Virtual Book Bag Contest!

Due to family stuff--I'll tell ya in a later blog--I'm a couple days behind

on getting this up, but this is a fabulous opportunity to win some awesome

books!!! Check it out!!

Your Virtual Book Bag is having a contest, and there will be multiple winners!

To enter all you have to do is match the authors below to their books. Then

enter the right pairs at participating blogs (for example 1D, 2B, etc. ) for a

chance to win. One winner will be selected at each participating blog from

the correct answers posted at that blog.

• Teresa Bodwell's Journal--
  
• Win an autographed copy of the Pirate's Price by Darlene Marshall
• 
  
• Sylvia Day--
• Win an autographed copy of Stupid Cupid by Rayka Mennen and others
• 
  
• Lori Devoti's Online Ramblings--
• Win an autographed copy of Becoming Latina by Lara Rios
• 
  
• Janice Lynn's Blog--
• Win an autographed copy of Love is All Around by Lori Devoti
• 
  
• Jolie Mathis--
• Win an autographed copy of Loving Miranda by Teresa Bodwell
• 
  
• Rayka Mennen's Web Site--
• Win an autographed copy of Tempt Me by Lucy Monroe
• 
  
• Lucy Monroe's Blog--
• Win an autographed ARC of The Sea King by Jolie Mathis
• 
  
• Lara Rios' Blog--
• Win an autographed copy of Jane Millionaire by Janice Lynn
• 
  
• Michele Ann Young's Blog--
• Win an autographed copy of Here Comes the Bride by Laura Drewry
• 
  
• Or enter at Your Virtual Book Bag
• http://yourvirtualbookbag.blogsome.com/contest/
• to win an autographed copy of Bad Boys Ahoy by Sylvia Day and an autographed ARC of Pistols at Dawn by Michele Ann Young!

So get matching; contest ends March 31st. And good luck! You can find links to all the participating authors at http://yourvirtualbookbag.blogsome.com/contest/ as well. :)

1.)	a.)
2.)	b.)
3.)	c.)
4.)	d.)
5.)	e.)
6.)	f.)

Okay, so I am a total computer dingbat--like you didn't already know that, right? ;)---anyway, I have tried to get the above to show the wonderful pictures of the books & the lovely corresponding photos of the authors so you can play the match game, but, alas, I am a total computer dingbat & I only get the above time after time. SOMEDAY I'll learn all this computer stuff (of course, then it'll change to something new...), but for now you'll have to go to the Virtual Book Bag site and match them up from there and then come back and post here prior to March 31st. :) Good luck!!

My first Pubbed Final!

Yes, I was a total contest diva before publishing & I entered quite a few contests. Since selling I've only entered three. The first of those announced yesterday & OMG!!!! I got a call. It was such a thrill. It's been so long since I've had the high of getting that kind of call that it felt pretty darn amazing!! & to make things even more special, my fabo pal Kathleen Long finaled, too. Okay, so we're facing up against each other & every time we did that as unpubs she whupped my butt by winning first place to my second place, but I adore her writing & her, so I graciously bow to her talents---particularly since Cherry On Top is an awesome story--I mean, I critiqued the thing, so I KNOW it's awesome. ;)

Congrats to all the finalists!!!! Lots of wonderful books on this list!!

2006 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Contest Presented by Southern Magic, RWA’s Birmingham Chapter

Southern Magic is proud to announce the finalists for the 2006 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest for published authors. Finalists shown in alphabetical order.

HISTORICAL
Kresley Cole, If You Dare
Jackie Ivie, Tender Is the Night
Sabrina Jeffries, To Pleasure a Prince
Jenna Petersen, Scandalous
Paula Quinn, Lord of Desire

INSPIRATIONAL
Nikki Arana, The Winds of Sonoma
Dorothy Clark, Joy for Mourning
Margaret Daley, A Mother for Cindy
Denise Hunter, Saving Grace
Gail Gaymer Martin, Finding Christmas

LONG CONTEMPORARY
Gail Barrett, Where He Belongs
Nina Bruhns, Hard Case Cowboy
Joanne Rock, Silk Confessions
Linda Warren, Forgotten Son
Bonnie K. Winn, Rules of Engagement

NOVELLA
Toni Blake, Brushstrokes
Jasmine Haynes, Double the Pleasure
Linda Warren, Merry Texmas
Leigh Wyndfield, Night Heat
Leigh Wyndfield, White Heat

PARANORMAL
Shana Abe, The Smoke Thief
Catherine Mulvany, Shadows All Around Her
Patti O’Shea, Through a Crimson Veil
Susan Squires, The Companion
Dolores J. Wilson, Little Big Heart

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE SERIES
Kelsey Roberts, Charmed and Dangerous
Kelsey Roberts, Chasing Secrets
Kelsey Roberts, Film at Eleven
Roxanne Rustand, Back in Texas
Carol Stephenson, Courting Danger

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE SINGLE TITLE
Jeanie London, In the Cold
Brenda Novak, Every Waking Moment
E. C. Sheedy, Killing Bliss
Roxanne St. Claire, Killer Curves
Roxanne St. Claire, Kill Me Twice

SHORT CONTEMPORARY
Carolynn Carey, A Summer Sentence
Linda Conrad, A Scandalous Melody
Karen Kendall, First Date
Tanya Michaels, Spicing It Up
Roxanne St. Claire, When the Earth Moves

SINGLE TITLE
Marcia Evanick, Harbor Nights
Dorien Kelly, Hot Whispers of an Irishman
Kathleen Long, Cherry on Top
Janice Lynn, Jane Millionaire
Jennifer Skully, Sex and the Serial Killer

Winners will be announced around April 29.

Roses Every Month for a Year Contest Winner!! Month 2

Heidi Hogan of La Place, Louisiana won my Roses Every Month for a Year contest and recieved the first bouquet on Valentine's Day. Last Wednesday Heidi got the second bouquet of her year of roses. :)

Heidi is holding Duchess (an epileptic/blind Boston Terrier). Heidi & the other volunteers do a lot of important work & if you'd like to know how you can help or if you'd like to just know more about the Humane Society where Heidi volunteers, check out http://www.thepets.org .

Several of you have emailed asking about my exercise program. Urgh. I have exercised every day--did I mention that I got up early on Saturday morning so I could exercise prior to driving to Knoxville??? Anyway, I have stuck with it. We won't talk about the weight though. Nope, not even going to talk about that. But I'm sticking with it & will keep y'all posted.

OMG!!! Knoxville Booksigning was a BLAST!!!!

The booksigning was a huge success!!!! I had so much fun & was given the star treatment from the wonderful folks at Anderson. They were amazing!!

The entire expo was pretty amazing with lots of celebs making the rounds! The place was packed!!

