Keep on Movin On

Well, yesterday, I received a rejection in my inbox from an agency that had the partial of my YA. It was the automated equivalent of a 'dear author' letter, but this agency had managed to make it a bit more personal by inserting my full name, and the name of the past manuscript that I had submitted to the agency. So far, I've had 3 rejections on this book, two from just the query and this first one from a partial.

So what did I do? Well, I had a little cry, a brief little pity party, and then I got right back on the horse and sent out 3 more partials and 1 email query. It wasn't easy believe me. The temptation was great to just give up and crawl under the covers for a few days. But I'm determined and I really believe in this book. Plus, there are still 3 agents out there who have the book. Agent No. 1 aka as dream agent has the full manuscript.

I'm also moving forward on the new YA front. I managed to write 6 pages today, starting the third chapter for a grand total of 8,256 words. Once Monday rolls around, I'll finish the third chapter and then go back and revise before I go further. Things are becoming clearer for me as I write, and I've made the executive decision not to have a bitchy girl character. I already have one character who starts out a villain and then changes.

So there you have it. The one thing I've learned over the past few years of writing is that a certain point, you just have to let go and move on. Otherwise, you'll just keep revising the same manuscript forever and never move forward. Sure, it worked for Margaret Mitchell, but how many of us are writing 1,000 page epics about the Civil War. For that matter, how many publishers out there are looking for 1,000 page epics about the Civil War.

I'm off to watch Johnny Depp and Antonio Banderas in Once Upon a Time in Mexico for work. Tough life I have, watching two cuties for 2 hours.

Thanks for reading,
EKM

When Stars Get Ugly

For anyone who has better things to do than keep up with celebrity gossip, Star Jones Reynolds was booted off The View, and she's not going quietly. Instead of just leaving with dignity, SJR has decided to go on the offensive, giving an interview Tuesday, stating that she felt as if she'd been fired. Well, guess what girlfriend, you now are, since she was told by the producers not to come back to the show after all.

So much for the plans to give her a big send-off the way they did Meredith Viera a few weeks ago. See this is what I don't get. SJR apparently knew months ago that her contract wasn't being renewed, and instead of making peace with it, I guess she just stewed in her own juices until she couldn't take it anymore.

All because they hired Rosie O'Donnell. See, SJR felt that since Rosie had publicly dissed her, that hiring her for The View was a slap in the face. How long as this woman been in television? And why would you want to piss off Barbara Walters, the woman who helped make you? I guess SJR's ego has gotten bigger as she's gotten smaller.

See that was the reason she was allegedly let go, the audience for The View doesn't like her anymore since she spend an entire year regalling viewers with every intimate detail of her wedding.

And who knew that Barbara WaWa could throw down? All of a sudden, she let out her inner beyotch.

I don't know why we expect stars to act better than we do. I just think that if you're in the public eye, keep your mouth shut unless you have something really important to say. Sharing that your mother didn't call you to tell you your father passed away is information that I don't think that Tori Spelling needed to share with the world. There actually is such a thing as TMI.

Thanks for reading!
EKM

Starting Over

Isn't this a sweet picture of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at their wedding on Sunday? I think she looks really beautiful and happy. It's interesting to compare her relationship with Keith Urban to the spectacle that Tom Cruise has made out of his relationship with Katie Holmes.

No one even knew that Nicole and Keith Urban were seeing each other until they were spotted in Woodstock last summer, and even their publicists denied they were even more than friends. Nicole didn't even announce her engagement until May and then it was very casual. Tom Cruise has a lot to learn from his former wife.

I just hope she and Keith are very happy because I think she really deserves it.

Speaking of starting over, I started writing my new YA yesterday and got about six pages into it before I realized that the first person was not going to work in this version.

I have two points of view going on in the book, Ginny my young heroine, and the ghost that haunts the house in England where they're staying. I could just do the book in Ginny's first person point of view, but since Oscar Wilde in his original story includes the ghost's point of view, I wanted to include it in the book.

Of course, all this could change in the second draft, but right now that's where it's going.

