This past week, I stumbled upon the recipe below on a fave blog. It looked yummy. It looked simple enough (which is important–I’m no Betty Crocker). So I gave it a shot yesterday.

The results?

This soup is To Die For delicious! Seriously.

The recipe can be found HERE.

Now, I will admit, I tweaked it a little. I added more garlic than the recipe called for, and I skipped the parsley. I also skipped the thickening. The soup was as thick as it needed to be. I also added some shredded sharp cheddar to the top of each bowl. Insanely good. If you’re a potato soup fan, you must try it.

• Guest Blogger: Lauren Fraser I want to welcome Lauren Fraser today. She'd like to talk about menages. I know there are a few of you out there who love reading a good menage. You know I do! I hope you enjoy her post. So without further ado... Menages and why we love 'em! First......
• Cover Pretty! I just received a very pleasant surprise in my mailbox yesterday.  A bundle of cover flats for Blood of Eden. First, can I just say...SQUEEEEEEEE!!! Okay, not that I have that out of my system, I'll post a copy. Note: the typeface is gold foil. It's not scanning very well.......
• Q&A with Megan Records, Editor Once a month, over on the Brava Author's blog, editor Megan Records is being kind enough to take questions from readers. And she's willing to answer just about any question you have. This month, the questions (posted in comments) included what types of books her authors write, what her thoughts......
• A question about author blurbs At the moment, I'm in the process of requesting author blurbs for my upcoming Aphrodisia release, DARKEST FIRE--at the request of my editor. Clearly, the folks at Kensington believe blurbs by authors help a book sell. To clarify, when I say "blurb" I"m talking about those short, punchy promo-ish, "Hot,......
• Excerpt: Girl Enslaved [/caption] Jamie Purdue has her vacation all planned out. She’s going to watch movies on Lifetime and do a few odd jobs around her parents’ place. Little does she know that Brad and Logan, two gorgeous acquaintances with to-die-for bodies, have other plans for her. And none of those plans......

• Spaghetti Ala Oglio: Yummy Pasta Recipe This is a very simple recipe called Spaghetti Ala Oglio. Oglio is Italian garlic infused oil that is used to dress spaghetti or spaghettini.  This is a very simple alternative to the usual tomato sauce or creamy sauce.  The base of this sauce is olive oil. Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days- whether your at the grocery store, or......
• Egg Drop Soup Recipe Egg Drop Soup Recipe Print Recipe type: Appetiser Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 20 mins Serves: 4 Ingredients Ingredients 4 cups chicken broth 2 tablespoons green onions (chopped) 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons corn starch 4 eggs 1 egg yolk......
• What to Look For in Rare Money Getting the collection that you want to have requires that you will be able to get all of the information you will need about the pieces that you are purchasing. Among the different ways that you will be able to get everything that you are looking for is to know......
• Roast Garlic Mashed Potato Recipe With the Holidays coming up a good mashed potato recipe is priceless. You have to allow a little extra time for this Roast Garlic Mashed Potato Recipe due to the time it takes to roast the garlic. I roasted the garlic ahead of time because I had to use......

1. The Stir Daily Ten (a daily newsletter featuring ten general interest articles) The Stir Daily Ten [thestiremail@cafemom.com]

2. Decorating – BHG.com (a weekly newsletter featuring short home decorating/interior design articles) Decorating – BHG.com [decorate@email.bhg.com]

3. Kristen Lamb’s blog (a daily newsletter for writers, featuring short articles about writing/publishing) http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/

4. Metro Parent Publishing (a weekly newsletter featuring a calendar of events/activities for families with children. Metro Parent Publishing [metroparent@metroparent.ccsend.com]

5. HGTV Inspiration (a weekly newsletter featuring short, useful home decorating/interior design tips. HGTV Inspiration [inspiration@newsletters.hgtv.com]

