Super Authors Gifts and Critiques

It’s that time of year again—Brenda Novak’s Annual Online Auction for DiabetesResearch will begin on Tuesday May 1^st and run through May 31^st. There are tons of fabulous items up for auction and the Super Authors have their own page!

 

Here’s what’s being offered by the Super Authors:

Geri Krotow is offering the coolest prize—a Skype book club session, with books! The package includes the Skype session with Geri, 10 signed copies of her June 2012 SuperRomance Navy Rules and 10 small Navy related gift bags!

 Sarah Mayberry is offering all eight of her SuperRomance novels—A Natural Father, Home for the Holidays, Her Best Friend, The Best Laid Plans, The Last Goodbye, One Good Reason, All They Need, More Than One Night—and an assortment of Australian goodies for an authentic immersive reading experience! Including: Tim Tams, Vegemite, Cherry Ripe bars and other delicacies.

Mary Sullivan is offering an autographed set of all six of her books set in Ordinary, Montana—No Ordinary Cowboy, A Cowboy’s Plan, The Cowboy’s Son, Beyond Ordinary, The Ties That Bind and No Ordinary Sheriff and a critique of a 3-chapter proposal package.






If you are a prospective SuperRomance author and would like a critique from those in the know, the following Super Authors are offering three-chapter proposal package critiques:


Karina Bliss

              









Rogenna Brewer

Joan Kilby

Carrie Weaver is offeirng a wonderful Arizona gift bag that includes autographed copies of Once a Ranger and Welcome Home, Daddy, both set in Arizona. The Best of the Best from Arizona Cookbook, a colorful t-shirt (size large) , a gorgeous insulated travel cup, Cerreta’s Cactus Chews and Redstone’s Red Chili Chipotle Chocolate  and a red bandana!

Linda Warren is offering a handmade brown and turquoise magnesite necklace with a western cross with aTexas star on it. There are chunks of irregular, round and barrel shaped turquoise beads surrounded by silver zinc findings and brown Chinese crystals. There are also matching earrings. Linda is also offering autographed sets of two popular Superromance series: The Belles of Texas, which includes Caitlyn’s Prize, Madison’s Children and Skylar’s Outlaw; and The Hardin Boys which includes The Texan’s Secret and The Texan’s Bride, which was recently nominated for the prestigious Rita Award.

Jeannie Watt is offering a cut glass mosaic mirror. This mirror is a repeat of the most popular mirror on her auction page last year and features pink flowers on a cream background.

Mary Brady's gift basket includes autographed copies of her three, Montana set SuperRomance books: He Calls Her Doc, Promise to a Boy, Winning Over the Rancher. Come on out and see how Happily Ever After struggles and grows in Big Sky country. Included in the basket are TossOn™ stretch bracelets and earrings. In deference of the cause, Mary mentioned that she’s left out (eaten) the chocolate.

Sure hope to see you there! Happy Bidding!

New Releases ~ May 2012

Waters Run Deep
by Liz Talley
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN: 9780373717767 (#1776)

Getting attached to someone nearly sidelined agent Annie Perez's career. So she's not about to make the same mistake twice. This latest undercover assignment in Louisiana—acting as nanny for a famous couple under threat—suits her perfectly. She can investigate quietly and under the radar. That is, provided she can stay clear of way-too-suspicious detective Nate Dufrene.

Easier said than done when Nate seems to be around every corner. And with each encounter, Annie is tempted a little more by this son of Bayou Bridge. Yet regardless of their chemistry, they are worlds apart, and she's not willing to compromise for love again. But when she needs an ally, Nate has her back. And that could convince her to get very attached!

The Long Shot
by Ellen Hartman
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN: 9780373717774 (#1777)

Deacon Fallon has made something of himself. Yeah, it wasn't easy becoming a successful—now retired—pro basketball player, but he did it. In the process, he made his brother's life better. That's always been Deacon's goal.

This latest effort to help, however, may push Deacon too far. He's been roped into coaching the high school girls' team! Worse, there's a little offside action brewing between him and his hot assistant coach, Julia Bradley. Definitely not in his plans, but he can't resist her. And for the first time, Deacon wants something that has nothing to do with his brother and everything to do with Julia!

Like One of the Family
by Kimberly Van Meter
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN: 9780373717781 (#1778)

White beaches, blue waters…St. John is paradise for most. But not for Lora Bell. Her childhood home is a source of painful memories and obligation. And this visit isn't likely to change anything. She's here to deal with a mountain of trouble at her family's resort, her grandfather…and Heath Cannon, the guy she'd rather forget.

Being around Heath reminds Lora of another side of herself—the less serious, more carefree side. And while that might be a welcome change, this is not the time. She has to be strong to make the tough decisions required to save the resort. So these feelings need to stop. Now. But it may be too late. Because those beaches, the water and Heath seem to be changing everything.

For Just Cause
by Kara Lennox
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN: 9780373717798 (#1779)

Guilt. Innocence. Psychologist and body-language expert Claudia Ellison can sense them both, which is why she's so good at her job. Unfortunately, even the innocent are convicted and this time Claudia's partially to blame. To help free a wrongfully imprisoned woman, she teams up with Project Justice investigator Billy Cantu, the one man she can't read.