Oh, and did you hear that JK Rowling is killing of two characters in the last Harry Potter book? I haven't recovered from the death in the last book. And she may even kill off Harry! Say what? I hope not, it would do a disservice to all the fans who followed his adventures through seven books only to have him die in the final book, even if he defeats Voldemort.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

Weekend Eye Candy

This hot blond is Curtis Stone, the host of Take Home Chef on the TLC. Every Friday, Curtis picks up some woman in the supermarket in LA and helps her to cook a meal for her husband/boyfriend/girlfriend. It chiefly consists of Curtis flirting outrageously with the woman while cooking delicious meals. My kind of show. Plus Curtis is Australian and I'm fatally attracted to Australian men, even blonds which are not my usual cup of tea.

On the episode I watched, Curtis met Nancy, a fellow Aussie in what looked like Gelson's in LA in the laundry detergent aisle. Nancy said that her husband liked Mexican food so Curtis devised a simple meal of two kinds of dip with fresh homemade tortilla chips, and a big slab of steak with herbed butter. No vegetables or a salad, but I guess after they ate that huge steak, vegetables would seem beside the point.

Anyway, when they got back to Nancy's place, Nancy had to change into her cooking tube top to help Curtis out in the kitchen. I kid you not, a tube top. They then did shots of tequila, and drank wine. Oh yeah, and some cooking was involved. It was like watching Cinemax or Skinemax as Meg Cabot likes to call it but with cooking.

Anyway, check out the web-site and his credentials on www.tlc.com. He's actually quite the accomplished chef when he's not leering at the women he's cooking for.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

The Last of the Great Department Stores

Well, it's official, Lord & Taylor has been sold to some private equity group. For anyone who hasn't shopped at the flagship on Fifth Avenue or at one of the regional stores, Lord & Taylor's is one of the original department stores back when there used to be a ladies mile downtown where woman shopped. The original B. Altman's was downthere too. The company insists that they will keep the flagship store open but reduce the size of the store, which would be a huge mistake. They also say that there is a possibility that the flagship store might be closed.

This makes me really sad. Lord & Taylor was my mother's favorite store. She used to save up all her mother's day, birthday and Christmas money from my dad and my brother and sister and then go shopping at Lord & Taylor when they were having a sale. I mean Sarah Jessica Parker had her launch of her new perfume at Lord & Taylor. It's a New York institution. Not that makes a difference, since we've since the demise of Bonwit Teller, B. Altman, Gimbel's and A&S in my lifetime. Not to mention Korvettes and Alexanders.

Now I just heard that the Marshall Field's store in Chicago is going to be turned into a Macy's since Federated Department Stores bought the company last year. Now, I have no problem if they want to turn all the regional Marshall Field store's into Macy's, but why mess with the flagship store. It's a Chicago institution. When people think of Chicago they think of the Cubs, the White Sox and Marshall Field's.

Thank god, because the store has landmark status, they have to keep the original facade including the clocks, and the Marshall Field name on the outside. I shudder to think of what they plan to do the Tiffany ceiling and the wonderful restaurants. Considering how crappy the Macy's restaurants are here in New York, I feel sorry for the good people of Chicago. Let's face, people don't go to Macy's to eat they way they do at Sak's or Lord & Taylor.

I may sound like an old fuddy-duddy and I realize in today's changing financial climate, some things have to change, but there has to be a way to perserve the past and move forward.

That's just my humble opinion, particularly with such an icon like Marshall Field's.

I'll get off my soap box now.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

The Kindness of Strangers

Do you ever just have one of those days? You break the heel of your shoe on the way to work, you get your period and have nothing with you, or you spill soup down the front of your brand new suit. One of those days.

Well, today was one of those days. I was on my way to the elevator to go to the library to sign up to use the computer after work to check my email (my modem at home is broken. I really need to buy a lap top at some point). Anywhoo, I was just about to get into the elevator, when another employee kindly informed me that my skirt was tucked up under my arm on one side.

