Plot Monkeys

I’m so glad I’m the computer geek in my marriage and not the other way around. :-)

The winner of this week’s contest is Stacy! Congratulations! Email me at julie@julieleto.com with your street address and you’ll receive your prizes, likely in two boxes…one in the books from me and the pralines direct from Lorretta’s. Thanks to everyone for playing! I’m glad I wasn’t the one who had to pick the winner. Much easier when the 8 year old does it. Why am I not surprised that she picked #1?

But Stacy did ask an interesting question about my memories of writing those books…they were so early in my career that the whole process was new to me. Those were the first books I ever wrote that weren’t set in my hometown. I went to New Orleans with my husband for business and did research. It was my first setting research trip! I dressed like a college kid (jeans, t-shirt, backpack) and pretty much wandered. I had read my tour guides BEFORE I set out and had a very small map in my pocket that I only secretly consulted. I wanted to look like I belonged there. I took a few pictures here and there and talked to a lot of locals.

I also remember that these books are my homage (pronounce it in French…it’s much cooler) to Bewitched. While there is no real witchcraft in the book (real witchcraft…is that an oxymoron?) but the mother of my heroines, Endora, is psychic. You’re never quite sure if she’s legit or not…you have to read for yourself and decide.

Anyway, those are a few memories. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Stacy! For those of you who didn’t win, I just got a call from my SIL who reported that NEW ORLEANS NIGHTS is selling for $3.98 at Walmart. That’s two full novels and a short story for less than four bucks. Quite a deal, I think!

What kind of contemporary hero occupation do you like to read about the most? (Lawyer, cops, sports related, cowboy, paranormal related, Military, etc)

JANELLE: As a reader, I tend to gravitate toward books that offer a bodyguard type hero. He can be a cop, private investigator, or a security agent, but I do enjoy the “close confinement” between the hero and heroine that comes with him being her bodyguard in some way!

JULIE: Hmmm…I like rich heroes. Corporate raiders. CEOs. Self-made men who have fought their way to the top of the proverbial heap. Men who have so much power, and yet are powerless against the woman who will steal his heart. Of course, I have a soft spot in my heart for the working class guy, too. The one running his own business, trying to make a living, making bending a few laws if he needs to. One who works so hard, he needs to break free every once and a while. Let loose. Have fun. And if the bad boy is rich? Double whammy.

CARLY: I tend to go for the masculine occupations, sports, bodyguard, cop … I realize from answering this that I don’t always write what I preach but I think it’s the kind of hero I gravitate towards but that’s another blog. Seriously!

LESLIE: I don’t really choose my favorite heroes on occupation, but more on character type. I’m a major gamma gal…I love flirtatious, sexy bad boy charmers. Don’t particularly care for ruthless alphas, and definitely don’t like soft and tender betas. Give me a Rhett Butler sexy ladies man with a twinkle in his eye and a charming smile–but a will of steel lurking beneath it–every time.

In continued celebration of the release of my book, NEW ORLEANS NIGHTS, I’m giving away a delicious box of assorted flavored pralines! If you’ve never had a praline…ooooh, what you are missing.

Butter, sugar, pecans and assorted other yummies like chocolate or peanut butter. I love them! (If anyone has a nut allergy…I can send you pecan-less pralines. I’m sure they’re yummy, too.) I’ll also offer a signed copy of New Orleans Nights as well as a surprise second book!

I also love supporting a New Orleans business that is trying to continue to make a go of things–Loretta’s Pralines. Their French Quarter location is still closed, but they are working out of their warehouse, which is still in NOLA. If you don’t win, you might want to do some shopping!

So leave your comments and win a prize!

The winner will be chosen by a (oh, what is that disclaimer… you know, someone in my family who has no vested interest in who wins or not. To be posted on Sunday! Good luck!

