Crystal Jordan :: Blog

This week’s quiz… what’s your viking name? (Hello, my name is Kaðlín Wulfmangler. I like long walks on the beach. I’m a berserker. I like my meat raw and I want minions.)

I’m looking into writing an annotated bibliography/reference book on romance/romantic fiction. I’ve found three and, well, there’s been maybe a few romance titles published since the last one came out in 2000. As a librarian (not a romance writer) I thought I might look into publishing in this area. I know the ALA (Amer. Lib. Assoc.) and Libraries Unlimited both publish bibliographies on fiction genres. That way I can double-count the publication on both my librarian resume and my author resume. I looove double dipping!

Here’s what I’ve found/had pointed out ot me:

• The Romance Reader’s Advisory: The Librarian’s Guide to Love in the Stacks by Ann Bouricius (2000)
• Romantic Hearts by Peggy J. Jaegly (1997)
• The Romantic Spirit: A Romance Bibliography of Authors and Titles by Mary June Kay (1984)

Last night I saw a sneak screening of Narnia. It was awesome!!!

I haven’t read the books since I was little and I don’t remember much more than the basic premise. I don’t believe in reading the book first if I know there’s a movie coming out. The books are always better and they spoil the movie. I spend the whole movie going “that didn’t happen,” “he didn’t say that,” “they cut out my favorite part!” Watching the movie first means I can love both on their own merits.

Something is wrong with my car.

I don’t know what really — mostly because I don’t know jack about vehicles. That said, my last car was a vibrating death trap on wheels. I got to know what the sounds of a car could indicate on the disaster-o-meter. My new 2005 Chevy Malibu Maxx (new to me, I got it used a few months ago) is making the noise of a marble swirling around the bottom of a tin cup. On the death-mobile, that meant something was seriously amiss with my brakes. And one time it meant that the axel(or something like that) was all messed up.

Now the Chevy is still under warranty; so, I think that means I don’t have to pay for anything. I think. I’m worried that I’ll go in and end up having to ransom my poor cat to get my car out of hock. Or they’ll do something to make it worse. Or something. I told you I don’t know jack about cars! Why can’t they just stay fixed?

“the fact of the matter is this: cavalry charges make me horny.“

• Mad Madam M

The Mad Madam M (check out her blog to read more) revealed a stunning truth to me the other day via the telephone. One that even I, her bestest bud, did not know — that cavalry charges in movies make her little heart go pitter patter and her thighs quiver. (I made that last bit up, but she did say horny!) And then she mocked me about my post from a few days ago about my weird dream and all the comments I received about Matt Showalter’s cheeky pants.

**Mad Madam M calls me ChickLit on her blog because she got tired of referring to me as “C.” She refuses to call me Crystal and she got wildly jealous that I came up with a spiffy code name for her when she hadn’t reciprocated. We’re competitive like that. I like ChickLit, even though I write romance.

This titillating look at the inner workings of my best friend came up when she watched the charging scene in Kingdom of Heaven — a movie she doesn’t even like! Ah, well. There’s at least one movie where we all want to rip Orlando Bloom’s clothes off, right? (I still love Brad Pitt best, though!)

For my quarter-century birthday, I intend to introduce the Mad Madam M (best bud from college) to the indomitable Sqveege (aka- the girl who got me through Cataloguing in library school). They’re both archivists and they both looooove movies. I sense a whole lot of love coming on or a deep and abiding hate. I want love for my birthday ladies, make it happen!

Another book review went up over on Romance Divas. This one is a dark fantasy romance. A little light on the romance, but the premise was interesting. So far I’ve reviewed a spicy full length sci-fi romance novel, a sci-fi/fantasy e-book erotica short story, and a full length dark fantasy e-book. Next up for review: full-length historical romance. Gotta keep people on their toes. I’ll let you know when the historical review goes up. I’m not sure what I want to try next. We’ll see!

Go on now! Read my review! You know you want to.

Review of Karen Mandeville’s The Dead Forest

I recently added a new character to my WIP. I know I said earlier I cut all extraneous people, but he’s not extraneous! In fact, I came up with a sequel idea and he’s a major player. I have to intro him here. And in “Every Witch Way” he is a Useful Source of Information for the lovely heroine, Chloe. In the sequel he may end up the hero. Then again he may be the One Not Chosen. That’s my secret. You’ll just have to read it — if I ever publish.

Two fun things this week. One is a link that may encourage a new generation of vegetarians. The second is a fun quiz, “What Food Are You?”

Naughty Fruits and Veggies

**Caution: This is dirty stuff. I promise you will never look at an eggplant the same way again!

You Are Mexican Food

Spicy yet dependable. You pull punches, but people still love you.

They left me in charge at the library this weekend (wow, was that a badly-thought-out plan, mwah ha ha!) Party for everybody!

I also got stuck with decorating for Christmas here, which I’m actually kind of offended by. (They totally disavow any other religious holiday during this time of year. Kwanzaa, anyone? Hanukah? Hello! This isn’t a religious college! Arrgh!!) Also, the decorations they have are seriously on the sadder side of life. The tree is fake, prelit, and the bottom branches on one side are broken and sag to the ground. I’ve officially dubbed her “Old Bessie.” Why? I don’t know — this is me!

Anyway, Bessie and I get to spend some quality time together while I attempt to make her look less like the x-mas tree version of an aging hooker with make-up so thick it could pass for shellack. Wish me luck!

I had the weirdest dream last night about people I’ve never even met. I dreamed I was at the National Romance Writers of America in Atlanta next year and I ran into random people from the Romance Divas website. One of them was an erotica writer, Eden Bradley, who chased me around with a paddle for days.

Then, if that wasn’t bizarre enough, I met Gena Showalter’s brother-in-law Matt Showalter. If you recall, I posted the other day that Gena’s trying to auction Matt off and he put up pictures of his naked backside. Almost all of the pictures featured him wearing plaid shirts.

Anyway, he was in my dream wearing a$$-less leather chaps and plaid, totally nonchalant about the rear draft. Then he kissed me and said it was for a good cause, but I have no idea what the good cause was. At least he was a good kisser.

But, seriously. How strange is that? I know nothing about this guy, except:

1. His name’s Matt
2. He’s Gena’s Pimp (and Bro-in-law)
3. He likes plaid
4. He’s not shy about public bum-flashing
5. The bum he flashes is very muffin-y

So, why the dream? Weird, very weird.