Anya Bast

According to recent research, Americans spend an average of ten more minutes a week watching TV than they did five years ago. They spend forty minutes more a day than they did a decade ago.

On the flip side of the media coin, books sales have been steadily declining. Logic says that perhaps TV is replacing books as a favored form of entertainment. Scratch that, I’m sure TV has already replaced books as such.

The truth is that there are many competitors for the attention of our eyeballs. Not only are there TV and books, there are movies, the Internet and computer/video games too.

I admit I’m a big Internet junkie. I’m on the ‘Net a lot. Movies are another downfall of mine. I love to watch movies both in the theatre and at home. Computer/video games hold little interest for me.

And TV? We actually don’t have TV. Well, we have a TV, but it only gets one channel and we only watch one show. That would be Survivor. Yes, yes, I know. It’s one of my guiltiest pleasures. Otherwise, we don’t watch TV mostly because of the commercials. Commercials just freak me out, man. Most of them treat the viewers as if they have the intelligence of a three-year-old and others are just flat out frightening. Dancing bears and toilet paper, anyone? Mucus throwing parties in your sinus cavities? Shudder

We do Netflix some shows, however. Right now our favorites are Battlestar Galactica, Deadwood, & Prison Break. We just started watching season one of Desperate Housewives too (blessedly without commercials). We’ll see if that show makes the cut. I absolutely loved Dead Like Me, Angel, Buffy and Firefly when they were on. (Bring back Dead Like Me and Firefly, you TV producers! They never got a fair shot!)

However books will always remain my favorite form of entertainment, and the reason reaches further than the fact I write them. Why? Well, read my last blog and you’ll understand.

When I watch movies or TV, everything is handed to me on a silver platter. They allow me no opportunity to create a world in my mind and fill it with my own sights, sounds, smells and tastes. TV and movies offer me no way to use my imagination. They don’t transport me the way a good book does. They usually don’t immerse me so deeply that I can’t hit the stop button and I end up watching all night, regardless of the fact I’ll be exhausted the next day. I can always flip off a TV show or a movie and not regret it. I can’t always close a book and not regret it. I never finish a movie and then instantly say, “I want to watch it again!”, the way I’ve closed some books, turned wistful for a moment, and then flipped to the first page again.

Movies and TV are wonderful and entertaining forms of media, but I guess overall I prefer the imagination expansion that reading allows me.

 

Indeed, putting tassles on 500 bookmarks by hand does suck in many horrible sucklicious ways.

They are very pretty, though!

I will eventually post it to this blog, but until that time you can go to the link below and see it.

I posted the trailer to my web site: Book Trailer for Witch Fire.

And I also just posted the book trailer to the ‘About Witch Fire’ page on this blog. Just click the tab above, grab some popcorn and watch away.

Witch Fire can be pre-ordered now from Amazon.com.

I stole this from Megan Hart (who has a bitchen new blog) and Lauren Dane. On a side note, no more Thursday Thirteen? Bummer!! I didn’t do the last one this week mostly because it would have required me to think and thinking, I’m sorry to say, is not a strong point for me right now. I have too much on my plate for a lot of cognitive function at the moment.

So, 50 things about ME. Because it’s all about me, you know.

 

1. Height?

5′6″

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?

Hmmmmm, let me think…. NO!

3. Do you own a gun?

Yup. Know how to use it too. A shotgun makes a lovely sound when its loading.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

It depends on what the appointment is for. If it’s just a check up, no. If it’s something more serious, hell yes.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?

*puke*

7. What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Little Drummer Boy

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

Give me coffee or I will hunt you down and kill you.
9. Can you do push ups?

Like five…maybe.

10. Is your bathroom clean?

Normally. Unless I’m under a deadline like now. In that case, the answer is a resounding no.
11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

I don’t wear jewelry usually, but I suppose it would be my engagement and wedding rings.

12. Do you like painkillers?

No because painkillers means there’s pain, of which I am not a fan.

13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?

I don’t do much luring, I’m afraid. Not intentionally, anyway.

14. Do you have A.D.D.?

Actually, not at all. I’m very focused.
15. What’s your name?

Anya

16. Middle Name?

eroticromancewriter

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?

OMG, I have so much do!

I need another cup of coffee

Wiggle, I can’t have you on my lap, please!

18. Name the last 3 things you bought:

an air purifier, cleaning supplies and business cards
Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:

Diet Coke with lime, green tea, water

We skip a whole bunch of questions here…I don’t know where they went.

22. Current worry?

Hahahaha. Too many to post.

23. Current hate?

Uhm…I can’t think of one. Er…ignorance and intolerance.

