It seems as if there is always a TON of stuff to do around the holidays; shopping, decorating, cooking and baking, wrapping gifts, sending cards and of course, socializing! And what better place to socialize than the Bandit Lair? :-)
The Lair is rocking this December! We have guests AND prizes and as always, a whole lot of fun!
On December 2, RITA winner Diane Gaston joins us to chat about her new Regency romance, Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady.
On the 3rd December, Mona Risk will be with us to celebrate the launch of her latest medical romance, RX for Trust, a sweet and spicy story of two psychiatrists with conflicting theories on how to treat their patients and tame their own emotions.On the 4th, Jo Davis will be discussing the third firefighter book, HIDDEN FIRE, the story about the sexy latin lover of the crew, Julian Salvatore.
On Monday, 7th December, fabulous Harlequin Presents author Annie West is Anna Campbell's guest. She’ll talk about her new American release BLACKMAILED BRIDE, INEXPERIENCED WIFE and do a giveaway! Annie is a lair favorite so don't miss her visit!The fabulous Kate Walker returns to the Lair December 12, this time wearing her Writing Tutor hat as she's giving away a signed copy of her award-winning 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance -and maybe a couple of other goodies, seeing as it's Christmas.
Gina Robinson returns to the Lair on December 16 with Spy Games, the latest installment in her Fantasy Spy Camps series.
On December 19, Karen Kendall returns to chat about the latest in her ARTemis, Inc., art recovery series, Take Me For a Ride.
And on the 29th, Sandy Blair, will be with us to talk about her newest time travel, MACDUFF'S SECRET, in The Mammoth Book Of Time Travel Romances.We also have contest news for December!
Christmas with a CAPTIVE OF SIN!
Last chance to win COS and a couple of super duper romance books to go with it! Anna Campbell wants you to tell her your new year’s resolution. Extra points for saying ‘read CAPTIVE OF SIN’. OK, maybe not! Her two favorite answers receive signed copies of CAPTIVE OF SIN plus a couple of books from her prize cupboard. Just email Anna on anna@annacampbell.info with your answer. The contest closes 31st December, 2009, and Anna will draw the winner soon after that.For more information, please visit her contest page: http://www.annacampbell.info/contest.html
And it's also time for:
The 12 Bandita Days of Christmas!
Our 12 days go from the 12th to the 24. We'll have rooster themed prizes every day with a Super Prize on the 24th. And those who visit on Christmas Day and leave a comment will be entered in the drawing to win a Super Duper Prize!
What are you looking forward to the most this month (other than hanging out at the lair, obviously *g*) Cooking and baking? Shopping? Decorating?
61 comments:
YAYS !
Hard to believe it's already December. I still have a ton of shopping to do. Looks like another fun month at the lair.
Congrats Mariska have fun with him
Another fantastic month in the lair you Guys rock.
What am I looking forward to spending Christmas with my family I love it when we all get together and my sister and her hubby are even coming down from Queensland this year. It will be fantastic for the 4 of us sisters to be together for a few days and of course Christmas with my 4 beautiful grandkids and all the food and presents. It is going to be lots of fun now if only I could motivate myself to get to the shops and get some shopping done and write the Chrissy cards out I would be really happy LOL.
Have Fun
Helen
Hanging out here of course :D
And eating yummy food, oh and some cookie dough mmmm
Ooo, I'll join in here! I'm looking forward to having 2 whole weeks off work to sleep in!!! (I work for a school) I hope to do lots of reading and get in some writing. Sigh....bliss.
Mariska! Congrats on the rooster nab!
Dang, I can't believe it's December! I'm kind of dreading dragging out the ornaments and whatnot, but I love having them up. I'll drag it all out later this week and make the family clean the house so we can put up the dust catchers. *g*
I am most looking forward to spending time with friends this month. I hate the commercialism of Christmas and have tried to piecemeal shop for bargains through the year. Of course, THIS year all friends eschewed gift giving. I suppose I could keep their presents until next year but...I won't. I'll be bourgeois and give them anyway. Oh, well!
Also, for the first time EVER we are going on vacation the day after Christmas. It will be nice to be in Hilton Head as we wait for Epiphany. They may do something cool down there for New Year's Eve over the water, so I'll be looking forward to that!