Honestly, I felt in total awe of the day. I visited with a good pal from high school that now lives in Knoxville who I hadn't seen in a long time & enjoyed meeting her little one. Then I was met upfront at the expo & escorted to the booth. I was way impressed with the fabulous Meet the Author board you can see in the background of one of the pictures. Sadie (the lady with me) was wonderful & helped me put Autographed by Author stickers on the copies of Jane & handed the books to me. I really felt like pinching myself at several points throughout the day. Particulary when I looked up and there was a line that curved around the aisle!!!! I signed 200 books in less than a hour & a half!!!! We ran out and there was still a line!!!!!


I know that I drove home, but I don't really remeber doing so. I think I floated home. :) Good thing no cops saw me floating past, cause no way would they believe I wasn't on something because I was so giddy & couldn't stop grinning!!! I still can't. :)

Oh! & just for the record I *did* get up this morning and walk the greenway prior to making my long drive. :)

Wednesday Whirlwind!

Wow! I can't believe this day is almost over. I *know* it just got started. Sigh.

Well, I've done it! Two whole weeks that I've exercised every single day. Sadly, this is the most I've ever exercised sequentially in my entire life. Even more sadly, I've gained 3 pounds since starting. I know, I know, you think that has something to do with the 200+ boxes of girl scout cookies I had sitting in my living room, but I swear I didn't eat all those...Anyway, each morning after dropping the kids off at school I meet my Mom & Dad at the Rec center and walk the track at somewhere near Mach One. What? You're not buying that I'm that fast? Okay, so it's somewhere between a snail's pace and a Oh!-My-Sides-Hurt pace. Three days a week I'm working out with weights---think bone size...milk bone size, not dino. ;) I'll keep ya posted on whether or not I make it through the third week. :)

After exercising I went and ate way too much breakfast with my grandparents & parents...no, this does not have ANYTHING to do with that 3 pounds I've gained since starting to exercise. & then I went & bought a new dining room suit. :) Yea! My other set was one my hubby & I bought at an estate auction a month before we got married. I refinished the chairs myself & the table was veneer covered so there wasn't much to be done with it. We've used it for...a few hundred years now. I'm sad to let it go because of the memories, but gave it to my grandparents so it'll get good use. & now I have a new table to make memories with. :)

Heidi Hogan got her second bouquet of roses today!! Check back later this week & I'll hopefully have a picture posted. :)

Yesterday at my readers group I gave away cool prizes (autographed books or book bags) to 5 lucky winners! I'll be doing more give aways soon so if you're not a member sign up today as being a member automatically enters you.

This Saturday I'll be doing a book signing in Knoxville Tennessee at the Women Today Expo at the convention center. I'll be there from 3:30 to 4:30 & my publisher is sending 200 books, so y'all be sure to stop by!!! I'm bringing goodies to give away, too.

Now, I'm off to go write...

One year ago...

I was sitting at my desk, gnawing on my fingernails, taking Tums for the gurgling acid in my belly, & shaking from the inside out. Why? Because it was the last night of voting for round 5 of the American Title contest. The last night before I'd know if I got my dream or not.

In the long run, I won the contest, but Lois & I both got our dream---we both sold our books & that was the reason for being in the contest to begin with. To walk into a bookstore & see a book you've written on the shelf. It's a heady sensation. A dream come true for real.

Tonight, I'm introspective and a bit weepy, but just wanted to say that I'm getting all the weepy stuff out of the way tonight, because like one year ago March 7th, tomorrow is going to be one of celebration & good times!!! I'm going to be doing give-aways to members of my readers group!! so make sure you're a member! Join at JaniceLynnReadersGroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
because I'm giving away lots of great prizes!!

Women Today Expo in Knoxville, TN

Cool. Cool. Cool. I'm going to be doing a booksigning at the Women Today Expo in Knoxville, TN on Saturday, March 11 at 3:30 till 4:30 PM. I'm really excited about it as the Expo looks like it's going to be fabulous. I don't have all the details yet, but I'll update the blog closer to time & try to remember my camera so I can take pictures. :) If you'd like to check out the expo, go to http://www.womentodayexpo.com/index.cfm.

Worked on my newest. It's a light paranormal. Just having fun with it and writing it because it's the story in my head that demands to be put on paper.

My hubby rented Secret Window with Johnny Depp last night. He said he thought I'd enjoy it since I'm a writer....hmmmm, I'm trying not to look for hidden messages in that comment, but is he trying to say I'm whacked out? Regardless, I told him he had nothing to worry about just so long as I didn't catch him with another woman & he keeps the screwdriver & ax away from me. Bwahahahahahah! ;)

Grand Canyon

Over the next couple of months y'all may have to listen to a lot of posts about my planned trip to the Grand Canyon. I'm super psyched about it as I've never been. I've flown over it once (at about 30,000 feet) & have always wanted to see it up close, in April I'll get to. :) My hubby & oldest 2 kids are going with me. We're flying in on Wednesday evening & will do the tour bus thing on Thursday. It's like a 14 hour trip, but after discussing it with some locals it's the best way to see lots in a short amount of time. We'll be leaving from Scottsdale going to the Red Rocks & Sedona & then on to the Grand Canyon where we'll stay for a while & view for 22 miles. Next we'll head back toward Scottsdale via an Indian reservation where we'll get to stop and buy jewelry & stuff. I'd love to have time to actually do some hiking and exploring on our own, but this trip we'll get a good feel for things and then come back someday (I hope, I hope) & do a more thorough visit. On Friday morning we're going to Tombstone to watch men with big guns battle it out. woo hoo!! That evening the writing conference I'm attending starts up & I'll be in class & hubby & the boys will spend the rest of the weekend exploring and doing their thing while I'm in class & doing a booksigning. My first booksigning at a writers conference!!! will be a wild experience!!!

The Saturday Independent

A local newspaper did a feature today on Jane Millionaire with a teaser blurb & photo on the very front page of the newspaper! The article was on the front page of the daily living section and continued on the second page of that section. How cool is that???? The pictures are of a reader browsing through a copy of Jane insideWal-mart. :) & get this, the picture on my website of me in Chris Keesler's zoot suit hat. Ack! I am going to have to get a press kit added to my website with my professional (read photo-shopped) picture there. A couple of weeks ago another local paper did a write-up prior to my Curves book-signing and used a cropped picture from the 2003 Golden Heart ceremony. That article was a nice surprise as I had no idea it was being written & the quotes for the article came from...here. How wild is that???? Kinda scary, too. I can just see my Matthew obsession being splashed everywhere. My name linked with Matthew McConaughey's...yeah, that bothers me a bunch. tee hee.

