The weather may be cooling ...

by Anna Sugden

... but September is a hot, hot, hot month here in the Bandits' Lair! (And I'm not talking about cute cabana boys, sexy Romans or yummy hockey hunks ... okay, we'll include them too LOL)

We have at least two exciting Bandita book launch parties (you know what fun they are!)and a fabulous line-up of special guests. Plus, an insider's view from the spectacular Dragon*Con.

Let's kick off then with two important dates for your diary: Lair Launch Party Dates!

Jump into your gondolas and hang onto your oars! We'll be having an extra rowdy party in the Lair on September 4th as Aunty Cindy celebrates the launch of her second romantic suspense, The Treasures of Venice. The Cabana boys will be dressed as gondoliers and there will be plenty of cyber-bubbly, treats, a treasure hunt, and plenty of real-life prizes! Don't miss the fun!


Then, on September 14th, we get to party to celebrate the release of another awesome Tawny Weber book, Feels Like the First Time! Go to her website http://www.tawnyweber.com/ to see her wonderful new trailer.


September is chock full of wonderful guests, some new to the Lair and several returning favourites.

On September 2nd, hilarious Regency writer Janet Mullany (http://www.janetmullany.com/) talks to Anna Campbell about her wonderful new release A Most Lamentable Comedy.



Get out your shape-shifting gear on September 3rd, because Pamela Palmer (www.pamelapalmer.net) is here to talk to Anna Campbell about her fabulous series The Feral Warriors. (pause to drool over that cover!)

On September 6th, another Lair favourite returns. Claudia Dain will be dishing on her latest sexy, lush and incredibly witty book, How to Dazzle a Duke. Check out the awesome book trailer on her website: http://www.claudiadain.com/.



Anna Campbell's great run of guests continues on September 7th, when she hosts fabulous Silhouette Desire author Bronwyn Jameson (http://www.bronwynjameson.com/) who will talk about her newest release The Magnate's Make-Believe Mistress.

On September 12th, debut author Leanna Renee Hieber's Strangely Beautiful Haunted London Blog Tour and Book Giveaway rolls into the Bandita's Lair!
(http://www.leannareneehieber.com/haunted-london-blog-tour-book-giveaway/) This celebrates the launch of her novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker.


We welcome back another Lair favourite, MJ Fredrick on September 15th. She will be talking about her new release from Samhain, Beneath the Surface.


Join us on September 16th, as Harlequin SuperRomance author Kay Stockham discusses her latest book, Simon Says Mommy, in which a sexy surgeon plays doctor ... um, host to his newly adopted son's nanny. But, will her ex-husband ruin their happy-ever-after?


We'll have exciting coverage of Dragon*Con on September 19th, thanks to Trish, Nancy and Tanya Michaels - our reporters on the spot. Dragon*Con is a huge, multi-media popular culture convention in Atlanta that focuses on science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film. It's held Labor Day weekend each year. You have to see it to believe it - and the gals have promised loads of pics!


September 21 Celia Bowers, a first time guest in the Bandit Lair, is here to tell us about her newest release Anything But Love a fantastic story about two opposites who have to merge their life styles to fit a love they never expected to find. She'll also give us a peek at what her alter ego, Kennedy Shaw has been up to!



We're thrilled to have the gorgeous and talented Kathryn Caskie in the lair on to talk about her October release, The Most Wicked of Sins on September 27.


(Pause to drool over another delicious ... cover!) To finish off this fabulous month, Jessa Slade joins us on September 30th to talk about her debut urban fantasy novel, Seduced by Shadows.


Don't forget you can always check out the latest Bandita releases on our sidebar. Click on any cover and you'll go straight to its page on Amazon, to buy!

Finally, Bandita contests for this month:

Anna Campbell is offering readers a chance to win Captive of Sin!

By the time this contest comes to a close, Captive of Sin will be available from a bookseller near you. To celebrate this portentous moment in the history of the world (or at least in the history of Anna Campbell), she’s giving away not one, not two, not three, but FOUR signed copies of the book to people who enter this contest.

This question is really easy. All you have to do is tell her the name of Gideon’s house and where in England it is situated. Just a hint – you might find the answer in the excerpt from Captive of Sin on her Books page: http://www.annacampbell.info/captivesin.html

Just email Anna on anna@annacampbell.info and she’ll draw at random from the correct responses. The contest closes 31st October, 2009. For more information, please check out Anna’s contest page: http://www.annacampbell.info/contest.html

Phew! Never a dull moment here in the Lair!

