Bron is a Fail Whale

I apologize. I was a total Fail Whale yesterday and completely forgot to pick a winner. I blame the fact that I feel like crap, an all day senior picture shoot for Killian and being distracted by the fact that one of our accounts was hacked and some little asshat bought 10,000 microsoft points on my credit card. Grrrrrrrrrr...

However, today should be a happy day. There's a new winner for the delightful Dakota Rebel's book giveaway!

Congratulations to Susan who won a copy of Dakota's new MM romance, Frienemies!!!

Susan, D should be contacting you shortly to find out what format you'd like. :)

Dakota Rebel's in the House!

Or...erm...you know...on the blog.

Since starting my publishing career, I've met a lot of fascinating and awesome people on the interwebz, and Dakota is one of the best. I love this woman. LOVE her!

I'd like to invite you to learn more about Dakota. And if you leave a comment you'll be entered in a contest to win a copy of her new ebook, Frienemies! Please leave your email address - contest closes Sunday night (10/2/11) at 8pm EST.

From what or where do you derive the most inspiration for your stories?

Brian and Justin and Harry and Draco have been HUGE inspirations for me. I like to picture either of those couples when I'm working on a new book. I feel both couples belong together and in my head every story revolves around their hotness.

Tell us about your upcoming releases?

The book I'm most excited for is Vamplet. It's a M/M retelling of Hamlet with vampires. It was so much fun to write and it's getting released in conjunction with several of my friend's (*cough, Bronwyn Green, *cough) retellings of classic Shakespeare works so I'm doubly excited.
I actually have a release coming out every month through the end of the year so that's pretty exciting for me. Mitch is being re-released in October with Resplendence Publishing. I also have a M/F short coming up. It's been a LONG time since I've written a M/F. I was surprised at how difficult it was for me. I kept trying to give the heroine boy parts. Lol. Habits die hard I guess.

What are you working on at the moment?

What aren't I working on, lol? I have many WIPS (work in progress) going at the moment. My favorites are the sequels to Mitch and To Hate and To Hold. But I also have a M/M that takes place in Las Vegas that I've been working on for over a year. Someday I may even finish that one. Maybe.

What would you do if you weren’t a writer?

Oh my God. I don't even want to imagine. Then these voices wouldn't be 'real' and I'd be in some sort of hospital for crazy people. I don't care for pudding enough to live in an institution.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I like to pretend to be a crafter. My mom and I are doing two craft fairs this year and when I'm not writing and/or editing and/or working at the day job, I'm covering things in paper and trying to come up with funny things to say in greeting cards. I love doing it, but it's harder than it looks and sounds. I tend to only have time after 9 pm and to anyone who knows me…that's not my best time. I prefer to be in bed by 9.05 pm when I can help it.

Of all of the characters you’ve created, who is your favorite and why?

For a long time, the answer to this one was a no brainer. I would have spit out Ethan Connor from To Hate and To Hold without even having to pause to consider. But now, well, I'm pretty fond of Elijah from Blood of the Fallen. And Donnie from Frienemies (because he may or may not be based on a fictional character I love and a real boy I adore.) Plus, there will always be a special place in my heart for Diego, my first published vampire from Sweet Dreams. You never forget your first.

Do you find it difficult to keep love/sex scenes fresh and interesting?

Not really. While in my head the boys may always look like one of the before mentioned couples, they always have their own personalities and styles. Every scene between my characters is special to them and special to me. That is enough to keep me on my toes and make sure their experiences are unique to them.

Do you listen to music when you write or do you need quiet? If you listen to music – what kind?

I almost always listen to music. And the style varies immensely. Some books call for classical, some for hard rock and one even seemed to thrive on Christmas music. You never know what the muse will want to hear at any given time so you'd best be prepared to make her happy. If momma ain't happy ain't no one happy.

What makes a man sexy?

I LOVE a funny man. Men who may not be conventionally handsome are insanely more attractive when they have a sense of humor. Preferably a sense of humor that meshes with mine. Inappropriate and quick, that's how I like my men…wait, that's not quite right.

Do you family and friends know you write erotic romance – if so, how have they reacted?

Most of my family knows. Before my dad passed away he told his friends I write westerns. Lol. He was very proud that I was a writer but he couldn't admit what I write. And my mom once asked me "Is this because I read gay porn when I was pregnant with you?" My in-laws have the 'don't ask don't tell' policy which is just fine with me. But for the most part everyone is very supportive and great about it.

