Riding With The Top Down

We’ve Moved…

2011-01-03T01:14:00.001-06:00

…to a different road. Here’s the map: http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com

We’re talking about our books and the writing life and whatever tickles our fancy, so come on along!

Complete Moving Party Winners List

2011-01-02T10:58:00.001-06:00

Head over to http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com and check the December winners list. Names and contact info are all there. If you haven’t claimed your prize, don’t wait another minute!

Get involved in the conversation tomorrow (Monday 1/3) and you can still be eligible for the big finale—the Shower Of Books!

New Year, New Address

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

You’ll find us at http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com. Come on over and bookmark us.

Happy New Year—Happy Reading!

Movie Review and Shower Of Books

2010-12-31T02:49:00.002-06:00

Check us out at http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com where today Kathleen reviews the new "True Grit" for theater goers and "Town" on DVD.

Be sure to join in the discussion and become eligible for our fabulous "Shower Of Books." One name will be drawn on January 3. Good luck!

Thursday’s Child Is Leanne Banks

2010-12-30T00:19:00.000-06:00

Meet us at our new address and share your thoughts with Leanne and the Riders today. We’re cruising toward the big “Shower Of Books” to be announced in the New Year—January 3rd to be exact. Names of all who comment between now and Monday will be eligible, but only one will get rained on. Books from all the riders, including DEADLY INTENT and WAKING NIGHTMARE (Kylie Brant); NOT JUST THE NANNY and CRUSH ON YOU (Christie Ridgway); AN ACCIDENTAL SEDUCTION and ONE HOT MESS (Lois Greiman) And that’s just for starters. Visit http://ridingwiththetopdow.wordpress.com and get in on the discussion. And bookmark us!

Cruising Into 2011 At Our New Address

2010-12-29T01:41:00.001-06:00

It’s going to be raining books!

We’re finishing out his week’s blogging at http://www.ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com with Cindy Gerard on Wednesday the 29th, Leanne Banks on Thursday the 30th, and Kathleen Eagle on Friday the 31st. On Monday night (Jan 3), Christie Ridgway will draw one name from our Dec 29-Jan 3 commenters, and that person will be showered (by mail) with books written and autographed by our Riders. Isn’t that a fine way to start off the New Year? So get in on the conversation.

And do bookmark our new address!

We’re Moving

2010-12-28T00:58:00.000-06:00

Get dressed and come with us. Michele Hauf is talking up her latest book today and drawing for this one-of-a-kind Riding With The Top Down T-shirt. Go to http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com and put in your two cents for a chance to win.

Saddle Up and Ride With Lois Today

2010-12-27T11:26:00.001-06:00

Lois is talking 2010 highlights today, and hers have to do with riding. Follow this trail to our new home and make a comment. You’ll be eligible for Lois’s giveaway—sapphire earrings! And be sure to check our updated winners list. If your name has been drawn, you’ve got some contacting to do.

You get a prize! And you get a prize! And you get a prize!

2010-12-27T00:53:00.001-06:00

But you’ll have to jump over to http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com to find out who YOU are. 2 weeks worth of prize winners are listed. Our moving party lasts another week, so bookmark us!

BIG Christmas Eve Gifting

2010-12-24T00:34:00.000-06:00

Taking in a movie over the holidays? Cindy has a review and a big prize to offer—a digital photo viewer/alarm clock worth $30—for one Christmas Eve visitor at http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com. See you there!

Another Day, Another Prize

2010-12-23T00:47:00.001-06:00

If it’s Thursday, it must be time to turn the keys over to Helen Brenna. Wanna go for a ride-along? Backseat drivers welcome at http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com. One commenter will receive a $15 gift certificate from Borders Books. Don’t forget to bookmark us!

Counting the days until . . .

2010-12-22T00:16:00.002-06:00

. . . our big finale on January 3? Well, don't be a wallflower. Join in the lively conversation at our new address. You'll love Deb's YouTube blog today, and she'll be giving one commenter a $15 Amazon gift certificate. Bookmark us!

Holiday Road Trip Continues

2010-12-21T00:35:00.002-06:00

It’s Kylie Brant Tuesday! She’ll be drawing the name of one lucky commenter, who’ ll receive a $15 Amazon gift certificate. So cruise on over to http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com and get in on the conversation. Don’t forget to bookmark us!

Debra - If you give it, they will come...

2010-12-20T10:52:00.001-06:00

Jump in the car and follow me over to our new blog site on WordPress! I've got a blog waiting for you and a giveaway of four books from the BelleBooks or Bell Bridge Books catalogue.

Come on...you know you want to. The new blog is just a click away: www.RidingWithTheTopDown.WordPress.com.

This Week’s Winners

2010-12-18T10:42:00.001-06:00

We’re making a list. Go check it once or twice. Whether you’re naughty or nice, if we drew your name, you get a prize!

Congratulations Winners! Our party continues through New Year’s weekend with more prizes and more discussion. Bookmark us!

Watch Out! Kathleen’s Driving Today

2010-12-17T01:36:00.000-06:00

And she tends to get distracted. She’ll award a $15 Amazon gift certificate to one backseat driver with a good sense of direction, so move on over to http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com, bookmark us, and, yes, tell Kathleen Eagle where to go. She’s discussing a recent article about fiction, fantasy, and yearning for a simpler life.

Michele’s Serving Chocolate Today

2010-12-16T01:26:00.001-06:00

Follow our tracks to the new home of Riding With the Top Down where Michele Hauf is hosting a gala today. She’ll send one lucky commenter a box of yummy Decadent Chocolates. Be sure to bookmark http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com. See you down the road!

MAUREEN is winner for Amazon Gift Certificate Dip Drawing!

2010-12-15T09:48:00.000-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS MAUREEN! You are the winner for the Amazon Gift Certificate! Please send your name and email address to leannebbb @ aol.com (no spaces) so I can send it to you pronto!

Thank you to all my fellow “dippers”! Merry Christmas!!

xo,

Leanne

Go For a Ride With Samantha Hunter

2010-12-15T01:18:00.002-06:00

We’ve moved from here to here, and we’re taking author Samantha Hunter with us today, and look what you might win if you ride along!

One commenter will win a basket with Samantha's December release, I'LL BE YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS, Joanne Rock's Christmas Blaze, UNDER WRAPS, some promo items from both authors, soaps and chocolates. Wow! Samantha also has a new Blaze coming out in June 2011, MINE UNTIL MORNING.

Join us on our holiday road trip and bookmark our new URL. We’re Riding With the Top Down.

We’re moving. Need a ride?

2010-12-14T00:15:00.002-06:00

Christie Ridgway is blogging today about the January release of THEN HE KISSED ME, a story that begins on New Year’s Eve. She’ll be drawing for a $15 Amazon gift certificate at the stroke of midnight tonight (or thereabouts) to be given to someone who comments today. All you have to do is go to http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com and join the party. Bookmark our new site, and visit every day during our 3-week holiday road trip for some of the best giveaways we’ve ever offered.

We’re Riding With The Top Down. Hop in!

Dip Dip Doo Wah… and a Christmas Pressie for one of you!

2010-12-12T21:58:00.002-06:00

It’s that time of the year. Christmas gatherings, potlucks, parties. What to bring? Share your favorite dip or potluck recipe with me and I will draw from your fabulous responses to give one lucky winner a $15.00 gift certificate to Amazon! How’s that for Christmas spirit?

What have I been taking to holiday soirees? Dips. I have a few faves such as Buffalo Chicken Dip. Easy peasy to prepare. 1 large can of chicken breast drained. 1/2 cup Frank’s regular hot sauce (more if you can stand it) 8 oz reduced fat softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup reduced fat Ranch dressing, 1/2 cup grated 2% cheddar cheese. Mix everything together and spread in a glass 9 inch pie plate. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir. Microwave for four more minutes. Enjoy with Tostito scoops or some other more healthy carb alternative. There’s never much left of this. I took it to my mother’s house at Thanksgiving and it was gone within 45 minutes of when I set foot inside her door.

A more healthy dip that I love. Texas Caviar. This can be made several ways. Here’s my fave because green pepper and I do not agree. 1/2 cup chopped red pepper. 1 chopped jalapeno pepper (or 1/4 cup chopped from Jalapeno slices in jar), 1/4 cup thinly sliced chopped onion, 1 15 oz. can Black-eyed peas drained and rinsed (you may substitute a can of black beans or kidney beans), 1 can white corn, 1/3 cup low-fat balsamic vinegar dressing, 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes (OR 1 can of tomatoes and chiles), 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Combine all ingredients in bowl and refrigerate for at least two hours before serving (24 hours is best). Keeps for days. Serve with tostitos or healthier carb alternative.

I have a third choice and it is usually reserved for deadline. It’s terrible, wicked bad for you and I rarely purchase it because it’s like crack for me… although I’ve never had crack. I’m just imagining. Heluva Good French Onion dip with ridged potato chips.

There’s another Mexican layered dip that my husband and I enjoy for Super Bowl, but I think I’ve given you enough calories to ponder.

So, now it’s your turn. What do you take to a potluck party? One of you lucky responders will receive a $15.00 Amazon gift certificate. CAN’T WAIT for you to show your stuff!

And starting tomorrow you'll find us riding with our top down at a new address. We're celebrating our move for the rest of the month with prizes galore. We go live tomorrow (Tuesday 12/14) so bookmark http://ridingwiththetopdown.wordpress.com and party 'til it's 2011!

Merry Christmas!

xo,

Leanne

We’re Throwing a 3-Week Party, and You’re Invited

2010-12-12T19:08:00.002-06:00

Don’t miss our 3-week road trip with daily prize drawings beginning December 13 and ending in 2011. We’re moving, and we want to take you along. So stop in daily. Our new site goes live on Tuesday. You’ll click a link and bookmark our new URL at wordpress. Be sure to comment every day. We’re celebrating with prizes, prizes, prizes.

The Bushman - booga booga

2010-12-10T00:00:00.001-06:00

I had the great good fortune to be invited to speak in Oakland, Ca. last week at the Black Diamond RWA chapter (hey girls!!!) And since the nice ladies invited me out there, I decided to make a little 'fun' trip out of it and extend my stay in San Francisco for a couple extra days. What fun is a visit, however, without company? Not too much so I cashed in some frequent flier miles and had my wonderful daughter-in-law, Eileen, and my 9 year old granddaughter, Kayla, join me.

We spent Sunday and Monday 'doing' San Francisco, let me tell ya. Had a great time with two of my favorite girls. And, let's just say that if there was something to see or do, we saw it and did it!

On a city bus tour, early on the trip, the bus driver/tour guide told us this tall tale about the supposedly famed San Francisco Bushman. The story goes that this man hides along the sidewalks down on Fisherman's Wharf, using nothing but eucalyptus leaves to cover himself. He ends up looking like a potted plant. Anyway, the tour guide warned us to look out for him because he would pop up when we least expected it and scare us half to death.

Needless to say, Kayla didn't think too much about the idea that the Bushman might scare us and was constantly on the lookout for him. Eileen and I pretty much dismissed the possibility that he even existed or if he did, that we'd ever run into him ... and yes, you guessed it. We were rushing along the street, trying to catch the last cable car of the night. It was pretty dark. We were single-minded in our purpose. And bam! He got us good. He jumped out from behind his leaves, roared and Eileen and I almost wet our pants. Kayla, who had been looking out for him EVERY MINUTE, was not one bit surprised, except by how high we both jumped.

So guess what HER trip highlight was? We made a visit to Muir Woods and the ancient and giant redwoods, we lunched in Sausalito, did Chinatown, rode the cable car, rode not one but TWO different ships on the Blue and Gold fleet out into the bay and under the bridge and around Alcatraz, saw the Aquarium of the Bay, The Wax Museum, went to a live production of SHREK, the Musical at the Orpheum (it was FANTASTIC!) and still, it's the Bushman, who she talks about when someone asks her what she did.

Go figure.

That ever happen to you? You go on this trip, see all the sights and some odd, unexpected event is what you remember most? What's the best vacation you've taken recently? And what was the best thing about it? For me, it was being with my girls~

'Tis the Season--for Online Shopping!

2010-12-09T00:00:00.001-06:00

Confession time: I hate shopping. Although my mother was the consummate shopper, as were her sister and my oldest sibling, that gene is missing in my DNA makeup. I'll go without something I need for weeks until sheer desperation overcomes my loathing and I'm forced to dash into a store. I don't linger recalling other things I really need to pick up, either. It's all about getting in and out in the shortest amount of time possible. Which means I go without a lot, unless I can con my husband into going for me.

He actually does do a bit of my shopping. Strangely, he's never minded (except at this time of year.) He'll go and bring home some sweaters and new pants for me, which I can then keep or have him take back,. You have to admit, that's a pretty sweet deal. It's like having my own personal shopper, albeit one whose tastes run to the low-cut and slutty. (Those are the ones he usually has to take back.) I'm a huge Christmas junkie, so my shopping aversion used to be set aside at this time of year. But as I get older I have even less patience for the crowds, lack of inventory and unhelpful clerks. Too much going store to store has me plotting homicide, as evidenced by my marathon excursion on Sunday. (You hear that, Toys 'R Us employee???? They would *never* find your body!)

That's why one of my favorite things about Christmas is online shopping.

Ahh. Now *that* I could wax poetic about! Last week, Christmas lists in hand, I spent 4 1/2 hours one night getting started on my shopping. Afterwards there was no braving the cold to haul packages out to the car. No jostling crowds in the mall or trudging from one place to the other looking for that must have gift. Just me stretched out on my chaise lounge, Diet Coke in one hand, credit card in another, in search of deals.

Online shopping fills me with childlike wonder. Free shipping makes my Christmas holiday all shiny and bright :)

And then there's the packages. Like magic they begin to appear on the porch every afternoon, two and three a day. And each of them represents more than a gift: they represent one less store I had to force myself into. So far I have successfully avoided the reality that next week, I'm really going to have to start wrapping.

I insist on Christmas lists from my kids before they leave after Thanksgiving. It's a bonus when I get one that comes complete with links!

What are your favorite parts of the season? Any least favorites? Do you have the shopping gene or are you a mutant like me ?

Guest Author: Holly Jacobs

2010-12-08T07:19:00.008-06:00

Please welcome guest author Holly Jacobs who has a new, December Superromance out now, HOMECOMING DAY and she's a novice basket weaver, too! She's having a contest giving away a basket she's made. Here's Holly ...

Thanks for inviting me to visit today, Ladies!

I’m pretty sure most readers aren’t surprised to discover that writers are readers, too...generally they’re readers first! I can't remember a time I didn't read. My first book love-affair was with The Hobbit. To be honest, all my first crushes were on characters from books. Aragorn in LOTR, Lazarus Long in Heinlein's works. I grew up in books. As an adult, I was the kindergarten story lady for years, even after all my kids had moved up in grades. There was something so exciting about seeing the kids fall into a story. Most years we all read our first big-kid chapter book together.

I can't fathom a life without books.

I guess that's why I touch on the idea of functional illiteracy in this month’s SuperRomance, Homecoming Day. JT, the high school freshman in the book, can read. It's difficult and ponderous for her, but she can do it...she just can't do it well and that impacts her school performance and her self-esteem. And it goes without saying that she has never read for pleasure.

My hero and heroine come together because of her and they work with her. The better she reads, the more her grades improve, the more she opens up.

Now, I'm going to confess, I think I rushed the JT's reading progress. I don't think most kids who have difficulty reading can overcome their problems in just a few months of one-on-one work. But hey, I'm writing fiction and there were a few time constraints, so let's just agree that she's an anomaly and did improve that quickly. What I don't think I exaggerated was the idea that one person can make a difference in someone else's life. That having someone care about you can alter the course you take.

And I'm totally certain that I didn't exaggerate the notion that reading can enrich your life and open new ideas and vistas. So many writers helped raise me. When I felt lost, they helped me find myself. I wouldn't be who I am today without those authors in my past.

Laura, the heroine of Homecoming Day, is a teacher. I have so many family members who teach and I know what a rare and wonderful breed of person they are! And the hero, Seth Keller (whose brother, Zac, was the hero in last year’s Unexcepted Gifts), is a cop. Now, I love cops...actually one cop in particular. My husband is a police Captain, and two brothers are also police officers. So I do think police officers make great heroes, even if they’re not saving the world, but are saving a few kids.

Both Laura and Seth have suffered a devastating loss. They need to heal before they can fall in love. My blurb for this book, as I wrote it, was, Life Gives Second Chances...Sometimes So Does Love! I hope you enjoy their story...that you enjoy READING their story.

See how I did that? I circled back to reading...literacy! Yeah, I’m that good! LOL Let’s talk books that made an impact on you. Is there a particular book you can remember reading when you were young...something that still stays with you?