They must track down the truth before someone gets hurt. And to do that, they need to trust each other. Only, the ex-undercover cop has secrets he wants to keep, and to Claudia, not knowing everything is not an option. But some things aren't meant to be shared. Because once they are revealed, they can never be taken back.

No Ordinary Sheriff
by Mary Sullivan
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN: 9780373717804 (#1780)

Shannon Wilson is on the fast track to the top. A DEA agent from the big city, she's simply passing through Ordinary, Montana, to settle a score. And no small-town sheriff will derail her plans simply because he flashes a badge and a great smile…no matter how sexy he looks in that cowboy hat.

After all, Sheriff Cash Kavenagh is ready to settle into that white-picket-fence ideal. And Shannon isn't about to swap her fast-paced lifestyle for such an ordinary existence. Only problem is—wrapped in those big masculine arms of his, Shannon can't seem to shake the feeling that life with Cash may just be the most extraordinary thing that's ever happened to her.

Healing Dr. Alexander
by Tracy Wolff
Harlequin Superromance
ISBN: 9780373717811 (#1781)

This was not his professional plan. Dr. Jack Alexander—dedicated surgeon and humanitarian—never expected an accident would end his time in the O.R. Nor did he expect to have to abandon his aid work. Now, back in Atlanta, he's faced with rebuilding his career…his life. And his hope for the future comes from the least likely source—the little family next door.

From the first moment he spots Sophie Connors having a water fight with her young sons, Jack is captivated. She defies all of his assumptions about family and relationships. Too bad she resists committing. Somehow he has to change her mind. Because together they may find that life doesn't always turn out the way you planned…sometimes, it turns out even better.

Yummy men

Mary Sullivan

There's something incredibly sexy about men who cook. A man making dinner for me would be a fabulous date. I would even agree to do the dishes if only HE would cook. Don't get me wrong. I love to cook. But a man cooking for me? Heaven.

These days chefs are rock stars. For three or four months in the fall, I watched a free preview of the Food Network. Wow, was it fun. I have a serious crush on some of the male chefs--most notably, Alton Brown and Bobby Flay. In my opinion, Geoffrey Zakarian, Mario Batale and Masaharu Morimoto are culinary geniuses. Just once, I'd like to taste what looks so incredible onscreen.

The women are amazing, too, i.e. Cat Cora and Anne Burrell, but today we're talking about men.

My favourite shows were The Iron Chef and Chopped. Both shows could get pretty tense. A new show, Sweet Genius, looks strange but compelling. Unfortunately, my free preview ended and I won't pay for it. I know I would watch it FAR too much!

I've never followed Jamie Oliver before, but his Christmas shows yielded fabulous recipes and his Mulled Wine knocked my socks off.

When I first met him, my (now ex-) husband wasn't a very good cook, but he made me dinner when we first started to date. I remember it well. He made wieners and beans and toast. It wasn't gourmet, but it was fun. Another time, he made Beef Stroganoff for me and some of our friends. Unfortunately, when the recipe said that it served six, he believed it. I often find recipe portions skimpy. There was barely enough for each of us, but he made up for it with dessert: ice cream covered with crushed Crispy Crunch chocolate bars and corn syrup drizzled on top. Again, not gourmet, but fun.

By the time our marriage ended years later, he was baking pies for all of his fellow firefighters. He used to like my apple pie and wanted to bake it for the other (at that time, early on, all male) co-workers. He had to make four at a time, though, because they were big eaters. His pies became so good that he became known for them in all the fireballs and was nicknamed The Pie Man. He would also, on occasion, want to make them dinner, so I taught him his faves of mine and we would double or triple the recipes and he would make them at work. He turned out to be a really great cook.

Years ago, as a joke, a friend gave me a book called The Hunk Cookbook. It was full of beefcake photos of good-looking men. Those photos obscured, though, that the men were real cooks who had donated recipes to the book. In fact, all of the recipes were donated by men--and they were really good! The author conducted a survey of 4,000 men and her results blasted a lot of preconceptions. Men were very, very interested in cooking in the kitchen, not just on the barbecue, and salads and vegetables were high on the list of things they liked to cook. As well, they avoided a lot of foods that weren't healthy. This book was published in 1989, so already they were leaning toward healthier options.

Has a man ever cooked a meal for you that you really loved? Who is your favourite celebrity chef and why? Does a night at home with a man cooking for you rate as an ideal date?

May is creeping closer and my release, No Ordinary Sheriff, will soon be on bookstore shelves. I would like to give away a copy to one of today's commenters.

Slumps, tuning forks and soulmates

DRAW WINNER: Kristina Matthews won the draw for an advance copy of Bring Him Home. Kristina if you'd like to contact me with your address on karina@karinabliss.com I'll get a copy to you!

