OMG, I'm a WHAT?

A fun* Hump Day factoid for you:

The scientific name for a giraffe is giraffa camelopardalis.

By Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa (Awkward giraffe  Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

An old name for the giraffe is “camelopard." It seems ancient Greeks and Romans thought it was it was some sort of cross between a camel and a leopard. You know, because of the spots. You can read more about it at omg-facts.com, if you're interested.

Here ya go, this picture shows the resemblance a little better:

Image from http://www.omg-facts.com/Animals/Ancient-Romans-And-Greeks-Thought-That-T/36596

*backs away from screen* *tilts head* *squints* ...Yeah, I can see how those wacky ancient folks might've assumed some fast-talking badass leopard got it on with gullible camel. (Though, when you think of the logistics...nah, let's not go there.) I mean, these are the people who came up with the Minotaur--I don't guess they'd have a problem with a camelopard.

And with that bit of relatively useless trivia, I'll leave you. I need to don this...

...and then do it. (Heh-heh. I said "do it.")

But first, tell me, did you already know that about giraffes? 

Do you have any Fun Factoids you'd like to share? (The weirder the better, of course, but weirdness isn't a requirement.)


*Well, I think it's fun, anyway. Your mileage may vary.

A Very Happy Hump Day. AKA, Congrats to Susan Adrian!

Look at the smile on this guy!

By Braincricket (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

Why is this delightful dromedary so happy? Why because he knows my longtime friend and critique partner, Susan Adrian, sold her fabulous book, THE TUNNEL.

Here's the announcement from Publisher's Weekly:

In a second deal coming out of St. Martin’s Press this week, Brendan Deneen bought world English rights to Susan Adrian’s debut, The Tunnel. The YA thriller, which Kate Schafer Testerman at kt literary sold, is set for a summer 2014 release. In the novel, a teenage boy who has a power he calls tunneling—he can decipher where anyone in the world is (and what they’re doing) by holding something they own—is brought to the attention of the U.S. government. Adrian, a former ballerina, lives in Montana.

I can't begin to tell you how well-deserved this is. Not only is Suze a super CP, she is an amazing writer who has worked her posterior off for many years--a testament to persistence. As anyone in the book business knows, talent isn't enough to guarantee publication. Those damn stars have to align, too. And now they have. I couldn't be happier for her.

Or for the reading public in general, because they are going to LOVE this book!

Let's all join Suze in her happy dance!

Congratulations, Suzerooni. I'm so proud of you I could just bust!

Over the RT13 Hump!

I'm baaa-aack...

Boy, was it fun! And exhausting, as a lot of fun things tend to be.

Of course, the main reason I went to the RT Booklovers Convention was to touch base with (duh) booklovers by signing books at the Giant Book Fair. Here I am, sandwiched between award-winning Inspirational Romance writer Winnie Griggs and super-popular Molly Harper, author of the Nice Girls vampire series and the Naked Werewolf series:

(I'd like to say I was intentionally placed in such illustrious company because I'm worthy of it, but alas. Seats were assigned alphabetically, and I just lucked out.)

Notice how my new bff Molly and I both wore tres chic little red jackets. We were instinctively drawn to each other, and have since decided to collaborate on an erotic version of "Hansel and Gretel" (only not creepy, because our Hansel and Gretel would, of course, be all grown up and, yanno, not related). Stay tuned for further developments.*

The best thing about going to the convention is that I got to meet some of my online writer buds in person!

The wonderful Kerry Schafer (author of Between -- penguin Poe is my hero):

The adorable, fun, and talented Trisha Leigh (author of The Last Year series, which is super YA sci-fi), aka Lyla Payne (author of Broken at Love -- an oo-la-la tennis-themed romance):

The marvelous Jessica Lemmon (author of Tempting the Billionaire -- yum!):

Teri Anne Stanley (whose first book is coming out with Entangled Press next year -- you can find her on Facebook here):

The jauntily chapeau-ed Jeffe Kennedy (author of many delightfully, fan-yourself naughty books who turned me on to chocolate-covered bacon and potato chips):

And last but certainly not least, my awesome editor, Melissa Frain, who is way cuter than anyone so smart has a right to be:

Whew! All that excitement plum wore me out! I'm feeling an affinity for this guy:

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ha! Bet you thought I'd forget all about the Hump Day Camel, huh? No such luck. ;)

That's all for today. More about the conference later!

*Only don't hold your breath on that Hansel & Gretel thing, because I suspect Molly's hands might be rather full at the moment with her own projects. Plus, we may have just been BS-ing around between signing books. Or not. Hmm. Yo, Molly-girl! Buzz me when you can breathe and we'll talk!