Mermaids’ Favorite Fairy Tales

January 28, 2015Alethea KontisAlethea

Hello, everyone! Alethea Mermaid here.

With Hero out in paperback this week and Dearest out next week, I’ve got a serious case of Fairy Tales on the brain (and Buzzfeed just told the world that fans of Once Upon a Time should read Enchanted…how cool is that?!?).

With all those Happily Ever Afters in my noggin, I took the opportunity to ask my fellow mermaids which tales were THEIR favorites.

(Mine? “The Goose Girl” by the Brothers Grimm. Followed closely by “Snow White & Rose Red” and “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” and “The Wild Swans” and “The Fairies”…)

Kerri Mermaid — My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast (the Disney film version). Not only do I love the idea of kindness and really getting to know who a person is on the inside, but Belle likes to read. And I dig that! Reading rocks my socks!

Carlene Mermaid — My favorite fairytale has always been “Thumbelina.” As a kid who grew up traveling between divorced parents, grandparents and family and friends to be taken care of, I always appreciated how Thumbelina, or “Tiny”, was also passed from one to another. I think kids identify with “feeling small” when we’re growing up and don’t quite have the ability to control our destiny yet. I also adored the swallow she cared for. He probably began my lifelong love for romance heroes who sacrifice their happiness for the ones they love.

Masha Mermaid — “The Ice Queen.” A reminder there is good and bad in all of us, and not to let the bad cloud your vision.

Susan Mermaid — When I was learning to ready, my parents had brought a volume back from Japan, after their stationing there was over (and I was born). It was called “Japanese Fairy Tales,” and I used to go through it and look at the illustrations. I especially liked “The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child,” and “How An Old Man Lost His Wen.”

I liked the bamboo cutter story because it was so nice that he was rewarded with such a beautiful daughter, when he’d given up hope. And the old man who lost his wen (goiter) was so clever. Beautiful, kind, clever… What’s not to love about those type of stories?

Pintip Mermaid — “Puss in Boots”! I love heist movies like Ocean’s Eleven, where characters employ fun and ingenious tricks to rob a bank, casino, etc. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, “Puss in Boots” was my favorite fairy tale as a kid. I wasn’t focused on the moral back then; I just loved how clever the cat was!

Kimberly Mermaid — My favorite fairy tale is “Beauty and the Beast” for so many reasons. I loved the idea of superficial and arrogant people being called on it and brought down a few pegs. And I like the idea of people falling in love without getting caught up with appearances. I think the prince would have always been a shallow shell of a man without having lived many years as a beast. It’s probably why I liked Shrek, too!

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So…what’s YOUR favorite fairy tale?

Clutter Blocks My Brain – Or Does It?

January 22, 2015Health, mermaids, Motivation, Susan Jefferyadvice, children, clutter, home, tidy, toys, writingSusan Jeffery

No, this is not a blog about clutter (sort of). I’ve been reading a lot about clutter this month, however – when I’m not reading yummy romance novels, that is (Jamie Beck’s Worth the Wait – so good!). It *is* the first of the year, though – and resolutions are made (and broken) every New Year. Mine is all about getting my house under control.

I’ve been reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo, and it is a fascinating read. And the best part of using her tips, is the number of bags that have already left the house. I can almost see myself gliding through a perfectly organized home. *brief pause* Okay, done with that mirage. But…

I remember a moment, years ago, at the beginning of my writing career, when my friend said to her mother, “Susan is one of those neat freaks. We have to pick everything up before we’re done playing.”

“She has a very small house,” her mother answered. “Small houses require a person to be very picky about being neat, or she will be overwhelmed in no time.”

And I patted myself on the back. I was a tidy person! I could clean the house, top to bottom, in a single day (it was a really small house). I took care of my family that way. And I wrote while my daughter napped. It wasn’t hard at all!

(Fast forward thirty years….)

