My dirty secret....

Right, here it is... this might make or break our relationship but all of us have something we're a little ashamed about but love anyway. At least mine isn't something like... say, i enjoy wrapping my bits in glad wrap and then electrocuting myself, or wearing other people's dirty underwear that i've stolen from a laudromat!

Instead, my dirty secret is that i love the Twilight Series. Yes, yes, i've heard it all before. Whatever! I love it, and i think that Stephenie Meyer (even though that wrongly placed 'e' in her name does make me raise an eyebrow) did an amazing job.

And i love the movies too. I actually saw Twilight before i read any of the books. I was flying to Melbourne, there was nothing else to watch, so i gave it a go and just loved it. We had some really bad turbulence, and i was like, please God, can you keep this plane in the air at least until i see the end of this movie. Of course, the books were purchased at the airport on the flight out.

I've even did the midnight screening for New Moon and Eclipse (not again though, i don't think i'm Twihard enough!). And that's HUGE for me 'cause i've never allow myself to get sucked in this sort of thing - way TOO cool for school - HP was blah (great writing though), the Spice Girls never floated my boat (although i love Brand Beckham now and secretly want to be BFF's) and i never owned a Cabbage kid or anything gimmicky like that. But still, i'm counting down for Breaking Dawn... One and Two (hello, money spinner!)

And then there's Rob Pattinson. The man is frecken gorgeous, there's no denying it (although i don't think he's even remotely like his character, unlike KS - who i have a love hate relationship with). Excitingly enough, he even sneaks in as acceptable on the cougar scale (divide your age in half, and add 7) which means i can legitimately fantasize about him and not get arrested. I like his acting too. Yes, really. I loved 'remember me' and can't wait to see 'water for elephants'.

But even i, who loves the series, is an absolute supporter of SM's vision, and have spent my fair share of $$ on the franchise, am just sooooo amused at how completely crazed some of the fans are.

Seriously, people, IT IS JUST A STORY! I know, I know, really hard to believe that vampires aren't running around secretly (hopefully i won't regret that statement in a few years down the track) and that it's all pretend. BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS AND THAT IS THAT IT IS JUST A STORY! (BAM! How's that word play!)

Which is why things like this amuse me sooooo much. Are these people GENUINELY arguing on amazon -with strangers - about the authenticity of Bella's pregnancy (Oops, sorry, may have spoilt that for some... my bad!)?? Really? Really?? Reaaalllllllyyyyyy???

And then there's shit like this, and this. And this! People, at the risk of getting a twihard whipping myself, it's pure fiction, pure and lovely escapism trash. You do not have to threaten people's lives over this or attack those that aren't as fervent as you are. Love it by all means, adore it, go ahead, but please, come, join us in the real world again. It's actually not a bad place to be.

Right, my piece said i've got to go and board up my house now for my own safety.

Kiss kiss love love

P.S To validate if you might be a Twihard, please check the description here. However, if you are feeling waves of anger and potential violence towards me, no need to check - I think we can safely assume you're one.

And the award for worst blogger in the world goes to....

Me!

Or alternatively, it's just that i'm so ahead of the times and didn't even know it (admittedly, i didn't get to the end of post... i got bored half way and just took what i wanted from it!).

Well, you might have noticed that it's 2011! Whoop whoop... 11 is a great number. I love 11... there's something awesome about it, like it has some sort of quiet strength that just pisses all over 10, 12, 13 etc etc. And of course, it's the year of the rabbit, which means we get to catch our breathe after the year of the tiger, along with - apparently - loads of luxury and plenty of money. Erm, wasn't it exactly all those things - or our infatuation with them - that made the year of the tiger such a bitch?? But, hell, ok, yes, i'll take it thanks... i'm so over the doom and gloom.