Holly
http://www.hollyjacobs.com/

PS. According to National Right to Read Foundation, “42 million American adults can't read at all; 50 million are unable to read at a higher level that is expected of a fourth or fifth grader. 20% of high school seniors can be classified as being functionally illiterate at the time they graduate.” (My heart breaks over these numbers!)

PPS. I’m having a contest to celebrate the release of this book. I need to preface the contest info by saying I’m a VERY novice basketweaver. And a number of friends and readers asked me to give one away, so I am!

To enter, just share a favorite Christmas memory...something that gives you that warm glow of homecoming and family. That’s all it takes. (Of course, I do hope you’ll purchase a copy of Homecoming Day, too! LOL) You can find out more at http://www.hollyjacobs.com/contest.html

The Winter Blahs

2010-12-07T00:53:00.005-06:00

Winter is upon it, and with it come the winter blahs! Or do they? I’ve been studying some ways to be happy…or at least how to make our minds believe we’re happy. Here are a few things I’ve learned:

If your body language screams happy your mind will soon follow suit. So stand up straight, smile, walk briskly and use a tone of voice that suggests life is worth living.

Participate in random acts of kindness. Give a compliment. Do a favor. Other people’s happiness can generate your own.

Spend time with people you love who love you in return.

Music can greatly influence your mood. It stimulates the same areas of the brain as food and sex. So choose tunes that make you feel good.

Make a list of things that need to get done and cross them off when you’ve accomplished the tasks. It can help you feel in control of your life.

Turn your head to the right. The left side of your brain processes positive info (it’s also the side that is used for puzzles and mathematics), so if you’re more positive you naturally turn in that direction. Trick yourself into being happy by consciously glancing right.

Plan things you can look forward to. Sometimes the humdrum of life can get you down. Knowing you have some fun in your future can be a real boost.

Don’t try to compete with your neighbors. Jealousy is a difficult mistress. Set your own goals. March to your own drummer.

Unclutter. Clutter causes stress. This was mentioned in almost every article I read. So get rid of what you don’t need or use regularly.

Spend some time alone. We all need time to unwind and recharge. Being with others, no matter how much we adore them, comes with certain expectations.

Bring humor into your life. Plan to laugh. Meet with friends who make you chuckle or watch a good comedy. The results are beneficial.

Be less reactive. Don’t allow others to manipulate your emotions.

Spend time with your pet…according to one study pets are considerably better at lowering stress levels than say… a spouse.

Aromatherapy is a proven mood enhancer. Try lavender or rosemary to help you relax.

Spirituality: People who actively participate in some form of religious activity tend to cope better with stress.

Count your blessings. Take time to be grateful. Remember, even in tough times, we are incredibly blessed.

Those are my happy hints of the day. What’s your favorite mood brightener?

Kathleen Says, Take Care Of the Little People

2010-12-03T10:03:00.000-06:00

I'm running late this morning, and of course I'm going to explain why. But first--and this has nothing to do with being late, but it does tie in--I have a new book out this week. Okay, not really NEW new, but first time in this format. It's actually a two-for-one reprint of BROOMSTICK COWBOY and DEFENDER, and some of you were taking high school algebra when these books came out. But they're timeless. The book is called A CERTAIN KIND OF HERO, and for me that means the guy who steps up when it's time to look out for the women and children. Old fashioned, I know, but that's--sigh--my hero.

Also, I'm working on line edits. I take this part of the writing process very seriously. I read everything once, and I let it sink in. Then I go through again and do the easy fixes. More sinking in. Then I do any bigger pieces that need tuning up. By this time I have a good sense of what the editor sees that I missed. It's not always a big change in one spot that's needed. It's usually something that's there but needs beefing up. Like all aspects of the process, concentration is key.

Well, yesterday I was moving right along when the school bus arrived. I had approved a two-hour playdate after school because I was told there was a weather emergency. Winter has truly set in here in MN. We have only about an inch of snow on the ground, but do you realize how much that is to a fairy? The girls had a friend coming over to help them make winter homes for the fairies. "Or else they could die!"

Well, you should see the mess!

Okay, this will make me even later, but I'll go take a picture of what's on my counter this morning.

I know, I know. They should've cleaned it up. But they had to get their homework done and shower and you know how that goes.

And these are the houses. (One went home with the friend.) They don't look like much, do they? The cardboard was cut apart, floors were added with beds a-fixed upstairs and playrooms downstairs, and they're really darling on the inside. I asked about leaving a side open so we could see the rooms, but no. Theses aren't for show. Look closely. It says "Pixies Welcome" on the one on the right. These are for housing fairies.

Here's a bed that didn't make the cut. It didn't have a cushioned mattress. So where will these domiciles reside? In front, I'm told, IN FRONT of the Christmas tree. Santa will bring the fairies. "And not the toy ones we got last year, Nana. Real ones. Santa knows the fairies, and he'll be glad to see that we want to help them."

So you see my problem. What if Santa doesn't bring real fairies?

And if he does, will the dog bother them? And what shall we feed them now that it's winter in our woods?

Be my friend on Facebook. My next challenge is to figure out this cross-posting thing. What have the kids in your life added to the mix in your hall decking? And what kinds of stories go along? And how do you handle your revisions?

Winner winner chicken dinner!

2010-12-03T09:46:00.000-06:00

Thanks for the comments on short stories yesterday, ladies! I drew two winners for a copy of SEDUCING THE VAMPIRE and they are:

Laurie
Linda Henderson

Congrats! Please send toastfaery@gmail.com your snail mail addresses.

Michele

Did you see that ninja?

2010-12-02T01:00:00.004-06:00

No? Don't worry, he's a ninja, you're not supposed to see him. :-) Sort of like love. Sometimes you don't see it coming, and it rushes in like a ninja and steals your heart before you even know what hit you. That's what happens in my latest electronic novella, THE NINJA VAMPIRE'S GIRL. The story is a quick adventure that takes place one night in London as the heroine quests for an angel's halo, and instead finds herself in the arms of a handsome man who also wants the halo—and isn't afraid to use his fangs to get it. It's a fast, fun read, and it's part of my Of Angels & Demons series, and a part of my Beautiful Creatures world.
I love writing the Nocturne Bites because I usually do them in first person, and I like to play with that POV once in a while. Also, the short format challenges me to see if I can make the hero and heroine fall in love—fast. I've mentioned here before that I believe in love at first sight, well, this story is more like love at first bite. :-)

To read the first chapter of The Ninja Vampire's Girl, click here!

I made a book trailer, and this is only my second attempt at using iMovie, so it's simple and the music I found was pretty short, so I'm warning you, it's a fast read.

I don't actually have copies of Ninja Vamp to give away, but I do have SEDUCING THE VAMPIRE, which isn't in stores until the end of this month. I'll give away 2 copies to two lucky commenters. Tell me if you like short stories, or if you prefer them full-length?

Michele

And the Winner is...

2010-12-01T23:03:00.002-06:00

Laney4 has won a copy of Joanne Rock's book! Laney, contact Joanne at jrock008@gmail.com with your snail mail info. Congrats!

Guest Author Joanne Rock

2010-12-01T00:00:00.001-06:00

Please welcome the fabulous (and gorgeous ) Joanne Rock to the convertible today!

Finding Creativity

One of the joys of blogging and Facebooking (how dare my spell checker suggest that's not a word) is that I can quiz the world at large with all my burning questions. For example, I wanted to find some great creative writing textbooks for an online class I taught last summer. I could have gone on campus to track down answers, but have you ever tried to find college professors in the summer? Instead, I posed the question on Facebook and had a list of twenty possibilities with a handful of starred preferences in about six hours.

In the same way, blogging allows me to take informal polls and round up feedback on new ideas. For instance, I've been spending a lot of my free time this fall trying to learn more about creativity. It's a topic that's really tugged at me over the last two years as I've grown concerned with the idea of how to recharge depleted creativity and how to maintain that energy over the long haul. To ensure I studied this diligently, I offered to give a workshop on the topic for Carolina Romance Writers in the spring. If I want to have something to share in the workshop, I now have a self-imposed deadline in which to learn a lot! It's a great way to motivate myself--nothing like the pressure of a looming deadline to start studying hard.

Which brings me to the help I'd like from you today...(Could you sense I was going to put you to work?) What makes you feel the most creative? Think back to times when you felt a burst of creative energy--a time you couldn't wait to sit down and scrapbook or a weekend that you were really excited to redecorate your kids' bedroom. Where did that creative surge come from? Were you inspired by seeing something similar on TV or in a magazine? Did a friend accomplish a creative task that motivated you to work on your own?

We all have the power to create and it's a truly rewarding experience when we can step back from our creation and admire the handiwork. Whether the end result of your creativity is a koi pond in the backyard, a romance novel or a cool fort made with the kids, it's time well spent that makes us feel fulfilled. Have you exercised your creativity lately? If not, I hope today's blog will inspire you to tap into your unique strain of creative powers. And if you have, please do share a creative moment. Also, let me know if you can remember where that spark of creativity came from! I've got a signed copy of my December Blaze, Under Wraps, for one random poster!

Yesterday's winners!

2010-11-30T09:42:00.003-06:00

The Christmas Elf picked three winners for an advance copy of THEN HE KISSED ME. Congratulations to:

Playground Monitor

Beth T.

Kristine Riggs

Email me your snail mail addy at christie @ christieridgway.com (don't use spaces, of course and note that there's no "e" in Ridgway!) and I'll send a book your way.

Happy Reading!

Presents! A Chance to Win!

2010-11-29T00:01:00.000-06:00

(At left is my favorite Christmas elf. He's aged some since that picture was taken--and cut off all those gorgeous curls! Shh! Don't tell him I put this up.)

I'm talking Christmas, people, because it's really upon us. And because my mom sent (via my bro who visited for Thanksgiving) an early Christmas present. A cuckoo clock she bought in Germany. It's like getting used to a new pet or a new baby. It makes noises between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. (at least it sleeps through the night) but we keep jumping when it starts its little song and dance every hour.

But it made me think about gifts and when to open them. Surfer Guy grew up opening gifts on Christmas Eve (gasp!), which was almost a marriage dealbreaker...until he promised to do it my way. Of course, Christmas morning is the time to open gifts, else Christmas Day is so anti-climactic. Right? Right?

As my kids get older a lot of the drama has been taken out of the gift-giving. No more of those have-to-have-it toys. I miss that. And staying up late on Christmas Eve attaching a thousand little decals to the latest race course or whatever that Surfer Guy and I just have to play with for a few hours before bed.

But it's that time of year at the Ridgway house already. Friday after Thanksgiving, the turkeys and pumpkins are put away and the Christmas decorations come out...santas, sleighs, reindeers, penguins. I already have a list and I'm checking it twice.

Are you ready for the season? When do you open gifts?

Whether you're naughty or nice, I may have a present for you. Comment for a chance to win one of three advance copies of my January release, Then He Kissed Me. Romantic Times gave it 4 1/2 stars, saying "Ridgway gives readers great romance." I'd love to send you an early Christmas gift...and it's one that doesn't sing or cuckoo!

WINNER OF LAURA GRIFFIN'S BOOK!!!!

2010-11-26T16:43:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to Pamela Keener who won a $25 Amazon gift card and a
signed copy of Laura Griffin's new book, UNFORGIVABLE, on Wednesday.
Please email laura@lauragriffin.com with your mailing address, and she
will send you your prize!

Debra – Autographed Books

2010-11-25T10:40:00.001-06:00

First…Happy Turkey Day!

Next…let’s talk about autographed books.

So many readers love an autograph. Personalized, of course. Authors love to sign books. I can’t tell you how warm and fuzzy I got at an Australia romance writers event when, instead of a GMC book, a woman stepped up with an old and tattered copy of BAD TO THE BONE and gushed.

Those are the moments you remember when it’s 3 a.m. and you’re pushing a deadline uphill like a square, two ton rock.

I was reminded last night that autographs are moments in time that we carry with us into the future. My sister is moving. We brought dinner to the new house so no one would have to cook. As we’re leaving she says, “Wait! I’ve found some books your friends autographed to you. You must have loaned them to me and I lost them.” She runs to one of the seven million boxes and returns with two books.

Book One. THE WEDDING DRESS by Virginia Ellis
Gin died unexpectedly. She’d been a stockholder in BelleBooks. A dear friend. When I pulled the book out, I smiled and my brain actually whispered, “Hey you!” as if to greet an old friend. I had some lovely moments remembering the book and Gin.

Book Two. WHEN VENUS FELL by Deborah Smith
Some would say that Deborah Smith and I are joined at the hip. Now, anyway. At the dawn of mankind (when I was just beginning to understand writing and publishing) I wanted to be the love child of Tami Hoag, Steven Hunter and Deborah Smith. I thought Deb wrote the most amazing books. She was a rising, shining star in the romance world. Destined to become a NYT Bestselling author. But I didn’t know her.

Eventually I sold to Bantam/Random House and I was introduced to Deb at publisher functions. Over the years we became friendly and eventually business partners and these days we now talk and email so often that barely an hour goes by that we don’t communicate in some way. Except when we sleep. LOL!

So, back to last night. WHEN VENUS FELL was published in 1998. That was a year before anyone had ever dreamed or even whispered about a joint business venture that would become BelleBooks, Inc. and its imprint Bell Bridge Books.

“Deb- You are destined to run a publishing empire.” Love Deb -- Deborah Smith

I have to close now, because I need to go get Deb Smith to pick some lottery numbers for me.

How about you? Do you love to autograph? Love to get autographed copies? Have any autographs that are tied to people and memories that rush back when you read the autograph?

Slut Turkey and guest Laura Griffin :o)

2010-11-24T00:01:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone. I am thrilled to welcome Laura Griffin ( who is NOT a slut turkey) to the 'vert today. Please make her welcome and wow, she's got a GREAT giveaway for you all!

Slut Turkey

Is it really Thanksgiving? I don’t know how it got here when one minute ago I was rushing around Walmart looking for number two pencils and braded folders.

I sat down to write this blog, fully prepared to do the whole thanks-for-having-me!-please-buy-my-new-book! (but with some sort of clever twist that I was still banging my head against the keyboard trying to come up with). But then I looked at my calendar and realized I was scheduled to visit you all at Riding With The Top Down on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving!

So there went my book pitch (although, please do consider buying it). How about we talk turkey instead?

This is the story of my first Thanksgiving as a blushing bride… well, not really blushing. Actually, I was engaged and living up in Chicago and somehow my fiancé and I got roped into having our two college-student sisters join us for turkey… which I ambitiously offered to cook because my mother was way down in Texas. Of course, being hundreds of miles away didn’t stop my mom from wanting to help.

First, there was the barrage of “foolproof” recipes. I think I got at least twelve detailed letters from my mom and all of her closest friends. Lack of confidence in my culinary abilities? Perhaps. I am what you might call a distracted baker. My half-inch tall “cakes” are legendary. And then there was the three-layer sliding-icing cake that ended up naked in a pool of buttercream… But I digress!

Of the twelve helpful recipes, I chose Turkey in the Sack. I chose this recipe (which my sister dubbed Slut Turkey) not because it was pitched to me as foolproof--although that was supposed to be one of its attributes--but because there are few people I trust more than my mother’s best friend, and she swears by this recipe. Good enough for me.

So I bought my bird. I bought my ingredients. I even bought a card table so that our Thanksgiving guests would have an actual place to sit while they ate dinner in our closet-size apartment, where we usually ate on stools at the counter. I was prepared. And so on that bright Thanksgiving morning I got up and got straight to work.

The panic started early.

Step one: Prepare the bird.

My mom awoke at 7 a.m. to a desperate phone call. “Prepare?! What does that mean??”

She quickly set me straight with instructions on washing, drying, etc., etc., this slimy, almost-frozen thing that had been sitting in my sink overnight.

For the next five hours (Yes, five. I assure you, this was a large bird. I was terrified of running out of food and not having leftovers.) I followed my mom’s best friend’s instructions to a T! I did not miss a step. I did not deviate. I did not get creative. I got that bird washed and seasoned and stuffed in that paper sack and sealed up tight, so it could cook to a succulent perfection. And I did not peek once, as I was strictly instructed by the recipe, and in my mom’s best friend’s handwriting off in the margin.

Finally, it was time. I took the bird out of the oven, and the kitchen smelled heavenly. It smelled like my grandmother’s house! Can you imagine how proud I was? The soon-to-be bride serving her sister and soon-to-be-sister-in-law a delicious, home-cooked Thanksgiving meal in our cozy little apartment with the card table beautifully set and the folding chairs arranged so invitingly around it… I was beaming with pride.

I put the roasting pan on the counter and decided to start the gravy.

Step One: Prepare the giblets.

I frowned. I pondered. I searched the kitchen, the fridge, the trash can for clues. For the sixteenth time that day, I called the Mom Hotline.

“Mom? Yeah, the turkey looks great, but what the heck is a giblet?”

