The Creaky Hinge
What do YOU think--AGAIN! :)
Okay, starting over here! Lol! Not realizing that you guys might all be ENJOYING your Memorial Day instead of sitting inside reading blogs--I'm going to run this poll/contest through tomorrow night. So...cast your vote/opinion!
Now, to recap my previous blog, just for the sake of catching those up who didn't read it: I'm in the process of pitching my next idea to my editor for book #5, due out next October. I've had several emails from readers asking for Christian of Arrick-by-the-Sea's story--which I set up just a tad in Into Thin Air. :) Yet I have a few more new ideas that I'm tossing around, as well.
Tell me what you think: Christian of Arrick-by-the-Sea's story, or an introduction to a brand new hero and heroine? Again--poor young Jason isn't in the running yet--some day, though!
So cast your votes! Everyone who posts a comment with their opinion on the next hero for Book #5 will be entered into the drawing to win a 3-pack: Spirited Away, Into Thin Air, and Highland Knight. Yay!
I'll be running this through Tuesday night at midnight, so hurry!
Whose story do YOU want next?
First off, Happy Memorial Day to everyone! My grandpa and all his brothers were WWII vets--tough as nails and lived to be over 80. Soldiers--now talk about HEROES! :)
Now...I'm in the process of pitching my next story to my editor. I've had several emails from readers asking for Christian of Arrick-by-the-Sea's story--which I set up just a tad in Into Thin Air. :) *sneaky me* Yet I have a few more new ideas that I'm tossing around, as well.
Tell me what you think: Christian of Arrick-by-the-Sea's story, or an introduction to a brand new hero and heroine? :) Unfortunately, I"m not ready to do Jason's story yet (I've had a few requests for him, but he's quite young and although I have a plan for him, it's not ready yet!).
NOW--everyone who gives me their opinion will be entered into a nice fat drawing at the end of today: a 3 book set of Spirited Away, Into Thin Air, and Highland Knight! Woohooo! So get your comments and opinions to me by midnight tonight, and I'll post the winner then.
Thanks, and YOUR OPINION COUNTS!!!! :)
MAY WINNERS!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, Debra Kilpatrick, of Richmond, VA, Elizabeth Lammers, of Peosta, IL, and Dawn Williams, previously of England, presently of Sugarland, TX! You are the three winners of my May contest!
You each have won a signed copy of my June release, HIGHLAND KNIGHT (see Ethan and Amelia at left), along with a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble! Plus various promo stuffs, like bookmarks and things. Again, Congrats! And thank you so much for your loyal readership! I hope you all enjoy Ethan and Amelia's story!! I have contacted each of you privately, so make sure you send me a confirmation!
For everyone else who entered, THANK YOU! If you've joined my Newsletter (which, yes--I'm in between companies and have not sent one out in a while--BUT your email contacts will transfer to the new company once it's up and running) you will automatically be entered into any future contests.
For those who are new readers, you can join my Newsletter or send me an email at
hauntedromances@yahoo.com with the subject line: HIGHLAND KNIGHT, and I will have a few drawings in June for more signed copies!
Thanks to everyone for your continued interest in my books!!!!
All the best, and happy reading!
Cindy
Me in the Deadline Writing Den of Solitude!!!
Well--I'm not in complete solitude. I have Gerry Butler to keep me company! Lol! (see pics below)
Here's me, busy on MacGowan's Ghost! My deadline is NEXT THURSDAY! But I thought I'd take a little break and let you guys in on my last grueling (serious fun!) days of writing.
Yes, my bedroom is cornflower blue. As you can see I got all crazy and painted an arch of morning glories. That was 10 years ago and I just don't have the UMPH! to get to Lowes and change the paint job. Oh well! Maybe someday!
The story board! I've got it propped against my headboard so I can look up, check out my setting pics and slobber over the ones of Gerry.
*slobber slobber* In case I haven't said it enough times, Gerry is "Gabe MacGowan", my hero in MacGowan's Ghost. Dee-lish!
