Casablanca Authors

Goodbye CHECKMATE, MY LORD--Helllooo, Ethan deBeau, by Tracey Devlyn

2012-01-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

New beginnings? Wow, I think this whole year is going to be one new beginning after the other. My debut novel, A LADY'S REVENGE, steps onto the ballroom floor in April--six years after agent Cora deBeau made a mental appearance and then decided to stay in my life for a while.

In addition to all the wonderful things I must do to prepare for ALR's debut, I'll be attending several functions as an author, rather than a pre-pub. An incredibly exciting realization. I'll be taking part in several book signings, too. Here are the highlights of my schedule:

Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon
April 10, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, Oak Creek, WI

RT Booklovers Convention
April 11 - 14, Rosemont, IL

Spring Fling Conference
April 27-28, Hoffman Estates, IL

Romance Writers of America
July 24-28, Anaheim, CA

Put Your Heart in a Book Conference
October 12-13, New Jersey

My critique partner, Adrienne Giordano, and I are excited to open a satellite Lady Jane's Salon in Naperville, Illinois. While in New York City last summer for a national writers conference, we attended the original Lady Jane's and had a wonderful time. Fast forward a few months and we're opening a salon in our area. If you're not familiar with Lady Jane's, it's a reading salon devoted to romantic fiction. Authors read an excerpt from their books to a live audience. It's an amazing way to bring authors and readers together and all the proceeds go to charity. Stop by if you're ever near Chicago!

Whew, I'm tired just writing about my 2012 schedule. But I'm not done!

In a few short weeks, I'll be delivering CHECKMATE, MY LORD, the second manuscript in my British Secret Service series (aka The Nexus) and then I'll begin drafting the third book. Ethan deBeau's story. So I'll be saying goodbye to Lauren and Sebastian, then jumping into all sorts madness with Samantha and Ethan. *rubbing hands together*

OH! I nearly forgot to mention one of the happiest days of my life--the day I received the advanced reading copies (ARC) for A LADY'S REVENGE. Talk about a thrilling moment. You can see the play-by-play moment on my blog, Bollocks!, a la my mischievous husband. I'm holding one of the ARCs in the picture above.

If you're attending any of the events above, please stop by and say hello. I would love to connect with you in person.

Not one for conferences? Visit me on the Internet...

http://TraceyDevlyn.com

http://Twitter.com/TraceyDevlyn

http://Facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn

* * *

Tracey Devlyn writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey toward the heroine's happy ending). An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekend torturing her characters.

I HOPE YOU DANCE...

2012-01-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

Talk about new beginnings.

In my writing world I was doing a nice long line dance where my characters were all dancing together in time with the music ... step forward, kick back, slap your fanny and yell, “Hell, yeah!”

Like the line dance, I had all my ducks in a row. One Hot Cowboy, coming out in April…check. Woman’s Fiction book (although we were having trouble with just the right title) coming out in August…check. Mistletoe Cowboy, October…check. Just a Cowboy, December…check. Now slap my fanny and yell, “Hell, yeah!” and get on to the last book in the contract … check.

Then the music stopped.

The line dance broke up and new beginnings began as the band switched from playing a fanny slapping line dance to a two-step.

Uncheck, uncheck, uncheck as I watched the ducks waddle back to the pond in the space of a twenty minute phone call.

One Hot Cowboy, still coming out in April …check.

But there was a whole new bunch of new beginnings on my dance card.

It was time to partner up with the WIP which was supposed to be my spring 2013 book but had been shuffled into the October slot to be my Christmas book. I’d been planning on it being a hot summertime book and suddenly there was snow flying in the air and Christmas songs playing on the radio. It was time to hug up to it and talk the weatherman into changing the temperature from three digit summertime heat to a blizzard and one digit wintertime cold. Changes got made. Christmas will arrive in the form of Mistletoe Cowboy in October. It’s finished and only needs a little polish applied before I throw it across cyberspace to Deb.

But now a new slow song starts and brings another new beginning. It’s time to do some slow dancin’ with my woman’s fiction book. Believe me, it’s a heck of a lot harder to change horses in the middle of a raging river than you think. I’ve been on the romance horse for a long time and the friendship horse is trying to cooperate but the shift is not easy. So we are pushing it ahead to January and I’m going to tinker with it some more. I have every confidence that it is going to strengthen the book and it will sell a million copies (yes, ma’am, I dream big! Hell, yeah!) What fun!

As soon as the woman's fiction song is finished, then it’s take a deep breath, grab a drink and start on edits for Just a Cowboy. It needs a rewrite since it’s now my December book and not the Christmas one. I can't wait to get back to it and visit with Gemma and Trace about all the changes we are about to make.

After that two-step, I get to grab another drink because the next song will start up and I'm changing partners one more time. Dewar and Haley are waiting in line for me. Their story was the middle book but it has moved to the last slot and we're going to dance and talk about the new changes for their story. So I’ll two-step with it so it will be ready for a spring, 2013 publication.

The band has promised that when all the shuffling is done that they’ll play nothing but line dances for a while and all my ducks will be in a row again.

Me?

Change is good and as long as the band is playing, I’m happy to be on the dance floor either line dancing or with a partner! So (raise your glass of wine, shot of Jack Daniels, cup of coffee or even your herbal tea) here’s to the dance, folks. May all your new beginnings bring you happiness and success this year…and like Lee Ann Womack says in her song, if you have a chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance!

Have you ever gotten a phone call that changed your direction? What did you do about it ... dance or sit it out?

There is an ARC of One Hot Cowboy Wedding (April 2012) waiting to give away to one lucky person who comments on this blog today! Interested? (US and Canada Only please. Winner chosen Monday, Jan. 30)

The Danger that is Damion

2012-01-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012 everyone!
I know I'm getting old because I already month of 2012 and it feels like days. I blinked and it's gone. I am going to blink and it will be RT Convention time too. RT is in Chicago this year and I was born in Springfield and have tons of family up that way. I am really excited to get to see them all. I hope I will get to see many of the Casablanca authors there and meet a lot of the readers I talk to on twitter, facebook, and yahoo groups. And what timing -- Damion is out right after RT!

Since we are beginning a new year, I thought it would be fun to share the first impression the heroine from THE DANGER THAT IS DAMION makes on Damion.

Coming in May!
**Note-- blogger wasn't playing nice with me. It keeps centering the excerpt. So my apologies that it's not aligned a bit nicer.
THE DANGER THAT IS DAMION

By Lisa Renee Jones

ZODIUS #3: THE DANGER THAT IS DAMION

Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 2012)

Zodius Series Page

Pre-order at Amazon|Barnes and Noble

General Powell from book 1 has returned and he’s developed a way to create and control a new generation of female GTECHs. He plans to use these women to bring both, the Renegades and the Zodius soldiers, back under his command. The world will be his. Now, Damion, a Renegade, who readers met in book two, will be pitted against one of those soldiers, a woman destined to be both his Lifebond and his enemy. Damion will become her only hope of salvation and their trust in each other the only chance they have to save the world from a madman.

Read on for an Excerpt:

The Danger that is Damion Excerpt

May 2012!

There was nothing unusual to a casual observer about a hot woman in a white string bikini, lounging poolside, a few feet from where undercover Renegade soldier Damion Browne leaned against the cabana-style bar, a beer in hand. In fact, from a purely male standpoint, there was absolutely everything right with this particular woman, a brunette with long, silky, dark hair brushing creamy white shoulders. But then, he was on duty, and he took that duty too seriously to allow primal urges to distract him. Still…something about this woman set his blood to pumping, and like it or not, that translated to a distraction that was out of character for him.

He told himself it was because she’d shown up ten minutes into the outdoor excursion of a Russian nuclear scientist, and his family, that Damion was covertly ensuring didn’t end up in Adam Rain’s arsenal of weapons. The he last thing the Renegades wanted was the leader of the Zodius GTECH movement getting his hands on the nuclear technology Lev was selling the United States in exchange for citizenship.That’s why this woman was a potential risk, he told himself, not because she had long, shapely legs that belonged wrapped around a man’s waist–his waist, Damion thought, with a rush of pure male heat. They belonged around his waist. Damn. What was wrong with him?

Inwardly, he shook himself, not sure what it was about this woman, but she could easily drag him into the linger zone when he didn’t go to the linger zone on duty. Scratch that, he thought, as he glanced at Lev and family, and back to her, she already had him in the linger zone, and there was no forgiving his distraction unless… That gnawing gut feeling was telling him that underneath all that sex appeal, she was trouble, despite Adam’s dislike of female operatives. Add that to the fact that the CIA team watching Lev had allowed him outside in the first place, and Damion had a bad bad feeling about this. Suddenly, as if she sensed his suspicions, the dark-haired beauty’s head snapped in his direction, her attention settling on him, her eyes shielded by white-rimmed sunglasses. Time stood still for an intense, crackling moment. Certainty filled him. She had known the entire time that he was watching her.

The microphone tucked discreetly inside Damion’s ear hummed a second before the voice of his Harley loving, wildcard, second-in-charge, Chale Bonner, spoke, “We reported Lev’s barking dog to the front desk several times. Looks like security is headed his way. We’ll have him inside the building where he’s less exposed in a flash.”

Damion didn’t reply. He was still watching the woman, who as abruptly as she’d given her attention, jerked it away. Reaching for her bag, she stood up, offering him a nice, heart-shaped, backside view, as she sashayed away. Her pace was slow, confident, but a bit too precise. She was hiding something besides the intimate details of her body, details he wanted to discover beneath those tiny pieces of white material. Adam didn’t typically work with women—he believed they were inferior beings—but somehow, someway, this one was the source of the warning in his gut.

“Alert,” Chale added. “Doggy Patrol has arrived. Get ready for movement.” Damion eyed the backdoor of the hotel to find two uniformed security guards, and a woman dressed in a suit, headed toward Lev and his brood.

“I see them,” Damion said, his gaze shifting to the fast-departing, bikini-clad female. But had she seen them? Was that why she couldn’t get away from this place fast enough?

Damion set the beer down and discreetly touched the mike hidden in his ear. “Cover Lev. Something about that woman is bothering me.” He pushed off the bar and started walking, unable to use his GTECH ability to travel inside the wind without risk of garnering unwanted attention. This woman was dangerous. The kind of dangerous a soldier, a Renegade, didn’t let escape.

Now for the question of today, what makes you pick up a book? The cover, the title, the author's name, or something else? Do you buy on a splurge or do you have a list of books you are looking for and rarely stray?

YOU TELL ME!

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

by Deb Werksman
Editorial Manager,
Sourcebooks Casablanca

Instead of hearing myself talk today, I want to hear from YOU! To that end, please see below a short survey of your romance reading habits. Please cut and paste with your answers, either as a post here, or in an email to me directly deb.werksman@sourcebooks.com .

A random selection of 5 responders will win a FREE novel of your choice from Sourcebooks! Be sure to include your email address in your post if you want to be included in the drawing.

Please tell your friends—I want to hear from as many people as possible!

1) How many romance novels have you read in the last 3 months?

2) What sub-genres were they?
___ Contemporary
___ Paranormal
___ Romantic Suspense
___ Historical
___ Erotic Romance
___ Other (please specify)

My favorite sub-genre is:

3) How many were were ebooks? ___
How many were print books? ___
Of how many did you get BOTH the ebook and the print book? ___

4) Where did you buy them? (check all that apply)
___online (Amazon, BN.com, ARe, etc.)
___bookstore (Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, etc.)
___other retailer (Target, Walmart, etc.)
___used (used bookstore, tag sale, library sale, etc.)
___Other (please specify)

5) How many were by authors you had never read before?

6) Where did you find out about authors you had never read before? (check all that apply)

___recommended by friend or family
___saw review online
___saw printed review
___picked up while browsing in a bookstore
___picked up while browsing in the library
___Other (please specify)

7) How many of the romances you read in the last 3 months did you then recommend to other people?

8) Are you an author yourself?
___published
___aspiring
___no

9) On romance covers, which do you pick up most often:
___Hero alone—with abs
___Hero alone, clothed
___Couple
___Heroine alone
___Landscape

10) Any comments or other things you’d like to share about your reading and/or book buying?

Thank you for participating in this survey!

First Look at Untouched & Giveaway! -- Sara Humphreys

2012-01-25T00:02:00.000-08:00

As fate would have it, this month's theme fits in nicely with my April release, Untouched. Kerry Smithson experiences a series of "firsts" courtesy of the disarmingly handsome, Dante Coltari.

Allow me to explain.

Kerry is a plus-size model with a super-size secret and she's hidden her curse from every single person in her life, including her best friend Samantha. Just the slightest touch of another human being brings blistering pain and mind-numbing visions and even though she's lived much of her life in the public eye, she's remained isolated.

Adopted into a cold and aloof family, she's never known real love, except for her BFF. Samantha is the only person she can touch without pain or frightening visions. When she touches Sam, all she sees is the image of a wolf.

Kerry has no idea why that's the case...she's just grateful for it.

So let's think about this. If she can't touch anyone without experiencing blood-curdling pain...then it would go to follow that she's never......um...yeah...our heroine is a thirty year old virgin.

A super-hot-amazonian- drop-dead-sexy-virgin.

Until Dante comes along...

Dante Coltari (not a virgin but that's okay...we want a man who knows what he's doing) is an Amoveo from the Fox Clan and he's finally, after years of searching, found his mate. When he realizes his mate is a hybrid, like Samantha, he is fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

The Purists, including his own father, want to eliminate all of the hybrids to keep their ancient race of shape-shifters free of human blood. The only thing that keeps Dante from completely losing his mind is her gift of second sight. He figures that since she's already been living outside the human norm, she'll be able to accept her Amoveo heritage with ease. He hangs all of his hopes on the fact that once they are mated all of the pieces will fall into place and she'll be able to better manage her gift.

Dante's company, Inferno Securities, is hired to provide security for Kerry while she's on a photo shoot in New Orleans. He knows that he has to get her to trust him in order to win her heart and keep her safe but that's going to be a challenge. She doesn't fall at his feet and instantly succumb to his charm.

That's a first for him.

There are several firsts for Kerry that go beyond "the first time"...although that's a rather memorable moment. But not in the awkward-teenager-where-do-I-put-stuff kind of way.

The first time he touches her there's the surprising absence of pain, an even more unexpected wave of pleasure and the sole image of a massive fox fills her mind.

There's the first kiss....first caress...first....y'know....

So here's a first look at what's on the pages beneath that gorgeous cover. Seriously, I don't know how the Sourcebooks art department does it. They capture the story so beautifully. Every. Single. Time.

In this scene, Kerry and Dante have just arrived at The Hotel Monteleone and she's getting settled in her room. Her head is spinning. He'd touched her, albeit briefly, on the plane and that mere brush of his thumb sent breathtaking pleasure through her body. Unsure if it was just a fluke, she accepts his hand as she's exiting the car and finds that it's most definitely not a one-time thing.

Something about Dante's touch was blissfully different.

Kerry's got no idea what's going on...the only thing she's sure of is that she wants more.

***

They rode up to the fourteenth floor in silence, and Kerry found herself feeling awkward and unsure. She felt like a high schoolgirl on a date for the first time. She cringed at her own foolishness. Jeez, what a dork.

The ding of the elevator signified arrival to their floor and broke the silence.

“So why is it called the Tennessee Williams suite?” he asked while they made their way down the corridor.

“All of the suites are named after authors.” Kerry fished the card key out of the paper folder and slid it into the door.

He grunted what must have been his version of saying he understood as he pushed past her into the massive suite. The large living room was well appointed with a sofa and armchairs in varying hues of cream and beige. A dining table loomed largely on the left side of the room with an enormous crystal chandelier dangling overhead. The towering windows were elegantly adorned in floral drapes fringed with tassels.

