Random Musings from the land of Tropical Storm Fay

Random Musings because it's just that kind of day - brain is not on track for anything cohesive.

* We're stuck indoors while fierce rain and winds lash down and everybody has cabin fever.  I've been reading some books I'm judging for a contest and working on a short story for THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF PARANORMAL ROMANCE that will be coming out with a British publisher (but here in the U.S. too) sometime next summer.  It's a satirical take on The Princess and the Pea (all of those shallow princes who fell in love on looks alone always drove me nuts; what if Rapunzel's glorious hair hid the personality of a troll?  Who the heck CARED if a princesss could feel a pea under mattresses?).  Anyway, mine involves a spoiled princess, a cranky serving wench, and a very surprised elven prince.  I'll post a little bit later after I've played with it some more. 

* I'm roasting a turkey just because.  Love turkey.  Love to make turkey veggie soup the next day.  Love turkey sandwiches. 

* Did I mention the rain?  And the first day of school canceled till Monday? And cranky bored kids?

* Michael Phelps eats 12,000 calories a day.  I'm taking up swimming.  Now.  On NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me show, at the end where the panelists make predictions, Peter asked what Phelps would do next.  One of the predictions was "go back to his day job as Mayor of Atlantis" and I laughed so hard I nearly snorted Diet Coke on my keyboard.  (In a strange coincidence, Alexios's heroine is a former Olympic contender in swimming.)

*Finally, last but certainly not least, I have been overwhelmed by all the gracious posts and private emails from all of you about the delay in the books and my health.  I feel so grateful and humbled that you have all been so kind to me.  Thank you with all my heart.

hugs, Alyssa - off to carve a turkey :)

3:06 PM - 14 Comments - 17 Kudos - Add Comment

Special Guest today!!

I'm delighted to announce that I have special guests today:  Eleni Giza and Tisha Botti, the brilliantly creative minds behind Atlantean Gemstones.  Eleni and Tisha both feel a strong affinity for Atlantis and believe in the power of crystal for healing, knowledge, and energy.  When they read ATLANTIS AWAKENING and discovered that Erin was a gemsinger, they contacted me to tell me they loved my books and wanted to tell me about their own creative endeavor—the beautifully designed jewelry at Atlantean Gemstones.  They were kind enough to send me this gorgeous Power necklace, and I absolutely love it, because of course Poseidon's Trident features so prominently in my books and Topaz is actually my birthstone:

 I asked them to stop by and tell my readers about their work.  One of my favorite things about Tisha and Eleni is that they understand economic reality, unlike so many jewelry designers, so they've created lines in both semi-precious stones and in a more affordable cubic zirconia version. 

Here's Eleni:

Atlantean Gemstones came into existence through what I would like to call destiny. I (Eleni) was born in Greece and my ancestry dates back many thousands of years.  I was actually born in central Greece and came to the US when I was just six years old.  

My parents held true to our culture and made sure that I continued my education in the language and history of my heritage.  As a young girl I always had dreams and visions of Atlantis and Ancient Greece and they continued to haunt me as I got older.

In 2001, one month after my mother's death and a few weeks after September 11th I met a woman that I barely knew, she insisted she knew me from a previous life in ancient Greece. She told me that in my previous life I was a priestess and that I should work on developing my spirituality.  I gave little thought to the comments until I began having more intense visions of the images of Atlantis. The most exquisite pieces of jewelry I had ever seen haunted my dreams. 

I began reading Plato and Edgar Cayce's readings on Atlantis to understand my dreams. It was then I discovered that gemstones were used in Atlantis for healing and energy.  In one of Edgar Cayce's readings he stated that the Pyramids of Giza were in fact over 10,000 years old and that the Atlanteans built the pyramids. I felt this is a sign. My name, which dates back many thousands of years, is Giza.  At that moment I trusted my instincts and sketched out the beautiful jewelry I saw in my dreams.  

