Celluloid Diaries: December 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Robert Gray's favorite Christmas stories

This is a guest post by Robert Gray, the author of Eve Hallows and The Book Of Shrieks and Eve Hallows and The Book Of Shadows.

I've always been a fan of Christmas stories--from the outright hysterical to the festively gruesome. So, in the spirit of the season, I thought I'd offer up my top ten favorite holiday stories of all time.

10. How The Grinch Stole Christmas



9. Gremlins



8. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas



7. A Christmas Story



6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer



5. Elf



4. The Nightmare Before Christmas



3. It's A Wonderful Life



2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation



1. A Christmas Carol



What are your favorite Christmas stories?

even hallows

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Favorite books

The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke + Shangai Baby by Wei Hui

Romance Beckons has done a feature on me and my books and asked me to compile a list with my 13 favorite books. Here are eight of them. To see the rest, go to http://romancebeckons.blogspot.be/2012/12/thursday13-fave-books-of-all-time.html.

The Comfort Of Strangers by Ian McEwan

Colin and Mary are bored lovers on vacation in Italy. They accidentally bump into Robert, a seemingly friendly man, and they quickly become drawn into a dangerous fantasy of violence and obsession. Paul Schrader's movie adaptation is equally captivating.

The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke

Actor Ethan Hawke encapsulates well the characteristics of a doomed love affair and the psychological breakdown which follows it. I like this novella for its emotional honesty and its simple, yet poetic style. Hawke directed his own film version in 2006, but as much as I loved the book, the movie just didn't do it for me.

Twee maal leven by Clem Schouwenaers

A Flemish classic in which a man, bored of his routinous office life, decides to leave his job and be free.

Shangai Baby by Wei Hui

Publicly burned in China for its sensual nature and irreverent style, Shangai Baby is the semi-autobiographical story of Coco and her love for two men: Tian Tian, for whom she feels tenderness and love, and the Westerner Mark with whom she begins a highly-charged physical affair.

Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro

My favorite romance novel. Kathleen Tessaro's Elegance is not only wonderfully romantic, it also captures well the fears of most women: the uncertainties about their looks and age and the fear of not leading the life one has hoped for.

The Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater

The highs and lows of Provençal life: living in a warmer clime, eating fresh Mediterranean food, the adoption of a menagerie of animals, swimming in one's own pool and the thrill of harvesting your own olives.

Atomised by Michel Houellebecq

Half-brothers Michel and Bruno have a mother in common but little else. Michel is a molecular biologist, a man with no erotic life to speak of and little in the way of human society. Bruno, by contrast, is a libertine. Both are symptomatic members of our atomised society, where religion has given way to shallow new age philosophies and love to meaningless sexual connections. This French novel has been turned into a German feature film in 2006.

Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel

A young woman struggles with depression during her first year at Harvard. Based on a true story.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Dexter the mouse

Mouse

Over the last couple of weeks we had a new pet. It all started when we found my boyfriend's cat, Kyoshi, with a mouse. Only the tail dangled from her mouth. We rescued the animal and wanted to give him his freedom outside, but he refused to leave and stared at us as if he was thinking: "How can you leave me here all by myself?"

Several weeks later the mouse had a name - Dexter (after one of our favorite TV series) - and was living a luxurious life, sleeping on a cotton bed and nibbling from mice candy.

One day, though, Dexter was gone. He had escaped. I have read before that mice can find their way through the smallest of holes, so I guess this is what happened.

What do you think of little Dexter? Isn't he the cutest?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Christmas market in Brussels

Christmas market in Brussels

On Friday evening, Gilles and I visited the Christmas market Winter Wonders in Brussels. Elected by British Tour Operators as the most original in Europe, the Brussels' Christmas market stretches for 2 kilometers with a series of chalets, shops, and places to savor Christmas delicacies. After the Christmas market, Gilles cooked me dinner and we watched the latest episodes of HomelandDexter, and American Horror Story.

Christmas market in Brussels
Christmas market in Brussels
Christmas market in Brussels
Christmas market food
Christmas market drinks
Christmas market in Brussels
Christmas market in Brussels
Christmas market in Brussels

Which Christmas markets have you visited this year?

christmas market in brussels

Monday, December 17, 2012

Do we have past lives?

As I Wake by Sarah DiCello
The following post is by guest author Sarah DiCello.