Kerry closed the door behind them and made her way into the similarly decorated and cavernous bedroom. The king-size bed looked exceptionally welcoming. She shook her head as Dante proceeded to look around every corner and in every closet. He even checked the bathroom, but for what she wasn’t sure. Although it was certainly big enough for someone to hide in, he found nothing, and made his way back to the living room.

“While I’m getting settled here,” she called from the bathroom, “why don’t you go on downstairs and get yourself checked in. I’m sure you’ve managed to get the suite next door,” she mumbled under her breath.

“No. I’ll be staying here,” he said absentmindedly, looking out the window at the bustling street below.

Kerry dropped her makeup bag onto the smooth granite counter and looked at herself in the mirror. “Is he crazy?” she whispered to her own reflection. She stormed into the living room to ask him the same question. “Are you crazy? You’re not staying in my room with me.” Her body trembled with outrage, and as much as she hated to admit it, some excitement. She crossed her arms in an effort to quiet her shaking limbs.

He didn’t even turn around, just continued staring out the damn window.

“I can’t very well protect you while staying in another room at the hotel.” His voice was irritatingly calm. When he finally turned around, she noticed he’d taken off his stupid sunglasses. “I’ll sleep out here on the sofa,” he said, gesturing to it. “Besides, I don’t sleep much anyway. I’m really more of a night creature.” A smile spread slowly across his face as he closed the distance between them. “Don’t worry, princess. You’ll be perfectly safe.”

His hulking frame loomed largely in front of her, and she felt positively tiny. She never felt tiny. Ever. Would every single encounter with this man bring a new sensation? Kerry’s tongue darted out, nervously licking her lips. Her breath caught in her chest, and her heart raced wildly. She brushed that pesky stray lock of hair off her face and struggled to keep her expression neutral.

When Kerry opened her mouth to protest, Dante placed a fingertip on her lips and shook his head slowly. She sucked in her breath, and her body shuddered faintly at the exquisite effect of his touch. Sweet, honeyed warmth radiated from her lips, flickered over skin, and flashed through the rest of her body. Did every woman feel this way when a man touched her? Is this how it’s supposed to be?

God, she hoped so.

Kerry’s eyes fluttered closed as he gently stroked her bottom lip with his thumb, and his fingers brushed her cheek. The vision of the fox floated gently into her mind. Its amber eyes glowed brighter with every featherlight stroke. Exquisite pleasure rippled through her body. Too tired to fight it and exhausted from years of isolation, she allowed herself to give in. Eyes closed, she leaned into his hand and surrendered to the seductive sensations swirling through her.

She didn’t know why he could touch her this way. She didn’t care. All she knew was that she never wanted it to end. As if he’d read her mind, Dante held her face with both hands and stroked her cheeks softly. He tread lightly over the virgin flesh. The rough texture of his fingers against her soft skin created delicious friction.

“You have nothing to fear from me,” he said. The sound of his voice washed over her, enticing and erotic. He leaned in, and his breath blew hotly against her ear. She moaned softly in response, sinking deeper into the sweet honey of his touch. She hung there, blissfully succumbing to it, until one word floated into her mind and ripped her from the soft sensations. Princess.

Her body stilled. Her eyes flew open, and she launched herself away from him.

“What the fuck?” she whispered through trembling lips. She backed away blindly and nearly fell over the large armchair. He didn’t move or try to come after her, but kept his expression neutral. Dante stood there as though speaking to her with his mind was a totally normal thing to do.

“Did you just—?” She stammered helplessly and pointed at him accusingly. “Say something, for Christ’s sake! Don’t just stand there looking at me like I’m crazy.”

He stayed stone still. His deep amber eyes stared back at her as he held her in his unrelenting gaze. She stood her ground, hands planted firmly on her hips, waiting for him, daring him to deny it. The silence that pulsed between them seemed almost palpable. She wanted to scream and pound him in the chest, make him tell her she wasn’t crazy—and then she heard it.

Yes.

***

When I was writing Untouched, I had a first of my own. I was completely stuck and my muse wasn't forthcoming (that's not the first...or the last) but when I heard the song Honey on the Skin by Amy Petty....everything just clicked. Amy is a brilliant singer and songwriter. She and her record label have been kind enough to let me use her music for all of the Amoveo book trailers. Here's the trailer for Untouched and it features the song that inspired me.

**Leave a comment on the blog and tomorrow I'll select one commenter at random to receive a signed arc of Untouched!**

Can't wait to get your copy? You can pre-order it!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Old Beginnings by Grace Burrowes

2012-01-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

I started writing romance in my late forties, saw my first contract around age 51, and at age 52 have four books on the shelves—for which I’m very grateful. To appearances, I got a late start, but a good one, in the published author biz.

And I was lucky—I didn’t have to do much pitching, didn’t have to query a zillion agents, didn’t have to revise and resubmit a dozen books. I wrote a few manuscripts, sent them around to some contests, pitched an editor, and here we are, several Regency romances later, loving life.

Except that characterization, while not deceptive, is not accurate either. Trace the threads of my writing story back to their origins, and you’ll see me forty years ago, being lent a copy of “The Wolf and the Dove” by a junior high acquaintance. Trace them back further, and you’ll find me reading my eyes bloodshot at the age of eight, when I got hold of my first Hardy Boys adventure (never did find much of interest about Nancy Drew). When I was seven, I started keeping my first journal—large print before it was popular.

Roll forward, and I’m in college pursuing political science and music history degrees, while I work on the campus newspaper as an arts reporter, copy editor, and arts editor. I learned AP style, got some writing basics down, and laid the groundwork to do some concert reviews for The Washington Post. I also landed a couple jobs after college as a technical writer and editor, (and learned that proofreading is not my thang).

It never once occurred to me to pursue writing fiction professionally. I was a musician, a document production coordinator, technical editor, a lawyer, a mediator… “Commercial fiction,” I said as I bought every Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase and Judith Ivory I could find, “is for people with writing talent, tenacity and imagination.”

I did not consider myself a writer, even though in law school I had to write one term paper after another. I endured this (while working full time and taking on single parenting) solely by reading a half dozen romances every week. For my master’s degree, my advisor let me write a romance novel that evaluated the American legal system from a conflict management viewpoint (which I also endured by consuming romance novels voraciously).

By the time I “started” writing romance novels for fun, I had read at least 12,000 romances, I had filled at least 100 handwritten journals, I had memorized two style manuals (though I’ve forgotten GPO style number rules, thank God), and published at least 200 byline articles. The only person in my family who was surprised when I was offered a contract so soon after I “started” to write was me.

The point of this diatribe is to note that I had no idea what I was beginning when I read “The Wolf and the Dove” all those decades ago.

Beginnings are usually invisible, and this is a wonderful thing. Every day, going about your usual routine, you are very likely sowing the seeds for entire new careers, whether you know it or not. You are nurturing dreams, fertilizing hopes, and finding the keys to doors you can’t even see yet. See your day as an accumulation of clues to the treasure map of your future, and everything takes on the aspect of a wonderful new beginning.

What about you? How far back did your current dream start and at the time, could you see where those threads were leading?

First Impressions by Stephanie Julian

2012-01-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

As we all know, first impressions are so important.

That's especially true with books, where a reader will usually pick up a book based first on the cover. I've been blessed with three gorgeous covers for my Forgotten Goddess series. They perfectly express the sensual nature of the stories inside.

After that, if the reader is like me, they'll flip the book and read the back cover blurb. I can't tell you how many times I've put a book back on the shelf because the blurb failed to hook me. But if it did, I immediately go to the first chapter and start to read. For me, if the first page fails to catch my interest, I put the book down. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'm sure there are great books out there that I haven't read because the first few sentences simply didn't grab my attention.

The most recent example of one that did hook me...Gena Showalter's THE DARKEST NIGHT. "Every night, death came, slowly, painfully, and every morning Maddox awoke in bed, knowing he'd have to die again later."

Totally sucked me in. I have no idea why I haven't been reading these books since they first started releasing several years ago.

Then there's Suz Brockmann's EVERYDAY, AVERAGE JONES. I remember buying it at Kmart. It was August 1998 (I know this because the book is an Intimate Moments and that's what it says on the cover). My kids were 5 and 3 and I was a binge reader. Two books a day if they were Harlequins or one a day single title. I devoured H/S books by the ton. I was friends with a used book dealer and she kept my addiction fed. I didn't buy a lot of new books because we couldn't afford to supply my habit. But for whatever reason, I picked up EVERYDAY, AVERAGE JONES. I think the uniform on the main character caught my eye first. I flipped it over. "Girl next door," "rescue," "adrenaline rush." Buzz words for the kind of stories I usually like.

Then I opened it up. "It was extremely likely that she was going to die." Which I knew wasn't true because the hero was going to save her and they were going to live happily ever after but I wanted to know why she thought she wasn't getting out alive. And I wanted to know how the hero saved her.

Needless to say I bought the book which resides with all my other Brockmann books on her very own keeper shelf in my office. It's still one of my favorites and it made me scour the used book stores and sales until I found the first three books in the series (which, yes, remain on that shelf, as well. full disclosure, PRICE JOE remains on my bedside bookcase, where I keep the books I'd toss out the window before I would jump if my house was burning).

So what are some of your favorite first lines?

If you're intrigued by the Forgotten Goddesses series, WHAT A GODDESS WANTS is still on sale for $1.99 electronically. Amazon B&N

First Drafts by Tamara Hogan

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Can you keep a secret? Vegas rules, right?

I hate writing first drafts. There. I said it.

I know, I know. I've heard all the writerly bromides: "First drafts are supposed to be bad." "You can fix anything but a blank page." But the perfectionist who lives in my head isn't listening. She's singing, "Let it suck, let it suck, let it suck!" - to the tune of "Let It Snow" - at the top of her lungs. Being I'm five chapters into my third manuscript, with a good fifteen chapters yet to go, let's just say she's gonna be singing for awhile.

Yeah, I know. La Nora's right. Once the first draft has been written, the words can be fixed - but I've learned that I'm one of those writers who loves revising, and sometimes vapor-locks looking at a blank screen.

Some tricks I've learned to goose myself out of the blocks a little faster:

Step away from the computer. I pick up a notebook and pen, set the timer for 10 minutes, and free-write everything I think I know about the scene I'm working on. This inevitably turns into beats of dialogue, at least some of which are usable, and a good sense of the scene sequence. Who does what? What information is concealed and revealed? How do I connect the dots from the previous scene to the next? Once I go back to the glowing screen, I'm warmed up, and have a much better idea of where I'm going.

Eye games: I sometimes change my word processor settings so it displays white text on a blue background. This looks less "blank" to me.

Just talk it out, a/k/a "First Drafts for Dummies": sometimes I fire up my Dragon voice recognition software and simply talk about the scene instead of writing it down, with no pressure to produce anything usable. Voila! The page is no longer blank! And I can revise, revise, revise.

Hmm. Looks like Nora's right after all. Was there any doubt? ;-)

Writers, how do you get out of your own way and just get the first draft down? Any tips and tricks you can share?

UNDER FIRE - New Excerpt! (By Catherine Mann)

2012-01-20T23:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Our January blog theme of new beginnings immediately made me think of my next "Elite Force" book coming out in May - UNDER FIRE. While I've posted an excerpt from chapter one of UNDER FIRE in a previous blog, I have not yet posted THE beginning of the book. This blog presents the perfect opportunity!

For those of you who have not yet read my "Elite Force" books, they feature Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs.) There are only approximately 350 pararescuemen in the world, and they're trained for high risk rescues, military and civilian. Land. Water. Mountains. They can hold off an opposing force if needed and stabilize a wounded individual while waiting for transport out.

PJs train hard, then train even harder... Ooh-rah!

And now, an advance peek at the opening of UNDER FIRE, "Elite Force" book 3, May 2012:

CHAPTER ONE:
Patrick Air Force Base, Florida:

“Kill one. Screw one. Marry one.”

Major Liam McCabe almost choked on a gulp of the Atlantic as his pararescue teammate’s words floated across the waves. Today’s two-mile swim was pushing toward an hour long. A light rain pocked the surface faster by the second. Still, there was no reason to think one of his guys had gone batty.

Liam sliced an arm through the choppy ocean, looking to the side. “Wanna run that by me again, Cuervo?”

Jose “Cuervo” James swam next to him, phrases coming in bursts as his face cleared the water. “It’s a word game. Kill one. Screw one. Marry one. Somebody names three women…” Swim. Breathe. “And you have to pick.” Swim. Breathe. “One to marry. One to kill. One to--”

“Right,” Liam interrupted, “got it.”

He would have sighed and shook his head except for the whole drowning thing. At moments such as these, he felt like a stodgy old guy more than ever.

“So, Major?” Cuervo stroked along and over the rippling waves. Storm clouds brewed overhead. “Are you in?”

On monotonous swims or runs, they’d shot the breeze plenty of times to take their minds off screaming muscles. The distraction was particularly welcome during intense physical training.

This word game, however, was a first.

A quick glance reassured him the other six team members were keeping pace with him and Cuervo. Each held strong, powering toward the beach still a quarter of a mile away.

Feet pumping his fins, Liam shifted his attention back on the “game.” His body burned from the effort, but he had plenty of steam left inside to finish up. He was their team leader. Their commanding officer. He would not fall behind.

“How about I just listen first?” Water flowed over his body, briny, chilly. Familiar. “Let one of the others start off.”

“Sure, old man,” huffed Cuervo, spewing a mouthful to the side. “If you need to save your breath to keep pace. Okay, Fang, you’re up.”

Fang, the youngest of the group and the one most eager to fit in, arced his arms faster to pull up alongside. “Bring it on.”

“Topic for first three. Brad Pitt’s women,” Cuervo barked. “Gwyneth Paltrow. Jennifer Anniston. Angelina Jolie.”

“Jennifer’s hot,” Fang spewed water with his speedy answer. “I would do her in a heartbeat.”

Liam found an answer falling from his mouth after all. “I’d marry Angie.”

“Too easy.” Cuervo snorted. “You’ve been married three times, Major, so that’s not saying much for Angie.”
Which just left… Poor Gwyneth.

But then he’d always had a thing for brunettes. And redheads. And blondes. Hell, he loved women. But he really loved brunettes. One brunette in particular, the one he hadn’t married or slept with or even made it past first base, for God’s sake.

Focus on the swim. The team.

The damn game. “Cuervo, are we playing this or not?”

“Next trio up… topic is singers,” Cuervo announced. “Brittany Spears. Christina Aguilera. And Kesha.”

Huh? “Who the hell is Kesha?”

“Are you sure you’re not too old for this job?”

“Still young enough to out swim you, baby boy.” Liam surged ahead of Cuervo. Swims were a lot easier on his abused knees than parachute landings or runs. But a pararescueman needed to be ready for anything, anywhere. Any weather.

Thunder rolled liked a bowling ball gaining speed and his teammates were the pins.

All games aside, this little dip in the rain was about more than a simple training exercise. More than team building. He needed his pararescuemen in top form for a mission they usually didn’t handle - the external security for an upcoming international summit being held at NASA. Not normal business for pararescuemen, but well within their skill set to act as a quick reaction force if anything went down. After all isn’t that what a rescue was? A quick reaction to something going down? Trained and prepared to fight back enemy combatant forces if necessary to protect their rescue target.

This made for a tough last assignment. His final hoo-uh, ooh-rah before he said goodbye to military life. Since he was eleven years old watching vintage war movies on a VCR with his cancer-stricken mama, all he’d wanted was to be that man who took the hill and won the woman. His mother had lost her battle. But Liam had been determined to carry on the fight by putting on that uniform.

Damned if he would go out with a whimper.

Fang slapped the water. “Can we get back to the fuck-me game?”

“Hey,” Wade Rocha’s voice rumbled as deeply as the thunder, “no need to make this crude.”

