Good Monday Morning! It's COLD in Georgia and I am grateful for the fireplace. You will not believe who came by to visit.

This post is proudly a stop on the TEXAS TWO STEP Blog Tour. For a complete listing of all stops on this tour, please visit here. All contests are for U.S. residents only unless otherwise noted. Comments left on this blog will be counted toward the Texas Two Step Faithful Follower Gift Certificate. To see a complete listing of Blog Tour Prizes, click here. Be sure to check out the freebies. Yours for the asking as long as they last.

Hey, there Cyndi! Come closer and get warm and give me a hug. The ladies will be here to warm up eventually. I am so proud of your sales. What have you brought with you? Oh, my goodness. Who needs a fireplace with him around?

A big ole PINK FUZZY THANK YOU to the ladies of the Pink Fuzzy Slippers Blog for hosting me today on this stop of my blog tour. At one time I used to blog with these gals and got to know them quite well. A more totally rad group of ladies never existed. I’m thrilled to be back and even more thrilled that I’m kicking off something very special with today’s post --a 10-day Prequel to Texas Two Step.

Texas Two Step doesn’t open with my hero (Mitch Landry) and heroine (Olivia Montgomery) meeting for the first time. They’d met and fallen in love ten years prior. So I thought it might be fun to visit some of the early days of their relationship, when the love is fresh and new…before fate steps in and slaps them upside the head.

They meet at The Bourbon Cowboy, a local bar known to be “the” hangout for SMU (Southern Methodist University) law students. But that’s not why Olivia takes her best friend there to have a drink. Olivia and her best friend, Emily, have both just turned twenty-one. The Montgomery family tradition is a shot of bourbon at The Bourbon Cowboy as the first legal drink. Since her older brothers did it, Olivia has to do it, too. The evening didn’t turn out exactly as she’d planned. If you’d like to read The Meeting-Part One, click HERE.

Let’s talk about our first “legal” drinks. Notice the “legal” is in quotes. I suspect some of us might have just tasted alcohol before we turned twenty-one. I’ll tell you my story and you tell me yours.

When I turned twenty-one, I was dating the guy who would become my first husband (and my first and only ex-husband.) We were in Hot Springs, Arkansas staying at my parents’ house. Most of you know nothing about Hot Springs, but back then, there were quite a few topless bars. I was dying to see the inside of one, so of course Hubby #1 took me there. We went on a double date with his roommate and one of my “not-quite twenty-one-year-old” friends. I remember some of that evening, but it’s been a long time ago and my memory isn’t what it used to be. (It’s my memory that’s the problem, not the amount of booze I drank that night. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) I remember the waitresses dancing on the bar when certain songs came on. That was fine but when one of these scantily-clad women jumped on top of the cigarette machine to shake her bootie, I almost fell out of my chair laughing, as did my friend. (Side note: Most of these gals should NOT have been in skimpy clothing…if you get my drift.) Our dates were trying to get us to shut-up as the bartender and burly guy at the door didn’t seem to find as much humor in the scene as we did.

We made it to a few other places that night, but again, this old-age memory can’t recall names and places. But I do remember that Hubby #1 got totally soused. We stayed at my parents’ house that night. The next morning my mother served scrambled eggs for breakfast. Hubby #1 had to make a mad dash for the bathroom. Through the wall, we could all hear him “relaunching” those eggs into the toilet. When he came back out, everyone tried to pretend nothing had happened.

Now that I think about it, my parents weren’t all that upset when we divorced. Maybe it was the eggs.

So the floor is open…Tell us about the day you turned twenty-one. Was it memorable or just another day? Did you have your first drink or your first “legal” drink? What was your first legal drink? Did you have scrambled eggs for breakfast the next day?

Today’s TTS Blog Tour Prize

Many guest bloggers can offer a copy of a backlist book to be given away as a potential prize for a blog commenter. As a debut author, I don’t have a backlist. But I do have some awesome author friends who have stepped forward and offered one of their books as a prize.

