I finally put my Christmas tree up yesterday. I know! Better late than never, though, right? The only thing missing is the popcorn and cranberry garland. May have to watch The Ref tonight and string some!
Oscar wants to know why he can't go tearing through the living room the way he usually does.
Anyway, I had a lovely time cooing over old family ornaments with my mom. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I've collected a lot of fruits and vegetables over the years--like this cute green tomato! What's your favorite holiday keepsake?
Oh my gosh, you guys! I've got the cover art for my next book, Too Hot to Touch, and I'm DYING to share it with you...but I can't yet. Sorry! While we make sure we have final approvals, everyone chime in--what are some of your favorite book covers of all time?
An invitation to the event of the season, hosted by The Knight Agency Blog:
HO HO HO! It's the most wonderful time of the year, and that means it's time for TKA's annual online holiday party! Join our agents, authors and TKA Santa for an hour of non-stop giveaways. This is our most fun, relaxed chat of the year. No worries about what to ask a guest author or waiting your turn to speak -- it's literally a free for all! This year Gena Showalter, Nalini Singh, Maria Geraci, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Shannon K. Butcher, Linda Gerber, Michelle Celmer, Louisa Edwards, Lydia Dare, Joey W. Hill, Jessica Andersen, Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Chris Marie Green and Shirley Jump are all giving away signed copies of their releases. Plus we're raiding our book closets and giving out titles by Rachel Caine, Marley Gibson and Cecil Murphey, among others. Oh yeah, and there's a Christmas stocking prize stuffed with books and holiday treats.
Don't forget to mark your calendars!
WHAT: Knight Agency Annual Holiday Lunchbox Chat WHEN: Thursday, December 16th @ 12:30pm ET WHERE: The Knight Agency Chat Room, http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 HOW TO CHAT: Enter any combination of username and password. Login. Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.
Otherwise known, by the more upfront, less teetotalling side of my family, as Whiskey Cake! This is one of my all-time holiday favorites, and it's one of those that proves how delicious simple recipes can be. It's the fruitcake for people who hate fruitcake! I make miniature loaves as neighborhood gifts and wrap them in cute, holiday-printed cloth and clear plastic wrap, then tie a ribbon around it, and attach a miniature airline-sized bottle of Jack Daniels. Sometimes I think about trying something new, but I get people begging me for their whiskey cakes year after year, so I never do!
Try it. I guarantee you'll love it!
Whiskey Cake
1 lb. chopped pecans
½ lb. golden raisins
1 ½ C. flour, separated (see below)
1 tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt
½ C. butter
1 1/8 C. sugar
3 eggs separated
2 tsps. Freshly grated nutmeg
2/3 C. good, sweet bourbon plus ½ C. (I usually use Jack Daniels or Wild Turkey)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Sift the flour and measure 1 ½ C.
Mix ½ C. of the flour with the nuts and raisins. Sift the remaining flour again with the baking powder and salt.
Cream butter and sugar and add 3 egg yolks. Mix the nutmeg and whiskey together and add little by little , alternating with dry ingredients. Add nuts and raisins; finally beat egg whites until stiff and fold them into the batter.
Pour into 2 regular-sized loaf pans or four mini-loaf pans and let stand for a few minutes to settle. Bake at 325 for about 1 ¼ hours.
Remove the cakes from the oven and let stand in the pans for 1 hour before pouring an extra half cup of bourbon over the whole thing and taking them out of the pans to finish cooling.
Wrap in clean cloth and continue "watering" with bourbon. You can't put too much! The cake just gets better and better...
Who's got the wine and cheese plate? It's Book Club Day! Over at Marie Force's blog, we're all gabbing about Just One Taste. How fun is that? I'm also giving away a signed copy of the whole Market Trilogy, Can't Stand the Heat, On the Steamy Side, and Just One Taste. Plus, there are several great recipes! You seriously don't want to miss it. Pop on over and put in your two cents on the book. I'd love to chat with you!
I blogged about Maria Geraci's warm, fun, funny women's fiction novel The Boyfriend of the Month Club yesterday, and now's your chance to experience it for yourself! I'm giving away a copy to one lucky follower of my official Facebook fan page. To be entered in the drawing, comment on the Facebook post with the name of your very first boyfriend, and I'll pick one lucky winner! (You must be a fan of my official FB page, and a resident of the U.S. or Canada to win.) Good luck!
Here's the blurb for the book, in case you missed it:
This sexy, funny new novel asks: Can a woman find a modern-day Mr. Darcy in Daytona Beach?
At thirty, Grace O'Bryan has dated every loser in Daytona Beach. After the ultimate date-from-hell, Grace decides to turn her dwindling book club into a Boyfriend of the Month Club, where women can discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real life twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?
Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents' failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who's great with a smile but not so great at commitment? Unfortunately, like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers...
"Romance readers will revel in the Austen-perfect happy ending and the warm friendship among members of the club." --Publishers Weekly
If you want my grandmother's recipe for Fresh Apple Cake, check out my guest post today at Romancing the Book! This is a great cake for the holidays because it's one of those that actually gets better and better a few days after baking, so it's perfect to keep around the house for when those unexpected guests drop by.
And today, finally, my friend Maria Geraci's newest book is out! I can't wait to get my copy of The Boyfriend of the Month Club (and is that not the cutest title ever?) because Maria's a wonderful, funny, warm writer whose characters always stick with me long after I finish the book. Love the cover for this one, don't you? It looks like the perfect escape from all this cold winter weather! Head out to a bookstore or order it online right away. You don't want to miss this one!
