October 30, 2006

RULES OF RE-ENGAGEMENT

Look what blew in with the snow — My December book!! And I love the fact there is snow dusting the hero’s wool coat.

The first review has come in, too: “A thrilling conclusion to an adventure-filled saga.” —Sandra Garcia-Myers, ROMANTIC TIMES.

I can live with that

In some ways, receiving this final box of author copies in the trilogy symbolizes the end of what felt like a very busy year. Three books written, one online read written, one marathon run, another 3-book contract in the pipe… maybe this is why I feel so bone tired today??? But then …. I tell myself, it’s time to get up, dust off, and  do it all over again And that includes another marathon before Christmas ….

Um … does someone want to remind me WHY I wanted to do two marathons this year??? Seriously, I have forgotten ….

CAUGHT WITH THE MERC … AND POPPLE!!

Jessica with her ’lap warmer’ Popple, snapped reading the MERCENARY in the UK :) Thank you JESS!!!!!!

Send me a digital photo of yourself or a friend caught with one of my SHADOW SOLDIERS books for a chance to WIN an RWA membership or six-month book subscription from Harlequin (including imprints from Intrigue, to SRS, to HQN and MIRA — winner’s choice)  Details –>here. 

October 29, 2006

SOOOO, MUM …

“… If those are all your manuscripts, how come you don’t have more books published??”

Out of the mouths of babes!

I’m doing a little housekeeping this weekend That’s only half my pile. I’m thinking I don’t really need to keep the original submission version, the post-revision version, the rejected version, the copy-edited version, the author alteration version … of each manuscript, right?

Or not?

October 28, 2006

ENTRAPMENT

Somebody (okay, okay … some bear) better get his big fuzz-butt into hibernation before he’s lured by the fishy bag hanging in this trap. Not so fun to have to be relocated just before the snow flies, I imagine.

***

And on a work note, I just want to say how much I love Amelia Richard – and not only because she’s given me some AWESOME reviews. She’s a true lover of the genre and an absolute pleasure to ‘do business’ with. Amelia, if you’re out there, I really hope to meet you some day in the not-too-distant future.

Her latest review - up at Cataromance.

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AMERICAN TITLE III:

The scoop: According to Dorchester senior editor Leah Hultenschmidt, the entry call for this year’s AMERICAN TITLE contest yielded more than 250 manuscripts. And from those hundreds, Dorchester selected only 10 finalists whose projects range from humorous to suspenseful. BUT, while the veteran AT judges will certainly offer their opinions (no holds barred), it is YOU — the voter — who gets to decide which one of those 10 writers crosses the publishing threshold.

YOU get to say who gets a book deal — a publishing contract  — from Dorchester.

I can only imagine the tension, and do I ever feel for those writers. But I also know that each and every one of them has already won in one way … because Dorchester has clearly deemed each of them publishable. Dorchester is, after all, going to be bound to go to contract with whomever YOU vote for. You can bet they’re going to have made sure they’re comfortable with each and every one of those finalists in the batch.

Sooo … while they are all clearly excellent writers, it simply comes down to numbers right now. And your personal favorite. But whatever your taste, please do vote. Because come Monday, two contestants are going to be booted off that Romantic Times island. The deadline for casting your ballot on the BEST FIRST LINE is midnight EST on Sunday, October 29.

I’m subtle, eh?

October 27, 2006

RED SKY WARNING

You know what they say about a red sky in the morning … a shepherd’s warning? Well, Mother Nature, she don’t lie. That startling red dawn shot from my deck heralded change all right — the heavens have suddenly turned dark and dropped low. Rain batters our roof and wind rattles branches outside. We have a fire crackling in the hearth, and the snow is falling thick up in the alpine. Winter, I believe, is officially nosing under the door.

And winter means books. Lots of books. And writing. By the fire

PS: Can you see two of my blue “babies” on the branches, waiting for their breakfast? I only noticed they were there watching me after I looked at the photo — it was pretty dark out.

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Love on the run? A  passion too dangerous? The next chapter of my online read goes live –> here. One chapter is posted on eHarlequin each day just after midnight EST. 

October 26, 2006

CAUGHT WITH THE SULTAN!!!

Mary Ann snapped with a copy of the SULTAN in Ithaca, New York! Thank you Mary Ann — who is now entered twice

To enter to WIN an RWA membership or six-month book subscription from Harlequin (including imprints from Intrigue, to SRS, to HQN and MIRA — winner’s choice) simply send me a digital photo of yourself or a friend caught with either my October, November or December book. Or send a pic with more than one of the SHADOW SOLDIERS trilogy, because each counts as an entry. Details –>here. 

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Will Grant and Elizabeth survive an emergency landing in the jungle? Will they be able to contain the virus? The next chapter of my online read goes live –> here. One chapter is posted on eHarlequin each day just after midnight EST.