Friday, July 9, 2010

BBQ Party -- NNN Style!

What says Summer Party better than BBQ? As your hosts, we're serving up hot Books, hot Babes and we're grilling each other with some hot Questions. So sit back, enjoy and don't forget to comment to win your choice of one of these great prizes:

From Kelly Jamieson: winner's choice of any book from her backlist. 
From Meg Benjamin: a print copy of either Venus in Blue Jeans or Wedding Bell Blues. 
From Erin Nicholas: download of Just Like That. 
From Skylar Kade: a print copy of Binding Ties.

And now, to get the party started, here's the first of our chefs. It looks like he's getting the veggies started for us. 'Cause we're all about the health.

Meanwhile, here's Skylar's answers to today's questions:


1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of the summer are... I've just gotten into George RR Martin's series "A Song of Ice and Fire" and I'd love to finish the first three books. I've needed a change from romance (been throwing more and more books against the wall) and my lovely Thor was kind enough to suggest these.


2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to... Go to Disneyland. I've lived in SoCal for five years and have never been. Its just so pricey, and requires more walking than my joints can usually handle, but I'm such a Disney movie fan--the classics, and new ones like WALL-E, not their crazy real-actor movies.


3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would... Cuddle with Thor and fall asleep. Oh, glorious sleep. For us, the summer vacation has turned into "work all the time," and downtime together has become a precious commodity.


4. Something I've always wanted to try is... A book signing. But luckily (or unfortunately, depending on the outcome) I'll be having one on the 18th at Barnes and Noble(16461 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91436) with one of the other Binding Ties anthology authors, Jenna Ives. I'm terrified and excited, even though I know it will be a small event.


5. I'd love to have lunch with...  Eliza Dushku. I *love* Buffy and Dollhouse, and she just seems like such a down-to-earth person. Not to mention, she's a fabulous actress.

Chef # 2 is warming things up for us...I'm talking about the oven, obviously.

Erin had this to say in response to our questions:

1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of the summer are... Well, I can't not read, no matter what else I have going on and I have a to-read list at all times. Upcoming right now include Erin McCarthy's new release, Meg Benjamin's new release and a re-read of Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.


2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to... see Italy


3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would... have coffee with a set of girlfriends, shop, read, have lunch with another set of girlfriends, go to a movie, have dinner with another set of girlfriends... well, you see the pattern.
4. Something I've always wanted to try is... a cruise. I'm a little freaked out by the idea of being out on the ocean with no where else to go but want to try it.


5. I'd love to have lunch with... God. Seriously, I have some questions for that guy.

 I guess Chef #3 never got the memo telling him that the veggies were already under control. It's a vegetarian conspiracy, I'm tellin' ya!

And that's something I'm sure Meg Benjamin can relate to:

1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of
the summer are...
Jane Haddam’s annual Gregor Demarkian, Wanting Sheila Dead; Loretta Chase’s Last Night’s Scandal; Kerry Greenwood’s latest Corinna Chapman, Forbidden Fruit.

2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to...visit England, Ireland, and Scotland.



3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would...head for the hills! I’d love to spend the afternoon on a deck in Steamboat Springs, sipping wine and watching the hummingbirds.


4. Something I've always wanted to try is...scuba diving. I used to be a copyeditor for an underwater photography magazine and it always sounded great. Also really expensive!



5. I'd love to have lunch with...all of the Nine Naughty Novelists. But since we’re spread around North America, I’ll settle for lunch with Erin during RomCon!



Chef #4--wait, what's this I see? More veggies? You just can't get good help these days.

While we sort things out in the kitchen, here's Kelly's answers:

1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of the summer are...Are you kidding me? Even when I don't have time to read, I'd get through more than 3 books this summer! My TBR list is too long to list here.

2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to...Make the NY Times bestseller list. (I know, I know. Not holding my
breath, believe me.)

3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would...Write. Or else read. Preferably poolside with someone serving me umbrella drinks.

 4. Something I've always wanted to try is...Suntanning naked.

5. I'd love to have lunch with...My mom and dad. My dad died when I was 18 and my mom a few years ago. I know they are together now and I would like to touch base and find out whether my dad still grabs my mom's butt every chance he gets and whether she rolls her eyes every time. And I would like to tell them about my writing.

I guess Chef #5 is a pastry chef. Whaddaya think he's making for us? Buns for our mysteriously missing  burgers and hot dogs? Or dessert?

I lost you at "Chef # 5" didn't I? Well, while you're thinking, here's Kate's answers:

1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of the summer are...Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann, His at Night by Sherry Thomas, and False Dawn by Maia Strong.


2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to...take my kids to Europe. I haven't been overseas in twenty-plus years, and I would love to experience that with them at some point.

3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would...Find a comfortable spot, curl up with a good book and a glass of wine, and read the afternoon away without worrying about anything.


4. Something I've always wanted to try is...Gourmet cooking. I can make some serviceable meals, but I'd love to play with interesting ingredients and recipes.


5. I'd love to have lunch with...The rest of the NNN! (Though we'd probably need more than one meal to get all of our conversation in!)


