Holidaze Hammock's Haunt-y Hootenanny is Coming...

Halloween-themed posts? Of course.

Funny? Spooky? Cute? Yep, uh-huh, totally.

Will we meet some wickedly awesome authors? Can't stress the 'definitely' enough here. 

Anything for our trick-or-treat bag, like, you know, a GIVEAWAY? Oh...yeah. But ya better bring a very, very big trick-or-treat bag. ;) 

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So, now I just have one tiny question: 

Are Y'ALL ready for a Hootenanny? 

Coming October 3rd...

(to read all about the inspiration behind Holidaze Hammock, check out the Holidaze Hammock page and/or the original post!) 

drawing by me

Honorary Mermaids

I just loved fellow mer-loving author Susan Fodor's recent blog post.

It made me remember something that life's super-fun (note the sarcasm) obstacles can sometimes cause us to forget: 

We're never really alone, no matter how lost or lonely we may feel. All we need to do is look around and reach out--more often than not, there will be someone reaching right back, taking our hand. 

And if not...well...there's always chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, Harry Potter, and Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan movies...and Johnny Depp...and Eric Northman...and Viggo Mortensen...and Mr. Darcy. But, keep reaching just the same...you know, with the non-spoon-holding hand.

Oh, and I agree with Susan wholeheartedly--doing a giveaway is much more fun with a group of people. I've loved being a part of Mermaidapaloosa with Susan, Amber, Elle, Heather, Karen, and Brenda. 

Here's to the honorary mermaids of Mermaidapaloosa and all the readers diving in for some fun. <3

Sizzling sand, pristine sea, steamy nights and hot boys! 

Hold onto summer with Mermaidapaloosa!!!

                   

                 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mermaidapaloosa Giveaway!

Although summer may be coming to a close, the magic and wonder of the mysterious Merpeople will keep those warm, sunny days--and nights--very much alive.

7 novels, 7 unique perspectives on a creature we've all dared to believe in at some point in our lives. Um...I might still believe. Don't laugh at me. Never mind, go on and laugh...point...snicker...I deserve it.

The 7 mermaid (well, and there might be a merbitch and some hot mermen in there, too) novels you could win are as follows: 

Just Breathe by Heather Allen

Finned by Sutton Shields (*waves* That's me! Yes, I'm being a dork right now)

Promises by Amber Garr

Silver Tides by Susan Fodor 

Everblue by Brenda Pandos 

Seaweed by Elle Strauss

Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper 

Enter for the chance to win some super splashy fun that will warm up those crisp fall days and chilly winter nights with loads of mystery, romance, laughs, and FUN!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! May the 'Mer' be with you. <3

The Merworld Water Wars: Trey Campbell Answers Mer-Questions, Part II

Welcome back, my lovely little magazine-dwelling noses. I do apologize for the ridiculous delay in getting you the highly anticipated answers from resident hottie Normal, Trey Cambell. It seems our Sandblastwriter technician failed to show up for, oh, weeks.

Anyway, we’re back with Trey. Are you ready?

Trey: Let’s do it.

[Don’t get your hopes up, Clarissa. You’re far too plain] And I see the technician still hasn’t fixed our Sandblastwriter’s cheeky side. [Clarissa turns on the fake laugh. Heh, she thinks by giving me the evil eye that I’ll somehow shut up. I won’t.] Son of a sandbar. Oh, uh, sorry…question time!

Okay, this one comes from Mathilda in downtown Fairla. You alluded to a happy relationship between a Fairhair and Ravenflame. Did you mean Katrina and Troy, once upon a time?

Trey, smirking [he’s not buying Clarissa’s lame attempts to get the scoop]: Nope, sure didn’t. Really? You’ve had all this time to come up with a scheme to coax the info out of me and that’s all you came up with? Did you think I wouldn't do a little digging of my own? Mathilda’s your middle name.

[Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha] SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU PIECE OF…er, yes, well…ya got me! [Insert fake laughing, which isn't fooling anyone because her seriously reddening cheeks are totally calling her out as a pissed off little reporter. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!] I hate you and fully intend to petition for a removal of all Sandblastwriters. [Yeah, good luck with that]. Trey, will you at least tell us a little about the couple you speak of?

Trey: They’re in love and happy. What more do you need?

Names.

