Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Back In Black

Yes, I'm back, with a brand spankin' new eMachine sitting in front of me!

I just finished my edits for "Confessions Of A Sugar Plum Fairy" and sent them off. My editor at Silk's really liked the story, calling it charming and sweet, so I'm happy.

And it looks like the two digests I proposed to Midnight Showcase may become a reality after all.

I hope to get my tree up this week, and to start my shopping, most of which will be done online. Because of my mixed heritage, I celebrate Yule and Hannukah as well as Christmas, plus my birthday is December 11, so this will probably be a busy month for me.

Never fear, I shall continue blogging and keep you all updated with my ever present navel gazings.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 4:15 PM :: 1 Comments:

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Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Watch This Space

My computer has crashed dismally, and until further notice, my internet access will be limited to what I can manage on a borrowed laptop with a cracked screen -- the machine I affectionately refer to as "The Crack Whore." Which means I won't be blogging much, if any, until this situation is resolved.

Food for thought: Songs I'd be happy to never hear again...

"We Built This City On Rock 'N Roll" - Starship
"Love Shack" - B52's
Anything by Bon Jovi.

Your turn! Leave me a comment with your shizzle, my bizzles! Yes, I typed that with a straight face.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 9:01 AM :: 0 Comments:

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Sunday, November 20, 2005

Don't Fear The Reaper

Isn't if funny how the exact moment you become worried about getting in over your head, you have the rug ripped out from under you?

The minute you begin to worry that you're going to have too much of a good thing, you will find yourself with nothing.

Someone kill me now.

Please.

Really.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 10:13 PM :: 0 Comments:

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Friday, November 18, 2005

Digital Love

Ok, so I like fake stuff.

I'd rather have enourmous amounts of oversized P. Diddyesque bling than a small, tasteful, genuine diamond. I'm the girl wearing the ginormous zirconia studded nameplate necklace ala Carrie Bradshaw. Only bigger. And tackier.

I like fake Christmas trees. Pink ones, white ones, red ones, anything but green. Green is just not fabulous enough for me these days.

I live in an apartment in south Texas, which means fireplaces aren't a viable option. I solved this problem by purchasing a dvd of a fireplace, complete with snap crackle pop sound effects. To complete the digital atmosphere, I added a few tea lights billed as "fireplace scented."

It works surprisingly well.

Tomorrow, if all goes well, I'm going to a local natural food store to purchase a fake turkey roast for Thanksgiving. I love fake meat. I haven't had a bite of real meat in seven years, and why would I need to? The fake stuff is better, less messy to cook, and healthier.

I wear colored contacts. I have colored hair. I love makeup. I love perfume.

I sleep on a waterbed with a white noise machine supplying ocean sounds.

Isn't life a little prettier when it's wearing makeup?

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 10:39 PM :: 1 Comments:

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---------------oOo--------------- Author Day At Ebooklove!

Author Bonnie Dee and I are having a great time over at ebooklove. Come join us!

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 10:42 AM :: 0 Comments:

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Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Who Moved My Cheese?

You know you've hit some kind of new low in personal strangeness when you find yourself cramming low sodium Ritz crackers into your mouth two at a time after midnight, and though you're on four hours sleep, you've convinced yourself this is quite normal and even fun.

Last night, my dad called and asked me what I'd had for dinner. "Chicken nuggets and Tylenol," I answered him truthfully, before realizing how odd it sounded.

Did I mention that they were faux chicken nuggets? I'm a dedicated vegetarian. But hey, I did have honey mustard on the side, which makes it a meal. Or something. Right?

I'd love to use this blog for witty commentary and snappy anecdotes, but instead I find myself tempted to delve into taboo subjects, like writing an anal sex scene (which I just did), or having PMS (which I do). And really, it might be a good thing if I discussed my PMS in the blog. People should be warned to wear protective headgear around me for about five days out of every month. It's been one of those "drop the chocolate and back away slowly" kind of weeks, yesiree.

For I do not have normal PMS. Oh, no. I have a souped up form of bastardized PMS called PMDD. It's the illegal cockfight of PMS. The ramshackle roadside bar of PMS. The straight to video Anna Nicole Smith movie of PMS. This is the shit that made Sylvia Plath stick her head in the oven. And believe me, a long nap near the gas pipe begins to seem like a good idea about three days into the monthly journey through hell.