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I’m in a slump. Not a reading slump thank heavens.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve been reading, Making a Good Writer Great, Writing Romantic Comedy, Writing Subtext (guessed I need inspiration yet?) and for fun the latest releases from J.R. Ward, Sarah Mayberry, Abby Gaines and some ‘new to me’ Karen Marie Moning. I’ve also got Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal from the library from a recommendation on Anne Stuart’s blog. And that's before I get to other new   Superromance releases.
But at close to fifty thousand words into the new book with thirty to go I’m tired of 'staying with the cattle' as writer Elmore Leonard describes the writing process. I want to ride into town, raise some hell, kick up my heels!
Still the book's taking shape (the fourth in my SAS heroes series - His Goodbye Girl). It’s about a soldier who comes back from the dead to discover his buddies have given his gal the engagement ring they found in his locker. Which he wouldn't have a problem with only he proposed on the eve of his departure - and she turned him down. Ouch!
I love the premise and thought lots of comic mayhem would ensue but the book’s taken another direction though it still has comic moments.

That’s the interesting part of writing...doesn’t matter what kind of detailed synopsis I labour over or how many times I juggle my scene cards the tone of the book works itself out through the writing. Sometimes I feel like I’m following my characters around with a tuning fork listening for the right note.

Bring Him Home, book 3 of the SAS series is out in May through e-harlequin and June through other retailers. While I was finishing line edits I did an interview with debut author Kyle Griffin about my writing process, which I’d never dissected before.

So instead of giving you the back cover blurb let me tell you how Bring Him Home evolved. A guy falls in love with his army buddy's widow. That’s the basic premise. Then I asked myself some ‘what if’ questions.

What if he had to make a Sophy's Choice (lesser of two evils) in the ambush that killed his buddy. What if his buddy was complicit in that choice?

What if he's so scarred emotionally he turns his back on his friends, the only family he has? What if his best friend's widow forces him to come home because his signature in a family trust is required in order for her sell the home and invest in a business?

What if she hasn't forgiven her late husband for something and the hero acts as go between? What if his own redemption is increasingly tied to reconciling the widow to her late husband at the same time he falls in love with her?
I also looked at my favourite genre conventions and tried to twist them. Let's have a widow who adored her husband. Let's have the late husband a major character in the book. Let's have the love triangle about the hero's loyalty to his best friend as much as his love for his best friend's widow. Let's have a woman who's moving on and a hero who can't.
Can you have different kinds of soulmates? Or one? How can I resolve the story so the reader believes that this man and no other is the 'one' while developing an affection for the late husband.

The book is set in Pataua, NZ renamed Stingray Bay.

Anyway, back to reading. I’m loving Going Postal, my first Terry Pratchett. What book has been recommended to you lately that turned out to be a great read? Or if you have a tip on how to be industrious when you don’t want to be, I’d be delighted to hear it.

Post a comment and go into the draw for a copy of Bring Him Home. You can read an excerpt here. 

The Writing Life--Lenora Worth

Thanks to technology--most writers can do their job just about anywhere--in an airport, at a coffee shop, waiting at the doctor's office, on the front porch or while riding in a car. But most of us have offices that we use every day. I'm sitting in my new office in Florida. We will be moving here this summer and we've been here for a few weeks doing renovations. Well, my husband is doing the renovations while I try to meet my deadlines. Sometimes we both scream in frustration at the same time! Even though this room is smaller than my other office, we managed to make it cozy and bright. I found a chair that I love and it suits my bad back. The walls are a dark creamy yellowish color that reminds me of sand and my chair matches that color. My new desk is glass and wood and L-shaped so I can see out the window. I love beach scenes so I'll hang a few of those around to remind me that I'm now close to the sea. I have bookshelves in the closet and we are bringing down an antique armoire that used to hold my shoe collection. Yes, it's going from one of my favorite things to another of my favorite things. But don't worry, my shoes will be safe in their new closet on bright white shelves where I can still see them. I have a cream colored chaise that will occupy one corner--that's my dreaming chair. I think I can write in this new space but I'll also have to try out writing on the deck that looks out on the bay, too. I can watch for dolphins and get a chapter in. Now that I've described my writing space, I'd sure enjoy hearing about where some of the other Super authors enjoy writing. When we decided to move down here, my husband kept telling everyone "Lenora can write anywhere. That's the beauty of her job." That is part of the beauty of this job. It always goes where I go. And the possibilities are endless.

What is it with Men and Socks?

By Jeannie Watt

What is it with men and socks? Or at least the men in my life and socks?

When I was single, I had very few problems with socks, except for one or two that were eaten by the washing machine, but that’s just life. When I married, however, my relationship with socks—and not my own socks, mind you—started to change.  Nothing earth shattering, but certain phenomena began repeating.

One of those is the Invisi-sock Phenomenon. Apparently the Y chromosome renders certain objects, including socks, temporarily invisible.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to stop doing important things, like reading blogs before getting ready for work, to find the missing pair of running/biking/hunting/white/brown/lucky socks that are sitting front and center in the sock drawer when I open it. When I hand them to my husband, the following exchange then ensues:

“Where did you find them!?”

“In the sock drawer.”

“I looked there!”

“I know you did. So, until tomorrow…”

Not to be smug, but in our several decades of married life, I have never once asked my husband to help me find my socks. My car keys, yes; my sun glasses, yes; but socks—never. (To be fair, however, I must mention that my husband rarely loses anything except his socks--and they aren't really lost. They're just invisible.)