 During this time I had an outstanding and accurate spiritual advisor and friend Tisha Botti well known for her spirituality and psychic abilities. Tisha was featured on 95.5 WPLJ, New York's number one radio station, and believes her gifts are from her Grandmother who to was spiritual in a time when it was not well accepted. She was the previous owner of the Wiseman bookstore that sold gemstones that seemed familiar from my dreams. Tisha and I partnered up to pursue this dream and make it a reality. I felt Tisha with her tremendous spiritual abilities would bring tremendous value to Atlantean Gemstones. Tisha is the spiritual advisor behind Atlantean Gemstones and gives spiritual guidance and direction. Tisha also brings her professional experience and passion for the product.

 It is said the Atlanteans used crystal extensively; it is written that they used the spectrum of light for healing, knowledge and energy.  The gemstones used are still available to us on the earth plane in various colors, shapes and locations.  Crystals have the ability to transmit energy for many purposes.  The purpose of Atlantean Gemstones is to use crystals to inspire one's own ability to draw in love, money, power, success, health, protection, harmony, happiness and abundance.

 Atlantean Gemstones' mission is to create a beautiful Grecian style collection based on this amazing and intriguing lost city that still remains a mystery. One can bring home a little bit of this mysterious power. Please visit us at www.atlanteangemstones.com and wear with love, for with love they were inspired.

We'd like to leave you with a poem created by a dear friend

Come hither to me and I will tell you a story

of an Atlantean dream
Long, long ago in the center of Atlantic's ocean
A city stood with the most idealic of notion
A place of immaculate beauty, grace and delight
Generated by a noble, virtuous and powerful might
Poseidon, ruler and guardian of the sea
Created the place that will live on for eternity
As the example of what a society can be
The city of Atlantis lived an emanicipating realm
As long as greed didn't take the directive helm
 
A Utopian spirit is one of heaven on earth
And Atlantis gave away her expensive worth
When greed became the prevailing wind at long last
Into the ocean Atlantis was cast
With the hope and intention of rising from the depths again
When all this struggling is brought to an end
 
Please allow these jewels, stones and artistry to reveal
How we can aspire to reach heaven on earth and begin to heal
- Michael Flannigan

Well, there you have it!! Thanks for taking the time to read about these amazing women and their incredibly beautiful jewelry.  I'm wearing my Power necklace right now, and I have a feeling it might become a talisman for my Muse (she's very vain! ) during my writing hours.  If you have a moment, please check out their website and let me know what you think.

hugs,

Alyssa

8:07 AM - 7 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Good news & bad news . . .
Current mood: grateful

VERY IMPORTANT: Okay, the Bad News first.

With many apologies, I have to report that ATLANTIS UNLEASHED will not be released in August as previously reported, but it has been moved to June '09. I was very, very ill the first half of this year and everything had to be pushed back. I am really sorry that the announcement of the delay didn't get made sooner; with everything going on, updating websites was far down my priority list. Please accept my sincerest apologies for not letting everyone know about the delay – and that it's so long – much sooner. Sometimes life and health issues just get in the way, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all for hanging in there with me.  You are amazingly kind and generous - all of the emails and messages have truly lifted my spirits when things were difficult.  Thank you so much.

To help make up for this delay, I'll be posting free short stories, excerpts and deleted scenes on the website over the next several months until WILD THING is reissued in mass market paperback form in January, and then during the January until June timeframe. Thank you for trying my books and for hanging in there with me when life and health had to come before writing.

The Good News - No, Great News - is that we're going to have a gracious plenty (as my Southern friends say) of Warriors next year.  Here's the projected schedule:

January, '09:  WILD THING - Bastien's novella in this anthology - will be reissued in mass market paperback at the $7.99 price point for all of those who hate paying $14 for trade.

June, '09:  ATLANTIS UNLEASHED - Justice's long-awaited story.  Both my editor and my agent said it's the best story in the series yet.  It's much much longer than the others (turned it in at 500 manuscript pages) and much darker and more emotional.  I hope you love it as much as I do.  I so wanted Justice to have his happy ending.