24. Favorite place to be?

Curled up on the couch with my dude watching movies

25. How did you bring in the New year?

With friends.

26. Where would you like to go?

Wales

27. Do you own slippers?

yes

28. What shirt are you wearing?

A pink long-sleeved shirt

29. Do you burn or tan?

I burn like a ^&%*^

30. Favorite color(s)?

Blue

31. Would you be a pirate?

Why not?

32. Are you gay?

I wouldn’t say I’m not.

33. What songs do you sing in the shower?

I don’t. If I sing the mirror breaks.

34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?

The old fashioned dolls my grandmother made for me.

35. What’s in your pockets right now?

I have no pockets at the moment.

36. Where are you?

In my office

37. Best bed sheets as a child?

Holly Hobby!

38. Worst injury you’ve ever had?

I crushed the back of my kneecap once.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house?

One

41. Who is your loudest friend?

Tonya

42. Who is your quietest friend?

I’m generally the quietest of the bunch. Well, unless I’m a tad tipsy! The quiet is just a cover for a rich and bizarre inner life, however.

43. Does someone have a crush on you?

Now how would I know that?

44. Do u wish on shooting stars?

Of course! Sheesh, what a question.

45. What is your favorite book?

Whatever! I can’t pick just one. Wicked, Tigana, Mists of Avalon, Sunshine, Still Life with Woodpecker, A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Confederacy of Dunces….the list continues.

46. What is your favorite candy?

Peppermint Patty

47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding?

We didn’t have a trad wedding and I never cared.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?

I don’t want a funeral. Just stick me in a pine box and DON’T pump me full of chemicals first, please.

49. What were you doing at 12AM last night?

Editing

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?

OMG! I have so much to do! *zoooom*

ETA: And I tag Rhian for the this blog and anyone else who wants to do it. I love reading them.

I’m snowed under with edits and deadlines. Therefore, not blogging much this week.

I have edits on Whisper of the Blade to do, a proposal due for my next Harlequin Spice novella, an article to write for a publication and Witch Blood (that would be the sequel to Witch Fire) to make some progress on.

Aaaah!

The winner of my V Day contest is Caity_Mack!

Thanks to all who entered and I hope you had a lurrvely Valentine’s Day.

 

I got the print proof for Witch Fire today. It is very, very, verra purty. 🙂

 

Thirteen Elements of Synopsis Writing

1. Be a sexy hooker. Find a line that’s intriguing, or humorous, something that immediately grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read on.

2. One paragraph describing the internal conflict for the heroine or hero — usually the protagonist comes first. In romance the story is about two main characters, but you still have a protagonist. In my books, that’s generally the heroine. It’s mostly her journey.

3. One paragraph describing the internal conflict for the other main character. Ideally, the internal conflicts of both the h/h should dovetail and grate against each other. (For example, in Blood of an Angel the heroine has a special grievance against vampires and, as luck would have it, the hero is a vampire.) In these two paragraphs explain why this is the worst possible match for both characters.

4. A paragraph describing the external conflict. This is whatever external circumstances are bringing and keeping the h/h together long enough for them to fall in love. The external conflict, ideally, should magnify the internal conflicts.

5. The inciting incident. This is whatever happens that pulls the protagonist and/or main character from his/her ordinary circumstances into the external conflict.

6. Alliance. The characters decide to overlook their differences and work together to resolve a situation, the external conflict.

7. “Holy crap, I’m attracted to you.” First intimacy occurs. The heroine and hero discover they’re attracted to each other on whatever level — sexual, emotional, both.

8. “What the hell was I thinking?” When the brief interlude ends and the h/h remember all their fears and internal conflicts

9. The external conflict draws the h/h back together. They must work together to resolve the situation, no matter how they might feel about each other. Of course, they’re still attracted to each other. They’re falling in love despite the odds.

10. The black moment. Just when you think everything might turn all right, disaster strikes. This could be a result of the external conflict coming to a head, the internal conflict coming to a head, or both.

11. Resolution. When all conflicts are resolved and the h/h find their Happily Ever After (this is must in the romance genre).

12. Make sure you: Show the first meeting between the h/h, show their first kiss, include the loves scenes (esp impt for erotic romance).

13. Make sure you don’t: Write a synopsis that reads likes a textbook, leave out the ending or try to hook the editor at the end, or overcomplicate things.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Shiloh Walker

2. Rhian

3. Vixenwriter – Lauren Dane

4. Annie

5. Joely

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Some people scorn Valentine’s Day as a commercial holiday, some embrace it as a celebration of romantic love. Some people hate Valentine’s Day because they haven’t yet found anyone yet to share it with. Whatever you think of Valentine’s Day, here is it. Again.