“Oh, excuse me,” Fang gasped. “Now that you’re married, you’re all Sergeant Sensitivity.” Gasp. Stroke. “I guess we’ll call this …Kill one. Marry one.” Gasp. Stroke. “Make sweet flowery love to one.”

Rocha muttered, “You’re just jealous, smart ass.”

Fang chuckled and spluttered. “Not hardly. Monogamy until I’m in the grave?” He shuddered. “No thanks. Not into that.”

But Liam was.

He’d tried his ass off to make the happily ever after thing work. Tried three times, in fact. Problem was he had a defective cog when it came to choosing a woman to spend his life with. Didn’t help that he’d always put the mission first, something that hadn’t sat well with any of his wives. A small fortune spent on marital counseling hadn’t been able to fix the relationships or him.

And still, he couldn’t get that one woman – that one brunette - out of his mind no matter how many times he chanted: old patterns, not real, get over her.

He was a romantic sap who fell in love too easily. He kept looking for that classic movie, silver screen ending. Guy gets girl. Roll credits.

If only he could have persuaded Rachel Flores to go out with him once they’d returned to the States. They’d worked together rescuing earthquake victims in the Bahamas six months ago. Had become good friends, or so he’d thought. After they got back, she never returned his calls.

Sure, if they had dated, the relationship would have self-destructed like all the rest. Then he could have walked away free and clear, no regrets, no lengthy explicit dreams that woke him up hard and unsatisfied. Now, he was stuck with images of Rachel rattling around in his noggin until he wouldn’t even notice another woman waiting on the beach ahead wearing nothing but body glitter and a do-me smile.

Except there wasn’t anyone on the beach. Just a stretch of sand and trees and a five mile hike waiting to set his knees on fire after they hit the shore.

His life had been about training and service since he’d joined the Army at eighteen. Became a ranger. Then got his degree while serving, became an officer and swapped to the Air Force and pararescue missions.

Training. Honing. Brotherhood.

He’d sacrificed three marriages and any social life for this and would have kept right on doing so. Except now his thirty-eight year old body was becoming a liability to those around him.

One week. He had one week and a big ass demonstration left. Until then he would do his damnedest to keep his team focused and invincible. He wasn’t going to spend another second fantasizing about a particular sexy spitfire brunette with as much grit as his elite force team.

Liam narrowed his eyes against the sting of salt and the pounding rain pushing through the surface like bullets. “I’ve got a new game, gentlemen. It’s called ‘Pick Your Poison.’” Stroke. Breathe. “If you’ve gotta die in the water…” Stroke. Breathe. “Would you choose a water moccasin? An alligator? Or a shark?”***

QUESTION: If you were playing the game of famous person "marry one - screw one - kill one" - who's your famous secret crush?

Two commenters will be chosen at random to receive a copy of either "Elite Force" book 1 COVER ME or "Elite Force" book 2 HOT ZONE. (Winner's choice!) The winners will be chosen on Monday, January 23. So please either leave a contact e-mail in your post, or check back on Monday, when I will post the winners' names!

***
Upcoming releases:
PROTECTOR, Berkley Sensation, March 2012
HONORABLE INTENTIONS, Harlequin Desire, April 2012
UNDER FIRE, Sourcebooks Casablanca, May 2012

FMI about upcoming books, I can be found online at:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMann1

New Year - New Anticipations

2012-01-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

The start of a new year is an exciting time. And it always makes me think of things I'm looking forward to in the next twelve months. 2012 looks to be an exciting year and I can't wait to see what lies ahead. But for me, these are the things I can't wait for...

1. Disneyland

We're taking a family vacation in February. It'll be the first time my you

ngest will see the Magic Kingdom. I can't wait to see his reaction. And since the last two times I was there I was pregnant each time, I can't wait to experience all the rides myself!

2. The release of my critique partner's debut release--FEVER by Joan Swan!

I have loved this book so long, and I can't wait until readers can get it in their hands. Sexy firefighters, a dangerous conspiracy and a smoking hot romance. FEVER releases in March. Don't walk to buy this book...RUN!

3. My first RT Convention!

I've never been, so I'm all kinds of excited. And since ENRAP TURED releases in April--the same month as the RT convention--I'm even more excited.

4. The release of ENRAPTURED April 3, 2012!

Book four in the Eternal Guardians Series! Publisher's Weekly recently gave it a starred review and called it "Naughton's best book yet."

5. Baseball Season

I'm a baseball nut, and opening day always signals the start of spring for me. I love hanging out at the ballpark.

6. Warm weather

Oh, warm weather! Who doesn't love that? Shorts, tanks, FLIP FLOPS. In the middle of the rainy season here in the PNW, I'm dying right now for flip flop weather. Cannot wait.

7. Football Season

As much as I love baseball, I love football just as much. And fall is my very favorite season.

8. The release of ENSLAVED in November!

The 5th Eternal Guardians book! I'm just finishing edits on it now and I LOVE this book. Love this hero, love this story. Love the cover! (I saw it the other day and it's awesome. As soon as I get the go-ahead to share, I will.)

9. The Hobbit!

(You knew this was coming.) I'm a huge Tolkien fan and I love LOTR. This is the one movie I'm dying to see in 2012.

and...

10. December 21, 2012.

The end of the world! (Uh huh.) Actually, I'm fascinated by the whole hoopla about the end of the Mayan calendar and can't wait to see all the planets align.

What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Keeping it Fresh

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

By Leah Hultenschmidt, Senior Editor

This week, I’ve been doing a big pitch critique over at YA chat lit. Even though the material is all young adult, you might want to check it out for ideas in honing your own pitches:http://yalitchat.ning.com/forum/topics/pitch-slam-weekend-january-13-15-2012.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most common questions I had for those who submitted a pitch:

· Where’s the hook? What is the element of your story that’s going to make everyone clamor to read it?

· Where and when is it set?

· Does it fit the category? If it’s YA, the pitch needs to mention that the characters are teens. And for romance, I need a happy ending for the main characters.

One comment that came up frequently for me was that I’d seen a lot of similar themes lately. The pitch was strong—it summarized the story, it had a hook, there was a sense of drama, the storyline was clear—but I felt as if I’d read it before. This is always the most devastating for me because it’s tough to advise the author in how to make it better. And so many times, it’s not even as though there are a ton of books that have already hit the shelves on that theme. But I’ve just happened to have several proposals with the same thing in the last few months.

How can you try to avoid this?

BEFORE submitting:

Study recent releases the category. Does your story feel fresh? If it’s a Regency or a Highlander book, for example, what makes it different from all the others?
Check Publishers Marketplace for recent deals. This will help you see what *will* be coming out in the next year or so. Does your story still feel fresh?

AFTER submitting, if you hear from several places that it’s too similar to other projects:

See if you can change an element. Can your vampires be dragons?
Try to get an endorsement from a well-known author. For any debut author, this can help tip the scales in your favor.
Think about adding an unexpected element.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who was brave enough to put a pitch out there.

New Beginnings means Change, By Kathryne Kennedy

2012-01-18T00:33:00.000-08:00

As a writer, I deal with change in my stories all of the time. Usually, my hero and heroine are not right for each other at the beginning of a book. They need to change in order to earn their happily-ever-after. But change is difficult, so I have to force them to do so by putting them into difficult situations that will challenge them emotionally—and since I write adventurous fantasy—physically, as well.

But I’m pulling all of the strings. In order to have a new beginning, there must be change, and in real life, that’s the toughest thing to do.

First, there has to be a realization for the need to change…sometimes just recognizing the need will take you halfway there. There’s an old adage that I love: You can’t keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.

So. Am I happy? Is my life taking the direction I want it to? Now, realistically, no one can be happy one-hundred-percent of the time. But people should be happy most of the time…life is just too short. So if I’m not as happy as I want to be, maybe it’s time for a change this year. For most people, it’s not so much the situation that causes unhappiness, but the people that surround them. They impact your mental and emotional state. If I take a look at those people closest to me I have to ask: Do they make me feel good about myself? Do they help me to see the positives in my life? If not, maybe it’s time for a change.

In my books, I often force my protagonists to see those around them in a new light, and the changes they make are often leaps. But this is so hard, especially when I may not have a choice about who surrounds me. So it’s often easier to make little changes at a time. Perhaps I need to spend a little less time with anyone who’s a negative influence on my life. And by paying less attention to what they say to me.

It’s also easy to get stuck in a routine. Sometimes what you know is preferable to the fear of the unknown. But I can seek out new situations and people who do make me feel good, and slowly include them in my circle. I can be alert to new opportunities. It’s surprising how easy it is to find them by just being open to them. I can start small. Decide on one person or situation in my life to change, and then take baby steps to make it happen. It will empower me with a sense of control that will help me to make even more changes.

And then I’ll be on the road to my own happily-ever-after.

Until Next Time,

Kathryne

This post is dedicated to my niece, and anyone seeking a new beginning this year.

Beginnings and Endings

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

By Cheryl Brooks

Tarq smelled her before he ever laid eyes on her--a glorious, delectable aroma that curled through his head and shot straight into his bloodstream. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply as the effect of her fragrance hit him with the force of a pulse blast, obliterating every thought with the instantaneous ecstasy of an erection so hard it made his head swim.
He glanced away from his menu, taking in the shape of her legs out of the corner of his eye--what he could see of them, that is. Her baggy trousers and apron concealed everything about her legs except the fact that she had two of them.

"Hi, my name is Lucy, and I'll be your server," she said. "Do you already know what you'd like, or do you need more time?
Tarq smiled to himself as he shook his head. No, he didn't need more time. He knew exactly what he wanted. "You," he replied. "I'd like a full order of you."

Those are the opening paragraphs of my upcoming release, The Cat Star Chronicles: Stud, which is due out in February. When I wrote those lines, I knew Lucy and Tarq would be soon embark on an adventure, but I wasn't entirely sure where it would take them. This was simply the image I had in my head when I first began developing the story.

It's funny how a single mental picture can put me right where I need to be to begin a new project. It doesn't always happen that way, though. Sometimes the process is painfully slow, requiring a great deal of thought. I recently finished writing book nine of the series, Wildcat, and sent it off to beta readers and my agent for their critique. That done, I began revising an early manuscript, hoping to link it together with two other books to create a series, but the idea for something new eluded me.

Then one morning, I woke up with a scene in my mind that I have since discussed with my writer friends and my DH, and I think I've come up with a decent proposal for a new paranormal series. What I'll do with it remains unknown at this point, but the idea is there. I've even jotted down a few notes.

Now all I have to do is start writing it. LOL! New beginnings...doncha just love 'em?

Beginning a new manuscript

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

January is a time for new beginnings...as are Mondays. I don't bother trying to start a diet on Jan 1st, because it's my anniversary. Less than a week later is my birthday, then we go away for our annual post holiday brain thaw in a warmer climate. This year we went to Panama. (See the gorgeous waterfall I posted on You Tube last week.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnWrFU3MzU8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

But today, Monday the 15th, it's time to buckle down and get back to reality. I have a head start this time. The book began to pour out of me a couple months ago, so I wrote a few pages. I liked the characters and incorporated them into the story I had been writing before deadline. (First in a new series. It's a spin off of the Strange Neighbors books. The new series is called Flirting with Fangs.)

I finished book 1 right before vacation and sent to to my agent for her feedback--then I was able to relax for an entire week. Whew! How often does that happen? In my life, rarely!

So, here I am, all rested and ready to plunge into book 2. I hope you've all had a chance to recover from the holidays and have the energy something new brings. A new idea...A new release...a new year. Here's to a wonderful 2012, everyone!

Beginning a new manuscript

2012-01-16T05:07:00.001-08:00

A New Beginning: "Cowboy Crazy"

2012-01-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

New beginnings, for me, mean new cowboys. And in June 2012, I'm introducing readers to my hottest hero ever in "Cowboy Crazy."

If you have any doubts about that, take a look at this cover.

Sourcebooks has given me some great cowboy covers, but this is the best ever. Who can resist a battered hat, workingman's abs, and a sense of humor?

Not me--and not my heroine, Sarah Landon. Sarah's a country girl who's determined to go cosomopolitan. She's sworn off cowboys for life, but when her boss introduces her to his brother--the family renegade--that resolution, along with her hard-won professionalism, is tested to its limits.

Here's their first meeting:

Lane Carrigan filled the doorway, standing with his legs slightly apart and his arms folded over his chest. He was taller than his brother by a couple of inches, but what caught Sarah's attention was the uncanny vibrance of his blue eyes. Eric had those same eyes, but in his aristocratic face they were merely interesting. Contrasted with Lane's deep tan, they were striking. And they seemed to see right through her skin and into her soul--or maybe just into her underwear. Certainly the spasm of heat the bolted through her made her feel naked.
She wondered how old he was. Eric was the little brother, so that made Lane what? Twenty-nine? But he looked older. Eric's face was genteel and perfectly proportioned; Lane's was craggier, with a nose that was just a little too big and brows that jutted over those blue, blue eyes. It was like you'd taken the same man and let one live a refined, easy life while you put the other one through the wringer. She wondered if it was just outdoor life that made Lane look so much older, or if the lines on his face had been written there by some kind of stress or even sadness.
He lowered himself into the chair beside her, shoving it backward so he could stretch out his legs. His cowboy boots weren't the tooled, polished fashion statements the wanna-bes wore to happy hour. They were plain brown leather, rough, scuffed and unadorned. Workingman's boots.
But he didn't work, she reminded herself. He played, riding real-life rocking horses like a three-year-old on steroids.
She worked her way up the faded denim of his jeans, flicking her gaze up to his face when she caught herself eyeing his belt buckle. His answering gaze slid down the lapels of her jacket and dove into the modest neckline of her camisole. From there, it drifted from side to side, making her renegade nipples perk up and stand at painful attention.
She looked out the window, searching for something, anything that would distract her. There was a cloud shaped like a duck drifting in the wide blue sky.
Think about the duck, she told herself. Think about the duck.
Lane Carrigan is all cowboy, while his brother is a tall, dark and handsome oil company CEO. How do you like your men: rough or polished?

Chapter One (and Two and Three) by Shana Galen

2012-01-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

I love starting a new book. I know a lot of writers struggle with novel beginnings, but I usually find the first three chapters the most fun and the easiest to write. There's something so exhilarating about beginning a new book. The story is fresh, the characters are new and undiscovered, and the adventure is just commencing. It's not always easy to get that first sentence or first paragraph right, though. Sometimes at the end of a book, I go back and write the first few pages again.

I'm sure everyone has their favorite first lines. Here are a few of mine.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so much like the present period that some of its nosiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. A Tale of Two Cities--Charles Dickens

Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.Gone With the Wind--Margaret Mitchell

I have a few favorite lines from my own books as well.

The spy called Saint hunkered down in the wardrobe she'd occupied for the last four hours and attempted to stifle a yawn. Lord and Lady Spy

Eleven-year-old Armand Harcourt, the comte de Valere, should have been asleep. The Making of a Gentleman

Lady Madeleine was going to make the best of this night, even if it killed her. And it probably would kill her. Blackthorne's Bride

And I wanted to share the first line from my next book, The Rogue Pirate's Bride, which will be out February 7.

"That's him," Percy whispered. "I'm almost certain of it."

I don't think I'm spoiling anything if I tell you the him is our hero, Bastien. I also don't think I'll spoil anything if I tell you Percy is speaking to our heroine, Raeven, who is in a tavern in Brest, France in order to challenge our hero to a sword fight.

So much potential and fun! That's why I love beginning a new novel. What about you? Do you have any favorite first lines from others' or your own books?

New Beginnings: Good and Bad (well, to the mom in me...) by Judi Fennell

2012-01-13T04:30:00.000-08:00

Friday the 13th... Ah, my lucky day.

And I hope it stays that way. I have some things going on writing-wise that i cant yet share, but im hopeful they'll be nee beginnings. More to follow on that later, hopefully.

