Blessings of a Nor’easter

I live in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. If you haven’t traveled to my neck of the woods, the Adirondack Park is a 6 million acre state park that includes both state owned and private holdings, with over 2 million acres dedicated to a forest preserve. We’ve got Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain up here, and it’s a gorgeous, quiet place to live and work. It also happens to be the setting of my current anthology release with authors Jacquie D’Alessandro and Kathleen O’Reilly, A BLAZING LITTLE CHRISTMAS.


There’s a lot to love about life up here. For one thing, it’s quiet. It’s fun to drive on deserted country roads where there’s no stress about the traffic. For another, there are no long lines at my post office and we get to know most all the locals on sight. The spectacular beauty is nothing to sneeze at either. But one of the coolest aspects is a phenomenon we’re experiencing now—the advent of the Nor’easter.

Every winter we get a few of these big storms. Tons of snow, whipping winds, low visibility, freezing cold temperatures. Some might say that’s awful. And I’m sure there are lots of problems associated with that much snow. But for me, it’s a great big excuse to stay indoors and count my blessings.

I love the opportunity to sit inside a cozy warm house and sip cocoa all afternoon, surrounded by my family. And nothing reminds me of the awesome power of nature as quickly as a big, bad winter storm. That in itself comes with a lot of important messages to think about. As in—the world is bigger and badder than me, and no amount of fretting, scurrying or working my tail into the ground will give me control over things that I have no control over. There’s a certain peace in letting go of your worries and saying—today, I did my best and that’s all I can do.

Mostly, I love that a winter storm tucks us in tight with the ones we love and reminds us that all we really need is right there at home with us. When the power goes out, we’re called to sit around the table and play board games by candlelight. And when night falls, I can still read a good book if I double up on the hurricane lamps and crank the wicks. Of course, my husband appreciates that no T.V. before bed means we ought to entertain each other.

So whether this winter finds you in the thick of a blizzard or on Florida’s sunny shores, I wish everyone a quiet day sometime over the holidays—a day to stay at home, unplug the family from the life static that is modern technology, and a chance to count your blessings.

Happy Holidays! And please do enter my contest this month at http://www.joannerock.com/ where I'll be giving away lots of great new reading material for your New Year.

****
Joanne Rock is a three-time RITA nominee and author of over thirty novels from a variety of Harlequin and Silhouette series. Check out her website or her myspace page to learn more about her upcoming releases.

Milk, Cookies and Cheese - Susanna Carr

When I was very young, my sisters and I would read Santa Mouse by Michael Brown on Christmas Eve. The story is about a lonely mouse who wanted to show Santa his thanks for the presents he received each year. So he wrapped up a piece of cheese and left it by his stocking. Santa was so pleased by the thoughtful gesture that he asked the mouse to come work for him.

As you can imagine, my sisters and I decided to add a slice of cheese to Santa's tray of milk and cookies. This tray was important and everyone fought over who got to do what. The milk was poured into a Santa mug that had his hat as the handle, and the cookies were made from a recipe handed down by my great-grandmother.

The cookies, milk, and slice of cheese were lovingly placed on a metal tray. The tray was used exclusively for this occasion because it had a depiction of children leaving a bottle of Coca-Cola for Santa. We placed all of this next to the fireplace where our stockings were hung. On Christmas morning, we were always thrilled to see a big bite taken out of the remaining cookie!

Did you leave out a tray for Santa? What was on it?

Susanna

http://www.susannacarr.com

Counting down and looking forward - by Kate Walker

I love Christmas. I love the way that it brightens up the dark, cold (well, it's cold here in the UK) days of December with decorations and celebrations, I love the way that, when it's celebrated right, it brings together loved ones from near and far, puts you in contact with people you don't connect with the rest of the year, and brings friends and warmth into your life and home.

I just had my traditional early Christmas with a group of very special writer friends who all come to stay at my home for a long weeked. They've only just left, that's why I'm a little late writing this blog. We ate a lot, drank some wine, visited 'Christmas World' in a nearby village. We played silly games, laughed a lot, some of us had things they needed to shed a tear or two over as well. And we talked and talked and talked . . .

There were different generations gathered together too - one of my friends couldn't make it last year because the birth of her baby was very close. This year, her almost one year old son joined us for the weekend - hopfully the first of many such visits by him and other new members of the 'family of friends'.

For a time, for various reasons, I'd been feeling too stressed to think of Christmas without worrying but this weekend has brought home to me just what it's really all about.

It's about sharing. About reaching out to other people and letting them know that they are important in your life. And that includes my readers. Every year as Christmas approaches, I run several contests to involve my readers in my Christmas celebrations. To reach out to them and let them know how much I appreciate them and how grateful I am to all the readers who buy my books and so keep me writing and published next year and for years (hopefully) to come.

Like this post, I'm a little late with organising this but now I'm in the Christmas mood I'm organising my 12 Days of Christmas contest and the details will go up on my web site just as soon as I can get them there. And then here on My Tote Bag Leena will be running my 12 Days of Christmas contest. Every day for 12 days leading up to Christmas I'll be giving away a signed copy of one of my books and a little extra Christmas Gift to all the lucky winners. So why not check out my blog or my Contest page on my web site soon to see when the contest is starting?