Not that you can get away from that either. Take Christchurch, poor, sweet, already hammered Christchurch. How much more can that wee little city take?? As if living with after shocks 24/7 isn't enough, turns out lightning does strike in the same place twice. And with a vengeance. Probably not appropriate to bring this up now, but I got so irritated by how everyone went on and on and on about 'poor Christchurch' after the first earthquake. I mean, seriously.... not even a gold fish died after a 7 pointer hit (at least, there weren't reports of it and we all know how the media loves to grab onto that sort of thing and run with it)... how could that NOT be something to dance in the streets about and celebrate. But instead, it was dramatization media style - would they ever recover from it all??? And now, and now... yes, this is tragic, this is sad, this is horrendous. People have died, families and friends have lost loved ones... this is some serious shit. Serious and devastating. This is when we are validated by saying 'poor Christchurch'. And my heart absolutely bleeds for them. Still though, you won't find me saying 'Will they ever recover?"... of course they will. They have to. They must. It would be even more tragic if they didn't. So they will. And the memories of all those that didn't have a choice will remain at the centre of that.... cherished and alive.

But enough... i'm getting myself all worked up about it.. .which is why i avoid the news at all costs. The news is shit. It's horrible. It makes me feel like there is very little hope of... anything really. And... well, oh so very very guilty about my sweet, nice, safe little life. And we all know that guilt is the most useless of emotions.

And on the topic of my sweet, nice, safe (boring?) little life... what have i been up to?? Very little if the truth be told. Short version: Work my arse off in the week, and then totally blob on the weekends, shacked up in the four walls that i call home. My writing, well, my writing hasn't been all that hot. I seem to have lost my mojo... which is annoying because the story is good. In fact, the story is great! But still, i prefer to wrap myself up in the worlds of other's making... and not focusing on getting mine built up. I'm sitting on about 25,000 words, it's at a crucial part, and still, i can't convince myself to sit down and get going. Even though i can clearly recall how it makes my blood hum and heart hammer, how an amazing session of writing is better than sex and chocolate - combined - yet i still cannot seem to convince myself to just sit down and write... which is basically what you're required to do if you want to be a writer! Hmmmm...

But, one piece of good news, and 'scuse me while i just blow my own trumpet around now, is that I finished my freelance journalism course... with some damned good feedback. Thank God it's over... it was hanging over me like a bad smell (and was also one of my excuses as to why i wasn't writing!). A+ on my last assignment ain't a bad way to finish up... with comments like 'an absolute pleasure to read. I wish all my assignments were this good.' My lecturer also added, 'You're a really talented writer (and i don't say this lightly - you're genuinely really good!!).' Ahhhh.... gave me the warm fuzzies that .... and left me wondering why i don't do more of it. So why don't i???

Bloody hell... am i meant to answer that?? Why don't i do a lot of things i should... like eat less, exercise more, meditate, do yoga, write... blah, blah, blah - all for the same reasons... i'm a lazy bitch! Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that i've got no kids, so can be lazy. Hmmm... or maybe not. Bottom line... i seem to NOT do a lot of things i should.

Ok, bored with that.... (when i should be writing and not blogging)!

Let's get onto the good stuff... what i've been reading:

Well, first of all, it was xmas so i wanted some real light hearted, easy to read trash, and so caved and bought the first 2 books in Lauren's Conrad's 'LA Candy' trilogy. I haven't bought the 3rd one yet, but will no doubt cave there too... they actually weren't that bad and seriously easy reading. Totally about her life though even if she claims they aren't. I was never a Hills watcher - i tried, but the vagueness and stupidity of even people that weren't regulars just about killed me - but a g-friend who was regular is reading the books and she says almost totally the same. Which does make me wonder, what will LC write about after this?? Will be interesting to see. At least i know now what the spots are called that famous folk have their pictures take at... hold up, i think i've forgotten - was it a still see, a see off, a see spot... something like that!

