Happy Halloween!

Can you believe it's Halloween already? And I haven't even eaten any candy corn, what's up with that? Candy corn used to be my favorite Halloween candy even though you can feel the cavities form while you're eating it.

Saw this cute blog quiz:

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

A Sexy Bunny

What Should You Be For Halloween?

Funnily enough, I've alway kind of hankered after being a bunny on Halloween but after trying on the costume, I decided the world didn't need to see that much of my thighs. Maybe in my twenties, I might have gotten away with it.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, even though as a kid I wasn't allowed to go trick-or-treating in my neighborhood because at the time it was too dangerous, so I pretty much had to stick to my building. And even then, my mother diligently doled out the candy I got and made sure that I didn't eat any of the apples.

Did you know that Houdini died on Halloween? I was actually thinking of going to see The Prestige tonight in honor of him. I just read on the web yesterday, that a new book was coming out today claiming that Houdini was a secret agent, and may have been murdered due to his efforts to debunk the spiritualist movement. Just before he died, he'd made it a practice to expose all the fake mediums that were operating in the twenties. He even fell out with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle over it. Houdini challenged any medium to see if they could put him in contact with his late mother (he was a mama's boy).

Can you imagine what he would make of the John Edward's and psychic hotlines that proliferate nowadays? That I would pay to see, Houdini vs. John Edwards.

Anyway, I was just thinking last night about the fact that there don't seem to be any women magicians. I wonder why that is? Is there like some kind of prejudice against women in the profession that keeps them as just assistants, or are women just not interested?

Gee, I'd better stop before I start plotting something!

Happy Halloween!

EKM

Birthday Countdown

Okay, it's approximately three days until my birthday on Thursday, and Mercury is firmly entrenched in retrograde people. I just read on People.com that Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe have split up. What is it with women winning Oscars and then splitting with their significant others? First Julia Roberts splits up with Benjamin Bratt, and yeah, they are now happily with other people and having babies. Then Halle Berry finally kicks out her cheating hubby who then blames his cheating on her, saying that she emasculated him with her success. Next up we have Hilary Swank who not only splits with Chad Lowe but decides to tell the whole world that he had a substance abuse problem, but didn't bother to take into account that her hubby might not want the whole world knowing. But hey anything to make you look better.

Now we have America's Sweetheart, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe splitting up after 7 years and two children. I'm telling you it's the Oscar curse. The only Best Actress not to split up with her significan other has been Charlize Theron who is still with Stuart Townsend, and I hope those two crazy kids can keep it together, despite the differences in their stature in LA. Oh and let's not forget that Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger didn't last too long after her Oscar win.

This is of course on the heels of Keith Urban having to check into rehab four months after marrying Nicole Kidman who has spent huge chunks of their marriage overseas working.

I was just thinking the other day about how hard it is as a female star to have a successful marriage with another actor. Julia Roberts is married to a cameraman (smart choice Julia), but it seems like woman have to sacrifice alot to be married to another actor. Let's face Nicole Kidman didn't really come into her own until she got rid of Tom Cruise (take note of just how many projects Katie Holmes ends up doing once she's the second Mrs. Tom Cruise). Goldie Hawn hasn't worked in years really, and Rita Wilson and Kate Capshaw are known more for being married to Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg than anything they might have done.

It seems if you are a successful woman, you can't have a successful relationship. I'm exaggerating, but it's not easy, particularly if you're married to a man with ambition. Don't forget that the Donald dumped Ivana soon after she started working for him. Who is he married to now? A much younger model.

Does anyone know of any extremely successful women other than Kelly Ripa and Meredith Viera (and Hilary Clinton) who have great marriages?

Thanks for reading.

EKM

Happy Daylight Savings Time

So blogger is giving me fits today. It just ate the lovely post that I wrote about my day yesterday, so I'm going to attempt to remember what I wrote.

Well, yesterday was my friend's little boy's first birthday. I think I mentioned that Fun Guy and Auction Guy would be there. This would be the first time in like two months that I've seen Fun Guy since he basically dumped me by not calling me. So of course, knowing that I would be seeing them both, I had to look hot.

So I bought this skirt from The Gap. And I also bought this red turtleneck as well. I paired them with an ancient pair of black platform boots that I had lying around in my closet. Early in the day it was pouring down rain, so I decided against having my hair blown out again. I did however color it to get rid of the few grays that I have with Garnier High-Lift Browns (in Golden Brown) as opposed to L'Oreal which wrecks my hair.