American Title 2 Round 4

Wow! It's hard to believe that the voting for Round 4 has started already and that only 4 finalists are left!!! Gina Black, Ruth Kaufman, Gerri Russell, & Michelle Young! Be sure to pop over, read the dialogue scenes, & vote on your favorite. Flavia was particularly harsh this round. Round 4 is where she really got me last year, so I feel the current finalists' pain and am just glad that it's not my stomach being twisted into knots this year. :) Actually, although there were a LOT of negatives to competing American Idol style for a book contract, there were also a LOT of positives (& not just because I won--vbg!) but because I made some fabulous friends. Make sure you vote between February 20- March 5 at http://www.americantitle2.com

Oh, and a friend sent me this picture of Matthew. Now I have toothbrush envy.

Free Books!

On my readers group I recently gave away 5 free autographed books. Not of Jane Millionaire, but autographed by some of my fabulous writer pals!

If you aren't a member of my group, be sure to join today! send and email to JaniceLynnReadersGroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com so that you'll automatically be entered in my next give-away!!!

Oh! My local Wal-mart finally got copies of JANE MILLIONAIRE in!!! How cool is that???? Geek that I am, I took pictures. :) & am sharing them here. As you can tell, I autographed about half of them. How cool that they got so many in??? Of course, if they just sit there I'm gonna cry.

Off to spend time with the family. Today is my youngest son's birthday!

Two for the Money

I watched Two for the Money last night. Due to life I missed it while it was in the theaters--the horror! But now I own a copy and can watch at my pleasure. ;)

I actually enjoyed this movie much more so than Sahara. Matthew's acting was smoother and felt less forced. His character was admirable and all the scenes with him working out---YUM.

Al Pacino did a fabulous job, too.

I give this one a thumbs up!

Working on polishing Jude's book. I should finish this weekend. I love this story so much & am keeping my fingers crossed. It's been a whole two weeks now since it was sent out, you'd think someone would have called by now. Okay, so I'm dreaming, but hey, what's life without dreams? & y'all already know I dream big.

Smooches & have a fabulous weekend.

Roses Every Month for a Year Contest Winner!!

Here is the photo of Heidi Hogan who won the Roses Every Month for a Year contest! Woo hoo!!!

Heidi works at the St. John Humane Society in La Place, Louisiana. I checked out their website and strongly encourage you to do so, too. The organization is run by volunteers (such as Heidi) and donations go 100% toward helping the animals. Heidi is a volunteer there and they were hit hard by Katrina and are still recovering. If you'd like to help by making a donation or to just know more, check out http://www.thepets.org

In an email Heidi let me know that Bella, the dog she is holding in the photo, is blind. Sometimes it's easy to overlook all the wonderful things going on in the world due to media propagating the negative (or so it often seems), but Heidi is one of many giving back to the community and helping those who can't help theirselves. I write books with heroic characters, but Heidi & the other volunteers are real life heroes & heroines & I just want to say thank you for all your hard work.

Heidi, my hat's off to you! & I'm thrilled to have "met" you through the contest & that such a deserving person won!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Popping on just a minute to say HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! Hope your day was filled with romance & roses!

Speaking of roses, the winner of my roses every month for a year contest should have gotten her first bouquet today. Heidi said she'd send me a picture of her with the bouquet and when I get it, I'll post it here! :)

Dreams Can Come True

I was looking for an attention catching title for today's post and the above seems as appropriate as any. No, Matthew hasn't come to his senses, dumped Penelope, and shown up on my doorstep to beg me to be his this Valentine's day--nice thought though. ;) It's more of what's been going on in my life lately.

One of my bestest friends in the whole world got her dream. The bestest dream of all. A baby. Writing buddy Kathleen Long adopted a beautiful baby girl named Elizabeth Anne (hereby after called Annie). She's absolutely gorgeous and the most wonderful blessing. You can see pictures at www.kathleenlong.com/annie.htm Isn't she gorgeous????

In other dream news, the good reviews are still rolling in. I got a fabulous email from LoveRomances that a review for Jane Millionaire had been posted. WOW! It's awesome and blew me away. I blogged about it at http://writersatplay.blogspot.com but basically the review goes like this:
Jane Millionaire is the debut novel for author Janice Lynn. Have you ever had a book from the moment you opened the cover and start reading it just latches onto your heart? Jane Millionaire is that kind of novel. Ms. Lynn has taken a reality concept and kicked it up to a whole new level. With exceptional writing, characters that are life-like, and realistic dialogues. Readers will find comfort, friends, and a few chuckles within the bindings of Jane Millionaire. They really do not get much better than this novel!

The full review is at: http://www.loveromances.com/janemillionaire_janalee.html

Is that not just the wildest review???? Love it!!

Plus, on a very happy & dreamy note---I FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE JUDE BOOK. WOO HOO!! It came in at 398 pages. :) I'm going to set it aside for a few days and finish reading a fabulous story by my pal Anna Sugden, then print out Jude's book and get it polished. I am soooo happy with this book. It really is a fun, fun story that I can't wait to promote because OH MAN! do I have big plans. Of course, I have to realize the dream of selling it first, but that's just a minor little detail....

Matthew McConaughey on Oprah!

I got several fabulous emails letting me know that Matthew was on Oprah!!! Woo hoo!!! I haven't watched it yet, but asked a friend to record it for me so hopefully I'll see it soon. Someone emailed to tell me that Matthew & Oprah shot Tequila???? Interesting. Not that I wouldn't let Matthew get me drunk. ;)

Yesterday was an interesting day. I judged another contest entry yesterday morning. Unfortunately it was a slow moving one. Lots of potential, but definitely read like a beginning writer. Reminded me that not so very long it was my newbie contest entry that someone was volunteering their time to make suggestions on. Ah, the circle of life. :) I just have one more to go & then I'm through with both contests I'm currently judging. Yea! I enjoy judging but I had 10 entries from one contest and 8 from the other and that's a lot at one time in my opinion. Then I curled up on the sofa and watched Cold Mountain--yes I wanted a Jude fix and I like his character so much more from CM than Alfie or Closer (now there was an interesting film).

I had lunch with my mother-in-law & sister-in-law and we ate Mexican. Yum & lots of fun. We laughed and laughed.

Went home wrote for an hour then went and picked kids up from school. Cleaned house a little and then wrote until hubby got home. My sister called and my brother-in-law was feeling yuck (I haven't mentioned it here, but he's a police officer and was shot in his hand last week--which partially explains why I haven't blogged as steadily). He's home from the hospital but his meds were making him sick. I did a house call, gave him a shot (I'm a nurse practitioner in my real life), and reportedly he had a better night last night than the one before. Going to make another house call prior to going in to the office this morning.

