Sensual Blogging Award

Well, my good friend Sare has nominated me for something called the  Sensual Blogging Award which I think is just an excuse to link between people's blogs.  So here's the deal:

When nominated for the Sensual Blogging Award the blogger must:
1) Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2) Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back.
3) Answer 7 sensual questions
4) Select some nominees and notify them on their blogs.
5) Copy and paste the award on your blog.

Now anyone who knows me knows I don't take orders well.  I have this rebellious streak.  So I've done #1, #2, I'm about to do #3, I'm not gonna do #4, and I don't exactly understand what they mean by #5 unless it's put the picture above on my blog.

So here's the seven sensual questions:

1. Most romantic memory: When Rose asked Jack to draw her in the nude wearing only her huge blue diamond.  I squealed like a 15-year-old girl.  But then again, I was one.

2. Most sensual music: "Kill the Wabbit" by Michael Maltese and Richard Wagner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI9Nbt7oJG0

2. Most sensual season: Wabbit season.  Or duck season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-k5J4RxQdE

4. Favorite flower: Amorphophallus titanum or the "Corpse Flower."  Love those carnivorous plants.

5. Favorite fruit: Citrus sinensis or the "Sweet Orange" (no snark, I love oranges, orange juice, orange flavored anything pretty much.  Arby's had an orange creamsicle shake for a while, oh my god, it was amazing except when they screwed it up and it then tasted like sour milk).

6. Best gift received: My wife brought me an Arbys Orange Creamsicle Shake.

7. Love is… never having to say you're sorry.

So, there you have it.

 

Rock Killer for Free!

Coming up this weekend, the 1st and the 2nd, my highly reviewed novel Rock Killer will be free on the Kindle.  If you don't have a Kindle there are free Kindle apps for all sorts of devices.  This is your chance to read this book that's been called "as if Tom Clancy wrote science fiction."

(Almost) No Snow

(Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of a weather geek.  So that will probably come through on this blog from time to time.  Sorry.)

Here it is November 28th and we've had nearly no snow.  We got just a light dusting yesterday morning but it quickly melted under the dual assault of rain and temperature.  Now the forecast for the rest of the week is for rain.  Lots of rain.  This is very unusual for this part of Washington State.  What is more typical is some snow, then days of overcast during which the snow slowly melts, then another dump of snow which then slowly melts.  And that continues until March.  Oh we might have a big bunch of snow that'll last a week or three.  But this year it's been rain and fog.  I hate fog.

How's the weather where you are?

Adepts Series Trailer

I've yet to embed a video in this blog because, well, I don't know how.  So I decided it was time to learn.  So, here is the book trailer for the three Adept Series books:

Wow, that was easy!  I have to admit, for a free service, Blogger is pretty good.  Only thing I don't like is the shape of the window which I don't seem able to change.

Sunday Six: The Suit of Armor

Today's Sunday Six from Chapter Eight of Book of Death:

The woman who had initially screamed did so again and jumped out of the way as a third suit of armor came in the back door, swinging its flail over its head.  Wynter couldn't stop in time and the ball hit him right in the temple with a sick, moist crunching sound.  Blood jetted in all directions from the impact, hitting me in the face and chest.  Wynter made a sound of anguish that I hoped I never heard again as he was knocked against a wall, his skull caved in, and I didn't want to imagine what was gushing from the wound.

I ducked and shot an airbolt at the suit.  That knocked it back a bit and dented the supposedly priceless metal, but it still kept coming.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

You know, the internet is an interesting thing.  You might be reading this in Kazakhstan in which case it's probably tomorrow and you don't have Thanksgiving anyway.  But that's okay, you can still be thankful for all that you have.  And eat turkey.  So happy thanksgiving!

Oh, don't forget the stuffing!

BCS Playoff System

I hate (hate hate) the BCS college football system for choosing a national championship.  And I think a lot of other folks do to.  And in response, the BCS is talking about going to a limited BCS playoff system but it's still going to be based on BCS rankings which, frankly I don't understand (e.g., how can Boise State be undefeated yet not in contention for a national championship?).

So I'd like to see a full blown playoff.  There are eleven conferences in BCS football.  (I guess the independents would have to join a conference to participate, sorry BYU).  Take the winning team from each conference and the two highest BCS ranked teams that are not conference champions as "wildcards."  You now have 13 teams.  Give the #1 ranked team a bye, play six games, and you have six winners.  Play three games and you have three winners.  Plug in the #1 team (against the lowest ranked team still standing), and you have four teams.  Two more games and you have your BCS championship match.

That's twelve total games (and there's 35 bowl games right now).  If we can't fit 12 playoff games into 35 bowl games, we've got a problem.

This would make bowl games mean something other than bagging rights.  This would up the excitement level for BCS football.  This would make winning a conference more important than ever.  And this would mean a team like Boise State could prove themselves outside their weak conference.  The only downside is that could mean a lot of games for some teams, potentially four post-season games for a 16-game season which is a lot for college ball.

