It really should be easier. . .

I have a confession to make. I'm a computer moron. I'm married to a man who is a computer whiz, and who expects me to understand everything through some sort of osmosis. You'd think, after all these years, he'd realize that wasn't going to happen. However, I digress. . .

All I wanted to do this morning was come over here and blog; I have this site bookmarked, I had an idea of what I wanted to talk about, and I knew I wanted to upload a picture of my new cover. It should be a fairly simple process, shouldn't it? (note the key words there - *should be*) It wasn't. It took me the better part of an hour just to get here, and not because the Blogger site was giving me problems, but because everything else seemed to be working against me.

My laptop (God bless it) is not the quickest horse in the race. On a good day, it takes almost two minutes for Internet Explorer to finally load in the morning, but I chalk that up to the fact that the poor computer has not had coffee, and it's feeling a little arthritic, so while it's warming up and loading, I reorganize my pens into colour (again), rearrange my bulletin board of faces, and scribble down my list of to-do's before I forget all of it. Once I get the internet up, I need to hook onto Sirius country radio (channel 61) - there's another couple minutes. It was all going pretty well so far. Then I went directly to my Tote Bags bookmark and tried to sign in.

Now I ask you - how is a computer moron supposed to have any idea what the heck cookies and caches are? In my world, cookies are made by Mr. Christie and cash is something there is never enough of. Yet somehow, these things are blocking me from signing in. Very dutifully, I follow the helpful links that try to explain how to clear the cache and/or the cookies from my computer. And in case you're wondering, yes, I tipped my laptop to the side to shake out any cookie crumbs that may have been the problem to start with. :)

I should probably mention here, that this laptop does not like it when I try to open more than one internet window at a time. In fact, it has a bit of a hissy if I have Word and the internet opened at the same time. It's an excruciatingly painful experience. But there I was this morning with (count 'em) THREE internet windows open so I could go from one to the other while reading instructions and trying to empty things I had no idea even existed. It worked, apparently I've bleached Mr. Christie out of my system, and we're good to go again.

With Clint Black singing me through it, I log in and click on the little doo-dicker thing to upload my new cover. Wait wait wait wait. 84 seconds later (I kid you not!), the little window thing opens. I go through the process of trying to load the cover from the files on my computer, only to have it come out almost black in the preview. This struck me as particularly creepy because the book is called The Devil's Daughter, and while the paranormal/devil element is very light in the book, it's still about the devil, and its cover was coming out black. You have to agree - that's a little creepy. But I would not be put off. Somewhere I had an account with one of those online photo places, and I knew there was a perfectly good version of the cover there. But what the heck was the name of the website?

I won't bore you with all the details, but suffice it to say, it took several more minutes (and I mean SEVERAL) to discover it was PhotoBucket, and of course I did not remember my password, so it was yet more minutes to go through the retrieval process so I could sign in. Finally, the planets aligned, Tim McGraw finished singing about refried dreams and there was my cover.



Isn't it lovely? The Devil's Daughter will be released in April, so I'm hip-deep in copy edits right now, and using this picture as inspiration to work through them.

I have completely forgotten what I originally set out to blog about this morning, so I will leave you with these questions. Are any of you closet computer morons too? Is there anything about your computer you absolutely love? Or anything you can't stand? Do you and your computer have a love/hate relationship as I do with mine? And do you have a routine you go through with your computer (like waiting for Sirius to load)? Please tell me I'm not the only computer moron out there. . . .

Ah, Fall - Jennifer Estep

Ah, fall.

My favorite time of year officially arrives on Sept. 23.

There’s so much to love about the season. Cool nights. Warm days. That crisp, earthy smell in the air. Pumpkin-flavored desserts. Showers of leaves that crackle pleasantly underfoot. Football, football, and more football. And did I mention the pumpkin desserts?

Ah, fall.

There’s also another reason I like fall so well. Because as the leaves and seasons change, so do my reading preferences.

Let’s face it. Summer is about sun and fun and surf and sand. During the summer, I want books that correspond to the hot temperatures and sunny days. Quick reads I can polish off while lounging by the pool or in front of the air conditioner. Humorous fantasy. Quirky chick-lit. Rapid-fire romantic comedy. A contemporary with a cool twist. An action-adventure with pulse-pounding scenes. Easy, breezy reads that are just plain fun.

But by the time fall rolls around every year, I’m ready for darker, grittier, meatier reads. Books I can curl up with on the couch and devour while chilly fall rains spatter against the windows. Urban fantasy. Some romantic suspense. A couple of hard-boiled detective novels. Maybe even a spy thriller or three.

I’ll stay in my dark phrase through the winter, although I might scarf down a few holiday-themed books to lighten the mood and get me through the Christmas shopping season. Everybody needs a break after a couple hours at the mall. And, really, what would the season be without some holiday stories to warm the heart?

When the weather starts to warm back up and sprigs of spring green appear, my tastes will lighten once more. I’ll go back to the romantic comedies. The light-hearted fantasy. A paranormal romance with a cute twist. A cozy mystery or two. Maybe even a frothy historical.