What’s your favorite food?

Ice.

Do you have any bad habits?
I still bite my nails on occasion. And I have a severe iron deficiency (and allergy) which leads to me chew ice constantly. Apparently this is terrible for my teeth and I really don't get the correlation between anemia and ice chewing, but I'm told there is one, so there you go.

If you were stranded on a desert isle, what five things would you want to have with you?

Ice. Internet. Laptop. A magic wand. Magical powers to go with the wand. (That's probably cheating but anyone who knows me knows I would never put myself in a position to GET stuck on a desert isle, so I'm assuming I'm a character in one of my books now and can have whatever I want.)

And here's a little bit more about Dakota!

Dakota Rebel lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband Mr. Rebel and two incorrigible children, Jr. Rebel and Rebel Jr. 2.0.

Her friends are made up of the most amazing people on the planet. They not only accept her faults but often encourage them.

Dakota smokes more than she should, drinks less than she'd like to, and is the life of any party that ends by 9 p.m.

She adores her fans like nobody's business and encourages them all to email her at Dakota.rebel@hotmail.com.

You can find her at her blog, twitter and facebook.

Someone Else Damn Special

April is a big month for birthdays. Some of my favorite people were born this month and today is the birthday of another dear friend. She makes me laugh, she's one of the sweetest hard-asses I know, she's an amazing mom, friend and writer, and she quotes Buffy with me. In short, I love this woman.

Please join me in wishing the wonderful Dakota Rebel a Happy Birthday!!! I hope this year is even better than the last!!! I love you Babycakes!!

I got a nifty award!

The lovely Lisabet Sarai gave me the Versatile Blogger Award! The rules are that I need to pick some people and we all have to list things about us that few people know. So...here we go.

Ten Bron-Type Surprises.

1. I haven't worn nail polish since I came across a cadaver wearing the same color.

2. Over the last 15 years, I've placed 42 cats and 3 dogs in adoptive homes.

3. I used to make themed wedding and bridal party dresses including medieval and western...there was fringe involved. Also, instituted the use of the "bitch fee" for some of those people.

4. I keep lip balm in 9 separate places in my house and car (purse, dashboard, next to the couch, bedside stand, desk, medicine cabinet, sewing machine cabinet, coffee table and bookshelf) and almost all get used every day.

5. I was once paid to read Tarot cards at a convention.

6. I haven't worn pantyhose since high school graduation.

7. I've been in eleven car accidents, but only one was my fault.

8. I made my own drum, and I like to play in drum circles.

9. Sister Rosine made me stand up and tell the class that I was the "Bride of Satan" because I wore bright red nail polish and matching sweater one day. She was way old school. And also batshit crazy.

10. Once had an entire subway car full of New Yorkers cheer for me. It was a banner day...

Okay, now I'm going to nominate my versatile bloggers, and hopefully, they'll play along and share some little known facts about themselves.

Chaos Chris
Erotic Romance Reader Janna
Brynn Paulin
Jennifer Armintrout
Dakota Rebel
Mia Watts
Jessica Jarman
Kris Norris
Kim Dare

The Book Boyfriend - Janna Made Me Do It

The lovely Janna of Erotic Romance Reader tagged me in a Book Boyfriend meme, and seeing as how I live to procrastinate (and I'm finally done cleaning up puke) I'm totally playing.

Here's how this meme goes:

We all have our favorite book boyfriends and now you have the chance to create one just for yourself and your fantasies! How do you play? Fill out the quiz bellow, post a picture of sexy man and tag five (5) other book addicts to do the same. Don't forget to pop to their blogs as let them know they have been tagged!

Once tagged... you have to do the same, grab the button, answer the questions, and keep it rolling! But don't forget the picture of the sexy man! It doesn't have to match your fantasy man, just a little eye candy for the rest of us... heheheee!

1.) Hair style and color - Honestly, I'm open to most styles, however, buzz cuts and mullets need not apply. I do like enough to grab onto, and I prefer men with darker hair.

2.) Eye color and facial features - I'm a sucker for green eyes...or blue...the kind you can get lost in. Le sigh... I like a rugged face with scruff, full-ish, kissable lips, but please, no butt-chin - at least not a big one.

