Caturday!

You really think it's safe to be that close to me with that camera?

Caturday!

Dis ma sexy look.

Dude, it's Friday

I'm over at the Fictionistas today. Come celebrate the weekend!

Can't make RWA Nationals this year?

Not forking out the dough for the RWA Conference this year, with evening wear, suits, high heels and whatever "business casual" means?

Not to worry! Romance Divas is hosting the

Not Going to Conference Conference...

The Conference You Don't Have to Get Out of Bed For!

From July 28-31, come hang out with some terrific, savvy authors -- and you don't even have to brush your teeth (although, seriously, good dental hygiene gets you extra points.)

We'll be hosting panels on:

The Power of Three: A crit group tell-all (Paranormal)

Crystal Jordan

Patti O'Shea

Dayna Hart/Rowan Larke

The Lolitas of STEAMED! Present Writing the Steampunk Romance -more than leather corsets and brass goggles!

Marie-Claude Bourque

Theresa Meyers

Whips, Chains, Slings, Oh My: It Really Isn’t About the Toys (BDSM Erotica)

James Buchanan

Joey Hill

The Great Big YA Panel

Rhonda Stapleton

Shannon Delany

Kiersten White

Carrie Ryan

Linda Gerber

Saundra Mitchell

Lara Zielin

Brenna Yovanoff

Register for free at Romance Divas, then come join us on the forums for the discussions, as well as some terrific prizes:
Eden Bradley/Eve Berlin:
1) erotic e-books, THE SEEKING KISS and TEMPT ME TWICE.
2) a synopsis critique in any sub-genre of erotica/erotic romance.
Jax Cassidy:
1) erotic e-books, DEVIL'S HEART and BRUSH STROKES.
2) book cover design or banner ad
Kristen Painter:
copy of her e-book, ALL FIRED UP
Rhonda Stapleton:
1) STUPID CUPID YA Book trilogy
2) a proposal critique (1st 3 chapters and synopsis) for any genre of book, romance or not
K.B. Alan:
1) The choice of one of her e-books: PERFECT FORMATION, ALPHA TURNED or BOUND BY SUNLIGHT.
2) A $25 Barnes and Noble gift card.
Robin L. Rotham: Signed copies of BIG TEMPTATION, ALIEN OVERNIGHT, and ENEMY OVERNIGHT
AJ Chase: copies of e-book CAT AND MOUSE
Inez Kelley:
1) e-book package of both MYLA BY MOONLIGHT and SALOME AT SUNRISE
2) The complete Dirty Laundry Series (3 e-novellas) co-written by Ginny Glass aka Wordsugar and Inez Kelley
Kate Pearce:
1) a three chapter ~and~ synopsis critique-any erotic romance, paranormal romance or historical romance.
2) Winners choice, in either print or e-book format (if available), of a set of the Simply series (there are 5) ~or~ a set of the Cowboys (there are 3) ~or~ a copy of KISS OF THE ROSE-readers choice.
R.G. Alexander:
Winners choice of any two e-books from her Samhain or Ellora's Cave back list
Nadia Lee:
Critique of 1st chapter & synopsis-paranormal or contemporary romance
Shelley Munro: Winners choice of any one her backlist books from Ellora's Cave or Cerridwen Press
Ciar Cullen: Winner's choice of any one e-book on her website.
Voirey Linger: A copy of her e-book RISKING ETERNITY
RF Long:
1) a submission package critique (letter, synopsis and 3 chapters)
2) e-books! (details TBA)
Crystal Jordan:
1) 1st chapter and synopsis critique
2) One copy of any e-book off her Samhain backlist (http://samhainpublis.../crystal-jordan)
3) One copy of IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (print or electronic, winner's choice)
Jeannie Lin:
1) a first chapter critique, any genre
2) an official BUTTERFLY SWORDS souvenir charm
Elise Logan: Winner's choice of any e-book from her backlist
Marguerite Labbe:
1) A critique of an m/m story
2) Signed copies of her m/m vampire trilogy MY HEART IS WITHIN YOU, HAUNTED BY YOUR SOUL and OUR SACRED BALANCE
Seeley DeBorn:
One jar of home made body or face scrub, customized to the winner's preferences and skin type.
For example: Orange Spice Oatmeal, Coffee-Cocoa, Citrus Salt, Lavender Mint, Honey and Flax
Sela Carsen: a copy of her e-book CAROLINA WOLF
Hailey Edwards:
1) a copy of her sweet fantasy romance ebook, EVERLONG.
