Name Schmame

Well. I finished Dark Moon Rising. I was all happy about it and told my husband. I was thinking of changing one of the other titles of the Watchers series (of which Dark Moon Rising is the 4th and probably last book) back to its original when my hubs began tossing titles off the top of the Titanic-sized load of silliness which occupies the largest room in his man head.

This is a guy who would sink to calling one of our children Mailbox or Rameumptum if he could. Really. Those were actual possibilities (in his brain)  when we were naming our daughter. Suffice it to say that I rarely take him seriously when he's in a mood like that.

So he's popping out dorky names like a queen ant laying eggs, when he flings out the title, Psyquake. That one threw me. Where in the seven dungeons of Cthulhu did that come from? That was a killer title! Not only that, but it was the best title for the last book!

The funny thing was that Lon was completely amazed when I said it ROCKED. The look on his face when I asked him if I could use it was priceless. "What does that even mean?" he asked. I just smiled. If you read the book, you'll know why that name fits so well.

So then I had some real thinking to do. Would it work to juggle names since I still had to use Dark Moon Rising? And I found I could do it.

So there you have it. Psyquake is ready for the diamond-grit polisher. Or maybe it'll be more like a rock polisher. I'm just hoping whole books don't get knocked off of the rock that is the Watchers chunk.

I think this could be something--maybe even a movie. The problem is that it would probably be an R-rated movie since it's basically a revolution. There are definitely casualties. My mom was scandalized just by the description (by me!) and she asked me, "Where did I get such a blood-thirsty daughter?"

Where indeed? This juggernaut came up through layers and layers of life lessons and predictions and fears and the visceral knowledge that the world is changing for the worse, and I can't think of much of a way to do anything about it. This is my scream in the dark as the lights grow dim.

So, yes, this series is my red flag waving--dark and blood-splashed--but in the end, hopeful.
                            WHAT IF...?

Momming

One time I was in line at the library with a friend. Two of my six were running around like Huns screaming and trying to denude the place of intact books. Nothing I tried seemed to be working. I tried the asking nicely thing. I tried the icy glare which used to send me bawling to my room. I even tried the We're-in-church-be-quiet-or-else hiss to no avail. I'd have left the whole library without books next. I looked at my friend and said jokingly (and it was obvious to my friend at least), "Sometimes you just want to whack them in the head with a hammer."

The lady behind me was atrociously scandalized. "That's child abuse!" she bellowed. I told her that I was kidding and that no child had heard me say it (accept apparently her), but she wouldn't leave it alone. She was still hacking on me like a lumberjack chopping down a tree when I finished checking out and left. What a sanctimonious cow!

I swore to myself that I would NEVER be that cow. I'd remember the times when my children were setting every dancing hamster in the store singing "You aint nothing but a hound dog" or dumping the shopping cart over trying to reach the nerf guns, and not go up to the struggling mom who has just popped her last nerve and make her feel like a loser.

Clearly if I were the kind of monster who would actually whack my child with a hammer, (which I am definitely not) I wouldn't announce it to the world. (But then, if I were someone who did whack, I guess I'd be stupid enough to announce actual intentions--which I'm not.)

I actually want my children to get smarter. Yeah. And have better manners. There shall be no more whining or secretly stuffing things into the cart at the store. There will be no arguments about who gets to push the cart. There will be no more romps through the cloth section or hiding inside the displays. There will be no more 59 journeys to the bathroom.

But sometimes that comes with time. There will come a time when I can take them out in polite company without feeling like a complete idiot. Unfortunately that usually happens about the time they leave home.

So when I see that frazzled mom having the 'Calgon' moment, I'm going to be the one who makes her day a little easier. I'm going to make her screaming baby smile. It's the least I can do to pay it forward and make the world a better place.

Mormon Mommy Writers

Mormon Mommy Writers are sponsoring a hop. Today the books of Jenni James (Pride and Popularity), H.B. Moore (Ammon), and an ebook anthology (Totally Cliche) are being featured. These books look quite succulent. I love all things Austen anyway, so the little tidbit was enough to get me salivating. And Ammon looks delicious as well! I'll have to read these and finish up my review later...;o)

Chirping and Clucking

So I did something intrepid (one of my favorite words, by the way) today as a mark of how I wish to proceed with the gift of a new year. I joined Twitter. 