Anyway, I had thought about wearing fishnets but it looked too slutty so I ran out to Rite-Aid and bought a pair of L'Eggs. Of course when I got to the party, Auction Guy ignored me as usual. Things went better with Fun Guy. We actually managed to have a conversation although it felt weird and awkward to me. Like we'd never dated or anything. Oh well. I did find out that he was going to a party dressed like the dad in the Incredibles. And just like in the movie, he had a hard time getting the costume on. In fact it didn't quite close so he had to wear a red T-shirt underneath. Can I just say how I laughed inside when I heard that?

I had bought two great gifts for my friend's boys at Hamley's which is like the F.A.O. Schwartz of London. It's located on Regent's Street, which is one of the two big shopping streets in London, the other being Oxford Street. Hamley's is 5 floors, of toys, books, games, and stuffed animals. I must have spent an hour trying to find the perfect gifts for two boys who literally have everything. I finally found two toys that I hope they liked, a toy truck and a toy train.

I had a bit of Mercury Retrograde melt-down because I thought my close friend was going to a Hen night on my birthday instead of joining me. Of course, the fact that I hadn't actually gotten around to inviting anyone out might have had something to do with it. Still she could have kept the date open just in case. I mean, I lead a busy life, it would be nice if someone else could plan my birthday for me, instead of me having to always do the work.

Went to a Halloween Party last night. I didn't have time to really put something together so I went as Femme Fatale, International Woman of Mystery, Agent 69. By day, she's a lowly assistant in the fashion closet at Belle magazine, at night she keeps the world safe for democracy, armed only with her wit, charm, and a killer pair of stillettos (literally). The only problem is that she keeps having to take off days for her missions.

I wore an old black velvet evening gown that was slit almost to crotch level, black velvet gloves, and black suede stillettos. Had a great time at the party, inviting everyone out to my birthday. Heard disturbing news though about an old beau of mine. I won't get into details, but it made me grateful that we had never gotten serious.

I'd forgotten how much I love dancing, now I'm investigating taking ballroom dancing classes here in New York. I'd love to learn the samba and the rhumba. Dancing makes me incredibly happy and that's what I'm all about right now.

Thanks for reading.

EKM

Happy Anniversary, RWA NYC!

Last night we had our 20th Anniversary party for our chapter, where we honored such icons as Kathyrn Falk, Steven Axelrod, Leslie Wainger, Bertrice Small, and Walter Zacharius. I hope to post pictures as they become available.

We had so much food it wasn't even funny. Probably because we asked the chapter members to bring food to keep the costs down, and they more than came through. I was so proud of our members, and I plan on letting them know in my December President's letter in Keynotes. I refrained from drinking until after the presentation, primarily because I didn't want to end up like very drunk agent, who was supposed to be there last night but wisely refrained from attending although it would have been nice for our members to get a chance to pitch to her.

I tried to circulate to keep people out of introverts corner, even making sure that one of our members pitched her YA manuscript to an agent. Not to be left out, I even managed to talk to a couple of editors along the way.

Next year, I need to practice my remarks beforehand. I forgot to say a few things but I literally had no time this week to prepare, which was my fault but life sometimes gets in the way. However I did get plenty of great compliments on my dress. If I had a pound sterling for every great compliment I got, I'd still have to eat soup in order to pay for the dress!

Afterward, I went out with some members to have a quick drink and bite before heading home. It was nice to get a chance to unwind and really talk for a bit. The cocktail party could get a little frenetic. I felt a little bad not staying for the whole of the clean-up, but I did arrive early for the set up, so I did my presidential duty that way.

Next year, I think we might go back to having it in September. I get the feeling that most of the industry people are a little tired by October after attending so many conferences. Something to discuss with my new board who are taking office in January.

Learned some juicy gossip. Apparently Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams are about to split up, which is why they sold their townhouse in Brooklyn. I dont' know if this is true, I hope not. But that's what happens when you make a movie together, get pregnant right away. You don't really know who you are as people.

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Horrorscopes

Thanks once again to Julie Hill for her horoscopes on Publisher's Marketplace.

Libra: Money matters coming up? Spending more and saving less? At least this time when you shop you'll acquire something that you'll have for a very long time. Hopefully it is a good agent, a great editor, or a golden idea.

