Anya Bast

Lauren Dane tagged me for this meme.

Seven Random Facts About Me:

1. Winter is my favorite season. I prefer cold to heat and I enjoy snow very much. Although I also love the ocean and prefer the beach for vacations (even though I don’t tan and get heat rash like WOW. I was made for the northern places.)

2. I’m a little bit of a wine snob. I really only drink reds and I prefer they come from the Cote du Rhone.

3. That’s the only kind of snob I am. I am very friendly and easy to get along with, though I do tend to be very shy and introverted. Normally people have to be persistent in order to make friends with me. Once I do make a real friend, however, I tend to keep them as close friends for a very, very long time. (I still have friends from the second grade)

4. I have an incredibly soft spot for cats. I’m horribly allergic to them (and have asthma), and have been begged by my doctors to not keep any, but I love them enough to put up with the health complications. We have eight, all but one are rescues. They’re worth it to me.

5. My favorite poet is Charles Simic. He rocks the Casbah.

6. I am a Zen Buddhist in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. It’s a daily effort for me to stay on that path. Some days I do better than others, but I’m always trying.

7. I lived in the south of France for six months after I graduated high school (see wine snob). Years later I met and married a French-speaking Belgian man. I do also speak French (I wouldn’t say fluently, but I get along all right) and I translate French as part of my day job (which, yes, I still have).

A To Be Read Pile Thursday Thirteen.

 

Photographic evidence…

 

 

 

Actually, this is misleading because some of these books I’ve already read/are reading.

 

So, really this Thursday Thirteen should be entitled Two Books Read, One Book Am Reading, Ten Eleven Books in To Be Read Pile. It’s a Thursday Fourteen.

Or we could just call it Anya’s Reading Addiction Thursday Thirteen.

 

~*~

 

1. Ascension, by Lauren Dane — Which is an ebook, hence it is not in the picture, it is in my Reb 1100. I also cannot provide a buy link, since I have an ARC. Nyah. Nyah. So here’s the blurb and excerpt on her site. Ascension releases TOMORROW at Ellora’s Cave.

Okay, here’s a pic of the cover. I think it’s very pretty:

 

2. Magic Bites, by Ilona Andrews — In my already DEVOURED IN ONE SITTING read category. If you like Patricia Briggs, I certainly do, you will love Ilona Andrews. This is urban fantasy at its finest, with juuuust a touch of horror. I loved this book.

3. Hell’s Belles, by Jackie Kessler — Also in my already read category. I loved this one too. The concept was very interesting.

4. For a Few Demons More, Kim Harrison — In my currently reading category. It’s Kim Harrison. Need I say more?

 

 

 

Now here are the other books I have yet to read….

5. Rises the Night, Colleen Gleason

6. Stray, Rachel Vincent (Okay I actually kinda started this one already.)

7. Under a Wild Sky, Sasha Lord

8. When I Fall in Love, Lynn Kurland

9. Giving Chase, Lauren Dane (I already read this once. Now I’m going to read it again in paperback format)

10. Bad Girl Bridesmaids, Susanna Carr — Not my normal kind of book at all since they’re contemporary, non-paranormal short stories, but it looks good!

11. Hunters: Heart & Soul, Shiloh Walker

12. Master of Dragons, Angela Knight (I still have to buy)

13. The Sharing Knife, Lois McMaster Bujold (Still have to buy)

 

And one to grow on… Demon Moon, Meljean Brook. (Still have to buy)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

 

1. Sara Thacker

2. Christieo

3. N.J. Walters

4. Paige Tyler

5. Marissa

6. Rhonda Stapleton

7. Susan Helene Gottfried

8. Rhian

9. Seeley deBorn

10. Jaci Burton

11. Debbie Mumford

12. Ann(ie)

13. Sparky Duck

14. R.G. Alexander

15. Stella Price

16. BARB

17. BARB (I don’t think she has a TT up, but you can visit anyway. *g*)

18. Robin L. Rotham

19. Jennifer Shirk

20. Heather

21. Lauren Dane

22. Tempest Knight

23. Kate Scott

24. Rene Lyons

 

 

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

Thirteen First (or first and second) Lines from my books.

Idea shamelessly stolen from NJ Walters, who did the same thing last week.

~*~

1. He looked like sin and seemed like salvation. Salvation for her sluggish libido, anyway. (Witch Fire)

2. The cup slipped from Moira’s fingers and crashed to the wooden floor of her home. (A Change of Season

3. Bianca sat on the floor of the crumbling building where she’d taken shelter. Her solar-powered lantern cast a dim light, bathing the bleached walls of the room in an eerie glow. (Water Crystal)

4. The blade could injure the wind itself. (Whisper of the Blade)

5. Mason downed the shot of whiskey in front of him and relished the burn of the alcohol down his throat. (Seduced in Twilight)

6. Jade’s heavy boots clanged on the metal walkway as she trekked across the heart of Harcourt Prison. All around her men stood at the bars of their cells catcalling and shouting obscenities. (Blood of the Damned)