Sherrinda, I am most jealous of your sleeping in time! Hey, wait a minute. I'll be in Hilton Head with no reason to get up and hit the beach. Woo hoo! I feel a whole week of reading and movie watching coming on, interspersed with eating and taking walks and bike rides. Man, there is something to this vacation after Christmas thing!
Good morning!
Congrats, Mariska, on nabbing the Golden One *g* What are your plans with him today?
Hi, Jane! I can't believe it's December either. 2009 and especially November flew by!
I'm happy to say I have most of my shopping done. Not sure how it happened but that marathon Black Friday shopping trip helped ;-)
Helen, your family get-to-together sounds so fabulous! I'm lucky to live in the same town as both of brothers and sisters so I get to see them year 'round and not just the holidays.
I've been thinking about Christmas cards too. I have the stamps, now just need to get the cards :-)
Hanging out here of course :D
LOL! Hanging out in the lair is one of my favorite things to do, too, Blodeudd ;-)
Although eating yummy food comes in a very close second! What dishes are you looking forward to eating the most? I can't wait to sit down with a big bowl of White Trash *g*
Trying to capture the Christmas spirit despite some sadness with a friend.
Shopping..yeah, a little. And putting up my tree.
My baking gene is also making noises so might try to do some of that.
Wowsa! What a busy and exciting month in the lair!
I am really looking forward to spending time with my family. We are close and try to get together as frequently as possible (2 of us live an hour away from our folks) and my sisters and I do 3-way calling at least once every 10 days or so.
I am looking forward to 12 days of vacation bliss (I'm a teacher) that begins at 2:16 p.m. on December 22nd!
I really look forward to the decorations and lights. I love to sit in my living room in the early morning with my cup of coffee and the Christmas tree lights plugged in. The colored lights are beautiful and peaceful and give me 15 minutes of quiet time before getting ready for school. Even late at night, with maybe egg nog or a cup of tea, I find myself sitting in the dark with just the tree lights on.
I miss the cheerful, colored lights and decorations after the holidays.
Looks like another great month in the lair!
I'm looking forward to all of it. I've already started decorating and baking. A good portion of the presents are bought. So for once, I feel like I'm in good shape for December 1st!
I love Christmas--the lights, the food, the celebrations with family and friends. I love reading and rereading Christmas books and listening to Christmas music. I love wrapping gifts and baking goodies. One of the things I most eagerly anticipate each year is the kids' Christmas pageants. I blink away the tears when they sing "Away in a Manger," and I count on at least one child doing something that will become the stuff of Christmas rememberings. Two years ago it was the then-two-year-old grand, a sheep with one line (Baaa), who had to be pulled off the stage because he kept baaing and bowing, grinning with pleasure as the laughter grew louder with each bow. This year we have three pageants, and I can hardly wait. :)
I look forward to spending time with friends--I have a couple friends who have December birthdays too--so it's like double parties.
I love to watch Christmas movies, make Christmas candy, and sing along with most of the Christmas songs. I also read (re-read) the Harry Potter books this time of year (I'm already almost done actually) because I always associate Harry with Christmas (since that seemed to be his favorite time of year.)
Oh, and Harry Potter movie 6 comes out December 8th, which I'm VERY much looking forward to. *LOL*
Sherrinda, two weeks off sounds wonderful! I kept promising myself I'd read over Thanksgiving break but ended up shopping instead *g*
But I'm determined to get ahead of my page count this month so I have a few days over Christmas break to do nothing but catch up on a few books in my TBR pile :-)
Caren, a vacation after Christmas sounds lovely! As do your plans on sleeping in, reading, movie-watching etc ;-)
My baking gene is also making noises so might try to do some of that.
Hugs on the sadness, Joanie.
I don't know if I have a baking gene but I've been watching Food Network and collecting recipes from there and magazines like crazy. Last night we tried a new recipe for Minestrone that was sooo good! And best of all, I get to have the leftovers for lunch :-)
Great lineup this month, Beth.
Can't wait for the the Twelve Days of Bandita Christmas!
ooo the lair's December looks fabulous! :D
congrats on the gr, mariska!