3.) Height and body type - 6' - 6' 2" is a nice height, and I'm going to go on record as saying overly-muscled, body building types creep me the hell out. I always assume, perhaps wrongly, that a guy like that is more interested in spending time watching himself do reps in the mirror at the gym than anything else. I like broad shoulders and tight abs as much as the next girl, but I'd rather see them on a normal looking guy with an athletic build.

I like strong, capable looking hands. I don't mind if they're a little rough or dinged up from working on the house or the car. I like some tattoos - now, I'm talking about tribal work or Celtic knot work - not some ill-conceived and tacky skull, roses and American flag number or scary looking portraiture of a teacup poodle. I'm totally on board with a strategically placed piercing or two.

4.) Visible age - 30-40

5.) Bangability - i.e. kinky/bi/size - First off, I applaud the use of the word, bangability. :D I like 'em straight and more than a little dominant. Hey...it's my imaginary BBF. ;) And size? I'm with Janna...who wants small in this perfect little fantasy?

6.) Human or other - Human or shifter - fey works, not into vamps so much. It's not the biting...it's the living dead part that makes me a little squidgey.

7.) Paranormal skills - the ability to transport us from place to place - makes world travel that much easier. The ability to freeze time would also be badass.

8.) Interests - Wait? You mean besides worshiping me? Okay then, let's see...hot sex, traveling, music - I know it's cliche but I love a guy that can sing and play guitar.

9.) Habitat - Where I am, but I'm so not gonna complain if he's got a castle in Ireland or Wales.

10.) Special skills - Making me laugh (oh, so important), long, slow kisses, book research and knot tying. ;)

I'm tagging:

1. Brynn Paulin
2. Mia Watts
3. Kris Norris
4. Dakota Rebel
5. Charlotte Stein
   

Just Right is out today!

Sheesh! I've been so busy, I almost forgot to post! But, my new story, Just Right, is out from Resplendence Publishing today! It's a naughty retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and it's part of the Not Quite Wicked Series with Brynn Paulin, Mia Watts and Dakota Rebel.

There's still time to win all four copies - just go to the Stumbling Over Chaos blog and leave a comment!

Anyway, here's the blurb and an excerpt. :)

Blurb: When Department of Natural Resources officer, Gwendolyn Locke, hits a black bear on the way home from work one night, her entire view of reality changes. She discovers that shape shifters exist and she’s just become Goldilocks to three, gorgeous, very aroused men who also happen to be werebears. Being snowbound has never been so hot.

Excerpt: Gwendolyn followed the path as rapidly as she dared, blowing snow stinging her exposed skin. The whipping wind carried the bear’s anguished cry to her, and she tried to move faster. She hated to have to take its life, but what choice did she have? Judging from the blood loss she’d seen, there was no way it would survive the night—especially not in a storm like this. For a brief, crazy moment, she considered calling Noah, but she dismissed the thought just as quickly. He’d already made it clear she was on her own.

She stumbled across a log only to fall face first in the snow. For a moment, her world went dim as the lightheadedness returned, but she forced away the woozy feeling and pushed to her feet. A few yards ahead lay a dark shape. She’d found the bear. Training her flashlight on it, she watched for signs of life. It moved, and she saw the spreading pool of blood that melted the snow around it.

Feeling sick at what she had to do, she raised her gun to her shoulder and took aim. She tried to still her shaking hands as the bear began to twist and writhe on the ground. Suddenly, its body thinned and lengthened and she thought she heard the muffled sounds of flesh tearing and bones breaking. Before her eyes, its fur receded leaving bare skin, the body of a predator becoming that of a human man.

She must have hit her head harder than she’d thought. How could she have possibly mistaken him for a bear? What the hell was he doing naked in a snowstorm? She needed to get help. She lowered her gun and dug in her pocket for her cell phone. No signal. God damn it!

Quickly, she darted to his side and checked for a pulse. Faint but steady. Her blood ran cold when she saw his face. For a moment, she thought it was Noah. Relief flooded her when she realized it wasn’t, followed quickly by guilt. She’d hit this man with her car and now she had no idea how she was going to get him help.

Stripping off her coat, she covered him with it, careful not to jostle him. She couldn’t tell the extent of his injuries, and she didn’t want to make it worse. Standing, she turned in a circle, looking for any sign of life. The only light she saw was the faint glow of one headlight and the taillights of her vehicle.