Today’s TTS Blog Tour Author Sponsor is Turquoise Morning Press author Margaret Ethridge. Margaret will send her January 2012 release, Commitment, to one lucky person who leaves a comment. To find out more about today’s Blog Tour Sponsor, you can visit her website, Twitter or Facebook.

To learn more about me check out the links below:

To learn more about me check out these links:

Website , Facebook. Twitter, Group Blog , and Personal Blog

And if those aren’t enough, sign up for inside scoops and special contests by receiving the newsletter I share with my blog buddies.

Remember! Leave a comment for a chance to win Margaret’s book!

Texas Two Step is available for preordering at Samhain, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble and I will be forever in your debt if you would buy it!

Tomorrow’s Tour Stop is at Delilah Devlin’s Blog and episode Two of The Meeting. Hope to see you there!

Who's your favourite Bond, and why?

I had mixed feelings when Daniel Craig was chosen for the new Bond. Don't get me wrong – I love Daniel Craig. I first noted him in Tomb Raider back in 2001 and said to Husband, "you know, he'd make a good Bond..." Husband scoffed. After all, who'd ever heard of a blond, not-exactly-classically-handsome 007? By the time Craig had Layer Cake under his belt in 2004, Husband was seeing my point of view.

But I was biased, anyway. Because in 2001 I was already creating a blond, suave, secretive character. And by 2003 I was writing Alan Waring his own 'spy' book, Dangerous Lies.

I'll confess I didn't have Craig specifically in mind at the start of it, but by the end it was hard to keep him out of it. And there are worse fates than having Alan Waring, in the shape of Daniel Craig, living in your head for a while *g*.

So I was pleased – ecstatic, really – when Casino Royale proved me right! Craig made a fabulous James Bond. For my money, the best yet.

But there was a problem. You see, now everyone would think I was blatantly jumping on the band wagon with my own golden-spy. I promise you, cross my heart and hope to die, I thought of him first!

I'll even go so far as to say that there are bits of Dangerous Lies that owe a very humble, respectful allegiance to Bond. I've always had a weakness for that uncompromising, death defying, ultimate spy.

But, for your money, whose Bond haunts you most? Leave a comment, and I'll pick a winner to receive a signed copy of Dangerous Lies!

Anna Louise Lucia's latest book, Dangerous Lies, is out now. "Marianne Forster was only spending time with a gorgeous man in the hot sun of Morocco. It wasn't anything more than that... until she was kidnapped on the way home."

All About Romance awarded Dangerous Lies an 'A' review, and their 'Desert Isle Keeper' status, saying, "Holy golly Moses. I've never put a publishing company on my auto buy list, but if this is what Medallion is putting out, considering the other recent stellar reviews here at AAR, I might just have to change my mind."

Before I left blogging with my gals here at PFSW, I begged Anna Louise Lucia to visit the blog when her next book came out. Well, it's out! And she's here. Before I post her blog, I wanted to tell you about her and her new book. Anna Louise Lucia lives on the edge of the English Lake District with her husband and four demanding cats. With castles, mountains, stone circles, ancient woodlands, Roman roads, high moors, mirrored lakes and sweet, clear rivers on her doorstep, it’s hardly surprising that landscapes play an important part in Anna’s books.

After completing a degree in Wildlife and Landscape Conservation, Anna came to live by the Lake District in 1996. Working for a charity helping rural communities to manage local projects doesn’t leave much time for writing, but early mornings, late nights and long lunch breaks all help keep the words coming.

Anna has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, but first sat down to write a novel in 2001. She rewrote it in 2002. And 2005. And 2006. In between rewrites, she wrote three other books, but the first one just wouldn’t go away.

She loves to write stories where ordinary people do extraordinary things, where they experience wild adventures and face up to risk, temptation and death. After all, love is dangerous.

Her new book is: Dangerous Lies

Marianne Forster was only spending time with a gorgeous man in the hot sun of Morocco.
It wasn’t anything more than that - until she was kidnapped on the way home.

