Bombshell Winners Announced

This was a tough call as I only got a handful of entries, but I have decided two winners on a whim.

Mrs. Flax and Julie

But I still want to thank everyone for participating, and don't fret because there are sure to be some more chances to win coming soon, and more prizes are going to be added such as swarovski crystal Bombshell shirts, bookmarks, and the like.

Perhaps you would like to know my answers? All right, here they are.

1. What is the worst thing you have ever done for money (worked at Burger King? Dug through elephant poo? Sold your body? Think hard.)

I had to think about this one. Was it the few months I spent as a housekeeper for a mad Russian doctor who lived in a mansion full of bedrooms that were larger than my apartment? Hmm...no, because I learned a lot from that experience and it may end up as a side plot of a book someday. No, the worst thing I ever did for money was work for Hickory Farms, or as I refer to it, Hickory Hell. You know, those cute people wearing blue aprons in the mall who sell cheese and beef sticks. Yes, that. The job sucked because of the sample giving. You had to approach random people throughout the mall and go "Want to try some beef stick?" People would shout at me that my shit was overpriced, or that it was sad that we couldn't even give it away. I got in a fight with a lass on my last day because she got all up in my face and was quite upset that I offered her my beef. She was vegan. How could I have known?

1. Is exotic dancing/stripping akin to prostitution? Why? Site your sources if any.
   

No. Prostitution is selling sex. Exotic dancing is dancing exotically and sometimes intoxicated, depending on the club. There is a very big difference. If a dancer sells sex, she is a prostitute, but the girl next to her who does not sell sex is not a prostitute by proxy. See?

1. If the person you loved absolutely hated you, would you shorten their life by 10 years if it meant that they would love you back?
   

No, I just couldn't see myself doing that to someone. Witchcraft maybe, but not shortening someone's life. I can still love a person even if it isnt reciprocated.

1. If your city decided to put in a strip club, or for those whose cities already have them decided to close the strip club(s,) write your argument to your city for or against the placement/removal of this club. If you cannot include your town name, just call it "Small Town" or "Big City" accordingly.
   

Dear Beaumont, Ca,

If we don't get a strip club, we won't know what to do with our loitering teenagers when they come of age. Also it might keep more idiots off the road during normal driving hours. If we could keep everyone contained inside of a building full of naked girls for just a few hours a day, Beaumont would thrive. The lines at Wal Mart would be insignificant. Either strip club or bowling alley, whatever you think might be best. We just need something to do here.

1. When you read an article about a female stripper being raped, beaten, murdered, etc. do you feel that she was asking for it with the type of job that she had? Should she have assumed the risk? Did she get herself into this mess by doing the work that she did?

No, I feel really bad for girls who get hurt doing this job. People need money, for some this is the way to get it, and they shouldn't be punished because of it. Nobody "asks" for it, but there are times when people need to be smarter about their decisions. Don't tell people your name or where you live, or add them on Myspace, just don't do it! Be smart about this stuff! Your life could be at risk.

BONUS ROUND!

If you were a stripper, what would be your stage name and what song would you dance to?


I would be Henrietta Pussycat. Do you love it? A throwback to your childhood AND it sounds dirty. I would dance to "Lullaby" by The Cure. I could get my hips going to that song, I could I could.

Thanks for playing along, I'll let you know when the next chance to win is.

Win An Advance Copy Of Bombshell

So you want to win an autographed copy of Bombshell before it's available to everyone else? I don't blame you, it's a damn fine book. You won't read another book like this, especially not for free.

The rules of the game are simple. You will answer the following questions either down below in the comments, via email (teamterwilliger at gmail dot com) or on your blog, which you will have to leave a link to the entry in the comments or via email so I can come read them.

There is no set amount of winners and winners will be chosen on a whim. I alone will be judging them based on how well I feel that the questions were answered.

But there is a catch. If you win a copy, you must promise to do a review either on your blog (if you have one) or on Goodreads.com, plus you will be asked to leave the review on the sites that sell the book (Lulu, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, etc.)