Not knowing what else to do, she fired several shots into the air and yelled for help. Her scream was cut short as a rustle sounded behind her. Whirling, she faced the biggest black bear she’d ever seen. She lifted the gun to her shoulder, but before her frozen finger could find the trigger, it growled and knocked it from her hands. Standing on its hind legs, it advanced on her.

It must have smelled the blood of the injured man and been drawn out of its nest. Bears rarely attacked people, but in this case, she could see where it might make an exception. And considering she was standing between it and a potential meal…she was fucked.

Everything within her screamed at her to run, but she couldn’t leave the man unprotected. Her gun was behind the bear, well out of reach. Glancing around, she searched for anything that might serve as a weapon. Maybe if she could scare it away, she still might have a chance at getting help for the injured guy.

Crouching down, she grabbed a stick and quickly stood up again, holding it like a baseball bat. A wave of nausea washed over her as the dizziness intensified. The cold sank into her bones as her sweater absorbed the heavy wet snow that continued to fall. For the first time, she began to wonder if she’d make it out of these woods alive. It would certainly solve Noah’s problem if she didn’t, she thought with a near-hysterical giggle.

The bear cocked its head to the side and looked at her, then behind her at the injured man.

Keeping herself between the man and the bear, she took a swing at the bear and cracked it in the head, hoping to scare it off. It didn’t work. Growling, it grabbed the end of the stick and splintered it before wrenching it from her hands. With a shriek, she dove for the gun, brushing against the bear as she rolled through the wet snow. She gripped it with aching fingers and pointed it at the animal. At this range, she should be able to kill it, but if she aimed wrong, she’d just piss it off, and that was the last thing she needed.

“I don’t want to shoot you, but I can’t let you hurt him.”

She squeezed the trigger and fired a warning alongside its head.

The bear reached out and grabbed the barrel of the gun and pushed it toward the ground. She tried to wrench it from its grasp, but the animal held fast as it sank to all fours. All at once, the animal began to writhe and the nauseating sounds of joints popping and bones snapping filled the air. As she watched, the furry pelt receded, revealing smooth, burnished copper skin stretched over tight, lean muscles. Her breath stalled in her chest as a naked man rose, long dark hair partially covering his face, but she’d know those eyes anywhere.

“Hello, Gwen.”

Psssst...wanna win four new books?

Chris over at Stumbling Over Chaos is helping me, Brynn Paulin, Mia Watts and Dakota Rebel celebrate the release of our new fairy tale collection, Not Quite Wicked, from Resplendence Publishing. All four books come out Tuesday the 19th. So if you'd like a chance to win all four books, get thyself to Chris' blog immediately and leave a comment. Easy-peazy! The contest is open until the 19th!

Catching Up

Well, I've survived the holidays...so far anyway. We still have holiday party number six to attend on Saturday. Yep...that's one work party and five family Christmases. My family is indeed insane, but I adore their crazyasses anyway.

Other than writing like a madwoman and listening to the gleeful sounds of the boys playing Modern Warfare 2 and Halo ODST (all hail the x-box) I haven't been doing much.

But, I do have new cover art to share! Just Right will be releasing from Resplendence Publishing on January 19th as part of the Not Quite Wicked series with three of my fantabulous friends - Brynn Paulin, Mia Watts and Dakota Rebel.

As you might have guessed from the title (thank you Jennifer Armintrout) Just Right is a naughty version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. All the naked on the cover probably gives it away, too. :)

This is pretty much how I've spent my break so far. Trying to write while Herne sleeps on me. It's a pretty comfortable arrangement, unless of course I need a drink or have to pee. Then, there's kitty angst.

Well, back to it - I've got deadlines to meet and cats to appease.

There's Someone New In My Life

His name is Nolan Martin and he's eight pounds, eight ounces of cute. My brother Martin and his wife had their second baby, and he's absolutely beautiful. Big sister Madelynn isn't too sure what to think, but she'll come around eventually.

In other news, I'll be doing a chat tonight with Mia Watts, Brynn Paulin and Dakota Rebel tonight from 9-10 pm EST at Realms of Love. You have to register before the chat starts, but it only takes a couple minutes and it's completely painless. We'd love to have you come out and hang with us. We'll giving away prizes. :)

Pssstt...C'mere

Do you like vampires?

