FRIDAY FUN VIDEO -- HUSBAND HUNTER BRA

Okay, this probably fits more in the "Way Weird But Unfortunately True" category, but this week's Friday Fun video has to do with an admittedly unique way of "making marriage happen." Though I did notice the spokeswoman didn't say what would happen the first time a woman undresses in front of the would-be groom and he catches sight of this Husband Hunter bra, which isn't exactly something you can pick up in your local Victoria's Secret store.

Enjoy and have a super weekend!!! (Oh, you might need to x out the google ad at the bottom. It seems to pop up about every other time I play the video.)

FRIDAY FUN VIDEO -- FACEBOOK ETIQUETTE

Although I was dragged, kicking and screaming (okay, not exactly screaming, but definitely whining) into MySpace over a year ago, I've come to love it there. It's my cyberspace treehouse, the place I hide from work and responsibilities and hang out with friends. I also have a Facebook page, but I never put anything there because there are only so many hours in a day, and for some strange reason my publisher actually expects me to turn in the books they pay me to write.

In a perfect world, Signet would just throw money at me for even coming up with a story idea, but unfortunately, in this universe, there are no perfect worlds. At least none that I've discovered. Yet.

Today's Friday Funny is a social networking etiquette video, filmed in an old fashioned '50s style. Although it's Facebook specific, the rules would apply to MySpace. (There's also a less than 30 second commercial at the beginning, a very small, imo, downside to sticking to copyright protected content.) Enjoy and have a super weekend!

FRIDAY FUN VIDEO --REVISON LETTER KARAOKE

Although we're all individuals, telling our stories in our own voices and our own way, there is one thing every writer has in common. And that's waiting for the dreaded editorial revision letter. (Which is hardly ever as bad as feared, but, given that we also have vivid imaginations, no matter how much we love our story when we finish it, the instant we send the manuscript off to our editor, we usually begin expecting the worst.)

A personal admission. . . Several years ago, Birgit Davis-Todd, my editor's boss, called to talk about a manuscript I'd submitted. My mind immediately started spinning into high gear, trying to figure out all the things that could have gone wrong and how I could assure her I could fix it as she went on and on about how much she loved everything about the story. The hero. Heroine. Plot. Setting. But that was all a distant buzz in my ear because all I could think about was that the book must be so horrendously, impossibly bad that my editor -- who'd also become a personal friend -- couldn't bear to tell me, so, as senior editor of the Temptation line, Birgit had taken on the heavy burden of telling me my book sucked.

Finally, at the end of this very long recitation, still waiting for the sword to drop, I asked, with great trepidation, "So, what do you need changed?"

"Nothing," Birgit responded with what appeared to be surprise. "I told you, I love it just the way it is."

Which was when I blurted out all of what I'd been thinking.

There was a very long pause. Then she finally said, "Actually, I was only calling because Malle's a bit backed up, so I volunteered to edit one of her manuscripts. Since you and I worked together on so many books over the years, I chose yours because I wanted to enjoy reading it."

Another, longer pause.

Then she tacked on, "You know, sometimes I forget that you authors can actually be very insecure." (Which I believe was her polite way of saying "very strange.") LOL

Anyway, passed on to me by writer pal Katherine Allred, here's another author's take on revison letter anxiety. Enjoy:

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GLADIATOR WITH A BOW AND ARROW

For those of you waiting with bated breath for the bath rug instructions, you'll have to rein in your anticipation for a tad longer because I've been waiting the past couple weeks to blog about Russell Crowe's new role as Robin Hood. My problem was that my son, Patrick, is Executive Director of The Copyright Alliance, an organization formed by the movie, music, publishing, NASCAR, NFL, NBA, and bunches of other groups interested in protecting copyright.

So, although a photo of Crowe started appearing everywhere, I couldn't risk using it because I hadn't been given permission. (As my kid told me, if everyone jumped off a roof, would you do it, too? Which made me wonder when our roles had become reversed.)

But I digress. . . Anyway, since, as an author whose books often get pirated, I really, really care about copyright protection, I even wrote to Universal Pictures, who owns the copyright for the photo, asking for permission. They sent me to a link where I could purchase rights to clips from their movies. But Robin Hood wasn't on the list because - duh, hello all you Universal lawyers -- IT'S NOT OUT YET!!!

Finally, the photo popped up on Photobucket last night. Newscorp, who owns Photobucket and is a member of The Copyright Alliance, worked out some sort of royalty deal which I don't understand, but I've been assured by my kid, aka Copyright Cop, that it's legally okay to use those photos.

Crowe stated in an interview that he's loved the Robin Hood story since he was six. Well, I was about seven when I first read it and fell in love with Robin and all his Merry Men. There have, of course, been lots of movies made featuring the character.









But, although that diabolical director Ridley Scott is making me wait until April 14th, 2010, to see it, I'm betting that this one will be my favorite yet. Despite the haircut, which is a tad too Gladiatorish for my taste. Still, Gladiator with a bow and arrow? What's not to love?

I also believe that the message -- about a homeless hero forced to set up camp in the woods taking from the big, bad, greedy guys (let's all say it together. . . risky real estate investment toxic assets) to give back to the regular folks -- is particularly appropriate these days.

COOL BREAKPOINT AD

Well, I was going to blog about these cool instructions I found for making bathroom rugs out of old towels (since redoing my bathroom, I haven't been able to find the "spa" rugs I have in mind, so this seemed maybe doable), but then my editor sent me the ad that their art/marketing department had made for Breakpoint and it's so fabulous, I just had to share.

The only problem is that I forgot to reserve the space in time, so it's going to be in black and white. But Air Force Combat Controller Dallas O'Halloran is still hot whatever color he is!

Oh, the ad copy isn't showing up on my preview, so here's what it says:

Air Force Combat Controller Dallas O’Halloran is as tough as he is loyal. So he’s not pleased when he’s recruited into a new anti-terror unit and teamed up with Academy graduate Julianne Decatur—the icy blond JAG officer who nearly court-martialed his friends.

Assigned to investigate a Navy flyer’s apparent suicide, they discover the trail of a ruthless killer—and an attraction between them that can’t be denied. And when their prey turns the tables on them, Julianne will have to depend on the one man daring and reckless enough to keep them both alive…

And for those of you who are counting, you can take Dallas home with you in 63 days.