I’ve noticed a new trend lately when it comes to romance novels. When I walk into the bookstores and scour the shelves, I still see historical romance novels (usually by the bigger, well known authors), and there are contemporary romance novels, too. But what I see filling most of the shelf space is paranormal romances. Vampires. Werewolves. Aliens. Shapeshifters. Witches. Time-travel. Futuristic. And anything else fictional/paranormal that a writer’s imagination can dream up! Some of the paranormal stories I’ve seen feature alternate universes and exotic breeds that absolutely boggles my mind! Since my mind doesn’t work that way creatively, I have a whole lot of respect for authors who can suspend disbelief this way, and do it very well.

I was talking to a bookstore manager recently about what’s really hot right now, and she confirmed that paranormals are in big demand and consist of almost 70% of the romance industry. Wow, that’s a whole lot of vampires, werewolves, and time-travelers out there! As a reader, I do enjoy the occasional paranormal story, mostly sexy vampires, but I’m a true contemporary romance reader at heart. I like my men and women from this century — not a futuristic one, LOL!

So, my question to you is, as a romance reader, what do you like to read the most? Are contemporary romances your thing, or do you prefer historicals? Are you a die-hard paranormal romance reader? Or are you like me and read a few paranormals here and there, depending on the author and theme? And if you DO read a lot of paranormals, do you read by certain author, or because of certain paranormal elements?

It’s official. I’m addicted. Not to chocolate (okay, yes, but it’s not as bad an addiction as it could be.) Not to drugs. Not even to booze.

I can’t live without Google.

You see, I’m a curious sort. If there is a question I do not know the answer to, I simply must know it! Not if someone asks about, oh, let’s say, quantum physics. I could really care less about that. But if my daughter asks me what the state bird of Illinois is and I don’t know, I have to have my Google.

(It’s a cardinal, by the way. Same as Virginia.)

When we were in Hawaii back in March, I realized how much I missed my Google. The hotel room did not have wireless (there ought to be law) and whenever a question would come up (what plant was that growing outside our window? How exactly did the Hawaiians lose their land to the American investors? Just exactly who was King Kamehameha?) I wanted to be able to instantaneously look it up. Books? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had guide books. But Google is so much faster!

Must. Have. Internet!

I don’t even look up phone numbers in the Yellow Pages anymore. I can spend hours delving into all manners of research for my books, from guns to the growing patterns of strawberries in Massachusetts to the treatment of gypsies during the reign of King George I in England. I hear people worry about what the CIA might think if they knew which websites they were surfing to. They can have at it with me. Ecclectic doesn’t even begin to describe.

There have been a gazillion times that I’ve been on the phone with someone and a question comes up…hold on, I’ll Google. I’ve become a Google Queen. It is no surprise to me that Google has become a verb. It is a verb. It’s action–immediate and effective. If I can’t find what I want, I get very frustrated…but all the more determined. I’ve learned the short cuts and tricks. Today, I spent thirty minutes reliving my youth on Tommy Shaw’s place at Myspace. Tommy Shaw, you ask? Lead guitarist for Styx. He’s 52. Thanks for making me feel old, Tom. He’s still sexy. More on him and his music next week!

How many of you share this odd addiction? Even the non-writers? If you haven’t tried Google or don’t go there on a regular basis…why not? You’ll have the information superhighway at your fingertips. Ah, the power!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was May of any given year and all TV shows, whatever you watch, whenever you watch, live, taped or Tivo’d, television shows were ending. Some were ending on a season cliff hanger, leaving me, the viewer, to wonder for the endless summer what would become of my favorite characters. No happily ever after promised here. Bummer. Is it any wonder I write romance? And some were ending forever and fingers were crossed for a satisfying ending. The hardest part, at least for me, isn’t the cliff hanger although I admit an intense dislike for it. And it isn’t the worry about the outcome next season because something will happen and I will adjust. No, for me it’s the long, interminable wait over the summer with NOTHING ELSE TO WATCH OR DO.

