Saving the Soap

By Kirsten Scott

I did something last week I swore I'd never do. I microwaved a cup of leftover coffee for breakfast. 

This should make coffee aficionados everywhere swoon. The Starbucks barista down the block is rolling over in her barista, um, bed ('cause she's not dead yet). Yes, it's true. I took the extra coffee I had brewed the day before in my French press -- which, admittedly, had been sitting there on the counter all night -- and microwaved it instead of making a fresh batch. 

Boggles the mind, right? 

What caused this strange and ill-advised behavior? The economy, of course. I'm testing myself. What can I give up? What behaviors can I change? Where can I cut back and how can I learn how to live with less? 

Now don't worry. I'm not going to begin to talk about what the country is facing, or what we might be facing as individuals. You don't come to this blog to worry about that. You come to escape from that. But it occurred to me that we've got a lot of wisdom around here. And probably more than a few tricks up our sleeve. The microwaved coffee wasn't too bad. I could save some money drinking microwaved coffee instead of dumping out the extra and making it fresh every morning. I was intrigued by my little success. If microwave coffee works, what else could I try? What other tricks are out there? 

So I'm coming to you to learn a few new tricks. 

Here's a couple more I've tried since the coffee incident: 

My daughter makes Valentines for her kindergarten class. This year, I'm not buying those prepackaged ones. For one, I never liked them in the first place. And for another, they're expensive! So this year, we're going old school. Pink paper, stickers, crayons, and some candy hearts. I'll be honest. We aren't that crafty. They don't look all that good. But what the heck. Things are different now. We can do this sort of thing in the name of the economy. 

I wrapped a birthday present the other day in paper that had been used before. There were some marks where I'd pulled off the old tape. I figured that was okay. 

I had a bar of soap in the shower that was really tiny. Annoyingly tiny. Usually, I'd just throw it away, or send it down the drain. This time, I smushed it onto of a new bar of soap, merging the two together. I felt very proud of myself. Saving the soap. Taking this "doing more with less" thing to an all new level. 

So what tricks can you share with me? Any ideas for saving the soap in today's crazy, mixed up world? The sillier the better -- I'm sure we could all use a laugh, as well as a few extra pennies in our pocket! 

Book Launch Booty!!

I'm so glad I made this a random prize because I couldn't possibly pick a winner from among the brilliant and delightfully twisted characters who showed up to comment on dear Uncle Cuthbert's untimely demise!

I had so much fun, I was dizzy for two days!!

Thanks for making my debut book launch so memorable and fun. I love you all!!

The random winners of a signed copy of HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER are ... drum roll, please!

KEIRA!!!

and

LIMECELLO!!!

Congratulation to both of you! Please email me at katecarlisle99@yahoo.com with your snail mail addresses and I'll send your books to you immediately!!

But wait. Whodunit?????

Oh, I think you know who you are.

Hunting Down the Huntress Booty!

Thanks, everyone, for a great day in the lair when Kate Smith visited. Kate has now chosen her winner and I'm delighted to say it's:

GANNON!!!

Gannon, congratulations. Can you please email Kate on katewriter@gmail.com with your snail mail details and Kate will get your copy of NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS off to you!

Murder for Money

by KJ Howe

Please welcome bestselling romantic suspense author Debra Webb to the lair. Now here's a lady who knows about murder and mayhem--and has a wicked imagination to support her "habit". Take it away, Deb...

Generally when the average person thinks of murder for money, they think of assassins or some sort of criminal activity that involves a cover-up--particularly the covering of one's a**. Many times, whether it be the cover-up of an embezzled/stolen sum or an insurance policy benefit, money is involved. I received a fan letter once from a woman in prison in Baltimore who was serving two consecutive life sentences for paying someone to murder her husband. Unfortunately, as with anything else--you get what you pay for. She'd gone low end and paid a small sum for the deed. The man she paid ultimately testified against her and you know the rest.