Summer will bring back the beach reads, and then I’ll return to my gritty books once again the in the fall. This way, I get all four seasons of books, along with the changes in the weather.

What about you? Do your reading preferences change when the weather does? Inquiring minds want to know …

Jennifer

http://www.jenniferestep.com/

California readers - Lori Borrill

Last weekend I did my first book signing. I had the pleasure of Writing Book #2 in the Harlequin Blaze "Million Dollar Secrets" continuity series, and by a fluke of fate, the writer who wrote Book #3, Shannon Hollis, happened to be a chapter mate of mine. Though series authors don't seem to do the kind of public appearing single title authors do, we felt the opportunity to sit together and promote our books and the series was too perfect to pass up. So, off we went to the Emeryville Borders to wow the customers with our presence and hopefully sell some books.

Though I'd been nervous going in, I ended up having a wonderful time despite the fact that only two customers bought our romance novels, and of those two, one didn't even read romance herself. She bought the book for a friend.

And therein lies the epitome of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Even though the Bay Area is home to a number of best-selling romance authors, when it comes to readers, it's not exactly the hub of romance central. In fact, in my personal life, I can count on one hand the number of people I know who read romance regularly, and if I came right down to it, it would only take the other hand to count the number of people I know who read popular fiction of any sort at all. Sure, most of my friends work full-time, are raising families, and haven't a lot of spare time to pour through books. But it was a topic we'd touched on while sitting at Emeryville Borders, and I'm curious to know what other people think.

A bulk of the Bay Area prides itself in its literary sophistication. I'm sure if we'd been peddling a release about the current state of the Bush administration or how big box stores were pushing the extinction of small business, we'd been mobbed. But further than that, I just don't think Californians in general are the readers you see in other parts of the country. I think when you've got 350 days of sunshine every year and all the activity this state offers, people don't spend their time sitting around reading. In fact, my husband, a native Californian, considers reading "sitting around doing nothing". In his mind, you might as well be watching cartoons for all a book is worth. On the other hand, I grew up in Oregon where it rains nine months out of the year. If you didn't read, you were doing a lot of bowling.

So let me ask you to participate in a personal survey:

Where are you from, and what do you think about the current state of fiction in your area?

Do a lot of your friends read, or are you one in a group of few like me?

And as an added bonus, those who participate by commenting on the blog will be entered to win an autographed copy of my latest release, "Underneath It All", which is the Book #2 in the "Million Dollar Secrets" continuity I mentioned at the top of this post.

Lori

http://www.loriborrill.com

So many Hats - Lilian Darcy

My friend Jane Porter has a very scary writing process. This is no secret. She often writes about her schedule on her website blog. Jane writes the way someone might cook a good piece of steak. She marinates each book for months in her head, then writes it in a sizzling heat of inspiration so that it’s done fast, juicy and flavorful all through. It’s exhausting and demanding and intense, but whether she likes it or not, it’s her process and she’s stuck with it.

For my part, I’m in awe of Jane’s process and I know I couldn’t handle it… but at least it would help me to deal with the hat problem. Okay, you’re not aware of the hat problem? As women, most of us already wear several hats – the parent hat, the partner hat. As writers, too, we need an extensive collection of millinery.

And my problem is, I’m just not that quick at changing from hat to hat. I can’t pull off my creative hat (imagine it as a butt-ugly hand-knitted stripey woolly thing with pompom) then jam on my mom hat (would have to be a red Ohio State baseball cap) then take that one off and immediately grab my book promotion hat (glammy creation of straw, silk flowers and tulle). I have to wander around totally hatless for hours between each switch of head-gear, and sometimes the necessary hat completely disappears, and there’s just not enough time in my life for any of that.

Jane’s process means that she doesn’t have to switch professional hats quite so often. She writes in big, intense bursts, and then she goes out and promotes her books in big, intense bursts, and I really envy her that. Hm, I envy her the great cover she has for ODD MOM OUT, too, and I know it’s going to fly off the shelves because she’s a wonderful writer. Go, Jane!

But the point I’m ver-rr-ry slowly getting around to, here, is that I have my own book out at the moment, CAFÉ DU JOUR and I haven’t done enough to promote it. What’s worse is that I’m running out of time. For the foreseeable future, the book is only coming out in Australia, and it’s only staying up until the end of September on http://www.eharlequin.com.au/ – where it’s easy to order and have shipped anywhere in the world, just click on this link http://tinyurl.com/2kuth4 and go to the final page of Mira listings.

I’ve received such wonderful feedback on this book, I know there are many people out there who would love it if they can only find out it exists. A review in The Melbourne Age, one of Australia’s top newspapers, called it “warm and witty… and excellent read.”
In emails and cards, too, I’ve heard the same chorus of responses over and over: “I loved it… so real… devoured it…a wonderful read… vibrant, rich characters… a fabulous book… gorgeous… intense…reminds me of Barbara Samuel…wonderful…I loved it… I’m totally absorbed… outstanding… intimately familiar… I am in awe.”

So I do hope you’ll buy it and find out for yourself!

