It’s the Year of the Dragon in more ways than one.

Monday marked the beginning of Chinese New Year, a 15-day celebration that ushers in the next lunar year. According to the Chinese zodiac, every year is symbolized by one of 12 animals and 2012 is the year of the dragon. The dragon is legendary in Chinese folklore, and those born during dragon years are supposedly powerful, innovative, brave, and passionate. The year of the dragon is said to be the luckiest.

After going to the movies last weekend, I’m convinced it will be the year of the dragon at this year’s Oscars as well. On Wednesday, newbie actress Rooney Mara was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. To say she did a good job in the role of the Lisbeth Salander would be a massive understatement. The character of Lisbeth shows a spectrum of emotions: she’s tough and vulnerable, angry and kind, terrified and brave. And it all comes through on the screen. Mara’s performance was riveting in every moment–and for a two-hour-forty-minute movie that is saying a lot. Set in icy Sweden, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo received a total of five Oscar nominations, including Best Cinematography.

You have to go see it.

You really, really have to go see it, especially if you liked the book. Fair warning, though, there are some very graphic scenes.

Personally, I loved the book, which was written by Stieg Larsson. The Swedish author died before the book was published and never got to see his Millennium Trilogy sell 65 million copies and sit atop the bestseller lists for years. What’s the appeal with these novels? I thought Dragon Tattoo was fresh, suspenseful, edgy, and hard to predict.

Typically when I fall in love with a book, I end up disappointed by the movie, but that wasn’t the case this time. If anything, the movie–which had me gasping, cheering, and (at some points) covering my eyes–was even more impressive than the novel.

To win the Oscar, 26-year-old Rooney Mara will have to beat out Meryl Streep, who has been nominated for 17 Academy Awards. I think she can do it. Have you seen the movie? What do you think?

As a die-hard book lover, I want to take a moment to cheer for the fact that six of this year’s nine Oscar nominees for Best Picture came from books: The Descendants, Hugo,The Help, Moneyball, War Horse and Extremely Loud & IncrediblyClose. Isn’t that cool? I haven’t seen all these films, but I’m going to try to check all of them off my list by the awards show on February 26.

Do you have any favorite books that were made into movies? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Anyone who leaves a comment is eligible to win a $10 Starbucks card and a signed copy of my latest book, SNAPPED.

Sometimes you just can’t help eavesdropping  in the checkout line at the supermarket.  Yesterday I overheard a woman saying she was ready for 2012 and wanted to press Delete on 2011.

It’s a sentiment I’ve heard before… Wouldn’t it be nice to just erase a difficult time from existence? But I’m not sure I buy into the idea. Looking back on some of the rough patches in my life, I usually see some sort of silver lining (even if it takes years to see it). What do you think as you look back on 2011? Do you want to hit Delete, or did the year bring some happy milestones?

This year I have the honor of writing MSW’s last blog of 2011, so I thought it might be an appropriate time to reflect. It’s been a tumultuous year, in many respects. Who will forget the terrifying images of the tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people in Japan?  Or images of protesters gathering in countries across the Middle East? Or crowds cheering the news of Osama bin Laden’s death? Or the throng of wannabe spectators lining up to witness the Casey Anthony trial? For me, the most heartwarming sight on the news was footage of so many soldiers coming home from war and being welcomed by eager spouses and children.

This year brought some interesting developments in popular culture as well. We have Charlie Sheen to thank for adding the phrase, “Duh…winning!” to the American lexicon. And then there was the royal wedding in Britain, watched by millions around the globe. Notable passings this year include Steve Jobs, Christopher Hitchens, and Elizabeth Taylor–just to name a few.

On a more personal note, we’ve had some ups and downs this year. Wildfires devasted so many homes here in central Texas. And I know far too many people who spent the year dealing with cancer and disease.

But there have been happy milestones, too, and experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything… welcoming a new baby into the family, visiting relatives from overseas, a family vacation in Yellowstone Park that I know I’ll never forget.

What about you? Any personal milestones this year? Does 2011 go down as a year where you’d like to hit Rewind or Delete?

Anyone who shares a comment is eligible to win a  $10 Starbucks card and a signed copy of my latest book SNAPPED.

Happy New Year!

I’ve been moved this week by all the news coverage of troops coming home in time for the holidays.

