Great Review

Yes, I'm tooting my own horn. This book has been e-published for quite a while now and a website recently reviewed it without my knowing. My publisher sent me the link.

Miranda from Joyfully Reviewed had this to say:

"Suzanne Perazzini created a unique world in Crash into Darkness. Amber and Jaden have an immediate connection that neither is sure what to do about. It was almost like going to see an action movie. I felt as if I was right in the middle of the action. Just when you think you have it all figured out boom another surprise. The great thing about it to me was it didn’t feel like too much. I wasn’t sitting here thinking ‘yeah right, that’s not plausible’. Crash into Darkness has an amazing ending that I was not expecting, I so love when that happens. Crash into Darkness was an action-packed thrill ride that I found thoroughly enjoyable."

For the full review, please click here.

To buy it, please click here.

No Writing Today

I can't write today, something has crashed on my computer

and the mouse is missing.

Movie Reviews

Shutter Island
I saw this a few weeks ago and it still sticks with me but mainly because I was annoyed at the ending. I know others loved the ending and it certainly was a nuanced ending and you had to listen to every word to understand exactly what happened, but I didn't want that ending and that's that.
Leonardo di Caprio was amazing as always in this dark and compelling story. It was definitely worth watching but pay attention to get the most out of the story.

Boy
This is a New Zealand film written, directed and acted in by Taika Cohen, one of New Zealand's great talents. If you get a chance to see this, do so. It is funny, hilarious at times, and very poignant. It has wonderful acting and tells a simple story in a great setting. This is the story of a New Zealand Maori family but it could be a story happening in any part of the world.

Law Abiding Citizen
This is brutal so if you don't like too much blood and gore, then stay away. It's well acted and pulls you through at a fast enough pace but I was worried about how to reconcile the man the main character was to who he became. They throw in a kind of an explanation but it seemed a little gratuitous. Not a must see.


Remember Me
If you want to see this movie, don't, I repeat DON'T go on the internet to see any reviews until afterwards. Just take my word for that or it will be spoilt. I get what the writer was trying to say but many haven't. They thought it was just a love story and it's not. It has a much wider message. The young actors did a good job with a sometimes cliched script. Worth seeing.

Mao's Last Dancer
I loved this but then I am a dancer from way back. The dance scenes were amazing and the main actor, who is first and foremost a dancer, was superb. This is based on a true story and a real person who is still living, so that made it even more fascinating. If you love dance, true life stories and drama then see this.

Uplifting

It's well worth listening to this man, Anis Mojgani read a poem called Shake the Dust.

Just for a laugh

I loved these church related bloopers I found here on Kristin Nelson's blog:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.

Happy New Year

I've just realized that I haven't blogged since November, which is ridiculous so I'm dropping in to wish you all a fulfilling year. We have had a great summer here in New Zealand so far and Christmas day in particular was splendid. The family (17 of us) had Xmas lunch at a long table under the trees in my sister's garden. It was delightful.

I am changing jobs at the end of the month and couldn't be happier about it. Time for a change.

I have watched quite a few movies over the Christmas break and Avatar stands out for being different and for surprising me that I actually like it. It's a classic story with a cliched feel but I didn't care about that because it was a visual feast.

I have started a new Young Adult manuscript and that will keep me out of trouble for a few months.

May this decade bring innovation, excitement, success and peace to all of you.

My Sister's Keeper

Last Saturday I went to see My Sister's Keeper. I was nervous about it because I had read the book and loved it. It is usually a mistake to read the book first because a movie can seldom do justice to the intricacies and nuances of the written word. However, I was pleasantly surprised this time. Much of the powerful emotion was conveyed by the actors who did an excellent job. I had really only thought of Cameron Diaz as a lightweight comedic actor until now but she proved me wrong in this movie.
There is, however, one major difference between the book and the movie and that is the end. They are not just a little different but completely, radically different. The movie ending is all Hollywood, nice and simple, but Jodi Picoult puts a great, unexpected twist to the book which creates a very poignant circle back to the beginning and gives the whole story a tragic completeness . This point is lost in the movie. I will say no more so as not to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it and, if you haven't read the book, the ending will be fine. All in all, I'd say a job well done but take your tissues.

Cute Little House

I picked up this tiny, wee, cute house while scouting around the internet. It is unidentified but must belong to some person with simple needs.

Unusual Architecture

I love this idea of having 360 degree garden access. Not sure about the lack of curtains but it depends on the location and privacy aspect. This was designed by Tezuka Architects.

Unusual Interior

This a rendering of a communal space in 1 Hotel Washington DC designed by these architects. Talk about bringing the outside in. Lots of watering to do but what a serene environment in which to relax.

Ocean Dome

I am fascinated by this manmade beach on Kyushu Island, Japan. It's actually not far from the Pacific Ocean but obviously everyone prefers a crowded inside beach. This is the world’s largest indoor water park with a retractable roof. The air temperature is always kept around 30º C and the water temperature is kept at around 28º C. How 's that for improving on Nature?

Houseboat Design

This undulating houseboat design byRobert Oshatz evokes the dynamic movement of the river water on which it floats.

Unusual Interiors

My son is studying to be an architect after having watched his parents renovate nine houses in his lifetime so I thought I would do a series of unusual interiors and houses for a while.

Above is a photo of the Blue Frog restaurant in Mumbai which has the seating inset yet tiered so that everyone has clear view of the centre stage. This was designed by Chris Lee and Kapil Gupta of Series Architects.

Time for Miracles by Adam Lambert

This song, Time for Miracles sung by Adam Lambert for the new movie 2012 is amazing, especially the last section. He can certainly sing.

Quote - Junot Diaz

This quote is so perfect for writers that I had to post it here. Thank you to Kameron Hurley. I found it on her blog here.