Other new beginnings for this year include a Kid starting college. I don't like to share a lot of info about my family (the PR is for my career, not theirs, and we like to keep their private life private), but as this Kid will be an adult this (another new beginning), I figure I can mention the college thing. This, of course, is HUGE for our family. Will said Child/Adult commute? Live there? Be too far away for Mom's liking? I now know how my parents felt, and omg, time to go give them a hug. Luckily, I still can. And I have to hug the Kid of course. (Kid is getting tired of the hugs...)

Other new beginnings - big changes at my Day Job and today is the day we will find out about them. It will affect the direction of the company, though, hopefully, NOT my job. But then again, one never knows. So that's happening today.

I'm just hoping that because Friday the 13th has always been a lucky day for me, that today will follow suit and all my wishes will come true. :)

Now, off to hug Pagan, my black cat (yes, I giggled when I named her.) Under a ladder, of course. Which brings me to my question for today - are you superstitious? Completely, or just about a certain thing? Does today freak you out or, like me, are you going to go out of your way to walk under a ladder, maybe break a mirror or two, and hug a black cat?

A New Introduction… Beth Pehlke, Sourcebooks Publicist! + a Giveaway

2012-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

by Danielle Jackson, Sourcebooks Casablanca Publicist

I’ve mentioned a couple of times over the last few monthsthat Sourcebooks Casablanca recently welcomed a new publicist to the mix: BethPehlke! She is wonderful and it is so great to have another romance team memberin the publicity department.

Oh and if you’re wondering—yes, Beth (on the left) and I are standing witha cow in our photo! That is one of the Chicago Cows that were allover the city of Chicago in the late 1990s/early 2000s! Dominique bought one ofthe more literary themed cows [rumOr has it she Outbid some very famOus ChicagOans…One VERY famOus One], and it lives in the area of our building we call the bullpen!

Anyway… I thought a fun and easy way for us to get to knowBeth was to invite her on the blog and do a little interview, and put her onthe other side of blogging. On with the interview:

DJ: Tell us a little bit about yourself!
BP: Oh goodness, let’s see. I’m the youngest of three daughters. I’m a hugeanimal lover. I’m an Indiana University alum (Go Hoosiers!). Before working atSourcebooks I worked for a corporate real estate company in their communicationdepartment, an NBA team and at a PR agency in NYC. Oh and I am kind of obsessedwith my dog Roxy.

DJ: Aside from romance, what else do you work on atSourcebooks?
BP: I have been able to work on a variety of genres since working atSourcebooks. Primarily, it’s historical fiction, contemporary fiction andromance but I have also had some other types of books such as a zombie book, afuneral director’s memoir, and a sweet potato cookbook to name a few.

DJ: When I told you that you’d be working on romance, whatwas your initial reaction? :)
BP: Excited! Thrilled! Ecstatic! It’s a genre unlike any other and I am happyto be a part of it.

DJ: Have you found your niche genre in romance that youprefer (I’m a sucker for a good Regency, but try to keep things eclectic—I alsolove Paranormal!)
BP: I don’t like I could name a single favorite right now. I’m just enjoyingexperiencing all of them but I can say that contemporary and paranormal are upon my list.

DJ: What do you think about the ever-changing publishingindustry? eBooks, promotion, marketing, etc.?
BP: It keeps you on your toes that’s for sure. But most of all I think it isfascinating. We are working in an industry that is rapidly evolving and to beable to not only watch it but work in it is amazing.

DJ: What has surprised you about the romance industry?
BP: I don’t know if it has necessarily surprised me but the level of communityin the industry is outrageous! I knew there was a strong romance community buthaving been working in it now and seeing it first hand, it has really blown meaway. Like I said before, it really is unlike any other genre in the bookindustry.

DJ: What do you love most about your job?
BP: Hmm probably the people I interact with every day, which includes theauthors, book bloggers & my co-workers. When you work with people who areall passionate about books it makes work really fun and enjoyable.

DJ: What are some of your favorite books (non-romance titlesare ok!)?

BP: Tough question. Let’s see, recent favorite is The Help.One of my all-time favorites is The Great Gatsby (can’t wait for the movie!).One of the most interesting books I have read is In Defense of Food – andrecently I have been reading more books in that genre, the whole subject isfascinating.

DJ: I know for a fact that in your spare time you are aGREAT baker—what’s one of your favorite things to make (and give us a recipe!)?

BP: One of the things I recently made a lot during theholiday season (and I made it for the Sourcebooks Publicity department) wasthis Cookies & Cream Peppermint Popcorn. It’s SO easy but tastes SOO good.

2 bags microwave popcorn, popped

1 (6oz) box candy canes, crushed

1 pack Oreo cookies, crushed

1 1/2 packs Almond Bark

1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract or a few drops of peppermintoil

Directions: Place popcorn in a very large bowl. Pour crushedcandy canes and crushed Oreos on top of the popcorn. Melt one pack of almondbark according to instructions on the package. Add the peppermint extract oroil to the almond bark and pour over popcorn. Stir. The Oreos will absorb someof the almond bark and the popcorn won't be fully coated. Melt the remaining almond bark and pour overpopcorn. Stir until popcorn iscoated. Pour popcorn on wax paper andallow to harden. Once the popcorn has hardened, break into pieces and enjoy!

DJ: Anything else you’d like to share?
BP: Umm I don’t think so. Thanks for having me!

DJ: Thanks for visitingwith us, Beth! I’m sure we’ll have you back soon.

What’s something you’ve foundinteresting about the romance industry or publishing recently? We’ll do agiveaway of three copies of The JaneAusten Companion to Life—a very cute quote books featuring the wisdom ofJane Austen (US and Canada only, leave an email so we can contact you;winners will be announced in the comments on Friday!).

The Jaguars are Coming!

2012-01-11T01:01:00.000-08:00

The New Year for me means a new series on the horizon.

But it also means a return to book 3, Hunter's wolf pack in To Tempt the Wolf, and Meara's search for a mate in all the wrong places in A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing. She has NO intention of even looking one of her brother's SEAL team member's way. Ever. Never. Right.

I mean, just look at him. Would you not ever look his way???

I love wolves, and I'm continuing to write about them. I've finished book 10, the sequel to Heart of the Highland Wolf, Duncan's story, working on Tom's story in Silence of the Wolf--have had a number of fans tell me they want to read HIS story after reading Jake's in Dreaming of the Wolf, both brothers from Destiny of the Wolf, book 2, and another of the Highland wolf stories, this one Cearnach's, Highland Wolf Wedding, also a brother from Heart of the Highland Wolf, book 7. And I have another wolf story in the wings.

So for the New Year, wolves are still in the picture.

But for the New Year also, the jags are coming...jaguar shifters in the rosette-covered furry bodied sense. Savage Hunger, book 1 of the jaguar series, will be released in September, I think. :)

They're definitely not wolves, have their own rules, own sense of fair play, but what they have in common with each other is this:

That will never change. The hunky alpha male who's as hard as the heroine is soft. Although, that is not to say the heroine isn't spunky as all get up and can't show off her grit and guts just as much as any hunky guy.

So they'll definitely have met their match.

Will there be cat and dog fights? Not on the immediate horizon. Neither truly exist in the others' realm. Or do they?

I'm having fun in the New Year with continuing the old while bringing on the new! What will the future bring? Only the future will tell!

What about you? Can you wrap your mind around a jaguar shifter? A werewolf shifter? Or would you care to wrap more than that around one of those hunky guys?

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm back to edits again on Savage Hunger! No more goofing off for me!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com

Searching for a New Beginning...

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

by Olivia Cunning

Recently, I finished the final book in my Sinners on Tour series. It will be a while before it's released to the public, but besides the editing process, the series is done. Finished. Complete. I know who falls for who and how all obstacles are overcome. I know how it ends.

I've finished books in the past, but I've never finished a series. I've never had to say good-bye to characters I've loved though over 700,000 words (not all good words. I cut a lot of them). But now that it's over, I'm not sure what to do with myself.

No more hanging out with those five sexy men on the tour bus. No more standing in the wings watching them perform concerts. No more inventing their antics and humorous comebacks and chuckling over their guy vernacular. No more delving into the innermost recesses of their psyche and figuring out what it would take to make them fall in love. No more sexy times. No more good times. No more bad. No more epiphanies as to what makes these five, very different guys tick. What shaped them? What scares them most? Their innermost secrets and desires. I know all of that stuff was just in my head, but when I'm writing it, I'm living it. A big part of my life is suddenly gone. So now what do I do?

Do I do a spin-off series about another band (Exodus End) mentioned in the Sinners' books? At least that way I might get to check in on the guys of Sinners and see what they're up to. Did Sed ever have those eight kids he wanted? (Poor Jessica...) Were their happily-ever-afters really forever? Is the band still together? Did tragedy strike? I'm not sure if I'm ready to invest another four years in that world. Though it's kind of hard not to want to see what happens with Dare and the rest of his hot-as-hell band.

Do I write about a totally different rock band? Build an entirely new cast of characters to shape and become attached to? A struggling band, maybe. Or something literally out of this world.

Do I write a totally unrelated series about sentient rain clouds or something else entirely different from what readers expect me to write next?

I. Don't. Know.

Maybe I'll do all three. I really do need to make a decision. And soon. Reaching "The End" is always a thrill, but I'm currently out of "The Ends" and searching for a new beginning.

How do you make important decisions? Make pros/cons lists? Go with your gut? Flip a coin? Ask for advice? Or do you have some other DMP (decision making process)?

A Fresh Start

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

by Amanda Forester

I love making resolutions. I look forward to the beginning of January as an opportunity to make a fresh start on all those things I mean to do. It is a chance let go of past failures and disappointments and start again. Everyone needs a fresh beginning.

Speaking of new beginnings, here is my brand new cover for True Highland Spirit, which will be released in March. Now that is a lovely way to begin the New Year!

This year my resolutions are primarily about writing. Even after completing three books, I still have fanciful ideas that somehow my story will get written without me actually sitting down to write it. I also have high hopes that I can become physically fit, organize my house, and clean out the garage all without my presence being required. I have tried this approach over the holidays and have been quite disappointed with the results. It all comes down to this shocking revelation, none of my goals in life will happen without my personal energy and effort.

The challenge is to make small but steady progress toward my goals. Of course if I look at how much is required to complete a task, such as writing a book, or worse yet cleaning my garage (I don't want to be alarmist but I think the stuff is breeding, forming bastard creations of the unholy alliance between old clothing, garden supplies, and half-empty cans of old paint), now where was I... this sentence has gotten so long I got lost, oh yes, I remember now - if I look at how much work it will take to accomplish a goal it is easy to become overwhelmed and turn to watching the shopping channel or playing an app involving a slingshot and cartoon birds. The challenge for me in accomplishing any task is to focus on small daily goals. One day at a time. Letting go self-recriminations if I don't make my goal one day and trying again the next.

So what is one of your goals for next year that will take daily effort to realize your dream?

The Promise of a New Beginning...

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

By Robin Kaye

When I was a kid, I did a lot of skiing—my family had a place in Sun Valley, Idaho and we’d usually spend three weeks a year there skiing. Like most other skiers, every night before I went to bed wearing my pajamas inside out and backward—a signal to the snow gods that I was ready for fresh powder—I’d pray for snow. I prayed, not only because the skiing on fresh powder would be great, no, I had another reason—I longed to ski virgin snow.

I’d wake up extra early after a snow and arrive on the mountain well before the lifts opened with a backpack full of bribes for the lift operators—warm scones and hot coffee worked the best. They’d be bundled up against the early morning chill, sweeping the snow from the chair lifts and sometimes, if I got very lucky, they’d let me ride up before the mountain officially opened so I could be the first skier down.

There’s nothing like skiing virgin snow—the only sound you hear is the wind whispering through the trees, the swish of your own skies cutting a path through inches or feet of powder, and the blood rushing through your ears. When I think of perfect solitary moments, moments like these are at the top of my list. I’d stop at the bottom of the run, shield my eyes as the sun peeked over the mountain, and see the mark I made—a trail of solitary S turns—before rushing to the lift, hoping to transform the S turns to perfect figure eights.

The beginning of a new year is the same for me. It’s a mountain of virgin snow just waiting for me to make my mark. My only resolution or goal is to do better than I did last year. I’m sure the Goal Nazis are cringing because it’s not concrete or measurable but it works for me. I don’t want to spend so much time measuring my progress that I lose sight of my goal. I stop every three or four months and take a look back, examine my tracks, gauge my progress, and adjust my sights.

For me, starting a book is the same way. I’m not a huge plotter. I usually know my characters—the hero and heroine at least, I have a general idea of the story, for the most part my turning points are mapped out, and I have a counter on my writing program. I know that the first turning point has to happen at around 25,000 words, the point of no return on or about the 50,000-word mark, and the big black moment somewhere around 75,000 words. Other than that, I write by the seat of my pants and see where the words and characters take me. Still, the beginning is the most exciting. It is the clean page, virgin snow—a place to make my mark.

So how do you look at the New Year, or the beginning of a new project? Are you a concrete goal setter, a resolution maker, or are you more like me—just trying to be better than you were yesterday, last week, last month, last year? What kind of mark do you want to leave on your mountain?

I Got Me, Babe

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

When I think of a new beginning, I think of the movie Groundhog Day. I know, wrong month. Wrong holiday. How strange!

Here's the movie in a nutshell: A blizzard strands a narcissistic newscaster in the small town where he's covering the annual Groundhog Day festival, featuring Punxsutawny Phil, a cute little groundhog who should have his driver’s license revoked. The newscaster and crew, including a lovely and perpetually optimistic producer named Rita, are forced to stay another night. Much to the newscaster’s confusion, he wakes the next morning and it's Groundhog Day again.

And again.

And again.

At first, Phil uses this strange phenomenon to gather information he can use to his advantage. He figures out the exact moment he can steal money from an armored car. He tries to seduce Rita by pretending to like the same things she likes. He even tricks a woman into having sex with him by asking her to marry him.

He’s a DAWG!!!

But as with all good heroes, Phil has a transformation. Eventually. First he has to feel frustrated, angry, and hopeless before he's ready to change. Then he realizes waking up to the same day is an opportunity instead of a curse. He has his new beginning.

Phil learns to play piano. He studies French Renaissance poetry. He performs random acts of kindness, saves a boy's life, makes friends, and learns how to love. What a great use of this new life he had been given.

I've certainly had times when I've felt like I was waking up to the same day again and again and again, wishing something was different. Anything. Everything. Having no clue what I wanted. And like Phil, one day I realized I too had an opportunity. I could continue waking up to I Got You, Babe on the radio, longing for something I couldn't name, or I could embrace my life and take some risks.

Making the most of my life doesn't have to be on a grand scale either. It can be as simple as scheduling a mani and pedi for a mother-daughter day, or allowing myself an afternoon to read a good book without feeling guilty about neglecting the things on my to-do list.

Then there have been riskier things I wanted to try, such as learning to tap dance (That’s another whole story, pregnant and dancing in a children’s recital with my best friend), getting my motorcycle license, taking belly dancing classes, writing a book. Allowing people to read my book.

Riskier things are harder because we have to overcome the fear of failing, or the fear of succeeding. Possible ridicule by others. Yet, the alternative to risktaking is waking up to the same old sameness day after day and taking an even bigger risk: missing our chance to live life to the fullest.

So, here we are in a new year, ours to do with however we see fit. The best gift ever. I hope this year is happy, healthy, and fulfilling for all.

Now, for me to be nosey. What is something you’ve always dreamed of doing, or something you already did that seemed risky at the time?

Hold Me If You Can Launch Party + Giveaway!

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

A BIG Casa welcome tofellow Sourcebooks Casablanca author Stephanie Rowe, celebrating the release ofthe final book in her Soulfire Series, HoldMe If You Can!

