Myki After Dark

Visit Clever Divas

2009-03-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

Need an update on posts by Kimberly Llewellyn? Here is a run down of them all found at Clever Divas. Enjoy! And if you're looking for some crazy antics by her alter ego, Myki Rebl, well, she's been so busy writing her latest novel that she hasn't had time to post them all! But several bad-girl birthdays are coming up, which means that Myki and her posse will be on the loose. Look out! All in the name of research...

Wedding Bliss?

2008-04-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the funniest wedding clip I've ever seen, found on the TV show, Studio 10. I couldn't stop laughing. Here, the hosts play a 30-second clip about "wedding" bliss just before discussing the secrets to a long marriage. Joe Cuenco's relentless pursuit of the secrets to a successful marriage is to be commended. And I can't wait until his results come out in book form to share with all the world. He offers some interesting tidbits during this interview. Enjoy! --Myki

The Bookish Traveler

2008-02-08T12:29:00.001-08:00

Going on vacation and love bookstores? Then check out my 2-8-08 article at Cleverdivas.com!

My Virtual Model

2007-12-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how an outfit would look on you before buying it? Or how to find the best pair of jeans or swimsuit right for your body type? Or have you ever wanted to view a before-and-after image of yourself if you lost or gained weight?

Then check out My Virtual Model.

You can personalize your model by adding a name and choosing hair color, body dimensions and height, based on yourself. You can change the details to see yourself thinner, heavier, with a different hair color, etc.

Also check out the "Brand Me" section on the site where you dress your model to see what you would look like in various brands. It's also good to see the most flattering clothing. (Moi? In horizontal stripes? Never!)

To find other sites that use this tool, be sure to Google "My Virtual Model." And if you want, you can Google "my virtual model" plus "weight loss" to see how others have used this cool feature in their "shape up" efforts. Wow! Just in time for the New Year -- that is, if getting healthy and fit is part of your New Year's resolutions!

Buh-bye! Myki

Christmas Cookies

2007-11-30T08:14:00.001-08:00

It's the most wonderfully delicious time of the year! It's time to make Christmas cookies!

I was on an email loop today discussing most-searched words on Google and Yahoo. And "Christmas Cookie" is quite popular right now! So I am sharing with you a fun, easy Christmas cookie recipe. Of course, this Snowball Christmas Cookie recipe is a variation of another popular cookie called (what else?) Wedding Cookies!

If you decide to make them, let me know how they turn out. And how about you? Got any great Christmas cookie recipes you'd like to share? Please comment! I'm all mouths...er...ears!

Snowball Cookies
Yield: 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients
½ cup softened butter (1 stick)
2 T confectioner’s sugar
1 T vanilla
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 cup flour
Extra confectioner’s sugar

Directions
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Cream together butter and sugar until soft.
Add vanilla and nuts; then gradually add the flour.
Shape into small balls (smaller than a ping pong ball).
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes (you’ll need about 14 minutes.)
Cool for five minutes.
Roll into confectioner’s sugar.
Set aside until completely cooled.
Roll again into confectioner’s sugar.

Double Recipe

1 c butter (2 sticks)
2 c flour
4 Tbspns confectioners sugar
2 Tbspns vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
Extra confectioners sugar

Are You a Clever Diva?

2007-11-18T14:27:00.001-08:00

Of course you are! I am too! And that's why I've joined with several other authors to become part of this fab website called Clever Divas! It's amazing. It goes beyond your average group-author blog by offering categories of information-and-opinion articles (but don't worry, there's also a section to keep you updated on our writing too!). From decorating, to fashion, to recipes, to well-being, this site has got it all. Each of us posts on certain days (I post on the 8th, 18th, and 28th monthly), allowing room for guest experts to come in and chat too. Come visit now to get a taste of the site before the grand opening/open house as of January 2007. Visit the archives to see my posts, but be sure to visit the entire site because all these authors are terrific, and if you want special perks, register as a member of Clever Divas.

NANOWRIMO is Next Month

2007-10-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

You Always Wanted to Write That Book
Now Is Your Chance
If you're a writer, then you should know that November is National Novel Writing Month...and it's just around the corner. I like to keep people amped up about this about a month prior so they can go to the web site www.nanowrimo.com and see what it's all about, set up an account, find out where the local writing groups are, and prepare for the fastest writing you'll ever do in a month! (I said fastest, not necessarily bestest! Editing comes later!) So, are you up the for the challenge? Tell Chris Baty that Kimberly Llewellyn sent yah! --K

A Perfect Princess Bed

2007-09-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, as the Wedding Writer, I get to write all-things- bride. Let's face it, being a bride is one of the closest things to being a princess that you can be. Since my logo is a tiara and I love all thing glittery, you can image the term "princess" gets tossed around often in my company. (Oh, all right, sometimes my initials are P.K. Satisfied?) But honestly, it's all in good fun!

Disney has dreamed up all kinds of ways to bring the princess fantasy into all aspects of the female world that extends far beyond the boundaries of any given theme park.

For example, today, I came across furniture that gave a whole new meaning to the word, "Princess Bed." It's at Rooms to Go Kids . If you want your little darling to eat, breathe, and sleep anything princess...she really-truly can in this little bed. Have you ever seen anything like it? Hmmm...I've been thinking about redecorating my master bedroom. I wonder...does a princess bed come in a queen?