The other thing I do is ask my readers to help me with my Christmas Charity Card. I would love to be able to send you all a Christmas card to wish you all the happiness of this special season, but the planning and organising of all that is just impossible - so I'm going to be doingwhat I did last year, and that is to give a real, practical gift tothose in need instead of cards. Last year's gift was a batch of essential medicines for a whole village - that was the choice voted for by most of the visitors to the blog. So this year I'll be running the poll again and I hope you'll drop byand vote for your choice of special gift that I'll be sending this year. It is, after all, in place of a card to say thank you to each and every one of you for your support for me all through this year.

And as I did last year, I will be posting up a special cyber card foryou all on my web site from December. I have at least got that organised and it's up on my web site from today so I hope you'll come by and see that.

And looking forward? Well when 2008 dawns, Lee and I have some plans that we hope will interest those of you who want to be writers of romance as well as readers. Today's blog is on the 12th of the month and from January 2008 I will be regularly posting on the 12 of each month and then I will be talking about writing - 12 points on the 12th. Because, of course, my award winning guide to writing Romance is called the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance. And I hope to have some exciting news about that to tell you very soon. So I hope you'll come by and join me for that too.

And to celebrate Christmas with all the readers of this blog, and too look forward to those special posts, I'm going to offer a special prize today. I have 2 copies of the 12 Point Guide To Writing Romance to give away - and if you're lucky I'll put in a copy of my current Harlequin Presents title too, That's The Greek Tycoon's Unwilling Wife a book that's still riding high on the bestseller lists on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

All you have to do is to post me a reply to this blog - telling me what you're most looking forward to for Christmas and New Year. Let me know what you're hoping to write too - that would help me for the 12 Points on the 12th blog starting in January.

At the end of the week I'll get Sid the cat to pick a winner, as he picks all my winners and if you're really lucky you'll have those prizes with you in time to be an extra present for you.

And even though it's still a little early, I'd like to wish all of you a really happy, joyful, sharing Christmas. I hope it's everything you've ever dreamed of and leaves you with some truly special memories to treasure. And I wish you a fantastic New Year, with lots to look forward to in the next 12 months.

One of which I hope will be joining me here on the 12 for the start of those special posts.

Giveaway Galore

Hey everyone!

It's the season for giving and I'm giving away tons of cool stuff as a thank you to readers. First off, on my website I'm having a contest extravanza. Ten $10 Amazon gift certificates to be given away over the course of December and a $100 Barnes and Noble gift certificate. For rules of entry visit the contest page of my website at http://www.loriwilde.com/.

Next, to celebrate the release of my next book ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY (the second in the WEDDING VEIL WISHES series) I'm giving away an Advance Reading Copy. This book has been picked up as a featured alternate for both Rhapsody and Doubleday Books. Here's the back cover blurb.

Legend claims this antique Irish wedding veil can grant your heart’s deepest desire. But be careful what you wish for…

Wedding videographer Tish Gallagher is at the end of her rope. Her video business is about to go bust. She’s just spent her last buck on non-returnable (but oh so fabulous) shoes. And her most sustainable relationship is with a pint of Haagen-Dazs. So she makes a wish on the lucky wedding veil to get out of debt…and sees the man she never stopped loving, her ex-husband, secret service agent Shane Tremont. Sure, their chemistry was off-the-charts sizzling hot, but their clashes were legendary and no amount of longing will change that.

So when her dream job of recording the first daughter’s wedding appears out of the blue, Tish knows it’s her only shot to get out of the red. Just one teensy glitch: Shane is the groom. From the moment they see each other, she knows nothing’s changed—the same old black magic is still between them, just as irresistible and potent as ever. But he’s promised to another and Tish has been burned before. Will she always be…

ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY

If you want to be in the drawing for the ARC, just post in the comment section and tell me you'd like the book. I'll draw a winner tomorrow afternoon and post the winner's name right here in the comment section.

Lastly, for your holiday shopping pleasure, I'm giving away a $20 gift certificate to Starbucks. Treat your entire shopping party to coffee (or tea or hot chocolate.) Just post your favorite Starbucks drink right here in the comment section of this blog and I'll draw a winner on Monday and post it right here.

Happy shopping, reading and coffee drinking!

Much love,
Lori

Rainy weather - Nancy Warren

November is pretty rainy in the pacific northwest, but we do grow some gorgeous big cedar trees. However, I had the opportunity this month to travel to Florida where they don't grow much of a cedar. Nice palms though.