Well, clearly I am not the only person incapable of following a “foolproof” recipe. I know this because I got off the phone with Mom and called Butterball, and turns out you know those nice plastic bags containing necks and turkey innards? The ones they stuff inside the bird for you to pull out before cooking? Turns out those bags are made of non-toxic material. My family is living proof.

What is your worst Turkey Day mishap? Leave a comment about anything at all and be eligible to win a signed copy of my new book, UNFORGIVABLE, and a $25 Amazon gift card to help you get started on that holiday shopping. Good luck!

Oh, and one last plug for the new book. Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say about it: “The science is fascinating, the sex is sizzling, and the story is top-notch, making this clever, breakneck tale hard to put down."

Happy Holidays and happy reading!

Laura Griffin is the bestselling author of seven romantic suspense novels, including UNFORGIVABLE, which comes out Nov. 30. Laura’s books have won numerous awards, including a 2010 RITA Award, a 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award, and the 2008 Booksellers Best Award for romantic suspense. Visit her web site at www.lauragriffin.com.

Holiday Prep?

2010-11-23T01:00:00.001-06:00

I've been under a pretty tight deadline for my next three books, and as a result I've had to prioritize my non-writing world. I've found as I've gotten older I tend to live with more purpose, in other words, things I do or don't do are things I've decided to do or not do, as opposed to simply reacting, or overreacting to life events.

Some things I refuse to set aside are time with my kids, walking the dogs, some time to myself with friends, and sleep.

Parts of my life that end up suffering are my workouts and hygiene. Showering, for example, has become an every other day occurrence as opposed to every day. Oddly enough, I make that decision not to shower because it seems like a waste of twenty minutes during which I could be doing something essential. And since I don't see the point in changing from pjs into sweats, I'm not sure I've gotten out of my pjs more than twice this last week. Yes, I do take the dogs to the dog park in said pjs.

Things I give up almost entirely are haircuts, an organized life and a clean house. I've found I can get by without all of these things for extended periods of time. I get the bare minimum done, and bare minimum to me means paying the bills, vacuuming, doing dishes and cleaning toilets. The rest is all superfluous.

That is, until the holidays roll around and I'm faced with a whole lotta family coming to MY house to celebrate. That's the point at which superflous turns into vital.

So I spent some time this past weekend cleaning and I couldn't believe the layer upon layer of dust that had accumulated on things. Ick. I had conveniently not noticed how non-shiny everything had gotten inside my house. Since I do like clean surroundings, I couldn't help but wonder if the sludge may very well being weighing me down in some small way. Hanging over my head and stopping the flow of creativity.

I think there might be something to this. How do we know when the scales have tipped in our lives and our non-essentials have become essential?

What are the non-negotiables in your life? What to you give up at the drop of a hat?

Do the holidays rolling around throw you in a cleaning tizzy? Or are you one of those uber-prepared entertainers?

Now I'm going to run off and take a shower ...

Helen

When I Grow Up

2010-11-22T06:47:00.005-06:00

Do you remember being a kid and wondering what you wanted to be when you grew up? It’s very clear in my mine, but I think that might only be true because when I was in third grade my teacher asked us to write it down so she could keep the papers and let us review our answers in a few years.

I wanted to be a farmer’s wife. That’s right. Reach high. Not a doctor or a scientist or a great novelist. :) Not even a farmer, but a farmer’s wife. For the last ohhhhh, forty years I’ve considered that kinda pathetic and anti feminist. But I just spent last weekend at my new grandson’s birthday party. (He’s 6 so I’m not really a grandmother in the traditional sense.) But anyway, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He didn’t miss a beat, didn’t hesitate, didn’t waffle. “Batman!” he said.

Unequivocally the best answer I’ll ever heard. Although later he was a little less certain. Maybe he’d rather be Ironman. When I suggested that he’d probably have to do well in college to be Ironman…I mean…Ironman invented some pretty cool stuff, he thought maybe he’d just be a cowboy then. However, he’s still a little uncertain of horses so I’d have to ride with him. The images here were absolutely priceless for me…we’ll be the first bucking bronco grandmother/grandson duo.

Anyway, how about you? Do you remember what you dreamed of being when you were a kid? Do you remember why? Did it come true or did your dreams change? And is it too late to become a superhero? :)

Kathleen Joins the Social Network

2010-11-19T01:13:00.005-06:00

Befriend me.

Or be my friend. I can't bring myself to say "Friend me." You know how bent out of shape I get over torturing nouns into pretending they're something they're not. But lost causes aside, I'm really trying to lighten up and be more sociable. This week I signed up for Facebook.

Actually, my firstborn signed me up. He's been telling me to get with the program for some time, and I finally decided to do it.

So far it's been hell. First I signed up for Harlequin's online tutorial for authors. I downloaded the meeting program, as instructed. I spent the next half hour trying to figure out why I couldn't hear anything as the screen shots of a Power Point presentation flew past. I didn't realize I was supposed to call an 800 number to turn on the sound. Not a good start in my new venture, but I gave #1 Son the go-ahead on setting up the page. Hands-on learning is generally best for me when it comes to anything to do with the computer. All too often it's a steep curve.

Then came the flood of e-mail. My son had generously shared his friends with me. I was delighted to get requests from nieces and nephews, former students, and kids who used to hang out at my house and raid my refrigerator. Pretty soon I was feeling like Mickey Mouse watching the mops multiply, so I called the Sorcerer. He helped me shut the water off, but he said I wasn't going to learn unless I got in there and tried things out. (I wonder where he got that?)

So now I've set the thing up, but I'm not sure what to do with it. I lasted on Twitter for about a day because I was pretty sure no one would want to know how many pages I wrote today or what I was cooking for supper. Facebook seems to offer a few more options, but I could easily lose myself in that news feed.

For a writer, I'm not the best communicator. I can see the possibilities with this--catching up with far-flung friends and family, enjoying the occasional blast from the past--but I'm a little intimidated by it.

What's your Facebook life like? Do you converse like we do here, or is it more like sending tidbits into the ether? Do you tune in every day? How much time do you spend? What do you put in, and what do you get out of it? Have any interesting hookups happened for you?

Education-ese

2010-11-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

Parent-teacher conferences begin tonight. Somehow the nearness of the date managed to escape me even as I was frantically doing grades, making copies, killing trees by the thousands by filling out the trimester paperwork required by the government...you get the drift. But the first one is tonight. Time to get my teacher face on!

If your only experience in education is having been a student, there's a secret I can let you in on. Teachers like to eat. A lot. Maybe it's because they frown on alcohol in schools; food becomes the only crutch we're allowed :). Whenever I have leftover tailgate or holiday food I take it to the teacher's lounge where it disappears in a few hours. We hold conferences two evenings after teaching a full day and the parent teacher organization feeds us. They bring in soups, sandwiches, pizzas, chips, bars...we like that. I mentioned our fondness for food, right? By the end of the evening it looks like a herd of locusts worked its way through the meal leaving only crumbs in its wake.

Scheduling conferences includes a great deal of strategy. Everyone's jockeying to place the chatty parents in the center of their schedules. God forbid they be last and talk an hour and a half to keep us there until 8:30. (It's happened.) Can this set of divorced parents conference together? Oh, they're still not speaking? Okay, two conferences it is, on different nights. The interpreter is only there on night, so foreign speaking parents must come then. Otherwise there's a lot of smiling and nodding going on, but no much meaningful conversation.

And then there's the secret language teachers speak. I'm not just talking about the acronyms that fill our lives. DOE, RTI, GEI, ADHD, LD, BD, ODD, OCD, BRAT...okay, I made that last one up. We don't use words like that. We have education-ese for that.

After I retire maybe I can hire out to interpret teacher talk for parents. Because we strive to be diplomatic, yet still get our point across. It's important to focus on the students' strengths, yet also discuss concerns. And to do it all in a way that the parent doesn't get mad, defensive or combative. (Yes, we sometimes have parents we are afraid to meet alone with. A sad fact of life.)

Here's a few education-ese examples for you. I helpfully provided the translations:

Patty is very social. (I can't get her to shut up.)

Johnny is very active. (I'm thinking of tying him to his seat.)

Jake can be overly assertive with his peers. (He's in their faces all the time.)

Rick has difficulty with authority figures. (He argues with me constantly.)

Lilah is quite imaginative. (The girl lies like a rug.)

Lest you think that I haven't been on the other side of the table at conferences, I'll tell you one of my most memorable experiences as a parent :). My second oldest son was in first grade and I went alone to speak to his teacher, whom I also knew socially. She started off the conversation animatedly,"You'll never believe what Jason told me!"

Now Jason was--ahem--quite imaginative (see translation above), so I immediately went into defensive mode. "I'll make you a deal," I told her. "I wont' believe everything he tells me about school if you don't believe everything he tells you about home."

She went on, "He said that every night when he's saying his prayers, his dad makes him say a prayer that you win the lottery!"

"Oh." Pause. "Well, that's true." (And why is it that dh is never with me to deal with the results of his outrageousness????)

Okay, spill! Do you have memorable stories from parent teacher conferences to share?

Welcome Guest Author--Diana Cosby

2010-11-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

A Gift of Thanks this Holiday Season

Gifts come in many shapes and sizes, but I believe the most precious ones are those delivered from the heart. It's so easy to get caught up in the mayhem of life, particularly during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but every day there are people amidst the chaos who help you, who take time out of their busy lives to make a difference in yours. This year, why not return that gift?

This holiday season, as wrapped gifts exchange hands, I ask you to pause, reflect on those

who've truly made a difference in your life, and if possible find a special way to say thank you. This can be a simple gesture--something like a greeting card, a bouquet of flowers, or a heartfelt poem. Maybe you could bake someone their favorite cookies. Or present them a coupon book filled with everyday chores, which they can tear out and give you to do on those trying days when they really need a helping hand. The absolute best gift you can offer another person is one given from the heart. And when special-delivered, without any strings attached, it touches their own.

This Christmas I'm making gift baskets filled with my favorite homemade things, such as macademia-butterscotch chip cookies, shortbread, double chocolate-orange-pecan biscottii, Vermont maple syrup, orange-lemon-maple syrup marmalade and more. With each one, I'm sharing a part of myself with the other person.

My gift to you is one of my favorite recipes, Peppermint Ice-Cream Pie!

Peppermint Pie

Oreo pie shell

1/2 gallon peppermint ice cream

cool whip

chocolate fudge ice cream topping

small candy canes crushed (three crushed per pie)

Place 1 quart of softened peppermint ice cream (1/2 tub) into Oreo pie shell and smooth out flat. Place 1/2 inch or slightly thicker layer of cool whip. Pour on a layer of chocolate fudge ice cream topping. Sprinkle top of fudge with crushed candy canes. Put plastic top on and freeze.

*I usually make this a couple of days in advance and leave it on a flat shelf in the freezer.

**This takes less than 5 minutes to make. Amazingly, each of the ingredients balance the other out. It's wonderful. And I'm not even a peppermint lover :)

I sincerely wish everyone health, friendship and happiness this holiday season, a time with the best gift of all is the gift of yourself--that one-of-a-kind present that can make a difference in the life of another.

What ideas can you think of? Remember--the more original and inventive, the more fun! I can't wait to hear your ideas! I'm giving away one signed copy of His Captive to a commenter today! And the third book in the MacGruder brother series, "His Conquest," is out now!

Dickens again. Bah Humbug?

2010-11-16T05:54:00.010-06:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. The time we all eat and drink ourselves into oblivion and get merry and overspend and wear ourselves out with trying to make things "perfect" for the holidays. And it's the time of year for beloved but well-worn stories that warm our hearts and try to teach us a lesson. A-hem. Like Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol."

Do you remember the first time you saw or read this odd Christmas ghost tale?

I do. I was about five or six. . . Hallmark Hall of Fame productions put on a live staging of the play-- in black and white, of course-- on television. Ghost stories loomed big in my youthful mind; my elder sister had slumber parties where they competed to tell the awfulest, bloodiest tales. Yeah, I listened. I mean, who wouldn't? So I was scared witless of ghosts and things that go bump in the night. And suddenly ghosts were given legitimacy and immediacy on this scary TV show. I slept with the light on for two weeks afterward! And the guy who played Scrooge-- don't recall his name but he was a doozy. A Barrymore or Rathbone or somebody. Old and not pleasant-looking-- almost as scary as the ghosts. Needless to say, for years afterward I avoided all presentations of this story like the plague.

Then came George C. Scott and his version made all kinds of sense to a grown-up me. And I began to actually like the unique and thought-provoking story devoid of Christmas sop and treacle. (You see the way I got some British sounding words in there? I should be a writer!)

Anyway, the last version I loved came out last year-- animated, with Jim Carey as Scrooge. Terrific interpretation of this tale that gives a strong indication of the dream/nightmare quality of the visions the character sees. Nice interpretations of the "falling" sensation and other dream-time standards. Suggesting that the encounters are more dream than waking vision. A really nice adaptation. . . not, however, for young children. It's scary. As it should be.

So when I was asked to do a Christmas anthology for Harlequin and I and my co-contributors began talking. . . the topic of ghosts came up. . . I suggested angels instead. Angels trying to do some good in order to get their wings. Okay there's a little "It's a Beautiful Life" in there, too. And after some back and forth-- A Harlequin Christmas Carol was born!

Our three stories showcase the "past, present, future" aspect of Dickens's tale and mine is, of course, PAST.

Claire Halliday is stuck in the past. She is Yesterday's Bride: her betrothed died in a tragic accident one week before their Christmas nuptials. In the four years since, she has been plunged into mourning along with his family each holiday season. But this Christmas, sensible, sober, stuffy Cousin Ralph is arriving from India and the family oldsters drape the house with mistletoe. Claire is desperate to convince them that she wants no part of their matchmaking or of the life they are planning for her. But when Cousin Ralph arrives, he's nothing that Claire expects and she finds herself fighting a potent attraction, the meddling of the family oldsters, and the well-intentioned efforts of an apprentice angel bent on earning her wings. How can she resist a man with adventure in his eyes, the scent of spices in his skin, and a way of laughing that makes her toes curl with longing?

Okay, you see how I worked in that "past" thing? Well the other two writers, Jacquie D'Alessandro and Hope Tarr did similar things with "present" and "future." And voila-- a fabulous Christmas anthology! Lucky me, I've read the whole thing and I can tell you, you're going to love these stories. You'll get a chuckle, a sniffle, and maybe a thrill or a chill along the way.

Three angels help three unlucky young women find true love. . . at Christmas. . . what's not to love? And you'll get a dose of Christmas in merry old Victorian England. . . mummers, wassail, kissing balls, the obligatory "morning-without-servants breakfast," the candle-lit tree, Christmas games, Yule logs, Boxing Day, and family readings. It will put you in the mood for merry-making and romance!

So what's your favorite Christmas tradition? What do you look forward to most about Christmas? What was your most memorable and enjoyable Christmas? Are you a Christmas enthusiast or a modern-day Scrooge?

What does your family do?/Belated Happy Birthday Kylie!

2010-11-14T21:10:00.003-06:00

First, we want to wish a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KYLIE!!! Since we missed it, you just need to keep celebrating.:)

And now for the rest of us...Happy Early Thanksgiving! Are you ready? Will you be the cook? Or the taste tester?

Is your family getting together for the day?

My family splits the holidays so that we gather together on Thanksgiving one year and Christmas the next. Whichever holiday we spend together, that’s when we exchange gifts.

This year, we are also doing “The Drumstick Dash”. It’s a 5K charity run or walk… depending on your mood. There will probably be at least 15 of us running or walking (including my niece who is 5 months pregnant and will be pushing her 22 month old son in a stroller!). More of us will be walking than running. Our group name will be Tom Minyard’s Turkeys. My father, Tom Minyard, passed away two years ago and we will wear small posters in his memory. Knowing my father, he would have been one of the runners. He was very physically active. We all miss him terribly, but we also know that we were super lucky to have him in our lives. He was a very positive person who could make you believe that “you can do it”. Here he is dancing with my Mom at my niece’s wedding.

We’ve all signed up to bring assorted fattening foods with little nutritional value to share. I’m hoping that 5K walk will burn off at least a few of those calories. One of my favorite activities is the white elephant gift exchange. Everyone brings a gag gift or a gift that doesn’t cost much and we take turns opening them and trying to trade the ones we don’t like for something we like better… such as peanut m&ms. Seems like somebody always brings a fart machine. Even if I end up with the fart machine (from my husband who won it last year), I’ll have a smile on my face. It’s a precious time to be able to get together…

What will you and your family do during the Thanksgiving holiday? I’m all ears! I’d love to hear!

xo,

Leanne

What was your Favorite Read this year?

