Congrats Tammy!

 Normally I don't do this kind of thing. I usually leave promotions for book reviewers, who do it better than I could. But for Tammy, I'll make an exception, because no one else I know has done more for Thoeba and Staccato Publishing and I feel she deserves my support. This is her first novel, and we're all very proud and excited for her. It is my personal pleasure to present to you. T. M. Smith.

Opposites

Author TM Smith

Tentative release date; March of 2013

Genre: Adult Dystopian

Calendar year 2081. Our planet has finally succumbed to Global Warming.

Dr. Anthony Smith, one of only a few thousand people to survive Global Warming Ignition, has come to the conclusion that the destruction of our planet and society had been due to Injudicious Breeding which lead (in his opinion) to over population, WAR, unnatural climate changes, lower intelligence, poor physical health, poverty, lust and greed. Having isolated the Dionysus gene, he decided to start society anew by manipulating Human DNA to ensure all their offspring would be born Gay/Lesbian. Thus creating a society where Gay/Lesbian is the norm... to be straight labels you an Opposite and makes you an Outkast.

~ Nature Versus Nurture ~

Some 200 years later Dr. Smith’s descendants have maintained control of the Government that rules society. House Gaeland rules their lands, as well as the other 6 countries that survived GWI. Twins, Aiya and Aiyan, are next in line to rule alongside their soon to be wife and husband. There is, however, a growing anomaly; one that threatens to unravel over 200 years of progress. This anomaly is known as Opposites.

Author Bio:

A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer.  She now calls Texas home from her small town on the outskirts of the DFW Metroplex.  Most days you can find her curled up with her kindle and a good book alongside a glass of something aged and red or a steaming cup of coffee! 

At 42 years young, she’s decided to enter the next phase of her life by adding the title of “author” to her list of accomplishments that includes single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic.  Her two eldest kids and gay best friend were the inspiration for her upcoming new release, Opposites. 

A personal note from author TM Smith

I can’t thank all my sister bloggers enough for supporting me by hosting this cover reveal event!  I’ve made some wonderful and fascinating friends this past year while working on Opposites; bloggers, reviewers and authors that have made a huge impact on me.  I wish I could list you all by name.  I hope you all know how very much I appreciate the support.

I will say the three most important things in life are Faith, Family and Friends.  I have the best of all three!  I thank god everyday for my wonderfully dysfunctional family and close knit group of friends.  To have family and friends that support you when you are right, wrong or indifferent is a gift!

Muse #2...Woo-hoo!

Thursday again already? I don't know why, but sometimes I surprise myself with my total unpreparedness in regards to this blog. I mean, Thursday shows up EVERY week. Why am I so gobsmacked when it arrives and I'm barely ready?

So this week, I'll tell you about one of my other muses, Amir Derakh . Wish I knew who did this photo...

Anyway, Amir Derakh was born Amir Davidson to an American mother and a Persian father. He started his career as a guitarist for Rough Cutt and later Jailhouse. Of course, those were 'Hairbands'. Everybody knows how Kurt Cobain and the Grunge scene killed the hell out of THAT genre.

So Amir got busy. He went back to school, and got a degree in production and sound engineering. He produced bands like Coal Chamber. (They re-did 'Shock the Monkey' with Ozzy Osbourne.) Then he started designing and building guitars for Jackson and Yamaha.

When the century began to turn, he became the power chords behind the band Orgy. Then Julien-K. Then Dead by Sunrise. THEN Circuit Freq-which I should point out that the last band is of the 'Electronica' genre, and a little out of character for him....and SUCH a clever name!

See where I`m going with this? The man has been in the music business for over thirty years!! He's never idle. He's forever re-inventing himself, and learning new things. He's taken every ounce of talent he has and wrung it from himself like a wet sponge. And he's still going!

I want his longevity and adaptability. I want a thirty years-plus career that EVOLVES. I want to discover new talents of my own and explore them. And I want to do it as well dressed as he is...But I want better hair. (Sorry, Amir)

Has this ever Happened to you?

Photo by: Ambro--FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

I am such a yutz. I can't believe I did this!

I've spent this week carefully combing through the first chapters of my third novel. I needed to be sure of the direction it was heading, that the characters were right. After all, I fired one of those persons of non-reality, and a few of my 'fictional' peeps are based on friends. Had to be 100% ON.

I was pleased to see that not all of those chapters were complete disaster. The changes were relatively simple and it all looked pretty good, if I do say so myself.

And chapter eight blew my mind! I had action! I had detail! I had great character dramatization! I had a great...Where's my cliff-hanger ending? There's no ending at all!

Yes, of COURSE I went into an arm-waving panic. Until I read all the way to the bottom. Then I came to a stunning conclusion.

I'd forgotten to finish it. Imagine that.

I remember it distinctly...like it was weeks ago.