There. Whew. I’ve done it. I’ve promoted CAFÉ DU JOUR on Tote Bags ‘n’ Blogs.
Now I can take off my glamorous tulle and straw creation, being careful of the delicate silk flowers, and put on my striped woolly number and start to write my tame, unambitious goal of 8 to 10 pages today. Okay, but where is the damn hat? What have I done with the woolly hat? Why isn’t it right here on my desk waiting for me? I should already have written two pages by now…

Is there anyone else out there who can relate to my hat problem?

Lilian

http://www.liliandarcy.com

One Reason I LOVE Writing! Annie West

There are so many great aspects to being a writer. Reading for a start. I couldn’t be a writer if I wasn’t an avid reader and I have to admit that settling down with a good book is one of my great joys in life. What else? Creating your own stories and then seeing them in print. Hearing from readers that they enjoyed your book. That’s fabulous, guaranteed to put a huge grin on my face. Being able to work in sloppy old clothes or even PJs. That’s a definite plus. In fact, waking on a cold rainy day to the sound of a downpour and the knowledge that you have a great scene to write and don’t have to stir out of the house is an absolute luxury. Reading about spectacular heroes and knowing that it’s vital market research (he, he) I love it! Going to writers’ conferences and talking books for a whole weekend is wonderful.

For me, one of the best things about being a writer, and specifically a romance writer, is getting to know so many other fabulous women who write romance. Some of my best friends are people I’ve met through writing and that’s very precious.

And of course, when you have friends who write you also have reason to CELEBRATE from time to time. Another one of my favourite activities. Writing has its ups and downs. For all the fun side of things there are also the rejections, the writer’s block, the major revisions and the pressure of deadlines. So when the news is good it’s natural to want to celebrate.

This month is a perfect one for celebrating. Three (count them!) of my writing friends from Australia have their debut books released this month. How’s that for amazing? They’re excited and so am I. There’s something so thrilling about that first book actually on the shelves that’s breathtaking.

The books and authors in question are:

'Scandal's Daughter' by Christine Wells (Berkley Sensation DEBUT novel),
'Forgotten Marriage' by Paula Roe (Silhouette Desire DEBUT novel),
'Dream Job, Hot Boss!' by Robyn Grady (Harlequin Modern Extra DEBUT Novel)

So raise your glasses please, or your boxes of fine chocolate, or your best festive food and join the cyber celebrations. As you can imagine, there was some rather noisy partying Down Under recently in honor of these successes.

To mark the occasion, Robyn, Christine, Paula and I have got together to devise a contest in which signed copies of these three debut novels and my current release 'For the Sheikh's Pleasure' can be won. If you’re interested, pop over to my website http://www.annie-west.com/ and check out the contest page. You have until 31 October to enter.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear what things you like to celebrate. Birthdays or name days? Special holidays or personal achievements? What do you and your friends enjoy celebrating most?

Annie

Covers That Get Around, by Bronwyn Jameson

It's always fun to receive translations of my books in the mail, or even to find a new translation on one of Harlequin's foreign websites. Sometimes they carry the same cover as the original publication, but even these look new and shiny with the office's own cover treatment. Other times they come dressed in different cover art and I asked the Managing Editor of Harlequin Australia, Jackie Johnson, about the how and why of cover art selection. Here's what the always-helpful Jackie had to say.

"We have a data-base that is open to all of the overseas offices which holds every artwork commissioned for series books. We can, and do, use different artwork when we need to -- this can happen if the artwork commissioned for a particular title is unsuitable, or when we use single title product in the series line, etc. These would be chosen (usually) by marketing after an art brief has been supplied by an editor. In the case of our office, I am in essence, both editor and marketing function for covers, so I take care of this.

Whilst this happens on a couple of titles each month, I order the artwork commissioned for the specific title for the majority of titles from North America or the UK. For duo books I order the most appealing image of the two titles. The only art we select locally from stock photo-libraries appear on Sexy Sensations and Ultimate Collections. These are generic images and are sourced monthly. The only artwork we order from the UK offices are Medical.

Each overseas office has a different art strategy depending on how that particular series performs in their market (eg. The UK use more photographic images on certain series, the French design from scratch for a more sophisticated look etc.)"

It is fun and especially delightful when one of the foreign offices chooses a cover image which captures the characters or the book's tone better than the original. When the cover art is recognisable -- for example, because it's been featured on the cover of a good friend's book or because it's been staring at me from the cover of a favourite on my keeper's shelf -- then that can be slightly strange...but still fun in a different way.

Last week I received copies of the Dutch translations of my Princes of the Outback trilogy, beautifully packaged as a single and a duo under the flag of Love in the Outback. The cover of The Rugged Lover (left, below) is beautiful. This could be Tomas and Angelina. I love it! Next I looked at the duo cover (centre, below) and didn't need to check my keeper's shelf. This is the cover originally used on Taylor's Temptation, Suzanne Brockmann, from 2001-ish. (I'm kinda glad the shorts are cut from mine! *g*)



Recently my Bought-And-Paid-For Wife came out in the UK, using the original cover art from the other book in the duo, Patricia Kay's One-Week Wife. My book's art was used the same month on another Desire Duo, and I have to say it was funny seeing "my" cover on another book (see right).



