Welcome back, Lili!

I haven't blogged for amost two months. Frankly, I'm shocked. When did those weeks happen?

I always thought not blogging was something that happened to other people. Yeah, well, think again. Blogwise, I'm just as lazy as I always was. From now on, I'll try to keep up with one post per month. That sounds doable. (Oh, well, we'll see ... *g*)

So, what are my excuses (of course, I have some).
My despression has been acting up again. Silly me to think I might get along without pills AND without anxiety attacks. I'm still not taking pills again and I have been having a lot less attacks, so that's good. As always, I'm much too impatient (or so everyone tells me).
My husband is finishing his diploma thesis. What's that got to do with anything?
1) He's around most of the time which usually is very bad for my own working morale, and 2) we have only one desk. We are now working in shifts: he takes the early morning, I'm on at night. The rest is open to negotiations. As we have only about 6 more weeks to go, I'm not going crazy at the rate I probably should. Still, I'm getting a lot less work done.

Speaking of work. We put out one spectacular and one pretty good issue of LoveLetter magazine. August was especially fine. We had a special about the Australian romance scene. I'm still sightly green with envy about their romance book stores. Take a look at the pictures in our blog. I wish we had something like that around here.

Otherwise I'm back to translating. I started out years ago when I was still at university and did some roleplay stuff ("Vampire: The Masquerade sourcebooks and novels) for Feder & Schwert. Now, I'm translating romance. I hope they (not giving names yet, I don't want to jinx it) like it and want to keep me. :-)

Writing? Yes, I did some of that, too. Unfortunately not nearly the amount I had wanted to. Impatient and with unrealistic notions as to what is possible to cram into one day. Yup, that's me.

So, what do I want to do in September?
Read some good books (August was so-so, but I really enjoyed Pam Rosenthal's The Slightest Provocation), put out a good LoveLetter issue and write some sentences I like (and hopefully a lot more that are at least not totally unsalvageable).

I'll be back in a month to tell you how it worked out.

New "Bellissima" Contest

As of July, I'm giving away a free copy of "Bellissima" each month. If you leave a comment at my blog you are entered automatically. Also, you can send me an email.
Details on the newly updated contest page at my website.

Good luck!

Fan Girl On The Loose

Regardless of how much you love romance novels, as an editor of a romance magazine, you have to have some kind of professionalism. So, even though I am at heart a fan girl I try hard not to get carried away. But sometimes I just can't help myself. As happened this month.

I had heard of Marjorie M. Liu on my favorite German romance message board, but I hadn't been tempted to try her novels. Usually, I'm not a big fan of paranormal romance. (I LOVE urban fantasy and I LOVE romance, but somehow the combination doesn't work for me at all.) But we were planning an interview with her and, in that case, it's always good to read the novels beforehand. *g*

What can I say: I was blown away! The first book Tiger Eye wasn't flawless, but I just couldn't put it down. I HAD to know what happened next. And I'm not ususally a reader who is glued to the book. I always have three or four started at any given time.
I ordered the second one, Shadow Touch, the next day and waited breathless with anticipation. When it arrived I delved right into it. I was stunned! It was even better. It's really dark, so beware!
Naturally, I volunteered to review the third. I needed that ARC with a vengeance. The Red Heart of Jade was everythig I had hoped for and more. And just look at that cover!

So, what makes Marjorie M. Liu so special? First of all, I think it's great that she doesn't write about vampire and werewolves, but shows all kinds of different supernatural creatures and abilities. Yes, there are shifters, but they are only a small part of what is going in her world. I like that though the novels all stand on their own she obviously has a bigger plan that is only gradually revealed. If you need all your questions answered at the end of a book these will probably drive you mad. LOL Also, I really enjoy the settings. The three books have taken me not only to the States but to Beijing, Russia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet.
But most of all I love her characters. The heroes are alphas, but not cavemen. I like that in a man. :-) I enjoyed the friendly banter the Dirk & Steele agents have with each other and the way all these loners and outcasts have formed a family. The heroines are not necessarily kick ass girls, but they are no doormats either, but really prepared to do what needs to be done.
The relationships are strong and true right from the beginning. These couples don't waste time fighting each other, they stand together against the forces of evil.

So, to make a long posting short - what I wanted to say (in case you didn't notice *g*): if you like paranormals and haven't read Marjorie M. Liu you should definitely give her books a try!

