photography

Anyone that knows me, knows I love playing around with my camera. I've always envied the photographers who could do the 'photographic art'. I've never had that artistic eye, but I enjoy snapping pictures, non the less. Below are a few I took at the park the other day.

We survived the invasion

Or at least what invasion there was. I was actually disappointed in Halloween this year. After several years on a mini-farm in the middle of nowhere, I was looking forward to being in a subdivision and doing up Halloween like I remembered it as a kid. The house and yard were decorated, the pumpkins carved and flickering, the spooky music playing.

I was one of three houses on my street that decorated. One at each end and one in the middle. Unfortunately, there was about twenty houses in between that did little to nothing. My daughter and I made the large circle that is out street and I think I counted two carved pumpkins, not counting my own. Less than a third of the houses had lights on.

Despite the lack of participation, there was some interesting things going on. One man pulled kids around the neighborhood in a wagon full of hay behind a four wheeler. One man chased older kids around the street with a saw, minus the chain of course. Just alot of noise, but the kids seemed to get a kick out of it. One man had a photo studio set up in his garage. With a graveyard backdrop, he'd print out a 5x7 portrait of your little monster to commemorate the holiday. Interesting idea.

We had about 80 trick or treaters come through before we finally ran out of candy at about 8:30. Mostly little kids. Some older ones. Some too old to be trick or treating but what do you do?

I don't know what it was, but this year just seemed to lack the magic and spookiness. There were so few houses doing anything, it felt lame, like Halloween is dying. There's so much fear in the world now, most people chose to do other things. There's lots of haunted houses, hayrides, corn mazes and we've done them all, but I think trick or treating is dying a slow death. In a few more years, it may very well flatline.

Surrogates review

Based on Robert Venditti's graphic novel of the same name, director Jonathan Mostow's sci-fi thriller is set in a futuristic world in which humans hibernate at home while living their lives vicariously through robot surrogates. When a series of mysterious surrogate murders occurs, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) ventures out into the world for the first time in years to investigate. Radha Mitchell and Ving Rhames co-star.

Well...interesting movie...:) My son and I went to see this last night. It was actually pretty good. Humans now live life through robots surrogates. They can be younger, prettier, thinner, and even in some cases, a completely different sex--transgender without the painful surgery. It proves to be addictive and in the end, not quite as wonderful as everyone imagined it would be. But it got me to wondering...if I could be anyone else, would I? Somedays I would say yes in a heartbeat. In the movie, though, people have come to rely on their surrogates and never leave their houses.

Such is the case for Greer.

But he doesn't venture out willingly. His surrogate is destroyed and he's forced to continue the investigation in the flesh, feeling pain, fatigue, and fear for the first time in eight years. In addition to the investigation, there is a subplot between him and his wife that at times is gutwrenchingly sad.

All and all, it is a great movie. Very entertaining and thought provoking.

Updates and what not

Well, it's that time of year again. My favorite. I just love fall and Halloween. I'm all stocked up and ready with all kinds of chocolate candy, the ghouls are hanging from the columns, the pumpkins and mums are out, the Halloween lights are up, the skeletons are digging their way out of their graves in the front yard. Bring on the Trick or Treaters...lol.

As for writing, I've returned to my favorite serial killer villian in my next Menage/Romantic Suspense, entitled Dead Wreckening. I'm about halfway through that one so it won't be long...:) I'm also almost finished with the next book in the Entwined Fates series, Slaves. In this enstallment, our hero finally tackles the slave trade.

Then next on the agenda is another menage/romantic suspense entitled Fright Factory, which is actually a combination of a weird dream I had the other night as well as a show I saw on the travel channel showcasing the country's scariest Halloween haunts. It's a story I hope to release around Halloween 2010.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Happy Haunting...:)

To Serve and Protect

When it comes to a man in a uniform, these four ladies show their insatiable lovers exactly who's the boss...in the bedroom.

My new anthology is due out November 2009. For more information and to re-order click below.

http://www.amazon.com/Serve-Protect-Elloras-Cave/dp/1439131546/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256129901&sr=1-2

Another great review for Shutter

This story is touching and sensual, I was gripped by Bethany emotional journey of healing. While Trista Ann Michaels writes highly erotic scenes that are scorching, this author also manages to find the true nature behind her characters which brought the story real depth. This was a wonderful read and one I will not forget!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Thank you, Steph...:)

More from the Memphis Zoo

Singing pumpkins greet you...
Even the statues are dressed for the occassion...

The bird wonders...do these feathers make me look fat?

Where you talking to me?

Aw, sunshine...:)

Lunch...want some?