Home Alone At The Cave

It's that time of year again when many writers and readers pack their bags and head off to the Romantic Times Convention. This year it's in Orlando and I wish I was going.

Since I can't be there, I'm holding a party!

Please join me at the Ellora's Cave Chat Group on Thursday, April 23rd from about 11 a.m. EST until 4 p.m. EST for the 5th Annual Home Alone At The Cave Party! This year looks to be the best party yet. As always, Ellora's Cave authors are very generous and I have lots of steamy excerpts to share and tons of prizes to give away, including a gift basket from Jasmine-Jade Enterprises featuring books and gifts from EC/CP/TLC authors.

So, if you're not going to the RT convention, come spend the day with me at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ellorascavechat/ and have some fun!

Guest Blogging

I'm guest blogging over at Romance Readers @ Heart Novel Thoughts and Book Talk today.

You can check it out at http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com/.

A Video You Must See

It's not very often I see a video online and am absolutely blown away by it. This one did just that. The video featues the reality show Britain's Got Talent and contestant Susan Boyle.

This woman is incredibly brave and such an inspiration. Dreams never die. All you have to do is reach for them.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Past Promises--Available Today!

PAST PROMISES is available today from Samhain Publishing! You can check out this book, or any other of my books, at my author's page at Samhain Publishing.

This is part of the Jamesville series, but can be read as a stand alone book.

BLURB: PAST PROMISES

Sometimes the only way to leave the past behind is to ignore the voice of reason—and leap.

Jamesville, Book 7

For Linda Fletcher, the sign in front of her new business says it all. Past Promises Antiques is her declaration of independence from her powerful and manipulative family—and a vow to herself that her future will be different.

She never considered herself the no-strings-affair type, but the chemistry between her and her newly hired handyman is too intense to ignore. Moving to Jamesville was a bold step, so what’s the harm in taking one more—into his arms?

Levi Mann’s shadowed past keeps his bags packed light and his feet on the move. But one look at Linda, and he finds himself willing to hang around—just long enough to figure out what it is that triggers their explosive passion.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

I hope you're all enjoying this weekend with family and friends.

New at the Jasmine Jade/Ellora's Cave Website

There's a lot of new things happening over at the Jasmine Jade Enterprises website (Home of Ellora's Cave Publishing).

Here's the official release!

We want to offer our readers new things every day on our site, give you reasons to visit us often.We recently started offering the free reads on Mondays. We also want to be able to focus attention on specific types of books or promote themes and such.

So, starting April 14, our release schedule for the EC site will be:

Mondays - free reads and reissued stories (such as those broken out of old anthologies and being reissued as single novellas)- 1 or 2 each week

Tuesdays - Theme series stories, Quickies, Ellora's Cavemen anthologies - 1 each week

Wednesdays - Our normal new ebook releases

Thursdays - Sale books - up to 16 ebooks and print books on sale; will remain on sale for one week

Fridays - Our normal new ebook releases

Be sure and check it out!

New Cover!

Check out the fabulous cover for Endless Chase, the next book in the Dalakis Passion vampire series due out on May 6th!

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BLURB:

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Vengeance is at hand for Katya Markova and nothing will make her stray from her chosen path—nothing, that is, but Chase Deveraux.

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She’s spent the past year of her life searching for the person responsible for the bloody murder of her parents. Her quest has taken her around the world and into the dark world of blood cults and murderers, finally bringing her to Transylvania and the Dalakis family.

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From the moment Katya first sets eyes on Chase, the emotional and sexual connection between them explodes. She wants him to the point of madness, risking everything she’s worked for to spend stolen moments locked in his heated embrace. But Katya is enmeshed in a world of lies and deceptions, which now includes Chase and his family.

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Love, vengeance and honor are tested, and sides must be taken as the entire Dalakis family is now in jeopardy.

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You can check out an excerpt from Endless Chase on my website at http://www.njwalters.com/

Guest Blogging at the Samhain Publishing Blog!

I'm over at the Samhain Blog today. I'm talking about "write" way to write.

Check it out!

Guest Blogging...

over at Michelle Pillow's blog today.

Writing is a passion for me, but today I'm talking about another one of my passions.

Check it out.

Featured Member at TRS Blue for April!

I'm a featured author over at The Romance Studio Blue Pages this month! I'm talking about my one of my newest Ellora's Cave releases, Threads of Destiny.

Check it out!

April Newsletter Now Available!

If you’re not already receiving Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—then you’re missing out on all the latest news, author interviews, excerpts and tons more! You’re also missing out on a chance to win every month!

The April 2009 issue is now available!

Check out the this month’s author interview with the talented J. C. Wilder.

As well, each month, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win next month is to go to Awakening Desires Newsletter to join and read back issues.

Quote of the Week!

"The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes."

~Agatha Christie


"I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork."

~Peter De Vries

To me, these two quotes have a lot in common--A writer never truly stops working.

As Agatha Christie's quote says, the best time for planning and plotting is when your mind isn't truly focused. Doing the dishes, dusting, vaccuming...all these mundane chores are a time of great creativity. Walking is good too. When you allow your mind to wander, you just never know where it's going to end up.

The second quote by De Vries made me laugh. I love to write. The act of putting words on a page, of allowing creativity free reign is an incredible feeling. But writing is probably about 30% actual writing and 70% paperwork--editing, rewriting, proofing, promoting, etc...

A writer is always working, even when it looks like all their doing is the dishes. It's a 24/7 profession, but I wouldn't chose any other job over it.

Have a great Monday and a wonderful week!

Earth Hour

Tomorrow, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. local time, people all around the world will be switching off their lights for one hour to bring awareness to the problem of global warming.

To read more about this initiative, go to http://www.earthhour.org/about/

Turn off your lights...it's only one hour, but it means so much more.

Where is Spring?

I thought that spring was "officially" here. I guess no one bothered to send Mother Nature the memo. At least not in my neck of the woods.

The month of March had been quite lovely up until this past weekend. Ever since then, it's been snow, freezing rain and rain...and mostly the first two. It looks more like January. There are no signs of daffodils or flowers of any sort. They're all in hiding.

On the upside, it's a great time to stay inside and get some work done, which is what I've been doing. I'm trying to get some projects completed and turned in so that, when the good weather finally does arrive, I can get out and enjoy it.