Nice weather. Nice, nice weather. I was in Boca Raton to spend a day at Office Depot headquarters. What, you might ask, does Office Depot have to do with romance? Office Depot sponsors NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and Carl appears in my November NASCAR themed Harlequin novel, Turn Two. I was on hand to autograph books and made some new friends, including Charles Weismeyer, pictured here, who was kind enough to send me this photo. Charlie and I are agreed that we make a very cute couple ;-) I had a great day, met some wonderful people and ended my trip with some downtime with my good friend, fellow author, Karen Kendall. Karen toured me around the Fort Lauderdale area and somehow we found ourselves either shopping or eating ;-) A truly memorable time with one of the kindest and funniest women I know.

I'm back enjoying the rain. There's a lot to love about rain. Really. We support the umbrella, raincoat and gumboot industries. Rain keeps the skin youthful, we never run out of drinking water, and those cedars really are something, aren't they...?

Oh, one more thing before I forget is that I only run contests once in a while but I've got one on for the next couple of weeks that's fabulous. If you come over to my site, http://www.nancywarren.net/ you can enter to win the entire 16 book NASCAR Harlequin series from 2007. I had the launch book in February (Speed Dating) and Turn Two is the last book in the series for this year. So drop by and sign up. I've really loved the stories.

Happy Reading,

Nancy Warren

Bad Old Days, Good New Days! - Christina Hollis

I was stuck indoors all weekend nursing a horrible cold (donated by Son Number One). I couldn’t get to church, and there was definitely no gardening. That was a wrench, as during the week the weather was perfect for a late autumn tidy-up. I was looking forward to gathering leaves and putting everything to bed for the winter. We’ve had brilliantly starry nights and clear, cold days. On a couple of occasions the gate has been frosted shut when we headed out on the school run. While all that was going on, I was sitting behind a computer screen and looking forward to Friday. By the end of my working week, the bug struck. I lost the urge to do anything outside. Instead, I tried tidying my office. That’s a never-ending task. We don’t have much room, so my desk is squeezed in between an enormous chest freezer, the telescope my OH’s dear father refurbished forty years ago (and we can’t bear to lose), the Christmas tree in its box and all the decorations ditto, and any number of other useful bits and pieces which can find no other home.

My trouble is, I can’t bear to throw anything away. I have boxes and boxes of children’s drawings, birthday cards and other treasures. These can’t be sacrificed, so it had to be my stack of magazines. I’ve kept every one to which I’ve contributed over the years, but this was the time to say goodbye. As a compromise, my published articles now fill one box file instead of a tottering heap of publications.

While I was emptying my filing cabinet, I came across six, closely written foolscap sheets. There were columns for ‘page number’, ‘query’ and a big space for ‘remarks’. In seconds, I was taken right back the nineteen-nineties. That was when I used to write historical novels. I love research, but these pages were an illustration of how difficult it was back then. The good old days? I don’t think so! With no access to the internet and only a small dictionary, the only way I could double-check every historical fact and spelling was to make a sixty mile round trip (babies in tow) to the county library. That took ages, and we all ended up over-tired and frustrated. Now everyone who has access to a computer can find information on anything, in seconds. It’s a wonderful invention. The only question I’m left with is…weren’t computers supposed to herald the paperless office? It certainly hasn’t worked in this house!

Have computers made life easier for you, or just altered your workload?

Christina

http://www.christinahollis.com

Jane Porter's Title Contest

I got the bad news today. Alpha Mom, out in only 6 months, will no longer be called Alpha Mom due to someone apparently owning the title. It seems a clever woman has copyrighted the words (who would have thought?!?) and is threatening to sue me and my publisher if we don’t change the name of my novel. I’m a fan of women who accomplish things but not a fan of women who threaten legal action so Alpha Mom needs a new title. Fast.

I’m asking all my readers, fellow writers and friends to help brainstorm new title ideas I can send my editor this week. To get a sneak peek of the Alpha Mom cover (before the title change) visit my B-Board for the next few days and see what the cover looks like, and read the blurb about the book, before the cover and blurb disappear to be unveiled once the transformation is complete.

My editor has suggested three possible new titles:

Queen Bee
Alpha Female
Power Mom

Do you like any of them? Can you think of any other ideas? Want to send me some ideas?
If you suggest a title that gets picked by my editorial team at 5 Spot for the book, which is Taylor’s book (we meet her in Odd Mom Out) you’ll be rewarded with a $50 Sephora gift certificate, an advanced reading copy of To-Be-Retitled-Alpha-Mom, and a signed set of my 5 Spot books: The Frog Prince, Flirting with Forty, and Odd Mom Out.

So, if you’re creative and like brainstorming book titles send me your suggestions as I desperately need your help. Alpha Mom needs a new name right away.

Jane

http://www.janeporter.com

Christine Rimmer Explains Why There's Nothing Like a Christmas Song

It’s that time of year again. You know what I mean. Ho-ho-ho and all that jazz.

Here in Sooner country--yes, that would be Oklahoma--our local pop radio station, 104.7 on your dial, switches to all Christmas, all the time during the week of Thanksgiving.

And do I listen? Oh, yes, I do. I can’t wait to get in the car between November 20th or so and New Years’ Day. A bounty of Christmas is right there, waiting for me. All it takes is the punch of a button, and maybe a slight adjustment of the volume dial.