Hooray! I'm SO excited for the launch party for my new book,HOLD ME IF YOU CAN, the third book in my Soulfireseries. I love all the books in this series, and I adore all the manlywarriors who are so resistant to their softer side (e.g. "Who me? Experthair stylist? I have no idea what you're talking about." Tattooed warriorattempts an innocent expression while shoving his round hairbrushes behind hisoh-so-sharp sword.)

The Soulfire series is about a team of immortal warriors whohave recently escaped from the Den of Womanly Pursuits, after 150 of tortureand sensitivity training by Death's grandma. These hardened survivors can, muchto their dismay, wield a pair of knitting needles as well as they can vanquisha demon with a sword. Not that they will admit that. Ever. Denial only goes sofar, however… If a man's got a talent with a curling iron, he can hide it foronly so long…

In HOLD ME IF YOU CAN, book three, Nigel Aquarian is the only warrior who'sentirely at peace with his softer side. Give him a sketch pad and some markers,and he's happy. But those that giveth taketh away, and Nigel suddenly findsthat his art has become deadly to those he loves. Without his art, Nigel has nooutlet for his darker side. He has to find a way to regain control before hekills everyone he loves, and the only woman who can help him is NatalieFleming, a passionate woman with a talent for chocolate, demons and maybe, justmaybe, his salvation. If, of course, they don't kill each other first.

Does that whet your appetite for a little sensitive warriortime? If so, well, this is your lucky week! To celebrate the release of HOLD MEIF YOU CAN, one lucky commentator from today's post will win a copy! See theend of the blog for details about how to enter.

The reviews for HOLD ME IF YOU CAN are already rolling in,and I'm so excited to see that other people love Nigel and Natalie as much as Ido (I particularly like the one that ruminates over whether I am brilliant orslightly psychotic…J):

· "StephanieRowe is a master of literary illusion… She is either brilliantly gifted or justa tad psychotic. If it’s the latter, the world is in serious trouble, becauseshe is insidiously devious. She has created this sparkly, incredibly detailedmagical world." You Gottta Read Reviews

· "HOLDME IF YOU CAN is a paranormal romance with a lot of spunk and heart! StephanieRowe has crafted a fun and fantastically addictive series with zany charactersand plenty of thrills…. I devoured this book in a few sittings. Mainly becauseamong the humor and excitement was a truly captivating story! HOLD ME IF YOUCAN will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what's going onand how the story will pan out. Not to mention the fact that this book isdangerously sexy. Natalie and Nigel have a pretty amazing chemistry that willleave readers gasping for breath." TheRomance Reviews

· "The third in Rowe’s Soulfire series, Hold Meif You Can is full of smart quips, adventure and sultry romance and, good newsfor new readers, this title can stand on its own. It’s a great escape for fansof paranormal, and there’s a little levity mixed in with the death-defyingdanger. Rowe writes books with something for everyone and is an author to keepon your must-buy list." RT Book Reviews

And here's a sneak peek, so you can see for yourself exactlyhow much trouble Reina and Jarvis are going to be causing for each other…

Minutes, hours, eons of timepassed before Natalie finally slowed the car down. She looked over hershoulder, but there was no one following them. Of course no one was followingthem. There was no car for the bad guys to chase her with.

Natalieunclenched her hands from the steering wheel and flexed them, trying to get thecramps out. They'd made it out alive. They weren't being followed. They werealive for chance number two… and heaven only knew what that was going to be.

Ittook several more minutes, but she finally found the highway and pulled out onit, heading back toward the city. The car purred effortlessly as she edged upthe speedometer, but this time, the ride wasn't smooth and relaxing.

Thistime, there was the rapid thumping of hundreds of knives peppering the interiorof the trunk. How long would Nigel continue the assault? How long until he cutthrough the metal and started destroying the world? Where could she take him toget help for him?

Christianhas said to meet at Nigel's house, but she had no idea where he lived. She'dseen Nigel only at her house that she used to share with her sister, when he'dcome by with Jarvis to see Reina, before her sister had moved into Jarvis'splace.

So…where was Christian? Nowhere she could find. Not before—

Ablade hissed past her shoulder and thudded into the dashboard.

Okay,yeah, so apparently they were now out of time. She didn't have time to findChristian. It was up to her, which really weren't the odds she was hoping for.She rifled through Nigel's glove box and found a sketchpad and pens. She hatedto violate his oath by giving him drawing supplies, but he had to get sane, andquickly. He'd be more upset if he killed everyone… wouldn't he?

Shetook the next exit off the highway and pulled off onto a side street. Ahead wasan empty ball field, a local park that was quiet and apparently shut down forthe evening. She yanked the steering wheel to the right, and the car lurchedover the curb with a clank that couldn't be good for a luxury vehicle. Shecareened down a steep embankment, floored it to the outfield, and then slammedon the brakes.

Shedove out of the car as a series of metal darts escaped from the trunk. A knifeslammed through the headrest right where her head had been. Yes, okay, this wasgoing well.

Shegrabbed the drawing supplies, dropped to her belly, and inchwormed along theside of the car, trying to stay beneath the range of killer metal. She reachedthe back door and gripped the trunk. "Okay, Nigel," she shouted."I'm going to throw you a sketchpad—"

"No!"His roar was deafening even though the metal.

"Yes!Just don't finish the picture!" She pulled the cover off so he couldaccess a blank page, and then froze when she saw the image he'd drawn on thebook.

Itwas of her.

Sittingon the windowsill in her family room, knees hugged to her chin, staring out thewindow. She was wearing slippers, sweats, and a tattered pink teddy bearT-shirt. Her face was in shadows, her eyes heavy, and a single tear was on hercheek. She remembered that moment. It had been the first day after she'd nearlydied. Her first morning alive without being cursed.

She'dbeen too terrified of who she was to even step outside, so she'd sat there inthe window and watched the flowers.

Nigelhad sat in that room all day with her. Never speaking. Never intruding. Simplybeing there, providing reassurance that if the Godfather came back, if all hellbroke loose, Nigel would be there to help her manage it.

He'dbeen drawing all day, but never looking at her.

Shehadn't thought he'd drawn her. She hadn't realized. But…

Sheflipped to the next page.

Anotherdrawing of her. The same pose. The same clothes. The same moment.

Butthis time he'd drawn her with a smile on her face. A twinkle in her eye. Shewas laughing, and her arms were outstretched, as if she were reaching for himto give him a hug.

Herheart tightened as she looked into her carefree eyes. It was a face of peace, aface of laughter, a face that had learned not to fear life, or who she was, butto simply love.

He'ddrawn her as she wanted to be. Courageous. Happy. Dear God, she never thoughtshe'd see that expression on her face. And there she was. He'd seen it. He'dcaught it. He believed in her. She looked beautiful.

Tearsfilled her eyes. Dammit. Why couldn't she be that woman? Why couldn't she justbe happy? Why did she have to live in fear? Maybe Smutty was right. Maybe theanswer was to cleanse the hell out of her and let the inner peace rise to thetop.

Angrynow, angry at herself, angry at Nigel for making her see what she wasn't, shetore the paper off, and then gaped at what he'd drawn on the next page.

Shewas on a bed. A huge bed with white posts and a white comforter. She was on herside, wearing a sexy black silk nightgown. Simple, edged with lace, with thinstraps so decadent and tempting. It was the Natalie of Sex. Natalie of Orgasms.The Natalie who had gotten herself killed.

Herbody wrenched, and cold fear coursed through her as she looked at the decadentwoman she'd once been, the one that had died for sex. Of course he would seeher like that! He'd been there when she'd lost it. When she'd gone over the toptoward her death. When she'd been drugged out on the big O…

Thenshe noticed the bouquet of roses on the table by the bed. Pink roses for love,not red for passion. And then she saw the expression on her face. It was ahalf-smile of peacefulness, of invitation, of softness. There was nodesperation in her eyes, and her body was relaxed and at peace, as if she waswaiting for romance, for lovemaking, not for random hot sex with an almoststranger.

Shegripped the pad, her throat tightening. The picture was beautiful. It was sexybut peaceful. Safe. It was lovemaking, not raw, hard, dangerous sex. It waslovely. It was sensuality in its most beautiful form. Passion that would neverhurt, never endanger, never threaten.

Tearsfilled her eyes, and she pressed the pad to her chest. Nigel really saw herthat way? She hadn't thought of lovemaking in such a beautiful way since herawful experience. Nigel's kisses had been beautiful, and they'd created ayearning in her, but never had the vision of the kind of love and passion shecraved been so vivid.

Nigel'spicture, the way he'd captured the tenderness on her face, the love shining inher eyes… he made her see a future she hadn't taken the time to conceive of. Hegave her hope. Was it really possible for her to get there? A man like Nigel,with his art, and his vision, could he take her there? Keep her safe and makeher a woman at the same time—

Ablade sliced through the sketchpad. She jumped at the intrusion and looked upto see a gaping wound in the trunk of the car. She could hear grunts now,Nigel's courageous battle to defeat the monster within.

Shelooked down at the sketchpad, at the picture of her being the woman she wantedto be. Seductive, loving, embracing of life. Passion in a world of beauty andcommitment of the soul. Nigel had seen her in that way and he'd believed in herenough to bring her along on his foray into the Den. He'd trusted her to keephim safe, to keep the monster at bay, to keep him from betraying his friends.He'd known she had that sensuality inside her, and he'd counted on her beingable to access it when it counted.

Herfingers closed over the pen. How could she abandon him? Take a shortcut byforcing him to draw and endanger someone else he cared about? If Nigel saw somuch peace and serenity in her, if he perceived her as a sensual being whobasked in the glory and wonder of desire and passion, then so could she.

Shethrew the pen aside, tore the sensual picture out, and tucked it in her backpocket. She would treasure it always, use it as her inspiration for the futureshe wanted.

Thenshe turned to face the trunk. She took a breath and set her hands on thehandle. She closed her eyes and focused on the image he'd drawn. The pure,beautiful passion of it. She imagined his hands caressing the paper as he'ddrawn her body. As he'd created her lace nightgown, the curves of her body, andthe beautiful spirit that he saw flowing from her soul.

Sheenvisioned the woman she wanted to be, allowed the sensual part inside her thathad been dead for so long to come alive. At the first pulse of desire withinher, fear came fast on its heels, dampening the budding passion. Dammit! Shewasn't going to be able to reach that place of powerful sensuality by herself.She couldn't break through those barriers on her own. The fear was too deep,and quite frankly, the high pressure situation was just not making her feel sexy.

Butmen could feel sexy at any time, right? They were like steam pistons. And Nigelcould make her feel safe… even while he was unloading knives and daggers intoher? Well, only one way to find out.

She'dresponded to Nigel before. Why not again? This time she wanted it. She neededit. She needed to be the woman she had never been.

Itwas time to take control. Or rather, make him take control of her. If he couldtrust her to bring him back from the edge, then she could trust him not to hurther.

Anotherblade cleaved through the trunk and narrowly missed her side. Okay, maybe she did trust him, butclearly, there wasn't time to waste debating it. It was time to bring Nigel outand allow him into her soul, into her heart, and into the very core of who shewas. And that was far more scary than any blade could ever be.

Butas she gripped the latch on the back of the car, she knew that if there wasanyone she would trust with her greatest terror, it was the man who had come tomean so much to her.

Itwas time for her to stop running, and to find the courage she'd never had.

Shetook a deep breath, swallowed hard, then kicked the trunk open and turnedherself over to him.

The dark, tortured, deadly warriors in the Soulfire series all have their specialtalent, be it crossing stitching, hair styling or flower arranging. What's yourfavorite unusual quirk that has made you fall in love with a hero in a bookyou've read? Share it in the comments, and a lucky commentator will receive acopy of HOLD ME IF YOU CAN!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Four-time RITA Award nominee and Golden Heart Award winnerStephanie Rowe is a nationally bestselling author and has more than 25contracted titles with major publishers such as HarperCollins, Dorchester, andHarlequin. Stephanie has charmed reviewers with her unique blend of humor andotherworldly magic. She lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. You can find out more at http://www.stephanierowe.com/.

Thank you forvisiting with us again, Stephanie! Answer Stephanie’s question in the commentsand you’ll be entered to win one of two copies of Hold Me If You Can! 2 winners, US and Canada addresses only, andplease leave an email address so we can contact you. Winners will be chosen onMonday, December 9.

SCRUMPTIOUS Launch Party + Giveaway!

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Please give a warm Casablanca welcome to Amanda Usen, whose new contemporary romance, with a foodie twist, SCRUMPTIOUS, is now in stores!

Cupcakes and man candy! Hot chefs in love! When you mix a travelingchef-for-hire with a love ‘em and leave ‘em pastry chef, the resultis…SCRUMPTIOUS!

In a nutshell:

Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinkshe's going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he's denser than a thickslice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her lifein Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially acocky-as-all-get-out superstar chef. But there's no denying the man knows howto light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling theburn?

Food is my love language. I met my husband in culinary school, so it’s nowonder that I write about chefs and food…and love. I gave Joe a little piece ofevery hot chef I’ve ever encountered in my cooking travels– ice-blue eyes,to-die-for shoulders, asbestos hands and the bad boy arrogance I love to see ina kitchen. In Marly, I created a fiery woman who can keep up with him – on theline and everywhere else. Sparksfly when these two share the stove…

Excerpt:

Withevery other egg she cracked, her mind returned to Joe. She hadn’t given thismuch thought to a man since, well, her father didn’t count, so never.

JoeRafferty did not want her. No big deal. No problem. Plenty of other guys did.Like Danny for example. He’d been more than willing to stay with her instead ofplaying poker last night. She didn’t need Joe.

Unfortunately,the tiny little traitor that lived somewhere between her heart and her brainwanted to show Joe what he was missing. That inner turncoat was fluffing herhair, checking her makeup, and picking out scandalous lingerie. Oh yeah, andanother part of her wanted to show him he wasn’t God’s gift to the kitchen.Especially her kitchen. That part of her was sharpening her knives. By hand.

Marlenepoured egg yolks and sugar into the small bowl of her heavy-duty KitchenAidmixer on the counter. She stirred and scraped once, just to keep the yolks fromburning, then secured the whip and let it rip. She turned around to pour eggwhites into the bowl of her twenty-quart Hobart stand mixer and began whippingthem at medium speed, wrinkling her nose as the egg white smell of wet dog rosefrom the stainless steel bowl.

“Youalways come in this early on Saturday?” Joe asked from the doorway.

Marlenelooked up for a moment, just long enough to catch an eyeful of his broad chestand the swirl of dark hair peeking out of the collar of his T-shirt as hebuttoned his chef coat. A sharp flash of lust arced through her belly, quicklychased by irritation. Not interested, she reminded herself. She began to addsugar, tablespoon by tablespoon, to the meringue. “I can’t stay late tonight,so I wanted to get my desserts prepped and my specials done early.” Samson hadbeen known to misbehave when left alone too long.

“Can’tstay late, huh? Got a date?”

Innertraitor giggled. “As a matter of fact, I do.” Sam would share her dinner andher bed—that counted as a date in her book.

“Leavingearly shouldn’t be a problem,” Joe said, making it sound as if he was givingher permission.

Shegritted her teeth and added the last tablespoon of sugar to her meringue.

“Gota minute to go over the prep list?” he asked.

Marlenebumped up the speed on the mixer. “Sorry, my nice, fluffy egg whites aren’tgoing to hang around while we chat. Just write it down. I’ll get it done.”

Hestood over her. “I’ll wait.”

“Yourcall.”

Shefolded the ground almonds into the yolks, and took her time folding in thewhites, gently bringing the denser nut and yolk mixture up from the bottom ofthe bowl. She would not take her irritation out on her delicate sponge cakes.Just before the streaks of egg white disappeared, she divided the batter amongsix half-sheet pans and encouraged the bubbly batter toward the edges of each.She slid them into the deck ovens and shut the heavy door with care before sheturned to face him.