2010-11-12T01:00:00.001-06:00

I'm actually doing it. I'm whittling down my TBR pile, spine by spine, at a remarkably rapid pace! Go me! I've been trying to do this for years. I've been very good about buying books this year (But let's be serious; I haven't stopped. Please.) and have tried to keep the TBR tamed. So, it's getting there.

But now, I find myself longing for those things I do not have. Which is always the case, isn't it? Sure, I've still got TBRs, but I want something shiny and new. So I need some recommendations from everyone. I'm going to list a few of my favorite reads this year, and then I want everyone to pick one or two of their favorite reads from this year and tell us about them.

THE MIND'S EYE by Oliver Sacks. Is it wrong to worship a 70-something, slightly blind, intensely engaging neurologist who writes about other people's misery? I love Sacks. He writes about neurological disorders with insight and fascination. It is like reading fantastical fiction, and yet the case studies he focuses on are very real people with conditions that marvel, disturb and teach. I have read all his books, and can't wait for the next. THE MIND'S EYE looks at a woman who has lost her stereoscopic vision, an aphasic woman who cannot speak, and a novelist who suddenly develops the inability to read. I think if Sacks ever appeared in the area signing books I'd go, then probably act like some foolish teenager in front of a rock star. He rocks!

THE GREYFRIAR: VAMPIRE EMPIRE Book 1 by Clay & Susan Griffith. I read this book for review, and frankly decided to do so because I was in the mood for something different, even though straight fantasy is not really my cup of tea. This story is filled with adventure, action and even romance, set in the near future of an alternate universe that sees the vampires having taken over the world, and mortals their slaves. And it's steampunk! It was so good, I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, which I know the writers are still working on. Hurry up and write! Oh, and this one also gets my vote for Perfect Cover. Nicely matches the characters and the mood with the grays and blacks and the goggles on the hero—yay!

HELLO, CUPCAKE! by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson. Yes, cookbooks counts. I don't actually use them to cook, you see. I buy them for the pretty pictures and read them much like a book, searching for possibly one easy recipe I could attempt, but then sighing, and deciding it's much more fun just to look at the pictures. This cupcake book is mostly about decorating them in the most adorable ways. I convinced my daughter to make the cupcakes with the peas and carrots on top (you use soft candies like Starburst). So cute! Anyone want to bake me a cupcake?

ADDICTED by Charlotte Featherstone. Sometimes you read a book to the end, close the cover, then sit back and sigh a little. The characters are compelling, the situations are interesting, and the sex (yes, sometimes you just want some great sex scenes) is smoldering. I have a fascination for heroes who have an addiction, so I grabbed this book when it was first issued, and I was not disappointed. Great read. Dark, but well written and a satisfying tale. This one gets my Gorgeous Cover vote because it is another thing that attracted me to this book. That wispy red smoke and the fluffy dress and the corset. It lured me in like opium to the addict.

Okay, that's just a few of my favs. Now tell me what your top picks were for this year. I need some ideas for new reading material!

Michele

Debra – Assume the Position

2010-11-11T07:16:00.002-06:00

I traveled this past weekend and I feel a little dirty. Why? Our airport has begun operation of the body scanners. It’s sort of like standing around naked.

Theoretically, no one but the scanner operator is “peering” at your for-all-intents-and-purposes naked body. This is NOT me… <g>

But you can certainly see why it feels like you’re standing around naked.

The following 4 shots of the front/back view of a man and a woman illustrate the “position.” Once you pass through the metal detector, you are waved to the body scanner where you face the machine and spread your legs, raise your hands over your head and angle your arms in. You must angle your arms over your head.

And if you’re a woman who wears a bra, then you get additional scanning of your back by hand because the idjits apparently have never seen metal bra hooks.

One of the machines actually uses radiation. So, I get to stand around, looking naked to someone while being dose with radiation. Hmmm… Do I at least get to skip some of the pain in the butt security like taking off my SHIRT? (Yes, on a recent trip they made me take off my shirt and stand around in my camisole. I was decent, but…seriously? A thin cotton shirt over a camisole is considered a jacket? Yep.

I’m beginning to get a bit cranky.

The procedure is easy enough. I’ve included a plain old photography shot of the machine and a man below.

But have we gone too far?

You tell me. Are you uncomfortable with this kind of screening?

Are you still comfortable if you know the machines are all capable of taking and storing images? What if the TSA told you that they “always” turn off that capability when installing a machine? Do you believe them?

What do you think about the additional time you are separated from your purse, for instance, while you wait for a scan to be complete?

I have to say…I think maybe we’ve gone a bridge too far.

Guest Author Colleen Thompson

2010-11-10T00:05:00.000-06:00

Oh, The Villainy!

First off, thanks for inviting me to guest-blog on Riding with the Top Down! I'm happy to be visiting.

With so much attention given to our books' heroes and heroines, I thought I'd take a few minutes today to talk about villains, the characters that oh, so often make the story. After all, what would STAR WARS be without Darth Vader? Or SILENCE OF THE LAMBS without Hannibal Lecter? What would any of my books be without some no-good-nick trying to do in, impede, or otherwise make my protagonists' lives hell?

Flat. Lifeless. Boring. In creating obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome, the villain serves to jumpstart the plot, enhance the pace, and inspire the protagonists to grow and change to keep up with the escalating challenges.

That's a lot of responsibility for a character who gets so little credit. No wonder villains are so often out of sorts.

So what does it take for an antagonist to be Hall-of-Fame worthy. In my opinion, a truly great villain has the following duties:

1) Compelling motivation: no character should just wake one morning wanting to be evil. (Except maybe Dr. Evil of the Austin Powers movies!) For the most part, even the worst human beings justify their actions somehow. Often, they feel forced into the choices they made, or they're performing unworthy acts to reach a worthy goal.

2) A 'dark arc'. Like the hero, the protagonist should have the capacity to grow and change. Often, the greatest difference between the antagonist and the hero is that the hero makes the tough move toward the light, while the villain doesn't have the spine.

3) A true challenge: the villain absolutely must be a worthy adversary, in some way stronger, scarier, or more formidable than the hero. Unless he/she is, the hero has no need to dig deep--and the audience has no real worries about the story's final outcome.

So who are your all time favorite villains? Post a comment and I'll send a copy of my brand-new book, DEADLIER THAN THE MALE, (a Silhouette Romantic Suspense 2-in-1 pairing my novella "Lethal Lessons" with Sharon Sala's "The Fiercest Heart") to a name I'll draw on Saturday! Or you can choose a book from my backlist instead, if you prefer. (You can check it out at

www.colleen-thompson.com)

And the Winners are ...

2010-11-10T00:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks for visiting me with me yesterday to celebrate the release of THE MOON THAT NIGHT. As the day wore on the whole 10th book part of it started hitting home, so thanks for all your well wishes!

The winners of the prequel, FINDING MR RIGHT are ...

Donna Marie Rogers, Patti Shenberger, and Tamara Hughes!

Email me at helenbrenna@comcast.net with your address - Patti, dear, I already have yours! - and I'll send off a book. If you've already read FMR, please pick something else from my backlist.

And thanks everyone for ... being there!

Helen

THE MOON THAT NIGHT Release Day!

2010-11-09T01:00:00.005-06:00

First off, in case you missed the title of this post, today is the official release day of THE MOON THAT NIGHT. Wow. I can't believe this is number ten. Ten! And, as Leanne reminded me, this book is a nominee for Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Superromance of 2010!

In any case, this is Kate Dillon's story and the sequel to her sister Maggie's story in FINDING MR RIGHT. I knew the moment the bodyguard, who went only by the name of Riley, showed up in FINDING MR RIGHT, that he and Kate were in for a tangle. Kate refers to him as Tarzan. How could they not have been meant to be?

This book goes back to the roots of why I started writing in the first place. I wanted to write stories along the lines of ROMANCING THE STONE and SIX DAY SEVEN NIGHTS minus the humor. I can be funny. I just don't write funny books. (Lois is much better at it than me!) Very much like my first three Harlequin Superromances, THE MOON THAT NIGHT is an adventure romance.

Then again, this story is unlike anything I've written before. This book travels from Washington D.C to Rome to Athens to Moscow and, finally, Istanbul in a race to steal several ancient Greek statues before the villain can kill Riley's sister-in-law.

The statues are fictitious, but I took the concept from mythology. Ever heard of the primordial gods, Aether, Chaos, Chronus, Erebus, Gaia, Hemera, Zephyrus, Nyx, Tartarus, and Ouranos? I thought they'd be more fun to write about the lesser know gods than good old Zeus, Aphrodite, Hera and the like. And it gave me an excuse for more research.

It was wild ride to write, so I hope it'll be a fun read.

Do you like mythology? Ever heard of the primordial gods?

To celebrate this week's official release of THE MOON THAT NIGHT, I'm giving away three copies of the prequel, FINDING MR RIGHT. If you already have that book, you can pick something else from my backlist. If all else fails, I'll send you a pretty tasseled bookmark!

So what are you waiting for? Run out and buy the book!

Helen

Unique Weddings

2010-11-08T00:54:00.012-06:00

I’ve got weddings on my mind lately. So I’m always on the lookout for interesting/unique/fun nuptials. For instance, a friend of mine told me about a ceremony she attended recently. The bride was in her forties and had never been married. The groom was in his fifties and was divorced. An older couple. (Although I find 'older' to be an extremely relative term these days.) Because of their age and their respective experience, I guess, they didn’t feel the need to have a traditional white dress ‘I’m going to give a meal to everyone I ever met’ kind of event.

Instead, they asked some of their guests to host tables. Hosting a table meant asking them to supply the meal and place settings for ten people. From all reports this made for a fascinating and fun dinner. Every table had a theme. It was like traveling to different parts of the world every time you strolled about the room. The bride, obviously not suffering from stage fright, sang a cappella as she walked down the aisle, and the groom did a little dance. I’m told it was a true celebration in every sense of the word.

Our girl Michele told me about a wedding where the pets of the bride and groom were honored guests. Wasn’t that it, Michele? They had their own seats?

My niece who lives on the North Dakota/Wyoming border just got married. She’s a professional fencer. In other words, she puts up miles and miles of barb wire on a daily basis. She and her husband are also pretty serious deer hunters. The centerpieces for their reception were a gelatinous candle in a glass jar into which a little curl of rusty barbwire and shotgun shells were incorporated. Very cute and extremely specific to their personalities.

I love the idea of making weddings personal and fun. But it’s a little intimidating.

My daughter, who is planning an October wedding, hopes to get married on horseback.

My son, whose fiancée is from Cameroon, wants an Arabic theme for their celebration.

So I’m looking for fun ideas. Have you been to any weddings recently? What was the most interesting aspect of the event? Was it the location, the dress, the cake, the guests? Enlighten me.

Let's go to the movies!!!

2010-11-05T00:00:00.001-05:00

I don't get to a lot of movies in the theater. Mostly, I watch movies on TV when they're past their prime and everyone's seen them BUT me. For some unknown reason, however, I've gone to the theater twice in the last two weeks and wow, I'm so glad I did.

Last week I saw RED. Okay. Up front: I adore Bruce Willis. Just adore him and he didn't disappoint me in RED. Nor did Helen Mirren, John Malcovich, Morgan Freeman or Mary Louise Parker. From the moment I saw the trailer I knew I was going to love this movie. For an action adventure romantic suspense author, what's not to love? A CIA conspiracy, operatives on the run, a sweet love story, lots of shoot 'em up bang bang scenes and above all else a generous dose of humor mixed in with all the drama. Seeing Helen Mirren firing a machine gun and sighting down the barrel of a sniper rifle was worth the price :o) I loved everything about this movie!!

Yesterday, I saw SECRETARIAT. Now, I'll admit, I was on the fence about going to this movie but went anyway 'cause I'm a sucker for an animal story. I was afraid, however, that it would be schmaltzy and cheezy so I went in to the theater a bit skeptical. I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I really, really liked this movie. Turns out, it wasn't just an animal story. It was a story of a very strong woman in a male dominated sport during a time in our history where a woman's place was 'in the home'. It was a heartwarming, touching family saga that tugged at my emotions and tapped into some very core values that made me glad I'd paid the price of the ticket. Diane Lane was convincing and sincere in the role of Penny Chenery and John Malcovich (yes him again) was perfect as the French spewing, reluctant trainer, Lucien Laurin. Yes, there was one moment when I was hard pressed not to roll my eyes, but I resisted and just went with it because of the over all feel of the story. It was refreshing to see a feel good family movie.

So what about you? Has anyone seen either of these movies and if so, what's your take? And if you haven't seen them, do you think you might? Any other movies I should add to my list? And finally, can you tell I'm off deadline for a minute or two? :o)

And the Winner Is...

2010-11-04T23:59:00.000-05:00

Johanna R Jochun!

Congratulations, you win an advance copy of THEN HE KISSED ME. Email your snail mail addy to me at christie @ christieridgway.com (no spaces and note no "e" in Ridgway!).

"Dire" News & Free Advance Copy!

2010-11-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, first to the "dire." I have early-a.m. walking buddies. Yesterday morning, after a brief recap of election news, Lisa said, "You know what this means, right? We're onto Thanksgiving."

Dire.

I mean, I don't know that I'm ready. I just threw a Halloween bash on Saturday night. And I'm the Thanksgiving hostess for my family. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but I'm just not ready! (FYI, it was 90 degrees yesterday in SoCal.) But I can't deny that I had to flip the calendar to the month following October. I'm looking at the big Turkey Day three weeks from today.

Maybe I need a new menu item to put me into the holiday mood. I admit, I make the same items every year: turkey, stuffing/dressing, mashed potatoes (make it early, my walking friend Lisa's recipe with cream cheese), green bean almondine, cranberry sauce, fresh sliced pineapple, and a platter of carrots, celery, and olives. We finish with my grandmother's chiffon pumpkin pie. I always have dozens of snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies on hand because my brother, nephew, and sons count on me providing them too.

So...does anyone have a favorite selection I should add to my table? A lucky commenter will win an advance copy of the second in my Three Kisses trilogy. Then He Kissed Me stars middle sister Stevie...and the man she meets on New Year's Eve. (And is that an appealing cover or what?)

Welcome Guest Roxanne Rustand

2010-11-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

I attended an excellent writer's retreat this year, and one of the topics--time management--really hit home. Time management is not an easy skill with the Internet just a click away, and e-mail, eBay, Craig's List and YouTube beckoning so seductively. If a paragraph isn't going well, it's just too easy to turn to Craigslist and go horse and pony shopping (I've been looking for something small and very gentle for the grandkids for a long time.)

Being a little jaded about the whole topic of time management, I wasn't expecting to gain much useful information at the retreat. But the presenter was wonderful and I am trying to turn over a new lea

f. :) Here are several of the principles she covered:

1. Do important things--not the urgent things--first. Example: how many of us actually do get on our treadmills or go for thirty minutes of brisk walking per day? Americans are a sedentary lot. Exercise is critically important for good health. But its something all too easy to put off...day after day.

2. Use the military's philosophy of "hurry up and wait." If you have an hour and need to take care of a task requiring thirty minutes, how many of us procrastinate until the last minute? Do it first--and you'll feel far less stress, guilt and panic. Apply this to the bigger projects in life, such as book deadlines, and it can free you up for all sorts of other opportunities that might come along.

3. Set a timer for productive work time. Turn off e-mail. The telephone isn't your boss--don't feel obligated to answer it. Anyone with important reasons to call will leave a message or call back. Set quotas for your tasks, and think of meeting it as a way to earn permission to have fun later. This is actually something I've done, in part, for some time--I downloaded Mac Freedom and can now turn off access to the Internet for any length of time I select, up to 480 minutes...and there's no way to circumvent the software. None! It's wonderful!

4. The speaker also talked about the myth of multi-tasking--how trying to focus on too many things at once can make it impossible to do well at any of them. In one of the many letters he wrote to his son in the 1740s, Lord Chesterfield said, "There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once, but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time. This steady an

d undissipated attention to one object, is a sure mark of a superior genuis; as hurry, bustle and agitation are the never-failing symptoms of a weak and frivolous mind."

A weak and frivolous mind. That's me!

By the way, I have a new release out right now--WINTER REUNION, for Steeple Hill's Love Inspired line. After selling twenty-nine light romantic suspense novels to SuperRomance and Love Inspired Suspense, it's my first non-suspense ever. It's also the first in my Aspen Creek Crossroads series, which centers around a quaint bookstore in the St. Croix River area near the Minnesota/Wisconsin border.

And if you have a nice quiet pony for sale, do let me know!

I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts about time management and productivity -- and what tips you might have!

RT Reviewer's Choice 2010 Nominees!