See, I like it loud. Very loud. And it’s not like I don’t get plenty of Yule sounds at home. I’ve been collecting Christmas music since my younger son was born. As of today, I’ve got 29 Christmas albums, total, in two formats; CD and cassette. I’m loathe to ditch the cassettes, since I’m afraid I won’t find these treasures again. And then there's the iPod Nano I bought a few months ago. I've been loading it up with holiday cheer, as well.

And about my old cassette players--in the house and in the car? This is the one time of year they still get a workout. On cassette, I have what you could only call the classics: Burl Ives’s Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper and Elvis’s Blue Christmas. How am I going to say goodbye to those?

You guessed it. I’m not!

Plus, every year, I feel it’s my holiday duty to add one more great CD to my collection. Last year it was Bette Midler's Cool Yule. Love it! This year, I haven't decided yet. But I will. Oh, yes!

And back to 104.7 on your dial and all Christmas, all the time...

So I’m driving in my car with the radio on full blast and here comes that Christmas Song that reduces me to a blubbering mass of holiday tears, every time, without fail: The Christmas Shoes by Newsong. Heard that one? Don’t listen without a box of Kleenex. I warn you.

In case you’ve missed it, a little boy is buying the perfect shoes for his dying mama. He wants “her to be beautiful. If Mama meets Jesus tonight.” Can you spell s-o-b-b-i-n-g? Because I was. I do. Every time I hear that song. I drive with the tears streaming down my face.

No, that poor little boy doesn’t have enough money to pay for them, and yes, the holiday-hardened singer ends up putting his money down so the kid can give his mama her Christmas Shoes… Okay. I need that one. I really, really do….

How ‘bout you? A favorite Christmas song? An album you recommend?



Happy holidays, everyone!

www.christinerimmer.com
Christine Rimmer's News

Hello! Any Cooks Out There...

This blog is going to be a little unique today.

I need recipes. Now I know that I can get them off the Internet. I can wrangle my family to give me exact measurements for the traditional recipes. But I thought that you - out there - could help me.

My son has to turn in 40 recipes by the end of January. This is part of his Home Ec project. He also has to make a few of the dishes and turn in to the teacher for extra credit. Let me just say that this is her favorite project because she doesn't have to bring her lunch.

My daughter had the same project last year and we've used up the family and friends as sources. Since I didn't want to duplicate the same results, I'd like to have fresh new recipes.

He has to have a variety from categories, such as: appetizers, soups, entrees, desserts, even drinks (sorry, no alcohol).

So if you feel inspired to help in this endeavor, you can either post your recipe (so others may enjoy) or email me at michellemonkou@comcast.net.

Thank you very much.

Michelle Monkou

http://michellemonkou.com/

Reading One's Own Books -- Bronwyn Jameson

There of many joys in being an author; near the top of my list is the arrival of author copies of a soon-to-be-released book. These are the complimentary copies sent by the publisher, and opening the box and seeing the actual book for the first time never fails to delight me. There's something almost decadent about seeing so many copies of one's book in the one place.

This week I received my author's copies of VOWS & A VENGEFUL GROOM, and this one delighted me even more than usual. The lovely cover looks even better wrapped around the book. The back cover blurb sets the ideal tone for the story. I opened a book and read the Dear Reader letter and the dedication, as I do with each new book, and I thought about all the work that went into getting from original idea to printed book and the people who helped me get there. In this case that involved a lot more work and time and people than usual, because this is the first book in Diamonds Down Under, an author-led continuity series.

I think I can safely say that none of the six authors had any idea just how much work would be involved when we embarked on this project. But now that the hard work is over and the series is close to kick-off, we share an extra degree of pride in the accomplishment and an extra spark of excitement in seeing the finished product. Which brings me to the point of this post....

Usually I don't read my books, for several reasons. Firstly, I'm afraid of finding typos or printing errors and being something of a perfectionist that just stresses me out. Secondly, I've read the manuscript enough times through edits and proofs that I really don't need to do so again. There are so many other wonderful books out there to read -- I never have enough time to read them all, so why waste time on my own? Thirdly, there's the little niggling concern that the story might not be as good as I want it to be.

But this time I surprised myself by reading Vows & A Vengeful Groom from cover to cover, and it wasn't nearly as painful as I imagined. Who knew? *g*

So, authors, do you read your own books when your author copies arrive? And readers, do you (like me, the perfectionist!) notice typos and errors in printed books? Do they irritate you or can you read right by them with scarcely a blink?

Vows & A Vengeful Groom is my 13th published novel and a January 2008 release from Silhouette Desire. Visit my website to read an excerpt and the lowdown on how the Diamonds Down Under series came about.

Author Trivia - Lee Hyat

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for all the authors and readers who support this blog and with that in mind, I thought I'd do a fun Author Trivia contest.

I'm going to share some information about an author. If you can guess her name and the title of her book, please email me at totebag[at]authorsoundrelations.com with your answers and be sure to put Author Trivia in the subject heading.