And make sure to check out her blog. She's an interesting lady. And pretty, too. I would have to hate her if she weren't so damn nice! :-)

First review for "Bellissima"

I got my first review for "Bellissima"!

Michelle Ellis awarded it 4 stars and writes:

The second story—you’ve had the taster, now comes the HOT STUFF! Pwoooaaarrr ya buggers, you’ll like this one! Ahem—please excuse my phwoarness. (Gets back into review mode)

Okay, this is probably not the most quotable snippet from the review, but this is the one that had me laughing out loud. *g*
You can read the whole review here.

Also, I got a really nice author comment from Sandra Schwab (The Lily Brand) who says: "Funny and sexy -- a truly delightful summer read!"

Add to this the wonderful author chat we Freya's Bower girls had at eBookLove on Sunday and you have me smiling for a week. :-D

4 8 15 16 23 42

Yeah, well, what can I say. The "Lost" fever got me, too. It took me some time, but when it was shown on tv I was struggling with severe panic attacks on a daily basis and really didn't need any more excitement. In hindsight, that wasn't even a bad thing as now I could watch the first season practically in one sitting. I LOVE DVD boxes! Who wants to wait a whole week before a story continues. There are very few tv shows out there that have me so hooked that I have to watch it immediately. Especially, as it drives me crazy. I'm not a very patient person, I NEED to know what happens next and I need to know it NOW! *g*

I have to admit, "Lost" was love at second sight for me. I liked the pilot well enough. At least, I didn't get the feeling I had to repeatedly bash my head into the wall to end the pain any way I could (my reaction to most tv shows), but I can't say I was entirely enthusiastic from minute one (maybe it was all those people telling me how FANTASTIC the show is, makes me all stubborn and contrary). It happened slowly. But as childhood illnesses are so much worse when you get them as an adult, now, at the end of the first season, I'm firmly and completely hooked. (If you have seen the second season, be quiet. I don't want to hear one single word. This is the one show where I don't want spoilers!)

Also, the show makes for great conversation. Almost everyone has an opinion especially about the characters and who is likable and who isn't. Jack, for example. One of my friends hates him, just hates him. He's too heroic. And tortured, too. "He's 35 and a successful surgeon and still has father issues. Get over it already! Or, at least, get a good therapist, goddamn it!" (Her words, not mine).
I hate Sawyer. I'm sure there are lots and lots of women who adore him, but I just want to slap him around and not in a good way. (When reading this back, I suddenly ask myself if this sentence makes any sense at all. I mean, really, is there a good way to slap someone around?)

Basically, the only one we can all agree on is Sayid.




And Kate. Kate is the best. Strong and capable and... well, just look at her. She sends my little bi-curious heart all aflutter.

Thanks, Sandy!

Sandy Schwab blogged about me, and it only took me three days to notice it (and another four to post about it here). :-)
I hope you all know Sandra Schwab. If not, go and get her "The Lily Brand" today!

Forever Marked: Troy Sacheverell, fifth earl of Ravenhurst, was captured in France. He'd gone to fight Napoleon, but what he found was much more sinister. Dragged from prison to an old French manor on the outskirts of civilization, he was purchased by a rich and twisted beauty. And more dangerous still was the stepdaughter who claimed him.
Lillian had not chosen to live with Camille, her stepmother, but none escaped the Black Widow's web. And on her nineteenth birthday, Lillian became Camille's heir. Her gift was a plaything: a man to end her naiveté, whose face and body were made for the boudoir. Yet even as Lillian did as she was told, marked that beautiful flesh and branded it with the flower of her name, all she desired was escape. In another place, in another world, she'd desired love. Now, looking into burning blue eyes, there was no place to run. No matter should she flee, no matter where she might go, she and this man were prisoners of passion, inextricably linked by the Lily Brand
So while her heart remains locked in ice, his burns with hate. Will they ever find true happiness?

I know Sandy from my German romance message board. I was very excited when she sold her book, for her, of course, but also because it proved that it could be done at all! Because of her, I joined RWA and decided to take writing seriously. It still took me another year to really sit down and write something publishable, but without her example I might still be procrastinating (something I have down to a fine art). So, thanks again, Sandy!

Win Dayna Hart's Bite!

Today, fellow Freya's Bower author Dayna Hart sends her readers on a scavenger hunt through blogspace. You can win chocolate (always a good choice) and, of course, her Bite You again. Take a look at her blog to find out more. Happy hunting!