Summer, deadlines and other things I want to avoid.

Summer is hot. I hate sweating, but I love using the pool. However I think I'd be just as happy with a heated swimming pool in the middle of winter. You get the fun of swimming, maybe a tan without the three digit tempts. Who wouldn't love that?

Deadlines. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love to see them go, but I hate to see them coming. However, I feel they are a fact of my life as a published writer. If I didn't have them then it would mean no one wanted to buy my books. Yikes, something I so don't want to see happen. So I live in semi-harmony with the various dates that come creeping up on me. This week I'm under double the pressure. I have two books to finish by the end of the week. Normally I'd mildly panic except I'm headed out of town this weekend. So I have fewer days to write than I'd like. Yes, I could have finished the books anytime before now, but what fun would that be. In case you're wondering what stories I'll be pounding out I'll tell you. The third book in my Erotic Escapes series, Bonded at Lake Baikal needs to be finished for my amazing  EC editor. The other is the fourth book in my Club Botticelli series over at Total E-Bound. I'm excited to see the first book hit the virtual stands next month. This has been such a fun series to write and I'll be sorry to see it end.

I had an amazing review from Whipped Cream reviews over at Long and Short. Thanks, Tiger Lily, for ready and loving my book. I actually blushed reading the review and I never blush. Check it out

http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2010/06/twenty-four-hours-by-allie-standifer.html

So I'm off to finish my two books before I hit the road again. I'll be spending the 

weekend with three of my favorite people on the planet. Brenna Zinn, Desiree Holt and 

Cerise Deland. Their cooking. I'm doing dishes and bringing pre-cooked food. My friends

smart and know better than to let me near a stove or microwave. 

Until next week, gang, keep reading and keep cool.

Kudos,

Allie

 

Father's Day & how to say thanks.

I am very blessed to have a great father in my life. My dad has been there from day one, supporting, encouraging, and challenging me every day since. I can still remember sitting on the sidewalk in front of my childhood home waiting for my Daddy. Every day he'd act surprised to see me, thrilled to find a grimy girl and her faithful dog waiting sneakily (or so she thought). I get hugs, kisses and a piece of gum. No better present for a child. Sweet memories that can still make me tear up.

Years later I still think of my father as a hero. He's stood by me, even carried me through some of the worst moments of my life. Whenever I needed encouragement he kicked me in the butt. He's a man of strong honor and unbending values. I lucked out in the parent jackpot. I'm just thrilled I didn't get his ears or feet :)

That's not to say we didn't have a more than our share of fights and nasty words, but through it all I never doubted my father's love.
Unfortunately my Dad had to travel for work. Not just a night or two, we're talking months even years at a time. So my poor Mom was stuck raising my not so sane brother, sister and my perfect self.

We didn't have the conventional family life, but somehow my parents made it work for us. So to say thanks to my father I'd take him out to a fancy dinner, or buy the biggest card in the world, but none of that would mean much to him. My Dad would rather fire up the grill and have his family spend time with him. Laughing, screaming, crying and complaining so long as we're together my Dad's thankful.

This week's blog

Well, gang, I've tried all day to come up with something funny and amusing to share with you, but I've got nothing. My beloved and cranky cat of fifteen years, Phoenix, died Thursday with almost no warning. Some people will mock, others will shake their heads and wonder about wasted emotions on an animal. Still others out there will grieve and cry with me. To those I say thank you. Thank you for knowing and understanding the joy and love our 'furry' children bring to our lives. I was so lucky to have been there when Phoenix was born and privileged to have been there to hold him when he died. It truly broke a piece of my heart to say goodbye to my only child. As in life my cat went out on his own terms and his own way.

Phoenix spent most of his life pissing people off. He was really good at that. Toward the end of his life he mellowed some. By that I mean if you bribed him with treats he'd let you touch him. My sister loved his gluttony as it's the only way he was ever nice to her. Me, on the other hand, I'd pick him up and love on him just to piss him off. He'd growl, jump from my arms and stick his tail up in the air. Ten minutes later he'd be back, jumping on top of me, just to show me who really was in charge.

Animals may never talk in a way humans understand, but they communicate with us all the same. I thank God for that because I knew even at the very end, my Phoennie knew I was there and I loved him.

So that's all for this week. Kiss and hug your four legged kids and remember what special blessings they really are. Truly gifts from God to love us so completely without boundaries or conditions.

Here's poem I think sums up everything. I'd give credit to the author but no one knows who it is.