Contest ends 1/16/09

On to the questions. Answer as thoroughly as possible.

1. What is the worst thing you have ever done for money (worked at Burger King? Dug through elephant poo? Sold your body? Think hard.)
2. Is exotic dancing/stripping akin to prostitution? Why? Site your sources if any.
   
3. If the person you loved absolutely hated you, would you shorten their life by 10 years if it meant that they would love you back?
   
4. If your city decided to put in a strip club, or for those whose cities already have them decided to close the strip club(s,) write your argument to your city for or against the placement/removal of this club. If you cannot include your town name, just call it "Small Town" or "Big City" accordingly.
   
5. When you read an article about a female stripper being raped, beaten, murdered, etc. do you feel that she was asking for it with the type of job that she had? Should she have assumed the risk? Did she get herself into this mess by doing the work that she did?

BONUS ROUND!

If you were a stripper, what would be your stage name and what song would you dance to?

The BART Shooting

This is somewhat on topic, about as much as the last post was as it deals closely with a side storyline within Bombshell: accidental police shootings.

Yes, accidental.

I was asked to respond to what I thought of the videos by a reader. I watched the different videos of the event from all the different angles, and based on the reaction of the officers it was clearly an accident. After the shot is fired, they stand up, all three put their hands on their head, an indication of panic and worry in body language. The officer who fired the shot and another officer stare at each other for a few seconds, and then they go to turn the man over to check for signs of life.

Was it a tragedy? Yes. Was it brutality? Think again.

Just judging on the reactions of the officers right when it happened, and the fact that the man resigned right afterwards sends a clear message that he knows that he messed up. They say that he was going for his taser, which in some agencies is kept on their gun holster in like an extension part. In a struggle to keep this guy still and everything that is going on, it can and did happen. Accidents happen. There is no way that any police officer could honestly pin someone down and murder them in cold blood in front of a train full of witnesses and two other officers right there. That was not adrenaline, abuse of power, that was clearly every officer's worst nightmare.

That's not to say that it hasn't happened before that way. I can't seem to remember where this was exactly so I can't google for the articles on it, but here in the Inland Empire where I live out toward Rialto or Colton there was an officer who had a Marine on the ground. The Marine was following orders and being submissive, but he asked if he could get up off the ground. The officer instructed him to get up, and then shot him twice. Twice. He tried to claim that the man was reaching for a gun, but when that story didn't pan out he claimed that the gun went off accidentally. That man now sits in jail, because it's clear what really happened there.

How do we prevent something like this from happening again? Petition all agencies to train their officers to carry their tasers on the opposite side of the gun, backwards in a holster so that the officer can reach across their body with their dominant hand to draw the weapon. I actually know of an officer who refuses to carry a taser for this among many other reasons, including the fact that he doesn't want to accidentally tase himself.

You can also prevent it by not resisting the police. That's a thought, eh?

It just seems to me that any time someone dies at the hands of the police it becomes a huge controversy, be it the 13 year old boy who drove a car into a group of LAPD officers or the 18 month old who was being used as a human shield by her father as he shot at the SWAT team, it will always be controversial.

And isn't that great?

A police officer can't kill a person, accidentally, justifiably, or on purpose, without it being looked into. The checks and balances exist, people. They do.

Cop Stories

It's been sort of interesting collecting all of these stories for Bombshell. I was told that I made a huge mistake in referring to Graham Green as "Officer," as he works for the Sheriff's department and is therefore called "Deputy." I've been given information about procedures, academy, calls, and they all come with stories of course which I sprinkled into Bombshell and have been using in books two and three of the series. Some stories are incredibly funny, ironic, or just something that struck me as something to write about.

