Contest Winner!

Okay, I've decided to pick 3 winners instead of 1. I had so many enter the BODY RUSH contest that it seemed unfair to pick just one winner. So, the three winners are:


Cecile
Ana O
Miranda W


Send me an email with your mailing address and I'll get your prize out to you as soon as I can!
Thanks to ALL for entering. It was thrilling to see so many readers excited about my new release. :)


And since I'm going to be gone for the next three days (heading to the Lori Foster Get Together), I thought I'd leave you with something tasty...

Oh, and if you're attending the event, please grab me and say hi! :)

introvert...table for one?

Okay, I confess, I'm shy. Painfully, awkwardly shy. I don't do parites with lots of people that I don't know. I don't attend conventions because the very thought sends me into a panic. I don't like to be the center of attention, ever. I stay, for the most part, inside my comfort zone. I think the one time I strayed was when I set up a book signing. But I had family that came with me and that helped quite a bit. If I had had to go alone I probably would've backed out or found some excuse.

So, what does an introver do when the RT convention is a mere hour from her house? She stays home and hides. LOL Yes, I know. So close and I'm not attending. Am I nuts?! Well, no, but I'm shy. VERY VERY shy. Did I say that already?

However, I did bite the bullet and agree to meet a few people at the hotel. One is my Wild Rose Press editor and another my Samhain cover artist. And since I've never met either of these people in person I'm nervous as hell. Already been thinking about what I'm going to wear. What I'm going to say. What if I act like an idiot or say something rude? See what I mean? Even one-on-one I'm nervous as hell.

I think most authors are introverts. It's not like I'm the only one who feels sick to her stomach when contemplating conventions and book signings. What I'm trying desperately to figure out is how do other authors do it? There are TONS of authors at the RT event right now. I know most of them are probably shy like me. So, how do they talk themselves into attending, when deep down they'd rather be at home, at their computer, writing??

And a few hunks, just, ya know, because. :)

Events, Cons, Get Togethers and Weekends...huh?

Once upon a time....scratch that



Back in the day...no, no, no



In the early years....yeah, that works.






Okay, in the early years only one (fun) event existed for authors of romance books and their avid readers. The Romantic Times Convention. It was THE event to go to. These days there are tons of events, held all around the country. Which is great, but it makes it really tough to decide where to shell out the money so that you get the most bang for your buck.



I'm going to touch on a few of them today.






Obviously the first one is the RT Con. This year it's held on April 28th--May 2nd. It's in Columbus, Ohio. I had originally planned to go to this event. I've never been so this seemed like a good chance for me, since it's close to where I live. No spending money on airfare and no having to pay for a hotel room. Huge savings right there! However, $500 to register has me hesitating big time. I'm sorry, but that's a lot of money for me to shell out. I was sort of considering at least meeting a few people for drinks or something though. I hate the idea that some of my author friends will be so close to where I live and NOT be able to meet up.




Then there's Lora Leigh's Readers Appreciation Weekend (RAW). This event is held Sept. 9th--Sept 12th in Huntington, WV. Another one that's close to where I live. I would have to pay for hotel, but not airfare. I could drive to this one as well. I've always wanted to go to this event. Lora Leigh is my favorite author ever! She rocks and several of the authors signed up to attend the booksigning are some of my faves as well. It's not quite as pricey at $130 and I've heard it's lots of fun! However, I would want to go as an author and I'm not sure I'd be able to actually attend this event to promote myself or not. Anyone have the answer to that?

Also, there's the Ellora's Cave RomanticCon, which is held in Oct 7th-102th in Richfield, Ohio. Yet another one that's close to me. It's a little more than Lora Leigh's RAW, $275 to register, but I'd be able to save by not having to stay at a hotel--there's $100 right there! Plus, as I was browsing the site, I saw that the EC hunks make an appearance, now there's incentive! LOL Yum!

I'm not an EC author though, so for me to attend it would only be for the fun of it all. However, there are several authors who write for EC that I love. Our very lovely Regina Carlysle being one of them! I wonder, what if I wanted to attend the booksigning part of the event only...would I have to pay the registration fee for that? Anyone know?