Below is the chair. When I'm on serious deadline I hole up in my bedroom, blinds pulled, doors closed, story board in place, candles lit, and I get in the zone. I finally realized how easily distracted I am! *What should I make for dinner? Where's the cat? I want some grapes. How cold will it get next winter?* (I just described my pal Betsy ALL the time) Anyway. This really helps me focus. Plus, the chair is very hard to get out of. Lol!
Now here is my STAPLES set-up. Lotsa lotsa tea, in a variety of flavors to keep me hyped up and busy drinking! *note the 4 used tea bags on the black caddy. Gross, Cindy!* Next to the tea stuff, the snackage. The grindage. The staples which will get me through the deep, dark corners of Deadlineville. EEEK! *notice how I put the "healthier" stuff in the forefront (ie: Garden Harvest). Snort snort.
Okay Hester, this one's for you. :) My daughter said "just be your self, Mom." :) It wasn't hard! I love that Gerry Butler (ie: Gabe MacGowan). Still slobbering!
So there's a small glimpse of the writingcraze for the week! I'll be in my writingden, 12-14 hours a day until next Thursday. :) I'll probably be SICK of tea with a horrible tummy ache from Skittles and stuff! *snort* See ya'll later!
APRIL CONTEST WINNER!!!!!
Congratulations, Carol Thompson, of South Africa! You are the winner of my April contest!
And thanks, everyone, for entering--and for your loyal readership. It is greatly appreciated!
Highland Knight releases in most stores on May 27th, so for my May contest, I'll have THREE winners! A signed copy of Highland Knight, a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, along with promo material (bookmarks, etc.).
If you have signed up for my newsletter in the past, you are auto-entered for the contest. And for any new readers out there, just send me an email via my website with the subject line: HIGHLAND KNIGHT. Three winners will be announced on May 20th!!
I apologize for my lengthy silence on the Creaky Hinge, but I am in SERIOUS deadlineville right now. MacGowan's Ghost is my next release, due out FEB 2009!! You'll get a sneak peek of it in the back pages of Highland Knight. :)
As soon as I get this book finished, I'll post more often! Until then, enjoy the spring!!!!
Happy Reading!!!
The WINNER!!!
CONGRATS, SUE GOULD, FROM PEMBROKESHIRE, WALES!!!
YOU ARE THE WINNER OF MY MARCH CONTEST!!!!
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ENTERED, AND YOU ARE NOW AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED INTO MY APRIL CONTEST! MORE DETAILS WILL FOLLOW SOON, SO CHECK MY HOMEPAGE AT
WWW.CINDY-MILES.COM
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!!
The Phenomenal James McAvoy
Another FAVORITE ACTOR ALERT!!!!
You've met him before. He had a pair of goat legs. *Faun legs, actually* Mr. Tumnus from the Chronicles of Narnia.
Isn't James McAvoy amazing? A better actor could NOT have portrayed Robbie Turner in ATONEMENT better than this guy. Diverse, can go from faun to Jane Austen's love interest to WWII soldier to ACTION HERO? And perform them all excellently? Yessirreee, Mr. McAvoy is on the TOP of my FAVORITE ACTORS list (along with his Scottish neighbor, Gerry Butler!). Although his native Glasgow accent is the absolute BEST, James McAvoy can interchange accents with unbelievable ease.
This guy is one to watch, for sure. And, his wife, Anne-Marie Duff, is just as talented! She has a few movies in pre-production that sound awesome! And they both played on the fantastic series SHAMELESS.
You may have also seen James on the Sci-Fi series, Children of Dune. EXCELLENT!!!!
Can you tell I really like this guy? :)
His latest movie, WANTED, hits the theaters in June. Here's the trailer: http://www.wantedmovie.com/
Morgan Freeman plays in this, and he is one of my ALL-TIME favorite guys!!!
Enjoy!