• 5 Reasons why I wish I could be HGTV’d by Robert and Courtney Novogratz http://www.thenovogratz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/about_pic-500x750.jpg   First, a confession: I am an HGTV addict. That channel is always playing in my office/den. Practically 24/7. But there is one show that I eagerly await every week--Home by Novogratz. I am just floored by the designs showcased in that show. If only I could by HGTV'd......
• Win $100 Gift Card! Hello everyone! My book, DARKEST FIRE, officially releases March 29--in exactly 11 days. I need to create some buzz. This is where the gift card comes in. I'm holding a contest and the grand prize is a $100 GIFT CARD from Amazon, B&N OR Borders (winner's choice). Five randomly selected......
• Sharing some info: Grant for young unpublished writers Grant For Talented Youth We would like to announce the official launch of the C.A.Milson Award For Talented Youth. The first Grant by C.A.Milson will see three talented youth receive funding which can be used to help with research costs, purchase equipment or help with financial aid. "I see people......
• Guest Blogger: Wynter Daniels talks about the Creativity Well The Creativity Well Where do ideas come from? For many creative people, they do their best work when under tremendous stress. Misery breeds brilliance for some. For me, I work best in times peace and calm in my life. But that is not to say that in times of......
• The Cheapskate's Guide to Promoting Ebooks Recently, a newly published author posted a question about  promoting her ebook on one of my fave writing forums, Romance Divas. I could tell from her post that she was completely overwhelmed and intimidated by the prospect of promoting her upcoming release. Making matters worse, her publisher asked her to......

• My Favorite Blog Articles of the Week So fantasy baseball is starting up again. Both Yahoo and espn have opened their sites for fantasy baseball 2009! If you couldn't tell from my article comparing the stock market to fantasy baseball, I love fantasy baseball. I usually join at least 8 leagues, some of which are with friends......
• The Top Tips For The Inexperienced Blog Writer Writing a blog is an excellent hobby and it can also be used with the intention to commence your individuality on the internet. Writing a blog is easier to begin compared to a web page, and it is a lot easier to maintain than a website. There are good quality......
• Jero singing Enko part 2 More from Gordon: Jerome interviewed by Kyung Lah of CNN/TalkAsia. She lives there too. This reporter is so into this interview. She gets it too, in her way. Jero: American Enka Singer 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gdVIc2x4Y&feature=related Jero: American Enka Singer 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7walkSeE8&feature=related Jero: American Enka Singer 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nZpm8TcIhI&feature=related http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/lah.kyung.html 'Anchors & Reporters--......
• Barry Fail- All the Obama News That You Need: Check This Out! [/caption] With the constant flow of news all day every day, it's hard to keep track of every breaking story and blog article that you'd like to read.  Thankfully, all this confusion is made easier by BarryFail, a website that organzies the best blogs and articles about politics all in......
• Saving Money with a Government Loan Option Buying a home is part of the American dream. For more than half of a century, Americans have been set on finding homes to hang their hats. Owning a home is a sign of stability and pride. However, financing a home can be a nightmare that interrupts the American dream.......

First, a confession: I am an HGTV addict. That channel is always playing in my office/den. Practically 24/7. But there is one show that I eagerly await every week–Home by Novogratz. I am just floored by the designs showcased in that show. If only I could by HGTV’d by them. What a dream that would be!

What is it about this show in particular that makes me eagerly await the next episode?

1. The crisp, fresh color schemes

When I look at their rooms, I see a lot of bright colors teamed with clean, pure white. Orange. Green. Blue. Pink. At the moment, with the many stresses our family is currently facing, those are the combinations I crave. They make me feel light and carefree and happy. I need that right now.

2. Their use of huge, bold graphics

Many of the Novogratz’s rooms feature huge, oversized murals, bold geometric wallpapers, and/or interesting, achievable wall treatments. There’s always a WOW moment. In particular, I love their use of family photos in either wallpapers or murals. What a way to make a space personal.

3. Their keen ability to mix old with new and make it work

Their rooms don’t look like all the pieces were purchased at the same store, at the same time. And yet, they all share a common feature that makes them fit within the overall design. I try to do this, out of necessity. Am I as successful? No way! But I keep trying.

4. Their cheap chic, anyone can do this approach to design

Taping off sections of a wall, painting stripes and then using stencils to write out a simple message…the average do-it-yourselfer like me can handle that.

