The Emperor's New Clothes

We went to watch Jessie in his latest play today. Here's a few pictures. It's hard to get good ones as there is no flash photography, so excuse the blurs. :) He played Young Roland, the clothesmakers' son. It was a lead role and the male love interest. :) I am very proud of him.









And although it was The Emperor's New Clothes this afternoon, it's Honky Tonk Angels tonight. He worked the stage lights--which he now has a new respect for. Honky Tonk Angels is the first play he's done where he's not on the stage and it's been a great learning experience for him.

Football, Halloween, & speech

My youngest plays youth league football. He's number 3 for the Eagles. :) He loves playing. I'm not a huge football fan, but I know he's the offensive center & is moved around on defense. The first pic has him getting ready to pass the ball back at the beginning of the down. :)

In this picture he's playing defensively and is tied up with 8, but I believe is looking at the kid running the ball (10 on the Cowboys). I really have lots of fun watching him play (also a few nerve wrecking moments at the hits & falls). His team hasn't done so well this year--they've only won one game--but he's had lots of fun!

On Friday, my daughter had to give a speech at school while dressed as the person she was giving the speech on. She was Ruth Bader Ginsberg. :) I was so proud of her!!

I mentioned my Fall fun/Halloween party over at www.writersatplay.com/wordpress, and thought I'd post a few pictures from that night. I remembered to take pictures right as people were starting to arrive and right as everyone was leaving. Brilliant. I know. :)

Just getting started...My favorite Geisha girl!
The 80s chicks!
My grandparents (who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 10/30!) take it easy & stay warm. :)
Oh, and I have to share my good news! I've sold 5 books in the past week & a half. 4 to Harlequin & 1 to another publisher. Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm psyched!!!

Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad!

I got my hardcover author copies to Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad. Although the paperback version isn't out until February 2009, the hardcover edition is release two months earlier--December 2008, in this case. :) This cover is a first for me. The first to have a kid on it. The guy is hot, but I'm undecided on the kid. I've never really thought about it until now, but I don't tend to buy a lot of books with kids on the cover unless it's an author I know I enjoy. What about you? Do kids on the cover or a romance novel appeal or not?

Come play with me!

Over at www.writersatplay.com/wordpress I'm blogging over there today about my upcoming fall fun party & trying to come up with ideas for games, etc. Would love for you to stop by & say hello!

Catching up

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Well, I'm not really going to catch up. I never do. Fall is such a busy time of year for me and my family. Currently we are in the midst of soccer season for 2 kids, football for 1 kid, 2 plays for 1 kid, basketball for 1 kid, and then all the normal stuff--karate, boy scouts, clubs, etc. My daughter isn't taking piano right now due to her sports' stuff interfering with times. Plus there's all that back to school stuff that goes on. Are you tired yet? No? Well, let me keep going. ;)

I'm currently revising two medical romances. I think one will be a late 2009 release and the other an early 2010 release. I'm working on a single title project, also. And my agent is gearing up to shop a different single title project later this year. Did I mention that I also work full time?

I also had my 20 year high school reunion last month. So difficult to believe that 20 years have passed since graduation. I mean, I still feel like a teenager, why isn't my body behaving and looking like one???? ;) It was great seeing old friends who I rarely get to see, particularly my pal Tori. :)

Anyway, life is good. Everyone is healthy and busy. But I'm not making it over here as often as I'd like. The important thing is that I am writing on my books though. That's what most of you are most interested in based on fan mail--when's the next book? And to answer that question--the hardback of Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad comes out in December & the paperback version will be released in February. :) Yea! That book is one that's very dear to my heart. Yes, I know, they all are, but some more so than others. Of my Medicals, The Heart Surgeon's Secret Son and Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad are my two favorites. Probably because of the emotion in those books. That said, I think y'all will enjoy The Nurse's Baby Miracle, too. It'll be out in late spring 2009. :) That one is set at a 3 day breast cancer walk. Yes, I did draw upon that horrendous (but also good) experience I went through in 2006 when I did the 3 day walk with my fab-o agent, Deidre Knight. I like that book because of the setting--and the characters.

For those of you who have emailed asking about the puppies--they are fabulous. We only kept one of them, but our next door neighbor also kept one, so really we get to see & play with 2 of them. The kids LOVE our puppy. They named him TROUBLE. For those of you who know me, we had a Jack Russell named Trouble who died the week after we moved into our new house last summer. I had mixed feelings on naming the puppy after him, but all 4 kids agreed on the name and it's so rare for all 4 to agree, well, you understand. :) So, our new Trouble is half Jack Russell, half Chuawawa (I have no idea how to spell that, but sound it out please). Surprisingly, he's cute. ;)

Hopefully it won't be a month before my next post, but priorities are priorities and the kiddos come first and when it comes to computer time, well, the writing comes first. I do tend to pop in frequently at my group blog though. My bestest pals are there and we have lots of fun with our playtime. :) www.writersatplay.com/wordpress We also do some fab give-aways. :)

Until next time...