I haven’t ever had a close relative deployed over Christmas, and I can only imagine how hard it is for families to go about their holiday festivities with that worry weighing on their minds. In Austin, we’ve been watching footage of all the soldiers returning to Fort Hood, all the tearful spouses and children welcoming them with open arms. I watch these reunions with a lump in my throat. It’s such a joyous thing when those kids get to welcome their moms and dads back, but the cameras only capture those first moments, and many of these people have difficult transitions ahead as they adjust to life back at home.

Millions of people are going to spend the next week in trains, planes, and automobiles in a determined effort to reach their loved ones for the holidays. Because that’s the point, isn’t it? Sometimes when I get caught up in all the shopping and wrapping and cooking and more shopping, I have to stop and remind myself that the holidays are about people, not stuff. And that even if I don’t manage to make grandma’s coffee cake just right (possible) or I overcook the roast (probable) or the Christmas lights short out (already happened) the holidays are still a success as long as I’m with the people I care about.

So… that brings me to Mariah Carey–that 90s diva whose sappy Christmas album was astonishingly popular with men and boys worldwide (I think it had something to do with the Santa suit)… Here’s a link I saw on Twitter of her lovely “All I Want for Christmas” performed by the servicemen and women aboard the HMS Ocean. You can tell these Brits really want to get home!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZcGz4vmJc

Is there someone YOU can’t wait to see this Christmas? Or maybe a tradition you’re looking forward to?

I’m giving away stocking stuffers today! Anyone who leaves a comment is eligible to win. I’m giving away a $10 gift card to Starbucks and three signed copies of my latest release, SNAPPED.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

It’s that special time again. Deadline week, also known in my house as The Crunch.

I’m finishing up the sixth book in my Tracers series, and after finally writing “THE END” today (Yay!) I must tell you I’ve got very little fuel left in the tank. So I thought I’d share with you a top ten list, followed by a giveaway. Enjoy!

Top Ten Signs That the Author You Know Is in CRUNCH MODE

1.  She blinks at bright lights when she enters a room.

2.  You’ve been informed that Halloween candy is temporarily considered a food group.

3.  She sits down to write a check and asks you what month it is.

4.  Baskets of dirty laundry block the route to the back door… and you know better than to ask about them.

5.  The grocery list has been edited with proofreader’s marks.

6.  Dominos Pizza is on speed dial.

7.  She left for Starbucks with a three-pound thesaurus stuffed in her purse.

8.  By 9 p.m. your favorite reality TV show is beyond her mental capacity.

9.  The lines have blurred between sleepwear and appropriate grocery store attire.

10.  You find her sitting at her computer weeping because two people you don’t know “finally got their HEA!” (whatever that is).

Cleaning out the office after crunch mode...

What are the signs that someone in your home is going through a major crunch time? Leave a comment about anything at all and be eligible to win a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my latest book SNAPPED.

Have a great weekend!

I’m coming out of the writing cave not only to write this blog, but to get on an airplane.

Wow! I’m ready. I’ve spent far too many days and nights lately glued to my computer finishing a book–the sixth addition to my Tracers series. I’ve been so nose-to-the-grindstone that the other day I went to fetch the carpool in house slippers, much to the embarassment of the carpoolees.

But it’s time to emerge from the cave and blink at the sunlight. I hope it will be sunny in New Jersey, where I’m headed for the NJRW Put Your Heart in a Book Conference. This feels well-timed, because for weeks and weeks now I’ve done nothing, it seems, but put my heart into MY book and it’s time for a break!

Friday afternoon I’ll be giving a workshop entitled HOW TO MAKE ANY BOOK A PAGE TURNER. I enjoy giving this talk because I believe it has something for everyone who wants to be a writer. I love all sorts of books in many different genres, and I firmly believe that it’s the writer’s job to engage the reader from page one and keep her turning the pages throughout, even if the book isn’t a thriller or a whodunit.

Some of my favorite page-turners include historical romances (FLOWERS FROM THE STORM by Laura Kinsale), thrillers (THE KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child), literary fiction (THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger. On the romance front, I always love Suzanne Brockmann (OUT OF CONTROL is one of my favorites). The talented Ms. Brockmann will be speaking at the conference this weekend, so I’m looking forward to hearing what wonderful pearls of wisdom she has for us.

What are some of your favorite page-turners?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of any book in my Tracers series (your choice!). And have a terrific weekend!