5. Their willingness to take risks–such as building an inside slide in a client’s basement or painting a bedroom’s ceiling with chalkboard paint and then paying an artist to draw a gorgeous winged deer over the bed. Again, WOW.

When I watch do-it-yourself shows on TV, I want to be inspired. I want to see something I haven’t seen somewhere else. I always get that when I watch their show (and no, I’m NOT being paid to endorse their HGTV program). HGTV, if you happen to stumble upon this little blog, please keep shows like this one coming!

• Five Fab Email Newsletters Worth Reading 1. The Stir Daily Ten (a daily newsletter featuring ten general interest articles) The Stir Daily Ten [thestiremail@cafemom.com]   2. Decorating - BHG.com (a weekly newsletter featuring short home decorating/interior design articles) Decorating - BHG.com [decorate@email.bhg.com]   3. Kristen Lamb’s blog (a daily newsletter for writers, featuring short articles......
• From The Wall Street Journal: Ebooks Rewrite Bookselling On Friday, May 21, the Wall Street Journal published this fascinating article, talking about Barnes and Noble's attempts at adjusting its business model to help it survive a future where ebooks comprise a large fraction of book sales. Personally, as a Nook owner (and lover), I'm hoping they are successful......
• #SampleSunday! Sweet as Sin Inez Kelley EXCERPT: “Two for play?” One brow arched as he stared at the seemingly innocent mini cupcakes. An idea sparked. It was so out of character for her, totally irresponsible and spur of the minute, that at first she rejected it. But it clung to her......
• The Cheapskate's Guide to Promoting Ebooks Recently, a newly published author posted a question about  promoting her ebook on one of my fave writing forums, Romance Divas. I could tell from her post that she was completely overwhelmed and intimidated by the prospect of promoting her upcoming release. Making matters worse, her publisher asked her to......
• Private Games (three hot stories in one) Now FREE! Private Games (Three stories in one!) (Read Excerpt) E-mail this product to a friend Who would have thought a simple board game could change your life. Three women learn it can when they toss the dice, face a challenge or two, and win…love, laughter, and hot, hot sex. Playing......

• This One's for Realtors® - Or the Ups and Downs of Selling Your Home As most of you know, I put my house on the market a few weeks ago. I have lived here for almost 12 years, so this is a happy/sad occasion. Happy: I can downsize to something that suits my needs better, now that my daughters are starting to move away.......
• The Past Wasn’t As Good As You Remember it So Get Over It While I am not sure if I am included in the statement anymore (since I am old)  but I hate when people talk about how “this” generation is the worst one ever.  A quote that brings a smile to my face whenever I come across it is, The Children......
• Holiday Prep This time next week, Thanksgiving will be over and done. I am not trying to rush the process, but I am wanting to remind you to enjoy the whole holiday, however it unfolds, which may include the cleaning, the grocery store, and the prepping, or packing up to go somewhere.......
• Weve Observed A Lot Of Extremely Bright People, Thinking They Could Make A Killing By Getting Smart And For Sure, Ones Own Methods Have A Lot Of Efforts Put In Them Yet They Lose. Invest your forex pair with all tendency and not in opposition to it. Bear in mind that forex currency trading or perhaps a is definitely high-risk as usually you cant only win without making losses. There is various education and learning on basic trading approaches offered on the internet, start......
• Late Workout Today I woke up today with the desire to workout. But I didn't right away. Instead I went over to a friends house and helped him move a 250 pound big screen television from his upstairs game room to his downstairs living room. After a few minute and a lot of......

…for this sweet kitten, sealed in a bag and left to die on the banks of the Rouge River in Detroit.

The kitten, only 4 weeks old, is having problems eating due to its young age. The Michigan Humane Society is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible:

This incident is currently being investigated by the Michigan Humane Society Cruelty Investigation Department. A $2,500 reward is offered for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Michigan Humane Society’s Cruelty Investigation Hotline at (313) 872-3401. Callers may remain anonymous.

My hope is that River’s future is much brighter than his past, and that he has the chance to experience the more honorable side of humankind–the loving, caring, self-sacrificing parts of people that make them human.

