The zombies were people we knew in the neighborhood and instead of been grotesque, unstoppable creatures bent on brain consumption, these zombies just had goofy grins and bad fashion sense (they all wore baggy Looney Tunes tee shirts).

But they were pretty much unstoppable.  At one point I had to rest from beating one with a baseball bat because it didn’t fight back, but wouldn’t lie down or go away.

Dream me was calm and methodical and hellbent that no one was going to infect my niece — though I didn’t seem concerned about her parents at all — and I was pretty sure my mom was infected.  We finally closed down the house — apparently zombies can’t figure out mini blinds!– and got the garage door closed with one dog in the garage (not ours) and another outside (ours). I woke up at the thought of our lab-chow mix turning into a zombie.

So what’s the point?  First, my brain is wants me to write more. I always get crazy vivid dreams when I haven’t been writing enough.  And more importantly, I thought this was a better answer to the ubiquitous “where do you get your ideas from?” question that every writer encounters.  Clearly, I write stories in my sleep.

This is the second time that zombies have invaded, which means I’ve got a zombie story somewhere in me.  Obviously it’s trying to eat my (subconscious) BRaaaAAAAAaaaaAAAAIIIIINNNS!

Sasha, who is going to stock up on baseball bats

This movie is that illusive mix of comedy and mystery that is amazing (when successfully pulled off) and cringe worthy (when it falls apart).  Mysteries are my first love and I’ve always wanted to write a comedy-mystery hybrid but it just doesn’t seem meant to be.

I know a lot of people were disappointed in the choices of Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law as Watson and Holmes but I gotta say the casting director deserves an award. It’s a brilliant bit of work — yes, they both are very sexy men but their camaraderie is the best on screen bromance I’ve ever seen. (I’m sure there is Downey/Law slash just due to this movie). Their timing is impeccable and the movie has a Steampunk feel which I love in movie form — mainly because my writer brain can’t wrap around it.

And the soundtrack! As I was watching the movie, I knew I wanted it, but it’s even better than I had hoped. It’s the oddest use of stringed instruments I’ve ever heard and I love it. Wish I could find more music like it. Great music to write to.

Why would I prescribe either to kill the Monday Blahs? Why that’s elementary, my dear…

Sasha, who wishes she could watch the movie RIGHT now

I could make a big deal about it, or I could put on my Big Girl Panties and get a move on.  This week I’m concentrating on two different (please, God, please) short stories which will both need better titles once I actually finish them:

Two Nights in Chi Town (m/m contemp):  Jon is better at brokering deals than he is at relationships. His boyfriend has dumped him and he’s more upset about the busted bottle of wine than he is that the relationship is over.

Leo is the ultimate good time guy. Quick with a smile and even quicker to party, Leo has had his eye on Jon for far too long. Now that he’s a free man, Leo is going to show Jon that two nights with him are enough to build a lifetime.

Succubus Shenanigans (m/f/m paranormal): As a succubus, Renalia knows that one human man would never be enough, but what about two? She’s managed to avoid any liaisons with her good friends Tate and David, but when she goes into heat and they are the only men around, boundaries will be crossed, secret desires will exposed and their friendship will never be the same.

Okay, so I’m not great with blurbs…and I’m still a little Nyquil Hung Over, but it’s not too bad, right? Right?

Sasha, who desperately needs more sleep

But it’s February in Chicago, and though it’s been unseasonably warm, no way in hell am I even considering short-shorts, mini skirts or the ever popular hot pants. I’m talking about short stories ….and my inability to wrap my writerly brain around them.

Before being published, my stories were all loooooong, bookish things which I usually discovered were the first in a series/trilogy about 30,000 words into the thing. This might be one of the reason I never finished any of them. (Notable exception being Beauty, a 77K monstrosity which still is in the ugly Edit Me PLEASE phase).

As a reader I will accept a story as short as 2,500 and it’s literally just a scene from the character’s lives. As a writer, my brain will not accept the same. I try for a short and then BAM! way over word count and possibly headed to sequel land. Light was intended to be 10K and ended up being 28K. Dare was intended to be 5K and ended up being 18K.

*sigh*

And yes, this is just a long, drawn out way of saying I’m currently dancing with what I believe could be my first actual short. A little bit of m/m, dirty fun which is currently at 5,500 …and counting.  I’m ever hopeful though.