After my son was born, I noticed another sock phenomenon that continues to this day. The Sock Shed, as in the boy sheds socks wherever he goes. If I want to find him, I follow the trail of socks.  Even when he tries not to shed socks, he does.  For instance, if I call a hotel because I think I’ve left something in the room, the first question I get after security checks the lost and found is, “Was it a sock?”.

So after many years of guy/sock dealings,  I’ve developed a Y-chromosome-sock theory. Nature, through specialized evolution, has made it impossible for men to manage their socks and therefore they eventually realize that, unless they want to spend their days sockless and blistered, they need a mate. Then they are able to pass that Y-chromosome on to new generations.

What do you think? Does the Y-chromosome render objects invisible and make it impossible to keep socks under control?

Hey--you know what? I just realized this is my second hosiery post in a row. What is it with me and socks?

About That Spring Fever...

Rogenna Brewer mentioned that she had spring fever. Me, too. For me it manifests in the compulsion to get outside and work in my garden. Because of living overseas for 6 of the nearly 9 previous years, I haven't had much to work with...containers with annuals, herbs, some roses in our lovely Belgian garden (we'd call it a walled yard, they call it a jardin). So it's great to be back home in the USA in the house we bought 9 months ago with the high hopes of not moving again for many, many years. Did I emphasize no more moves for a good while?

Even though the home we bought is relatively new, it's 9 yrs old but with no landscaping. This is good and bad. Let's focus on the good. I get to put in my flower beds and trees wherever I wish. On Saturday I decided it was time to start. But I'm afraid of digging into our dog's electric fence, so I kept this one next to the house. It's in a spot that if I mess it up it won't matter as much as say, the front yard.

You can see my handiwork in the photo. It seemed simple. Dig up a 10' by 10' (3mx3m) area. Just lift up the sod. How hard could it be? And I decided to make it kind of heart-shaped. Easy, right? All I can say is that if not for the great workouts I've been putting in at the gym in cross-fit and cardio-fit classes, I wouldn't have made it. The unseasonably warm day had sweat dripping down my face within minutes. I kept telling myself I was working off all of the Easter Bunnies I ate last weekend.

Now, the fun part. I get to pick up some dirt, mulch, and plants. Probably a weeping mini cherry tree is in the lot. Of course, as a romance writer I am brilliant. I conveniently had a cortisone shot to the shoulder yesterday (planned before the sod busting) and I'll have to rely on dearest hubby and teen daughter to bring in the dirt and mulch. Tee hee.

What are your best gardening tips?

Reassign, Recycle, Upcycle, Repurpose

 by Mary Brady

(Added 4/21/2012) If you didn't win today, I'll be blogging and giving away another prize on May 14!

And the winner is:

****TAMMY!!!****

Tammy, please send your snail mail address along with your choice of prize:

He Calls Her Doc

Promise to a Boy

Winning Over the Rancher

or a set of TossOn Bracelets to me at: Mary@marybrady.net

Check out similar bracelet sets at www.etsy.com/shop/julsandmaude

Congratulations and thanks! I love seeing your smiling face on my comments page!

For new arrivals, enjoy the Bonds and come next month for a run at a prize!

Reassign…okay, so maybe I stuck this one in so I could put pictures of things I have “reassigned” in my life. For instance, I have reassigned James Bond in all his forms to the observe only category, sooo that way I can begin to forget that he was never any place but there for me anyway. Sooo...it's Sunday night and I'll just move on. But the photos stay!

Recycle…my hubby will attest, I recycle everything I can and save up the rest to take elsewhere to special disposal sites—but everyone knows about recycling.

Upcycling and repurposing (ancient ideas but renamed so recently that my spell checker doesn’t recognize them) create some of my worthy causes and entertaining challenges. Caution: If you have hoarding tendencies, please do not bring things home for the purpose of upcycling or repurposing. You could easily and quickly…well, you know.

Before I recycle anything or toss anything out, I look at it as an object for consideration. Can said thing I'm about to dump be upcycled—updated for further use in a manner similar to that for which it was originally intended or can it be repurposed—used as something for which it was not originally created but for which it is well or reasonably well suited. I could make a long list of my "not ready for the landfill yet" objects but it would be interesting only to me.

This blog idea started when I had made too many potatoes with my corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day and had to upcycle some of them. I fried them for breakfast and trust me, that’s one yummy upcycle.

Recently, I saw these earrings in Jewelry Making Daily made from the colorful metal of cookie/candy tins—the ones painted with snow people, flowers, fruits, etc. They were bug's ear cute and the raw materials are currently quite abundant and varied.

It's in the little things like the broccoli rubber bands making the perfect closure device for a bag of coffee. It's in the big things like using retired ships as reefs for sea life.

What I am most interested in, however, is what do you upcycle or repurpose in your life that makes things better, saves the planet, and generally gives you a feeling that you just did something right and no one can take that away from you! To one commenter, I will give away my book of your choice or a set of  TossOn™ bracelets. For examples of TossOn™ bracelets visit Juls and Maude (Check the comments section of this blog this Friday for the winner.)


Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Spring Fever

I have a serious case of Spring Fever so this post promises to be short and sweet.  

What is Spring Fever?