"Why?" you might ask.

Welp...I'll tell you. I'm a writer. I want my books to fly off the shelves and into your arms. I want to tell my stories to people who will love them. So if writing little blurbs every now and then alerts people to the fact that I'm around, GREAT! 

So now I'm going to find other ways to be intrepid...like getting my books polished and put out there in the query hailstorm; putting Small Deceptions and then Summerhouse on ebook; running daily; finding a person a day to help; finding new ways to be an imaginative cook. And I WILL conquer the dust bunny civilizations which are infesting my house! 
But first, the writing. Dark Moon Rising is calling insistently! Larkin pleads for help as she descends down through the levels beneath the dome. Her life has never been so forfeit as it is now, and I have let her hang much too long during the Christmas holidays!

Debutant Ball!

Small Deceptions is going to a débutante ball!

Francesca Kennington loves to study. Her mother has other ideas--mostly involving Francesca and a speedy marriage to a very rich, titled man.
Then Francesca meets someone who shares many of the same values she shares. He just isn't rich enough for her mother. That's when the deceptions start to fly. Francesca and her sweetheart must find a way to marry for love instead of money and still keep peace with Lady Kennington.

"I have to tell you how much I enjoyed Small Deceptions. I hunkered down with it for two days and devoured it. I would like a Daniel Stirling, please?"  Jeri Crews

@~-->--->------------

Pick up your luscious copy of H. Linn Murphy's Small Deceptions and read sample chapters here. For a signed copy, go the sidebar and click on the cart button.

And now for the contest:
Look for my questions and hints to start on the 23rd of December. Buying my book gets you 25 points. The clue winner each day gets 10 points. Doing a review of my book on Amazon or Goodreads gets you 20 points. Following this blog gets you a point. Every shout-out you send out on Facebook and/or Twitter gets 1 point per shout-out per day. The more posts, the more points you win. Please let me know what you've done or provide clue answers in comments to this post. The contest ends on December 30 and prizes are awarded on January 2.

The candles of the chandeliers flutter in the ballroom with the swish of passing silks and satins. The room is ablaze with light, reflected in the faces of the laughing dancers. Music weaves its magical tapestry and sets our toes in motion. We are caught in its threads, gliding to and fro in complex sets. The crush of the crowd makes me glad we have not yet set the yule log a-light. How handsome my partner is in his coat and tails! He guides us flawlessly around the dance floor, his hand firm upon my back. He glances down at me and his face lights with a smile. A frisson of goosebumps goes down my back. There is something strange in his eyes. What is it?

The first clue question for my little contest is this: How did my mission to Mars end? Hint: The title of the post contains the word Red. Have fun!
Second question: Which of Hunter's teachers do I wish I had met? Hint: The title of the post contains a flower.

Third question: How did I end up behind enemy lines? Hint: April post 

Fourth question: What is my favorite flower? Hint: Another July post about a trip holds this answer. 

Fifth question: How much did we spend on buying our van?

Sixth question: Which country do the characters of Summerhouse visit on their vacation?

Want to win more book fun? Please follow the author names and December dates below! Good luck and don't forget to have FUN!

12 Elizabeth Mueller elizabethmueller.blogspot.com
Darkspell looks fantastic. It's going on top of my MUST-READ pile. And my teenagers will probably swipe it as well. I enjoyed my waltz at Elizabeth's, though the crowd was stupendous!

13 Regan Guerra reganguerra.blogspot.com
Regan's world-building was astounding with a whole well-thought out language to boot! What an intriguing book.
I quite enjoyed the Spanish Waltz at Regan's--especially since my partner is dashing in black tails!

14 Melissa Pearl melissapearl.blogspot.com

This set of books is going to be a fun romp! I can just see Gemma and Harrison playing hide 'n' seek through time.

I'm doing the swing at Melissa's lovely ball! I love this dance--especially with a partner who knows what he's doing.

December 15 Claudia Lefeve http://www.claudialefeve.com

I'm greatly looking forward to reading Claudia's Parallel! Go get it for sure!

Ah such wonderful dancing! The lights at Claudia's are truly magical!

16 Joseph Beekman josephsstoriesandtales.blogspot.com

Such deliciously interesting premises! I think I'd be the spider.