While looking through an online friend's Myspace photo album of her infant son who died of sids, it reminded me of the gentle officer who told me that his first SIDS call made him cry for three hours after he got home. He said the emotion of it all, the screaming mother, the grief-stricken father, it just hit him like a ton of bricks that sent him into uncontrollable sobbing. Of course he remained professional on the job, but once the uniform was off it all caught up to him.

At the end of the day they are still human beings. I tried very hard to convey that with my characters. Not only with the cop, but with the stripper. Strippers aren't sex-hungry devil women (or men.)

That's kind of a blanket statement but so is saying that all cops are callous assholes. They're not. I've met a few who have told me stories that suggest otherwise.

Just a thought I was having, is all.

Bombshell On Goodreads!

Add it to your To Be Read piles!

Bombshell

You Bring The Smokes, I'll Bring The Beer

...though I will probably just watch you partake in those things, they're not really my style. Anyway, Bombshell is still scheduled to come out on the 11th of February, despite some drama regarding the funding and the manuscript being stuck in Oregon for a while due to Snowmageddon.

I'm feeling that a complete deconstruction isn't necessary on the final edit after all. I will keep what I have, but I will do a lot of fixing and adding, mostly adding because now I've really been through some situations that give me insight. Someone who one of the characters is loosely based off of died in real life, and I believe that it will put one of the characters in a more awkward position than it originally had. And dealing with loss, well...I haven't really dealt with loss since the situations surrounding Golden Dawn's theme, but now I have, and I think it will help the story.

One of my editors did make the remark that I'm not very good at writing about feelings, but I think the past few weeks have helped me to actually experience some. Not that my life is always perfect but I'm mostly carefree and not too stressed so these things have given me something to think about and learn from.

I haven't been writing because I've been waiting to redo Bombshell, though I have been itching to work on a few other stories. But I know if I start them I'll only be distracted when my manuscript gets here, so I've been knitting instead. I'm promising to knit 25 scarves this year because I turned 25 and I have oodles and oodles of time on my hands now that my husband is leaving for CHP academy.

Anyway, when all this is done, let's celebrate somehow, hey?

Marina And Graham Answer A Meme

What better way to get to know the characters from Bombshell than to have them answer one of those long drawn out surveys full of pointless questions? Marina and Graham are going to give us their best, sometimes conflicting answers. Extra points if you make it to the end. Extra extra points if you ask more questions in the comments section.

1.
Do you sleep​ with your close​t doors​ open or close​d?​
Marina: It doesn't matter.
Graham: Closed, only because I like order in my home.


2.
Do you take the shamp​oos and condi​tione​r bottl​es from hotel​?​
Marina: I do, but not to take whore-baths with. I keep them in my drawers as mementos of where I have been.
Graham: And do what with them?

3.
Do you sleep​ with your sheet​s tucke​d in or out?
Marina: Depends on if I make my bed or not. . . sometimes I'm just to tired.
Graham: In.


4.
Have you ever stole​n a stree​t sign befor​e?​
Marina: Once when I was young I stole a stop sign with my dad to put on my wall, but that's it.
Graham: I would never do that, but I was partially persuaded to buy my cabin because of the fact that the street name it is on is Lovers Lane.


5.
Do you like to use post-​it notes​?​
Marina: Not really? I don't know, if they're there?
Graham: They're handy, I mean you always need something to write on.


6.
Do you cut out coupo​ns but then never​ use them?​
Marina: I don't get the paper or anything, so no.
Graham: I don't have time, and I usually only shop for a few things at a time.


7.
Would​ you rathe​r be attac​ked by a big bear or a swarm​ of a bees?​

Marina: Can I choose neither?
Graham: I think I'd rather deal with the bear.

8.
Do you have freck​les?​
Marina: Incredibly faint ones, and they're usually covered by makeup.
Graham: A few random ones but somehow I avoided getting them for the most part. I'm quite fair skinned so I am an advocate for sunscreen.


9.
Do you alway​s smile​ for pictu​res?​
Marina: I pose, if that counts.
Graham: Not when I'm in uniform. Otherwise, I usually do.