Hope spring has shown up in your neck of the woods. My african violet looks ready to flower. That's something. :-)

Two Five Blue Ribbon Reviews from Romance Junkies!

What a wonderful way to start a Monday! Romance Junkies just gave my two latest Ellora's Cave release 5 Blue Ribbon Ratings!

Reviewer, Chrissy Dionne, has this to say:


"Threads of Destiny is an utterly enchanting story full of heat, heart and even tears...a beautiful story which I’ve happily added to my ‘keeper shelf."

"There are some self confidence issues that are dealt with compassionately and make J.T. even more sexy and desirable – and I didn’t think that was possible! Tempting Tori is a passionate quick read that incorporates plenty of emotion so that the characters take on a life all their own and endear themselves to the reader."

You can click on the links to read the reviews.

Ellora's Cavemen Anthology Sale!

Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV


BIG SALE!

The ebooks (all 20 – Tales From the Temple, Legendary Tails, Dreams of the Oasis, Seasons of Seduction, and Jewels of the Nile) are on sale at Ellora's Cave for $6.99 each (regular price $9.99).

That's 20 books, each with 6 quickies, for a total of 120 Quickies at $1.165 per story (in groups of six). That's a great deal! If you haven't checked out the Ellora's Cavemen Anthologies, now is the time to do so.



Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III











Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV







Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV

Welcome to Spring!

Good morning and welcome to the first official day
of Spring!

I know that in some places the flowers are already starting to poke up out of the ground.

We're expecting snow this weekend. LOL But at least the hope of Spring is now here.

Enjoy!

New Contest!

To celebrate the upcoming release of my next Jamesville book--PAST PROMISES--from Samhain Publishing, I'm holding a contest and giving away a download copy.

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For details on how you can enter for a chance to win, check out my website at http://www.njwalters.com/ and click on the "contests" page.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

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Welcome to St. Patrick's Day!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Quote of the Week!

"All that we are is the result
of what we have thought."

~Buddha

Everything originates with thought. Our lives are made up of our thoughts. That's powerful and definitely something to think about.

Have a great Monday!

Sunday, Sunday!

Good morning and welcome to Sunday. It's been a cold weekend, but most of the snow has disappeared. It's been a very busy week for me. I did edits on my Samhain book, Past Promises, which will be released on April 14th. I finished the rough draft of my latest work-in-progress (WIP). And, I had a new release from Ellora's Cave--Tempting Tori.

Is it any wonder I had to take a few days off and do nothing. My head is spinning so hard, I'm not quite sure which book I'm working on. LOL Today, I start the first rewrite of my WIP. The first of many, no doubt. This is where I, hopefully, turn the manuscript into something really special before I submit it to my publisher.

Hubby and I are probably going to take in a movie this afternoon. We haven't been to one in a while and are both looking forward to it.

Hope all of you have a wonderful Sunday.

Tempting Tori

I'm thilled to announce that Tempting Tori is available today from Ellora’s Cave Publishing!

This is one HOT Quickie with a very sexy cowboy!

BLURB:

Standing in the barn, looking out over his ranch, J.T. Courage knows there is nowhere else on earth he’d rather be. He has his brothers, a successful horse business and a new home on the land that’s belonged to his family for generations. The only thing missing is someone to share it all with. And he has just the woman in mind.

Victoria Abrams is leaving the man she loves. She can no longer pretend he will one day see her as more than a friend or housekeeper. But J.T. is not about to let the sexy woman who has tempted him for months with her lush body and beautiful face slip away without a fight.

Guest Blogging at The Romance Studio!

I'm guest blogging over at The Romance Studio Blog today. In keeping with Read An EBook Week, I'm talking about...you guessed it...EBooks.

Drop by and say hi!

Reader's Appreciation Week at the Samhain Cafe

As part of the Samhain Cafe Reader's Appreciation Week, I'll be at the Cafe this morning from around 11 EST until 12 EST. I'll have some excerpts, give away a prize and generally be there to have a good time.

Drop by if you can and join in the fun. If you can't make it then, don't worry. There will be authors there all day with tons of fun and prizes.

Reader Appreciation and Read an eBook Week!

March 8th to March 14th is Read an eBook Week. Times have changed and many more people are being turned on to eBooks, thanks in part to all the great eBook readers out there. The Kindle, Sony Reader and eBookwise are all popular with readers. Then there is the fact that many ebooks can now be downloaded to your iphone. Technology is amazing.

This is also the week that Samhain Publishing is saying thank you to all their readers. All this week at the Samhain Cafe, authors will be posting excepts and contests and be giving away prizes. Check it out and join in the fun!

If nothing else, try an eBook this week. Even if you don't have a reader, you can buy many versions of the books that can be read on your computer. MS Reader and PDF are both accessible. You just need to download the free software and you are ready to read.

Here's to eBooks!

Edits Cave

I'm in the edits cave, have been since Wednesday morning. Things are moving right along, which is always a good sign.

Only one more day until Friday!

Past Promises--New Cover

Check out my new cover for Past Promises, which is releasing from Samhain Publishing on April 14th!

BLURB: Sometimes the only way to leave the past behind is to ignore the voice of reason—and leap.

Jamesville, Book 7

For Linda Fletcher, the sign in front of her new business says it all. Past Promises Antiques is her declaration of independence from her powerful and manipulative family—and a vow to herself that her future will be different.

She never considered herself the no-strings-affair type, but the chemistry between her and her newly hired handyman is too intense to ignore. Moving to Jamesville was a bold step, so what’s the harm in taking one more—into his arms?

Levi Mann’s shadowed past keeps his bags packed light and his feet on the move. But one look at Linda, and he finds himself willing to hang around—just long enough to figure out what it is that triggers their explosive passion.

March Newsletter Now Available

If you’re not already receiving Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—then you’re missing out on all the latest news, author interviews, excerpts and tons more! You’re also missing out on a chance to win every month!

The March 2009 issue is now available!

Check out the this month’s author interview with the talented Charlotte Boyett-Compo.

As well, each month, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win next month is to go to Awakening Desires Newsletter to join and read back issues.

There were some slight technical difficulties this month so the newsletter has been posted twice. Sorry for any inconvenience. :-)

Lipstick Jungle

It's a jungle out there. Just go into any drugstore or department store and head to the cosmetics counter. It's enough to give me hives just thinking about it. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of lipsticks, lip gloss, lip tints. What's a girl to do?