Scorpio: I can hear the bellyaching from here. You got a bit spoiled, now you have to go back to real life and scrounge for the next meal ticket. You have the talent, you have the luck, you just need to get out of that easy chair. Less football, more writing.

How true, how true, the scorpio one is. Not watching football, but I still have about 6 hours of TV that I taped while I was on vacation to watch plus a new Grey's Anatomy is on tonight. I'm hoping the Libra one is true as well since I have been spending a bit of money lately.

EKM

Thank God It's Thursday

Blogger is giving me fits today. I've been trying to upload a picture of the dress I'm wearing to RWA NYC's 20th Anniversary reception tonight but it won't come out. Hopefully, I'll be able to load it later on.

Can I just say I'm so glad it's Thursday? Because that means it's one more day to Friday and the weekend, and I'm so ready for it to be here. I'm telling you coming back to work in the middle of the week, is not always the best idea. Maybe if my flight had arrived on time on Tuesday, I'd be feeling less tired, or then again, maybe if I hadn't worked last night until almost 1 a.m. at my night job, I wouldn't be so tired.

By the way, I watched 'Lost' last night for work, and I just don't get it, what it is that people find so fascinating about this show. It's like Gilligan's Island but spooky. Maybe if I had watched it from the beginning I would feel differently, but coming in the middle of the plot, just didn't grab me. Lots of attractive people though trapped on this island.

Well, after my rejection yesterday from number one agent, I had the pleasure of finding a partial request from another agent in my in-box last evening. The only problem is that she wants an exclusive if possible. Which considering right now, I haven't heard from either of the other three agents who have the manuscript is more than doable. One of the agents, I've completely written off. She seems really nice, but it's like the problem that I had with another agent last year, she just seems a tad flaky.

Still a bit miffed that I wasn't included in the Alllure magazine feature, although that's what I get for showing up at the meeting looking like 7 miles of bad road. Yikes, what was I thinking? Oh, I know, I was tired from working until 3 a.m. the night before. That was it.

Had some good feedback from my writing instructor and some of the students in my writing class. So far, they love my male character Ben. It seems I write teen male characters very well. It's not hard actually, I just think what an adult male would do and then dumb it down a bit. But Beatrice needs to be quirkier, and funnier. Right now, everyone seems to think she's too perfect. Which I quibble with a bit, but I understand where they are coming from.

Oh, and I learned that playing backgammon is considered boring for a teen character. Go figure. Perhaps, I'll have her play Text Twist on her computer or play Sudoku in pen. Need to work on that. Apparently making the changes will make all the difference between it sitting in my drawer or sitting on a bookshelf!

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Wacked out Wednesday

Isn't that a cool picture? It's a 17 apartment complex in a part of the Bronx called Spuyten Dyvil called Villa Charlotte Bronte. I just read about it this morning in the real estate section of the sunday New York Times. It was built in the 1920's. This is what I love about New York, just when you start to think it's an unforgiving concrete jungle of glass and chrome, you find unexpected little hamlets like this. It doesn't look like it belongs in New York does it? It's almost like something about of The Hobbit.

Looking at this picture cheers me up, which I need right now. I just received my rejection letter (finally) from the number one agent on my list. You know, Dream Agent No. 1. I had a feeling that was going to happen since it was taking her so long to read my full manuscript, despite the fact that I sent it to her in June! Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time believing that after sitting that long, she was going to call me and offer me representation. It doesn't seem to work that way from what I've heard from other people who've gotten offers.

My boss is also being a pain in the ass since I've gotten back. Now, he wants me to sit there and go through the expense system to see what hasn't been approved. I don't think so. It's his responsibility to approve these things, not me, he should keep up on it. I don't get paid enough to look over his shoulder.

I didn't get featured in Allure magazine either. I think I mentioned that they came to our chapter meeting and asked our opinion about Danielle Steel's new fragrance. Well, the three people they used, are all published authors. You would think that since I'm president of the Chapter they could include me. That's what I get for not wearing make-up, and showing up looking like a schlub.

Mercury is clearly getting ready for it's retrograde period, by everything that's gone on in the past two days.

So far no jet lag but usually when you return it's alot easier than when you go over. I went to sleep around 9:30 p.m. and then I'll write moreo about my adventures in London over the next few days.