Yes, I'd walked all the way to the elevator with my underwear showing. Thank god, I'd remembered to wear clean underwear today. I'd like to thank all those people who walked past me or saw me and didn't bother to tell me that I flashed almost the entire sixth floor on my way to the elevator.

May it happen to you one day.

Speaking of the kindness of strangers, will someone kindly tell Toni Braxton to put some clothes on. First on American Idol, and now at the BET Awards, she shows up half-naked. Now I know girlfried wants to show she's still sexy after having two kids, but there's a classy way to do it. Not looking like she should be dancing around a pole at Scores!

Oooh, this is fun. A friend sent this to me today, and I'm having a blast playing with it.

http://www.planetdan.net/pics/misc/georgie.htm

It's oddly addtictive!

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Happy Summer Solstice

Happy Summer Solstice! Yes, indeedy, today is the first official day of summer, and I've been in a bit of a funk, which I won't get into. I've had to learn that there are just some things that you cannot change. I've had a bit of a headache for the past two days, which was exacerbated by lack of sleep due to work, and then I forgot to log in a product last night, which was stupid, and normally, I would never make such a silly mistake but that's what happens when you get distracted.
Like looking at this gorgeous creature, James Purefoy, dressed as Beau Brummell for the new BBC movie. Now that's a distraction I can deal with.

Still waiting to hear from super-duper wonderful agent about my full, and also from other agents who have my partials. While I'm biting my nails down to the quick, I've also read a good friend's manuscript which I thoroughly enjoyed, and just received a critique for another partial that I wrote from another really good friend, so I need to read that as well.

Fun guy and I are playing telephone tag at the moment, and he's it. If he's lucky, I might even be still interested if he calls back.

I'm also plotting my latest YA, and trying to give my heroine a goal to work towards during the book. She has one goal which is external, but I think she needs another one that's more personal to her. And I need to find the conflict between her and her love interest without relying on the old-standbys of the obnoxious sister/girlfriend/mother character which can be useful, but I've already done that in the last two books I wrote. I don't want to make it a habit!

In the meantime, my chapter is getting ready to celebrate our 20th anniversary in the fall, so alot of work is going into making sure we have a fantabulous celebration.

In the meantime, thanks for reading!

EKM

Literary and Longing in LA

'Some women shop. Some Eat. Dora Cures the blues by bingeing on books.
reading one after another, from Flaubert to bodice rippers, for hours and days on end. In this wickedly funny and sexy literary debut, we meet the beguiling, beautiful Dora, whose unique voice combines a wry wit and vulnerability as she navigates the road between reality and fiction.
Dora, named after Eudora Welty, is an indiscriminate book junkie whose life has fallen apart -- her career, her marriage, and finally her self-esteem. All she has left is her love of literature, and the book benders she relied on as a child.

Joining Dora in her odyssey is an elderly society hair-brusher, a heartbroken young girl, a hilarious off-the-wall female teamster, and Dora’s mother, now on the wagon, trying to make amends...'

I just read a review of this book in The New York Times today that was mainly positive, although the reviewer felt the need to reiterate that chick-lit as we once knew it, in the Bridget Jones, Devil Wears Prada days is dead. After reading the excerpt on the authors' web-site, I'm actually thinking about buying it, which is unusual for me because I try never to buy hardcover books on principle. I either wait for them to become available at the library or I wait for the paperback.

The only books that I buy in hardcover tend to be non-fiction books, mainly history. But this book is about someone who loves to read as much as I do. Anyone who knows me, knows that I"m hardly ever without a book in my hand. In fact, I think I came out of the womb reading. I've had my moments when I've been binged on books too. I should probably not admit to this, but I once actually even shop-lifted a book. There's nothing better when you're in a bad mood or just want to be cheered up, or to celebrate, then reading a book. It even makes taking a bath better.

The authors, Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack, come from the world of journalism and movies. The cover is also pretty cool. The model has a little bit of Angelina Jolie going on. And how can you resist a main character who was named for Eudora Welty with a sister named for Virginia Woolf.

I'll let you know what I think.

Any new books coming out this summer that seem particularly interesting and juicy?