But I'm not talking about that kind of murder for money, I'm referring to what I and lots of other authors do. We write about murder--killing lots of perfectly ordinary and often times nice characters--for money. We devise in our minds gruesome, hopefully unique, methods for killing. Our inspiration comes from all sorts of sources. Real life headlines are the most interesting, in my opinion. At times the simplest, seemingly innocent thing can trigger a devious plan in our minds. I once had a friend who told me she'd run out of gas along a lonely stretch of road--thank God for cell phones. As she waited for her husband to come to her rescue, she noticed a garbage bag in the ditch. It was one of those large black bags with the yellow tie handles. The bag appeared partially full and looked as if it had been there for a while. Her mind instantly began running scenarios about what or WHO could be in the bag. How they might have been murdered and dismembered. By the time her husband arrived with gas for her car, she'd created a gruesome murder scenario. While her husband poured the gas into her tank she went on and on (in great detail) about how exciting this new idea was. Her husband turned to her and said what my own husband says to me quite often, “I can't believe I go to sleep next to you at night.”

I would love to hear the wicked thoughts that go through your mind. Have you ever been sitting in the lobby of the doctor's office and watched the people around you, wondering who would leave their appointment with the doc and meet their appointment with destiny? Do you watch your favorite television show or movie and lie in bed afterwards mulling over how that one murder scene might have worked better if…?

Murder for money, it's a dirty job but somebody has to do it. Think how boring television would be without the likes of Jack Bauer? Someone had to write all those great action and killing scenes! Thank goodness for the uninhibited imagination.

Deb, I couldn't agree more. My mind goes in that direction more often than I'd like to admit! So, Bandita Buddies, let's hear what's running through your minds today...

Debra Webb's romantic suspense publishing career launched in September 2000. Since then this award-winning, best-selling author has published more than seventy novels. Visit her website at www.debrawebb.com.

Visit the Dark Side with Kate Smith!

by Anna Campbell

I'm delighted to introduce my good friend, Canadian Kathryn (Kate) Smith, who writes wonderful paranormals for Avon, both historical and contemporary. LET THE NIGHT BEGIN, the fourth in her bestselling, award-winning BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLOOD series, has just been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLOOD books feature five Knights Templar who receive a difficult immortality when they drink from a mystical chalice. You can find out more about Kate and her rich fictional worlds at her website.

Kate, fantastic to see you here! You've been on my wishlist of guests forever. Your latest release is just out, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, which is a Romantic Times Top Pick. Congratulations! Can you tell us about this fifth instalment in your great BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLOOD series?


Thanks so much for inviting me! NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is the final book in the BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLOOD series and it was probably the most difficult of all the books to write. Not only did I have to give enough time to Temple and Vivian, the main couple, but I had to give closure to the previous four as well! Reuniting the brotherhood had something of a bittersweet feeling to it as I wrote because while I loved bringing them together after their long separation, I knew it was the end for me and fans of the series. It felt like they were saying hello again and I had to say good-bye! But enough of that! NIGHT AFTER NIGHT is the story of what happened to Temple, where he’s been and who is behind the Order of the Silver Palm. His heroine is a woman named Vivian, who has been raised as part of the Silver Palm and is something of a mystery. Despite being made enemies, Temple and Vivian can’t resist the strange pull they feel toward one another – and yes, the pull has more to it than basic sexual attraction! When Temple escapes his captors, Vivian is sent after him. Then the two of them have to decide whether or not they can trust one another, and where the line between good and evil is drawn.

Sounds fantastic. As you know, I'm a huge fan of your other BOTB books. You’re also doing a series called THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES. BEFORE I WAKE, the first book in this new urban fantasy series, was released in July. Can you tell us about this story and also what’s coming up in the next instalment?


THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES revolve around a woman named Dawn, whose father is Morpheus, God of Dreams. Dawn is half-mortal and basically shouldn’t exist. She’s able to walk freely in our world and the land of dreams, which makes her a savior to some and a threat to others. BEFORE I WAKE has her realizing how different she is, reuniting with her parents, and saving the guy she’s been crushing on from a dream-world threat. The second book, DARK SIDE OF DAWN will be out in December 09. A bit of a gap between the books, but I’m hoping readers will still be jazzed about it when it hits shelves. In it, Dawn and Noah take their relationship to a new level and Dawn is faced with a new foe – with an unexpected connection to her!

