SLACKER!

That would be me. I'm a blog slacker! I think of things to blog about while I'm doing stuff away from the computer, then when I go online, I get distracted. By everything. E-mail, news, gossips, pictures...I'm like a two-year-old these days.

So let's catch up.

I saw the movie GEORGIA RULES this weekend. I really liked it. It makes me double sad and furious to see what Lindsay Lohan's self destructive behavior. I know a couple parents I want to slap...just saying....

And speaking of people who piss me off, anyone see this story ? This guy has a dangerous and often deadly form of Tuberculosis. He was warned not to travel and expose people BUT HE DID IT ANYWAY! Many years ago I worked in health accounting for the County of Orange--basically I handled the TB Clinic billings. I know how contagious and dangerous TB can be. This kind of blatant disregard for public health by this man ticks me off. But his antics earned him forced quarantine. He gets no sympathy from me.

Last night, my family went out to dinner to celebrate one of my sons 21st birthday. I laughed so hard my face hurt when I got home. It made the years of no sleep and endless runny noses worth it!

How's everything going for you all?

Botox Tragedy

A couple years ago I researched ways to kill with Botox. It can be done, but it takes either a mistake or maliciousness to do it. So imagine my surprise when I saw this video:

http://video.aol.com/video/dying-to-be-young/1908262

This couple survived but at what cost? I'm all for people doing what makes them feel better. I'm not anti-plastic surgery, or procedures. But I am cautious. Botox is something I wouldn't do because the preparation is derived from a poison. I do like the idea of injecting poison into my face. Plus I don't really like the look--I prefer a real face with expressions. But this couple, they didn't deserve this. What makes me angrier is that the doctor was mixing his own Botox and screwed up. I don't think the couple realized he was doing that.

Sad and tragic. It didn't have to happen. The couple is alive, but who knows how much damage has been done. All by a supposed friend who thought he could cut costs my mixing his own form of Botox.

It's not worth dying for.

My Cheese

I really like the TV show BLOOD TIES. Does anyone else out there watch it? It's on Sunday nights, on USA or Lifetime. I think it's Lifetime. Anyway...

The show is cheesy. Well I THINK it's cheesy, but I'm not sure what cheesy really means. I remember Jennifer Cruise calling her romance novel BET ME cheesy in a speech she gave at a conference. That really cheesed me off. It's like apologizing for writing romances and Jennifer Crusie has never done that. She's defended the genre admirably.

But I digress. So cheesy, hmm I probably write cheesy books, but given how much I like cheese, maybe that isn't so surprising.

I guess BLOOD TIES might be considered cheesy because it's has a cliche love triangle. Although the two men in the heroine's life are different in that one is alive and one is dead. That keeps things interesting!

So does anyone know what cheesy really means? Does anyone else watch BLOOD TIES? If not, what's your cheese?

Rock the Boat

Have you read an author that Rocked the Boat? Took a chance? Did something different, something where you can feel the author's passion in her words, and you couldn't look away?

What kind of book do you think Rocks the Boat?

A book that says something? What?

Humor doesn't usually rock the boat, unless it's non-fiction humor. One of the reasons is that humor is often a defense against deep and painful emotions. Although I suppose it can be done.

I think that JR Ward Rocked the Boat by tweaking the idea of vampires, and interweaving some big concepts with powerful emotions. She has rare talent.

Years ago, I think Diane Gabaldon Rocked the Boat with OUTLANDER. A really unusual book.

So today I'm just thinking--what kind of book Rocks the Boat?

EXTREMELY HOT

Here's my November 2007 cover. It's my first ever Man Cover. He's, umm, Extremely Hot...LOL!

Here's the back cover blurb:

THE RULES ACCORDING TO IVY YORK:

1. NEVER TRUST A BAD BOY.
2. NEVER MAKE DECISIONS WITH YOUR LIBIDO.
3. DISREGARD RULES #1 AND 2.

Ivy York became an accountant because numbers don’t lie and cheat. Too bad the same can’t be said of the men she’s met. Now, as the wildly successful host of the radio show, “The Economic Sex Hex,” she advises women to take control of their money and to spot the bad boys before they get too close. And the ultimate bad boy Sex Hex is the Urban Legend, a man known for lovin’ women (exquisitely) and leavin’ while chasing down stolen property for a hefty fee. No one knows who he really is…but every woman he’s ever pleasured would happily take him back for more…

Luke Sterling likes being the Urban Legend almost as much as he likes bringing thieves to justice. And right now, he’s on the trail of two stolen figurines famous for conferring sexual prowess—and the trail leads straight to Ivy. Posing as her personal assistant should be a piece of cake, but Luke didn’t count on Ivy’s own brand of Sex Hex. That good girl game coupled with fierce smarts wrapped around one luscious, curvy body is making him want to prove to Ivy that the Urban Legend more than lives up to his top billing. Suddenly, the hottest show in town isn’t on the air—it’s between the sheets…

Good News

The review in Romantic Times for my novella the SUN, SAND, SEX Anthology reads, "Apodaca's 'You Give Love A Good Name' has an excellent balance of love and danger."

I was jazzed! Why? Because it's the hardest thing to do in romantic mystery or romantic suspense. Getting the blend of danger and romance right is the key to a fast-paced, fun (and super sexy!) read. For this novella, I was trying for a strong romance with a dash of danger to make it even more exciting. RT seems to think it works--guess I'll find out when the book is release around the first of June.

And...more good news...SUN, SAND, SEX will be a Featured Alternate for Rhapsody Book Club and Doubleday book club.

That's my good news for the day--what's yours?

Flame Wars and Cookies!

Wow the Internet it burning up with flame wars! Fun times! I haven't seen a good old fashion bruhaha in a while. But the gloves are off.

First at Karen Scott's blog, Karen reviews a book unfavorably and Kathryn Falk of Romantic Times responds. Too funny. Okay, not funny if you're the author OUCH, but the hoopla is funny.

Then over at Smart Bitches, a cover model takes offense and writes a hostile note. Dude--lighten up.

My very favorite comment was on Smart Bitches is:

...If everyone just had a damn cookie when the urge hit, the world would be a better place.

So true! And what a segue, did you know there's a Cookie Diet? I am not kidding! A Cookie Diet! That's my kind of diet! Forgetting common sense, I looked into this diet:

The key is a carefully crafted cookie recipe, which suppresses hunger, paired with very specific dinner menu, said Siegal of Siegal Medical Group in Miami.

Oh hell, a "carefully crafted cookie recipe?" Sounds like a trick to shape healthy crap into a round disk and try to trick me. Which, by the way, Mr. Siegal, could be a dangerous thing to do. Every heard of PMS? Cookies are the cure, and one does not mess with the PMS Cure. So the old adage applies: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I'm make my own cookies, thank you very much.

I've been a real slacker at posting on the blog, I'll try to do better!