Springtime here in the Northern Hemisphere begins with the March Equinox.  The days get longer, the nights grow shorter and our hormones respond accordingly.

More sunlight means levels of melatonin fall, while levels of serotonin rise.  In other words, we're naturally less lethargic and happier in the spring.

Sperm counts go up just in time for Spring Break.  Yikes!

     *Top Ten Spring Break destinations for families.

And all this new found energy leads to the phenomenon known as Spring Cleaning.

     *All You Spring Cleaning tips and checklists.

For the baseball fan it means the end of Spring Training and that first game of the season on Opening Day.

     *2012 Schedule for Major League Baseball

How do you celebrate Spring?

Viva con precaucion

My husband and I just returned from our vacation to Cancun, Mexico.

“Mexico?” you may have exclaimed. “But it’s so dangerous right now!”

That was the line I was getting from pretty much everyone I told about our trip. Recent incidents of violence—attacks on tourists, kidnappings, assaults, drug related murders, and so forth—have been making headlines all over the world and have given the country a bad reputation.

Before the trip, everyone was giving me advice. Don’t leave the resort. Don’t go to the city. Don’t show off your wealth. Don’t go anywhere alone. Pretend you live there (though how I was supposed to blend in with my pasty Canadian winter complexion I have no idea.) I started reading articles about the various incidents, and my fears grew. Not only did I have to worry about not drinking the water, but I also had to watch my back every second!

I was anxious, to say the least. I’d tried to reassure myself that it was all just media hype; that a few isolated incidents didn’t mean anything in a country that sees more than 21.5 million international tourists every year. A lot of the more heinous crimes happened in the big cities and on the U.S.-Mexican border, after all, and most were gang-related. I told myself as long as I didn’t go wandering alone at night into clearly marked gang territory, I’d be fine.

Turns out I was right. And we had a fantastic time!

Cancun is like a Mexican version of Las Vegas, built up and modernized with enormous resort hotels, gorgeous white-sand beaches, tons of tourist traps, and hordes of people selling local crafts. There are police everywhere, and even specially designated tourist police (whether you find that a comfort is up to you.) The locals are helpful and friendly and speak English. And everywhere you go in the Hotel Zone, there are always other tourists around. Frankly, the most dangerous thing that could have happened to us was getting suckered by pushy souvenir vendors.

We didn’t feel unsafe at all, but we took plenty of precautions wherever we went, booking hotel-approved tours and taking the guides’ advice about what not to do. As long as we stuck to the rules and didn’t do anything stupid, we were fine.

It just goes to show, you can’t believe everything you read, or judge a whole country based on what happens in a handful of cities.

Is there someplace in the world you’ve always wanted to visit, but have been afraid to go because of things you’ve read? Comment below!

The Best Easter Ever

Yesterday we hosted Easter dinner for my family which includes my parents, my two brothers and their wives, my two sisters and their husbands, thirteen nieces and nephews, a few of their girlfriends/boyfriends and my 7 mo great-nephew.

It was crowded, loud and so much fun! I love seeing my nieces and nephews and catching up with their lives. Most of them are out of high school and a few have graduated college and are out on their own and I'm so proud of them all :-)

But, I have to be honest here. My favorite part of the day wasn't the chit-chat or the gorgeous baby or my 3 yo nephew and his 5 yo sister doing a dance. No, my favorite part was dessert.

And if that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

You see, I made a Milky Way cake, one I'd made for the first time this past Christmas. This cake is gooey and chocolately and caramely (this cake is so wonderful, it deserves for me to make up a few words on its behalf) and addicting. It's also a cinch to make.

Oh, yeah, and it has two sticks of butter (one for the frosting, one for the cake) and a combined total of eleven (yes, you read that right. ELEVEN) melted, regular-sized Milky Way bars.

So, really, it's no wonder it's so good. It's also the reason I only make it on special occasions and why I told my husband that he was taking the rest to work so it wasn't in the house calling my name. Luckily, there are only two small pieces left to torment me. I'm hoping my girls eat them for breakfast.

(My internet provider isn't cooperating today so I'll have to come back and share the link to the recipe for you all. It's on The Pioneer Woman's website. Love me some Ree Drummond!)
What is your favorite decadent dessert? Where does your family gather for holidays?

Mmmm, Chocolate by Joan Kilby

What do women love even more than eye candy?

Chocolate.

Easter is an important time all around the world. It’s a time of renewal and the rites of spring and religious festivals. It’s also a prime holiday for chocolate lovers.

When I was a child I loved hollow bunnies of dark chocolate. It tasted different than chocolate bars and I waited impatiently all year for it. My father was a dentist so we didn’t have a lot of candy in our house. Halloween, Christmas and Easter were pretty much the only occasions we kids were allowed to pig out. Then, wow, we were told to eat the candy as fast as we could (so it wouldn’t linger on our teeth). Yes sir! No need to tell me twice!

My favorite Easter chocolate was the hollow bunny. Peeling the foil off and eating the bunny was quite a ritual. I always ate the ears first. What part of the bunny do you eat first? Take the bunny test and find out what that means.