2010-11-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

The annual Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice nominees have just been announced and the Riders and our readers have some celebrating to do. Here's a list of our nominees:

Lois Greiman
CHARMING THE DEVIL

January 2010
Up for Best Regency-Set Historical Romance

Leanne Banks
ROYAL HOLIDAY BABY

October 2010
Up for Best Silhouette Special Edition

Christie Ridgway
CRUSH ON YOU

June 2010
Up for Best Contemporary Romance

and

Helen Brenna
THE MOON THAT NIGHT

November 2010
Up for Best Harlequin Superromance

And just so you know ...
This book won't be in stores until next week, Tuesday, November 9th. Although, you can order now online.

CONGRATS, Riders!

Helen

Winner of DEADLY INTENT...

2010-11-02T23:33:00.002-05:00

is Ms. Hellion :) Send your contact info to me at kylie@kyliebrant.com

Congrats!

DEADLY INTENT release day!!!

2010-11-02T00:05:00.000-05:00

Is there a more exciting moment for an author than release day? The day she gets to show off her baby to the world and hope that the world, in turn, will be kind to it? Here's my latest. I'm still in love with the cover! Every once in a while the cover gods get it right and they nailed the Colorado wintry setting this time around. I did get quite an odd look from my husband when I was gushing over it, saying, "Ooh, cool, there's *blood* on the cover!" I'm sure he wonders what happened to the woman he thought he married!

Deadly Intent is book 4 in The Mindhunters series, but like the first three books it stands alone. The eleven-year-old daughter of a wealthy mogul has been kidnapped--for the second time.

Two years ago, it was the head of the company, Adam Raiker who did what the FBI failed to do the first time and brought Ellie Mulder home. So her parents want Raiker on the case again, which means his investigators have to forge an uneasy alliance with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, who are heading the case.

Set in the blustery mountainous area outside Denver, the setting becomes almost another character in the story. Frigid temperatures and blizzard conditions in the course of the search places another obstacle to finding the girl.

It's been said that my characters are always a bit damaged and I guess that's true. Trauma shapes us, often dramatically. And what emerges in a person after such an experience is what truly fascinates. Regardless of how objective a character strives to be, he or she still sees the world through their own unique filter. And often responding to events in the plot is made more difficult because of the personal obstacles a person must overcome.

That is certainly the case in Deadly Intent. As a forensic linguist, Macy Reid is very familiar with the nuances and patterns of language. And as a former kidnap victim she's all too aware of the tragic consequences of that experience. So she's uniquely qualified to be placed on the team of investigators looking into the abduction.

She and fellow investigator Kellan Burke work with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation on a race against the clock to find Ellie Mulder before the madman holding her can carry through on his threats. The case brings up uncomfortable memories of Macy's own past. But it's Kell who causes the most discomfort. After the one night they spent together six months ago, she's found him impossible to forget. Paired together for the course of the investigation, he's impossible to ignored. And so are the feelings he ignites inside her....

You can follow this link for an excerpt of Deadly Intent:

http://kyliebrant.com/current_excerpts.html#intent

What are your favorite type of characters to read about? What qualities make you root for them to the bitter end? Is there any character that you won't read? One lucky commenter will win a copy of Deadly Intent!

Kathleen Recommends

2010-11-01T00:15:00.004-05:00

It's late All Hallows Eve, and here be Wall-E, two witches, and a rock star, all safely tucked in bed now.

My granddaughters are the two on the right, their friend in the middle, and the amazing Wall-E costume hand crafted by my youngest for his son out of cardboard, paper and aluminum foil. The arms move. The front opens and the loot bag emerges. He was quite a hit on this beautiful fall night.

But for the cold nights ahead, I give you a couple of recommendations and ask for yours in return. First a DVD. "Leaves of Grass" must have moved in and out of the theaters like a hummingbird. We snatched it up the day it came out. Enthusiastic thumbs up from both the Indian cowboy and me, and that's unusual with a comedy. After the movie we played the bonus features, and Clyde googled on the laptop. Discovered the move grossed $68,000 at the box office. Sad, especially when you think about some of the poor excuses for movies that are making money.

And the talent in this one--Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss and Tim Blake Nelson--is top notch. The minute Clyde saw Nelson, who played his favorite character, Delmar, in "O Brother, Where Art Thou," he was hooked. Turns out Nelson wrote and directed "Leaves Of Grass." But it's Edward Norton who brings this one home with his portrayal of identical twins as you've never seen it done before. Watching him play off himself, you'll swear there's been some cloning. Bill is the Ivy League classics professor who has done everything he can to divorce himself from his rural Oklahoma roots. Brother Brady is a genius, too. He takes his grass growing very seriously.

But this is not a Cheech and Chong-type comedy. Nelson has worked on numerous Coen brothers projects, and this one has a bit of a "Fargo" flavor to it. Apparently Nelson wrote the screenplay with Norton in mine, and he says in the interview that "there was no second choice." Norton is a favorite of mine, and he's great in this flick, which is downright funny.

Next, for your reading pleasure, I recommend COWBOYS NEVER CRY by Tina Welling. I read this one in advance, and my endorsement is quoted on the back cover. A good contemporary Western romance is hard to find these days, especially in single title. This is the second book I've read and enjoyed by this relatively new author.

The young widow of a mountain climber, takes a summer job on a dude ranch near Jackson Hole, where she meets and locks horns with the owner's son, a disillusioned and erstwhile self-destructive movie star. He's cool and cocky, but he's just out of rehab and still rocky. She's no shrinking violet, but putting her life back together has been a struggle, both emotionally and financially. Welling is a skilled writer, and she knows how to bring characters to life and tug at the heart strings. Good stuff.

It's comin' on cocooning time. What's the best book you've read lately? How about the best movie? Give me some titles to put on my list.

Halloween Grinch… What are you doing for Halloween?

2010-10-28T22:17:00.002-05:00

Do you love Halloween? Do you decorate? Do you dress up when you hand out treats? Or do you turn out all the lights and hope for bad weather?

Some people get into the spirit and it’s fun to watch. Such as Lois Greiman’s daughter and fiancée. Aren’t they adorable?

And whoever would have thought our own sweet Christie Ridgway could be so creepy? Look what she did to her house and her favorite Halloween cat.

And Kathleen Eagle's graveyard! Where did those dark tendencies originate?

Deb Dixon says she'd love to get into the Halloween spirit, but no one comes to the door trick-or-treating anymore. Once there are grandkids to "scare" she'll start "haunting" the stores for great Halloween decorations. Until then she contents herself with a Mummy plaque for the front door, which she actually painted herself. (Because it’s not enough that she is a great fiction and nonfiction writer, editor, publisher, and speaker… She has to have other talents too.)

Me? I’m a Halloween Grinch. I don’t mind giving out the candy. It’s the whole jack-in-the-box thing from the doorbell ringing and the dog barking… followed by a pause when I sit down…. then more ringing and dog barking and jumping. Plus I don’t like scary or gross stuff. I remember going to a haunted house when I was a little girl where I walked into a dark room and was instructed to put my hands in noodles and told they were brains. Peeled grapes were eyeballs. YUCK I remember wearing the plastic costumes and getting cold, yet somehow sweaty at the same time. I collected the candy and “saved” it. Seriously I can remember finding a hidden bag of Halloween candy in my closet… at Easter. Petrified candy. How much candy can a child eat? Don’t answer that. I also saw instructions on what kind of candy to buy for Halloween and I broke the #1 rule. Don’t buy your favorites. Oops.

Even though I don’t love Halloween, it’s fun to see kids get excited about it. Like Cindy Gerard’s goblin grandchildren.

And Helen Brenna’s son with his friends. (He’s in the sombrero).

And then there’s that time I dressed my dog, Bijou, as a princess.

WHAT ARE YOU doing for Halloween? Share, share! We all want to know!

XO,

Leanne -- BOO!

What scares you?

2010-10-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

With Halloween close, the television shows take a decidedly darker tone and then tend to feature 'Scary Movie marathons'. I don't like horror movies. I don't like being scared, because I scare easily. And I have nightmares. Seriously? I still fear the hand reaching out from under the bed to touch me. Just touch me. I would die. Of fear.

Movies like Silence of the Lambs scarred me. I didn't even watch it in the theater; I saw it on TV, which means the really bad stuff was cut out. But I can't erase the image of that girl in the pit, and that freakin' fingernail! And don't even mention that sludgy slime in the bathtub. (I'm going to have a nightmare tonight just for mentioning it.)

The Alien movie was another that scarred me, and I saw it when I was about 12 or 13. Those slimy pods opening up. That alien bursting out of the man's chest? Aggh!

A lego rendering of the awful moment.

But my worst movie fear? Anything that features an exorcism. It seriously damages my tender little brain. And one of my favorite movies is Constantine, which features an exorcism within the first ten minutes! I watch it a lot, but not unless I forward past the exorcism scene. I don't even believe in demonic possession, but something about watching the act of casting a demon out of a human freaks me.

Now I want to know: What scares you at the movies? Do you like horror shows? What's your all-time scariest movie recommendation? Do you get nightmares from watching scary stuff? Will somebody please hold me so the boogie man doesn't get me?

Michele

The Power of Pixie Dust

2010-10-27T00:52:00.007-05:00

Riders and Friends of Riders, meet Lizbeth Selvig, winner of RWA's 2010 Golden Heart for single title contemporary romance. For the past two years Liz has been serving as president of Midwest Fiction Writers, the Twin Cities chapter of Romance Writers of America. She's a terrific writer and a good friend. Heeere's Liz!

Thank you, Kathleen, for inviting me, it’s such an honor to be here. RWTTD is hosted by my favorite authors, many of whom also happen to be MFW chapter mates. To be asked to guest blog with people I’ve admired for such a long time is like getting invited to play for a day in the major leagues. It’s more than cool. It’s a little bit of a magical moment.

And magic is my topic today.

When I first got serious about writing, I read that success in this business takes 10 percent talent, 80 percent perseverance, and 10 percent pixie dust. “Isn’t that just the cutest sound bite to trot out when I’m richer than Nora?” I thought.

I didn’t believe the formula. I was a journalist, darn it. I’d been paid to write. Paid to edit. Not that I had delusions writing a novel would be easy—I had that much lack of arrogance. But surely my skill would wow editors and agents without the help of Tinkerbell or her pouch full of pixie dust.

Well, clap your hands for Tink with me, because I’m no longer that stuck-up, I-can-do-this-without-magic-thank-you-very-much writer. After this summer, I believe with all my heart in pixie dust.

The first sprinkling of it fell last November. It was a crazy month, and I didn’t get to half my planned writing projects. But, somehow, I got a Golden Heart entry ready and hauled it to the post office on time. That was miracle enough, but some of the dust must have wafted into my attitude. “This is a good story. This one could final.” That’s honestly all I kept thinking.

Which was seriously not like me. I’m that kind of backward-thinking self preservationist who always prepares for disappointment—as if imagining the worst will make it sting less if it happens. But not this time! This time, I was a model of highly un-Minnesotan-like optimism. The trade off for this positive attitude was that I was a pathetic wreck the two days before GH finalists were announced. I’m embarrassed now I was so loony, but (cue the tinkling chimes) pixie dust sprinkled over my silly self and, I was a Golden Heart finalist.

One new Website and two local paper interviews later, the RWA convention introduced me to my 60+ fellow finalists. It’s not just being nice to say I believed any one of us deserved a GH win. I sat at my banquet table on Awards Night without a speech ready (preparing for disappointment) until, at the last minute, something made me give myself a lecture: “Listen you, you could win and you’d better know what to say.” I’d barely finished writing seven bullet points on a paper scrap when they called my name!

I went home with a Golden Heart necklace for my book “Songbird,” six requests for queries and/or partials, and my sense of optimism intact. Interviews with two A-list agents had gone perfectly. One said she was looking for exactly what I was writing. When I queried her, she replied with, “This reminds me of (insert NYT author here).” I was convinced the magic dust had done its job.

But the pixies weren’t finished throwing stuff quite yet. I received an unusual e-mail I didn’t believe at first was real. Ostensibly from a senior agent at an established NY agency, most of her sig line was missing, and hers was not the sender’s e-mail. Needless to say, I went into research mode. To my astonishment and delight, she was not only legitimate, but had found and contacted me through my Website—after her own search.

All my A-list agents from Orlando, including the one who’d compared me to a NYT bestseller, declined offers of representation. But, my “accidental agent,” the delightful Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein of McIntosh & Otis,—who also happens to be named Liz, also loves dogs, also was slightly disappointed that I’d taken two doggy characters from my GH book, and also loves to talk on the phone—said she would be thrilled work with me.

You tell me. Perseverance? Or Pixie Dust?

The Golden Heart contest has changed my life. My 10 percent talent gave me the courage to write a book. My 80 percent perseverance got me to polish and send it in. But without that pixie dust, would I have gotten a set of judges that liked the story? Would my new agent (!) have found my Website? Would I be in the midst of awesome revisions and feel confident I’m on the right road to publication?

I don’t think so.

You might call it luck. Or guardian angels. Or kismet, karma, or the power of positive thinking. The pixie dust used on me was, I think, a combo of all those ingredients. I also believe I helped create my own magic. I made the Website, I sent the entry in ... I just don’t know who mixed everything together or who started sprinkling it last November.

What I do know is it’s super powerful stuff!

So--when have you felt the power of what could only be pixie dust in your life? What do you do to help make your own magic?

2010-10-26T00:28:00.011-05:00

Here’s a question: Were people meant to be monogamous? And if so, why does it seem to be so difficult for so many. I looked up the stats. Apparently 40-60% of married people are, have been, or will be unfaithful. If the subject group was men with money and power I think you’d get closer to 99.9%. In fact, I’m afraid I’d be more amazed to hear that a celeb is toeing the line than to hear that he’s cheating.

Think about the recent scandals. Elin Nordegren

Tiger Woods: He was married to a Swedish beauty named Elin Nordegren for five years. They had two gorgeous children together. But recently he admitted to having 120 affairs. I don’t know about you, but that seems like a lot to me. (It works out to two a month.) Elin vows that she had no idea he was being unfaithful until she learned of his connection with their 21 year old neighbor. Personally, I think naiveté hits new heights there. Still, I cannot possibly tell you how happy I was when I heard she was divorcing him.

Brett Favre: Maybe this isn’t such big news elsewhere, but here in Minnesota, there’s little talk about anything other than how football pro Favre sent naughty sexts and pics of his not so private parts to a former Jets employee, Jenn Sterger (who some think looks very much like his wife).
Deanna Favre

First off, really? He sent nude photos to a reporter and didn’t think the public would find out? Almost makes me think professional athletes aren’t as intelligent as I first suspected. :-/

Jenn Sterger

John Travolta: He is said to have been caught "cheating in a gay sex scandal within a secret sub culture" while his wife Kelly, 47, is due to bear their baby in a couple of weeks.

Mel Gibson: I don’t even know where to begin with this guy. I mean, seriously, he had about 47 kids with his wife of 28 years then left her (to the tune of $320 million) for a Russian musician who demanded $60,000 a month in childcare (for their baby) and alleged that he hit her so hard he broke her teeth. Because of this and various recent rants he's lost his upcoming role on Hangover II. I’m not generally a proponent of the capital punishment but I could make an exception in Gibson’s case.

John Edwards: He was running for president and lying about the existence of a love child while proposing to have a wonderful marriage to Elizabeth who was fighting a battle with cancer. Nuf said.

I’m sure you could name a half a dozen other sordid scandals.

But why? Why, why, why, why, why does it happen? I have to assume none of these men walked down the aisle with the intent of making their wives’s lives miserable. In fact, I have to believe they were attracted to and cared about their spouses at some point. So why would they risk their families, their reputations and their careers by having affairs with somebody else?

Thoughts anyone?

Favorite books?

2010-10-25T07:32:00.009-05:00

As I was writing away the other day, I had one of those "How did I get here?" moments. You know, the kind of moment where everything just stops and you're compelled to take a look at your career or your life or your home or whatever and analyze what trigger, what moment, what event landed you where you are today.

For me, THAT particular moment was all about what got me started writing. And I basically realized that what got me started writing had everything to do with reading. There were certain books that had such impact, evoked such emotion or made such a lasting impression that I was compelled to read them and reread them several times. The lingering feelings I had from those books, the connections I felt with the characters, the joy in their happily ever afters were what eventually led me to trying my hand at writing a book myself.

Did I embark on this journey knowing what I was getting into? Heck no. I did it purely for the joy of it. For the discovery of what I could create, the fun of 'having' created and then later the excitement and anticipation of wondering if I could actually sell.

Wonder of wonders, somewhere along the way ... I became a writer. And it was all because of those special books and those special authors who touched me so deeply that I was driven to attempt to create something that might possibly move another reader in the same way.
For me, there are three authors who stand out in a sea of creative geniuses who led me down this path.

LaVryle Spencer. What can I say? I devoured every single title, but the one that remains closest to my heart and was the catalyst for my own career was THE HUMMINGBIRD. I must have reread that book half a dozen times. It's just so full of human drama and emotion and triumph.