Last but not least is the Lori Foster Get Together. This event is held June 4th--6th in West Chester, Ohio. This is the most affordable of the list I've put together. Registration is $50. It's close enough (again) that I can drive, so no airfare, but far enough that I would need to stay at a hotel. Of all the events I've listed, this is the one I've actually had the chance to attend. I've only missed one, the first one. It's a fun, casual time. Readers and authors mixing and having fun. I'm definitely going again this year.

But, I would like to attend one other event this year as well. My question is...which one? There are so many fun events for readers and authors! I love the variety and did you notice how they're all spaced out, so no event overlaps? If I had the money I'd go to all of them! LOL

Finally! Pics from RomantiCon

FINALLY!!! Pics from EC's RomantiCon so consider this SHARE DAY! Thanks to all the friends who shared these stellar photos. Registration will open at the end of next month for the Oct 7, 2010 Elloras Cave RomantiCon so be ready to stand in line to sign up for this wonderful event. Watch the Jasmine Jade website for more details!

All I know is, I'm ready to go back NOW. This picture is me at Sunday's huge, ginormous booksigning. Thanks to Tracy Cooper-Posey's sweet husband, Mark for snapping this one!

Here I am with a big group of friends. From right to left it's ME, Desiree Holt, Tessie Bradford, Anny Cook, Dee Brice, and Cindy Spencer Pape.
Umm. Okay. This is Brian, a Caveman, and my cover model for Feral Moon (part of the Tempting Turquoiose anthology). He stopped by and saw himself on my cover. We introduced ourselves and I told him how much we all appreciate the beautiful work they do to help our books fly off the shelves. He was so nice. He left but came back a few minutes later with Rodney, another Caveman, who took our picture. I was so surprised!!!! As it turns out several others stopped to take a pic of the lovely Brian at the same time and I honestly didn't know where to look. LOL. Sooooo...he's looking one way and I'm looking the other. Do I look SCARED???
This is Anny Cook and I at the booksigning. We work together, along with Cindy Spencer Pape, as critique partners. It was the first time we'd met in person and she's just as wonderful as I'd believed!

The ladies from Two Lips Reviews were EVERYWHERE. What a crazy, insane bunch! This is a pic of Laura K. and EC's own Kaenar Langford. Both of these ladies kept me in stitches!

Hope you enjoy my pics of RomantiCon. This is just a taste, I assure you. From Friday nights Psychedelic Soiree, to the spectacular goodie bags, workshops, the Appreciation Dinner, performances by the sexy Cavemen, and lots and lots of friends it was a time to treasure and look forward to again!

EC ROMANTICON...Felt like FAMILY!!!

Just got home from Ellora's Cave's first ROMANTICON. Can't describe how truly wonderful this event was. There were no strangers. Everywhere you looked authors, readers, reviewers, and other industry professionals were dispensing hugs and smiles as if they'd know each other forever. Such a warm and fuzzy feeling that I came home knowing this is one event I would never, ever miss. I don't know the exact numbers of attendees but I learned the hotel had booked two hundred rooms and most of those were double occupancy.

First let me say that I have a serious lack of pics because I kept forgetting my camera so I'll be sending out begging and pleading emails for pics that I hope to post on Friday. I'm sooooo bad. Was just having such a good time that I wasn't thinking about pics. Baaaaad Regina!

I roomed with the insanely sweet and funny Desiree Holt. We traveled from Texas together, trudging through airports and hanging out just about everywhere during the convention. Friday night we attended the Psychedelic Soiree and had burgers, hot dogs, and lots of dancing and singing provided by the uber-sexy Cavemen. Honest to God, the Cavemen alone made the registration fee seem a pittance. They were everywhere throughout the convention, hanging out with everyone and happily posing for pics. The Friday night event featured lots of 60's costumes (think go-go boots and mini dresses) and the music ROCKED! Tons of door prizes were handed out and I'm not kidding...these were BIG prizes. Of course, we filled the place and most of us kept the bar hopping, too! Think we didn't go to bed until 2 a.m. or so.

Saturday was filled with workshops for both authors and readers. We asked the big questions of readers...what do YOU like in your stories and what do YOU hate! Authors and editors took notes and LISTENED to readers. Let me tell you, it was eye opening! The only problem with Saturday was every workshop was so damn interesting that it sucked having to make a decision about which one to attend. Choices, Choices! That evening we attended an Appreciation Dinner. It was a dressier event and the food was delicious with many entree choices. The Cavemen were available for pics and again there were lots of door prizes. Matter of fact, there weren't any events were things weren't given away and these were BIG prizes. Computers, Sony eReaders, books, gift baskets.