Trey: Not gonna happen.

Fine. We’ll turn to the mailbag...the legitimate mailbag. We have a question from Leah in Diagonal North Fairla: Trey, boxers or briefs? My, my! [Clarissa pretends to be embarrassed. Truth is, she’s dying to know the answer].

Trey, smiling slyly: Boxers…and, on occasion, commando. I don’t like to feel restricted.

Well, no, I mean, why would you, right? [Idiotic laughing from Clarissa] And today you’d be rocking which look?

Trey: Commando.

OH MY POSEIDON! Are you really? Oh…that’s…just…YEAH. [The drooling is getting worse. She needs a bucket. Oh, dear. Clarissa has officially zoned out—she’s staring dreamily at Trey, probably daydreaming about his brief-less self. Brilliant, top-notch journalist, here, folks.]

Trey: Uh, do you have any more questions?

Huh? What? OH! Ahem, yes, of course. Gertie from downtown Fairla wants to know if you’re afraid of the Ravenflames.

Trey, clenching his jaw: Fear is your ultimate enemy, not the physical adversary.

But, do you worry about the strength of, say, King and Queen Zale?

Trey: They’re not the only ones with strength. Might serve them well to remember that.

Our next question comes from Cordy on the outskirts of Fairla. Trey, what is your favorite holiday and why?

Trey: Easy. Halloween. I like the hint of fear in the air. It makes me stronger.

Rumor has it, Christmas is Marina’s favorite time of year.

Trey: It is. She has a cynical side, but she loves the jolliest, happiest time of year better than anything else. What does that tell you? She’s a softy at heart.

Will she be mad at you for calling her a softy?

Trey: She’ll pretend to be. [laughing]

I honestly can’t wait to interview her!

Trey: Little tip…don’t try to outwit her. It won’t work.

                          

Noted! Okay, next question comes from Vin, another Ravenflame! Oh…this is, uh, more of a statement than a question: Hope you know you and the Normals are going down. That Savior isn’t worth BLEEP. She couldn’t hold up to our King and Queen. Soon, all of you will be dying a slow, painful death. Hope you’re ready. Know I am.

Trey, smirking: Classy, dude.

Do you have a specific reply for Vin?

Trey, shrugging: I’m glad he’s ready. [smiling…wouldn’t want to test him]

Ooh, good answer. [Sigh] Anyway…next question comes from Janie. She lives near the Gulf Super Zoomway. Janie asks: Trey, do you like racing in your world? Do the other Normals like racing and who do they pull for? Who’s your favorite human driver, and would you ever race a mermobile?

Trey, grinning: Oh, I’m a big NASCAR fan, yeah. Never miss a race. Marina, Meikle, Polly, and my buddy Earl like racing.

And Earl is one of the Normals that left Saxet Shores, right?

Trey: So to speak, yeah. As far as who we pull for…Meikle is a Kasey Kahne fan—she has a crush on him. Earl was a die-hard Tony Stewart fan. And Polly is in love with Kyle Busch, no joke. If she ever got near the guy…he better jump in the car and drive faster than he ever has before, I swear.

My favorite driver is Dale Earnhardt Jr., same as Marina. And, yeah, I’d kill to race a mermobile, are you kidding?! [laughs]

Do you think you could beat Troy Tombolo or Kyle Zale? They’re our top drivers.

Trey, laughing: Hell, I don’t know. I’d give it my best.

Shall we move to our last question? [Trey nods. Duh, Clarissa…just ask the question] Ass.

Trey: Sandblastwriter again?

[Clarissa rolls her eyes and nods] Okay, our last question comes from—oh—Katrina Zale!

Trey: Oh mother[EXPLETIVE]! Let’s have it.

Katrina asks…would you swim with me? [Clarissa’s wide eyes alarm me, not gonna lie]

Trey: That’s her question?

That’s it.

Trey, eyebrows raised: I don’t think ‘no’ is a strong enough word. 

Trey, it's been a pleasure. 

Next up on our interview list is Ophelia Fountains! Let's hope she doesn't faint during our interview!

OVERFALLS is here!!!

 

Fall Over the OVERFALLS here!

OVERFALLS, the second Wave in The Merworld Water Wars series is finally here!!! 