The Last Battle
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this--the last battle--can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
Don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears
You'd not want me to suffer, so.
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me til the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
it is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close--we two--these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
-Author Unknown

Rainy Sunday

It's one of those days when I find it nearly impossible to motivate myself. The sky is cloudy and dark, the wind's blowing the chimes the crazy and it's a Sunday. The only thing I feel good for is laying in bed watching documentaries. I mean that a form of research, right? And we all know research is a form of work, so...if we get technical then I'm really working, not goofing off.
Whew, I love a conversation and logic strand that I bend around like a twisty pretzel to suit me :)Before I go to ...ahem...cough cough...work let's review my week. I've had ups, downs and moments of sanity. I shed the last as quickly as possible. Whoever heard of a lucid writer?

This week I managed not to beat, maim or kill anyone. Yay me! Oh you smirk do you? There were many many peoples in my home for the holiday. I like people, but at a distance and only for short periods of time. This many people...it's like they were asking to be slaughtered. Painting bull eyes on their buttocks or something. But I prevailed and rewarded myself with a cookie and vanilla Diet Coke.

Tuesday came and went. I'm a little fuzzy on the details as I was still recovering from Monday. Wednesday I did things, not sure what, but I'm almost positive I was productive or at least looked it.No one has complained or accused me yet. Thursday I spent with my five year old nephew. We ate at CiCi's pizza. Then a trip to the mall which landed him two huge icing slathered cookies, a weird neon drink with a cup he can keep, a loud buzzing game and a large picture book of the world's most disgusting predictors! I sent the little darling to his mother on a sugar high, his lips dyed blue with a annoying game under one arm, glow in the dark tongue and a revolting play by play book of snakes, spiders, alligators and more devouring their prey. Needless to save I've been taken off the babysitting roaster for a while. Darn it.

Friday: not allowed to see nephew as he is still swinging from the ceiling fans and trying to saddle his dog. Sister is inventing new curse words to use on me. I feel loved and much satisfied. Good day.

Saturday...ack more people. Must be my punishment for sugar coma of five year old. Snuck out of the house on the pretense of having oil changed. Then remembered I needed my oil changed so had to do it anywhere. Good news found b-day card and present at oil change place. Saved me two different trips. Classy car place. LMAO

For those of you who think I completely wasted my day I'll have you know I did work as well. I finished two sets of edits for two different books and publishers. I wrote a blurb for three books and harassed my friends who won't answer me on e-mails, phone calls or text messages. Some would say it's stalking. I call it determined love.

Now I sit here still mainlining coffee, coming up with some really great excuses not to write. I'm sure I'll come up with something amazing or at least half ass believable. Until then I have to write.

Please share your week and the wonderful reasons why you can't do whatever it is you're supposed to be doing. I always need backup plans :)

Until next week or my new tangent, keep cool and stay wet:

Kudos,
Allie

Review for Twenty-Four Hours

My first review for Twenty-Four Hours is here from Night Owl reviews! Wow, who knew a book written on a dare could be so much fun? Thanks again to Desiree Holt for issuing the challenge and helping me push my writing boundaries. So without further blathering on my part here it is. My first solo EC review...Snoopy dancing with a cold bottle of vodka.




Reviewed:
Jun 03, 2010

9781419928260

Publisher:
Ellora's Cave

Print:

eBook: $2.49

Published:
2010-05-14

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Author: Allie Standifer Website

Genre: Spicy Romance, Cougar - OW, YM

Read an Excerpt

I enjoyed reading this novella by Ms. Standifer. It’s part of Ellora’s Cave Quickies series and is a fast read that took me about an hour or so.  The tone is light and it was easy to read.
I liked the character of Courtney Museo; she’s a successful businesswoman with her own company and also works hard at staying in shape physically and in maintaining her appearance. She realizes that she may at some point want to have some cosmetic surgery to keep her appearance youthful but is not distressed by it. She can also laugh at herself and realizes that she is somewhat vain. She’s very attracted to her assistant, Mason Jeffries, who is only 28 years of age compared to her 41. Courtney has refused to act on their mutual attraction on the basis of their age difference; however, her little mishap with the tanning bed puts her at his mercy.
Mason Jeffries is an interesting hero; he’s young, attractive and intelligent. He’s also been lusting after Courtney and has flirted with her to no avail. He gets an opportunity to spend time with her away from work and jumps at the chance to prove to her that he’s not too young for her and that what they have is more than a physical attraction.   He’s known for some time that he is in love with her. He’s also quite sexual and has quite a bit of stamina.
This is a very hot book. The sex is scorching and I do need to advise that there is both anal play and anal sex in this book, so if that is a hot button for you- be advised. The story is very well written and is fast paced due to its short length; however, things are resolved in a very satisfactory manner.