The ball at Beekman Hall is a mad crush. I shall soon be in need of a glass of punch! Until then, it's a beautiful waltz with a handsome partner.

17 Pendragon Innmen PendragonWrites.comPendragon's book Fire Gate is captivating and a must-read! I can't wait to put my hands on it and cuddle up next to my video fire with a cup of cocoa.

Pendragon's ball was the smash of the season! The music caught us into a cloud of dizzying laughter and stole our breaths away.

19 Alex J. Cavanaugh alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com
Ah Alex! I love a good SF read! And Serenity tops the list of SF movies. I'm a brown coat to the hilt. I can't wait to read your Cassa series! I'm always trawling for great SF! I'm 4 books into my own SF series (Watchers) but haven't finished polishing them enough for my satisfaction. Glad to meet you!
I greatly enjoyed my dance with this evening's gracious host! He leads with a firm but delicate hand.

20 Gillian Schafer gillianjoy-livingtowrite.blogspot.com

I can't wait to read Guardian! I want to find out why Hannah is the Guardian and what she's guarding against and if she finally gets the guy (at least one). I'm hooked! Go check it out!

I do so love a delightful gallop about the dance floor! Gillian's hall was a fairyland of light and color. I could have danced all night!  21 FiaunaLund formyfour.blogspot.com
Fiauna's mind-reading fairies are catching my fancy! Now I want my own set of wings (though not the little ones I'm trying to give Aislinn). I can't wait to read this book and find out what happens to Avril and Vestyn. Join me in the fairy ring, won't you?Fiauna's ball is held in a folly by a lake. The water reflects the light and fractures it into a million facets. The music sets our toes (and wings) fluttering.
22 Anastasia V. Pergakis labotomyofawriter.com 

Anastasia's elves are ever so intriguing! I can't wait to read about them! And fighting elves, no less! I used to beg my mother constantly to tell me fairy stories. She never mentioned the fighting fey, though. This is a twist I liked in Tolkein as well (thanks Legolas!)  Check out this book!
Anastasia's ball was held outside on a dance floor in the forest. The light glitters in the trees and is enfolds the dancers in its glow. The music drifts through the forest and draws the fey folk in to dance with us!

26 Tanya Contois
 http://speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com/
Now I'm dying to know what a Cambion is. And whether Jocelyn will prevail over Garden (cool name!) and Sin (Another cool name. Do they say Sin or Shin?)
The ball at Tanya's was ethereal and otherworldly. The air was so full of orange blossom that it felt almost as if we were swimming through scent. Heady and utterly exciting!



27 Patti Larsen
pattilarsen.blogspot.com

Patti's Family Magic looks intriguing! I'm wondering about whether Sydlynn will follow in the family footsteps or make her own way.
This ball was all black tails and white organza. One red rose provided the only splash of color. How elegant!

28 Red Tash
RedTash.com

Red's This Brilliant Darkness has caught my fancy! I can't wait to find out if Christine prevails against Greachin in their fight.
Red's ball was all in scarlets and vermilions and deepest crimsons. It was a masked ball and the dancers flitted eerily in and out of massive onyx columns.

29Annetta Ribken
wordwebbing.com

I can't wait to read Athena's Promise! I enjoy Greek Mythology anyway, but crunching it in with a modern girl with modern problems, MAGIC!
Annetta's ball was, of course, a toga party. I rocked the toga and the dancing was great fun! I went as Diana.

30 Cindy Hogan
watched-thebook.blogspot.com

Cindy's Good-bye ball was luscious in its profusion of silks and satins. Such gems winking at the throats and ears of the dancers. Such dashing partners! I danced holes in my shoes and now fall exhausted in a reverie of magical splendor.

Watched is shaping up to be a delicious offering! I can't wait to find out what kinds of trouble Christy gets into on her trip to DC.

I have so enjoyed my time with my fellow débutantes! I'm looking forward to being great friends with you all! Bon chance!

H. Linn Murphy

Housekeeping

Whew! Finally got the blog background to work again. I had to go into the code and add s1600 to the parameters because Picasa changed their code. Glad to have my blog back!

Eclectic Book Catalog

Hey, guys I have a great little catalog for you. It's at:
http://www.eclecticbookscatalog.com/
Check it out! It's got not only my book, but books by several other wonderful authors and is a great place to do Christmas shopping!