Kate Davies Blogs!

Inspiration Friday - Damian Lewis

2012-01-20T02:00:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Damian Lewis since Band of Brothers. Ain't he inspirational?

Stop SOPA

2012-01-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

Missing Wikipedia today? Or Reddit, I Can Haz Cheezburger, or Mozilla? They've gone dark to protest the Internet piracy bills under consideration by the US congress, SOPA and PIPA. These bills attempt to stop piracy, but are so broad and poorly-written they're like trying to kill a mosquito with a Howitzer.

I stand with the many, many interested parties who are working to stop these bills from becoming law. Find out more here.

Winner! Winner!

2012-01-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the print release of Take A Chance On Me, I've held a couple of contests lately, and it's time to announce the winners!

First, the winner from the Nine Naughty Novelists blog is

RISSA!

And the winner from my mini-blog-hop last week commented on Carrie Ann Ryan's blog. Congrats to

GENA ROBERTSON!

Just send me your address at kate AT kate-davies DOT com, and I'll send the signed print copy as soon as possible!

If you didn't win, thanks for entering - and if you'd like a romance trading card for Take A Chance On Me, send your addy to the same email and I'll send it your way.

Book BIN Tuesday - Bonds of Earth

2012-01-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

You met GN Chevalier yesterday - now here's her debut book, out now!

In 1918, Michael McCready returned from the war with one goal: to lose himself in the pursuit of pleasure. Once a promising young medical student, Michael buried his dreams alongside the broken bodies of the men he could not save. After fleeing New York to preserve the one relationship he still values, he takes a position as a gardener on a country estate, but he soon discovers that the house hides secrets and sorrows of its own. While Michael nurses the estate’s neglected gardens, his reclusive employer dredges up reminders of the past Michael is desperate to forget.

John Seward’s body was broken by the war, along with his will to recover until a family crisis convinces him to pursue treatment. As John’s health and outlook improve under Michael’s care, animosity yields to understanding. He and John find their battle of wills turning into something stronger, but fear may keep them from finding hope and healing in each other.

You can get a copy of Bonds Of Earth here. So why not hop on over and Buy It Now?

Meet The Author Monday - GN Chevalier

2012-01-09T02:00:00.000-08:00

NAME: G N Chevalier

BLOG: http://gn-chevalier.dreamwidth.org/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/gnchevalier

TITLE OF FIRST BOOK: Bonds of Earth

RELEASE DATE: January 9^th

FAVORITE WRITING STORY/SAYING/MEMORY: Ithink it would have to be the first time I finished writing a scene andrealized I wasn't entirely sure where all the dialogue had come from. I don'thave a supernatural theory of writing, but it certainly does feel like thecharacters are taking over your brain now and then. Interestingly, those linesof dialogue are usually the ones that people quote back to me as theirfavourites, so I don't question it.

FAVORITE NON-WRITING STORY/SAYING/MEMORY: Thinking about this, it occurred tome that a lot of my favourite memories are tied in with music – either jammingwith friends or listening to some of the great musicians I've been lucky enoughto see over the years. There are those perfect moments where everything comestogether and you feel it right in your gut.

COMFORT FOOD: Hand cut fries and a hot dog steamé with some home-brewed bièreépinette (spruce beer) – going right back to my French Canadian roots.

COMFORT READ: I have so many! Basically, I love anything where two lonelypeople find one another, especially when it has characters so vividly drawn that you're completelyinvested in their journey.

YOUR PERFECT DAY: A drive in the country, some good food, good wine, and thenback home to curl up on the couch and watch a classic film or read a satisfyingbook.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?: At themoment, a charity story I owe to a very kind friend, but hope to be starting onsome research for the next novel soon.

Inspiration Friday - Mark Dacascos

2012-01-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

Mmmm. Love a man in a suit.

Book BIN Tuesday - Take A Chance on Me PRINT!

2012-01-03T00:18:00.000-08:00

It's here! Take A Chance On Me is finally available in print. For the first time, I have a single title release in paperback. I've had other print titles before, but they've all been collections. I'm so chuffed!
Accept no substitute…for love.

The Lady Doth Protest Too Much

Jessica Martin is determined to earn a permanent teaching position at Summit High School. That means hard work, dedication, and even volunteering extra time to direct the school’s Shakespeare play. Which leaves no room for romance—especially with a co-worker. She didn't factor in the school's sexy security officer and the delicious fantasies he inspires.

Too Much Of A Good Thing

Former cop Tom Cameron likes his job. Or he did, until the new substitute busted his orderly life right open. Now, he can’t seem to avoid her—deserted hallways, empty theaters, classrooms after dark—but he’s got too many skeletons in his closet to risk his heart again. Asking her out to distract her from the play’s, well, drama is a friendly gesture. Nothing more.

The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smooth

Their chemistry could melt down the science lab, and before long they’re burning up the sheets off-campus. And uncovering raw emotions—a stark reminder that love isn’t in their curricula. When a troubled student goes over the edge, though, the need to stop a tragedy brings them right back where they started—face to face with fate.

Warning: This book contains sexy encounters in classrooms, inappropriate use of school facilities, backstage shenanigans, and illicit activities on a ferryboat.

To celebrate, I'm doing a short blog hop this week. Tomorrow, I'll be on Lissa Matthews' blog; Thursday I'll be visiting Carrie Ann Ryan; and Friday I'm stopping by Louisa Bacio's place. And if you comment here or on any of those blog posts, anytime between now and Saturday, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a signed copy of Take A Chance On Me. (If the winner is from outside the US, the ebook will be substituted.)

And if you want a copy RIGHT NOW, here's where you can find it:
Amazon
Samhain (best price!)
Barnes and Noble

Book BIN Wednesday - Rose And Thorn by Maia Strong

2011-12-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

My fantabulous CP, Maia Strong, has a new book out, and it's great. Take a peek!

Eamon Quinn is an actor with designs on a position with Rose & Thorn Theatrics. As a new university graduate, he's up to the acting challenge. He's not so sure he's up to facing life in the big city. That is, until he finds a friend in Jasper Davison. Jasper is intrigued by Eamon, sure that he's a fellow mountain-born soul, which is something Jasper's been missing in coastal Yanuk. When both men are hired by Rose & Thorn, the kindred spirits soon become lovers--and catch the eye of the company's head apprentice, HJ Greenhills.