Where did that woman go? Who is this aging writer, with Too Much Stuff in her clutches and Too Many Stories in her brain? My children are grown, I have a big(ger) house, and it’s a mess. I recently read an article about how creative people thrive in disorder and I wonder: how? I’m a creative person and, whenever I sit down to write, I find myself contemplating the clutter around me. I mentally shame myself for not leaping to my feet and cleaning it all up. Then, I tell myself, I could write in peace, loving the house I’m living in and having freedom to spin my glorious tales (which would immediately make every bestseller list known, and gain me a gazillion dollars).

Something tells me my fantasy is a lie. Clutter and ~~brain block~~ are separate problems, and it’s blame-shifting to allow myself to delay writing because I’m bothered by the mess around me. I’m either going to write, or I’m not. (And, even as I write this, the devil on my shoulder whispers that cleaning up just the area in front of my would open the floodgates of creativity.)

Where I write, before stuff crawled began to surround me… !

What do you think? Have you ever been stopped dead by clutter? Or do you thrive in it? Do you enjoy settling down to a pristine, tastefully decorated desk? Do you color code your file folders? Or are you a whirlwind of disorder, obsessed with spinning your tales and too darned bad if the junk doesn’t get picked up – you have stories to write!

Maybe it’s a fantasy I have, that my house will be perfect one day. Maybe I need to write a story about the house that could be perfect. Wait – I already have that story in progress!

Where do *you* like to write the most, and what atmosphere makes you the most productive?

What’s in a Title?

January 21, 2015mermaidsPintip

I’ve never given much thought to the titles of my books. For my first several manuscripts, they just came to me during the beginning stages of the writing, and they seemed to fit perfectly (in my humble opinion).

The title of my latest book was more problematic. During the writing, I used a placeholder title I wasn’t crazy about because I couldn’t come up with anything better. Before the manuscript went on submission, my agent and I settled on a new title I wasn’t crazy about because we couldn’t come up with anything better.

And then last week, my editor said to me, “We need a new title.” I knew this was it — if I didn’t come up with something better, my book would be stuck with a title I wasn’t crazy about.

But how to come up with a new title — a title I loved — when I’d already tried and failed over the course of the last year?

Based on the advice of several friends, I used the following ways to brainstorm potential book titles:

1) I looked at the structure of popular movie titles and tweaked the words.

2) I read through my manuscript and pulled out interesting phrases.

3) I looked up quotes containing key words pertaining to my manuscript and jotted down interesting ways in which those words were used.

4) I read through song lyrics of the music I listened to (and was presumably inspired by) while writing the manuscript.

5) I looked at the communications contained in my book — a note from one character to another, a journal entry — to see if I could substitute a new phrase that would make a good title.

From these five methods, I compiled an enormous list of titles, many of which were terrible and could be discarded immediately. I chose the top forty and sent the list to my agent and editor.

My agent narrowed the list to nine titles, and then my editor narrowed it to three. Of those three, I campaigned for my favorite. My editor agreed, and then my agent agreed, and . . .

Voila! I think we have a new title! I don’t know if it’s final yet, so I won’t announce it here. But I will say that although the title didn’t originally stand out for me, it grew on me the more I thought about it.

And now, I can finally say: I’m pretty crazy about my title.

How do you come up with book titles? What is your favorite book title (yours or someone else’s)? How many times have your titles changed?

Please share!

I Did It

January 20, 2015mermaidsMasha Levinson

A few months ago I wrote about how I went to the Bethesda Writer Center in the hopes of reading my work aloud. In front of humans. Living humans. And I chickened out. Well, I’m happy to report that I went back for another helping of terror pie and this time, I did it.

There were about 20 or so people in the room. A few faces I’d seen last time. I took the last seat in the farthest corner of the room and pulled out my papers. Earlier that day, I’d gone through which poems and narrative I was going to read. You get anywhere from four to seven minutes, depending on how many people sign up. I think I was number 12. Person after person went up to the mic. I sat, listening to their words. I didn’t feel anxiety or fear. Actually, I didn’t feel anything.

That should have been my clue.

