My Muse Sam...aka the Acer One...

One the Road with my new muse, Sam. I suspected some time ago that I had tendencies to be whinny, and throw tantrums when I didn’t get what I wanted or whenever I felt moody about something. Well, currently (I mean at the very moment that I am writing this) I am using my new Acer One mini-netbook which after my internal debate, I decided, had to be mine.

The netbook is a small, laptop that is highly portable and streamlined for easy internet access and simple tasks. It has no CD or DVD drive and while it does have a 160 GB memory, it has 3 USB ports for the addition of extra devices such as a wireless mouse, an optical drive, or a printer. It can download new software easily and whoa…it comes with a webcam… And no you will not be seeing me on YouTube any time soon.

As a writer’s tool, I consider my purchase of Sam (my muse) to cover several levels of necessity.

1) Vacation Writing. Just because I am currently on the way to Puerto Rico, to walk around in my one piece with a massive girly drink filled with fruit an drum is no excuse for me not to write when I get there.

2) Tax Write –Off. Yup at a cost of about $299 (they run anywhere between $299-$499 depending on battery and maker as far as I can tell) at least you can show you tax-man a little expenditure other than your yearly ream of paper and promo costs.

3) Conferences. This is kinda like number 1 but you’ll probably be able to do some note taking, take down contacts and numbers quickly and (YUP) work on that story that your editor is waiting on.

4) Portability. The size of my netbook is compatible with the size of my (slightly) over-sized purse. I know because I put the floor model up against the side of my purse to make sure. Of course I bought the protective sleeve for Sam though. They don’t weigh much at all, less than 3 pounds and seriously, the idea of buying a bag or a bookpack for one of these guys seems a little odd to me. You can take them anywhere.

5) Reading. I hear tell that the Kindle is a wonderful device and if I were solely a reader of trashy novels and not also a writer of said trashy novels, I’d be okay with that but the netbook allows me to download the latest Loose-Id release, read a bit (I can magnify the font all I want) and then get my ass back to work on that novel that was supposed to be turned in last month.

There are many other reasons that a person (writer) might want to invest in an extremely portable and capable netbook that does not have the capacity to handle World of Warcraft (and if it can do NOT tell me so, I should be writing damnit). Sure the keypad is small and the battery life isn’t much ( I need the 6 hour, got the 3) but most importantly…The Acer One that I purchased from Staples came pre-installed with Windows XP and a trial version of Microsoft Home and Student. I am currently using MS Word…WHOOOOHOOOO. While I could later decide that I want to you Open Office or any other word processing program, I am a fanatic about MS Word. They have another version of the netbook that comes with Linux for the anti-Microsoft folk and well…I’m sure Apple will come out with a mini laptop (but honestly they get enough of my money through the Itunes and Istore.)

Overall for the writer on the go and for the writer with a guilty conscience, I would highly suggest this cutie!

Castaways b. Brian Keene

Castaways by Brian Keene

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
First off I have to say that that this book was wildly entertaining. It was the perfect horror, beach-read for my vacation on a tropical island. The story is based around contestant on a reality-based show that strongly resembles ‘Survivor.’ Left with a television crew and meager supplies, they are at first consumed by competing in the show’s challenges and for alliances with other contestants. Such paltry concerns are quickly laid aside however, once the supposedly uninhabited island reveals its secret. There are monsters on the island, and they not only love to eat human...they also like to mate with them.



Now I will admit that although I have a strong stomach, there were scenes in this book that made me nauseous but it was an good, swift read with plenty of comeuppance and suspense. This book gets a 4 out of 5 from me.






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Switch b. Claire Thompson

Switch by Claire Thompson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a touching tale of D/s which I thoroughly enjoyed, in fact I found myself in the end wishing that the tale were a longer one. ‘Switch’ is the tale of Dane Bishop a Dom who walks the walk and looks the part. He takes pride in his reputation as a Dom at night and is a hard working real estate banker during the day. When he first sets eyes on Nathan Levi however, he is immediately jarred by the disheveled yet gorgeous man’s assumption of Dane being a submissive.


