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Category Archives: Fun

Life Distractions~

25 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by Joey in Fun, Life, Music

≈ 2 Comments

There have been so many of them lately. Illness, zombie twins running a muck and making things challenging here at home, the muse being stifled due to my need for perfection drowning out the voice of the story. So many things that have been pulling me in many directions have led to my hiatus around here. Needless to say I am quite anxious to get back on track. Though I know it will be slow going for a bit so I do ask that you all bare with me while I get my life back in order. For now, I would like to leave you with one of my many favorite tunes. (One thing you will learn about me if you haven’t discovered it already, my music tastes are quite varied.) Enjoy a little Thompson Square with Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?

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Sitting Down with Vanessa Barger

15 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by Joey in Fun, Getting to Know, Tempting Ya Tuesday

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Astraea Press, Into the Ether, Vanessa Barger, YA Author Interview, YAFF Luv, Young Adult Authors

Today I have the pleasure of getting the scoop on Young Adult author, Vanessa Barger. I for one have been dying to delve into the past of this lady. I just know there are some secrets to be revealed and I’m just brave enough to ask. This time we are going to start right off the bat with my then and now game.


Joey:   What was your ultimate can’t miss television show when you were growing up? And now?


Vanessa:  I loved Fraggle Rock, She-Ra, and Thundercats.  🙂 I also used to sneak Beauty and the Beast once in a while, and my brother and I used to watch the old Dark Shadows when we came home (although we weren’t supposed to).  And then, of course, I totally intended to marry MacGyver. *sigh*
Today? Well, shows I like have a tendency to go off air. I liked the Dresden Files (gone), I own the entire series of the Vicar of Dibley, I LOVE Supernatural (but you’re safe – i’m buying the seasons and watching them on my own. I love no commercials.), Like Ghost Hunters sometimes, Good Eats, Cities of the Underworld, Hogan’s Heroes.


Joey–  Thundercats Ho!! I loved that one. What was your worst subject in school? Would it still hold true today?


Vanessa– Math. *shudder* Wasn’t that I didn’t understand – I just didn’t see a use for it, so I didn’t care enough. As for today – funny enough, I teach a class that’s basically practical application of physics. Its all facts and math. But practical math. Who knew?


Joey–   Ooh. We so have the math thing in common. It was not the subject I excelled at. Not creative enough I guess. Okay, let’s dish…who was plastered all over your walls back in the day? If you could plaster someone on your wall today who would it be?


Vanessa– MacGyver. (I always go for the older men.lol), Prince William, Most of the Disney guys, esp John Smith, I think Bryan Adams (the country singer) and Devon Sawa were probably in there somewhere too.


Joey– Though he wasn’t plastered on my wall, I can see the appeal of Devon Sawa…MacGyver not so much. 🙂 Magazine you couldn’t live without? Which one is it now?


Vanessa– I used to love my grandparents’ reader’s digest. And Highlights.
Now? Hi-Fructose (counterculture art magazine), most cooking magazines, Archaeology


Joey–  I don’t know too many kids who didn’t have Highlights.  Favorite author as a teenager? And now? (I know you are tempted to say Joey Nichols, but as you get pre-publication insight, it’s not really fair to the readers, so I abstain from your selection. 🙂 )


Vanessa– This is always hard – as a teen or not. Loved Tamora Pierce, of course, and the Elfquest graphic novels (until the end of the series, and once they started time traveling I hated it), Tolkien (still a favorite), L’engle, Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series.


Now? Love Bill Bryson and Katie MacAlister. Heather Graham, Austen, Shakespeare, Joey Nichols….. lol It changes all the time.


Joey–  Now onto some “Just cause Joey wants to know” questions…If you could be any animal, mythical or real, what would it be and why?


Vanessa– Unicorn. Or the Loch Ness Monster. (family calls me nessie already, I’m halfway there!) Maybe a cat. I mean, who doesn’t want to lounge and sleep all day, have someone cater to every whim, fix dinner, and clean up your crap (literally!)


Joey– The unicorn would be cool, but the cat part cracked me up!  Alright, if you were a superhero, who would you be and why?


Vanessa– Wonder Woman. She had a lasso of truth!


Joey–  Just keep the lasso of truth away from me. I like my secrets.  Which book would you want to live in and why?