Plus--and this is the kicker--I wrote a bunch of pages on my new story! Yep, the Jude story. :) I'm on page 364 of the first draft. Very excited as I didn't get a chance to write on Monday or Tuesday this week due to work, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, & Karate & family stuff. Very excited as I should finish the rough draft this weekend!!! I LOVE this story. I've had so much fun with it. I've bought a website that fits with the story and plan to play with that some once I get the story done & polished. Promoting this story could be an absolute blast!! Even more than Jane Millionaire I think--which was pretty darn fun!!

Woke up this morning to a sprinkling of snow. Not enough for the kids to stay home from school, but enough that the ground is almost white. That's the most we've gotten yet. :)

Okay, off to make my house call & then on to the office. Sick people await. :) Y'all have a great day & thanks to everyone who let me know about Matthew on Oprah.

Matthew Monday

Yum! Just check that smile out. Okay, so I know it's hard to drag your eyes away from his...eyes...to check out his smile, but come on, ya gotta admit, the man has a wonderful smile. :)

No word on the submission yet. What? It probably only arrived in New York today? Am I insane for posting that there's no word yet?? Okay, YES, I am. It'll probably be weeks and weeks, but if there was some way to bottle up my excitement and plans for this story, well, SOMEONE would notice. OMG! This story is so much fun to write. I'll actually finish it this week. :) Well, the first draft, anyway.

Juding contest entries today. Won't say which one or what category for fear of being beseiged with questions. So far I've given one perfect score, one almost perfect score, two upper range scores, two mid range scores and two low scores. I HATE giving low scores. I, of all people, understand that this is someone's dream, their baby they've sent out into the world. But if I gave a high score where I didn't feel one was deserved I really wouldn't be helping the author. It's just hard to know how people will take your well meaning comments. Hopefully in the context it was meant--to be helpful or ignored if the author disagrees. Always a humbling experience to judge in a contest, though.

I finished judging my Golden Heart entries over the weekend. Really enjoyed several of those stories. Overall, my quality of entries were much higher for the GH than for the particular contest I'm judging at the moment. Perhaps because the manuscript has to be finished to final in the GH?

Kinda scary to think that Jane Millionaire is out there being judged somewhere, too. Ack. Scary thought.

Well, off to write a few pages before going to bed where I have a real life hero waiting for me. :)

And the winner is...

Heidi Hogan!!!! woo hoo!!! I'd emailed Heidi earlier in the day to tell her that she was the winner of my Roses Every Month For A Year contest & she emailed me back her information and I called her!! What a sweetheart!! I was so pleased with her winning. Not because I knew her---I didn't. The drawing was totally random. I enjoy her winning because she was a total sweetie and was so much fun to talk to on the phone. Heidi lives in Louisiana and was hit by Katrina, so what a great, great thing to have happen to her in the midst of so much recent tragedy. Watch each month as Heidi sends me pictures of her with the roses she recieves. I'll post them here and on my website, too.

For those of you who entered, but didnt' win, no worries, I'll be doing lots more contests. As a matter of fact, anyone who's a member of my yahoo group is automatically entered to win one of five autographed books that will be given away on Valentine's Day! If you're not a member, subscribe at JaniceLynnReadersGroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com because you could be the next big winner!!!

No, I haven't finished my Jude book, but in light of celebrating Heidi's win, I felt Matthew was in order. :)

Feeling nervous!

Ooohhhh! My agent is getting ready to send out my new proposal!!! YEA!!!! My stomach is all fluttery and my heart is pounding! & wow that sentence above is a doozey, eh??? LOL. The point is that I've written something new (yes, it's the Jude book--& I'm loving the inspiration!) and submissions are going out this week & I'm excited over this!!! I am soooooo psyched over this book. I love the characters and the plot and everything about it! & yes, I am a little bit in love with my hero--but that's a good thing, right? As a writer, if I can't fall in love with the hero, how could I possibly expect anyone else to? While writing Jane, I was into Rob (he really is one of those yummy heroes!) & now Jude. Like, didn't all of us fall a bit for Mark Darcy? For Rhett Butler? For Heathcliff? For Colin Byrne? For...the list goes on. Falling a little biti n love with the hero is something that's vital for a book to be good for me. I've been there for the entire journey, if I don't fall a little in love with the hero, how can I believe the heroine has, ya know? Anyway, Jude it is!! & he's an awesome hero. A total rake who my heroine is reforming in her own special way. ;)

I don't think I even had this much fun while writing Jane--which is saying something cause I had a blast with that one, too.

Sooooooo, keep your fingers crossed for me that this one goes well and lands in the right editor's hands at the right time because I would SOOOOOOO love to have a reason to promote this book. :)

Oh! & as a reminder, if you haven't entered my roses for a year contest, get over to www.janicelynn.net super quick & click on contest. Tomorrow is the last day to enter!

Jude

I should be blogging about Matthew, but, you guessed it, I'm still working on this new proposal and my hero is Jude, so...here's my man. ;)

Well, the hero of this next story anyway. Yes, he's a cad, but even cads can fall in love and be redeemed. :)

I really like this pic!!!

Spying In High Heels!

Woo hoo!!! My pal Gemma Halliday got the cover for her first book!! Check it out!! It's totally awesome---which is a good thing because so is her book! If you like Janet Evanovich, you are going to LOVE Gemma Halliday.

Spying In High Heels is an August 2006 release & will be in stores all over. It's a Dorchester release (what a great publishing company, eh??? :) and is getting rave reviews!!!

I have read it and can tell you it is totally awesome!!!

Anyway, so excited on her cover that I wanted to share!!! Getting a first cover is such a thrill!!!! Getting a really cool cover makes it even better. :)

American Title 2

Round 3 Voting started today. Youch. Flavia was a bit brutal, but then, that's her job. I kept having to remind myself of that last year when it was JANE MILLIONAIRE being picked apart and I hope all this year's finalist know that as well.

I really can't complain about Flavia though. She wasn't too bad to me except in Round 4 & we won't even go there as I still have nightmares about her comment. Well, I did prior to getting my reviews of JANE MILLIONAIRE. Now, I'm pretty much okay with it. So far, Jane has gotten fabulous reviews and I've recieved some wonderful fan emails. Even a few by mail. I've heard several published authors say that they don't even bother reading their reviews any more. I'm definitely not to that point, but I do have to say that I don't get quite as freaked out as I did to begin with. Of course, when book 2 gets ready to be released it will probably be a different story all together.

Now, if you haven't voted in round 3, be sure to get over to www.americantitle2.com which will take you directly to where you can vote or go to www.romantictimes.com and follow the American Title links. These gals are competing for their life dream---to be published. Make sure you help one of them acheive that dream. There are some awesome sounding stories there that I can't wait to read more on!!!