In the fatal heat of the Sahara Desert, Alan Waring extracts a smart card from a laptop computer held in the hands of a baked corpse. This is his assignment. This is what he does best. The information this card holds changes the rest of his life. What was once just a job turns into a life-altering experience that brings him in touch with his inner spirit and a woman who reaches into his very soul. When she accidentally walks off with his bag and the precious data it contains, Alan must pursue this vulnerable woman into the dangerous clutches of the Algerian enemy to save his career and to protect the passion of his heart.

Mari Forster has always dreamed of visiting Morocco. Grieving over the death of her father, she visits a dilapidated home once owned by her grandfather. In the decayed, neglected courtyard of this abandoned residence, she encounters Alan. She doesn’t anticipate meeting the man who will bring vigor and joy back into her life. Nor does she realize her chance interlude is with an undercover agent.

Alan senses Mari’s loneliness and cannot focus on his assigned task. Under the scorching sun on treacherous arid terrain, he discovers that Mari fills a void inside that the thrill-seeking part of his character has never acknowledged. He must be her hero . . . or they both will die.

Jean Wan of All About Romance give DANGEROUS LIES her highest rating of "A" and "Dessert Island Keeper" Teri of Night Owl Romance calls DANGEROUS LIES a fast paced mystery that kept her interested from page one...an excellent story. Dee Daily of The Romance Studio says DANGEROUS LIES is a well crafted tale that takes us places we may never go on our own Buy DANGEROUS LIES from Medallion Press Buy DANGEROUS LIES from Amazon

Friday, April 18, 2009


I am so THRILLED to have one of my oldest writing buddies join us today at PFSW. I met Susan Shay in the Fall of 2005 before I wrote my first word. I've had the privilege of watching her career grow from her first book to now.

Help me welcome Susan to our little home on the internet.

Susan - sit and get comfortable. (*hands her the complementary pink fuzzy slippers*). Tell us all about your new book...

Thanks for letting me wear the pink, fuzzy slippers today. I always enjoy your blogs!

I'm so excited! Today is the release of my second book, BLIND SIGHT! I can hardly keep from stopping strangers just to tell them about it.

Cassie Reynolds is channeling the dreams of a serial killer. But without the resources to stop him—if she's able to discover who he is—how can she succeed? Only cynical Keegan Flynn, who believes in nothing and no one, has the tools needed to complete her gift. Will Cassie be able to make Keegan believe in time, or will Christmas this year be murder?

In BLIND SIGHT a touch psychic and a man who doesn't believe in anything fall in love.

One of the first things I do when I start a manuscript is to "discover" the characters. Cassie Reynolds and Keegan Flynn are the outcome of a conversation I had one day with an old friend. It's when I realized how very different we are.

I'm terribly empathetic. I can put myself in almost anyone's shoes. My friend can only see things one way—hers. I can't talk her over to my side. I can't make her see reason. She always knows what's right...She is.

From my sympathetic soul, Cassie was born. If she touches a man, she not only feels what he feels, she lives it with him. Before the book begins she touched a postman who kidnapped a child and is keeping her in his basement. Cassie saw what he'd done, then kept him in the store so she could alert the police.

Keegan, on the other hand, has a hard heart. His parents belonged to a cult with a false leader he calls Boz. His first big break in a newspaper was when he visited his parents' cult. The leader walked on water and turned water to wine, amazing his followers and taking their money.

Keegan was able to prove the man was a fake, wrote about it for his newspaper, where it hit the AP. Rather than appreciate their son, his parents disowned him for it. After that, he knew he'd never again believe in anything except his sister.

Here's where Keegan learns about Cassie.

It was all Keegan could do to keep from swearing. Cassie claimed to be psychic? And worse, Miriam believed it? What sort of game was this woman playing? “So Cassie told you she was psychic?”

“She’s lived here in the apartment on the top floor for a couple of years, Keegan. She’s my friend and trusts me to keep her secret.”

“Cassie’s the newest princess in the tower?” Unable to stifle a bark of laughter, he snorted loudly. “God, Miriam, you’re such an easy mark. Hey, if we ask really nice and cross her palm with gold, maybe the all-knowing, all-seeing Miss Cassie will read our futures, too.”

