Happy Birthday, Donna!

Not sure what you'd like for your birthday this year, Donna, but since it's Benji week here at the CBEB, I think a little Ben Godfre is in order!
















This has always been one of my favorite pics of the boy. If there was ever a predatory look in any man's eyes, this is it, and it's the one that made me think he might make a good Zetithian someday. LOL! He's even wearing tiger-striped undies!



























Not all guys have what it takes. For example, our dear Mr. Romance, Charles Paz is a great guy with a great bod, but he just doesn't fit the cat-man profile. When I think sleek and muscular with fluid movements, I don't think of Arnold Schwarzenegger, either. The body-builder type is not in any way like a cat.






















This guy isn't bad, and while I do like the tattoo on his left arm, (which is the type I envision for the Dax character in Virgin), the one on his right arm is just a little too busy. Nor does he have Zetithian-sized equipment. This is where the imagination comes in. In creating fictional characters, you have to combine physical characteristics from several different men and the personality of yet another. When I say a character is based on a certain person, there may only be one or two aspects of that individual that I actually use. The fact that he likes to sit naked on bar stools may not be one of them!



























In any case, Enjoy the day!

Friday's Cowboy Hunk and RT Day Two!

There are a bajillion pics in this post, so it might take a while to load, but so much happened today, I hate to leave anything out!

Our day began with a morning mixer hosted by the mystery writers, but I had to leave after I ate my bagel and yogurt to go to the Sourcebooks Spotlight. Turns out my editor didn't know I was coming, and didn't realize that was me sitting out there in the audience until she came to my books in her powerpoint presentation and Judi Fennell pointed me out to her. Then she put on her glasses and said, "That IS you! I thought we had a Cheryl Brooks lookalike sitting out there."

After the presentation, she took us to out for coffee (I had herbal tea) and we talked for a bit until it was time to leave and go to lunch at Schmidt's restaurant for lunch with the Ohio chapter of RWA. Caroline (my roomie) had been invited and was told she could bring a friend. The food was great, but guess who else was there???



























That's right! Charles Paz! After took a group picture with him, during which I suggested that Charles needed to lose the shirt (which he did not do! *heavy sigh*) I asked Charles for a picture of him by himself. Another lady offered to take a picture of us together, but I already had one like that. Just wanted Charles all by his lonesome and he was happy to oblige. He had some prints, too, and I got one signed, which I will scan in and post when I get home.

On the way out, Caroline and I took pictures of each other as little German girls.



























Being a blonde, she looked the part more than I did, but it was great fun.



























Then it was back to the conference for more workshops. One was an agent panel, which was very interesting, and the other was a publicity agency's presentation.

I went looking for a T-shirt for Sam after that, but didn't find one, so it was back to the room to rest up (and blog!) and get ready for the Fairy Ball and dinner which started at 8:30. Caroline relaxed, reading a book and eating chocolate, while I blogged,





















and then I just had to take this picture of the smoke stack outside our window. Kinda looks like the Whopping Weasel to end all Whopping Weasels, doesn't it?





















The Fairy Ball was quite an event. We had steak for dinner and hunks for dessert! LOL! Not really. Caroline looked quite lovely. I loaned her my lace shawl for the evening, and I'm glad I did. She was cold and I was quite toasty, aside from the fact that eating dinner with lace cuffs is a real challenge!



























The headpiece was great, Donna. I was complemented more than once on it and was very proud to say that one of my readers had loaned it to me. Thanks again!



























I should probably do a separate post for some of these other pictures. There were so many great costumes, but this one was one of the most interesting of all.



























And now, on with the Cowboy parade!

This one almost looks like he could be a real cowboy.... almost.....























This one I'm not so sure about.



























And I have some serious doubts about these guys!



























Enjoy your Friday!