I love Christmas (once December 1st is here! None of this starting in September business!) I especially love the lights and the tree and the movies and the music and reading and food (bring on the mince pies!)and being here in the Lair, of course!
I'm with Helen - lots of cards to write and I'm not being good about getting them done!
Deb, I love just sitting and looking at our lit Christmas tree, too! How wonderful you and your family are so close *g*
It's especially nice for my family to get together now that so many or my nieces and nephews live out of town. I love when they come home!
So for once, I feel like I'm in good shape for December 1st
LOL, Christie! I feel the same way. I can't believe I have most of my shopping done already and I'm hoping to have the decorating done by this weekend.
So, what have you been baking? :-)
Two years ago it was the then-two-year-old grand, a sheep with one line (Baaa), who had to be pulled off the stage because he kept baaing and bowing, grinning with pleasure as the laughter grew louder with each bow.
ROFL! Janga, that is too funny! I'm cracking up just imagining it! What fun *g*
This year both my son and older daughter will be performing at a school concert (he's in jazz band and she's in mixed chorus) and we're really looking forward to it.
I'm also excited to see my nephews (5 and 9 mos) and 2 yo niece open their presents Christmas day :-)
Hellion, I love Christmas movies and specials! Actually, I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I'm really looking forward to Phineas and Ferb's Christmas Special next week (P&F is a Disney cartoon - but soooo funny *g*)
I need to catch up on my HP movies - I'm behind by one or two :-)
Can't wait for the the Twelve Days of Bandita Christmas!
I can't wait either, Jo!
Christmas food, Christmas lights...
Thank God It's Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIUmggOhHCM
Oh, look what I found: X-Files Barbie and Ken:
http://www.swaptreasures.com/itemsearch.action
Hey, Lime! I agree, we have some awesome books to discuss this month - and more for my TBR pile
:-)
LOL, Anna! I'm not much of an early bird (no offense to the GR) when it comes to the holidays either. I did get lots of shopping done and we have our outside lights hung but that's it so far.
My mom put up her trees this weekend and thought I was crazy for not putting mine up yet, but it was a bit too early for me *g*
Hey, Beth, that's one delicious line-up we've got coming December. I'm really looking forward to the 12 Days of Bandita Christmas. That was SOOOOOO much fun last year!
WOW, what a great line up to end out the year! Whaaa??? End the year?!?! NOOOO! 2009 CAN'T be over already!
Well, the 12 Bandita Days of Christmas will be a BLAST, I know. But what am I REALLY looking forward to? Spending my birthday in Acapulco, of course!
Happy December all!
AC
Minna, I love the food and lights, too! Okay, I love the food more but I still enjoy all the lights and other decorations :-)
Anna, last year was great! I can't wait until we start our 12 Days of Christmas this year :-)
Spending my birthday in Acapulco, of course!
Ooh...AC, sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday!
Mariska, you're on a roll! Congratulations.
Beth, what am I looking forward to this month? Turning in my grades! That's when the holidays officially begin for me.
I'm also looking forward to my guests. I've known Diane, Karen, and Gina for years and think very highly of them, as people and as writers.
I love wrapping gifts, especially if I don't have to do it all in a giant burst, and writing cards (ditto).
Blodeuedd, we'll all be hanging here, too, of course. I think we'll fun.
Beth, we used to put our trees up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but they tended to dry out, partly from the heat in the house and partly from having been cut for a while before they came home with us. We'll probably do ours on the 13th.
Lucky for me, the dh prefers to undecorate and remove all by his lonesome, so he kicks the boy and me out of the room and goes at it. Our sole job is to do a double-check and see that all ornaments have been removed.
Ms. Hellion--a Harry Potter movie? On DVD or in theaters? I had no idea. Where have I been, that I missed that . . .
I am looking foward to having time with the faamily, a Christmas morning snowfall that quickly melts the next day and Christmas lights!
Hi Beth! It feels like I just put the holiday stuff away in the basement. I think we're going to have an open house. Yikes. I'm sitting here with forty blank invites. There's still time to change my mind. Thanks for the cheeseball recipe Pissenlit! Hubby want to put holiday themed inflatables in the front yard and I am trying to talk him out of it. Started Christmas shopping on Amazon last night. Hosting the family Christmas this year along with the extended family Christmas and the Dirty Santa gift exchange. My husband has asked me if I want a Kindle for Christmas. Meh, not really! If he learned how to vacuum, it would be the perfect gift.