Admittedly this is a problem only for TV addicts like myself. For lack of anything better to talk about, here is a list of the TV shows I will miss (either over the summer or forever) and what I’ll miss about them. In order from Sunday through Saturday because heaven forbid I play favorites:

GREY’S ANATOMY – (season finale) it used to be Meredith and Derek I was pulling for but it’s now Denny and Izzy. I’m in love with Denny and boy I’d like to see him out of the hospital and being the “virile” man he says he is (because he sure as heck is plenty virile IN bed!) As for the season cliff hanger, I’m writing this Monday morning, so you’ll have to wait for me to add my two cents in comments later in the day Tuesday!) I love the romance and the characters of this show. All of them. (Note it is now 11 PM on Monday night - I am devastated about Denny, I am frustrated that they left Meredith with a choice yet once again, DEREK HAS NOT HAD TO MAKE ONE. And I’m destroyed about Doc. I have faith Burke and Christina will be fine. Will Izzy be back next year?

THE WEST WING – (series finale) saying goodbye to a good friend, I’ll miss Jed Bartlett but most of all I will miss John Spencer. For whatever reason I found the man sexy, his character compelling, and I’ll remember him always from L.A. Law to now. What a man.

24 –(season/day finale) isn’t it obvious? Jack, Jack, more Jack … and Chloe! She’s a hoot. I’m already missing my dearly departed favorites, President Palmer, Tony and Michelle. Since I adore William Devane, thank goodness Audrey’s dad is okay! And the plot twists make a character writer like me drool with envy! 11 PM addition - missed last night’s to watch Grey’s. Will download on iTunes!

PRISON BREAK – it’s a toss up. On the one hand, Wentworth Miller. On the other, Dominick Purcell. And then there is the cast of characters … it reminds me of my favorite movie ARMAGEDDON and let me tell you, other people might have seen an action type movie, I saw a character movie in those crazy men. That’s what I see in the prisoners breaking out … tonight. Again, adding this at 11 PM Tuesday, missed the last fifteen minutes, must download from iTunes!

HOUSE – it’s the writer in me that loves this show. How can a man like House be so lovable and so nasty? Why does Cameron care about him? And more importantly why did the writers seem to drop her as a love interest? Keep it coming!

NCIS – Gibbs had a wife and a family? Who else loves Ziva?

BOSTON LEGAL - Denny Crane. And now Donny Crane. Alan Shore. Cigars in their ears, guns in their hands, dropping their pants.

ALIAS – if you know me, there’s nothing more to say. In case you don’t know me that well: Michael Vaughn.

LOST – I admit to being lost most of the time, no pun intended, but it’s still one amazing show. JJ Abrams, creator of Alias, Lost and now MI-III is just the master. And like Janelle said, there’s Sawyer to watch!

MY NAME IS EARL – nothing better than laughter, folks.

And then there are the shows I’m not invested in weekly but I will watch if my husband has them on or is watching on Tivo – All the Law and Orders, but most especially SVU, Numbers, Without a Trace, CSI (Las Vegas, Miami, NY in that order) and I am sure there are more.

Clearly I watch too much television. Just as clearly, I am going to go into utter withdrawal in about one or two weeks. Thank goodness for Baseball because that does help during the summer. Speaking of baseball, I will leave you with this story: I asked my husband to get 4 tickets to the NY Mets game some time this summer for our family. He said absolutely. I asked him to get tickets when the Mets play the San Diego Padres so I can watch Mike Piazza play because I MISS MIKE. Want to know what hubby said? “He said no way in hell. That’s like letting him loose at a JLo Concert.”

Men.

It’s 10:30pm Sunday night and my husband has just saved my ass.

This is not the first time. The man has hauled me out of the fire more times than I can count. This time, however, he’s hauling me out on your behalf.

Because, uh, Monday is my blog day. And I forgot. Crap crap crap. It’s been a long day (a nice long day, with my 3 girlies waking me up with breakfast in bed and lots of cute and fun presents.) But I’m tired, I want to just veg out in front of Grey’s Anatomy and then fall into bed with the book I got for Mother’s Day. (Sebastian Junger’s new one…looks good!)