When another author sent me a link to the German site, where Bought-And-Paid-For Wife is a September release, my eyes were drawn to another familiar cover. First seen on Trish Morey's Virgin For The Taking, this is one of my favourite romantic covers -- and one of my favourites of Trish's wonderful books -- which is why it caught my eye. This time around it's gracing Pat Kay's One-Week Wife and the couple are walking a romantic stretch of Mexican beach, rather than Broome, Western Australia, as in Trish's book. Wherever that beach is, it's gorgeous, isn't it?

Covers, they do get around. *g*

Do you have any favourite cover images which do a fabulous job of depicting the characters and the story inside the book?

New experiences - Christina Hollis

I was delighted to have my first romance accepted, and each subsequent book has brought its own special magic.

Today is another exciting day for me in a year that's been a whirl of new experiences. The Hardback copies of my latest Harlequin Mills and Boon Presents/Modern Romance have just arrived!

One Night In His Bed is going to be released at the end of this year, and I can't wait. It's the story of penniless widow Sienna, who gets more than she bargained for when she catches the eye of ruthless Garett Lazlo. Dark-hearted Garett doesn't do anything for free...

Everything I write automatically becomes my favourite of the moment, but there's something very special about actually holding a book in your hands and knowing you've written it yourself. By the time it arrives, the waiting and the worry make it almost as nerve-racking (but not quite!) as welcoming a new baby into the house.

What's the best thing that's arrived in your life?"

Christina

http://www.christinahollis.com/

The Moments--an online, eHarlequin short story

I'm so excited that my first book, THE HOUSE ON BRIAR HILL ROAD, is released in just a few weeks. It's a book about the Conway family. About their ups and downs...about their pulling together and sadly, about them falling apart.

I was thrilled when I was afforded a chance to do a short story for eHarlequin.com. "The Moments" is tied to my October book and it starts today. It features the main characters' from the book's daughter, Livie. At the end of THOBHR, Livie said, "My mother always said life was made up of the small moments and it was punctuated by the big ones." I knew that sentence had to be the theme of her story. But how to present a broad scope to her romance in a short story? It was a challenge, and really pushed me as a writer. But I think the story shows those moments. You can find it at https://www.eharlequin.com/article.html?articleId=1299

What about you? What sort of moments do you treasure? Not the big, found-the-love-of-your-life, got-married, had-kids sort of moments. But rather the read-the-Sunday-paper-together, walk-the-dog-in-the-evenings sort. (Uh, those are two of my favorite kinds of little moments with my dh, btw! LOL)

So, what about you?

Holly

"The Moments" 9-10-07 through 10-29-07

THE HOUSE ON BRIAR HILL ROAD, 10/07

Exotic or Familiar? - Susanna Carr

I just read WIFE FOR A WEEK by Kelly Hunter. This Promotional Presents was a very fun read. One of the pleasant surprises about this book is that it was set in Hong Kong.

I don't think I've read a romance set in Hong Kong before, which is kind of shocking since a lot of romances promise exotic locales. Well, exotic for me. One of my life goals is to visit London, which sounds very cosmopolitan, dynamic, and unlike anything I've ever experienced. I've read so many romances set in London and I want to see it first hand.

But I think my favorite settings when it comes to romance are the sun-drenched islands. I live in the Pacific Northwest where it's usually cloudy and cold. Reading about these tropical paradises is a great way to escape the constant drizzling rain.

Yet there are times when I'm homesick for the Midwestern farm towns of my youth and I purposely look for a book that will remind me of those days. The familiarity of small town living comforts me, no matter how it looks outside my window. I'm so glad that romance publishers offer such an array of locales, so I can find exactly what I need depending on my mood.

Which setting do you usually prefer? The exotic or the familiar?

Susanna

http://www.susannacarr.com/

Favorite Spot To Read A Romance - Michelle Monkou

As I was riding on the metro train heading for the day job, I opened my current romance novel and settled in for the 20-25 minute commute. Needless to say, there were commuters sitting, standing, talking on their cellphones, talking with each other. Let's just call it like it is - a zoo!

At those moments, I long for a quiet room with a chaise lounge to enjoy my romance book. But in my hectic lifestyle, I can't get picky with my reading settings. Thanks to the authors who hook me from the beginning of their stories, I can block out the pesky distractions. I've even managed to miss my stop because I forgot to look up when the train pulled into my station.

Counting the train as one of my settings, let me run through a couple of my other favorite spots of enjoyment:

Bathtub soak (Honestly, that was in my high school days. Actually, I did manage to read while soaking in the bathtub on a child-free vacation.)

On a rainy day (I love thunderstorms), curled up in bed or on the couch.

Sticking with the bed/couch theme, curled up next to my young teen daughter while she reads her book.

Reading poolside or near a fountain. I think that I've got something for the sound of water.

Sitting on the patio in the backyard when the sun is making its descent.

(And when a book is particularly good) propping it up at the dinner table while eating a huge bowl of cereal (oatmeal in the winter, Rice Krispies any other time).

Share your favorite spots for reading those wonderfully romantic stories.

