Under and Over with Denise Rossetti

I’m not going to spoil your pleasure by dropping hints, but this is just wonderful. What wicked fun! Enjoy, my dears!

Sigh… They don’t make ‘em like they used to - or do they? Heh heh.

I’ve been obsessed with Leonard Cohen for years. Now I’m even more obsessed - because, you see, I went to his concert. OMG, it was an experience I’ll never forget.

Leonard’s  back on the road because he’s in deep doo-doos financially. Not his fault, either.  He’s 74 and he was FABULOUS! Hope I’m that spry at that age. He was professional, dignified, wryly humorous and he gave and gave and gave. It was a magic night.

When he walked on, the entire crowd simply rose as one and clapped and cheered and screamed. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to receive a welcome like that. And I’m pretty sure he’s had the same reception at every single venue. The man is the definition of the cliche “living legend”.

Was so funny. I have never in my life seen so many men with graying beards and hair down to their shoulders all gathered in one place at one time. It was like a convention of old hippies crossed with bikers.  I bet there were a stack of Harleys in the car pack. And any young people (there were quite a few)  were skinny and pale with one lock of hair hanging in the eyes, regardless of gender.

Leonard’s been part of my life since I first left home. All the way through university, career, kids and then writing. I like his music, his incredible gravelly voice,  just as much now as I did then. Like pretty well everyone else, I sang along, but very softly. The words are amazing, deep, moving, clever, wry. I could go on and on. He’s a true poet. And a gentleman, in every sense of the word.

The only downside is that, at 74, it’s not likely I’ll see him again. *sigh* It lent the whole evening such poignancy. A real once-in-a lifetime thing.

This video was taken at one of the Sydney concerts last month. It’s quite long. He sings I’m Your Man (love that song!)  and at the end, he switches to poetry - A Thousand Kisses Deep - spoken in that wonderful, sonorous rumble. Ah… Shivers up the spine. It starts around the 6 minute mark.

Are there musicians who do that to you - make all the hair stand up on the back of your neck?  And yes, I know Leonard Cohen is a cultivated taste. *smile*

BTW, if you’ve been concerned about me and mine in the bushfires and the floods, don’t be. We’re a long way away from either. Send your thoughts and prayers to those battling Nature and for those who’ve lost their loved ones. *shudder* Heartbreaking, awful stuff. More later, when I can bear it.

There’s been a lot of talk about Baz Luhrmann’s new movie, Australia.

A little while ago, when it first started gathering pace, I thought to myself, “Yep, might go see that one. What’s not to love? Hugh Jackman and David Wenham. Yeah!”

And then I read somewhere that the Drover (Jackman’s character) dies at the end.

That did it. Nope, wasn’t going. Nu-uh, no way. What a total waste of time and money, I thought, if there’s no Happy Ever After.

Next thing you know, Baz Luhrmann did some audience tests and changed the ending. The Drover survives.

I’ve changed my mind - sort of. I might go, I might not. Jury’s still out.

But it occurred to me how completely I didn’t want to see that movie unless the romance came right in the end. to the point that I thought I would have wasted my time if it didn’t. I had no idea I was so wedded to the lure of the HEA. It reminded me of the time I bought an m/m novella from an ebook publisher. I read all the way to the last page - where it finished unhappily ever after. I was outraged, truly. Insulted, disappointed, furious. If it hadn’t been an ebook I would have thrown it against the wall. I’d invested my feelings in the characters and the author had let me down.

What about you? Are you deeply invested in an HEA? How do you cope if there isn’t one? Does it spoil your reading/viewing pleasure?

It’s been such an extraordinary week that I’ve been desperate for distraction. I was definitely going NUTS! So I took myself off (all alone) to see Mama Mia.

It did the trick - in spades! I came out humming and dancing. I did the booty-wriggle all the way back to the car. It’s a mercy you weren’t there.

Honestly, is there anything Meryl Streep cannot do? I was gobsmacked. The woman can sing, really sing.

Which is more than I can say for Pierce Brosnan. I’ve seen his vocal performance in this movie described as reminiscent of a wounded water buffalo, but truly, that’s a tad cruel. It wasn’t quite as bad as that. Not, um, quite. Let’s just say as a singer, he makes a great James Bond.

What’s more, he did it all with a straight face. He must have been paid squillions.

Colin Firth was great - sang his own song and played his own guitar. In fact, there was an incredible amount of hairy chest all around. No problem.