I wanted to bring your attention to my fellow Knight Agency client, Bryan Andersen, who's up for a Rare Life Award. I've met Bryan, and he's not only got an inspiring story, he's adorable, charming, funny, and interesting to talk to. Take a second to vote for him! He definitely deserves to win. The info below is reposted with the permission of the TKA Blog:
Iraq war veteran and triple amputee Bryan Andersen's remarkable story of surviving and thriving after being severely wounded during his second tour of duty will be published in 2011. In the meantime, he continues to inspire thousands of people each year by sharing his message of perseverance and determination as spokesperson for both Pride Mobility and USA Cares, a non-profit organization that is focused on assisting post 9/11 veterans. He's also an avid sportsman, who loves snowboarding, skateboarding, archery, cycling, 4-wheeling and rock climbing -- to name a few. And we do mean a few. There's nothing Bryan can't do if he puts his mind to it.
Recently, Bryan was nominated for a "Rare Life Award," which donates $10,000 to the charity of the winner's choice. The winner is determined by online voting. Please follow this link to show Bryan your support. It only takes a few seconds.
Click here to read our profile on Bryan earlier this year.
I know I'm like the last person in America to start watching Glee, but that's how it goes sometimes. And I'm totally loving it! It's kind of nice that there aren't too many episodes to catch up on, although now I'm sad because the only one I haven't seen is the brand new one from last night.
It's hard to quantify exactly why I love the show. I mean, great writing, sharp dialogue, actors who breathe new life into characters who should be stereotypes, fun musical numbers, blah blah blah. Why do I care so much about what happens to Kurt? Why do I love every nasty, mean word out of Sue's mouth--and then cry when she talks to her sister in the very next scene?
I have to give the writers credit--they seem to have picked up on exactly the characters and situations I wanted to see more of, and highlighted them. It's like they can see inside my brain! They even gave me more Brittany, who is weirdly my favorite character. I just find her hysterical, and it weirds me out because the Dumb Blonde has to be one of the most boring, unoriginal stock characters out there--and yet, she makes it fresh and hilarious.
To me, it's all about commitment. The reason Kurt and Sue and Brit are so effing funny and affecting at the same time is that, as over the top as they are, they don't come off as caricatures because the actors have completely committed to their roles. They're not hamming it up, they're really going for it, for the true core of who that person is underneath the wacky behavior. It's a great lesson in how to write comedy that matters.
I'm going under, diving into my writing to get some progress made on this book before Thanksgiving. I'll try to check in and let you all know how it's going, but it might be sporadic! Internet, it turns out, is a BIG distraction for me. Who knew?
Try not to miss me too much. In the meantime, enjoy this brand spanking new My Chemical Romance song: My Chemical Romance at Myspace Music
I'm already in love with it, and I'm hoping it'll keep me going as I attempt to bang out some chapters of Some Like it Hot...what music gets you moving and shaking?
Historical romance author Jade Lee is trying to kill me! Okay, not really--my Recipe for Love spatulas are useful, but probably not sturdy enough to threaten a life. But she did her best at Readers 'N Ritas this weekend in Dallas! Check out Barbara Vey's PW blog for the full report--and a truly hilarious picture of me with Jade.
Basically, it was a great time--really good ratio of readers to authors, the panels (at least the two I was on) were truly all reader oriented and focused, and I met so many funny, delightful women interested in discovering new-to-them authors. And I have to give props to the Hilton Garden Inn in Allen, TX--the food wasn't half bad, either!
A big thank you to the Fresh Fiction ladies for including me, giving me the chance to talk to readers about contemporary romance, stay up late gabbing with authors Candace Havens, Jaye Wells, and Ann Aguirre (they told me ghost stories and nearly scared the pants off me!) and sell some books. If the timing works out, I'll definitely be back next year.
I don't know about y'all, but my favorite way to celebrate our veterans is to read one of the many fabulous romances that feature military heroes and heroines. My perennial favorites are Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series. And she just posted an excerpt from the next in the series, Breaking the Rules! How cool is that?
But right now I happen to be right in the middle of Roxanne St. Claire's newest, Edge of Sight, which has one of the hottest ex-Army heroes I've ever read. If you want a free preview of what the story is all about, check out her prequel novellita here. You will be hooked, guaranteed!
So your mission today, if you choose to accept it, is to go to the bookstore and find a fabulous romance read that pays homage to our real-life military heroes and heroines.
Thank you so much to every single person who entered my Facebook giveaway yesterday! It was a lovely birthday gift to me to see so many friends commenting--I only wish I could share that bag of books I loved so much with every single one of you. But in the end, I had to choose a winner, and my random selection process came up with:
CATHY ESTABROOK PHILLIPS
So yay, congrats to Cathy, and thanks again to all the people who entered the drawing. Don't despair if you didn't win! I plan to do lots more of these, because the response was so phenomenal and fun. Keep checking back for more chances to win!
Check out my official Facebook fan page today for a chance to win this adorable red canvas tote bag, packed to the brim with some of the best books I've read in the last few months, along with a signed copy of Just One Taste! The other books included in the prize are: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan
Something About You by Julie James
Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean
Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
and an autographed copy of Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire!
All you have to do to enter the drawing is to go to my official Facebook fan page and answer the question I posted. You’ll need to “Like” the page in order to be eligible to win—sorry, U.S./Canada residents only! Here’s a pic of the cute bag o’ books, to tantalize you…
And I'll decide who gets the gifts! This year for my birthday, I wanted to give something back to all my lovely readers out there who've been clamoring to know what happens next with tough pastry chef, Violet Porter, and her strong, quietly sexy organic farmer, Jonathan Wildman.
So without further ado, here it is! Simmer Down, the third installment in my continuing free read series, is posted on my website. It will definitely make more sense if you read the other two parts of the story, Spring Fever and Too Hot to Handle, first. And Simmer Down takes Violet and Jonathan to a whole new level in their relationship (hint: it's a very steamy new level!) so this particular segment of their saga is definitely not safe/appropriate to read, say, at the office.
