First Look at Dark Angels!

Dark Angels Revealed by Angela Grace

The first quarter of 2011 has been a real rat-race. I've been wrapping up the first draft of a new story, the plot of another, and making plans for a new non-fiction with a top paranormal investigator.

It's been a busy time personally, too. January, I turned a year older. That's always stressful once you pass twenty-eight. February, I spent fighting one illness after another in my family. Then March brought plans for my oldest child's Sweet Sixteen, had food poisoning, and had my right hand slammed in the hall bathroom door. The physician I saw an hour later swore that it wasn't broken, despite the swelling and intense pain. Now, it's sort of yellowish, has a knot over the pinky bone behind the knuckle, hurts like heck when I bump it, and still has scabs from the cuts, but it's much better!

So, here's a preview of the new book "Dark Angels Revealed" by me, Angela Grace , which will hit shelves May 11th. I'm curious to see your comments on this vampire non-fiction's eye-candy. If you like Twilight, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, or any of the top vampires and dark heroes, you'll enjoy this new book. And best of all, you can pre-order it through any bookstore or online retailer.

And if you can get the book to me, I'd be honored to autograph it.

ECLIPSE -- Movie Review/Discussion

ECLIPSE -- Movie Review/Discussion

*spoiler alter*

Most of you know the story that goes along with Eclipse. In Twilight, vampire met girl. In New Moon, vampire left girl and wolf stepped in—for a little while.
In Eclipse, Edward and Bella spend a little one-on-one time in Edward’s room where he finally talks her into marrying him. Then the two, along with the wolves and the other Cullens, battle the newborn vampires, led by Victoria.

Just as others say, Eclipse was much better than the other movies. They seem to be getting better as they go along. The color are crisper, the action more exciting, and the story closer to what is in the book. If Twilight told ¼ of the story, Eclipse tells ¾ .

The soundtrack is also much better. Twilight had an awesome soundtrack. New Moon’s…well…it stunk. Eclipse’s wasn’t quite as good as Twi’s but it was leaps beyond what New Moon’s.

As for the bad stuff…

Robert Pattinson was again the Edward that I expect. He IS Edward. Kristen Stewart, however, isn’t Bella for me. I’ve heard it discussed over and over, and people have this idea of Bella. Generally, Ashley Greene fits the role much better. It’s not that Stewart is a bad actress, she just as these natural quirks, like certain faces and almost huffs that she makes seemingly without notice, that come across as arrogant and angry. I don’t believe it’s anything more than a subconscious, nervous habit, but it’s there. And it’s not Bella. These random out of character quirks yank me out of the story.

The plot is another sticking point. While they did a MUCH better job this time, the story has been slanted to favor Jacob. Some of the nice things that make us love Edward are taken out while the things that make us like Jake are left in—or added to! For example, in the tent scene (my favorite in the saga), Edward asks Jacob to come in as the book goes. Jake doesn’t just decide to come in because forcing it would have meant Edward ripping his throat out. Then, the best parts of the conversation between the two are left out. It’s the same way in New Moon. The ENTIRE plane trip home with Edward babying Bella is taken out…one of his only nice scenes in the movie. But then so is the entire story line that Jacob is the one who told on Bella for the motorcycles, revealing more of his immature nature.

Edward looks worse than in the books; Jake looks better. It’s been the case with much of the Saga’s movie versions. I don’t understand why they’re watering down the story. What’s there to gain from making Edward look worse before she marries him?
Those are my two main gripes. Otherwise, it’s great. Overall, this one was so much better than the others that I wish they’d have this director redo all the movies and then finish Breaking Dawn.

Women Love Gentlemen...

Yes, believe it or not, they do. But note that I said women. Alot of guys complain about the nice guy losing out or women wanting the bad boy...but that's generally young women. Girls. If women didn't love gentlemen, Twilight would only be popular with the teens and Jacob would have won Bella. But it's Edward that women over 25 drool over.

It's not just in fantasies and fiction. A friend mentioned to me today how wonderful a guy was because he'd been so quick to help save a woman's ego when another woman was intent on making her feel small in front of him. He'd become the talk of the party and afterward, although he probably never knew. You see, Woman A, who was on the attack, pointed out in front of this very handsome guy (who woman B just met) that woman B had gained a significant amount of weight with her baby some time before. To woman B's horror, woman A had the gall to tell exactly how many pounds (over seventy) she'd gained. The guy simply patted woman B on the arm and told her how fabulous she looks now.

This got me to thinking. What exactly was it that Mr. Right did to make all the women who'd heard about it swoon? It's simple enough. The guy, who seemed interested enough in woman B, a woman he'd just met, just pulled her out of a sticky situation by telling her she was beautiful when another woman tried to show how fat she had been to said guy--instantly throwing woman B a lifeline and deflecting woman A's attack on her ego. He defended her in a very subtle, but very noticeable way.

Call me old fashioned, but it's clear to me that chivalry is isn't even limping.
There just isn't enough of this going around. Too often, especially in long relationships or marriage, one person has seen the worst of the other and goes along with talk of (or worse--points out) mistakes or faults in the person he's with. While it might be something small or even funny to the one who is "only joking" with friends and/or family...it's the ultimate slap in the face. Bringing up another person's faults for a laugh is making a joke at the other person's expense. When that person making the joke is the spouse or significant other of the butt of said joke, it also undermines self-esteem and the relationship as a whole. Over time, these tiny stabs build up to one significant wound that breeds resentment, hurt, and anger. After that, ten compliments will never outweigh the one remark about a woman's weight, appearance, personality, or other fault. In fact, compliments given after the fault has been used for public humiliation will only be seen as lies, compounding the hurt.

There are simply times when being a gentleman and throwing a woman a lifeline in public will win you everything--especially if another woman is the one downing the woman you're with. So, the next time you hear or see someone picking at a fault of the woman you're with, take up for her: give her an immediate compliment or smile and tell her how much you love that about her (as long as it's true). You don't have to be confrontational, just let her know that you're on her side...and do it in front of the other people. It's taking a clear stand without being rude. Not only will the other person realize that their jokes are in bad taste, you'll score major brownie points with the woman!