Before I knew it, it was my turn. And then it became real. I’d have to walk, from the back of the room, to the mic and stand there. And read. And not throw up. Or pass out. I forced my feet to move, one, then the other, carefully blotting out any peripheral vision. They’re not there. They’re not there. Or so I told myself.

I began to speak.. and then heard, “Can you speak up? We can’t hear you.” I kept my head low, but upped my voice. I knew the words were coming out too fast. But I didn’t care. And then I heard gasps. I lifted my head. And saw faces. Eyes, mouths, noses.. all focused on me. And they were listening. The gasps came at the right point in the story. I knew there were listening.

I slowed my pace, enunciating the words. At points, I even looked up. I heard snickers and then some laughs. Again, they came at perfect timing.

When I was done, I went to my seat, tuning out clapping (everyone claps for everyone). And sat. Recovering from my ordeal.

A while later, it was over. I began to collect my things when a man came over.
“Good job,” he said. “You spoke a bit low and fast at the beginning. But I liked your work. Hope to see you again.”

Yes. Maybe I will see them again.

Evernight Teen’s Birthday Blog Hop, UPDATED!

January 16, 2015Giveaway, Mermaids & FriendsBlog Hop, Evernight Teen, iPad Mini, Melissa Frost, Sports Themed Young Adult RomanceCarlene

Dearest Fishy Friends:

The Waterworld Mermaids lost several posts from the past two weeks, including our original posting for the fabulous Evernight Teen Birthday Blog Hop. Unfortunately, all record of the wonderful comments left on that original post were also lost. If you commented then, please comment again here. And if you are visiting the hop for the first time, please comment as well! The mermaids are keeping a handwritten record this time, just in case the mysterious ghost of the lagoon strikes again. We want your comments counted toward the awesome prizes being offered and we want you to know all about the awesome book by Melissa Frost being spotlighted here in the pond! Thank you for your patience. Fishy kisses, xoxoxo.

Happy Birthday to EVERNIGHT TEEN! Continue reading →

The Solitude of Writing–It’s ALL Good!

January 15, 2015Loni Lynne, mermaids, Motivation, WritingLoni Lynne

Writing to some may be considered a lonely profession but for me…it’s never lonely. Which is not necessarily a good or bad thing–it just is.

Working from home to write is not all it’s cracked up to be (no, I do not spend time in my jammies–unless it is a snow day or I am sick). But you would think I would get a heck of a lot of writing done in my secluded basement office typing away all day long.

NOPE!

Working from home has some people thinking you have all the time in the world to do things like, run errands, pick up sick kids from school, volunteer for that PTA thing, go on field trips, housework, pick up prescriptions, make doctors appointments…

WAIT! That sounds like the job of a stay at home mom! (Well, technically in a round about way, I still am even though my girls are grown now.)

So when the hubster asked if I would like to go with him on one of his month-long business trips to do nothing but stay in a hotel room all day while he is at work what did I say:

HECK YEAH!

“Won’t you be bored?”

“I have two books I’m working on, marketing, social media, updates to my website/blog, reading, reviews and a few millions of other things that come with being a self-published author…I don’t think I will have time to be ‘bored’, sweetheart.”

Just the past few days in this ‘boring, extended stay hotel’, I have achieved more of my goals than I could have done in two weeks at home in my office. I also don’t have to worry about taking time to drive to the gym, as they have a fitness center only around the corner from my room. Breakfast is free (though I’m Gluten-Free I’d really love to have one of the waffles but settle for yogurt and fresh fruits and occasionally scrambled eggs if I am in the mood). I have a kitchenette that I have fresh strawberries, bananas and milk for lunch and Kind bars for snacks. When hubs gets home, my day ends and we share quality time.

So am I a bored, lonely, social recluse?

YEP! And I’m loving every minute of it.

Hey everyone, I’ll be back on Facebook as soon as I post this…still have a few minutes of social time before I get back to the novel! LOL

HUGS!!

Merry Mermaidy Holiday Hugs!