I love that title, THE DARK SIDE OF DAWN. It’s funny - in the lair, I’ve just hosted Nicola Marsh, an Aussie who’s one of the most prolific writers I know. And I think you’re the other! Can you give us a glimpse into your working life? Any hints about time management?


Well, I can be quite a fast writer, yes. I think it has more to do with a short attention span than being prolific! LOL. I do a fair bit of plotting beforehand, mapping the book out so that I know exactly where I’m going, but leaving enough room for surprises. Then, I write. I try to make myself write at least 10-20 pages a day. When I’m done, I let the book sit and then revise. Sometimes I have a critique partner who reads the book for me before I revise, and other times I simply make my changes and send it to my editor. I’m not really good at trusting my own thoughts on whether or not a book ‘works’. I think most of us are simply too close to the projects we create. So for me, I probably do the most work on a book once my editor has looked at it and given her feedback. The revision stage is when I truly feel like I can polish and rework a book into something I can be proud of. So, I have to say that I really enjoy working with my current editor, because she not only knows her stuff, but she seems to really get me, which is a little frightening! LOL. Seriously though, the best part of this job is having someone who sees where you want to go with a story and can help you get there. Time management? Excuse me while I choke on laughter. I can’t manage time at all! I look at it in terms of pages. And most of those are written after midnight, when I can’t phone anyone or be distracted. Well, I could call Australia, but, Anna, you slapped that restraining order on me... ;-)


Ha! I only slapped on the restraining order because I'd much rather talk to you than write a book, but sadly that deadline gets closer rather than further away! Can you tell us about your writing journey?

It’s not that exciting. I discovered writing at age eight and romance at age ten. I tried writing my first historical after reading ASHES IN THE WIND by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and kind of freaked my mother out by including a love scene! Back then I read everything I wrote aloud to my mom – and she listened, God love her. Sometimes she was alarmed – and sometimes I could tell she was really pleasantly surprised – but she never, ever told me what I could or couldn’t write. And she always encouraged me. In highschool I had a fabulous teacher named Larry Bent who also encouraged my writing, and would critique projects I was working on. I remember once I added a twist to a story and he told me he hadn’t seen it coming. Swoon! But it wasn’t until my mid to late 20’s when the man I later had the good sense to marry said to me, “You hate your job. Quit, go back to school and write that book.” It seemed like solid advice, so I did what he advised. I was 26 when I went back to university, and a week before my 28th birthday I got the call from Krista Stroever at Avon. It’s been a long, winding road since then but I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I’ve been translated into several languages, made the USA Today list and have made so many wonderful friends I can’t imagine life without them.

You’re a Canadian living in the U.S.A. and writing mainly for the U.S. market. Do you think your ‘outsider’ status helps your romance writing at all?

No! LOL. In fact, there are times when I think it might have harmed me. In Canada I never gave much though to promotion. While genre fiction sells well there, I’ve always thought of my home country as being a bit of a literary snob. So, I did signings and a few workshops, even taught a few classes, but there wasn’t the same kind of attitude about promotion. Then, I moved to the U.S. and it’s all about promoting yourself. At first I went a little nuts, thinking I had to push myself like mad. Now, I’ve relaxed about the whole thing. I think after a while you start to figure out what works for you promotion wise as an author. That said, the whole Canadian thing is great for conversation. America and Canada are so close, and so much alike that the differences in culture can be really interesting.


Most of your books lately have involved strong paranormal elements yet you started your career writing critically acclaimed historical romance. Do you have any plans to return to that genre?

Actually, yes. In fact, in October of this year I’ll have a brand new historical on the shelves. No paranormal creatures to be seen. I’ve loved writing the vampires, but it’s time for a change. I need to write about guys who can go out in the daylight. LOL.

Ooh, sounds intriguing. What else is coming up for Kathryn Smith?

Well, in addition to the new historical books, and the second NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES in December, I’ve been working on another project that I’m really excited about it. I don’t want to say anything at this point since no one but me and my agent has read any of it. Sorry!