At the end of this month, I'll pick 3 winners from everyone who answers correctly. The prize for each winner is a copy of the book. And everyone's entitled to play - even authors. (You were readers before you were authors so for my contests, it's all fair!)

Here are your clues:


1 -This author was born in the San Fernando Valley in California.

2 - She studied British Literature at Pomona College

3 - At one point in her life she volunteered as an archeologist

4 - She earned her MA from Claremont Graduate University

5 - She's travelled around the world to places like India and Zimbabwe.

6 - She was a public high school teacher for six years.

7 - Her agent is Anna Ghosh.

8 - Her July 2007 release is a hardback historical fiction best seller.

9 - The title of her book consists of just one word.

10 - This is her debut novel.

Please don't post your answers here - it would ruin the fun for eveyrone else. Just email them to me at totebag[at]authorsoundrelations.com.

Good luck!
Lee

ANSWER: Michelle Moran - NEFERTITI

Thankful by Megan Crane

I love Thanksgiving.

I love the scrabble for strange foodstuffs in the supermarkets, the showdowns over french fried onions and green beans and everyone's differing take on the right recipe, the necessity of pumpkin pie.

I love sitting down at a table practically groaning from the weight to eat casseroles and stuffings and turkey and ham and whatever else people bring. It's never salad. It is always their grandmother's famed souffle involving heavy cream and a side of lard. Bring it on.

This year I am thankful for many things. Health, family, friends and loved ones, of course. But also the fact that I am not hosting Thanksgiving, and can thus swan into my friend's house with my assorted casseroles as it suits me. The fact that we decided not to travel anywhere for the holiday, and can therefore avoid the horror that is the LAX airport.

I am thankful that Matt Damon won the Sexiest Man of the Year in People Magazine, because I enjoy him. I especially enjoy those Bourne movies, and the fact he is married to a normal woman instead of a seven foot twig of a Brazilian model.

I am thankful that I somehow discovered a Linda Howard novel that I have never read, having previously believed I'd read every last one of her books.

I am thankful that my DVR is full to the bursting with excellent television shows I haven't watched yet, from vampires to pie makers to time travelers to Grey's Anatomy which I am angry at, yet still sullenly record.

I am thankful that my To Be Read pile is now the size of a small library, which means I should never run out of something good to read.

I am particularly thankful for science and biology, which makes it physically impossible to actually put on twenty pounds in one day, no matter how much I eat.

What about you?

The Woman I Used to Be....

This fall has been hellacious.

No one to blame but myself of course, and I'm not sure I would have changed much if I could have. Opportunity knocks and there are times that you just don't wanna say no. I had a gorgeous trip to London, gave a couple of workshops and simply over scheduled myself. I had a book release in September as well as handing in a new book and revisions on a previous one. Add in some non-writing life issues and it has been a couple of months of stress and general busy-ness.

But last weekend was the end of the major commitments for the fall. And I finally GOT something that I've known all along but just didn't clue in to.

I spent a lot of time fitting the writing in around everything else when in fact, everything else should fit around the writing. As soon as I figured that out, it was like much of the stress evaporated.

But more than that, I didn't have time for a lot of the things I used to. I haven't been the mom I used to be either and I was starting to resent it.

But a couple of weekends ago I was more like the woman I used to be than I have been for a looong time. I recognized her - and I LIKED her! The one that wrote books but still managed to do all those stay at home mom things I'd enjoyed for a lot of years. The one who...dare I say it...used to have some BALANCE in her life.

I did some baking and froze it for the church bazaar which was this past Saturday. And my kids love doing crafts and I hadn't done ANY with them. Seeing as there is a kids table at the same bazaar, after housecleaning was done on Saturday, the girls and I went to the craft store and blew some cash.

It was great fun...nearly as much fun as starting to put it all together that Saturday night and Sunday. We sat around the kitchen table and had a blast. Saturday night they had bubble baths and I read to them before tucking them in...everything non-rushed. Just enjoyable.

It's been a huge lesson to me to keep things simple. To enjoy the family because the kids won't stay little forever - they're already growing up too fast. To enjoy the little moments and not let myself get caught up in the rat race. And to be thankful for them and the fact that I get to do a job that I adore every day!

Thinking about Thanksgiving

How thankful am I?
Absolutely a bunch.
Pounds gained? Oh, my. After
Pies galore and potatoes, sweet and mashed,
You don't want to know.

There are friends and family, from
Here and far,
All gathered together,
Nibbling and laughing, cooking like mad.
Knives come out. Poor turkey--
Sliced to the bone.
Give the guys alcohol and set them
In front of the TV.
Victory for the Packers!
Ice cream and pie--second helpings, please.
Now the time grows late and we must go...
Good day, jolly Pilgrims. Next? Let it snow!

* * * * *

Winners of the A TOWN CALLED CHRISTMAS giveaway are CHERIE J and SUSAN P. Congrats, ladies! Please send me a note with your address and "blog winner" in the subject line and the books will go in the mail: carriealexander2@aol.com

Just a Second! by Anna Campbell

Hey, Leena, it's been a while since I blogged here although I often check by to see who's talking on Tote Bags. Thanks for inviting me to talk about my second historical romance Untouched which comes out on 27th November.

