Books with Buzz: 2010 Charlaine Harris Interview and Giveaway (Contest Closed)

By |2017-06-23T08:31:54-04:00May 3rd, 2010|Categories: Book news, Books with Buzz, Characters, giveaways, Reading|Tags: , , , |

USEDITFMay 4th is a big day for Sookie Stackhouse fans when Dead in the Family, the tenth book in the series is finally released.  And, to keep the good news coming, we’re also just a little more than a month away from the season three premiere of True Blood, the HBO series based on the books.  

In celebration of the coming Sookie-fest, Charlaine Harris was kind enough to take the time to answer a few of my questions about the book and the show.  We’ve also got five copies of the just released paperback edition of Dead and Gone, the 9th book in the series, to give away to lucky readers.  To enter for your chance to win, just comment to this post by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5th.

Would you […]

Read More
 34

True Blood: Season Two Out with a Whimper

By |2017-06-23T08:32:07-04:00September 15th, 2009|Categories: AAR afterhours blog, Sandy AAR, Television|Tags: , , |

truebloodfinale_1_gallery_primaryOnce they wrapped up the Fellowship of the Sun storyline, the season meandered pretty dramatically for me.

Crazy ass psycho bitch Sarah Newlin (acted to perky perfection) and dim bulb Jason just clicked and I loved the wry tone of the storyline.

The maenad, not so much.  Generally speaking, nice people acting mean isn’t a favorite plot device of mine (I always hated the vampire Willow episodes of Buffy) and there was just too much of it.  And, let’s face it, not enough Eric in the final episodes of the season.

[…]

Read More
 9

Sunday Night TV Wankdom: The Sandy Version

By |2017-06-23T08:32:08-04:00September 1st, 2009|Categories: AAR afterhours blog, Sandy AAR, Television|Tags: , |

don-draper-promo-picOn Sunday night I fell asleep during Mad Men.

This unprecedented occurrence is due to the fact that showrunner Matt Weiner seems to have permanently inserted his head up his ass.

In other words, I think he is putting a bit too much credence in his own press.

Do I hope that somehow, someway he will unwedge himself?  You bet I do.  But with meandering plots; strange, ham-handedly “meaningful” shots of nothing (what was up with Don’s hand at the May Day celebration); and a determined lack of focus on anything resembling a forward-moving plot, I’m becoming less and less optimistic.

Right now, the emperor has no clothes.   None.  (If things change after watching Sunday’s third episode, I will eat appropriate amounts of crow.)  Mad Men has always come dangerously close to being in the red on the precious meter, but this season it is beyond pretentious.  And I want my Don […]

Read More
 8

Who Are Your Favorite Bad Boys?

By |2017-06-23T08:32:12-04:00August 7th, 2009|Categories: Characters, Heroes, Reading, Romance reading|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Don DraperThey’re mad, bad, and dangerous to know.  And we couldn’t live without them.  (In fiction, that is.)

From the first moment I was introduced to prototypical Bad Boy Vidal in Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub, I’ve been a sucker for the Bad Boy mystique.  Though I recovered from my real life addiction (“tortured” used to be a positive guy descriptor for me in college), nothing fulfills my fantasies quite like a Bad Boy tempting a good woman.

My favorite Bad Boys?  Vidal was my first and will always hold a strong place in my heart.

I am currently swooning over Don Draper from TV’s Mad Men, early 60’s ad man extraordinare who has it all and nothing at the same time.  Men want to be him. Women want to sleep with him.  And he couldn’t be more lost and alone.  Hey, it works for me, baby.

Read More
 160

And It's TV Time!

By |2017-06-23T08:32:12-04:00July 31st, 2009|Categories: AAR afterhours blog, Sandy AAR, Television|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

14067855After the madness and nonstop action of RWA, it’s veg out time for me! Good thing a few of my favorite TV series (and guilty pleasures) are providing some excellent fodder for down time!

Could there have been a better time for Toddlers & Tiaras to make a reappearance?  Surely not, sister.  I love pursing my lips over those toxic moms. And my man Tony Bourdain?  Thanks, fella, for kicking it back in with terrific episodes – one of which takes place in none other than nearby Charm City.  I love his laconic charm.  His smart ass humor.  His smarts without the ass.  His ass without the smarts. And, gosh darn it, his all around magnificent Tony-ness!

And, of course, there are the myriad pleasures of True Blood which are pretty damn myriad at the moment.  You’ve got your pagan orgies!  And Sam with his shirt off!  […]

Read More
 7

True Blood Winners

By |2017-06-23T08:32:17-04:00June 5th, 2009|Categories: AAR afterhours blog, Contests, Sandy AAR, Television|Tags: , , |

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcYJAS5YBcg

Allison, Lisa, Carolyn Jewel, and Andrea2 are the lucky winners of the True Blood posters.  Thanks to everyone for entering.

Don’t forget:  Season two of True Blood premiers on HBO at 9 eastern time on Sunday, June 14th.  

Oh, and it’s Team Eric, two to one.

-Sandy AAR

 

Read More
 4

True Blood Poster Giveaway (Contest Now Closed)

By |2017-06-23T08:32:17-04:00June 1st, 2009|Categories: AAR afterhours blog, Contests, Sandy AAR, Television|Tags: , , , |

tb_season2_poster_004

I’ve got smokin’ hot Sookie and Bill season two posters courtesy of HBO to give away to four lucky winners.  All you need to do to enter for your chance to win is comment to this post by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, June 4.

And to make it just a little bit more fun, please tell us if you’re Team Bill, Eric, Sam – or any other supe you’re rooting for.

Winners will be selected at random and posted here on Friday morning.  So good luck and get posting!

As for me, I’m Team Eric all the way.

-Sandy AAR

Read More
 27

Squee Week Continues (The Alexander Skarsgard Version)

By |2017-06-23T08:32:17-04:00May 30th, 2009|Categories: AAR afterhours blog, Music, Pop Culture, Sandy AAR, Television|Tags: , , |

If you’re not into the Skarsgard love, feel free to just move along.  But if you are on board and haven’t seen the new Lady Gaga (I know, I know – regrettable) video that was “leaked” yesterday,  settle down and give yourself a little Saturday treat.  Because it is hot.  Seriously hot.  Of course, it would have been much hotter without Lady Gaga, but still, as pop videos go, this is a cool one.

And here’s a special little bonus for all True Blood and Eric Fans:

One thing more: If you’re a fan of the show, be sure to check this space on Monday.  Just sayin’.

-Sandy AAR

Read More
 19

Eating My Words (With a Large Side of Crow)

By |2017-06-23T08:32:18-04:00May 18th, 2009|Categories: Characters, Heroes, Romance reading|Tags: , , , , |

First of all, if you haven’t read Dead and Gone, the latest in Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series, and you have any intention of reading it ever in your lifetime, then stop reading this blog.

Seriously.

 I mean it.

If you’re still here, then I take it you have read the book and are prepared to consider just how seriously I might have miscalled it in my When the Hero You Want Isn’t the Hero She Gets post a few months ago.

Jumping the gun again, you say? (Surely not.)

 Well, okay, so I know that the door is still open for Bill and Sam or other possible supes and that Ms. Harris continues to keep us dangling, but I have done a total turn-around as to what I think the author’s intentions might be.

And, as the tag line for True Blood season two, […]

Read More
 10
...