Smooches! Oh, and the pciture above is a blast from the past from New Jersey 2005. The Writer Playground gals--well, some of us, anyway. :)

Roses!

For anyone who has read JANE MILLIONAIRE, you'll have picked up on the rose theme. There's a rose on the cover and Rob smells roses everytime Jill is near and well, you get the idea. Quite frequently when I autograph a book I'll write "May your life be filled with roses". & I mean each word. There's something about roses that embodies love and happiness and good feelings on the inside, ya know? I believe this so much that I'm giving away (at my own expense mind you) roses every month for a year. You have until January 31st at midnight eastern time to enter as the drawing is on February 1st. Make sure you're entered.

Okay, I digress from the purpose of this post. Today, I got 6 beautiful red roses delivered to the office. Getting roses at work is one of those "wow" moments where everyone wonders what you did special last night (or will be doing that night!) or what bad thing your man did.

David is a great man & very rarely does bad (yes, he occassionally does--after all, he is a man. ;) & I knew what I had and had not done, so I was thrown. I was really thrown when I opened the card and it wasn't from him.

Uh-oh.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Matthew's worried about all these Jude pictures and thought he'd better do something about it before I converted forever, so he sent the flowers in hopes of wooing me away from my temporary Jude fascination. Or maybe you thought Jude was so HAPPY to be the focus of my attentions that he sent them in hopes that once I went Jude I'd never go back....Nice thoughts.

Alas, it was even better than the above. The flowers were from a marvelous lady who read Jane Millionaire & thought it was "wonderful". She added roses to my life and gave me a wonderful smile and a wonderful surprise. How cool is that?????

Oh, & did I mention the chocolate bar tied to the side of the vase???? YUM. Roses and chocolate! Woo hoo!!

Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, Patricia! You really brightened my day & it's a pleasure knowing you.

Music City Romance Writers

How fun! Today I went to the Nashville chapter meeting and got to listen to fabo romance author Stephanie Feagan talk about Taxes for the Writer. She did an awesome job. Stephanie writes for Harlequin's Bombshell line. Stephanie is one of the wonderful members of www.wetnoodleposse.com and a 2003 Golden Heart finalist--which is how I got to know her. :)

Got to have lunch with Trish Milburn, Stephanie, Kendra Clark, and several other fabulous authors today.

Now I'm off to write hot scenes with Jude...tough job but someone has to do it... ;)

Curves Booksigning

Wow! I had my booksigning at Curves tonight. It was awesome. I sold 33 books. & not a single one was to my mom or any other family member ;) Woo hoo!!!!! Gotta love that. :) & it was so much fun. The owner is a total sweetheart and the staff were so great & the ladies who came to exercise and buy a book---fabulous! Can't wait to do it again with the next book.

Going to Nashville tomorrow to meet with my pals Stephanie Feagan & Trish Milburn & the other members of the MCRW chapter for their monthly meeting, which Steph is presenting at. Can't wait to see them. :)

Ohhhh, and here's another installment of Jude. Cause it's all Jude until I finish this book....I just know you hate that. ;) Of course, my daughter wanted to watch How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days tonight and now I'm on such a Matthew high, uhm, perhaps I should post them both...2 hunks...uhm...I LIKE IT. ;)

Blowout!!

On my drive to the office this morning, my tire blew out. No warning. Not an old tire. It just blew. My husband said that it looks like I must have run over something, but who knows? I was going about 50-55 mph and it was my front driver tire. I got pulled off to the side of the road, drove a hundred feet with a flat flat and pulled into an auto salvage business. My husband thinks perhaps I hit a piece of scrap metal that fell from a truck or something? Anyway, I was lucky. First off, I didn't over compensate, which is how most people wreck via a blowout. They jerk/overcompensate and then lose control of the vehicle. Not sure why I didn't, but when it happened I kept a cool head. I was on the phone even---scared my friend badly. Second, the weather was gorgeous. If you're going to have a tire blow-out, I highly recommend a day when the sun is shining. Third, blowing a tire in front of an auto salvage business can come in handy since there's guys who know their way around vehicles. Fourth, have blow out when there is no oncoming traffic and no one behind you.

However, when I called the office to say that 1.) I was going to be late. 2.) My tire was flat. The guy who runs our lab came to my rescue. Did I mention that I also highly recommend that if you're going to blow your tire, do so less than 2 miles from where you work. Makes things much simpler that way. Anyway, a real life hero came to my rescue, changed my tire, which turned out to be quite the dirty job---Something I don't recommend: Parking over a mudpuddle. Yes, we had snow on the ground yesterday morning so there was standing water today. By the time he and I got back to the office, he had mud on him and black on his hands and face. Moi? Oh yeah. Despite the fact that I did very little, I had black on my hands and face too. I decided that I was going for the hardworking look--you know like the rice crispie treat commercial where the lady throws flour on her face? Yeah, that's me, the hardworking mechanic fearlessly changing a flat and getting black smudge on my face.

The funny thing is, my dad made me learn to change a tire before he'd let me drive alone. Which I always thought was a brilliant thing to do and that I'll make all my kids learn as well. I know how to change a tire by myself---so why did I have to have a man come to my rescue? Well, beyond the obvious. ;) Let's just say that mechanices stick those lugnuts on with air guns and I couldn't get the suckers off if I'd had to. Oh, and did I mention that I couldn't even find the spare until I pulled the owners manual out? Seems that with every new vehicle you should practice such things.

Anyway, I know that I had an angel watching out for me today. Had to have for something that could have been so bad to have turned out without any permanent damage--except to the tire. So tonight I'm sending out a special thank you to that angel and to my fabo co-worker who is a true gentlemen and a real life hero. THANK YOU.

The Law of Jude shall continue until I finish this book.

Law of Jude

Okay, I am still totally a Matthew girl, but ever since I watched Cold Mountain, I've been a Jude fan too. I honestly didn't know what he even looked like much less that he'd been "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2004. Yeah, yeah, I know. I live under a rock. Anyway, in my new book, my hero's name is---yeah, you guessed it---Jude. OMG! This book is a hoot to write. I mean, I have this gorgeous hero with the most amazing eyes & he's a total bad boy....okay, so I'm going off on a tangent and I'm hearing all these gasps of "What about Matthew??" Don't worry, I still adore Matthew, but let's just say I'm having a little short fling while writing this book. ;) Shhhhh, nobody tell my hubby or Matthew that a new man has entered the world of my fantasies.

You know, I really do blame this on the sucky ending to Cold Mountain. (fabulous movie, sucky, sucky, sucky ending.) I lay awake that night rewriting that ending a hundred different ways. Yes, I know it's the romantic in me. Add that I'm a romance novelist on top of that and it just makes sense that I couldn't let that be the end of the story in my head. No, I haven't dipped into the historical market, just writing my own version of Jude. Only I think in my story, his character is a bit more true to life. A total scoundrel that we women adore anyway. Ah, the proverbial bad boy we want to tame---or be bad with. ;) Oh yeah baby!!

