Rock and Romance

FUN FACT FRIDAY: THE MONKEES

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Michael Nesmith's mother invented Liquid Paper correction fluid.
<http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/nesmith.asp>

Davy Jones owns and races horses. See his Keeping Up With the Joneses web site for pictures <http://keepupwithjones.davyjones.net>.

For awhile, Peter Tork penned an advice column. You can check out some of the questions and his answers here: <http://www.askpetertork.com/>

When the Monkees ended Micky Dolenz moved on to do voices for cartoons. From 1970 to 1978 Micky provided voices for "The Funky Fantom," "The Scooby-Doo Movies," and other Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Check out <http://www.hooloovoo.com/dolenz/> for much more info.

WEDDING WEDNESDAY FOR THE MONKEES!

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Three must be the magic number for The Monkees in marriage. According to Internet sources, each of the band members has been married three times.

DAVY JONES <http://davyjones.net/>
Davy Jones has been married three times: to Linda, to Anita, and to his current wife, Jessica. He has four daughters from his first two marriages, and several grandchildren. You can enjoy some wedding pictures on his site, "Keeping Up With the Joneses" <http://keepupwithjones.davyjones.net>.

MICKY DOLENZ <http://www.mickydolenz.com/>
Dolenz has been married three times: to Samantha in 1967, to Trina in 1977, and to Donna in 2002. He is the father of four daughters.

MICHAEL NESMITH
Michael Nesmith has been married three times: to Phyllis in 1963, to Kathryn in 1976, and to Victoria in 2000. He has four children.
Official site for merchandise and projects <http://videoranch3d.com/mm5/merchant.mvc>
Fan page <http://old.monkees.net/nez/default.php>

PETER TORK <http://www.petertork.com/>
Peter Tork has been married three times: to Reine, to Barbara and to Tammy. He has three children.

HEY, HEY, WE'RE THE MONKEES!

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Photo from http://www.psycho-jello.com/monkees/photos.html

I confessed in an earlier post to being a rock'n'roll wimp. And one of my favorite bands as a teenager was The Monkees. Well, by the time I realized they weren't a real band, but four guys cast in the role of a band for a TV show, I was hooked on the fun.

“The Monkees was a television show about an imaginary band living on the beach, getting into all these adventures and making music," says Micky Dolenz, who played the drummer on the TV show.

However, the foursome went on to tour to the screaming success of thousands of teenaged girls--myself included.

These days, the old TV shows are still playing as reruns and available on DVD. The group members are touring. A variety of merchandise is available for Monkee fans. And I have most of their original vinyl records.

If you want to see more, check out their Web site: http://www.monkees.net/. Of course you can also listen to YouTube recordings of their hit songs.

Sit down, flash back, and enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

I've had so much fun revisiting the heroes and heroines of my Rock'n'Romance trilogy I don't want it to end! So it's not going to. :)

Throughout the upcoming year, I'm going to feature a different classic band each week, starting on Spotlight Sunday.

And since I write romances, we'll take a look at the marriages of the band members on Wedding Wednesday. In doing earlier research, I was impressed that some band members had been married to the same spouse for 10, 20, even 30 years or more.

We'll wrap up the week on Fun Fact Friday with amusing, odd or impressive facts about the band.

I hope you come along on our tour of classic bands. And may you have a rockin' 2012!

EASY HANDMADE CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS

2011-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

I always get a warm, fuzzy feeling from the scene in THE BODYGUARD where Mitch, Julia and her twins make decorations for the Christmas tree. Schmaltzy, corny, a tug at the heartstrings--call it what you want--it makes me want to dig out paper and glue and other crafty items to make handmade ornaments for my tree.

How about you? And don't worry--my handmade ornaments are easy.

For paper chains, cut strips of paper about four inches long and half an inch wide, then glue the ends together--just be sure to loop the strips together before gluing. :)

Stringing popcorn is also easy. Thread a sewing needle and run the needle through the popped corn. Don't forget to put a knot at the end of the thread and pop enough to allow for breaking some of the popped corn and for eating some of it. And, yes, I do have dogs who can clean up any popcorn that falls.

The origami angel can be a bit more challenging. A search of the Internet turned up instructions from easy to advanced. I'm not a real "crafty" person, so I stuck to the instructions labeled "for kids." Even found one I could print out a pattern to fold.