7. Serena fought back a hard twinge of loneliness as she pushed aside a branch and stepped into the grove of oak trees that grew in the exact center of her thousand-acre property. (Ordinary Charm)

8. Ben had never believed in fate or destiny, not love at first sight. Hell, he’d never even believed in love. Codependency, maybe, but not love. He thought it was a myth, love. Just some name people gave to lust on steroids. (Edge of Sweetness)

9. Theo watched the glass slip from Miranda’s fingers and crash to the floor as the goblin walked into the restaurant. (Tempted by Two)

10. If only he could’ve fallen for a woman like that one. (Blood of an Angel)

11. Still a virgin. Was I destined to remain a virgin for the rest of my pathetic, royal life? (Getting Slayed)

12. Sienne glanced up, then lowered her eyes as was proper, but in that moment she memorized the visage of the man who would be her temporary keeper. (Winter Pleasures: The Capture)

13. “He can make you forget your own name in bed.”
Fate snapped out of her reverie and blinked at her acquaintance, Cynthia Hamilton. “Excuse me?” (Blood of the Raven)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Erin the Innocent

2. Sparky Duck

3. Heather

4. Lany of Melany Logen aka Mechele Armstrong

5. Alasandra

6. Lauren Dane

7. Susan Helene Gottfried

8. LA Day

9. miladyinsanity

10. Lorelei James

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

Thirteen Things I do when I have writer’s block

1. Go back through the synopsis and my notes to figure out if I mucked up somewhere and clogged the flow of the story.

2. Sit down and have a tete-a-tete with the main characters. Interview them. Try to locate any muckups.

If the first two fail, I…

3. Take a drive. I don’t know why but driving helps me think about my writing.

4. Take a walk, either outside or on the treadmill.

5. Call a friend who will brainstorm/talk plot with me.

6. Listen to music. I can’t listen to music while I’m writing. It has to be an independent activity.

7. Even better, listen to music while I clean the house. I hate to admit that cleaning the toilet jogs me free of writer’s block sometimes, but it does. Must be those scrubbing bubbles (or are those for showers? I forget)

8. Watch a movie. It makes my mind travel different roads.

9. Read a book. Same deal. I never read a book in the same genre I’m writing, though.

10. Talk it out with husband, who invariably comes up with an idea. If it’s a good idea and I use it, he’s very proud and happy and tells everyone. If the idea doesn’t work for the plot and I don’t use it, he’s disappointed and tells everyone. Use with extreme caution.

11. Sit outside with a nice glass of red wine. I like this one the best.

12. Take a long bubble bath. This one’s pretty damn good too.

13. Blog or write a poem. Sometimes writing about something else jars the block free.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Gina

2. Rhian

3. Rene Lyons

4. Erin the Innocent

5. Anna J. Evans

6. Marissa

7. miladyinsanity

8. jenny®

9. Sparky Duck

10. Lauren Dane

11. tvaddictgurl

12. N.J. Walters

13. Ann(ie)

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

Thirteen Odd Facts About Me   1. When my mother pressured me to select a musical instrument in middle school, I picked the tuba just to irritate her.   2. I am addicted to Survivor, but it’s the only TV show I watch.   3. Strong wind freaks me out.   4. I wrote my first “book” when I was ten or eleven (I forget). It was called the Barn Cat Chronicles.   5. I am owned by 8 cats, all of them rescues except one.   6. I have written twenty two books.   7. I don’t really like any kind of chocolate except dark.   8. I love the rain and thunderstorms.   9. …really want to visit Peru and Wales.   10. Have a very intense negative physical reaction to seeing rape depicted in fiction or in film.   11. Have very strong political opinions, but never talk about them on my blog.   12. Was on my high school newspaper.   13. Was on my high school figure skating team too.   Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. MommyBa 2. Daisy Dexter Dobbs 3. miladyinsanity 4. Lauren 5. scooper 6. Denise Patrick 7. Sparky Duck

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

*pokes head from the mountain of dirty diapers and blow an errant strand of hair away from face* Almost everyone is at RT. POUT! But that’s no reason for me not to get back into my Thursday Thirteen habit. So, here it is….

Thirteen of my favorite quotes:

1. “I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.” – Forrest Gump

2. “I know I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything…” – Lloyd Dobber in ‘Say Anything’

3. “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. Andthe human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
– Professor Keating (Robin Williams) in ‘Dead Poet’s Society’

4. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

5. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Ghandi

6. “Time spent laughing is time spent with the gods”
~Japanese Proverb

7. “The world is full of people who missed their destiny because they were afraid to take a chance.”

8. “It is when power is wedded to chronic fear that it becomes formidable.” – Eric Hoffer

9. “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.” – Princess Bride

10. “Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.”
~Unknown

11. “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great”
~Mark Twain

12. “Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing.”
– Bill Cosby

13. “To the world you may be somebody, but to somebody you may be the world.”