Making shushing sounds like a leaky gas pipe, Miriam fluttered her hands at him. “Don’t say that, Keegan. If she heard you, it would hurt her feelings.”

“Aw, hell, Sis. If she’s psychic, she can probably pick up what I’m saying even in the tower.” Hoping to make his point, he fixed his gaze on her and raised his brows. “Let’s try to see this clearly. As a psychic, able to hear every voice speaking at this moment, how would she know which one was mine? And if, like most telepaths, she can also hear thoughts, and everyone in the entire world is not only talking but also thinking at the same time, doesn’t she get confused?”

With a stern look, Miriam folded her arms and leaned back in the chair. “I didn’t say she was a telepath. And besides, it doesn’t work like that. At least, for Cassie it doesn’t. For her, it’s usually touching something or someone that tells her. It’s called psyc-psychometry, I think. She really doesn’t like to talk about it much.”

“Right,” he scoffed. “She doesn’t like to talk about it. So why was the story in the paper?”

Her frown deepened. “The story came from the police, not Cassie. And if you read it again, you’ll see her name’s not mentioned anywhere. She wouldn’t do that.”

All he could do was to lay it on the line for her. With any luck, she’d come to her senses.

“Listen to me, Miriam. She’s following the usual pattern—it’s how these people work. They come on as if they’re your friends to get you on their side. They fill you full of bull, and because you like them so much, you believe anything they tell you. So when it’s time for them to start spreading their crap around town, they don’t even have to fight their own battles. They have you to do it for them.”

Keegan decides to debunk her, and so he has to spend time with her to learn all he can.

“Oh, I can find my way around her. In my hands, this baby will be very happy.” Gingerly caressing the leather-covered steering wheel, he glanced at Cassie in the semi-darkness to see her mouth drop open.

While he hadn’t intended to give the words a sexy spin, seeing her face after she took the phrase the wrong way—eyes at halfmast, cheeks pinking, and her glistening bottom lip caught between her teeth—made him wish he could do it again.

“That’s right. You owned a Volkswagen in college, didn’t you?” Her voice rasped slightly as she buckled her seatbelt, then leaned away from him to angle her back against the door. In a play of shadow and light, the simple red dress she wore made her body look perfect, touchable, kissable.

When she finally turned her head to look at him, the heat in her gaze stole the air from his lungs. Without breath, he COULDN’T speak or think, so he nodded. It didn’t matter what she’d asked. Whatever it was, he’d do it. Or find it. Or climb it. Or build it.

For the woman gazing at him with eyes that could heat his very marrow, he’d do anything at all. Even take on a monster, if need be.

Later Cassie touches a cup in the library coffee shop and "lives" the memory of a murder. She soon learns he's not just a murderer, he's a serial killer, and she can't stop him alone. She needs Keegan to help her, but he doesn't believe in what she is.

Will she convince him in time to stop the murderer or will Christmas this year be murder?

Thanks for letting me stop by!

I'm giving away a copy of BLIND SIGHT. Just comment to get your name in the drawing!

Thanks Susan! Blind Sight is from Wild Rose Publishing. It sounds wonderful.

This interview is also posted at Cynderella's Castle. Comment there for two chances at this wonderful book.

Until Next Time!

Cyndi

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

My good friend, KAY THOMAS, is celebrating the release of her second book by having a CONTEST!

"HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?"

Bulletproof Sighting Contest

Spot KAY's April Intrigue, BULLETPROOF TEXAS, on store shelves and be eligible to win a gift card to Barnes & Noble for $15, $10 or $5.

Here’s how it works:

1. You see Kay's book, BULLETPROOF TEXAS, on the shelf at: Barnes & Noble, Borders, an Independent bookseller, Books A Million, Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, the grocery — wherever Harlequin Intrigues are sold retail in the US. (Sorry, no resale allowed in this particular contest.)

2. Snap a picture with your phone or digital camera. Make sure Kay can tell the book is in the bookstore from your picture. Take the shot of the book on the shelf, at the checkout etc. Put yourself in the pic, too! (I’ll be posting the winners names and photos here on my website.)

