September 28, 2006

HOW TO WIN –>

UP FOR GRABS:

A one year membership to Romance Writers of America — either a first-time sign-up, or renewal.

Or

A six-month subscription to one of the following Harlequin imprints:

• Silhouette Intimate Moments/Romantic Suspense – 4 novels per month
• Silhouette Desire – 4 novels per month
• Silhouette Special Edition – 4 novels per month
• Silhouette Romance – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin Superomance – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin American Romance – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin Presents – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin Blaze – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin Intrigue – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin Romance – 4 novels per month
• Harlequin Medical Romance – 4 novels per month
• Steeple Hill Love Inspired – 4 novels per month
• Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense – 4 novels bi-monthly
• Steeple Hill Trade Books – 1 novel per month
• Best of the Best Romance/Suspense combo – 3 novels per month
• Romance Collection – 3 novels per month
• Suspense collection – 3 novels per month
• MIRA and HQN contemporary – 3 novels per month
• Red Dress Ink – 1 novel per month
• LUNA – 1 novel per month
• NEXT – 3 novels per month
• Mystery Library – 3 novels per month
• KIMANI Romance – 4 novels per month

Winner’s choice

How to play: Send me a digital photo of yourself or a friend reading either; THE HEART OF A MERCENARY, A SULTAN’S RANSOM, or RULES OF RE-ENGAGEMENT. Let me know who you are, and what state or province you are reading it in, and if I can use the photo on my blog.

You don’t have to show your face if you don’t want to – like my friend Irene (in the example above) who was caught warming up in front of the fire in the skier’s hut last winter with Suzanne McMinn’s Intimate Moments. And if you don’t want your name published, that’s fine, too.

Photos should be sent to loreth.anne@gmail.com, and marked SHADOW SOLDIERS CONTEST. Don’t forget to include your name and location.

If you send a pic of more than one SHADOW SOLDIERS book, your name will be entered for each one sent — that gives you a maximum of three chances of winning. And for those who send a photo of themselves reading my December book, there will be a special Christmas bonus prize drawing

On Christmas Day, all names will be placed in a hat (yep, the one you’ve seen pictured on this blog before) and the winner will be drawn by honorable and trusty assistant DD#2. I will announced the winner here on my blog on Boxing Day.

At the moment, this particular contest is open to North American residents – because of obvious shipping issues. But if there are any non-U.S. or non-Canadian residents out there who want to play, please let me know, and I will look into arranging a similar prize of same value for possible foreign entries. Confused yet?

Depending on the numbers willing to play, your chances of winning could be pretty darn good And hopefully there is something here for both readers, and writers.

The Contest is now open. Let the games begin!!!

September 27, 2006

A WRITER’S RANSOM

Well, well, well … look what arrived today! My SULTAN is in the building

He has a much better sense of timing than my MERCENARY, I might add.

MILESTONES

Happy birthday MERETTA!! May your horizons be vast, your skies clear, and your road well-marked And of course, may the magic of luck be with you.

September 26, 2006

ANOTHER ROAD TO PUBLICATION …

I just must interrupt reglarly-scheduled blogging to make an announcement  — one that leaves me truly happy: ANNA of Cumberland has sold!!!

I first met Anna at eHarlequin, on Leslie Wainger’s Silhouette Intimate Moment’s thread  (anyone remember the days?) … and I’ve watched her journey from afar. I am thrilled. The universe seems balanced

Go and say congratulations!!!

September 25, 2006

PEN PALS TRY IT AGAIN … but did it work this time?

 From last week’s  Globe and Mail :

“‘This time, it’s gonna work. That’s the difference.” Bruce Walsh is on the telephone from his office in Toronto, talking about the LongPen machine that supposedly allows writers to sign books from virtually anywhere in the world and thus, potentially at least, revolutionize those staples of the literary life: the book launch and the author tour.

“We say “supposedly” because the device, which has been bankrolled by none other than Margaret Atwood, famously flubbed at its much-anticipated international debut in March at the London Book Fair. Atwood is scheduled to try it again on Sunday in a booth at The Word on the Street book and magazine fair in downtown Toronto …. >>>read more

So, does anyone know? Did it work over the weekend? Is the mechanical book signer going to save authors who are forced to turn into travelling saleswomen … or men?

My Path: Lost Lake Trails

My Distance: Two hours

My Beat: You need to listen to a lot of music to get you through two hours of running. But the one that stuck with me today was HAUNTED — by Sinead O’conner and the Pogues.

Victoria Marathon — 13 days to go!! 

Honolulu Marathon — 78 days to go.

FREE SPIRITS

Now this is why so many move to Pemberton, a small farming community 20 minutes north of our World-Famous-Ski Resort where even a cup of Starbucks will set you back more than it will anywhere else on the globe. The land up north is cheaper, the skiers bigger, the summers hotter, and the spirits freer. Plus the growing season is longer — putting Pemberton squarely on the map as the key supplier of seed potatoes to the North American market.

And on the writing front:

Inspired by the likes of Alison Kent, Jon Scalzi, Justine Larbalestier, and Elizabeth Bear (ever read her stuff on POV? Excellent!) ….

 I, Loreth Anne White, do solemnly swear never to comment on an Amazon customer review [for one of my own books]. If I ever succumb to said stupid temptation you have my permission to force-feed me a mixture of the five vilest substances known to humanity: steak tartar, a bowl of hot baby eels, raw sea urchin, and tongue!

 And yes … I have tried those ‘substances’. And yes … they are truly vile

Anyone else want to join in making the vow?

Off to squeeze in a 16 kilometre run now ….  BTW –> there is a point to that photograph of those three free spirits against the backdrop of wild Mount Currie — it’s the germ of a new trilogy. PLEASE, somebody stop me …:) … I have to write three more books before I can get to that one …