My next favorite Easter treat was small, flat dark chocolate-coated marshmallow bunnies. The ones with the firm marshmallow not the fluffy marshmallow. Small solid chocolate eggs were good, too. Last on my list were the pastel-colored sugary eggs. They were kind of disappointing, like getting nuts in the shell in your Christmas stocking.

My husband works for Cadbury chocolate. Every Easter employees are given a big bag of Easter goodies for their children. Or in this case, me! Oh, okay, my kids get most of it but I make sure I get at least one bunny. I know, he’s a keeper. My husband, that is, not the bunny. He’s brunch.

Easter chocolate has evolved over the years. There’s a lot of variety, which is a good thing. These days I like the small chocolate eggs with peppermint or caramel filling. My absolute favorite chocolate of all time (shh, don’t tell hubby’s employer) is Lindt chocolate.

And while I know dark chocolate is better for you because of the anti-oxidants, I prefer milk chocolate. It’s so creamy and smooth. Yum. I mean, seriously, who eats chocolate for the anti-oxidants? I can get all the anti-oxidants I need from wine.

Before I get too carried away with visions of Easter chocolate, I have a new Superromance out this month, PROTECTING HER SON.

Crossing the thin blue line

Paula Drummond is finally back on a police force. And with so much at stake--she’s a single mom atoning for an almost career-ending mistake--she’s not risking anything but stellar performance. That means, regardless of whatever attraction is brewing between her and her partner, Officer Riley Henning, she will not get involved.

Still, working side by side with a man as hot as Riley and not giving in to temptation isn’t easy. Especially when he goes above and beyond to help keep her son safe. With all that evidence piling up, it seems as though her partner on the job is destined to become her partner in bed...and maybe even in life.

Visit www.joankilby.com for more information.

What’s your favorite type of chocolate--milk or dark, plain or with nuts, hollow bunnies or marshmallow--or any variation or brand you care to name? Comment to be in the draw to win a copy of PROTECTING HER SON.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Why I Love Writing about Teenagers - Ellen Hartman

My two boys before they were teens.

**WINNERS** 

Wow. I never used the random number generator before. It was kind of exciting. Marcie and Summer are the winners. Please get in touch via my email: ellen@ellenhartman.com. Let me know if you'd rather receive a print book or an ebook. 

With the two books I have coming out this year, I'm at a grand total of eight Superromances.  Exactly half of my books include a teenager in a significant role.

Sometimes I tell myself, "Smarten up, Hartman. Write about a baby, or better yet twins. Books with babies on the cover sell like hotcakes."

You want to know a sad truth about teenagers? They aren't even allowed on the cover of romance novels.* Who knows what their angsty, argumentative, sometimes sullen appearance would do for sales? (Note to the marketing department: The answer to that depends on the buyer. Forget hotcakes, I snap up single-parent-raising-teenager books like crispy, fresh bacon!)

I understand the appeal of baby characters, in theory. Infant are helpless. They need to be loved and protected. Infants are all about intense need and devotion. They cry and sleep and eat and...infants....umm...there must be more, right? Maybe I don't understand the appeal of babies, after all.**

Teenagers, on the other hand, are solid gold secondary characters for a romance novel.

• Teenagers do dangerous, bad things. And their parents are rapidly losing the capacity (legal, physical, etc.) to stop protect them.
• Teenagers are articulate, observant, and scathingly honest. Especially when it comes to their parents' flaws.
• Teenagers want desperately to be loved and respected as individuals precisely at the moment in their lives when they are least able to ask for affection and connection from the adults who care about them most. The teenager and caregiver relationship is a delicate dance and it's so easy for either side to mess up the steps.
• Teenagers know their parents' hopes and dreams intimately. This makes them uniquely suited to crush those same hopes and dreams.

Look at that list! Who wouldn't want to write about teenagers? They're chaos and heartbreak and love all wrapped up in a package capable of hilarious dialogue and rich, dramatic scenes.

There is an element of fear running through the interaction of many of my characters and their teenage children. In His Secret Past, Mason Star is afraid that he hasn't been a good enough dad to his son, that somehow his own inadequacies as a person have left his son open to succumbing to bad influences.

In Calling the Shots,  Clare worries that her son will stop needing her and that she won't be able to keep him safe, while Bryan worries that his daughter will decide to move to California because a relationship with him doesn't have much to offer. That fear brings out the vulnerability in the characters and reveals their deepest desires. It's rich territory for an author writing about relationships.

In my May Super, The Long Shot, Deacon Fallon is guardian to his 18-year-old brother, Wes, who gets suspended from college in the first chapter. Here's the beginning of their first scene:

Deacon slammed his hand against the glass door of the university administration building and stalked through. He made no attempt to hold the door for the idiot he called a brother. In fact, the way he felt right now, he hoped the door would hit Wes in the face. The kid desperately needed someone to knock some sense into him.

As if Wes wasn't trouble enough, Deacon also gets roped into coaching a girls' high school basketball team. I enjoyed myself thoroughly as I wrote all of these complicated and fascinating kids.

So who has a teen story for me? I want to hear about the time the teenage you pushed the boundaries or had a revelation. What about teenagers you've raised or worked with? What's a moment that captures the joy of caring for kids who are this special age?