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Rhian

2. Christine d’Abo

3. Tilly Greene

4. Carol

5. Kristin

6. Sarah

7. Jen

8. Tink

9. Sparky Duck

10. miladyinsanity

11. RED

12. Shiloh Walker

13. Ann(ie)

14. Summer

15. Kuanyin

16. Charlene Teglia

17. Christine

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

 

Thirteen Things I can’t live without (or wouldn’t want to, at least). (not in any particular order or importance)

 

1. Writing — I think I’d go crazy without the ability to write. The thought of one day having arthritis sends me into paroxysms of fear.

2. Reading — My one most pleasurable past time. I can’t sleep at night if I haven’t read at least one page of a page. It’s something my husband (a non-reader) just doesn’t get.

3. Sex — Enough said

4. A cat — I need a feline in my life. I’m lucky enough to have been chosen by 7 of them. They help me cope with life by cuddling with me, purring at me and making me laugh every single day.

5. A sense of humor and irreverence — I couldn’t get through this life with these things. Sometimes, when things seem their darkest, you just have to laugh. You just have to. This life is far too mysterious and complicated to take seriously.

6. The ability to live moment-by-moment — see above. Another coping strategy. If you can concentrate on this moment right here, you can get through most any kind of stress.

7. Meditation — It does a body (and mind) good.

8. Water — I love water. Show me a pool or bathtub full of warm water and I’ll show you a happy Anya.

9. Dark chocolate — I know, it’s such a cliche. All the same, I love me some fine dark chocolate, the kind that’s so dark it’s almost bitter.

10. Wine — Mmmmm. Red wine. I love the red wine that comes from the Côtes du Rhône the best.

11. Good food — Cheese. I love all kinds of cheese, but not the truly stinky stuff like Limburger. Unfortunately, my husband likes those. Bleh. I’ll do any variety of the rest, though — Camembert, Brie, Bleu, plain old cheddar. I love the big gourmet olives, and well, the culinary list goes one.

12. Pajama pants, slipper socks and soft, many-times-washed sweatshirt — my official writing uniform. I would also put well-washed Gap jeans on here too.

13. Lingerie — I’m a lingerie fanatic. Victoria’s Secret knows me well.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Christine

2, amy

3. Shiloh Walker

4, Ingela F. Hyatt

5. L-Squared

6. Qtpies7

7. Lauren

8. Raggedy

9. Robyn

10. Anni

11. miladyinsanity

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

I couldn’t resist nipping this one. I tag Lauren Dane, Megan Hart & Patrice Michelle…and any other writer who wants to do it. Of course, don’t do it if you have issues posting bits of your WIP the way I sometimes do. 🙂 I didn’t today, I guess.

Turn to page 123 in your work-in-progress. (If you haven’t gotten to page 123 yet, then turn to page 23. If you haven’t gotten there yet, then get busy and write page 23.) Count down four sentences and then instead of just the fifth sentence, give us the whole paragraph.

I’ll give a few paragraphs instead. From Witch Blood…

He turned to the oven with the plate of chicken in hand. He put both the chicken and the asparagus over a low flame in a wide skillet. Soon the gentle scent of basil chicken wafted to her nostrils and made her mouth water. As the chicken and asparagus warmed, Thomas found a bottle of champagne in the fridge and popped it.

She bit into another slice of avocado and watched him. “Are we celebrating?” She didn’t see anything worthy of such at the moment.

Thomas only lifted a brow, theatrically shot his cuffs and then poured a few drops of the Veuve Clicquot into an oyster.

Isabelle curled her lip and tossed the half-eaten slice of avocado to her plate. “Ugh. That is such a waste of good champagne.”

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.

Thirteen Random Pictures (Okay…I just noticed I skipped number eleven…but, oh well.)

Please excuse the excessive amount of pet pictures.

1. Oh, lookit! There’s one now…if you can find him.

2. Me, with red highlights in my hair (that lasted about two weeks before the blond ate them) and my glasses on.

3. Dog! She looks sad in this picture, but …

4. …. she’s actually a really happy dog.

5. Oh, look, it’s a twofer! A cat and a dog.

6. My work area. It’s much tider in this picture than normal and I’m really not sure why I have my laptop in there. I don’t normally need two computers at once.

7. Me, having a bad hair day, with a mime in Brussels.

8. Wiggle. My official contest mascot and walk-on character in Ordinary Charm. (He had a cameo in that book)

9. Me, having yet another bad hair day, at the base of the Effel Tower with my husband.

10. At a booksigning in Tennesee. I’m the one with my head bent over, signing a book. The other author is the talented historical romance author Heather Grothaus. Heather, I apologize for posting this pic while you were mid-word. My only other pic from this signing has Shiloh Walker in it and I know she’ll skin me if I post it. I value my skin.

12. A booksigning in Ohio. I’m on the left. The other authors are (left to right), JC Wilder, Charlotte Boyett Compo and Paige Cuccaro.

13. We will end with the Maverick Authors — from left to right is Lauren Dane, Anya Bast (that would be me) & Megan Hart.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Jenny Ryan

2. Rhian

3. Jaci Burton

4. Shiloh Walker

5. tvaddictgurl

6. Lauren Dane

7. Daisy Dexter Dobbs (She doesn’t have a TT. I just think her blog is cool)

8. Karen

9. Anni

10. jennontheisland

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