The Strumpet has struck again. Stacia's erotic writing tips, segment 21 entitled Sex: It's Not Just For Bed, reminds us that when the mood strikes it doesn't matter where you are. Adventure comes in many forms in a novel so why shouldn't for the lovin'?

Caitlin Kittredge is guest blogging at How To Get Tour Novel Published. She's throwing some insider info on the Hunting of an Agent. Any and all tips are always welcomed!

Urban Fantasy Land posted some secrets (shhh) on writing thanks to Jocelynn Drake, Write To Done, and IO9

According to Superherohype, DreamWorks is working on an animated flick titled MasterMind, about a supervillain looking for his motivation after snuffing his arch rival at the beginning of the flick. Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey are in negatiations to cast.

It's out. It's official. It's on the shelves at a bookstore near you. Caitlin Kittredge's Pure Blood, book 2 of the Nocturne series is available and ready to be read. If you enjoy sassy cops/ werewolves, witchcraft, and a good fight pick up this series!

Amberkatze interviewed Caitlin Kittredge, author of Night Life and Pure Blood. She's offering up a signed copy of each to a lucky poster that clues her in on what books they loved as a kid.

So why am I telling you this since it would skew my chances at snagging both books? Because I've read Night Life and have to say that it was a smart, sexy ride. It had plenty of hard-ass cop bravado, bad boy brooding, witches and weres (which was a delightful combination), and nasty demons lurking in the wings to make it a great read. Pure Blood is on my TBP (To Be Purchased) list on my next trip to Borders but signed copies would be sweet!

Drop Amber a line. The books are more then worth it!

This just : Superherohype linked up to an article from the WSJ about Time/ Warner's decision to reboot the Superman franchise by exploring the "Darker Nature" of his character.

WTF? Excuse me for talking out of turn but they're basing their decision on the draw to the Dark Knight. Yes, TDK was a wonderful film, about a dark brooding character. It was masterfully produced, directed, casted, written, and all all levels filmed but already about a dark charcacter. Batman is that lonely vigil of justice gone to the extreme. He's supposed to be dark. We're supposed to wonder how far he will go, how far over the edge he'll take his fight. Conversely, Superman is the beacon of hope; the ulitmate Boyscout.

That's part of the problem with selling Superman. People want dark heroes. They want a Punisher that is kill happy. They want Wolverine popping his claws to tear apart the bad guys. We're not a blood-thirsty pack of rabid dogs but having that hero who isn't afraid to take it to the edge does have it's appeal. Hell, when Bond loses it we all cheer because we know that the bad guys are screwed.

But with Superman he brings a different side to the element. He flies above the grit and grime. He shines when we hide from the darkness that prevails in our lives. He picks us up and tells us that everything will be okay and we believe it because he's a pillar - the pillar - of hope. To spend a movie following his "darker" side feels like pandering for cash.

IMHO, some of the greatest Superman stories came from the Justice League cartoons that played on Cartoon Network. I can recall when Supes finally had it, when everyone was ready to quit, when the world was about to fall apart he would step forward and sacrifice it all to stop the insanity. He willingly paid the ultimate price and it would bring a tear to my eye. There wasn't anything dark about that but it sold me. There was even a episode when he battled Darkseid, the ultimate in evil, and Supes told him how he finally was able to let it go. How he held back in every fight because the world around him was like a cardboard cut out and he feared breaking things but now, he could go all out and lay into the bad guy without fear. That was as dark as he got and it was wonderful!

Hopefully, Warner Bros. will take a look at Mark Millar who has been pushing for a wonderfully epic reboot of the big red S, one that might have darker overtones but in the end shines like a summer sun. Hopefullly they won't fall for senseless pandering and drop another boom on us.

BTW - As much as I loved Singer's X-Men, especially number 2, his homage to the original Superman movies lacked any bite. At times they were silly. I expected such greatness from him, as I do with the Caped Wonder but alas it fell short.

The gang at Urban Fantasy Land posted this. Lilith Saintcrow is offering a serialized novel, Selene, on line. She'll be posting it as a blog on regular intervals for all to read. If you haven't sampled her work yet this is a good chance to get to know her. But, as she and others advised, it contains adult content.

One thing she tagged on the header page that struck me was her reminder that as cool a deal as this is (who can not love free reading material?) don't stop heading out to the local book store and purchase a print book. I mean, what can beat getting up before the clan, brewing a steaming cup of java and curling up in your favorite chair with a fresh-from-the-rack book? I start nearly every weekend that way. We support our favorite authors and keep the bookstores open with our greenbacks. Don't stop!