I mentioned earlier that I cut my romance-reading teeth on Woodiwiss. I’d like to know who the Bandits and their buddies cut their teeth on and what makes that book/author so special to them today. Have you ever gone back and re-read that book/author only to find it doesn’t have the same impact? Or are you still as in love today as you were back then?

Kate has very generously offered a signed copy of NIGHT OF THE HUNTRESS from her BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLOOD series for her favorite answer. Good luck!

HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER - THE LAUNCH!!!!

By Kate

Yes!!! The day is finally here!! Welcome to the Book Launch party for my first book, HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER!! Woooo hoooo!!!!!!

But can I tell you the truth? I'm seriously wiped out from the pre-bash bash last week. Okay, fine, call it a hangover. What-ev-ah!

Show of hands. Who's still recovering from the pre-party last week? Can't remember the pre-bash party? Let me remind you ... think back ... think ... Roasted Toasted Almond • 2 oz vodka • 2 oz Kalua • 2 oz Amaretto • 2 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream. Blend well with ice in a blender.

Yeah, now you remember!

Whew. Talk about a crazy pre-bash bash! So even though we need a vacation from wild partying, it's required that we party hearty to celebrate the launch of the most anticipated--by me, anyway--book of the year!! So let's par-tay!!!!!

But first, if you want to be excused to go buy the book, just click on the book cover and go!! But hurry back, we'll miss you. But go!! Buy!! But come back soon. Because ... ahem ...

IT'S TIME TO PARTY!!! Uh-huh! ... party! ... oh yeah! Yeoww!

SHHHHH!!!

Sorry! Okay, we'll party in a quiet, dignified way, in deference to our more sensitive {cough::hungover::cough} attendees. And ... drum roll, please ... our low-key, sedate party theme today is ...

A Weekend HOMICIDE In The Country.

It seems that our fabulously wealthy Uncle Cuthbert has invited us all to a lovely, civilized gathering at his palatial estate in the country. You'll bring a servant along with you, naturally. There will be soirees and evening recitals. A shooting party, of course. Archery, nature walks, cards, billiards, etc. Please pack accordingly.

Ah, it's lovely to be in the country this time of year! But I think it was terribly rude of Uncle Cuthbert to announce last night in the middle of an extravagant twelve-course dinner, that he plans to change his Last Will and Testament--again! Yes, he does serve excellent French champagne. But the old poop expects each of us to justify our perfectly reasonable, if a bit overly fabulous, lifestyles! It's so unfair! Sigh. Isn't it bad enough that we kowtow and pay homage to the old man every time we see him?

Honestly, isn't it about time someone put an end to this nonsense?

Oh, dear.

Later that morning, Uncle Cuthbert is found dead in his office. Blood has seeped from his wound onto the Last Will and Testament he was just about to sign.

Bummer. There goes the shooting party.

But all is not lost! A hunky, if rather dour, Chief Inspector is called to the scene to interrogate YOU personally! He'd like to know the answer to any or all of these questions:

1. Who are you?
2. Who killed Uncle Cuthbert?

3. Was it you? Did you kill him? Was he about to disinherit you? Why?
4. No? You didn't do it? What's your alibi?

And I'd like to hear the answer to this question: What really happened in that interrogation room between you and Inspector Hunky?

And a bonus question! Who plays you in the film version?

And another bonus question! Who is that hunky Chief Inspector, anyway?

Okay, party people, I've got two signed copies of HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER going out to two lucky random commenters!

LET'S PARTY!!!!

Nic's Pics

by Anna Campbell

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to a stellar day in the lair yesterday. Nicola was overwhelmed with her welcome and had a great day. I'm hoping I can coax her back in with the lure of cabana boys and enthusiastic discussion!

The winner of the signed copy of THE BOSS'S BEDROOM AGENDA is:

GILLIAN LAYNE!!!

Congratulations, Gillian. Please email Nicola on nicolamarsh@iprimus.com.au with your snail mail addy and she'll get your book out to you.