And for anyone looking to meet some quirky, crazy, loveable characters in a wild world full of adventure and fun, FINNED, the first Wave in The Merworld Water Wars series, is now only .99 at Amazon! 

Many hugs and loads of love to anyone who has given my quirky characters (and their goofy author) a chance. <3

Character Interviews: Trey Campbell Answers Mer-questions!

Today, we’re going to dig through our mail and ask Trey all those burning questions I just know my precious readers are flipping fins to know the answers to! So let’s get started.

Pearl from the West Wave of Fairla wants to know how you feel about the ‘Normals’ label placed on you and your friends by the Merpeople.

Trey [shrugs]: I don’t like labels of any kind. You know, all creatures struggle with the same [EXPLETIVE], so what the hell is the point of slapping labels, apart from wanting to be jackasses? It’s a bully thing in my book. But—yep, I have a but [Clarissa giggles like an 8^th grade idiot]—now that I’ve railed on it [laughs with Clarissa], I will say it has grown on me because we are different…and why not celebrate it? We’re special. So, if the merfolk want to highlight our uniqueness with a label, go right ahead. We’re always willing to make it work in our favor. [smiles sexily…Clarissa fans herself]

Tommy, also from the West Wave of Fairla, asks: Did you ever believe in mermaids before learning the truth in Saxet Shores?

Trey: Yeah, I think I did, in a really broad sense. I’ve always felt there was a lot more to the world that we can’t see. When human kids started developing talents, I pretty much figured mythological creatures existed on some plane. Plus, my instinct literally screamed it from the earliest days I can remember of my life.

Ooh, Tay from the Atlantic ocean wants to know if you would ever date a mermaid.

                                                         

Trey, winking: You interested? [laughs…while Clarissa, once again, makes an ass of herself by nearly falling off her chair. She could do with a drool towel as well] Let’s just say I’m not close-minded. [another wink]

Well, that was most enlightening…phew…um…okay…Birdie from the North Wave of Fairla has to know if you would ever consider living underwater.

Trey: If the right girl has a fin I can’t resist, you can bet I’ll make the move…down.

[Good Poseidon. Clarissa unleashed a laugh so wild, even the Normal raised an eyebrow] What a great answer! That was just…what do you want?! [Clarissa notices blue puffs from her editor] It seems my editor wishes to ask you a question, Trey.

Trey: Go for it.

Editor, in the form of blue puff lips: What is the significance of the owl pendant you always wear?

Trey: It’s my luck charm. I’ve had it since I was an infant. For some reason, I’ve always felt it kept me safe. That’s about it, I guess. Meikle thinks it holds some kind of magic. I don’t sense anything magical about it, but maybe I wouldn’t, since it’s an inanimate object.

Editor, in the form of blue puff lips: Thank you, Trey. And, Clarissa…kindly keep it together. [Clarissa blushes madly and stares at me—the Sandblastwriter—murderously]

Next question, then… Oh, this is a good one. From Jack in Diagonal South Fairla: Trey, who would win in a fight, you or Troy Tombolo?

Trey [laughing]: Whoa! Good question. Man, if I don’t say me, then I’ve got no balls, you know? So, yeah…me! Yeah, it’d be one helluva battle, I can tell you that. Troy’s a lurker. I mean, his anger, his strength, kinda bubbles right below the surface. When and if he chooses to unleash it…it could be scary. BUT, I’d still beat him, okay?! [lots of laughs]

Harmony from the heart of Fairla wants to know what you look for in a girlfriend.

Trey: Well, this is going to make me sound like a lying tool, but…eyes, personality, and inner beauty mean everything. I’m not screwing around or trying to say what you want to hear, or bull[EXPLETIVE] like that—I genuinely mean it. My ability to read a person makes it damn near impossible for me not to look at the inner beauty of someone before anything else. And, let me tell you, that’s where guys should be looking—that’s where they’ll separate the real from the fake. Uh, Clarissa? Clarissa? You okay?

[Clarissa, gazing at Trey like a lovesick guppy, is in her world of Trey + Clarissa sitting in a wave, k-i-s-s-i-n-g; first comes lov—] Oh, shut it you enormous piece of whale dung! [Trey is studying Clarissa with a ‘have you been smoking too much seaweed’ look. And, if you ask me, she probably has] I literally hate you, you damn snark-spewing contraption.