Tom and Sharon Curtis. OMG. If you have never read THE WINDFLOWER, find a copy of this book and indulge yourself in pure, unadulterated pleasure. (It might also be listed as written by Laura London)

Sandra Brown. Before Sandra became the mainstream sensation that she is, she wrote not only category romance but historical romance. Go find ANOTHER DAWN, the most amazing western historical of all time. Just .... stunning.

Oddly enough, as you can see, it was historical romance that got me writing and yet, contemporary romantic suspense is where I landed. True, the time and setting are nothing alike, but the emotions these amazing authors evoked in their pages are the same emotions I attempt to evoke on mine. Do I come close? Not even! But I do try and their amazing books are the bedrock on which I built my 'character' first, 'story' second writing philosophy.

So how about you? If you're a writer, who inspired you to write? And for you lovely, lovely readers, what books or authors live on your keeper shelf and compel you to 'reread' them from time to time?

Friday Fun!

2010-10-22T11:26:00.004-05:00

Okay, I just searched for the most popular video on YouTube and this is what came up. It's been viewed over something like 150 million times. Some of you may have seen it, but I think it's worth a second look. If you've never see it, keep watching. He gets funnier as the video goes on!

Evolution of Dance by Judson Laipply

Happy friday, people!
Helen

So What's a Superfood?

2010-10-21T07:54:00.007-05:00

In general, I live a pretty healthy lifestyle. I tend to pay attention to what I eat, exercise three to five times a week, take good supplements, and get a good night's sleep. A year and a half ago, I herniated a disk in my lower spine. Talk about a wake-up call. Apparently, as much as I was doing to take care of myself, it wasn't enough. So while I've been trying to get back to normal - I'm probably about 90% - I set out to discover what more I could do to stay healthy.

The biggest change I've made is to revise my workout schedule to include more variety. Too much of anything isn't healthy and I was very likely spending too much time on the stairs at the gym.

When I took a look at what I was eating, I realized there were still improvements I could make. Simple improvements. Did you know there's something called Superfoods that can control cholesterol, fight cancer and heart disease and even improve your mood?

So here they are, taken from the WebMD site:

Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Oats
Oranges
Pumpkin
Salmon
Soy
Spinach
Tea (green or black)
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Yogurt

Add dark chocolate and fiber to this list, and you've got a lot of bases covered.

Changing our eating habits isn't easy, but here are some things I've done to include more of these superfoods in my diet.

I keep jars of raw walnuts and almonds at my desk. I buy cherry tomatoes and pop them like grapes for a snack. Yogurts makes a great desert. I love the two kinds that are supposed to regulate digestion. Kills two birds with one stone. When I'm in a restaurant, I'll look for things that include black beans, or order fish (since I don't cook it much at home). And I've found that ground turkey works just as well as beef in things like chili, tacos or spaghetti.

So have you ever heard of Superfoods? Do you have any suggestions for how to fit more of them in my diet? Is there something you've started doing this past year to improve your health?

THE MOON THAT NIGHT my November Superromance is now available at eHarlequin or for pre-order at any of your fav on-line places. It'll be in stores on November 9th!

Helen

Winning the Gold

2010-10-20T00:15:00.002-05:00

Kathleen here. It's been many years since I heard my name announced as the winner of RWA's Golden Heart Award for unpublished writers, but I can still feel the excitement when I recall that moment. I've invited two 2010 GH winners--both members of Midwest Fiction Writers, my local RWA chapter--to share their experiences. Next week you'll meet Lizbeth Selvig, winner in the Best Contemporary Single Title category.

Now meet Cat Schield, recipient of the Golden Heart for Best Contemporary Series Romance, whose HEA story is only the beginning...

I’m very excited to be wi th you today to talk about my journey to publication. In my mind, it’s a lot like sailing. Both can be fun. Both can be scary. You get bruised. You can’t control the wind or the publishing industry. You can only adjust your sails or what you are writing to take advantage of the environment.

Rarely can you get directly from point A to point B. Both journeys might require a series of direction changes in order to draw ever closer to your goal. Most of the time, long periods go by where nothing appears to be happening, but you’re making headway. Interspersed with the waiting are short burst of frantic activity when you change the boat’s direction or do a quick polish on that requested manuscript.

Why am I making this comparison? Because if it wasn’t for sailing, I never would have sold my first book.

In 2006 a sailing buddy of mine, Erik Westgard, pestered me to write an article on our sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands. He’d been writing for magazines for years, but had his eye on the glossy pages of International Yacht Charters and Vacations. To my shock, they chose my article for their June 2006 issue. I was going to be published.

Despite having tried and failed to sell a book at various times over the previous two decades, this pub credit gave me reason to believe in my chances of become a published author. My voice had matured. My dedication had ballooned. This time around I was going to sell or die trying.

I knew contests were a good way to get feedback and bypass the slush pile. In the fall of 2006 I’d finished two manuscripts and started entering them in contests. A lot of contests. To my delight, I made the finals in the the first two contests I entered. I was on my way. Or not. The next few gave me some eye opening feedback. Undaunted, I fixed my problems and got my first request for a full in the summer of 2007. And my first rejection. Slow pacing and not enough conflict.

I began to study craft and revise. More contests gave me more feedback and more full requests. Late 2008, after receiving great feedback on all my rejections letters, I got a form rejection. At a loss for how to move forward, I decided a change of genre was in order. So, I started writing YA. But I never lost my dream of selling to Silhouette Desire.

When I pitched to Kevan Lyon at the 2009 Nationals, I had a book at Harlequin and a two time requested manuscript I’d never submitted. She looked at both. And signed me. The editor who’d asked to see A Case of Meddling, my Silhouette Desire targeted book, had left by this time, but the new associate editor was happy to take a look. And to provide revision notes three weeks later. Believing this might be the one, I quickly turned around a revised manuscript.

To keep myself distracted while I waited to hear something, I entered the Golden Heart. In the past I hadn’t had much luck, but this year proved different. Of the two manuscripts I entered, I thought A Case of Meddling had the best shot. I was wrong. The book that finaled was Fake Fiancee, Real Love. And to my shock, it went on to win the Golden Heart for series contemporary romance.

A month later, Kevan called to tell me we had an offer. A Case of Meddling will hit the shelves as a Silhouette Desire in July 2011. Dreams do come true. Sometimes you just have to be patient and believe.

Cat Schield lives in Minnesota with her daughter, Emily, and their Burmese cat. Winner of the Romance Writers of America 2010 Golden Heart® for series contemporary romance, when she’s not writing sexy, romantic stories for Silhouette Desire, she can be found sailing with friends on the St. Croix River or more exotic locales like the Caribbean and Europe. Contact her at www.catschield.com.

Most interesting travel meet-up/KARYN GOOD – Tiara blog winner from 9/27

2010-10-17T22:13:00.001-05:00

Please forgive my LATE contest winner announcement for my tiara blog from September 27, but I’ve been gallivanting! The winner is KARYN GOOD!

As some of you may know, my husband and I bought All You Can Jet tickets from Jetblue. The deal was you pay a set price and you can fly anywhere within the Jetblue system for 30 days. We couldn’t have done this A.When our children were younger. B. When we had heavy September work requirements. C. When our kids went to college.

This was a rare opportunity, so we decided to grab it. We would not usually make this kind of impulsive decision. In fact, we’ve spent a lifetime NOT making these kinds of decisions, so I’m especially glad we took the plunge now. I highly recommend the experience if you can work it into your schedule. My husband and I both feel very fortunate to have taken this opportunity.

First trip: We drove part of the way up the Pacific Coast highway from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara (where I finished and turned in my latest book), then joined author friend, Charlene Sands and her husband for dinner at Duke’s at Malibu, spent a night in Marina del Ray and ate at In and Out Burger before we flew to Seattle. Took a Duck tour, visited the Space Needle and rode a ferry to Bainbridge Island. It was more beautiful than I expected. We took a red-eye and came home to recover. Although we originally planned to go to Bermuda, we rescheduled that trip due to an impending hurricane! Ack! We followed Jetblue’s rules to the letter by cancelling or changing flights at least 3 days in advance and we never paid a penalty.

Next trip, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. LOVED Grand Canyon. We took a small plane from Boulder City to Las Vegas then toured the South Rim. That outbound flight from Boulder City was rough, but the return sunset flight was lovely. I’m not a big gambler, so I didn’t spend much time in the Casino, but I did enjoy a visit to the beautiful Bellagio gardens, a CHER concert and dinner with friends. Oh, and just so you know, we got tickets to that Cher show by going to a TIMESHARE presentation!

Final trip, Bermuda. I’ve always wanted to go, but it’s an expensive island, sooo…..how to justify that??? We took the plunge, stayed at a “pink” hotel right on the harbor

and visited other beaches during our trip. We made a special visit to a beach to collect some of the pink sand to share with our family when we returned.

Along the way, we met a politically active server in Santa Monica and in Santa Barbara, a mechanical engineer with a doctorate who drives tourists in rickshaw bicycles in his spare time (for fun!). We met a lovely self-employed accountant on the ferry to Bainbridge. She was from Scandanavia. At the Grand Canyon, we met a seventy-plus man who was visiting the canyon for the second time. His first visit was forty years ago! In Bermuda, we met a waiter who wanted to move to Costa Rica. All of the people we met broadened our perspective a little and enriched us because they were both like us and different…

My questions is can you tell me some of the most interesting people you’ve met while travelling? I’m all ears!:)

Technorati Tags: travel,Bermuda,California,Seattle,Grand Canyon,Las Vegas

Kathleen Recommends "Secretariat"

2010-10-15T00:03:00.007-05:00

It doesn't matter whether you like horses--okay, it helps--or horse racing, you will enjoy the new movie, "Secretariat." Even though you know the horse wins the Triple Crown, the movie has you gripping the armrests during the races. It's beautifully filmed--incredible race sequences--well-written, and the performances are terrific. And the story is compelling.

Clyde and I went to see this one immediately, and it is definitely worth seeing on the big screen. There's the action--you really feel like you're racing--and a certain grandeur in the setting. But it's the storytelling that wins the roses with this movie. Much of the script was based on a book about Secretariat's groom, Eddie Sweat, who is a wonderful supporting character in the movie. But this is owner Penny Chenery Tweedy's story, and it's one most women I know can relate to in one way or another. Penny is a wife and mother living in Colorado who goes home to Virginia for her mother's funeral. Her father's health is failing, and her brother wants to sell the home place and the horse business.

When Penny realizes that the trainer who's worked for her father for years is trying to finagle a deal on one of the mares for another farm, she decides to step in. She knows very little about horse racing, but the man rubbed her the wrong way. Against the advice of her brother and husband, she finds a new trainer. The mare drops an amazing foal, and we're off and running.

Relationships drive this story, and that's where fine script writing comes in. Penny makes difficult choices, and we watch her juggle her many roles while she plays her cards close to the chest in a world dominated by men. We know the horse will win, but how will Penny fare? (That's jockey Ron Turcott and the real Penny on the left.)

Diane Lane is wonderful in this role, and John Malkovich plays eccentric trainer Lucien Lauren with his usual flair. ( Malkovich is one of my favorite actors. )

Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973, just days before my first baby was born. I came home from the movie, took the baby book from the trunk, and turned to the page headed "In the News." I had listed stuff about Watergate, Vietnam, and "Secretariat Wins the Triple Crown." Oh, yeah. It was big news.

I just got the cover for the 2-in-1 re-release of two of my favorite Silhouettes--BROOMSTICK COWBOY and DEFENDER. My "look" of late has been the lone cowboy, which is fine by me. You don't find many Western romances these days except in series, and it's always been a favorite theme for me. A CERTAIN KIND OF HERO is scheduled for December, so I'll talk it up in a month or so. Just thought I'd see what you think of my new guy, who fits Tate Harrison--hero of BROOMSTICK COWBOY very nicely.

Oh, and I saw previews for a movie we'll be taking the kids to first day out around Thanksgiving. Disney's version of Rapunzel is called "Tangled," and I tell you I laughed aloud through the whole trailer.

DVD recommendation: "The Other Man" with Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, and Antonio Banderas. Terrific!

Have you seen any good movies lately? Any you'd like to warn us against?

World Wide Celebration!

2010-10-14T00:03:00.003-05:00

How long has it been since the world united in a global celebration? Well, it's been a long, long time. But yesterday the world watched and cheered as one by one the 33 men trapped for 69 days (70 for the last few) in that gold and copper mine in Chile were finally freed and, as near to literally as possible, brought back to life. Luis Urzua was the 33rd miner to travel from 2,000 feet below the surface in a capsule designed by the Chilean Navy. The entire rescue, once they started pulling the men to safety took right around 22 1/2 hours without a single mishap.
What a joyous outcome!
And what a testament to the human spirit that these men not only survived but appeared to be in pretty sound physical as well as mental health.

I was fascinated to hear about the many medical experts who had been working with the rescue crew to insure the best possible outcome. One detail that I found particularly interesting was that the extraction in the very capsule that was designed to save them, also presented a problem that could kill them: the possibility of the men fainting on the way up due to a drop in their blood pressure. When a person faints, it's because their blood pressure drops. So, you fall when you faint, right? It's nature's way of letting the blood pressure equalize and you wake back up.
Well, if one of those miners fainted on the 15 - 20 minute ride up out of that hole, there was no way for them to fall over in that tiny capsule. So the doctors had fed them a high salt diet for 5 days before the rescue started to increase their blood pressure, then each miner was given a pressurized garment to wear that was specifically designed to keep the blood out of the lower half of their body and in the upper half to avoid the possibility of fainting. Cool, huh? They thought of everything - including asking for and accepting help from any country who was willing to provide it. Of course the good old USA was there, as was South Africa, Canada, and a host of others.
These men will all have psychological issues to work through over time, but who, among all of us watching, had even given them a chance of coming out alive? It truly was a miracle and a reason for celebration.
Did you all watch? And besides the human drama, which is just incredible, did anything else strike you as particularly interesting? And other than the first moon landing, can you think of any other event in recent history that galvanized the world in the way the plight of these lost souls, now saved souls has?

Guest Author: Deanna Raybourn

2010-10-13T01:00:00.003-05:00

I'm so pleased to have Deanna Raybourn visiting here today. We were both double RITA finalists with our first books, and I think we always hold a special place in our hearts for authors who jumped at the same time with us on this crazy publishing bandwagon.

She's a wonderful writer, a lovely person, and she has a new book out in her Lady Julia Grey mystery series. So enough from me. Here's Deanna. ...

This is the month that Dark Road to Darjeeling hits bookstores, and I could not be happier to share this book with readers!

For me, writing Dark Road to Darjeeling was a chance to combine three of my favorite things—tea, travel, and mystery. It was also a chance to revisit my series after my stand-alone release, and I was absolutely thrilled to write about these characters again. I am very comfortable in my late Victorian series, and my main characters--the aristocratic Lady Julia Grey and the private enquiry agent, Nicholas Brisbane--have become old friends at this point. In writing this book, I reached 450,000 words in the series! It is an unbelievable luxury to be able to spend almost half a million words writing about the same characters. It has given me a chance to explore them much more fully than if I had written a single book about Lady Julia’s adventures as an amateur sleuth, and I certainly would not have had the space to delve into her fascination for Nicholas. Their relationship has been able to evolve slowly over the course of the books, and it has been an incredible tease for readers to keep turning pages, wondering if they will ever get together.

Dark Road to Darjeeling answers that question definitively. The now-married sleuths are still on their honeymoon when Julia’s eccentric family appeals to the newlyweds solve a murder. They travel to the furthest reaches of the sub-continent of India--into the very foothills of the Himalayas to a tea plantation where the atmosphere is thick with secrets--in order to save an old friend. There is danger and intrigue around every corner, and for the first time, I have introduced an arch-villain whose greatest pleasure would be to thwart Nicholas and Julia at every turn.

This book also marks the first time I have helped make a book trailer video for the Julia Grey series. It was a tremendous amount of fun to choose the images and the music, and my husband assembled the pieces. Just to make it interesting, we set ourselves the challenge of making it with absolutely no budget whatsoever. We used photos we had taken during our various trips, and found royalty-free music to set a perfect mood. I hope you enjoy this exotic and atmospheric peek at Dark Road to Darjeeling! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WkMTB_GafI

Deanna

Get packed!

2010-10-12T01:00:00.000-05:00

You're going to a desert island, or maybe a tropical island. You pick. You have to go for a year, and your job, family and life will be tended while you're gone. There will be no one else on the island, no phone calls, but I promise you'll have meals and a warm bed. You won't suffer, and this is something you want to do. You get to bring along five things:

Your favorite song (you can only listen to the one song for the whole year)
Your favorite book (yep, just one; no other means to read)
Your favorite DVD (there will be a means to watch it, but only that one movie)
Your favorite game/activity
Your favorite treat (in a quantity to last the full year)

Here's what's in my suitcase:

My favorite song is Hallelujah, as sang by K.D. Lang.

