Virtual Signing!

Oh! It's finally here! Today is the official launch date for A CHRISTMAS BALL!

Now I know some copies got out early because I've already received emails from readers who loved it! But today is the "official" day and the day the sales begin to count toward hitting those all important 'lists.' It's a little known fact that bestsellers lists aren't actually made up of the books that sell the most copies. It's a measure of the velocity at which the books fly off the shelves during the first week of release.

So, while every sale is important, if you really want to support an author or a genre, buy a book during the first week of its release.

Now I don't expect A CHRISTMAS BALL to hit a bestseller list, but I'd love to see it make a good showing. To that end, I'm doing a "virtual signing" through NightOwl Romance. If you buy A CHRISTMAS BALL between now and October 6th, I'll send you a good package (including a handmade Christmas ornament made by me!) Please see NightOwlRomance for the details!

And I'm also blogging at NightOwl and giving away a backlist book to one lucky commenter. So please also pop over to the NightOwl Blog today too!

Hope to see you there.

Last Summer Fling

I always hate to see summer end, but here's a way to squeeze in one last fling. NightOwl Romance has teamed up with a bunch of authors (including me!) to bring you the SUMMER LOVE WEB HUNT.

It's an e-scavenger hunt that will have you visiting a number of websites, collecting the required info and registering for fabulous prizes (see NOR for details!) Of course the hope is that you'll find some new authors who intrigue you, but the main goal is to have some fun. The HUNT runs till Sept 8th, so you can go at a leisurely pace (but please visit my website first!)

And I get the chance to show off the new navigation bar on my website (My DH is so proud of this technological wonder! My website is sort of his toy and he has a love/hate relationship with it.)

As summer draws to a close, I thought I'd share the best book I've read this season. It's the one I just finished--Sherry Thomas's NOT QUITE A HUSBAND.

There is something about Sherry's prose that speaks to my heart, that makes me feel she's written her stories just for me. This book is about an estranged couple and how they find each other again. When her hero said, "The space between the stars is filled with your silence." I knew this couple was in deep trouble. Their path to reconcilliation and joy is as difficult as the path through Northern India they are traversing. Like in all Sherry's stories, her characters are desperately flawed and achingly human. She makes me weep and she gives me hope.

Ok. It's your turn. What's the best book you've read all summer?

Looking for adventure?

Daisy Drake, my heroine in VEXING THE VISCOUNT, is dying for an adventure. Lucian's treasure hunt sounds like just the thing! But why should Daisy and Lucian have all the fun? If adventure and romantic treasure is on your "Gotta Have!" list, here's your jumping off point.

NightOwl Romance put together a totally fun Web Hunt, teaming up with a terrific slate of 14 authors (and they were nice enough to include me!). 4 lucky winners are going to walk off with a whole treasure chest of goodies. Check out the prizes and learn how to enter at http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/2009webhuntmarch.asp

Enjoy!

I just won the I Love Your Blog Award!

What fun! Tammie King of NightOwl Romance just gave me an "I love your blog" award! Now the fun part of this award is that I get to pay it forward. It's my turn to nominate 7 of my favorite blogs. So in no particular order, here are some blogs I enjoy and frequently visit.

1. http://www.romanticreads.net This is Leah Hultenschmidt's blog. She's my fabulous editor at Dorchester Publishing. You'll want to bookmark this one. She shares what she's working on, what snags her interest, and gives you a unique peek into the mind of one of the sharpest editors around.

2. http://boxingoctopus.blogspot.com This blog belongs to my friends Colleen Thompson and Joni Rodgers. Always thought-provoking, always timely, they don't shy away from any subject that relates to writing.

3. http://killerfictionwriters.blogspot.com/ An absolutely hysterical collection of writers-Kathleen Bacus, Jana DeLeon, Leslie Langtry, Christie Craig and Gemma Halliday. This blog is always a guaranteed hoot!

4. http://www.kelliestes.com/blog/ Kelli Estes and I joined Eastside RWA on the same night. Even though I'm now a continent away, I still keep my membership current with that terrific group of women. "Platform" is the new publishing buzzword and generally means "How many people will care enough to buy your book if we should decide to publish you?" Kelli's blog is a perfect example of what a pre-published author's site should be like. When she sells, I'll be at the bookstore with my wallet out.

5. http://www.rowenacherry.blogspot.com/ Rowena Cherry writes funny futuristics with sly chess references. She also blogs, has the most fantastic newsletter, and regularly lets me join her for her Crazy Tuesday Internet Radio shows.

6. http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress.com/ This blog belongs to my Canadian friend, Bobbie Crawford-McCoy. It's a neat, well-run site that features book reviews, interviews and book give-aways!

7. http://www.nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com Last but not least, Tammie King at NightOwl Romance. I receive the daily digest from NightOwl's yahoo group, have visited the site countless times, but never realized she had a blog. Clunk! That was me, having a V-8 moment! Now that I know, I'll be back!

Now, I need to share that this will be my last post till November 17th. I'm running away with my husband to the Caribbean (just in time for a late season hurricane, but I refuse to be daunted by Palumbo or whatever they're calling him). Will return with pics, a sunburn and more extra pounds than I want to contemplate, but hey! I'm on vacation and I've saved CL Wilson's King of Sword and Sky for my lounging pleasure! In the meantime, through the magic of technology, I will be posting almost live next Friday on The Chatelaines, the hot new historical/paranormal group blog. Please pop by and comment. I will check when I return from the Bermuda Triangle . . .

What are your favorite blogs?