What I'm Watching

When my kids were little and I was stuck (I mean happily mothering) at home 24-7, I used to have a daily must-see show that was my reward for surviving another day. Some of my past favorites include The West Wing, ER, Once and Again, Sisters, Picket Fences, LA Law, Friends, Cheers, Frasier, Seinfeld, Party of Five, the original Melrose Place. And on and on the list goes. I am thinking of more as I type. I have a lot less time to watch these days and often don't watch live TV (thank you JESUS for the person who invented TiVO). Here's what makes the cut these days:

Sunday
Brothers and Sisters. For the most part, I adore this show, which is full of hugely talented actors and is anchored by the incomparable Sally Field. I like to look at Robert (Rob Lowe), I laugh at everything that comes out of Kevin's mouth, I adore single-mom Sarah, and deer-in-the-headlights Justin and just-came-out Uncle Sol. I tolerate Kitty (Calista Flockheart) and Rebecca, but I blame the writing of their characters for my blahness (yes, that's a word, I say so) toward them. I truly can't stand Holly. Oh wait, that reminds me: thirtysomething HAS to be on the list above. She was my least favorite cast member in thirtysomething, too. Patricia Wettig talks like she has cotton balls jammed in her mouth, but I do admire her for not having work done. Most women of her age in Hollywood look like plastic freaks. I'm glad she doesn't. Ken Olin, her real-life husband, fellow thirtysomething alum and B&S executive producer, needs to shave the crappy beard. He was sooooo HOT back in the day. Remember? Sigh.... What I don't like: When the writing in this show is good, it hums along with all cylinders firing on full steam. When the writing flops, like it has during the Kitty-has-cancer-storyline-from-hell, the show can be hard to watch (read: cringeworthy, see 01/03/10 episode as exhibit A). They managed to successfully cure Kitty's cancer in one whirlwind hour last night, which tells me they were getting a lot of pushback from viewers and critics who don't find cancer entertaining. It strikes too damned close to home for too many people. Myself included. Rating: Like it enough to watch it live.

Monday
My busiest night!
The Bachelor. A guilty pleasure that I can't seem to give up. Ahhh, the cute guys, the cat fights, the desperation, the over-the-top dates, the cat fights... I am also a huge fan of Lincee Ray's recap blog, I Hate Green Beans. Lincee does an awesome job of capturing the insanity, the fun, and the romance of it all. If you haven't read her blog in the past, you should follow it this season. I promise a lot of laughs! Okay, as for Jake, the jury is still out in my book. I was uncomfy last season watching him bawl after cueing Jillian in that Wes was a skank. We all knew Wes was a skank. Jilly knew it, too. No one could understand why she kept Wes around and let genuine good-guy Jake go. Now Jake gets his chance at love and redemption, but the ads for this season have made me throw up in my mouth more than once. Could they BE any more cheesy? Apparently, this season has a happy ending. Most of them do. Whether or not they STAY together is always the big question. We shall talk more about The Bachelor here as the season unfolds. Rating: Like it enough to watch it live.

Two and a Half Men. Love it. Charlie Sheen basically plays himself minus the domestic violence that seems to color his personal life. A fantastic, dependable comedy with a stellar supporting cast. And Jake. OMG, anyone with an adolescent boy will love Jake Harper. He's a genuine piece of work! Rating: Like it enough to watch it on TiVO.

Castle: I love, love, LOVE Nathan! As an actor, he gets more done with his face than most others do with their whole bodies. This is a fantastic show about a mystery writer who strong arms his way into shadowing a female NYC police detective. Their chemistry reminds me of David and Maddie on Moonlighting. Again, a fantastic supporting cast, especially Castle's precocious teenage daughter and his mother (played by Susan Sullivan--remember her from Falcon Crest?). My only nit with this show is that Castle is a bestselling mystery writer but we never, ever, ever see him writing. Those of us who are writers will attest to how unrealistic that is! Rating: Like it enough to watch it live (most of the time).

