Nice Dice

I absolutely adore this look. Katy Perry rocks! Coincidentally, she's also mentioned in Bunco Book 3 (title to be named later). No, Katy Perry doesn't come to Whispering Bay to play Bunco with the Babes (although the Babes would certainly welcome her with open arms in this dress) but she is a sort of character in the book. You'll just have to wait till Sept 2010 to find out how;)

On that note, I'm trying to finish writing a critical scene, do laundry, and get some sleep tonight before heading to Daytona Beach for a little fun and sun this weekend. Yay!

Julie and Julia

Is there anything Meryl Streep can't do? (besides sing?) Last night I went to see "Julie and Julia." I give it 5 pats of butter! (Butter being its own character in the flic) From the acting to the plot, it's utterly delicious.

My one and only tiny nit is that there weren't enough beautiful food scenes! I'm far from a foodie (cooking ranks up there with housework for me) but I do love to eat and there were some gorgeous bread scenes that left me salivating... and hungry for more food cinematography. I guess I was expecting more along the lines of Big Night (if you haven't seen it, run to rent it) which also, coincidentally, stars Stanley Tucci, which leads me to ask, is there anything Stanley Tucci can't do either?

And speaking of foodie flics, I had to go and comment on Michelle Buonfiglio's B&N blog in which she interviews book buyer Tommy Dreiling. Michelle wants to know what's the next big trend in romance. We all know vampires are hot hot hot right now (Mel's book Bite Me! is already in its 2nd printing. Yay!!) but I really think foodie romance is going to completely take off. Which is awesome for Louisa's book Can't Stand the Heat (St. Martins). It comes out Sept 1 and I promise, you won't be disappointed! It's as yummy as Julie and Julia is!

Bon Appetit!

Website updates

Thanks to the lovely Jax I now have event pictures on my website. The top ones are from the RWA Literacy signing. My very first one! I used to go to conference and walk through the aisles of authors signing their books and think, "One day, that will be me!" I have to say, it's a bit overwhelming. But thanks to Mel and her smuggled wine (I think I drank 3/4's of a bottle myself) it was a piece of cake:)

Who doesn't just love this?

My Perfect Hero

So I'm sitting here in my closet, writing away on Bunco book 3 (title to be named later) and I'm just having such a freakin' hard time whenever my hero enters the story. Now don't get me wrong, I love my hero. It's Zeke Grant, Whispering Bay's chief of police (and a secondary character in Bunco Babes Gone Wild). Zeke is married to Mimi, one of my Babes (only mentioned once in Book one, but a prominent secondary character in book 2) and he's absolutely delicious. (Think Josh Lucas in Sweet Home Alabama). But the guy is sometimes just too alpha to live. Every time he opens his mouth I want to put a sock in it. I wish I could curb the things he says but then he wouldn't be the right character for this book or for my heroine.

I was reading Eloisa James' article over at B&N titled Alpha Allure . I absolutely love Eloisa's heroes. One of my favorite all time heroes is Rafe from "The Taming of the Duke." He's the perfect tortured alpha male. And it got me to thinking about heroes in contemporary romance vs historicals and I've come to the conclusion that they aren't that much different. I think, as women, we are initially attracted to all the prominent characteristics of the alpha male- the in-charge, sexually potent guy who walks in a room who makes women stand up and notice. But it's the little leaks in the damn he uses as a shield that actually make us fall in love with him. Because let's face it, perfect is boring. Imperfection, on the other hand, allows us a glimpse into the real man inside and it's the way he handles those imperfections that can make or break a character. Like Eloisa's tortured Rafe. Sigh. I still wonder what he's up to. And that's the ultimate test of a really great character. Creating a person so vivid, so interesting, that they stay with you long after you've finished the book.

Which reminds me, I have to go finish writing the book...

BAM Loves Mel!

So, while I was out and about this weekend, look what I found at Books A Million. Mel's book on a center table surrounded by other Vamp books (only her cover is a million times more awesome!)

And then this fantastic review from PW!!! (yay!)

Bite Me! Melissa Francis. HarperTeen, $8.99 paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-061-43098-5

First-time novelist Francis presents a tasty story that uses humor and a light touch to rise above typical teen vampire fare. Seventeen-year-old “good girl” AJ may be a closet blood-drinker, but that's the least of her problems. Her mom's remarriage has just turned her boyfriend into her stepbrother (“Momma's exact words to me were, 'Ariel Jane, if you so much as look at that boy with fangs in your eyes again, I'll bite you myself.' ”), her AP Lit teacher is already out to get her on the first day of school, and she might have accidentally turned her rebound guy into a vamp who is now threatening her family. On top of that, she's been accused of cheating on a quiz, and compromising photos have appeared on her Facebook page—someone has to be setting her up. But who? Francis keeps things moving, creating an absorbing and refreshing page-turner with a solid mythology, sympathetic heroine and appealing characters that readers will want to invite back to their own homes (well, almost). Ages 14–up. (Aug.)