"In my view a writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign... of promise, you keep writing anyway."-Junot Diaz

Movies I've seen recently

I have seen a whole bunch of movies recently. Too many to go into in depth so I will write a line or two about each, and you can decide which to watch.
1) Coco Avant Chanel - an intriguing story of her life before she was famous. We often take people for granted as being who they are as we know them and don't think of where they come from. This is a sharp reminder that dedication and passion mixed with a knob of talent win the day every time. What a great young actress Audrey Tautou is.
2) Cherie - A delightful look at the houses and fashions of the time. This is a surprisingly heart-wrenching love story between a young man and an older woman.


3) Young Victoria - Again, a great insight into the times with all the pomp and ceremony of being a part of the royal family. Victoria was a strong, wilful personality if the film is to be believed.


4) 500 Days of Summer - Great leads in a love story which isn't one, as it says at the beginning of the film. Seems light and fluffy on the surface but actually makes you think about the belief systems that we have and how they affect our relationships. There is some character growth by the end of the movie, which is always good to see.

5) Ugly Truth - Umm, not sure I would recommend this unless you want a romantic comedy without a lot of substance. It pretends there is, but I wasn't so sure.




6) The Taking of Pelham 123 - Fantastic actors - can't take away from that, and the story kept me glued to my seat but not loving some of the direction and out of focus, swooping filming that was supposed to indicate urgency and speed but just left me feeling nauseous.




7) Funny People - Yuck! Why do comedians think incessant talk about genitals and copulation is funny?







8) District 9 - Now we're talking. Very disorienting at the beginning but settles into a disturbing take on prejudice. It falters towards the end when Hollywood cinema takes over with the great heroic gesture, but overall great movie making. Not everyone will like this but I would recommend it so you can decide for yourselves.



9) Inglourious Basterds - I usually avoid World War I and II movies like the plague. They upset me too much, but I do make some exceptions and I always knew this would be one. As expected from Tarantino, there is graphic violence, but it is a great story of the revenge of a strong female character, which never wavers into melodrama. This is a must see.

10) Fame - I was so looking forward to this movie because I loved the first one way back in 1980. Well, if you're thinking of going to see it, don't bother. I have never been so disappointed by a movie. There were too many characters with no growth even though it spans several years. A couple of good dance and song scenes didn't make it worth the money. Stay away.


The last thing I want to say is that I have fallen in love with Rupert Friend. I have included his photo here. He has such great bone structure. He was in both Cherie and Young Victoria - that's how I "met" him. He has funny hair in both of them but ignore that and look at his face - perfection. Well, that's my opinion anyway.

I'm a R*by Award Winner!!

I have finally got around to blogging about my winning the R*by Award for Beneath the Surface in the Romantic Elements category at the Romance Writers of Australia conference last week. My other entry, Crash into Darkness, came second. As you probably know, both those books are e-pubbed and yet they won over all the other print published books so I am very proud of myself.

Not only did I not think I would win, I hadn't been told that the winner had to give a speech. I managed to splutter out something but I was in a daze for some time.

Here at the left is my award. It is very beautiful but was difficult to photograph.

The winners of the other three categories are:
Short and sexy: Trish Morey
Short and Sweet: Marion Lennox
Long Romance: Anne Gracie

I had a fantastic time at the conference over there last weekend and have just got home from the New Zealand Romance Writers conference here in Auckland this weekend. I am exhausted but happy at what I have learned and all the people I have met or caught up with.
Time to write, write, write to meet my commitments.

Peru - Machu Picchu

I'm sorry I haven't blogged before about Peru because I have been sick with the flu and I'm not going to write much today either for I have two writing conferences coming up on the next two weekends and I must prepare pitches for them etc.
However, I thought I would post one photo of my son, Dario, on top of a mountain he climbed with Machu Picchu in the background. Machu Picchu is even more amazing than expected. It was raining the day we were there - the only day it did rain on the trip - but it was still mind-blowing as it sat amongst the clouds with incredible steep mountains all about. This was taken the day before with brilliant sunshine. We woke the next morning to heavy rain. Can't win them all.
I will post more photos and tell you more when the conferences are over.

Movie Review - Transformers

I got deceived into watching this dreadful movie by the news that the box office sales had broken all records. I wish I had followed my instincts and stayed away.
This movie had no depth, no layers, no character arcs. The stakes were the destruction or not of the world. I didn't give a damn. I didn't give a damn if the hero lived or died. I didn't give a damn if the eye-candy heroine, who spent most of the movie running around trying to look scared, lived or died. I didn't care if the hero's freaky parents lived or died, and what they were doing being air-dropped into Egypt defies logic.
The machines were gigantic, and the humans were tiny with their tiny guns and tiny bullets yet they still won. I had to suspend belief so far it hurt.
The action scenes were ridiculous. It was impossible to know what was happening, and when machines fought machines, it was a junkyard tangle of monumental proportions. One was indistinguishable from the other. The relentlessness of the action scenes, and the confusion that reigned made me bored and sleepy while fire and brimstone reigned upon the Egyptian desert. Slow motion scenes of beautiful girl and heroic guy outrunning explosions were classics in their awfulness.
The only slight relief from the pain were a couple of comic situations and one or two good lines. But they could fill about three minutes in all. I considered leaving but I had paid my money and refused to conceded defeat. The best part might be in the last few minutes. It wasn't.

Travel Pages Live

Finally my travel pages on my website are up and running. We had some problems with getting all the images to show but my clever husband figured out the problem and now you can see photos from some of the many countries I have visited. You can click on any of them to make them bigger. They span many years so you will see me from 18 years old until now. A bit spooky to see so many decades all in a few clicks.