December 22, 2014mermaidshappy holidaysCarlene

It is with sparkly fins and grateful hearts that

The Waterworld Mermaids thank you for a fin-tastic 2014

& wish you

A warm and bubbly holiday season!

See you in 2015, Fishy Friends, xoxoxoxo.

Fishy Kisses,

Alethea Mermaid

Carlene Mermaid

Dana Mermaid

Denny Mermaid

Kerri Mermaid

Kimberly Mermaid

Loni Mermaid

Masha Mermaid

Pintip Mermaid

and

Susan Mermaid

Mermaids from Coast to Coast

December 19, 2014Alethea Kontis, Carlene Love Flores, mermaidsAlethea

Carlene & Alethea — Mermaids Forever!

Alethea: I honestly believe that Carlene and I were destined to meet. Even on the day we officially met–around that table at the WRW luncheon that we relabeled “Misfits”–we realized we’d already met once before. “You might not remember this,” Carlene said, “but I saw you at a Sherrilyn Kenyon signing. You helped me take a photo.” “I am SO glad you said that,” I told her. “Because you look so familiar, it’s been bugging me.”

Carlene: Yes! Destiny it is. That was the weekend I joined WRW just so that I could meet Sherrilyn at that retreat. What I came away with was the blessing that is Uh-lee-thee-uh!

Alethea: Carlene and I were instant friends. Our shared love of music led us to a few concerts together, and mutual fangirl squeeing over bands.

Carlene: I still owe you a Kings of Leon concert!

Alethea: Carlene and her son even came over to my apartment and helped me pack during my escape from Washington DC to Titusville, Florida. Carlene moved this past summer as well…only she went all the way to San Diego, California.

Carlene: That was a fun packing day and you were a wonderful hostess. That sauce you gave me …Tiki Marsala or something … yum! I also believe there was a delicious smoothie involved. And lots of books. Lots. Of. Books.

Alethea: I’m glad I had those years with Carlene, (Me too) however brief. Thanks to the magic of the interwebs, we get to stay in touch almost as much as we used to! Even better, Carlene and I get to bring some coast-to-coast culture here to the Mermaid lagoon.

Today–as a special Mermaid treat for December–Carlene and I are taking you on a sunny, seaside tour of our favorite new writing spots, from sunrise to sunset.

“Writing at the beach” often conjures the mental image of a woman in a bikini relaxing on the sand with a laptop. A romantic notion, but NO NO NO. Sand is HORRIBLE for electronics. And have you ever tried to see the screen on your phone in bright sunlight? Exactly. The same goes for your laptop. As for the bikini…well…we’ll just leave that part to your imagination.

Carlene: Yeah, ditto everything Alethea just said. I originally set out to disprove her “you can’t write on a laptop at the beach” theory but alas, she’s one smart cookie.

Without further ado, Alethea and Carlene now bring you the Bi-Coastal Mermaid Writing Tour!

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Alethea: As the Mermaid of the East, I’ll start with sunrise. And not just any sunrise…this particular sunrise was the morning of the infamous Orion test launch. This is the part about living on the Space Coast that fills my geeky little princess heart with glee. (That square block you see on the far left is the NASA Space Shuttle Assembly Building.) Carlene: This was so cool! Orion landed about 630 miles from San Diego and word is that it’s being trucked back to Cape Canaveral just in time for Christmas! Talk about a cross country road trip! #SpaceshipRoadtrip. Also, it’s like we all just woke up together, on the same side of the country!

That photo was taken from the middle of the Max A. Brewer bridge, an award-winning walking bridge, and one of the best places to watch launches from either Canaveral or Patrick AFB. My first writing spot is near there, at the pavilion in Sand Point Park.

The pavilion is huge and NO ONE IS EVER THERE…except maybe a bunch of hungry squirrels and a great blue heron we’ve dubbed Hobo Heron. There’s a great view of the water here–the Indian River, part of the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s full of dolphins and manatees and some great birdlife. The pavilion also has a tin roof! Such a calming sound when it rains…like it does here in Florida, every day in the summer. Every. Single. Day.