Do you like hot guys?

Do you like hot guys who love/hate each other?

Do you like hot guys who love/hate each other and are also vampires?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should run to TEB right now and get Dakota Rebel's new book To Hate and to Hold!

I can't say enough wonderful thing about this book - it's fabulous. Phenomenal, even. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me in awe of the wonder that is Dakota Rebel.

Go. Buy. This. Book. Right. Now.

Introducing...

The Writer's Evolution Blog!

I hope you'll join Brynn Paulin, Dakota Rebel, Kim Dare, Andrea Dickinson, Editors Michele and Christine and me as we look at the issues writers face from the perspective of the different levels of the publishing world. We've got editors, veterans, mid-range, rookie and slush pile surfer all weighing in on different topics, so we hope you'll stop by and say hi. Today, our slush pile surfer, Andrea is up!

Please Come Visit Me

Hi Everyone,

I'm over at Hitting the Hotspot with a virtual tour of my office. I'd love it if you'd come visit me. I'm lonely...sniff...sniff. ;)

In other news, I had a wonderful time last night with Brynn Paulin, Carol Lynne, Dakota Rebel and Cindy Spencer Pape. We went to an Irish pub near Cindy's and had my new favorite food - Irish nachos. Think kettle chips, cheddar cheese, blue cheese crumbles, bacon green onions with sour cream and/or horseraddish ranch sauce. Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmy.

Also, Brits in Time releases on Monday from Total-e-bound! Yay!!

Five Things I'm Doing On Friday...

It's Friday...finally.

I don't know what it was about this week, but I swear it's lasted a year. But it's Friday and today, five things I'm doing are...

Hanging out with Brynn Paulin and Carol Lynne.

Laughing at...with...Brynn's husband.

Prepping my faery story for submission to an agent.

Making some kind of cream cheese mints with Brynn and Carol this afternoon. Yum.

Tonight we're going to visit Dakota Rebel and Cindy Spencer Pape and go out to dinner with them.

So...what are you doing today?

Where Does the Time Go?

I've been ridiculously busy with the day job - mostly because the work schedule has changed. GRRRRR I've also been trying to get ahead so the holidays are slightly less insane than usual. A girl can hope, right?

Don't forget about the Halloween contest! It's super easy and there are lots of great prizes!

All you have to do is between October 6th and midnight October 20th, click on the following links and find the Jack O'Lantern each author has hidden.Send an email to

http://webmail.wingsisp.com/src/compose.php?send_to=dakota.rebel%40hotmail.com with the name of the author and a description of what is depicted on their pumpkin, as well as your name and email address.

On Wednesday October 22nd a winner will be selected at random from the correct entries.
Winners will be notified by email, and announced on each of the sites listed.Good luck and Happy October!

Here are the blogs to visit.
www.brynnpaulin.blogspot.com
www.bronwyngreenblog.blogspot.com
www.cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com
http://www.vampsmut.blogspot.com/

And here is the list of authors donating ebooks.

Brynn Paulin
Bronwyn Green
Carol Lynne
Cindy Spencer Pape
Dakota Rebel
Kaenar Langford

Good Luck Everyone!!!

It's Contest Time!

Pssst...C'mere.

Yeah, you.

Wanna win free books?

It's super easy. All you have to do is between October 6th and midnight October 20th, click on the following links and find the Jack O'Lantern each author has hidden.

Send an email to http://webmail.wingsisp.com/src/compose.php?send_to=dakota.rebel%40hotmail.com with the name of the author and a description of what is depicted on their pumpkin, as well as your name and email address.

On Wednesday October 22nd a winner will be selected at random from the correct
entries.

Winners will be notified by email, and announced on each of the sites listed.

Good luck and Happy October!

Here are the blogs to visit.

www.brynnpaulin.blogspot.com
www.bronwyngreenblog.blogspot.com
www.cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com
http://www.vampsmut.blogspot.com/

And here is the list of authors donating ebooks.

Brynn Paulin

Bronwyn Green

Carol Lynne

Cindy Spencer Pape

Dakota Rebel

Kaenar Langford

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Something I Never Imagined Myself Doing

I had the pleasure of spending my weekend with Brynn Paulin and Dakota Rebel who came for a visit. I had a fantastic time with these two. There was much food, even more laughter and there was the roller derby. I didn't even know Grand Rapids had a team - but we do, the Raggedy Girls and they're good. More surprising to me was the fact that I liked it. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo not a sports girl, but despite that, watching the roller derby was insanely entertaining. Even better than the skating action itself was the people watching. I don't think I've ever seen such and interesting mix of people.