Buh-bye, Myki Rebl

Writing Comedy

2007-08-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hey gang, I've been invited to be a guest blogger over at a fabulous site, Manuscript Mavens today! It's all about writing comedy. Remember, if you fall down, it ain't funny. But if I fall down, it's a riot! Please come visit. Tell your friends. And be sure to check all the entries they have--the ones on craft, the interviews, and all that fab stuff.

Buh-bye!

--Myki

(...who's working hard on her next project, and good golly this one's a floozy--er--I mean doozy!)

At Book Expo America, I Didn't Look Silly at All

2007-06-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

"I'll look ridiculous, won't ?" I asked.

"No, come on. Do it," egged on my sister, Sharsh.

Huh. Easy for her to say. She wasn't the one donning the white pantsuit with her cleavage busting out. Not to mention a big button on her lapel with the words, "THE WEDDING WRITER."

And now, I'm supposed to plunk a glittery tiara on my head and prance around like I know what I'm doing? Act like I'm all that? Tout my books? Shah-mooze with my publishing reps? Rub shoulders with the publishing elite? All 300,000 of them here in NYC at Book Expo America?

"Yes, that's exactly what you're gonna do and you're gonna do it now," my sister quipped.

"Remind me again why I hired you as my author escort for the weekend?" I groused. Oh yeah, that's right. Because she is gorgeous, as outgoing as I am, and I can't carry 250 chocolate-bar giveaways all by myself. "Fine, I'll wear the dumb beautiful sparky tiara, but I don't hafta like it."

Within minutes, I forgot I had on the tiara and you know what? I also forgot how silly I felt. How could I? With couples running around in road map suits, firefighters in full gear, the "hug guy" in his attire, and a man in a gorilla costume flirting with me ("We'll be beauty and the beast!" I bet he says that to all goils!), I quickly felt right at home! Besides, I was too busy meeting an American Idol finalist, Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soup), and L.L. Cool J!

Book Expo America is a massive book trade show for publishing professionals to come together and network about future books. For me, the tiara inadvertently turned into an ice-breaker for people to come up and say hello! Apparently, many folks (first timers like me) were just as overwhelmed, and so it was fun to have a blingy conversation piece on my head to chat about. For more spectacle, check out this story about others trying to stand out at the book show, in the article in the C.S Monitor.

So after putting on the tiara, I didn't feel silly for long. But don't get me started about attaching myself to the headless naked runner...a photo that's going up on the ESPN Books web site however. Gosh, it seemed fun to do at the time. And it sure did draw a crowd. Groan...what was I thinking?

Buh-bye!

A Little Voyeurism Never Hurt Anyone

2007-05-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

So you've got your favorite author, right? Oh, I mean aside from moi--don't make me blush! And you love how that author really delves into the lives of the story's people, right into their soul. Not to mention the description of their faces and bodies. The clothes they wear. And where they live.

Eerily enough, sometimes an author can describe a person and it's as if you're right there in the story too. Or maybe the character they're describing feels like they're actually describing you or someone you know. Kinda' cool, eh?

But what if the roles were reversed? Ever want a teeny glimpse into the world of the actual author? A little voyeuristic voyage of your own? I mean, like, how do they work when they are in the throws of the creative process? Or where do they work when they come up with this stuff? Where are they physically when the writer's mystique takes over and they begin to pen their prose?

If you want a glimpse into this world, then visit the web site of author Paige Cuccaro. Take a look around her links, visit her photos, and check out her books. It's a great site. And when you're ready, venture into The Cave. This is a neat spot to see all the work spaces of your favorite authors. Does the workspace match your impression of your favorite author? For me, often it did. Other times I was quite surprised! So, go on and enjoy Paige's books and then visit the writing caves of some very popular authors. Can you find mine? Did it match your expectations?

Matrimonial Mayhem

2007-05-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Come over and visit http://www.literarychicks.com/archives/000851.html where I've been a guest blogger. We're chatting about bridal season all week! The entries have been wonderful...that is, if you also love talking about Gilmore Girls, Playboy Bunnies, traveling disasters, and mean girls, in addition to the wonderful world of weddings! What a hoot! See you there!

Come Up and See Me Some Time

2007-05-01T06:25:00.001-07:00

I'm a guest blogger on Literary Chicks (www.literarychicks.com) for the entire month of May! I'll be posting every Tuesday. But don't just come by on those days. Stick around all through May to read what all these fab authors are up to and all their kerrrazy commentary. I'll be hanging out with Michelle Cunnah, Whitney Gaskell, Alesia Holliday, Beth Kendrick, Eileen Rendahl, and Lani Diane Rich! My new posse. So come on by for some fun chatter and a plethora of postulating! And feel free to spread the word to friends and family and anyone who loves books! Buh-bye!

Bridal Fashion Foibles

2007-04-09T18:05:00.001-07:00

Okay, for all you brides, once you're done playing around at my web site, www.kimberlyllewellyn.com, here is another site you can frollick around in for your pleasure and enjoyment. It is a site featuring wedding gowns gone awry.