“Now,what were you saying?” God, it was completely unfair that he was so attractive.She should not want to kiss a man who made her nuttier than the almonds in hercakes.

“Olivia wants to know if you have time to makethe garlic mashed potatoes and white beans. She soaked the beans last night. Wealso need pesto, chimichurri, chipotle sauce, and onions and peppers, gotthat?” Joe asked.

“I’llget right on it. Anything else, Chef?”

Hecocked his head to the side. “You make the word chef sound like an insult. Youhave something against chefs?” he asked, leaning a solid shoulder against herreach-in, blocking her in the bakeshop.

“Absolutelynot, Chef,” she repeated. “Just doing myjob.”

“Uh-huh,”he said with a sardonic grin. “Which job? Pastry chef? Prep cook?Troublemaker?” Joe pushed away from reach-in and began to walk toward her. Sheswallowed, resisting the urge to step back.

“Allof the above.” She lifted her chin and met his eyes, hoping he couldn’t readthe bluff in hers. She wasn’t going to cause any more trouble. She just wantedher real job back, which unfortunately happened to be his job at the moment.

Joestopped right in front of her. His blue eyes went gray, like an ice storm. “Youdon’t have any other nasty little tricks planned for me during service, do you,sugar? Because if you do, neither one of us will be laughing this time. I’llturn you over my knee and give you the paddling you deserve.”

“Well,that would be something new.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile. He was soclose that his breath feathered over her face and another lightning strike ofsimple, straight-up lust hit her in the gut.

Hiseyes dropped to her mouth, and she saw a muscle in his jaw twitch. Maybe hewasn’t unaffected by the tension that charged the air between them.Frustration, pure and simple, made her crave some sort of satisfaction, andinner traitor wanted to remind Joe what he was missing. She reached out tosmooth the cotton of his chef coat across the expanding width of his chest. “Idon’t need dirty tricks to take down a schoolboy like you,” she said.

“Youdon’t, huh?” His deep voice rumbled quietly in his chest. “What do you need?”

“Nota thing.” Her palm slid over his firm muscles, caressed the warm column of hisneck, and finally felt the rasp of his shadowed cheek. It did make a sound. Shedrew his face down to hers.

“Just this,” she whispered against his lips.

For a chance to win Scrumptious, please comment below. I’d love to hearabout your favorite food memory! Lord knows I still dream about the pecanDanish we used to make at my first bakery job in Nashville, TNat Provence Breads and Café. The dough was made in-house, shaped into acinnamon-y spiral, filled with a smear of butter and brown sugar, thensprinkled with chopped pecans. When the Danish came out of the oven, it was myjob to slather them with heavenly apricot glaze. I ate one warm every Saturdayand Sunday morning for at least a year. Sweet and toasty. Unforgettable.

For more informationabout me or my books, please visit http://www.amandausen.com

If you want to chat aboutromance, writing or recipes, follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/amandausenor Twitter http://twitter.com/AmandaUsen

Happy New Year and thanksfor celebrating with me today!

Amanda - thanks so much for visiting with us! Like Amanda said, we're giving away copies of Scrumptious today: 2 COPIES! Please share your food memory in the comments for a chance to win. US and Canada addresses only, and please leave an email address so we can contact the winners, who will be announced on Monday, January 9.

Launch Party and Giveaway for DYLAN by C.H. Admirand

2012-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome back toPleasure, Texas! So much has happened since you were last here and wereintroduced to Garahan brothers and the Circle G. Emily and Tyler are doing justfine thank you, and loving every minute they get to spend together. Their loveis like a shining beacon that Tyler’s brothers envy at first, but then come tounderstand as they meet someone uniquely special in their own lives.

Dylan is the middlebrother—the quiet one (my mom always told me to watch out for the quiet ones. Idid and when Dave walked into my life, I knew I’d have to marry that man.)Dylan’s last night working at the Lucky Star has him prepped to lasso thebirthday girl. Jolene promises that he’ll recognize her the moment he sees her.Sure enough, a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead walk into the bar—but there’sjust something different about the brunette—could be the blindfold.

Instead of me tellingyou what happens, why don’t you read an excerpt from their first meeting?

DylanGarahan narrowed his gaze trying to focus in the glare of the spotlight,searching the crowd for her face. It was time for the big move in his act…theshow-stopper. Where was she?

Jolenewould kill him if he messed this up, but he'd made it through the last twonights and would make it through tonight. The redheaded owner of the clubshould have no complaints about the middle Garahan brother not keeping his wordor holding up his end of the bargain. Damn the woman and her tests!

Controllingthe urge to turn on his heel and walk off the stage, he dug deep and found thegrit to stick it out. Hell, if Tylercould handle this job, so could he. Garahans went down fighting!

Obliviousto the adoring gazes of the women around him, he moved toward center stage,bent, and picked up the coiled rope. He looked up as a blonde, a brunette, anda redhead walked into the bar…right on schedule…but there was somethingdifferent about the brunette. Maybe it was the blindfold. He struggled not tolaugh, but he couldn't keep from smiling, wondering why the cloak-and-daggerbit.

Looping thelasso in his hands, he started the slow circular motion. Getting the rhythmgoing until it was smooth and sweet, he raised it above his head and locked gazeswith the blonde. When she nodded, he let the lasso fly, as the blonde whippedthe blindfold off the brunette.

The woman'sstunned expression as the rope slipped around her upper body didn't stop himfrom tugging on the rope and reeling her in. The patrons of the Lucky Starhooted and hollered, encouraging him to pull faster, but he didn't want thelittle lady to trip and fall on her pretty face.

Glad thatthe focus of the crowd wasn't totally on him, he gently pulled her toward him.The brunette's gypsy-dark skin, full red lips, and almond-shaped eyescaptivated him. The promise of pain-filled death in her dark green eyes, as shestruggled against the bonds that held her, had his lips twitching, fighting notto smile.

She dug inher heels, but he used his strength to subdue her. Undeterred, he yanked on therope. When her eyes widened in shock, he used her surprise to his advantage andreeled her in the last few feet. When they were a few inches apart, he tippedhis hat, smiled, and rumbled, "Happy birthday, darlin'."

Her eyesnarrowed, and her nostrils flared; Dylan recognized the signs of a fractiousfilly about to raise a ruckus. Not a problem, he was ready. Wrapping his freehand around her, he hauled her in close, pinning her to him before she couldlet loose and kick him.

The crowdroared its approval.

"Letme go," she demanded, her sweet breath tickling the hollow of his throat.

Enjoyinghimself for the first time since he'd hit the stage, he chuckled and bent hishead closer to her full red lips. "Why?" His gaze locked with hers."So you can have more room to do more damage?"

"Idon't like being manhandled."

Hervehement protest didn't deter him; he had a job to do and an act to finish."Well now, darlin'," he drawled, "that's not what your friendssaid."

Her eyessparkled with temper, and her willowy body trembled with anger. Dylan's bodystood up and said hell yeah! It'd been a long time since he'd had a woman tempthim. The sultry brunette in his arms looked like she wanted to tear a fewstrips off of his hide...right before she killed him.

Damn, butthat turned him on.

Perverse.That's what his grandpa would say. He grinned and would swear he heard hergrinding her teeth in frustration.

"Letme go." She struggled against him, but he'd trapped her slender curvesagainst him so not a breath of air was between them. "I'm not one of thosedesperately lonely women, or buckle bunnies coming in here looking for some eyecandy."

Lord, hereally loved the husky sound of her voice. Even angry, it sounded sexy. Hefought against the instant attraction he'd felt and shrugged. "I'm not theone whose friends blindfolded me."

She closedher eyes and stopped struggling. Dylan could feel the anger leaving her bydegrees.

"They'rejust trying to help."

"Witha face like an angel and a body made for lovin', why would you need any?"

Tearsgathered in her eyes. "None of your business."

Well, hell.His one weakness cut him off at the knees. A woman's tears. "I'm about tomake it my business."

The musicended and house lights went on, his cue to release his captive and take a bow.Cursing his job and his redheaded boss, he brushed her tears away. Moved by thesplit second of vulnerability, before she covered it with the toss of her long,dark, wavy mane, he hungered for a long, slow tasting kiss.

He wasn'tsure if he wanted to reassure her that whoever had put the sadness in her eyeswasn't worth her time, and that he would be, or if he had been too long withouta woman and was letting certain parts of his anatomy take his mind hostage.

Dylan slidhis hands around to the small of her back and watched her eyes turn an evendeeper green, the color of the tumbled sea glass he'd found as a kid, on abeach down on the Gulf Coast. When the go-to-hell expression on her facemorphed into shocked surprise, he dipped his head low so their mouths werelined up.

He couldfeel her heart begin to pound, but from the dazed expression in her eyes itwasn't from fear; it was something darker and a hell of a lot more fun. Hebrushed his lips across hers and felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. Shetasted like sin, and he was ready to burn.

Need tiedhis guts into knots, but he'd be damned if he'd be letting go of this littlefilly before he'd taken his fill. He gentled her with soft, tentative kissesuntil she relaxed in his arms. When she moaned low in her throat, the knotsinside him pulled tighter a heartbeat before she melted in his arms.

"Darlin',you're killing me."

Her eyesmet his, and he knew she was going to kiss him back. He didn't ask; he simplyplundered. Surrounded by the dark, sensuous taste of her, he couldn't getenough. Splaying his hands to the small of her back, he molded her to him,drinking from her lips like a dying man, three days without water.

Hungry formore, he slid the tip of his tongue along the seam of her lips, coaxing her tolet him fully taste her dark, sweet flavor. When she parted her lips, hedevoured her. Two years of frustrated need, anger, and desire swirled inside ofhim and struggled to let loose.

"Happybirthday, Ronnie!"

He snappedto attention and loosened his hold, though it nearly tore him apart. He was notdone. He wanted more, ached for more, needed more from this woman.

Need to catch up and read the first book in the series? Nota problem because Sourcebooks has a super special program goingon right now! It All Started When—offeringTYLER and other wonderful titles by my Sourcebooks Sisters for just $1.99!

Here’s the info and link: SOURCEBOOKSeBOOK DEALS! It All Started When… First in “Series” for $1.99 Dates: 12/21/11 - 1/8/12 Complete Details: www.sourcebooks.com/component/content/article/43/1894-it-all-started-when.html

So nowthat we are gearing up for the New Year, why not bring home a cowboy to cuddleup with on these cold wintry nights. January won’t seem so bleak with a tall,dark, and studly cowboy keeping you company. If you’re lucky he might just parkhis boots under your bed.

To read more, visit me at www.chadmirand.com , www.facebook.com/CHAdmirand , or www.twitter.com/CHAdmirand .

BecauseI was on a double-deadline in December, I didn’t have time to give my webmasterthe virtual tour for DYLAN yet…here’s the info:

Date	Blog
1/2/12	Mia Marlowe’s blog http://www.miamarlowe.com/blog /
1/3/12	Casablanca Author’s blog http://www.casablancaauthors.blogspot.com
1/5/12	SOS Aloha http://www.sosaloha.blogspot.com/
1/6/12	Romantic Crush Junkies http://www.romanticcrushjunkies.com
1/10/12	Laura’s Reviews http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/
1/11/12	Thoughts in Progress http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/
1/11/12	The Romance Studio http://www.theromancestudio.blogspot.com
1/15/12	Fresh Fiction http://www.freshfiction.com/
1/16/12	Night Owl Reviews http://nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/
1/18/12	Coffee Time Romance http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/
1/20/12	Sia McKye’s Thoughts Over Coffee http://siamckye.blogspot.com/
1/20/12	Emily @ AAD12 Blog (Authors After Dark Blog)
1/24/12	My Book Addiction and More http://mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com/
1/25/12	Love Romance Passion http://www.loveromancepassion.com/

Don't forget that I’m giving away a signed copy of DYLAN to one luckywinner who comments on this post. Be sure to leave me your email so I can getin touch with you.

Slainte’

C.H. Admirand

Action and Adventure=Romance

2012-01-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

from Mia Marlowe...

UPDATE: My New Year Blog Bash is history, but the prizes are yet to come! Thanks to all the authors who participated and all the wonderful commenters who made it such a fun, interactive day!

Here are all the winners and the loot they'll make off with:
Shana Galen' Lord & Lady Spy -- LIL
Mia Marlowe's My Lady Below Stairs or A Duke for all Seasons -- Diane D—Florida
Grace Burrowes' Virtuoso: ChrystalGB, Krazymomma98, & Bonnie
Mia Marlowe's A Duke for All Seasons or My Lady Below Stairs: Christine A
CH Admirand's Dylan: Maria D
Mia Marlowe's Touch of a Thief (ebook): Fran Friel
ML Buchman's The Night is Mine: Vamped Chik
Mia Marlowe's A Duke for All Seasons or My Lady Below Stairs: WK
Mia Marlowe's Touch of a Thief (ebook): VENUSBOOKLUVR
Linda Wisdom's A Demon Does it Better plus some “witchy” stuff: Na
Mia Marlowe's Touch of a Thief (ebook): Patty
Sidney Ayers' An Absolute Mess: Danny Firedragon, Refhater, Joanne, Betty Hamilton, Stella (Ex Libris)
Sidney Ayer's Grand prize $10 gift cert, Demons like it Hot, Demons prefer Blondes: Catslady
Choice from Mia Marlowe's ebooks: Robin
Stephanie Julian's How to Worship a Goddess: Sofia
Amanda Forester's The Highlander's Heart: Johanna J
Mia Marlowe's Sins of the Highlander: Suzan Tisdale
Choice from Mia Marlowe's backlist: Brooklyn Ann
Shona Husk's The Goblin King: Eli Yanti
Choice from Mia Marlowe's Backlist: May
Terry Spear's Dreaming of the Wolf: Aretha Zhen
Choice from Mia Marlowe's backlist: Diva Donna
Sarah Taney Humphreys' Unleashed: Angel
Choice from Mia Marlowe's backlist: Gena Robertson
$10 gift certificate from Samantha Grace: Cstrionkat & Barbara E.
Choice from Mia Marlowe's backlist: Meme
Mia Marlowe's Sins of the Highlander: Emily Tardy

If you didn't win, I hope you'll give my website contest a shot. The Grand Prize is a new KINDLE. I'm also trekking through cyberspace on the Sins of the Highlander Blog Tour. Sourcebooks is giving away 2 copies of my newest release each day! Hope to see you along the way!

There was a time when the term 'romance' referred to a literary work featuring the adventures of a medieval hero. That sort of action and chivalrous exploits are what Connie Mason and I were going for in our upcoming release Sins of the Highlander.

Allow me to introduce you to "Mad Rob MacClaren," a Scottish laird during the time of Mary Queen of Scots.He abducted his enemy's bride from the altar, but unfortunately he forgot that four-legged predators roam the woods through which he planned their escape. Rob and Elspeth have been dogged by a wolf pack and the starving beasts are closing in...

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“I was just wondering if ye’ve ever climbed a tree," Rob said, his voice cool as if they were taking a pleasure ride through the woods, "because I think the skill might come in handy verra soon.”

“Oh, aye.” Perhaps Rob wasn’t so mad, after all. “I can climb a tree like a squirrel.”Elspeth heard the metallic rasp of metal as Rob unsheathed his claymore.

“There’s an oak overhanging the path in ten paces,” he said. “If I give ye a boost, do ye think ye can swing up to that thick branch?”

The wolves began a howling chorus around them. They’d located the only fresh meat in the forest and it was time to sing about it.

“Give me a boost and I’ll fly up to it,” Elspeth said, drawing her legs up under her so she was hunkered on Falin’s back instead of sitting astride. The stallion danced sideways in reaction to the unusual movement of his riders.