I'm giving away copies of The Long Shot to two people who comment! 

*This is probably not exactly true. I'm just being dramatic. Although who knows...I don't remember seeing a romance novel with a teenager on the cover. Maybe they are banned. :-)
**Kidding. I know why babies are appealing. It's their tiny little toes. Plus the gummy smiles. And their soft hair. Or the way they snuggle up when you hold them just right...sigh. I have a new nephew and now I really want to drive to his house and hold him. 

How Grey's Anatomy Changed Our Lives

The other day my daughter and I were running errands when I found myself having a conversation I didn't expect.

I don't talk about my family online for obvious reasons but for this blog I'm making an exception.

So, we’re driving along when my teenage daughter turns down the radio (always an indication of trouble) and says she has a question for me. Given her moods can change on a dime, I braced myself for an argument. What was this round about? Her chores? Friends? Her brother? But instead I was asked, “Are you an organ donor?”

First I was shocked. Then intrigued. My daughter is a typical teenager, usually self-absorbed and focused entirely on all the drama of teenage life. “Yes, I am. Why are you asking?”

“Because I want to be an organ donor. What do I have to do?”

Ooookay. Where had THAT come from? “Have you been talking about it in school or something?”

“No. I’ve been watching Grey’s.”

Ahhhh, so now the light was dawning inside my brain. My daughter had been too young to watch Grey’s Anatomy when it first aired years ago but she had been making up for lost time recently with mini-marathons on the weekends. “You’re asking because of Denny?”

My daughter smiled and nodded. “It was so sad!”

I couldn’t agree more. It would require a cold, hard heart to not feel something for Denny.

Now, for those of you who don’t watch Grey’s Anatomy the episodes I’m referring to starred Katherine Heigl who played a doctor named ‘Izzy’ and Jeffrey Dean Morgan who was a decidedly gorgeous patient named ‘Denny.’ In treating him, Izzy (along with the population of Grey’s viewers) fell in love with Denny, myself included.. But – spoiler alert-- Denny didn’t make it. And it WAS sad. And I, like my daughter, shed quite a few tears during the show because of it. “Being a donor is a wonderful thing but not every patient is going to be Denny, you know.”

My daughter took a few seconds to mull that fact over but then shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Everybody is somebody’s Denny.”

Yes, this is my PROUD MAMA MOMENT

Had my baby girl just uttered those words? I gotta tell you, the road in front of me blurred a bit.

Since that discussion in the car my daughter and I have had several more about organ donation. I wanted to be sure she understood what she was saying, the ramifications etc. Then, we had the discussion with her father because our tenacious daughter would not let the matter drop. Not that I would expect her to. However I wanted to be sure she was serious rather than making the statement while in a mood post-Denny death, you know?

But no, my daughter hasn’t changed her mind. She pestered me about talking to her father because she wanted to make sure we both knew what she wanted us to do—just in case. She’s even been talking to her friends about organ donation and how important it is.

Now, these weren’t easy conversations to have. No parent wants to think about why they would need to make the decision about organ donation but at the same time I am thrilled and honored and humbled that my baby girl came to this decision on her own and then set out to make sure the adults in her life took her seriously. And, oh, is she ever serious because like she says, everybody is somebody’s Denny.

Are you an organ donor? Have you considered becoming one? Realizing that it is an extremely personal and sensitive choice, I want to make it clear there is no wrong response. But for those who choose to respond, I’m offering up winner’s choice of my backlist (if available). Or, you can simply tell me how a television show, book or person impacted your life in some way. J

Kay

Kay Stockham

North Star, Montana Series, Superromance (Sep 2011-Jan 2012)

Return to Eden, Coming Summer 2012

Blind Man's Bluff, Coming Fall 2012

www.kaystockham.com

Some “Do”s and “Don’t”s of submitting to Harlequin Superromance

By Piya Campana, Superromance assistant

Hello! You may remember me from such blog posts as this one, where I spoke about being the new Superromance assistant. While I’m still newish, I’ve now been at the job long enough to compile a list of tips for prospective authors hoping to publish their work with us.

The following “do”s and “don’t”s are gleaned purely from my own experience. There are many rules out there for submitting a novel, not just to Superromance or to Harlequin, but to any house, so please note that this isn’t a complete list by any means!

DO read the writing guidelines for Superromance on Harlequin’s website, and the books we publish, to gain a good understanding of what the line is about.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth driving home that the guidelines and the actual books combined are your best source of information when hoping to write for us. So keep reading!

DO read the manuscript format guidelines on the website.

There is some helpful advice here, but what I most want to draw attention to in terms of format is our request that you don’t use a font that’s difficult to read. And please don’t bold it. Please double-space your synopsis and sample chapters—our eyes will thank you! And, remember, large envelopes and rubber bands are your friends. Please don’t send your manuscript in a binder, a box or on a burned CD.

DO make sure there is real conflict between your hero and heroine.
If the problem between your hero and heroine can be solved by a simple conversation (for example, if it’s a misunderstanding), it alone does not constitute a strong enough conflict. A sustainable conflict = a satisfying ending.

DO ensure continuity in your submission, and spellcheck!
If you feel comfortable, get someone else’s opinion on your work before you send it in. It should be as polished as possible.