If that hasn't hooked you, I don't know what will! Go forth and read, my lovelies...
Now that Halloween is over, I'm distracting myself from my looming birthday by focusing on Thanksgiving. Sadly, I never get to cook Thanksgiving dinner because my husband's family always ALWAYS always gets together for that particular holiday. So I have a lot of frustrated turkey dinner plans in me.
This year, though, it looks like Christmas is going to be at my house--with both my parents AND Stinger's parents--so the menu is all up to me! And I'm already planning, because culling through cookbooks and recipes is half the fun.
And then this arrived in my email inbox yesterday, and gave me a whole new set of ideas. Smoked goose! Sounds so delicious. And no-fuss easy-peasy! Which isn't actually what I want for Christmas dinner (I kind of love making a big old fuss for that meal, doing something complicated and over the top) but there will be other nights this holiday season where I'll have a house full of guests to feed, different people in and out, and oh yeah...a book to write! So I'm keeping this little idea stashed in my back pocket for those days.
What about you? With the holidays coming up, do you start flipping through magazines and watching the Food Network to get new ideas for things to serve? Or does your mouth start watering for the old favorite dishes you have every year?
Yesterday I tried to make a new recipe for a casual get together with friends, and it was a total fail. What I wanted to make was this Tipsy Maple Corn, a sort of grown-up version of Cracker Jacks with bourbon and maple in the syrup, plus crispy pancetta augmenting the salt of the peanuts. Sounds great, right? And I'm sure it is, if you can manage not to let the warm syrup shrivel your popcorn, and then burn the whole thing when you're trying to crisp it back up in the oven.
I, however, was not so skillful. My corn was sad. And a little nasty. But I had friends coming over to watch Clue! and Young Frankenstein (our traditional Halloween movies) and I had to serve them SOMEthing. Luckily I'd also planned to make Ina Garten's foolproof hit, a homemade French onion dip that always gets raves. (If you want to try that one yourself, I highly recommend it, but cut the oil and butter in half--you don't need as much as she calls for.) So once I cut up some cucumbers and washed the carrots and snap peas, we had savory snacks taken care of.
And for the sweet stuff, I decided to adapt the Tipsy Maple Corn into a sundae. Starting with the recipe's reduced bourbon, maple syrup, and butter concoction, I added extra sugar and cream to thicken it up. Then poured it over vanilla ice cream with the crispy pancetta and the dry-roasted peanuts as toppings. Success! Totally fun and delicious, I'd make this sundae again anytime. I'm almost glad I failed at the other recipe.
Anyone else have stories about salvaging a recipe screw up?
One of my favorite things about my new hometown, Austin, is the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. This local chain of theaters not only serves an extensive menu, plus beer and wine, at your seat, they also host fun events like quotealongs, where you say the lines along with your favorite movies like Spaceballs and Shaun of the Dead; Master Pancake shows, where a comedy group provides hilarious commentary, a la Mystery Science Theater 3K, and singalongs.
Tonight, I'm going to my first singalong! They've done Pop Princess and Diva singalongs before, as well as Grease and other movie musicals--all of which I'd probably be better at. But the one tonight is a Michael Jackson singalong, and I'm going! Supposedly, they show videos with the words at the bottom of the screen, so you don't have to be a huge, rabid fan to have a good time. Plus, I think they might be teaching us the entire Thriller dance, in honor of Halloween! Here's hoping, anyway.
I'll try to snap some pictures--apparently, costumes are optional but encouraged, and some people go All Out, which I can't wait to see.
I've had Remember the Time stuck in my head for two days, so we'd better sing that one. What's your favorite Michael Jackson song?
Hey gang! Come chat with me over at Borders True Romance today, we're talking about all my favorite things: food, love, and romance--and telling stories about our most sensual meals! Plus, I'm giving away awesome Recipe for Love swag, including his-and-hers aprons, the cutest little set of red rubber spatulas, the ever-popular red-stemmed champagne flutes, and of course a signed copy of Just One Taste! It is not to be missed, so get on over there.
Sorry it's been so long, guys! I got swamped with the move to Austin, unpacking the house, a book deadline, a book release, a blog tour, and writing a free read for all of you. Not that I'm making excuses! LOL
Anyway, I'm going to do better with the blogging (although if you really need/crave your daily dose of ME, my favorite internet hangouts are my official reader page on Facebook, and of course, Twitter) and today I'm here with a recommendation of a great read for you!
Well, two actually. See, the thing is, I resisted steampunk romance for a long time. I was sure it wasn't for me. I mean, pseudo-Victorian England combined with gadgets and weird technology? Or, as wikipedia so eloquently puts it, "an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian eraBritain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistictechnology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history."
Okay, so maybe it sounds a tiny bit intriguing. I mean, I enjoyed the new Sherlock Holmes (not as much as I wanted to, but that had more to do with the story than the fun steampunk elements) and that Wild, Wild West movie, right? And you have to admit, the fashions are kind of fetching. Google it to see what I mean.
So I thought, fine. I want to know what all the fuss is about. I'll read Iron Duke, the first book in Meljean Brook's new steampunk series, the one everyone's raving about, and then I'll at least know whether I like it or not.
And holy aviator goggles! I totally loved it. Fast-paced adventure, crazy intricate worldbuilding, and above all, the perfect level of heartwrenching emotion and passion--which, let's be honest, no matter the subgenre, those are the things I read romance for.
Now I'm hooked! And the timing couldn't be better, because there's another steampunk novella that everyone is buzzing about, and it just came out today. Kristen Painter's Miss Bramble & the Leviathan is next up in my steampunk explorations, and I absolutely can't wait.