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6673981.html?industryid=47139

Bite me!

No, I'm not being cheeky. Although I do LOVE Cheeky Reads review of Bunco Babes Tell All. She gave it a 5 heart review! You can read about it right here.

I've been such a sorry blogger lately. My only excuse is that after coming back from the RWA National conference, I had to finish the final first passes for Bunco Babes Gone Wild. I have to say, I really love this book! As an author, you get so wrapped up in your writing that you sometimes can't see the forest for the trees but reading it again after a six month hiatus I was able to see it with fresh eyes and I'm happy to say that I really love Georgia and Dave's story. Maybe almost as much as Kitty and Steve's! Although I have to admit, that I really, really hope that I get to write another book that completely finishes Kitty and Steve's story. Something tells me that their happily-ever-after wasn't quite finished in the first book;) I'm also happy to say that I've sold a third Bunco Babe book and I'm hard at work trying to write that one with a November deadline. Yay!

Okay, so enough about me. Back to Bite Me! That's the title of my fabulous cp/bff Mel's, book which debuts tomorrow. She's running a contest over at the Ficitionistas site. Trust me, you don't want to miss it! Or her awesome website, Have you been bitten?

Home!

I got in late last night from DC. The RWA conference was fantastic! It was my first conference as a published author and although at times I felt a little overwhelmed, it was truly a blast. I met up with old friends, met new friends, and got to spend a bit of time with my editor. More on DC to follow...

Today, I'm going to push through my first passes on Bunco Babes Gone Wild. They're due in 2 days, so I have to kick a little self-editorial butt here.

On another note, I'm the featured author over at Number One Novels this week. Go check it out here because there's also a chance to win an autographed copy of my book:)

DC!

Am headed off for DC this morning to attend the RWA National Conference. Can't wait! My only wish is that I could get a direct flight out of Tallahassee. But an hour lay over in Memphis both ways isn't so bad. I don't think I've ever been to the Memphis airport. Usually all flights revolve around Atlanta (hence the old joke you can't get to heaven (or hell) without first stopping in Atlanta).

If you'll be attending, please stop by my table at the Literacy signing. I'll be the one smiling at all the passerbys who will be looking at me and going, "who is Marcia Garcia and what the hell is Bunco?"

I'll also be part of a workshop panel on Friday morning (9:45-10:45) titled, "I sold to NY, now what?" We'll give you the 411 on what happens after you've sold. Off now to do some last minute packing.

Hopefully, I'll have lots of pictures to share!

Melbourne Barnes and Noble is the best!

Pardon the glare but this is the best pic of the bunch. Last month, I went back to my hometown of Melbourne and did a book signing at Barnes & Noble. Kaori (the community rep for the store) did a fabulous job of setting the whole thing up. She and Kandy (another B&N employee) were simply awesome.

Imagine my surprise when I got this wonderful commemorative frame of the event in the mail this week. I know it's probably too small to see, but the top pic is of me, Kaori and Kandy, and the bottom pic shows me signing books. I love the whole scrap booking feel of it, which actually matches my website design perfectly!

Highs and Lows

On a high note, I had a fantastic 4th of July! Went to my hubby's boss's house, who has a huge party every year. He does a better firework show than the city of Tallahassee. It was awesome and patriotic. Very inspiring!

Then yesterday, I found out the Baltimore Sun ran a piece in their Sunday A&E section titled, "Lose yourself in a summer romance." Here's what they had to say about Bunco Babes Tell All:

Geraci's sexy, funny debut is an emotionally satisfying story of love, friendship, family and community.

Yay!

Here's the link to the article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-ae.bk.reviewshorts05jul05,0,5954932.story

Now, on to the low part. I'm ashamed to admit it, but once again, I have been sucked into The Bachelor. Or rather, The Bachelorette. After the whole Jason debacle I vowed I would never watch the show again. That lasted 30 minutes. When the new season premiered May 18, I held out for the first part of the show, then, when I couldn't stand it anymore, grabbed the remote and tuned in. Yep, I'm a glutton for punishment.