Ham on the Street

This is George Duran, the host of a new show on the Food Network, called Ham on the Street. I've never seen this show, but apparently I may be featured on the web-site for it in the next couple of weeks.

"How did this happen?" I hear you ask. Well, I was walking down 52nd Street, between 5th and 6th on my way to the bank, when I passed by 21. For anyone who hasn't been to New York, or who doesn't know, 21 is a restaurant that at one point during the 1920's was a speakeasy. It's been a New York institution for about 80 years now.

Outside of the restaurant, lining the stairs, are a series of jockeys. Mr. Duran was dressed like a jockey and he was asking people on the streets questions. Silly me, I thought he'd been hired by the restaurant as a sort of promotional gimmick, so when he stopped me to talk, I played along with him. We chatted for a few minutes, he wanted to know if I thought he would be uncomfortable being the only jockey at the bar, and I told him that after the first drink it wouldn't matter.

As I walked away, a woman came running up to me to get me to sign a release form for the Food Network. That's when I realized that this was all part of his TV show, Ham on the Street. The assistant was very happy to see me, because apparently people had been avoiding this guy all day, not wanting to talk to him, which would make for a very boring show.

So check out the web-site in a few weeks, and maybe you'll see me.

Va-Va Voom

Okay, is this not one of the sexiest dresses you've ever seen in a 1940's Rita Hayworth kind of way? I mean the dress would look better on a brunette or a red head but you get what I mean. Just pretend that Carmen Electra is wearing it and not the high school senior on the left.

I registered for National at the very last minute (okay two days before the early-bird registration deadline), and I somehow managed to get a room at the Marriott as well, despite the fact that the RWA web-site says that it's sold-out. Now I just have to find the dress to wear to the RITA's. But why is that every dress that I like costs about $500? Can I write it off as a business expense?

Right now, I have a vintage dress that belonged to my mother, but I just have to keep looking just in case 'the dress' is still out there. This isn't it by the way. It's a little too sexy, but hey I bet I could get a date for the evening in it.


This one is more like it, but again what's with the twelve year old models? Speaking of dates, I still haven't called 'elusive guy' yet. He's out of town until Sunday, so I plan on calling on Monday. I have a feeling that while he may be fun to be with, that's in no way ready for something serious. I could be wrong but that's the sense I get. Meanwhile Auction guy, I think I could have real feeling for, but of course, he's not interested. Story of my life.

However, I discovered a bar close to my neighborhood that is apparently crawling with cops and doctors. Why didn't any tell me about this four years ago? I'll skip the Kareoke nights, but $5 Cosmpolitans on Friday could be interesting.

In the meantime, I've just queried three more agents, and I'm in the middle of getting myself together to start writing another YA. I bought First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner and so far, it's very interesting. I'm hoping to have that first draft ready by the conference. Right now, I've just done my collage with pictures of what I think the characters look like, worked out my character sketches, and I've started outlining the story.

This weekend, I'll let it percolate while I take care of some errands and spending time with another friend who is also an orphan. Plus I'm working the next two nights.

Thanks for stopping by!

EKM

The Man in Green

This lovely man on the left is Robin Hood in the new BBC series that is now being filmed in Budapest instead of in the actual Sherwood Forest in Nottingham. So far he looks rather lovely. We probably won't get to see the series until 2007 and only on BBC America if we're lucky.

It's about time that we had a new Robin Hood. I wasn't that fond of Michael Praed in the last BBC series. There was something a little too soft about him and he was also a little too pretty for the role. Jason Connery wasn't much better.

The less said about Kevin Costner in Robin Hood, Prince of Iowa the better. Yes, we all loved Alan Rickman, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was beautiful as Maid Marian, but I don't buy that Kevin Costner didn't have time to work on his accent because of Dances with Wolves. And what was up with Christian Slater? I read somewhere that he decided not to do an accent as Will Scarlet because Kevin Costner wasn't doing one. Really? If Kevin Costner had asked him to jump off a bridge, would he have done it?