Pesky Little Sisters

by KJ Howe

Please welcome regular Bandita guest, CJ Lyons, who share her family squabbles with us. So, for the inside scoop, read on!

Being multi-published is like living with sibling rivalry. And I was never good with sibling rivalry.
Why? Easy. Because my sister wins. Hands down. No contest. Every time.
You see, I'm the oldest. The responsible one. The one who always had the hand-me-downs until I learned to sew and make my own clothes and then started to work and buy them myself. The one who was expected to take care of everything (cooking dinner, babysitting, keeping my room clean) and follow the rules.

I'm not a very good oldest. I was a rebel and fiercely independent, resenting any attempt to force me to follow the rules or pigeon-hole me into a caretaker role before I'd even had a chance to figure out who I was. Left home at 17 and pretty much didn't look back for a few years.

You'd think I'd paid my dues. I earned scholarships to college, then worked all through medical school and became a doctor, taught at a prestigious academic medical center, almost died twice on helicopters flying out to get patients in bad conditions, saved lives, comforted the sick and dying….

Doesn't mean a thing. My little sister, the baby, the one handed everything on a silver platter including $100 designer jeans, the one who stayed close to home…..she wins.

Not only did she meet and marry a really, really great guy; not only is she a wonderful person who, despite all the stuff that happened when we were young (honest, sis, it wasn't me who shaved your Barbie's head, scout's honor), is now my best friend in the whole wide world; no, all that isn't enough.

My sister had kids. Two of them. Nope, no snotty nose brats for her. She had to go off and have the two nicest, smartest, most wonderful kids in the universe….really, they are!!!

Know what else my niece and nephew are? Grandkids for my mom.
Sigh. I'll never win.

Funny thing is, the same kind of rivalry plays into writing—at least writing a series like mine.

First born was LIFELINES (released March, 2008) Typical of the oldest, it's a bit more serious, the main character tries to take care of everyone and everything—which of course gets her into mega-trouble!

It had all my love and attention for a while, but now, bad mommy that I am (did I mention my sister also inherited ALL the maternal instincts in the family?) I can barely remember what it's all about. Poor baby. It needs some good family to buy it and take it home and give it some loving.

Next up was WARNING SIGNS, the sequel, just released last week. Typical of the baby of the family, it was squirmy and whiny, and a bit difficult at first, but then after I devoted all my time and attention to it, it shaped up. The main character in WARNING SIGNS has sibling problems of her own: she's the baby, the only girl in the bunch, and her older brothers are trying to run her life. She's a bit of a rebel (just like me!) and that both helps and hinders her as she tries to find her way.
Now I realize that WARNING SIGNS is the perfect middle child—approachable, accommodating, a natural born peace-maker. Especially compared to the baby of the family, the third book, URGENT CARE, due out in November.

Now, after pouring my blood, sweat, and tears laboring over how to deal with a sensitive subject and still provide entertainment, how to allow my characters to grow they way they need to but still do what I want to with the plot, how to keep the tension high without tipping over into melodrama…..well, after all that labor, it's done.

Although it definitely belongs to the same family, URGENT CARE is nothing like the first two. It's dark and edgy, delves into dark recesses of the human mind and heart. Thriller pacing, suspense intensity, it screams for attention
Hmmm….wonder how it will get along with its siblings?

If you read series books, what kind of changes do you enjoy seeing as the series progresses? What do you hate? And if you write a series, how do you keep it fresh and exciting?

Thanks for reading!

CJ

Thanks so much for joining us today, CJ. As someone who has written about fratricide, I'm quite intrigued with sibling rivalry! I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks....

About CJ:

As a pediatric ER doctor, CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge suspense novels. Her debut, LIFELINES (Berkley, March 2008), became a National Bestseller and Publishers Weekly proclaimed it a "breathtakingly fast-paced medical thriller." The second in the series, WARNING SIGNS, was released January, 2009. Contact her at http://www.cjlyons.net

Nicola Marsh is a Bandit for the Day!

by Anna Campbell

It is with great pleasure that I introduce one of the nicest people in Romancelandia, fellow Aussie Nicola Marsh. Award-winning Nicola writes for Harlequin and has sold more than a million copies of her books! Very impressive in anyone's language. You can find out more about Nicola and her books at her website.