Yes, I do have lots of tree ornaments, and quite a few my kids made many years ago. But this may another year I decorate the tree with paper chains and strings of popcorn to add to ornaments my kids made--with a cute origami angel at the top!

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-12-11T00:26:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to all who stopped by to help me celebrate the re-issue of my Rock'n'Romance series!

Everyone who commented was entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate from Amazon.com. And the winner is: Barbara B!

I will be in touch with you via private e-mail, Barbara! CONGRATULATIONS!

And to all of you--HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

-Genie

PETS OF THE ROCK'N'ROMANCE TRILOGY

2011-12-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

I'm a dog lover, and many times dogs show up in my stories--and other pets--usually with attitude and unique gifts. In my Rock'n'Romance series, two dogs and a cat show up to take special care of their human companions.

The dog in THE ROCK STAR has been the heroine's companion for several years, and is totally devoted to her. He also has a wicked sense of humor and is smarter than most humans--kinda like the Border Collie mix who shared my life for about fifteen years (that's his photo to the left). Here's an excerpt:

"Jasper fixed a pot of coffee. Do you want to join me for a cup?" Shannon asked.

"Jasper is the dog," Lauren whispered to Geoff.

"Ah." She’s so tired she doesn't know what she's saying, Geoff thought. But when they arrived in the kitchen, a black dog with white and tan markings stood with his paws on the counter by the coffeemaker. Shannon patted his head and gave him a treat. The mutt looked at Geoff and seemed to grin.

Geoff blinked and focused on the dog once more. The canine sat on a rug watching attentively while Shannon filled his food dish. Just like any ordinary dog.

***

The dog from THE BODYGUARD is quite large. In fact, Mitch's first impression when he rescues the dog from the street is the canine is "…perhaps crossed with a shaggy, blond bear." Here's an excerpt after the dog has settled himself snugly into the lives of Julia and her children:

A look at the monitor chased a chill up Julia’s spine. A very large, very realistic devil stood in the entryway of the Victorian. Gabe’s ears perked up as he stirred from his usual spot between the twins’ beds...

Julia’s heart began to thump with the rhythm of the fear pulsing through her veins. The world tilted, taking on the distorted reality of a movie in slow motion. Gabe growled low in his throat, staring at the monitor, interrupting Julia’s internal insistence this was just a bad dream. The devil leered at her, as if he could see through the monitor to where she cowered while her friends faced the evil.

…Gabe whined at the bedroom door, urging Julia to hurry. As soon as the door opened, the dog shot out and down the stairs…A crash and a scream exploded at the back of the house, setting off alarms and flashing lights…They scrambled toward the kitchen, nearly colliding with a giant spider running toward them.

"Well, well," he said. "The virgin bride." His hand snaked out and grabbed Julia by the wrist. "We got business to attend to."

Nausea rumbled in Julia’s stomach as the man pulled her toward him, his fetid breath rolling across her cheek. Focusing her power, Julia kicked his knee as hard as she could.

The man’s stunned expression flickered briefly on Julia, then grew wider. "No--"

He crumpled as a growling, hairy beast flew through the air toward him. Gabe pinned the costumed man to the floor, ripping at the mask with his teeth.

***

The pet in THE LEADER OF THE BAND is a cat. Not an impressive looking cat at first--"Its coat was a dull orange and ratty-looking, with tufts of fur gone in places. One ear was jagged on top, as if a foe had chewed off part of it in a fight." However, toward the end of the story, the cat was sleek and as protective as any dog:

As Lauren tumbled to the floor, the poker ladies and the cat leaped into action. One of them threw a glass of soda in Bumbass' face. Another cracked her cane over his wrist, causing him to drop the gun. A third threw a sweater over his head just before the cat landed on him…Bumbass cursed and struggled with the hissing cat…

I love pet stories! Please share one of yours if you'd like to.

LAUNCH DAY NUMBER 3!

2011-11-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

Three in a row!

THE ROCK STAR on November 1.

THE BODYGUARD on November 15.

And now THE LEADER OF THE BAND on December 1.

That's three launches two weeks apart for the re-issue of my Rock'n'Romance trilogy.