There were the skater chicks - tough and super competitive. Those women are absolutely amazing to watch. There were the refs - my favorite was the dude who wore an itty bitty gold lame bikini Ala Rocky in the Rocky Horror Picture Show during the first half and pink ruffle-butt panties during the second half. There were the skater groupies - both men and women, many of them heavily tattooed and pierced. Some were clearly family and others definitely groupies. There were people that looked like they'd stopped by after a PTA meeting and those who were heading to the biker bar afterward. There were little kids and one little old lady who was celebrating her 79th birthday by seeing her first roller derby bout.

After talking about the derby with several women I know, I discovered that many of them wanted to be roller derby skaters when they were kids. I wonder what it is about this sport that interests so many. So what about you? Did you ever have any burning desire to be a derby skater? Or to participate in any other relatively dangerous sport?

Tag...I'm It

The lovely Sandra Cox tagged me and here are the rules:



1) Link to the person that tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog.

3) List six unspectacular quirks you have.

4) Tag six bloggers by linking them.

5) Leave a comment on each person's blog to let them know they've been tagged.



My unspectacular quirks are:



I hate hot dogs - haven't eaten one since I was five and there was an unfortunate incident involving me, a hot dog and the basement stairs.

I love candles - God bless Brynn and her Partylite connection.

I'm allergic to penicillin, codeine, latex and bleach - found all of those out the hard way - lol.

I have to have white noise to go to sleep - unfortunately the sound of my husband snoring and my kids babbling in their sleep isn't enough to do it.

I can't stand doing dishes - I find it the most loathsome of all household chores. Weirdly, I don't mind doing them at other people's houses.

I eat around the outside of a peanut butter cup first - all the peanut buttery goodness can then be savored.

I'm tagging Brynn Paulin, Jennifer Armintrout, Dakota Rebel, Lyn Cash, Cheryl Sterling, Molly Daniels

What a week...

On Monday and Tuesday, I was informed repeatedly via nasty phone messages and email that I am the "meanest, most selfish person in the world." I was also informed that if the toxic person I jettisoned from my life resumes her self destructive behavior, it's all my fault. I'm not buying into this pile of crap, but I can't say it doesn't hurt.

On Wednesday, my husband and my youngest son and I went out to the boy scout camp for family night and the Order of the Arrow ceremony. The boys chosen for the Order of the Arrow are called up in front of the entire camp, spend the night alone in the woods without shelter, remain silent for 24 hours and perform a service project - the project in this case was chopping wood for 8 hours. Both my son Killian and Brynn's son were chosen to take part. The ceremony was really cool and I'm so proud of both of our boys. Personally, I can't believe Killian stayed quiet for 24 hours, but apparently he did.

Check out Brynn's blog on the subject of camp over at Hitting the Hot Spot. It's great. http://totalebound.blogspot.com/2008/07/brynn-paulin-live-from-summer-camp.html

On Thursday, I got a frantic phone call from my daycare girlies. Usually they call me at around 10 AM when they wake up and I pick them up and bring them back to my house. This morning they called at 8, screaming and crying that someone was trying to break in. They called the cops and I raced over there to find a very frazzled handyman who was hired by the landlord to do some work on the house. Unfortunately the landlord never bothered to call and let the family know that someone would be doing work.

After the police left and the contractor stopped freaking out, I took the girls home with me and we took Corwin, my youngest to the orthodontist where we discovered he needs two phases of braces. yay. Then we picked up his two best friends and they spent the night.

On Friday, the overnight guests stayed 'til suppertime when I happily dropped them back at home. Then I got ready for my RWA meeting the next day. Since Brynn was still at camp, I had to run the meeting. I think it might have been the shortest meeting in RWA history - under 15 minutes.

After the meeting was finished, I picked up Brynn and we drove downstate and had supper at the lovely Cindy Spencer Pape's house (her husband is an awesome cook) Isabelle Drake and her husband were there, as was the delightful Kaener Langford and one super awesome Dakota Rebel. I'd met everyone but Dakota before, and I'm happy to report, Dakota is just as freaking fabulous as she seems like she is online. I laughed 'til I cried and had an all-around wonderful evening.