First, thank you Vanessa for letting me guest blog on your site today. My birthday was yesterday and what a great belated birthday gift you have given me!

Secondly, I have to read "A Good Man" because I am obsessed with Dexter. I am so sad there are only three shows left EVER.

I wish I could write thrillers like you but I can't stand the sight of blood let alone writing about it. My books are more young adult beach reads that make you question the unknown. Like do we have past lives?

My main character, Danielle Grayson, is forced into another world when she sleeps. It's so real and vivid that the smells of ocean air and feel of splintered wood are as present to her senses as if she were truly there, living within the dream.

Have you ever wondered if we have lived past lives? I know I think about these kinds of things all the time. I wonder if I was ever entranced, what would come to the forefront of my mind? Was I a royal or a pauper? Who did I love? It's all so interesting to me.

In my first novel in the breaking fate series, "As I Close My Eyes," Danielle has a hard time dealing with her "gift" but in the sequel, "As I Wake," which launches TODAY (YIPPEE!!!!), Danielle tries to embrace her ability to time-travel in her sleep. She's more aware of when it's going to happen and can now recognize the clues she's given to discover the truth to her special gift.

To purchase both "As I Close My Eyes" and "As I Wake" go to Amazon today!

You can find Sarah DiCello on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sarahdicelloauthor or at her blog - www.sarahdicello.blogspot.com. You can also reach her via Twitter - @sdicello and check her out on Goodreads at www.goodreads.com/sarahdicello.

Do you believe in past lives? Has something weird happened to you that makes you question the unknown?

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 14, 2012

Christmas books giveaway

Christmas books

Today my sponsor Random House is giving away two Christmas-themed paperback books - Greg Kincaid's A Christmas Home and Brian McGrory's Buddy: How A Rooster Made Me A Family Man. To enter to win, leave a comment with the title of the book you prefer. You can earn extra entries by sharing this giveaway on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Google+, Tumblr and/or on a forum. Leave a separate comment for each action you took so I can count it accordingly. Contest is open worldwide and ends December 21. Good luck!

Christmas book #1: A Christmas Home

Have you read the book A Dog Named Christmas or seen the TV movie? If you liked it, you do not want to miss out on A Christmas Home which is already the third book in the series (don't worry – if you haven't read the other two books, you will still be able to follow and enjoy it). The main character from those two books, Todd McGray, now works at the local animal shelter where he has become best friends with Laura. When the shelter closes down, Todd does not only have to find a new job – preferably one that allows him to work with dogs - he also has to look for a permanent home for all the animals left at the shelter. A Christmas Home is mainly a tale of growing, believing in yourself and following your dreams; but it's also a story about the spirit of Christmas and finding the love of one's life. I liked it because of the adorable Christmas atmosphere and because it conjured up memories of my own work at an animal shelter years back. Some might call the book a bit too simple, predictable and cheesy, but isn't that what Christmas is about? If you love books that remind you of TV movies and Christmas, then this is the one you should pick.

Purchase
Amazon * B&N * Kobo


Christmas book #2: Buddy: How A Rooster Made Me A Family Man

Brian McGrory has been a writer and an editor for the Boston Globe since 1989 and received both the prestigious Scripps Howard and Sigma Delta Chi awards. It is not the kind of man you would expect an animal story from. Buddy: How A Rooster Made Me A Family Man is far from a love story though. You see, Brian hated the bird, so much he wanted to get rid of him on every occasion he got. He just couldn't stand that his family was going all mellow over it: they made him birthday cake, kept him in the sofa for a television show, built him a tree house, and generally were the rooster's slave. Turned out though that the rooster could teach him a few lessons - about becoming a leader, being happy with what you have and doing all that you can to be with one family. It sounds mellow, but it isn't. McGrory tackles Buddy with humor, intelligence and honesty. The result is a touching story that will make you laugh, cry and think all at once.

Purchase

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Mystery adventure book giveaway


Four books to give away: You have a chance to win a mystery adventure ebook by Linda Weaver Clarke. To enter to win, leave a comment with your preferred title. You can gain extra entries by sharing this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, StumbleUpon, Tumblr and/or on a forum. Open worldwide. Linda Weaver Clarke will pick a winner on December 20. Check the comment section to see who has won.

MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE WITH A TOUCH OF ROMANCE

Ebook: Anasazi Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans

Review: This is the first book I’ve read by Linda Weaver Clarke and I’m already hooked. The first pages grab you right in and grab at your heartstrings as you read about the destruction caused by the flood. When Julia and John fight for their lives, readers will be on the edge of their seats for this one. There’s also romance in the mix. John and Julia’s marriage is strong and they are quite supportive of each other. Even when they have their ups and downs, it’s not for long and they get right back into each other’s arms. It’s nice to see a relationship portrayed this way. Very realistic and believable. This series is a “must read” for me. And...my Socrates Great Book Alert Award! –Socrates Book Review

Purchase: Amazon * B&N * Smashwords * Kobo


Ebook: Mayan Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans

Review: What starts out as a romantic trip quickly turns into a dangerous adventure among the Mayan ruins and jungles, and the vacationers are on the run from thieves--and wild animals! Excitement prevails! This book is full of mystery and suspense. Linda’s writing is lively and down-to-earth; she has the ability to make you feel as if you're in these stories, along with John and Julia, trying to decipher the truth and escape from harm. –Suko’s Notebook

Purchase: Amazon * B&N * Smashwords * Kobo

 

Ebook: Montezuma Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans

Review: I am charmed by her new book, Montezuma Intrigue. The mysteries continue as this author entrances us with life-like characters and electrifying adventures. The search for Montezuma's treasure is both exciting and memorable. There are also a few romances, and some surprises as well, which kept my reading pleasurable and lively. I enjoyed the adventure and suspense in her latest novel, which kept me reading well into the night. –Suko’s Notebook

Purchase: Amazon * Montezuma * Smashwords * Kobo

 

Book or Ebook: Desert Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans

Review: Romance, Mystery, and Regional History Collaborate to Create a Satisfying, Intriguing Story! It was difficult to put this one down. I cared about the characters, I cared about their ranch, and I was brainstorming right along with this delightful family, figuring out how to either remove the curse or solve the mystery that threatened to destroy their way of life. There are children flirting with romance, relational complexities, and a wedding in the works that just won’t seem to come together. The writing is clear and lively, never calling attention to itself or getting in the way of the story. The touches of humor and inclusion of regional history tie it all together to make a satisfying story all the more fascinating. Highly recommended! –Steve Miller, Author

Purchase: Amazon * B&N * Smashwords * Kobo

 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Help an animal this Christmas

I am pleased to hand over my blog today to author Stacey Joy Netzel. She is giving away an ebook copy to THREE lucky commenters (sneak peek below at the prize). 


Hello everyone! I’m Stacey Joy Netzel and I write romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and every once in awhile, I add a paranormal romance in for fun. I also seem to have accumulated a number of Christmas titles now, though it wasn’t on purpose.

Dragonfly Dreams was the first, and then my three mistletoe books, Mistletoe Mischief, Mistletoe Magic, and Mistletoe Match-up came two years afterward. In 2011 I received the rights back from my publisher and re-released Dragonfly Dreams. Family friends were going through a really hard time medically and financially, so I decided to donate all of my royalty earnings for that Christmas book in the month of December to help them out.

I was thrilled to be able to send them a check for $300 in January and have since decided that each December I will pick one of my books to donate that month’s royalties to someone or an organization in need.

This year, the choice is Mistletoe Magic. Why the second book in my Romancing Wisconsin series, you ask? (Even if you didn’t, let’s pretend, shall we?) Well, for one, it earns a higher royalty rate than the first in the series, which means more $ for my charity of choice, and two, my heroine in the story runs a non-profit animal rescue at the old, shut-down resort my hero purchased right out from under her.

Lots of conflict, but it’s a romance, so you know there’ll be a happily ever after. In honor of Janelle’s efforts in the story, my royalties for December from Mistletoe Magic will be donated to the no-kill shelter Happily Ever After.

Happily Ever After Animal Shelter

Their mission: Through the work of the sanctuary and its education, adoption, and spay/neuter programs, the mission of Happily Ever After is to provide both temporary and lifetime care to animals and bring about a time when all the companion animals born into this world will be guaranteed a quality of life in a loving home.

In my book, this is precisely what Janelle tries to accomplish with her animal rescue shelter, but she’s going to have some major bumps along the road—especially when she has to deal with the stubborn new owner. Here’s a brief glimpse of the struggles she faces.