I didn't watch the Patrick Bergin Robin Hood, because it looked a little dreary and brown. And there was an American TV series that was on briefly but everyone had an American accent which was weird.

I love the character of Robin Hood. Maybe it's the whole outlaw aspect to his character. Even though he's nobility, he's willing to defend the rights of the Saxon's against the cruelty of the Normans. Plus there's the whole archery contest and living in the woods. And rescuing Maid Marian (who of course is more than capable).

Errol Flynn is still my ideal Robin Hood, even though his costume is incredibly silly. He's dressed more like Peter Pan than an outlaw. But he's so roguish and charming, and the fight scene with Basil Rathbone is so incredibly thrilling, that I forgive him the costume.

Sigh! Well, I need to get back to working on my current manuscript, and finding a dress to wear to the RITA's at National.

Thanks for stopping by!

EKM

Summer in the City

1) Finish re-reading The Canterville Ghost, taking notes on updating it for new YA

2) Pay credit card bill

3) Email new partial to critique partner for notes

4) Register for National

5) Have lunch with good friend (postponed to next week)

6) Upload picture to JDate and New York Post dating column (taking care of today)

7) Pick up laundry and dry cleaning

8) Have hair finally trimmed

9) Write July Presidents letter after deciding what I will write about.

10) Return library books

11) Send out first YA partial to list of 5 other agents

12) Donate books and clothing to Library and Goodwill

13) Go to Museum Mile with friend

14) Do Taste of Times Square with friend (friend bowed out, went alone)

15) Email editors at Dorchester and Time Warner to see if available to judge Love & Laughter contest

16) Write up Market News and Calendar of Events for newsletter

17) Book flights for National

18) Make plans for September London research trip

19) Buy tickets to Dixie Chicks concert if still available

20) Contacting spaces for 20th Anniversary Golden Apple Awards

21. Look for roommate for National on message boards, but also make hotel reservation.

Not too shabby! I've done about half the things on my list so far this week. Still have about ten more to do.

Last night went to Museum Mile, which is the one night of the year that about eight museums are open free to the public along Fifth Avenue. This was my first year going but I've learned two things. 1) If something is free, everyone and their mother will be there 2) Sachertorte is now my favorite dessert!

In other news, Mr. Flake called last night to tell me that 'his weekend got away from him' which is why he didn't return my call Friday. WTF? Anyway, he's out of town until Sunday which is when I will return his phone call. Hey, my week got away from me!

Homicidal Little Old Ladies

As anyone seen the movie Arsenic and Old Lace? This movie (which stars Cary Grant) is about two little old ladies in Brooklyn who murder lonely old men by poisoning them with Elderberry wine. They then bury them in the basement of their house. Their nephew finds out about their little enterprise when he brings his new wife home to meet the family, which includes one nephew who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt and another who kills people and then has plastic surgery to look like them, only his surgeon stinks and instead he looks like Borish Karloff. The little old ladies think they are doing these men a service by putting them out of their misery.

Can you imagine if they tried to re-make this today? Particularly since I just read an article in the New York Times about two little old ladies who were taking out life insurance policies on homeless men who they met at church, and then possibly running them down with their car to claim the insurance money. When I mean little old ladies, I'm talking women in their seventies. Now, I know social security doesn't go as far as it used to nowadays, but that's no reason to murder homeless people! Particularly since one woman has kids to hopefully take care of her in her golden years. Heck, my mother got another job after she retired to help supplement her social security, and my dad had investments.

I was trying to figure out how you could work something like this into a book. Possibly the heroine trying to keep the hero from putting her little old aunts in jail? But really this is a case for Goran on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. I love this show, particularly because the way Vincent D'Onofrio plays him, he's borderline insane. I can just imagine him trying to interrogate Angela Lansbury and Frances Sternhagen as the two women.

The New York Times headline which was "Two Elderly Women Suspected as Femmes Fatales" suggests that these women lead these men to their doom the old-fashioned way. They weren't friendly little old grannies like the ones in Arsenic and Old Lace. All mumsy and warm, pouring homemade wine to sweet little old men.

