A scatterbrained post with winners and heroes I hate (mine.)
Yesterday was one of those days when, although you work a lot, you don’t feel like you’ve gotten much done. I did take a couple of hours to catch up on a few TV shows, which was nice (except for the episode of CSI that I quit halfway through because I was bored.)
Part of that feeling comes from not having written any words (or at least, words that will stick.) I’m in the process of writing both the next Guardian novel proposal and the Iron Seas proposal (the steampunk pirates series). The steampunk is further along, just because I’ve been picking at it in bits and pieces for a long time now, but I’m focusing on the next Guardian one first. I know where it will start, how the relationship opens, where I want it to go … but I hate the hero with a burning passion at this moment.
It’s a good thing, actually — over the course of the story, I’m going to make him someone I can respect as a hero, and so I know he’ll have to work his ass off to convince me he’s worth it (not to mention the heroine.) The extra good thing is: the reason I hate him is also what will make his character worth writing; he’s got a long way to go, but I really, really want to get him there.
But that hate makes me struggle a bit, because a part of me just wants to write a car dropping on his head or an arrow going through his eye, instead of moving forward as I need to. And I’ve never started a hero off in such a bad place, so it’s new and I’m tiptoeing just a tiny bit as I go in. It changes the relationship dynamic (what I’m used to writing) so much that it’s a little intimidating (but at the same time, something I’m looking forward to, because I’d hate to feel like I was in a rut.)
Anyway.
Thanks to the power of random.org, we have a winner for the Kate Daniels series and an ugly tote bag from Powell’s bookstore!
#23 – …is Leslie who already has the books. So…
#8 … was my comment.
#18 – Maija P! w00t!
But don’t go away! I’m giving away another book, namely BEYOND HEAVING BOSOMS, by the Smart Bitches. This copy is signed by Candy Tan. And you’ll get a Powell’s tote, too.
Just leave a comment telling us what you’re reading now or next, and you’ll be entered to win. I’ll close the contest … sometime soon. Sunday seems like a good day.
I had intended to read THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH and CLOCKWORK HEART this week, but I’m going to start working on Dan Simmons’s THE TERROR instead, because I can kind of call it research.
Since I just finished Mucho Caliente I haven’t started on anything new, but I plan to start on White Star by Elizabeth Vaughan
THE HEROINES by Eileen Favorite and HOW TO BUY A LOVE OF READING by Tanya Egan Gibson.
One of the books (there are many) that I’m currently reading is The Lace Reader.
Margay
I’m currently reading Masquerade with picking up bits and pieces from Many Bloody Returns as I go along for the reviewette I do between books. There kind of fun to do.
An ARC of Dayhunter by Jocelynn Drake. Really good book!
I’m reading The Devil’s Right Hand by Lillith Saintcrow. Have a great day!
willis’ “water witch” which is very nice
Deader Still – Anton Strout, I haven’t read Mr. Strout before but I am liking his world.
I can’t wait to read Iron Seas – Steampunk and Pirates – ya! I am so intrigues about the Guardian book… I love it when the Hero needs to really work at.
I just finished Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by NIna Harper which was tremendously funny. I’d love to win Beyond Heaving Bosoms to give it a read and review from a guys perspective.
I’m reading The Wild Road (Dirk & Steele) by Marjorie M. Liu for a second time. When I read it the first time, I hadn’t read any other books in the series, so I know I missed a lot. This is a book I picked up the first time solely because of the Nathan Kamp cover.
Right now, I am reading “Desire Unchained” by Larissa Ione. I would love to be entered to win a copy of Beyond Heaving Bosoms…I have heard that it is very good and funny.
Congrats to the Maija P!!
Currently reading Highlander Unchained by Monica McCarty.
Next up is probably Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (can’t wait to get back to Mercy!)
I am currently reading my lectures from my course as my exam is tomorrow. And well, I haven’t read any of the lectures.
*sigh*
LOL
Congrats to the winners!!
Oooh! Count me in! “Heaving Bosoms” looks fantastic!!!
I’m reading “Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas now. Hopefully it gets more light hearted, so far it’s been kind of dark! I just finished “Dominic” by Elizabeth Amber and a re-read of “The Raven Prince” by Elizabeth Hoyt.
currently reading Dead to Me Anton Strout…Next up finish the Peter Beagle collection We never talk about my brother.
I am currently reading Some Like It Wild by Teresa Medeiros, and I am planning to read Night Falls Darkly by Kim Lenox next.
Next up is Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
No need to enter me in the drawing.
If you hate this hero and want to kill him off, why not do it? Drop an anvil on his head, tie him to the tracks in front of a speeding freight train, or stick his feet into a block of concrete and drop him in the Indian Ocean. Get it out out of your system, save it in your Evil Mean Meljean folder, and then maybe it won’t be so hard to go back to the real story.