• Borders' new ebook store For those who aren't on a Borders email mailing list, Borders just opened their new ebook store and they're offering a free ebook to those who register and open a new account. Among the apps they are offering: iPhone/iPod Touch, PC/mac, Android and Blackberry. You can download them HERE. For......
• Announcing the second Some Like it Hot Writing Contest ~Some Like It Hot~ Writing Contest (2) Starting October 25th, 2010, I will be hosting a writing contest! The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave. The Prizes? Read on! All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including: ~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~ *You may submit one chapter--not to exceed 5000 words. Stories......
• The Hot Topic of The Day: The Erosion of eBook Prices You can't go on the Kindle Boards or read some of Publishing's most influential blogs lately without running across an article about the falling prices of ebooks. Nathan Bransford, the former literary agent, gives his take on pricing: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/03/amanda-hocking-and-99-cent-kindle.html On BoingBoing, the question is asked, Will all digital books eventually......
• Announcing...The Some Like it Hot Writing Contest (2)! ~Some Like It Hot~ Writing Contest (2) Starting October 25th, 2010, I will be hosting a writing contest! The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave. The Prizes? Read on! All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including: ~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~ *You may submit one chapter--not to exceed 5000 words. Stories......
• News Release: Barnes and Noble announces PubIt! self-publishing platform NEW YORK, May 19, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Barnes & Noble, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!bks/quotes/nls/bks (BKS 19.77, +0.27, +1.38%) , the world's largest bookseller, is extending its deep and longstanding tradition of supporting authors and publishers with PubIt! by Barnes & Noble, an easy and lucrative way for independent publishers and self-publishing......

• Snap Fitness easyFIT System Snap Fitness 24-7 is a workout facility chain that continues to push an alternate to many of the big membership gyms found in each city. Focusing more on the individual, Snap Fitness allows members to workout where they want, when they want, as memberships give access to each and every......
• An Early Visit with the Tax Man and Weekend Reading Yesterday was the deadline to pay estimated federal income taxes. Although I have taxes withheld from my paychecks, we always end up owing money at tax time. Sometimes the amount we owe puts us close to or in the underpayment penalty range. My normal method of solving that problem is......
• Multilevel Marketing Fuel Additive A few months ago my neighbor and his dad came over to talk to me for a few minutes. They told me about a great new product to help improve gas mileage. They showed me a small 2-oz. bottle of a product called EnviroMax Plus, which I thought was a......
• Who is Better at Stock Market Trading - Humans or Robots, Part 2 Thank you all for taking the poll in the my last blog post (see the post immediately before this one). At this time over 2,000 people answered each question! That's amazing and thank you for participating. The results are clear - about 2/3 of the voters think humans are better......
• Laguna Seca Golf Course, Monterey, CA Laguna Seca is located in Monterey, CA Phone: (831) 373-3701 Website: http://www.lagunasecagolf.com/sites/courses/view.asp?id=292&page=6005 Course History: This course first opened in 1970 and was designed by Robert Trent Jones. It was instantly one of the most popular courses in the area and it is easy to see why. By combining great......

Did you know there’s a LEGAL way to swap, borrow and/or lend ebooks? Check out this site: http://ebookfling.com. It’s free to join.

But...(important service announcement here)…it ISN’T always free to borrow a book. (You did know there would be a but in there somewhere, right?)

How it works (from the ebookfling.com website):

With 14-day lending now available on tens of thousands of Nook and Kindle books, eBook Fling makes it possible for readers across America to borrow and share their ebooks. Lend an ebook, earn a credit, and borrow any other for free! It’s 100% safe with the book returned in 14 days guaranteed. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: LIST. Got ebooks? List them up for grabs.

Any Kindle or Nook books you own can be listed. Your collection is what makes up our collection.

Step 2: LEND. Email your book if requested.

Send your book along to the requesting borrower and earn credits for each successful fling. But don’t send your e-reader!

Step 3: BORROW. Snatch up any ebook you’d like!

Spend 1 credit and choose any ebook from thousands to borrow. No credits? It’s just $2.99 to borrow. Cheap, right? We prefer thrifty.

Step 4: READ. Enjoy a 14-day fling with your book!