Julie Walters and Christine Baranski as the best friends were so funny and out there. And the story actually worked with the songs. It was cleverly done.

I know critics  have not been kind, but honestly, I didn’t care. I wanted a “feel-good” time - and I got it! And as for that island! OMG, it was gorgeous. I want to live there while I write the great Australian novel. No, wait a sec - I want to live there while I write great erotic, drop-dead sexy novels.

I admit to having a couple of ABBA “greatest hits” albums. I play them when there’s housework I can no longer avoid. Bopping through the vacuuming does help.

Have you seen it? What did you think? Who did you go with? Was it better with a friend? And what about ABBA - could they write dance songs, or what?

I’ve only recently discovered The West Wing and I’m so completely absorbed in it, it’s a little alarming. Good grief, it’s good! And yes, I know I’m slow, okay? I’m only part of the way through Season 3 and I have to say, it gives me enormous pleasure to think there are seven seasons in total.

There are so many things I’m relishing about this show, but one of them is something that may not occur to you folks Over There. For an Aussie like me, who is not really familiar with the extraordinary complexities of the American political system, it’s a pretty painless way to learn. I’m fascinated by the wheeling and dealing, the checks and balances, the decision making, the lobbying, the polling, the strategising and spin-doctoring. Together with the whole Obama/Clinton race - which was actually, um, real - it’s proving to be quite an education.

Not long ago, I read a biography of Kevin Rudd, who is the recently elected (November last year) Prime Minister of Australia. At the time of publication, he was still only Opposition Leader, but - lo and behold! - the wheeling and dealing, the numbers game, was essentially the same. I can see it’s inevitable, the way politics works, the way politics has always worked, right from ancient times. I’m sure Pericles and Augustus had closed door meetings during which others in power, and those aspiring to it, asked the vital question - “If I give you my support, what’s in it for me/my people?”

The differences between the two offices, President and Prime Minister, are huge. (Not talking about incumbents here.) The office of PM here has the somewhat guarded respect of the nation, but the formality, the pomp, of the Oval Office is missing.

I’m not much of a political animal, I admit. I’m still left of centre, as I always have been, but sadly, I’m pretty cynical about the whole process these days. I do have a plot in my head for a contemporary romantic comedy though, set in the US somewhere and it requires the machinations of a corrupt Senator - also from somewhere. I wonder if I’ve learned enough from watching three seasons of The West Wing to write it? *snort* Scary thought, isn’t it?

Is politics an important part of your life, personally? Here in Australia, voting is compulsory, but I wouldn’t dream of not doing it anyway.

If you watched The West Wing, what did you like about it? Why do you think it rated so well with the American public? I love the tight writing (of course), the sharp, clever dialogue. In fact, all the characters are so very clever, aren’t they? The character development is great. I like CJ, though I imagine I would come up to her elegant knee. I also really enjoy Toby. Richard Schiff does a great job. And then there’s Leo, and Donna… Oh well, they’re all great.

One lucky commenter in June will win an autographed copy of A Red Hot New Year, four sizzling stories to ring in the New Year, including my contribution, Coming on Strong!

This post is about Stargate Atlantis. It’s also about losing my purse. Don’t see the connection? Read on, my friend…

Last week, I opened by bag and discovered my purse was missing, together with all the cards in it. You know that horrible feeling when your guts turn over? And your brain is filled with a long wail of disbelief and horror? “Oh, nooo-ooo!”

There’ s a happy ending, I hasten to add. I’d left it in the Post Office (because I’m an absent-minded idiot), but there was a whole night of terrible tension before I could find out for sure. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t settle to anything. It was awful.

What to do to take my mind off it?

I watched five episodes of Stargate Atlantis, back to back. And it worked a treat. By the time we’d beaten off yet another Wraith attack, I was so tired I could actually sleep. Thank heavens.

And yah boo sucks to the snobs who frown on escapism in reading and entertainment.

I LOVE SF/fantasy shows like Stargate. Don’t even get me started on Serenity/Firefly and its premature demise. Or the way Babylon 5 had to finish in a hurry. I was completely intrigued by the whole premise of Babylon 5. *sigh*

On the other hand, I’m very slow at catching up. I think I’ve said before, I watch very little TV. I did catch the original Stargate though and developed a close personal relationship with Daniel. What can I say? You all know I love intelligent geeky gorgeous men. So I’m only up to Season 2 of Atlantis. It’s kind of engaging, you know? First there’s Joe Flanigan playing John Sheppard. Excessively cute and he reminds me irresistibly of a young Harrison Ford, right down to his repertoire of handy-dandy expressions. See the photo above for a few of them.