2) two five dollar MBaM gift cards
Charlotte McClain:
Copy of her two e-books, LOVE TO DECLARE and ROCK STAR'S RETREAT
Cynthia Justlin: (Golden Heart Finalist!) Proposal Critique (3 Chapters and synopsis)-any genre other than erotic
Lainey Bancroft:
1) signed copies of her contemporary romance, THE TROUBLE WITH TESSA and her chick lit romance COZUMEL KARMA
2) Proposal critique (3 chapters and a synopsis) any genre except Steampunk
Tina Burns-Publisher-Liquid Silver Books:
1) a critique of 1st 3 chapters & synopsis
2) 3 be-book prizes for 3 different winners! Winners choice of any one e-book download from LSB library.
Mima:
Winner's choice of one e-book from her backlist-see her website for booklist.
Taneasha: handmade jewelry by our own Taneasha-details to come!
Barbara Sheridan:
1) Winners choice of one e-book from her backlist-see her website for booklist.
2) Critique of up to 20 pages of either M/M, or M/F romance or erotic romance in various subgenres (contemporary, historical, paranormal or suspense/mystery)
David Bridger:
A copy of his ebook BEAUTY AND THE BASTARD
Victoria Janssen:
3 print books TBA (whatever she finds at the RWA Conference)
Gemma Halliday:
Signed copy of SCANDAL SHEET
Jennifer Leeland/Jennifer McKenzie:
1) copy of her e-book MARKED FOR PLEASURE (Kindle version available upon request)
2) copy of her e-book MARKED FOR DESIRE (Releasing June 29th) (Kindle version available upon request)
3) copy of her e-books The Command Series (Trilogy)
4)copy of her BDSM e-book series (3 from TWRP and 1 from Samhain)
Emily Ryan-Davis:
1) Critique of novella-length (up to 30k) manuscript; any time period, m/f, menage, f/f (m/m not her area of expertise)
2) signed print copies of her anthology: MATING CALL, DRAGON DANCE and DRAGON BOUND
3) e-book copy of CHANGING THUMBELINA
Sabrina Darby:
1) Signed copy of her erotic historical novel, ON THESE SILKEN SHEETS
2) Critique of first thirty pages of any Regency (erotic or non erotic fine, but m/m outside my area of expertise)
Alina Morgan:
1) copy of her e-book The Twilight Deception
2) copy of her e-book The Shadow Unveiled
Debbie Mumford:
1) Critique of a synopsis
2) Winner's choice of any e-book from her back list.
Kimberly Troutte:
1) copy of her e-book SOUL STEALER
2) copy of her e-book CATCH ME IN CASTILE
Sasha Devlin:
1 pair of hand made writing mitts or gloves-style and color TBD by the winner
Julia Knight
Winner's choice of one copy of any of her books available in e-book format

Happy Birthday, Finny!

Finnegan is one year old today! As you can see, life hasn't always been kind to him, but he's in deep clover now that he lives with us. His turn-ons include eating bugs, chasing golf balls through the house, tromping on his brothers and sleeping on top of daddy. Turn-offs include excessive petting when he'd rather be playing, taking medicine and the vacuum cleaner.

Busy Busy

This week is going to be crazy. Like cray-zee. Why? Because it's the week before conference and there is so much to do! Plan out the wardrobe making sure everything is clean and ready to go (that means shoes and accessories too!), map out the schedule so no event is missed, get my hair and nails done, clean the house so it's not a train wreck when I get home, transfer important files to the computer I'll be taking and try to write about 30 some pages. Not to mention the regular stuff like taking care of Hotrod and working out.

How am I going to do all this? The List. I have to make a list and keep it going all week or something will get missed. I live by The List. How about you? How do you keep yourself organized when you're prepping for a big event?

Caturday!

Making the bed. With assistance. (Can you find the third cat in this picture?)

RWA Nationals

RWA's 2010 National Conference is little more than a week away. I'm excited to go as this year will hold three new firsts for me.