10.
What is your bigge​st pet peeve​?​
Marina: Guys who come into the club and act like they own me. One lap dance does not constitute ownership, and don't fucking touch me.
Graham: People who cant seem to get their lives together, people who have no respect for authority, etc.



11.
Do you ever count​ your steps​ when you walk?​

Marina: I just try not to fall over when I'm walking in nine inch heels and slightly intoxicated.
Graham: I've never heard of anyone doing that.

12.
Have you ever peed in the woods​?​
Marina: Maybe when I was camping.
Graham: I live in the woods, so technically yes.

13.
What about​ poope​d in the woods​?​

Marina: Girls don't poop.
Graham: See above.

14.
Do you ever dance​ even if there​s no music​ playi​ng?​

Marina: There's always music playing.
Graham: I'm not much of a dancer, I only do it when I'm trying.

15.
Do you chew your pens and penci​ls?​
Marina: When I'm nervous.
Graham: No way.

16.
How many peopl​e have you slept​ with this week?​

Marina: None by my count.
Graham: It's been a while.


17.
What size is your bed?
Marina: It's a really old and uncomfortable futon.
Graham: A very lonely queen size.


18.
What is your Song of the week?​



Marina: "It's My Life" by Gwen Stefani
Graham: "Love Comes Walking In" by Van Halen

19.
Is it okay for guys to wear pink?​
Marina: It's kind of gay but whatever.
Graham: I see no problem with it.

20.
Do you still​ watch​ carto​ons?​
Marina: Simpsons, Family Guy, those kinds anyway.
Graham: I don't own a television.

21.
Whats​ your least​ favor​ite movie​?​
Marina: Showgirls
Graham: I don't know, I think I was bored to tears over some awful movie called Iris once.



22.
Where​ would​ you bury hidde​n treas​ure if you had some?​
Marina: Like I'd tell you!
Graham: Somewhere in the woods, logically.

23.
What do you drink​ with dinne​r?​
Marina: Cherry Coke with extra cherries if I'm eating at the club. Regular diet coke usually other times.
Graham: Water with lemon or Coke.


24.
What do you dip a chick​en nugge​t in?
Marina: Ketchup
Graham: Sweet Baby Ray's if I have it on hand, but any BBQ sauce will do.

25.
What is your favor​ite food?​
Marina: Anything spicy
Graham: Anything portable

26.
What movie​s could​ you watch​ over and over and still​ love?​
Marina: Scarface, that would never ever get old.
Graham: This is embarrassing, but Super Troopers, hands down. I still laugh.

27.
Last perso​n you kisse​d/​kisse​d you?
Marina: Some asshole at the club tried, but I clocked him with my shoe.
Graham: It's been a long, long time. My high school girlfriend I think.

28.
Were you ever a boy/​girl scout​?​
Marina: I don't think my parents could have afforded it if I wanted to.
Graham: I was a cub scout, but I got out of it.


29.
Would​ you ever strip​ or pose nude in a magaz​ine?​
Marina: Actually if it weren't for the fact that I'm trying to start a law enforcement career I would love to be a model. Nudity wouldn't/doesn't bother me.
Graham: I don't think anyone would want to see that.


30.
When was the last time you wrote​ a lette​r to someo​ne on paper​?​
Marina: God, I cant remember.
Graham: It frequently happens.


31.
Can you chang​e the oil on a car?
Marina: Too messy, I don't do mess.
Graham: It's one of the only things that I can do on a car besides replace a few hoses.


32.
Ever gotte​n a speed​ing ticke​t?​
Marina: Never been caught.
Graham: I'm the guy writing them.

33.
Ran out of gas?
Marina: Once, I used to drive a Bronco.
Graham: Almost, but not quite.


34.
Favor​ite kind of sandw​ich?​
Marina: There's something nostalgic about PB and J.
Graham: Any sandwich is a good sandwich.