Is is just me? Somehow I've made it to the age of 44 without being able to pick out a decent lipstick color. They all just look...wrong.

Over the years, I've managed to find a shade or two that I liked, but they were usually discontinued. I'm not the type of woman to wear makeup often, but even I liked to occasionally don some lip color. But I haven't purchased a new lipstick in years. I mean, there are so many colors and types out there, who knows where to begin.

According to makeup and beauty expert, Bobbi Brown, "If I had to teach someone just one thing about lip color it would be this: Find a lipstick that looks good on your face when you are wearing absolutely no makeup."

That makes perfect sense. But how does one find that perfect color?

According to one article I found: "Lipstick and Lip Gloss--How to Select the Right Shade - - And How to Apply It" by Julyne Derrick, it's actually not as hard as it sounds.

"The most flattering lip tones will be one or two shades darker than your natural lip color, according to makeup artist Bobbi Brown. To test shades, apply lipstick or gloss to one lip. If that color is just a shade or two deeper than your bare lip, then you've found your shade. Yes, it's a simple as that. So what to do if you like to buy your lipsticks at a grocery store or department store like Wal-Mart, where you can't try the lipsticks out before you buy? You can trust the color printed on the box. Simply hold it up to your lips in the store and check it out in the mirror. Or better yet, check the color out in a window, where natural light shines through."

Check out this entire article for more great advice and tips at http://beauty.about.com/od/plasticsurgery/qt/lipcolor.htm.

Makes me think I might even brave the lipstick jungle this weekend in search of that perfect color. Even if I don't find it this weekend, I'll keep on looking now that I have a starting point.

Slacker Blogger

I know I haven't been very entertaining here lately. It's been tough finding interesting things to write about. I think it's just the winter blahs. But there is hope in sight! March is knocking and with that comes spring.

I promise to try to do better. :-)

Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day

Whatever you call the day, if you celebrate it, you will be eating pancakes today.

This celebration is associated with eating foods such as pancakes, and sometimes donuts, orginally because these foods used up ingredients such as fat and eggs, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. I know of some cultures which put money or other items in their pancakes. Personally, I always thought that was extremely dangerous and don't recommend it.

My mom always made plain pancakes. She served them up with a yellow sauce made out of custard powder. I have no idea exactly how she made it, only that it was yummy. Add a few slices of bacon to your plate and it was a meal I always looked forward to as a kid.

Whether you observe this as a religious holiday or not doesn't matter. Enjoy some pancakes for supper tonight.

For more information check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday

Tempting Tori--New Cover and Contest!

BLURB:

Standing in the barn, looking out over his ranch, J.T. Courage knows there is nowhere else on earth he’d rather be. He has his brothers, a successful horse business and a new home on the land that’s belonged to his family for generations. The only thing missing is someone to share it all with. And he has just the woman in mind.

Victoria Abrams is leaving the man she loves. She can no longer pretend he will one day see her as more than a friend or housekeeper. But J.T. is not about to let the sexy woman who has tempted him for months with her lush body and beautiful face slip away without a fight.

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I just love my cover for Tempting Tori. It's smokin' hot!

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To celebrate the upcoming release of Tempting Tori from Ellora's Cave, I'm giving away a download copy. Go to my website and click on the "contest" page for details.

Cover Featured

The cover for Beyond Shadows is one of three covers being featured this week on the Paranormal Monday MySpace Page. I absolutely love this cover and want to thank amazing Ellora's Cave cover goddess, Syneca, for the incredible job she did on it.

Check out the cover slideshow at http://www.myspace.com/Paranormal_Monday.

Pillow Talk Tuesday!

I'ts Pillow Talk Tuesday. I'm talking about books, writing, life and aliens.

Check out my interview over at Michelle Pillow's Blog! If you comment, you have a chance to win a download from my backlist.

Friday the 13th

It's that day again. One that brings terror to the hearts of many. It's Friday the 13th!

Fear of the number thirteen is called Triskaidekaphobia. It is also known as friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Studies have found that incidents of emergency room visits rise on this day.

According to Wikipedia:

In numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this completeness. There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper or a Norse myth, that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.

Whether you believe in superstition or not, be a little extra careful out there today.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Featured Member at TRS for February!

I'm featured over at The Romance Studio this month, talking about the print release of The Seduction of Shamus O'Rourke.

Check it out at http://www.theromancestudio.com/who1.php

Quote of the Week!

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia."

~E.L. Doctorow

At least that's what we tell ourselves when the voices in our heads won't leave us alone. :-)

Have a great Wednesday!

Samhellion Valentine Swag Hunt

Readers, can you help our authors?

Valentine's day is around the corner and the Samhellions have lost their swag! Their significant others will be very unhappy if our authors can't find their gifts and we all know what its like when our S.O. is cranky. :)

The mission is simple, go to the author websites below and search for the missing gifts. Each gift is an icon that will say, Samhellion Swag Hunt. Once you locate the gift, come back here and enter the item (jewelry, candy, etc) not the URL - for each author then click submit.

You're now entered into a drawing to win a free ebook! For each participating author, we will draw one prize so if you have nine authors on your list then you have nine chances to win! All winners will be announced on the Samhellion Blog.

I'm part of the final hunt on now from the 8th to the 12th! Check out The Samhellion website for details.

A Writer's Work is Never Done

And thank God for that.

As any writer knows, the more work you've got piled on your desk, the more books you have coming out. This week, I've been working on my current WIP. It's close and I should be able to submit it to my editor in another week or two. I have to wait for my reader to read it and hand it back with pages of red marks. Then I'll do the final rewrite before submission.

I'm also working on galley proofs for an upcoming print release--By the Book should be out in print from Samhain Publishing in September. And that's in-between all the regular emails, promotions, blogs, interviews, etc...

It can be hard to keep it all straight some days, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

TGIF!

A Taste of Summer

Early February and there is snow and ice and cold outside my window. I'm tired of winter. I decided what I needed was a taste of summer. Luck for me, my mother gave me a bunch of blueberries last summer that she picked in her garden. We ate some, but I froze several containers full.