My favorite book would be The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

My favorite DVD would be Dangerous Liaisons (yes, I could watch it daily)

My favorite activity is jigsaw puzzles, so I'd bring along the 3000 piece underwater themed puzzle I own.

And my favorite treat is some nice 85% dark chocolate

Now it's your turn! List the five things you'll have packed in your suitcase!

Romance

2010-10-11T02:54:00.005-05:00

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel as though romance died, along with chivalry, a long while ago. Or, if it’s not dead, it must be, at least, seriously diseased. Maybe it’s that thirty years of marriage thing that depletes romance. But maybe it’s not that at all because I remember my husband’s marriage proposal. We were sitting in the car outside the house he shared with his two male roommates. He said, “Hey, you wanna get married,” and I said something like, “Hell yeah.” (Note: It has been said with some validity that I’m the least romantic person in the galaxy…a truth that seems a little at odds with my romance writing career.)

That being said, I was a little surprised when my eldest son mentioned he wanted to think of some really great way to propose to his girlfriend. In the end, he took her to Egypt, where he convinced some unsuspecting stranger to film them in front of a sphinx while he asked for her hand in marriage. EGYPT! Decidedly better than a car parked in front of someone’s run-down bachelor pad.

I was even more surprised when my daughter’s boyfriend, Bob, called me at six in the morning about two weeks ago. “I bought a ring! You have to see it, and then I need help finding the perfect place to propose,” he said. I didn’t bother to mention that pledging one’s troth in a car parked by the curb was a tried and true method. Instead, we spent the following day driving around state parks searching for the ideal spot for my little enviro-friendly daughter to vow the rest of her life.

We ended up in a little area called Interstate Park on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border. It had a miraculously Yosemitesque feel to it. There was a beautiful little boulder-strewn canyon which Bob and I agreed was perfect. After some tramping and debating it was decided that in ten days time, on a Saturday afternoon, I would decorate one of those big, flat boulders in a fairy-like manner, light a couple dozen candles, leave a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries and wait for Bob to lure his unsuspecting bride-to-be into his lair.

I spent the next ten days, drying wildflowers, gathering spectacularly colorful leaves, and collecting pretty rocks like some demented raven. On the afore-mentioned afternoon, I dutifully arrived at the appointed canyon and decorated the boulder.

To everyone’s surprise, I neither set the woods nor my hair on fire. A few people peeked into the canyon, but no one entered. Perhaps because it looked a bit as though I was setting up a druid altar. Basically people just rushed their children off to safety. Regardless, at 6:30 pm, just before dusk, Bob called me from some outhouse in which he was hiding from my daughter. I told him all was ready and climbed up the boulders to keep an eye on the candles from above. At 6:47, the soon to be happy couple came traipsing into the mouth of the canyon. At first glimpse of them, I left, creeping over mosses and away like an escaping convict.

Daughter called me an hour later, sounding giddy and thanking me a hundred thousand times.

She now wears a row of diamonds on her left hand and laughs a lot. I think it’s a time they’ll remember forever. I know I will (partly because the mosquitoes were particularly ravenous during my wait on the cliff above the canyon). But then, I remember the proposal in my husband’s car.

So how about you? How was your proposal? Exciting? Romantic. Wonderful. Ridiculous? Or are you still dreaming of that time to come? And is the proposal important, or is it just an inconsequential step toward marriage?

Do share.

Sorry, my pc hates me tonight and won't load my pics.

Home Renovation and Other Marital Disasters

2010-10-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a little known tidbit to digest over your morning coffee: There are more than 90,000 women in prison in the US at this moment. Most, according to a source I found, were incarcerated for economic crimes. Hmm, maybe, but I have my own opinion on that. I'm willing to bet that if anyone bothered to dig a bit deeper into the subjec, they'd discover HRV was at the root of most of the crimes.

HRV, or House Remodeling Violence shall soon become a perfectly acceptable defense plea. Half the juries are made up of women, right? There's the sympathy vote right there.

Have you ever painted with your husband? Wall-papered? Picked out new window treatments? Then you might have an idea of where this is going. If you've ever remodeled a room or portion of a house with a spouse, it's easy to understand how homicide might be the result. Or, at the very least, resorting to vigorous beatings.

You might have guessed, we're doing some remodeling at our house. Pretty much the entire upper story--five bedrooms and bath. More than the ordinary remodeling, because we raised five kids in that house

and by the time they all left it was a toss up whether to start renovating or to call a priest for an exorcism. (We opted to save the priest as a last resort.)

At the beginning I. Was. Pumped. At last, the moment

I'd been awaiting for decades. No longer was Menards the place where my dreams went to die. I'd visualized what I was going to do When The Time Came. I knew what I wanted. I'd picked out samples in my mind.

I'd also forgotten to factor someone else into the equation.

Really, a man only ought to be allowed an opinion if he also has taste. This is the guy who once (very early in our marriage) nailed a quilt over the sliding glass doors in lieu of curtains, and to this day fails to understand what was wrong with that. A man who has never grasped the correlation between buying cheap and looking tacky. A man that doesn't understand why we're remodeling bedrooms no one sleeps in anymore. One who could get all his renovating needs met in the pages of Craftsman and the aisles of Walmart.

A man who is seriously wishing he'd found a wife with similar tastes :)

The good news is, progress has been made in the remodeling. Tile has been laid. Painting has been done. Carpeting bought. And although one or two unkind words may have been exchanged, we haven't yet come to blows. (There was the one instance of a switch plate sailing through the air and coming suspiciously close to making contact. Note to self: work on the wind-up.)

And homicide has not (yet) been done. But I remain unconvinced about those 90,000 other women languishing in prison....

What about you? Have any building or remodeling nightmares to share? Need a character witness at the subsequent trial? And most importantly, anyone willing to post bail if things deteriorate before the rest of our projects are done???

And the winners are...

2010-10-07T23:22:00.003-05:00

Cories5 and Heather, you've each won a copy of a book from Ann's backlist! Please contact her at ann@annvosspeterson.com !

Guest Author: Ann Voss Peterson

2010-10-07T00:00:00.004-05:00

Please help me welcome the fabulous Ann Voss Peterson, author of over twenty Harlequin Intrigues. Not only is Ann a great writer, she's extremely creative, as well. So I expect that she's going to try to explain away this photo as research. Having partied with her before, I tend to believe it's a real arrest photo after we closed the bars down at RWA. But hey, this is her blog post and we'll let her tell the story the way she wants to :)

Whew! I'm so glad to be here at Riding with the Top Down. Thanks for inviting me, Kylie! The wind in my hair. The open road in front of me. No worries.

You see, lately I've been scrambling. My life has gotten away from me. This fall has been chaos. And to top it off, I spent the last few weeks running from the law.

Literally.

At first I simply had a revoked driver's license. When the sheriff's deputy pulled me over, I panicked and dashed from my car.

But then there was the time I was wanted for strangling someone. That time the deputies chased me. Some of them caught me. Some of them I managed to escape. One of them yelled at me so loud, my bones shook. And then he pulled his gun.

It was exhausting.

Now, before you toss me out of the convertible, call the cyber police and turn me in, I can explain.

It was all pretend.

The past few weeks, I volunteered to role play in training scenarios for my county sheriff's department. I was a speeder who'd had her license revoked...and ran. I was a speeder with an unregistered vehicle and a revoked license...who ran. I was a stranded motorist wanted for a violent felony...who ran...and was chased. I did a lot of running in those days. And I learned a lot about how law enforcement officers are trained to think.

1. Before giving chase, decide if the charges are worth it.

2. When giving chase, remember to notice street signs and other landmarks so you can tell dispatch where you are.

3. Don't rush in. Take cover, observe and wait for back up.

At the same time all this volunteering was going on, I had a few other challenges. My oldest son's school was taken over by mold over the summer, so his return was delayed by two weeks. My youngest son's school started on schedule and was clamoring for my volunteer time and fund-raising attention. I had too many writing projects, speaking engagements, promotional opportunities and family obligations demanding my time. And my

house was a complete disaster.

So I decided to think like a deputy.

Before I chased after every interesting project, school obligation, promo op, I sat down and looked at each, deciding whether it was worth the time for me. I had to get my kids set up for school, help them with adjusting and homework, but I didn't have to sell wrapping paper for the damn PTO fundraiser. And the house? Clutter isn't deadly, usually. It's okay to say no...it's okay to say no....

Instead of rushing in, I called for back up. I don't have to do everything myself. I don't. I really don't. I can ask others for help (as you can see, I'm still working on this...well, on all of it.)

So my life is a bit more under control. At least I hope it is. I have writing to do! But I have to remember to have fun, too. To refill the well with research opportunities to cool to miss, like being part of the sheriff department's training scenarios. And with fun, like riding with the top down.

Now, you didn't see flashing lights in back of us, did you???

What are your tricks for organizing your life? Share. Please, please, please. I need all the help the help I can get! And I'll be giving away two books from my backlist, names drawn from commenters.

And if you want to see other cool adventures I've had in the name of research, check out the Ann's Research Adventures page on my website: http://www.annvosspeterson.com . Or pick up my October Harlequin Intrigue,

A COP IN HER STOCKING.

Winners of Laura Wright's ETERNAL HUNGER

2010-10-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Gina (the Librarian) and Martha Lawson. You each won a copy of Laura Wright's ETERNAL HUNGER! Woo Woo!!

Please e-mail Laura at: Laura@laurawright.com with your full names and mailing addresses and she'll ship the autographed books out to you!

Thanks for stopping by the TopDown!

WELCOME LAURA WRIGHT!

2010-10-06T00:16:00.001-05:00

COVER LOVER?

First let me say thank you to Cindy Gerard and all the incredible authors at Riding with the Top Down for having me. It’s so great to hang out with you guys
and talk ETERNAL HUNGER, the first book in my Mark of the Vampire series,which hit the shelves as of October 4th!!

And...(drumroll) here's a debut sneak peak of the hot off the presses cover for my second book in the series, ETERNAL KISS!
(out 4/2011)

Covers. Oh boy, that can be a wild, interesting, maddening, thrilling topic, no? Walking down the aisle in your favorite book store, your eyes running over the sea of titles – what catches you and makes you pick it up, flip it over and read the back? Or heck, what makes you cringe and turn the other way?

Since moving from category romance to paranormal, I’ve seen hundreds of awesome covers, drooled over many a hunky bare-chested hero, and yet I’m always interested in what everyone
else deems a ‘killer cover.’ There’s been some talk lately about the hero chest cover shots being overdone. For me, there can’t be enough ripped chest - and throw in a little strong jaw and a tat and I’m a buyin’!

Hee hee.

So what about you? Are covers a huge deal when you buy a book? What kinds of covers attract you? And what kinds have you running from the store?

I have 2 copies of ETERNAL HUNGER to give away so please comment!

Hey gang - Cindy, here, chiming in to let you know that the buzz for ETERNAL HUNGER
is at a fever pitch! Publisher's Weekly, in a starred review says: Just when it seems every possible vampire twist has been turned, Wright launches a powerful series with a rich mythology, page-turning tension, and blistering sensuality. Cool, right? Make sure you rush right out and check out this amazing book! http://laurawright.com

Who am I now?

2010-10-05T05:00:00.008-05:00

There once was a time that my role in life was well known to me. Comfortable. Secure. I was a woman, wife, mother and romance writer. . . not necessarily in that order. Then my husband died, my two sons graduated, married, moved on, and --a few years later-- I found myself no longer a wife, no longer a day-to-day mom, and not the kind of writer I had been.

I confess, I floundered for a while and tried writing other things, most of which never saw mass-produced print because they weren't historical romance and weren't quite on the easy-to-sell list for other kinds of fiction and even non-fiction. Publishers hate it when you step outside the lines. And I began to question whether I even wanted to still write and publish.

Except, of course, I still had stories to tell. And finish. And sell. My problem wasn't a career problem, I discovered, it was an "inner self" problem.

It took a while, but I realized I was going through what many women of my age and generation are going through: role depletion. I had finished the primary woman-role of the first two stages of life (Virgin and Mother). . . and had no guide, no real direction for this prolonged, uncharted phase of my life. 30-40 years of life left. . . but what kind of life? At the risk of sounding adolescent. . . who am I now? What am I meant to be doing? Am I the Crone now?

Ewwwww. I don't want to be the crone!!!! Even the word repells me. It reminds me of the wicked witch in Snow White... with the wart on the long, droopy nose and extraneous hairs growing out of her chin. Stooped and ugly and jealous and mean. Yikes. Little wonder I refuse to embrace that as the third phase of my life. Be honest, who the heck aspires to "cronehood?"

Not surprising that I opted out of that taxonomy. But into what?

One step at a time, one experience at a time, I began to feel my way into a new life that had less boundaries and fewer absolutes. I began to lose my fears and to enjoy the here and now. And I was still confused and not especially productive in the way I thought I could be. If I only had something to strive for. . . um. . . a model, a light for the path, a concept for the way forward.

And two weeks ago, while recovering from surgery, I found one. I found THE one for me. And of course, it came from a wise and well-published woman that I respect: Clarissa Pinkola Estes. (Yes, the Women Who Run With Wolves woman.)

What I want to be when I grow up is. . . a Dangerous Old Woman.
Yes, I bought the program. And I've begun to listen and to be inspired. Honestly, just the promo for the program was enough to set me thinking and let me know there was spiritual gold here for me. How about this:

"No one is allowed to remain innocent for life. In the life of young tree, for example, there's a necessary "hardening off" of the heartwood that has to occur in the first years of the tree's life. The hardening off helps a young tree survive winters, draught, inhospitable environs. . . yet look how beautifuly a tree, like a woman's heart and soul, will thrive and leaf out and flower and throw down seeds year after year, forward. There's something about being assailed that relates to growing stronger and more wise. We can't remain only sweet and moist or only kind an vulnerable forever. Yet this hardening off does not make one hard. It opens a woman to standing in her own danger, to warming and protecting the persons, creatures and creative fires that are within her reach, that are most important to her soul. Because a woman has been tested by life as she's gathered more years, she learns to examine and to aim her life in her own chosen ways, ways that are life-giving and life-sparing to herself and others. Therein lies the ticket to ride all the way back to true home with The Dangerous Old Woman."

And this:
"The word 'dangerous' is innate to what is wise-- wise not being an accumulation of facts, but an inquiry into the heart of life, claiming what is stalwart, forcefully creative, and also squinty-eyed, that is, clear-seeing-- which may be the most dangerous trait of all-- seeing ahead to regard, help, and protect those matters of soul life that cannot be allowed to perish from this earth."

And finally, this:
"As a representation of the Great Mother, the Dangerous Old Woman is also la refugia, the refuge, and as such she carries both the dark and light aspects of creating--and uncreating-- at will. She shelters through her insights and intuitions about ways to effective guard new life and the creative fire."

The Dangerous Old Woman is full of language that intrigues and amazes me. It makes me think of myself as laden and ripe with possibilities and filled with gifts for others. When I look at myself today, I see good things-- capabilities, knowledge, intuition, hard-won life lessons, and lots of possibilities. And the cool thing is, I've just begun and already I can feel parts of my inner self stretching and preparing. . . for what exactly, I'm not sure.

I feel like I'm ready to embrace life and the "danger" in me-- the capability, the wisdom, the decisiveness, the truth-speaking in me. And I realize I want to be that great, strong, well-tested tree under which my children and grandchildren and my friends and sisters and family all find shelter and support and encouragement. I want to understand the power of this phase of my life and I want to use it in constructive, creative ways. And I want to share this enthusiasm with the wonderful women who write this blog and with those of you who follow regularly or even just dip your toes in occasionally.

And my writer mind is suddenly going nuts with ideas and new directions and possible projects. Just reading the sales piece for The Dangerous Old Woman and listening to 30 minutes of the first CD did this to me. . . imagine what 7 1/2 hours of listening will do!

What about you? What do you think of the idea of becoming a "dangerous" old woman? Have any appeal for you? What phase of life are you in? How does it fit you well? What resources/books/ideas have helped you set a direction for your life?

You're not in Kansas ...

2010-10-04T07:50:00.006-05:00

I've been toying with the idea of putting together a writer's workshop focusing on how sense of place can add depth to stories. Mostly because I can't think of anything else I'm aware of that I purposefully do when I'm crafting a story.

So how do we add a sense of place? Every writer probably thinks of this process differently. Some may not think of it at all. They just do it without realizing it. I think I add place by purposefully employing all five of our senses.

Sight

This includes general things like describing the architecture of the town or city. The flora and fauna and terrain are most likely unique to the story's setting. How sight can add a sense of place can be as simple as identifying the color of the walls in the heroine's bedroom.

