2014 Year in Review

2014 was a rollercoaster of a year with great ups and downs. Personally, I saw the end of my 30 year relationship. I also dealt with a foot injury that is still bothering me months later. There was also some serious illness in my immediate family, but I'm happy to say that everything turned out well there.


Professionally, I've also had some ups and downs this year, but I'd much rather focus on the positives. In October, I celebrated the release of my 75th book, as well as my tenth year as a published author. I can hardly believe it's been ten years. I want to thank everyone who has ever purchased one of my books for making my dream of being a working writer come true.


The biggest surprise came at the end of the year. Earlier in 2014 I was invited to be a part of a box set with twenty-four other authors. Taming the Alpha is 25 tales across all genres, all having a hot alpha as the hero. It was released on December 9th and made both the USA Today and the NY Times Best Seller Lists. What a Christmas present! I can now put NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author after my name. I'm thrilled.


In case you missed any of them, here are my releases for 2014.


2014 E-Book Releases:


January 17th--Debt of Honor (EC Quickie)
January 21st--Craig's Heart (Legacy--Book 7)
April 15th--Wolf at the Door (Salvation Pack--Book 1)
April 30th--Mad Loving (Hatter's Club)
May 23rd--Wild Loving (Hatter's Club)
July 8th--Wolf in her Bed (Salvation Pack--Book 2)
September--Rescuing Rory
October 28th--Wolf on the Run (Salvation Pack--Book 3)
December 9th--Coming Home (Taming the Alpha box set)


2104 Print Book Releases:


January 1st--Night of the Tiger (Hades' Carnival--Book 1)
March 31st--MacNamara's Lady (Awakening Desires--Book 6)
April 1st--Mark of the Bear (Hades' Carnival--Book 2)
July 1st--Pride of the Lion (Hades' Carnival--Book 3)
October 7th--Howl of the Wolf (Hades' Carnival--Book 4)

Laurie Roma's December Symposium: All My Tomorrows

This month Laurie Roma asked her friends and fellow authors to give her a sneak peek at what you should be expecting from them this coming new year.


Read on and find out what we all had to say!

LAURIE ROMA'S DECEMBER SYMPOSIUM: ALL MY TOMORROWS!

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL! 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Happy December 24th!

 

A Visit from St. Nicholas

by Clement Clarke Moore

 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

 

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

 

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

 

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

 

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

 

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

This is a few years old but I love it!

Happy Winters Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. From here on, the days get longer. Take some time today to stop and simply be. There is so much rushing around during the holiday season that we sometimes don't stop and breathe.

Happy Solstice! Blessed Yule! Welcome Winter!

Countdown to Chistmas--Favorite holiday movies and tv shows

Throughout the entire month of December, I watch as many of my favorite and classic holiday movies as I can. The movies and TV shows I enjoy tend to be the ones that say something positive about life or humanity. At Christmas time, I just like to feel good.


10. Little Women (The Winona Ryder version.) "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!"


A newer favorite is the movie Arthur Christmas. And, of course, I have to watch Frosty the Snowman. What are some of your favorite holiday television shows and movies?

Taming the Alpha on the USA Today Best-Selling Books List

TAMING THE ALPHA has hit #41 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books List! 

This is a dream come true. I can't tell you how proud I am to be a part of this amazing project with such a wonderful group of talented authors.

Thank you to everyone who has bought Taming the Alpha and making this possible!

Smutketeers Annual 12 Days of Christmas Celebration and Giveaway!

I'm one of the authors being featured on Day 5 of the  SMUTKETEERS ANNUAL 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS. There are tons of prizes to be won, so stop by and be sure to leave a comment.

I'm offering up a download from my backlist as a prize. 

Taming the Alpha is finally here!

Taming the Alpha is now available!

Be sure to check out this Limited Time Boxed Set featuring 25 Alpha Tales from NYT, USA Today and National Bestselling Authors!

BUY FROM AMAZON

When an alpha is too hot to handle, what's a girl to do? Simple...Tame the Alpha and make him purr.

From deliciously sizzling contemporary bad boys, to pulse-tingling paranormal hotties, you're sure to fall in love and in lust with any or all of these alphas. Over twenty fabulous authors bring their A-game to tempt your every desire.

Anthology Includes: Werewolves & Shifters, Demons & Devils, Paranormal & Urban, Military, Vampires, Genetic Engineering, Witches & Wizards, Contemporary, Special Forces, Dystopia, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Special Forces, Dragons, Demons, Billionaires, Magic, Fantasy, Futuristics and so much more!

(Thank you to Sidney Bristol for this amazing graphic.)

My story is Coming Home, a sexy contemporary novella.

BLURB:

Burned out from his last assignment, DEA agent Tobias Slater has come home to Chicago a changed man. Disillusioned and uncertain about his future, the last thing he expects is to run into Kansas Fielding on his first night home.

Kansas has loved Tobias for years. They shared one memorable kiss two years ago before he walked away. Now he’s back, and this time she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make him admit his feelings for her.

A Hot Holiday Novella

Looking for a hot holiday novella? Then be sure to check out The Gift of Shayla.

Adam Lancaster has been in love with Rob McKeith—and attracted to Rob’s wife, Shayla—for years, but he fears their friendship would be over if they knew the truth. So he’s thrilled when his secret fantasy becomes reality and the couple offers him a very special gift: a sensual Christmas Eve in their bedroom…

BUY FROM CARINA PRESS
BUY FROM AMAZON

Character Interview--Cole Blanchard at RLF

Cole Blanchard, the very sexy werewolf hero from Wolf on the Run is being interviewed over at ROMANCE LIVES FOREVER. Stop by and check it out!

A Christmas Quickie

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.

 

Right now, JESSAMYN'S CHRISTMAS GIFT is only 99 cents at Ellora's Cave and $1.24 at Amazon. Be sure to treat yourself this EC Christmas Quickie.

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.

BUY FROM AMAZON

BUY FROM ELLORA'S CAVE

December Newsletter Now Available!

The December 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 and an excerpt.

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