Yesterday, I took some of the blueberries out of the freezer and made a blueberry cake. Taking that first bite for dessert was heavenly. And best of all, there is plenty of cake left for a few more days.

Treat yourself to a taste of summer. It will help drive back the winter blahs.

Books have gotten expensive

Author Charlottee Boyett-Compo certainly got a surprise this week. Amazon.com is selling her book BlackWind for a whopping $72,999.99. This book is worth it's weight in gold and then some.

Check out this book and all her other books at her website at http://www.windlegends.org/ .

February Newsletter is Now Available

If you’re not already receiving Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—then you’re missing out on all the latest news, author interviews, excerpts and tons more! You’re also missing out on a chance to win every month!

The February 2009 issue is now available!

Check out the this month’s author interview with the talented Lynn LaFleur.

As well, each month, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win next month is to go to Awakening Desires Newsletter to join and read back issues.

Samhellion Valentine Swag Hunt

Readers, can you help our authors?

Valentine's day is around the corner and the Samhellions have lost their swag! Their significant others will be very unhappy if our authors can't find their gifts and we all know what its like when our S.O. is cranky. :)

The mission is simple, go to the author websites below and search for the missing gifts. Each gift is an icon that will say, Samhellion Swag Hunt. Once you locate the gift, come back here and enter the item (jewelry, candy, etc) not the URL - for each author then click submit.

You're now entered into a drawing to win a free ebook! For each participating author, we will draw one prize so if you have nine authors on your list then you have nine chances to win! All winners will be announced on the Samhellion Blog.

There will be 4 Hunts in total from now until February 12th. I'm up on the 8th! Check out The Samhellion website for details.

Valentine's Day Contest

Valentine’s Day is almost here. To celebrate, I’m giving away a PRINT copy of Candy Caresses, which contains my Ellora’s Cave Valentine’s Quickie, Anastasia’s Style.

To enter, just go to my website and click on the “contests” page for details. Winning name will be drawn on February 14th.

Candyman by Nicole Austin

BLURB:

Elisa Wilde’s recurrent erotic dreams transcend time and place. Dreams so real they seem to be actual memories of a bygone era. Driven to unravel the mystery and reclaim her life, she’s drawn into a sexy adventure—the search for another woman’s lover.

In a tragic twist of fate, Michael Claret lost his true love. He knows her soul will return and has waited decades for their passionate reunion, but getting her back is only a small part of the battle. Edie has changed, reincarnated as a different woman—Elisa. Not only will Michael have to once again win her heart, he must also gain her acceptance of his true nature. And to keep her requires she make a huge leap of faith by completing the mating bond—a sharing of blood binding them together for eternity.

Fate is a cruel mistress who will not be cheated or denied. To make the most of their second chance, Michael and Lis must alter the path chosen for them and rewrite their love story or be lost to each other forever.

This vampire novella is a story of a love that defies even death. You'll feel Michael's pain and his burning hope for reconciliation with his one true love, come to understand Lis's confusion and ultimate understanding as her dream world and reality collide. The author brings this tale full circle, capturing both eras in time, but most of all, capturing the love between two souls.

This is the authors first vampire tale, but I'm sure hope it won't be the last. Another sure winner for Nicole Austin.

Quote of the Week!

"Every writer I know has trouble writing."

~Joseph Heller

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit."

~Richard Bach

Good advice for a cold, January morning. It's the middle of the week. Welcome to Wednesday!

Winter...

Is it spring yet?

Whether you love it or hate it, winter has arrived with a vengeance. I'm blogging about it over at the Ladies of the Club Blog today.

Check it out.

And Welcome To Monday!

First Annual SAMMIE Awards

Samhain Publishing is holding it's First Annual SAMMIE Awards Presentation today at the Samhain Cafe from 2 PM EST until 10 PM EST.

Here's the official release:

"Please join us at the SP Café on Sunday, January 25th from 2-10 p.m. We’ll announce the top ten Best Selling from each year(2006-2008), as well as the Reader’s Choice top ten for both books and cover art.Naturally, there will be excerpts, fun and lots of prizes. We hope to see you there. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!"

So drop by, check out the fun and maybe win a prize.

Sharon Cullars Auction

I'm part of the "A Home For Sharon Cullars ebay Auction" currently taking place on ebay. There are tons of great stuff to bid on from books and gifts to book critiques and more.

Check out the full story to find out more about Sharon Cullars and the auction.

Gratitude

Life is about ups and downs, good times and bad. But no matter how dark some days may be, I always try to be grateful for what I do have.

Taking the time for gratitude each day is a tangible reminder of how lucky I truly am.

I have my health, which is no small thing. There is a roof over my head and food in the cupboard. I don't take those things for granted. I am grateful for a cup of hot tea on a cold winter's day. For the fluffy pillows and flannel sheets on the bed just waiting for me to snuggle into their warmth and comfort later tonight.

I am thankful for my husband, who is my best friend. He also makes me laugh at least once a day, which is truly a gift worthy of praise.

I could sit here and list dozens of things I'm grateful for. The trick is to remind myself of those things every single day.

Have a great Wednesday!

Quote of the Week!

I saw this quote written on a journal at the local bookstore this past weekend and thought it was absolutely perfect so I wanted to share it.

"Life isn't about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself."

~Unknown

Whoever said this is one smart cookie.

Guest Blogging at the Samhain Publishing Blog!

One Book, Two Book, Three Book, Four! I don't know about you, but I love reading a great series. I also love writing them. :-)

Check out my guest blog over at The Samhain Blog today!

TRS Reviews

BY THE BOOK and BEYOND SHADOWS have both received 5 heart reviews from The Romance Studio.

By The Book:

"I can't recommend this book enough, especially for the reader looking for real life events, light suspense and action, and most of all, a heartwarming happily ever after."
~Reviewer, Lisa Freeman

Check out The Romance Studio to read the rest of this review.


Beyond Shadows:

"I absolutely adored this novel...The ending is climactic, satisfying, and emotional. An awesome reading experience, which left me wanting to read more books by N.J. Walters with anticipation and excitement."
~Reviewer, Abi

Check out The Romance Studio to read the rest of this review.

Thank you to the reviewers and The Romance Studio.

Theads of Destiny is Now Available!

The wait is finally over! Threads of Destiny is now available from Ellora’s Cave Publishing. This time travel/ménage story continues the Tapestries series, although it can be read as a stand-alone book.