It's interesting having a second book on the way. I wonder if it's like having a second baby. Not having children myself, I can't comment with any real authority but I wouldn't be surprised if there are similarities in the way you feel. You THINK you should know a lot more than you actually do!

It's still just as exciting to mark those moments along the way to the book appearing on the shelves. The editor's final approval. The cover (that's always exciting - and isn't Untouched's cover gorgeous?). Its appearance on Amazon. The first reviews coming in. Thankfully, all glowing so far, touch wood, throw salt over my shoulder, sacrifice rubber chickens under a full moon!

But it doesn't really seem real until it's up there in a bookstore and someone can wander in and buy it. And even then, because I'm in Australia, I have to wait for friends of mine to take photos of it and send them to me!

Untouched is a dark adult fairytale with elements of Beauty and the Beast and The Sleeping Beauty. For people who enjoyed Claiming the Courtesan, my debut historical romance for Avon, it has a similar atmosphere but very different characters and story.

In the meantime, amongst all the excitement, life goes on. Because I've just got my third book into Avon, I've since been busy doing all the things I didn't do while I was writing. But I'm really looking forward to having some time off over the Holidays to catch up on my TBR pile which currently rivals Everest. Just to mention some of the books waiting for me - the newest J.R. Ward, the newest Nalini Singh, The Secret Swan by Shana Abe, Harlequins by Yvonne Lindsay, Trish Morey, Tessa Radley and Robyn Grady. And that's only counting the top few in the tottering pile. I might have to take the phone off the hook!

What books are you looking forward to snuggling down with over the Festive Season? And a very happy Thanksgiving to all my North American friends!

Best wishes!

Anna
www.annacampbell.info

Secret Agent Heroes and Why We Love Them

I watch very little television, but there is a new show I just love. It's called "Burn Notice" and features a spy who has been "burned" by his agency. It's funny. It's intense. It's great. And the spy? To die for. He's gorgeous, he's charming and he's tough. Great combination.

It's no surprise to my family that I love this show. After all, they have to hear all about my own personal secret agent heroes as I'm writing their stories. When I created The Goddard Project agency, it was pure self-indulgence. I wanted to write about hereos that made my own pulse kick up a notch and my breathing go a little funny. You know? And being married to a super smart alpha has its perks in this way too. He helped me to come up with the whole high-tech premise of the series. He makes great inspiration for the sexier than sin heroes too.

And speaking of uber sexy...that's Alan Hyatt to a T. The hero of DEAL WITH THIS (in stores on Nov 27). Sex on a stick, as Jillian would say. The man is hot, he's dangerous and he's very talented where it counts. As an agent - of course. Okay, so maybe I wasn't just talking about his job performance, but you'll have to read the book to find out. LOL

What is it about secret agents that make them such compelling heroes for us? Is it the element of secrecy? The edge of danger? Their ability to use weapons the rest of us wouldn't even recognize?

I'm not sure, but I do know that I adore them and will be writing many more stories about The Goddard Project's agents because of that. :)

Want to watch a really cool book trailer that does a great job of showing off our sexy secret agent? Here it is:



Hugs,
Lucy

P.S. I've got a month long party going on at my personal blog (http://lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com/) to celebrate the Nov 27 release of DEAL WITH THIS. Pop by and say, "Hi," and get entered into one of the many drawings for prizes going on.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - Lori Borrill

Since the premise of the Harlequin Blaze "Million Dollar Secrets" continuity is five coworkers winning a mega state lottery, I thought I'd bring up the topic of lotteries and see how people really feel about winning it big.

Yes, you heard that right. How people really feel.

Though I've been throwing $2 into my office lottery every week for almost a decade now, I actually do wonder whether or not I'd be happy with millions and millions in the bank. Studies show that aside from the brief high people experience around the time they win, ultimately they return to whatever state of happiness they'd been before they won. Meaning, if someone was miserable broke, they're miserable rich. If they were moderately happy broke, they're only moderately happy rich.

Then you have the horror stories about people who end up bankrupt within a year or two, all those millions squandered away by bad business deals and the friends and family who suck them dry--or worse, people whose lives are ruined by their sudden fame.

I think if you really press people to think about it, most would say they don't care to win a ton of money. They're modest in their desires, just wanting enough to pay off a mortgage or maybe fund their kids college. Believe it or not, I'm seriously a little afraid of what life would be like if I won millions and millions of dollars. I don't know that I want the responsibility, and I don't care to know who comes out of the woodwork looking for a cut or hearing their justification for why they feel they deserve it. And then the big thing: What would I do?

I asked my husband that one time. What would we do? He responded much like you're probably thinking right now. "What do you mean, what would we do? Anything we want! We'd build a house, we'd travel, we'd....uh...build another house, then maybe travel some more."

