New York, New York!

Heading out for the Big Apple today for the RWA National Conference! I've never been to New York and haven't ever had a great yen to go there, but now that I have a reason to go, I'm excited! I'm also scheduled to blog today on Casablanca Authors. Something about great women or some such thing. No idea what I'll post there. None. But you might drop by anyway.

I still seem to be in the mood for wet hunks these days. This one is a little more muscled than I like, but he does have a nice little hint of a dangly bit thing going there. And nice thighs. And nice arms.

The buns aren't bad, either.

I'll check in as soon as I can find a place with Internet access. Willy and I will be leaving Indy at 11:55 with three other members of the Sextet, Mellanie Szereto, Elizabeth Raines, and Niki Hayes! Ginger O'Brien and Annie Morgan will be arriving on Tuesday. We're having dinner at Sardi's after the Literacy Signing with Marie Force and Kendra Leigh Castle. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Look out, New York. The Sextet is coming! Look for Dirty Dancing on July 1st!

Monday Moons!

Sorta makes you want to go somewhere that mosquito nets are required, doesn't it?

If my posts have been brief lately, it's because I've been busy, not only with my writing, but at the hospital, too. You know how it is when you want time off for birthdays or vacations, etc. You end up paying for it at some point, and that point is now.

In between nights in the ICU, I've been working on edits to Double Desire, the first of the Sextet stories, due out June 3rd. The edits were minor, and I've also been working on Loner and the book I plan to self publish as an ebook at some point in the near future.

It was originally titled, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" more as a working title than anything, but I'm thinking of calling it Sex, Love, and a Purple Bikini.


What say you to that?

Thursday Thoughts

Stud is all set to go to my editor tomorrow, thanks to the input from my beta readers, my agent, and my critique partner, Sandy James. All in all, there were five pairs of eyes on it aside from my own, and everyone had different questions and spotted different errors. Of course, the various editors at Sourcebooks will have still more issues.

I've already received the first review of Virgin from a well-known blog site, and the reviewer gave it a 5/5 Top Pick rating. I'm not supposed to say which site, since it hasn't gone live yet, but needless to say, I'm very pleased!

The tentative release date for Sharing, the first of the Sextet erotic anthologies, is May 13th. It'll be interesting to see if that Friday the 13th date brings us good luck or bad. I received my edits for my contribution to that volume (Double Desire) on Tuesday, but they were relatively minor, and I was able to get it finished that evening. I'm still not sure who to dedicate it to, but I have a couple of weeks to figure that out. I'll post the cover for the anthology as soon as I get it.

I'd like to thank all of you Yah Yahs for sticking with me through this long period between books. Ten months is a long time to try to maintain enthusiasm between releases, and for that reason, I wish the Sextet stories had come out a little sooner.

Still, the publishing business being what it is, it has always been the case that readers can read books faster than authors can write them, and WAY faster than a publisher can get them on the shelves. Siren, being an e-publisher, can do it much faster than print, so there will at least be a string of anthologies along with Virgin to keep you ladies happy between now and February 2012 when Stud will be released.

So, while I write Loner, I hope you ladies will hang in there and keep reading! Who knows? You might even find a hunk to read along with you!

The Sextet does Nashville, Indiana!

The Sextet's weekend retreat in Brown County, IN went great and we got a lot of writing done. Needless to say, Willy had a ball!

We stayed in this nifty little place called The North House, where we had the whole house to ourselves. Three bedrooms, two full baths, kitchen, living room, and one half bath. That's one and a half bathrooms more than my house has. Ah, what luxury!!! That's Mellanie Szereto and Elizabeth Raines on the porch.





















We had dinner at the Hotel Nashville restaurant on Friday night, and then we got drunk on Geni McGrath's awesome sangria. Willy drank more than his share and had to go to bed early.





















On Saturday morning, I fixed a sausage and scrambled eggs with cheese breakfast and we had Geni's famous breakfast casserole along with it. Willy was a total pig and conked out while we were busy writing.





















He woke up in time for lunch and got a blow job from his favorite chickie. Then the bunnies got jealous and he had to do them all.






















After all that nookie, Willy needed some fresh air, so we went for a walk. The weather was lovely, if a bit windy, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. While we were out, Willy met up with some cherubs who seemed to think he was very sweet.





















Then it was back to our computers to write more blurbs and stories for The Sextet Anthologies. The first one, Sharing, will be out in May. Can't wait!!! Elizabeth will have two novellas released before then, so she's working her little fingers to the bone trying to get them done.

After a bit, Willy needed to stretch his legs again, and since Mellanie's computer was acting weird, we went for another walk. Willy has decided that this is now his motto:





















That evening we went out to dinner at the Muddy Boots Cafe, which was a short walk from our house. Seated left to right, that's The Cat Master, Elizabeth Raines, Geni McGrath, Mellanie Szereto, and Ginger O'Brien. We weren't quite a full Sextet because Annie Morgan was absent, due to the death of her mother earlier that week. We send our condolences to Annie and her family.





