1. I'll be signing for the first time at the Literacy Signing! Stop by and say hi if you're there.

2. I'll be speaking on a panel about Digital Publishing for the Print Published Author with Shiloh Walker, Tessa Dare and Lindsey Faber (Samhain editor). It takes place Saturday, July 31st at 3:15 in Asia 5, so mark your calendars!

3. I'm a door prize! Part of the PRO retreat includes giving away lunches with published authors in particular genres. I'm the paranormal/UF door prize. (I wonder if I should wear a bow?)

Other than that, I have a myriad of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and gatherings to attend. It'll be a busy, busy week, but seeing all my writing friends, getting to network and filling up on writerly information is so worth it. There's really nothing like Nationals. Will you be there this year?

Realms of Fantasy Magazine

I recently bought myself a subscription to this fabulous magazine and I have to say, if you're writing anything even remotely related to the fantasy genre (scifi and paranormal writers, I'm looking at you), you should be reading this magazine. I wish I hadn't waited so long.

Great articles, great short fiction, thoughtful reviews and a real sense of what's new and happening in the genre.

You can check it out here. Get yourself a subscription. You deserve it.

Time to kiss some babies and shake some hands

I need votes! All Fired Up's cover has been nominated for the Best Paranormal/UF Cover for July - http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=27432 I'd love some votes if you're so inclined! Poll is on the sidebar. (I tell you because couldn't find it at first. lol)

Woot!

Caturday! And a little extra

Take my spider and I killz you.

* * *

And now, the extra!

I'll be signing All Fired Up today at:
Borders
880 W State Road 436
Altamonte Springs, FL
From 2:00-4:00 PM

If you're in the area, I'd love to see you!

Changing things up

I'm over at The Fictionistas today talking about how we're changing. Come see for yourself!

In case you haven't seen it yet - my new cover

Miss Bramble And The Leviathan is a steampunk romance. The novella will be out in October from Samhain. I'll be sure to post the blurb when I have it!

Win a book!

I'm over at Jennifer Shirk's blog today talking Writer Routines (my routine specifically). Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of All Fired Up!

Release Day!

All Fired Up is out in print today!

Desire can heal the coldest heart—or burn it to ashes.

Alrik Gunn knows from bitter experience that change isn’t always for the better. From the woman who annihilated his Viking clan to the goddess who tricked him into centuries of slavery, betrayal has dogged his existence. The Goddess of Love is going to let him avenge his family, but for a price. As a Phoenix—a merchant of change—he must grant a human woman three chances to change her life.

When former Irish dancer Calleigh McCarthy tosses a carved-bird statue that belonged to her ex into a roaring bonfire, she unwittingly summons an honest-to-god Phoenix. A sexy, irresistible Viking who offers her an unbelievable bonus—three get-out-of-her-crappy-life-free cards. She’ll take it, even if it means guarding her cautious heart against the dark pain behind Alrik’s eyes.

Alrik has vowed never to let love sway him again, but Calleigh’s innocence and kindness throw him off balance. Yet even as his need for revenge fades and his love for her grows, he is bound to let her make her choices without interfering.

One wrongly chosen word, and any chance for happiness—for either of them—will go up in flames.

* Amazon has it on sale here!

Caturday, the Patriotic Edition

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Wow. It's Friday.

I thought all day yesterday it was Wednesday. I knew it was July 1st, but it still didn't register. I feel so out of touch.

What have I missed? What news do you have to share? What are you doing for the July 4th weekend? We're having a little cookout, then watching the neighbors set off fireworks way too big for non-commercial consumption. FUN!

Have a safe and happy weekend, whatever you do.

Random Things

1. Have you heard that Listerine kills mosquitoes? If you spray it around your outside area, it not only keeps them away for days but kills them too. Anyone know if this actually works?

2. I bought a Kindle yesterday. Yes, I am weak. The price drop and my involvement with Amazon's publishing programs pushed me over the edge.

3. Edits on book 2 are done, except for a final read through in a week or so. I still feel crazed.

4. My inner geek rejoices that Eureka and Warehouse 13 are starting back up soon. Also thrilled to find out there is a new Top Chef show in the works, Top Chef Just Desserts.

5. I'm now down 22.2 pounds. Once I added in more fruits and veggies (and I already ate a lot) my body decided to get off its plateau and lose some more.

And with that, it's back to the grind...