But you know what? Some aren't too, too bad. For example, Donald Trump's wife's gown is listed. I dunno. I mean, it's okay and everything. You've got to give the gal credit for lugging around 50 pounds of fabric during her wedding, right? That's got to account for something.

But yes, others are downright horrifying. My way-fave horror-frock is the belly-dancer wedding gown (see the photo). Too funny. So, my bride friends, if you've been reduced to tears because your stationery's come back with a typo or your seating arrangement isn't working out due to a Hatfield and McCoy feud, then have yourself a good laugh and take a look at these bridal fashion challenges!

http://www.bridalwave.tv/frock_horror/

PS: No...the bride in the photo is NOT me. Ha ha. Very funny...

Wedding Bells

2007-03-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here is a list of the subject lines about Wedding Bells clogging my email lately:

Subject: Wedding Bells
Subject: Wedding Bells on Fox
Subject: Didja see it -- Wedding Bells tv
Subject: did you write that show wedding bells

Of course, friends, fans, and family are talking about the new Fox show called Wedding Bells, about a bunch of gals called the Bell Sisters who inherit the family biz (a wedding complex) following their parent's divorce.

My writer friends also know one of my latest writing projects focuses on the topic of--well--let's just call it "wedding planning" shall we? It's pending publisher acceptance and scheduling. The topic of "wedding planning" isn't a stretch in my fiction since I'm known as the Wedding Writer and all. LOL!

But family and friends are all excited about this show and how it ties in my latest comedic women's fiction, Tulle Little, Tulle Late and The Quest for the Holy Veil because these books focus on brides gone wrong and my friends know I always wanted to open a wedding complex if this whole "writing thing" didn't work out. But the writing thing DID work out, thank goodness! Check out the trailers for Wedding Bells at the link below. The show is pretty good!

http://www.fox.com/weddingbells/

--Myki

The Secret

2007-03-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Well, The Secret certainly has received a lot of attention lately, hasn’t it? It’s pretty interesting stuff. And the Law of Attraction does make you want to think more positively, that’s for sure. After watching Larry King the other night, you can already hear the intense whispers of a Secret II vibrating through the universe.

I’m sure even more DVDs featuring human empowerment are to follow. And I’m all for anything that helps us lead more fulfilling lives. So, I wonder…when will the onslaught of merchandising hit? I’m bracing myself for it. The T-shirts. Baseball caps. The thong underwear with the big letter "S" in Austrian crystals in the front.

Personally, I’m looking forward to The Secret…the Board Game. No really. I’m totally serious. I can see it now. I think it would be huge. (You think I jest, but someone will make piles of money of this!) There. I said it. I put it out there in the universe. I want to see the manifestation of the board game to The Secret.

Can't you picture it? Just roll the dice and slide your tiny metal luxury sports car, mansion, yacht, or whatever game piece/token you choose, along the squares of the board. Then you get to pick a card from the deck that says something like, "You had a negative thought. Go back two spaces and do not collect $200." Or maybe the card says, "You felt joy today and got two checks in the mail. Advance three spaces."

I think it would be fun to play while learning about this cool concept. Okay, well, let’s see how long it takes for the board game to come out. You heard it here first. Til then...ask, believe, receive!

Buh-bye --Myki

Star Sighting -- Sorta

2007-02-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm out with with Friend 1 and Friend 2, who must remain anonymous. We're at a Mexican restaurant outside of Tampa, FL, seated in a booth by a giant window overlooking the quaint downtown sidewalk. Window shoppers strut by. Cars go by. Dog walkers. Couples. Pretty day. A good day for drive. We're chowing on our nachos and quesadillas, etc. enjoying the view.

Through the window, we watch a really cool black vintage convertible sports car stop at the red light. I mean, REALLY cool, right down to the bumper. We are so busy checking this baby out, while munching on a nacho, we pay no mind to the blonde couple seated in it, plain as day, waiting for the light to turn.

The light turns. The cool car moves ahead. Friend 1 says, "Oh my God, look who's in the car... "

I try to look, but the car moves on and makes a turn. "Who?" I ask.

That was Hulk Hogan and his wife...

"No way! Really?"

Yes, it's true. I live about half hour away from Hulk Hogan, and all my friends have run into him from time to time. As for me, I've had "near misses" but have never met him. I'm sure I will. We'll have to swap notes about our stellar wrestling careers.

Ah...Florida. Just another day.

The Thirteenth Tale

2006-10-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Commentary by author Kimberly Llewellyn...

The Thirteenth Tale. The Thirteenth Tale. Everywhere I look, it's about the The Thirteenth Tale ! I love the cover. I love the promise of a great read. I love the buzz around it. I can't wait to read it. As soon I finish devouring An Alphabetical Life by Wendy Werris--awesome stuff!), I'll be jumping into that book.

Someone asked what am I doing these days? Here you go:

The Quest for the Holy Veil (March 2007) -- Minor revisions are done and is with my publisher now, leaving me a few previous days to read and catch up on "life" before starting my next novel. I did my New England bookstore tour. I rubbed elbows with literati at bookseller trade shows, and I'm gearing up for a southeast tour from FL to NC. I'm so psyched! I'm looking forward to diving right in.