Michelle Monkou

Available now in stores or on http://eharlequin.com

Romantic Times Bookclub: Multilayered characters, intertwined lives and stories with an unexpected twist make Straight to the Heart (4), by Michelle Monkou, intriguing.

Single Titles.Com: Straight to the Heart is like smooth dark chocolate, and got this reader’s attention from the very beginning. Omar and Stacy are realistically created characters that felt remarkably like close friends. When they shared a scene, there were fireworks. Both are intelligent and self-reliant, warm and loyal to those they care about, passionate and sexy. Manager, Brenda is a little on the “hard-edged” side, but understandably so; she adds that extra “something” to make the storyline fresh and original. Author, Michelle Monkou is a gifted writer with the uncanny ability to draw the reader right into the lives of her characters. Definitely an author to watch, she has certainly made a fan of this reader.

New occupations & New obsessions

Shadow Whispers, the final book in the Night Guardian series, is on the shelves at last! All the secrets of the Navajo Skinwalkers are revealed. Plus, it’s a fun story of two tough and lonely souls.

But when this book is put to bed, it’s really over. After writing six books in the series (and one connected online serial,) seeing those characters go is bittersweet. I lived with the wonderful Brotherhood heroes for the better part of three years, and not having to think, dream and write about them feels a lot like my best friend moved away.

At this point I can’t even remember how I came up with the men of the Brotherhood. One was an FBI agent. One both a medicine man and a western MD. Another one was a reservation cop, and his friend a college professor at the local college. I wrote one of the men as an artist—a silversmith and sand painter. Ah, but he was both a dream and a challenge. And the hero of the last book, Shadow Whispers, is a bounty hunter stranger who comes to the reservation for his own agenda and stays to help the Brotherhood.

Interesting. But how did I get there? I’m in the beginning stages of plotting a new series and I’m stuck. What interesting careers can I give to my new heroes and heroines? I googled new careers and found careers such as: a life coach, a professional organizer, a home stager and a pet behaviorist. Then I went to another site and found: a disease mapper (ewww- they do global maps of malaria) a Radiosurgeon (zaps organs with a Cyberknife) and a Second Life lawyer (who works mainly in the virtual world.)

All note worthy, and I’m sure fine and upstanding, career possibilities. But none of those really captured my imagination. I need help! Are there any particular jobs that you just love seeing in books? Do you pick up every cowboy/ranch-owner book you can find, for instance? Or maybe pilots really turn you on. Perhaps I should stick to undercover agents for real or imagined government agencies.

I’ll take all the suggestions I can get. Do you know of any careers few people have heard of yet? Do you have a job in mind that you’ve never seen used in a book but would love to see? Or would you rather read a new twist on the old cop story?

Any and all ideas will be gratefully accepted.
Linda

What I Did With My Summer Vacation...

posted by Christine Rimmer...

Note the picture at left. Me and the DH in Napa, California. Tasting bubbly at the Mumm winery. We had a great time in Napa. Five days of nothing resembling work or home life. Sleeping late, sitting out under the trees in the lush backyard of our B&B, sharing a bottle of wine with cheese and these amazing herb and garlic Triscuits. Yes. That's what I said. Triscuits.

And then it was over. That was it. Pretty much all that's happening in my family this year that could remotely be called a vacation. I came back home to write a couple of proposals--and to start a new book by 9/1.

Also this summer, we're doing home improvement. Actually, around here, we're always doing home improvement. We think of it as entertainment. Nothing so fun as being covered in paint splatters, changing the color of the living room. Or the family room. Or a bathroom. Or the kitchen...

I also moved my office this summer. (That's the new space at left) From half of the formal living room in the front of the house to a bedroom near the back. Now I have more privacy when I work. I think that's good. Though I confess I miss the chance to scream "shut up! I'm working here!" at the top of my lungs at least twice a day.

What else? Oh, I attended the RWA conference in Dallas. Great fun, very exhausting. But I got to catch up with all my good buddies and wear all my favorite clothes. What's not to like about that?

Here I am in the published author's lounge with, clockwise from left, Eileen Rendahl, Eve Gaddy, Lenora Worth, Kathy Garbera, Susan Crosby, Cindy Gerard--and that's me in the red.

So now I'm home, here at my desk, wondering how the summer flew by so fast. Time to finish up this second proposal--and move on to that book I'm starting the first of September.

How 'bout you? What did you do with your summer vacation?

www.christinerimmer.com

http://christinerimmer.blogspot.com

Sandra Marton says: LAST CALL FOR COUPONS!

I sent out an email telling readers of my newsletter that I have available a few (very few!) coupons good for $1.00 off on any Harlequin (or Silhouette) book. One of you kindly wrote me and said I should have mentioned those coupons here... so, I am!

If you want one, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to me at P.O. Box 295, Storrs CT 06268 but first, please drop me an email at sandra@sandramarton.com so I can set a coupon aside for you. As I said, I only have a handful left.

Sorry, but these are only good in the USA.

