Happy New Year!

If you're going out to party tonight, stay safe and have fun!

May 2012 bring you all happiness, health and prosperity!

WELCOME TO 2012!

New Cover for Quinn's Quest

Check out my new cover for Quinn's Quest, the next book in the Legacy series, coming from Samhain Publishing on February 21st, 2012!

BLURB:

He can give her anything and everything she needs—except a future.

Legacy, Book 4

Kidnapped and held in a crazy doctor’s underground laboratory, Bethany Morris only manages to escape because Chrissten, one of her fellow abductees, creates an opportunity—by shifting into a werewolf.

Bethany’s desperate for help, but who’ll believe her story? The police? That’ll just buy her a one-way ticket to a padded room—because here’s the kicker: she’s discovered she’s a half-breed werewolf. Her only hope is to find Chrissten’s brother.

Quinn Lawton’s long, grinding search for his missing twin has turned up nothing…until Bethany rekindles his hope. Something else catches flame too—her heat cycle and a searing attraction branded with the word mate. Yet with so much blood on his hands, any future he might offer is already tainted beyond redemption.

Desperate for Quinn’s touch alone, Bethany has no choice but to take Quinn up on his offer to quell her terrifying need, no strings attached. And hope that as the search for Chrissten intensifies, the battle with their personal demons doesn’t destroy their razor-thin chance at forever.

CAPA Nomination

I'm thrilled to announce that The Romance Studio has nominated Legacy Found for a CAPA award in the Paranormal Romance category! Thank you to TRS for the nomination!

BLURB: Legacy Found

Legacy, Book 3

Shelley is a killer. Never mind that her “crime” freed her from thirty-five years of brutal captivity—the bounty hunters on her trail don’t care. For the first time in her life, she is on her own, free to put the past behind her and explore what it means to be a werewolf.

James Riley is dead tired. After a week untangling legal and financial affairs his brother’s death left behind, he’s feeling every ounce of his new responsibility as Wolf Creek pack alpha. He’s not too tired, though, to notice his sexy waitress is a werewolf—one that strangely doesn’t recognize him as one of her own kind.

After his questions rattle her composure and get her fired, Shelley figures the least James can do is drive her to the next town, but he wants more. He wants to take her home. And despite her fear, something inside her is irresistibly drawn to his commanding yet gentle presence.

James is willing to give Shelley all the time she needs to embrace her heritage, her sexuality, and eventually his love. But her past will not be denied...and her secrets demand a price paid in blood.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with fun, friends, family and fabulous food!

Happy Solstice!

Today is the shortest day of the year. It's also the "official" first day of winter. From this day forward, the days will get a little longer.

"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind." ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

So Happy Solstice to everyone!

Happy Hanukkah

I want to wish a Happy Hanukkah to everyone who is celebrating the holiday!

The Writer Before Christmas

With everything else going on this time of year, it can be tough for a writer to get anything done.
That's why a poem by author Valerie Parv made me smile. Check out The Writer Before Christmas at Valerie Parv's Blog!

One Week and Counting...

It's only one week until the big day!

I admit, I'm looking forward to the world shutting down for a few days. I plan to turn off the computer, spend time with my hubby and family, eat lots of great food and probably catch a movie or two.

I made some shortbread Christmas trees on Friday afternoon. Only iced here, but you could add candies and pipe icing for garland. I did that one year and they were awesome.

Hubby and I were at the grocery store Friday morning and saw these adorable mini poinsettia plants. I couldn't resist. It looks great on the kitchen table in my vintage '60s santa mug.

Favorite Christmas Movies

Throughout the entire month of December, my husband and I watch as many of our favorite and classic holiday movies as we can possibly cram in. Of course, it starts out slow, with maybe one a week early in the month, and becomes more like one-a-night as the calendar gets closer and closer to the 25th.