Somehow, I always manage to arrive at The Big Love Scene in whatever I'm writing during this touchy period (puns fully intended). It's not exactly good timing, since part of my PMDD involves an intense desire to castrate any male who dare speak to me. Instead I vent my hostilities via my alter ego on TWoP and binge eat, occasionally indulging in crying jags while listening to England Dan and John Ford Coley. There, I said it. I like cheezy AM Gold kinda stuff.

Do you want to make something of it?

I'm almost finished an entire pack of Ritz while writing this. It would've been a lot better with some cheezy whip, but no one remebered to pick it up at the store. I think I'll hit the fridge and see if anything looks promising.

Anything would have to be better than chicken nuggets and Tylenol.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 12:44 AM :: 0 Comments:

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Sunday, November 13, 2005

Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These

I suppose I had it coming.

After some real highs on the career front last week -- not the least of which included being hired by Suite -- I'm having the kind of day that makes "wino" seem like a viable lifestyle choice.

There are aspects of this writing life that I don't think I'll ever get used to. I'm dealing with many of those aspects today.

I always want my work to please everyone, but that's not possible. I want to thrill my editors, wow my publishers, dazzle reviewers, and enrapture my readers. That's not possible, either.

Pass the wine.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 10:03 PM :: 0 Comments:

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---------------oOo--------------- Actual Work Related Post

I am now a regular nonfiction contributor to Suite Magazine. Look for my first article in the December issue.

I'm really pleased with this development and am looking forward to working with them.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 8:44 PM :: 0 Comments:

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---------------oOo--------------- I Only Wear Five Colors...

...and one of them is red.


You're a "Red Angel" and just because
it's red doesn't mean blood or something.
Actually, it stands for an angel in love.
You're obsessed with one person and can't get
your mind off them and it's eating you away a
little. You'd do anything for them and wait
patiently for the day they return the feelings.
You're a hopeless romantic and little things
like roses and hugs charm you. You're very
affectionate but you're shy. You're afraid of
getting rejected. Think if it this way, the
brave may not live forever but the catious
never live at all. Don't be afraid to show your
feelings. (If you cannot see the picture, go to
my homepage and scroll down near the bottom. I
have the results from all my quizess that have
pics)

What Color Angel Are You? (PICS)

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 3:24 PM :: 0 Comments:

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Friday, November 11, 2005

Perfection

Every now and then, life gifts us with a moment of rare and perfect happiness, as elusive as a snowflake in June.

Today was filled with such moments.



You are Arwen. You are dark and mysterious and you
also have really cool outfits. You care deeply
for the one you love, and would do anything for
him, even forsake your family and/or friends.
You also stole Glorfindel's part in the book,
but that's okay, because you were awesome.

Which Middle-earth maiden are you?

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 12:00 AM :: 0 Comments:

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Thursday, November 10, 2005

Balancing Act

Sasha White addressed this issue in her blog, and since it's been on my mind constantly, I'll address it in mine:

balance.

I have a terrible problem maintaining balance in my life. Maybe I have the opposite of ADHD -- some sort of hyper-obsessive attention disorder. I seem to focus on one area of my life with laser-like precision to the detriment of everything else.

Right now, it's writing. There are days when I eat, sleep, and breathe it. Sometimes I can't sleep at night because I'm turning an idea over in my head...and anyone who knows me knows that I am the World's Best Sleeper. My work has *that much* of a hold on me.

I pull myself away from it to watch tv at night for a little while. I crochet. I do crossword puzzles. And I read, but reading is really just an extension of writing, for me.

But even when I'm doing these other things, my mind is perpetually thinking about my writing, like a gerbil running on a wheel.

This isn't always a good thing. I hate messes and find a cluttered environment to be distracting and unhealthy, but I've let cleaning slide. I have CFIDS and I need to pay attention to my health, and I am walking on my treadmill every day, but I'm not doing nearly everything I could and should be doing for myself. It's the time of year when I tend to get sick and stay that way, so I need to make the effort to build myself up.

I managed to get a bottle of B complex and am taking it every morning, along with calcium/magnesium/zinc every night. And since I am generally a healthy eater (vegetarian), I don't have to worry about *what* I eat. How *much* I eat is another issue, but I've been so obsessed with my work that I've been doing less of the compulsive overeating thing lately.

Usually I have a very active spiritual life, and that's gotten lost in the shuffle as well.