While Dane balks at the idea initially, he is drawn to the allure of the other Dom. What I loved so much about this book was Claire Thompson’s ability to separate the show and pageantry of the BDSM scene from the intimacy and the intensity of the commitment that is the D/s lifestyle. I do not profess to be an expert, but I found this novel to be a delightful treat. It is rather short at 204 pages and greedily I wished to see more scenes, but overall I give this work 4 stars easy.





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V-The Second Generation b. Kenneth Johnson

V: The Second Generation by Kenneth Johnson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can’t help wishing that some producer will revamp the V series from my 80s childhood and give the project a renewed life in the same vein as Battlestar Galactica. I mean the idea of those giant saucers hovering over an entire city, the special effects of a Visitor getting his skin torn off to reveal the reptilian glory beneath, but alas…V the Second Generation does provide a wonderful flashback to the past. Yes the resistance is still fighting on, and not very well. For old fans, there are many characters that will be recognized from the mini-series and tv show, but even for those who never saw an episode, they can still enjoy the work.



The fascist, devious, propaganda spewing aliens have the same agenda: to eat our vermin and us, to steal all of our water and …impregnate our women. However the need us for a different reason, to fight their dreaded enemies, another intergalactic race called the Zedti who appear on Earth, to perhaps help us, or not…



While I did not know why Kenneth Johnson changed the idea of mixed-breeds looking human or reptilian instead of both, I liked how he drew a parallel of racism and oppression. Instead of being powerful, telepathic and emphatic superbeings, they are the lowest of the low, dregs.



The Zedti are remarkable, but slightly confusing as they are not just one race but several and yet all seem to have the hive mentality, but they are an interesting addition to the battle. I say interesting but in a film I don’t know how well they would work. While they don’t derive from reptiles, they are an intriguing mix.

Once again, for those looking to revisit an oldie but goodie franchise, this is an entertaining novel. 4 ½ out 5 stars would be my vote.




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Why Amazon Why?

Ussually, I try to keep my opinions of controversial issues out of my blog, but a rather interesting thing has occured that I have to note. So, upon checking out the Amazon listing of my book "A Guardian's Desire," I have discovered that the ranking is no longer there. I am so not alone in this as many of my colleagues and fellow writers of 'adult'-themed materials have had the same thing happen to them. Due to the stupidity of some Amazon employee, adult books are not being ranked and in some cases aren't even showing up on searches. I am a firm believer that I should be able to search and buy whatever I want. Their censorship is wrong and foul considering those that purchase many adult titles from them. Efforts are in place to fight this idiocy, but I can't believe that in this day and time, readers (and I am an avid one) who spend money at Amazon have to put up with this bullshit.

Please see Amazon Rankings for more info.

Short Story Progress Meter

OMG!! What? No Meter is here? Oh because I finished it! I finished it! Mya can write a short story after all (now whether its good is a whole other ball of wax) but the renamed, MF paranormal, bondage tale heretofore known as "Higher Learning" is complete as 24,861!

"Bestial" b. Ray Garton

Bestial by Ray Garton

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I had to snatch this book up after reading the prequel "Ravenous," because the first book was gripping, original, hard-core werewolf intensity! Sure, I was feigning for more back story in the first book and wanted to know how it was that the werewolves in the book were so feral and how the werewolves originated. I had soo many questions that I was expecting to have answered in the sequel.

Well, "Bestial" is a different type of book, let me say. It answers some questions I had and introduces even more. There's also some changes. The werewolves have more control over themselves, the sex is less seedy and is instead more raunchy and... bestial. As with the other works by Garton that I have read, there are some tragic deaths and lots of insane happenings. But for folk who like "Ravenous," and I find it to be the better novel, "Bestial" has several main characters, none of whom I cared much for and it's more of an action novel with lots of religious references, rather than the lone-wolf, crazed but charismatic werewolf hunter in the first book. Overall though, it was a good read and not every one is a manic werewolf enthusiast with a hunger for back story. Was it wrong that the most interesting person in the book is the villan...Oh well, I highly await the next Garton monster tale.


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