Vanessa– Toss up between Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice.  I love Jane Eyre because she isn’t beautiful or wealthy, but she still manages to be happy and find love and stick to her morals and beliefs. (and she was a teacher. See a pattern?)  P&P because Darcy is just to die for!


Joey–  Man I am really feeling bad that I can’t remember Pride and Prejudice. You are the second to give me that answer. We are planning a trip to a place for story research. Where are we going and why there?


Vanessa– Scotland and England. We are going to London to research architecture of the age, and then we’re going to Scotland and seeing Glencoe, Loch Lomond and the Highlands.


Joey– Ooh see, and now I now you love me. Any friend who would take me along on a research trip to Scotland, really knows their way to Joey’s heart. Okay, I believe you have allowed me to torture you enough. Care to share a little about your book? I love excerpts that tempt me, so lay it on me!


Vanessa– Buy Link: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=3028724
Also available on Amazon and BN.com


Into the Ether just came out from Astraea….  Here’s the blurb and an excerpt:


Blurb:

As a Touch-Know, Genevieve has never been required to steal more than a few paltry coins. But when a powerful stranger requires their help, her family of street-wise thieves sends her to get the most important thing they’ve ever decided to liberate. It was supposed to be a simple overnight job. Instead, Genevieve is required to appear attached to her mark, the curator of the British Museum. For Genevieve it becomes more than an act, and her problems are far more significant than the possibility of her lies being discovered.

When her family betrays her, she must make an important choice – turn to the man who has destroyed everything she holds dear, or strike out on her own.

Excerpt:

In the distance a steam engine stalled out and throbbed in the night air. My skin rippled with distress as I picked through sludge-stained cobbles. I could hear the machine drawing closer, but still far enough away that, perhaps, I wouldn’t be noticed.

My heart fluttered, adrenaline sharpening my senses. Only a few more steps. A bright shaft of light sliced across my back, sending my shadow into sharp relief on the pavement.

All pretense thrown aside, I broke into a run. The steam auto roared behind me and I risked a glance over my shoulder. Two police officers hunched in the cramped glass carriage of the auto. One drove, following commands barked by his partner, who rode in the passenger seat. He hung out the window, his spotlamp trained on me.

At the nearest corner I flung myself to the left and searched for an alleyway, a door; any place to hide. The brick buildings coated with soot and grime didn’t offer any respite.

My lungs burned and fear made my legs watery. The auto was close enough, even after making the turn, that I could see the sparkling moisture gathered on the lookout’s brow. I hoped his eyebrows singed in the heat from the gas spotlamp.

Paying too much attention to what was behind me, I missed the curb and slipped. I tumbled, both hands spread to break my fall. My knees scraped rough pavement and I heard the sound of ripping fabric. Pain radiated from my wrists to my elbows from the impact. The auto pulled along side and I paused, waiting as the officer leapt from the auto, laughing.

I slid my feet under my body, hiding them in the folds of my ragged skirt. When he reached out to grab my hands, I sprang up, caught him off guard, and pushed at his chest with all the force I could muster.

He toppled eyes wide with surprise and a wicked oath on his tongue. I noted with some satisfaction that he’d landed on his rear in a large puddle of something unpleasant. Then I spun and ran back the way I’d come.

When my knees felt like pudding and my chest burned with each breath, I stopped, crouching in the shadow of a doorway. I strained to hear past my heavy pants. For the moment, there was nothing. I’d run more than ten blocks. Surely they hadn’t followed. All the same, I waited, pressed against the glass doorway, for several minutes. No sense in getting away once only to be caught again. I didn’t have enough stamina for that.

Somewhere nearby a church bell tolled the hour. Nearly one. Time for a shift change at the station. No police officer stopped if they were on their way home. Too much effort. Creeping out of my hiding place, I made my way down the street, clinging to the walls and shadows, staying away from the pools of flickering gas light under the lamps.

Almost halfway home, I stopped and patted my pockets, anxiety making my heart jump. Tonight I had been sent out alone, which didn’t happen often. My value lay in knowing an object’s worth rather than actually stealing anything. I never came back with much, but I didn’t want to come back empty handed. This evening, only a few small coins weighted my pockets. I reached inside and curled my fingers around the round metal discs, warm from my body heat. Continuing, I sighed in relief. Everything was still there. My hands burrowed deeper where the icy air couldn’t reach.