Same as with the music, the movies I enjoy tend to be the ones that say something positive about life or humanity because I don't believe you have to be harsh or cruel to get your point across. At Christmas time, I just like to feel good. My favorite ten movies and shows of the season are below. These are the ones I try to watch every year.

10. Little Women (The Winona Ryder version. It has such warmth and wisdom.)
"I'm so desolated."

9. Scrooged (Bill Murray)
"It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer."

8. A Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim)
"Humbug!"

7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (The animated version. A mean one, but a great one.)
"You can't stop Christmas from coming!"

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (I never get tired of watching the dust rise off of Pigpen when he sings or seeing that little, scrawny tree grow into a veritable forest.)
"Can somebody please tell me the true meaning of Christmas?"
"Sure, Charlie Brown."

5. It's A Wonderful Life (This one makes me cry, especially at the end.)
"To my big brother George, the richest man in town!"

4. A Muppet Family Christmas (Swedish Chef meets the Bird of his dreams!)
"Be careful of the icy patch!"

3. A Muppet Christmas Carol (Gonzo the Great plays Mist-uh Dickens himself)
"Darkness was cheap, and Scrooge liked it."

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Not mean, just nutty.)
"That tree will never go in our yard, Dad."
"It's not going in our yard, Russ. It's going in our living room."

1. Scrooge (The Albert Finney version).
"You wish to remain anonymous, sir?"
"I wish to be left alone!"

What are some of your favorite holiday movies?

Contest Reminder!

CHRISTMAS QUICKIE CONTEST!


We're all so busy this time of year. There are halls to be decked, food to be prepared and presents to buy. Then there are all the social obligations, Christmas pageants and the like to schedule in. There's not much time for reading.


But there's always time for a Quickie. No, not that kind of quickie. (Although that's not a bad idea either.) But a quick read. Something you can pick up and read in one sitting while you're relaxing after a hard day of work or shopping.

I want to help you out this holiday season, so I'm giving away a free PDF download of one of my Ellora’s Cave Quickies each Friday between December 2nd and December 23rd. Just go to my website and click on the “Contests” page for details on how you can enter for a chance to win.

Winning names will be chosen at random and announced each Friday until December 23rd. That means there are TWO drawings left!

You only have to enter once to be in all the drawings!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Guest Blogging at TRS Blue

I'm over at The Romance Studio Blue Blog today with an easy Christmas recipe. Be sure to check it out.

I'm also a Featured Author over at The Romance Studio Blue Pages for the month of December. Be sure to stop by and check out my interview.

Decking the Halls

Just wanted to share some of my holiday decorating with you. Here's a shot of the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.

This is a closer shot showing some of the ornaments, which are all handmade or were gifts from family and friends. There are also vintage metal icicles (some of which I took from home when I left years ago and some I found at thrift stores).

Greenery around the archway between the kitchen and the living room. I made a bunch of those Care Bear ornaments about 25 years ago, gave some as presents and kept nine of them for myself.

Jessamyn's Christmas Gift and a Contest!

Looking for a quick holiday read? Check out my Ellora's Cave Quickie Jessamyn's Christmas Gift!

BLURB:

It's Christmas Eve and Jessamyn Parker waits by the fireside in her boyfriend's house. She expects him home any minute after being away for three months on business. Clad only in a slinky teddy and sprawled beneath the Christmas tree, she plans to surprise him. But instead of her boyfriend, a complete stranger surprises her.

Caleb Morgan is the new sheriff, and unbeknownst to her, he is also the new owner of the house. Jessamyn flees back to her own home, determined to forget not only her boyfriend's betrayal, but also the heated desire that Caleb has sparked within her.

While Jessamyn is shocked by his appearance, Caleb is enthralled by her. But Jessamyn has had more than enough of men. Now, one year later, it's Christmas time again, and Jessamyn is still swearing off men. But Caleb has other ideas. The only thing he wants for Christmas is the same thing he wanted last year and didn't quite get — Jessamyn Parker under his tree.

CHRISTMAS QUICKIE CONTEST!

