Yesterday I blogged at EveryoneNeedsALittleRomance on why the designation of RWA PRO exists. It may come as a surprise to some PROs that it's to educate on the business side of publishing and not the craft side. If you didn't get to read yesterday's post, I've linked it above.
As we were chatting about PRO programs, PRO members, etc, it dawned on me that since some PROs may not have ever read the RWA National site for PROs, they may not be aware of four PRO Committees that they could get involved with.
The first is the PRO Steering committee. This committee is responsible for the direction PRO. It can be chaired by the PRO Liaison, but doesn't have to be. The committee is comprised of the members of three sub-committees:
PRO-Advocacy Responsible for the PRO Career series and the PRO Mentor of the Year
PRO Education Responsible for the PRO online BootCamps (If you don't know what those are...why not? It's free education for PRO members)
PRO Communications Responsible for the PRO Newsletter (What? You didn't know there was a PRO newsletter! It's wonderful) and for the PRO section of the RWA National website.
These are time intensive commitments...About 2 hours a month. Who can't give two hours a month to an organization who has given you so much. Two hours. That's nothing. That's only two Castle shows!
So here is my challenge to you. Tell me why you don't get involved (NO judgment on any answer) What would encourage you to get involved? How could RWA PRO help you to further your writing career?
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 IsleKeeper' 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 ownBuy DANGEROUS LIES from Medallion PressBuy DANGEROUS LIES from Amazon
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.
UPDATE: Ms. Shayla got her nails done and plum forgot to sent her contribution to the blog! But it's here now. She's below Kristina's post.
Today I am thrill to have the authors from Black Lace's latest anthology: Seductions. As I write this, I am waiting for the third author to join us, so if you see posts from Shada Royce and Kristisa Wright, but not one from Shayla Kersten, come back! Shayla's will be an addition to the blog today. Today's post is long, but I think if you read through it, you'll be wanting this book, which I am of course giving away to one lucky commenter.As always, comment here and on Cynderella's Castle for double the chance to win!
Shada Royce is a good friend I've known for about two years. I remember the first RWA chapter meeting she attended and she fit like a glove with this group. Not only does she write wonderful romance, she works a fulltime job as a civil engineer. She currently serves as our RWA chapter president, but will be missing our meeting this weekend. But she has a good excuse. She has been choosen Outstanding Alumni for the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. (If I've got the award wrong, I'm sure she'll correct me.) I believe this may be her first guest blog, so everyone be nice to her! Shada lives in Central Arkansas. When she isn't playing professional enginner, photographer, volunteer or mom, she spends her time writing and honing her craft.
Kristina Wright is one of my tweet buddies on Twitter. (If you don't know what Twitter is, get thee to Twitter.com and grab hold of the hottest thing going!) Since Shada and Shayla are both chaptermates and friends, I didn't hesitate to draft them to guest blog. Kristina answered my Twitter plea to visit PFSW and help us decorate the place for the day! Kristina claims to be an the insomniac writer whose mind is always working, even late into the night. She's a full-time writer, as well as a perpetual college student and community college adjunct. She lives in Virginia with her husband Jay and their menagerie of pets.
I asked each lady to basically tell us whatever she wanted to about her story in this anthology. Take it away, ladies!
Shada Royce
In the summer of 2008, fellow DSRA member and friend Delilah Devlin issued our chapter a challenge - answer the call for submissions for the 'Seduction' Anthology from Black Lace. I took the challenge on a whim, another opportunity to write a story and another opportunity to sumbit. I never imagined I'd be chosen for the Anthology and I am so excited to be published with such well-known erotica writers.
The 'Seduction' Anthology:
Twelve Steps is a story of a woman who sets out on a path to sexual self discovery by developing a twelve-step program which leads her to seduce a stranger in a library and thereby releaseing her inner vixen.The threat of having a tryst in a public location, with a stranger, only heightens her desire.In the end, she finds letting go of the reigns may be the ultimate step to any seduction.
EXCERPT:
‘Excuse me?’
The library attendant on duty turned around as I leaned across the counter. ‘Can I help you?’ He smiled, the small scar above his lip stretched with the action. My gaze focused on his firm, full lips. Flashes of how his hot, wet mouth would feel trailing a path down my shoulder made me dizzy. A wave of heat flashed over my skin as I considered what I was about to do, what I prayed I had the gumption to do.
