Celebrate the Small Things - Surprise visit edition

Lots to celebrate this week!

For starters, my brother is coming into town for a few days!  His old college roommate just won a Grammy (yes, really) and my brother is going to help him celebrate!  While he'll be spending most of the weekend with his friend, I hope I'll get to see him for a meal or two over the course of his visit.

My Gentleman Friend got some good news on the career front, having landed a new position in his company!  It's actually a promotion, and he'll be getting to work with some programs that he's really interested in.  I'm very happy and proud, and I hope he enjoys his new job!

www.123rf.com

As for me, I'm celebrating the fact that I'm wrapping things up with Book 3.  Alex and Jillian are so much fun to write, and I can't wait until December when you guys will get to meet them!

What about you?  How was your week?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Pirates!

Sadly, not of the Johnny Depp variety.

Image credit

The other day, I discovered a website that had the full text of DEADLY CONTACT posted for all the world to read.  I was a bit stunned, a bit angry, and a whole lot frustrated.  Believe me, I understand the desire to get something for nothing, and I appreciate that readers may not want to take a chance on a debut author like me.  However (and I know I'm preaching to the choir here) may I suggest your local library?  They are a great way to try out authors, and you don't have to risk your hard earned money on a book that might turn out to be a dud.

Fortunately, my publisher told the website to avast! er, I mean cease and desist.  The website has complied, which is a good thing, as my swashbuckling skills are a little rusty. ;-)

I know piracy is nothing new--I think people have been doing this ever since people began.  It's still enough to make me a little sad...

Monday Motivation - Let's all do our part...

Photo Friday and Celebrate the Small Things - Only in Texas edition...

I ran into this beauty in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  I think she's wearing a lovely shade of lipstick, don't you?

I'm a bit tired this week, so I'm celebrating the fact that I made it through the week!  I have an all-day meeting for my local RWA chapter on Saturday, but Sunday should be nice and relaxing.  What are you up to this weekend?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

No Strings Attached Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this great hop!  It's one of my favorites :)

The handy random number generator has spoken, and the winner is.....

Pauline Milner

Congratulations!

Hope you all have a great week!

Monday Motivation - Let's get started

Books Go To The Movies: Jack Ryan, Shadow Recruit

Okay, so I know this movie isn't technically based on a book, but since it uses Tom Clancy's characters, I felt like it is the descendant of the Jack Ryan books.

In Shadow Recruit, we get a lot more of Jack Ryan's past.  We know from the original Tom Clancy novels that he was a Marine, and his military career was cut short after a chopper accident.  In the film, we see his early days at the London School of Economics, his reaction to the 9/11 attack, and the crash.  Then we see his physical therapy and eventual recovery, during which time he is recruited to the CIA.

I know that sounds like a lot of backstory, but in reality, it takes up maybe 20-30 minutes of film.  The rest of the movie deals with Ryan's initial CIA assignment, which soon has him traveling to Russia.  He is a bit out of his depth, but to me, one of the best parts of the movie was watching Ryan grow into his role as an agent.  As he is told at one point in the film: "You're no longer an analyst.  You're an operative."

Chris Pine does a nice job filling Jack Ryan's shoes.  Ryan is a well-known character, and Pine has the acting and action chops to do this role justice. Kenneth Branagh was a nice treat as well--I've always liked him, and it was a delight to see him in the film, which he also directed.  Overall, I enjoyed this origins story, and I hope they continue to make Jack Ryan movies in this vein.

Have you seen Shadow Recruit?  What did you think?