Conference High - Annie West

I’ve been home a week and I’m still on a high. Exhilarated and just a tad exhausted after attending the wonderful Romance Writers of Australia Conference. It’s held every August and each year it seems to get better and better. I always come away feeling so glad I write romance, so enthused about writing, so thrilled at having such a lovely time and so tired from the late nights. This year at least I came home with a voice. In the past I’ve suffered from laryngitis. Really! It’s absolutely NOT a case of talking too much. No way!

This year we gathered in Sydney and it was a real treat. Our plenary speaker was Jennifer Crusie who started off proceedings in such a positive way that we were grinning for days. There were editor pitches, chats with lots of published authors, great plenary sessions and informative workshops. There was lots and lots of talking (how surprising), lots of familiar faces and plenty of new ones to get to know. It’s rather sad that no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get to talk to everyone. We had our second Pink Breakfast, with all proceeds going to breast cancer research. Honestly, donating to charity has never been so much fun!

On a personal note, I survived the experience of running my first writing-related workshop, and even better, so did the participants! I presented with friend and Avon author, Anna Campbell on ‘Unleashing the Alpha Hero’. Lots of fun and even a few chocolates thrown in (literally). It was such a terrific feeling to have other writers talk to me later and say they’d got something useful from the session, (apart from the chance to stare at pics of fantastic heroes).

We had a glittering awards dinner where successful authors received awards for competition wins and other successes. Our own Aussie RITA winner, Barbara Hannay finally got to collect her lovely RITA statue since she’d been unable to attend the Dallas conference this year. There was another fantastic cocktail party sponsored by Harlequin Australia. This year’s theme was Venetian carnivale. I’ve never seen so many glittering masks and costumes in one place. Here’s just a glimpse of how it looked! From left to right here are Anna Campbell, Sharon Arkell, Fiona Lowe and Judy Griffith.

Already I’m planning for next year. Melbourne promises to be another fantastic conference and the venue, the Langham Hotel on South Bank, is just gorgeous. So if anyone wants an August treat, do consider popping in! This year there were attendees from all around Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Europe.

What do you like best about conferences? Or don’t you attend? Do you like large and fabulous or small and friendly? Seeing familiar faces or learning more about publishing? Or maybe getting home and starting to put those good ideas into practice?

Annie’s smiling because she’s just sold her 6th book to Harlequin Presents. Meanwhile her latest release, ‘For the Sheikh’s Pleasure’ is on sale now in North America. To read an excerpt, or to enter a contest to win a copy, visit her website at http://www.annie-west.com/

A Room With A View - Susan Mallery

I have a writer friend who writes in an office on the top floor of her house. She has a view of most of the area where she lives, along with a lake. Storms whip by, rain hits the windows. It’s inspiring and beautiful.

I have this fantasy office in my mind…actually it’s two rooms. A place for a desk and tons of storage with piles and books and folders and manuscripts cluttering every surface. Then, beyond that, a calm oasis in pale green with windows and a view, light and a desk with nothing but my computer and notes on the chapter in progress. There’s a sofa on one wall, an ottoman, maybe a ceiling fan and nothing else. Just total, relaxing peace.

My reality is much more the cluttered space than the calm oasis, which makes me wonder if calm is a good idea. I’ve always crammed too much furniture, too many papers and books into too small a space and I’ve never had a view. My first office was also the guest room, with high windows that showed nothing but electrical wires and a slice of sky. While living in eastern Washington State, I had an office in a walkout basement. (I was from California—what did I know about basements?) Not only was the space always cold and dark, my window was level with the ground. Even the spiders lived above me.

I tend to find rooms with high windows or back windows. My current office is a loft with skylights. I see treetops. There is one “real window” and from that I see the neighbor’s backyard. My computer faces a corner, so when I’m working, there’s no view at all. Except I’ve realized I tend to close my eyes a lot when I’m writing so I can “see” what’s happening in my book. I turn to check on the dog every few minutes and she wags her tail at me, but other than that, there is only the screen and the words.

Maybe it’s better that way. I’m not distracted by a warm breeze or the pattern of rain. I can lose myself in my characters and the mess they’ve made in their lives. A view might take me away from that. But still…it’s nice to think about.

Susan

http://www.susanmallery.com/

Sandra's Computer Woes

Stand back, because I'm about to reveal my age. Are you ready for this? I am old enough to remember writing by hand. Yes, with a thing called a pencil. No keyboards, no monitors, just pencils and paper.

That's how I wrote my very first Presents. In longhand, on pads of yellow lined paper. Then I typed that manuscript, all 250 pages of it, on my trusty IBM Selectric typewriter.

Harlequin Presents bought the book.

I took my advance check and sank it into a computer. It was a Franklin, it had (gasp) 64 megs of memory... and I didn't have the slightest idea how to use it. Everyone in my family had suggestions but nobody knew anything more than I did so, finally, I shut my office door and warned them that to open that door was to court disaster. After a week of hell, I'd learned enough to begin writing my second book.

Over the years, I bought new computers. Many new computers, at first because I fell in love with the technology and then for less happy reasons, like fried motherboards or dead hard drives.

Last week, we had a death in our computer family. The corpse was my husband's desktop unit. It was time to replace it.