Anyway, back to the topic: 10:30. Grey’s Anatomy. I’m screaming at Izzy, wanting to shake Meredith (as usual)…and ack! My hubby reminds me in an IM (for those of you who don’t know, we’re doing a long-distance thing right now, which totally SUCKS!) that I have a blog to write! What on earth will I write it about?

The answer comes to me quickly. Why not write about a guy who saves your ass time after time?

AKA: The hero.

I write about heroes. It’s my job. Though I’m not writing about knights on white steeds or cowboys or those obvious hero figures, I absolutely believe the everyday guys who live, laugh and love in my books are every bit as heroic as the ones who battle villains and ride the range and dance at Almack’s. (Uh, okay, sorry, I never quite “got” those Regency heroes.) My point is, the guy next door works as hero very well–at least in my books. (And in my real life!)

Yeah. I’m married to a hero. I have more stories than I can count about why that is, but I think, because it’s Mother’s Day, that I’ll tell you just one. And then you can judge for yourself.

10+ years ago. September 1995. I’m pregnant with our third child, and we don’t know the baby’s sex. (I never found out with any of mine.) I have two little girls at home. I also, at that moment, have a somewhat overbearing mother-in-law visiting from out of state, and throughout the final weeks of my pregnancy, I am hearing a recurring theme. “Oh, to think, my son is FINALLY going to have a son of his own!” Imaging this theme repeating a dozen or so times a day and you’ll get an idea of what my life was like at the time.

Now, flash forward to the afternoon of the 10th. I’m in the hospital, holding my beautiful, precious baby girl in my arms. A baby made more precious by the few moments of terror right after her birth when she was completely unresponsive and we all held our breath wondering if she was going to make it. But she’s fine, she’s gorgeous, she’s perfect.

Into my hospital room walks the mother-in-law. And without a glance at me, or at the baby, she throws her arms up in the air, mutters, “Well, I guess I’ll just have to learn to live with the fact that my son will never have a son of his own,” and throws herself down in a chair.

Yes. This is entirely true.

I stared in shock. My older sister laid into the errant grandmother. And my sweet, sweet man came to my bedside to kiss our baby’s forehead and tell me again how very much he loves me. With tears in my eyes, I asked him if he was disappointed that he had another girl. And with his hand moving from our little Megan’s cheek to mine, he said, “Leslie, for the next 20 years or so, the four most beautiful females on the face of this earth are going to think I’m the greatest guy in the world. Who in their right mind would be disappointed by that?”

Heroes don’t have to catch bad guys or rope cattle or fight battles. Sometimes the most perfect heroes simply know exactly what to say at the precise moment it needs to be said.

Somehow, today–Mother’s Day–seemed a pretty good moment to acknowledge those heroes.

Like mine.

Love you baby.

THE WINNER OF CARLY’S JUNGLE MADNESS MAY FRIDAY is …. KIM H. chosen by an unbiased monkey family member. Congratulations! Don’t forget to email me at: carlyphillips@mac.com with your mailing address and your favorite Jelly Belly flavor jelly bean. Please go to www.jellybelly.com and make sure it’s available in the 2.2 pound package and I’ll make sure it’s sent directly to you. A signed copy of HOT ITEM will come separately.
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And now to honor the day: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

My grandmother used to like to be called Mother. Not Mom, or Mommy or any other form of the name. So when anyone refers to my mom as “Mother” or buys a mother’s day card that says “To Mother” it becomes a joke in the family. Mother as in “MotherXXXX”. Bad word. OK maybe you have to be in my family to get this or laugh. I hope not.

Today I want to wish every MOM out there a very happy mother’s day, however you spend it! And in honor of all mothers … one of those round robin emails that was written by who knows, but is so perfect for the day!