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Things to do before I leave

Okay, so I'm leaving tonight for London, and here are just a few of things that I've either done or had to do today.

1) Mail out complete manuscript, and synopsis to agent who requested the full on Friday. 283 pages is alot. I almost didn't get it all into the envelope.

2) Finish writing November President's letter and Market News for Keynotes, our chapter newsletter.

3) Pay credit card bill

4) Email itinerary to pertinent people who need to know where the heck I am for the next seven days.

5) Copy down location of Burberry outlet and cool cafe called Coffee, Cake and Kink.

6) Write blog entry

7) Finish faxing over expense reports that didn't go through last week because there is only one fax number for the zillions of people who do expense reports.

8) Email friends to say good-bye.

9) Read horoscope for this week and also weather report for London.

10) Post another chapter on the bulletin board for my writer's class since I'll miss this week.

11) Put in hours on Time Sheet so I can paid next week.

12) Packed all items of clothing, and picked up toiletries, particularly items requested by my friend that I'm staying with.

13) Purchased new bag and boots to go with groovy outfits.

14) Finish writing chapter 8 of current WIP before I leave (have only few pages to go)

15) Print out partial of last WIP to review in terms of revising for agent who requested them.

16) Work up out of office email message.

17) Mail back Netflix DVD's.

18) Take laundry to dry cleaner.

19) Take out money to pay for Supershuttle.

20) Order lunch.

21) Finish few expense reports before leaving.

Whew that's alot, I'm tired just looking at the list. Well, gotta go!

Thanks for reading,

EKM

5) Change seat on plane and print out boarding pass.

London Calling

Since I'm leaving tomorrow night for London, this will probably be one of my last posts until I get back (unless I can wrest my friend's computer out of his hands in order to post).

Yesterday was our monthly chapter meeting where I welcomed the new board, which includes myself as President. I patted myself on the back and congratulated myself on being re-elected. Actually I ran unopposed, so the board voted on the slate. We had one of our members, Cathy Greenfeder speak, since the speaker I had scheduled didn't return any of the fifteen emails I sent her to confirm. Ouch!

Then I went to the fourth birthday party of my friend's little boy, where I drank a little too much white wine, and then my jacket disappeared. I had to borrow my friend's jacket. I think I overindulged in the wine because I thought that Fun Guy was going to be there. I'm not sure how I'm going to feel when I eventually see him again. He's supposed to be at another birthday party I'm going to at the end of the month. I'm just hoping that he comes alone and that he doesn't bring a woman with him. I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

After I left, I basically came home and passed out, but not before I read another few pages in Toby Young's second book, a sequel of sorts to How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. I read the first book while on vacation in Dublin four years ago. I was so incensed by his description of New York women, that I emailed him to say that if he'd spent less time trying to get a leg over on the models and socialites who populate Page Six, and trying to date 'regular' women, he might have met someone nice.

The premise of his first book, was that he came to New York hoping to become a famous magazine journalist. He got a job working for Vanity Fair, and then proceeded to spend the next five years acting like a jerk.

Now in the sequel, he's married and even more of a prat than he was in the first book. There isn't enough time to detail all the ways he acted like a jerk, but it included giving the worst best man speeches at his friends' weddings in history. Not to mention trying to teach his ten day old daughter how to crawl.

Still have to edit my chapter to post on the bulletin board for my class.

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Love Letter to Shonda Rimes

You know what today is of course. Yes, I know it's Friday, the 13th, but it's also the day after another episode of the finest show on network TV: Grey's Anatomy.

But now I'm not going to dissect the episode, or talk about my favorite scenes, today I'm going to wax rhapsodic over it's creator, Ms. Shonda Rimes, the brains behind Grey's Anatomy. The puppetmaster as it were.

How do I love Shonda Rimes? Let me count the ways. I love that she's so tightfisted with revealing the storylines, prefering not to have spoilers out there in the press to ruin our enjoyment. Keeping us surprised, so that you can't miss the last ten minutes of the episode, otherwise you're going to miss some juicy, juicy stuff.

I love her for her complicated characters, for making me care for all four members of the Mer/Der/Addy/Finn/McSteamy love quidrangle, or whatever it's called when it involveds 5 of the hottest people on television. I love that there are no easy answers and that people keep on suffering, they don't just get over things in the next episode. Witness the arc of George and Meredith's estrangement, and the entire season long reconciliation between Addison and Derek.