See if this blurb doesn't make you want to go buy it immediately:
The last thing she planned to steal was his heart.
The Company. Military institution, protector of Praeton and the nation of Grand Isle. Dirty rotten thief.
When Pandora Bramble steps aboard the Company’s premiere airship Daedalus it’s not for the exclusive VIP tour. It’s to secure proof that the Company stole the regulator valve her father designed—even if it means tearing the engine apart. Foiled by the unexpected appearance of a handsome crew member, she despairs of ever getting another chance—until he kisses her.
Captain Theolonius Hatch, sentenced to engine room duty for refusing to take part in the Company’s fleet week activities, never dreamed a woman like Pandora existed. Her brains match her beauty, a combination that adds up to more trouble than he ever expected.
As Pandora allows Theolonius to sweep her into a whirlwind courtship, her wildest dreams come true. As do her greatest fears, leaving her to decide what matters most. Loyalty…or love.
The clock is ticking.
Oh man, I can already see that I'm getting NO work done today. If you want to read along with me, click here to download your own copy!
I'm hanging out with a group of my favorite authors today! It always makes me a little fangirlish and gleeful when the Plot Monkeys let me come play in their jungle. Come chat with us about home cooked meals and the best way to christen a new house! You could win a signed set of the Market trilogy...
Hey guys--still in the process of moving in (boy, is it ever a work in progress) but I'm taking time out from unpacking boxes and washing sheets today to talk about the unbearable hotness of chefs over at the Romance Dish! I know, what a great break, right? It's making me happy. So come on over and share your thoughts on what makes a chef such a perfect romantic hero...there could be a signed book in it for you, or some awesome Recipe for Love swag!
Don't miss my chat tonight at 9:00 PM (EST)! I'll hanging out at one of my favorite spots on the intertubes, Writerspace, answering reader questions about Just One Taste and the Market trilogy, and giving away books. Come on by! There will probably be a few appearances by special, secret author guests...
I'm over at RR@H today, talking about how very true it is that opposites attract--especially in romance novels! Some of the greatest pairings of all time have been total odd couples, but that only adds to the fun tension and sparky chemistry between them.
I'm over at Night Owl Romance today, talking about heroes! Reminiscing about my first--the dangerously seductive Mr. Rochester--and how all my heroes take some little part of that character. I guess it's true, you never forget your first...
Come tell me about your favorite heroes, and your comment will enter you in the drawing for a signed copy of Just One Taste, a Tastebook full of recipes, and an adorable market tote!
I was so incredibly flattered when NYT Bestselling Author (those words should always be capitalized) Sarah MacLean invited me to guest blog for her. To celebrate the enormous, and well deserved, success of her adorable historical romance Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, she runs a feature called The Authors' Rules. Guest authors (like me!) get to come on her blog and post their own list of nine rules.
After some Twitter crowdsourcing, I decided my contribution would be Nine Rules for Seducing a Nerd with Food! I'm actually pretty proud of this list. Check it out, and add a tenth rule to be entered to win a signed copy of the whole Market trilogy.
I'm celebrating my coveted Perfect 10 review of JUST ONE TASTE by hanging out at Romance Reviews Today! We're talking connected series books--do you like them? Prefer stand alones or self-contained trilogies? Do you have to start at the beginning, no matter what, or are you okay to start reading with the fourth book in a series? So many questions! Answer them (there are no wrong answers) and you'll be in the running to win a signed batch of the Market trilogy books.
"Despite plenty of funny dialogue that will make you laugh in places you probably shouldn’t—like the elevator, doctor’s office, or waiting to meet with your child’s teacher—JUST ONE TASTE is a romance novel with substance."
Hope everyone had a long, lovely Labor Day weekend! Stinger and I had a blast, wandering Austin art and furniture shops, and trying new restaurants. Well, new to us, anyway, and we hit the jackpot with three total winners! An absinthe bar downtown, with fabulous cocktails and a French-inspired menu; a Japanese place uptown with Korean flair and a KILLER tasting menu, and a fun, quirky little bar on the east side with live music and comfort food. Score!
After all that gallivanting around, I'm a little tired. But not too tired to venture out in the rain (it's buckets and Moses and cats and dogs, here!) in search of the best Mexican breakfast in Austin! I need me some migas.
When I get back, I'll be checking in with the Q&A I did over at The Season blog! She asked some great questions, but if there's anything else you want to know, feel free to ask in the comments. I'll answer anything.
And I'm giving away a prize, as well...a complete set of the Recipe for Love novels, all autographed! So come on by and chat.
Okay, that might be going a little far. But when RT BookReviews offered to let me and the incredibly funny, wickedly talented author Dakota Cassidy interview each other, I jumped at the chance. I was pretty sure the results would be hilarious...okay, that's a lie. I didn't think about the results. I thought about how much fun it would be for ME, and boy, was I right about that!
So if you want to see what two romance authors talk about when they sit down together with no scripts, no agenda, and no mediator, go ahead, but be warned! It's not for the faint (or prissy) of heart.
If you loved that so much you want more, there are actually several different videos. We gabbed for a while. LOL
Oh, guys. Release Day was so much fun! It always is, but I'm always surprised by it. And maybe you'll be as pleased as I was to discover that even thought it was the third time, the thrill and excitement hasn't died down. Not even a little!
So to continue the celebration, I'm hanging out with my friends at Everybody Needs a Little Romance today, asking for sexy stories about food. Come on, you know you've got some! And you want to share. Because if you do, you'll be in the running for one of my cool Recipe for Love prize packs (you wouldn't believe how cute those champagne flutes are, in person) and a signed copy of Just One Taste!