Bad luck plagues the theatre--accidents, injuries, and a sudden death--leading to rumors of a curse. Weaving sexual energy with Druid magic, Eamon and Jasper seek the truth behind the rumors. But confirming the curse is only the first hurdle. They need to figure out who cast it and how to end it before it causes more harm. Even together, the two men aren't strong enough. Druid magic works best in threes, and so they seek HJ's help to lift the curse. The three put their bodies and energies together to call up the magic they need to try and set things right.

~~~~~
I was lucky enough to read this a few months back, and LOVED it. You should definitely head on over to Torquere and Buy It Now!

Inspiration Friday - Ho Ho Ho!

2011-12-23T02:00:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays, everyone!

You Could Win!

2011-12-21T22:07:00.000-08:00

My author copies of the print version of Take A Chance On Me showed up the other day, and I'm celebrating over on Nine Naughty Novelists. Stop by there to comment, and you'll have a chance to win a copy!

Book BIN Tuesday - Holiday Magic (The Gift Of Love)

2011-12-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

Out now, a duo of holiday stories to warm your heart.

Priceless Love

"For Richer, For Poorer."

Taylor Hamilton, dissatisfied with a life designed by her parents, attends a friend's fall wedding and finds small town life agrees with her. The problem is, her wealth doesn't agree with the man she falls for. Is their love strong enough to find a bridge of trust where money isn't an issue?

Healing Love

"In Sickness and in Health."
Nicole Milbourne's single-minded focus on a medical research career is thrown for a loop when charismatic Dr. Damien Reed shows her there's more to life than studying diseases. Will an unexpected Christmas fill Nicole's lonely heart and show her the healing power of love?

This collection by two great authors, Lavada Dee and Laurie Ryan, is sure to hit the holiday spot. So why not head out and Buy It Now?

Inspiration Friday - Eyes!

2011-12-09T02:00:00.000-08:00

GUH. That is all.

Book BIN Tuesday - An Alpha's Path

2011-12-06T02:00:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, you met Carrie Ann Ryan. Today, take a peek at her debut book!

Melanie is a twenty-five year old chemist who has spent all of her adult life slaving at school. With her PhD in hand, she's to start her dream job, but before she does, her friend persuades her to relax and try to live again. A blind date set up through her friends seems like the perfect solution. Melanie can take one night away from the lab and let her inner vixen out on a fixed blind date - a chance to get crazy with a perfect stranger. The gorgeous hunk she's to meet exceeds her wildest dreams – be he is more than what he appears and Melanie's analytical mind goes into overdrive.

Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night way from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a one night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?

*****
Sounds fabulous, no? So why not head on out and Buy It Now?

Meet The Author Monday - Carrie Ann Ryan

2011-12-05T02:00:00.000-08:00

NAME: Carrie Ann Ryan

WEBSITE: http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/

BLOG: http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/

TITLE OF FIRST BOOK: An Alpha’s Path – Book 1 of the Redwood Pack Series

RELEASE DATE: Dec 5^th, 2011

FAVORITE WRITING STORY/SAYING/MEMORY: My favorite writing memory is when I sat down for NanoWriMo the first time and realized I could actually put words on paper. My fingers typed frantically as the words flowed. It was then I realized I could be a writer – no I was a writer.

FAVORITE NON-WRITING STORY/SAYING/MEMORY: My favorite non writing memory is the day after finals of one of my Chemistry lectures. A young girl came up to me crying and threw herself in my arms. She told me the reason she passed was because I helped her. Then I told her she did it herself because she had it in her. That girl is in her first year of medical school now, and I would be honored to be her patient.

COMFORT FOOD: Rice Krispie Treats and M&Ms. (Yum!) Oh and a Coke. I’m trying to cut back, but mmm....

COMFORT READ: Cry Wolf - Alpha and Omega Book 1, by Patricia Briggs. I love Charles! I see myself in Anna, and want to comfort her.

YOUR PERFECT DAY: Wake up late, eat breakfast in bed with the hubby. Have some good food cooking in the Crockpot as I read a good book out in the warm day. Now that sounds lazy, but so amazing!

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?: A Taste for a Mate – Book 2 of the Redwood Pack Series. (Jasper’s Story)

Inspiration Friday - The Men of IHMTD

2011-12-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, the main focus of the new Fox sitcom I Hate My Teenage Daughter is on the mothers and daughters. But the men on the show are fantastic actors in their own right - and easy on the eyes as well. Let's take a peek, shall we?

Chad Coleman

Kevin Rahm

and, of course...

(Yes, I snuck yet another picture of Eric Sheffer Stevens into an Inspiration Friday post. I REGRET NOTHING.)

Last Day For Christmas Freebie!

2011-11-28T00:18:00.001-08:00

Just a quick FYI - if you haven't picked up your free copy of Home For Christmas at Barnes and Noble or Amazon, time is running out! The book goes back to regular price after today. So don't wait! Get your free book now!

Inspiration Friday - Ewan McGregor

2011-11-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

Yup. I'm inspired.

No, Not That Kate Davies

2011-11-23T02:00:00.000-08:00

I got a lovely email today, from a woman in France. She was highly complimentary and wanted to know if she could sell my work in her store.

The problem? She owned a yarn shop and wanted to sell my knitting patterns.

I don’t knit.

A different Kate Davies, however, does.

That Kate Davies is famous in the textiles world for her Owls sweater pattern, among other things. And this wasn’t the first time I’d been mistaken for her online.

We’re not the only Kate Davies out there, either. I feel a little sorry for the Kate Davies who illustrates Christian children’s books. I’m sure it’s frustrating to know that people looking for “God Loves You” on Amazon end up with lists of my books instead. Same goes for the feminist literature professor whose scholarly works get mixed in with my books as well. (I had to contact Amazon this summer to ask them to take her bio off my author page, as I didn’t want to claim degrees and an academic background I hadn’t earned.)

There’s even a romance written years ago by a different Kate Davies, a book titled When Innocence Trembles. She’s not currently publishing, which is helpful for differentiation purposes, but I still get contacted by readers hoping we’re the same person. An Australian book club wanted to read it for their monthly selection a few months back and wondered if I could help them get their hands on some copies. Sadly, it’s out of print. Also, I didn’t write it.

Then there’s the housing council manager in north England, the peace activist in Seattle, the actress… and those are only the public figures.

The moral of the story? With the world growing smaller every day, and the internet connecting us more and more, when you're considering a name to publish under (even if it's your real one), Google is your friend.

In the meantime, I’ll just continue to politely explain that no, I’m not the Kate Davies they were looking for, and wish them well on their search. And hope that if one of my readers stumbles upon one of them looking for me, they’ll do the same in return.

Book BIN Tuesday - If You Give a Duke a Duchy

2011-11-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Nine Naughty Novelists have done it again - our second parody is now available! Here are the details on our very twisted regency:

From the authors who brought you The Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy's Secret Werewolf Babies, comes a new and even more scandalous story of sword-play, sailing ships and sorrowful separations ripped straight from the annals of Regency England: If You Give a Duke a Duchy (or Love’s Savage Whiplash).

Being a Tale of Panting Passion wherein a Disaffected Duke runs away to Sea to become a Pirate and ends up becoming Love Slave to a Ninja Queen, whilst at home he is replaced by a Nefarious Highwayman and ne’er-do-well who is, in turn, Ultimately Redeemed by his love for a Poor but Virtuous Governess.

Look! We even have a book trailer!

And it's only $1.99! How could you go wrong? Really, don't you think you should Buy It Now?

(Also, one week left to pick up Home For Christmas free on Nook and Kindle. Don't miss out!)

Inspiration Friday - Alexander Skarsgard

2011-11-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

Delicious!

Book BIN Wednesday - Get Home For Christmas FREE!

2011-11-16T02:00:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited! For the next two weeks, my holiday novella HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is available for free download, on both Nook and Kindle.

If you haven't read this book yet, now's the time to pick up a free copy. Here's the description, if you're so inclined...

She left everything familiar behind—but love found her anyway.

Sophia is determined to spend Christmas on her own terms this year. Her daughter will be spending the holidays with her boyfriend’s family, and Sophia has no intention of staying home alone with her memories. She knows Ethan would be more than happy to keep her company. But he’s her business partner—and her late husband’s best friend. It’s past time to stop leaning on him and learn to stand on her own two feet. A cruise to the Caribbean might be just the ticket to discovering who she is now, and what she really wants.

Ethan is stunned to discover that Sophia has decided to go on a cruise for Christmas—alone. He’d thought something more was finally developing between the two of them. If she’s ready to move on after the loss of her husband, he’ll be damned if he lets her move on without him!

On the spur of the moment, Ethan books a stateroom, determined to prove to Sophia that what they have goes far beyond friendship. The romantic atmosphere of the cruise sparks a passion the two had only dreamed of before—but can their fledgling relationship survive beyond the vacation of a lifetime?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language (but don’t tell my mom).

Book BIN Tuesday - Because of You

2011-11-15T02:00:00.000-08:00

I have been looking forward to this book for AGES. So glad it's finally here! Take a peek:

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.
Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there's more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he'll never see again- until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care.

Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there's a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels - for the first time in a long time - like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty -it's a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected - her deepest desire.

****
Cannot wait to get this on my nook! So why not head over to your nearest e-tailer and Buy It Now?

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes

Meet the Author Monday - Jessica Scott

2011-11-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

I'm super excited to host debut author Jessica Scott for Meet The Author Monday this week! Her first novel, Because of You, comes out today, and it sounds fantastic. Here's a little about Jessica:

NAME: Jessica Scott

WEBSITE: http://www.jessicascott.net/

BLOG: http://www.jessicascott.net/blog

TITLE OF FIRST BOOK: BECAUSE OF YOU

RELEASE DATE: November 14

FAVORITE WRITING STORY/SAYING/MEMORY: Nora Roberts from RWA 10: Reader A will love a book for the same reason Reader B will want to burn it.

FAVORITE NON-WRITING STORY/SAYING/MEMORY: Get better every day and never quit. ~ Greywolf 6 (my former brigade commander)

COMFORT FOOD: Godiva Chocolate
COMFORT READ: The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale or more recently, Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh

YOUR PERFECT DAY: pajama day, hanging around the house with my kiddos doing not much of anything

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?: I’m working on revisions for Trent’s book, the 2nd book in my Coming Home series, BACK TO YOU. Then I’m working on the 1st draft of book 3, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU.

...don't forget to stop by tomorrow to find out all about her first book!

Inspiration Friday - Veteran's Day edition

2011-11-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Men in uniform are always an inspiration. Many thanks to all who served.

Thursday Thirteen - Thirteen Reasons I'm Excited About My New Job

2011-11-10T02:00:00.001-08:00

1. It's in my hometown! We've wanted to move closer to family for a while now, and this gives us the opportunity.
2. It's full time pay for full time work.
3. I've met my supervisor and some colleagues, and they seem really great. I'm looking forward to being part of that team.
4. It's cutting-edge - working with technology in an educational setting.
5. Shopping! I've been working from home for years, so I ~~have~~ get to update my wardrobe and wear some cool new clothes.
6. Connected to the last one - SHOES.
7. I have my own office!
8. A set schedule. Hopefully, by having a start and end time, I'll be able to get *more* writing done, rather than trying to fit it in around a job that expanded to fill all my off hours.
9. A new house! (Once we buy it, that is.)
10. New tech! I'm a kid in a candy store around new technology, so when I saw the stuff I get to use for the job, I was *thrilled*.
11. Kids closer to cousins. Family is so important to us, so this is a big one.
12. Great opportunity for growth. New challenges that will keep me up to date in my field.
13. Husband will get to buy a new guitar. :) (Guess who suggested that one?)

Today's my first day, so wish me luck!

How Lori Lost Me - Or, My Thoughts on Season 2 of H50

2011-11-09T01:07:00.000-08:00

If you've read this blog before, or follow me on twitter, you know I'm a big fan of the new Hawaii Five-0. From the first episode I was captured by the chemistry of the main cast, the snappy dialogue, even the slightly-over-the-top plots. Mondays became appointment TV for me, and I dove into fandom with wild abandon.

But this season, I've felt my enthusiasm waning just a bit. And sadly, I think part of that can be tied to one of the newest additions to the cast, profiler Lori Weston. (I'll be focusing on the character, not the actor, because I believe that most of the issues I have with her are related to script and storyline decisions, not acting skill.)

NOTE: Because I'm a writer, I'm always drawn to issues of writing, character, and storyline. I have nothing against Lauren German, only the character she plays on the show, and how said character has impacted the structure, focus, and cohesion of Hawaii Five-0 so far this year. I know there are fans out there who love the character of Lori and what she brings to the show, and that's fine! These are just my thoughts from a storytelling/writing perspective.

There are several main reasons the character of Lori never gelled for me. First and foremost, is an issue tied to the very first moment she arrived onscreen.

REASON FOR EXISTING? FUGGETABOUTIT.