Nicola, a very warm welcome to the Romance Bandits. Your latest release in America is a Harlequin Presents called THE BOSS’S BEDROOM AGENDA. Can you tell us a little bit about this story and the inspiration behind it?

Firstly, it’s fabulous to be a Bandita for a day! Thanks for having me. I’m really excited about my current release because it’s my first Harlequin Presents and a favorite book of mine. The story, set in my fabulous home city Melbourne, features a bubbly metal sculptor and a sexy archaeologist, two opposites who are thrown together for a few months. The story was inspired by a trip to Melbourne Museum with my kids, who love the place. While walking down those quiet, pristine corridors, I wondered what it would be like for a naturally exuberant person to work there…and shoe-a-holic Beth Walker was born! She struts into Melbourne Museum like she owns the place and stand-in CEO Aidan Voss soon realises he has his hands full with his latest employee.


You’re a writer who always leaves me breathless with admiration. I don’t know how you do everything you do. You write a handful of books a year (so far you have four scheduled for 2009) and you have a young family. Can you give us some insight into your working day? Have you got any hints on time management you’d like to share with us?

Blushing furiously here! My working day starts during toddler’s nap time, when I clear my inbox, post my blog and take care of other promotional stuff. My actual writing time starts at 8.30pm when both kiddies are in bed. I write for 2 hours solid to crank that word count up and luckily I’m quick so I write 4 books a year. With time management, don’t let the Internet distract you. While MySpace, Facebook, etc…can be fun (and addictive!) use them as a reward for after you’ve met your allocated word count/page count for the day. I use both for promotional purposes but tend to pop on once a week, for the simple reason they can be time wasters.The other hint is use any ‘spare’ time to write. If you need to pick up kids, invest in a portable word processor and use every spare second to up the word count.

Great advice! You’ve just had your 19th book scheduled. Congratulations! But let’s go back to the beginning. Here in the lair, we love call stories. Can you share yours with us?

Thanks. I can hardly believe I’ve sold 19 books, I still pinch myself occasionally! ‘The Call’ was fabulous, exhilarating and totally mind-blowing. I’d submitted a full of my ‘speed dating story’ to the Harlequin Mills and Boon UK office after they read the partial and enjoyed it. Four months later, I was home on a Saturday night, five months pregnant, after cancelling a dinner date because the hostess was ill. The phone rang and it was Kim Young, saying she loved my manuscript, a slot had opened up and if I could get a few tweaks done by the Tuesday, it had a good chance of publication. I jotted down her suggestions on a tiny piece of paper, hung up and squealed! I was working full time as a physiotherapist at the time, so I worked that Saturday night and most of Sunday, emailed the manuscript off…and waited… A week went by and I was cooking dinner on a Monday night when the phone rang around 6.30pm. Hubby answered, gave me a thumbs up so I knew it was Kim, so I took the phone with shaking hands and listened to her say they loved my book and would like to buy it! I think I repeated ‘great’ about a hundred times, to every single question she asked me! I haven’t stopped grinning since.

What a great story! You write across several different lines at Harlequin. Can you give us your take on the difference between the banners your books appear under? Are the differences drawn starkly in your mind or do you see your stories more in a continuum? What do you think makes each line distinct and appealing to readers?


I write for Harlequin Romance and Harlequin Modern Heat/Presents. The Romance series is packed with emotion, with stories that really tug on the heartstrings, whereas Modern Heat is more fun and flirty. For me, the differences aren’t too stark as I find my ‘fun, flirty’ voice (according to my lovely ed!) carries over to both series. With Modern Heat/Presents, the settings are glamorous and cosmopolitan, with strong Alpha heroes and heroines who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go out and grab it with both hands! With Romance, the heroes are alpha with a softer edge, the heroines strong and the settings global. I adore writing for both series! In Romance, I was lucky enough to be approached to write for their newly launching mini series ‘Escape Around the World’, so set my book in Melbourne and India, where my characters take a luxurious train journey through Rajasthan and visit exotic cities like Agra (home of the Taj Mahal), Jaipur and Udaipur, as well as Goa and Delhi. A TRIP WITH THE TYCOON (September 09) captures the emotional heart of Romance while giving readers an armchair ride through an exotic setting, the best of both worlds!

