Anya Bast

The lovely and talented Lauren Dane tagged me for this

Contemporary, Historical or Paranormal?
I used to love historical and read every one I could get my hands on (I especially liked any that had a mystical theme). That was before paranormals were big. Once paranormals hit the scene, that pretty much became my sub genre of choice and still is today. I still love historical, though. I’m just a little more selective in what I read. Contemporaries have honestly never been my thing.

Hardback, Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?
Oh, I don’t care. If I want to read the book I’ll buy it any size.

Heyer or Austin?
Austin!

Amazon or Brick & Mortar?
I love brick and mortar bookstores, but I live way out in the country so I use Amazon a lot. I love Amazon, actually. I should have stock.

First romance novel you ever remember reading?
Once an Angel by Teresa Medieros. I credit that book with causing me to decide to write romance, in fact.  

Alphabetize by author, alphabetize by title or random?
Hahahahaha. Alphabetize. That’s a good one.

Keep, throw away or sell?
Keep. I keep all my books, whether I liked them or not.  

Read with dustjacket or remove it?
I always remove them.

Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake?
Hmmmm….these days I prefer Sookie, but I like Anita too.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
I usually just stop wherever.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
It was a dark and stormy night.

Crusie or SEP?
I’ve never read SEP (although I know I need to), so Crusie.

Buy or borrow?
Always buy. As a writer I guess I feel I should be supporting the author (although borrowing supports the author after a fashion too)

Buying choice: Book Reviews, recommendations or browse?
Browse mostly. Recommendations too. I never read reviews.

Tidy ending or cliff-hanger?
Oh, it depends on the type of book and genre, I suppose.

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or evening reading?
I read every night before I go to sleep. Yay for the Itty Bitty Book Light.

Series or stand alone?
Either. I love a good series and I love stand alones too. By the way, someone tell Robin McKinley to write a sequel to Sunshine. *pout*

Favorite book of which no one else has heard?
Wow, I can’t imagine I’ve read one that no one else has heard of. I live in a plugged-in book land.

 
I will tag Melany Logen and Patrice Michelle

Thirteen Things I Should Be Ashamed Of (but I’m not)

1. Watching every single episode of Survivor EVER (Well, pretty damn close anyway)

2. Singing along to Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas and knowing all the words.

3. Loving Nickleback (because all their songs sound the same, but I like them anyway. Plus, I think Chad Kroeger has a really sexy voice.)

4. Picking all the chocolate chunks out of my husband’s pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream and putting it back in the freezer.

5. Did I mention I know all the words to Low Rider by War?

6. Ordering green olive and pepperoni pizza, heavy on the green olives and pepperoni (and cheese).

7. Reading the headlines of the trashy magazines in the grocery store line with interest.

8. Wearing clothes that I’ve had since 1997 because I hate shopping.

9. Being a wine snob (sorry, it comes from having a bunch of Europeans in the family)

10. Yet loving Spaghettios waaaay more than I should.

11. Going to psychics and tarot card readers. (I admit it. I’m totally addicted)

12. Loving really dumb movies like American Pie, Beerfest and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. They make me laugh like a crazed hyena.

13. Having some kind of fear of stamps that renders me unable to write letters or send Christmas cards. (okay, I’m kind of ashamed of this one.)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Stacie

2. Jeannine

3. tvaddictgurl

4. Jaci Burton

5. Lisa

6. shilohwalker

7. Vixenwriter

8. Kate Davies

9. Rhian

10. racy li

11. Jenn on the Island

12. Renee B

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 about Anya Bast
Wow. It’s Thursday already again.

Here are thirteen things I believe:

1. I believe personal growth and development is won in the moments, in how you treat others and in the love that you show.

2. I believe it’s better to be able to bend once in a while, otherwise one day you will break.

3. I believe it’s normal to have doubts and insecurities about your writing and your writing career. To be utterly impressed with your own words and works is to court disaster.

4. I believe that being kind and having compassion are strengths, not weaknesses.

5. I believe it’s important to have tolerance for everyone, even those who are intolerant. (This one is very hard.)

6. I believe we create our own reality.

7. I believe we all change every single second. I am not the same person I was yesterday, not exactly.

8. I believe we are all ultimately responsible for our own happiness. No one else can provide this for us. We make choices about how to perceive ourselves and our lives.

9. I believe that some of the most hurtful and challenging people in my life have been my very best teachers. They have helped shaped me into the person I am.