DON’T submit to Superromance only because your word count matches our requirements.
85,000 words? Check. Solid romance? Check. Great characters? Check. Wait…is your hero a wizard?

Oops—make sure you read the guidelines next time!

DON’T send the same submission addressed to each individual editor on the team.Please pick only one editor to direct your submission to. It’s unnecessary to send it to everyone, and, besides—pick just one person, save some trees!

DON’T expect an answer right away.
We try our best to respond in a timely manner, but due to the volume of submissions we receive, and competing deadlines, it’s not always possible. Please let us know in your letter if you want to be notified when your manuscript is received—you may include a SAS postcard for this purpose.

DON’T submit a work in progress.
Actually, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but it does make the process go much more quickly if we are interested in pursuing your submission and requesting the full manuscript.

I hope this has been educational! Please post any questions below about submitting your work, and I will do my best to answer them. One lucky commenter will receive all six of this month’s Superromances!

RULA SINARA IS OUR WINNER!  Please email me at rogenna@aol.com.  Thank you.

Photo courtesy of costumeparty.com

April 2012

The Call of Bravery
by Janice Kay Johnson
Harlequin Superromance
Apr 2012
ISBN: 9780373717705 (#1770)

No emotional connection means zero risk of being hurt. DEA agent Conall MacLachlan has learned that the hard way. And it's been the key to his survival. So why is his latest assignment getting to him? Could be that he's back in the town he rejected years ago. But he suspects the real reason is Lia Woods.

He's instantly and powerfully attracted to Lia—something that's never happened to him. And running a surveillance operation from her house has them too close—he can't catch his breath. Between her and her foster kids, Conall feels the domestic ties tighten…yet it's not so bad. He just needs to be brave enough to take what Lia offers.

That New York Minute
by Abby Gaines
Harlequin Superromance
Apr 2012
ISBN: 9780373717712 (#1771)

Rachel Frye plays to win. And this time the prize is a partnership at her Manhattan ad agency. She's up against some stiff competition—including Garrett Calder, aka The Shark. Only one of them can win. Everyone else is out of a job.

Despite the stakes, suddenly Rachel's fantasizing about being on Garrett's team. Dying to find out what's under the brilliant executive's I-don't-need-anyone facade.

The attraction is entirely mutual—a fact neither of them can ignore. And what started as corporate rivalry is about to get a whole lot more personal!

Protecting Her Son
by Joan Kilby
Harlequin Superromance
Apr 2012
ISBN: 9780373717729 (#1772)

Paula Drummond is finally back on a police force. And with so much at stake—she's a single mom atoning for an almost career-ending mistake—she's not risking anything but stellar performance. That means, regardless of whatever attraction is brewing between her and her partner, Officer Riley Henning, she will not get involved.

Still, working side by side with a man as hot as Riley and not giving in to temptation isn't easy. Especially when he goes above and beyond to help keep her son safe. With all that evidence piling up, it seems as though her partner on the job is destined to become her partner in bed…and maybe even in life.

The Way Back
by Stephanie Doyle
Harlequin Superromance
Apr 2012
ISBN: 9780373717736 (#1773)
Starting over sounds good…in theory!

The reality? Well, Gabriella Haines isn't enjoying that so much. Once a top-rated TV host, suddenly becoming the junior editor at a publishing house isn't playing to her strengths. She does have one chance to fast-forward a few career steps, however. If she can manage the impossible—convincing former American hero Jamison Hunter to finish the autobiography he owes them.

Too bad he's resistant to all her tactics. Worse, that little star crush Gabby had on him before his downfall? She isn't quite as over it as she thought. In fact, the more she knows the real him, the more she wants to uncover the truth about what happened. Because restoring him in the public eye may be the best chance they have at a future together.

A Rare Find
by Tracy Kelleher
Harlequin Superromance
Apr 2012
ISBN: 9780373717743 (#1774)

How does a rule-abiding, accomplished woman fall for a rebel college dropout? It's something rare-books curator Penelope Bigelow is still trying to figure out! Regardless of what logic she tries to use, the proof remains that when celebrity chef Nicholas Rheinhardt is around, her composure takes a vacation. With all the reunion festivities, it's hard to avoid him…especially since he needs her expertise in antiquities for an upcoming episode of his cable travel show.

Too bad the past isn't what Penelope's focusing on when she's with Nick. There's more to him than his infamous reputation—and that intrigues her. Penelope isn't looking for perfection…even though Nick's coming very close!

On His Honor
by Jean Brashear
Harlequin Superromance
Apr 2012
ISBN: 9780373717750 (#1775)
Detective JD Cameron is on to something big. He's got evidence of a human-trafficking ring operating here in Austin, Texas. And he's targeted one guy as his way into the ring. But how can JD get close enough without alerting the suspect?

The solution comes with actress Violet James. In town for personal reasons, she needs a bodyguard, and JD is perfect for the job. But this simple assignment quickly changes. An unexpected and powerful connection develops between Violet and JD—one that can't be ignored. Not only is it jeopardizing his objectivity, he's also aware he's not telling her the truth. Confessing all risks his career, but not confessing risks so much more.