I'll write more on Friday (and hopefully have pics) but I CAN say were are definitely having this bash again next year. I can't think of a single soul who attended this weekend who won't be back. That's just how much fun it was.

So now I'm home and already missing Desiree, Anny Cook, Cindy Spencer Pape, Bronwyn Green and Kelly Kirch, the gals from Two Lips Reviews, and many many others. There are just to many to name. They feel like family now! Anyway, I'm off to do my mountain of laundry and nurse the head cold I brought home with me and hunt down some pics!!!!

What Have I Forgotten?

When I was a little kid and we went on a family trip, my sister and I would roll our eyes at our mom. Why you ask? Dad was always driving and Mom would sit there all fidgetty before finally blurting out....did I turn off the coffee pot? Did I lock the back door? What about the iron? Did I turn it off and put it away? Yes, we'd roll our eyes because she did this every time we got in the car. Now, I truly sympathize with Mom. Looking back, I recall her doing EVERYTHING to get us ready to walk out the door. Dad would sit and watch her scurry around doing this, packing that, telling us to brush our hair or teeth. You know. Mom stuff!

Years later, I morphed into that fine woman and I can't tell you how many times I thought...Oh Lordy! I have become my MOM! There is just something about trips and traveling that turns a mom into a superhuman being who can do it all and often does it without any help. Are you hearing me out there, Moms?


This week I'm trying to get my act together to leave town on Thursday. I'm heading to the Ellora's Cave Romanticon and I'm pretty damn sure I'm going to forget SOMETHING. This time the packing isn't for the entire family but I swear, I'm just as frazzled. I started out with lists of clothes to take and then had to figure out which luggage to pull from the closet. I've been getting promo material ready PLUS making sure the honey has enough food stocked in the fridge so he won't starve while I'm gone. Sigggghhhhh.

So finally, I've narrowed down the clothing options and I'm doing a little mixing and matching. Considering I'm flying, space is severely limited so it's important to get it right. In the end though, I know it won't matter what I'm wearing! I have comfy shoes and I'll be with my friends, however I KNOW I'll head off and wonder if I've forgotten to turn off the damn coffee pot.

Won't be here on Friday because I'll be off partying with my friends. Anne and Kelley have promised to post something hot and deeee-lish for you so stay tuned and I'll fill you in on all the juicy deets next week!

Doo-Dads Needed

I swear! I don't know what's wrong with me lately. It's like the good-ideas faery swooped in during the night and stole my creativity while I was sleeping! Anyway, I need help and yes, some good ideas.

On October 9th I'm flying from Texas to Ohio for the EC Romanticon. I can't wait. Will get to finally meet my editor and my writing buddies. It will be such a fun trip and I can't wait. Here's my problem. On Sunday, the last day, we're having a ginormous book signing. I've been told it's a good idea to have little goodies to hand out. Now, I already have book marks and some beautiful oversized postcards featuring one of my covers with my titles and information on the back. So far so good. Still, I want to hand out something memorable. For weeks I've trolled websites trying to get ideas but so much of this stuff is really pricey PLUS, I have to find things that I can carry with me on a plane.

Most of my friends are driving to Ohio but not me. Since I'm in Texas, I'll have to fly and you can't take just anything on a plane and space is limited. I would love to hand out a small gift of some kind but I'm fresh out of ideas. Thinking of trolling Hobby Lobby for a few hours or maybe hitting the Dollar Store and hoping inspiration strikes.

Any ideas??? Something small, inexpensive, and fun! Sounds like a tall order to me right now.

Where to go, what to do?

So, while I was at the get together I got to talking to a few other authors about conventions and events. Next year I want to be able to go to a couple of reader/author events, but I can't figure out which one. There are so many of these things, both large and small and I want to spend my money and time wisely.

First, there's the RT Con, which will be in Ohio next year. I've NEVER been before and this seems like a great chance for me to go and not have to pay airfare and lodging. Which makes the event way cheaper. But, after hearing that in many ways RT doesn't have as many readers as I'd first thought, I'm starting to reconsider. Also there are the parties, costumes, etc. I'm not into all that. I would want to go sell some books, meet readers and authors, have a good time...like Lori Foster's event.