I have to admit, much of what motivates me to get out of bed in the morning is because I have to. I love/hate having to work for a living, but I learned during an extra-lengthy maternity leave (I was 2 weeks late) that if I don't have to go anywhere, I don't go anywhere. If I don't have to get dressed or take a shower, I don't get dressed or take a shower. (Yes, I'm a slug and a sloth, I admit it!) By my third week of leave, I was sitting on the couch watching "Eight Is Enough" reruns. By the time the baby was born, I was neurotic. (And did you know that newborns can't hold a conversation? What's up with that?)

By the time my leave was over, I ran back to the office, thrilled to be back with people like me who simply don't do the be-at-home thing well because I don't have the inner gumption to get the hell off my ass. Give me thirty million dollars? How many seasons was "Eight Is Enough" on the air?

And I have to ask myself if I'd still write novels. That's a tough one for me. Yes, I'm one of those people who would write anyway because I love the craft. But in many ways, writing professionally is exactly how that sounds--it's a job. It's one thing to write for joy, living in my own mind and cracking myself up over my own funny prose, it's another to wrestle with a story line or push myself through my third round of revisions when I'd rather rip the thing to shreds and never look at it again.

If I won the lottery, I could buy a kick-ass shredder.

And I wonder if I'd ever finish a project ever again. Part of the pleasure I get from writing is the fantasy. Someday I could write a best seller, get a $100,000 advance on my next ST and write for a living instead of juggling the craft with my day job. And really, no matter what you do, I think part of living is striving for some sort of dream and having to work to get it. So what if you could have all the things you love and not have to work to get any of them? Would you still love it?

Would you still go in the garden and tend to weeds if you could afford to have someone do it for you? Maybe at first. But then over time you might hire a guy to do one thing, then the next day you're a little tired so you ask him to plant those pansies--just this once--and before you know it, you're sitting on the patio watching someone else garden for you.

I can't really say for sure that I'd stop writing, or gardening, or any of the other things I love if I won millions, but I do have to say I fear it. I don't fear it badly enough to stop throwing in my $2.00. I mean, come on! I'm not crazy!

But what about you? Do you dream of winning it big? Ever think it might make your life worse instead of better? And what would you do if you had all the money in the world to spend? And if you say "travel", you're required to say what you'd do once you're traveled out and have seen it all.

Answer those questions and you're automatically entered in my contest. The prize is an autographed copy of "Underneath It All"!

Lori

www.loriborrill.com

Reflections on a five-year career - Allyson James

My November release (The Black Dragon by Allyson James) will mark my fifth full year as a romance author and my twentieth published book. My first book, Perils of the Heart by Jennifer Ashley was released in November 2002 by Leisure Books.

What I’ve learned on the way:

1. The romance business is both much harder and much easier than it looks. Harder because there are nuances and pitfalls that aren’t obvious to the outside world; easier because of the incredible people willing to give you a boost, or even just a shoulder to cry on.

2. Reading other people’s books is much easier than writing your own. :-)

3. A good writing day is heaven--you’re so far into your world you can’t even hear the phone, and you don’t care. A bad writing day (you sweat blood, your head pounds and all you produce is a few words) is absolute hell.

4. In the writing business terrible things happen (publisher goes out of business; reviewers shred your book; your editor quits); and wonderful things happen (you’re a bestseller; you win a Rita).

5. Emails from readers who liked your book can make even the blackest day sunny.

6. Meeting romance readers at signings and reader conferences is one of the best parts of the job. Don’t be alarmed if I want to sit down and talk to you for half an hour.

7. Writing is 24/7. If the muse sings at 3 am Sunday morning, you get up and write. If your editor sends you page proofs the day before your big vacation, you proofread your book on your big vacation.

8. Other writers become your best and closest friends. They understand the heartaches, the joys, the pain, the elations. Forget about divas and cat fights--romance writers are some of the most supportive, understanding, and helpful people in the world.

9. You don’t have to be an aggressive b*tch to make it as an author. You need to know what you want and go for what you want, but you can be courteous, professional, kind, and friendly as you do it (and not a brown-noser; that’s a completely different thing). At the end of the day, I want the people I like to still be there for me!

10. Being a romance author has been the best, most rewarding, most satisfying job I’ve ever had!

New-found treasures

Last week, my sister called me to say she'd volunteered me for a "quick job". As she started to go into detail, I began my usual grumbling about how busy I am, blah blah blah, but then one word stopped me cold.

Books.

The local library was having its annual book sale, and they needed people to take the left-overs from the library to the swimming pool lobby where they'd be free for the taking. That's right, you heard me. FREE BOOKS!!

I know, I know. I started salivating, too.

My first instinct was to bypass the swimming pool lobby all together and drive straight home where I would simply unload them from the back of my truck, alphabetize them, and add them to my shelves. Ooooooh, temptation is a nasty thing, I tell ya. But my mother didn't raise me with an overactive conscience, so I turned my truck into the pool parking lot like a good girl.

We unloaded the boxes, helped sort them out into their specific category, (children's books, biographies, cookbooks, etc), and then spent the next little while going through them again, one by one, until I'd selected a handful that needed to come home with me.