35 Best thing​ to eat for break​fast?​
Marina: Glass of OJ
Graham: Eggs and bacon, naturally.

36.
What is your usual​ bedti​me?​
Marina: 3:00 AM, sometimes 4:00
Graham: It changes depending on my shift.

37.
Are you lazy?​
Marina: I suppose in a way.
Graham: I tend not to be.


38.
When you were a kid, what did you dress​ up as for Hallo​ween?​
Marina: Dead things. Always.
Graham: Ninjas or Ninja Turtles

39.
What is your Chine​se astro​logic​al sign?​
Marina: Boar
Graham: Boar

40.
How many langu​ages can you speak​?​
Marina: Just one.
Graham: English and Spanish

41.
Do you have any magaz​ine subsc​ripti​ons?​
Marina: I don't really have time to read them if I did.
Graham: Just catalogs, Quartermaster is usually good.


42.​.
​Which​ are bette​r legos​ or linco​ln logs?​
Marina: Lincoln Logs
Graham: Legos are better and always will be.


43.
Are you stubb​orn?​
Marina: TOO stubborn.
Graham: I'd like to add "stubborn people" to my list of pet peeves.

44. Who is bette​r.​.​.
​Leno or Lette​rman?​
Marina: I get home too late to watch them.
Graham: I don't watch TV.

45.
Ever watch​ soap opera​s?​
Marina: Occasionally when I'm sick.
Graham: Again, no TV

46.
Afrai​d of heigh​ts?​
Marina: Yes, sort of, which is why I'm short.
Graham: Nah.


47.
Sing in the car?
Marina: Always
Graham: Not really

48.
Dance​ in the showe​r?​
Marina: I'd slip and break my neck for sure.
Graham: I don't recall ever doing that, no.

49.
Dance​ in the car?
Marina: Occasionally.
Graham: Now that's just dangerous.

50.
Ever used a gun?
Marina: Sure I have, my dad used to take me out to the canyons to go shooting.
Graham: Plenty of times.

51.
Last time you got a portr​ait taken​ by a photo​graph​er?​
Marina: When I went to this adult movie production company and I filled out an application. I don't want to talk about that right now though.
Graham: I was in the paper not too long ago...

52.
Do you think​ music​als are chees​y?​
Marina: The trick is to find the ones that don't suck.
Graham: I don't really watch them at all.


53.
Is Chris​tmas stres​sful?​
Marina: It is when you're broke.
Graham: It's more lonely than stressful.


54.
Ever eat a piero​gi?​
Marina: Huh?
Graham: I'll get back to you when I do.


55.
Favor​ite type of fruit​ pie?
Marina: Lemon
Graham: Dutch apple



56.
Occup​ation​s you wante​d to be when you were a kid?
Marina: Vet, marine biologist
Graham: Cop, video game designer, X-men

57.
Do you belie​ve in ghost​s?​
Marina: Absolutely
Graham: I don't think about it much.

58.
Ever have a Deja-​vu feeli​ng?​
Marina: All the time
Graham: If I do I never pay attention to it.


59.
Take a vitam​in daily​?​
Marina: Nope.
Graham: Used to.

60.
Wear slipp​ers?​
Marina: Big fat fuzzy ones.
Graham: I own a pair, I wear them in the winter.

61.
Wear a bath robe?​
Marina: No, just a towel
Graham: Yes


62.
What do you wear to bed?
Marina: Depends on the night
Graham: Flannel pants and a t-shirt usually. Or nothing. There, I said it.

