The Perfect Present!

by Anna Campbell

I LOVE getting presents!

Yeah, I guess that makes me really unusual.

But I also love buying people presents. I love matching up the perfect gift with the right person.

Recently I was in Brisbane, which counts as the big smoke for me now I've moved to the Sunshine Coast, and I had a stack of birthday presents to buy. I was happy as a pig in mud. And even if I do say so myself, I think I picked up some beautiful, completely apt gifts for my friends.

Friends, even if you don't agree, don't tell me!

As many of you know, this year also marked a significant birthday for me (oh, thirty is such a lovely age, snork!). I collected a swag of lovely presents including some beautiful bouquets. Actually for me, flowers are a perfect present. I always love them.

One of my absolute favorites is the subject of today's blog. Recently I had wonderful Bandita Anna Sugden and her delightful husband to stay at my place in Australia. I've had a Bandita drought this year because I didn't make it to America for RWA Nationals so it was such a thrill to host our English Bandita and feed her to the koalas at Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's place) which isn't far away.

By the way, no koalas were harmed in the devouring of my English visitors!


Actually, given koalas are herbivores, no English visitors were harmed either. I only put that in for a bit of dramatic tension. And speaking of dramatic tension, how shocking is this picture of Anna and me fighting off a vicious, blood-sucking kangaroo in the jungles of south-east Queensland? Scary, huh? I bet you have nightmares tonight!

Anna and Keith arrived bearing gifts, including one of the loveliest presents I've ever received. It's a commemorative teacup from Queen Victoria's 60th jubilee in 1897 - hey, how cool they did royal souvenirs back then! For a history geek like me, they couldn't have come up with anything nicer!

The teacup is really pretty - transfer printed with the British coat of arms of the lion and the unicorn and lovely roses, thistles and clover to symbolize England, Scotland and Ireland as the United Kingdom. Isn't it lovely?

Something that blows my mind is that this fragile piece of china is 114 years old and it's in perfect condition. I suspect it's been sitting in someone's granny's china cabinet as a treasured object since it was made.

Right now it lives in my bedroom and it never fails to make me smile. Think of how the world has changed since 1897 and yet this little piece of beauty is as fresh as the day it was made. That's one of the reasons I love old things - they give you such a window on the past.

Thank you, Anna Bandita and her lovely husband. You couldn't have come up with a better present! I hope you realized when you gave it to me quite how much I adored the cup and saucer.

So when was the last time someone gave you the perfect present? Or you gave someone else the perfect present?

Seeing we're in a gift-giving mood, I'm awarding one lucky commenter their choice from my backlist today. If you need help choosing a book, check out the books page on my website: http://annacampbell.info/books.html Good luck!

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Don't forget we're kicking off Trick or Treat in the Lair with a BIG announcement on October 14, with a special treat to follow on Halloween. The Golden Rooster is poking into the corners to find out what's going on. He even asked Ermingarde the Dragon what was coming(from a safe distance, of course). But Ermingarde doesn't know, either.

Board Games - Quick 5

by Anna Sugden

The other night, we were discussing the fad of playing board games. It used to be that everywhere you went, from family visits to dinner parties with friends, the board games would come out and off everyone would go. [We won't mention the whole wives falling out with husbands, brothers and sisters not on speaking terms thing .]

Though many of us remember the days of Life, Monopoly or Scrabble, and Kerplunk, Mousetrap or Operation, there was also Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary and variations on the Charades theme.

Two of my favourites were Celebrity Taboo and PSI.

In Celebrity Taboo, you had to get people to guess which celebrity you were, but couldn't use certain key words eg how do you get people to guess you're Groucho Marx when you can't use words like cigar, mustache, brothers etc.

In PSI, again people had to guess which celebrity you were but this time it was by answering questions as if you were the celebrity. eg If you were a flower, what would you be?

So, for a bit of fun today, I thought we'd do a Board Games Quick 5.

1. Favourite board game

2. Most detested board game

3. Best and worst Trivial Pursuit category (Geography, Sports & Leisure, Entertainment, Art & Literature, Science & Nature, History)

4. If you were a flower, what would you be? If you were a drink, what would you be? If you were a type of shoe, what would you be?

