What's in a Name?--A Website for Writers

Okay, this is about my novel. Really. I'm researching names for my third major male character and I found this website which lists the most popular names by year. I own a copy of Beyond Jennifer and Jason as a professional resource (somehow using both Jennifer and Jason a lot in my stories), but this site really is more useful in terms of placing names historically, whether it's Edna in the 1880s or Michael throughout the twentieth century. The real reason I'm here, though, is that I discovered the name Donna was the seventh most popular girl's name of 1961, my birth year. I don't think of it being especially popular (and never really loved the name to be honest), but there you go--I'm popular!

And I have settled on a name for the guy, which is way better than calling him "young guy." Mission accomplished and back to work!

See Me in My Undies!

I don't know what's gotten into me recently. Maybe it's the heady thrill of having my novel available in the US? Whatever the reason, I seem compelled to flash pictures of my butt all over the Internet. Tasteful pictures, I hope, but still....

As soon as I got finished posting the hidden seven-eighths of my author photo, featuring what EllaRegina dubbed my "superior posterior," Ms. Alison Tyler, editor and erotica writer extraordinaire, asked me if I'd be up for posting a pic of my undies as part of the Panty Parade on her blog. How could I say no to that?

So I enlisted the aid of my favorite research assistant, aka my husband, and we snapped some photos. First we took a few of my "research drawer" which holds items you might recognize from my stories. It is very neat, but I tend to be methodical in my work. (My house is another matter altogether). Then I put on a favorite pair of leopard print undies from Victoria's Secret and did my impression of a Modigliani model--thanks, Alison, for that very kind comparison.

Come on, admit it, you're curious right? Satisfy that urge right here!