After dinner, we went back to our house and took a dip in the hot tub. Willy thought Mellanie looked really hot in her bathing suit, but he couldn't get in the tub with her because he was afraid his right arm might get rusty. So he had to be satisfied with a bunny/chickie threesome.




















Sunday morning, I fixed bacon and scrambled eggs with cheese, and we had more of Geni's casserole. Then we packed up and headed home. We hope to do this again sometime when we can be a full Sextet. We missed you Annie!

And, since I'm posting this on a Monday, I can't leave out the moons!!!!



























Enjoy your Monday, whether you can get to a pool (or hot tub!) or not!

Monday Moons

You would not believe the stuff I've been writing lately. This Siren deal has really given my imagination a boost, and I hope you Yah Yahs are ready for it. When the Sextet gets together this coming weekend, I have a feeling that even they will be surprised at what's coming out of the Cat Master's head.

Like what to do with these nice buns. Suffice it to say, I've written things that my DH would NEVER let me do to him in a million years.

Elizabeth has been hinting that something really big is in the works for our first Sextet anthology, but she's keeping it a secret until the weekend or our new publisher gives us a call, whichever comes first. She assures me that it's worth the wait, but sometimes anticipation has a way of ending up being better than the actual event. Sort of like Christmas is sometimes.

On the Cat Star Chronicles front, my first beta reader has given Stud an enthusiastic thumbs up. She and Elizabeth both think it's the best one yet. I'd like to think my craft is improving, but time, and harsher critics, will tell. Based on what they and a few other readers have to say, I'll give it another round of tweaking before it goes off to Sourcebooks on April 1st.

*sigh* Then it will be time to officially begin writing Loner, which will be the last of the CSC books.

Unless someone starts begging for more.

Thursday Thoughts

Just finished the critique of Elizabeth Raine's erotic novella. Great story and virtually no mistakes--unlike the stuff I send to her to critique. I bow down to her greatness as the Comma Queen!

I came up with an idea for the Toy Story themed novella yesterday while I was working on the Occupational Hazards story. Funny how these things will just pop into your head when you least expect them. There was nothing for it but to cut those two sentences and copy and paste them into a new file. Voila! A new novella is born!

One thing I've noticed is that I seem to have a thing for guys with dark, curly hair. The Toy Story hero fits that description, as does my Entanglements man, and the guy in My Christmas novella will be similar. The only difference is that my Christmas novella guy is actually based on a real person.

I spotted him on a cold, wet night in Nashville, TN last February when Terri, Suzie, Angela, and I were walking up and down Broadway looking for a bar that was playing good music and didn't have a line outside. One of the bars had a big window that looked out onto the street, and the band was set up right there where you could see them. The window was at street level and the drummer was sitting with his back about a foot from it. I had a couple of margaritas in me and was feeling a bit silly, and, I gotta tell ya, the drummer looked totally hot from the back. Thick, dark curls. A black T-shirt that displayed some nicely muscled arms with incredible veins. (Yeah, that's the nurse in me talking there!) He looked fabulous enough from the back, but since I practically had my nose pressed up against the glass, he eventually realized that I was breathing down his neck and turned around. He looked slightly foreign, with a Greek or Italian sort of nose, full lips and... well, you get the idea. He was gorgeous, and without even making eye contact, I just waved at him and went off down the street. That was at little over a year ago, and his image has remained with me ever since. And now, he will be the inspiration for the love interest in a very hot Christmas present to all of the Sextet's readers come November.

Speaking of inspiration, one of our blog lurkers sent me some pics of a Brazilian hunk by the name of Eduardo. Take a look and see what you think of him!




















Are you feeling inspired?

Monday Moons!

Nothing like a nice pair of furry buns to start the week off right--and a fitting end to February! We've certainly needed some fur on our buns this year. Been too frickin' cold to suit me. Now it's just squishy and muddy on my way to the barn.

I'm not complaining, though. February was better than usual. Got the contract for the Siren deal a few days ago, had a great time in Gatlinburg, and had loads of fun critiquing with my fellow members of the Sextet.

Speaking of the Sextet, I've started on the Occupational Hazards story, but I'll have to say, coming up with different (and plausible) reasons for three men to want the same woman is tougher than I thought it would be. I mean, who knew there were so many trios of bisexual men out there looking for a girl to make it a foursome?

I'm sending off the final edits of Virgin tomorrow. Apparently the ARCs have been printed--my editor sent me a PDF of the cover--but so far, I haven't received my copies yet, nor have I heard from Cindy L, who was the winner of the contest on Casablanca Authors. Your chances of winning by default are increasing exponentially, Suzy!





















This is what the ARC cover looks like. Extra points if you can spot the typo!