Just One Taste hit bookstores everywhere this morning, and I can't wait to hear what you all think of it. I'm celebrating with my good friends over at Murder She Writes all day, talking about food and sex (what else?) and giving away books! Come hang out with us, we're having a blast.
Here's my little infomercial for JOT:
The third Recipe for Love novel, Just One Taste, is now available! Revisit the misfits, outcasts, and renegades of trendy Manhattan eatery, Market--or meet them for the first time.
Just One Taste delves into the scrumptious secrets of aphrodisiacs, and pits ex-con artist Wes against genius (and Nerd Extraordinaire) Rosemary. These two are a clear case of opposites attracting...and striking sparks!
He has a hungry mind.
Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy dreads his final semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs . . .
She’s got love down to a science.
Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations leave her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it’s delicious . . .
**If you'd like a little taste, click here for an excerpt. To purchase a copy from your favorite bookstore, click here!**
Early reviewers had this to say:
"Readers new to Louisa Edward’s trilogy needn’t read the previous books to enjoy this Just One Taste, but I’d recommend doing it anyway. It’s a solid debut trio, and I’m looking forward to more from this author."--All About Romance (B+)
"Despite plenty of funny dialogue that will make you laugh in
places you probably shouldn’t—like the elevator, doctor’s
office, or waiting to meet with your child’s teacher—Just One Taste is a romance novel with substance."--Romance Reviews Today (Perfect 10)
"The plot turns moment to moment from tension to connection, back and forth, before a most luscious ending is served...Four stars!!!"--Crystal Reviews
"The writer not only describes the tastes and scents of the glorious dishes in a way that will make all readers mouths’ water, but the characters are as sinfully delightful as the meals they prepare."--Night Owl Reviews
Today, I have perfected the art of being in two places at once! Step right this way, folks, and see me chatting about my best food memories. And if you comment on my guest post at the Vintage Cookbooks blog, you could win a gorgeous Recipe for Love prize pack...including a signed copy of the yet-to-be-released Just One Taste!
And over here, you can see me giving Lesa's Book Critiques blog a little overview of the Recipe for Love series, and some dish about the newest installment, just hours before its release. Tell me a tale of something romantic that was done for you, and you'll be in the running for another chance to win that prize package, and a signed copy of Just One Taste.
Yes, it's magical. It must be all the excitement over Just One Taste coming out tomorrow!
I'm very excited and honored to be a guest on Mount Olympus today! That's right, the fabulous authors of the Goddess Blog have welcomed me into their hallowed halls to talk about life, love, food, and the stress of moving.
Come comment with your craziest/funniest/worst/best moving story for a chance to win a fabulous collection of Recipe for Love gear, including my favorite new addition, a pair of adorable signature champagne flutes. I'm mid-interstate move at the moment, and I could use the empathy! (And the champagne, but it's a little early in the day for that. Even for me.)
Thanks so much to everyone who entered my Cute Purse Full 'O Romances Giveaway! I wish I had an adorable bag and ten fabulous romances for each of you. In fact, there were so many entries (almost 100) that I decided to clear out my office a little more and do a second bag of books prize. So we have two winners! Different bags and different books, but all fun. And of course, both of you will get a signed copy of On the Steamy Side to whet your appetite for Just One Taste on August 31st!
And the winners are....
Natasha Moore
and
Donnas
Natasha--you won the red bag and the books I mentioned in the original post. Donnas--you'll be getting a black purse filled with the following ten books by some of my favorite authors:
ON THE STEAMY SIDE by Louisa Edwards (signed by me!)
RED FIRE by Deidre Knight
WICKED DEEDS ON A WINTER'S NIGHT by Kresley Cole
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF PIRATES by Jennifer Ashley
BLOOD BOUND by Patricia Briggs
THE KEPT WOMAN by Susan Donovan
LOVER UNBOUND by J.R. Ward
ANGELS FALL by Nora Roberts (in hardcover!)
FLAT-OUT SEXY by Erin McCarthy
INSTANT ATTRACTION by Jill Shalvis
We're moving to Austin! I've hinted at it, said it on Twitter and Facebook, but now I know for sure it's happening. The movers are coming on August 19th, and we are out of here! There's a lot we'll miss about Ohio, for sure, but we're so excited to settle into our new home in the Live Music (and Romance and Barbecue and Whole Foods) Capital of the World!
I especially can't wait to join the Austin RWA chapter. This will be my first ever experience with belonging to a brick-and-mortar chapter, interacting face to face with other members at meetings and stuff, and I'm thrilled. Online chapters like RWAOL and PASIC are great places to meet authors from all over the world--but for someone moving to a brand new city? I'm very much looking forward to making some connections in my new hometown. Austin RWA looks like a vibrant, active chapter with a good mix of pre-published writers and some of my favorite authors, like Sherry Thomas and Julia London. How cool is that? I'll have to be careful not to fangirl all over them at my first meeting. We'll see how it goes.
To celebrate my move (and to aid in the ongoing Operation: Office Excavation) I'm giving away an adorable red leather purse full of books! Ten, to be exact.
Books in the giveaway include:
ON THE STEAMY SIDE by Louisa Edwards (signed by me!)
LOUP GAROU by Mandy M. Roth (signed by author)
BLOODY GOOD by Georgia Evans (signed by author)
RED FIRE by Deidre Knight
HUNT HER DOWN by Roxanne St. Claire
MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs
THE HEARTBREAKER by Carly Phillips
THE RULES OF SEDUCTION by Madeline Hunter
LOVER UNBOUND by J.R. Ward
BED OF ROSES by Nora Roberts
To enter, simply comment on this post with the title and release date of my next book! (Hint: it's the one with the chocolate-dipped strawberries on the cover. ; ) I know, tricky question, right?) The contest will run through Tuesday, August 17th; I'll randomly select the winner and mail the prize out on Wednesday.**
Good luck! This cute bag has some great stuff in it; you'll be able to finish Summer Beach Read season in style...