3. Send the picture to: contest@kaythomas.net

If you are sending from your phone, be sure to include your email address. Don’t forget to include the store’s name and location with the picture:

Store Name

Your town, USA
4. If you are my first “in store” Bulletproof sighting, you win a $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble. She’ll randomly draw from the rest of the entries for a $10 gift card winner and a $5 gift card winner.

Can’t snap a picture? You can still enter:

Email Kay the store name, the store’s physical address and the store phone number.

Contest starts April 6. Official release day is April 14. (Many times books are put on the shelves several days early, so keep an eye out!) Entry into contest puts you on my newsletter mailing list. Contest ends and winners will be announced May 11.

Questions? Email Kay at: contest@kaythomas.net

Here's a little more about the book:


TRAILER FOR BULLETPROOF



The Bulletproof action continues in BULLETPROOF TEXAS when a brooking ex-park ranger and a sexy research scientist fight for control over a cave that holds the secret to curing cancer.


Nothing and no one could him... Except maybe a beautiful doctor full of secrets.

Escorting Dr. Maxine (Max) O’Neil into the cave known as Devil’s Hallow was Zach Douglas’s job. Relishing the sparring matches with the type-A scientist was his pleasure. He ran the show in the Texas Hill Country cavern—until sabotage and murder struck the site. Hours spent in the dark, cozied up in tight quarters with Max had shown Zach her passionate side. Now he wanted to see the truthful one. What was in that cave that was worth dying for? Only one thing was for sure” Whether Max liked it or not, Zach would de everything in his power to keep them from being Devil’s Hollow’s next casualties.

Reviews:

Scientist Max O’Neil things there may be cure for cancer in the clear waters of a pond recently discovered in an underground cavern. Her pharmaceutical company sends her out there to investigate. But park ranger Zach Douglas’ sister was killed by a corrupt pharmaceutical company’s renegade enforcer, so he doesn’t buy Max’s explanations that she’s conducting research for women’s cosmetics. Then equipment is sabotaged, a student is murdered and rumors of diamonds have desperate townspeople trying to close down the cavern for their own exploration. Thomas’ characters are not easy to like, but the unwinding plot it taut, tricky and worth the read.
--Pat Cooper / Romantic Times BOOKreviews
4 stars.


With non-stop action, nail-biting suspense and fiery passion, Kay Thomas pens Bulletproof Texas, leading us further into the world of pharmaceuticals.
--Debby Guyette / Cataromance reviews
4 ½ stars

Read an EXCERPT


Buy BULLETPROOF TEXAS

UPDATE: Saturday April 11 - The WINNER of the ARC is Barbara Monajem! Everyone who commented HERE and at Cynthiadalba.blogspot.com got three chances. Everyone else was entered one. Winner chosen by Random number generator. Congrats Barbara!

Tuesday April 7, 2009

A couple of weeks ago, Alison Kent tweeted "Anyone want an ARC of NO LIMITS for a blog review?" My little fingers couldn't fly across the keys any faster than they did to answer that tweet! (For those who are unfamiliar with "Tweeting", it's a 140 character post on Twitter). I snagged a copy! Now, at this point, I must confess...I am an Alison Kent Fangirl. I have read her books for a long time. To snag an ARC for a book that comes out in May put in an euphoric high!

Be sure to read to the bottom for a surprise.....

Here is the "official" book blurb from Amazon:

The Heat is On...

Simon Baptiste's latest SG-5 mission just went south in a major way. It seems like a good time to take care of some business back home in Louisiana. Simon knows it ain't going to be pretty. He's got old enemies in Bayou Allain who won't exactly roll out the red carpet. But Simon's first night back is more than he bargained for. Not only has the homestead gone to hell in a hand basket, but there's a half-naked woman hiding inside it - a woman whose face Simon knows all too well. It's Michelina Ferrer, the sultry spokes-model for her family's Ferrer fragrance empire - and Simon's been staring at her picture on a billboard outside his Manhattan apartment for weeks...

And It's Only Getting Hotter...