5. Complete the following sentence: Imagine trying to get people to guess you were (insert name of celebrity) without mentioning the following words ... (insert words)

Here are my answers to start you off:

1. I used to love Mousetrap because it had all those different bits and contraptions!

2. Sorry, but it's Monopoly.

3. I was always terrible at Geography, but really good with Entertainment, Art & Literature or Science & Nature.

4. Flower: Red Gerbera daisy, Drink: Mojito, Shoe: something red, high-heeled, strappy, with zips, studs or a bow.

5. Imagine trying to get people to guess you were "Dolly Parton" without mentioned the following words ... boobs, country music, platinum blonde, high heels.

Over to you!

Make-Up Bag Secrets - Quick 5!

by Anna Sugden

One of the problems (or joys, depending on your perspective!) of working at home is that you don't have to wear make-up. Personally, I'm very happy about this, as that means extra time in bed before my long commute to my office (approx a dozen steps *g*).

There is, of course, a down-side, in that you don't use up your make-up as fast as you used to, so it goes out of date. Some people may be surprised, but even make-up has a 'best before', even if it's not on the package. Logically, of course, you should be careful about anything that goes next to your eyes or on your lips.

A quick internet search came up with recommendations for various make-up products. Some of them will surprise you!

Mascara: no more than 4 months!
Nail polish: 12 months
Lipstick: 1-2 years
Liquid Foundation: 12 months
Powder foundation/concealer/blush: 2 years
Eye-shadow: liquid - 1 year, powder - 2 years
Eye-liner: pencil - 2 years, liquid - 1 year.
Perfume: As long as you keep it cool and out of the light, it can last several years. Otherwise, 1-2 years.

Looks like it's time to clear out my make-up bag!

The next eye-opener is just how many things there are in my make-up bag! Given that I don't use a lot of make-up when I wear it, I seem to have an awful lot of 'just in case' items, freebies and 'I'll give this a try' products.

Which brings me to my Quick 5 for today. Don't worry, I won't ask you to out yourself about how much of your make-up needs tossing ;). But, out of curiosity, and to prove that I'm not alone in my make-up hoarding, I'd like to know:

1. How many lipsticks, lip-liners, lip-glosses?
2. How many bottles of nail polish?
3. How many eye-shadows?
4. How many eye-liners and mascaras?
5. How many compacts of blush or other face powder?

And a bonus question, how many different perfumes do you have?

To play the game and start you all off, here are my answers ... *gulp*

1. 12 (but I only seem to wear the same two or three!)
2. 12
3. 8 (again, I wear the same three or four)
4. 4
5. 4

Bonus: 2 - I've worn Chanel No. 19 ever since I was 16, but occasionally I also wear CK1 by Calvin Klein. I have also been tempted by Ralph Lauren's Romance and DKNY's Be Delicious.

Over to you ... share the secrets of you make-up bag (or, for you fellas, if you're brave enough, the secrets of your lady's make-up bag!)

Quick Five - Book Fun!

by Anna Sugden

G'day! Yes, as you read this, I'm Down Under! I'll have been having a faboo time with fellow Banditas, Anna and Christina, and a number of our favourite Lair authors and BB's. I promise to share all the details and pics when I return!

I'm writing this before I go, as I don't know what my internet access will be like where I am, plus I'll be travelling a lot.

So, knowing how much you enjoy Quick Five posts, I thought I'd do a Book Fun post today.

Share with us:

1. The last book you read that wasn't a romance and did you enjoy it?

2. The book you're currently reading.

3. What are the opening line and final line of the book you're reading?

4. Turn to page 51 and tell us what the sentence in the middle of the page is.

5. Turn to page 105 and tell us what the fifth sentence from the top is.

Here are my answers:

1. Thomas Perry's The Butcher Boy. I love Thomas Perry's books - especially his Jane Whitefield series - he writes great thrillers. This was his debut novel about a mafia hit man and the female agent from the Justice Department who is hunting him. It was really clever, especially the way he made the reader empathise with a cold-blooded killer. Can't wait to read the sequels Sleeping Dogs and Informant.