MOM - JOB DESCRIPTION
This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way, no one would have done it!!!!
POSITION :
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT &PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.00

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Today, we decided to ask each other what ended up being a pretty tough question…pick your favorite book by the other plotmonkeys! We’re all each other’s biggest fans, of course, but how do you pick when you love all the books. We managed it…feel free to add your favorites to the list!

Carly: My favorite plotmonkey books are as follows:
Janelle Denison - I’m in LOVE with the secret santa anthology story Janelle is currently writing now, but in fairness to readers who might want to find it NOW, my favorite Janelle story that is available is WILDE THING. Oooh, steamy! Nobody does sensuality like Janelle!
Leslie Kelly - SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY -
Leslie’s talent for fun and dialogue leaves me drooling with envy! Her humor is amazing.
Julie Leto - I love ALL Julie’s books, and I know it really sucks to do this to you all, but one of her old ones, PRIVATE LESSONS has my heart. I hope it’s still available or will be again soon!

Leslie: I really loved Carly’s first Hot Zone book, HOT STUFF. Loved meeting Annabelle and her sisters and her Uncle Yank, and ex-football star Brandon was a sexy hero with a ton of heart. Warm, sensual and touching. For Janelle’s books, I think I would have to say THE WILDE SIDE.
Maybe because this is the first book I genuinely remember feeling involved in “plotting” at one of our early Plotmonkeys retreats. I also really like the “poor little rich girl” heroine Ashley and her construction worker hero. Of Julie’s books, I really love DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS–totally hot, really adventurous. I love Marisela, can’t wait to see her continue her affair with Frankie but also really want to see her hook up with Ian…and with Max! Julie, keep ‘em comin’, honey!

Julie: Oh! What a fun question! Okay, for Carly Phillips, I have to say BRAZEN, which was recently re-released. I just knew I was going to be a lifelong fan (and this was before we were friends!) when I read that book. So fun and sexy. Risky. I like a risky book. For Janelle, I’d have to say HEAT WAVES. It was a Blaze set in Chicago and man, oh, man, was it ever hot. Classic Janelle–great banter between the hero and heroine. For Leslie, I hardly have to think twice…TWO TO TANGLE. Picture it–sinfully sexy man dancing alone in the rain. ::sigh:: Fabulous heroine, too, and wonderful secondary characters. I’m so lucky to be in such talented company!

Janelle: Great question, but a tough one since it’s so hard to pick just ONE favorite! Carly: To date, my favorite book of hers is HOT ITEM. I love rough and tough football player Riley. And then there’s Sophie, who puts on a tough act but is so soft and vulnerable inside. The two of them together makes for a wonderful, sexy story! Leslie: I absolutely loved KILLING TIME. Talk about a sexy bad boy — Mick can make any woman swoon! I mean, who wouldn’t absolutely fall for a guy who has a Big Bad Wolf tatoo on his backside? And I really enjoyed all the humor Leslie put into this book while writing about a murder-mystery reality show. Julie: DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. Wow, what a hot, sexy, adventurous story! Marisela and Frankie are explosive together, and I’m even rooting for Ian to get some, too, LOL! It’s hard to resist a book that opens with the line, “I remember when you used to stroke me like that.”

This year the contests I’ve run on www.carlyphillips.com have focused on Carly’s Favorite Things. I’ve noticed that quite a few plotmonkey blogs have had themes centered on addictions (Spider Solitaire, Starbucks, Internet …) and odd person that I am, I connected the two for Carly’s May Jungle Madness Friday …..

So … Just post a comment today in order to be eligible to win a package of WINNER’S favorite flavor of JELLY BELLY jellybeans – – 2.2 pound bag!!!!! (My favorite flavors are Strawberry Shortcake and Coconut) Anyone who’s eaten Jelly Belly’s knows they’re orgasmic. Anyone who hasn’t is in for a treat. I kid you not! And while you’re munching, enjoy a copy of HOT ITEM before it hits store shelves in June!

Winner to be picked as usual by an unbiased member of a monkey’s family at their sole discretion.
HAPPY WEEKEND!