Of course, I can't resist any Lauren Weisberger novel, even though i don't think 'The Devil wears Prada' will ever be topped (go on, Lauren, prove me wrong!) so paid my cash and was the proud owner of a shiny new copy of the 'Last night at Chateau Marmont'. Love what that girl has done with her brand using shoes, love, love, love it! Quite enjoyed the book, super easy to read and typically Lauren, although some of the characters were a bit 2-dimensional. She did keep me guessing with how she was going to finish up so that Julian isn't the prick he surely has to be... non?

And then let's move onto 3 lots of trilogies (all of which have their last books come out in Summer 2011) that i absolutely adored...

Maggie Stiefvater, you're amazing! I started off with 'Shiver', which i loved... so promptly moved onto 'Linger', which was just as wonderful. And it was wolves, not vampires, how refreshing! So, of course, i had to try 'Lament', which was just ok, and then 'Ballad', which i quite enjoyed. 'Lament' and 'Ballad' really showed me how writers develop and improve their writing styles as they go along. I am so waiting in anticipation to see what will happen to Sam and Grace.

And then there was Becca Fitzpatrick, whose 'hush, hush' cover i just adored. Becca, love your work, but out of the three, I'd say it was my third place. Not that Patch and Nora's story isn't worth a read... i totally enjoyed... there was just something about some aspects, like being left alone as much as she was, that left me wondering.

And then there was Lauren Kate's 'Fallen' and 'Torment', which i absolutely consumed. Amazing covers too. I loved it... Fallen Angels have totally tickled my fancy.

Cannot wait to read the last books of all of these!

So, now what, maybe a break from the paranormal... ok, let's give Sara Donati a go. So into the'Into the Wilderness' series i jumped... but it took AGES for me to get sucked in. At 876 pages, this book is a monster, and i was more than half way through before i found myself wondering about the book during my day to day stuff - aka doing some work to earn $$! So it was ok - a sweet and beautifully written book - but i think that my reading tastes have changed so much because i usually love these sorts of books. I have just purchased the 2nd in the series so it must have interested me somehow.

And then it was onto.... 'The Black Dagger Brotherhood' by JR Ward. Ah-mazing! Was riveted from the word go and chewed through them. Have finished the 6 i had, and there is another 2 to go, and then she has a - wait for it - FALLEN ANGEL SERIES! But on the Brotherhood books, could no put them down. Did struggle a wee bit with the stunningly names characters - Wrath, Phury, Tohrment, Vishous, Rhage and my favourite, Zsadist - but that's just me, whenever names are more exotic than Isabel, Spike and Spencer, i seem to really struggle with keeping up whose who (happened in 'Into the Wildernsess' too, was never sure, right up to the end, what the diffs was between the Kahnyenkehaka characters).

Ok, i think that is enough to make up for the fact that i haven't blogged since April last year. I'm sure there are some books i've forgotten, and i'm too tired to get into the movies i've seen... but let's look at the bight side - THE DROUGHT IS BROKEN.... I'VE ACTUALLY BLOGGED!

Love love kiss kiss

What am i...

PISSED OFF!

I just wrote an entire post, and then my mac froze (FROZE! What's up with that - that never happens! like ever!) - and it must have been a bad day for wireless 'cause the save now wasn't working that hot... so when the damned mac froze and i could only coax it out of its lapse by shutting it down, by the time i'd powered back up, it was confirmed...

I'D LOST MOST OF MY DAMN BLOG!!!!!

Seriously, i haven't written for months, and when i sit down to write the damn thing, cyberspace slaps me in the face.

Well, stuff that! I'm going to cool off, eat something i don't need, maybe have a wine... and then get back onto the cyberspace wagon. I probably won't be as funny, or as original or even half as cute as i usually am... but i'll get this bloody post up!

Stand by caller....

Oops! I missed April....

Um, has anyone seen April.... I seem to have mislaid it??? How can it be May... how, how, how??? But here she is, in all her Taurean beauty. Two of my favourites have birthdays this month.... David Beckham's was on 2 May and then the ever gorgeous and bashful Rob Pattison's is on 13 May. Wish I was jumping out of their birthday cakes in just my birthday suit!