--Kimberly Llewellyn, Author
Tulle Little, Tulle Late, On Store Shelves Now
The Quest for the Holy Veil, March 2007

Blue Martini Blues

2006-08-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

I, Myki Rebl, am a terrible person. I am a troublemaker. A rabble rouser. I may look sweet, but I'm really not. But I am driven to be this way. How else can I drum up some good stuff for my blog?

Some galpals (cowhores, if you prefer) wanted to go out to celebrate the release of my latest creative endeavor, Tulle Little, Tulle Late. I'm like, cool. After eating (Thanks for dinner, Sandy. I feel like I shoulda put out or something!), we all traipsed over to a hot spot, a colorful martini bar to meet with some fun loving people I'd never met before.

We all had a sweatin' good time, dancing on the cramped dance floor, bouncing and giggling to the live band. To say we all had our share of admirers would be an understatement. Staimy (the cute blonde with the weird name) had her gorgeous psycho military admirer. We had him pegged to be the type to shimmy and buck like a killer machine gun at the height of orgasm (I'll have to have Staimy confirm this at a later date).

And I had this other guy bopping around behind me. Cute guy. Clean cut. Good dancer. Well dressed. Built like a bull dog...he came up to about my nose, when it comes to height. I'm all for the taller-woman-shorter-man thing, but, um, I'm 5', 3". We let him join in and he danced with us all. We had some good laughs (no...not at the bull dog's expense...just laughs in general), because we all danced so funky and goofy. Caramel martinis will do that to a girl.

I ended up laughing so hard, I got a stitch in my side. Through the peals of laughter, I screamed out, "Oh, dear God, I think I pulled an ovary!"

Staimy (I'm stymied by Staimy's unusual name) cried back, "You lost an ovary?"

So, of course, I nodded and said yes. Well, Staimy must have believed me because she started looking down at the dance floor looking for my lost ovary, as if it fell and was now rolling around on the dance floor somewhere. I was still laughing, still holding on to my side, (I lost an ovary, remember?), and so I started looking too. Staimy started asking other dancers if they'd seen my ovary.

Bull dog boy started looking around, too, and asked, "What are we looking for?

Staimy said, "Her ovary!"

To which he asked, "What's an ovary?"

With sweat pouring down my face and tears of hysterics blurring my vision, I had to get off the floor and catch my breath.

The rest of the cowhores quickly said good bye to bull dog boy and followed suit.

We were ready to go. But then another girl at the table of married couples asked for info about my book. So, I took out a piece of paper and started writing down the info for her.

Right then, another woman (strikingly gorgeous woman) who was part of this gang of people I really didn't know, came back from the ladies room. She saw me writing down something, and asked, "What are you writing?"

"I'm writing down my phone number to give to this guy!" I then pointed to her husband.

(See? This is the troublemaking part of me that comes out when I need to good stuff for my blog. I knew that this guy was her hubby.)

She looked at me. She looked at her husband, who had been sitting nearby the whole time. She then looked at me again. Her doe eyes rounded in surprise.

She then gave her the hubby the most beautiful pout I'd ever seen.

I couldn't stop laughing. (Cuz she believed me!) She kept asking, "Huh?" and "Whaah?" and "How come?"

I couldn't help myself. She totally walked into that one and I couldn't resist.

I finished writing on the paper, but of course, handed it to the other woman who wanted the book info...not to the hubby.

As my galpals and I left the building, I left the poor beautiful girl completely confused and clinging to her hapless hubby.

Hopefully, the beautiful girl will read my book. Once she sees my oddball sense of humor, I'm sure she'll understand.

RWA National Conference

2006-08-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm at the RWA National Conference this past weekend. I'm sashaying my way through publisher parties. Signing my way through autograph parties. And following a chocolate-laden "tea" hosted by my literary agency, I find myself bringing a Frenchman back to my hotel.

Bear with me on this one...

When my good friend, T.R., opens the door of our shared fancy-shmancy hotel quarters, she looks at me and my French compatriot all confused. I say to her, "You knew it was only a matter of time before I brought a man back to our hotel room during one of these conferences!" She nods and ushers us in...

My little French friend is none other than F.G. Gerson, the author of 21 Steps to Happiness, by Red Dress Ink. (So go get it already, wouldja?). I met him during my romp in NYC earlier this year (I'll post on that adventure in due time, my dears) and he's my new buddy. Fancy meeting him at the conference! He hung out with T.R. and me for the afternoon. Kept us in stitches. Gloated over his wife and kiddies.

That night, I wore him like an accessory and treated him like an object (he didn't mind...trust me!) at the conference's Welcome Reception. He even ran into his very first official fan. It was fun to watch. He even got to meet some cool women like Linda Howard and Jo Beverly. The poor man had no clue he was meeting some mighty fine women in the writing industry.

I really like this author. His book came out just before mine. He's an unlikely chick lit author. Yet he shares the same soul as the rest of us authors when it comes it fulfilling your dream of getting published and writing about crazy relationships between men and women. His writing is like a breath of fresh air in the world of women's fiction. So go ahead, get his book...you'll adore him as much as I do! Buh-bye! --Myki

Hollywood & the NFL

2006-03-02T13:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm at Disney World one day, and run into Bob Craft. Who's that, you say? Ask any man (with a pulse and who knows a tad about football) and he'll tell you, "Why, Bob is the bizillionaire owner of the New England Patriots who went to the Super Bowl a few years ago."