Are You Targeting Harlequin Blaze?

If so, I highly recommend you visit Writers At Play on Tuesday, Sept 16 for a Blazing good time! 5 of the 6 September Harlequin Blaze authors are participating in a fun interview and will talk about their September releases. We'll also share the definition of Blaze directly from Senior Editor, Brenda Chin, who will stop by to visit. Stop by, ask any burning questions you have about the line or of the authors and comment for your chance to win all 6 of September Blaze books. http://www.writersatplay.com/wordpress/

My friend and fabulous Blaze author Tawny Weber is one of the authors who will be there. Be sure to check out her September Blaze, Risque Business. :)

2007 NRCA Winner!

On Thursday night of the conference I attended the National Readers' Choice Award ceremony. I sat with my editor and three other Harlequin Mills & Boon editors. Very dream like they popped the cork on a bottle of champagne & toasted me prior to the ceremony. When they announced The Doctor's Pregnancy Bombshell's category, it took a few seconds for it to register that they'd said the name of my book, my name. Holy samolie. Ever have one of those moments where your face gets all hot and your ears roar? Well, that was me. Completely stunned, I looked at my editor and she gave me a big smile. I'm surprised I didn't trip or fall on the way to the stage. I mean, jelly legs weren't meant to be walked on. While willing my jelly legs to keep moving me forward, I realized I had nothing written down to say. Nothing. I hadn't ever even decided not to write an acceptance speech. To make that decision is to actually mentally weigh whether or not you have a chance of winning. I'd never even thought of it. Really. I think I thanked all the right people without uhm-ing too much. Maybe.


This is the US cover:
This is the UK cover:
I thought I had the French cover scanned in, but if so I've deleted it. It's actually a different cover than the one above.

With me is the gorgeous Harlequin Mills & Boon editor, Lucy Gilmour. Me with the award. My dear friend Kathleen Long says it looks like a tombstone...sort of does, actually. This is the lovely Harlequin Mills & Boon editor Sally Williamson, me, and my editor Lucy Gilmour at the Harlequin party.

2008 RWA National Conference more pictures

Janice & one of the most talented ladies she knows--Marlene. :)The Golden Network always puts on a skit during the reception at Nationals. :)

I had the honor of introducing the fabulous Cherry Adair during her texturing and layering workshop. She was fabulous and the room was packed. :) Harlequin Blaze author Tawny Weber & her awesome cover!!!

Can you say fabulous Harlequin Historicals? Then you must be able to say STACEY KAYNE. :) Here's Stacey with me & that Blazin Tawny Weber!!!
That Sci-fi gal Lisa Spindler & Leslie Dicken!

Carla Capshaw got booted!!!!!


Way over due but the fantabulous Trish Milburn also got booted cuz she sold, she sold! Beth Andrews also got booted, but somehow I don't have a pic of that! Ack! So here's to Beth, too!!! Yea! So proud of you all for selling your books!!

I'll post more pics soon. :)

RWA National Conference 2008

There are so many things I need to share and yet I have no internet at home currently so sharing is a problem. I'm logged on at a restaurant at the moment, but wanted to post a few pictures & to say that I will come back and post a proper announcement that The Doctor's Pregnancy Bombshell WON the National Readers Choice Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable. :)

Tuesday night:

Kathleen Long and Tawny Weber at Mel's Diner Terri Garey (can you say RITA winner???), Beth Andrews, & moi. :)Wednesday afternoon was the Heartbeat RWA chapter's luncheon. It was so fabulous to meet so many of the Harlequin Mills & Boon Medical authors!

These lovely three ladies are editors at Mills & Boon. :)

Janice & Lucy. :)The literacy signing at RWA is always fabulous. It's so difficult to describe. Just imagine all your favorite authors in one room. I stood up in my chair (yes, my momma would be so proud!) at my signing area and took pictures from every angle.The Literacy signing was Beth Andrews first booksigning. Beth's first book Not Without Her Family is fabulous!!!

Help Mom! I'm not in Kansas Anymore!

My son and my nephew who is the same age recently went on holiday with my parents. Jessie came home today and I decided I wanted to share some of his pics. Y'all have 'met' Jessie before as he's my son who acts. He's such a nut--can't imagine where he gets that from. ;)

Jessie & Captain Jack had a lot to talk about...particularly pirate booty, pirate booty, and more pirate booty. Although Jack did keep bring up this Sultry Beauty, but Jessie didn't have a clue what he meant...

Meow! Enough said.
Riddle me this. Riddle me that. Jessie might be the Bat. ;)
I have no idea what he's saying to Britany. As his Mom I hope it's STAY AWAY.
Jessie's Angels.
And my personal favorite & the inspiration for the blog title...