The time might have flown by but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading - and watching DVD's - like crazy....

My favourite book in a while would have to be Snap happy by Fiona Walker.... I just loved it! It was great... I could so see it being a movie... it would be PERFECT for that! I may even attempt to write that screenplay myself one day. I loved her writing so much that when I stumbled on another one of her's at the library called Four Play I was super excited but it was just ok.... and really, really long winded. Regardless, Juno and Jay kept me enthralled with their antics in Snap Happy.

I tried to read Lisa Jewell's 'The truth about Melody Brown' but I got bored and stopped reading!!!! Yeah, there was some really positive feedback on this book of hers but it just never grabbed me. I sort of put it down and thought I'd try again later but I haven't been inspired to pick it up again.

Instead, I got enthralled with Colleen McCullough's 'The Thorn Birds'. I stumbled over it at the library and grabbed it more out of nostalgia than anything else because I could still remember the mini series from when I was about 11 or 12 years old and have often thought of Richard Chamberlain in the lead part over the years. But, apart from having said some crazy shit (note to Colleen - it's ok to think some stuff, but don't say it out loud - hasn't helped Germaine Greer one bit either!) that lady can sure write. Some of the more descriptive scene set-ups I flipped through, but it was still a damned good book. Superb!

I'd hardly finished that when one of the girls I work with (lovely Elba... her favourite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude.... in spanish - I didn't even make it through Love in the time of Cholera in english! Although I loved the movie!) suggested I read Michelle Holman's 'Bonkers'. I was dead keen (hey, that's a pun!) because there aren't may writers like that in NZ. I really enjoyed. Quite a clever concept actually... it's about 2 women who have a car accident and one gets sent back down... only to land up in the wrong body! There were some parts that made me roll my eyes but on the whole it was good, and I even laughed out loud in some spots...especially the opening scenes.

And then I finished the second book of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Series - Catching Fire. It was still clever but I didn't love it as much as the first one. Will be interesting to see how it finishes up in the last one (I think it will be...) that is out August.

I'm currently on 'How to lose friends and alienate people' by Toby Young. I'm riveted... especially since he claims that it is totally based in real expereinces. As someone who would have loved to work on a glossy magazine in New York (next life time!), its so so so interesting... But, just like 'The Devil wears Prada', it's confirmed my suspicions that I'm too much of a lazy bitch, and much to chubby, to actually have made it in that world. I mean, I put make-up on ONCE - in the morning - and not again until the next day! And my hair dry's NATURALLY!!!! Without product.... they would have chewed me up and spat me out! But a great read!

Don't think that I mentioned that I caved at last and joined Fatso ... since my dearest beloved study's ALL the time, I thought I might as well amuse myself in other ways. And boy oh boy... I am LOVING it. At last, I got to see Entourage and I so badly want to roll with the boys all the time! Love, love, love it.... even the man was having extended breaks as he got sucked in! But then some bastard got the first DVD of the 4th season and sat on it FOREVER!!!! So I moved onto Gossip Girl... so torn.... am I secretly in love with Chuck - there is something REALLY sexy about his appalling attitude and bad taste that really works - or with Nate... those eyes, prrrrrrrrr! Adore Serena.... she's living my life! Her lip gloss ALWAYS looks good and you never, ever see her bobby pins! After I finished 'The Thorn Birds', I, of course, had to get the miniseries and now making my way through that. There is something so romantic about the homestead lifestyle. My queue at the moment is sitting on over 100 DVD's.... so that should keep me going for AGESSSSSSSSSS....

Also went and saw Remember me.... man oh man.... that was sad as! Brace yourself if you haven't seen it. I was so upset about his wee sister (kids are SO cruel!) and of course the end... sob, sob! Great photography though.... loved how the last scene worked. Also saw Alice in Wonderland... was alright... loved the special effects... just awesome!