I've had a lot of fun revisiting the main characters of these three books. I've also ventured out of my little writing world to visit new blogs, party four days straight, and meet new readers. Perhaps the rush of the holidays will feel relaxing this year. LOL!

Zach and Lauren are different than characters I usually write. They have both been in the public eye for so many years, it takes a crisis to start peeling away the layers of their public personas to reveal what is really in their hearts.

Even when confronted with a crisis, change doesn't come easily for these two sometime-lovers. They get a nudge in the right direction from friends, a little girl who loves her Uncle Zach, and a scrawny orange street cat with a bite out of one ear. Oh yeah, and a group of ladies at the retirement home who play strip poker every week.

BUY THE BOOK!
You can buy THE LEADER OF THE BAND for $2.99 from Rogue Phoenix Press.

READ AN EXCERPT!
You can also read an excerpt at my Genie Gabriel Web site (click on "books," then on the cover for THE LEADER OF THE BAND).

ENTER THE CONTEST!
And, remember, you can still enter my contest for a $25.00 gift card from Amazon.com. Simply leave a comment--you can tell me your favorite rock band or singer and I'll listen to at least one of their songs--or just say hello!

RECIPE FOR ROCK'N'GOOD CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2011-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Need a yummy cookie recipe for gifts or to leave for Santa?

Shannon, the heroine from THE ROCK STAR, might not cook much, but she does know cookies. Her grandmother taught Shannon how to make cookies by taste and the feel of the dough, so this recipe is an approximation for Rock'n'Good Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Mix together thoroughly:

1 C granulated sugar

1 C brown sugar

1 cube butter (can also add 1/2 C peanut butter if you'd like)

Then add 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp. baking soda and a dash of salt. Mix thoroughly.

Stir in 2 C flour (more or less), a bit at a time and mix thoroughly--or until your arm gets tired. Dough should be a bit stiff (kinda like play dough but taste much better :).

Add an 8-ounce package of chocolate chips (can also mix in butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips).

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. For soft and chewy cookies, don't overcook! They should still look a bit doughy when you take them out of the oven.

Enjoy!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY WINNERS!

2011-11-26T21:23:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to a four-day party that lasted 24 hours a day? Well, the Thanksgiving Party at The Romance Studio did. Fortunately, I didn't have to stay up during the entire time!

But I did chat with some wonderful readers who ventured over to the Rock'n'Romance blog. From those readers, my selection committee (aka my dogs--yes really!) chose the winners of my giveaways.

The winners of a gift certificate from Rogue Phoenix Press for a free e-book download are:
Barb B.
BJ
Christy
Lisa K.
(I'm still waiting to hear back from the winner of the other prize.)

CONGRATULATIONS, ladies! Your names will also go back in the hopper for my separate contest for a gift certificate that will be drawn Dec. 10. I've already scheduled time with my selection committee to be on hand--er, on paw. :)

WELCOME TRS READERS!

2011-11-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

We're wrapping up the Thanksgiving Party at The Romance Studio! Any TRS readers who also comment on this Rock'n'Romance blog will have their name entered in my December 10 drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate from Amazon.com.

I had so much fun earlier this month listening to new bands and revisiting classics that blog readers suggested, and I want to do it again! Tell me who your favorite rock singer or rock band is and I'll listen to at least one of their songs. Or you can just say hello and still be entered in the drawing!

YES, THE CONTEST IS OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 10!

2011-11-22T11:43:00.000-08:00

Any commentor on any of the Rock'n'Romance blog posts will have their name entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate from Amazon.com on December 10.

If you comment once a day, your name will be entered in the drawing with each comment.

AFTER THE LIGHTS GO DOWN...

2011-11-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

I shared this list with TRS Thanksgiving Party readers just for fun, and thought everyone might enjoy it.

Here's a top 10 list of what rock bands (and their significant others) do after the lights go down:

10--Talk to a cat

9--Look for signs of angels

8--Fill a bad guy's fancy car with rotting potatoes

7--Hide out in a retirement home

6--Help kids with music therapy

5--Rescue a street dog

4--Decorate a Christmas tree

3--Save a child from drowning

2--Swing across an abyss to save children

1--Generate their own sweet music!

AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE? AND A CONTEST FOR YOU!

2011-11-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

When writing THE BODYGUARD, the heroine's four-year-old twins quickly developed their own distinct personalities--one precocious and outspoken, the other quiet and sensitive. But both believed deeply in angels.