The gang I was with got to gush and ohhh and ahhh over his Super Bowl ring. Seeing as the group was from New England (tho' I live in FL now), this was a once-in-a-lifetime opp.

Okay, so then a few days later, I'm having lunch with Kirsten Smith. Ask any woman who's watched Legally Blonde a thousand times (and who has a pulse) and she'll tell you that Kirsten Smith is the orginator of the "bend and snap!" More specifically, she wrote the screenplay, Legally Blonde, as well as Ten Things I Hate About You and She's the Man. She's really cool and is just as goofy as my friends and me, so we took to her like gin to a martini glass. Keep a look out for more movies and books by this very talented screenwriter! Buh-bye!

Merry Christmas

2005-12-23T12:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, here in good old Florida, a popular Christmas color scheme is orange and green...due to all the orange trees groaning under the weight of their ripening fruit. The visual perks up the eyes; the smell invades the senses. Even better, is after a night out with the gals, you can make yourself a nice a glass of mimosa with orange juice freshly squeezed from the oranges off the tree in your backyard, that you picked while still in your pjs, the morning after. Here's a photo of what it looks like standing under the canopy of branches, leaves, and oranges from the tree in my own back yard. Happy Holidays!

Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

2005-10-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'd never seen anything like it. The I-love-Lauren web sites. The I-hate-Lauren web sites. Incredible. I don't recall a time when a writer has evoked such emotion in readers! Ms. Weisberger, (in)famously known for her debut book, The Devil Wears Prada, now has a new novel out about the glammed-out New York City life entitled, Everyone Worth Knowing. The press has been sometimes good, sometimes bad. But really I think any negative press is merely a halo effect of different people's attitudes toward women's fiction, including such genres as romance and chick lit. Some people just hate it when women do stuff well and get accolades for it.

So, why does this young, energetic, attractive writer evoke such emotion in readers (which is what you're supposed to do as a writer)? I believe it's because she taps into some deeply rooted personal issues and emotions that women contend with throughout their entire lives. Was Devil Wears Prada really about fashion? Was it really an inside look into magazines, editors, and the latest rising-star designers? Maybe on the surface. But if you take a manicured nail and scratch just a teeny bit below the surface (don't chip a nail, gals), you'll note themes that make us women squirm with discomfort.

Maybe Devil Wears Prada really tapped into the emotions women experience in a strained mother-daughter relationship. Hmm? Always trying to please. Always looking for acceptance, validation, and nodding approval by the the most important woman in our lives? Our moms? Yet, while we try to gain acceptance and approval ("Look, Mah! Over here! Watch me!"), we also want to break away and prove to ourselves we don't need their acceptance. We can be ourselves, on our own and we don't have to turn to our mothers for an A-okay. (We also hope we don't have to turn into our mothers at all!)

Okay, this isn't fair to admit, but my relationship with my own mommy dearest is pretty good. But to say that I didn't go through phases of seeking parental approval while fighting for freedom like anybody else would be a big, fat, hairy lie. I've seen women's lives destroyed over the cruelty of their mothers. That just ain't fair. So, I'll tell you what my mother told me while growing up...

"Of course, you can do that. You can do anything you want."

That was her standard answer. Okay, that may have been or not have been a truth in reality, but I still believe it today. (I think she still believes it too!) It never occurred to me to consider that I couldn't do something.

So, that's my take on Devil Wears Prada, it's just one big metaphor for the mother-daughter relationship, and that's why the book ruffles our feathers and keeps us up all night turning page after page. We want to find out if our heroine will be all right. Cuz if she turns out all right, then maybe we will too.

As for Everyone Worth Knowing, it's on my reading list (I gotta read Lipstick Jungle, too, you know), but I'm already looking forward to Ms. Weisberger's themes, (acceptance? belonging? self expression? fitting in?) as I am sure the story will end up being a roman a clef ... tapping into all of our deepest darkest secrets and issues.

Tah-tah fah now! Myki

November is National Novel Writing Month

2005-10-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever told you that you should write a book? Well, maybe the time has come. November is National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO). The idea is to write 50,000 words in that time. If you're insane enough for the challenge (and it's my guess about 60,000 people are this year), go to http://www.nanowrimo.com and sign up. Founder, Chris Baty, also has a book entitled, No Plot, No Problem, to help you get started. Get the book now so you'll be prepared for November!

What does this mean for moi during next month? Will the antics continue or will I be too busy hacking away--er--I mean tapping away on my keyboard creating like the writing fool that I am? Oh, pet, be rest assured, the antics will continue. After all, life is about balance even for the imbalanced. Speaking of imbalance, I certainly couldn't let a closet full of dancing shoes sit idly for an entire month, now could I? Buh-bye, Myki

New Title of Chick Lit

2005-10-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

I have the official title of my chick lit that sold to Berkley Books!

Tulle Little, Tulle Late

Very fitting, considering the awful predicament poor wedding-obsessed Nina Robertson gets herself into. Funny book. Sexy, too. Got a real LOLA factor (laugh-out-loud action).