Lori's introduction to the show was fraught with tension. The governor insisted she be added to the team, and Steve disparagingly referred to her as a "babysitter". Her function was to be the eyes and ears of the man who could shut down the team at a moment's notice. So many possibilities for conflict! So many opportunities to test her loyalties! Instead, the suspicion towards her character drops off about halfway through her first episode and has never been mentioned again. Good-bye, conflict - the life blood of storytelling.

WELL, HELLO, MARY SUE

Lori Weston is a profiler. Over the past five episodes, we also discover that she's great in the field, ace at dealing with victims' families, better at martial arts than her ex, able to diagnose clinical mental illnesses, a fantastic researcher, and all around an amazing human being.

There's a name for that in fandom - a Mary Sue. When any one character is great at everything she touches, and the writers clearly want the audience to see said character as a sympathetic, admirable heroine, their overly idealized nature tends to render them irritating. Lori is edging into that territory for many viewers.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

A Hawaii Five-0 fan sat down with the first five episodes Lori's character appeared in and calculated screen time for her and all four of the core characters. According to that viewer, the only character with more overall screen time was Steve - with one minute more per episode on average. Lori was onscreen twice as much as Danny, and three times more than Chin or Kono. So much face time at the expense of core characters can create resentment.

REPLACING, NOT ENHANCING

One of the biggest complaints I've heard about the inclusion of Lori into the H50 family is that she's taking the place of the core characters in her scenes. She was "the girl" while Kono was undercover, and even when she came back Lori was in that episode far more than Kono was. She's been the other half of carguments and restaurant conversations, that by rights should be between Danny and Steve. By having the "newbie" replace core characters in iconic scenes, the writers are setting her up to fail - or at least hack off a good portion of the audience.

NO, IT'S NOT BECAUSE SHE'S A WOMAN

There's some speculation by Lori fans that viewers who dislike the addition of Lori just hate female characters and want Steve to not have a love life. To the contrary, I adored Catherine and was sad to see her go. I also miss Jenna (another plot line that seems to have been dropped without a trace this season). I'm a huge fan of Kono, and think there's a great potential for Danny's new crush, Gabby.

I would have felt this way about any new character that was pulling so much screen time away from my favorites - and in fact, if Lori wasn't around I likely would have been writing this critique about Joe. He only gets a pass because Lori's screen time and replacement value currently surpass his.

AND ELEVENTY BILLION HOURS LATER, MY CONCLUSION....

I have nothing against the actress who plays Lori. Actually, I kind of feel bad for her, because I think the decisions about her character made by the powers that be have set her up for failure.

Can the character recover, and pull in the section of the audience who (like me) are not enthralled with her addition? Maybe. I do have a few suggestions:

1. Have the writers pull back on how much Lori is in each episode. The Halloween ep was the most balanced of the season so far, and I actually was okay with her in it - except for the jaw-dropping decision to have her use a nickname that has been exclusively reserved for Steve and Grace until now.

2. Ix-nay on the "fantastic at everything" background. Don't make her a Mary Sue.

3. Bring back the conflict! Make the team wonder about her loyalties. Give her something to do that DOESN'T include taking someone else's place on the team, or in a scene.

I still love the show, and watch every week. I just hope they can recapture some of the magic of season one that seems to be missing these days.

What do you say? Is Lori a fantastic addition to the cast, or has she thrown the show off-balance?

New Pic of Eric!

2011-11-08T13:53:00.001-08:00

By request, because some people can't access the photo on twitter or Facebook...

Book BIN Tuesday - Hotblooded

2011-11-08T02:00:00.000-08:00

Ooh! A new book by Erin Nicholas!

Her mama always said the women in their family were hotblooded...

And it's been causing Brooke Donovan trouble her whole life. But it wasn't until her mother took on the most powerful man in Honey Creek, Texas, that Brooke truly realized the daughter of the town whore didn't stand a chance. When she left, it was supposed to be for good. But now, thanks to her late husband's deal with their hometown, she's back in the last place on earth she wants to be. Temporarily. As soon as her debts are paid off, she's outta here. Until in walks the one man who can make her rethink everything.

Dr. Jack Silver fixes things. So, when he learns his uncle is responsible for Brooke losing her husband, his sense of honor drives him across Texas to make amends. Instead of a broken woman, though, he finds a gorgeous, feisty physician's assistant trying to survive in a town that wants her gone. She also has a mile-high fence built out of pride—and a clinic that's at risk of going belly up. She may not want his money, but the clinic? He can fix that. He just never expects that in setting Brooke back on her feet, he'll be swept right off his own.

Warning: Contains a hot-blooded woman, a man who really likes that about her, a town with a long memory, and a cappuccino machine that makes it all worthwhile.

Yum! Sounds delish. Think I'll head on out and Buy It Now!

Inspiration Friday - Jonathan Rhys-Meyers

2011-11-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

Mmmm, yeah.

Book BIN Tuesday - Trust Me If You Dare

2011-11-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Ooh! LB Gregg has a new book out in paperback today!

Hard help can be good to find.

Romano and Albright, Book 2

Feisty New Yorker Caesar Romano has a knack for getting into a jam, and this week is no exception. When his pregnancy-hormone-buzzed business partner sweet talks him into working a solo gig for his famous ex, Caesar attracts the worst kind of attention.

It’s only the beginning. Hit on by a lusty German, stalked by the paparazzi, victim of an unexpected airbag attack—and desperate for some part-time help—Ce’s running out of time, staff and patience. But what’s really got him poised to run? A looming brunch with his sexy lover’s esteemed family.

PI Dan Albright is a man of many gifts: investigation, security, sex talk and driving Caesar nuts in and out of the bedroom. Hired to protect an outrageous soap star from a deranged personal assistant, Dan’s got his hands full refereeing rival actors, locating one four-foot-eleven woman…and convincing Ce that he’s playing for keeps.

Hey, nobody ever said taking a relationship to the next level was a waltz in the park.
Warning: This book includes bad driving, a naughty German, dirty words, heated glances, mutual masturbation, oral sex, an evil scout, a memorable ride, and a fabulously affordable tuxedo. May cause unexpected bursts of laughter.

*****

Sounds fun, no? So why not Buy It Now?

No Tricks, Just Treats!

2011-10-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend at the Emerald City Writer's Conference and had a blast hanging out with three of the Naughty Nine - Kelly Jamieson, Erin Nicholas, and PG Forte. Erin posted a little wrap-up on the Naughty blog, if you'd like to see what trouble we got up to! (Hint: I did not live up to my costume.)

Also, the Kelly Jamieson Shoe Challenge netted a total of 20 books to give away, and last time I looked we had fewer than 20 entries, so your chances are excellent that you'll get one! Stop by this post to comment to win!

And finally, Samhain is giving a 30% discount today only - enter SPHW11 in your "treat bag" and get 30% off your entire order! (I recommend Ritual Love - my Halloween-set Scottish time travel romance. )

Have a fabulous, fun-filled day!

Inspiration Friday - Van Hansis

2011-10-28T07:16:00.001-07:00

In honor of his first feature length film release (Occupant) and a great guest-starring turn on primetime TV (Psych), Van Hansis is today's Inspiration.

Enjoy! And if you're at the Emerald City conference this weekend, be sure to say hello!

Book BIN Tuesday - One Wicked Night

2011-10-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

Ooh, Kelly Jamieson has a new book out!

The boys are back in town…

Ten years ago, Kaelin Daume spent a steamy summer home from college secretly hanging out with town bad boy Tyler Wirth and his best friend Nick Kernsted. The connection was warm, complicated, and came to a crashing end when she walked in on her two forbidden friends with another woman. The shocking scene of sex and bondage has haunted her boring, oh-so-vanilla life ever since.

The fallout from that night tore Tyler’s life apart. He left Mapleglen, disowned and disgraced, to build a successful advertising career and a unique relationship with Nick. Nothing could bring him back except his sister’s wedding, and he plans to hightail it back to Chicago as soon as it’s over. At least one good thing hasn’t changed: Kaelin is as sweet as ever. Except she doesn’t seem too thrilled to hear it.

As tensions run high, Kaelin can’t resist the temptation to commit one crazy act of rebellion. Once the web of secrets, sins and lies starts to unravel, though, their lives will never be the same…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Warnings

This book contains a nice girl who gets her naughty on with two hot men. M/M/F and M/M scenes may cause an increase in body temperature, pulse rate and respiration. Read with caution! For adult use only.

****

Sounds hawt, doesn't it? So why not head on over to Samhain and Buy It Now?

Inspiration Friday - Idris Elba

2011-10-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

Mmm. That face. That accent. That talent!

Yep, I'm feeling inspired. How about you?

Blogging on the Naughty Nine Site Today!

2011-10-19T09:57:00.001-07:00

I'm singing the praises of my local library today over on Nine Naughty Novelists. Pop on over and say hello!

Book BIN Tuesday - Shine by Lauren Myracle

2011-10-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Last week, the National Book Awards Young Readers shortlist was announced, and SHINE by Lauren Myracle was on the list.

Then another book, CHIME, was added. And the people in charge of the award admitted that someone had mis-heard the title, including the wrong book (SHINE) instead of the actual one chosen by the panel (CHIME). But both books would remain on the shortlist! Everything was fine, other than the fact that they'd announced to the world that Lauren SHINE really hadn't earned the nomination!

Fast-forward to Monday, when Ms. Myracle withdrew her book from consideration after being asked to do so by the NBA. To "preserve the integrity of the award".

Maybe it's just me, but dragging an author's name and book through the proverbial mud because YOU made a mistake doesn't do much for the integrity of the award, either.

Anyway, in an effort to boost the signal on what appears to be a great, important, relevant YA novel, I'm featuring SHINE as today's Book BIN offering. (My kids also adore her other books, so that's a plus.) Let's show the author some support by picking up a copy! Here are the deets:

When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.

Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

So what are you waiting for? Go on out and Buy It Now!

Monday Movie Musings - Incontheivable!

2011-10-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

So fellow Naughty Nine-er Erin Nicholas sent me a link on twitter to a video of a Princess Bride reunion today. Setting aside the fact that I was shocked and appalled that this movie is now OVER TWENTY YEARS OLD, it was lovely to be reminded of how much I love The Princess Bride.

The dialogue is crackling, the characters well-drawn, the humor abundant, and the romance, well, romantic. It was one of my favorites from my college years, and I think it holds up well today.

How about you? When you think of favorite movies from your younger days, what comes to mind? video platform video management video solutions video player

Diva, Please! My Thoughts On Last Night's GLEE

2011-10-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

So last night I watched Glee with my kids. We loved the Mike Chang storyline, grooved on Brittany's girl power number, awwww-ed over the sweet (but short) Klaine moments, and adored the Dreamgirls piece. I may have shrieked a little when Emma's ginger supremacist parents showed up (RALPH MALPH!), even though my kids thought I was a little nuts.

(All I can say is thank goodness for Twitter, where I found other Happy Days fans to squee with.)

But the Mercedes/Rachel diva-off left a seriously bad taste in my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, Rachel is The Character Most Likely To Irritate Me On A Regular Basis. I went into the episode predisposed to support Mercedes' side of the situation. But her sense of entitlement, lack of willingness to put in the effort necessary to succeed, and overall arrogance made it impossible for me to support her decision.

First, a callback is NOT an insult. It's a normal part of theater practice. Asking both of them to sing again was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances.

Second, double-casting is ALSO not unheard of in theater circles. Again, it's not an insult - it's an attempt to give the spotlight to two talented actors, especially in a significant role like Maria. And for once, Rachel suppressed her inner diva long enough to congratulate Mercedes, to swallow down her disappointment and give props to her friend and rival. (Of course, she also assumed she'd get the best performance slots and Mercedes would get the less-attended ones, but that's minor compared to Mercedes' full-on diva meltdown.)

So Mercedes tells the directors to shove it - and why? What in her behavior and attitude indicated that she was done wrong? (In this situation, of course. Like I said, I was predisposed to be on her side, since I do think that in the past she HAS been shunted aside and ignored in favor of Rachel.)

She blew off dance practice and whined about it (and she wants to play the lead in a musical? Honey, you can't make it through a few dance moves, you'll never survive a full-on production). She complained non-stop about how she deserved to shine - but what did she do to EARN it?

Okay, the episode clearly pushed some buttons for this former actor/drama teacher/playwright.

And then Rachel went and blew my newly-earned sympathy by shafting Kurt in the Class President race. Ugh. You're back on my bad side, kid.

Never mind me. I'll just be rolling around in the awesomesauce that is Mike Chang, Brittany, and Klaine. At least until the hiatus is over!

Inspiration Friday - Igor Dolgatschew

2011-09-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

Last week was Dennis Grabosch's moment in the sun, so it's only fair that I give Igor a day on the blog, too, considering he's now doing the heavy lifting on AWZ in the Roman-dies storyline. Plus, he's definitely an inspiration. Enjoy!

Inspiration Friday - Dennis Grabosch

2011-09-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's only fitting that on the day after his character's death on AWZ, Dennis Grabosch is the subject of Inspiration Friday. His tour de force performance as Roman Wild over the past several years has been nothing short of amazing. Best of luck in your future career, Dennis, and thanks for the memories!

Never Say Goodbye

2011-09-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

So.

Today Roman Wild died.