When violence drives them from home and their mom struggles to hide her tears, they wish for an angel for her. Soon after, Mitch comes into their lives. When the twins find feathers on the floor near him, they are convinced he is an angel.

As further proof, he also has a dog--perhaps crossed with a shaggy, blond bear--who plays gently with the twins but protects them fiercely. They call him Gabe, the angel's dog...

Excerpt from THE BODYGUARD © Genie Gabriel

...Julia soon escaped upstairs with the twins. She settled the children in the turret with a coloring book and crayons. To hide her tears and shame from her children, Julia went in search of the other toys her friend kept in the house for their visits.

"Is the big man downstairs Mommy’s angel?" Abraham whispered.

"Maybe." Angelina leaned against the dog, who had followed them upstairs.

"He doesn’t have wings." Abraham sat beside his sister. "Just really long hair."

"He has to hide his wings so no one knows he’s an angel."

"Oh." Abraham pondered that comment as he rubbed the dog’s ears. "How do we find out for sure?"

"Look for feathers on the floor. In the morning before Mommy’s awake. Okay?"

"Okay," Abraham agreed.

***

Now, I'm not taking sides in a debate of whether or not angels exist. But how can you doubt two kids whose faith is unshakable--even after they are kidnapped--and subtle angel signs that lead to their rescue?

Do you believe in angels? Comment here--and share your own angel experiences if you wish--and be entered in a drawing to win a $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate on Dec. 10.

WANT TO READ AN EXCERPT?

2011-11-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

If you want to read an excerpt from any of the Rock'n'Romance trilogy, go to my Web site <www.GenieGabriel.com>, select the "Books" page, then click on one of the covers. This will bring up a review of the book and an excerpt.

And, of course, a link to buy the book at special holiday pricing:
THE ROCK STAR is just 99 cents.
THE BODYGUARD is $2.99.
When released December 1, I have insider information THE LEADER OF THE BAND will also be $2.99.

Enjoy!

WANT YOUR OWN PERSONAL BODYGUARD?

2011-11-16T14:18:00.001-08:00

It is indeed a month for giving thanks as the second book of my Rock and Romance trilogy, THE BODYGUARD, is on the cyberstands now!

My first editor called this book "a feel-good Christmas story." In addition to a sexy bodyguard, this book features a soft-spoken psychiatrist who morphs into a kick-ass heroine to save her children from kidnappers and earn a Christmas miracle for all of them.

This book is available at the special price of $2.99 from Rogue Phoenix Press.

WHO'S YOUR IDEAL BODYGUARD?

2011-11-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Have you started your Christmas wish list? If so, pull it out and let's add to it. If not, let's get started and play "what if"!

"What if" someone said they would provide your ideal bodyguard for Christmas. What would he be like?

Mitch Garrison, the hero of my book, THE BODYGUARD, is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous with lots of muscles and longish blond hair--a plus for me. He also takes his job very seriously and had deep emotional wounds he refused to talk about. In fact, he spent much of the book giving me the silent treatment. A frustrating situation for a writer who is trying to dig deeply into the motivation of a character. :)

But the guy is totally loyal and operates from an solid sense of integrity. And he rescued a street dog and quickly made the decision to keep Julia's children safe. Those are characteristics I really admire.

So I kept digging. Kept nudging. Kept pushing him into situations where he had to face his past and his growing love for Julia. Watching her become a physically and emotionally strong woman showed him the way to heal his own wounds.

Yeah, Mitch shows a lot of fine qualities for a bodyguard. He and Julia earned their happily-ever-after.

But I have to admit there's another character in THE BODYGUARD who comes closer to my real-life bodyguards: the dog, Gabe. Yep, the one described as "perhaps crossed with a shaggy, blond bear."

My household is filled with a number of pure- and mixed-breed doggies who guard against all kinds of would-be villains, such as neighborhood cats, the squirrels who run along our fence, and an occasional misplaced garbage can. They are also great cuddlers and make sure I get up from the computer occasionally to get them snacks and take them for a W-A-L-K. Shh! It's that time now and I'm trying to finish this post before they protest too loudly.

If you'd like to meet some of my doggies, they have their own Web site at <http://www.quantumcanines.com/>.