BLURB:

Marc Garen knows and understands the laws of his world. On Javara, women are scarce and brothers must share, although only one can be her husband. But he is lonely to the depths of his soul and longs for a woman of his own. A woman who has haunted his dreams.

Kathryn is a scientist, fighting to save two genetically enhanced super soldiers from termination when a magical tapestry transports them all to Javara. Now three men share Kathryn’s bed, all bent on satisfying her every desire. But Marc is resolved to make her his alone. He has three days to convince her…before the tapestry returns.

Guest Blogging...

Hey, everyone!

I'm guest blogging over at Robie Madison’s Blog today. Check out the Q & A about the Tapestries series and my upcoming Ellora's Cave release, Threads of Destiny!

Guest Blogging at The Romance Studio Blue!

I'm guest blogging over at The Romance Studio Blue Blog today. I'm talking about choices and changes and my Tapestries series.

Check it out!

Featured Member at TRS Blue for January!

I'm a featured member over at The Romance Studio Blue Pages for the Month of January.

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Check out the interview about my latest Ellora's Cave release--Beyond Shadows .

Old Christmas Day

Today is Old Christmas Day. I'm so used to hearing the term that it never ocurred to me exactly why January 6th was called that. I always assumed it was because it was the 12th day of Christmas--Twelfth Night. But there is more to it than that.

It has to do with time and calendars.

The Roman (Julian) calendar was a tad off in its calculations of time and in 1582 Pope Gregory decided to fix that--hence the Gregorian Calendar was adopted by Catholic Europe. Now, many Protestants didn't want the Pope telling them what to do, so they ignored it. By 1751, when Britain passed the Calendar Act, there was actually 11 days difference between them and most of Europe. They would have been celebrating Christmas on what was January 6th. Thus the name, Old Christmas Day.

Regardless of where it came from, it is the day when all the holiday decorations are supposed to come down so the new year can begin. Many folks still hold to that tradition. I know my mother does.

For me it depends on how I'm feeling. Some years, I'll leave the deocrations up until Old Christmas Day. Other years, like this one, I have them all packed away and Christmas 2008 is in the memory books.

Happy Old Christmas Day!

Monday, Monday...

The lights have gone dark, the tree is gone and all the decorations have been packed away for another year. Christmas is offically over...at least at our house.

I know that Old Christmas Day is tomorrow, but we packed away the remnants of the holiday over the weekend. It was time to get back to normal. Some years I'll keep the tree up until after Old Christmas Day. Other years I've taken it all down on New Year's Day. Most years it falls somewhere in-between.

January is a time of new beginnings. The year is new and fresh with nothing but possibilities ahead.

Now if I can only kick-start myself into 2009 I'd be happy. *g*

CAPA Nomination

A Legal Affair has been nominated for a CAPA (Cupid and Psyche Award) in the Erotic Contemporary Romance Category! How exciting is that! It certainly brightened my holidays.

And, as Jenn pointed out in her comment, The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke is nominated in the same category. Somehow I missed that when I first read the list. I think I was so excited about having a book nominated.

That's two JAMESVILLE books nominated for best Erotic Contemporary Romance. I'm going to have to celebrate again. *g*

Thank you to The Romance Studio and congratulations to all the other authors nominated for awards.

You can check out all the nominees at The Romance Studio. You can check out A Legal Affair, or any of my books, at my website.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that 2008 is over and 2009 is here. I did the ritual putting up of the new calendars today. Those are something I buy at the after-Christmas sales every year.


Now that the page has turned on the last year, it's time to start looking ahead. I don't make resolutions, as such. I just want to try and live as good a life as I can. I figure that covers just about everything.

May 2009 be a very good year for us all!

Year in Review!

As the final minutes of 2008 tick away, I thought I'd look back over the year. It was an exciting year for me, both personally and professionally.

January 1st saw the release of The Seduction of Shamus O'Rourke by Samhain Publishing. That same month, Overtime, Under Him was released by Pocket Books. It was exciting to see my Ellora's Cave Quickie, Unmasking Kelly, in print. Amethyst Moon, a time-travel/menage a trois quickly followed.

Then there was a quite a break in new releases for me due to an editor change. It was sad to see an editor leave, but luckily I have a wonderful new editor!

July heated up to be an exciting month. A Legal Affair was released from Samhain Publishing and a few days later Ellora's Cave released Jackson's Jewel, book 5 in the Awakening Desires series. I also had a print release that same month--Enticements, a two-book anthology, which contained Capturing Carly and Craving Candy, books 3 & 4 from the Awakening Desires series.

Another release followed in August. Lily Blossoms is a very sexy younger man/older woman story.

November saw two more releases--Beyond Shadows, a very hot paranormal/shapeshifter story from Ellora's Cave and By The Book, a sexy, suspense book from Samhain Publishing. The Seduction of Shamus O'Rourke was released in Print too!

The year closed out with the release of my story "Moon Magic" in the Ellora's Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology in both e-book and print.

All in all, not a bad year--8 e-books and 4 print books were released with my name on them in 2008. I couldn't be happier.

Thank you to everyone who read one of my books this past year. You've all helped make my dreams a reality.

May 2009 bring all of you health, happiness and everything good!

Happy New Year!

NJ

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Holiday with family and friends!

Thanks for all your support this past year. I'm looking forward to an even better year in 2009!

NJ
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com/

Jewels of the Nile IV--Now Available

Jewels of the Nile IV, which contains my story “Moon Magic” is now available from Ellora's Cave.

Under the light of the full moon, Meghan Flynn stands before an ancient stone well and wishes for a lover.

Watching from the shadows, Rory Shaunnessey is entranced. When she returns the following night, he steps forward, offering himself as her lover. But a hot summer fling can only last so long. Or can it be something more?

Jewels of the Nile IV is available today from Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

Winter Solstice

Happy Winter Solstice to you all. It officially arrives at 7:04 AM EST.

Today is the shortest day of the year, which means it's the longestnight of the year. After today the days will start to get a little bit longer.

Welcome to the official start of winter.

May the season bring light and happiness to your life.