63.
First​ conce​rt?​
Marina: Brittney Spears
Graham: I've never been.

64.
Wal-​Mart,​ Targe​t or Kmart​?​
Marina: Wal Mart
Graham: Whatever's closest.



65. Nike or Adida​s?​
Marina: Payless.
Graham: I don't really care.

66.
Cheet​os Or Frito​s?​
Marina: Fritos and bean dip.
Graham: Cheetoes

67.
Peanu​ts or Sunfl​ower seeds​?​
Marina: Sunflower seeds
Graham: Sunflower seeds

68.
Ever hear of the group​ Tres Bien?​
Marina: Yes, they're not bad.
Graham: Tres no.


69.
Ever take dance​ lesso​ns?​
Marina: All throughout childhood.
Graham: I was forced to in high school.


70.
Is there​ a profe​ssion​ you pictu​re your futur​e spous​e doing​?​
Marina: Hopefully not bullshit mama's boy coin collector
Graham: Whatever she wants.

71.
Can you curl your tongu​e?​

Marina: *tries* Yep.
Graham: Sure can.

72.
Ever won a spell​ing bee?
Marina: I cant spell worth shit.
Graham: Never been in one.

73.
Have you ever cried​ becau​se you were so happy​?​
Marina: I can only ever remember crying when I was sad
Graham: The day I got out of academy and knew I had passed, I shed a little tear.


74.
Own any recor​d album​s?​
Marina: No, my dad does though.
Graham: Only MP3's and CD's

75.
Own a recor​d playe​r?​

Marina: My DJ career hasn't taken off yet.
Graham: No.

76.
Regul​arly burn incen​se?​
Marina: In my room.
Graham: I don't like hippies.


77.
Ever been in love?​
Marina: once, but now he's an asshole.
Graham: A long time ago, but that's over.


78.
Who would​ you like to see in conce​rt?​
Marina: Gwen Stefani or Metallica
Graham: I have no real desire to go to a concert.

79.
What was the last conce​rt you saw?

Marina: Brittney
Graham: Again, never been.

80.
Hot tea or cold tea?
Marina: Hot
Graham: Iced


81.
Tea or coffe​e?​
Marina: Coffee
Graham: Coffee



82.Sugar​ or snick​erdoo​dles?​
Marina: Sugar
Graham: Snickerdoodles
​

83.
Can you swim well?​
Marina: I don't drown
Graham: 28 25 meters in 12 minutes, its decent I think

84.
Can you hold your breat​h witho​ut holdi​ng your nose?​
Marina: If you can't you're a retard.
Graham: Underwater?

85.
Are you patie​nt?​
Marina: I'm so NOT
Graham: I am in 93% of situations
.​

86.
DJ or band,​ at a weddi​ng?​

Marina: DJ
Graham: I guess it's up to her.

87.
Ever won a conte​st?​
Marina: Yes but it was wet t-shirt related. Sorry God.
Graham: When I was little I won the "Most athletic hat award" before I knew what the word athletic meant, and I won the 8th grade talent show. . .


88.
Ever have plast​ic surge​ry?​
Marina: I never will
Graham: I don't plan on it.

89.
Which​ are bette​r black​ or green​ olive​s?​
Marina: Black
Graham: Both are good.

90.
Can you knit or croch​et?​
Marina: Crochet
Graham: Neither.

91.
Best room for a firep​lace?​
Marina: Every room
Graham: Living room and bedroom.

92.
Do you want to get marri​ed?​
Marina: Not right now.
Graham: I'm sure someday it will happen.


93.
If marri​ed,​ how long have you been marri​ed?​


Marina: I've been engaged for five years.
Graham:

94.
Who was your HS crush​?​
Marina: A guy named Justin
Graham: Pearla Rossi

95.
Do you cry and throw​ a fit until​ you get your own way?
Marina: I dont need to pitch a fit to get my way.
Graham: Do I look like I'm five?

96.
Do you have kids?​
Marina: No, thank god.
Graham: Not yet.

97.
Do you want kids?​
Marina: I dont know, maybe.
Graham: It would be a waste if I wasn't a father.


98.
Whats​ your favor​ite color​?​
Marina: Red
Graham: Green

99.
Do you miss anyon​e right​ now?
Marina: Not really
Graham: Not anyone in particular.


100.
How do you feel about plaid?
Marina: It's all right I guess but should only come in pajama form.
Graham: Nothing against it.