The Lure of Paranormal...and Popcorn

Thanks for all the name suggestions yesterday. You got me thinking, and I really appreciate it!

So. If you read my blog last year, you'd know that I was a panelist for the Cybils. I really loved doing it when I had the chance, not only because it gave me a nice excuse to read and talk about a bunch of books, but also because I met some awesomesauce people. Kelly is one of those people, and we talked for a while after Cybils but then life got in the way. Flashforward until a couple of months ago, and I said, "Hey, I've got this businessy thing to do; I'm going to use it to get back in touch with Kelly! YAY!"

Yeah, I totally talk to myself like that too. This is sadly not exaggerated AT ALL.

Anyway, we started talking again, and a few weeks ago, we had this conversation:

Kelly: Hey, I'm looking for someone to write a SERIOUS post for our librarian blog.

Me: I like librarians!

Kelly: Cool. We need someone to write about why you should read paranormal books.

Me: I like paranormal.

Kelly: Yes, I know. Would you like to write it?

Me: I like wombats too.

Kelly: Um...what do wombats have to do with anything?

Me: SPARKLE SPARKLE SPARKLE!

Kelly: WHAT?!? You're confusing me!

Me: ...popcorn...

Kelly: My brain is starting to melt.

Me: So you want me to write a serious blog post? Are you sure that's wise?

Kelly: ....

Kelly is a brave, brave soul. Despite the popcorn debacle, she persisted. And now, a semi-serious post by me is up at the FABULOUS Stacked website. Hope you'll read and enjoy it!

The Name Game

I'm distracted today by sparkly new idea. I think I'm finally going to cave and start it--not that I really need another book in the works, but I'm waiting for feedback from the EXPERTS OF AWESOME (aka my agent and editor) on everything else I'm working on. And not working on a project gives me the twitches.

So. New project.

Unfortunately, my main character doesn't have a name, and I always have problems with this step. I can usually name the guys for some reason, but I struggle with naming female characters. Does this happen to anybody else, or is it just me?

Here's my issue--most of the really good girl names are already taken, either by people I know too well or by MCs in really well known books, and somehow I think if I named my girl Katniss or Tally, I'd suffer in comparison. And I can't do bad things to a character named after a friend's baby, because friend will inevitably read and apply for a restraining order. (True story--I had a great idea for a twin book during which lots of Bad Things happened. And then I had twins. I will never write that story, because I know my girls will read it and wonder which one of them I want to be murdered.)

So...I'm now trolling for random girl names. Got any good ones in your back pocket?

Things That Make Me Snarf - Indian Thriller

This video restores my faith in the human race. Or it would if I had lost my fate in the human race in the first place, which I haven't.



And now I want to go to India and dance with the girly men. Who's with me?

Random Shouting...and GIVEAWAYS!

This is another of those Carrie Takes Over the Interwebs weeks. But don't you worry; I promise to be a kind despot who gives everyone zombie penguins and sugar lips. But not zombie penguins WITH sugar lips, because the universe would probably explode from sheer awesomeness.

Anyway. If you weren't around this weekend, please go to Badass Bookie's site! She has a list of 10 random things about me that involves Princess Leia, killer bees, brains, and corn syrup. That's here. And there's also a little inside info about BAD TASTE IN BOYS that I haven't shared anywhere before. (TEAM JONAH!) And it comes with a giveaway.

WOOT.

So I hope you'll go check out the giveaway and inside info here. And then come back here tomorrow for...

MORE LINKY GOODNESS!

MORE EMBARRASSING ANECDOTES!

MORE NINJA WARRIORS!

MORE RANDOM SHOUTING!

I'll stop now.

Here, Dressy Dressy Dressy!

Today's blog is going to be a bit short, because I'm taking my herd of children for holiday pictures, and of course I thought I had both of the twins' dresses but it turns out I can only find one. In the past couple of months, I have turned into a complete airhead. I have lost track of how many times I've lost my phone. I had to launch my son through the window to get into the house after I locked my keys inside. I haven't locked them in the car with it running--

Oh god. I shouldn't have said that.

Anyway, I'm going on the GREAT DRESS HUNT. Wish me luck. And if you get a holiday picture of my kids in Hawaiian shirts and flip flops, you'll know why.

But before I go, there is NEWS! If you're around this weekend, stop by Badass Bookie on Sunday to read a list of randomly associated things about moi! There will also be a BTIB giveaway on either Sunday or Monday. OoOooOooooOh! Free things make me make funny noises.

Now, on with the dress hunt! Wish me luck!

Gift Recommendations for Weird People

It's getting to be that time of year, when we're all scrambling to buy gifts for Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Ramrod the Holy Toaster Day. Whatever. So I've started to do the whole shopping thing. My family is pretty big on lists, so my Christmas morning is usually full of things I actually want and need as opposed to the sweater with the pink flamingos staring at my boobies.

I got that once. I posted a picture. It's too traumatic to go back and look for.

But what do you do when the person you're buying for doesn't give you a list and they're a total lunatic? You turn to me for advice, of course. I get all the best lunatic holiday gifts from one of three top places.

1. Too Fast. Too Fast is the place to go for clothing items with zombies on them. Some of the zombies also stare at or grab the boobies, but it's better than flamingos. This year, I'm partial to the werewolf stompers (to go with my zombie pair), the eyeball leg warmers, and the zombie wall clings.

2. Fred and Friends. I may be related to the people behind Fred and Friends. They REACHED INTO MY BRAIN and pulled out the mixing spoon drumsticks, the ninjabread men, and the brain freeze ice cube trays. I would like to decorate my entire home with Fred and Friends.

3. The Knotbygranma Etsy shop. Oh, Jess. Before you, no one filled my need for crocheted valentines dolls with tentacles coming out of their mouths and three headed cheerleaders. My life is complete now that I have seen these things, or it will be once I get my hands on one of those tentacle girls.

So there you go. Where else do you go to get gifts that aren't...well, NORMAL?

Links, Free Books, and Much Squealing

There is awesomeness all around the internet, starting today. And it is free book related awesomeness.

First, have you seen the Class of 2k11 trailer? It has ZOMBIES, and...oh, I can't do the awesomeness credit. Just watch it.



I need to hire that zombie guy for my official book trailer.

NEXT, the lovely ladies of Dark Faerie Tales and Tynga's Reviews have kicked off a super cool feature for December. It's called Dark Winter Tale, and the idea is simple--get a bunch of authors together and have them co-write a short story about winter.



The first installment from Leslie Livingston, author of WONDROUS STRANGE, DARKLIGHT, and TEMPESTUOUS, is up today. Not only is it made of awesome, but it also includes a book giveaway.

My bit of the story will be up later this month. Don't worry. I'll remind you.

AND, if that's not enough, you MUST visit Badass Bookie for her December Debutante Event! There will be interviews, and guest posts, and more free freaking books! The giveaways start today with Julia Karr's XVI, so go and visit pronto.



Why yes, that IS badass.

Okay, so I've done all the links and passed out the info. Now I can flip out.

HOLY CRAPOLI! CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING! I GOT TO PICK A DEBUTANTE DRESS! I GOT TO BE IN A BOOK TRAILER! I GOT TO CO-WRITE A STORY WITH PEOPLE OF AWESOME. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I know all of us look forward to the whole holding-the-book-in-your-hands thing, but what about the other fun author things? What authors would make you squeal to share a blog event with?