If it’s raining and also HOT (as it also tends to be in the summer…every single day…), I like to park my tail at the Sunrise Bread Company. (The only Starbucks in this town is in the Target, and plastic cafeteria chairs are not for me.) Sunrise Bread Company has fresh bread, great ambiance, and one of the best frozen coffee drinks I’ve ever tasted: the dark chocolate Granita. Just writing about makes me crave one. It’s also the only one of my spots with free wi-fi.

My third writing spot is possibly also my favorite. There’s a marina down US-1 that boasts a “Manatee Viewing Deck and Visitor’s Center”…which is essentially a fancy front door you walk through, then immediately exit through another door to get to the marina. There is a bridge overlooking a little protected channel by a runoff drain, which is where all the manatees LOVE to hang out. Beside this mini-lagoon is a small covered area with a table and chairs. Sunshine, water, boats, fresh air, and MANATEES. What’s not to love?

I also plan to make friends with someone who owns a boat here so they can teach me how to sail. Because I am a SCHEMING SIREN.

Carlene (Mermaid of the West): I don’t know about scheming, but you are definitely one of the most creative and resourceful people I’ve ever met! Um folks, I owe Alethea Mermaid a gigantic cyber hug because she really had the tougher job of the two of us with this post. Me: “Hey Alethea, wanna write a really awesome post together?” Her: “Sure!” (Alethea is up for most things which is why she rarely sleeps in her own bed!–Which came out sounding all wrong just now! She travels a lot! Saying yes to things that keep her away from home, in case your mind went somewhere else. Ayayayay!) Me: “You live in Florida now. I live in California. Let’s post sunrise and sunset pictures!” Her: “That means I have to get up super early. Yes! Hooray!” See, she’s a really great sport and I am truly the lucky one in this lagoon.

As we drift from charming Titusville, pass over many great states, then TEXAS …

and then a few more states, we finally land in beautiful San Diego, California. This is where I live now. This is where I write. (This is also where I consume too much delicious Mexican food but whatevs. A mermaid’s got to eat!)

My first “story-making spot” is the San Diego Zoo. It’s a “no worries” type of place I can go, free to think up whatever the heart desires. There are lots of view-friendly and surprisingly comfortable benches, hot beverage kiosks, cute military couples to watch and my favorite–year-round Siberian reindeer. I don’t know what it is, but their presence makes the place magical, especially this time of year when I start missing the wintery weather of DC. Spiral notebook and pen approved, although you could probably get away with a laptop here since there is plenty of shade and daily perfect weather.

The Fabulous Mr. Flores is a high school football coach which means if I want to see him from July to December, I spend an abnormal amount of time hanging out at the bleachers. I secretly love this. The Friday night lights are complimentary and great to write under. Just toss your laptop in your back pack, bring some spare change for concession stand hot cocoa, and make like a kid again! This is a pic I took in October from San Diego High School’s football stadium with a gorgeous view of downtown.

The very first story I ever wrote is set in Julian, CA which is San Diego County’s sleepy little mountain town. I’ve gone to Julian every year since I was about five and know it inside and out. There are any number of hideaways to cop a squat and write, like Buffalo Bill’s cafe. For those of us who need music and aroma for writing inspiration, how about a potpourri shop where you can browse, sniff AND be serenaded by local cowboy singer, Graham Nancarrow?

Well, by that setting sun below, it looks like I better wrap up. When I’m working on a story, I’m not always physically writing. Sometimes, we need a place to just “think” about things. It’s at those times when the ocean calls. Up to the writer what to bring whether it’s a blanket, towel, folding chair or just your two feet and buns. Err, fins. 😉 I took this picture at La Jolla Cove last month on a “book thinking” mission.

Thanks for taking this intergalactic writing adventure with Alethea and me! What? There was a spaceship involved! ORION!

Fishy friends, where do you love to write and read and think and drink warm beverages?

Fishy Kisses!