A breeze drifted from the door to caress the length of my bare legs and flirt with the naked, heated flesh under my skirt. The cooling effect of the tendrils of the wind’s breath reminded me of my state of undress. Knowing I didn’t have on knickers brought a rush of fluttering sensations pulsing through my body, bringing goose bumps to my heated skin and tightening my over-sensitive nipples. I shifted over the counter, bringing my arms together so my breasts pushed against my hot pink tank top.
He glanced down at my cleavage then back to my face with little more than a blink.
I cleared my throat, a little unnerved by his nonchalance to my display. Looking around, I leaned over before whispering my request. ‘Do you have any books on oral sex?’
This time his eyebrows shot up into his hairline before snapping together in a tight vee over his blue eyes. ‘Is this some kind of joke?’
I leaned over further, giving him the full view down my shirt. ‘No, I’m doing research.’
‘On oral sex?’ His lips tilted to the side and my heart fluttered against my breast. Steadying my resolve, I stuffed back the urge to look away. Instead, I pinned him with what I hoped was my steamiest, come-hither look.
‘Uh-huh.’ I finally managed, and twisted my finger through a lock of my hair. The seconds between my question and his response stretched on. Would he tell me to get lost? Would he call security? My face bloomed with a rush of heat from the twisting of embarrassment tying a knot in my stomach.
‘On giving or receiving?’ he asked, breaking the unforgiving silence. The straight planes of his face revealed nothing behind his ice blue eyes. I swallowed, fighting the urge to tuck tail and run. Throwing caution to the wind, I glanced at him from beneath my lowered lashes.
‘Receiving.’ I managed in a low, sultry voice.
WOW SHADA! HOT HOT HOT!
Okay, Krisina. Take it away!
Hi there! I'm so delighted to be visiting Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers-- though I must confess I prefer bare feet to fuzzy slippers! I've been writing short erotic fiction for several years, but I've only recently begun writing erotic romance. My story in Seduction marks my first appearance in a Black Lace anthology, satisfying a long time dream! It's an honor to be included in the same anthology with Shayla Kersten and Shayda Royce.
"The Rancher's Wife" is a sensual, tension-filled reunion story about two very different people on the brink of divorce. The only thing they have in common is their passion for each other. Here's a taste:
Win groaned and the sound was primal and startling.
Leslie jerked her hand away as if she had been burned.He wrapped his long, callused
fingers around her wrist and pulled her hand back to his crotch, pressing it firmly against his erection, staring into her eyes.
Here was the power she missed and longed for, the raw, physical power that had nothing to do with money or prestige.Here was Win, in all his masculine glory, and heaven help her, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.
“You want this,” he said, and it wasn’t a question.
He had always been able to read her and had used it to his advantage.Teasing her, taunting her until she was out of her mind with lust and desire, a woman in need and only one man to satisfy her need.
He knew her, knew her better than anyone, and she hated it—and him—in that moment.Hated him almost enough to get up and walk out and not look back.Almost.
Almost.
Mmm... did I mention that Win is a cowboy? Who doesn't love a cowboy? :)
In addition to "The Rancher's Wife" in Seduction, I'm very excited to also have stories forthcoming in the Black Lace anthologies Liaisons and Sexy Little Numbers.
Thanks for this lovely opportunity to share my writing with you and I hope you all will stop by my blog www.kristinawright.com and say hello!
OH MY! Who doesn't love a cowboy!! I may have to enter myself in this book drawing! Now that Shayla Kersten's checked-in, tell us about your story.
Hiya! Yes, I am a ditz. I knew today was the release date of Seduction. And I knew I was supposed to have a blog post at Pink Fuzzy Slippers on the day Seduction released. Yet in my scatterbrained way, I didn’t associate the two with April 14!
The Shopping List was the result of a challenge among the Diamond State Romance Authors. Three of us submitted and two of us sold! I was thrilled to be in the anthology with galpal Shada!
A quick blurb: A shopgirl finds a man and woman helping themselves to the privacy of her store’s fitting room. She’s fascinated at the sexual freedom of the couple-something she longs for but can’t find the strength to do-until they catch her watching and invite her into their closeted playground. But what will her boyfriend do when he catches her in a threesome?
And then an excerpt:
At five minutes to closing, Morin Lansing flipped off the ‘open’ sign and the display window lights then stormed across the store to the dressing room. Paul would be here in half an hour to pick her up. Time to ask her customers to leave.
The man had insisted on being in the dressing room with his girlfriend…wife…
Whatever...
The two of them went through at least twenty different dresses. Three of the last four draped over the rod holding the privacy curtain.
Morin opened her mouth to speak but stopped as a soft moan slipped through the thin curtain. She raised her hand to knock on the doorframe but a breathy groan made her hesitate.