The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx - I have neither read it, nor seen the movie, but I'm quite looking forward to it. I mean, really, what's not to love about Newfoundland?

Dracula by Bram Stoker - don't know when I'll be able to bring myself to read this one, but I had to have it just in case I ever worked up the courage.

Selected Poems of Robert Burns - "O my Luve's like a red, red rose. . ." And not only is it a lovely little book of his poetry, but someone had pressed leaves inside before donating the book to the library. I love finding unexpected treasures inside a treasure.

Great Adventures with National Geographice - a giant hardcover book from 1963 - don't you LOVE National Geographic? One of the teachers at our school has shelves and shelves of them. . .sigh. . .

There were many, many others I wanted to take, but that annoying old conscience made me stop at 4. It's been a week, though. In my opinion, that's plenty of time for everyone else to have had their chance to get in there and high-graze through the stacks. Anything still there is fair game, right?

Have any of you found some new-to-you treasures lately?

True Canine Tales...with Lisa Plumley

People often ask me if my books are based on real-life people or events. And my typical answer is...it depends. Which is the truth. I mean, a few details can’t help but sneak in here and there. The tricky part is, I don’t always realize it until later. Which is what happened with my book, Let’s Misbehave.

According to the back cover copy, Let’s Misbehave is a contemporary romance about a fun-loving heiress who enters "shopaholic rehab" and as part of her therapy has to get a real job...as a nanny/housekeeper for a macho single-dad NFL quarterback and his three rowdy kids. Fun, right? And it really was fun. I had a great time pairing up hoity-toity (but affectionate) heiress Marisol Winston with bossy (but gorgeous) jock Cash Connelly. (Pssst...you can read the entire first chapter at my Web site, http://www.lisaplumley.com/)

Anyway, in many of my books, someone (usually the hero) has a dog (sorry, people who love their cats, but we’re allergic in this household, so I have no experience with felines—it’s nothing personal, I swear), and Let’s Misbehave is no exception. Cash’s lovable old German Shepherd, Dump, is getting up there in years. He’s a little creakier than he used to be. He can’t hear so well anymore. And he can’t eagle-eye the neighborhood cats as fast as he used to either. But Dump can still jump up on (Marisol’s) bed for a surprise snuggle. He can still “woof” and romp with the troublemaking Connelly triplets. And he can still run to greet Cash the minute he gets home after a tough, sweaty day at football training camp. I loved Dump! But it wasn’t until Let’s Misbehave was finished that I realized why.

Dump is the alter ego of my dog, Cidney (Cid for short). Cid was a Dalmatian/Greyhound mix, a dog we inherited fifteen years ago from my husband’s coworkers who were moving overseas. When we went to meet her (yes, her—the mysteries of naming a female dog “Cid” are beyond me), it was love at first sight. From the moment Cid came home, she unofficially adopted me, and I returned the sentiment wholeheartedly. We were inseparable. Cid went with me on long walks around the neighborhood—and on hikes in the mountains here in Arizona. She took car trips. She followed me around the house and barked protectively at the FedEx guy. She ran super fast and could catch a tennis ball in midair with true acrobatic finesse...but she could not comprehend “people talk” like “sit,” “stay,” or “stop shedding.”

When I typed “The End” on my first-ever manuscript, Cid was lying in my office next to me. When I made my first sale, she was perplexed by my hooting, hollering, and jumping around...but was plenty game to celebrate with a Milk Bone. When I finished Let’s Misbehave and mailed it to my editor, Cid tromped down to the neighborhood mailbox with me. But when the book hit the shelves, Cid was gone.

After a long and happy life filled with tail wagging, searching brown-eyed gazes, and patient waiting for the dropped scrap of T-bone that never came (I’m a vegetarian), Cid developed a neurological disease, became paralyzed, and died last year. It was a very difficult time. I still miss Cid. But I’m doubly glad that I paid tribute to her in Let’s Misbehave. So yes...sometimes fiction is based in reality. And sometimes it’s even better than reality. Dump, for instance, will always be waiting in the pages of Let’s Misbehave, ready to offer a big doggie snuffle at any time. And I’m pretty happy about that.

Have you hugged your dog or cat (or horse or turtle or parakeet or ferret or goldfish) today? Do it!

Thanks for letting me visit, and let’s chat!

~Lisa

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Bestselling author Lisa Plumley has written more than a dozen books for Zebra Books and Harlequin Historicals, including contemporary romances (Mad About Max), western historical romances (The Rascal), and stories in romance anthologies (Santa Baby, on sale now!). Her funny, warmhearted style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Jennifer Crusie, and LaVyrle Spencer, but her unique characterization is all her own. Her latest release, Let’s Misbehave, earned a 4½-star Top Pick! rating from Romantic Times BOOKclub magazine and was chosen as one of Booklist’s Top Ten Romances of 2007. Please visit Lisa at http://www.lisaplumley.com/, be her friend on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/lisaplumley, or drop by her blog at http://lisaplumley.wordpress.com/ today.