Category Archives: Pop Culture

A Few Updates

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Egads! I’m in a race against time to finish my current manuscript, so I’ve been lax about blogging. Only so many words I can crank out in one day, unfortunately.  Good news is, for those of you who’ve volunteered to beta read for me, I’ll be emailing you in a couple of weeks with a first draft of the historical paranormal romance. I’m rather pleased with it so far. Okay, okay—I absolutely freakin’ love it, but verdict’s out whether you will . . . *cue dramatic music*

Once I’m finished, I’ll be heading straight into writing BINDING THE SHADOWS—Arcadia 3. I’m super, SUPER excited about writing this one, as it’s all plotted and will be a major game changer for Cady. Immediately upon finishing that, I’ll be writing the Arcadia short, which is tentatively scheduled to drop this winter. So I’ve got my hands full for the next few months.

On top of all that, I’m also getting ready to launch a new website design and creating artwork for a new set of Arcadia trading cards.

Next month I’ll start gearing up for a SUMMONING THE NIGHT blog tour. If you’re a book blogger and would like to be added as a tour stop (interviews/guest blogs/giveaways/eARC review) please use the contact form on my site or shoot me an email: jenn at jennbennett dot net. I’ve already booked quite a few dates in late April, but have some slots open in early May. I’ve already got a handful of guest blogs and interview questions piling up in my inbox.

Whew! Just thinking about all of this is making me exhausted. So I’ll leave you with a 34 second commercial starring three men who can join my male harem any flippin’ day: Adrien Brody, Gael García Bernal, and André 3000. Because, as I keep telling you, MUSTACHES ARE COOL. Point proven:

 

 

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Figgy Pudding

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Oh, those Germans. If you were a naughty child and St. Nick didn't leave candy in your shoes, Krampus would take you away. Love the horns. I should've given Lon a tongue like that . . .

I love eccentric holiday food traditions. Having spent half my early childhood in Germany, I once associated the holidays with Saint Nicholas, who left hollow chocolate snowmen, oranges, and Haribo candy in my shoes on December 6th. I also looked forward to old-fashioned Christmas sweets like raisin-laced Stollen bread and Pfeffernusse.

Since then I’ve lived and traveled all over the states, and have amassed an eclectic collection of less-traditional holiday food memories: pigging out on cheapo Swiss Colony petit fours and Hickory Farms sausage in the midwest, snacking on enormous roasted Virginia peanuts in the DC Metro area, consuming Aplets & Cotlets fruit candies in Seattle, and dining on Tasty Goody Chinese fast food in Southern California (it was the only thing open in town on Christmas Day).

For the last few years, my husband and I have lived closer to our families, so we’ve been partaking in a sacred spaghetti dinner at his parents’ home on Christmas Eve. And someone will have made spicy cheese straws. Hopefully. I love those things. But Christmas Day we’ll be spending alone and cooking up a classic British feast of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for two. Yummmm. (Nothing says happy holidays quite like bloody beef!)

Anyone else have foods that they can’t live without during the holidays?

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Tiki Mug of the Week: Vintage Mr. Bali Hai

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Bali Hai is a tiki restaurant in San Diego that’s been around since the 50s. From the Bennett tiki mug collection, here is Mr. Bali Hai, the restaurant’s mascot. We don’t really know the exact year ours was made, but we’re fairly certain that it’s from the 50s or 60s (because of the concave base). If you find yourself in San Diego, you should check this place out and let me know if the drinks are any good. My literary agent lives there. So hey, Laura: if you’re reading this, next time I’m in town, you should totally take me here for a Mai Tai lunch!

 

Mr. Bali Hai mug

Bottom of mug

Bali Hai matchbook cover from the 60s

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You think *that’s* funny?

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*(crossposted at Bradford Bunch blog)

I like to laugh, but humor is rarely universal, nor timeless. One person’s side stitch is another’s head scratch.

Let’s pretend we’re on a blind date. You naturally want to know more about me. I could tell you about my family, places I’ve lived…my favorite color. But if you really want to get a quick-and-dirty snapshot of me, then you might ask me this: what are your top ten favorite television comedies? Are you asking? All righty then…

mighty_boosharrested

10. Spaced: Where we all met Simon Pegg before Shaun of the Dead, and Edgar Wright before Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Took homage to a new level.
9. Curb Your Enthusiasm: I view this as an extension of Seinfeld, which I love, only BIGGER. Love the shock value and cringe-producing moments.
8. The Addams Family: Absurd, bizarre, dark, subversive (and The Munsters was just silly).
7. The Mighty Boosh: Psychedelic madness and silliness. Did I mention the crimping? Calm a llama down!
6. The Young Ones: I’m a fan of all the British Alternative Comedy shows from the 80s (& offshoots)—Blackadder, Comic Strip Presents, Ab Fab. But growing up with this show on repeat every week clinches it for me.
5. The Office (UK & US): Where the US version has managed to spread out the funny by exploring a larger pool of characters and situations, the original UK version condensed its painfully awkward hilarity into twelve pitch-perfect episodes. Both are brilliant.
4. The Daily Show: Jon Stewart is my hero because he’s whipsmart, self-deprecating, and can beat you up with words. So hot.
3. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Despicable, stupid people doing horrible things to each other. What’s not to love? Sidesplittingly hilarious. I’ll have the milksteak, boiled over hard, and your finest jellybeans, raw.
2. I Love Lucy: Lucy was sneaky, rebellious, stubborn, creative, cocky, flawed, AND beautiful. Comedy perfection.
1. Arrested Development: This show has made me laugh more than any other show. Period.
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