Mistletoe Magic: Major Mark Riley plays Court Jester to Janelle Walsh's Snow Queen at the Christmas Parade and is instantly captivated by the cute redhead whose grandpa just happens to be Santa. When Mark learns she's the tenant he evicted from his newly purchased property, it's going to take a little bit of Santa's mistletoe magic to save their romance.

EXCERPT:

Two nights later, after a long day spent with the animals in a failed attempt to keep her mind off her new landlord, Janelle stepped from the bathroom in a cloud of steam. The tucked end of her sage green towel slipped loose and she made a quick grab as it began to unravel from around her body.

“Aw, damn.”

The low, muttered curse about gave her a heart attack. She whirled with a gasp and pressed her back to the wall, nearly losing her towel yet again.

Mark Riley stood in the hallway. Her heart thundered in her ears. There wasn’t enough air in the narrow space to fill her lungs.

Then she realized his attention focused below her chin and she clutched the terrycloth covering in a trembling death grip. She glanced down to make sure it covered top and bottom before shooting him a glare.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.

His brown gaze rose to hers. “I own the place, remember?”

“Like I could forget that lovely fact. How’d you get in? Where’s Duke and Daisy?”

He held up a key in answer to the first question. “As for your dogs, they’re currently enjoying beef strips on the porch. I came prepared.”

His gaze flicked down, up for a split-second, then down again. Heat inundated her limbs, all the way to her toes. She turned toward her bedroom doorway until she noticed he carried a large military duffle bag in each hand.

Suspicion stalled her escape. “What are those?”

“I’m moving in.”

Janelle’s stomach lurched. “You can’t do that.”

He smiled as he started forward. “Of course I can, it’s my house.”

Her fingers tightened on the edges of the towel. She backed into her doorway, less brave now wearing a scrap of cloth with water dripping from her hair onto her bare shoulders than the other day when she’d refused to let him intimidate her. His smart-ass grin made her hold what ground she had left, but he walked past her toward the master suite in the lodge’s private wing.

Suspicion narrowed her eyes and she followed him, flicking her wet curls back over her shoulder. “I know exactly what you’re doing, but it’s not going to work.”

He tossed his bags into the bedroom. After they’d thumped to a halt on the hardwood, he turned back and leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, legs braced slightly apart. “No?”

“No.” She refused to let her gaze linger on the bulge of his biceps—or anywhere else. “You moving in will not make me leave.”

His gaze took a blatant journey down the length of her towel-clad body. Goosebumps broke out over her skin. A hint of a smile tugged at his lips when he lifted his eyes back to hers. “Now that’s a real shame.”

The potent combination of his low husky drawl and the heat in his eyes almost made her run to her room and pack her bags. Almost. “Laugh all you want, I’m—”

“Who’s laughing? I’m heartbroken you’re not already on your way out the door.”

She stomped a foot on the hardwood floor. “I’m serious about this. I’ll get my own lawyer if I have to.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets and tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “How much longer is this conversation going to last?”

My God, he was an arrogant jerk! “As long as it has to—why?”

His thick, dark lashes lowered. “Because that little green towel is a major turn-on.”

Her gaze dropped to the front of his jeans before she could stop it. His low chuckle made her face flush red hot.

Move! her mind shouted.

Still, she hesitated—until reality set in. Retreat was the best option. Her only option, considering she floundered so far out of her depth she couldn’t even tread water.

She spun around and marched to her room, her tattered dignity leaving a pathetic trail. A low groan of male appreciation reached her ears a moment before she slammed her door and her Jello-ed knees refused to hold her straight. She sagged against the wood at her back.

For a second, a brief, insane moment back there, she’d almost stepped toward him instead of saving herself. She closed her eyes and banged the back of her head on the door. Wake up, Janelle! No way in hell this could work out.

After she’d pulled on underwear, socks, a bra and the ugliest pair of sweats she owned, she took a deep breath and forced herself to get right back on the horse, so to speak. Mark sprawled in a chair at the kitchen table with a cup of the coffee she’d set to brew during her shower. Duke lay at his feet under the table, and Daisy sat next to his chair, her head pillowed on his thigh. His large hand stroked her head while he browsed through the pages of a magazine.

What would it feel like to have him stroke me with those fingers?

She stared, mesmerized by the rhythmic caress Daisy enjoyed. Duke’s soft woof broke her out of the dangerous fantasy. Given the state of her traitorous mind, it took a Herculean effort to force her feet forward and face the man.