Sasha, who might need someone to hold her

But, if watching tall well built men battle it out to victory isn’t your thing (hello? are you alive? do you have a pulse?!) then Puppy Bowl might be more to your liking.

I defy you to watch cute furry little bodies — all from animal shelters —  cavorting in an attempt to “play ball!” and not get all melty.  This year they introduced a kitteh halftime and a piggy cheering section.

If you missed this year’s and want to view some highlights, click here Video is guaranteed to cute the Monday blahs away.

The Serial Killer Romance is definitely romantic suspense, but I’m not sure how sexy it will be.  The draft topped at at nearly 33,600 and will have major edits as my killer’s POV changed from 3rd to 1st. *shudder*

For now, I’m just glad it’s done and I don’t have to think about it for the next few days. On to In the Blood, my tattoo-gone-awry WIP. I’m so ready to jump into Micah and Lorelei’s story!

Sasha, who’s excited for new words

I might write romance, but most rom coms make me want to set myself on fire.  And don’t get me started on those schmaltzy-someone-has-to-die-so-you-cry romantic movies.  My heart belongs to comedies …and movies where things blow up. And the A-Team is a mixture of both.

It took me a while to see it, but the A-Team was more than worth the wait. I’m old enough to have seen the tv series (if you ever want a WTFug laugh, catch some older episodes) but this is one reboot I can get behind.

Yes, there is some major man candy (Bradley Cooper and Liam Neeson, I’m looking at YOU!) but it’s got a solid plot, plenty of explosions and a quote I want to use as my motto for the rest of the year:

“Give me a minute and I’m good. If I’ve got an hour, I’m great. You give me six months, I’m unbeatable.” – Hannibal

The A-Team, guaranteed to kick the Monday Blahs in the junk

Okay. No one deserves that, espeically not you. It’s a new year and I’d like to say I’m not up to my old tricks, but the fact that it’s been a month since I’ve blogged is pretty much calling me a big fat liar.

To be fair, my site was down for several days at the top of the year due to a hacker which took down my host. I believe there is a special corner of hell reserved for hackers, where they are forced to watch the sex acts they’ve obviously never participated in with no relief. Every fifteen minutes, their eyes are plucked out by a rabid vulture and they are forced to eat their fingers while apologizing to everyone they hurt with their sheer asshattery.

But I digress.  The rest of the month was pure me. Life and this cold/allergy thing I can’t shake got in the way, but I’m back.  I’ve got big plans for this year and they involve not being a slacker, though I’m for sure going to keep it up with my stupid pop culture references because they make me happy.  And because Britney’s music was made for karaoke.

I’ll be back doing Wednesday posts and starting next week, I’ll be doing a Monday Mention post as well.  I find that Mondays suck the big fat hairy one and as such I need to remind myself that there are some things out there worth getting out of bed for. Hence the Monday Mentions.  We’ll see how it plays out.  For now….It’s Sasha, bitch!

Sasha, who really hopes you got that last Britney ref

I finished NaNo not in the triumphant “I have two stories finished, edits will come” glory I wanted but more in a whimpering “Oh Gawd is it done yet?!” The good news is that I definitely want to return to both of them soon to finish them properly.

That said, I’m completely fried. I’ve been writing on a couple of projects but I feel like I might be spinning in circles. Not sure what to work on next so I’m doing little bits on each and of course not getting anything done.

The goal for the rest of the year is survive the holidays (guess who still isn’t done shopping or wrapping presents?!) and put down words on Moxie, another hot m/f contemporary. And more blogging, of course…..

Week Two is hardest. The glow of a new story has dimmed. The giddy excitement of chasing down a crazy amount of words has abandoned me and sitting in my floor with a pan of brownies seems a better use of my time then trying to write one more scene.

But. Cooler heads prevail. No one said writing was always going to be fun, and quitting is for wimps! So I’m 5700 words behind, but putting on my big girl panties (of course they’re pink), sucking it up, and sticking to it. I should be switching over to the shifters, but the horror isn’t done yet. I’m going to keep beating that horse and make the shifters my reward for wrapping that up.

Yes. I know  how crazy that sounds, but maybe the spirit of NaNo hasn’t abandoned me yet.

Sasha, who needs MOAR words

Welcome to the dollhouse: 21,100/25,000

Shifter Nonsense: 0/25,000