Seriously, I would pay money to sit at the feet of this woman for a month to watch her work with her staff. I'm dying for the Museum of Television and Radio to put out the DVD of the evening they did with the cast. As it is, I plan on hightailing it as soon as I have a chance to watch it on their tiny video monitors.

Everyone talks about Robert McKee's story seminars, but Shonda Rimes is the real deal. We're already what four episodes into the new season, and I'm just as hooked as I was when I went out and watched the entire first season in a weekend. Seriously I love this show so much, I need to get a life.

Meanwhile back in realityland, I received a full manuscript request from an agent for my first YA novel. Yippee me! Now I just have to bundle off that baby before I leave for London. The weather is turned chilly in New York, make it the perfect time to curl up in front of the TV with a good book and DVD, but I think tomorrow night I may toddle off to see Infamous, the other Truman Capote movie.

I studied with the actor who plays Truman Capote one summer, and I'm dying to see him in the role.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

In Memoriam

Yesterday, an unfortunate accident occurred in New York, when a private plane unexpectedly crashed into a high-rise on the Upper East Side. Two people were killed, pitcher Cory Lidle of the New York Yankees, and his flight instructor. No others were killed, although I'm sure that there were injuries from the damage to the building, not to mention the trauma of seeing that plane hit the building. It was eerily reminiscent of 9/11.

I have to admit that when I heard the news, the first person I thought of was Fun Guy. He lives on the Upper East Side, and I was seriously tempted to call him and find out if he was alright. Thankfully, I resisted temptation, although it was really hard. The building that was hit was a few blocks away from where he lives, and I'm pretty sure he would have seen through the ruse. Although I really was worried that he might have been involved.

My heart goes out to the families of Cory Lidle and the flight instructor. There was an article in the New York Times today talking about how most private planes don't fly on the East Side precisely because it's a little too traffic heavy with helicopters and other craft using that same airspace. Plus, it's not under the jurisdiction of LaGuardia airport air traffic controllers, meaning that it's up to each individual pilot to watch out for other aircraft.

It's such a sad accident. One of those incidents where you realize just how quickly life can change in a heartbeat.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

London Calling

Sorry for not posting. I'm under the gun on a lot of things before I leave on my vacation next Monday. As you can tell by the title of this post, I am headed off to London to stay with my friend who lives there. I can't wait. I need a vacation so badly it's not even funny. Let's just say that my performance at my night job this weekend was particularly lackluster, but that maybe because I worked three days in a row. And I pitched a fit about doing sports logging on Sunday, so you know that this week I'm finally going to have to take the plunge and do it.

Which means like 3 hours of baseball or god forbid football. Can I just kill myself now? Hopefully, in between logging, I'll have some time to do some writing. I'm approaching Chapter 8 in my WIP in progress and I'd like to write at least some pages before I leave. I'm taking my partial of my old manuscript with me to start the process of changing it from first person POV to third. Oh, and I had to find another speaker for our chapter meeting this weekend, because the speaker I had scheduled didn't respond to the fourteen emails that I sent her.

Granted, I know that's she's a busy writer, but she was speaking a the NJ conference this past weekend, and we had talked about her coming to New York the following weekend. Not to answer any of my many, many emails is just not cool. So her books now go to the top of my donate to the public library pile.

Finished the awesome Meg Cabot's How to be Popular. Now I can't wait to pick up the Princess Diaries 7 while I'm in London. It's in one volumen with the novella Sweet Sixteen Princess, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm also looking forward to buying Julie Cohen's books while I'm there along with a whole slew of other British authors I love that aren't published here like Jilly Cooper.

Saw the new movie The Queen with Helen Mirren to get into that London frame of mind. Loved it. Helena Mirren is brilliant as is Michael Sheen as Tony Blair. I've always admired Helen Mirren ever since Excalibur. She just gets more brilliant every year. I'm also watching her version of Elizabeth the I in the HBO miniseries that came out earlier this year. Thank God for Netflix!

Well, I need to go to finishing my 5 pages for the day.

Thanks for reading!

EKM

In Praise of Larger Men

I was just thinking the other day about how few fuller figured women there are in romance. But then I realized that there are almost no heroes in romance who aren't alpha males who look like the poster child for perfection. You never see a hero who might have a little junk in his trunk. But yet guys who don't have a six pack can be surprisingly sexy.