You have another Harlequin Presents coming out in September this year in America. Can you tell us about TWO WEEKS IN THE MAGNATE’S BED?

I’d love to, as this book is linked to my current release, THE BOSS'S BEDROOM AGENDA. In TBBA, Beth’s geeky cousin Lana features in several scenes and she absolutely had her own tale to tell! When passed over for a promotion at Sydney Museum, where she works as head curator, Lana realises she needs a new image, so takes a cruise she’s won. However, she doesn’t bank on sexy sailor Zac helping her on her mission to loosen up! Set in the South Pacific, this is a classic Cinderella tale with loads of fun.

What’s next for you?

My next release is THE BILLIONAIRE’S BABY (Romance, May 09). Set in the trendy Docklands of Melbourne, it features Camryn, a hip city girl running her own café and running from her past, a past which catches up with her when builder Blane Andrews struts back into her life with one goal: to reunite with the love of his life. I cried for the first time while writing this book and my editor cried twice, so I think it’s my most emotional? As for what I’m currently writing, I’m about to start revisions on my next Romance, ‘The Dating Dilemma’ (working title.) It’s my ‘foodie’ book, where the heroine cooks to vent frustration/relax/hide from the world. Probably not ideal to be working on this while I’m trying to wean myself off chocolate and lose some weight!

As you can see, I love setting the bulk of my books in my fabulous home city, Melbourne. From the restaurant culture to the cafés, the gardens to the beaches, Melbourne has something for everyone, a truly cosmopolitan city. What’s your favourite city? And why do you think it would qualify as the perfect setting for a book? I’m giving away a signed copy of my current release, THE BOSS’S BEDROOM AGENDA, to one lucky commenter. Happy reading!

Sizzling Hot February

by Donna MacMeans

It might be cold and snowy where you live, but February is shaping up to be a sizzling hot month here in the lair.

We'll start off tomorrow, Feb. 2nd, with Harlequin Presents author Nicola Marsh and her February release, The Boss's Bedroom Agenda. Now why have my bosses never looked like that? Sure would have added some sizzle to the workplace. Fingers crossed that Nicola will bring some of the hot men from her website over to the lair to play.

We'll move from international seduction to sizzling intrique on Feb. 3rd when C. J. Lyons returns to the lair. Her latest release from Berkley, Warning Signs, takes us back to the Angels of Mercy Medical Center and the women we first met in C. J' s debut, Lifelines.

No matter the temperature outside, it will be party time in the lair on February 4th as we celebrate the fabulous bandita Kate Carlisle's debut with Homicide in Hardcover. In spite of the title this issue is being released in paperback (grin). Isn't it a gorgeous cover? You're invited to join in on the fun in the lair as we celebrate big-time.

We have yet another fabulous Avon author joining us on Feb. 5th. Kathryn Smith writes both vampires and historicals. She'll be releasing a

new series set in the Victorian era later in the year, but for now she'll be telling us about her just released fifth volume in the Brotherhood of Love series, Night after Night.

St. Martin's Debra Webb will join us on Feb. 6th to discuss her new December release, Find Me. Romantic Times Bookreviews said "Webb moves to a whole new level with this book, and the ending is off-the-charts creepy."

I think the chill that just tripped down my spine is unrelated to the chill outside.

Seems like a lot for such a short month, but we're not through yet!

On Feb. 13th, Renee Ryan takes us to Colorado in 1880 with The Marshal Takes a Bride, a Love Inspired February release - just in time for...

FEBRUARY 14th Valentines's Day!!

We'll be celebrating Valentine's Day bandita style with some massive bandita booty. So stop by to visit with Tawny and the rest of the gang - often.

Be sure to stay warm the entire month by snuggling up to the computer with a nice mug of hot chocolate and an even hotter romance. We'll try not to steam up your glasses (grin).