Like Superheroes? Check out my news!!!

So, I'm craaaazy excited. A couple of years ago I wrote an adult superhero romantic comedy called SUPER ZERO. I loved it so verra much but ended up not sending it out to editors for various reasons (mainly because I was focusing on writing for teens). Anyway, I decided I'm going to e-publish it!

Here's the cover:

And here's what the book is about:

When Jenna Peterson signs on as personal shopper-slash-assistant for top superhero The Machine, she's disgusted to learn of his philandering ways against his wife Rapido, the second most powerful superhero in the area--and he's cheating with Jenna's cousin, to boot! But when The Machine gives Jenna the opportunity to safeguard the changing crystal, a jewel that grants or changes superpowers, Jenna jumps on the opportunity, eager to do this so-called "cake" job that will help her earn more street cred with the Midwest League of Superheroes.

The League pairs Jenna up with a bodyguard, the dark, mysterious and thoroughly grumpy Vigilante. Their personalities are like oil and water but a deep attraction pulls them together, even if they don't fully trust one another.

Soon Jenna learns the threat to the changing crystal is all too real, and the list of people she can trust grows shorter by the minute. But when she discovers something even more sinister afoot, involving Vigilante's sexy arch nemesis Dementrix, it'll take all her skills to keep the mad villainess from executing her plan to unmask the world's superheroes...especially when Jenna accidentally becomes one herself.

So, yeah. SUPERHEROES. Foxypants superheroes with lots of awesome tools and spandex, haha. I hearts them so, and I had a blast writing this story! I'll be putting it up on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc...expect it out in summer of 2011.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it! Excerpts will be coming soon, so stay tuned. Yayyyyyyy!

Authors for Japan auction--bid on awesome prizes!

I'm sure you've heard by now about the horrific disaster that hit Japan a few days ago. It's a tragedy--not only are they dealing with the aftermath of a massive earthquake and tsunami, but their nuclear reactors are breaking down. I am heartbroken from seeing the images, hearing the terrifying stories.

One thing I love about being a writer is the sense of community, the way writers come together to help those in need. And this tragedy in Japan is no exception. Tons of authors are offering signed books, manuscript critiques, mentorship, workshops and more to aid the effort in helping Japan get back on its feet.

Please consider bidding on auction items. You can read details here and find the items being auctioned: http://authorsforjapan.wordpress.com/. They're donating signed copies of books, workshops, critiques, mentorships, and more. 


Please, spread the word and keep Japan in your thoughts.

Need an editor for your story? I'm taking freelance work!

Seems like lately, I've seen a lot of authors looking for freelance editors. They may feel an unbiased pair of professional eyes will help ensure their manuscript is submission-ready for agents or editors. Or maybe it's because more and more authors are striking out into self-publishing, which is becoming a bigger deal lately.

In addition to currently being an acquisitions/development editor for Carina Press (which I loooove!), I also edit fiction and nonfiction manuscripts on the side and have done so for several years, though I haven't "pimped" myself out about this until recently. I edit pretty much every genre, from short stories to lengthy novels.

If you're interested, please check out my editing website: RhondaEdits.com. I list my rates and services--proofreading, line editing, critiquing, and "the works," as well as query/synopsis/proposal line edits.

Movies and books and other awesomeness

I did a buuuunch of worky work today and got my editing and other crap done. I had sushi and built an exquisite fire that I'm pretty sure is very manly rad.

Check out the awesomeness of MY FIRE!! I stacked the logs all fancy-like, based on my boyfriend Chad's expertise, haha. I feel so cool, so in touch with my inner dude. Except...that sounds really gross, so let's pretend I didn't say that.

I just watched Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World--have you seen this quirky movie? I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel, but I dug it a lot. All the little old-skool video game refs made me giggle.

On the book front, right now I'm reading two stories: Kate Pearce's Kiss of the Rose (first in a series), which has Henry VIII (I have a minor obsession with him) and his wife Katherine, and vampires and druids and cool stuff:

And Karen Harper's Mistress Shakespeare, which is an imagining of the life the other woman Shakespeare had been betrothed to and who was like his secret wife:

I'm kinda on an historical kick right now--I tend to go through phases in my leisure reading where I read several novels of the same genre in a row. My previous story was Syrie James' Dracula, My Love, which is Mina Harker's personal diary on what happened with her and Dracula:

I love historical novels, and it's a classic genre I always return to. I'll read pretty much any era, any location. Just delving deep into a world, learning its culture and people and practices, fascinates me.


So what are you reading and/or watching?

Single moms, unite!

FYI: as you guys have probably figured out, I raaaaarely ever post about anything political. Like religion, politics is highly personal, and frankly I just don't care to share my views with the world, nor do I think it's relevant to my readers. :D Except when something is brought up that directly affects me, like this case.


So, as some of you may know, Mike Huckabee (a republican whom I believe is running for President in 2012) recently slammed on Natalie Portman for thanking her guy in her Oscar speech over her pregnancy. You can read the details here on what he said specifically.