It's the part where after an eventful night of paranormal activity, my heroine gives the object of her desire her personal cell number. You know...just in case he has any questions or concerns about the ghosthunting investigation. And because he's a hottie, but she's too shy to say that.

After a day of successful writing, (I'm BRILLIANT!) I seemed to run out of juice. (Because I also SUCK!) I remember thinking, "How do I make her sound like a professional when deep inside she WANTS him? How do I make the discussion believable and still stay in character?"

I didn't have it in me. I'd decided I would work on it later...maybe after a nap or a bite to eat.

I guess I never went back. Chapters nine and ten are complete, and at first glance they seem to be unaffected by my transgression. Good thing I checked, huh? Good Lord.

I mean, who DOES that?

I wish I was a Bear

It's a brand new year, with tasty potential. I've had a bit of a break...mostly due to not having the time or energy to get my thoughts together. You know how the Holidays are...

Between the parties, shopping and having my husband home for a couple of weeks I went almost completely nocturnal. (As opposed to mostly nocturnal.)

Getting my sleep patterns back in order has been challenging. I'm always tired. I want to nap constantly.

As I lay buried under a mountainous pile of smooshy warmness yesterday, I thought "Wouldn't it be convenient if I were a bear? I'd be hibernating right now, instead of chastising myself for not getting any work done."

Think of it.

I could spend my favorite season, autumn, harvesting the fruits and veggies of my labors. I could spend a month of Thanksgiving eating myself stupid on things I normally avoid like stuffing and pie. (Because guess what...? They make me FAT) And I could do it without guilt. I would tidy up my work like anyone else going on vacation--tying up loose ends and organizing stuff for when I get back.

Then I would blissfully crawl into bed, beneath no less than five comforters, halfway into a food coma, and snuggle down for the winter. I can dream long. uninterrupted inspiration.

No snow shoveling or driving. No seasonal disorders or frozen body parts. No Christmas, but hey! No harried shopping or drunken relatives either. I never have to deal with the COLD.

Come spring, I wake up refreshed and ready to go back to work. And...I'll be SKINNY!!

Photo by Michael Elliot, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Perfect. But this isn't a perfect world. Time to get back to work like everyone else. Good thing I love my job.

Happy New Year!

FreeDigitalPhoto.net

Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2013 is treating you well so far?

Yes, I'm late, but I didn't think anybody would miss Thoeba and me for another week.
Then I checked here and found 7 new followers who weren't here before.

Oh, Hai! Welcome to our blog! Nice to meet you all!

I guess while I'm here I will brag...er...um, TALK about what I got for Christmas.

I got a Kindle. Yes, the computer-illiterate, jurassic author of Thoeba is joining the human race, with all the grace of 'Tard, the Grumpy Cat.' Believe it or not, but I'll be getting a smartphone too...or some junk that does more than let me phone, text, and take photos. Time to get WITH the times.

It sounds as though I'm resistant to change. I'm not, actually. I just wish it wouldn't happen faster than time allows me to learn. If I didn't believe ebooks were the wave of the future, I wouldn't be published as an ebook writer, would I?

Paperbacks and hardcovers are awesome to hold on your hands to to own, but there comes a time when you need a bigger house just to keep your library. And I'm looking forward to reading in bed without my troll complaining that the light keeps him awake.

Imagine...reading under the covers without using a flashlight! I can't wait! Of course, I'll have to demure until I finish reading the hardcovers already given me. I finished Cloud Atlas, now I'm on "Shut up and Give Me the Mic" from Dee Snider. I still have "In the Pleasure Groove" (John Taylor of Duran Duran) and "Cleopatra-A Life" by Stacy Schiff to read before I crack open my Kindle.

And then...THEN, I'm going after Staccato Publishing. I mean Heather Savage, Jacinta Maree, C.S. Yelle, and Jay Mims. My fellow Staccatoans! You FIRST!! Hyuk!

There is a WEALTH of ebook writers out there I haven't discovered, but I'm also looking forward to reading more of others I already know like, Deanna Wadsworth, Jessica Frost, and Meg Jensen. I'm coming everybodeeeee!

Anyone got any suggestions? What are you reading?

So yes, part of my New Year's Resolution is to take the time to read more. The other part is this:

I am almost 41 years old, and I am borderline diabetic. It's not always what I eat---I have been progressively erasing processed foods from my diet for many years. (10 years without a box of Hamburger Helper in this house) I hate fruits and veggies, but I work at making them a staple-not a side.

My REAL problem is exercise. I don't get enough. It wasn't a problem until I quit my full-time job as a meatcutter 4 years ago. I have the ever-expanding waistline to prove it.

Time to reclaim my health, and a proper routine. Back to morning writing, and afternoon exercise. Or maybe the reverse will work? Gotta do something rather than being complacent. Wish me luck.

What about you guys? Anyone feel like sharing?