I know this because my tweetstream is full of sad, tear-filled updates; because I read the spoilers a month or so ago and learned that would be his fate; because I knew the actor was leaving the show and had a feeling they'd be going in that direction rather than letting him head off to Hamburg for a seminar and never come home.

I know this, but I haven't seen it. I haven't watched Alles Was Zaehlt for months, and even when most of my online AWZ-friends were returning for the last story arc, I couldn't bring myself to join them.

TV deaths hit me hard, y'all.

I get invested in characters all the time. I follow their relationships and struggles, I worry about their choices, I connect to their hopes and dreams. If well written and acted, I'm *there*.

Which is why, when a beloved character is killed off on one of my shows, it guts me. I was a wreck when Reid was offed by a literal and figurative train wreck on ATWT; I still mourn for Ianto from Torchwood.

By all accounts, Roman's passing has been an incredible story arc, and I'm sure it doesn't suffer from Needless Death For Emotional Manipulation And Stupid Plotlines, as happened to Ianto and Reid. People who are watching are full of praise for the tour de force acting. I'm sure, if I could watch with a little more distance, I would be blown away by the skill invested in this final storyline.

But I don't have distance. I love Roman, with all his quirks and foibles and all-too-human weaknesses, with his strength and fierce determination and all-encompassing love for the people who matter to him. And I can't be there for this story now. Sometimes I wish I could. But then, if I could, I wouldn't be me, would I?

Best wishes to Dennis Grabosch, who created one of the most memorable characters I've ever seen on screen; kudos to Igor Dolgatschew for meeting him step by step along the way in a pairing that made both of them stronger actors.

And hugs and tissues for those who are watching. Maybe someday I'll be able to do the same.

Inspiration Friday - Seriously, Kate? Him Again?

2011-09-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

Yes! It's true! Eric Sheffer Stevens is today's inspiration. But I have a good reason for choosing him again! See, I'm guest blogging on Lucy Monroe's blog today, and the topic is my upcoming print release and the surprising connection it has to ESS. So it's totally relevant to post a picture of Eric for Inspiration Friday again.

*nods sagely*

In any case, enjoy the pic, and stop by Lucy's blog to say hey!

Oh, and have a great weekend! Hopefully I'll have the Cowboy Walking Away pictures taken last weekend finally downloaded to the computer and posted next week.

Monday Movie Musings - Changes at IHMTD

2011-09-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's not really a movie, but the changes being chatted about concerning new fall FOX comedy I Hate My Teenage Daughter have been on my mind lately.

First, what was already the latest premiere of the fall season has been pushed back even later, to November 30. The first premiere date, November 23, didn't make a whole lot of sense - it's the day before Thanksgiving, and you wouldn't expect it to get much attention (or ratings) then. But a week later pushes it even closer to the winter hiatus season. How many episodes will actually be shown before they go to reruns or holiday specials? At this point, they should just call it a midseason replacement and go with a January premiere.

Then comes the news that they're already retooling the show (which, to be honest, was one of the things I crossed my fingers for when I first heard they were premiering so late in the first place). When I attended the filming, I thought it was funny, but definitely a traditional sitcom-style show (not a bad thing, but it is what it is). And I was very impressed with the cast - the talent there was impressive.

But the show has been eviscerated by the critics. Absolutely shredded. And my hope was that the added time before the show premiered would give them an opportunity to change things up, maybe bring the show and script up to the level of the performers.

So word is (in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly) that they've done some reshoots that make them more confident in the show. The problem? The example given is that Eric's character, Matt, was changed to seem "less pathetic".

Okay. I have no issue with Eric being given more material, or his character switched up. But of all the negative reviews of the show (and believe me, I've read almost all of them -yeah, I'm a little invested in IHMTD succeeding), not one of them said anything negative about Eric or his performance. NOTHING. It's all about the parenting fail by the female characters, or the tone of the show, or the laugh track - but not a single critic has said, "I hated the character of Matt and it killed the show for me."

So, uhm, I really hope that's just one of the changes, and they've done other adjustments to the pilot to help it be successful - and prove the critics wrong. Even if it does start so late in the year.

Monday Movie Musings - Glee 3D

2011-08-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I took the kids to see Glee 3D, which we'd talked about seeing when it came out but were either gone or busy for most of that first week. Of course, now it's pretty much gone from theaters, so we had to drive an hour to one of only three theaters in a 100 mile radius to still be showing it.

I'll spare you my usual "I hate 3D" rant, which I'm sure you'll appreciate. :)

(But honestly, I think the movie would have been just as enjoyable - maybe more - if it had been regular 2D style.)

Overall, we enjoyed the film, though the kids wanted to know why the Klaine skit was barely shown, and midkid joked that it was too bad Blaine had no furniture to climb on.

We all agreed that since the concert series never made it to our neck of the woods, this was a worthy fill-in.

Book BIN Tuesday - It's Always Been You

2011-08-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

Victoria Dahl has a new historical out!

Once She Slipped Through His Fingers. . .

Aidan York has spent ten years mourning the woman he once loved and lost. He's filled the void in the only way he knows—by distracting himself with wild behavior and scandalous trysts. It's a hollow existence, but it dulls the pain. Until the day he encounters a ghost: the woman he thought drowned at sea, alive and as enchanting as ever. . .

Now He'll Keep Her In His Arms. . ..

When Kate Hamilton sees the man she once hoped to spend her life with, she is hit with a storm of memories and longing. But though resisting Aidan's passion proves impossible, Kate must try not to love him all over again. For her seemingly quiet London life shields a dangerous secret, one that will catch up to her the moment she lets herself fall. . .

****

Sounds deliciously angsty, doesn't it? Why not take a chance and Buy It Now?

Inspiration Friday - Freddie Smith

2011-08-12T00:37:00.001-07:00

Days of our Lives has added a new cutie to their roster, and he's taking Salem by storm! Freddie Smith, most recently seen on 90210, plays Sonny Kiriakis, and rumor is that he'll be Will's love interest down the road (if Will ever comes out of the closet). Whatever direction they take the character, it'll be fun to keep an eye on Freddie Smith along the way.

Have a great weekend!

Guest Blogging, and a late Book BIN Rec!

2011-08-09T23:51:00.001-07:00

I swear, the summer months have me all confuzzled. I missed my guest blog day on International Heat, which bums me out, since there were some good comments that were left hanging, but never fear! I've dropped by and am hanging out there now. If you are curious about my tips on getting naughty, take a peek here.

Also, blogmate Kinsey Holley has a new book out as of today, and I missed featuring it! So here are the deets - go check it out!

****

Sometimes a girl’s gotta save herself.

A Werewolves in Love story.

Sara Hedges had planned to escape the backwater, bigoted town of Luxor, Texas on the wings of a college degree—not on the back of a Harley, riding for her life.

Just a couple months shy of loading up her Miata, however, betrayal bares its ugly fangs. Her scumbag uncle has sold her to a pack of werewolves willing to pay any price for her special bloodline and it looks like there’s no way out. She never expected the new-in-town, sex-on-a-stick loner to come riding to her rescue. Or to discover he’s a werewolf, too. A good one...with one too many secrets.

Bryan Keeton waited two months deep undercover for the chance to get his hands on one of the gangster Eurowolves wreaking havoc across the South. After calling in the FBI to blow the lid off Luxor, he’d planned to leave town before he did something he might regret—like get involved with the suspect’s niece.

But Sara makes him stupid. And now they’re on the run from the Feds, who aren’t interested in her innocence, and from the wolves who want her for their own personal squeaky toy…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Warnings
This story includes an undercover alpha with a sexy Texan drawl, a heroine with a dangerous secret, a ring of wolves willing to pay just about anything to own her, and a small town that needs to learn a little something about tolerance.

Have a Question for Kate?

2011-08-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, all!

I've just agreed to do a guest blog post, which will go up next month. One of the options is an interview format, where I can pick questions to answer about writing, life, whatever I want.

But I stink at coming up with questions, so I'm opening it up to you first - what do you want to know about me? Post your questions in the comments, and I'll grab a few for the interview!

*****

And on a completely unrelated note, I've signed up for Kindlegraph, a cool new service that provides autographs for your Kindle titles. (No, I won't be writing on your screen with a sharpie.) It's free, so if you've ever wanted a signed Kindle ebook cover for one of my titles, head on over here to request one.

*****

Another unrelated note! (I seem to have a surplus of them today, LOL) Last week, the German TV production company RTL started enforcing its copyright claim, which resulted in the closure of some YouTube channels which had been translating, subtitling, and posting clips of its shows for an international audience. One of the main shows was Alles Was Zaehlt, the German soap I watched for a couple of years via YouTube (since I don't speak German). That first channel, EskimoKissProject, was spared the purge, on request of one of the actors. He's asked that they be allowed to translate and post his final story arc on the show, as it was their translation and subtitling work that first brought him (and the show) an international audience.

They're being given the chance to do just that, but once the story arc has ended, so will their channel, along with all the videos (hundreds of them!) that they've created over the years. If you haven't been introduced to Roman and Deniz, I'd recommend you take a peek now before it's too late. http://eskimokissproject.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/867/

As for the final story arc, well, let's just say there are spoilers out there for those who want to know, and they aren't too hard to find. :)

Inspiration Friday - ESS. Because I am WEAK.

2011-08-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

I was going to search out a picture of someone I hadn't featured on the blog yet, somebody new and interesting to highlight for Inspiration Friday. But I got home from camping and found this picture, in glorious HD, just waiting for me on the web.

It's the outfit he wore in the pilot episode, the day I got to meet him. From the Tight Black Jeans of Mass Destruction (tm) to the funky t-shirt to the boots (THE BOOTS!), it's an outfit I can get behind. (Okay, y'all, minds out of the gutter. Mostly.)

So here you go, your inspiration for today, Eric Sheffer Stevens as MATT on I Hate My Teenage Daughter, coming to FOX this fall. Rock on, dude.

ETA: MOAR PICTURES! Because @the_real_winson is AWESOME and responded to my request for pictures from the FOX promo event today with this:

And this:
Life... is good. :)

Monday Movie Musings - Harry Potter 7.2

2011-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

So, I finally got to see the last Harry Potter movie, and loved, loved, loved it! I thought the acting was superb, the cinematography excellent, and the entire experience moving and enjoyable.

I also saw it in glorious 2-D, since 3-D glasses give me a massive headache. Luckily, my kids are indifferent to the 2-vs-3 D debate, and were just happy to see the movie while it was still in theaters. (We're still in hot water for missing Pirates of the Caribbean 4, despite the negative reviews. They didn't care that the movie was likely horrible - they wanted to see it on the big screen!)

Next movie up? The Glee movie, most likely, since FutureStar and Midkid both love the music.

What's next on your list?

Inspiration Friday - Tom Pelphrey

2011-07-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Because it was his birthday this week, Tom Pelphrey is the featured inspiration today. Formerly on Guiding Light and As The World Turns, he's currently busy working on stage as well as in TV and movies.

Happy Birthday, Tom!

Book BIN Tuesday - Playing Dirty

2011-07-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Eeeeee! Susan Andersen has a new release!

I'm a huge fan of her work, and a new book is reason to celebrate. Especially when it sounds as good as this one!

*****

When high school golden boy Cade Gallari publicly revealed he’d slept with “fat girl” Ava Spencer to win a bet, he broke her heart. Now a decade older and a head-turner with her own concierge business, Ava isn’t the gullible dreamer she once was—and she plans to prove it when Cade, hotter than ever, breezes back into town with an offer she can’t refuse.

A documentary film producer, Cade is shooting a movie about the mysterious mansion Ava inherited. And he wants her as his personal concierge. She’s certainly professional enough to be at his beck and call without giving him everything he wants. Like another shot at having her in his bed. But Ava doesn’t count on Cade’s determination. Because he’s never gotten over her. And he’s not above playing dirty to score a second chance at a red-hot future…

*****

Doesn't that sound fabulous? So why not pick up a copy and Buy It Now?

Monday Movie Musings - So Many Movies, So Little Time!

2011-07-25T00:06:00.000-07:00

Like many parents, I've fallen out of the habit of seeing films in the theater. The cost of tickets, added to babysitting costs and assorted sundry expenses, not to mention the time involved, made it more alluring to wait for the video or cable release and watch movies then. Some films, though, don't translate well to the small screen. And, of course, as my kids have gotten older, they've wanted to go to the movies instead of watching them at home.

So I'm looking at the movies that are in theaters now and making a list of films I want to see in their bigger than life incarnations.

1. Harry Potter, 7.2. This is a no-brainer, especially since FutureStar and Midkid have been chomping at the bit to see it, too. We'll probably go this week (though I'll never fully win them back after missing the midnight showing for the LAST HARRY POTTER MOVIE EVER.)

2. Cars 2. Not one I'm dying to see on the big screen, but GPS is, so to keep the movie-going-with-kids in balance, we'll be heading out to the multiplex for this one as well.

3. Cowboys & Aliens. Harrison Ford. Daniel Craig. An old-fashioned western until the spaceships arrive. Can't wait!

4. Captain America. Intrigued by the positive buzz I've been hearing lately.

5. Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty. Okay, this one's a wish list movie, since it hasn't been released yet (it hasn't even hit the festival circuit!), but I'd love to see this one on the big screen.

How about you? What movies are you looking forward to, or have enjoyed already this summer? And do you prefer seeing films in the theater, or in the comfort of your own home?

Inspiration Friday - Tom Degnan

2011-07-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

So last month, some of my friends went to a Reserved for Rondee concert in NYC and met this guy and his bandmates afterward. He's also known for playing Joey Buchanan on One Life To Live. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Tom Degnan.

You're welcome.

Have a great weekend, all!

She's Baaaa-aaack!

2011-07-20T23:18:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since I last blogged?

Seriously?

*checks calendar*

Dang.

*checks calendar again*

Oh, of course. That was the end of the school year. Makes perfect sense now.

Since then, I've:

1. Spent time with the family (all home for the summer);
2. Gone on vacation across the state;
3. Traveled to Oklahoma City for a day-job-related conference;
4. Read some great books;
5. Taken up golf (with the hubs);
6. Written!

...and there's more where that came from, with a camping trip and various day excursions planned for the rest of the summer. But I'm adding blogging back in, both because I've missed it and because I've got some exciting stuff coming up.

Including a new interview that's in the works! I think you'll be as excited as I am once you see who I get to chat with next. :)

In the meantime, here's a great deal I found out about yesterday. My Siren-Bookstrand erotic romance, Hooked, has been selected for their Retro Romance promotion, which means it's on sale here for only $1.99 until August 2. Pretty cool, huh?

Stop by tomorrow for a new Inspiration Friday post, and next week I'll be sharing some of my summer vacation pics, including one with me standing next to a giant metal chicken.

See you then!

VSC Auction, and Come See Me on NNN!

2011-06-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a weekend fastpitch tournament, and I'm wiped, but wanted to let you all know about a couple of things.

First, if you (like me) were a fan of Reid Oliver on ATWT, there's a great auction going on over at ESS.com for some memorabilia from his time on the show. You can bid on the Harvard diploma that was seen hanging on his office wall in his very first episode, or the script from his final appearance on ATWT, autographed by Eric himself. Proceeds benefit the Vermont Shakespeare Company. Bidding will be taking place until June 26, so if you're interested, be sure to take a peek!

Also, I'm blogging over on Nine Naughty Novelists today about the Four Stages of Internet Embarrassment. Stop by and say hello!

Inspiration Friday - Tahmoh Penikett

2011-06-17T00:20:00.003-07:00

Kim recommended Tahmoh last week, so I looked him up. Yep, definitely an inspiration. Yowza.

The End is Nigh...

2011-06-15T00:23:00.000-07:00

School gets out next week, and I'm on the last stretch of no-kids-at-home time before the horde descends for the summer. I'm really looking forward to the family time, but until that happens, I've got paperwork from the day job up to my eyeballs and not enough hours in the day to catch up.

So long story short, I may be scarce from the blog for a while. Look for me on Inspiration Friday, and I'll try to pop in with other posts when I can. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook. Wish me luck!

Book BIN Tuesday - Restraining the Receptionist

2011-06-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

There's a new book out this week from the pen of Juniper Bell! Here are the deets:

Every deal has a loophole.

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Product Warning

NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

****

Whew! That should heat up your week, don't you think? So why not head over to Samhain and Buy It Now?

"Hi Kate" Inspires a Birthday Surprise!

2011-06-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

Exhibit A

Okay, I know, it can't be much of a surprise if it's being planned and executed publicly online, but the thought is there, right?

In any case, fans of Eric Sheffer Stevens are putting together a photo collage birthday present/card for him, asking people to send in pictures of themselves holding "Happy Birthday Eric" signs with their name and town on them. If you're a fan and want to participate, send in your pic by Friday the 17th to k.5weet@yahoo.com. Easy peasy, right?

Have a great week!

Inspiration Friday - Jason Momoa

2011-06-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Rachel for the suggestion - here's Jason Momoa for your Friday inspiration!

Seriously?

2011-06-09T00:33:00.001-07:00

Okay, someone out there who watches One Life To Live - is Jean Passanante really recycling the tragic-death-leads-to-heart-transplant storyline on that soap as well?

That's the rumor I've been hearing, and if it's true, I'm absolutely disgusted.

It was bad enough that she was responsible for the ridiculous, anvil-laden, offensive killing off of one of the most popular new characters on daytime at the end of As The World Turns. She and her team took a promising storyline - the Luke and Reid romance - and shoved it on the backburner, destroyed its momentum, dialed down the heat and sexual tension until it almost disappeared (it's a testament to the talent of the actors that they were able to maintain any romantic spark through months of "I want you and I will show you how much by brushing lint off your shoulder" bs), and shifted the focus to Reid the brain surgeon trying to save the life of a self-centered jerk who refuses proper medical care and exacerbates his own health issues. Followed by a meaningless death and the character assassination of almost everyone involved in the storyline.

And now she's doing it again? On another show?

And I hear this is actually the THIRD time she's done the same storyline?

I have a hint, OLTL team - GET SOME NEW IDEAS.

And if your writing team is incapable of doing that on their own, it might be a good idea to GET SOME NEW WRITERS AS WELL.

*wanders off, grumbling under my breath*

Inspiration Friday - Ben Cohen

2011-06-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Ben Cohen.

(pause)

Isn't he lovely?

And not just on the outside. No, this amazing man recently quit his rugby career to focus on his new passion, fighting bullying and homophobia. Yes, that's right. This straight ally is spending his days teaching young people how to combat anti-gay bullying.

Just fantastic. All that and easy on the eyes, too!

Inspiration Friday - Jacob Young

2011-05-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Is it Friday already? Must be time for yet another installment of Inspiration Friday, daytime-style!

Here's Jacob Young. Jacob plays JR Chandler on All My Children.

Mmm, I just love a man in a tie.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Glitter!

2011-05-25T23:16:00.001-07:00

FutureStar has been working on a poster this week, for school, that apparently required large quantities of glitter. Glitter designs, glitter over glue, glitter glitter glitter.

Of course, we now have glitter everywhere. Kitchen floor, family room carpet, kitchen table, pretty much every pair of socks in the household, even FutureStar's eyebrows (don't ask).

It's a great poster, and it's been fun watching FS really focus all that energy on making it the best one possible.

So the proliferation of glitter is a small price to pay, really.

It also reminds me of my first-ever published work, a poem that was included in my college literary magazine. I'd written for years before that, but this was the first time I'd ever held my own work in published form, and it was magical.

Funny thing is, I'd submitted a bunch of poems, almost all of them emo and "deep", and they picked the light-hearted one I'd tossed in on a whim. And a year later, a friend told me that they'd been sharing favorite poems in class and someone had read mine. Just goes to show that you never know what's going to make the biggest impact.

So here it is! My first published work:

Astronomy

somebody spilled
glitter on the hallway rug
bare feet scuff up a cloud of stars
galaxies sparkling
I dance
through the Milky Way
(wrap Orion's belt around my big toe)
and waltz off to bed
Cassiopeia clinging to my heels

Inspiration Friday - Mark Lawson

2011-05-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's the next installment of Daytime Inspiration, this time featuring Mark Lawson of One Life To Live.

Have a lovely weekend!

Monday (Not Quite) Movie Musings - My TV Week

2011-05-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

(<--- This guy's got a busy week ahead. I think that's why he looks so serious in this picture.)

Sorry, don't have a movie to feature this week. But it's a busy TV week, so that's a decent replacement, right?

MONDAY marks both the start of the network upfronts (when the networks unveil their schedules for the fall season) and the season finale of Hawaii Five-0. I'm excited (and nervous) for the finale, but even moreso for the upfronts, as Fox is revealing their schedule at 3 pm. Will I Hate My Teenage Daughter be on the schedule, or will they hold it as a midseason replacement? With only two hours of programming a night, and large chunks of primetime real estate already claimed by the X Factor and American Idol, nothing is guaranteed until the schedule is out there in black and white.

Oh, and I'll be watching the second to last episode of Chicago Code and sniffling.

ETA: FOX has released their primetime schedule a few hours before their upfronts! I Hate My Teenage Daughter will be on Wednesdays at 9:30 following The X Factor. This is excellent scheduling because a) following a sure-fire ratings juggernaut will bring a built-in audience to the show, and b) I don't already watch anything during that time slot so I won't have to make any hard decisions!

Then there's TUESDAY, with Glee (only a couple of episodes left!) and more upfronts. Not sure which networks roll out the schedules. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with ABC, since soap fans are planning to protest outside. Also have heard that The Chew and The Revolution, the shows destined to replace All My Children and One Life To Live, are looking pretty lame. Awesome work, ABC Daytime!

Then, at 10 pm, there's a new episode of Body Of Proof, with this guy named Eric Sheffer Stevens in a guest role. If you've ever read this blog, you may have heard of him before. I think I've mentioned him once or twice. (translation: OMG SQUEE I'VE GOT IT SCHEDULED ON MY DVR ALREADY CAN'T WAIT.)

WEDNESDAY is set aside for CBS upfronts, which I'm really only interested in because of Hawaii Five-0 (and now that it's been announced ahead of time that it's been renewed for next year, I'm just waiting to see if they've switched nights.)

Nothing more really exciting that I know about until SUNDAY, when apparently that guy I just mentioned is also guesting on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. (translation: OMG HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT UNTIL TODAY I HAVE FAILED AS A FANGIRL BUT AT LEAST I'VE MANAGED TO SCHEDULE IT ON MY DVR NOW.)
ETA #2 - First promo pic for IHMTD! ESS is second from the left. That's the costume he wore in the pilot. Wheee!

So there you have it, my TV week in a nutshell. What are you watching/following/looking forward to?

Damaging A Character

2011-05-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Monday night is date night TV night in the Davies' household.

First Chicago Code (sob!), followed by Hawaii Five-0 (just renew the damn show, CBS, okay?), it's appointment TV night for my husband and me. (I also watch Glee on Tuesdays, but that's not his thing.) We go from gritty to sun-drenched in the space of two hours, and I love both shows.

But I discovered something about myself as a viewer, and the shows I watch, last Monday. Because my two favorite characters on these two shows brought up a specific issue, and my reaction to it was diametrically opposed.

WARNING - SPOILERS AHOY!

On the Chicago Code, main character Jarek is a cop with an ex-wife he still has feelings for. They have a child together. And all season, the two of them have been sleeping together, regardless of the fact that he has a fiancee he theoretically loves as well.

On Hawaii Five-0, Danny Williams is a cop with an ex-wife he still has feelings for. They have a child together. And in the last five minutes of Monday's episode, we find out that apparently they've been doing the infidelity dance as well.

(The whole WTF exchange: Steve says, so, you and Rachel. How long...? Danny responds, "a little while.")

So why do I accept the infidelity on the part of Jarek, but get infuriated at the thought of Danny doing the same thing?

Well, on Chicago Code, Jarek has been set up character-wise to make this choice believable. He cuts corners. He skirts the edge of legal when it suits his purposes, and rarely has a qualm about it. He is a gray-area character. More importantly, it's been a thing all season long, and one of the defining elements of his character.

On Hawaii Five-0, Danny has been set up all season as the moral compass of the team. He's the one shouting about procedure and suspect's rights and doing the right thing. Does he always manage it? No, but he tries, because it matters to him.

So for him to apparently start sleeping with a married woman - regardless of the fact that she's his ex - struck me as out of character and, more significantly, out of left field.

Yes, the pining (on both Danny's and Rachel's parts) has been signposted throughout the season, and the troubles in Rachel and Stan's marriage have been mentioned before. I actually liked that element, as we watched them grow from battling exes with "Psycho" ringtones and custody battles that required intercession from the governor into two people who were finding a way to be friendly co-parents.

I was even fine with the forehead-kissing and falling asleep on the hospital bed and the pining glances as she drove away. The lost love you always regret is a fantastic trope in a TV show like this, and it really worked for them. But to suddenly (and confusingly) suggest that they're actually sleeping together and have been for a while? It made no sense to me. And I believe it made no sense for the character.

Gracie also factors into this. The child is not stupid. And if her parents, both of whom she loves, are suddenly making googly eyes at each other and hugging and acting all couply, she's going to start hoping they'll get back together. And unfortunately, for these two, love wasn't enough to conquer the issues that tore them apart previously, issues that are even more looming now. Danny's dangerous job? Even more dangerous. Financial issues? Not going away. And on a practical, TV show note, happy couples aren't interesting over the long run. No way are the PTB going to allow Danny to have a happy home life for any length of time. So how much is it going to mess up that little girl to have her hopes for a reunited family dashed AGAIN?

In short, because of the way the character of Danny Williams has been revealed to us over the season, I was disappointed and angered by the turn taken on Monday's episode. And much as I hate to admit it, it makes me look at him in a less positive light now. I hope that changes soon, because I really do love the character and would hate to have that color the way I look at him from now on.