**For legal reasons, this contest is open to U.S. residents and U.S. military only, due to the variation in regulations from country to country.**
I'm cleaning out my office in preparation for a move (we're moving to Austin! I'm SO EXCITED. But that's a whole other post) and I've got a towering stack of books I've been hoarding for giveaways. Time to finally give some of them away, I think!
So today, all day, I'm hosting a Twitter contest. I'll pose food-related questions in tweets with the hashtag #givemeataste, and the first to respond with the correct answer and hashtag gets to reach into my grab bag for a brand new free book! I've got releases by fabulous authors from J.R. Ward and Christine Feehan, Roxanne St. Claire and Leslie Parrish, to Jennifer Crusie, Nora Roberts, and Susan Mallery.
Follow me for a chance to win! Enter as often as you like.
WOW, the Literacy Signing last night was a madhouse. And I have to say, I loved every loud, crazy, hot minute I spent on my feet talking to readers! It's the biggest thrill in the world to meet people who've actually read my books and are not my mother. I don't see how it could ever get old. Thank you to every single person who stopped by--you made my first Lit Signing a fabulous, unforgettable experience!
And speaking of fabulous, unforgettable experiences...yesterday I had one of the best, most fascinating, and funniest lunches of my life. Through a strange series of circumstances, my friends and I met the General Manager of the Disney Swan & Dolphin yesterday morning, and he introduced us to the Executive Chef of the entire property. Chef Robert Ciborowski, a charming, handsome, and shockingly young man to be in charge of the resort's nineteen kitchens, invited us to eat at the chef's table.
If you don't already know, the chef's table is traditionally a table in (or with a good view of) the kitchen of a professional restaurant. Sometimes the chefs and line cooks do the serving; there's usually at least a little interaction with them, which is what makes chef's table dining so fun. I've been lucky enough to eat at the chef's table in some awesome restaurants, but lunch yesterday blew them all away.
First of all, it was a lot more like a family meal situation, because it wasn't just us girls (me, Lara Santiago, Kresley Cole, Kristen Painter, and Roxanne St. Claire--aka The Blonde Mafia) at the table--we sat down and passed plates around with Chef Robert, the GM, an executive steward (adorable), assistant director of food and beverage (adorabler), and several of the high ranking chefs. It was insane.
The food was glorious (there was a pan-seared tripletail with rock shrimp in saffron cream sauce that I'd like to take a bath in) but even better was the conversation. These guys were a font of research for me, obviously, but even beyond that, they were hysterical! They started out very respectful and polite, but as lunch wore on (and they realized what kind of women they'd fallen in with) they uncensored themselves. And holy cow, I thought I had crushes on chefs before...
Thank you again, if any of you guys are reading this blog--we had a truly fabulous time! And Chef Dan, let me know how your mom likes On the Steamy Side!
If you're in the Orlando area, come down to the Disney Swan & Dolphin today and meet some fun authors! It'll be great--you'll come, you'll chat, you'll get some fabulous books autographed, and all of it will benefit a great cause.
I'll be there, definitely signing On the Steamy Side (and hopefully Can't Stand the Heat) along with giving away excerpt booklets with the first three chapters of the upcoming release, Just One Taste! I'd absolutely love to see you. Even if you don't buy a book. : ) Just come say 'hi!' It's my first Literacy Signing ever, and I'm pretty excited about it.
There are a ton of fabulous authors scheduled to appear, about 500, last I checked. Here's a link to the RWA National Conference site with a map of where to find us all, and a list of who's slated to be there.
I'm surfacing from my deadline-imposed seclusion to let you know that I took a quick (miniscule! 5 minutes, at best, if my editor is reading this!) break to post a free read. It's not a continuation of Violet and Jonathan's story (sorry, guys--they're on hold until the new book is turned in.)
Instead, I offer you a tiny prequel scene for Just One Taste. It's a short vignette from the hero, Wes Murphy's past--and I hope it makes you fall for him as hard as I did. He has a lot to overcome, but I bet you know what helps him make it through to his happily ever after, don't you? Yep, lots of hot sex. Kidding! (Sort of.) The answer is true love, of course. The hot sex is just a bonus.
I'm still deeply immersed in finishing the first draft of LUSCIOUS, book 1 in the Best American Chef Trilogy, which is why my updates have been so few and far between. But I wanted to grab a second to tell you all about the Summer Reading Trail! The new batch of free reads is up for July, and there's tons of great stuff.
A bunch of fabulous authors have contributed everything from original short stories to excerpts from upcoming novels (mine is from JUST ONE TASTE, August 31st) and there are stories to suit every taste and every heat level. Come check it out! You're pretty much guaranteed to be entertained. Go forth and read!
This is actually more of an interview than a guest blog, but there are some fun questions and answers, and a chance to win very cool prizes, up at the Writerspace blog today! Check it out, and comment to be in the running for a romantic prize guaranteed to get you and your sweetie into the kitchen together...
Tomorrow, I'll be signing books in beautiful downtown Port Clinton, with Lake Erie sparkling in the background, and hordes of crowds will be showing up! Not for me, exactly--but for the Annual Walleye Festival. That's right, I will almost certainly be upstaged by one of the ugliest fish known to man, but that's fine. I'm not threatened, or anything. I *am* planning to have fish and chips for dinner, though. ; )
The Book Exchange bookstore, run by my friend and fabulous bookseller Annette Fitzgerald, has organized a booth at the festival that will host a rotating multi-author signing. My slot is tomorrow, Saturday May 29th, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and I'll be signing On the Steamy Side alongside mystery author Libby Hellman, inspirational romance author Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter, and women's fiction author Martha Moody. I'm so excited! We're going to have a ball, and if you're in the area, you should come down, check out the festival (which I hear is crazy--it's my first year going!) eat some flaky, mild, delicious walleye, and buy some books.