So, with a new school year upon us, a new season beginning and a new month launching, what plans do you have for something new or different this month? Is there something you meant to do last month that you'll complete? Are you starting a new course, class or activity?

Dungeoneer RPG: Resource Management

A day or two ago, I mentioned that Thomas Denmark, over at his Dungeoneer blog, had posted a sneak peek of his Dungeoneer RPG game.

I notice that he's done it again! This card is a sneak peek from his new Dungeoneer RPG.

Using cards for resource management has intrigued me of late. One of the interesting things about the Dungeoneer card game system is that it uses cards to represent various quests that you may undertake and other in-game elements. This is an interesting way of tracking what your current adventure is all about.

The Dungeoneer RPG promises to use a similar card system to track your character, quests, and so on.

Dungeoneer RPG: Resource Management

A day or two ago, I mentioned that Thomas Denmark, over at his Dungeoneer blog, had posted a sneak peek of his Dungeoneer RPG game.

I notice that he's done it again! This card is a sneak peek from his new Dungeoneer RPG.

Using cards for resource management has intrigued me of late. One of the interesting things about the Dungeoneer card game system is that it uses cards to represent various quests that you may undertake and other in-game elements. This is an interesting way of tracking what your current adventure is all about.

The Dungeoneer RPG promises to use a similar card system to track your character, quests, and so on.

Remix, Remake, Remodel

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Playing the Witch in Magic Realm

I think more people would have played the witch character in Magic Realm if her character card had looked something like this.

She needs a black cat in the picture background, since one of her special abilities is possession of a familiar. For some reason they didn't include a chit for this, which I always found odd.

Playing the Witch in Magic Realm

I think more people would have played the witch character in Magic Realm if her character card had looked something like this.

She needs a black cat in the picture background, since one of her special abilities is possession of a familiar. For some reason they didn't include a chit for this, which I always found odd.

Types of Magic in Magic Realm

One of the 2E innovations that I welcomed was the Wizard specialists.

AD&D added the illusionist (at least I don't recall the illusionist being in OD&D) but it took 2E , published in 1989, to round out the specialist mages. Those other specialists included the necromancer, the evoker, the diviner, and so on.

In many ways, Avalon Hill beat TSR to the punch. Magic Realm was released in 1978, and 10 of its 16 characters have access to different kinds of magic.

There are 8 types of magic in Magic Realm:

I - white magic (divine), cast by the Pilgrim (read Cleric) and White Knight (nee Paladin)

II - grey magic (natural), cast by the Wizard and Druid

III - gold magic (faerie), cast by the Elf and Woodsgirl

IV - purple magic (elemental), cast by the Sorcerer

V - black magic (infernal), cast by the Witch and Witch King (read Warlock)

VI - conjurations

VII - good luck knacks

VIII - malicious tricks

The Magician has access to various types of magic, but he needs different magic items (which supplied him with the mana he needs) in order to come into his own.

I like the approach that Magic Realm uses, as it makes the mechanics for the clerics and the wizards the same, by making white magic just one of the several magic types.

In addition, each character has access to unique kinds of magic, (and is restricted from using others) which is very similar to the specialist approach in 2E.

Types of Magic in Magic Realm

One of the 2E innovations that I welcomed was the Wizard specialists.

AD&D added the illusionist (at least I don't recall the illusionist being in OD&D) but it took 2E , published in 1989, to round out the specialist mages. Those other specialists included the necromancer, the evoker, the diviner, and so on.

In many ways, Avalon Hill beat TSR to the punch. Magic Realm was released in 1978, and 10 of its 16 characters have access to different kinds of magic.

There are 8 types of magic in Magic Realm:

I - white magic (divine), cast by the Pilgrim (read Cleric) and White Knight (nee Paladin)

II - grey magic (natural), cast by the Wizard and Druid

III - gold magic (faerie), cast by the Elf and Woodsgirl

IV - purple magic (elemental), cast by the Sorcerer

V - black magic (infernal), cast by the Witch and Witch King (read Warlock)

VI - conjurations

VII - good luck knacks

VIII - malicious tricks

The Magician has access to various types of magic, but he needs different magic items (which supplied him with the mana he needs) in order to come into his own.