Footsteps sounded behind me, slow at first, then gaining speed. They drew closer as I approached the dark mouth of an alleyway. My stomach knotted and I jumped over a mound of blackened snow landing neatly in the center of the street.

Before I could summon the energy to run, a dark shape rammed into my gut and locked arms around my waist. All the air rushed from my lungs and I narrowly avoided cracking my skull on the pavement.

Joey– Well that was utterly fabulous! Thank you so much for stopping by Vanessa. So glad that we had the chance to get to know you a little better. Can’t wait to see what more you have in store for us in the future. If you would like to follow along on Vanessa’s journey, you can visit here at http://vanessabargerwrites.wordpress.com/ Plus, you still have two more days to get in on her Big Release Contest! Hurry because it ends March 17th!

Feenin for the Tropics

11 Friday Mar 2011

Posted by Joey in Distractions, Fun, Life, Love

≈ 3 Comments

Seriously. I’ve had beaches, warm water, and fruity drinks on the brain lately. Been dreaming about the sun, the sand, and the surf(ers). When it comes to the beach, that is where I am at home. Perhaps it was those five years of my childhood spent in Panama where practically every weekend was a mini vacation out to a nearby tropical island. The family would camp, snorkel, sea shell hunt…fight over hammock space. Oh that was the life. And I’ve been dying to recapture that feel. Virtually impossible in Las Vegas. Our body of water is a lake I don’t recommend swimming in (Unless you are searching for a body dumped by a mobster back in the day).

Today I found my answer. It came in a little Styrofoam cup (which is totally not environmentally friendly I know!)I took the zombie twins to a frozen yogurt place today. What did I get? Coconut yogurt topped with fresh strawberries and blackberries. Now if only there were a nicely toned cabana boy to serve it to me. I’d even share….a little. Any takers? I’ll even take friends willing to sit by a pool with me.

Getting to Know Rebekah L Purdy

01 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by Joey in Fun, Getting to Know, Reading, Writing, Writing Life

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters, Rebekah L. Purdy, YA Author Interview, YA Books, YAFF Luv

I have a special treat in store for you! An author interview! Sorry I couldn’t control my excitement because it’s a first here on this site. During this crazy journey to publication, you meet all kinds of people. Some you hit it off with, find a common bond, and forge friendships. Others not so much.  I’ll let you guess which part of that equation Young Adult author, Rebekah L. Purdy, is on. But before you do that, let’s put her in the hot seat and get to know her a little better shall we?

What is your favorite paranormal creature and why?

OMG, do I have to pick just one? LOL. Hmmm. This is hard. Because, I really have 3 favorites: Vampire, Shifter, and Fae. But I think I’d have to go with the Fairy/Fae. I just love the folklore behind them. The power and immortality. They can be both good and bad.

Oooh, Joey lurves you if you love the Fae, but I will refrain from hugging you until I know if you would run with Seelie or Unseelie. (That would be good or evil, light or dark for those unversed in Fae lingo). Next question. If you could have any power, what would it be?

The power to heal. I know, that sounds kind of crazy, but I think it’d be awesome to cure the sick. And it’d cut down on doctor bills (LOL).

So far I have you as a Fae Healer-Court still unknown. Let’s play a game of then and now.

What was your favorite book as a teenager? Which one is it now?

Okay, I totally can’t decide on the books, but my two favorite series as a teen were The Forbidden Game Series and The Secret Circle series by L.J. Smith, and I also LOVED The Lifeguard and Teacher’s Pet by Richie Tankersley Cusick. As an adult, I still love those same books. I think The Secret Circle will always be one of my favorites. However, I’d have to add The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, How I live Now by Meg Rosoff, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, and the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning to that list.

Of that list I’ve only read Twilight and the Fever series (I want Jericho’s cars). Favorite song from your youth? Now?

This totally made me laugh, because when I was younger, I was obsessed with New Kids on the Block. So I’d have to say my fave song from back then was The Right Stuff or Please Don’t Go Girl. Now, I’d have to say any song by Skillet, Colbie Caillat, or Ray Lamontagne.

NKOTB? Didn’t they send girls into fits of screaming? They were before my time so I wouldn’t know. *Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh- Oh, oh, oh, oh -Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh The right stuff* Oh sorry I just had bad flashback of acid washed jeans and L.A. Gear tennies. I already know the answer to this, but favorite movie then and now?