Curves

Ah, that one word can hold so many meanings. Like learning curves or a woman's curves or the curves a baseball pitcher throws. Or it can be where my book signing is being held on Friday night. ;)

You got it. I'm doing my second book signing this Friday night (January 20th) at Curves in McMinnville, TN from 4 to 6 PM. I'd love to see you so if you're in the neighborhood, please do drop by for a visit and an autographed copy of JANE MILLIONAIRE.

Oh, and for those of you interested in the Sexiest Man Alive, his movie Two for the Money is available on DVD tomorrow!! Woo hoo!!!

I had a Matthew blast from the past Saturday night when my daughter and I watched Angels in the Outfield. Matthew is the first ballplayer the angels 'help' out. Hello, if I were an angel I'd put my hands on that man's body, too. Okay, so I'm anything but angelic and I want to put my hands on...well, you get the idea. ;)

Kendra Clark's debut novel!

A writing pal of mine is celebrating the release of her first book. It's an e-book. I've not read the entire story, but I did read the beginning many moons ago while she was writing the story and I can tell you it's a really cool concept.

Spirit Warrior by Kendra Clark

Spirit Warrior by Kendra Clark
Our Price: $5.99
Approx 1 pieces
Item No: 1-933471-73-5

What's worse than being dead? For Ancient Aztec Warrior, Cenyaolt, it's being cursed. Once an Aztec Prince, now a servant to the lord of the
underworld, Cenyaolt wants nothing more than to complete his ninth level of hell and rid himself of his father's 500 year-old vendetta. But when
the gods conspire to return him to Earth for the final task-- the one that will end his torment--he lands straight in the arms of an
ivory-skinned goddess. Will he be able to give up eternal peace for love?
Gabriella O'Connell wants to be normal. But when you're psychic, it's not something easily accomplished. Especially when those abilities are
responsible for the death of her parents. So when her psychic abilities send her erotic dreams containing the most sensual man she's ever laid
eyes on, she's a little freaked out to say the least. Especially after one dream goes haywire, catapulting her into Mesoamerica where she
witnesses her dream lover's gruesome murder. So when that man magically
appears in her clothing boutique, /Ella Designs /, she has a decision tomake. Will she continue denying her abilities even if they'll stop five
hundred years of suffering?

Check Kendra out at:
http://www.triskelion.commercefactory.com/Product60115/Spirit_Warrior_by_Kendra_Clark.html?CategoryID=2920&Index=16

Matthew McConaughey's flaw

I knew he had to have one. I mean, all men do. But this one really...shocked me. Okay, so I mentioned that I bought the issue of People's Magazine. The 20 Years of the Sexiest Man Alive one. Well, there's all kinds of interesting stuff about the guys. According to one of the statements made Matthew hasn't worn deoderant in over 20 years.

I adore the man, really I do. But I won't lie, I had a brief ICK! moment before I remembered that I was thinking about Matthew. So what's a little sweat between me and those abs? No biggie.

Asked to do an online workshop!

Woo hoo! I got asked to give my workshop on Promotion to a different group next January. & check this out! I'll get paid! How cool is that?????? This go around is volunteer for a chapter I belong to and I'm learning a lot, too, since it's the first time I've done an online workshop. I've done several in person at conferences & chapter meetings, but this is the first for this. I've enjoyed it.

Off to write a few pages and dream of getting paid to teach classes on Matthew...hey, a girl can dream! ;) Of course if I was really being naughty (which I *never* am) I'd say getting paid to do something else with Matthew. ;) Nope, not naughty. Not me. ;)

Wednesday Wishes

I had a tele-conference with my fabulous agent today. It went really well and we're getting ready to start submitting my stuff soon. Other than to my Dorchester editor and another editor who now has three of my mss & called me on one with revision requests (so keep your fingers crossed), we've not submitted anything. That's all fixing to change as we gear up to take on 2006 and make it a fabulous year.

I'm really excited about my paranormal. It's fun and a story I am so proud of. The full is done on it and I'm working on a 2nd paranormal's proposal--just in case. And then there's that 3rd idea I have... ;)

Plus, I just finished a proposal for a new contemporary that I can't wait to write. It's an absolute hoot and something I can just have a blast with while writing. Can you tell that I like to have fun with my writing? Anyway, I can't say more on it at the moment, but keep your fingers & toes crossed on that one cause I'm dreaming big with this one.

Plus I need to get two more contemporary proposals written. I have the blurbs and a general idea, but need to get the first 3 chapters and a synopsis together. They should be fun stories, too. :)

Busy. Busy. Busy. So, my Wednesday wishes are that I'm able to write the stories in my head to the level they deserve to be told. Oh, and for lots of writing time....not asking for much, am I??? ;)

My workshop seems to be going well. :) Yea! & I just finished an article on Scleroderma for the www..wetnoodleposse.com site. It'll go live in February when the new issue is up. (It's an e-zine site). Oh, I also posted some flashback pictures of me and some pals over at http://writersatplay.blogspot.com if anyone's interested. :)

Tuesday Treasures

Every day is a treasure although sometimes we get caughtup in day to day routines and don't take the time to count our blessings, so-to-speak.

Today, I'm going to count some of my blessings/things I treasure.

1. The fact that I have health insurance. In the office today, about a 3rd of my patients had no health care coverage.

2. That I spoke with a friend from high school on the phone for the first time in over 5 years. No arguments or fights, just life pulling us in different directions to where time slipped away.

3. That I spoke with a writer friend who always makes me smile with her wit and joyous personality.

4. The fact that my children are (knock on wood) healthy.

5. The fact that my husband loves me, goes to work every day, comes home every night, and did I mention, loves me?

6. The fact that I have a job. Not always the easiest, best, or most joyous, but I have a job that I enjoy most of the time and can pay my bills.

Anyway, that's a few of my Tuesday treasures that I thought I'd share with you. :) Hope your Tuesday was filled with a great many treasures, too.

Monday Meanderings

Well, the workshop has started. So far, so good. :) At least, I think so.

Researching an article on Scleraderma for the www.wetnoodleposse.com e-zine. Scleraderma is what fellow Golden Heart finalist Maryanne Cappelluti died from. It'll be posted there in February.

Polishing up a new proposal that I plan to send to my agent on Wednesday unless she thinks I'm insane. ;) Which is entirely possible because this new idea is a bit out there, but I'm having a hoot with it.