Take John Goodman for example. Here is with Luke Wilson, who let's face it is pretty handsome. Yet, Mr. Goodman doesn't look that bad either. Mr. Goodman look solid and comfortable. The type of guy you could imagine cuddling up with on a long winter's night in your warm jammies, just before you slip them off to have sex.

I've always thought John Goodman was sexy, way back when he was starring on Roseanne. I just thought he was adorable with his dimples, and curly hair. In fact, fun guy looks a little like John Goodman. I certainly wouldn't kick John Goodman out of bed for eating crackers.


And then there's Robbie Coltrane, probably known to most people as Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies. But before Harry, he was Cracker and he starred in Nuns on the Run, with Eric Idle. One of my favorite movies. If you haven't seen either Cracker or Nuns on the Run, I suggest that you get them from Netflix. He's awesome in both. In Cracker, if I remember correctly he plays either a detective or a pyschologist. But he's also a crap husband and an alcoholic. But still he's dead sexy. I don't know if it's the Scottish accent or what, but I used to find myself fantasizing about Mr. Coltrane when I watched Cracker on A&E.

Forest Whitaker is another actor who has a little junk in his trunk. The gentle giant, a guy who seems incredibly sweet but is also a powerhouse actor.

So these are just a few of the men I find sexy who aren't buff, tan and toned.

Who do you find sexy who might not fit Hollywood's image of what a sexy man is and what do you think of a hero who might be a little on the chunky side?

Thanks for reading.

EKM

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Well, I spoke to the agent yesterday who wanted to talk about my book. She doesn't want to represent it in the form that it's in right now. She gave me some very good feedback about what she didn't like, and what she thought I should do to fix. She also thought that it wouldn't sell in the form that it's in right now.

See, I wrote it in 3 different first person POV's. Because that's how the story came to me. It's been suggested by at least 3 people that I change it to third person, but have the narrator in first person who's telling the story sort of like a puppetmaster.

So now I have a choice. I can rewrite the partial for her, to see if it hangs together with these changes, and then we'll see whether or not she'll represent me. Or I cannot rewrite it and just keep submitting it the way it is now.

I'm leaning towards the rewrite. It can't hurt, and even if this agent ends up still rejecting the book, then another agent might like the rewrite. I'm looking at it as an exercise. It may turn out that even if an agent does take the book as it is, an editor might want me to change the POV's as well.

Thanks for reading.

EKM

Grey Friday

Well it's another Grey Friday in more ways than one. The temperature has gone way down here in New York. Fall apparently has decided to arrive. In celebration, I'm wearing my new Ann Taylor Loft outfit that I purchased last night. A brown plaid miniskirt that buttons down the front, and a pretty brown Fair Isle sweater. Ann Taylor Loft makes some great stuff. I actually like their stuff better than what they sell at Ann Taylor. It's like Ann Taylor is Barbie and Ann Taylor Loft is Skipper, her little sister. The prices are actually more reasonable than the prices at Ann Taylor. I look like a 1960's college co-ed attending one of the seven sister's colleges in this outfit.

So I watched 'Ugly Betty' last night. Loved the comment that Queen's College (Betty's alma mater) is one of America's value colleges. I love this show probably because America Ferrara is so adorable with her empanadas and her graduation bunny.

Now on to my absolutely favorite show in the entire universe, Grey's Anatomy. Yes, Meredith's fantasy echoed George's from the Super Bowl season, but loved her comment about how dating was fun and you get snacks. Didn't love George's passive-aggressive attitude towards Callie. Those two really need to sit down and have a conversation. Hated the way he got rid of her patient, but I didn't love the way she didn't listen to him. Loved Izzy wearing Denny's sweater standing outside the hospital, not able to go in.

I must be one of the few people in the world who has sympathy for Addison. When she was sitting in the closet crying and Meredith found her, it was a great moment for her, when she pleaded for just a few brief moments when she didn't have to see her. I believe that Addison really loves Derek, but she's incredibly attracted to Mark, and in a moment of weakness to try and get a rise out of Derek she succumbed and slept with him. And now Mark may be staying in Seattle, ratcheting up the tension. How is Derek going to feel having his best friend on his turf for good? Awesome.

And then there's Cristina, who tried to help Burke the only way she knew how, by bringing home a chicken he could operate on.