How about you? Who's your ideal bodyguard? (If your ideal bodyguard is someone on TV or in the movies, I'll try to watch him--or her--in action. So if I don't respond to your comments right away, you'll know why! :)

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-11-14T20:02:00.001-08:00

Many thanks to those who responded to my "Confessions of a Rock and Roll Wimp" post. I had so much fun listening to the rock groups and songs you suggested that I tossed your names into a guitar case for a chance at a gift certificate to Rogue Phoenix Press. DEBBY LEE, if you would please contact me at <thankyou@designsbymsg.com>, I'll let you know how to claim your prize.

CONFESSIONS OF A ROCK AND ROLL WIMP

2011-11-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

I missed the birth and infancy of rock and roll, so didn't discover the incredible voice of Elvis Presley until toward the end of his life.

I was what could be considered a rock and roll "wimp." Not much into heavy metal--I liked an occasional song or two, but preferred my eardrums intact. Ironically, many of the groups considered "heavy metal" when I was a teenager are still around today--like Aerosmith, AC/DC, Metallica--and show up on my kids' playlists. Who would have thought these bands would still be rockin' into middle age?

As a teenager, I inched into rock and roll via "soft pop." I was totally sucked in by the Monkees. My parents--bless them--drove me and a couple girlfriends 150 miles to see one of their concerts. I screamed until I was hoarse and had a blast! I didn't realize they weren't singing their own songs until I was hooked on the fun.

And, like many sixteen-year-olds, my cousin and I dreamed we would move to Los Angeles after we graduated and become music stars. After all, we both sang in the church choir. In reality, she lived most of her life near the small town where we grew up. At least I got out of town, but farther away from LA, not closer.

As I got older, I came to admire those who not just performed, but wrote their own songs. Many of those same musicians I already enjoyed, including John Denver, Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel.

My musical tastes broadened a bit, but were still predominantly the "easy listening" songs I preferred as a teenager. When I began writing, I remembered how music and those who played it were so much a part of my life as a teenager and young adult. So how could I not write a story or three about the influences of musicians? And, given my love of romances, these stories would have to be Rock 'n' Romances.

So who are your favorite rock bands? Do you like one particular style of music or are your tastes more eclectic? You name 'em and I'll listen to at least one of their songs--and enter you in my drawing!

Coming in a later post: the ladies of rock!

A CONTEST TO CELEBRATE!

2011-10-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite ways to celebrate is to give away "stuff" to readers. And since I am celebrating the re-issue of my Rock and Romance trilogy, it's contest time!

This is an easy one: leave a comment naming your favorite rock star.

Or maybe not so easy…

I was a teenager during the late 60s and early 70s, so did an Internet search for rock bands during that time. Talk about a flashback! Many groups and singers I had forgotten, but some I had never heard of--The Groundhogs or Horslips? Anyone heard of these groups?

Let's just say the hero in my book, THE ROCK STAR, is a fantasized version of a rock star: sexy, handsome, an incredibly gifted musician and songwriter and, finally, a man who finds his one true love.

I'll talk about some of my favorite classic rock groups and singers in another post.

In the meantime, leave a comment naming your favorite rock star and you will be entered in a drawing to win a gift certificate for an ebook from Rogue Phoenix Press on release days for each of the books in my Rock and Romance trilogy (November 1, November 15, and December 1). Also, I'll be drawing one name from all entries on December 10 for a $25 gift certificate on Amazon.com.

I'll also be posting the number of votes each rock star receives. Maybe we can get an extra competition going for the star who receives the most votes. But, please, only vote once a day.

I may also toss in some surprise gifts between now and December 10 for those who answer a random bonus question correctly. You never know!

Thank you for joining my celebration! I hope you have as much fun as I am!

Welcome to Rock 'n' Romance!

2011-10-31T13:41:00.001-07:00

Welcome! I am as excited about the re-issue of my Rock and Romance series as I was when these books were first released!

With new titles, new covers, and a new author name, these stories--which received great reviews the first time around--have been given new life from Rogue Phoenix Press. If you didn't read them before, I hope you'll give them a read now.

The first book of the series, THE ROCK STAR, is priced at only 99 cents for the ebook! I'm delighted Rogue Phoenix Press is offering this special promotion for a book that is very dear to my heart!