After mailing Causin A Commotion to my editor on Saturday, it hit me what kept bugging me about the story. I knew I hadn't nailed something but just couldn't figure it out. Of course, now I wish I could pull it back and tweak that thing and change the sequence of my first chapter. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity. :)

A close friend got a reject from NAL today. She's so talented and the story that got rejected totally rocks. Sometimes this business is so frustrating. Of course, I called and sang "Happy Birthday" to her and she died laughing---I'm only 11 months ahead of schedule. ;) But she laughed so it was soooo worth it. On a happy note, my pal, Renee Luke, sold to NAL!!!! Very cool!!!

My oldest son has decided he wants to be a WWE wrestler...oh man. Enough said.

Off to watch Wedding Crashers with hubby! (read as "snuggle on the sofa" ;) )

Busy Weekend!

Wow. Where has this weekend gone? It seems like it's barely started and yet it's almost gone. Sigh. I didn't get nearly everything done that I wanted to, but such is life. I did accomplish a lot though. I did an online interview, wrote an article on the American Title Contest that will be included in a literary University publication called The Trunk that is available at places like the Paris, France bookstore Shakespeare and Company. How cool is that???

I also finalized/polished up my workshop on Promotion. In the morning I start teaching my first online writers workshop. Hopefully, things will go well.

My in-laws did a birthday dinner for my husband last night. Fun. :)

On a very sad note, Maryanne Cappelluti who finaled in the 2003 Golden Heart short contemporary contest with me, died. She was so young and had two children. In my office, I have a poster of the Short Contemporary finalists and I'm in between Maryanne & Stephanie Rowe (who writes fabulous books for Dorchester & Warner & will be part of a young adult romance launch!). Anyway, that's been a sad, sad moment.

Win an Autographed copy of Jane Millionaire!

Hey guys, I'm giving away an autographed copy of Jane Millionaire over at Access Romance. All you have to do is post a response to one of the questions & you're automatically entered. Access Romance chooses the winner, but you have great odds of winning as there are only about 20 or so responses on each of the 3 questions. Y'all go post something!!!

www.accessromance.com click on the Tell Tale (it's the 2nd paragraph I think) & then click on read the column. At the bottom of the article are the questions. Just pick one and post. Answer all three and you're entered 3 times. :)

Go win a copy of my book!!!!

Janice

New Computer!

I did it. I did it. I got a new computer! Well, I've bought one. Guess it'll be about a week or so before I actually get it, but I've ordered and paid for it!!!! So excited!!!! :) Now I'll have to think of a name. My laptop is Sahara (named after Matthew's movie!). My son suggested Krull the Warrior King....not so sure about that one. ;) Any thoughts?

While at the grocery store I found a copy of the People 20 Years of Sexiest Man Alive! Matthew's in there!!! On yesterday's photo I didn't realize until I looked at the blog tonight that you couldn't read what he'd said about his favorite make-out places---water tower and football field at the 50 yard line. Too funny. Anyway the mag is great fun to look at and has some awesome pics of Matthew, Brad Pitt, Jude Law (who I've taken a slight fancy to since watching Cold Mountain), George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Patrick Swayze, etc. All the men who've been the Sexiest Man Alive. But I bought it for the articles---not the pictures. (Yeah right!)

New Year's Resolutions

Doesn't it just make you cringe to think another year has come and gone? It does to me. A new year. A time of reflection over what the last year has brought into your life and what it's taken. A time to look at where you stood a year ago and where you stand today. Did you take steps in the direction you want to go?

For quite a few years my most fervent dream/resolution/goal has been to sell a book. 2005 saw that dream turned into a reality. Oddly enough with a reality show based book called, drum roll please because I *know* y'all haven't heard this before, Jane Millionaire, when I won the first ever American Title contest in April. 2005 saw the addition of many new friends and acquaintances to my life and also older friendships that grew richer and stronger. 2005 saw the death of a beloved patient who'd been fighting cancer for several years and lost the battle in September. 2005 saw my parents enter a new phase of life when my dad retired in May. 2005 saw me learn new skills and step outside my comfort zone as I struggled with learning the ins and outs of promotion. 2005 saw me come out of the closet about my writing during the AT contest and much more so when a state-wide magazine ran a 3 page color feature on me and the contest. 2005 saw my husband and I celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. 2005 saw twenty pounds attach itself to my hind-end and saw me work to shoo it away. I could go on and on, but the point is, it's all in the past. Come and gone and where am I now, at this point?

I'm starting over. Starting a fresh year with a clean slate and I can refocus on the things that didn't go as planned for 2005 and set new goals for 2006.

My CP sent me a paper weight that is says my theme for the year 2006. You'll hear me repeat it from time to time during the year.

Go confidently into the direction of your dreams! Live the life you always imagined. Thoreau.

All my goals for this year are going to center around this one statement. I'm still making my list, so it's not something I'll post at this time. Perhaps soon. Perhaps not. What really matters is the goals you set for yourself. Are you going confidently in the direction of your dreams? Are you living the life you always imagined? If not, why not? & what can you do to start taking those confident steps in the direction of those dreams?

On a funner note...Perhaps someone should warn Matthew that I'm planning to go in the direction of my dreams...Matthew is quite dreamy, isn't he? ;) Making out at the 50 yard line? The water tower? Coppertone? I can do coppertone...;) Ahhhh, the dreams I'm gonna have tonight.

Learning more about Janice Lynn

Okay, so it's possible that my subject line is going to make you RUN for the hills, but I thought I'd share a few links to interviews I've done. Currently, there's an interview with me up at Romance Junkies. Here's a link: http://www.romancejunkies.com/artman/publish/article_4998.shtml At http://accessromance.com , I wrote the current Tell Tale and there's a couple of discussion questins and I'll be giving away a autographed copy of Jane Millionaire! & some goodies. At http://writingplayground.com/school.html#jane there's a review of Jane and you can win an autographed copy of Jane Millionaire (& Kelley St. John's Good Girls Don't!!) at their contest page. ( http://writingplayground.com/contest.html ) An interview I did with the playground girls should be posted later this month. I had a lot of fun with that one (yes, it did involve playing in the sandbox with Matthew. ;) I just finished a new interview with Love Romances but it won't go up until April, I believe.

I also did several interviews with author bloggers. Stehanie Rowe, Lori Devoti, Theresa Meyers, Lisa Manuel come to mind off the top of my head, but there were a few others. I'll try to search down the links and post them at a later time for those interested.

I find it fascinating how most of the interviews I've done have asked at least a couple of unique questions. Ones that caught me off guard and made me have to think. Anyway, as anyone who reads my answers can tell, I have fun with them and just go with the flow.

Also, you can still download the radio interview at www.healthylife.net via the Definitely Dana show archives.