Chef # 6...oh, wait. I guess this is part of our wait staff with the answer to the question: what's Chef 5 whipping up.

So now you know.

And here's Sydney's answers:

1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of the summer are...Just three? LOL The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs and Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy and the list goes on and on...
2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to...Take my kids to Disney World. Having never been there, I think it will be awesome it experience it for the first time with my family. 

3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would...Curl up in a hammock with a cold beer and a great book.


4. Something I've always wanted to try is...Bungee jumping. I just have to get over my fear of heights first. ;)

5. I'd love to have lunch with...My fabulous editor. So envious that Meg and Erin get to sit down with her this weekend. 


Then there's this guy...I don't think he's come to cook. However, let's not hold that against him. "Here, honey, have some more veggies...we've got lots!"

PG's answers:

1. If I had the time, the three books I would love to read by the end of the summer are...the next three new releases by the NNN--duh! 
2. I'll be so disappointed if I never get to...own another Jaguar. Love those cars.
3. If I had the afternoon off to do whatever I wanted, I would...take the Jag out for a spin along the Central Coast, visit a few wineries...or write. Writing's good too!
 4. Something I've always wanted to try is...hot air ballooning.  
  5. I'd love to have lunch with...the NNN. Gotta agree with the group on this one. And, Erin, we'll do it on a cruise. You'll be so busy laughing, you won't have time to be freaked out by all that water! 

15 comments:

  1. Great choice of chefs :) Interesting questions and some answers that surprised me...

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  2. Some great suggestions for summer reading, thanks!

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  3. Skylar - Don't let achy joints keep you from enjoying Disneyland! Rent a wheelchair for the day (I would suggest buying one first but those things can be expensive even if you buy them used). The last time I went, it was $20 for the day and you're able to skip to the front of the line on most of the rides.

    When I lived in So Cal, Disneyland was one of my most favorite places to visit. As my CIDP (an autoimmune disorder similar to Multiple Sclerosis) got worse, I decided to just start renting wheelchairs to deal with the fatigue I experience. Doing so definitely allowed me to fully enjoy the park with my family.

    Oh! Before you go, make sure to book a reservation at the Blue Bayou restaurant. You have to call the park and make a reservation about a month in advance but it is SO worth it! The food is wonderful and the ambiance is to die for (the restaurant is actually in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, towards the beginning of the ride, so it looks like a Louisiana swamp at night all the time, complete with stars twinkling in the 'sky'!). Just be sure to book it for lunch. The prices are cheaper but the portion sizes are just as big as during dinner :)

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  4. Wow! These chefs are heating up my summer and our heat index is already over 104. This summer I'd love to sit on my porch swing during a thunderstorm with the yummy chef from Sophie Renwick's Hot In Here. I love that book! I, too, want to throw some books against the wall this summer. I was at Barnes and Noble and wanted to cry. I want Nora Roberts to have her own book store and take those sappy, water-colored covers off my shelves. I want more variety than just a fang-toothed, moon-howlin', Victorian virgin. Sometimes, just sometimes, a hot man loves a curvy woman. And sometimes, just sometimes, that story can be exciting and erotic. What happened to contemporary romance? I want to read about funny, sexy, dark men and shy, confident, sensual women. I will carry the banner for my cause. "More sexy men and the real women who love them! No fangs or fur required. And yeah, we're not virgins!" Congrats, Skylar, on the book signing. What an exciting adventure to have. Hope all goes very well. Well, I'm off to the treadmill to sweat my butt off and daydream, no salivate, thinking about these sexy chefs. Have a great summer gals.

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  5. This was definitely an interesting post with great looking chefs, food, and some really great questions with equally great answers.

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  6. Always interesting to see who people want to have lunch with.

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  7. Well I don't normally eat a lot of veggies but those chefs were in my kitchen making them I would seriously reconsider my veggie intake! Yum!

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  8. Wish one(or more)of those chefs would come work in my kitchen. The veggies wouldn't bother me.
    Loved reading the whole post.

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  9. Pictures are great. I would love to go to Europe too. Really liked this format very insightful.
    gigi

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  10. The chefs were tasty but so young or maybe I'm just old. Oh well, I can look.

    lorettaC
    lbcanton@verizon.net

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  11. I want Chef 5. Like, right now.

    Howchee mama.....

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  12. That a lovely lineup of chefs! They can cook for me ANYTIME! ;)

    I loved reading all your answers! So much good reading, and so little time ;) And keeping my fingers crossed for all of you that you'll have the chance to avoid disappointment and travel and hit the best-seller lists! I'd have to invite myself to lunch with you all on that cruise--that sounds like a must-do, too!

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  13. Shannon, THANK YOU for the advice! I'll be adding Disney to my To Do list now!

    Pauline, when you find books like that, rec them my way--I'm with you on that kind of variety.

    Kinsey, can we have a time-share for Chef 5?

    Have a yummy day!

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  14. Oh I like veggies and having a chef such as the above making them would be just fine, lol.

    Interesting questions and answers and especially on #4.

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