Micky Ferrer came down to Bayou Allain looking for her old college friend, only to discover that Lisa Landry has been missing for days. As soon as Micky starts asking questions, someone runs her car off the road. She's hiding out in the old Baptiste place when Simon shows up - and he's the hottest thing she's laid eyes on since she got to town. Simon agrees that something strange is going on and that Lisa's disappearance may be tied to it. As he and Micky search for answers, the sweltering heat makes it hard to keep their heads straight or their hands off each other...even as they unravel the small-town secrets that some people are willing to kill for...

Here's my take on the book:

Simon Baptiste is a well-developed, imperfect hero, suffering from job burn-out, as well as guilt from a job gone bad. He needs a break from his work with the special SG-5 team. No amount of alcohol or conversations with the hot model on the billboard across from his apartment window is helping. He left some unfinished business twenty years ago in Louisiana...an inherited homestead that he's left to a property management company to handle, except none of his renters stays. It's time to sell it and move on with his life. Except selling that homestead will do nothing to resolve his family problems with the man he considered close as a brother...his cousin, Kingdom Trahan. Simon arrives at his Louisiana house to find a partially clothed woman who claims someone just tried to kill her. Interesting that this half-naked woman looks so much like the model from the billboard.

Micky Ferrer, daughter of Edoardo Ettore Ferrer, public face of and spokesmodel for Ferrer Fragrances, has to get out of town FAST...before her father's personal assistant has time to show him the pictures of her dancing sans panties on a tabletop. A long overdue visit to her good friend, Lisa Landry in Louisiana would be the perfect escape, only once Micky arrives in Bayou Allain she finds that Lisa is missing. A few little questions gets her run off the road and into the arms of Simon Baptiste. It's obvious to Simon that Micky could use a little help finding her friend while continuing to stay alive.

Alison does a fantastic job capturing the flavor of the Louisiana bayou. At times, I could hear the Cajun accents as each character acted out his part. I could feel the heat, the sweat. I could smell the aromas she describes. I came to care about the main characters, as well as the secondary character, Kingdom Trahan. (I sincerely hope she has plans for King in another book.) While the "bad guys" were known throughout the book, it didn't distract from the strong story telling. The dialog is realistic. The characters are layered and complex. One of the ways I judge if a book is working for me is when the characters continue to live in my mind even when I'm not reading the book. These characters did that for me.

I read many of Alison Kent's books and they never disappoint. I can, without reservation, recommend NO LIMITS, but only if you like strong, sexy heroes with strong sexy heroines!

One word of warning...This is one of the those books you don't want to put down when you start and one you hate to see end.

Now, the surprise....

This review is posted here and also on Cynderella's Castle. I am giving away a copy of a "gently" read ARC to one lucky person. If you comment here, you have one chance. If you comment on both blogs, you have three chances.

Trust me... You WANT this book!

Now, in the comments, tell me the best romance you've read lately and why that book really did it for you.

Good Luck and Good reading!

To Order NO LIMITS:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million

Thursday, March 11, 2009

Howdy! I'm home from Florida but I've still got a few pictures I haven't had a chance to share. So, today's post is bits and pieces from Florida.

These are flowers brought by Lee Duncan to a dinner party I held. Pictures of the cook-out are below.
One of my friend, Kristen Painter, had recently sold her first book to Angela James at Samhain Publishers. What a great excuse reason for a party! The ice cream cake from Brusters was wonderful.

Kristen Painter with her cake (And Roxanne St. Claire trying to get in the picture!)

Roxanne St. Claire (Oh no, that's not a huge bottle of wine!)

Lara Santiago and Lee Duncan

These distinguished gentlemen are our spouses. I won't say who goes with who. I'll let you try to figure that out.


Some time ago, (January) I posted a blog with pictures of the wonderful variety of golf carts at The Great Outdoors Resort in Titusville, Fl. (I've linked to that blog in case you missed it.) At that time, someone (I think it was Kristen Painter) wanted a Jeep cart. Someone else wanted a Rolls Royce. I drove around until I could meet these requests! LOL

First up is a '57 Chevy. Isn't it wonderful? The day I took the pictures, the weather was a little chilly, so the side panels were down. Didn't distract from the cuteness.