What can I say? In my defense, I have to say I've always liked The Bachelorette more than The Bachelor. I love seeing a woman in charge. But Jillian (whom I really liked on Jason's season) is making some dumb mistakes. Hopefully, tonight, she'll get rid of Wes, the country-western-loser-singer-who-secretly-has-a-girlfriend. It seems the rest of the guys, and everyone in America who watches the show knows what a loser Wes is. I know it's probably the editing, but really. I cannot wait till he gets the boot. Texas style.

The way the show is going, she'll probably pick Ed, who seems like a nice guy and I have nothing against him. But I have to say, if I were Jillian I would sooooo pick Reid. There's something about his neurotic Woody Allen sort of humor that I totally love. And of course, there's that killer smile of his. My only consolation is that I'm pretty sure he makes tonight's cut, so I'll get to see him next week too.

Writing the High Concept Novel

Today, I'm blogging about writing the high concept novel over at Night Owl Romance. Plus, I'm giving away an autographed book (mine, of course!)

Plus, I'll still be over at Ijustfinished.com (why do I feel the need to cap the I in that link?), so feel free to stop by and ask questions.

What have you just finished reading?

This week, I'm the featured author over at IJustfiinished.com. Come on over and ask me a question!

The Cubans hit Barnes & Noble

Ever see that old movie "The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming"? (Probably not. I've never seen it either, but I love the title). Well, just sub in "Cubans" for "Russians" and you'll get an idea of what my B&N book signing was like. It was awesome. There's nothing like a signing in your home town to make you feel special! Add in some friends from high school and grade school who also showed up, and I can still feel the lump in my throat.

One of the best parts of the book signing was meeting a local Bunco group who showed up to buy some books before they went out for dinner and socializing. A lot of the ladies in the group have kids who attend Melbourne Central Catholic (my alma mater) and one lady told me her daughter was a Stinger (dance and drill team). Talk about bringing back memories. You see, I too, was a Stinger (ahem, make that an ORIGINAL Stinger as well as a Stinger Forever-- blog for another day!) I really hope they contact me so I can feature them on my "Let's Play Bunco!" page. I was so overwhelmed by all the people I forgot to get a contact name. I really have to be more organized.

After the book signing, I attended the Romance Book Club that Lee Duncan hosts. Lee is a member of STAR and has just sold her first book Romancing the Storm to Harlequin. What a great coup! The fabulous Kristen Painter was also there and a good time was had by all.

Oh, and one of the best parts? I sold out of books!

Book signing and Book Club Meeting

This morning I'm off to my hometown of Melbourne, where I'll be doing a book signing at the Barnes & Noble on New Haven Ave. So... if you're in the area, stop by around 5:30. I'll be there! Afterward, I'll be attending a book club meeting and I'm very excited. I can't wait to see what kind of questions people have for me!

Favorite Romantic Scene

Today I'm guest blogging over at Deidre Knight's blog. The topic is: Favorite Romantic Movie scenes. Anyone who's read Bunco Babes Tell All, probably won't have any trouble figuring out mine. Sigh... All I can say is "Oh my!" Check it out here.

Bunco Babes make the National Examiner

Move over Jon and Kate, my Bunco Babes have hit the tabloids!

No, really, they have. A couple of months ago, my publicist at Berkley emailed to tell me that Bunco Babes Tell All had been selected as a free give away by the National Examiner. I have to admit, I had never heard of the magazine. Of course, now I see it everywhere. It's at my Publix, right next to the checkout stand. Pretty cool, huh??



Every week, in the back of the magazine, they give away DVDs, books, jewelry, perfume, etc. There are 5 copies of Bunco Babes Tell All being given away this week, so besides seeing some pretty cool pics of Stars without makeup, you can win some freebies!

Eat, Drink and Roll!

There's a new Bunco group in town and they're the DrunkoBabes of Midlothian, Virginia.

The fabulous Jacksonville Divas with Dice are now on my links section, because of course, in my world, Bunco groups never go away, they simply get their own page.

The Drunkobabes have this fabulous traveling pig. Yes, you heard me, a traveling pig. Really, it's one of the best Bunco tips ever. But you don't have to believe me. Go see for yourself. Right here.

And while you're there check out their chocolate martini recipe.

Other updates to my website include some new reviews for Bunco Babes Tell All. Here's a great one from Fallen Angels Reviews.

Fallen Angels Reviews
Recommended Read

Kitty Burke, Pilar Diaz-Rothman, and Shea Masterson are best friends and also founding members of The Bunco Babes of Whispering Bay. Every Thursday these friends along with nine other women meet up at each other's houses to eat, drink frozen margaritas, have fun and play Bunco.