Been on the road, but things are settled down now. Writing, writing, writing to finish the next contracted book, Cashmere Boulevard. But "settled down" is a relative term, as it will all change since I am going out this Thursday night and Friday night with Becca, Denisee, and probably Meggy-Weggy. All my co-whores in one place. Which means nothing but trouble, trouble, trouble.

Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking, "Instant slut...just add vodka." Very funny. But vodka ain't my poison of choice, so that's out the window. Besides, I'll be too busy carousing and making trouble for others to find myself in my own slippery pickle. Gah-bye! --Myki

Fashion's Foibles?

2005-07-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, I can't wait to go out tonight! I'm doing a little research by heading out to a fashion show fundraising event for a fine arts center here in good ol' Florida. I'm dying to see the gown made of metal and the bridal gown made of condoms. That's totally gonna make it into the pages of Cashmere Boulevard. Why do I get the feeling though, that if some of the condoms are missing from the gown, everyone's gonna be looking suspiciously at me?

Anyway, my editor is going to be calling soon so we can try on some new titles for size for book #1, Chicka Chicka Boom. I'm assuming they'll keep book #2 title, Cashmere Boulevard. But we'l l see. But right now, many writers are at the national RWA conference this month. As for me? I'm writing by day and having this exhausting social life by night. I'm playing matchmaker. I'm running into the stud muffin cover model guy. Tearing up a dance floor somewhere. Getting good material for the novel all along the way.

Fashion show update to come...

I Sold My Chick Lit Novel!

2005-07-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

Omigod! My agent hit it out of the ballpark! A two-book contract to Berkley! Wahoo! Time to pop the champagne and "celebrate good times, come on!" But more importantly, what's a girl to wear to go a-celebrating? To thong or not to thong? (I'm talking the shoes! The shoes! Sandals with thongs or without! Sheesh!) Once I get the official officialness of the whole thing, I'll be back with more! Buh-bye!

A Guest Blogger Today

2005-07-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

I’m am wicked thrilled to announce today that we have a guest snog-blogger! Alesia Holliday is here to discuss nice girl mythology, a perfect topic since her latest chick lit novel is out today called, Nice Girls Finish First. (So rush out and get it already, wouldja???) Please clap your thighs together in grand applause to help me welcome our guest, Alesia Holiday! (Clap! Clap! Clap!)

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Nice Girls Finish First by Alesia Holliday

So one day I was thinking about today’s woman, as I often do, considering that I write funny books about the everyday (and not so everyday!) things we all go through, and I was wondering about that perpetual dilemma – the Myth of the Nice Girl.

Somehow, through a peculiar evolution of the professional environment, women today are finally recognized (mostly) as equally competent, ambitious, and dedicated as men in the workforce. (We’ll leave the "we have to work smarter and harder" argument aside for now.) But yet, we have an added burden: we have to be nice.

Now, this isn’t really tough for most women, most of the time. We were raised to be nice. That’s what little girls do, right? "Play nice!" "Be nice!" Except, well, there are times when you can’t be all that nice . . . Boyfriend cheating? Kick him to the curb! Um, in a nice way? Opposing counsel trying underhanded tactics? Notify the judge and get him sanctioned! Er, nicely?

The idea of a character who is very ambitious and a great person, but a little bit of a tough chick on the surface, really intrigued me. And I had the perfect character in Kirby Green, newly-hired exec at the Whips and Lace Co. She’d pretty much stolen every scene she was in in American Idle (Double RITA award finalist, how cool is that??). Then I wanted to compare and contrast Kirby with a character who was so nice that she was in danger of becoming a doormat. Brianna sprang to life. My good friend who is an opera singer (no, really!) provided some great background for her. Then I set the two of them loose to play on the pages – each helping the other learn something about life, and about herself. That’s how Nice Girls Finish First was born.

Can we be successful as women today and still retain some of that niceness that was so valued in earlier years? I think so. But nice doesn’t mean dumb, and today’s nice girls do finish first. They might just have to kick a little ass along the way.

Nicely.
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For more on Alesia Holliday, visit her blog at www.alesiaholliday.com/blog. For a link to the book page, visit http://www.alesiaholliday.com/nicegirlsfinishfirst.cfm.

Cover Model Madness

2005-06-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

So, I'm out with Becca (again) and she literally drags this poor guy up to me and screams, "I found the man for the cover of your next novel!" She looks at me expectantly. I'm thinking she's waiting for me to say something to him like, "Hey, baby, meet me on the casting couch and I'll get you a gig on my next cover. Wink! Wink!"

But before I can tell her I'm NOT gonna sleep with him (I'm very taken dontcha know), I check out his goods...and his bads. (He doesn't have any bads). Long streaked hair. Dark Italian skin. Darker eyes. Dazzling smile. Big guy. And he's intelligent, too! (I discovered after a little chat.) No mimbo, here!

"He'll do just fine!" I say. God golly, where does Becca find these men?

Turns out, Tony's done some modeling and now that he's met Becca, he's keenly interested in becoming a cover model. We exchange cards and I say, "Yo' babe, I'll be in touch." (Figuratively, not literally!)