Front

Rear

Next up for Kristen is a Jeep, a red Jeep Wrangler to be exact! It's for sale but I never had the nerve to ask "How Much?" Probably between $10K-$15k. Shocking, huh?



Last, but not least was the golf cart version of the Rolls Royce. This is an older car but maybe the most unusual styling and features.

But the outside style was only the start. I had to climb inside to take pictures of some of the unique features of this car.

See the two switches? The upper one is for the windshield wipers. The bottom on is for the AIR CONDITIONER! There is an A/C vent to the right.

There was a sunroof that actually opened to allow a breeze in while you drive.

Behind the seats is an ice cooler.

I'm glad to be home, but I look forward to going back next year! Hope you enjoyed all my pictures this year.

Until Next Time

Thursday, March 4, 2009

From ArkansasCyndi: I am so pleased to welcome Margaret Golla to Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers as our guest blogger today. I met Margaret in 2005 at the first writers' conference I ever attended... RWI's fall conference (Tulsa's RWA chapter). Today, I consider Margaret one of my closest writing friends. I don't let many people give me critiques of my writing, but Margaret is one of few people I listen to! She's funny, dry, and totally warped! Best roomie at RWA Nationals EVER! So without further ado, here's Margaret...

I stole borrowed this topic from Kristen Nelson’s blog Pub Rants. When I was growing up, I never had a pet, not even a fish or hamster. Dad didn’t like animals. Don’t know why, maybe it was because the house was already a zoo with nine of us kids running around. Anyhoo, when I turned sixteen I started working for a veterinarian. Someone had dropped off a Great Dane puppy for adoption, the owner lived in the apartment and he didn’t realize how large Great Dane’s got—uh, for general purposes here, Dude was a moron only an idiot would think a Dane was an apartment-sized dog—yes, I know people own Great Danes in New York City, but in Oklahoma? Come on. So, I brought Gretchen home, and she became one of the family until she died during my second semester of college.

I love animals. All animals, even the nasty wildcat that bit through my thick leather gloves. Currently, we have a small menagerie, consisting of fish, guinea pig, cat, and dog, though in the past we’ve had rabbits, hamsters, and horses.

And, yes, I do write animals in my stories. Doesn’t everyone?

Sometimes they are the invention of my imagination, like Inky, the scuttling shadow, or Ted, a Stitch-like six-legged creature from another universe. I’ve also written horses, dogs and cats into my stories. I’ve even written a picture book where the main character, a fly, has a pet aphid. Yeah, I like my critters. I think they give an additional dimension to my stories by way of characterization. The reader can learn a lot about your characters by the way they interact with our fuzzy/scaly friends.

Now, Pub Rants original blog post was basically in response to another blog post about the lack of characters in science fiction/futuristic/fantasies. I find this amazing considering how many writers DO write animals in their stories. They could be your basic dog, cat, or not:

· Jim Butcher’s Dresden series—Mister the tomcat, and Mouse, the temple dog

· Andre Norton & Robert A. Heinlein—cats

· Jayne Castle’s (Jayne Ann Krentz) Harmony series has omnivorous dust bunnies (LOVE THEM!) Uh, a word to the wise, don’t get on their wrong side

· Robin D. Owens has various critters throughout her Heart series

· Johanna Lindsey had a futuristic with saber tooth’s as pet felines

· Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series has fire lizards

And some movies:

· Star Trek’s Tribbles—cute fuzzies, but bred faster than rabbits

· Alien (#1) had an orange tabby cat Riley went back to rescue

I know I’ve missed tons of fuzzy critters, but these were the few examples I could think of off the top of my head.

So what’s your take on pets in novels? Love them? Hate them? Will always write some sort of critter into your story?

Joanne is usually our "Deal of the Day" to-go gal, but I found this today and thought I'd pass it along.