This was the plan: I'd give him my desktop computer and buy myself a new laptop that I could use when we travel and I could also plug into my big flat-screen monitor and my ergonomic keyboard for use at my desk. (I already have a laptop but that's a whole other story.) Sounds simple, right?

Sigh.

I spent days and nights, literally, researching what to buy. The brand I'd relied on in the past was now getting awful reviews, including from me. The only good news was that I'd just finished writing my latest Presents, so I'd have a couple of weeks in which to select a new computer, order it, receive it, set it up...

Anyway, I finally placed my order last night.
The new computer is gorgeous. It has zillions of bells and whistles. I love it... Well, I hope that I'll love it. Despite its great reviews, its good looks, its excellent components, its hefty price-tag, I won't know if I made the right choice until it arrives. Or until I start using it. Or until it either becomes my steadfast friend or my worst enemy and yes, I had one computer that was precisely that.

I have to admit, sometimes I'm tempted to go back to pencils. Or typewriters. Or further back, maybe, to papyrus or stone..

Hmm. I went through erasers like crazy when I wrote in pencil. I bought White-Out three bottles at a time when I used a typewriter. Didn't anybody ever make a mistake, chiseling on stone??? What happened then, or don't I want to know?

Anyway, I'll let you know how things go on my own blog where I'll also keep you updated about my books. Oh, and right now, if you go there you'll see that I'm giving away $1.00 (one dollar) off coupons (a very, very limited number of them) as well as gorgeous bookmarks. Why not drop by and say 'hello?'

Sandra

THREE THREES MAKE A TRILOGY

What is it about the trilogy that is so potent? Readers seem to love them and, for the author the benefits, in the form of extra promotion, a “buzz”, means that we all strive to find that little extra something that give an idea wings and takes it beyond a single title.

Having done it once, with Boardroom Bridegrooms, I had caught the “trilogy” bug, but these books aren’t written in the same casual way as linked stories in which characters flow from one book into another. A trilogy is almost always published in consecutive months and for a single writer it means producing three books within six months. Story outlines and artwork ideas are required by editorial before even the first book is finished. It’s a pressure cooker environment and the author needs to cancel any idea of a “life” outside the work before she takes it on.

Following eye surgery, it was not a scenario I felt able to commit to, but there was another way. Not one author writing three books, but three authors writing three books linked by a theme.

I approached my editor with my proposal for three books, three authors, three continents. She thought it was a workable idea and all I had to do was persuade the two authors who I thought were a style and emotional “match” to come and play “trilogies” with me. It helped that I’d met both Barbara Hannay and Jackie Braun in New York and London. Flatteringly, they were enthusiastic, a great start, and we burned up cyberspace brainstorming “themes”, settings, the initial “meet” that would set everything off. Were they to be long term friends? Had they only just met? What event had brought these women, from America, Australia and the UK, together in one place?


We discarded weddings, funerals and a whole heap of scenarios before Barbara’s sister, with her charitable cycling adventures in the Himalayas, provided us with that opening scenario, the kick-off point, the moment in time when the world turned back on itself for our three heroines. We were assigned an editor who would work on all three books to ensure continuity and, heart-in-mouth we sent in our proposals. Her response to mine was a heartfelt “You never make it easy for yourself, Liz...”

It isn’t me – honestly.

Belle (she would insist on being called Belinda, despite the fact that I stamped my foot and said “No, no, no!”) was there from the moment the theme was set. Believe me, my objections weren’t just to her name. I was also saying “No, no, no” to the whole idea of a blonde bombshell breakfast television presenter as a heroine from the moment she wandered onto the page.

Please.

I mean, really...

In the end I let her have her own way since I know from experience that a character who has a mind of her own from the word go is always going to be winner. I also knew that this book was going to be dark, emotional, difficult, although unexpectedly, once I started writing, the humour crept in.

As soon as we got editorial approval, and because I was first up in the schedule, I wrote the set-up as my first chapter – you can read an excerpt at my website. It’s published almost exactly as I first wrote it, which is unusual – although I was asked to write a short prologue when I’d finished. As soon as Barb and Jackie were happy with the way their characters had been portrayed, we were off and running.

Since each of our books stands completely on its own, once we had actually started writing, it was simply a matter of keeping in touch, organising time lines so that when our characters lives touched whether by email or SMS, it “worked”.

I can’t speak for Barb and Jackie, but working with them was a truly rewarding experience. I’ve already read Barb’s book, which is available now online and retail next month, and it truly lives up to the promise of heartrending secret it contains. I’m now anxiously waiting for the postman to deliver a copy of Jackie’s book so that I can find out how she wraps up the story!

“SECRETS WE KEEP”

In the breathtaking peaks of the Himalayas, three women, on the most challenging adventure of their lives, share the secrets of their hearts and make a pact that will change everything.

Three extraordinary women.
Three unforgettable heroes.
Three emotionally charged books.