Trey: Did we have any more questions?

Oh, yes! One more for today. This one comes from Rella, a Ravenflame! Wow! We don’t have too many from them.

Trey, smirking: Can’t imagine why.

Rella wants to know if you…oh my…would ever date a Ravenflame?!

Trey, eyes wide: Wow. Didn’t expect that one! Well…given some people I now know, things I’ve now seen…I would have to say…yes, IF she’s the right kind of girl.

Ooh, what do you mean by, ‘given some people I now know?’ What people? You mean a Ravenflame and a Fairhair?! Voluntarily together?! Happy?

Trey: Yeah, I’m not going into specifics, sorry.

[Clarissa, biting her lip, suddenly has an idea] How would you like to come back for another round of mailbag fun?

Trey: Sure, yeah, sounds good. But you won’t trip me up.

Oh, of course not. I wouldn’t even try. [And she will try…she has a whole week to plan]

Merworld Water Wars: Trey Campbell Talks About His Intuitive Power!

                                                         

Describe your main power for our readers, if you will.

Trey: Yeah, basically, I can sniff out lies, dig up truths…that kind of thing. It’s kinda hard to define because it all happens in my gut. I just know where there’s a lie. Might not know what the truth is, but you can damn well bet I’m gonna find out.

                                                                                                   

So, how can your friends get away with keeping things from you?

Trey (grinning): Some lies are harmless. I mean, I know what ones are major and what ones aren’t. The major ones rattle my core…it forces me to hunt until I uncover the truth. Minor lies might give me a twinge, but I know not to turn them into a big expedition, you know? And then there are the fun ones, like when someone wants to surprise you with a present or something—those are cool.

I guess no one has ever been able to surprise you, then?

Trey (chuckles): Not at all. They get it, I think. They just ignore it. [laughs] I’ll try to, you know, forget I know something’s coming, so I can act surprised for them and stuff. I mean, anytime someone wants to do something nice, and then actually follows through, it’s a big effing surprise, so… [laughs from Trey and Clarissa].

Biggest drawback with having this talent?

                                 

Trey: Finding out someone you trust, maybe even love, can’t be trusted.

Has this happened to you?

Trey: Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that. [Trey notices Clarissa’s rather big mouth opening] It’s not a can of worms you want to open.

Well, then, what’s the biggest plus side to this talent?

                   

Trey: Sort of the same answer, in a way. It’s good to know who your allies are, but it’s sometimes sad to know who they aren’t.

In order for your power to work, do you have to be in close proximity to the person, or is it in the voice, a look, what?

Trey: I think it’s mostly a proximity thing, but there have been times where it’s just a general feeling coming from a group of people, no one specific. It varies, I guess. Either I get the vibe, or I don’t. Pretty much that simple.

Let’s talk secrets! What are some juicy morsels you’ve uncovered using your power?

Trey [laughing]: Ah, well…did you know Benji once spiked Irving’s fin cream during gym?

He did not!

Trey: Yep. Used something called a shedding cream?

Oh no! Shedding creams are used for overly dry fins—it basically sloughs away the top layer of fin. If Irving didn’t need it, trust me when I say the process was terribly itchy.

Trey [hysterical]: Awesome. Oh, sorry.

                           

No, no, it’s fine, it’s fine! This is good scoop! What else do you have for us?

Trey: Madame Helena sneaks loads of liquor to her room, usually vodka, despite lecturing kids on the evils of alcohol; Vice Principal Anderson fudges his height and wears a toupee [Clarissa gasps and giggles]; some of the Fairhair students aren’t natural blonds.

[Clarissa nearly falls off her chair] That’s not possible.

Trey: Why not? There are some non-blonds, right? There are a couple of well-known mermaids that come to mind.

Uh, yes, I suppose that’s true. They’re exceedingly rare, though…and it could mean—who are the Fairhair students with dyed hair?

Trey [eyebrow raised]: Forgot. New topic?

Of course. Next on my list is, uh…[Clarissa shuffling through her notes. She’s pissy she didn’t get what she wanted] Oh, shut up, you stupid Sandblastwriter…piece of seahorsesh—[Trey gazes at her like she has lost her crap…and, truth be told, she has] Here we go—next up, we have some special questions from our loyal readers!

Tune in next week when Trey answers your questions!