Tuesday and Wednesday
Two words: American Idol. Every year I say never again. Every year I watch every second of it. I really loved last year, but like everyone else, I can't figure out how Adam Lambert didn't win. It will be interesting see how Ellen does in Paula's place. I loved Paula and all her quirkiness. Ellen will be funny and gentle and kind. It will probably be fine. But let's face it. There won't be any chemistry between her and Simon. None. Zero. Zilch. I guess they'll have to put newlywed Kara next to his snottiness. I always want to hate him, but damn it, he's always right! He is the one member of the cast who would be simply irreplaceable in my humble opinion. The one thing I love the best about this show is that I can watch it with the kids, although they lose interest as the season unfolds. Rating: Like it enough to watch it live.

Thursday
Grey's Anatomy. I don't even like it anymore, but like a bad accident, I can't look away. I still love McDreamy and he keeps me watching. Doesn't matter what he says or what he does. I just look at him and I am happy. (I'd like him to play Jack in the movie version of my very first book Treading Water. If you know Patrick and could get word to him, I'd appreciate that.) I'm glad Izzy is gone for a while. I'm glad George left. I don't care about Meredith. I kinda like Christina except for when she's having mad monkey sex with the Scottish guy. Real ick factor there. I like Bailey, but sometimes I want to just tell her to SHUT UP. And I couldn't give a shit less about the chief. Do. Not. Care. That pretty much sums up my attitude toward this show. More Derek I say. Less of everyone else! No longer must-see. It's lucky I let it take up space on my TiVO. Rating: Hate it enough to watch it on TiVO.

Private Practice, on the other hand, has me hook, line and sinker. I LOVE THIS SHOW! I care about every, single character. I care about their practice, I care about their families. I think I've decided it's sheer caliber of actors that makes the difference on this show. I mean take Amy Brenneman, add Tim Daly, plus Taye Diggs, and right there you got game. Bring in the fabulousness that is Addison Montgomery, emotionally starved poor little rich girl who loves to remind everyone that she's a world class surgeon, and you've got a show that fires on all cylinders ALL the time. Absolutely MUST SEE. Rating: Like it enough to watch it live.

Friday
Saving the best for last: Friday Night Lights. Quite simply, the very best show on TV. Quite simply, the very best show I've ever watched. How about that? Talk about an ensemble cast that's got it going on. The coach, his wife, his daughter, Tim Riggins. Did I say Tim Riggins? Yummmmmmmmm. The one guy my daughter and I would seriously fight over, even with that shaggy, dirty hair and those unwashed jeans he wears in every episode. Yummmmm. Now if Kyle Chandler, who plays the coach in a career-making role, wanted me to run away with him, I'm hitting the road peeps! My friend Julie would fight me for him, but he really wants me. (Don't tell her--she'd be heartbroken.) People think this show is about football. Yeah, there's football. But there is SO much more. It's impossible to ably do it justice in just a few sentences. Teenaged angst, marital strife, small-town gossip, parental dismay, drugs, sex, strippers. Got your attention? Don't take my word for it. Go rent seasons 1, 2 and 3 (I apologize for the detour they took in season 2. Don't hold it against them. They got it back on track in season 3.) Gear up for the start of Season 4 this month. I. Can't. Wait. It's the only show all four of us watch together. I even got a new sofa so we can all watch it together. We jokingly call it my FNL sofa. Rating: Like it enough to watch it live.

Everyday
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Must see.

Stuff I watch if it's on
Law and Order SVU
NCIS (Isn't Mark Harmon still dreamy all these years later?)
Men of a Certain Age (liked the pilot, haven't seen anymore)

Okay, your turn. Are any of my shows on your list? What am I missing that I have to see? (Please don't say Mad Men. It puts me to sleep. BORING. Sorry.) What are your all-time favorites?

Year in Review

As 2008 comes to a close, I'm watching snow and wind derail my plans for tonight. Boo hoo!