Sound

Traffic, wildlife, weather. What kind of music is playing on the radio? Hotels, private homes and apartments all have different sounds that help a reader put him or herself into a story.

Smell

They say smell is the strongest sense for triggering memories. It's also critical to creating a sense of where we are in a story. Cooking smells, pollution or lack thereof, the scent of flowers and trees. Are we by the ocean or in a forest of evergreens? Nothing can take me to a place quicker than this sense.

Touch

This one's a little tough to nail down, but I the weather plays such a huge role in feeling where we are. What season is it? Is it hot, humid, cool, windy? Identifying textures can help, as well. Is the hotel expensive with luxuriously soft bedding or is it a dive with rough towels?

Taste

Cooking again, plays such a huge role in place. I love including foods that are unique to the area I'm writing about. It's easy to employ this tactic when your story takes place in a foreign country, but even on my little Mirabelle Island, set smack dab in the middle of the U.S., food plays a part in developing sense of place. Historically, that area was settled by French fur traders, so the oldest inn on the island serves French food.

I know all this sounds elementary, but I put a lot of effort and research into creating a sense of place in my stories. I tour facilities, like this Dallas track for my NASCAR books. I read about restaurants and traditional foods, track weather reports, and even get on Google Earth to see if I can find actual pictures of the streets I'm writing about.

As a writer, I think sense of place is critical to creating a well-rounded, layered story. Place becomes a character. But as a reader, there are times when I get overwhelmed by too much detail. I find myself skimming over paragraphs or flipping pages to get to the good stuff.

So how much is too much?

As a reader, how important is sense of place is for you? Do you like a lot, a little, or something in between? What's your favorite way to get pulled into the place in a book?

As a writer, do you think about sense of place in your stories? What's the single most important thing you do to create place in your books?

Helen

Winner!

2010-10-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

cait045, you've won the copy of ANGEL SLAYER! Please send me your snailmail address to toastfaery@gmail.com Congrats!

Winner!!

2010-10-03T08:08:00.002-05:00

PoKoKat, please contact me for your free copy of An Accidental Seduction! lgreiman@earthlink.net

Thanks for the great comments, everyone.

Sin Eating and Psychopompery

2010-10-01T01:00:00.026-05:00

Ooh, I like that word: psychopompery. I think I just made it up. Maybe?

Anyway, I'm pretty darn excited about this newest anthology, THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF PARANORMAL ROMANCE 2. Whew! That title is a mouthful. It's an anthology of 24 short stories. I've been a fan of the Mammoth Books for a while, and longingly desired to be a part of one, so when the editor, Trisha Telep emailed me about being in one of them, I jumped.

I used to think I'd never write short stories, and then I started doing some Nocturne Bites, which clock in around 10K words, and found it was kinda fun, and a little freeing, to work in that short format. Now in the Mammoth Book, I think I ended with about 8K words in my story. Normally, that would be a single scene for me in my single title books. Heh. But I admit, I love the short format.

My story in this book is "The Sin Eater's Promise", and I've had the sin eater character (Desdenova Fleetwood) in my brain for years, and just hadn't found the right story for her until now. Sin eaters fascinate me. They are sort of religious magicians. Through the process of consuming food or drink, they can 'eat' the sins of the deceased or dying. The process I find most interesting is where the sin eater places a piece of white bread upon the chest of the deceased (we can hope, on a plate), sprinkles a little salt on it, then eats the bread. Voila! Sins are gone through some magical process we can only believe in fiction and fairy-tales. Yet, sin eaters actually exist. They were actually excommunicated by the Catholic Church. I won't go into a lengthy description, but you can click over to Wikipedia to learn more. One of the questions I explore in the story is: If you had the power to take away sin, would you have a right to take away that sin?

It sounds like a heavy story, but it's actually a sweet romance, pairing my sin eater heroine with a soul bringer (aka psychopomp; the dude who carries souls either to Heaven or Hell). And heck, there's 24 authors in all in this anthology, so I can't wait to read it myself!

Here's a blurb: Sin eater, Desdenova Fleetwood dreamed of falling in love—but knew it could never happen to her. When the mysterious soul bringer, Blackthorn Regis, demands she give up her livelihood, the two question their very reason for living—and loving.

To celebrate the release of this anthology, I'll give away a copy of ANGEL SLAYER (where the soul bringer hero, Blackthorn Regis, first appeared), to one commenter!

Michele

Debra - Part 2 "Connected"

2010-09-30T07:19:00.000-05:00

I did a blog in January from my husband's hospital room. He'd just had a knee replacement. I had intended to blog about the hospital amenities and wireless. (Hence the "connected" title.) But instead I blogged about how people, places and things are connected in powerful ways.

That blog was long forgotten until tonight. I'm back in my husband's hospital room. He's just had knee #2 replaced this morning. I've done my Nurse Nan routine (get your brains out of the gutter). And now it's time to blog. After I booted the computer, I noticed a blog draft on my laptop called "Connected." Curious, I pulled it up and found that January blog.

And, in the process, completely convinced myself that everything is connected. Everything. Often in ways we can't understand.

A dear friend just lost her cat, Cleo. The loss wasn't unexpected but it was still heartbreaking for her. Last night her neighbor put out an SOS for a home for a tiny, tiny kitten found at the roadside, probably abandoned, probably not four weeks old. So, last night my friend spent o'dark thirty and the rest of the pre-dawn hours with "boob kitty," who was happiest snuggled in her bosom. The week before she'd spent long nights in worry over and with her Cleo, who we knew was dying. If Cleo had hung onto this world for another week, little Butters wouldn't have the home she desperately needed.

There is an odd and powerful symmetry in life which I find endlessly fascinating. I believe the best fiction contains that same powerful symmetry and connection. Symmetry is about closure and balance. We all like that.

Tonight hubby and I feel like we've turned the corner. Chronic pain will now be a thing of his past. All that's left is a little acute pain from rehab and he'll have his life back. He can take morning walks again. We can go back to fighting about my sprinting across parking lots to keep up with him. (I'm vertically challenged and have the leg stride to prove it.)

Tonight I'm left pondering the connections of life and feeling déjà vu. Only this time I don't have to wonder why this moment feels familiar. I know why!

Win a HOT hot-off-the-presses novel!

2010-09-29T00:03:00.001-05:00

I was talking to a friend a few days ago who was very impressed with a couple we know because they were still together and still working on their marriage after TEN years. I think I audibly scoffed. In fact, I said something like, “They're still on their honeymoon. Come talk to me in another couple decades, cuz hubby and I have been working on our marriage for…”

As I was saying the words I realized hubby and I had both missed our thirty wedding anniversary. I mean, we knew we had one coming, and we had plans to celebrate later in the month, but we had literally missed the actual day. How sad is that?

Truth is, we really do try to make each other happy, but it’s not like those early days. Remember those first few years? I was just a littttttle bit more romantic back then. And a lotttt more demonstrative. I remember a time on a plane when…well…never mind. And a time on a train when… Huh, that one’s not good for retelling either. But there was one incident I can relay. Shortly after our first baby was born, I planned a weekend away, found a babysitter, packed our bags and dragged him off on a surprise mini holiday. There was another instance when I had to attend an evening church function without him. Just to make sure he was still paying attention I wore a negligee under my outer clothing, then when I got home I stripped off my street clothes in the garage and sashayed into the kitchen as if I had gone to church that way. I’ll never forget the look on his face. There were also times when I would prepare and freeze meals ahead of time when I had to leave home for a few days. Sometimes I’d even have a neighbor drop by and pop them into the oven so he’d have a hot meal when he got done with work. I gotta tell you…those days are long gone. If he gets a hot meal when I’m HOME it’s party time.

Anyway, it occurred to me that marriage is a bit like writing novels. And here’s how: you see, my latest book has just been released, but it’s long past the honeymoon stage. It’s not my first or my third or even my thirteenth book. It’s my twenty-eighth, and instead of the fanfare and parties and hoopla that used to accompany such an auspicious occasion, I’m afraid it barely warrants a hot meal. Even though it does have an awesome cover and a pretty good story if I do say so myself.

So, in an effort to make my 28th feel special I’m giving away a copy of An Accidental Seduction to one commenter who has some sort of advice on how to keep relationships alive and happy. Or even a story about how their own relationships have changed over the years.

And thanks to everyone who has given me the opportunity to celebration 28 happy books.

DEADLY PROMISES Winners

2010-09-28T23:59:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Joni and Tasha! Your names were drawn as winners of a copy of DEADLY PROMISES.
Please e-mail me at: cindyg@cindygerard.com asap with your mailing addresses so i can get your autographed copies in the mail!
Thanks and hugs, Cindy

Can it be? DEADLY PROMISES on sale now!!

2010-09-28T00:00:00.006-05:00

When did September 28th sneak up on me? And why do I care about September 28th? Well, because it’s release day! I’m dragging myself out of deadline dementia (have a book due 10-1) to let you know that … (be warned, grandiose self-promotion to follow – but hey – it’s not EVERY day that I have a new release, right?)

DEADLY PROMISES, a super hot, super cool (and yes, it’s possible to be both) anthology headlined by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love, and joined by MOI and Laura Griffin hits the shelves at a book store near you today. That would be September 28^th (Ahem.) Even more good news? You can also buy DEADLY PROMISES at: Amazon.com, Borders.com, and B&N.com.

I’ve been lucky enough to get sneak peaks of both JUST BAD ENOUGH, from Sherrilyn and Dianna and UNSTOPABLE, from Laura and let me tell you, both novellas rock! I’m so excited that my novella, LEAVE NO TRACE is a part of this collection.

Love this photo of Me, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laura Griffin and Dianna Love at the RWA Literacy book signing in Orlando at Nationals this past July. What cool women those 3 ladies are.

I can already hear the question: Is LEAVE NO TRACE a Black Ops. Inc story? And the answer: Yes! And No… David Cavanaugh, the hero, is a friend of the BOIs and actually assisted them in their operation in Jakarta to rescue Crystal (WHISPER NO LIES). And Cav’s heroine is none other than Carrie Granger – Wyatt Savage’s old high school flame (RISK NO SECRETS). I received so much reader mail about both Cav and Carrie that I just knew they had to have their own story. LEAVE NO TRACE provided the perfect vehicle to make that happen.

So, I hope you want to come with me to exotic Myanmar where Cav is tasked with the dangerous mission of rescuing Carrie from a slave labor camp in the treacherous ruby mines of the Shan Plateau north of Mandlay. Then hang on for one heck of a wild romantic ride. And of course, the guys from Black Ops., Inc. show up to help Cav save the day.

Now, I've got some questions for you. Do you generally buy anthologies and if not, why not? If you do buy them, have anthologies that feature multiple stories by multiple authors ever introduced you to a new author you wouldn’t have tried had it not been for one of your favorite authors also participating in the collection? Also, do you read only the novella by your favorite author or do you read (or at least try to read) all the stories in the collection? I’m also wondering if you have you ever stumbled upon a ‘favorite new’ author as the result of buying an anthology that featured one of your auto-buy authors in the collection.

Whew. That’s a lot of questions. Please speak up. If you post, you’re in the drawing for 1 of 2 copies of DEADLY PROMISES at the end of the day. Thanks!! And happy, happy reading!

Ditching The Tiara

2010-09-27T02:45:00.001-05:00

Technorati Tags: princess,royalty,romance,pregnancy

When you were six years old, what did you want to be?

Confession. I wanted to be a princess. I was the third of three girls, so the princess position had been filled. My mother, however, read me stories about princesses and I saw them on television. I always thought princesses did fun things like wear tiaras and have people wait on them and adore them. They always wore pretty dresses and usually got the gorgeous prince. This all sounded good to me.:)

In real life, many princesses make a lot of appearances and work very hard. They have a lot of pressure from the press and every move can be scrutinized by the public. So what if you were a princess? What if you were the princess who never gets into trouble, who avoids scandal and works like a dog? Your brother, the crown prince, can be an arrogant you-know-what, but you love him and you know he’s under pressure, so you try to always be there for him. Your younger, thinner, more beautiful sister who has caused countless scandals and spent a stint in rehab, is now getting married to a French filmmaker. You have no love life. You have no personal life.

For one night, you get a chance to ditch the tiara at a masquerade party. You get a chance to be anyone what you want to be. You meet a hot, but kind rancher. You spend some time with him. Unlike Cinderella, reality hits you way after midnight, and months later, you learn that you, the goody-two-shoes everyone has counted on, is pregnant.

Yeah, this is the premise for the first Silhouette Special Edition I’ve written in over ten years. What I like about this book is the humanity of the characters. The hunky hero has his own baggage and the worst thing that could happen to him is an unplanned pregnancy that he caused. Romantic Times Book Club gave ROYAL HOLIDAY BABY a 4 1/2 star review and I really like this book, so I hope you’ll give it a try. If you do, please drop me a line at leannebbb@aol.com

In the meantime, I’m giving away a copy of one of my previous books to one commenter. My questions: When you were six years old, what did you want to be? Did you ever want to be a princess? Have you ever worn a tiara? (I have a hair band with crystals that resembles a tiara, but I’ve never had the nerve to wear it.<g>) TELL ALL!:)

Answers to Title Quiz

2010-09-24T20:16:00.003-05:00

Okay, folks, here are the answers. How did you do?

Not Real:

The Italian's Cast-Off Virgin Bride

Love in the Laundry Cycle

The Weird and Wacky Guide to Knocking Off Ex-Boyfriends

Zombie Proof Your Coffin

The Absolutely Positively Kinda Sorta Maybe Final Word on Everything

Real:

The Sheik's Virgin Stable Girl

Daddy Long Stroke

Bought for Revenge, Bedded for Pleasure

Nude Teacher's Dilemma

If You Want Closure in a Relationship, Start with Your Legs

Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work

Living with Crazy Buttocks

Really, which set is more preposterous, LOL?

Is This Title Real?

2010-09-24T01:00:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else pay attention to titles? I'll admit, I'm getting bad at remembering the specific name of a book I read and enjoyed. Authors' names I recall, and really that has always seemed more important to me. But it is getting a bit disconcerting to have to try and describe a book I read, saying, "You know, the Lee Child novel where the people got thrown out of a plane over a desert?" It'd be so much handier if I just recalled the title. Unfortunately, titles, along with appointment dates and phone numbers have been among the victims of my unraveling memory these days.

But on the flip side there are titles that once encountered are unforgettable. Pride and Prejudice. Coffee, Tea or Me? Go Ask Alice. Pregnesia.

Yep, that's right, I said it. Pregnesia. It was an Intrigue out last year. I dare you to forget that title.

Which brings me to my point. (Bet you thought I didn't have one ) Have you ever watched the bit on Jay Leno, "Is This Headline Real?" Let's see how you do. I'll list some titles and you try to guess which ones are real and which aren't. Ready?

The Sheik's Virgin Stable Girl

Daddy Long Stroke

The Italian's Cast Off Virgin Bride

Love in the Laundry Cycle

Bought for Revenge, Bedded for Pleasure

The Weird and Wacky Guide to Knocking Off Ex-Boyfriends

Nude Teacher's Dilemma

If You Want Closure in Your Relationship Start with Your Legs

Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work

Zombie Proof Your Coffin

Living with Crazy Buttocks

The Absolutely Positively Kinda Sorta Maybe Final Word on Everything

Can you find the five made up titles among the rest of these gems without looking them up? Is it important to you to recall titles of books you enjoyed? What makes a title memorable to you?

Debra- Is English Dead? (A who-done-it in 3 parts)

2010-09-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Seriously, dude. Is English dead? Has language moved past the precision of the last 1600 years or so? And if we are at a crossroads in which well-used language is the murky path, who is to blame?

1) Text messaging
A necessary evil born from the frowns of those who were tired of teen phones ringing incessantly.

2) Twitter & Facebook
A necessary evil to reconnect with community in a ridiculously busy world.

3) Dude
The word that has single handedly replaced whole sentences as a form of communication.

See what I mean:

Dude. (You can’t be serious.)
dude. (I’m weary. You win. I can’t change it.)
Dude. (Pay attention you slacker.)
DUDE (This is going to be a problem.)
du-oohd. (Oh, man, is that going to be hard!)
Dude! (Quick. Come here.)
Doooo-ooo-d. (I’m am so jealous, but I have to give you props.)

I could go on. And I haven’t even started on the variations that come with facial expressions or body gestures like shrugs.

Hopefully, I’ve amused you, but my real questions are these: Can we ever recover from the inattention to grammar and punctuation? Can we ever recover from the common man’s inability to use vocabulary appropriately? (One of my favorites is the reported incident in which the Miami Herald’s story of someone “eeking out a living” wasn’t a story about the individual running a haunted house business.) Do we care? Is change the nature of a successful language? Or as we fragment our language do we lose something valuable?

My answer is: Dude, yes.

How about you? How do you feel about the state of language?