LEO DiCaprio
This guy! I've liked him ever since he played Arnie on What's Eating Gilbert Grape? To me, he's always been a cute guy.
OPINION CHANGED!!!!!!
Leo DiCaprio is no longer cute. No, not cute at all. Cute describes little fuzzy bunnies. Kittens. Puppy dogs.
LEO is SEX-AY. Good LORD! Sexy AND uber-talented. I watched Blood Diamond for the first time last week, and have watched it a few times since. Not only is the movie astounding, but he is just...OOH! Then, The Departed. WOW. Shocking movie, and Leo is FABULOUS in it.
WOW.
Not to mention he is using his Hollywoodedness (does that sound bad? lol!) for the benefit of the Environment, which I SO TOTALLY ADMIRE. Way to go, Leo!!!!
So here's my latest obsession. Rather, I'll add Leo to my list of obsessions. Lol! I just love him!!! Although I can't wait to see a movie starring HIM that he does not DIE IN!!!! :)
INDIANA JONES!!!!!
Okay. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is probably my #1 HERO of all time. One would think his appeal would fade somewhat as he has grown older.
NO WAY.
He's old enough to be my father. He is the exact age of my father-in-law (shudder--give me a moment while I get that image out of my head) and yet MY GOD! I am so CRAZY about him (Indy/Harrison--although I do love my father-in-law immensely! Just not like THAT LOL!)!
Some may wonder just how Harrison Ford will do, being the age of my father-in-law (65) in carrying out the infamous Indiana Jones role this May 22. I mean, he's an action hero. He does alot of his own STUNTS. Indy is a man's man, and he is not a sissy.
WONDER NO MORE! You have GOT to check out this trailer! SEXY! FUNNY! All with that cool, suave Indiana Jones appeal completely INTACT!
I already have my Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull tee-shirt ready to wear to the opening on May 22! Woohooo! Indiana Jones/Harrison Ford STILL ROCKS!!! And I adore Shia LaBeouf--he is just a cutie and rumored to be Indy's and Marion's love child. Which, Karen Allen is back as Marion, from the first Indiana film. Yay!!!!!
(can you tell I'm excited about this? :)
And....HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!
AND....who is YOUR favorite all-time Hollywood Hero? :)
xoxoxoxo!!!!
FANTASTIC COVER!!!!!
Here is the fantastic cover for Kim Lenox' first fabo book in her Shadow Guard series, NIGHT FALLS DARKLY. Isn't it GREAT? :)
*and that's Kim beside it. Ain't she purty? :)*
I have to take some bragg time here. Kim is my best pal, writer-sister and critique partner, and she has worked SO HARD with this book! And boy, did New American Library do her, the book, and the hero, ARCHER some major justice! It's the perfect combination of paranormal/historical/romance! (I love the gargoyle!) NAL'S art department ROCKS!!!!
The story takes place in Jack the Ripper's London, and having already read this book I can PROMISE you, you're going to LOVE IT! Not only is the paranormal suspense fantastic, but the hero, Archer? Man! YUMMILISHUSH!!!!
Way to go, Kim! I am SO VERY PROUD and HAPPY for you!
For those of you who haven't yet checked out her website, go here and read an excerpt of NIGHT FALLS DARKLY:
http://www.kimlenox.com/
NEW TITLE JUST IN!!!
I'm busy at work on my fourth book, and I'm happy to say I finally have an official title:
MACGOWAN'S GHOST!!!!!!!!
This is the first of my book where MY title has been chosen, so yay for that!
I'm ESPECIALLY excited because the hero is, well...
it's GERRY BUTLER! :) He is the inspiration for my brooding Scotsman in MacGowan's Ghost. Nope, he's not the ghost in this one! But he is one fine hero, indeed!
I'll have an excerpt posted for MacGowan's Ghost soon!
Enjoy!
Well--I'm not in complete solitude. I have Gerry Butler to keep me company! Lol! (see pics below)