This has been a difficult year for our country. The publishing business, in no risk of receiving one of those lovely federal bailouts, has suffered just like many other industries. I've said before that the only thing we as writers can do in this economy is to keep writing and hope for better days ahead. I still firmly believe that the stories we're working on right now will contribute to the industry's resurgence in 2009 and 2010. Three weeks from now we'll inaugurate a new president, and I can't wait to be dazzled by him. But before we step into the New Year, here are a few of my writing highlights from 2008:

--Seeing a book cover with MY name on it for the first time.
--Getting PAID for my work. Twice. WOW!
--Gaining admission to RWA's Published Author Network, a major feather in a romance writer's cap.
--Returning from vacation this summer to find a box full of MY books on my front porch.
--Sharing the moment I first held Line of Scrimmage as a real live book with my husband and kids.
--Getting one excited e-mail after another from friends and family, letting me know their pre-ordered copies of Line of Scrimmage had shipped from Amazon.com.
--Receiving many wonderful reviews for Line of Scrimmage, including this one from Booklist, "With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans." (To read all the lovely reviews, click on the "reviews" link below this post.)
--Signing with agent Kevan Lyon, who has been TERRIFIC to work with and lots of fun to hang out with, too.
--Walking into Barnes & Noble and knowing MY book was there after years of wishing just ONE of the thousands of books in the store could be mine. (Ryan and Susannah's wedding song, "You're in my Heart" by Rod Stewart, coming on the radio as the kids and I were pulling into the B&N parking lot gave me chills and made me feel like my late mother was with me, sharing in the joy.)

Here I am visiting Line of Scrimmage at my local Barnes & Noble!



We're in a very good neighborhood next to Lori Foster, one of my favorite authors and a new e-mail buddy this year.



--Holding a launch party for Line of Scrimmage, where I was able to recognize and thank the friends who'd held me up on the long road to publication.



--Befriending Elena, the author liaison at my local B&N, who referred to me as her "most successful local author" in the four years she's been with the store. She says we're going to lunch when the 100th copy of LOS sells in her store. At last check, we were at 88. She held a fabulous book signing for me in September, made me feel like a star on more than one occasion, and became a valued new friend and advocate.
--Receiving real, live fan mail! One of my favorite comments about Line of Scrimmage came in August from J. Kaye Oldner on her blog: "It was a book that made me laugh as well as cry. The three-dimensional characters were so vivid. I’d have no trouble plucking each one out of a crowd. LINE OF SCRIMMAGE is Marie Force’s first novel. Her next is scheduled to be out in the spring of 2009 and it’s titled SAME TIME SUNDAY. You can bet I’ll be in line to get my copy, because hands down, this is the best romance I’ve read this year."
--Attending the National Romance Writers of America annual conference for the first time in my favorite city of San Francisco where I met so many of my online friends, rode in a limo to the publisher's dinner, and met my editor, publisher, agent and publicist in person.

Here is the Sourcebooks Casablanca gang at the publisher's dinner in San Francisco:


Back row (l-r) Michele Ann Young, Linda Wisdom, Dominique Raccah, Gail, Beth, Sharon Lathan, and our lovely publicist Danielle Jackson. Front row (l-r) Deb Werksman, Robin Kaye, Marie Force, Malena Lott, Judi Fennell and "Aunty Cindy" Loucinda McGary.

--Selling my second book, formerly known as Same Time Sunday, during the RWA conference. (New title pending, hopefully in early January.) I'm very excited about this book and can't wait to hear what readers think of it. I take a few risks in this one by showing my hero and heroine with other people before they get together. (And when I say with other people, I mean WITH other people... Tee hee, yes, there's sex in chapter 2!)
--Being featured twice in local newspapers.
--Attending the New Jersey Romance Writer's Conference where I participated in a multi-author book signing for the first time and connected with readers, one of whom gave ME a gift to thank me for writing a book she loved so much. That was pretty cool!
--Signing books at Annie's Book Stop in Sharon, MA. Thank you Merry Cutler, a great friend of romance writers! Hope we can do it again when the second book comes out.



--Making an astounding array of new friends, both writers and readers, who have been so supportive and invested in my writing career. My fellow Sourcebooks Casablanca authors have been such a joy to me, keeping me sane, focused and enormously entertained. You ladies are my favorite writing friends, bar none. Our Casablanca Authors blog has been a lot of fun this year, and I look forward to the start of another terrific year together.
--Participating in a group signing in Baltimore's Inner Harbor B&N with my good friends Robin Kaye and Kendra Leigh Castle, with whom I also share agent.