Download to your Mac or PC, KindleTM or NookTM device, or your iPad&tm;, iPhone&tm;, Blackberry&tm;, or Android&tm; smartphone. Afterward, the book disappears and is automatically returned to the original owner. Simple.

My thoughts: If you’re the kind who buys books written by NYT and/or USA Today bestselling authors, and aren’t all that fond of their books’ price tags, that $2.99 price looks mighty good. However, there are many thousands of books available on Kindle and Nook that are priced below that. I’ve bought and read a great many of them. And I have yet to be disappointed.

A few questions you may wish to explore before joining a lending/sharing type of service like this:

1. Isn’t lending limited to once per owner, for a period of 14 days?

2. How many books are included in the Nook/Kindle lending programs?

3. At one point, it was necessary for the borrower to have the owner’s credit card number to open a shared Nook book. I’m going to assume that issue has been resolved.

4. How does this lending/sharing service compare to others?

It’s your choice. Borrow a $9.99 ebook by a NYT bestseller.  Or buy a $.99 novel by an unknown. But at least with eBook Fling, you know have a new option.

• Avon Romance's New EPublishing Imprint The cyber world is all a-buzz with news of Avon Romance's newest project--an ebook/POD publishing imprint, Impulse. From Impulse's page on avonromance.com: Welcome to Avon Impulse Romance readers know what's hot...in books, in technology, in trends. Among the first to embrace books digitally, they have encouraged publishers to push the......
• News Release: Barnes and Noble announces PubIt! self-publishing platform NEW YORK, May 19, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Barnes & Noble, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!bks/quotes/nls/bks (BKS 19.77, +0.27, +1.38%) , the world's largest bookseller, is extending its deep and longstanding tradition of supporting authors and publishers with PubIt! by Barnes & Noble, an easy and lucrative way for independent publishers and self-publishing......
• Ebooks and Libraries. A Match Made in Heaven...or Hell? For those who don't know, there's been a lot of talk lately about ebook sales to libraries. It isn't that libraries don't want to offer ebooks to their patrons. They do. The problem is the effect those sales will have on publishers' bottom lines. As  JULIE BOSMAN of the New......
• Sasha White's Show Me The Money If you aren't aware, there are a couple authors over on the GenReality blog who are foolish brave enough to share their actual sales figures for their books. Despite my seeming little dig, which is more an indication of how I think publishing folks will respond to this practice than......
• Borders' new ebook store For those who aren't on a Borders email mailing list, Borders just opened their new ebook store and they're offering a free ebook to those who register and open a new account. Among the apps they are offering: iPhone/iPod Touch, PC/mac, Android and Blackberry. You can download them HERE. For......

• Increase The Sale Of Your EBook Essentials You Have To Be Aware Of. One of the very most requested inquiries which i obtain from customers and customers is that this: "Why can i acquire an Ebook along with second-hand legal rights, whenever numerous other people will soon end up being promoting the very same E-book otherwise online?" The answer is easy... You should......
• The Your E-Book Sucks Net Worth Update Net Worth Update On January 18, 2011 I decided to start a new way to track my net worth.  I created a private spreadsheet and zeroed out my net worth.  This way I can share my progress each month, going forward without revealing how much is in my savings......
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• Good news for ebooks The times they are a' changing... Ebook blog I subscribe to a blog about ebooks and ebook readers. The writer is prolific with long posts sometimes several times a day. I let him do the research for me, once I got to the decision to buy a Kindle for my......
• Creating Ebooks That Will Make You Money Ebooks used to be consider more of a business venture, not anymore, these days they are more of a style statement. Ebook marketing on the web has not lost it's charm, many people still know the real value. Putting alot of effort into your ebook selling business is the only......

Am I the only one who remembers them? Fabulous reads. And they’re back, though not quite the same. You won’t be buying them at your local grocery story.

From the AP (New York):

A romance imprint that helped started the careers of such writers as Janet Evanovich and Tami Hoag is being revived.