Peering through a tiny opening in the curtain, revealed the woman–fair and curvy–, her shoulders pressed against the wall with her hips pushed forward. The woman’s mouth hung agape, her tongue skittered across her full lower lip.
Morin dropped her gaze. Following the swell of the woman’s breasts, past the six hundred dollar dress–not yet paid for–hiked around her waist and found the dark-haired man with his face buried in the apex of the woman’s thighs. His hands rustled under a swath of expensive silk near her ass.
Heat swirled in Morin’s lower stomach. An ache of need reminded her of Paul’s recent neglect in the bedroom.
‘Jason…’ The woman breathed his name like a reverent prayer. ‘We shouldn’t…’
Jason lifted his head. ‘Come on, baby… You know the rules. If it’s on your list, you have to go through with it.’ The staid suit jacket was gone and his tie pulled loose, dangling down his open shirt.
‘List?’ Morin’s lips mouthed the word. Her teeth caught her bottom lip, forcing silence. Curiosity kept her still, suppressing a shiver of desire.
‘I know.’ The woman’s whisper was almost inaudible.
Jason’s hands ran down her thighs and back up again. ‘Hey, the list thing was your idea but we can stop if you want to.’
‘No!’ Her fingers ran through his hair. ‘No…’
This time the word was gentler. She banged the back of her head against the wall with a soft thud. ‘What if the salesgirl comes back?’
Standing, Jason planted a quick kiss on the woman’s mouth. He sucked on her lower lip then murmured, ‘Then we get caught. Wasn’t that part of the excitement? Part of what got you so hot to begin with?’
A shudder swept through Morin from the base of her neck, down her spine and straight to her sex. ‘You’re so sexy…standing there exposing yourself,’ Jason mumbled between kisses. ‘Sara, so hot…’
Sara wrapped one leg around Jason’s thigh. Her body undulated against her lover’s crotch. A flush reddened her creamy breasts rising up her throat then to her face. ‘Yes…’ Her whisper barely reached Morin’s ears. ‘Let’s do it.’
The Shopping List is my first story with Black Lace. Another DSRA challenge resulted in the sale of my story In Heat, which will be in the anthology Sexy Little Numbers in August. This time, four Diamonds submitted and three sold! Give us time and we’ll have a Black Lace antho with all the Diamonds in it! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks ladies for dropping by. This sounds like a wonderful anthology!
All Of Me Warner Forever ISBN: 0446502057 April 2009
Recently on Twitter, Grand Central Publishers asked if anyone wanted a copy of ALL OF ME by Lori Wilde to read and do a review. I jumped on it! Here's the "official" blurb:
Can two broken hearts become one?
Attorney Jillian Samuels doesn't believe in true love and never, ever wished for happily ever after. But when a searing betrayal leaves her jobless and heartbroken, a newly inherited cottage in Salvation, Colorado, seems to offer a fresh start. What she finds when she arrives shocks her: the most gorgeous and infuriating man she's ever met is living in her home!
Tuck Manning was a gifted architect who left a skyrocketing career to care for his dying wife. But the life he's made for himself in this quiet town is turned upside down when Jillian appears on his doorstep. Tuck won't go without a fight, and the two resolve to live as roommates until they can untangle who owns the cottage. Yet as Tuck and Jillian's days--and nights--heat up, they realize more than property rights are at stake...and that sometimes, salvation comes when you least expect it.
Here my review:
ALL OF ME is the fourth book in the Wedding Veil Series. I confess, I haven't read the first three, but that didn't pose a problem. Each book in the series stands alone and, while this book referred to the earlier books, I had no trouble following this story. In fact, if you have read the first three books in this series, you certainly want to get ALL OF ME as it does a nice job bringing the reader up to date on the lives of the three women features int he earlier books.
This is a "curl-up on the couch and lose yourself" kind of book. It's romance at its best. Sweet and sexy. Giggling funny at times. Heart jerking at other times. I felt for Tuck as he struggled with the loss of his wife. Maybe it's because I married a widower that some of little digs at his late wife's perfection rang so true. It can be hard to follow a dead wife. Lori Wilde did a good job getting those feelings right on the part of Tuck and Jillian. Watching them both grow and learn to love another person was touching and realistic.
I loved the small town appeal of the story. For me, the setting in Colorado was a large part of the story. I felt the nip in the air. Smelled the trees. Felt the cold water of the lake.
I really enjoyed Tuck and Jillian's story. I'll be looking for the first three books in this series! Well done, Ms. Wilde. Very well done!