Thursday Thoughts

Well, the Sextet and I all have our reservations and plane tickets for the RWA conference New York this summer, and we're all very excited that former INRWA prez Sandy James is presenting a workshop called, "Are You Insane?" Should be a ton of fun, and Judith Bastin and I will be her minions once again; Judith introducing her and me handling the raffle tickets for free books.
I've pretty much decided against going to RT this year. Not only is it expensive and a long way from home (it's in Los Angeles), but I've got a limited amount of vacation time from the hospital with which I must be frugal. Still, with Virgin coming out in June, I'll at least have a brand new book for the Sourcebooks booksigning at RWA.
Funny thing about the RWA signings. We're giving the books away, so the long lines don't necessarily mean you've written a runaway bestseller. The RT signing is much more humbling. People have to pay for them there, and it takes a big name author to get much of a line at all. Still, when I sell a book at the Literacy signing which is sort of the kickoff event of RWA and the books are NOT free, I know that someone wanted a book of mine enough to not only pay for it, but to stand in one helluva long line for the cashier.

The Sextet will have released two anthologies by the time RWA rolls around in late June, which will be another cause for excitement. I'll be writing like crazy trying to keep up with those stories and the Cat Star books, but it's a good kind of crazy. Most of the time.

Hmm... The first Sextet anthology May 20th, our family vacation, Virgin June 1st, RWA later that month... *sigh* Just a few more reasons to look forward to spring. ;-)

Don't know about you, but I'm also looking forward to this guy losing those pants.

How d'you like that one, Amy?

Monday Moons!

Since this is the time of year when most of us are wishing we were in Acapulco or Rio or anyplace where a man can stand naked on the beach, here's a set of buns guaranteed to lure you into the water.

He looks a little overheated to me. I think the Yah-Yahs need to gang up on him and give him a little dip in the ocean.

Or two...

Or three....

Nothing new to report on the Sextet Anthology, but my fellow writers are all still very excited and are writing like crazy. I'm trying to finish writing Stud before I start on another story, but sometimes the ideas come to you and must be dealt with or they drive you crazy. I promise to keep you all posted on our progress!

Have a great day!

Tasty Tuesday Tourtierre!

Today's recipes are courtesy of the Sextet's own Ginger O'Brien who was telling us about tourtierre when we got together last weekend. It sounds like just the thing for keeping warm on cold winter nights!

The hunk was added by the Cat Master. He could keep you warm too.

Enjoy!

TOURTIERRE

Pastry for double crust 9 in. pie.

Filling:
1 1/2 lb. ground pork (you can also use a mixture of ground veal and pork, too)
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp. dried savory
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup water
pinch allspice
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 potato, cooked and mashed

Place all filling ingredients except potato in a pot. Mix well. Simmer covered for 45 min., stirring occasionally, until pork is cooked. Add the mashed potato and mix well to eliminate any lumps. Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper, or spices as needed. Cool.

Preheat oven to 375 deg. F.

Divide pastry in half. Roll out to fit a 9 in. pie plate. Add the filling. Cover with the remaining pastry. Make 3 or 4 incisions on top of the pastry to allow steam to escape.

Bake 45 min., or until the pastry is golden. Serve hot. Serves 6

We like it with a cheese sauce over the pie but if you have another favorite hot sauce recipe, it would probably work, too.

PLATTER SALAD

Layer on platter:

1 head of iceberg lettuce torn into bits.
2-3 stalks of celery, cut diagonally
sweet onion - cut into rings (as many as you like)

Mix together well for dressing and drizzle over the greens:

1/2 pint (1 cup) of sour cream
1/2 cup sugar

Mix together 1/2 cup mayonnaise thinned with 2 to 3 tbsps of white vinegar, and drizzle over preceding ingredients.

Sprinkle over salad: 1/2 cups chopped bacon bits (tastes best with real bacon)

Cover entire salad with finely grated Parmesan cheese (fresh is best).

Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate salad for 2 to 3 hours before serving to let flavors and dressing blend.

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Though he is definitely hairy and possesses all the necessary requirements for a Wednesday guy,
I've always thought this one was a little on the scary side.

However, while scrolling through my files this past weekend, Sextet authors Annie Morgan and Paige Matthews seemed to think he was pretty hot.

What say you, Yah-Yahs?

Sextet Writers and Monday Moons!

The Sextet gang and I were planning to go to the INRWA Christmas party together and then spend the night at Paige's house to work on our erotic short stories, but since the roads were kinda bad, we opted to stay put. Though we probably would've made it there okay, the trip home could have been a little dicey.

We had our own little party and then did a group critique of our current works in progress Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday morning. We were working, but the great thing about a group critique is that it doesn't feel like work. We each had the story on our computers, following along while we took turns reading it aloud. We'd all chime in with corrections, comments, and suggestions--which, when you consider what we're writing, makes for a ton of laughs. We even acted out a fight scene.

And, yes, we did look through my hunk files a bit. This fellow was very popular with the ladies of the Sextet--especially his dimples!--but Paige kept pulling up the pic of Sunday's hunk and enlarging it. She's incorrigible!

Mellanie Szereto gave us all gifts from Cirilla's. Paige received a chocolate willie. . .
























and I got a box of Penis Gummies, which are so tasty, I can't stop eating them!





















Mellanie also brought along another purchase, which she refers to as Reliable Richard. He never fails, even if his batteries go dead!




















She's got everything an erotic romance writer needs, doesn't she? Laptop, comfy chair, bag of goodies, big smile, plastic dick. . . .



























And then there's Ginger, who obviously knows how to keep Richard happy!