To summarize his side of the argument (after all, I teach principles of rhetoric and argument to college students, and a fair rhetorician acknowledges the other side to show understanding of the points raised). Huckabee feels it's inappropriate for Portman to have said that because it's glorifying single moms, most of whom are much less affluent than herself.


According to Huffington Post, here is what he said:


"Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care. And that's the story that we're not seeing, and it's unfortunate that we glorify and glamorize the idea of out of children wedlock."


Okay. Uh, let's see. How is insulting single moms making the point? How is Natalie Portman being happy over her baby glorifying children out of wedlock?


I'm a single mom. It wasn't a choice I deliberately made; I got pregnant at 19. But let me tell you what, Mike Huckabee--I have a Bachelor's degree in English (creative writing), and a Master's degree in English (literature/composition), both of which I earned while caring for kids and working. I am supporting myself and my two children as best as I can. I have jobs--work that I am super happy with, actually. Yes, I had to take government assistance for a little bit when my daughter was a baby, but should I be ashamed of that? Given the tone you take in your quote, it sure looks like you're trying to make me feel this way. That I'm merely one of a number of pitiful, pathetic single-mom statistics. One blank face in a wave of masses.


This derogatory attitude  pisses me off. Really, does he not realize girls and women know that a celeb is going to likely be wealthier than non-celebs? That we'll just be like, OMG, look--Natalie Portman is pregnant and she looks soooo happy...now I'm going to go get knocked up so I can be happy too, because "single mom" is the new black! But OH NOES, now I have a baby and can't care for it--and it's gonna DIE of starvation unless I get the government to help! 


How stupid does he really think women are?


How about instead, let's highlight examples of women who work hard to take care of their family. I KNOW I am not the only single mom out here who isn't poor, uneducated, jobless, etc, as Huckabee's statement seems to imply. Instead of ripping people down, insulting them, judging them, how about uplifting them? I have never seen how stereotyping a group of people with wide sweeping statements has been helpful in ANY possible way.


Honestly, this is even bigger than Huckabee though. He's just one voice of many that often get fed to us in spoonfuls. How often are single moms stereotyped in TV, movies, music, literature? We're just lookin' for a baby daddy, a man who will swoop in and rescue us from our AWFUL misery, right? We must live in trailers, dance on stripper poles, shake our little asses to earn baby formula for our children? 


My children are loved. My children are well-fed. My children get plenty of time with and attention from me. I live in a nice house and drive a nice car. I have nice electronics and crazy foxy shoes. All bought with MY OWN MONEY, and stripper pole-free, to boot. OMG gasp! You mean...you mean a woman can be a single mom (whether by accident or choice) and STILL make her dreams come true?


YES. That's exactly what I mean.


It's time for single moms to stop letting society dictate our reputations, relegating us to status of "statistic." WE ARE NOT A STATISTIC. We are living, breathing women with good days, bad days, sleepless nights, long work hours, struggles, stresses, laughs, small blessings, huge blessings. We are unique. We are honorable. We are doing the best we can.


NEVER let anyone make you feel bad for it. EVER.


Be proud. Love fiercely. Find a partner if you want. Stay single if you want. Your life is yours! And I promise you, though it's not typically the easy path (and its causes vary widely), being a single mom can be just as fulfilling as any other path that a man or woman chooses to undertake.

It's March, March, Marchity March yo

Finally, March is here. Does this mean winter is almost done? Well, given that one year we had snow in mid-April in Cleveland, I'd realistically have to say no. But today is fancypants fun day, so I'm gonna say YES, winter is outtie in 3 weeks. WHOOP WHOOP!

So I've been a busy bee! On the writing front, I brainstormed a way to revise a YA story I was working on and sent it to my agent. Hopefully she digs the rewrites. I was sooooooo so sad last year to shelve that work-in-progress because another similar one had sold. But last week my friend Erin and I did some mega-good brainstorming on how to make it different so I can keep with it. I pitched the idea to my agent, did the rewrites for the 80ish pages I'd written, and shipped them off to her. Fingers crossed!

Also also, I'm picking up freelance editing, guys! As you know, I freelance for Carina Press, acquiring and editing manuscripts. But sometimes authors want to have work edited before the self-pub or whatever. I'm happy to help out! My rates are very VERY reasonable--drop me a line if you're interested! I do all levels of editing, from proofing to in-depth critiquing.

Uhhhhhhh what else. I guess not too much. I think I mentioned on here how I have two doxie pups now, right? Well, I've loaded up a few videos on youtube of them being nutbars (my username is giftedrhonda--feel free to check out the link, and friend me on there if you have an acct! Or feel free to get a good laugh at my expense at the glories of raising puppies, haha).

I hope you're all staying warm, staying out of trouble, keeping busy but not TOO busy, etc. :D Talk to you soon! As for me, I gotta get back to the grindstone...edits wait for no man. Er, woman. hah