I’m always finding ways to circumvent actually working out, while trying to attain rock-hard abs like whoa. The only exercise I’ve ever enjoyed that still make my abs and thighs work like a mother is hula. Like “Pearly shell… on the ocean…” and shit. But even that’s too much work. So then I found this:

Daaaamn. I might have to borrow Doc Brown’s Delorean so I could get ahold of one of these beauties. A hui hou!

…if that doesn’t prove there’s magic left in the world, I don’t know what would.

P.S. If that’s not enough awesome for you, here’s the gayest thing in the world… and I mean that in the most loving, awestruck, admiring way possible.

Hellooooooooo… writers and writerly-types! Want to guest-blog? Want me to feature your short story on The Serial? Come on, all the cool kids are doing it! If you’re interested, email me and I will hook you up. Do it. Be one of us, one of us, one of us!

Btw, Jamie Craig’s sinfully delicious Forsaken is wrapping up next week (thanks, thanks, thanks to Pepper and Vivien) with a very yummy, satisfying conclusion and I need someone to jump in when it ends… HEEEEEEEEELP ME…

There are two very interesting discussions about romance heroines on my two favorite blogs today. On Karen Scott’s:

One thing I’ve noticed is that whenever there’s a question of distance between the hero and heroine, it’s always the gal who has to give up her apartment, and her job. What annoys me is that it usually turns out that the heroine wasn’t happy being an accountant/lawyer/doctor in the first place, and was just waiting for the right man to come along to rescue her from the drudgery of putting bad guys in jail, being able to afford Manolo Blahniks and healing the sick.

And Dear Author’s:

[Kresley] Cole takes very traditional tropes [i.e., the damsel in distress] and reverses them completely. For example, Cole’s books are female-centric with the female myths playing larger roles. Instead of the brotherhood or the male cadre of warriors, you ave a group of sword wielding, smart mouthed, head chopping Valkryries that like sparkly things, nail polish and video games or devious witches that are so beautiful they have to spell themselves to protect others from their personal glory.

Me, I prefer heroines who are smart, experienced, and has been leading a pretty good life even before she meets the hero. Which is why I really enjoy the female heroines of the novels written by P.C. Cast. To me, they are truly about the celebration of all the great things about being a female— sisterhood, being able to sit around with your friends and bare your soul without fearing you will be judged or castigated, and having a support system made up of mothers, sisters, and friends, whether they’re teachers from Oklahoma or actual goddesses from Mount Olympus.

(more…)

It’s Monday morning, you’re a little hung-over, your boss is yelling at you, the coffee tastes like piss again, you have to skip lunch so you can drive your kid to the doctor’s office… whatever, Mondays suck. So maybe we can hang out here and talk about my favorite topic…

Romance Novel Heroes.

What makes a romance novel hero stand out for you? What makes you fall in love with him? What are your favorite qualities in romance novel heroes?

My favorite RNH of all time is Sebastian, the Marquess of Bonnington. He was not the “main” hero, per se… he was actually the B-plot, but he just really stood out for me. But he shows up in a handful of books by Eloisa James (Wild Pursuit, Duchess in Love, Your Wicked Ways) in pursuit of another secondary character, Esme. He starts out as a staid, stick-up-the-arse character who is always castigating Esme, a woman with a reputation for being wild. Slowly, he thaws out and begins seeing her as a woman… and he even loses his virginity to her! Once he falls in love with her, he is just so earnest and determined in his pursuit of her that Esme couldn’t help but just give in to him. *sigh*

Anyway, your favorite Romance Novel Hero. Talk amongst yourselves!