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Close but No Cigar

Well, I received another rejection letter for Crazy Little Thing Called Love. The agent in question thought it was a cute idea, with lots of potential, but he didn't think the 3 narrators were interesting enough to warrant doing it that way. So he felt he had to step aside. So once again it was close but no cigar.

I'm getting a little discouraged. It's hard to hear that they like your writing or the idea, and then to hear a but. It's like what do I have to do to move beyond that 'but'? Yes, keep writing but for how long? I really feel that this idea and the series is the best thing that I've come up with since I've been writing. It's fresh, it's new, it's different, but there seems to be something in the way that I'm executing it that just isn't taking. Or maybe I just haven't found that mythical right agent yet. I'm behing to wonder if this person even exists.

Now, I've just gotten another half-rejection. The agent can't offer me represenation at this time, but she wants to talk to me about the book. What does that mean? Should I take that as a good sign? I don't know. The whole thing is confusing and making me want to reach for a bag of Pepperidge Farms which can't be good for my hips.

Anyone else feel like they're on a wagon going nowhere?

Thanks for reading!

EKM

George Clooney - Serial Dater

So, George Clooney just announced that he wanted to spend three months dating a different famous actress every night to send the paparazzi into a feeding frenzy. Yes, he wants to have dinner with Halle Berry one night, lunch with Salma Hayek and then walk along the beach holding hands with Leonardo DiCaprio (Okay that one I don't quite get).

Oh, George, George. Why are you wasting your time with these women, when you could be dating moi? Yes, Halle Berry is drop dead gorgeous but according to MyHeritage, I also look like Eva Longoria and Reese Witherspoon. Dating me would be like dating several famous actresses all at once (I also apparently resemble Gabrielle Union and Rachel McAdam. See previous post).

Oh, George, I could show you the beauty of the city that is New York. Not just dinners at Mr. Chow's, but hanging out drinking Australian beer down at 8 Mile Creek. I live near a park where you could play basketball to your heart's content (just know that they'll probably beat the crap out of you.)

I do admire your taste George. How kind of you to say that Clive Owen is one of the best actors you've seen in the past two to three years. And to speak glowingly of his masculine presence.

George call me!

In other news, Danielle Steel has come out with a new book called HRH about a princess of Liechtenstein. Um, is DS aware that Liechtenstein actually exists and it doesn't have King but a heriditary Grand Duke? And that it's most famous for producing stamps? I'm just saying if you're going to go to all the trouble of writing a book about a royal family, why not take a leaf out of Meg Cabot's book, and make up your own country? That way, you wont' have annoying people like me complaining.

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Query Fever

Well, I said I was going to start querying again, and darn it, I did. This morning I sent two separate queries to agents, one of whom responded back right away and requested the first 30 pages. I also sent emails to the agents who already have either the manuscript or the partial. I'm glad I did because it turns out that one of the agents is leaving the agency where she worked. Great! Good thing I emailed, or I would never have known. I still don't have an answer about the manuscript, nor have I heard from the other two agents I emailed. Yikes!

No matter what happens with the two agents I queried today, I'm glad that I got off my duff. I've been too complacent because the manuscript is parked with two agents I would love to be represented by. Big mistake. My baby needs to be read by more people. So by the end of this week, I'm hoping to send it out to at least 3-5 more people.

Ah, the cutie in the corner is Prince Lorenzo Borghese, the totally Americanified (is that even a word? Oh well, Shakespeare made up his own words) Prince who is the new Bachelor. I'm telling you I didn't have high hopes for this season after the travesty that was Travis Dork, but after least night, I'm cautiously optimistic.

We have one diva (Erica who showed up in a really cheap looking tiara), who declared that she'd never flown coach before, Desiree, the potential slut of the group, and Sadie the virgin. Plus, one Italian chick that was brought in at the last minute to compete with the Americans. Even though Lorenzo's title is purely ceremonial (they have no land or anything), he seems like a remarkably down to earth guy. He's rich but he doesn't seem snobby or entitled. Hard to believe he lives in New York, when even the poorest guys think they're hot shit.

So I'm willing to give true love and The Bachelor a chance, if only for the entertainment value, since I'm pretty sure none of these girls are right for him. They all seemed entirely too impressed with his title and money before they even got there.

Thanks for reading,

EKM