We're all so busy this time of year. There are halls to be decked, food to be prepared and presents to buy. Then there are all the social obligations, Christmas pageants and the like to schedule in. There's not much time for reading.

But there's always time for a Quickie. No, not that kind of quickie. (Although that's not a bad idea either.) But a quick read. Something you can pick up and read in one sitting while you're relaxing after a hard day of work or shopping.

I want to help you out this holiday season, so I'm giving away a free PDF download of one of my Ellora’s Cave Quickies each Friday between December 2nd and December 23rd. Just go to my website and click on the “Contests” page for details on how you can enter for a chance to win.

Winning names will be chosen at random and announced each Friday.

You only have to enter once to be in all the drawings!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

The Perfect Gift is a Book

I'm over at Tilly Greene's The Perfect Gift is a Book Event talking about a book I think would make a wonderful Christmas Gift. This is a month-long promotion so be sure to comment on my post and other posts for a chance to win!

Week in Review

See the cat above...that was me yesterday afternoon. lol I'd planned to make a cherry cake but took a nap instead. Guess I was tired after the last week. It was a very exciting, productive week.

*Just signed a new contract with Ellora's Cave for the next Tapestries book!

* Finished and submitted a new book. Keeping fingers crossed editor will like it!

*Went to Muppet Movie--such fun!

* Have almost all my Christmas shopping finished.

*Hubby and I went out to holiday concert at local church on Friday evening. The trio we saw are a folk/traditional group and it was a lovely performance. Problem...no place to park downtown in the city. Ended up parking in a grocery store lot and walking down, down, down several long hills to the church. That was fine. It was having to go up, up, up when the concert was over. lol Felt like one long stairmaster. *g* Boy, was I sore the next morning, which goes to show just how out of shape I've gotten.

*Strung popcorn and cranberries on Wednesday for the tree.

*Had plumber in to fix the toilet on Friday...Hallaluah!

*Decked the halls and put up the tree on the weekend. Was finished and vacuuming when I realized the popcorn and cranberry strings were still in the bag I stored them in. lol Had to put them on top of the decorations. Doesn't look too bad. Will try to post a picture tomorrow.

I'm sure there is more, but that's the highlights of the past week. It was a wonderful one and I got a lot done. Hope you had a great week and hope this one is even better!

Featured Author--Taylor Tryst

This weekend, I'd like to feature Taylor Tryst's new book, Seduced by Blood. This is a fast-paced, intense, spicy hot vampire novel. It's the first in her Sangre series.

BLURB:

Nevada Ortiz was an up and coming Los Angeles Police Officer until a chance encounter with a would-be carjacker changes the course of her life. The six and a half foot assailant is dripping with weapons, his preternatural blue eyes drilling into hers, his bite changing everything. Her body’s reaction to his blood, a seduction within itself, goes hand and hand with raw, animalistic sex.

Nothing is as it seems and everything is in peril, including her life.

Gunner Slade is a vampire with secrets of his own, a soldier who can walk in the sun, a dose of Sangre allowing he and vampires like himself to blend in among humans, until he puts everything on the line for a woman he can no longer exist without.

Nevada is the first human with immunity to a vampire bite, and requires the blood of two vampires to sustain her.

Not in his nature to share, Gunner Slade might be immortal, but he’s living in hell just the same.

Check out all Taylor Tryst's Books on her website.

Please Vote for My Cover

The cover for my book A Touch of Magick is up for the Embrace The Shadows Best of the Best 2011 Clash of the Covers. If you feel so inclined, I'd love to have you vote for my cover. :)

December Newsletter is Now Available!

The December 2011/January 2012 issue of Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—is now available.

Be sure to check out all the latest news, contests, my husband’s popular column—Confessions of a Romance Author’s Husband—an excerpt, and this month’s interview with the wonderful Gail Faulkner.

As always, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win is go to the Awakening Desires Newsletter and join. While you’re there, you can check out back issues of the newsletter.