It might surprise you to know that it is….wait for it….wait for it…Duh-dunh, dunh, dadada dun, dun. STAR WARS!!!! With Goonies in a close 2nd.

These aren’t the authors you’ve been looking for. Before we continue you have to do the “Truffle Shuffle”. *Rebekah is belly dancing her heart out, she must really love her Joey to go through all this torture.* If you could have any hero as your boyfriend when you were in highschool who would it be? (Can be from then or now.)

Man am I indecisive, I can’t pick just one of anything (LOL). Probably Adam from The Secret Circle or Jericho Barrons from The Fever Series. Both are kick butt, and massively hot!

Are you willing to share? Just asking because well…. there’s a line to get to Jericho. I forgot to mention that earlier. Well there’s no point in arguing with me now. What is the one thing you used to do to escape the world?

I read, write, and travel. Okay, I know, I totally can’t count. But seriously, those are the things that best help me to “get away” so to speak. Reading lets your imagination take you into the story, and hang out with the characters in cool places. Writing, is the same thing, only I’m in charge of creating “the perfect” get away. And traveling, well it’s inspiring.

Perhaps a trip to the land that has inspired many Fairy/Fae mythology is in order. We’ll talk later on that over coffee or hot chocolate. If you could live in a book, which one would it be?

This might surprise you, but probably Pride and Prejudice. All I can say is “Mr. Darcy.” LOL.

I should hang my head in shame because I don’t remember ever reading Pride and Prejudice. I’m putting it on my list though. Okay, I think you’ve now earned the right to share a little about your book. You’ll have to pull out all the stops though.

First of all, before I give you the blurb, let me just say that my book “My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters” has a little bit of everything in it. Paranormal/supernatural elements, humor, romance, some action scenes, ghost hunting, big foot hunting, shifter hunting (LOL). So yeah, something for everyone. My biggest goal, to make the reader have fun. And I promise, you’ll at least come away with a smile.

Blurb:

Sixteen year old Ima Berry (pronounced I’m a) leads anything but a normal life. For starters, the ridiculous name her eccentric dad gave her is always the opening for a good joke. Not to mention the fact he makes his living as a supernatural investigator, which has them moving around every few months. It’s hard to hang out with new friends when she spends all her time trying to prove the existence of Bigfoot, ghosts, fairies and any other number of paranormal creatures. Unfortunately, the cases always end in disaster. That is until now.

On a whim, Ima’s father decides to move them to Point Hope, Alaska. Here, he plans to investigate the possibility of shifters amongst the Inuit tribes. Ima isn’t thrilled with the move, until she meets an Inuit guy named Carsen. Not only is he hot, but he’s also a star basketball player, and he’s interested in her. Too bad his best friend, Talon, doesn’t like her and takes every opportunity he can to discourage the relationship. Ima has no idea what she’s done to make him mad, but there’s no denying the strange connection between them.

As things grow more serious with Carsen, Ima uncovers a secret about him and some of the residents of Point Hope. A secret that will force her to choose between her father’s already dwindling career and her new found love. And with the knowledge of this secret comes danger…a danger that could cost them their lives.

Well I guess you can figure out that Rebekah and I fall on the friend side (except when we are fighting over Ian Somerhalder)  and I think she’s more than proven herself worthy of being in the Seelie Court. If you would like to know more about my dear friend and her work, you can find her at

http://rebekahlpurdy.wordpress.com/

Her book is available from Astraea Press

WWE~Raw

21 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by Joey in Fun

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Dwayne Johnson, Inspiration, The Rock, WWE

I am not much of a wrestling fan. As the mom of two boys, I am sure that it will grace my television once in awhile. However, if I were to watch it tonight on Monday night Raw, this would be my reason-

I am enamored with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. He’s got tats, he’s got muscles, he’s got a wicked smile. Yep I’m all about Dwayne and he is hosting tonight. Ah well, some days it doesn’t pay not to have cable. Good thing I can Netflix his movies so I can still get my fix. Well that’s all. I had to dish on my crush if only for a moment, because honestly, seeing the commercial pop up on my parents television and seeing that face pass over the screen made my day better. Hope you had a great Monday.

P.S. Almost forgot to mention that I am also blogging over at Totally 4 YA today. Well announcing a book contest. Go check it out!

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