Not that it mattered. He didn’t even acknowledge her with so much as a blink of an eye. When he continued to flip the pages, she dragged out the chair kitty-corner to him and set it in place with a loud thunk before sitting down. He calmly took a drink of his coffee.

Janelle slapped her palm on the table. Daisy’s flinch sparked guilt, but Mark was the one to calm the dog with a soft murmured word of reassurance. Janelle leaned forward and said through gritted teeth, “We need to talk.”

He spared her a half second glance, then turned another page of his magazine. Something to do with architecture, she noted absently.

“Come on, Mark, this is not going to work and you know it.”

His slow smile stoked her annoyance.

Flip. Silence. Flip.

She reached over, flipped the damn magazine closed, and kept her hand on it while willing him to look at her. “You. Can. Not. Move. In.”

After a long moment, he sat forward, pushed his chair back, and stood. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this right now.”

He grabbed his jacket off the chair and a set of keys from the counter. Her confusion grew. Hands out, palms up, she demanded, “Why not?”

He shrugged into his coat. “Because I just know it won’t be any fun arguing with you while you’re dressed.”

He disappeared into the great room and the door clicked shut before she could get her mind to form a coherent reply. Frustration hit hard when she heard his Jeep start. She slumped in her chair and threw up her hands.

“The man is impossible!”

~~~

Mistletoe Magic by Stacey Joy Netzel

Normally I don’t ask people to buy my books, but this time I am. Please get your copy of Mistletoe Magic today while all my royalties for this individual story are being donated to the Happily Ever After shelter. Mistletoe Magic can be found at the following locations: Amazon, BN, Apple, ARe, KoboSmashwords

And if you’d also like to check out the rest of the series, Mistletoe Mischief (which is FREE) and Mistletoe Match-up can be found at the same locations.

Please leave a comment about your favorite charity and I’ll draw three winners for an ebook copy of DRAGONFLY DREAMS.

Dragonfly Dreams by Stacey Joy Netzel

Thank you so much for helping out a good cause, and I hope you enjoy the book/s. Merry Christmas!

About Stacey Joy Netzel

I fell in love with books at a young age, so for me the graduation to writing them was natural. An avid reader and fan of movies with a happily ever after, I am thrilled to call myself a full-time writer after 20 years as a travel agent. I write romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and the occasional paranormal short story just for fun.

I live in my native Wisconsin with my husband and three children, a couple horses and some barn cats. In my limited free time I enjoy gardening, canning, and visiting my parents in Northeastern Wisconsin (Up North) at the family cabin on the lake.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Movies about intelligent machines

Here's a guest post that originally appeared at Bibliophilia Please and For The Love Of Film And Novels. The post was part of the blog tour for GPS WITH BENEFITS, a short film script in which a womanizer purchases a GPS device with a mind of 'her' own. It got me thinking of other movies about intelligent machines. Here are some of my favorites...


A scientist creates an organic super computer which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creator's wife. Demon Seed is one of Dean Koontz' best novels to date. Check out the excellent movie adaptation from 1977 starring Julie Christie.



Security androids turn evil and kill the employees from a shopping mall. Lots of eighties movie fun!



Early Stephen King novel about the relationship between a nerdish boy and his evil car. John Carpenter directed the movie adaptation in 1983.



Fun horror movie from the 90s in which a serial killer's soul transforms into electrical energy. The killer then uses the electrical grid and computer networks to continue his killing spree.



A tire discovers his telepathic powers. He sets his sights on a mysterious woman.



Every machine in the world comes alive and becomes homicidal. Written by Stephen King.



In Stephen King's short story The Mangler, a demon possesses a laundry folding machine. Tobe Hooper directed the movie adaptation in 1995. Two sequels followed.



The seventies movie The Car tells the story of a sleek and stylish car that goes on a rampage due to it being possessed!


What are your favorite movies about intelligent machines?

***


GPS WITH BENEFITS can be downloaded from:

* Amazon.com
* Amazon.co.uk

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Paranormal Geeks

paranormal geeks

I was interviewed for a new book called Paranormal Geeks, edited by Sharon Day and Julie Ferguson. The book is an endearing journey into the minds of those who have turned the paranormal into a job and/or obsession. Other interviewees are Ben Hanson, Cliff Barackman, Daph Nobody, and many others. The book also features a quiz to find out how much of a paranormal geek you are and a certificate to honor you.

Paranormal Geeks is available both in paperback and on Kindle.