I caught this nugget at UFL, which they nabbed from Boing Boing (thank you both for posting this!).

There's been a certain anonomity to writers. Yes, there are many popular authors that people can pick out of a crowd but were talking about less then a dozen faces to the average person. For the most part a writer is an invisible force behind their work. They can enjoy trips to the grocery store without getting pummeled be adoring fans and tabliod hacks looking for their next meal in the writer's misteps.

But according to the post, Random House is asking its Young Adult authors to sign a clause allowing the publoshing house to strip the author of their advance and cancel their book if said author were to act in a manner not becoming of the quality of people Random House chooses to employee.

Mind you, I can understand their position seeing how the YA market is a ripe field and many kids spend millions of dollars to nab the latest Harry Potter or Twilight or so many other popular books with a younger crowd as its perscribed audience. And with the extent of exploitation and abuse of children hogging up air time on every major news network, you know that we have a national crisis flooding our great country.

I can see why RH would want to cover their tracks if one of their authors were to get caught in a child porn ring or as part owner of a pre-teen slave labor operation. It would be damaging to the company and bruise the image set forth. Companies already have general employment clauses such as that for their hourly/ salary employees. Any conduct unbecoming of a companies prime mission statement and general atmosphere can lead towards immediate termination. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the authors were hit with the same burden of responsiblity.

But how far are they going to push this? If an author were to get caught having one-too many at a party and stumble out into a crowd, will that bring down the wrath of RH. Where do they draw the line? I can see if there's a public outcry that would damage business. I can see if some event occured that caused a backlash. They'd have every right. BUt what if the execs decide that an author in question isn't performing up to their standards or their antics might be misinterpreted. Will they cancel a potential bread winner "just in case"?

Time will only tell if this was a knee-jerk reaction or a slippery slope about to blow up in the face of the writing community.

Sidenote: I'd forgotten about this. It could have addded fuel to the fire.

Stacia Kane, the wonderfully talented lass behind Personal Demons nailed a three-book deal with Del Rey. Her forthcoming urban fantasy is titled Unholy Ghosts, something her husband described as "Ghostbusters meets Escape From New York".

Read her post. Read a little taste of what's to come then start stalking your bookstores. I am!

Got yer attention? Good. I had to post this for kicks. Sometimes you need to let go of reality and laugh the BS away. And Spongebob does it for me. This is a compilation of an episode titled Sailor Mouth that left me crying after the first time I watched it. Hope you like.

There's been a lot happening around the community and hopefully you've been able to keep up with it but in case reality has bunged up your fantasy:

Sidhe's got some info on Jennifer Rardin, Adrian Phoenix, and others in the commuinity.

Amberkatze dropped her latest lowdown, a contest reminder, and invites to the reading community Goodreads.

And the gang at Urban Fantasy Land have the bestseller's list along with a shot of Mario Acevedo's newest book: Jailbait Zombie.

I'm going double-duty today because I just found this over at UFL. There are some excellent links for writers here and I suggest you read them all if you're an aspiring scribbler much like myself. and enjoy the video on the magical merriment of the Submission Process. It's pure poetry.

In my lust for the TV show Heroes, and wild agnst at the long summer wait for the new season, I felt like sharing some of what NBC.com has to offer anyone who ever enjoyed - or would like to enjoy - Heroes.

I statred with Hiro Nakamura because he exeplifies that bright enthusiasm of youth and discovery. He's the sliver lining in the series rain cloud.

Amber pinned down auther Jocelynn Drake about her novel Nightwalker, a Paranormal Urban Fantasy. Along with the interview Amber is giving away a copy of the book to one lucky poster. Go on and read it... you know you want to!

As reported by Box Office Mojo, todays estimates make the Dark Knight the #3 all-time grossing flick domestically. Judging the way this steamroller keeps taking in sales it will hit the #2 spot before next Sunday. It also held its fourth straight weekend as the top grossing flick currently in theaters, beating out Pineapple Express by a few million.

It has a long road ahead of it if they think they can top Titanic which earned over $600 million domestically and over $1.8 billion worldwide. Damned impressive figures but the Dark Knight is no slouch. Time will tell in a couple of months but either way "Woo-Hoo" for a powerful sequel!

I'm totally geeking out but what do you expect. Heroes starts back up on 9/22 and after numerous promises from the creative team that they understand the season 2 direction was less then sterling (though the end of the season picked back up as a heart-felt apology!) season 3 is looking to be a ball buster!!

Here's a tease that I'm sure many have already seen. But what the hell... I love Heroes!!!