The Random House Publishing Group announced Wednesday that Loveswept will be back in business this summer as a digital-only imprint after a 12-year hiatus.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

• Call for Submissions: Cleis Press http://kristinawrigh...c-romance-2012/ Best Erotic Romance 2012 Editor: Kristina Wright Publisher: Cleis Press Publication Date: Winter 2012 Submission Deadline: April 15 (earlier submissions preferred!) Payment: $100 per story and 2 copies of the book, on publication E-mail: besteroticromance2012@gmail.com I am thrilled to announce I am editing the first annual Best Erotic Romance......
• Looking into my crystal ball What will the future of publishing look like? Some folks have theorized that the end of an era is upon us. There’s talk of publishing’s evolution, from a world dominated by a handful of large publishing houses to one in which smaller houses are able to compete. Much of the......
• Announcing...The Some Like it Hot Writing Contest (2)! ~Some Like It Hot~ Writing Contest (2) Starting October 25th, 2010, I will be hosting a writing contest! The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave. The Prizes? Read on! All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including: ~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~ *You may submit one chapter--not to exceed 5000 words. Stories......
• The Cheapskate's Guide to Promoting Ebooks Recently, a newly published author posted a question about  promoting her ebook on one of my fave writing forums, Romance Divas. I could tell from her post that she was completely overwhelmed and intimidated by the prospect of promoting her upcoming release. Making matters worse, her publisher asked her to......
• Avon Romance's New EPublishing Imprint The cyber world is all a-buzz with news of Avon Romance's newest project--an ebook/POD publishing imprint, Impulse. From Impulse's page on avonromance.com: Welcome to Avon Impulse Romance readers know what's hot...in books, in technology, in trends. Among the first to embrace books digitally, they have encouraged publishers to push the......

• If you like to read... Peer to peer book reviews sounds like an interesting website. I like reading online reviews anyway. The computer makes possible in an instant what would have been laborious or impossible before. At the same time, publishers are facing a public that's spending less time with books. In 1999, the average......
• Barbie Dream House Dolls-and-Bears -> Barbie-Vintage-Pre-1973 -> Structures-and-Furniture The first Barbie Dream House was introduced in 1960, and could fold up into a small box that was easily carried around by a little girl. Ponytail Barbie, the Barbie whose hair was pulled back into a ponytail with short bangs in front, wanted nothing......
• You'll Find Two Methods To 'network ' On Facebook 1. Produce A Group Page Or 2. Make A Fan Page Developing a fan page for your local enterprise has many benefits compared to a group page: •    You can have unlimited fans. Groups are limited to 5000 individuals only. If you think you may never reach 5000 individuals, think once again. Even a tiny obscure business can have over 20,000......
• WordsmithBob Speaking on Online Marketing Yep, ol' WordsmithBob (that's me) is going to be speaking at the January meeting of the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at 7pm. Where you might ask? At the Minneapolis/ Bloomington Hilton at 494 & France. (NOT the airport Hilton). Topic: Online Marketing For Introverts -......
• Player Profile for Double Bassist Mike Milligan While few people can name a double bass player (though many can name a bass guitar player) some bassists actually break out and perform solo bass. Some even go on to record an entire album of solo bass, like double bassist Mike Milligan. When many people think of a bass,......

Do you love hot erotic books? How does three books for the price of one sound?

Check this out:

Three bestselling erotica authors join together to bring you a trio of hot stories in a sizzling anthology of sex! Selena Kitt’s “The Real Mother Goose” takes you on a wild fantasy ride of delicious BDSM pleasure in a setting that defies the imagination. In Carl East’s “Hell’s Gate,” Courtney’s psychic cleansing of an old house awakens not just a demon, but her own sexual appetite as well. And finally, Tawny Taylor’s “Claim Me” is a thrill ride of passion, intrigue, romance and dark, erotic hunger. This triad of tales is sure to bring you hours of reading pleasure, because these three authors play very well together!