One good thing I'll be taking away from this is the reaffirmation that motivation and character development matter. And you can bet I'll be applying that knowledge to the characters I write as well as the ones I watch on my television screen.

Inspiration Friday - Scott Clifton

2011-05-06T00:22:00.000-07:00

Here's another installment in the Inspiration Friday Men Of Daytime theme! This week's inspiration is Scott Clifton, currently on The Bold and The Beautiful, formerly of One Life To Live and General Hospital.

Have a lovely weekend!

Love's Savage Whiplash goes live!

2011-05-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hie thee to Nine Naughty Novelists for the first installment of Love's Savage Whiplash, our new group story. This rousing regency romp has it all - mistaken identity, dashing rogues, nefarious villains, pirates, even ninjas! Because what's a regency romp with out ninjas, am I right?

Every Thursday we'll be posting a new chapter, so be sure to stop by every week for more!

Book BIN Tuesday - Fourth and Goal

2011-05-03T00:26:00.001-07:00

Jami Davenport has a new book out with Loose ID, and it looks like a really fun read! Here are the deets:

In a game played on and off the field, only one of them will emerge the winner.

Armed with an uncanny ability for evaluating football talent, a dogged determination to succeed in a man’s world, and an empty bank account, Rachel McCormick agrees to help struggling wide receiver Derek Ramsey get his game back. Rachel believes Derek, her former best friend and lover, knows the truth behind a points-shaving scandal which ruined her father. She vows to expose the secret even if it destroys Derek in the process.

When Derek’s coach suggests sex as an excellent tension reliever the night before a game, Rachel takes one for the team. The next day, Derek has the best performance of his not-so lustrous pro football career. As Derek and Rachel rack up nights in bed and other places, the team racks up wins on the field. Rachel is torn between her loyalty to her father and her growing affection for Derek. Now it’s fourth and goal, one second left on the clock. Their hearts are on the line. Do they trust each other enough to go for the long bomb or do they get dropped for a loss?

****

It's out now, so why not stop on over and Buy It Now?

Monday Movie Musings - Update on LLRT (now with sneak peek scene!)

2011-05-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

Just got some news about Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty, which is in post-production right now. (I posted about the film way back here, and have been following its progress over the past several months.) They're very close to finishing, and have a new sneak peek available for those who've memorized the trailer and were waiting for new material. :)

Here's the scene, featuring my favorite actor Eric Sheffer Stevens.

Right now, the team is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the film, including color correction, sound mix, and the title sequence. Their website has more details on the process, if you're so inclined.

Once the film is complete they'll be submitting it to film festivals and hopefully gaining interest from distributors, so I'll keep you posted as news crops up.

Also, and slightly off-topic, director James Yaegashi has been putting a lot of effort into fundraising for Japan. Here's a vid about the project he's working on, which includes some actors I recognized (and you might as well...)

Inspiration Friday - Ricky Paull Goldin

2011-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

The appreciation tour of the Men of AMC and OLTL continues this week, with a hottie from All My Children.

Ladies (and gents), please give Ricky Paull Goldin a warm welcome. He plays Jake Martin on AMC.

There you go - your inspiration for this week. Hope your weekend is truly inspired!

Book BIN Tuesday - The Guardian

2011-04-25T22:22:00.001-07:00

Margaret Mallory is one of my favorite historical authors, with relatable heroines and heroes to swoon over. So I'm thrilled she has a new book out - and not only that, it's book one of a new series! Be still, my heart.

It's called The Guardian, and here's the scoop:

THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK I

Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.

PASSION IGNITED

After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas - and he won't take no for an answer.

***

Sounds fabulous, no? So why not head on over to the store and Buy One Now?

Monday MUSIC Musings - Buddy Guy

2011-04-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

So last week I saw Buddy Guy in concert. And let me tell you, this 70-plus year old musician TORE. IT. UP. Seriously, this was one of the best shows I've ever seen. The audience was a little, uhm, odd (a mix of unresponsive and inappropriately responsive), but the performance was fantastic. He even played riffs "in the style of" some of the blues greats, and his imitations were spot on. I loved it.

At one point, he walked out into the auditorium and played up and down the aisles, even stopping right next to our row and jamming. It was so fun.

In fact, here's a video! Enjoy. And check out Buddy Guy's music, you'll love it!

Inspiration Friday - David Fumero

2011-04-21T23:25:00.001-07:00

Back when I was watching Kish on One Life To Live, I grew quite fond of Cristian Vega, portrayed by David Fumero. He was a supportive friend who wasn't afraid of the hard truths. And he was definitely easy on the eyes.

Here's a shirtless picture of him.

You're welcome.

A Milestone For ESS Fans!

2011-04-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

Eric Sheffer Stevens in Body Of Proof, airing this spring.

Happy hump day!

Time is flying for me these days, probably due to baseball/fastpitch eating up huge swathes of our family schedule, and I keep turning around wondering where the hell that day/week/month went when I wasn't looking.

It's also flying for my friends over on http://ericshefferstevens.com/, who are about to celebrate their one year anniversary next month. They asked if I'd be willing to spread the news about a contest they're holding in honor of this milestone, so here are the deets:

On May 17th, we will be celebrating our one year anniversary at ericshefferstevens.com. It's been a great year of meeting new friends, learning new skills, campaigning with everything we've had in us and enjoying the talents of one amazing actor. We've laughed, squeed, fallen in love and cried our hearts out as a fandom. Now Eric is moving on to new roles and developing new characters for us to love. We hope you will all stick with us as we continue to follow his career. I think we are all in for an amazing ride.

Since this is our 1st anniversary, the Crew has decided to share a few gifts with some of our friends in the Eric Sheffer Stevens community but we'd like a little something from you too. During the month of April we'd like Eric's fans to drop us a note on the website (by clicking the "Contact Us" in the top right corner) and share some of the following with us...

*Tell us about your year as an ESS fan...highs, lows anything special you'd like to share
*Tell us what you like or would change about the site/forum, anything that stood out for you
*Tell us any ideas you have or anything you'd like to see on ESS.com/ ESS fan forum (not that we can make any promises...every member of the Crew is still working on a huge learning curve when it comes to web stuff)

We are hoping to add a page or two to the website with quotes from as many fans as possible. Then on May 17th we will randomly draw 6 names from the list of fans that participated and share one of these gifts with them. We will post the names on the forum and contact you for your addresses. (Yes we will ship to wherever!)

Thanks again for helping us make ESS.com and the ESS fan forum such a great place to hang out and follow Eric and his career.

The Crew/Crew Friends

So there you go! Have a great rest of the week!

Monday Movie Musings - Pilot Filming Follow Up

2011-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past week I've gotten some questions about the filming of I Hate My Teenage Daughter (thanks, LoveLure!) and I thought I'd take today's blog post to answer them, rather than burying them in the comments of an older post.

1. Do they shoot the episode in the sequence we'll see the final episode? Or do they go out of order (e.g., if they use the kitchen set twice, do they do both those scenes before moving to another set)?

The pilot was filmed in order. The first scene (and last, as well) was pre-filmed, so we watched it on the monitors in completed form. After that, the cast and crew went through the script in order, making sure each scene was done to their satisfaction before moving on. Hence, the 4 hour filming time for what's essentially a 22 minute episode.

(Side note: I wouldn't be surprised if it was trimmed a little from what we saw filmed. Even taking into consideration the multiple takes and between-scene pauses, it still seemed longer than 22 minutes. Fingers crossed none of Eric's work is lost, though!)

Also, the video feed we watched on the monitors wasn't just raw footage - the angles and camera changes were already decided ahead of time, so we saw the angle change from one character head-on, to the other head-on, to a wide shot, as the scene played out.

2. Are there multiple sets of multiple cameras (one for each set)? Or do the cameras stay fixed and just point at different sets? Or do the sets move?

The sets are fixed, and the cameras moved from set to set, as each scene changed. One set was around the corner (we watched on the monitor as they filmed behind the wall at the edge of the audience seating), and I can't remember if they moved the cameras all the way back there. But otherwise, when a scene change was announced, the cameras would roll over to the next set, a clump of people following behind (director, cinematographer, various other behind-the-scenes crewmembers). This is part of why breaks between scenes took a while; the equipment needed to be in place before they could start again.

(Side note: When the flats were moved away from the front of the set and we could finally see the whole setup, I originally thought there was a narrow backyard or outdoors set between the kitchen set and the family room set. It took me a while to realize it was actually just set dressing for both sets, so that if the camera angle caught the view outside a window, it would look like there were trees and bushes out there. LOL)

Also on the topic of IHMTD, a quick perusal of general TV discussion boards and prognosticators shows that most people expect it to be on the schedule for next year. This means pretty much nothing, of course, since the Powers That Be at FOX have the last word, but it's encouraging in an inside-baseball, fantasy league sort of way.

Also also, I'm still highly tickled when I run across links to this blog in discussions of the show and the coming TV season.

Have a great Monday!

Inspiration Friday - Jordi Vilasuso

2011-04-15T10:16:00.001-07:00

In recognition of the many fine (and I mean FINE) actors who have worked on All My Children and One Life To Live, I'll be posting soap-actor pics over the next few weeks. Hopefully it will help take some of the sting of cancellation away, at least for a little while.

First up, Jordi Vilasuso, who is widely considered the "true" Tony Santos from Guiding Light (another soap cut down too soon), and now plays Griffin on All My Children. Thanks for the inspiration, Jordi.

Home Alone Bash over on the NNN!

2011-04-07T00:05:00.001-07:00

Since seven of the Nine Naughty Novelists are in LA this week for the RT Convention, we remaining two (Syd and me) are hosting a Home Alone party on the NNN blog. Stop by for chances to win great prizes, as well as find out just what's going on at the Con!

Book BIN Tuesday - Compass Hearts

2011-04-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

You guys.

I am so, so excited about this one!

Maia Strong is my beta/critique partner, and I've been along for the ride since the very beginning of Compass Hearts. I love it so very much, and am thrilled it's finally available! Check it out:

As the fourth son of merchant parents, Matthew Morgan has always been superfluous. The only guidance he ever received was to behave himself and to stay out of the way. Now, at a new university half a world away from home, he must discover who he is and what he wants. The only trouble is, he's never made a decision in his life.

When Ash Thearon meets Matthew--the handsome fellow student he's been ogling all quarter--he finds him sweet, sexy, and more than a little puzzling. To solve that puzzle, he must first collect all the pieces--something more easily said than done.

The new friends quickly become lovers, but Matthew's limited life experience has taught him only how to follow another's lead. Ash wants more than that; he wants the give and take of an equal. As the lovers' holiday of Afan Valen approaches, Matthew's tendency to try too hard to please others leaves Ash wondering how to teach him independence without losing him.

*****

Trust me, this one is a keeper. So run on over to Torquere Press and Buy It Now!

What I Learned On My Almost-Summer Vacation

2011-04-04T00:04:00.000-07:00

I admit it. The main reason I flew down to LA last week for the pilot of I Hate My Teenage Daughter was to see Eric Sheffer Stevens perform live. (You might have picked up on that detail in previous posts. There were some subtle clues.) But I was also interested in seeing just what goes on behind the scenes during the filming of a TV show. So this was a chance to meet two goals at once! (And sharing that experience with friends was a definite bonus!)

The first thing I noticed as we entered the studio was the set construction pieces all around us, and the black curtains masking so many parts of the set and the studio. We were led to a stadium-style seating area, with approximately 200 chairs set up for the audience. There was a DJ spinning tunes at a sound system at the back of the audience section, lots of upbeat and dance-oriented tunes. A big section of the middle seating area was empty, and those seats were reserved for (we assumed) friends and family of the cast and crew.

The entire audience area was surrounded by black curtains that hung down from a framework, low enough to mask the microphones and monitors that lined the front of the seating, but short enough we could see the sets and equipment in front of us.

There were three sets visible (well, partially; the tops of the sets were visible, while the rest was blocked off by black partitions). Directly in front of us was the kitchen set, to the left was a living room set, and to the right was a coffee shop set. Later we discovered there was a high school hallway and principal's office set off to the side of the seating area. We couldn't see it, but while they were filming there, we could watch on the monitors.

There were many people walking around on the set, and more clustered around equipment. It was clear that there were a LOT of people involved in the filming of this one episode, and I remember thinking how many people would be affected by the decision of the network whether to pick up the show or not. (Apparently FOX has optioned eight half-hour comedies this season, with space for likely two or three of them. IHMTD is the only multi-camera comedy of the bunch.)

It's cold on set; I was glad I had a coat. I always assumed that they kept the studios cold so the heat of the lighting wouldn't be too much for the actors. But apparently it was too cold even for the stars, because Jaime Pressly mentioned the chill, and would wrap up in a sweatshirt between takes.

