A Time for Vampires

The 50s are known for Rock-around-the-Clock. The 60s for the Beatles and hippies, the 70s for bell-bottoms and The Brady Bunch, the 80s for big hair, the 90s for rap and George Clooney, but what will the first decade of the new millinium be known for?
I pose this: Reality TV, Uggs, Expensive Coffee, LOL and Vampires.
Each of these warrant meaty analysis, but since Halloween (the BEST holiday of the year) is days away, let's talk about Fangers.
Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in 1987, and while he didn't invent the notion of Vampires (we have multi-cultured folklore to thank for that), he did give us a vampire character with Count Dracul. Since Stoker, vampires have been part of stories, movies and TV. They've been scary, funny, and sexy. Not only has each subsequent writer taken the rules of vampire magic and added a bit, they've continued to main-stream the creatures. Today's Blood Suckers intergrate vampires into society. They're in high school, at our restaurants, even dating the living.
To take things to the next level, authors have invited Shapeshifters ("Shifters")to the scene more often. Who knows, maybe a Shifter will be the Clooney of the 2010s.

Was Stoker a genius? Was he before his time? Who knows, but it's a pretty awesome power for an author. The power to create something so fantastic that it lives on for over 110 years.

Kudos, Bram.

Devil's Kiss

You've probably heard the buzz about Sarwat Chadda's Devil's Kiss, which I am currently in the middle of and loving. Sarwat is a Greenhouse Literary Sibling, and pretty much a rock star at the moment as he's been touring and interviewing about this new release.
Here's the 411:
Billi SanGreal is the first girl in the Knights Templar, and the most kick ass weapon-wielding heroine around. At fifteen, her life is a rigorous and brutal round of weapons practice, demon killing and occult lore – and a whole lot of bruises. But then, she didn’t have much choice. Her father, the Templar Master, forced her to take this path. There is no sacrifice Arthur will not make in his war against the Unholy. But Billi hates the Order, and she hates him too. Tempted by a chance to live a different kind of life and reject everything her father wants her to be, she learns to her horror that she may unwittingly have brought down the Tenth Plague upon humanity – the death of all first born. Faced with choosing her destiny, she must make sacrifices greater than she could have imagined.
The trailer:
And, BOOKS have trailers now. Here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWWuTslNfYI

Some things I say to myself:

As my own best friend, I tell myself things. Recently, I've noticed that I'm saying some things (to myself) alot.

1. That guy/chick should get pulled over for driving like that.
2. You've gotta be KIDDING me...
3. That's one weird dude.
4. It is what it is.
5. No. Freakin. Way.
6. I'll let it cook and think about it later.
7. Verrrry interrresting....
8. THAT could be a great character.
9. I've gotta write that down. (Then, I don't and I forget what it was.)
10. I should make a list...

So, I Want a Title,...For Me, Not a Book

Not for a book...in front of my name. Somewhere in history there was a need to specify marital status, and/or profession (tweaked for gender) upon first mention of a name. So, society developed Mr, Miss, Mrs, Ms, Dr, Counselor, Majesty, and Your Honor.
These tags are not only efficient, but are also an excellent means to brand oneself. However, in modern times, we're more casual, and often don't use titles. You could even argue that they are passe. But, it still has a certain je ne said quoi. And I want one.
It's not like I don't have any. I've got "Mrs", "Coach", and my personal favorite "Mom", which is truly the best title of all. But these don't capture everything about me...all my "kwon" (if you can name the movie that made "kwon" a household term, you rock!).
Here's the short list of things about me that I want my title to capture: I'm also a pet parent, writer, business professional, caring daughter, sister, awesome friend, life coach (to messed up friends and coworkers), master organizer, deep thinker, avid reader, cool dresser, great listener, secret keeper, blanket maker, creative consultant, multi-tasker, chief problem solver, career consultant, and finder of anything lost (or not lost, but responder to someone who yells..."Where's the...", but that peeve is for another day).

I'm thinking Exalted Artisan or "Exhaltisan" (abbreviated Extn.)

Extn. Cindy Callaghan
Cindy Callaghan, Exhaltisan
Callaghan, Self-Proclaimed Exhaltisan

I need to sleep on this for a few days.