Twenty-four hours later, I put out the APB on getting modeling info for this guy and we (author buds) line him up for a potential gig! Can you believe that? Will this gig work out for Tony? Maybe! Maybe not. But it's a first step. Of course, Becca is hell-bent on calling the guy "Dante" on account ah' that's the name of my bad-boy biker dude in Chicka Chicka Boom.

Speaking ah which, JC (my agent) and I have been tinkering, toying, and tampering with the manuscript to get it juuuuust riiiight. I'm thrilled. We'll see if Manhattan is ready for THIS project!

Til then, I'm off doing some gigs throughout the southeastern U.S. I'm sure I'll be back with a torrid story or two. Til then, I'll keep you posted on the Tony-slash-Dante adventure! Buh-bye! -Myki

Saturday Night Hay Fever

2005-04-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

So my baby sis, Shahsh, as I affectionately call her, was visiting, so last night we decide to go dancing at this nearby enormous retro club (name withheld...don't need paparazzo getting word of my stomping grounds and flashbulbs going off any more than they have to!).

We're having a good time and the next thing you know, we're standing on these giant light-up "cubes" (with railings around them) like a coupla go-go dancers. The place is packed. Other gals are on cubes and they're doing their little dirty dances, girl-on-girl with each other. Okay, I'm open to a little lipstick-lesbian-dance, but this is my sister, and well, the stuff going on around us is just nasty. (I have no desire to put my face into another's gal's place of glory and have her gyrate, you know? Leave something to the imagination.)

No matter, cuz we're having a good time yucking it up. Great laughs. Until we turn into a comedy routine. You had to be there to really understand what went down. Stuff like trying to push each other off the cube with our cheetah platform heels on. (But Shash had a cute cowbow dancing on a cube below us, who kept her up there.) Having cocktail napkins stuck to the heel of those shoes, only to grab the napkins and stuff them in our tube tops, only to give them away as free gifts later. Shahsh would spin, her long blonde hair would wack me in the face, and I'd cry, "Oh, my eye!" Marcia-Brady-style, and hold my eye, yelling, "I'm blind!"

Suddenly the crowd of men and women are surrounding our cube watching the impromptu entertainment. The nasty girls are looking around like, Where'd all the men go? Poor things. The mass of men and women gravitate toward the Jenny McCarthy-Lucille Ball comedy act. So the nasty girls try harder to regain control of the audience, but they finally give up and get a drink instead. (Or maybe it was because one gal had squatted to do a stripper's Hello Kitty move and she slipped and fell, I'm not really sure.)

Even the DJ gets into it, saying stuff to us (who knows) and putting this huge spotlight on us. Over on the wall, I see a single enormous shadow of a woman and I think, "Who the hell is the chick with the effin' big hair?"

It's me! I pull Shahsh into the spotlight more and we do the sexiest thing we can think of with the shadows on the wall...make shadow puppets, of course!

Okay, I'm not even gonna get into the $20 bills being thrown at us later on. (Okay, so we were mopping up the sweat from our cleavage and giving the money back, okay? Satisfied? One even made it to the inside of Shahsh's thighs!). Or the "pretend" hair-pulling catfight when I thought Shahsh was wearing my bracelet and she wouldn't give it back. Or when, after an hour, when we were soaking wet and sweaty, I use her long hair to mop off (I gave away all the cocktail napkins as free gifts, remember?) These just make up the tip of the iceberg, people, and yes, you really had to be there to appreciate it.

The entire club watched while we finally got down and exited. We were like, what they hell are they still looking at? Shahsh said, "Oh my God, they're waiting for us to do something else funny!" But we were just too darn tired.

We sat in the car, the hysteria taking over (I couldn't drive due to excessive laughter), wondering what the hell just happened back there. "Remember the thing with the thing?" or "And when you pulled the thing out of your thing?" The fit of hysteria continued when we got home and lasted into the wee hours of the morning.

The lesson learned when entertaining?

"Humor" wins out over "nasty" any day!

--Myki Rebl

Cry Me a Mystic River

2005-03-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, so being the cultural kind of broads that me and my co-whore, Denise-ee are, we go to see Dennis Lehane give a talk about his latest manuscript (it's pretty great). You know, the guy who wrote "Mystic River," and then sidled up to famous folks like Sean Penn, Tim Robins, and Clint Eastwood while they made a movie of the same name.

Well, due to a wardrobe malfunction (Denise-ee got a rip in her capri's left butt cheek), Denise-ee and I had to do "musical clothes" just before leaving my house for the literary "talk." The fashion snafu included taking off my "decent" skirt and letting her wear it and my grabbing this godawful hootchie number (long story) with these dangling enormous sequins the size of quarters all over it and wearing that instead.

I was a total fashion "don't." But my wilder skirts are (in)famous in these-here parts. My friends know me by my weird, wild skirts, so the cheap skirt was gonna be a hoot when we met up with them after hanging with Dennis Lehane. I didn't think twice about it. As for Denise-ee, she got all decked out for the night as a wild woman on the prowl.

Hootchie numbers are great for night clubs and good times with friends, but not so great for literary events with collegiate faculty up the wazoo, you know? In the audience we stayed anonymous, but when everyone got invited to a reception after, we kind a stood out. Hot stares of disdain were ours for the taking!