Ah, and then... my own writing??? Slow... that's how I'd describe it.... very, very slow! It's much easier to write about shagging a hot soccer player like in my first book rather than about death which is a major part in my second book. I had to change tact a wee bit.... get some interest and then maybe I can get my beloved first book printed too. The annoying part is that it's really good (if I do say so myself)! My darling friend Lucie in London, who reads like crazy too, has just finished reading it and had this to say....

I have just finished your book, I absolutely love it!!! It is perfect, it isn't like a 'run of the mill' rom com, it has a real twist (And a lot of steamy scenes!). I can actually see it being a film, on the big screen. It is wonderful.

It's those sort of comments that are keeping me focused on my dream of getting published. Thx Luce... miss u, luff u!

I am actually writing with Danielle Chiotti in mind at the moment...she sent me a wonderful 'rejection' letter and I'm so hoping that 'Book no 2' might tickle her fancy.

Right... starting to see double so best go to bed!

Kiss kiss love love.

Sookie Stackhouse and those pesky vampires

Obsessed! That's what I think... although even obsession needs a wee break and after consuming 3 books of the Sookie Stackhouse series in 3 days, I need a break from poor Sookie getting beaten up around every corner! I was thoroughly enthralled... so much so that my own writing was getting ignored!

Just watched 'The Notebook' again after ages, and had to drag that out to re-read. Nicholas Spark's just blows my mind.... truely! Imagine having 2 books on the bestseller list: Last Song is #1 on the USA Today best-seller list, and Dear John is #2. Must feel incredible!

And The Poisonwood Bible is on my side table, silent and untouched.... only for the minute though, will get back that soon.

Oh, yes.... and the good news.... NOT, another rejection. Up to 15 now I think. Hmmmmmm.......

Gorgeous, lovely, wonderful, pretend trash....

Awwww..... you just have to love pure escapism TRASH! I do, although I have to mix it up so that it's not too predictable because the story lines don't really deviate from the base plan all that much - girl meets boy, boy or girl stuffs up, all good and love prevails. Awwwwwww..... and what could be wrong with that ideal?? So, what have I been busy with...

How to sleep with a Movie Star by Kristin Harmel

I read this book years ago and loved it (all my old fav's are coming out again) and I loved it this time again. It's just such a well loved cliche that 'ordinary girl' has some fancy pants super star fall in love with her. I think it's because at a base, we all think we're just ordinary gal's waiting for that prince charming to sweep us off our feet! But, as I'm sure we all know, there are a lot more of Tom's type out there than Cole's... but books like this make you keep hoping that maybe, just maybe.... fairytales do come true. Loved it.

Size 12 is not fat by Meg Cabot

Yay! My first Meg Cabot book.... and I quite enjoyed. It took me a few chapters to realise that Meg has a different writing style (good on ya!) to others and stays present tense a lot. You don't see much of that... but with her it definitely works. I like Heather, she's believable and one can relate... even though she was meant to be this huge pop star! It kind of makes the rest of us feel that we could have done it too if we'd been in the right place at the right time... and could sing! And I love how it's a detective story... that's a cool concept. It's that little bit different to the bog standard chick book, but easy to flow with. I may even read another at some point.

Again, just for the record, blogs are meant to be used REGULARLY!

Jaysus! I just am NOT getting this whole blog thing.... both my blogs languish, unused for months on end. Um, and you say you want to be a writer???? Hmmmmmm....

Well, quick update..... sort of

Sent out a barrage of query letters at the beginning of Jan. I focused mainly on email ones, so most went to the US. 17 to be precise.... and have heard back from 10. Two, although rejections have been favourites...