--Starting this blog and committing to it as an almost-daily endeavor beginning in November. Nearly 3,000 readers have stopped by, which is a major accomplishment in and of itself.

Yes, there have been downs to go with the ups, but as I look over the list above, I realize that the highs have certainly outpaced the lows. I will look back at 2008, my debut year, as a year to be remembered and savored as I go forward, hopefully for years to come, with new books, new adventures, and more new friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who loved Ryan and Susannah, who wrote glowing reviews, who took the time to send me fan mail to tell me they loved the book, and who made my year by getting what I was trying to convey about a marriage in crisis. I know this may sound hokey, but I also want to thank Ryan Sanderson for being one hell of a fun character. He is the heart and soul of Line of Scrimmage, and readers have responded with passionate love for him. Publishers Weekly said of him, "Ryan . . . is a good guy desperate to fix past mistakes, a terrific change of pace from the typical reluctant hero."

By far, the best part of this debut year has been sharing the excitement with the people I love and seeing my Dad enjoying every minute of it after years of urging me to get serious about my writing. At every party, cookout, gathering, and event I get grilled on how it all works: how you write a book, how you sell a book, how it feels to be published, etc. As my fellow writers will attest, we love to talk about what is for most of us a lonely, solitary pursuit. My secret life came busting out of the closet this year. I'm a writer, and now everyone knows it.

Wishing you good health, good friends, and good books in 2009!

Signing Books in Baltimore

Yesterday, I signed Line of Scrimmage in Baltimore with my friends Robin Kaye (Romeo Romeo) and Kendra Lee Castle (Call of the Highland Moon and Dark Highland Fire). It was great to see Robin again and to meet Kendra for the first time. Besides sharing a publisher, we are all represented by the lovely Kevan Lyon. After talking our faces off over lunch, we spent the afternoon at the Barnes & Noble at the Power Plant in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

It was fun to be back in Baltimore, where we spent a lot of time when we lived in Maryland (from 95-98). I remember my now 13-year-old daughter fighting to get free of her stroller as we walked through the stores in the Inner Harbor. My next book, the one formerly known as Same Time Sunday (new name pending, stay tuned), is set in Baltimore. I love the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Little Italy. It's a great city, and Robin, our new BFF at the B&N there was super to us. Thank you Robin!

Here are a few photos:

Marie, Robin and Kendra



Robin's husband Stephen, the original Domestic God, who kept us in coffee during the signing.



With my friend and co-worker April Pardoe, who "loaned" me her former home in Baltimore to use as my hero's home in the book formerly known as Same Time Sunday. I'll post some photos of that fabulous place when the book comes out!

What I'm Reading

I'm about half way through CATCH OF THE DAY by RITA winner (and my friend) Kristan Higgins. I love it! If you haven't read it, I'd recommend you run right out and buy it. COTD is a great story about an unlucky-in-love heroine who has one disastrous date after another while nursing a very public crush on the local Catholic priest. After a few laugh out loud dates, she stumbles into a relationship with an unlikely hero. I can't wait to read Kristan's other books!

I've also recently enjoyed books by my Casablanca sisters: The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary, Romeo Romeo by Robin Kaye and Dating Da Vinci by Malena Lott. What do these books and COTD have in common? They're all contemporaries and are what I gravitate to as a reader and a writer. Some of my friends write paranormal, and I buy the books to support them. I read them and usually enjoy them, but if I didn't know the authors, I wouldn't be tempted. I've decided that it's my suspension of disbelief muscle. It's the one muscle in my body that's well toned. I have trouble making the leap from the world I live in to the paranormal world. Even though it's not my genre of choice as a reader, I have tremendous respect for paranormal authors because of the work that goes into the building a believable make believe world. I'm looking forward to reading my friend Kendra Leigh Castle's second book, Dark Highland Fire, next.

The other book I've really loved recently is Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, who I met at RWA Nationals this summer when she signed my copy. This was Lisa's first foray into contemporary, and while it wasn't a true romance (until the very end) I really enjoyed the book. I'm looking forward to reading her second contemporary, Blue-Eyed Devil, soon.

What are you reading? Do you tend to gravitate toward one genre to the exclusion of all others? Or do you genre hop?