“Ho there, lad, easy now.” Rob kneed Falin forward.One of the wolves found some bravery and lunged at Falin’s haunches. The stallion kicked at it. Rob kept Elspeth from toppling off by balancing her hip with one hand.The predator rolled and slinked away, snarling but unhurt.

“Do ye want your knife back?” Elspeth asked.

“No, keep it,” he said. “Just in case.”

In case. Elspeth didn’t want to contemplate what that meant. She slid the small blade down the busk of her bodice between the boning, as the oak tree drew nearer.

“Get ready.” Rob’s voice was steady and reassuring, but her heart still pounded like a smith’s hammer.She pushed the cloak off her shoulders, letting it drape over the stallion’s withers, so her arms would be free. Cold was the least of her worries.She’d have only one chance to leap to safety.They drew even with the oak.

“Now!” Rob shouted.He hefted her backside and she sprang up and grabbed at the branch with both hands. The rough bark dug into her palms, but she didn’t let go.The sudden movement made the pack dart in, snapping at Falin’s heels. He bucked and reared and danced backward on the path.Elspeth was suspended over nothing but air with writhing, furry bodies below. She swung her feet up to hook a knee over the branch, but not before the biggest gray wolf leaped up and grabbed a mouthful of her broad skirt.

A lesser fabric might have ripped, but the thick velvet held fast.Elspeth clung to the underside of the branch, which bowed under the additional weight. The wolf shook its whole body, like a terrier with a rat, trying to bring her down.The bough creaked and popped, and she feared the limb might give way.

“Hang on!” Rob shouted and slashed, not at the wolf, but at the layers of her velvet skirt and chemise from which it was suspended. The beast fell to the ground with a yowl.

Elspeth scrambled and lifted herself to the upper side of the thick branch.Another wolf leaped up, coming within fingerwidths of her bare foot. She tucked it up and scuttled along the branch till she reached the trunk and stood upright, looping an arm around its comforting solidness.One wolf tried to scuffle up the trunk. Elspeth caught a whiff of his stinking breath as he snapped at her, but unless he sprouted wings, she was out of reach.

“Whatever happens, dinna come down till I say,” Rob ordered as the pack turned its attention from her to the man on the prime piece of horseflesh.The wolves formed a ring of snarling muzzles around Rob and Falin. Their breath rose in a haze, like a smoke ring from a giant’s pipe.

Elspeth counted fifteen big beasts with several smaller ones hanging back in the deeper shadows, yipping encouragement.Rob pivoted the snorting stallion in a tight circle, so he could keep an eye on the restive crowd. The wolves called to one another, coordinating their coming attack. The sound raked Elspeth’s spine like a claw. The unholy chorus rose and then stopped suddenly as if the song was a thread snipped off with shears.

“Come, ye sons of bitches!” Rob growled into the sudden silence. “If ye want us, ye must take us. I give ye worm-eaten bastards leave to try!”

Elspeth had seen fearsome things in the hall of dreams. The Sight had sometimes taken her repeatedly to the aftermath of a great battle of some sort and she woke from such bloody visions sickened to her soul. But she’d never seen anything as terrifying as the sudden attacking leap of the wolves on this man and his horse.

They came in waves, snarling and snapping. One managed to land on the stallion’s back behind Rob, going for his unprotected neck. Falin screamed and reared, lashing out with his hooves and the wolf slid off, raking the stallion’s flanks with his claws. Rob’s blade sang a song of blood and whipped around to shear off the beast’s head.Falin’s kicks sent a few wolves flying as Rob laid about with his claymore.

Man and horse, they fought in concert. They fought for their lives.

As the battle wore on, Falin stumbled on fallen wolf carcasses, but managed to keep his feet. The ground was black with blood. Rob roared as he slashed his blade, sounding as wild and vicious as any four-legged predator.The numbers of the pack dwindled. As the eastern sky lightened to pearl gray, hope rose in Elspeth’s heart.

Then the largest wolf charged and leaped. His flying lunge knocked Rob from Falin’s back. They rolled together, tooth and claw, man and blade, off the path and into the thick underbrush, disappearing in a growling, swearing mass.

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Like it? Order it.

Or visit your favorite bookseller on January 3rd!

Thanks for being part of my New Year Blog Bash! Be sure to scroll down and leave message on each of the Jan 2nd posts. There are tons of free books, gift certificates and ebooks available for you to win. The drawings to determine the winners will be held on Jan 4th, so be sure to come back to see if you're on the list!

Thanks to all the wonderful Casablanca authors who participated in this blow out launch party.

And while you're entering to win, be sure to visit MiaMarlowe.com to enter my contest to win a new KINDLE!

Trials of a Debut Author

2012-01-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

From Mia Marlowe...

Actually, I got incredibly luckywhen I was a debut author. That's when I first met Connie Mason. I had dinner with her and her belovedhusband of many, many years and she graciously agreed to give me a cover quote. She really liked my writing style. It was the beginning of a beautiful partnershipthat has resulted in SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER, and later this year LORD OF FIREAND ICE. I'm thrilled to confirm that Connie and I have just agreed to do threemore collaborative novels for Sourcebooks.

Watch for The Royal Rakes series in 2013!

My next guest blogger is Samantha Grace, a new author with a release coming soon. However, her trials and tribulations have less to do with her upcoming book and more with her wacko dog. Where's the Dog Whisperer when you need him?

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Hi, I’m Samantha Grace, a debutauthor new to the Casablanca Authors blog, and I’m thrilled to be here. Whatbetter way to ring in the New Year than to celebrate the release of Mia’s andConnie’s book SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER? Men in kilts! It’s the gift no onereturns.

These first few days of the New Year are going to be challenging. We’re hostinga late family Christmas celebration this weekend in addition to having fiveteenage boys over Friday night to celebrate our son’s birthday. I’m alsoblogging three times this week: twice here and once at Lady Scribes. Still,these things seem easy compared to figuring out what to do with our 70 pound, neuroticdog when we leave for vacation in two weeks.

Usually my husband’s mother comes to our house to check on her a couple times aday when we are gone, but she had surgery last week and can’t drive. BoardingDani is out of the question, as is having a stranger come to the house, oranyone wearing a hat. She doesn’t even recognize her own family in hats.

We’ve never figured out the origins of her anxiety. Traditional psychotherapyjust didn’t work, but she liked lying on the couch. She also enjoys standing inthe middle of the dining room table on occasion, which leads me to believe shewas a dancer in a former life. Either that or a cat. Actually, the reincarnateddancer hypothesis makes sense now that I think about it. Dani tap dances forher supper. And she sneezes as a finale. It’s a strange act, but effective.

It used to be too successful, because she would trick us into feeding her morethan she needed. She would tap dance for me and I would feed her. A few minuteslater my husband would come into the kitchen, rat-ta-tat-tat, she’d be fedagain. Then our daughter would get the dance and then our son… We finallycaught on when Dani began to lose her svelte figure.

We tried to kennel her when we first brought her home, but she broke throughtwo dog crates after nervous-drooling all over the place. This is what the vetcalled it: nervous-drooling. Thank goodness, it seems to be limited to dogs.Public speaking is nerve wracking enough. Can you imagine if you had to worryabout drooling, too?

Despite her oddities, she’s a great dog. She’s never been destructive, unlessyou count dog crates, paper towels, and baggies filled with cookies. (Hey, I’vebeen guilty of the cookies myself.) Best of all, she loves her family. When ourdaughter was three, Dani placed herself between our little girl and a neighborwalking up our drive. I have no doubts she would have taken him out if he’dbeen looking for trouble. Maybe that type of loyalty deserves a bag of cookiessometimes, and the option of staying in the comfort of her home while her packis on vacation.

What odd or funny habits does your pet have? (Two readers will win theirchoice of a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card. Please include your email addresswith your comment to be entered into the drawing.)

Samantha loves to hear from readers.You can find her on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/SamGraceAuthor, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Grace/264436686918343, and Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946067.Samantha_Grace.To learn more about Samantha’s books and appearances, you may visit her websitesamanthagraceauthor.com http://samanthagraceauthor.com/index.html.

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Mia: Thanks, Samantha! I used to have a little poodle mix who went into spasms if she saw someone in a cap. She was a rescue dog, so obviously, there's a meany-head out there in a ball cap.

In addition to Samantha's generous offers, I'll pick a winner who'll receive her choice from my backlist. While you're at my website checking out the books, be sure to pop over to the Contest page and enter to win a new KINDLE!

Anti-Resolution List

2012-01-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Actually, resolutions can get you into trouble.

In SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER, Mad Rob MacLaren resolved to visit revenge on the man he blamed for his wife's death. He never dreamed his plan would start a war between not just two, but three clans. He also never expected to find that he still had a heart to lose.

When I first read my next guest's post, I laughed out loud. It made the DH look up from his paper and ask if I was sitting on a feather. You're in for a treat from Sara Taney Humphreys!

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Sara Taney Humphreys: HappyNew Year! Like many of you, I’ve got a list of things I want tackle at the dawnof a new year and there are some that seem to land on my list every yearwithout fail. This year, however, Idecided to own up to the fact that there are certain things I will not be ableto do consistently. So this year, Idecided to write a little list of things that I am no longer putting on myresolutions list.

1. Lose(insert number here) pounds: I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life.I exercise and, on occasion, will be careful about my eating habits. However,the truth is that no matter what I weigh or what size I wear, I’m neversatisfied. My weight problem is mostly in my head and thebattle is mental more than physical. At the end of the day, I like myself and Ihave to give up the ghost. Be healthyand don’t diet. Lifestyle over a momentary fix is where it’s at.

2. NoSwearing: I know…it’s notladylike…but it is cathartic. A well-placed Damnit can be very satisfying. Every year, I resolve not to swear anymore andevery year I fail. Damn! See. Iwill keep it to a minimum but it’s just not realistic to never let a colorful metaphor slip.

3. In Bedby Ten every night: This one isjust laughable, especially with deadlines looming. I do most of my writing atnight, so it’s not at all feasible. However, I will try to keep my super-latenights to a minimum. Maybe at least 2 nights a week I can be in bed byten….Nah.

4. Be upby 5 am every morning to exercise: See #1 and #3.

At the end of the day, I think it’s allabout moderation. There are no absolutes. Life is far too unpredictable to say never because the truth is that no oneknows what surprises may lurk around that bend in the road.

So how about you? What resolution are youresolving to give up? Leave your comment here and I’ll select one winner at theend of the day to win a signed copy of UNLEASHED-- Best Book of 2011 at Grave Tells Reader’s Choice Awards!

WhereYou Can Find Me:

FB: http://www.facebook.com/Amoveo

Blog: http://www.amoveoromanceseries.blogspot.com

Website: http://www.sarahumphreys.com

Twitter: @authorsara

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/authorsara

BuyLinks

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Unleashed-Amoveo-Legend-Sara-Humphreys/dp/1402258437

B&N

http://www.amazon.com/Unleashed-Amoveo-Legend-Sara-Humphreys/dp/1402258437

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Mia: Thanks for sharing, Sara. Now I don't feel so bad about my extremely modest resolution for this year. (It's to keep my legs shaved as if it's summer year round! How's that for aiming low?)

So now it's your turn. Share your New Year's resolution for a chance to win Sara's UNLEASHED. I'll choose another winner who can pick from my backlist!

And remember to pop over to MiaMarlowe.com to enter my contest to win a new KINDLE!

Dreaming of the Wolf

2012-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

from Mia Marlowe...

Dreams feature prominently in SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. It even starts with a dream--one from which our hero, Rob MacLaren doesn't want to wake. Once he returns to the world of light, he has to face a life without the woman of his dreams, his dead wife Fiona.

But I don't think that's the sort of dream my next guest means when she wrote Dreaming of the Wolf. Please welcome Terry Spear and her furry friends!

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Terry Spear: Having wolves (werewolves, that is) in your life in the New Year is a plus. Why?

They’re protective, loyal, loving, take care of each pack member’s cubs as if they were their own, sexy, hot, hunky, well, what more can you ask for in the New Year? I admit they’re wolf shifters, which can get a little hairy at times when they’re trying to keep their identity secret. And they do seem to get into more than their share of trouble. But if you’re going to get into a pickle of a mess, being with a wolf of a guy, and his pack, evens up the odds in your favor. Even if the electricity’s on the blink during a blizzard, you’ll have no worry about keeping warm, not with a wolfish kind of guy there to help out. Did I mention how playful they are? Swimming in the Grand Cayman Islands, or a chilly lake in Oregon, playing tag, you name it, either solo or playing with the pack is part of being in a wolf pack. But it doesn’t stop there! A new jaguar shifter series, starting with Savage Hunger, will be released in the fall. Jaguars are just as curious and playful as wolves, but of course they’ll be a lot different too.

So if you like big kitty cats that are just as protective as their wolf counterparts, you might want to check them out also! Will there be cat and dog fights? Hmm. I have to say for now, neither believe the other exist—they’re merely fantasy.

Hope you all have a super wonderful New Years! I’ll be at Outback Steakhouse, pretending to be in the wilds of Australia, enjoying a wolf/jaguar-loving steak and of course spicy wings! Happy New Years! Oh, and would YOU like a wolf/jaguar (not the car, lol) for the New Years?

Terry Spear

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!”

www.facebook.com/terry.spear

www.terryspear.com

www.myspace.com/terryspear

http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/TerrySpear

Author bio: Award-winning author Terry Spear is the author of urban fantasy romances and medieval Highland romances. She received Publishers Weekly's Best Book of the Year in 2008 for Heart of the Wolf. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry is a librarian by day. She lives in Crawford, Texas.

Happy New Years, Mia!

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Mia: Happy New Year to you too, Terry!

If you want to claim a DREAMING OF THE WOLF for yourself, go to your local bookseller or Amazon or B&N.com . One lucky commenter will win theirs, but why take chances?

I'll also be picking a winner who'll choose a title from my backlist.

Dreaming of the Wolf giveaway

Things That Made Me Smile in 2011

2012-01-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

from Mia Marlowe...

Oh, there were so many things! 2011 was a terrific year on a personal note because I'm now 3 years cancer free and counting. After 5 years, I get to use that other "C" word--CURE! The old saying: "If you have your health, you have everything" is so very true.

Professionally, 2011 saw 4 new releases from me: TOUCH OF A THIEF, IMPROPER GENTLEMEN, A DUKE FOR ALL SEASONS and MY LADY BELOW STAIRS. I've been so blessed.

And 2012 is looking rosy with the release of SIN OF THE HIGHLANDER to kick things off. I'm excited to see what the new year brings. And I'm excited to bring you my next blog guest--Shona Husk. She's an Aussie with a brand new book to share with us!

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Shona Husk: It’s a new year so I thought I’d look back at the things that made me smile in 2011.

The big one was my first print book hitting the shelves (if you in Australia, like me, THE GOBLIN KING was released yesterday).

Buying the plane tickets to the US so I can go to the RT convention in April and take the kids to Disneyland.

Surviving a management change at work and successfully remaining part-time.

A long running road construction project finally finishing and looking great. While the design part which is my job was done months ago, I still had to go to construction meetings and make a few tweaks as it progressed.

Cover art. Is there anything better than seeing new cover art for the first time?

Getting my first RT Top Pick with DARK VOW.

Discovering new authors and reading old favorites. I didn’t read as much as I usually would (something to do with deadlines) but I still found plenty of new authors to swell my TBR pile to towering proportions.

New TV shows, okay we get everything slower than the US so I’m still hanging out for the second half of season 1 of Terra Nova (channel 10 I’m looking at you for taking a summer break). I’ve heard good things about Once Upon A Time and Grimm, so fingers crossed we get them in Australia soon.

My kids getting medals for their cheerleading performances.