The first favourite (that was then demoted when 9 arrived) was rejection no 6. It said, "Although intrigued by your query, I didn't feel sufficient enough enthusiasm to ask for me at this stage." To be honest, I couldn't get past the 'intrigued' part because that meant I was on the right track! When I do get published, I'll send her a copy so that she finds out the end. I liked her response.... it was nice. And it was from a real person.

My favourite, favourite so far was Rejection no 9 (great number too... that was the one that got Stephenie Meyer a book deal!)... she said "Your passion for writing shines through, both in your query letter and your writing sample. Your prose is smart, snappy, and fun to read. However... " and that's when the rejection part came about it being too similar to a chicklit novel! There's that dirty, dirty word that still seems to sell and people still love to read.... but is dead, dead, dead! For rejection 9, I will always hold a special place in my heart! She even went to say that if I write something that is more firmly entrenched in the 'women's fiction' genre, she'd be happy to have a look. The problem with that is I love to write about lives I'll probably never lead... sparkly, dramatic, OTT and crazy.... do I hear CHICKLIT in that!

Two weeks ago, I posted another 5 (1 to US, 4 to UK) and emailed 5 more agents in UK. I've already had 2 rejections (one from a killer agent too...boo hoo) but I haven't heard from the one agent I'd really, really want... I'm waiting for your call - you know who you are!

So, that's where I am at.... still on the 2nd edit.... I think that I'm the only writer that gets a thrill from seeing the count go DOWN.... sitting on 127,000.... would really, really like it to be around 120,000... getting good at culling too!

So, that's where we are at with that.... really trying to keep the faith!

And what have I read???

It's really strange how my reading 'lusts' have changed. I blame that pesky 'panic attack' stage I went through (cue shudder at lack of life control) a few years back. I just don't get much joy out of reading, or watching, gut wrenching stuff anymore. I was never really a fan of dramas anyhow, even though I can list some of my favourite movies as being firmly in that genre, but I get so wrapped up in it and it becomes so real to me that I can't treat it as 'just' a story! Weird....especially since that's what I loved most about reading... becoming embroiled in other's journeys. It may also be that subconsciously, I took it on wholeheartedly when my osteopath said that I shouldn't be doing that anymore.... only happy, happy, happy stuff. (That subconscious habit of mine scares me shitless and happens a lot more than I like to admit.)

But... all that means I've discovered a new genre that I love - fantasy! That's probably due to the Twilight Saga (jealous, jealous, so very jealous at that little gem) and some of Meyer's other book suggestions but I'm so enjoying! I suppose in hindsight it's weird that I moved away from that since I loved the pretend so much when I was growing up (ah, Enid Blyton - I love you) but I just wanted to be grown up so badly I suppose. And chicklit, well, that gave me a taste of a world I would never be part of - the jet set! Oooohhhh, Jilly Cooper too! Drama, scandal, lust and love.... BRING IT ON!

Ok, I'm waffling... lets begin with what I've read:

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Wow! Kim sure knows how to write.... but I only got as far as pg 149.... I just wasn't coping with how David's decision - doing what he thought was the right thing to do - would damage so many people's lives and that there was just no way that he could take it back. It made me sad... so I stopped reading. For those of you without these 'silly' issues, do read it! Everyone that I've borrowed it to has LOVED it and I'm sure you will too. I might even finish it at some stage.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Loved, loved, loved this book! I don't care what ANYONE says, Meyer can weave a story like nobody's business. I was wary of it at first, having read that it's a slow starter, blah, blah, blah... wasn't sure about the concept... blah, blah, blah.... but eventually I couldn't resist and got myself a copy. Thank goodness I did.... it was fab and I inhaled it! I was genuinely sad to leave their world - albeit a strange and restricted one - but so happy with the way it panned out. Especially since, for most of the book, I had no idea which way she was going to go.

The Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox

Hmmmm, not sure about this one. It was one that Meyer suggested (and loved) but I was more excited that Knox was a kiwi (The Vitner's Luck has just been made into a movie.... looks GREAT) and so couldn't resist. The premise is extraordinary, and the writing good, but it didn't enthrall me the way other books have. Not that I didn't finish it.... I had to find out where she was going with it all, and have already started The Dream Quake (the 2nd book) which has been the same..... just ok.... but I'm still reading.... so I suppose that's a good thing. If only to find out where it all ends up.

How to Famous by Alison Bond

Its the 2nd time I've read this book and really loved it. I like her writing, its good. And just to the sort of thing I love to read about - a life I'll never live or be part of. I'm waiting for her Ruby Valentine book to arrive....will keep you posted on my thoughts on that.

one fifth avenue by Candace Bushnell

Hmmmm.... its another one of those. I absolutely adore Sex and the City but when I tried to read the books, not so much. (In Bushnell's defense, I tried back in the 90's - the same time I tried to read Bridget Jones' Diary and hated. I returned to that later and loved... so maybe it would be the same with SATC). But, it was the same with this one, I didn't 'inhale', I just read it and tried to pick up some good tips for my own writing. It was ok but that was about it.

Home Truths by Freya North

I've been dying to get my hands on one of her books because she struggled to get published and has a pretty gutsy story on just how she did. But alas, as much as I love the person, the book - not so much. I couldn't even finish it! Sorry, Freya! Maybe it was just this one???

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Loved it! Like all his stuff, it grabs you by the balls and locks you in for the ride. But, I must say that he got slippery hands in the end and was sort of only holding onto one ball. But still a bloody good story, Mr Brown... looking forward to reading the next one that is currently out.

And what I'm currently reading:

The Dream Quake by Elizabeth Knox

Refer above.

The Partisan's Daughter by Louis de Bernieres

Confession first - I had to look up what partisan meant (blush)... so simple once you know. I adored Captain Corelli's Mandolin, like LOVED, LOVED. So I'm hoping this one is the same and a bit of a slow starter. I'm on pg 59 and I'm limping along with this one. de Bernieres's writing is great.... but I think it's the story I'm just not getting in to. But, I HATE not finishing a book and often force myself to go the distance even when I don't want to.... so we will see. I have been wanting to read it... jury is still out.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

I'm just resting.... had too much HP in one go I think. Will get back to it eventually.

And on the non-fiction front...

Creative Journal Writing by Stephanie Dowrick

Really enjoying... only on pg 70 so I think that we are still laying down foundations and getting to the meaty stuff, but I like what she's trying to do. I'm a occasional journal writer and have been writing in the same book since 2004 (I did say occasional!) but this book is inspiring me to write more. And I also found out a few home truths when I paged back... and that I was harping on about the same shit! So that was an eye opener.... she recommends reading it from cover to cover and then going back again... which is what I'm doing. But, I can see the value I'm going to get from this. And since I love the whole pen, paper, writing thing... I'm just going to love it anyway.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Visualization by Shari L Just and Carolyn Flynn

I took this one out from the library... and am finding it super interesting. I'm a MASSIVE believer in the whole 'law of attraction' and 'thoughts become things' camp but still feel like I'm missing some vital piece of information that's holding me back from truely getting to grips with the concept. So, I'll just carry on reading, practising and giving it a damned good shot, and maybe I'll just 'create' that missing piece. Other books that I read over and over again are Louise Hay's 'You can heal your life' and 'The Power is within you'. Cool stuff in those too... but it's that whole 'what am I not getting here' that I haven't overcome. But I believe I will and that's enough as far as these babies are concerned.

Oh, and movies...

Avatar... ROCKED! Truely amazing!

Percy and the Lightening thief... save it for DVD night

Sherlock Holmes ... a must see, loved it!

It's Complicated.... very cute, especially if you're divorced (I'm not) & over 50 (I'm not) but still good. DVD might be the way to go though.

Have yet to see The Lovely Bones... and missed TT Wife! Bugger....

Ok, enough... I need to get back to my writing and my dreams!

Bxx