If you are interested in a "gently read" copy of this book, leave me a comment and tell me you want to be entered in the contest.
If you want another chance to win, this review is also posted at Cynderella's Castle. Make a comment there for a second chance to win!
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
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.
The Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers are pleased to welcome Liz Lipperman to our blog. Liz is a chapter mate of mine (Dallas Area Romance Authors) and a huge support to me and Mary Marvella on our Goals loop (headed by Amy Atwell). If you want more information on the goals loop, let me (ArkansasCyndi) or Mary know and we'll get you hooked up. Take it away, Liz!
First off, I want to thank Cyndi and the rest of the girls at TPFS for inviting me to talk about the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. When I heard it mentioned on a loop the early part of February, I decided to give it a shot since I was in a funk after having rushed through a manuscript to enter in this year’s GH.
Let me stop right here and say up front -I hate contests! I have never had much luck with them since I write Women’s Fiction. Until a few years ago, this genre didn’t exist, or at least it wasn’t addressed. Those of us who write it have always had to enter Single Title which still carries with it a lot of romance mindset and genre rules. (Hero and heroine meeting in the first chapter, sexual tension right up front, etc.) Judges either hated my writing or they loved it. Usually, I got one of each, and I never finaled. Two years ago, I entered a Colombia story in the GH in the new category, Novel with Strong Romantic Elements (NSRE), happy I had finally found my home. Imagine my chagrin when I received scores of 9, 9, 8, 7, and 4. The 4 judge said it wasn’t a romance despite the synopsis that detailed the strong romance that played out and ended in a marriage.
That’s when I vowed NEVER to enter another contest again.
At the encouragement of my agent, I broke my rule and entered the GH. Her motive was to get me to finish a ghost story she loved. So, I did, wondering what had I been smoking.
I only mention this to let you know where my mind was when I entered the ABNA. It was free, so I thought what the heck. I had a week to get my entry ready since it required a pitch, a bio and a short synopsis. Never having written a short synopsis and hesitant to sing my own praises, it was a challenge. I forgot about it until the day they were supposed to announce the quarterfinalists – March 16th.
I was nuts that whole day, checking the Amazon site at least every ten minutes. Finally at midnight, I went to bed, but when I woke up at 3:30 am, I HAD to check. Sure enough, there was an email from Amazon time stamped 12:30 am.
Now here’s where it gets spooky. TALK DEAD TO ME is a story about four sisters who come together for the funeral of the fifth sister, fashioned after my own relationship with my four sisters, one of whom is dead. The dead woman has been a loner all her life and she and the heroine have been estranged for over nine years. At the funeral home, the dead woman appears to the heroine to convince her to help her find her killer. I’ll spare you the details except to say, TDTM is a story about starting over, healing relationships, murder and mayhem. I made my ghost a wise-cracking, potty mouthed woman (nothing like my real sister) who adds humor to the mix.
I sent out emails to all my relatives and told them to read the excerpt. I can’t tell you the chills I got when my nephew commented about how appropriate that I found out on the day his mother, my sister, had died twelve years earlier. I swear to you, in that moment when I realized he was right, I knew Theresa, my sister, had a hand in this. Knew she must have hexed the two people who reviewed my entry and bullied them into choosing it.
Anyway, I was supposed to be talking about how ABNA works. Out of 10 thousand entries, Amazon reviewers chose 500. Until April 14th, the excerpts are posted on Amazon as a free download. Mine is (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3BYK,) Publishers Weekly will review the fulls of all 500 entries and will post their scores. Then Penguin will use that, the original scores and reviews of the second round reviewers and the input from the reviews on Amazon to come up with 100 semi finalists whose names will be posted on April 15th.Penguin will read the 100 fulls and pick three finalists. At that time, Amazon customers will be allowed to download a longer excerpt and like American Idol, you get to pick the winner. Of course, Penguin has the right not to publish and award a cash prize instead.
So, that’s how it works. I’ve read the threads from last year’s top 10, and they all agree, the reviews probably mean nothing. Penguin will be looking at the PW reviews and scores. It is really fun, though, to see my excerpt with author after my name.
Oh, congrats to everyone who made the finals of the GH. I didn’t. Where was that damn ghost when I needed her??
I’d love to hear any spooky stories you’re willing to share as well as your comments. I’ll let the TPFS girls pick one, and the prize will be a copy of The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them) by Jack M. Bickham. This is one of my favorite books, but somehow, I ended up with two copies.
Thanks for listening to me babble on.
Thanks for visiting Liz. You're always welcome at Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers!
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!)
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.