These women were calculating, they took out like 6 life insurance policies on each of these men worth about $2.2 million. They only got caught when one of the insurance companies got suspicious and wouldn't pay out.

Any stories in the newspaper inspire you lately? Or surprise you?

Thanks for reading!

EKM

Things to do

So, it's Monday morning again (and freezing in my office), and it's time to get cracking on the hundreds of things I have to do including:

1) Finish re-reading The Canterville Ghost, taking notes on updating it for new YA

2) Pay credit card bill

3) Email new partial to critique partner for notes

4) Register for National

5) Have lunch with good friend

6) Upload picture to JDate and New York Post dating column

7) Pick up laundry and dry cleaning

8) Have hair finally trimmed

9) Write July Presidents letter after deciding what I will write about.

10) Return library books

11) Send out first YA partial to list of 5 other agents

12) Donate books and clothing to Library and Goodwill

13) Go to Museum Mile with friend

14) Do Taste of Times Square with friend

15) Email editors at Dorchester and Time Warner to see if available to judge Love & Laughter contest

16) Write up Market News and Calendar of Events for newsletter

17) Book flights for National

18) Make plans for September London research trip

19) Buy tickets to Dixie Chicks concert if still available

20) Finish editing other partial

Wow, that's a lot of stuff to accomplish this week, not to mention that I have to do work stuff as well!

Thanks for reading,
EKM

Warning: Man Repellent

well, it's official, i'm man repellent. how did i come up with this diagnosis? Well, exhibit a) i met patrick at ny easy dates, and we got along. i put him on my list of people i would be interested in seeing again. so he emailed me to get together, and i emailed him back to let him know that i work two jobs, and to give him an idea of what my availability was. well that was two weeks, and i'm still waiting to hear from him.

exhibit b) my good friend informed me that a guy i met back in january, that i had seen again at a benefit for her son's school had asked about me when she ran into him at a birthday party. she asked if she could give him my number. i said yes, he's very cute, and he made me laugh. well, he called me that afternoon, i called back and he said 'hey let's get together.' i said, unfortunately i had to work that night but i would call him and let him know what time i would be getting out. as soon as i got my schedule, i called him and left a message informing him that i wouldn't be getting out of work until 11:30 and did he still want to get together?

well, i'm still waiting for that call!

i spoke to one of my co-workers who said that maybe he didn't get the message or was hit by a car. well, if he didn't get the message, i would hope that he would call again to find out what happened (if he was really interested). of course if he was hit by a car, i wouldn't expect him to call and let me know about it.

and finally exhibit c) auction guy or auction ass. this is a guy who despite the fact that i know that he saw me on tuesday at the annual meeting of a society that we both belong to, never made any attempt to say hello to me, even though we have a mutual friend in common. i had to go up to him and practically genuflect to get him to say hello to me.

see what i mean, man repellent.

it's gotten so bad, that today at brunch, a really cute preppy blonde guy sat next to me. not really my type, but still attractive. he ordered white wine and oysters. now, i could have been friendly and talked to him, but i thought what was the point, i'm man repellent. he'd probably just run screaming from the bar, or move his seat to further down the bar.

sigh, i should just give up and get a dog.

thanks for reading!

EKM

My Bodyguard

This is Britney's new 'bodyguard' Perry Taylor, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Is it just me, or does anyone else get the feeling that Britney is auditioninig for husband number 3? Reports say he has a live-in girlfriend, like that's a deterrent. I mean, didn't Kevin Federline have a pregnant girlfriend when he met Britney?

Let's look at this objectively, shall we? Usually Britney's bodyguards have been large blackmen who weigh like 300 pounds. Now she has a personal bodyguard who looks like an Abercrombie & Fitch model. He buys her groceries, he takes care of Sean Preston. Do you see where I'm going here?

Frankly, after Kevin Federline, Perry Taylor is a huge step up on the food chain. Not that I know for a fact that this is what's going on. After all Brit is pregnant with her second child. But both Princess Anne and Princess Diana had affairs with their bodyguards. And isn't that how Princess Stephanie met Daniel Ducruet?