The first scene was in the kitchen set. Each scene is filmed multiple times, with adjustments to the script and performance in each take. I was impressed with the writers' ability to take note of audience reactions, rewrite/change jokes on the fly, and hand the revised scripts to the actors, who would learn their new lines and perform them - all without an unreasonable amount of downtime. For example, one of the jokes really fell flat in the first scene. The writers changed it, the actors performed it, and the audience gave the new joke one of the biggest laughs of the evening.

After the scenes are filmed two or three times, the director may decide to film just a short part of the scene over - one conversation, a few lines, even some stage business. The actors are careful to start and end in the same spot on set for each section, presumably so they can be cut together later if necessary. The camera work is also decided on prior to filming - as we watched on the monitor, we saw the cuts and changes as they would be in the finished product. The filming seemed to go quite smoothly to me, with the actors knowing their lines and stage direction very well.

There were only a few flubs and stops, one of which was when Eric said a line and immediately followed it with "no, I don't want to say it that way. Go back?" Which they did.

Between takes, or when the scenes were switching between sets, the warm-up guy would try to keep the audience interested and enthusiastic. When he wasn't busy making me look like a creeper, he arranged a dance-off, put together the dating game for another audience member, and auctioned off a pie.

It was a fascinating process, and I enjoyed the experience very much. I'd love to go back again now that I know what to expect! Only this time I'll keep my mouth shut around the warm-up guy. And maybe wear a disguise.

Sorry I don't have pictures of the set/actors/studio, but any recording device is strictly verbotene. Tune in later this week for some pics of my time in LA!

Yes. I Met Eric Sheffer Stevens.

2011-04-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

So yesterday may have been just about the most surreal experience of my life.

I was up at 4 am and headed for the airport, where I had a 6 am flight to Los Angeles (with a stopover in Las Vegas). We actually made it to L.A. early, so I changed into a less-warm top (the temp was probably 40* warmer than what I'd left behind) and met up with the others. We were able to check into the hotel early, which was nice.

We made a quick reconnaissance drive down to Warner Brothers studios and scoped out the area, then had lunch followed by a return to the hotel to get ready.

The filming was at 6 pm, but we wanted to be sure to get good seats so we got to the studio before 4. The holding area was actually inside the visitors parking lot, with a bunch of long benches in rows. The first side of the first row was already filled, as was another row at the back of the holding area - we found out later it was for groups. We sat down and waited, wondering if anyone else there was attending for the sole purpose of seeing Eric perform live.

About half an hour into the wait, Carol (Pin from ESS.com) came over and introduced herself. Her husband held her spot (in the first waiting row) while we chatted. At about 5:15 or so they started walking people across the street to the studio. The first side of the first row was escorted across, followed by the first row from the group section. (I may have muttered something about how they'd better not take all the groups in before us, since we'd been there longer.) Carol and her husband gave up their spots so they could go in with us, which was sweet. We walked across the street and got in line for the security check. All of us made it through and continued on down the street, past big studio buildings.

Finally, we were escorted across the street to building 19, where the pilot was going to be filmed. There's a placard on the outside of the building next to the door listing all the movies and TV shows that had been filmed there - everything from Key Largo to The Last Samurai to Life Goes On to Ocean's Eleven (both versions). I thought it was appropriate that The West Wing was also on the list, since Eric named it as the show he wished he could go back in time and be on.

We were led into the theater to the seating area, which was on a riser set up with chairs, six rows deep. Our seats were in the fourth row, directly in front of what looked like a kitchen set, though the majority of the set was masked by black-fabric-covered barriers. A black fabric curtain hung down in front of the audience seating, just far enough to block the television monitors and microphones from the view of those on set. The monitors were there for us to see what the show would look like with the camera cuts. Also, because of all the equipment between us and the set, it was actually easier to see the show on the monitors than to watch the actors on set.

There was still some time to kill until filming started, so we amused ourselves by trying to identify what the other sets were by the little we could see over the barriers. There's a coffee shop set, which of course made us speculate whether Noah would be there wiping the counter or not.

About 15 minutes before the show was scheduled to start filming, a warm up comedian came up into the audience and started trying to build enthusiasm for the show. There was a competition between the two halves of the audience to see who could cheer and laugh the loudest (our side won, of course) and asking where people were from and why they were at the filming. Then he brought me up in front of everyone and asked where I was from and why I was there. I responded that I was from the Northwest, and was there with other Eric Sheffer Stevens fans from all over the country. He said that there was a name for that - stalking -and asked if we wanted a lock of his hair or something. (I told him no, that was kinda creepy, and all we wanted was to see Eric perform live.) Then he went on to make fun of me for being a romance writer. Ah, good times.

By then, it was time for filming to start, so I went back to my seat just in time to see the cast walk out from behind the barrier DIRECTLY BEHIND ME, WHERE THEY'D BEEN THE WHOLE TIME I WAS INTERVIEWED. Eric had heard the whole thing. I was *mortified*.

I'm going to skip over the details of the filming, because that's going to be a separate blog post on Monday. But I will say that the warm up guy NEVER LET GO of the whole stalker/fan thing. Every damn time Eric appeared on set, he'd say something to us like, "Now's your chance! Jump the barrier and get a hug! You may end up in jail, but you'll have what you've always wanted!" or "Look, there's Eric! Don't you just want to be his jacket? I bet he can feel the vibe of your jacket love." Let me tell you, it got old REALLY fast.

Oh, and one very cool thing? They passed out bottled water and pizza halfway through the filming so we didn't starve to death. It was very nice. Almost made up for having to sit in a meat locker for four and a half hours.

Finally, the filming was over, and Traci and I and a few others waited for a few minutes to see if we might have a chance to say hi to Eric. He was busy talking to some gentlemen in suits, though, and the ushers told us we'd have to leave. We walked out, feeling a little disappointed, but overall very happy with the experience.

We were more than halfway back to the garage when we heard someone running up the road behind us. We turned around and it was Eric, chasing us down to thank us for coming.

Um. Yeah. Eric Sheffer Stevens. Looking for us.

I may have died a little.

He said he was sorry, that he didn't know they were going to make us leave before we could talk to him, and wanted to make sure we didn't leave before he said thanks for coming. I got to shake his hand, and all I could think to say was "I am so sorry!"

He responded, "Why? For making me run?" I said no, for talking to the warm up guy and causing the long-drawn-out teasing. He said he was glad it happened because it let him know we were there. He took a little time to talk to everyone in our little group, and then had to go back to the theater again, so we said goodbye.

Then we walked to the crosswalk pretty much on air.

(Also, as we waited for the light to change at the crosswalk, someone in the group mentioned the interview I'd done with Eric, and the woman standing next to me said, "Are you Kate Davies? I loved that interview!" So I had a brief moment of being recognized as well.)

It was an amazing, surreal, fantastic experience and I wouldn't change it for anything. (Except for the annoying warm up guy.)

And I was so glad to be with friends I could share it with!

(And stop by Monday for more detail on the actual filming of the show!)

Squeeee!

2011-03-30T00:52:00.001-07:00

I quite like the fact that ESS is front and center in the ad. Good choice, promo department!

Heading out tonight to the airport hotel, for an early morning flight to L.A. I've scrounged up some hopefully-appropriate clothing (it's in the 40's-50's here, so finding clothes for 80-plus weather is a challenge) and triple-checked my ticket for the filming. Phones and cameras are a big no-no in the studio, so I won't be live-tweeting the experience, but rest assured that I'll be providing an epic trip report after the fact!

Don't know if I'll actually get to meet Eric, but just seeing him perform live will be fantastic. Have I mentioned I'm a fan? No? Wow, sorry about that. Don't know how it slipped my mind. :) Have a great rest of the week - I know I will!

Book BIN Tuesday - The Sweetest Thing

2011-03-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Jill Shalvis has a new book out, the second in her Lucky Harbor trilogy. And since she's in the hospital with appendix issues, promo might be a little difficult for her now. So I'm helping to spread the word!

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

*** Just what I love - a love triangle contemporary! I'll be heading out to pick up a copy. How about you? Why not Buy It Now?

Inspiration Friday - In Less Than A Week...

2011-03-25T00:31:00.000-07:00

...I'm going to see this guy performing live, at the filming for his new TV pilot. What better reason could there be for finding inspiration?

Book BIN Tuesday - Breakaway

2011-03-22T00:28:00.000-07:00

How about a sports hero to brighten your week? Kelly Jamieson has a new one out this week, in her new book, Breakaway.

*****
Jason and Remi want the same thing—no-strings-attached, screw-their-brains-out, burn-the-sheets-up fun. Pro hockey player Jason just broke up with his girlfriend because she got too serious. Schoolteacher Remi just saw the last of the younger siblings she raised leave the nest. Jace isn’t ready for responsibility. Remi’s had enough responsibility. They’re perfect playmates.

But fun and sexy games get complicated when emotions get involved. Then responsibility and commitment crash the party when Jason’s past comes back to haunt him. Like it or not, Jason and Remi both have to figure out what they really want.

***** Sounds yummy! So why not head over to Ellora's Cave and Buy It Now?

Inspiration Friday - Iantooooo!

2011-03-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

Because hearing about the new season of Torchwood is just making me miss Gareth David-Lloyd and his wonderful performance as Ianto.

Sniff.

Book BIN Tuesday - Anything You Want

2011-03-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

Suppose the solution to all your problems is the one thing you never wanted…

It figures the one time Sabrina Cassidy is determined to do the responsible thing, karma kicks in. After four years on the road chasing her musical dream, she’s stranded six hours from home with no money, a ruined credit history—and morning sickness.

Out of options, she swallows her legendary independent streak and calls the only person who won’t hang up on her. Luke, the man she left behind.

Marc Sterling’s first instinct is to protect his business partner and best friend from another broken heart. That means letting her think she’s talking to Luke, then finding a way to send her in the opposite direction.

When he shows up at her hotel room, there’s something in the air beside their customary insults. Sure, her rebellious attitude, smart mouth—and purple panties—still drive him crazy, but now it’s a different kind of crazy. The kind that has him driving her home instead of to the nearest airport.

And when Luke offers to solve all her problems if she’ll only say “I do”, Marc realizes he’s just crazy enough—about her—to forget whose heart he wanted to protect.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Product Warnings
Contains two people who don’t like each other very much, a Toyota that can’t quite handle the road trip home, and a spontaneous proposal. Or two. Or three. And foreplay with—what else—pie filling.

Sounds great, right? So why not head over to Samhain today and Buy It Now?

Book Trailer - Take A Chance On Me

2011-03-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you've followed the blog, you know I'm a big fan of Hayley Charlesworth's cartooning, especially her Reid Oliver Cartoon Saga. Well, Hayley agreed to make a book trailer for Take A Chance On Me, and it's FABULOUS. Take a peek:

Thanks, Hayley!

My Romance Trading Card - Meet Tom!

2011-03-09T10:32:00.001-08:00

So excited to get the proofs back on my Romance Trading Card, featuring Tom from Take a Chance On Me. Kimberly Killion of Hot Damn Designs did a great job putting the card together, and talented artist Hayley Charlesworth created the picture of Tom.

(For fans of the Reid Oliver Cartoon Saga, there's a reason the artwork looks familiar. Stay tuned!)

The card will be available at RT next month - just ask the Nine Naughty Novelists where to find it! And once the convention is over, I'll have copies to share if you send me a SASE. Details will be available in Mid-April.

Book BIN Tuesday - Flash Point

2011-03-07T23:08:00.000-08:00

Shelli Stevens has a new book out today, and it looks like a fantastic read! Here are the details on Flash Point:

One taste of her lips, and friendship is off the menu.

Holding Out for a Hero, Book 3

Kate has always been everybody’s friend and the de-facto little sister to the Wyatt brothers. But her feelings for Todd Wyatt, the town’s hottest firefighter, run far beyond the sibling variety. Not that he’s ever noticed.

After years of nursing her crush, Kate decides it’s time to take action. Except she has one awkward little secret: she’s still a virgin. She hopes she can seduce Todd without him realizing just how inexperienced she is.

In Todd’s mind, Kate’s the sweet girl he teases and hits up for free cupcakes. One surprise kiss over the summer, though, and suddenly she’s jumped from the platonic side of his brain to the want-her-in-my-bed side. Even though the last thing he wants is to lose her friendship, his resistance to her determined seduction is slipping. Fast.

When malicious attacks on her bakery escalate, it soon becomes clear that for all Kate’s friends, she’s made at least one big enemy. And if they don’t figure it out soon, things could take a deadly turn.

Product Warnings
A sexy firefighter. A virgin bakery owner. A dollop of role playing, kinky costumes, friends becoming lovers, and a little danger along the way.

*****

Sounds fabu, no? So why not run over to Samhain and Buy It Now?

Monday Movie Musings - Mercy

2011-03-06T23:51:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I hadn't heard of MERCY until I started seeking out previous roles by the stars of Hawaii Five-0. But when I realized that Scott Caan wrote, produced, and starred in this movie about a romance-ish author who is cynical about love, I knew I had to watch it.