Kitty is just thirty-five. She and her friends think it is about time that she found Mr. Right. When Kitty's toilet breaks down, she gets a delicious surprise in the form of Steve, the plumber. Steve happens to be her ex-boyfriend's cousin. He is in town for a few weeks. Kitty would like to start something up with Steve, but Pilar and Shea don't think Steve is the right choice as he has been married three times. Will Steve turn out to be Mr. Right or will he be Mr. Wrong?

I loved Kitty. She is my absolute favorite. First there is her encounter with Steve. Making first impressions is the most important thing when meeting a guy. Kitty definitely knows how to make one on Steve. It is no wonder he didn't run after her first performance. Then there is Kitty's phobia. She has what is called stripperphobia. This is the fear of having a stripper remove his clothing and wave his thing in your face, while being handcuffed to a chair. Now after reading all about stripperphonbia, if this doesn't make you want to read Bunco Babes Tell All then I don't know what will. Maria Geraci has become my new favorite author of 2009! I can't wait to read her next piece of work.

Author Q &A and book give away

Today, I'm blogging over at The Knight Agency blog, giving you a little sample of some of the Q & A we did while on our Author Tour. One lucky commenter will win an autographed copy of each of our books. Comments will stay open till Sunday night, so go on over and learn a little about what it takes to get published and maybe you can have these awesome reads in your summer reading bag!

Author Tour Day 3

So after a fantastic day 2 on Author Tour I arrived back to my hotel room exhausted. Unfortunately, I don't stay exhausted. Don't you hate it when you're really tired and you crawl into bed, only to find that you can't fall asleep? Where is the cotton-mouth-producing Benadryl when you need it? I'll tell you where- back at home in my medicine cabinet. Fat good it does me there.

Fortunately for me "Titanic" was on T.V. I just can't resist seeing Jack and Rose fall in love, so I watch it again for the zillionth time. After it's done, I think, great! now I can fall asleep. Nope. Because then "Enough" with Jennifer Lopez comes on and for some reason (never was really crazy about the movie) I now find it fascinating. By the time J Lo kicks Billy Campbell's very nice butt in, I'm beyond exhausted and finally fall asleep. But I wake up a tad later than I wanted and I was supposed to meet Debbie at 8:40 in the hotel lobby so we could go to mass. I rush and shower and dress and am, like, 15 minutes off schedule, so we get to mass a tad late (but before the readings so we're okay in the technical Catholic sense).

After mass, we go back to the hotel, meet Deidre and Shannon and head to Athens, home of the UGA Bulldogs. Now that my son is about to be a Gator I suppose I should feel some animosity toward the Dawgs, but I don't. We meet up with Jennifer and Jia and Jennifer's daughter and her friend and have brunch at this New Orleans style place, which I can't remember the name of to save my life. I have poached eggs over crab cakes and it's beyond yummy. Now, with my tummy stuffed, we all head over to Borders.

The Borders in Athens is awesome. Vicki, our contact person, has set up our signing in the rear of the store. Jia puts up the purple and white balloons (the red and white ones have died) and the awesome TKA author sign and we're set. The crowd in Athens is very nice, and I get to meet Jessica Hunt, whose husband Chris interviewed me for the Athens newspaper. I'd sent her a copy of my book last month and she told me she loved it (and I loved hearing that!) We answer questions, sign books and thank the crowd for coming. It's sad in a way, because now it's over. Jennifer and Debbie have to leave, but Deidre, Shannon, Jia and I stay to have coffee and do a little book shopping. I immediately check out the romance section (very nice) and an even nicer section toward the middle of the store that features a lot of women's fiction-Jennifer Weiner, Sophie Kinsella, etc, and decide that this is where I should be. It's obviously a co-op space, but I snag a few of my books and place them prominently next to my idol, Sophie. Hey, if I don't push for my own work, then who will, right?

After having a frozen caramel coffee drink (which is not called a frappuccino, since this word is copyrighted by Starbucks- something I learned while writing Bunco Babes Tell All) D and I say goodbye to Jia and Shannon and head back to Madison where my car is located. After fiercely hugging D goodbye, I gas up my minivan and head to Cracker Barrel to get an audio book for the trip back home. I select "Every Breath you Take" by Judith McNaught. JM was one of the first romance authors I loved and her "Paradise" remains one of my favorite romances of all time. I'm a little ticked to find that the audio book is abridged (hate that!) but it passes away the time and before you know it (and despite getting lost just once- see a theme hear?) I arrive back in Tallahassee, worn out, happy and ready to hit my bed.

This Friday, I'll be blogging on the TKA blog highlighting some of the Q&A we did. Hope to see you there!