4.5 Blue Ribbons for Lily Blossoms

Romance Junkies has given Lily Blossoms 4.5 Blue Ribbons. Here's a snippet of what the reviewer had to say:

"Ms. Walters has once again taken us back to small town Summerville, with its hot, sexy men and more than resourceful women. Lily Blossoms is a sweetheart of a story with two people who are tired of the usual and want a whole lot more than the average....N.J. Walters at her best."

You can check out the entire review at Romance Junkies!

Five-Minute Fudge

Here's a simple, fast, and absolutely delicious recipe for fudge that comes from a Carnation Cookbook we had when I was a kid. Enjoy!

RECIPE FOR FIVE-MINUTE FUDGE

Place 2/3 cup of Carnation Evaporated Milk and 1 2/3 cups of sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to boil. Boil for five minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Add 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips (semi-sweet dark are my favorite), 1 1/2 cups of white mini marshmallows, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring. Stir until smooth and then pour into greased 8x8-inch square pan. Cool and cut into squares. Eat and enjoy!

December Issue of The Samhellion

The December issue of The Samhellion is out. Be sure and check out my cranberry sauce recipe if your looking for an easy and delicious new recipe.

Also, check out the Samhellion website for the free Christmas reads offered by Samhain authors. There is something there for everyone!

Scrooge

It's not what you think.

I'm not in a bah humbug mood. But I was. *g*

Hubby and I took in a local production of Scrooge this past Friday evening. I watch the movie every year--several versions. But it's different live. No matter how many times you see it performed, each one is special.

The children have such fun and are so into their performance. They combine the traditional story with songs from the musical versions to create something special. I have to say that Jacob Marley was particularly good in this year's version. A lot of energy for a ghost.

Taking in local performances, plays or Christmas pageants is a good way to get into the holiday spirit.

Holiday Decorating

Yesterday, hubby and I finally bought a tree. It's not a real one, because the new company that took over our apartment building sent around notices letting everyone know they can't have a real one. Bah humbug!

The old company never minded at all. There was more of a feeling of community here back then. The superintendent knew most of the residents by name. But since they took over, the superintendent has changed about three times.

Anyway, hubby and I bought a tiny artificial tree. I didn't want to spend a fortune on one because, I know if we move next year, I'll want a "real" tree. Still, to quote Charlie Brown, "It's not a bad little tree."

It is sitting on a box in the living room because it's only about 4' tall. There was no way all the decorations were going on it, so we had to pick and choose our favorites, which was kinda nice. Hubby put on the lights and I sat and made popcorn and cranberry strings to wrap around it. Just like in Charlie Brown's Christmas, it morphed from a skinny little thing into a full, pretty tree. *g*

It didn't take long to put the tree up, but it does add a homey glow to the room.

It's the spirit that counts and this little tree has plenty of that!

Hope all of you are decorated for the holidays. Have fun!

Contest Reminder!

If you'd like a chance to win free books, check out my HOLIDAY MADNESS Contest!

I've already given away 2 Print copies of White Hot Holidays, Volume 3, which features my story, Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift.

I've still got 1 print copy of White Hot Holidays 3 to give away, as well as a download copy of the Ellora's Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV Anthology, due out on December 21st.

Check out my website, and click on the "contests" page for details.

Nick of Time by Elle James

This time of year, I like to treat myself to a Christmas book or two or three. *g* And this year, one of my favs so far is NICK OF TIME by Elle James.

It's fast-paced, funny, and heart-warming. You'll fall in love with Nick and Mary and all the folks of North Pole, Alaska. Do yourself a favor this year and treat yourself to Nick of Time.

BLURB:

Nick St. Claire had come to North Pole, Alaska, with a few questions for Santa, only Claus had gone AWOL. Clearly, someone was trying to ruin the holidays, though the clever cowboy never had much use for them. Until he met Mary Christmas…

Santa's only child, Mary, was left to tend shop in his absence—suddenly making her a killer's next target. Nick volunteered to protect her, but he was also a stranger with a bundle of his own not-so-saintly secrets. Could Mary enlighten him on the joys of the season, or would a missing Santa squash her holiday spirit?

First Snow

Hubby and I went for a walk early yesterday morning. We usually go on one of the city walking trails, one that goes around a small pond with plenty of ducks and swans and other birds. It's a wonderful break from the bustle of city life and we both enjoy it.

As we walked, it began to snow. There was barely any wind so the snow fell almost straight down in big, fluffy flakes. The world was quiet and the path was almost empty. At many points during the walk there was no one but us around.

What is it about that first snow of the year that's magical? The air was so still when we stopped to watch the snowflakes drift over the pond. It was utterly beautiful.

Now I'm the first one to tell you I'm not fond of snow and that by February I'll be sick of the snow. But that doesn't matter during the first snowfall of the season.

It's all gone now. Washed away by the torrent of rain that fell yesterday afternoon and last night. For that matter, it's still raining.

But the first snow fell. And it was magic. I'm glad hubby and I were out and about to enjoy it.

Book-A-Day Giveaway!

I'm one of the authors giving away a free book today over at The Romance Studio Book-a-Day Giveaway.

Check out the details for a chance to win a PDF download copy of my latest Samhain Publishing release--By The Book!

Print Book Sale!

Ellora's Cave is having a huge end-of-year print book sale! There are literally hundreds of print books for sale, including some of mine. This is a great time to do some holiday shopping or maybe even buy a book or two for yourself.

To check out this fabulous sale, go to Ellora’s Cave Print Book Sale and start shopping. You can also check out N.J.’s books at Ellora’s Cave. My print books are at the bottom of the page. Not all of them are on sale, but quite a few of them are. If you've ever wanted Dalakis Embrace, Tapestry Dreams, Summersville Secrets, or the Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology (which includes the prequel to Beyond Shadows), or any other one, now is the time to buy.

Please have patience if the site is slow due to the huge amount of folks taking advantage of the sale.

Eppie Finalists!

I'm thrilled to announce that THREE of my books are finalists for the 2009 EPPIE Awards!

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The Seduction of Shamus O'Rourke is a finalist in the Contemporary Romance category. Eternal Brothers finaled in the Fantasy/Paranormal Erotic Romance category and Jackson's Jewel in the Mystery/Suspense/Horror Erotic category.

Talk about excting!

Congratulations and good luck to all the other EPPIE Nominees.

Awakening Desires Newsletter--December Issue Now Available

If you’re not already receiving Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—then you’re missing out on all the latest news, author interviews, excerpts and tons more! You’re also missing out on a chance to win every month!