10. I believe you can’t change the past and the future is made in the present. So it’s important to really be present.

11. I believe there is always something to learn.

12. I believe that while it’s fine to strive for “more,” it’s important to be content with what you currently have and not take it for granted.

13. I believe in keeping things simple.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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

Jaci Burton

Tink

Brony

Becky D

Racy Li

Sweet n’ Sassy Girl 

Annie Cat

Thirteen of Anya Bast’s Favorite Movies (in no particular order and with quotes) 1. The Red Violin — A special red violin makes its way through time and over the world, spreading passion and inspiration to all who play her. “What do you do when the thing you most wanted, so perfect, just comes?” ~*~ 2. Roman Holiday — Audrey Hepburn! This is actually only one of many of my favorite classic films. “I’ve never been alone with a man before, even with my dress on. With my dress off, it’s MOST unusual.” ~*~ 3. A Shark’s Tale — I adore this one. A shark who truly is a peace loving vegetarian tries to make his way in life. “Now that you’re the Sharkslayer, does this mean you’re leaving your job at the whale wash?” ~*~ 4. V for Vendetta — I loved this movie. It always makes me cry, though. “It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place, but for three years I had roses and apologized to no one. I shall die here. Every inch of me shall perish. Every inch, but one. An inch. It is small and it is fragile and it is the only thing in the world worth having.” ~*~ 5. Drop Dead Gorgeous — A very dark comedy set in a small Minnesota town. It’s a “documentary” of a teenage beauty pagant. Hilarious. Voice of Documentarian: So what was the theme of the pageant last year? Gladys Leeman: Last year? It was, “Buy American.” Voice of Documentarian: And the year before that? Gladys Leeman: “U.S.A. is A-okay.” Voice of Documentarian: Can you remember the theme of your favorite pageant? Gladys Leeman: “Can I? I’m Amer-I-Can!” People ask me where I get this. I don’t know, it’s, maybe a gift from God or somethin’. ~*~ 6. L.A. Story — An older movie, very touching. “Why is it that we don’t always recognize the moment when love begins but we always know when it ends?” ~*~ 7. Ladyhawke — Yes, it has cheesy eighties musis. I don’t care. “Maybe I’m dreaming. My eyes are open, which means maybe I’m awake dreaming that I’m asleep. Or, or more likely, I’m asleep dreaming that I’m awake wondering if I’m dreaming.” ~*~ 8. Blade Runner — A SF classic “The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long – and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy.” ~*~ 9. Donnie Darko — This is a movie that really screws with your mind and will have you thinking about it for a long time after “the end”. “If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories.” ~*~ 10. A Fish Called Wanda — A classic comedy “It’s K-K-K-Ken c-c-c-coming to k-k-k-kill me.” ~*~ 11. Zoolander — Never fails to make me completely incapacitated with laughter. “Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?” ~*~ 12. The Big Lebowski — a hilarious and oddly Buddhist movie (with copious amounts of swearing). “Nihilists! Fu** me. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.” Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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

Oops I did it again…

1. First kiss?

At summer camp when I was eight. It was very sweet.

2. Underwater swimming or skydiving?

I have always wanted to skydive! My stepfather used to fly gliders. (I got to fly one once too) They had a skydiving club at the airfield and I wanted to do it, but my mom vetoed me. 🙁 I haven’t really thought about doing it since then. Hmmm…

Underwater swimming is nice too, though.

3. Careful as you cross the street or never look both ways?

I’m always very careful, of course!

4. Ketchup: a vegetable?

The only way I like ketchup is if it’s mixed with mayonaise. I use it as a dip for my french fries that way.

5. Underwear – optional?

Uhm…yeah, not optional thankssoverymuch.

I tag Lauren Dane and Patrice Michelle.

Tagged by that voluptous mistress of erotic romance, Lauren Dane.

Five Crazy Things About Me Meme.

1.) I will react violently and involuntarily if anyone puts their hands around my throat. I can’t stand turtlenecks or chokers either.

2.) When I was three I plucked a big hairy spider off the side of the house and ate it. The folklore in my family is that’s why I became a writer (that whole “spinning a web” thing).

3.) We have eight cats (and one well-pampered outdoor moocher) because stray felines seem to have Sucker Radar, upon which we shine vibrantly.

4.) I took years of Russian language, but all I can say is “Here is St. Basil’s Cathedral”.

5.) I am a frequent lucid dreamer and often “wake up” in the middle of nightmares…which sucks.

It’s really scary how easy that meme was to do. I’m just sayin’

I tag…Patrice Michelle, and Daisy Dexter Dobbs