I can’t decide what to read next. There are a bunch of novellas I can review, but I want a big, thick novel I can sink my teeth into. Maybe Jory Strong’s Ghostland.
working on several books at the moment – reading new – Mammoth book of Paranormal Romance
re-reading for ?? time – Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews, Cast in … books 1-4 by Michelle Sagara
coming up next – You’re So Vein by Christine Warren & Gnomes of Surburbia by Viola Grace
impatiently waiting for release of Trouble with Demons by Lisa Shearin, Conspirator by C.J. Cherryh
and Relentless by Lauren Dane (I get too excited and upset if I think about books coming out more than a month from the current time – unless someone has a time machine handy?)
Right now I’m reading an ARC of Sophie Renwick’s debut release, ‘Hot in Here’. It’s about a very sexy chef that falls in love with a woman that’s been his best friend for over a decade but he’s just now realized that she’s the one he’s always wanted.
Congrats to Maija!
I’ve got two books that I”m reading – DARING TIME by Beth Kery and RELENTLESS by Lauren Dane. After these two I’m not sure, might start Lois McMaster Bujold’s Sharing Knife series or Ann Aguirre’s BLUE DIABLO.
I’m finishing up The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley. Got two chapters left, then I’m going to read The Tycoon’s Pregnany Mistress by Maya Banks.
Hi Meljean, I’m trying to get throught the teen novel Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It’s starting off so good I am having a difficult time not to skip to the end (yes, I am one of those readers). Did you read the Haiku review (over at DA) for the Forest of Hands and Teeth? Or do you try to avoid reviews so that you can start the read with a “clean slate”?
I’m reading Goneaway Into The Land by Jeffrey Allen right now.
Make sure you leave the light on after dark while reading The Terror. It scared me senseless. Fantastic book!
I just finished Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady about an hour ago and now I don’t know how to follow it…
I am currently reading The Terror by Dan Simmons, and an ARC of Sabrina Jeffries’ next book, Don’t Bargain with the Devil.
@Allison: I couldn’t put the Hunger Games down, either. And I do read reviews — sometimes I avoid spoilers, but I don’t need a clean slate. If the writing is good (or great) nothing any review has said will get in the way of that or prompt me to think worse of the book.
@Simone: Bourne’s book is impossible to follow.
I sat next to her at the Berkley signing at RWA last year. I didn’t know how to follow that, either.
@JenB: LOL! My problem is that once I’ve written something and made it concrete, I have a hard time mentally un-writing it.
Okay, or maybe I can just do it here:
[Name redacted] looked up, just in time to see the point of the arrowhead that shut out his light forever! (Or, actually, only a couple of hours. Pesky healing powers.)
I just finished reading Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre, it was great!
Currently reading Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews and loving it!
I’m currently reading Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre and plan on reading Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews next!
I just started If Angels Burn by Lynn Viehl. After that, well… I have a TBR shelf that’s got about 25 books on it.
I’m reading “At Close Range” by Jessica Andersen.
Just finished Night in Eden by Candice Proctor and am thinking of breaking my own glomming rules and reading another Candice Proctor.
I’m supposed to be reading my microbiology textbook, but am actually rereading To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt, since the next book in the series is coming out on April 28th.
You make me laugh. I love that you’re not giving up on your character even if you do want to drop a car on his head. Don’t do it! lol
I just finished my first steampunk novel: Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliasotti and it was great. I’m now working on Sabrina Jeffries book: The Pirate Lord.
I’m reading non-fiction at the moment, which is unusual for me. A friend gave me a book called “Do Polar Bears Get Lonely?” for my birthday which is a collection of column questions and answers from New Scientist magazine. At the moment I’m reading a discussion on using hampsters to generate electricity – apparently not a very practical idea.
I’m currently reading Maverick by Lora Leigh
I’m just finishing the last of the Twilight series (Breaking Dawn) and will be starting The Mage by Jean Johnson. After that who knows what will catch my interest.
ps: I’m giving away book 1 (Magic Bites) on by blog if anyone is interested and didn’t win here! *g*
I just finished re-reading Nalini Singh’s Mine to Possess. Now I have to finish reading The Great Gatsby for school.
Mel, read Clockwork Heart. I really loved it and the message in the book. I am currently reading Twice the Tempation by Suzanne Enoch and just finished The Betrayl by Pati Nagle. As a romance reader since 4th grade, I think it will be a great fun to read this book.
I’m currently reading Kiss of Crimson by Lara Adrian
Just finished Dawnkeepers by Jessica Anderson. Now I’m reading two: one ebook and one paperback: Invisible by Kimber Chin and Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan
I’m reading Lauren Dane’s Standoff. The fofth Cascadia Wolf book. I’m loving the series so far. I also have Lisa Kleypas’ Thinking of You on the go at the moemnt.
And obviously I am inventing a new language. Doh!
I’ve just finished Blue Diablo by Ann Aguire (loved it!) and am about to start Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn – I’ve heard very good things about this series…
The last book I finished was Mortal Danger by Eileen Wilks, and I started Fowl Play by Evanovich after that. Usually, it would be a fast read for me, but I’ve not made much progress at all because I’ve been playing with my new laptop instead.