Westinghouse 26-inch Widescreen 1080P LCD Monitor

$239.99
PLUS $0.00 SHIPPING

From New Day New Deal

Immerse yourself in the largest and most stunning monitor from Westinghouse to date 26" LCD monitor L2610NW. This captivating monitor delivers beyond 1080p quality with 1920 x 1200 resolution and a dynamic contrast of 3000:1. With a 2ms response time, this monitor is a perfect fit for gaming, watching TV and DVD and surfing the Internet. This sleek LCD monitor features an impeccable industrial design accentuated with a piano black bezel.

Features
Maximum Resolution 1920 x 1200
Manufacturer Westinghouse Digital Electronics
Color Black Cabinet
Actual Screen Size 26"
Standard Warranty 1 Year
Dimensions 20" Height x 23.9" Width x 8.3" Depth - With Base
Widescreen Yes
Manufacturer Part Number L2610NW-SP
Weight 15.2 lb - With Base
Manufacturer Website Address www.westinghousedigital.com
Brightness 350 Nit
Ports 1 x HDMI-HDCP Digital Audio/Video
1 x 15-pin HD-15 VGA
1 x Audio Line In
Green Compliance Yes
Product Name L2610NW Widescreen LCD Monitor
Pixel Pitch 0.287mm
Green Compliance Certificate/Authority Energy Star
Maximum Response Time 5ms
Aspect Ratio 16:10
Product Type LCD Monitor
Horizontal Viewing Angle 170
Vertical Viewing Angle 160

PFSW reoccurring blogger EDIE RAMER is one of the final four remaining contestants in American Title V with her manuscript DEAD PEOPLE.

Vote for Edie’s entry by sending an email to votes@romantictimes.com with DEAD PEOPLE in the subject line. (One vote per person.)

Help Edie achieve her lifelong dream by voting for Dead People.

Many bodies sleep in your bed? You? A Spouse? A child? In my world, it should be just me and my husband. We have a king size bed. It SHOULD be adequate, shouldn't it? Except, last night I found my leg and arm hanging off the bed. Why? I had no room. See the picture? That's my "baby." Her name is Jill. She is a Flat Coated Retriever. She THINKS she's a 9 or 10 pound lap dog. She weighs closer to 90, but does that stop her from being a lap dog? No. Of course not.

Last night, she was the bed dog. At one point, I woke up and she was using my stomach for a pillow! But look at that sweet face.

I have to be honest...she's like sleeping with a 1500 watt heater! She's great on a cold night!
Anyone else have a bed heater dog?

Let’s talk crisis of faith. No, not church and God. The “I-suck-so-why-do-I-write crisis of faith. There’s no reason to assure me that everyone goes through these. And it doesn’t help to point out famous authors who still bemoan their lack of understanding as to why anyone would buy their books. Get a grip. You’re a good writer. You know it. I know it. Your readers know it.

But enough about them...Moving on to today’s topic, Is it all worth it?

When you were a teen, with all that teenage angst about new love, did you and the new love of your life have “your song”...that one song that when it came on the radio made you stop and dreamily think about him or her? Sort of a theme song for your romance? I know I was always a sucker for “our theme song”, whatever it was with whoever it was. Funny, but now, I can only remember one “our song” for one high school honey.

By now you’re probably wondering if I’ve forgotten my meds and what does my crisis of faith about writing have to do with songs? Rest assured (Shayla) that I’ve taken my meds and my mind is a “sharp” as ever. But lately I’ve been asking myself if it’s all worth it... the writing, the rejection, the stumbling as you try to put the movie running in your head into coherent and clever words on a page. The continued (seemingly) daily bombardment of bad news from the publishing industry--editors laid-off, divisions closed, fewer books published, another e-publisher out of business. Is it worth it?

As I sit here and beat myself up with self-doubts and paralyzing negativism, the same song runs through my head as though on loop. How Bad Do You Want It*.

What does it take
To reach out and touch your dreams?
Are you hungry?
Are you thirsty?
Is it a fire that burns you up inside?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line

So, how bad do I want it? Need it? I can’t answer that today. But maybe you can. Tell me about you? How bad do you want it? Need it? What are you willing to do to get it? And if you’ve “made it”, was it worth it?

*How Bad Do You Want It from Tim McGraw’s album Live Like You Were Dying. Incredible album.