmatic Max.
 
Sebastian has almost all of the qualities that a hero should have.  He is smart, handsome and charming.  He understands that the world is a dangerous place and believes that nothing is black and white. Sebastian can take care of himself and Victoria, if need be. He is the epitome of the suave sophisticate who always manages to come out of sticky situations unscathed.
 
So why isn’t he the man for Victoria? The answer is simple: Max. If Sebastian is the epitome of a charming sophisticate, Max is a prime example of a medieval knight.  Strong, handsome and courageous, Max stares down his enemies in the face of overwhelming odds and personal challenges because it is the right thing to do.  Some characters see his seemingly “cold” demeanor and don’t recognize a passionate man lies beneath the façade.  It is because his feelings run so deeply, that Max has to put them aside in order to do what must be done.
 
Ultimately, it is his strength of character that sets Max apart from Sebastian. Max is willing to make the hard choices and live with the consequences. He sees that the world needs champions and he steps forward to accept the challenge.  Max is a character with an unshakeable sense of honor and loyalty.
 
So which man will Victoria choose?  The one whom she has a good time with, but can’t necessarily trust? Or the man who has been there for her consistently and challenges her to reach her full potential?  A man of style or a man of substance? I know which one I would choose.
 
P.S. My choice has never changed from the first book to the last.  Although I understand Sebastian’s appeal, Max has always had more depth to me. Thank you again for the opportunity to state Max’s case.

–from Stephanie T.

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So there you have it, just two of the many entries I received.

It's a good thing I'd had the last book (not to mention the fourth) written before I had this contest, huh? (Actually, as I've said over and over, I've always known who Victoria will end up with. It's never changed.)

And, just for those curious-minded folk: the latest numbers are 58% Team Max v. 41% Sebastian, and the rest either wanted her to have both, or neither.