Stalking Marian Keyes...

She’s a Virgo, I’m a Virgo. She’s a successful internationally recognized goddess of an author, and I...well, I’ve read everything she’s ever written. I expect we would be best friends. She even looks amazingly like my younger sister, Ma... OK, my sister’s name isn’t Marian, it’s MaryBeth, but we call her Beezer, which has the exact same number of letters Marian’s name does. Coincidence? (I sometimes even call my sister an eejit!)

Her most excellent Ms. Keyes is from Ireland...I love the color green. From her first book, Watermelon, (my seventh favorite fruit) to Sushi For Beginners (I’m only up to California rolls myself!) to Anybody Out There...I have loved, read, and reread every word.

In case I am ever fortunate enough to meet her, (I will be the one wearing my skinny jeans that look brand new on account I don’t get to wear them that often, with a fancy top that covers all the right places. I think a dress would be too-too), I’m even practicing what I would say. I have been working on “Top of the morning” as an icebreaker. I am such a gobshite.


Dear Marian, Please friend me!!


Photos: Marian Keyes...                              ...and her doppelganger, my sister, Beezer!  

Dee DeTarsio is a television writer living in southern California. She’s the author of four novels, including the newly released,  The Scent of Jade  a romantic adventure set in Costa Rica. She’s the mother-slash-indentured servant of two children and is working on the screenplay for The Scent of Jade, as well as her next novel, Ros.

Hey, You Awake?

"Hey, You Awake?" Three little words guaranteed to keep me that way. Efforts to hone the perfect husband have failed; he obviously slept through the pillow-talk lecture. My nightly ritual for serenity and slumber includes good thoughts, well-wishes, spritzes of lavender linen spray, and if there's a bonus round of 'oops where did my panties go?' so much the better. The Man-O-My-Dreams, however, escalates the trauma and stress of his day until he erupts (one second before I hit REM) with OUTLANDISH proclamations: "We need to move to Idaho and become farmers."

Pretending I have a crop of potatoes already growing in my ears does not work. While I yearn for meaningful talks about his hopes and dreams, he needs a hard reset of his yak button.

What's your nightly ritual?

#16 Amazon UK--Romantic Suspense

Sig Alert

 I don't chew gum (because I complain about public, smacking gum-chewers who search and destroy that tiny little air pocket of POW!, and that would be hypocritical of me, wouldn't it?). I tried to think if I was even the littlest bit annoying, and have to say that I am not. I only hum. Humming is harmless and fun, and who would ever call someone out for humming? Hmm hmm hmm...and deeper, hum hum...See, not irritating at all.

I hum when I write.

I hum when I clean up after the cat. It seems to help keep my own throat from opening up and sharing.

I even hummed during my sigmoidoscopy and lest you think I share too much, the doctor told me, and I quote, "keep on doing what you're doing." Hmm hmm hmmm. So there.

The Scent of Jade - Now Available on Amazon.com!

KISS and ROLL...

My favorite writing exercise:

After I KISS* it always helps me to ROLL*.

(*Keep It Simple, Stupid)
(*Read Out Loud, Lazy)

Leo, The Listener

Baking, Writing, Eating and Reading

I like to bake. Right now, I’m in my bundt cake phase. I love mixing
and measuring; swirls of chocolate blending into a sweet smelling batter of bliss.  Oh, the endless possibilities of decorating! Greasing the pan, not as much fun. Clean-up? Eh.

I like to write. Right now, I’m in my bundt cake phase of writing. I love mixing and measuring; introducing new characters, spicing things up with unexpected ingredients. Oh, the endless possibilities! Editing and re-writes, not as much fun. Clean-up? Eh.

I like to eat cake. I usually eat the cake part first, before I allow myself to savor the frosting. Mmm. I like to share my cake, and if someone asks me for the recipe? Heaven.

I like to read. I like to write things that I would like to read--and read things that I wished I could have written! The deliciousness of Marian Keyes! Susan Isaacs! Jennifer Weiner! Cecelia Ahearn! and Marina Fiorato!--I inhaled The Botticelli Secret....to the dark chocolate of Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Ken Follett, with a sprinkling of Lee Child and Michael Connelly.

I love discovering new ingredients that I can’t wait to try myself! Tasting other masterpieces helps me become a better baker.

Eating cake while reading? I kiss my fingertips!