The December 2008 issue is now available!

This month, many of the author's drop by to offer holiday greetings!

As well, each month, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win next month is to go to Awakening Desires Newsletter to join and read back issues.

By The Book Gets 5 Angels!

Fallen Angel Reviews has given BY THE BOOK a 5 Angel Review. Here's a snippet of what reviewer, Rachel C, had to say:

"The sparks fly from the second that door is open and throw in a little life or death drama and you’re on the edge of your seat and breathing hard. I was already a fan of Ms. Walters and there’s no question in my mind that I will be for life. Pick up any of her books and you will be too but be sure not to miss By The Book."

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Thank you Rachel C and FAR. To read the entire review, check out Fallen Angel Reviews.

Black Friday--Have a Little Faith in Me

It's Black Friday in the USA--traditionally the day when most folks get out there and Christmas shop. Many stores will open wayyyyyy too early and will have huge sales.

Once you've finished your shopping and need to relax, hop on over to Ellora’s Cave Publishing and check out the new releases today, especially HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME by the incredibly talented Nicole Austin.

This is everything a Quickie should be--hot with heart. You'll love Darius and Andi as they struggle with the attraction blazing between them.

So curl up in your comfy chair with a mug of hot chocolate and treat yourself to something special. You'll be glad you did.

Blurb:

Believing in the paranormal is no stretch for healthcare worker Andreana Costas. She’s used to dealing with things most people won’t admit exist. But convincing a man of science to have faith in her intuition—impossible. Andi has no choice. A mystical warrior assigned her a mission that will have a profound impact on all mankind. Success requires big personal sacrifices, like the career she loves and the hunky doc she desires.

Helping trauma surgeon Darius Raines race to the rescue and save the world just in the nick of time is going to require all the bravery and strength she can muster. That, along with some duct tape, several silk ties and a nice firm bed.

New PRINT Book!

I'm thrilled to announce that The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke is now available in PRINT! I love all the Jamesville books, but Shamus O'Rourke is one very special hero.

You can check out this book, or any other in the Jamesville series at Samhain Publishing.

BLURB:

After her father's death, Cyndi Marks returns to Jamesville, determined to settle here and lay the ghosts of years ago to rest once and for all. But the past has a way of catching up—and hanging on.

When her car breaks down outside of town, a handsome stranger stops to help. He intrigues and attracts her, but then she discovers who he is.

Shamus enjoys his job, his family and small town living. What he’s missing is someone with whom to share it. Immediately drawn to Cyndi, he is determined to get closer to her, even as he senses her pulling away.

But not everyone in Jamesville is happy to see Cyndi. People are hiding secrets. Secrets they would kill to protect. When violence erupts in her home, Cyndi turns to the only person in town she can trust—Shamus.

In a situation where family loyalties are strained, Cyndi's life is threatened and everyone is a suspect, will their emerging love survive?

BY THE BOOK is Out Today!

I'm thilled to announce the release of my latest Samhain Book! BY THE BOOK, which is part of the Jamesville series, is now available!

Amanda Barrington has moved to Jamesville to start a new life, but someone in this quiet town is trying to kill her.

Former soldier, Jonah Sutter, has returned home to help his sister pick up the pieces of her life. Sparks fly when he and Amanda meet.

He takes on the job of fixing the wiring in her house and ends up protecting her from her stalker. When Amanda is attacked again, all bets are off. And Jonah is no longer playing By The Book.

By The Book is now available from Samhain Publishing. To find out more about this book, or any other of my books, check out my website.

Monday, Monday!

It rained all this past weekend, but that was okay. I didn't mind staying at home. I had a lot to think about this weekend. It was my birthday on Saturday and I find that is a day that makes me take stock of my life.

Hubby and I celebrated in our low-key way and I ate waaaayyy too much birthday cake. LOL Numerologically speaking, it seems like a special year. My birthday is 11/22 and I'm 44. I want to make this year the best one yet, stretch my boundaries and do things I'm afraid to do. I have some ideas, but I plan to make a list over the coming weeks, sort of a New Year's Resolution a bit early. By the time my next birthday arrives I want to be able to tick most of the things off my list...or at least some of them.

It's an exciting week career wise for me. I had a new release from Ellora’s Cave Publishing last week. So far reader reaction to Beyond Shadows has been phenomenal.

Tomorrow I have a book releasing from Samhain Publishing. By The Book is the next Jamesville book and, like the last three, it's hot and spicy. I'm looking forward to hearing what readers have to say about it.

Hope you all had a great weekend and have a wonderful week.

Happy Monday!

I'm thrilled to announce that Beyond Shadows, my paranormal/shapeshifter book releases today from from Ellora’s Cave Publishing!


Beyond Shadows
N.J. Walters

This is a stand alone book, but it is a sequel to “Shadows Stir” from Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology.

An immortal warrior of the Shadow Realm, Blade’s self-control has been honed to a razor’s edge by centuries of fighting, but it vanishes the moment he lays eyes on Jacqueline Harris. The mere sight of her stirs his blood and he craves physical pleasures long forgotten.

Jac is an accountant, not a risk taker, preferring to live her life quietly. That all changes when she is sent to see a client by mistake and stumbles onto a crime ring. Now she’s on the run for her life.

The sexy stranger appears at her beach house, swearing to protect her at all costs. Dark and dangerous, he resembles the assassin she first fears he is. The last thing she expects is that he can morph into the deadly panther tattooed on his chest. The undeniable passion between them flares to life, but it is more than attraction. It is a soul-deep knowing that he will change her life forever. Blade becomes both protector and lover, but it’s up to her to save him from the shadows that haunt him.

Shamus is in Print!

Look what came in my mailbox today!
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I got my author copies of The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke, book 4 in the Jamesville series from Samhain Publishing.
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It's not "officially" out until November 25th, but I got my copies early. YAY!

Aren't they pretty. :-)

Monday Update!

Good morning and welcome to Monday.

Last week got lost in the mists of time. LOL I've been having a hard time settling down with my latest project, but I'm hoping to make more headway this week. I'm 25K in, but I still don't feel like I've found my rhythm on this one yet.

This is an exciting week for me. I have a new release from Ellora's Cave--Beyond Shadows--on November 21st. I'm very excited about this paranormal/shapeshifter tale.

Other than that, life goes on as ususal. I've been getting my walk in most days, in spite of the rainy weather. Yesterday, I spent an hour or so wrapping Christmas presents. *g* I'm finished all my shopping, except for hubby. We keep things simple in our family, so it's not that hard to get it all done fairly quickly. Plus, there aren't that many of us to shop for.

Hope this week is a great one for all of you. What are your plans?

I Heart Your Blog Award

I Heart Your Blog Award.

Michelle Pillow has awarded me the I Love Your Blog Award. Thank you, Michelle! She also had some really sweet things to say about me and my book covers. Thank you and a big hug to Michelle!

I would have given the award both her and Mandy Roth, but they've already received it. :-)

As the rules go, I have to send the award on to seven other authors. It's hard to choose just seven, but here goes.

Anny Cook has a wonderful blog. She has wonderful insights about life that make me smile or stop and think.

Charlene Teglia because I'm a huge fan of her work.

Daisy Dexter Dobbs has a unique take on the world and always makes me laugh. Life is an adventure for Daisy.

Nicole Austin is not only a fabulous writer, but an incredible person as well. Plus, she always has such inspirational pictures on her blog.

Shelley Munro's blog is always interesting!

Lauren Dane. I'm a big fan of her writing and I love her video blog!

The Hussies Blog because these ladies are incredibly talented. Their blog is always sexy and fun. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Interview!

Not too long ago, Joyfully Reviewed interviewed me for their Author Spotlight!

You can check out the entire interview at Joyfully Reviewed!

Remembrance Day

This is Remembrance Day in Canada and in many countries around the world. It is a day to be thankful for the freedoms we have and to remember those who gave their lives for it.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

Guest Blogging at TRS

Does the dark side of romance attract you?

I know, I love writing paranormal tales. I'm writing about it today over at The Romance Studio Blog. Check out my blog post--The Dark Side!

Monday, Monday...

So here it is Monday once again. I think the weeks are speeding up as the end of the year draws nearer.

What have I been up to this past week? Hmm...let's see. I started working on a new book. It's not a contracted work, just something I want to do. I've given myself to the end of the year to work on it before I have to switch back to writing books that actually pay the bills.

I've been walking and getting some exercise. The scales say I finally lost 5 pounds. That's a good thing! Unfortunately, it's the same 5 pounds I've been putting on and taking off since last Christmas. LOL I'm hoping this time it stays gone.

I also started my Christmas shopping. I have a small list and we don't give large presents, so I'm almost finished. I still have to work on getting something for my hubby. But I'm not worried about that. There's plenty of time yet.

That's pretty much what I've been up to over the past seven days. I've got two new books releasing later this month. That's very exciting. And if you haven't done it already, check out my new contest!

Have a fabulous Monday!

November Sneak Peek Contest

November is shaping up to be a very busy time for me. I have two new e-books releasing this month—BEYOND SHADOWS from Ellora’s Cave Publishing on November 21st and BY THE BOOK from Samhain Publishing on November 25th.

To celebrate, I’m giving away a copy of both books.

To enter, just go to my website and click on the “Contests” page for details. Drawings will take place on November 20th and 24th.

Ideas and Writing

I have what I think is a fabulous idea for a new book. Actually, it's going to be a series. The idea came to me, as most ideas do, when I wasn't looking for it. It was actually a combination of a couple of things that happened in a short span of time and they developed into an actual idea in my mind. (Don't ask--I'm superstitious and don't talk about my ideas until they become actual books.)

I was too busy to give it much time or thought when it occurred to me several months ago. I did make a first attempt at starting this new project a while ago, but didn't like the beginning. After weeks of pondering, I think I figured out what the problem was.

Now, I'm starting again. I'm hoping to salvage most of what I've already written, but the beginning will be new. I'm hoping it comes together this time. If not, I'll put it aside and let it perk. It's one of those ideas that I don't want to waste and I don't want to screw up by pushing too hard and fast. I'm going to take the rest of the year to work on it and see what happens.

It's not a book for any particular publisher. I want to just let this idea expand and become the book it needs to be. After that, I'll worry about finding a publisher for it.

In January, no matter what happens, it's back to regular scheduled writing. After all, ideas are fine, but folks got bills to pay. :-)

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Madness

Holidays got you feeling a little crazy?

Check out my post over at The Samhain Blog today!

Award Nominations

I just found out that I've been nominated for 7 Awards over at the Romance Erotica Connection. I'm thrilled to be nominated.


Erotic Romance - Contemporary BEST SEX Scene--Jackson’s Jewel

Erotic Romance - Contemporary Cover of the Year--Jackson’s Jewel

Erotic Romance - Paranormal NOVEL OF THE YEAR—Eternal Brothers

Erotic Romance - Paranormal SHORT STORY OF THE YEAR –Amethyst Moon

Erotic romance - Contemporary BEST SEDUCTION—Jackson’s Jewel

Erotic Romance - Contemporary Author of the year –N.J. Walters

Erotic Romance - Contemporary Novel of the year—Summersville Secrets

Raven Halloween Scavenger Hunt Winners

The Winners of the Raven Halloween Scavenger Hunt are listed over at The Raven Happy Hour Blog. I gave away a download copy of Eternal Brothers as a prize in this Halloween Scavenger Hunt.

Thanks to all of you who participated!

Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Savings Time (DST) was first proposed by William Willett in the year 1907 as a way for people to enjoy more outdoor activities during certain times of the year.

His proposal didn't get much support, but that all changed during the the First World War. DST was promoted as a way to alleviate hardships from wartime coal shortages and air raid blackouts.

We still dutifully turn our clocks ahead in the spring and back in the fall, but does it really make a difference? Many studies would suggest that it doesn't--not in our day and age. There are no substantial fuel savings as, unlike our ancestors, we don't get up with the sun, nor go to bed when it goes down.

Our lives aren't as tied to the rise and fall of the sun. The malls are still full whether it's morning, afternoon or evening. And the extra hour of sunlight in the summer doesn't make a whit of difference to most of us as we go about our daily activities.

Personally, I think it's more habit than anything else that keeps us following DST. Many countries around the world no longer use it, and there is a portion that never have.

I could do without it.

How about you?