Looks like another fantastic month in the lair. I'm looking forward to the fun! :)
Nancy, even though my kids are on their 7th (and final) day of Thanksgiving break, they're looking forward to Christmas break, too *g*
We had to stop getting live trees a few years ago due to my and our son's allergies - but I'd much rather have a live one!
And I usually have to force everyone to help take down all the decorations. It's funny that when it's time to put everything up, they're all there but take them down? No one can be found *sigh*
a Christmas morning snowfall that quickly melts the next day
LOL, Lady Graeye! I wish that would happen here but we're not that lucky *g*
Pink, I'm exhausted just reading about all that you're doing!
But an open house sounds like so much fun. I wish we could have one and all of us (Bandits and Bandit Buddies) could get together. Yes, I get all mushy at the holidays. Which is why I bawl every time I see that commercial where the sister waits up all night for her brother to come home for the holidays :-)
Thanks, PJ! And I see The Romance Dish is going to have a fab month as well.
I can't wait :-)
PinkPeony, we had holiday drop-in open houses when I was in high school. We invited our friends, everybody dressed up, and the house was full of teenagers for a couple of hours. It was a lot of fun.
We contemplate having one every year, but then we look at the house and decide to think about it again in a year. Sooner or later, we'll get around to it.
Right now I am looking forward to my Christmas shopping being done and since I have just got started I got a long way to go. Of course I am looking forward to spending Christmas with my family.
i think i'm gonna participate only till Dec 17th since i have to leave for my Vacation on Dec 18th :)
should i put "sad face" or "happy face" for this ?
anyway, i'm looking forward to have some FUN in the lair this month..yays !
Looks like another fun month in the Lair!!
Way to go, Mariska! The GR will have a great time with you!
Another fabulous month in the Lair with some fabulous authors, including the Banditas!
It really is awful but I am looking forward to the Christmas bakery insanity to be over!! Those of us who work in retail seldom have a good time this time of year.
However, I am looking forward to seeing my family Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and eating lots of my Mom's home cooking! (And bringing the leftovers home too!)
I haven't put up my tree as I have been working frantically to finish the Manwhore's book for the GH. I overnighted it yesterday! YAY! And tomorrow I am diving into revisions to make sure it shines before I send it to my agent!
Putting up the tree will be fun as the dogs and cats are FASCINATED by the blinking lights and the glittery ornaments. And they get to go to Nana's house for Christmas where they get treats and each one gets their own stocking.
Whoa, I read an ARC of Jo Davis' new book and all I have to say is, have a fire extinguisher handy!
I just got back from a wonderful Thanksgiving in Chicago. Hope you all had an equally wonderful holiday. I've been swamped with writing and other work and haven't had time to do my blog hopping as much as usual. I've missed you all!
Virginia, since you're looking forward to being done, I hope you get your shopping finished early *g*
My sister told me she's already started wrapping some of the gifts she bought when we went Black Friday shopping but I just can't bring myself to get that far ahead ;-)
Mariska, I think a happy face since you can always catch up on the goings on in the lair when you get back *g*
Hey, Gannon! It should be a great month :-)
Louisa, super congrats on you sending in your GH entry! Fingers crossed for all Banditas and BBs who entered the GH or RITAS :-)
Becke, we miss you, too! Thanks for letting us know about Jo Davis' latest book. Although now I'm envious you've had a sneak peek :-)
sending cards, putting up tree, wrapping gifts, baking.
Oh my, all those lovely books! I've
already entered Miss Anna's COS
contest and have all my fingers &
toes crossed in hopes of winning!
I'm looking forward to the family
gathering with my sibs and all our
family members. I'm looking forward
to singing at Mass on Christmas Eve. I'm looking forward to sharing a peaceful Christmas Day with our Ashley home from college and with all my children and the rest of the grandchildren!!
Pat Cochran
Robyn, I'm looking forward to all of those things, too. Thanks for stopping by *g*
Pat, sounds as if you're going to have a terrific month! I'm already thinking about how excited I'm going to be when my oldest comes home for Christmas next year during his first year of college *g*
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