I enjoy all the characters, especially Rodney McKay, who’s the Stargate version of Dr Smith in the old TV series of Lost in Space, and Teyla, the exotic warrior woman type. I like that she’s small and curvy and still hard-muscled and tough. It’s all very Boys’ Own Adventure crossed with space opera. And Beckett, the Scottish doctor - which makes a change from Chief Engineers. I keep expecting him to say, “I canna get more speed oota the medical hyperdrive, Cap’n.”

And of course, how can you go past the hubba-hubba addition of Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex? One of my writing buddies is so fixated on him, dreadlocks and all, that he’s the model for her current hero. There were loads of pics of him in costume, but I thought you’d prefer this one. He’s definitely gorgeous, but he’s also unusual, with those light eyes and dark skin tones and the dreads into the bargain. I think he’s Hawaiian. And he’s big - boy, is he a biiiig guy! He carries off the casual violence of the Ronon character very well and he looks like he’s enjoying himself.

What do you watch when you need an escape from daily reality? Have you ever been in a situation where book/movies saved your sanity and helped you get through?

Do you like SF/fantasy shows? Go ahead - a fangirl squee is completely acceptable on this blog. Do you like Stargate? BTW - no spoilers, please! I still have a way to go. Not to mention, I’ve only just discovered the West Wing. Blown away, but that’s a subject for another post.

Don’t forget - every month there’s a chance to win everything droolworthy - Tim Tams and hunkalicious postcards - including Mr Gorgeous . Check the Current Contest page and keep the comments coming!

Okeydoke, who pushes your buttons, hmm? Many authors put up photos of actors or models as inspiration for their characters when they’re writing. I never do that - I can’t. I have to admit, when readers ask which actors I think could play my characters, I have to say I simply…cannot. There’s something about trying to put a real face to my imaginings that brings me right down. It destroys the magic of the perfect fantasy.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t don’t use bits of people, just bits. Trey’s (GIFT OF THE GODDESS) beautiful red-gold colouring was inspired by a gorgeous girl modelling sexy lingerie in a magazine. Surprised? She had the most glorious hair and skin. Then I added a dash of David Wenham, just for me. (An Aussie actor, he was Faramir in Lord of the Rings and he’s worth a whole post all by himself. The Thinking Woman’s Crumpet. *sigh*)
But there isn’t a man in the world beautiful enough to measure up to my mental image of Jan, let alone Mirry.

Have a look at this selection (not mine) and tell me what you think. Mind you, I adore Johnny Depp, but that’s as much for the person he is as for the looks. He’s just so interesting, you know? In a totally cerebral kinda way. (And I have a bridge to sell you.)

Johnny Depp and Pierce Brosnan make Romantic Novelists’ hearts throb

Members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association have voted Johnny Depp as the
Number One Perfect Romantic Hero in a poll to mark Valentine’s Day.
According to these authors, a romantic hero should be gorgeous, deliciously sexy, intensely masculine and have a commanding presence.

‘We should be qualified to judge,’ one writer commented. ‘After all, we
create these heroes on paper every day.’

The top ten male celebrities voted the Perfect Romantic Hero were:

1. Johnny Depp

2. Daniel Craig

3. Sean Bean

4. Richard Armitage

5. Hugh Jackman

6. Colin Firth

7. Alan Rickman

8. Pierce Brosnan

9. George Clooney

10. David Tennant

A second poll, taken by members of the RNA bravely admitting to being ‘over a certain age’, voted for male celebrities over fifty who’ve ’still got it’. Remarkable for his appearance on both polls, Pierce Brosnan took the crownfor the over fifties by a huge margin.

The top ten Over-Fifty Perfect Romantic Heroes were:

1. Pierce Brosnan

2. Harrison Ford

3. Ranulph Fiennes

4. Bill Nighy

5. Liam Neeson

6. Sam Neill

7. Sean Connery

8. Peter O’Toole

9. Clint Eastwood

10. Omar Sharif

What do you think? Did they leave anyone out?

PS You only need to look at the pictures to see who does it for me!

Don’t forget - every month there’s a chance to win everything droolworthy - Tim Tams and hunkalicious postcards. Check the Current Contest page and keep the comments coming!