*carves sixth hashmark on the wall*

I am so happy to report, the manuscript of Three Nights with a Scoundrel is all turned in to my editor. There will be revisions and edits and page proofs to come, but I can say now that I have authored six books. Hooray! I am so thankful to the wonderful friends and critique partners who helped me through this last stretch, and through the whole trilogy. You know you are. 🙂 I could not have done it without your support. Mwah.

Yesterday was a big release day–so many great books hit the shelves! But a special shout out to my pal Erica Ridley on her debut, Too Wicked to Kiss! I can’t wait to find it on the bookstore shelves and buy it for my very own. By the way, I’m giving away copies of Too Wicked to Kiss and Sara Lindsey’s Promise Me Always in my current contest.

This weekend, the dareling daughter and I are headed cross-country for a family wedding. She’s going to be the flower girl! Awwww. Her dress is so precious, and she is so excited. I’m so glad she’s getting the chance to do this before she grows too old. I never was a flower girl, myself.

So, any advice for mother or daughter from those who’ve done this before? … Read More »

Whew! I have met all my deadlines (for the moment, ha), and just in time to enjoy the beautiful California spring. (My sympathies to those of you still shoveling snow in the East.) It’s a busy family month for us, with weddings and birthdays and other fun. And I can’t believe it’s just a few months until the May 25th release of One Dance with a Duke! … Read More »

I don’t blog about the craft of writing all that often anymore. There are a few reasons for that. The first is that most days, actually practicing the craft of writing is just about all I can manage. Barely.

The second is that, the more books I’ve written, the less I feel I truly know. Paradoxically, it also seems like any advice I give should be actually useful advice–which kind of scares me, because I am not a teacher. Some people have a true gift for crystallizing points of craft and imparting them as useful nuggets to other writers. Sadly, I’m not one of them. Plotting systems, storyboards, character worksheets, articles that tout “The Four (or Five or Nine or Eighteen) Essential Elements to Story” just make me break out in hives. And when I say that, I don’t mean to disparage them. For writers whose brains are wired that way, I’m sure they are lovely, useful things. To me, it’s kind of like childbirth. I would not dare criticize a writer’s process, any more than I would criticize a woman’s decision to give birth in a swimming pool–whatever feels right for you and gets the baby (or book) out, it’s all good.

When discussing my reaction to storyboards, I have often joked that I am allergic to squares. It’s more like, I just don’t think about stories spatially. Doesn’t work for me. By the same token, I am very reluctant to put forth the way I write books as … Read More »

Many thanks to Janga for passing on the link to this site. Click on the picture to find other valentines from Poets.org.

Random thoughts this post inspired:

Must download the Poem Flow app to my iPhone.

I’m always drawn to poets who punctuate with exuberance and eccentricity. (My copy editor would be unsurprised to hear this, I’m sure.)

I think someday I’d like to write a poet heroine. I will have to make her a bad poet, though, or at best a middling one.

I wish you a day of romance! … Read More »

The lovely readers at All About Romance have voted me “Best Debut Author of 2009” in their annual reader poll. This is a truly thrilling honor to receive! I was also so excited to see that my good friend and critique partner, Courtney Milan, was awarded Best Short Story for her novella “This Wicked Gift” in The Heart of Christmas. Congratulations to all the winners. I am just delighted to be mentioned in such great company.

AAR is coincidentally having a Valentine’s Day giveaway featuring debut authors – my three books are in there, all signed, and so is Courtney’s amazing Proof By Seduction. Also in the prize basket are books by Lavinia Kent, Carrie Lofty, and Kaki Warner, plus a slew of other great prizes, including a $50 gift certificate to RedEnvelope.com. All you have to do to enter is visit the AAR blog and leave a comment about recent debuts you’ve enjoyed!

Go forth and win!… Read More »

And the winners of copies of Sara Lindsey‘s PROMISE ME TONIGHT, as determined by Random.org, are….

Emily (#6)
and
Willaful (#16)

Congratulations! Please use the contact form to send me your snail mail address. And if you didn’t win, be sure to enter my current “New Authors” contest–I’m giving away copies there, too!

Thanks to everyone for a great discussion of the Best Friend’s Little Sister trope. There were so many mentioned that I love (The Duke and I! sigh – Pleasure for Pleasure! yum) and several that were new to me, as well.