Alethea Mermaid and Carlene Mermaid

The Portable Career

December 17, 2014Alethea KontisAlethea

As most of you know, I moved to Florida this summer. In reality, I’ve been on the road since Christmas of 2013. (In between I’ve been temporarily parked at my parents’ house–my new place is *still* mid-renovation.)

Cities I Visited in the Last 12 Months (in chronological order):

Charleston SC
Baltimore MD
Williamsburg VA
Leesburg VA
Abingdon VA
Tampa FL
Charlottesville VA
Arlington VA
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Charlotte NC
Titusville FL (the big move)
Rochester NY
New York NY
San Antonio TX
Atlanta GA
Burlington VT
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ft. Lauderdale FL
…and then Charleston SC again this December, to come full circle.

For those counting, that’s nine states and two provinces. (It’s also very possible I skipped something in there.) Yes, I am definitely one very well-traveled Mermaid (and I’m not the only one…I know Denny Mermaid in particular tends to jet set at least as much as I do, if not more!).

We always say the great thing about writing for a living is the ability to work anywhere. Where our brains go, our stories go. It’s a blessing, right?

Right. And also a curse.

It’s so nice to have a writing nook and a schedule, to sit down on your favorite chair with a hot cup of tea and just write until…well, until. But when you’re just coming home and/or just about to leave again, it’s tough to find that zen. Writers on the road end up in coffee shops and restaurants and kitchen tables and basements and hotel lobbies and airports and hospitals and chairs on sandy beaches. They write on laptops and notebooks and legal pads and post-its and postcards and Starbucks receipts.

Having a Portable Career is a bit of a Trial By Fire, and ultimately a talent I’m glad I’ve been able to cultivate. But I do still long for My Own Spot in My Own Space. One day…hopefully soon…

So — my question for the lagoon today is: Where is the strangest place YOU have ever gotten work done?

And be sure to check back here on Friday for Alethea & Carlene’s Extra Special Bi-Coastal Mermaid post…with pictures!

Xio Axelrod Swims with the Mermaids

December 15, 2014Interview, Kerri Carpenternovella, Self-publishing, The Calum, Xio AxelrodKerri Carpenter

Roll out the red carpet. We have a special guest in the Mermaid Lagoon today and I’m so excited about it! *Glitter toss* Not only is her self-pubbed novella, The Calum, releasing tomorrow, but she’s funny, smart, and some would say, quite “tasty.” Curious? Read on…

In her debut Waterworld Mermaid appearance, please welcome, Mermaid for a Day, Xio Axelrod.

Congratulations! Your novella, The Calum, is releasing tomorrow. Care to tell us a little about it?

Thank you! It’s so exciting. The Calum is really about fantasy versus reality. Imagine, if you will, that you had a chance to meet your ultimate book boyfriend in the flesh. My heroine’s roommate is obsessed with Calum MacKenzie, a character from her favorite novel. The girls travel to Scotland in search of “the Calum”. Do they find him? You’ll have to read to find out.

The idea came about while watching Outlander fans collectively swoon over Jamie Fraser. Everyone I know is in love with him. And no, I’m not immune. JAMMF all the way, baby.

You decided to self-publish this novella. Can you tell us why you decided to go that route and a little bit about the process of self-publishing?

There’s a fantastic quote from Leonardo da Vinci. “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” I’m fairly new to the romance world and to publishing in general. After attending a few conferences and chatting with a lot of lovely friends who are authors, I realized how long the publishing process can be. Essentially, you submit your work and wait. And wait. And wait some more. Newsflash: I am not a patient person.

In my life as an independent musician, DIY is de rigueur. I am most comfortable having complete control over my career, so this should have been a no-brainer. It wasn’t. I went back and forth for months before I finally pulled the trigger. Once the decision was made, I realized I had all of the pieces in place to make a run at it. I am a social media maven by nature, I have an amazing network of talented, supportive authors willing to offer advice, and I’m handy with PhotoShop. It was just a matter of finding the right company to distribute my work. So here we are. My fingers and toes are crossed. I do still plan to submit to agents and publishers, but I have others works set aside for that.

