What’s Up?
First of all, congratulations to Judy Stone! She won the $35 Holiday Box of Books from Love’s Sweet Arrow. I’ll get them sent out to her shortly so she can have some great holiday reading!
I hope you enjoy, Judy!
I’m keeping it short and sweet this week because I am SWAMPED! So many things to do, so many things to clean, and my family are coming over at the end of the week for a party.
Currently I am just putting the finishing touches to the SWIPE blog tour. Don’t miss it. You’ll out more about me, about the world and the story, and even win some prizes!
I also interviewed Jenn Moffatt, whose Christmas novella is out in the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar now! Jenn’s one of my oldest friends and I’m delighted to have her here for a chat!
Oh and when I said my house looked like Christmas threw up on it? This is what I meant.
Book Rec of the Week
I am a shameless X-Men fan (and Doom Patrol, and the Wildcard universe, and Flash, and…), not to mention a massive sucker for the while ‘villain and hero team up’ deal. So this just looks SO COOL.
In a flash, the world changed. A solar flare—later dubbed Vertigo—activated the DNA of more than half the world’s people, granting them special abilities. Brilliant scientist Benjamin Krane might be Powerless, but his inventions are the only thing giving the police a fighting chance against super-powered evil. Ben doesn’t have much of a life beyond work, and when he gets wind of a robbery one evening, he decides to test his newest invention personally….
A thief, rogue, and shameless flirt, Grey Miller—aka the Streak—likes shiny things, but he doesn’t hurt people. When Ben catches him—and proposes they team up against the real bad guys—Grey doesn’t know whether it’s the offer or the man he can’t resist. But one thing’s for sure—they’re an ideal match in more ways than one.
With a psychotic supervillain’s catastrophic plan moving forward and everyone he cares about in danger, now might not be the best time for Ben to give in to Grey’s seduction, no matter how tempting. Grey is a man of secrets, and if Ben wants a future with him, he’ll have to learn to trust Grey—and himself.
I am trying not to be too pessimistic about the UK elections, but I wanted Labour to get in and now… I’m still kinda at this point.
Must Read of the Week
I find this sort of thing fascinating. We believe in free will, in self-determination, and yet we can so easily be programmed. It’s interesting on an ethical level too, where do the people who construct this psychologically compelling menus/adverts/political campaigns draw the line. Or do they? And how well does this work on someone like me, who has an allergy that overrides just ‘what looks best’?
The Secret Tricks Hidden Inside Restaurant Menus
With a theatrical flourish, a sombre, leather-bound document is placed in front of you. Inside, the pages bear a tight italicised script and your eyes are drawn to a couple of items that are embellished with flamboyant descriptions. Then you turn to the waiter and order.
Hopefully a delicious meal is now on its way, but what led you to choose the food you did? Was it simply because you liked the sound of the steak dish you picked or did something else influence your decision?
You may not realise it, but the menu probably played a far greater role than you’d credit. Far from being glorified pricelists, restaurant menus are sophisticated marketing tools that can nudge customers towards certain choices. Restaurant menus can even tell us what to think.
I want to go and see this.