I felt that the reception was for "conference attendees" only, but they didn't technically "say" that. And Denise-ee started sashaying that ah way, and I thought, Oh, this is gonna be funny! Especially when Denise-ee helped herself to the hors d'oeuvres. I couldn't tell her my belief it was for insiders only. She was really enjoying herself. Then I said, Oh what the hell, I'm hungry...I'm sure Dennis wouldn't mind." And I helped myself to one teeny piece of jalepeno cheese.

It's amazing how fast a cheap skirt can clear a room. With my skirt literally "dingling" and "clanging" noisily from all the sequins the size of nickels and Denise-ee's big 80s teased-up hair and "chicken breast" falsies creating a wild set of bazoombah's on her, we quickly found ourselves isolated on one side of the room that was packed moments before. Everyone literally made their way to the other side. I was dying. But how were they to know that this was just one stop on the way to a funny, wacky night out with girlfriends?

Dennis showed up. We shimmied our way over to take photos. Once everyone saw we had the cajonies to ask for our picture (I guess literati probably thinks it's tres-tackay), boy, weren't they standing line for their turn! The funniest line of the night was when Denise-ee said to the author, "You know, if you add an 'e; to 'Dennis,' you get 'DenEESE!' That's MY name!" He cheerily went along with her insightfulness.

Dennis was ever-the-gracious host and gentleman. He took photos and acted like he didn't notice we looked like a couple ah floozies on the loose!

I figured, our work was done here, and dragged my gal-pal away from the sea of "students" and "faculty" and their oceans of flannel, denim, Birkenstocks, and bright polyester suits. We almost made it out the door, when Denise-ee yelled, "Wait!" She broke free to stuff a few brownies into a napkin--popping one into her mouth--before teetoring on stilettos down the stairs outside.

Oh, those poor, poor folks. Next time, I'll remember to wear my favorite flannel shirt and jeans to such a literary event and call it day. --Myki
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"Use words as if they have an expiration
date." -K. Llewellyn

Martini Madness

2005-01-25T04:53:00.000-08:00

Hung with my galpals at nearby D.M.'s Martini Bar last Saturday night. Becky, Denise, and I chilled in the back of the joint, checking out the crop and listening to a great band. We did a little dance, made a little love, but then it was time to get outa Dodge.

As we snaked out way out the exit, a long arm stretched out and a meaty hand grabbed my wrist. Not a good look for my little blue-black oriental number with the embroidery in front, you know? Next thing, I'm dragged through the crowd and hauled toward the dance floor. I try to pull away but this monster-sized man was no match. He wanted to dance and didn't want me to leave. End of story. Or so it seemed. My friends each grabbed an ankle adorned with my strappy stilettos and tried to get me outa this precarious situation. In a game of tug of war, the two friends pulled a leg and ran. But when they started to run, they hauled butt in different directions. I felt like a wishbone in a gyno office and my two buds were making the wish...to get the hell outa there!

They lost the tug of war and had to chase me down on the dance floor. Monster man (in size not looks mind you! Looks were more than tolerable!) already had me in his arms swinging me in the air. But a 6'6" guy can do that with a 5'3" gal.

I thought, "Oh, hell, I'm going down. And if I'm going down in front of all these people staring at us on the dance floor, I better make it good!" At that, I struck a pose--thighs poised daintily and a knee bent showing off my Jimmy Choos like in a Fred Astaire film. Once the guy thought he had me swooning in his embrace (and my friends came into view) I gracefully slipped from his bear hug and twirled away. He tried to grab me again, but I was too quick.

"Don't goooo!" he yelled and loped after me, toward the exit. I eeked my way out the door with my girl-posse, blew him a kiss, and the bouncers took it from there; they sure make a great barrier. Martini Mahem, I tell you, Martini Mahem.

Buh-Bye 4 Now! Love, Myki
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"Write to annoy people." --K. Llewellyn

Introducing Myki Rebl (pronounced, "Micky Rebel")

2005-01-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Myki Rebl's Blog, Myki After Dark

Warning: This site not suitable for those without a sense of humor...

Here, we'll share experiences in this tangy martini called life and see what night-time antics are distracting the author from her daily duties as a chick lit writer, romance writer, and writer of other stuff. It's amazing what can keep an author from writing her daily word count.

Other stuff like books, movies, gossip, and opinion will bloat these pages as well.

Most importantly, look for updates on her future writing projects. Find out the fate of her recently completed chick lit project (it's total Kotex), Chicka Chicka Boom (Hey! Life's Too Short--And So Are My Skirts). Will it sell? Where? When? And then it's on to her current WIP, Cashmere Boulevard. Will it suck? Will it be finished before the hangover kicks in? Will the revised partial make it to the agent on time? All this and more in this fast and fabulous site, After Dark.

Oh yeah, word has it that an--ahem--daytime blog has made its way onto the author's sweet-in-appearance web site at www.kimberlyllewellyn.com to discuss the life of a writer before the lights go out and the alter ego emerges.

Til then, buh-bye!
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"I keep on writing for the same reason a woman
keeps on shopping." --K. Llewellyn