2. My dear friend and Lair Favourite, Julie Cohen's latest book, Getting Away With It.

Funny coincidence about this book - Julie did her ice cream research with a company in Dorset called Purbeck Ice Cream. My husband's nephew has a charcuterie business called The Dorset Charcuterie Company at the Purbeck Larder. What's even more fun is that in this photograph of the ice cream developed in honour of Julie's book, you'll see that the ice cream is wrapped in meat from ... you've guessed it, The Dorset Charcuterie Company at the Purbeck Larder! Check out Julie's blog for the background to horseradish and beetroot ice cream!

3. The opening line is ... I sat on the cliff edge with my legs dangling over the drop, in a gold lame dress barely long enough to cover my arse.

The final lines are ... okay, I cheated a little *g* ... And this kiss, definitely, was the best one of my life. Except for the next one. And the next.

4. "You'd have fun if you let yourself."

5. The carpet here was some sort of natural fibre, jute or whatever, woven into a tight herringbone.

Over to you. Share your Quick Five!

All's Fair with Beverley Kendall!

by Anna Sugden

I'm delighted to welcome back a Lair favourite and a great supporter of the Banditas, Beverley Kendall!

Beverley has joined us today to tell us all about her fab new novella All's Fair in Love and Seduction.

So, without further ado, let's get right to the important stuff.

Lovely to see you here again, Beverley.

Thanks Anna, and the rest of the Bandits, for hosting me on your lovely blog. It’s always great to be back in the Lair. :)

We're excited about your novella. Can you tell us about it?

I'd love to. Here is the blurb:

With her seduction she hopes to gain his affections

For Miss Elizabeth Smith, sharing her first kiss with the charming Lord Derek Creswell is nothing short of a dream come true...that is, until she is spotted by one of the most influential gossips of the ton. With scandal nipping at her heels, to avoid total social ruin, Elizabeth must present a fiancé by the end of the Season. But when the viscount proves reluctant, Elizabeth is forced to employ a seduction of a different sort...

With his seduction he is determined to ruin her

Viscount Derek Creswell believes Elizabeth set out to trap him into marriage. After all, her sister attempted the very same thing with his brother six years before. Now the delectable Miss Smith expects a betrothal and a ring, while Derek finds her ruination infinitely more appealing...

But as Derek sets out to seduce only her body, Elizabeth is intent on claiming his jaded heart.

Oooh! Sounds delicious. What inspired you to write this story?

I started writing this novella because there was going to be a year gap between my first book, Sinful Surrender and A Taste of Desire (the first and second book in The Elusive Lords series) and I wanted to put something out in between to keep readers interested in the series. Unfortunately, that didn’t occur so I decided to move the story so it occurred between A Taste of Desire and An Heir of Deception (the final book in the series).

What a fun idea! I know readers will be thrilled that they have something to tide them over until An Heir of Deception is out.

What did you particularly love about Derek and Elizabeth?

I really love that Derek is so torn when he discovers who Elizabeth is. His initial instinct is to seek revenge but that begins to war with his growing feelings for her. I love that even though he doesn’t intend to, he defends her, instinctively protecting from slander and gossip.

I love that Elizabeth is a woman who knows what she wants and she allows her heart to lead the way. And like Derek, she has a loyalty streak a mile wide. She’s vulnerable, which to me, is a good thing as that vulnerability makes her human and not wimpy or missish. Yet she has a steel spine and takes her knocks in stride.

Together, the two are combustible and that’s what made writing them so much fun.

What appeals to you about historical courtship?

I love the formality of a historical courtship. There is an interesting challenge not being able to just throw them into each other’s company at any given time or day. I love having to make my hero and heroines work to be alone together—which is no small feat.

Do you have to read your other books before reading this one?

No, readers don’t have to read the other books to follow this book. However, I will say, you will meet characters in All’s Fair in Love & Seduction who you will immediately sense had their own book. Hopefully, spending just a little time with these characters will have new readers eager to go back and read their love story. ;)

What’s next for you?