Today, I’m excited to go have lunch with some SoCal romance bloggers – assuming they brave the torrential rains for the drive to the OC. And then it’s back to the cave to finish up THREE NIGHTS WITH A SCOUNDREL, which is not a Best Friend’s Little Sister romance, but a Dead Best Friend’s Grieving TWIN Sister romance. Oh, the guilt and heartache and forbidden pleasure! I’m loving this book.

Happy Superbowl, everyone. I know the Saints are a sentimental favorite, but I have to stay true-blue to my home team, the Colts. I expect it’s going to be a great game!

Hope your weekend is drier than mine, and just as fun-filled.… Read More »

Ah, February…the month of romance! For me, this is going to be the month of romance and work, work, work, as I finish up the writing, revising, and editing of the 2010 trilogy (starts with One Dance with a Duke on May 25!). So I may be scarce on the internet for a few weeks, but in the meantime I’ve opened a new “New Authors” contest, giving away books from historical debut authors Sara Lindsey and Erica Ridley. Happy Valentine’s Day!… Read More »

If you’ve read Goddess of the Hunt, you already know that I find this an irresistible romantic trope: the poor guy who falls under the spell of his best friend’s little sister, all grown up. For years, she’s been nothing but a sister to him, or a friend–perhaps even an annoyance. And suddenly, Little Sis has grown into that awkward coltish frame, set aside her hoyden ways (well, in Lucy’s case – never!), and become a woman. So tempting, and yet so forbidden.

On her side, she’s been yearning for him for years (or, in Lucy’s case – that other guy he hangs out with), just hoping one day he’ll stop cavorting with a string of brainless beauties, put down the brandy flask, and notice her. She’s knows in her heart they’re meant to be, and in almost every case (ahem, Lucy once again being the exception. She’s incorrigible, what can I say?) the heroine’s proved right, and all her years of awkward teenage hoping are vindicated.

I never tire of this setup, in historical or contemporary romance. Some recent favorites have been Victoria Dahl’s Talk Me Down and Beverley Kendall’s debut, Sinful Surrender.

Today, a brand new take on this ever-popular theme hits the shelves: Promise Me Tonight, author Sara Lindsey‘s utterly charming debut historical romance. Here’s the blurb:

Isabella is determined to marry James…

Isabella Weston has loved James Sheffield for as long as she can remember. Her come-out ball seems the

In my own little bubble, anyway. Of course, the past week has seen horrific news on the global scale, and my thoughts and heart are with the people of Haiti as they continue to suffer the aftereffects of the catastrophic earthquake. But in times like these, it is some comfort to find small reasons to celebrate.

Last weekend, I was invited to speak at the San Diego chapter of Romance Writers of America. I jumped at the chance, seeing as I love RWA and I love San Diego! We rounded up the darelings and made a weekend out of it. I had a wonderful time meeting the chapter members and chatting with the industry professionals in attendance. My speech is sort of a smudge in my memory now, but I think it went okay. I told a lot of embarrassing stories. 🙂 Anyway, I want to say a big thank you to the members of the RWASD chapter, for making me feel so welcome. I had a great day.

Second, I came home to find some truly thrilling news on the Internet. My debut, Goddess of the Hunt, was shortlisted on the American Library Association’s 2010 Reading List, which is put together by the RUSA division of ALA to recognize “outstanding genre literature.” This thrilled me for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, because I’m a librarian myself, so any recognition coming from librarians is extra-special to me. Second, because – zomg, did you see that shortlist? My … Read More »

As I write this, I’m in the lovely (well, rainy and cold…but to me, it is lovely!) Pacific Northwest with my dear friends and critique partners, Courtney Milan and Carey Baldwin. We’re celebrating the release of Courtney’s amazing book (see previous post) and eating great food and enjoying wonderful conversation. Today we’re actually going to write! 🙂

I decided to keep the New Year’s Resolutions low-key this year. My contractual obligations are enough to keep me busy without added unrealistic goals to the mix! I think my only resolution for 2010 will be: take my vitamins. I always forget.

Whether your corner of the world is rainy, sunny, snowy, or scorching hot – I hope you’re kicking off 2010 in grand style!… Read More »