Click for Nook Sample

Click for Kindle Sample

• Lust's Temptation Cover One thing I appreciate, as both a reader and writer, is when a publisher's art department creates the covers of books in series with some kind of cohesive theme (color/font/subject) in mind. And so, I was pleased when I saw the cover for Lust's Temptation for the first time. However,......
• Now reading... Big Girls Don't Die by Crystal Jordan. Blurb: “I will always love you.” Not just a figure of speech when you’re undead. In the Heat of the Night, Book Two Six months ago, Andre St. James committed the ultimate one-night-stand party foul by turning Cynthiana into the spawn of Satan…also......
• Hot Short Read--The Efficiency Expert by Portia Da Costa Still stinging from a stringent management review at her workplace, office girl Susie encounters the very last man she wants to meet when she hits her favorite bar to relax and unwind. Gorgeous Noah Stevens is the ruthless company troubleshooter who's been making her life hell for the past......
• Announcing the second Some Like it Hot Writing Contest ~Some Like It Hot~ Writing Contest (2) Starting October 25th, 2010, I will be hosting a writing contest! The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave. The Prizes? Read on! All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including: ~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~ *You may submit one chapter--not to exceed 5000 words. Stories......
• Writing Contests: The Golden Claddagh (romance fiction) Forwarded with permission: Enter Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Chapter contest The Golden Claddagh! Don't let our chapter name dissuade you, your entry does not have to be Celtic based to enter, unless you enter our Celtic Category. We have six categories, Historical, FF & P, Romantic Suspense, Celtic, Contemporary &......

• Review Finding Margo by Suzanne O'Leary The premise of Finding Margo was interesting to me, so I purchased it for my Kindle. The Story When Margo misreads the map while traveling through France, her husband Alan flies into a rage. Tired of his constant bad moods, Margo walks out on him in the middle of the......
• Book Review: The Whole Grain Diet Miracle By Dr. Lisa Hark and Dr. Darwin Deen Even though carbs get a bad rap, it’s commonly accepted that if you do have to eat them, whole grains are the way to go. There are many benefits to having a diet rich in whole grains, and this book from Drs. Lisa Hark and Darwin Deen offers a plan......
• Review Physik by Angie Sage (Septimus Heap Book 3) I read these books out of order, because I was told someone else didn't like this book as much as the others and suggested I not read it at all. By contrast, I liked it better than Book 4, but it might be because I was more filled in on......
• Getting to the Goals I am reading the book Joe Robert's wrote, and gave to me. It's a great book titled "7 ways to overcome adversity." Joe went from living under a bridge to CEO of a multimedia company making over a million dollars when he was 35. He is a motivational speaker and......
• The Land of Mango Sunsets (book) Today we have a guest writer reviewing for us. I've not read this book, but it will definitely go on my to-read list. If you have read the book, or any by this author, how do you rate them? Karin In The Land of Mango Sunsets, author Dorothea Benton Frank......

I just received a very pleasant surprise in my mailbox yesterday.  A bundle of cover flats for Blood of Eden.

First, can I just say…SQUEEEEEEEE!!!

Okay, not that I have that out of my system, I’ll post a copy. Note: the typeface is gold foil. It’s not scanning very well. It looks FABULOUS in real life.

Now, before I post the back cover copy…if you had to guess what genre this book is, what would you say?

Ready to find out if you’re right?

This mind-blowing new series introduces Sloan Skye, an ambitious intern at the FBI’s paranormal unit, where the usual rules of crime fighting don’t apply…

Sloan has a sky-high IQ, a chaotic personal life, and a dream: to work for the FBI. Her goal is within reach until an error lands her with the FBI’s ugly stepchild: the new Paranormal Behavioral Analysis Unit. She’ll get to profile criminals, but the pool of suspects is a little more…diverse. Yet even as Sloan tackles her first case–a string of victims, all with puncture wounds to the neck–she can’t silence her inner para-skeptic.

To catch the killer she’ll have to think like one. That means casting aside her doubts, and dealing with the bizarre nightmares that started with the job. But the strangeness is only beginning, as Sloan pieces together the shocking truth about a case that’s more personal than she ever would have guessed.

How did the cover do? Does it quickly, clearly identify the book’s genre and tone? I’d love to hear your thoughts/feedback. Now, keep in mind, this is a cover for a PAPERBACK, not an ebook. The rules are a little different, as I’ve come to find out.