Also, there's RWA, which I've never attended. This one would be expensive, considering I'd not only have to pay the high registeration fee, but also airfare and lodging. And what are the benefits really? I'm curious if authors feel all that money is well spent?

I DO plan to go to Lori Foster's event again next year. And the annual COFW conference is looking like something I'm going to want to do every year as well. But are there other events out there? What am I missing? Where have you been and was it worthe time and money?

Tell me, I NEED feedback! LOL

Lori Foster event update!

I had a fantastic time at the Lori Foster event. I was really excited to meet fellow authors and bunches of readers, some of which come to our little wicked blog here!

First, a few shout outs. Amy C and her very sweet mother. I really enjoyed chatting with you both and I hope you're planning to attend next year as well. Wendi (aka 'racergirl') You rock, lady! I swear I never laughed more. By the way, my daughter said you're very pretty and you look like the actress in the movie Yes Man. :) Pam, those drinks you mixed me, damn those were good! Laura it was nice talking to you, but I wish we could have hung out more. It's such a busy event, so much going on and it's difficult to spend time with everyone. Maybe if it lasted a week. LOL

Liane, it was great seeing you again this year! I'm really excited about the launch of Three Kinds of Wicked! Valerie and Jambrea, I loved visiting with you both! (crossing my fingers for the both of you). I got to see Paige Tyler and her husband again, which was cool. Kendra, thanks for finding me! I'm definitely going to email you about that book trailer! Diane McEntire and Lexi Ryan! It's sooo great to put faces with the names on the screen. I enjoyed our writing talk. I feel motivated now! And Joni, lady you crack me up. I just love you, woman! I wish we lived closer because I would love to hang out with you sometime. Janice Maynard and my friend Jen. If either of you ever decide not to attend I'll just die. It wouldn't be the same without you both. (And Janice, I think we should have wrestled that blanket away from Angela. LOL)

It was also great to see Lori Foster and her wonderful husband again. I glimpsed Dianne Castell several times, but that woman stays so busy it's hard to get her to stop long enough to say hello. She wears me out just watching her. LOL Lori and Diane and all the volunteers did so much to make this event fun for all of us. Thanks for all the hard work!

Some of the highlights. I won two baskets. One by the lovely Marcia James, which contained her book "At Her Command" and a bottle of wine. Is there anything better? LOL I also won a basket of candy. So, chocolate, wine and a book....can you see my grin? :-D

I signed books. Yay! It was so neat to see people buying copies of "Seduce Me". I felt like I was dreaming or something. LOL I also signed a few cover flats, a t-shirt, and even a C.D. which contained several of my ebooks. That last one was for the sweet Barb Ledbetter. It was great seeing you again this year, Barb. And I'm so jealous you had the guts to get your picture taken with that hunky cover model! I was also interviewed by the very kind Michelle Buonfiglio from Romance B(u)y the book. It was a video interview and I was shaking like a leaf. But Michelle made me very comfortable pretty quick. Let's hope I didn't look too much like a dork there.

I did get a little tipsy this year. Jen, my husband and I went down to the bar Saturday night and had a few drinks and chatted a bit. I managed to remain sober though, so that was good. LOL.

Below is the winner of my Smokin' Hot basket, which contained lots of erotic romances by various authors. For some crazy reason her name escapes me. But she was a sweetheart. I hope you enjoy the books! Thanks again to ALL who donated books. Lots of money was raised, though I can't remember exactly how much right at the moment.


And this picture is Lora Leigh and me. Oh. My. God. I met Lora Leigh!!! I was so damn thrilled. I can't even express how excited I was to meet this woman. She's my favorite author and half the reason I came to this event. Guess what else? I bought her a Bud Light and she sat at our table. She chatted and we drank beer together and I was seriously in heaven! The best part, she's every bit as nice as I imagined. So down to earth and sweet as hell. I wish I could've spent even more time with her, but alas all good things do come to an end. By the way, I do happen to know a secret, but I'm not tellin'! hehe! You'll all have to wait for the official announcment.

And this is me once we got home. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz LOL I was SOOOO exhausted! But it was a good exhausted.
So, not only was the event productive for me as a writer, but also lots of fun. I can't wait until next year!!