The enter schedule for the 2-day signing is here, and the Walleye Festival website is here, with more details. Hope to see you there!
After some prompting from readers (I love how eager you guys are!) I've posted a nice, long excerpt from the beginning of the third Recipe for Love novel, Just One Taste. This is Wes Murphy's story, and also continues the saga of Frankie and Jess from Can't Stand the Heat and On the Steamy Side. But it can definitely be read as a stand-alone book!
Go here to get a sneak peek at ex-con-man-turned-culinary-student Wes and the woman who is everything he never knew he always wanted, chemistry genius Dr. Rosemary Wilkins. These two were a blast to write, and as always, the research was more like fun than work. Aphrodisiacs, anyone? ; )
I'm in the thick of website updates and maybe even a blog revamp, so expect some changes around here soon...
I just got a couple of photos back from my cocktail demo at this year's Romantic Times Convention, so I wanted to share!
Here's me showing how to make the "Miranda" Cocktail--the one my heroine gets a little more than tipsy on in the first chapter of Can't Stand the Heat! It's a sweet, tart, bubbly concoction involving rose-petal infused vodka, sparkling wine, and raspberries...
Every guest at the demo had her own little shot of the rose vodka, a few ripe raspberries in a bowl, and a champagne flute. The mixing got a little mixed up (all my fault! I'll be more clear next time, I swear!) but the results were still delicious.
Then I asked for four volunteers from the crowd to c
ome up and participate in a Sangria Off! The challenge: to take the ingredients I had provided and come up with the best version of sangria they could. We had two contestants making white sangria with Pinot Grigio, and two making red with
Merlot. The other ingredients they were give were:
Granny Smith apple
Oranges
Limes
Lemons
Grapes
Strawberries
Ginger beer
Canned peaches
Canned pineapple
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Sugar
Brandy
Cointreau
I think that's it. I was on hand to help slice the fresh fruit and fetch and carry, but for the most part, the contestants were on their own--and I was so impressed with their results! Our three volunteer judges, also from the audience, proclaimed two w
inners, one of the whites and one of the reds, and then we all got to taste the sangria. Delicious! They ranged from tart and fruity to sweet and fairly...ahem...alcohol forward. ; ) I loved them all, and was happy to be able to send all four contestants home with signature Recipe for Love aprons and signed copies of On the Steamy Side.
What a fantastic party. Well, I had fun, at least! I think everyone else did, too. In fact, it was so much fun that I'm already thinking about when I might be able to host another one...
It's official, kids! My next three books will be the Best American Chef trilogy: LUSCIOUS, DELECTABLE, and TANTALIZING! Luscious will be out in March 2011, followed by Delectable in September, then Tantalizing will wrap things up in March 2012.
I'm writing Luscious now, and I'm so into it--it's really thrilling to set up a new group of chefs and foodies. These characters live in the same world as the folks from Market, so they definitely know our old friends Adam Temple, Frankie Boyd, Devon Sparks, and the rest. You can expect some fun cameos! But this series is more than just a new restaurant trying to make it in the high-powered Manhattan food scene--Luscious, Delectable, and Tantalizing will take us through the challenges of competing for the title of Best American Chef in a high-stakes national contest. Think Top Chef, only the chefs compete in teams from around the country! Get ready for sparks flying, heated rivalries, and even more heated kisses and passions flare higher...
Luscious introduces us to the team from Lunden & Sons, a West Village institution that's been in the Lunden family for generations. Max Lunden is called home from wandering the world in search of exotic flavors and cooking techniques to take over the team when his father gets sick. After years abroad, Max has a lot to deal with from his past in Manhattan: Johnny, his pastry chef brother resents him for leaving, sous chef Beck resents him for coming back, and then there's Juliet Cavanaugh, the woman he never thought he'd find again. And she's got a secret...
I don't want to spoil anything by telling you too much more, but I'm sure having fun discovering these people and getting to know them.
My favorite food blog has a super fun interview with me up today! Go here to find out the answers to such burning questions as the best meal I ever had and who I'd invite to join me for dinner, if I could have anyone...
I had the BEST time answering this interview (is it a coincidence that it was administered by one of my best friends in the world? Probably not.) In fact, I had so much fun, I promised to give away a signed hardcover edition of my latest Recipe for Love novel ON THE STEAMY SIDE, as well as a signature apron and set of spatulas! Come comment for a chance to win the prize!!
I'm so tickled that Judi L of the Book Pimp Blog chose On the Steamy Side as her Wednesday Workout Read! It doesn't seem like an obvious choice, at first glance--working out to descriptions of deliciously high-calorie food? But then, I like to watch the Food Network while I'm working out, so who am I to judge. The whole review is interesting and entertaining--man, I don't think I'll ever get tired of finding out what readers think of my books--but the very best part comes at the end, when she sums up in one perfect nutshell everything my writing is about:
"On the Steamy Side is about relationships, new ones, old messed up ones, disappointing family ones, but most importantly that the best relationships are attainable if you're just brave enough to reach out and hold on for dear life before it's too late."
In some sense, as much as each story has its own themes and unique goals for the characters, every book I write boils down to that one sentiment about relationship. I'm thrilled beyond belief that a reader I've never met can see that in On the Steamy Side. Makes me feel like I'm doing something right!
How about you--do you see overarching themes in your own writing? Or in the series by your favorite authors?
