Free Stuff!

My good friend and awesome critique partner, Katie Reus is giving away a Kindle and all sorts of other goodies to celebrate the release of Alpha Instinct and His Secret Past. You can learn more about her giveaway HERE

Below, find all the info direct from Katie on the contest, then get started building points!


Starting January 1 - February 18, 2012 (that's less than a week away!) I'm going to be giving away fun prizes each week. Each entry will also be included for the Grand Prize drawing of a new Kindle (US only for the Kindle). Here is the list of weekly prizes:


Week 1 (1/1-1/7): $15 Amazon Gift Card or a copy of Alpha Instinct (as soon as I get my author copies), a digital copy of His Secret Past, & a digital copy of Touch Me by Callie Croix (her latest release!). Week 1 winner announced by January 15, 2012.
Week 2 (1/8-1/14): Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle Squares or a copy of Alpha Instinct & a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 2 winner announced by January 22, 2012


Week 3 (1/15-1/21): $15 Amazon gift card or a copy of Alpha Instinct & a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 3 winner announced by January 29, 2012


Week 4 (1/22-1/28): A copy of Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright + a Mark of the Vampire swag bag. This is the first book in her Mark of the Vampire series. The 3rd book releases 2/7/2012 so if you haven’t started this series here’s your chance. I’ll also be giving away a copy of Alpha Instinct and His Secret Past. Week 4 winner announced by February 5, 2012.


Week 5 (1/29-2/4): A copy of Alpha Instinct & a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 5 winner announced by February 12, 2012


Week 6 (2/5-2/11): $15 Amazon gift card or a copy of Angel of Darkness by Cynthia Eden, a copy of Alpha Instinct and a digital copy of His Secret Past. Week 6 winner announced by February 19, 2012


Week 7 (2/12-2/18): Amazon’s newest Kindle (the one without the annoying splash ads, US only eligible), a print copy of Alpha Instinct and digital copies of five of my books to download to your new Kindle (Books include: Destined Mate, Killer Secrets, Dangerous Secrets, Deadly Obsession and His Secret Past). Week 7 winner announced by March 3, 2012.


To enter, please visit my website contest page here. Complete list of entry instructions (please remember to fill out the form letting me know you're entering!) and official rules are listed there. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Happy Hanukkah!

Today is the first day of Hanukkah. Whatever you celebrate, may you be surrounded with love, light and good fortune! Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Win Loads of Books!

Check out the JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Christmas Giveaway HERE. ONE insanely lucky person will win all these books on the night of December 19th:

Dee J Adams – Dangerous Race

Becky Barker – Cade’s Challenge

Anne Marie Becker – Only Fear

Allison Brennan – Love Me to Death

Lorelei Confer – Deadly Revenge

Wynter Daniels – Sizzle At Sea

Lena Diaz – He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

Marcelle Dube – On Her Trail

Misty Evans – Operation Sheba

Adrienne Giordano – Risking Trust

Angela Henry – Paris Secret

Rita Henuber – Under Fire

Betsy Horvath – Hold Me

Victoria Howard – Ring Of Lies

Autumn Jordan – In The Presence Of Evil

Sylvie Kurtz – A Little Christmas Magic

Gennita Low – Hunter

Kat Martin – Tin Angel

Dana Marton – Guardian Agent

Julie Miller – The Shadow Of The Hawk

Maureen A. Miller – Endless Night

Terry Odell – When Danger Calls

Anne Patrick – Fire and Ash

Patricia Rasey – Deadly Obsession

Christy Reece – Sweet Justice

Jaime Rush – Unforgivable

Carol Stephenson – Courting Death

Carla Swafford – Circle Of Desire

Debra Webb - Obsession

Norah Wilson – Guarding Suzannah

The Most Unappealing Kiss Ever

It takes a lot to shock me. Hell, I write about kinky sex! But now I've seen the most unsexy kiss ever! I watched an episode of The Virgin Diaries  on TLC, which chronicles snipets of the lives of several people in their twenties and thirties who are still virgins for various reasons -- some by choice, some not by choice.

One of the vignettes is about a couple about to get married. The show follows the thirty-ish pair in the days leading up to their wedding. Not only have they not yet had sex, but they've never even kissed -- anyone! When the minister pronounces them husband and wife, they embark on what can only be described at eating each other's mouths. All I can say is it's totally icky. They kiss and kiss and kiss and as I watched, I was so glad I had nothing in my stomach.

Okay -- am I being a total prude, or a bitch? Watch the video and tell me what you think. The couple's first...and second...and third kiss are the most unappealing thing I've ever seen. What do you think?

The Dreaded Slump

Some people call it writer's block. I call it a slump -- that time when I seem incapable of writing anything new. I might be in the middle of a book or maybe I haven't yet begun a new one. Either way, it can be really depressing to be in that space where I can't seem to write. It happens to me and many other writers, so I have developed a few behaviors to overcome the stagnation. I hope they help anyone else out there who suffers a similar affliction.

1. Put my current WIP on ice and start something new. That something doesn't have to be an epic novel. It can be a short story or a novella. That change can often push me out of a creative rut.

2. Adjust my daily word count goal. Sometimes taking off some of the pressure can help. If my current daily goal is 2,000 words and I'm overwhelmed by the idea of writing 20, I change that daily goal down to 500 words. That little mindset switch can re-energize my creative juices and the decrease in pressure sometimes does the trick. I switch it back up once I have my mojo back. Hey, I figure 500 words is better than no words.

3. Take a breather. Sometimes I allow myself to take a little time off. Life happens. I might have company in town or just lots of things in my mind. I have to tell myself it's okay to take a vacation from the writing as long as I set the parameters of how long that break will last. I try to keep it to a max of a few days.

4. Write with friends. I occasionally go to a cafe with members of my RWA chapter to write. Sure, we spend part of the time catching up with each other, but we also get some writing done. Seeing others working can kick-start my On button.

5. Break up that daily word total into manageable blocks. I allow myself a short email break every 100 words or so. Or I do a 250 word sprint then take a break to get outside or get some chores done.

What about you? Do you sometimes get creatively blocked? Do you have any suggestions for ways out of the dreaded slump.

Book Three in Long and Hard Series!

It's here! The third book is finally out. Crescendo completes the Long and Hard trilogy. Comment here and I will pick one name win the book!

Crescendo

After a painful break-up, concert violinist Chloe Carmichael just wants to be alone. But when she is targeted by a stalker, she’s forced to allow a sexy stranger into her life.

Security expert Wyatt Long is trying to protect Chloe. Staying as close as he dares to the beautiful musician proves difficult when she insists on performing a public concert. When the job becomes personal, he has way more to lose than a client.

Taking Research to the Next Level

I'm just beginning work on a new project -- a series of paranormal romances set in my home state of Florida. If you're familiar with my books, then you know the paranormal genre is new for me.

I have one short story out that deals with a psychic. But Spirit of Seduction  only scratches the supernatural surface.

The new series will go way deeper into several occult topics, the first of which is wiccan magic, or witchcraft.

I took a big step and signed up for a six-week course on basic wicca, which is turning out to be great. I've now attended an authentic wicca Samhain (pronounced sah-ween) ritual. I've also started devouring everything I can get my hands on about witchcraft, magic, casting spells and pagan rituals.

Frankly, the class is so much more interesting than anything I did in my years of collegiate learning. I don't know why I didn't take this step a long time ago. Next on my agenda will be research on the subject of the next book -- either reiki healing, tarot cards or astrology. I haven't worked up the outline yet.

What about you? What's the most extreme step you've taken in the name of research?