It also means we'll probably have to tighten up bowl eligibility beyond a .500 season.  Which isn't a bad thing.

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Alma Calihan on winning the quarterly book drawing at my website www.sevantownsend.com.  You, too, could win the paperback or eBook of your choice.  Sign up today.  Next drawing is in February.

Sunday Six: Undercover

Today's Sunday Six from Chapter Seven of Book of Death:

Unfortunately, one couldn't just hop in a car and drive to a city seventy-five miles away.  Maybe Romanians could but not foreigners.  The Romanian government had to be informed and permission obtained.  I wasn't too happy about informing the Romanian government that I was traveling to Pitesti.  But since I was officially a diplomat, an excuse had already been fabricated for me to go there.  Apparently I was to study the puppet theater at the County Theater for its cultural significance, and to determine if the performers could travel to the U.S. in a "cultural exchange." 

Review of Book of Death

Check out this great review of Book of Death at Beauty in Ruins blog!  An excerpt:

I was hoping for something different with Book of Death, and I'm pleased to say it delivered.

More MarbleCam Madness

My friend, Sare, introduced me through her blog to MarbleCam, an iPhone app (free) that manipulates photographs.  So she and I have been having fun texting each other our latest MarbleCam creations.  See if you can figure out what all of these are (they are all mine):

Ebook Giveaway

Sign up to win a free eBook copy of Book of Death at Literal Addiction.

And don't forget to "Like" my Facebook page to keep up on all my happenings!

The Pac-12

When people talk about college football conferences, often they think of the Big-10 and the SEC.  But the Pac-12 (formerly known as the Pac-10) seems to labor on in obscurity caused by the Rocky Mountains or something (it's no secret, most of the U.S. media comes out of the East).  But right now fully 50% of the teams in the Pac-12 are BCS ranked, including #2 Oregon.  Even the vaunted SEC can't claim that (full disclosure: The SEC has six ranked teams, but that's out of 14 teams).

I just noticed that because I was checking the standings in the Pac-12 after the weekend's football games to see where my beloved University of Washington Huskies stood, and noticed the Huskies are now ranked (albeit at #25).  That means the Pac-12 North Division has four ranked teams (out of six).  Not too shabby.

I'm pretty confident that the Huskies or going to go 8-4 (two of their losses to teams ranked #2 and #3 when they played them).  They are currently bowl eligible at 6-4 after they beat Utah this weekend.  With Oregon probably going to the BCS, that means the Huskies could get a pretty good bowl slot, even though they are #4 in their very tough division (Pac-12 North).

And since they are a very young team, next year they should look even better.

P.S.: The sports/Huskies posts should end when the Huskies' season ends.  Just FYI.

Sunday Six: The Cop

Today's Sunday Six from Chapter Four of Book of Death:

A motorcycle cop I hadn't noticed jumped off his bike, pulled his service revolver, and shot it into the Indian with six cracks of bullets being fired.  It had no effect other than sending burning splinters of wood flying.  The cop suddenly looked frightened, and was gripping his billy club but taking no further action.

People were screaming loudly now.  I looked around, looking for an escape.  If I could teleport away I might escape, but I could see no clear place to teleport to. 

What is it?

My friend, Sare, blogged about this iPhone app called MarbleCam.  It takes pictures and manipulates them.  Here's one I took (and had manipulated).  What do you think it is?

Text Silliness

The other day (okay, Wednesday) I drove to a town about 100 miles away to interview a guy for a freelance writing assignment.  I stopped at a fast food restaurant to use their bathroom and get something to drink.  And I saw a casual dining restaurant across the street that my wife likes.  So I texted her:

Snow, Again?

They (the National Weather Service) is once again predicting snow for our area tomorrow.  However, temps will be above freezing so it will no doubt melt pretty quickly and just make things wet and muddy.  Winter is upon us and the real snow will come soon.  I think I'll put my snow tires on next week.

It's Over!

The election is finally over.  I don't live in a swing state and I was sick of the ads.  I can't imagine living in Ohio.  I often wish there was a way to limit the campaigns to six weeks or something.  But that gives huge advantages to incumbents who always have the ear of the media.  I'm afraid there are no perfect solutions other than avoid media completely every four years.

So it's over.  At least until the run up to the midterms in 2014.

Sunday Six: Skin

Today's six sentence Sunday from Chapter Three of Book of Death:

Skin was against mine as I woke: warm, soft, skin that pulsated with life pressed against my body.  I realized Ernestine was cuddling with me as I dozed.  I smiled and turned to face her.
"Good morning," she said with a smile, those brown eyes seeming to sparkle.
"Good morning," I said, grinning.  I had no idea what time it was, but I knew we hadn't slept much after she dropped her towel.

The Origins of The Adept Series

Today I stop by Speculative Friction to discuss the origins of the Adept Series (Hammer of Thor, Agent of Artifice, and of course, Book of Death).  Check it out (the blogger just happens to live in the same town I do, too!).