I'm almost recovered from RT (short roundup: fabulous friends, fun times with readers, sold out of my books at the signing, and learned a lot from every panel I was on) and almost caught up with the household stuff my husband totally neglected while I was gone. Seriously, the kitchen looked like he'd hosted a frat party, or maybe had cooked a five-course dinner for ten. And sure, some of that was leftover from when I was scrambling to test the recipes for the back of JUST ONE TASTE before I left, but still!
Anyway, after the orgy of cleaning, I finally got down to my email and discovered this fabulous review has just been posted on Romance Reviews Today! ON THE STEAMY SIDE got a 'Perfect 10', the only rating they give, and only to a select handful of books every year. OtSS is now automatically entered in their Best Book of 2010 contest, and I'm in some truly fabulous company on that list. Holy cats. Check it out! I'm so unbelievably stoked. It's a huge thrill every time I read a review where someone totally "got" the book and what I was trying to do. A huge thank you to the reviewer, Allegra Allston--you are currently my favorite person in all the world! Don't be surprised if I name a heroine 'Allegra' sometime in the future. : )
I'm off to RT today! This year's conference looks to be bigger, badder, and more awesome than ever, and I can't wait to see my friends, meet some readers, and sign some books! Here's the conference website so you can check out all the cool parties and events, but if you'd like to stalk me in particular, here's where I'll be:
Thursday, April 29th This is unofficial, but from about 6:00 on, I plan to be in the bar at the Hyatt Regency. : )
Friday, April 30th 10:00 - Save the Contemporary Panel with Smart Bitch Sarah, Jane from Dear Author, and a whole bunch of contemporary readers and writers! Just a gab fest about what we love, hate, want to see more of, in our favorite romance subgenre.
11:15 - Agent Expose with Deidre Knight, the other fabulous ladies of the Knight Agency, and some of their clients, talking about the agent/author relationship and how to have a good one.
12:00 - The View with Nancy Berland, in which I'll be featured in the last fifteen minutes or so, talking about book marketing, online PR, and how to get your name out there so people who will love your books can find them!
2:45 - The Contemporary Voice, a panel on writing contemporaries, and what makes that voice so special and different from other genres.
Saturday, May 1 11:00 - 2:00 THE RT BOOK FAIR! This is the big one, folks, and the only one you don't need to be registered at the conference to attend. Come one, come all, and meet some amazing romance writers (several of whom better watch out, because I plan to fangirl all over them when I see them.)
5:00 - As part of Women's Fiction Day, I'll be doing a cocktail demonstration, which includes free drinks, signature Recipe for Love champagne flutes to take home, and an interactive sangria-making lesson! Should be fun times, and we've already got about 100 people signed up. We're capping it at 120, so be there early if you want to get in.
7:00 - 9:00 Lady Jane's Salon, another chance to get one of those Recipe for Love champagne flutes, and hear some cool headline authors read from their latest books, mingle with other romance readers, and just generally be down and groovy. The Lady Jane's folks always put on a good party, so you don't want to miss this one.
I've been thinking a lot about book trailers lately. Specifically, how to do them well and make them cute, interesting, original, and effective. I've definitely seen some fun ones (and some so awful they make me cringe) but have I ever seen an effective one? Have you? And then I came across Tessa Dare's video for her upcoming new Stud Club trilogy.
I laughed and laughed, got totally intrigued by the premise of the trilogy, and now I can't wait to read the books! I'd call that effective, wouldn't you?
So what are some of your favorite book trailers? Do you watch them at all, or give them a pass?
For the next week, I'll be over at Novelspot talking about how I became a romance writer, in seven easy steps! Okay, so it wasn't easy. But break any process down into seven steps, and it seems simpler than it is. If you want to learn how I got to be the author of the Recipe for Love series, come on over and check it out. Today is all about the first step any author takes: reading.
I'm going to my first ever outdoor music festival tonight--Coachella Music Fest! Stinger and I are in Palm Springs for his dad's birthday, but when we realized one of our favorite bands would be playing at this festival tonight, we had to score some tickets. And now we're going to see Muse! I could not be more excited. Well, maybe if it were My Chemical Romance. Or the Ramones. But Muse is plenty thrilling! Full report later...
Don't miss the fabulous in-depth article in Florida Today, all about romance and why we love it. It made me so proud to be a romance writer! (You heard it here first, bodice-rippers are GONE!) Check it out, and be sure to watch the video. I tried to embed it, but it came back as unavailable. : ( Technologyfail, I am the queen of it.
I've got at least two outdoor weddings this summer, which means exactly one thing: espadrilles. And since I live in the boonies, I do most of my shopping online and now I have piles of shoe boxes filled with black patent leather strappy espadrille wedge sandals, and I need to narrow it down to just one! Yikes.
After a lot of wandering around my house in hiked-up pajama pants and fancy heels, I've got the choices down to a final three. I'm hoping you, my dedicated readers/shoe lovers, can help me make the final selection.
Here they are, two angles on each pair:
These are the least comfortable of the three, but also maybe the cutest. In the battle of style vs. substance, I usually go for style without even blinking an eye, but in this case, there are other good options, so I'm torn.
These are the most casual, and also the most comfortable. They tend to make me clomp like a Clydesdale, but would that really be noticeable on grass or gravel?
These are both a more moderate heel than the first pair, but dressier than the second pair. There's something kind of cool about their wide straps, and the way the strap extends down the sole makes me think of the classic espadrille that wrapped and tied around the ankle.
I grew up in Virginia, went to school in Philadelphia, spent five years in Manhattan, then moved to a teeny town in Ohio. Now I live in fabulous, funky, fun Austin, Texas, which is very inspiring...
Once an editor of romance novels, now I'm writing my own. My Recipe for Love series combines contemporary romance with my love of food, restaurants, and smokin' hot chefs!