Reunited: Marriage in a Million, August 2007, Liz Fielding
Needed: Her Mr Right, September 2007, Barbara Hannay
Found: Her Long Lost Husband, October 2007, Jackie Braun

“Liz Fielding begins “Secrets We Keep” with Reunited: Marriage in a Million, a moving yet frequently amusing tale. Highlighted by truly great characterization, it’s one of the author’s best.” ...Romantic Times, ****½

Meet KiKi the Chaotic !

Want to know a great way to fall behind on your deadlines or any other VIC ? (Very Important Chores) Get a puppy! What was I thinking?

I had resisted getting another animal since my beloved cat passed away a couple of years ago. But my sister informed me one day that my house was like a tomb without an animal. She grabbed me up and we went looking for a new member of the family. (my husband helped- reluctantly)

If you ever fall into a moment of weakness like that, please remember the house training, the chewing on everything (shoes, rugs, the frigging walls!)
and the constant need for attention until they grow and become more independent. I forgot.

Gladly, I forgot! Because now that she's part of our family, I wouldn't give this darling baby up for anything in the world! KiKi loves people and wants to please and we love her in return. She brings me the greatest pleasure and she'll grow to be a fantastic companion. If we all live through puppyhood, that is.

By the way, she has gotten her first haircut since these pictures but I haven't managed to get a new photo of her. She looks more like a Bichon Friese now. Like she's supposed to look. And next week we start training classes! Thank goodness.
Maybe then I'll catch up with my deadlines and finish this darn book!

If any of you have any suggestions to make our life easier or any stories of new puppies you would love to tell, please let us know! I can use all the help and commiseration I can get!

Linda

Time Flies - a brief sojourn out of the writer's cave

How can it possibly be August already? I much regret how time has flown. It is far too long since I have been here to post - although you might all be very glad of that! Truth is I have been stuck in the deep, dark deadline cave finishing two urgent manuscripts, both of which will feature in 2008 amongst various exciting new projects to mark Mills & Boon's centenary year.

I am now blinking against the light through bloodshot eyes, dragging the decrepit body around a long-neglected house buried under layers of dust and ever-growing TBR piles of books, trying to get as many things done as possible before I shut myself back in the cave to embark on the next book. I'm also giving myself a few treats and making a raid on the TBR piles as a reward for getting both books finished on time.

I love to lose myself in my characters but I always find starting a new book a scary experience. I am not a plotter. I have a vague idea where I am going, but it is my characters who take me there, often by a scenic or unexpected route! I know them and their back stories, I fling them together, and then they lead the way, often taking hold of the reins and ignoring all my attempts to control them and get them back on track again. Some are more sure of themselves than others, some more willing to discuss things, and some determined to go their own way and stuff their author's ideas, thank you very much!

The saddest part is saying goodbye - even if it is only temporarily because I might meet them again in linked books. I get so involved with them and their lives, and it takes a while to get them out of my head and ease the next cast in. Now I am at that turnaround point, sadly trying to let Seb & Gina venture out into the world without me, knowing I will catch up with them again in future Strathlochan stories, but sad to cut the apron strings. On the plus side, I get to welcome back Lauren, best friend to Chloe whose story I have already told and whose romance with the delectable Oliver will be out in the summer of 2008. Lauren's turn has come. She has a bumpy ride ahead but a scrumptious French hero called Gabriel is waiting in the wings to smooth out the choppy waters for her - if she'll let him.

Gabe & Lauren will soon be pulling me back into that cave and I will be able to lose myself in their story, hanging on to their coat-tails as they lead me on their journey through trials and tribulations, learning to love and trust, seeking their happy ending. And all the while the layers of dust and piles of books I'm yearning to read will begin to grow again.

Time flies when you are having fun - and despite the self-doubt, the times when things won't flow and the fright of staring at the blank first page, fingers poised over the keyboard, there is nothing quite like the feeling of launching out into a new ficticious world with a new cast of characters.

My current book, One Special Night, is out now in the UK and in Australia/New Zealand, available in bookshops, via Amazon or via Harlequin Mills & Boon's websites in those countries.

His Very Speical Nurse is now available via Harlequin's North American website.

Happy reading,

Love,

Mags

www.margaretmcdonagh.com

The Perfect Romantic Setting - Michelle Monkou

I have a voracious appetite when it comes to romance novels. I read just about anything and have a keeper list of my favorite authors that span over thirty years when I started reading in my young teens.

From all those titles, authors have lit my imagination with wonderful romantic settings. I thought it would be nice to share some of those settings and the emotions they evoked. Feel free to jump in with your favorites.

Argentinan horse ranch - ok, you will notice a definite trend toward the cowboy hero.

Australian sheep ranch

Texan cattle ranch

Greek isles - ancient history, beautiful seaside views, perpetually sunny

Coastal Italian towns

British castles - anything royal-related.

Caribbean island - tropical, relaxed, sexy interludes

Now that I've started the discussion on the important stuff, let me close with who I am :-)

I'm Michelle Monkou an author of eight and counting novels. I'm new to the blog and looking forward to meeting many of you. I write under Harlequin's Kimani imprint where my third book - Straight To The Heart - will be released in September; 4 stars from RT Bookclub.

Looking foward to hearing about your favorite romantic settings.

Michelle Monkou

http://www.michellemonkou.com/