Watching Fright Night 3D. David Tennant, vampire hunter—do I need to explain?

Meeting Eskimo Joe, one of my favourite bands…and telling them I listened to their music while writing THE GOBLN KING (they signed a copy of the book—no you can’t have it its mine!)

Then realising afterwards I’m so uncool.

What made you smile in 2011?

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Mia: Thanks, Shona. Your post made me smile in 2012. And you and your sister look pretty cool to me!

Shona has graciously offered a copy of her totally hot looking THE GOBLIN KING to one lucky commenter, so be sure to share what made you smile in 2011. I'll also be giving away winner's choice from my backlist named above!

And while you're in a winning mood, be sure to click through to my website contest where the Grand Prize is a new KINDLE. Someone's going to win it. Why not you?

SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER Excerpt

2012-01-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

from Mia Marlowe...

I finally have a free hour in my New Year Blog Bash to celebrate the release of SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. I though I'd use it to share the opening of the story:

Thepeat fire had burned out and the ash gone gray, but Rob MacLaren didn’t feelthe least bit cold. Not while his hot-blooded woman writhed under him. Their breathsmingled in the frosty air of the bedchamber. Fiona tilted her hips, welcominghim deeper, and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from emptying himselfinto her.

It was too soon.

He never wanted it to end, this joining, this lossof himself in the woman he adored.

Rob raised himself up on his arms and gazeddown at her. The candles had burned down to nubs but still flickered enough tocast her in soft light. He could see his wife clearly.

“What are ye doing, daftie man? ‘Tis toocold!” Fiona raised herself up and clung to him for warmth.

“That’s what ye get when ye marry a man on ChristmasDay—a cold bridal night.” He gently pushed her back down and she sank into thefeather tick.

“It doesna have to be cold.” Her skin rippled withgooseflesh. “Come back under the covers, love.”

“I canna. I need to see the lass I wed,” hesaid. “I want to watch ye melt for me, to see your face when ye make that weekitten noise just afore ye come.”

“Wee kitten noise, is it?” She shook withlaughter. “Have a care, husband, lest I bare my claws.”

She raked her nails across his chest and thesensation made his balls clench.

He lowered himself and kissed her, devouring herlips and chasing her tongue. He withdrew for a heartbeat for the sheer joy ofsliding slowly back into her slick wetness. Then he raised himself again andreached between them to stroke her over the edge.

“Oh, Rob.” Her inner walls clenched aroundhim and he felt the soft tremor that signaled the start of her release. “Whenye do that, I don’t care a fig if it’s so cold I catch my death . . . my death. . . my death . . .”

Her voice echoed round the chamber and faded intothe distant thatch overhead.

Rob jerked awake.

He wasn’t in his bridal bedchamber. He was lying onstone hard ground still primed to make love to the womanin his dream. Stars wheeled above him in a frigid sky. His band of men snorednearby.

And the fact that Fiona was dead slammed into himafresh.

He’d married her two years ago at Christmas andshe’d been gone by Epiphany. Twelve days, he’d been a husband. Only twelve.

And now a night didn’t pass without his wife visitinghim as some phantom, sometimes tender, sometimes terrifying. She lived in hisdreams, but always he was powerless to hold her to earth.

She was so vibrant, so real by night, he sufferedall the more in the waking world with the knowledge that he’d not find herthere.

One of the men in the clearing let out a loud snoreand mumbled in his sleep. It was hours till dawn and even more till Rob couldaccomplish what he intended in the coming day. But he would not seek sleep.

He couldn’t bear to lose Fiona again so soon.

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Hope you enjoyed the snippet of SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. If you'd like to read more of the first chapter, visit my website. While you're there be sure to enter my website contest for a chance to win a KINDLE!

Leave a comment here and you'll be entered in a drawing for winner's choice from my backlist!

The Highlander Hour

2012-01-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

Can there ever be enough men in kilts? My next blog guest doesn't think so and I agree with her! When Connie and I decided to place our first collaborative novel in Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, I had some serious researching to do.

One of the fascinating things I discovered was that the use of specific tartans to designate different clans was actually a post-Regency era construct. When King George IV made his unprecedented trip to Scotland in 1822, Sir Walter Scott, who organized the visit, envisioned a Scottish pageant to celebrate the glories of the Highlands. English lords who followed their monarch were all scrambling to find the slightest link to a Scottish clan in their lineage so they too could don the newly fashionable plaid!

Of course, putting George IV in plaid would have made Brummel tear out his hair if he hadn't already been banished from court. Fortunately in SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER, all the men in kilts do them justice!

Now for a bit from my guest blogger and fellow kilt-aficionado, Amanda Forester!

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Amanda Forester: Happy New Year! I have spent thelast few weeks of 2011 doing something I rarely get the chance to do -bake! I've made snowball surprisecookies, peanut butter chocolate cookies, saltine yums (tastes better than it sounds),apple brandy bread pudding, and caramel brownie cheesecake. Oh, so good! So as I ring in the New Year with the obligatory diet resolution, let'stalk about some of the highlights from 2011.

I am thrilled that 2011 saw the publication of my second novel, TheHighlander's Heart. A historicalsetting with some adventure, a little humor, and of course a hunky dude in akilt is my favorite way to have an armchair romance. So of course I'm super excited to get myhands on a copy of Sins of a Highlander byMia Marlowe and Connie Mason! It's hardto decide whether I enjoy writing or reading more, but I had a blast writingabout a directionally impaired English countess who accidentally crosses pathswith a Highland laird.

Lady Isabelle escapes her murderous English husband only tobe abducted by a Highland warrior and held for ransom. Her determinationto break free from captivity is exceeded only by the passion growing betweenher and the Highland Laird. David Campbell plans to hold Isabelle forransom as an easy way to line his pockets and return her back where shebelongs, but he is unprepared for a feisty English lass with a penchant forfinding trouble. Caught between rival clans bent on claiming the throneof Scotland, Campbell must choose a side, and a bride. Standing on thebrink of war, Isabelle may be his only hope to save his clan, and his heart.

One lucky commenter on today's blog will win a copy of The Highlander'sHeart!! Woohoo! Get to commenting! Read an excerpt from The Highlander's Heart here.

And while you're at it, checkout the fabulous saleon Sourcebook romances and download my first book in the Highlander series,TheHighlander's Sword - today it's only$1.79!!!

Happy New Year!

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Mia again: Only $1.79! Ok, excuse me for a minute while I pop over to Amazon and load up your THE HIGHLANDER'S SWORD. While we're talking eBook deals, let me just share that my TOUCH OF A THIEF is now available for only $1.99 for a limited time. Since the print tradebook version is $14.00, that's a significant savings for a story that garnered a Publishers Weekly Starred Review!

Since Amanda's offering a copy of THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART to a commenter this hour, I'll toss a signed SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER into the pot as well to make this a true Highland hour on the Blog Bash. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment in order to be entered in the drawing.

And be sure to take a minute to enter my website contest at MiaMarlowe.com for a chance to win a new KINDLE!

Forgotten Goddeses

2012-01-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

From Mia Marlowe...

It's more fun to celebrate the release of my SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER with my Casablanca sisters than if I just blogged about my book. But since the novel is coming out tomorrow, I suppose I ought to say something about it. Here's one of my favorite lines from our hero, Mad Rob MacLaren:

"Ye're mistaken, mistress, if ye think me a gentleman."

My guest blogger for the 3 PM hour of our Blog Bash is Stephanie Julian. She's a prolific author who's got a three book series coming in rapid succession. Her Forgotten Goddess series is full of magical romance. Stephanie, wasn't your first title released fairly recently?

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Stephanie Julian: Yes, HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS was only just released last month. And the response by readers has been wonderful. As a thank you to everyone who said they can’t wait for GODDESS IN THE MIDDLE, Forgotten Goddesses #3, here’s a tiny taste of the book.

Excerpt:

“Amity, those two guys have been staring at you for the past half hour. Are you just going to sit here and ignore them or are you going to put them out of their misery?”

Amity Monroe, formerly known as Munthukh, Etruscan Goddess of Health, gave Jill Doyle a wry grin before taking another sip of her whiskey sour—and continuing to ignore the men at the other end of Kelly’s Corner.

She and Jill had grabbed a table in the back, away from the constant bustle at the bar, because Amity had said she’d wanted a quiet night out with a friend.

“How do you know they’re looking at me? Maybe they’re looking at you.”

Which would make a lot more sense. A drop-dead gorgeous brunette in her late twenties, Jill had been known to break more hearts than she saved. And Jill was a damn good trauma nurse. One of Reading Hospital’s best.

Men typically fell over themselves to get to Jill. She inspired fist fights and more than a few indecent proposals.

Amity… Well, she apparently looked like the kind of woman men wanted to take home to their mothers. Not the kind who inspired panting and dirty talk. She hadn’t even gotten that at the height of her worship, oh so many, many centuries ago.

It wasn’t that she was ugly. No, men still looked at her with lust in their eyes and fell into her bed when she invited them for fast, hot sex. The problem was, most of them wanted to stick around the next day and the next. They wanted to keep her.

Amity had learned her lesson on that point. She may be the Goddess of Health but she couldn’t heal her broken heart. Best never to let a relationship get to that point.

Need to catch up on the series before GODDESS IN THE MIDDLE releases in July?

HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS, Forgotten Goddesses #2
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

WHAT A GODDESS WANTS, Forgotten Goddesses #1
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

To connect with Stephanie visit:

Website http://stephaniejulian.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Julian/52545546702?ref=ts

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/StephanieJulian

Mia here! Stephanie has graciously offered a print copy of How To Worship a Goddess to a randomly drawn commenter. (USA and Canada only. Sorry.)

To be entered, leave your answer to this question: Which of the three gorgeous Goddess covers is your favorite and why? Or you can leave a question for Stephanie or me. Good luck to all and remember, the drawing will be held on Jan. 4th to give everyone a chance to weigh in. Be sure to come back to Casablanca Authors then to find out if you're a winner!

And remember to enter my contest at MiaMarlowe.com to win a new KINDLE!

What's My New Year's Resolution?

2012-01-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

from Mia Marlowe...

If you want to learn mine, you'll have to visit me at the Brava Blog, but unfortunately, it looks as if that site's been hacked.

But I can tell you here that my heroine in SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER, Elspeth Stewart, would resolve to open herself to her gift of Sight more often. She fights against the Gift and as a result, she only receives snippets of disjointed visions. And they never seem to come in a timely enough manner for her to actually affect a change. If she'd paid attention to the warnings, she might have Seen that woad-painted warrior crashing through the kirk doors and galloping up the aisles to snatch her from the altar.

My guest blogger for this hour of the Blog Bash is Sidney Ayers, author of sinfully snarky paranormal romance! Be prepared to share your resolutions for 5 chances to win a short read from her or a long one from ME! Sidney is also offering a GRAND PRIZE of a $10 gift certificate and signed copies of her DEMONS LIKE IT HOT and DEMONS PREFER BLONDES!

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Sidney Ayers: If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s procrastinating. I am the queen ofputting off things. I’m not really sure why. It’s something I’ve always done.I’m pretty sure it’s my subconscious trying to set me up for failure. Heck thisblog is going to be posted tomorrow, and lowandbehold, I’m just getting aroundto writing it right now. Silly me.

Procrastination is a really nasty habit, one that can get you into a lot oftrouble if you don’t nip it in the bud. So I’m making a promise to myself thisyear. I am going to destroy this procrastination bug if it kills me. And I sayIF, not when. I know I can do it.

But how, you ask?

Easy. Follow these important rules:

1. Put off the fun and games until the important stuff is done. That beingsaid, an hour of fun and relaxation helps keep the stress down too.
2. Reward myself when I meet a goal. A Starbucks mocha latte when I finish achapter is a sweet incentive, eh? Then again, so is chocolate.
3. Don’t push myself too hard. That will only lead to more stress, which canprove more fatal than procrastination.
4. Get adequate amount of rest.
5. Eat at least three balanced meals.
6. Keep myself motivated. Document my successes. Seeing all thoseachievements is a good way to help your ego
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So there’s my New Year’s Motivation! What are your goals and resolutions for2012? One lucky commenter will win a $10.00 Amazon Gift card, and anautographed copy of both DEMONS PREFER BLONDES and DEMONS LIKE IT HOT. 5commenters will also win a free PDF copy of AN ABSOLUTE MESS, a short sillystory I wrote a while ago and decided make available online.
Happy 2012!
Sidney

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Wow, Sidney! That's an impressive pile of loot you're offering. Allow me to sweeten it with winners' choice of my eBook versions of TOUCH OF A THIEF, A DUKE FOR ALL SEASONS or MY LADY BELOW STAIRS!

To enter this hour, please remember to put your email in your comment so we can contact you if you sin...oops, I mean win! Typos are my curse. Also take a minute to scroll back to catch my other guest bloggers and leave a comment for each one so you'll be entered in their drawings too! And be sure to take minute to pop over to my website contest for your chance to win a NEW KINDLE!

It's Not Your Typical Hospital

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

When I asked Linda Wisdom to join me today, I didn't realize she'd give me an opening to share a unique part of SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. During Mad Rob and Elspeth's flight from the two clan leaders who are after them, Elspeth is struck by a crossbow bolt. There were no hospitals in the Highlands, but there was the Witch of Loch Earn. If it be a sin to seek the help of dark powers, Rob is willing to bear the weight of them to save Elspeth--the woman he never expected to care a whit about.

Here's a link to another risk Rob was prepared to dare for his captive: SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER (I dare you to click through!)

My blog guest Linda Wisdom has some very different sorts of healers than you might expect in her vibrant paranormal world. I know she'll make you smile!

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Linda Wisdom: What a terrific way tostart the year than with a new book release?

How many of us watchedmedical dramas? Go all the way back to Dr. Kildaire, Ben Casey, onward toMedical Center, Marcus Welby MD, to ER, House and Grey’s Anatomy.

I’ve used doctors in mypast books, but nothing like Dr. Lili Carter, an ER physician in San Francisco’s CryingSoul’s Hospital and Asylum. Nor the patients she encounters. Not a human in thebunch. But that’s what makes it fun.

Where else will youencounter a wereleopard nurse, a dragon shifter head nurse and a musty oldwizard doctor? A regal Persian cat who’d been Cleopatra in another life and isonly too happy to advise you on your love life. And who else should know betterabout romance than the queen who seduced Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony?

And a witch who heals withmagick and a smattering of actual medicine too. Can you imagine the kinds ofmedical schools Lili attended over the centuries?

But a sexy witch needs amale who can handle her. That’s where Jared comes in. A demon with a dark pastwho Lili should have run from the first second she saw him. But who wants torun away from a hot guy who has you thinking silk sheets and some absolutelyyummy sex?

I’ve always said I writewhat I love to read. That means magick, hints of suspense, quirky, andsurprises.

Plus my characters can sayand do what I want to at times.

As I said it’s fun to startout the year with a new book whether its mine or any of my friends’ books whoyes, I immediately download to my Nook. If I can’t sleep and there’s nothinggood on TV I know I’ll have some fun reading ahead of me.

Along with A Demon Does ItBetter, I have some of my backlist books coming out as ebooks and more comingeach week. You can find them through www.joyridebooks.comalong with Amazon, BN, and Smashwords.

Just remember, a book a daykeeps the frownies away. :}

And Happy New Year!

Linda

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Thanks so much, Linda!

Linda is offering a signed copy of A Demon Does it Better, along with some "witchy" goodies to a lucky commenter. I'll also be choosing someone to win an eBook of my TOUCH OF A THIEF.

Remember the drawings will be held January 4th, so you have plenty of time to scroll down and check out all my other fabulous Blog Bash guests. Every post is your opportunity to be a winner! Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you when you win!

DON'T FORGET TO POP OVER TO MY WEBSITE CONTEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NEW KINDLE!