I like the approach that Magic Realm uses, as it makes the mechanics for the clerics and the wizards the same, by making white magic just one of the several magic types.

In addition, each character has access to unique kinds of magic, (and is restricted from using others) which is very similar to the specialist approach in 2E.

Jessica's Grandparents: "Our Secret to a Happy Marriage"

According to my grandmother: "Have your own life. Pursue your dreams and let your husband do the same. Being content with yourself makes you a better wife."

According to my grandfather: "Any disagreement can be settled with two words: 'Yes, dear.' "

-- Jessica, Heartthrobs and Villains. (Her grandparents recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.)

Grace Bonney: "Our Secrets to a Happy Marriage"

Grace + AC's secrets to a happy marriage:

1. Talk it out: No matter how angry you are, talking always helps. I wasn't a big talker before meeting Aaron (I was a big "slam the door"-er) and he taught me the value of talking through any and all difficult situations.

2. Support each other's dreams: AC loves to play poker and guitar, and he also likes mixed martial arts. If he wanted to leave his job to pursue any of those, I would support him 100%. And I know he'd do the same for me. I realized a few years back that no matter how good the salary or benefits, if your partner isn't happy, even the best job is the wrong job. If you're both truly happy, then material things really do become less important.

3. Go on adventures: Whether it's a scooter ride to Coney Island or a backpacking trip out west, remember to experience new things together. AC and I are complete opposites, but we both love to try new things, which keeps us growing together.

And above is a sneak peek from our wedding :)

-- Grace Bonney, Design*Sponge

Honeymoon

Alex and I will be on our honeymoon for two weeks, so I've invited some of my favorite bloggers, designers and writers to share their secrets to happy marriages. Each day, these lovely people will be sharing their tips on Cup of Jo. I hope you enjoy them, and see you on September 14th!

xoxo Joanna

P.S. This series was inspired by this adorable couple.

TV for Writers

by Susan Sey

I avoid TV. It's not because I have anything against it, though. I don't. In fact, I love TV. I love it the way I love ice cream. The way I love Diet Coke. The way I love books.

I love TV quite a lot.

In fact, when TV lives up to its potential, I am powerless to stop myself. I am an addict, & this is why I avoid it. In real time, anyway. DVDS are another story.

When the Sopranos ended its run to such acclaim a few years ago I thought, "Okay, time to see what all the fuss was about." Blockbuster.com sent me the first season on DVD over the Fourth of July. By Labor Day my husband & I (he's as bad as I am) had pounded through all eight seasons. I'll leave you to do the math but the number of hours we spent parked in front of the TV during those few weeks is cringe-worthy. We were lucky nobody staged an intervention. Especially since it wasn't the first time we'd behaved in such a fashion.

Lost did it to us, too. That pilot episode when the plane first crashed? Yowza. And five, six seasons later, bad guy Ben just keeps the passive-aggressive fun coming. Good times.

I mourned when we finished the last DVD of Arrested Development. In addition to the razor-sharp humor (a character with sexual identity issues inadvertantly bills himself as an "analrapist" on his business cards, a combination analyst & therapist), it also provided me with my first opportunity in a number of years to remark upon how darn cute that Jason Bateman was.

The Office (the British original) introduced me to a brand of cringing comedy that was so excruciatingly honest I didn't know for a solid three DVDs if I liked it or not. Turns out I do. (The American version introduced me to John Krasinski, on whom I instantly developed a minor crush. I still like the British version better, though. Ricky Gervais is incredibly talented.)

And now we're addicted to a new one--The Wire, a cop show set in Baltimore's west side. The writing is again razor sharp & the dialogue rings incredibly true. But there was one episode in the first season--one scene actually--that sealed the deal for me. It's a scene in which Detective Jimmy McNulty & his partner Bunk revisit a crime scene to role play a murder. They say nothing but the f-word for about four solid minutes, each time with a different intonation & a different meaning. By the end of the scene they'd drawn a completely new conclusion about the crime & so had the audience--through nothing but about four minutes of the f-bomb.

I don't know if that's quality writing or acting, or maybe both, but I was totally sold. We watched Season One in five days.

We start Season Two tonight.

How about you? For your money, what's the best TV show on the air right now? Off the air? Who's telling the best story these days? I'd love to know because, at the rate we're eating up The Wire, we're going to need a new addiction one of these days pretty soon.