Maybe I should schedule time for these things, then make myself stick to the schedule. I don't know.

But I do need to work on balance before I burn myself out completely.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 8:38 AM :: 0 Comments:

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Tuesday, November 08, 2005

And The Good News Is...

...Season Spirits is #38 on the erotica bestseller's list at fictionwise.com!

Two other Midnight Showcase publications have also cracked the top 50 -- Sinful Sundaes, a fabulous Halloween digest, and Second Sight, a collection by Ann Regentin.

And finally, Midnight Showcase is going into audio books. They also have a new shopping cart system that makes downloading even easier. Check out all the new stuff at http://www.midnightshowcase.com

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 11:35 AM :: 0 Comments:

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Monday, November 07, 2005

Destination: Higher Floor

Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called life
Electric word, life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here to tell you
There's something else:
The afterworld.
A world of never ending happiness
You can always see the sun, day or night
So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills
You know the one...
Dr Everything'll Be Alright
Instead of asking him how much of your time is left
Ask him how much of your mind, baby
'Cuz in this life
Things are much harder than in the afterworld
In this life
You're on your own
And if the elevator tries to bring you down
Go crazy...
Punch a higher floor.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 8:55 PM :: 0 Comments:

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Sunday, November 06, 2005

They Got The Cheerleader Injuring Part Right...

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 10:54 PM :: 0 Comments:

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Saturday, November 05, 2005

Meme This!

Three screen names that you've had: Simone LeBlanc, Marianne Dashwood, this one
Three things you like about yourself: my imagination, my lack of pretense, my adaptability
Three things you don't like about yourself: my introversion, my lack of confidence, my inability to fit in anywhere
Three parts of your heritage: Cherokee, Jewish, Creole
Three things that scare you: illness, death, hospitals
Three of your everyday essentials: decaf diet soda, chocolate, my cell phone
Three things you are wearing right now: a nightgown...that's pretty much it
Three of your favorite songs: "Carnival" - Natalie Merchant "I've Been Everywhere" - Johnny Cash "Feeling Good" - Nina Simone
Three things you want in a relationship: love, passion, intensity
Two truths and a lie: I like where I'm at in my life right now. I appreciate simple pleasures. I really don't want it.
Three things you can't live without: my family, my pets, sleep
Three places you want to go on vacation: Hawaii, Napa, Seattle
Three things you just can't do: math, meeting new people without anxiety, reach things on the top shelf
Three kids names: Olivia, Dominic, Camille
Three things you want to do before you die: get married...I think I've done everything else
Three celeb crushes: Thorsten Kaye, Jacob Young, Mr. Romance Andrei Claude
Three of your favorite musicians: Stevie Nicks, Prince, David Bowie (I'm listening to the latter as I type this)
Three physical things about the opposite sex that appeals to you: height, masculinity, and presence...everything else is gravy. And by height I mean someone taller than I am, which isn't asking much, since I'm only 5'1".
Three of your favorite hobbies: crochet, reading, reading tarot
Three things you really want to do badly right now: take a shower, attempt my first solid meal since catching the stomach flu from my dad, finish putting out my Thanksgiving decorations
Three careers you're considering/you've considered: flight attendant, lawyer, writer
Three ways that you are stereotypically a boy: I like sports, I like beer, and I am generally uninhibited
Three ways that you are stereotypically a girl: everything I own is pink, I love the domestic arts, and dress in a very feminine manner.
Three people that I would like to see post this meme: anyone!

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 12:05 PM :: 0 Comments:

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Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Oy Gevault

There is truly nothing like watching your father -- a two-time stroke victim with chronic renal failure -- become sick with stomach flu on every piece of furniture in the house.

Unless it's finally getting the bed cleaned up and moving him to the couch, upon which he becomes sick again, finishing off the last of the clean bedding.

But wait! There's more! Your Chihuahua begins vomiting while you're cleaning up said couch, then you watch in horror as blood spurts from her rear end.

And if you call now, we'll throw in the chance to leave your ailing father at home alone while you rush the bleeding, vomiting Chihuahua to the animal ER at 2:00 AM.

Throw in three rejections from various publishers, and you have my weekend.

On a happy note, this tabletop autumn village I bought as part of my Thanksgiving decorations is seriously bitchen.

Wake me when it's over.

Posted by Alecia Monaco :: 10:09 PM :: 0 Comments:

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