How many romance novels are there that have been written about a heroine (or a hero) being protected by a bodyguard who then fall in love? Or the secret service agent who falls for the President's wife/daughter/cousin/niece. It's classic. Man protects woman from bodily harm (or in Britney's case from dropping her child), they spend long hours together on tour, or shopping at Fred Segal's. He makes her laugh. He actually has an education, not to mention a job (okay it's working for her, but at least he's not shaking his butt as a back-up dancer).

K-Fed is in Vegas partying with his pimps, Britney is left alone in their Malibu mansion, pregnant and alone, eating Cheetos. What's a girl to do, but turn to her bodyguard?

Just watch this space and we'll see what unfolds over the next few months.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

Ann Coulter - Wicked Bitch of the East

What is up with Ann Coulter? Everytime I see her on TV she just comes across as one bitter, angry woman. Now she's accused a group of 9/11 women who call themselves the "Jersey Girls' of being self-obssessed and enjoying their husbands deaths. Oh, and the "Witches of East Brunswick." Why would you say something like outloud even if you thought it? I can't think of a more mean insensitive thing to say of someone.

The Jersey Girls pushed hard for the commission to investigate the events of 9/11. According to Ann Coulter they're using their widowhood for political gain. Say what? If your husband or father were killed in a tragedy like 9/11, wouldn't you want to know everything you possibly could about what happened, how it could have been prevented so that it doesn't happen again?

If they'd been sitting shiva for the past 5 years would that make Ann Coulter happy? Or would she just accuse them of not moving on, of again being 'self-obssessed.'

Oh and she also accused them of acting like 9/11 only happened to them. Maybe Ms. Coulter has never lost anyone, but when your grieving of course you feel as if your the only one in the world who's lost someone.

It's no secret that I dislike Ann Coulter, not just for her hard core, to the right of Adolph Hitler, conservative politics, but every time I see her on television, she looks like she's been sucking on a lemon. She reminds me of those hard core, no fun, studiers in college, who then would go out and drink 12 vodka tonics in a row and pass out. The type of woman who would confront a guy on the quad if he said he would call her and didn't. I mean she makes Pat Buchanan look like a reasonable guy.

Someone should tell her that just because you have long blond hair and wear short skirts, that does not detract from your message of bitterness and hate. I truly feel that people like her, Bill O'Reilly and Tucker Carlson do more to promote the division in this country than to heal it. In her world, Republicans are always right and Democratics are bunch of atheistic, lazy, slobs who wouldn't know the first thing about family values.

I could be wrong, she could be a fun-loving, compassionate human being, but her comments about the Jersey Girls suggests just the opposite.

So, do you think Ann Coulter went too far with her comments?

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Someday my prince will come!

Have you ever dreamt of meeting a handsome prince who would sweep you off your feet and take you back to his palace? Did you watch the royal weddings of Diana and Charles, Fergie and Prince Andrew and wish that were you?

Do you read alot of Harlequn Presents? Well, now ABC is letting 25 women have the chance that Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty had.

See this dude to the left? That's Prince Lorenzo Borghese, and he's the new star of The Bachelor. Yes, they've finally managed to scrounge up a real prince, and not just any prince. This guy has one ancestor who was a Pope and another ancestor was a Cardinal. Not only that his grandmother was the founder of Borghese cosmetics.

What's the catch? Well, for one thing, he grew up in the United States, don't expect him to running around sounding like Raoul Bova in Under the Tuscan Sun. Chances are he'll sound as American as Prince Albert of Monaco does. Can I tell you how disappointing it was the first time I heard Prince Albert interviewed and he sounded like Joe Schmoe from Philadelphia?

Anyway, Prince Lorenzo runs a company that provides royal treatment for Pets. So he's the Prince of Pets.

Still it begs the question, why would a guy with his pedigree (I mean the Borghese name is all over Rome) need a TV show to find a wife? You can't tell me that this guy isn't beating women in New York off with a stick.

Trust me, we're desperate here. He's single and he has a job, so why at the age of 33 hasn't he found that 'special someone'?