This week, I'm doing piles of laundry, prepping for our family vacation and writing like a mad fiend.

A Pretty Fabulous Day

I just got back from school. Killian was sick and had to come home. He's looking pretty pale and feeling really crummy.

Thanks for all the kind comments on my pottery yesterday. I just love playing with clay. I talked to my mom yesterday and she decided that she needs a kiln in her basement (she does amazing work!) and I told her I thought it was a brilliant idea. Here's hoping we can find one cheap!

Other than the the sick run, my day is filled with happiness and light. Lots of light. Here in GR, there isn't a cloud in the sky, the sun is shining, the snow is getting a little melty and I actually saw signs of wildlife.

Other fabulous attributes of my day include:

Awesome Anny who reminded me that I haven't had my vitamins since this whole kidney thing started over a month and a half ago. DUH. Long story, but it involves schedules and drug interactions.

Benevolent Brynn who brought me a sun lamp this morning. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, she is that fantabulous!

Cute Catness. This is Nimue (aka Mewford, Mewmew, The Queen of Sheba and Goddess of the

Bathtub.) She's eighteen years old this month. Hubby and I got her from the pound shortly before our second anniversary. If anyone's doing the math, yes...I was a child bride. Nimue sits next to me on the arm of the couch all night long and keeps me company while I work.

In fact, last night she kept shooting me dirty looks, whenever I'd foghorn laugh at the insanity going on at Novel Talk last night. I had an absolute blast there last night with Brynn and Dakota and some of the NT regulars. What an awesome group! I can't wait to go back there and hang out some more!

OH!! I can't believe I almost forgot! I also got a stellar review from Joyfully Reviewed for Solstice Seduction! Here's the most awsomest part:

Solstice Seduction features a delicious hero that could be any woman’s fantasy. What better match than a man who knows he’s sinned, but cannot find a way to redeem himself, and a woman who believes God has abandoned her? Author Bronwyn Green writes a tale as hot as it is fantastic. Taliesin proves himself to be more than just a pretty face, and a perfect hero. Emerson is a loveable heroine you can feel for. This is just book one in the series. I hope to read more.

And here's the link if you want to read the rest. http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/Feb08/SolsticeSeduction.BG.html

All right...Nimue says I must get to work and harangue Jen Armintrout into working on the Alan Rickman Literacy Project.

Catching Up

Feels like forever since I blogged - oh wait, it has been.

Let's see...Friday we had another snow day so there were lots of preadolescents and adolescents in my house all day. Well, actually there were only five, but it sure seemed like more at the time.

Saturyday was my oldest's soccer game (indoor in a freezing cold ice rink) and they played a team of cyborgs - either that or David Beckham is running a training camp in rural Michigan. Yeah, I thought the cyborgs seemed more likely, too.

Sunday, my sister and her partner brought me daffodils because they know how much I hate February. They're so pretty - all yellow and sunny. They cheered me up even after I lost my battle with gravity and tumbled down the basement stairs while trying to lug up laundry.

Note to self: Next house must have a dishwasher and main floor laundry facilities. Sigh...I'm such a klutz.

I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to Dakota Rebel who's first book Sweet Dreams released today.

I also wanted to say THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU to the fabulous Kelly Kirch for her awesome book review of Mystic Circle.

And last but not least...the Eternally Yours Contest starts tomorrow!

Eternally Yours Contest

What could you spend an eternity doing? What is your passion? Your hunger? Your deepest desire? Each day beginning February 5 and running through February 14 one of the ten authors will complete the line, "My darling I could spend eternity…" on either their blog or website. Collect all ten answers and e-mail them to anny@annycook.com with Eternally Yours in the subject line to win some hot, romantic books. There will be three lucky Valentine winners.

The prizes –1st prize--5 books

2nd prize--3 books

3rd prize--2 books

Entries must be in by February 16 at midnight EST. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.

Sandra Cox Silverhills
Mona Risk To Love a Hero
Brynn Paulin Tribute For the Goddess
Bronwyn Green Mystic Circle
Cindy Spencer Pape Stone and Earth
N.J. Walters Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke
Elyssa Edwards Mating Stone
Amarinda Jones Shades of Gray
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Anny Cook Honeysuckle