Right now I’m working on An Heir of Deception, the first three chapters of which are included at the end of All’s Fair in Love & Seduction). This is probably the most anticipated book of the series and it is definitely the darkest. This book will tell the tale of the tumultuous relationship between Alex and Charlotte. This story is my personal favourite.

After An Heir of Deception, I will start a new connecting series—The Temptresses. The first book in the series, Twice the Temptation, will feature Catherine (Charlotte’s identical twin sister) and Lucus Beaumont, the gorgeous American Charlotte befriended in New York.

Lots to look forward to! And, we're especially glad to know that you have a new series coming up soon.

All's Fair in Love & Seduction is an ebook and is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smash Words, All Romance eBooks and The Season.

Beverley has graciously offered one lucky commenter a $15 eGift Certificate and an entry for the Grand Prize Drawing (December 17, 2011) of an iPad 2. All you have to do is tell her how you like to read connected books or books in a series. Do you prefer to wait until they’re all out and read in one sitting or read them as they come out? Do you have to start with book one or are you happy to start anywhere in the series and catch up later?

Beverley Kendall has lived on two continents, in three countries, two provinces, and four states. She stopped her nomadic existence and settled in Georgia with her young son. All things artistic feed her creative passion, but none more than writing. Readers can visit her at: http://www.beverleykendall.com/, follow her on twitter: @beverleykendall, friend her on Facebook or on her review site and blog http://www.theseasonforromance.com/

Quick Five - Top Travel/Packing Tips

by Anna Sugden

The summer holidays are upon us, or very nearly! For the romance writers among us, it's conference season. There's going to be a lot of travel happening over the next few months, starting for many RWA members this weekend as we descend on NY.

By the way, hope those of you in the NY area will pop along to the Literacy signing on Tuesday June 28th - it's open to the public and you'll get a chance to catch up with the Banditas and many of our guests, as well as over 500 favourite romance authors. It's all for a good cause too as the money raised from the sales of books will benefit literacy charities in the area.
Anyway, back to today's post ... I thought it would be a useful time to share hints and tips for packing and travelling. Even veteran travellers like myself are always keen to pick up useful ideas to make our trips easier!

So to start you all off, here are my 5 Top Tips:

1. Don't throw away those plastic dry cleaning covers - use them to cover dresses, skirts, shirts and/or trousers. This will keep them from getting too wrinkled and, if you pack them on the hanger, means you can go from case to wardrobe with ease.
2. Pad out your shoes with rolled up underwear, tights (pantyhose), swimsuits or socks. Keeps the shoes from crushing and it's a great way to save room in a tight suitcase.

3. Mix and Match - so many of us over-pack (holds up hand!). We take so many things that we never end up wearing. It's all very well saying to lay out what you're going to take and halve it, but we all know how well that works if you're an over-packer! To get round this, I try to take clothes that I can mix and match. That way you can take fewer of the bulky items like skirts and trousers and you know that you can wear any of your tops with those you do take.

4. Pack an extra flat kit/duffle/sports bag. It's often cheaper to pay for an extra bag than it is to pay overweight charges! Also, get flat rate boxes from the post office, which you can pack flat in your case. These can be much cheaper, especially for shipping books home, than paying the extra luggage charges.


5. Write down the emergency numbers for your credit cards on a slip of paper and store somewhere safe, but separate from your purse or wallet. If the worse come to the worst, and your purse or wallet is stolen, you'll have the emergency numbers to hand.

While we're on the subject - empty your purse or wallet of all the usual junk/cards etc and limit yourself to one or two general cards that you can use anywhere. Credit cards are better than cash/debit cards as they don't access your bank account. If you don't like credit cards, take travellers cheques - they're not just for travelling abroad!

And make sure you don't have your PIN numbers written down anywhere or stored in your cell phone, or that you're not carrying identifying info like your social security card. You'd be amazed how many people do!

For an extra tip - pack any essential medication in your hand luggage. If you need a prescription for your medication, it's worth taking an extra prescription from your doctor in case of emergencies. That way you can get to a pharmacy and get it filled, even if you're miles away from home. That's a good idea too if you need glasses - carry your prescription info around with you - you never know when you'll lose/break your glasses!

What are your Quick Five Travel and Packing tips?