Well, anyone who has read this blog more than once, knows that I will be back watching in September to see Prince Lorenzo and 24 clueless American women run all over Rome giving us a bad name.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

25 Things

My friend and fellow RWA NYC member Megan Frampton posted her answers to the "25 Things" questions over on her blog. Here are mine, because I'm still editing and I'm sure you're all tired of hearing how my revisions are going, my lack of a love life, how gross people are here at work (someone cooked email in the microwave, it exploded and they just left it. Didn't clean it up. Would they do that at home?)

Aren't you glad I spared you?

1) If you could build a second house anywhere, where would it be?

London

2) What is your favorite article of clothing?

Any of my Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses.

3) What is the last CD you purchased?

Dixie chicks new one, and American Idol Encores.

4) What time do you wake up in the morning?

6:00 a.m. during the week, and whenever I get up on the weekends.

5) What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

George Forman Grill.

6) If you could play any instrument, what would it be?

The violin. The most beautiful sound in the world, just heartbreaking.

7) What is your favorite color?

Red.

8) Do you believe in the afterlife?

Yes, I'd like to think that I would get to see my parents again.

9) What is your favorite children's book?

Any Nancy Drew or the Little House on the Prairie books.

10) What is your favorite season?

Spring. My favorite flowers are lilacs, and I can't wait to get rid of the pantyhose and wear sandals.

11) Do you have a tattoo?

I've thought about it but I'm afraid of needles, and who wants to look at an old tattooed woman?

12) Can you juggle?

No, and honestly have never had the desire to.

13) Who is the person you would most like to travel back in time and talk to?

Jennie Jerome Churchill or Mary Magdalene. Find out the real scoop on Jesus.

14) What is your favorite day of the week?

I know my least favorite--Monday--.

15) What's in the trunk of your car?

I don't have a car.

16) If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Read minds.

17) Sushi or beef?

Sushi!

18) What is your favorite meal?

Anything with lobster.

19) When is your birthday?

November 2 (same as Pat Buchanan, K.D. Lang, Burt Lancaster, and Marie Antoinette)

20) Do you watch Oprah?

Of course.

21) Do you watch Survivor?

Not unless forced to.

22) What is your favorite TV show?

Grey's Anatomy

23) Do you celebrate Christmas?

Kind of, Christmas hasn't really been the same for me since my parent's died, and I have no significant other or children.

24) What is your favorite movie?

It's a cliche but Gone with the Wind is one of my favorite movies even though I hated the book.

25) Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate, naturallement.

June Forecast

I've been a really bad blogger lately because I'm in a rush to finish editing and revising my manuscript for the agent who asked for the full. I'm being very anal retentive about this book for a change, wanting to make sure there are no typos, every comma is where it's should be, and there are no plot holes.

I actually sat down last night and read the first 160 pages all the way through for content, and I have to say the book does not suck, which is an accomplishment in it's own way. In fact, there are parts of it that I have no recollection of, but I guess I wrote it. I mean it's in the manuscript. It's actually quite entertaining in places, and I've cleaned up most of the lunkhead moments. Just a few more tweaks and it's out the door (cross your fingers) by Wednesday.

Than it's on to revising another partial I have to get to an agent, and starting to write yet another partial, plus getting ready for Hotlanta. However, I did have time to peek at my horoscope on Publisher's Marketplace. Ahem:

Libra: Your love life takes up a great deal of your energy, and if you only put it into your work, you'd be happier and better off fiscally. Try obsessing about your characters next move, and less about who you might sleep with next.

(That's funny! What love life? I got one email from a guy I met speed-dating, I emailed him back with my schedule and I never heard from him again, so I think I have plenty of time for writing.)

Scorpio: You have the support of the Universe for your work. You've got God in your corner, so to speak, for at least the next 18 mos. Why waste it going to the beach?

(Wow, God and the universe? Please let this mean an agent and a publishing contract! Anyway it takes at least an hour to get to any beach here in New York, so I don't think I'll be hitting the beach too hard this summer).

Well, back to the grindstone. Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading.

EKM