My opinion of the holiday falls somewhere in the middle. I note it, buy a gift for my honey, accept his gift to me and move on. If my honey doesn’t buy me a gift…HE’S IN REALLY BIG TROUBLE!!!!! Ahem. Just kidding. Seriously, I don’t really care about V-Day. *koff* Really.

But Valentine’s Day has me thinking about love in all its various forms — ALL forms of love, not just romantic love. There is motherly love, sisterly and brotherly love. There is the love we feel for our friends, our pets. There is the love we hopefully feel for ourselves.

However, this Valentine’s Day I find myself thinking a lot about the kind of love I have with my husband. Something I would term “mature love”.

Ugh. I feel old now.

Anyway, after over a dozen years of being together I would say that the blush is definitely off the rose. Oh, we have our moments of return to that giddy place when we were first together, when passion ran high and my heart beat faster just because of his presence. But, let’s face it, that kind of love doesn’t last…and thank goddess! Otherwise we’d all have heart attacks five years into our relationships.

No, my husband and I have that enduring, settled, I-can-finish-your-sentence kind of love. The kind of love that has weathered storms that made our relationship stronger. The kind of love that is comfortable and based in deep friendship. My husband is my best friend and I know he’s got my back as we progress through life. Just as I have his back. (No! That’s NOT what I meant, you perves! I mean we’re protective and supportive of each other.)

Even though he and I are different personality-wise and we’ve found a way to make that work. We complement each other and give the other what we, individually, don’t possess in our personalities.

So, I guess I’m giving up a little yay for the more “seasoned” type of love this year…even though it makes me feel old. (I got married young, peoples!)

This Valentine’s Day, I hope you DO celebrate. Who cares if it’s commercialized! What holiday isn’t? Today is just one more excuse to honor love, in any form, and that’s never a bad thing.

If you don’t have a sweetheart, celebrate anyway. Celebrate yourself. Treat yourself to something nice, a bubble bath and a glass of wine. Give yourself the evening to do whatever it is you want to do and free yourself from chores and responsibilities.

If you have a friend you’ve been meaning to call, call him or her! If you have a pet, buy her some cat nip or a dog toy.

Celebrate the luuuurve, people!

And, so, to show my readers that I love and appreciate them, I’m having a contest. Send me an email at anyabast (at) gmail.com sometime before Friday, February 16th and put LOVE in the subject line and I will hold a drawing for a free download from my backlist.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Today I’m going to talk about heartbreak. Tomorrow, in honor of V-Day, I’ll talk about luuuuurrrrve. Because, you know, into every life a little heartbreak must fall. It goes hand-in-hand with luuuurrrrve.

Yes, heartbreak is something everyone experiences. It’s a “character building experience,” as my father would say. So, yeah, I have a lot of character. Enough with the character-building already! That’s what I screamed in my early twenties. (Luckily the heartbreak ended shortly afterward because I met my current husband).

I can still remember my very first heartbreak poignantly. I was, oh…fourteen, I believe. He was my first Boyfriend of Consequence. It was the innocent, new kind of love. The fourteen-year-old “going with each other” love. Do kids still say they’re “going with” someone or was that an eighties thing?

And, boy, I can still remember the day he broke up with me. We’d been “going together” for quite some time. I thought he walked on water (that opinion changed soon) and we would be together forever, (I’m glad I was wrong about that because I looked him up later on in life. Ahem). It was the middle of winter, snowdrifts up to my eyeballs. That afternoon I’d walked to a friend’s house and talked endlessly of him because I thought he was so cute and soooo awesome and incomparable.

Then I called him. And right there, on the phone, in my friend’s house, out of the clear blue heavily gray snow-clouded skies…he DUMPED my ass! He gave me a speech about a monkey wrench being thrown into a car engine or some such. The bottom line was that…HE’D MET SOMEONE ELSE! Dumped for another girl!

Oh, I thought my heart was going to disintegrate. I can still remember the sorrowful trudge through the snow to get home, my tears freezing to my cheeks. Ah, the drama of youth.

I was miserable for a long time, moped around and thought I was dying. I never went through the “I’ll get him back” phase that most girls and women experience in the initial stage of heartbreak. I went straight to the “that rotten scoundrel!” phase. But I was still heartbroken and despondent.

Months later, after my heart had healed, a met a new boy…and I broke his heart. Heh.

So it goes, round and round. Break, mend, break, mend. And then…sound of angelic choir… hopefully you meet The One. And that love is all the more sweeter for the bedrock of heartbreak it’s laid upon. But more on that tomorrow.

Can you remember your first heartbreak?