I hear you’re part of this thing on Facebook called #TastyTuesday. What is it and how did it start?

You heard about that, did you? Well, being a newbie, I wanted to establish the tone for my brand as an author. What better way to do that than with photos of hot guys? Ha! Of course, there’s much more to Tasty Tuesday than that. When you, Denny S. Bryce and Kim Golden came aboard, it became a celebration of all of the things we love. We all share what inspires us as authors, and that is an excellent behind-the-scenes look at what makes us tick. I especially like the fact that we change themes every week and continually find new ones to explore. Plus, hot guys!

Plotter or Pantser?

Hybrid. That’s a cop out answer, I know, but it’s true. I plot in my head, sometimes for weeks, before I ever type a single word in Scrivener. I learned long ago when I wrote fan fiction that if I outlined a story on paper (or on the screen), I could never finish it. Once I knew the ending, the story was done for me. I’ve figured out a way to work around that by never writing down the ending until I get there in the manuscript. It’s working so far but talk to me in a year or so.

Let’s take a quick break from writing, what TV shows are you currently watching and what’s your favorite show of all time?

You’ve opened up a can of gummy worms there. I am a TV junkie, particularly genre television. My current fave is Outlander, of course. It was so thrilling to watch a beloved favorite come to life on screen. They’ve done a fantastic job so far and I can’t wait until the series returns in April. *sigh* April! Did I mention I wasn’t a patient person?

Other shows I love include Hannibal, Arrow, The Flash, American Horror Story, Doctor Who, Sleepy Hollow, The Walking Dead…do you see a theme yet? Favorite show of all time? I honestly can’t say that I have one. X-Files? Star Trek: the Next Generation? Farscape? I could never pick one. Junkie, here.

I love Inside the Actor’s Studio, especially the 10 questions James Lipton asks at the end of the show. Without further ado:

What is your favorite word? Saudades. It’s Portuguese and untranslatable, but it is the feeling of missing something or someone.
What is your least favorite word? No.
What turns you on? Intelligence.
What turns you off? Arrogance.
What sound or noise do you love? Laughter.
What sound or noise do you hate? Cutlery clashing against plates/bowls. (Don’t laugh.)
What is your favorite curse word? Fuck.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I think I’d make a pretty good television writer/director.
What profession would you not like to do? POTUS
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? I told you so.

Lastly, what are you working on now?

I’m plotting (in my head, of course) book two of the Calum series and book one of the next in my “book boyfriend” series. I’m also editing my web serial, Starstruck, into a series of books. I hope to publish the first one, Falling Stars, next spring. And, if that wasn’t enough, I am finishing book one of an erotic romance series for agent submissions. Other than that, I’m working on my new album. Busy? Me? Nah. Thanks for letting me be a mermaid for a day!

Let’s clap our fins together for Xio! Wasn’t she a fabulous Mermaid for a day! Check out all of her book and author info below.

The Calum

Twenty-six is too old to believe in fairytales, but tell that to Lovie’s roommate. Convinced she’ll find a real life version of her ultimate book boyfriend, Calum MacKenzie, Jo drags Lovie to the Scottish Highlands. Lovie’s no cynic *ahem* but she knows The Calum is a myth. A construct. A freaking unicorn! And there are warmer places to spend Christmas vacation.

If Duff had his way, he’d never step foot in Inverness again. Only his best friend’s wedding, and his ailing grandmother, could bring him home. Duff’s plan is keep his head down and stay out of trouble. Hard to do when the groom targets a pretty blond tourist for one last conquest.

When Duff and Lovie meet, stones, sparks and insults fly. He’s instantly attracted to the sexy, sharp-tongued American. She’s just glad to have someone to hang out with, especially the bad boy with a mysterious past. Lovie is determined to learn his secrets, but as they grow closer, Duff is forced to choose between his best friend and his heart.

I can’t wait to order The Calum tomorrow! Here are the Buy Links.

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I MUST know more about this Xio! You’re in luck. Here are her Author Links.

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