Bandita Booty!

by Anna Sugden

Sorry I'm late posting the winners from Terri Garey's visit ... life does get in the way!


Anyway, without further ado, CONGRATULATIONS to:

Lolarific

and

Leni!!

Please send your smail mail details to Terri at terrigarey@gmail.com and she will pop copies of Devil Without a Cause in the post to you. Happy drooling ... I mean, reading!

Having a Devil of a Time with Terri Garey!

by Anna Sugden

I'm thrilled to welcome back my very dear friend and Lair favourite, the RITA award-winning author, Terri Garey.

It's especially exciting because she's here to talk about the launch of her new Devil's Bargain series, which I know you're going to love as much as I do.

Without further ado, here's Terri!

Hello, all you bodacious Banditas and BB's! How lovely to be back in the Lair!

I’ve brought a special guest with me today, by the name of Sammy Divine… yes, I know those abs are delightfully lickable, but you simply MUST wait until you’ve been properly introduced… you, Anna Campbell, no pushing! :)

Where was I? Oh, yes, about to introduce the smokin’ hot, devilishly delicious Samuel B. Divine, otherwise known as Samael the Fallen, High Prince of Darkness, Ruler of the Abyss. Don’t let those good looks fool you, ladies – he’s not your average fallen angel, he’s the world’s original and most misunderstood bad boy.

[Note from Anna: you can look and drool, especially over those abs, but you can't touch. Sammy is MINE!]

Everyone’s heard the tale of how the Devil tempted Eve to sin by taking a bite of forbidden fruit, but in DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE, the first book in my new DEVIL’S BARGAIN series, I get to tell Sammy’s side of the story. Poor Sammy feels that he was the one tempted, and then forever punished for it. How was an angel, innocent and unknowing, supposed to resist the charms of a mortal woman on fire with lust? (You, Tawny Weber, you know what I’m talkin’ about, dontcha, Blaze Babe? *g*

Sammy first showed up on the scene to wreak havoc during my Nicki Styx series (DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, A MATCH MADE IN HELL, YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT, and SILENT NIGHT, HAUNTED NIGHT). In each subsequent book, his character grew and developed, becoming more human and less diabolical as his feelings for Nicki Styx grew ever stronger. Nicki, though tempted through and through, loved someone else, and forced to make a choice, chose the mortal man who held—and ultimately kept—his place in her heart. Sammy found himself in the unexpected position of loving a woman enough to let her go, and went one step further by saving her from the evil forces that surrounded him in his Kingdom of Darkness.

While Nicki Styx eventually got her happily-ever-after, Sammy’s story was just beginning. Forever changed by his love for the dark-eyed girl who dwelt in the Light, he was no longer completely content with his life as the reigning Prince of Darkness.

In DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE, he finds himself restless and alone, questioning the anger and blame that he’s spent eons nurturing. He’s so restless in fact, that when offered a possible chance at redemption by taking on the role for which he was originally created—that of a guardian angel—he takes it, albeit on his own capricious, devilish terms. Hell-bent on doing things his way, he uses the tricks of his own trade (temptation and seduction) to both bring together and tear apart two very different people who’ve made their own deals with the Devil. Faith McFarland is in need of a miracle, and Finn Payne just wants to stay alive. A cursed ring is all that stands between Finn and Hell, and all Faith needs to save her terminally ill child. Falling in love was never part of the bargain, but once they taste Heaven in each other’s arms, they must work together to convince the Devil to give up his due.

DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE (Avon Books) hit the bookstore shelves this past Tuesday, and poor Sammy has been very busy as he steps from the shadows to show the world how smoldering he is (see all that smoke swirling around his legs?), but he never turns down a good party, which is why he came with me today. So let’s get this party started by giving away two free copies of his book, shall we?

Tell me if you believe in guardian angels, and why, and you’ll be eligible to win. And, if you feel like it, pop over and read an EXCERPT from DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE!

Don't forget you can order any of Terri's books from Amazon by clicking on the cover, here in the blog post.

You can find out more about Terri and her books by visiting her website. She's also a regular contributor at Books That go Bump in the Night and you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.