July, '09 - the very month after Justice's book:  ATLANTIS UNMASKED - Alexios meets Grace and his life is never going to be the same.  I'll have some deleted scenes up soon where you'll meet Grace and see why he's drawn to her.

"Fall" '09 - exact date to come:  ATLANTIS REDEEMED, Brennan's book.  He met his heroine in Justice's book and oh boy was it an explosion.  Plus there is that small problem that he can't remember her the minute she's out of his sight . . . Wow.  This one is going to be tough to write my way out of . . . but Brennan deserves the best. 

So there you have it.  The bad news and the good news.  Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in letting everyone know and thank you so, so much for your kindness in trying my books and for caring about what happens to my Warriors.  I am truly blessed to be able to write my stories and I am grateful and humbled that you enjoy them.

hugs, Alyssa

2:31 PM - 18 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

yippee!! pics!!

Me and dear friend Marianne Mancusi at Sambuca's family style Italian restaurant - home of the bowling ball sized meatballs!!

The whole gang: Marianne and me and Cindy Holby and Barb Ferrer and Liz Maverick. We had a blast!! and then ice cream. oops!

Central Park view at dusk - gorgeous!

Me, Barb, and Best (Assistant) Editor in the World, Leis Pederson at Ellen's

Outside of Ellen's - surprisingly not too long of a wait to get in pre-theater, but I do try to schedule my theater going for Tuesdays and Wednesdays and avoid the weekend crush Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!

hugs,
Alyssa, who will have more later

3:35 AM - 1 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

POOR UNFORTUNATE SOULS . . .

3:22 AM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Start spreading the news . . .

New York!!! My favorite city in the entire world!!! I'm here for an entire week and having a blast. We have an amazing apartment (see below for view from my window) and the week is jam-packed with fun, sights-seeing, shopping, museums, spending time with Best Editor in the World, and going to shows. Tonight is Little Mermaid on Broadway. Okay, must run but enjoy the pics!! I'll try to post more daily.
hugs,
Alyssa

OH!!  And they had the NYC premiere of Batman - so we got to see the real Batmobile!!  Will post that one soon! 

8:11 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Happy Summer!!!!

5:41 PM - 3 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday Free Throws

1. Go see PRINCE CASPIAN. Even if you don't have kids. Loved it! I so wish I could have dinner with C.S. Lewis.

2. My dear friend Karen Rose's first hardcover novel just came out and it's brilliant! If you love romantic suspense or even straight thrillers, this book is for you. James Patterson even gave her a cover quote. Check out SCREAM FOR ME now!

3. I'm still at Romance Divas all weekend talking about mythology in writing - pop over and read the posts - fascinating stuff happening.

4. I just wrote a post over there, in fact, that made me realize a basic truth about my dark and twisty mind: I think my subconscious hangs out in bars with Stephen King's subconscious and they shoot tequila together.

Seriously.

5. Remember the Boy Scout Rescue Mission? Found out today that my darling son's class had to write an essay and do a multimedia project on "My Hero" this week - and he wrote about me and did a movie!! I'll see if he can figure out how to load the movie here; it's pretty cool. (And yes, that was the sound of me getting all choked up.)

Happy weekend!
hugs,
Alyssa

5:18 PM - 2 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Guest blogging! Please stop by and chat!

..:

May 16, 17, and 18 at Romance Divas

Featuring:

P.C. Cast

Robin D. Owens

Gena Showalter

Lori Handeland

Alyssa Day

Want to know how to use mythology, culture, fairy tales, or folklore in romance? Romance Divas is hosting a 3-day workshop with some of the hottest names in the genre. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.

6:58 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Guest blogging!

If you're an aspiring writer, stop by and see me at Romance Vagabonds today. I'm talking about supbplots!
hugs,
Alyssa

10:26 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment