Pretty Pics

Check out his web site NJ Shore Photos for some pretty pics by my husband! We just added some new ones at the bottom. And hurrah, sold some to a big stock house. If you ever need a lovely background for a cover, let us know!

An Award! Woot!

Hey, check it out!
Romance Readers Weekly Choice Award
This week we are proud to present the Romance Readers Weekly Choice Award to Ciar Cullen for The Biggest Kahuna.

“Don’t let the title of this romance keep you from checking out one of the best books on the market this month. The Biggest Kahuna takes you to the exotic Hawaiian Islands for a romantic story as old and compelling as the Greek myths. Prepared to be swept off your feet as Nikkie falls in love and Kal discovers a love far deeper than his love for the ocean. You’ll be savoring this for weeks after.”-Romance Readers Weekly

Stop the Insanity

Did you ever have to play dodge ball when you were a kid? The nuns used to make us play; I think it was some kind of lame substitute for real phys ed. Anyway, I always thought if I hid behind someone else, I’d really be the last kid picked and somehow the game would be over before I was up. It never worked that way. Thump.

There’s no hiding, even in this tiny little world of romance publishing. Of course if you’re a writer, you don’t really want to hide. But you do want to avoid the crap sometimes. Can you? Is there a middle ground between having a blog that’s all nasty and gossipy and trashes this person, that company, etc.–and the opposite–chatting about your pets or your latest reviews? I ask because there are a few things that have gotten under my skin in the last few months.

The thing that makes me nuts is the territorial nature of some loops, groups, etc. Why can’t I be pals with someone who writes for a company I don’t write for anymore? I found myself suddenly dumped from a loop. Can’t get a promotion up on a rather large group to save my life, when one author sneezes and it gets promoted. What’s up with this stuff? Did I bring it on myself (I know the answer to this–shush)? It’s so silly, honestly. I think the reason I like groups like Romance Divas so much is because so many different levels of experience, so many publishing companies, etc. are represented. What’s the point of being cut-throat over a few hundred readers?

I’m being too obtuse, I know. Part of the “I’d better keep my mouth shut and not name names” thing. I’m rambling, just wondering if anyone else has ever felt “alone” out there? Don’t. There are two of us.

Review! Kiss of Blarney by Penelope Marzec

Hey, so I’ve started. I picked randomly from the list of self-nominated titles, and my intention is to read each book! I started with Penelope Marzec’s Kiss of Blarney. New Concepts Publishing (www.newconceptspublishing.com).

Okay, now. I live in New Jersey. This book takes place about a 30 minute drive from me, “down the shore” as they say here, and in the Pine Barrens. When I drive through the Pine Barrens (think pines, and think barren), I keep my eyes peeled for the Jersey Devil, purported to torment the area. And the Pineys, real folk who may or may not shoo you off their property with a shot gun. Yes, I said New Jersey.

I’ve never kept my eyes peeled for Irish Kings and Princesses. But according to Ms. Marzec’s story, they drink in Irish pubs down the shore and hang out on enchanted islands with evil druid dragons. Sound preposterous enough yet? See how silly a book can sound in a review? This book is so much fun!

Kiss of Blarney is a lovely fairly tale with a deftly interwoven sensuality. Ms. Marzec’s strength (at least in this book, my first read of hers) is her characters. I’m not sure how she pulled it off in fifty pages. Penelope doesn’t hit you over the head with the “what is he thinking, feeling, feeling, feeling” stuff. There’s a lot of telling. You know, sometimes telling works. I simply liked these characters from page one, found Shay intriguing and captivating, found our heroine Ula cute and enchanting, and I even liked the dog. She doesn’t really describe the dog, and I still liked it. In fact, now that I think about it, she didn’t really describe the evil dragon, or the kind druidess, or the pine barrens in much detail. But I believed it all, as if in a dream. In fact, this book is much like a lovely dream, in which you get the plot, the feel, and the meaning clearly, but the details are a little fuzzy. I rooted for the couple, and yes, the sex scene was great!

Bottom line: a short, easy read–a delightful way to spend an evening. Priced right at the cost of a cappucino. Ms. Marzec has an easy natural writing style and a lot of talent and I’ll look for longer works of hers. The Russian judge wants to give it a 4 of five, but I’m overruling (hey, it’s my blog), and giving it a 4.2 for imagination!!!!!

Nominate Your Own Book!

I’m getting ready for summer, and I need some reading material! So nominate your book. Post the title, buying link, and a little bit about your book here, and I’ll pick one, buy it, and review it here. I’ll be honest, even about friends. If I really dislike it, well, I probably won’t review it at all, so don’t worry about getting really trashed. It’s not my style. Mwahaha…
One note: I don’t read horror, I don’t read anything with a LOT of violence in it, I won’t take to erotica without romance. I love fantasy, contemporaries, paranormals, etc. Come on, entice me (and our visitors!).

First Review for Kahuna

Wanted to share a snippet of a lovely review from Euro-Reviews. Thanks, Annie! “I’ve been a Ciar Cullen reader since Mayan Nights and have eagerly anticipated The Biggest Kahuna. Believe me, it does NOT disappoint! This is a captivating and heart-touching novel, which quickly drew me into falling in love with all the characters and their quirks and motivations. Each one is worthy of a story herself or himself! The Biggest Kahuna himself, Kal the Shark God, definitely lives up to his pre-publicity! This is probably the hottest hunk I have ever seen in a book! This man is to-die-for, in more sense than one! I definitely hope Ms. Cullen pens a book for Pele, the Shark-God’s sister and Goddess of Volcanos, as well! This book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love, all at one time! This book MUST be experienced!”

Broken

Poor Barbaro. I actually cried for him. My husband looked at me with a concerned sideways glance. “Hormones,” I mumbled. “Yeah, right.”

I got a final rejection on a book I worked very hard on, and I woke up this morning feeling quite chipper about it. Relieved in fact, because I’ve been waiting so long to hear, and there were many false starts and hopeful hints and disappointing letdowns. Let’s just say I’m not going to bother hunting for an agent again anytime soon. I almost feel ready to write! To enjoy writing, do what I want without worrying about the target NY audience…whatever, you get the idea!

Barbaro? Hmmn, his chances are 50/50 they say, and they won’t know for a while. But he’s already showing interest in the girl horses in the horsey hospital. This old warhorse? There are signs of life. I hope the horse makes it. Don’t even care about the bet I had on him.

Name My New Friend

Sandy suggested we should have a contest naming my new monkish looking friend up there. Da Vinci? Frank? What do you think? How about a copy of my Recommended Read Out of My League to the winner????

What’s Your POV?

I’m interested in this issue of writing from a female or male POV. I use Keanu as window dressing mostly, but the truth is…here we go…searching for words that won’t embarrass me. I love this man, the way he looks, of course–I don’t know him, and I don’t much think he can act. I can fantasize all day long about him. But when it comes to writing, if he were to inspire a story (he has), I would be dying to write from HIS point of view, not the heroine’s.

I don’t get it? I suppose a shrink could help me sort it out. But I am always much more interested in telling the stories of my heroes, although I’m forced in a sense by the genre to write about the heroine’s feelings. I cannot imagine writing a book entirely from the female POV. In most cases, I can’t wait to get past that part.

I’m heterosexual, completely, absolutely, positively–there’s no ambiguity there. But in terms of heroes–I’d like to BE one. Not a strong kick-ass woman saving the day, but the male hero. Perhaps I simply like to delve into the male psyche.

How about you???

Help, Slap Me Out of this Stupor

I was just directed to a long series of posts on SmartBitches and I’m dumbfounded. I’ve never seen such arse-kissing in my entire life. Folks, all two of you who might read this, make a pact with me. If I’m ever successful (whatever that means, make money I guess), promise me that you’ll do the following:
1. Kill me if I ever call myself an artist
2. Beat me if I ever kiss arse like that or otherwise gush at a successful artist
3. Torture my cat (he doesn’t mind being swung around by his tail, so don’t bother with that) if I forget that I wanted to earn a few dollars with my little stories
4. Completely trash me and everyone I love if I start wallowing in my own lebensangst.

Oh, wait, I have a strong tendency towards #4. Give me a little time to work on that. Note to self: get over your sorry writing blogging whiney self.