• Available Now! I'm bringing to life to my popular Passion Unbound series by publishing them via Kindle/Nook/Smashwords. At this point, the first book, Wild Knights, is available at Smashwords only. Kindle and Nook are coming in the next few days. Check out the cover! Isn't it gorgeous? Blurb: Secretary Maggie Dunning loves......
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How would you like to receive a free e-newsletter featuring fab ebooks priced under $3.00? Interested? If you are, check out this site. Registering is free, quick and painless. http://www.doubleedgepress.com/Endependent-Publishers-Coalition.html

I’m curious to see how this goes. I know I receive dozens of marketing emails a day. I tend to delete without reading these days. What about you?

• Five Fab Email Newsletters Worth Reading 1. The Stir Daily Ten (a daily newsletter featuring ten general interest articles) The Stir Daily Ten [thestiremail@cafemom.com]   2. Decorating - BHG.com (a weekly newsletter featuring short home decorating/interior design articles) Decorating - BHG.com [decorate@email.bhg.com]   3. Kristen Lamb’s blog (a daily newsletter for writers, featuring short articles......
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The Creativity Well

Where do ideas come from? For many creative people, they do their best work when under tremendous stress. Misery breeds brilliance for some. For me, I work best in times peace and calm in my life. But that is not to say that in times of trouble, I haven’t done work I am proud of—I have.

Like many writers, I have periods when the ideas just refuse to flow. That’s when I turn to creativity crutches—books and other sources that spark ideas. Is that cheating? Not at all. I’m not stealing someone else’s premise or characters. These creativity aids merely stimulate my imagination.

My first go-to book when the words aren’t flowing is Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation and Conflict. This must have book for fiction writers usually help me focus more on my characters and that helps with developing their stories.

Next on my list is Stephen King’s On Writing. I like to reread parts of this book as inspiration. Learning about Stephen King’s journey is always thought-provoking.

Although the binding is cracking and many of the pages are dog-eared, I still turn to Please Understand Me – Character and Temperament Types by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates for inspiration on creating believable characters.

Another great source to stimulate the creative juices is back issues of Romance Writer’s Report, the magazine of the Romance Writers of America. Numerous articles on plotting and creativity can be found in the pages. I always save my old RWRs and when that spring cleaning bug bites me, I go through each issue and tear out any articles I like. I save them in a file box for later use.

Last but not least, the media provides great fodder to get me thinking about new plots. All I have to do is pick up a newspaper or an issue of People Magazine and read about hard luck stories or heroic tales. I never know which article will do it for me, but invariably, one will.

For my romantic suspense, Protective Custody, the thing that stoked my imagination was merely a holiday. It was Halloween and I was setting up our annual creepy display. I glanced across the street to a neighbor’s house. They always do a haunted house theme, like we do. The husband had dressed up as the grim reaper and he swung his plastic axe at his wife’s head. If I didn’t know his axe was fake, I’d have thought he’d really intended to behead her.

That got me thinking about the James Stewart, Grace Kelly movie, Rear Window. How frustrating would it be to witness a crime from a distance then have no one believe you? That kernel led to a novel.

Protective Custody – Available from Carina Press

Witness to a murder, but no one will believe her…

Shocked by the brutal crime she witnesses through the window of her small office, Megan Jackson calls the police and is devastated when they question the truth of her story. With no body and no evidence of a crime, she’s written off as a nutcase.

Megan suspects the killer saw her face. Terrified, she calls the only person she can trust—her ex-boyfriend and former police officer, Will McCoy.

Despite a devastating breakup, Will jumps at the chance to help the woman who broke his heart. When the killer ramps up the stakes, Will is forced to take her into hiding—where the passion they once shared reignites, deeper and hotter than ever. But can Will keep Megan alive long enough to win back her heart?

Wynter Daniels lives in Central Florida with her husband of more than twenty years and their two nearly grown children. They are all the slaves of two very demanding cats. After careers in marketing and the salon industry, Wynter’s wicked prose begged to be set free. She writes for several publishers including Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Loose Id. Join her Facebook fan page HERE and her Yahoo! Group HERE. She loves to hear from readers, but only if it’s good.

Find Wynter on the web at http://www.wynterdaniels.com/

Visit her blog at http://wynterdaniels.blogspot.com/

Text Copyright © 2011 by Wynter Daniels

Cover Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.

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