First, it's Scott Caan. Second, I'm a fan of indie films, and this definitely fit the bill. Third, romance(esque) author? I had to check it out.

Now, reviews/descriptions of the film called Scott's character a romance author. But in watching the film, I'd have to say that wasn't exactly true. He wrote about love, but it didn't appear that he was a romance author per se. My guess is the character's books were more in the Nicholas Sparks vein. I was also amused, prior to watching it, to read that the character met the heroine at the launch party for his new book. Most of the romance authors I know (including me) don't have launch parties thrown for each new book. However, that's not quite what happened either. It was more a party for the writer and his friends, to celebrate the book release, not a formal launch party that might be thrown by the publisher in an official capacity.

So some of the reservations I had about the film ended up being more a "lost in translation" issue with write-ups about it, rather than the film itself.

And I really ended up liking the film. It was emotional and heartbreaking, and Scott did a good job with all of his roles - producer, writer, and actor. It was very cool to see him act with his father, who was fantastic. And I honestly didn't see the twist until it was right there.

Like the main character's books, it's not a romance, but it is about love, loss, and growth. And I definitely recommend it to fans of indie film and/or Scott Caan.

First Review! And assorted odds and ends...

2011-03-02T23:19:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to get a link to my first review a few days ago, by Maldivian Book Reviewer. So happy she liked the book!

"All in all a very satisfying read which has definitely made me curious to seek out the books in her back list and give them a go. Recommended for those who love a good contemporary romance featuring a couple you would root for right from the very beginning." 4 out of 5 stars

Also, thanks to everyone who helped Take A Chance On Me hit the bestseller's lists at Samhain. It reached 1st on the Men In Uniform list, 2nd on the Contemporary list, and 3rd on the overall bestseller's list. :)

I've got TWO blog posts up elsewhere today, so I hope you can take a minute to stop by and say hello. On Kinsey Holley's blog, I'm outing myself as a klutz (and discussing how my newest heroine shares that trait), while on Nine Naughty Novelists I'm talking about food. Fun!

Speaking of the NNN, we'll be hanging out in the Samhain Cafe on the 9th, so you can find me there as well.

And since it's Friday, here's a little inspiration for you. Enjoy!

Book BIN Tuesday - Falling Under

2011-02-28T22:25:00.001-08:00

OMG, you guys, I'm so excited. Today is Gwen Hayes' release date for her debut YA novel, Falling Under! I've been looking forward to this day for months, and can't wait to pick up a copy of the book. I might even pretend it's for my oldest (but sneak and read it first). Here's the book blurb:

In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.

Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

****

Doesn't it sound fabulous? And isn't that cover to die for? Hope you'll join me at the store to Buy It Now!

Blog-Hopping, and happy news!

2011-02-23T15:06:00.001-08:00

I'm over on Delilah Devlin's blog today chatting about Shakespeare, and tomorrow I'll be visiting Desert Island Keepers with a post on office romances. (Or, in the case of Jessica and Tom, school romances.) Stop by and say hey!

Also, Take A Chance On Me hit the Samhain bestseller list today at #10. I'm so thrilled, and thankful to everyone who bought a copy and helped put the book there.

Have a great Wednesday!

Book BIN Tuesday - Take A Chance On Me!

2011-02-21T21:45:00.000-08:00

It's finally here! My long-awaited new release from Samhain, Take a Chance On Me, is now available for purchase. Just in case you haven't seen the blurb yet, here's what it's about:

Accept no substitute…for love.
The Lady Doth Protest Too Much

Jessica Martin is determined to earn a permanent teaching position at Summit High School. That means hard work, dedication, and even volunteering extra time to direct the school’s Shakespeare play. Which leaves no room for romance—especially with a co-worker. She didn’t factor in the school’s sexy security officer and the delicious fantasies he inspires.

Too Much Of A Good Thing

Former cop Tom Cameron likes his job. Or he did, until the new substitute busted his orderly life right open. Now, he can’t seem to avoid her—deserted hallways, empty theaters, classrooms after dark—but he’s got too many skeletons in his closet to risk his heart again. Asking her out to distract her from the play’s, well, drama is a friendly gesture. Nothing more.

The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smooth

Their chemistry could melt down the science lab, and before long they’re burning up the sheets off-campus. And uncovering raw emotions—a stark reminder that love isn’t in their curricula. When a troubled student goes over the edge, though, the need to stop a tragedy brings them right back where they started—face to face with fate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Product Warnings
This book contains sexy encounters in classrooms, inappropriate use of school facilities, backstage shenanigans, and illicit activities on a ferryboat.

So there you have it! I hope you decide to take a chance on TACOM. And if you do, I hope you enjoy it!

Some buy links:

Countdown to TACOM - The Final Excerpt!

2011-02-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

Curious to know a little bit more about Tom Cameron, the hero of Take A Chance on Me? For the final excerpt before release day, I thought I'd share a snippet that focuses on him. Enjoy!

*****
The main parking lot was largely empty by the time Tom left his customary post at the entrance to the school. Most students were on their way home or busy in after-school activities. Still, just to be sure, Tom made it a habit to walk the halls of the school every day after school. You never knew what might be going on in the dark recesses of the old building.

He started in the basement, peering around corners and testing doors. Everything was locked up tight as a drum. Evidently, the art teacher had finally taken his advice and started locking her classroom.

He’d collared some not-so-bright students there after school one day, apparently under the impression that the smell of art supplies would mask the odor of their marijuana. They hadn’t counted on the smoke drifting under the closed door and out into the hall.

Everything checked out downstairs, so he headed back up. His pace slowed a bit as he reached the Language Arts wing. She’d probably gone home already. And even if she was still there, he wasn’t about to disturb her again today. No, he’d just check the door and keep walking.

Still, he felt the briefest letdown when he reached her classroom and saw that it was already locked and dark. Against his will, his mind dredged up an image of Jessica from this morning, the professional cut of her dark blue jersey dress doing little to hide her curves.

Even weighed down with paperwork, she had a look that put his libido on simmer.
He shook his head and turned around, heading for the next hallway. She was a fellow staff member, and therefore off-limits. Tom didn’t date co-workers. Not even co-workers as attractive as Jessica Martin.

To be honest, he didn’t date anyone, co-worker or not. Oh, his sister occasionally took her life into her hands and accidentally invited a female to dinner on the same night he came over, but nothing ever came of it. He wouldn’t let it. None of them were worth lowering his guard for.

He hadn’t consciously decided to live a solitary lifestyle, but that’s what had happened. It wasn’t a bad life, he supposed. He had a nice apartment in a quiet part of town. He could eat cold canned spaghetti over the sink and not worry about getting hell for it. He never had to share the remote control. He could sprawl across the bed without someone complaining how he was on her side.

Of course, there was also the silence. The half-empty closets. The embarrassing moments when he turned to comment on an article in the morning paper and no one was there. The times he woke in a cold sweat in the middle of the night and reached blindly across the king-size bed, only to find empty space.

The nightmares were diminishing in number with time, thank God, but not in intensity. He could still smell the sharp tang of gunpowder, feel the sticky warmth of someone else’s spilled blood. Like Lady Macbeth, he sometimes wondered if his hands would ever be clean.

Four years ago, that nightmare had been real. But even then, back when his king-sized bed had held two, there was no one he could have turned to for comfort.

No, the only person he could truly depend on was himself. And sometimes, in the middle of the night, he wasn’t even sure about that.

*****

Just one more day, y'all! :)

Countdown to TACOM - Excerpt the Second!

2011-02-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

Here's another peek at Take A Chance On Me, out Tuesday from Samhain:

*****
“This is totally amazing!”

Tom smiled as he watched Jessica lean against the thick green railing, a chill wind rushing through her tousled red-brown hair. She spread her arms wide, bracing herself against the railing of the small deck overlooking the front of the ferry.

Below, white-capped waves crashed against the edge of the car deck, leaving puddles on the walkways and riming the safety ropes with salt.

She turned around, laughing with delight. “You were absolutely right. This is exactly what I needed.”

He flashed a cocky smile. “Told you so.”

“I think it’s what we both needed,” she said. “It’s wonderful to set the stress and pressure aside for a few hours.”

“Glad you enjoyed it.” Tom squinted into the distance. “We’re about fifteen minutes from docking.”

Jessica sighed. “Then back to reality. Thanks again, Tom.”

“You still have a couple of minutes. Sure you don’t want to do the whole Titanic thing? I promise I won’t let you fall off the front of the boat.”

Jessica rolled her eyes at him. “I’m feeling better, but I’m not exactly king-of-the-world material. And I don’t think there are any icebergs in Puget Sound.”

Tom nodded. “It’s cold, but it’s not that cold.” He reached out and pulled her coat collar closer together, tucking the fringes of her scarf around her neck to block out the wind.

She stilled, her eyes darkening as she stared at him. Tom’s grip tightened on her coat, his fingers clutching the fabric. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head to hers.

Their previous kisses had been spontaneous combustion. This one was a steamy, languid dip in the Olympic Hot Springs. He tasted her lips slowly, placing soft nibbling kisses from corner to corner. Angling his head, he pressed his mouth against hers and swept his tongue across her lower lip.

Her mouth opened on a sigh and he moved forward, noting with pleasure the exact point where the chill of the outdoor air gave way to the heat of Jessica’s mouth. His ears tingled and his cheeks were close to numb from the winter wind howling across the small ferry deck. But inside, he would swear he was running one hell of a fever.

She was close, so close, but with all the layers of clothing between them she might as well have been against the opposite rail. Tom groaned, gripping her lapel as he continued the kiss, his overactive imagination helpfully supplying a reminder of the sweet curves buried under all that winter wool. Thank God he was bundled up just as tightly, or she would be getting a very clear picture of how much he was enjoying this repeat performance.

Suddenly, the ferry gave a pitching roll, shuddering as it lifted above the waves and heaved down again. They stumbled apart, both clinging tightly to the other’s coat and breathing heavily.

Through sheer force of will, Tom unclenched his fingers and released Jessica’s now-wrinkled charcoal gray winter coat. He ran a hand through his wind-tossed hair, sucking in a deep breath. The air was thick with exhaust from the ferry engines, combined with the tang of salt spray and impending rain. And overlaying it all was the crisp citrus scent of Jessica.

She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. He watched as a shuddering sigh traveled the length of her spine. Even through his winter layers he could feel the heat of her breath as it puffed against his solar plexus. A shiver wrapped around his midsection.

She mumbled something into his coat, but the combination of rushing wind and rumbling ferry engines drowned out any chance of hearing it. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her back toward the relative warmth and bright lights of the main cabin.

But before they could go inside, she grabbed the lapel of his coat and dragged him past the doorway into the darkened alcove under the stairs to the upper deck.

“What are you—?” His statement was cut off when she wrapped one hand around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.

She began talking between kisses, her words almost lost in the feverish embrace. “I. Don’t. Want. To. Stop.”

Countdown to TACOM - Excerpt the First!

2011-02-18T23:35:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Take A Chance On Me comes out in just four days?

I'm a little excited about it.

*bouncebouncebounce*

So this weekend, I'll be posting excerpts and teasers, giving you a little taste of the book before its release date on Tuesday. Here's the first excerpt - enjoy!

*****

Tom picked up the pace as he rounded the corner, anxious to put some space between himself and Jessica’s classroom. Finally safe in his office, he closed the door and dropped into his chair. He held his hand out in front of him, flexing it slowly.

All she’d done was place her hand on his. A brief physical contact. Nothing more.

So why was his hand still—tingly, for want of a better word? And he didn’t even want to think about the tingles still echoing in other more personal parts of his body.

He cursed under his breath and crossed his arms. He was sounding like some giddy teenager. And heaven knew his hormones were acting like they were back in high school.

The problem was, the two of them seemed to keep on touching each other—at the pizza place, in the theater, just now in her classroom—and he had this same reaction every single time. There was no reason such casual contacts should have such an effect on him.

And the non-casual contact…

Shit. That kiss yesterday still wouldn’t leave him alone. Just now, in her classroom, it was all he could do not to grab her and try for a repeat.

He brushed a hand through his hair, leaving it rumpled and tangled. Jessica Martin disturbed his orderly life, bumping up against his wall of professionalism and knocking it down bit by bit. Until she’d arrived on the scene he’d had no trouble keeping his distance from co-workers.

Now, without even realizing it, he was searching her out, looking for an excuse to interact with her. If he’d been smart, he would have stuffed the paperwork in her mailbox and avoided this situation today altogether. But no, he had to bring it to her door—and then he ended up encouraging her in this insane plan to direct a Shakespeare play.

The woman was a bit bent. And so was he for letting her get to him like this.

He’d been on his own for years now, and up until a few days ago he hadn’t questioned that status. He’d learned the hard way that the only person he could trust was himself. It was safer to keep people at arm’s length.

Unfortunately, it was getting harder and harder to keep Jessica Martin there.