Okay, that's my self promo for the day. ;)

What else did I do today? I entered a published author contest. S-C-A-R-Y stuff. I don't really have any expectations of finaling much less winning (I figure I've used up my lifetime quota of contest wins with the American Title win--& I'm not complaining! :) but I decided I should enter Jane Millionaire in at least couple contests as it'll be the only time I ever qualify to enter "best first book". I'm going to try not to be too disappointed if Jane doesn't fare well, but it's so hard to put your baby out there to be judged. Either way, the deed is done and if I do final I'll be dancing an unsightly jig--I'll warn you ahead of time so you can close your eyes. :)

In other news, my kids went back to school. Hubby & I don't go back to work until tomorrow. It was a GREAT! (Think Tony Tiger!) day. ;) Enough said.

Happy New Year!!!

I haven't been online much today as I opted to spend time with my family to celebrate the beginning of yet another new year. It was a great day. We went to the movies and watched Narnia. I loved and highly recommend it! It's a great family movie, too. Not a single curse word in it--if there was I sure didn't catch it. All four of my kids (ranging in age from 6 to 14) loved it & my hubby did, too. Definitely a thumbs up from the Lynn household.

Tonight, I've worked on trying to smooth out some of the rough spots in Causin A Commotion. The story still isn't where I want it, but I'm working on it. :)

Oh, and the coolest thing about the first day of January 1, 2006? I saw Jane Millionaire in a store on a book shelf for the very first time. Yes, I know it's been a months since the book was released, but I've had Thanksgiving, full-time job, sick kids, sold out local bookstores, and Christmas. But today, on the very first day of a brand new year, I saw Jane on a shelf. She was in the New Release section turned face out & in the romance section turned face out times 2 books, and in the local author section. How cool is that? :) My knees felt weak and I got all giddy and I just wanted to grab people and say, "I wrote this!"

I know I've posted this picture of Matthew before, but it's one of my favorite, so...

Happy Postal Worker

I have a few friends who I send 'gag' Christmas gifts. Gag in the sense that it's not your usual kind of gifts. Anyway, for Christmas this year, I put together several fun gifts for one of my pals. I bought things that would fit in this long, white tube and mailed them the week before Christmas. Unfortunately the mailing tube didn't arrive prior to Christmas, which surprised me because I mailed it Priority. The tube finally arrived! Empty. Ack! She called to let me know so I could go file a claim at the Post Office. File a Claim???? You have to envision me with my mouth gaped open and thinking, "I don't think so." as the image of my going into my local PO and saying, "I'm here to report that the big white package I mailed shot it's load at some point on it's way to Kimmi's and I need to file a missing content claim for a 2 lb sausage and a Bad Girl Clean-Up kit." Yeah right, file a claim.

The Bad Girl Clean-Up kit was one I'd bought already put together. It had the most hilarious sayings on the box and came equipped with moist toilettes and other such goodies.

The Sausage? You really should get your mind out of the gutter cause it's NOT what you're thinking. Two years ago during a From The Heart Award ceremony at the RWA National convention, myself and two friends were deemed "Sausage Queens" & given awards for such in front of the entire group. The friend who got the empty present was writing a book and was researching sausages because her heroine's mom was waving a sausage around while trying to pick up a guy for her daughter while grocery shopping. The friend was asking about weights & sizes for sausages, etc. A full fledged discussion about sausages began on this writing loop (a BIAW was going on) and things got a little...out of control. :) So, three of us were dubbed Sausage Queens. That's all I can say on the matter, because if I told you the rest of the story I'd have to kill you. ;)

I sent Kimmi a 2 lb sausage, the Bad Girl kit, a bracelet, and a few other goodies. Nothing real expensive, but things that I'd chosen to give her a smile. Needless to say I was disappointed that the package contained no surprises, but enough to go file a claim?? You have to remember I live in a small town. Everyone at the post office knows me. Knows me well. My mom bakes them Christmas goodies every year. Claim? The thought gives me hives.

So, while discussing the caper of the missing gifts with Kimmi, we got to discussing the happy postal worker and her delighted surprise when she found her very own Bad Girl Clean-up Kit and a 2 lb sausage. The jewelry and other goodies were just bonuses. Can't you just picture her smiling, recounting the tale?

This one time when I was at post office work... (said in true band camp intonation, of course) tee hee!

Oh! I didn't win the computer. :( Guess it's back to the bidding.

New computer?

Well, maybe. I put a bid in on one at ebay and am hoping that it'll pan out. I have Sahara (my wonderful Dell laptop that's named after Matthew McConaughey's movie!!) but my desktop is about 7 years old and my monitor's color has been whacked out for some time. Plus, everytime I try to load something new it crashes. My hubby says I've pretty much maxed my memory out--not sure if he's talking about the computer or moi. ;) So, I've been watching ebay for a while and tonight I put in a bid on one. How cool if I get to start 2006 out with a new computer? Of course, I'll have to figure out a name for the one. Although Matthew's latest movie is Two for the Money I'm not thrilled at the prospect of naming my desktop that...uhm, going to think on this one...guess I should win the laptop first. :)

I sent The Glass Slipper to my agent this evening, danced to 80's music being silly with my daughter--we have had a blast with a Detrola record player my husband got me for Christmas. I can play all my old albums (can you say Air Supply, Bay City Rollers, The Rolling Stone, Sue Thompson, and more? Okay, so that's a bigger mix than just the 80's.) Anyway, Abby and I have danced around the house singing along and having ourselves a good time. Way fun.

I've had my eye on this really cool suede jacket, but getting a new computer is my top priority so I've delayed on buying it, thinking I'd get it after Christmas. Today it went on sale--what are the odds with me bidding on a computer? It was 50% off so I decided to go for it and not eat for the next month. They were sold out of my size. Not only my size but the size below my size and the size above my size--yes, I did check. Wah! Now I'm wishing I hadn't procrastinated and had just gone ahead and ordered it to begin with. That'll teach me to be a procrastinater shopper. ;)

Oh, and the above is a picture of Matthew after he finished reading Jane Millionaire. Apparently he had to cool himself off afterwards. ;)

A Life Less Ordinary

So, when I was searching for a fabo picture of Matthew to post on my blog tonight, this one caught my attention. The saying as much so as the gorgeous man.

A life less ordinary--that's sorta what we're all looking for. Meaning. Purpose. To feel that we made our mark on the world in one way or another--hopefully a positive one. To know that when we reach the end of our days we can look back and know that we reached for our dreams and lived a life that was less ordinary. I like it. Especially at this reflective time of year when many of us are looking back over 2005 and preparing to set New Year resolutions. A life less ordinary.

I finished up the rough draft of Causin A Commotion last week and have been toying with it, trying to figure out why I'm not quite happy with the story-line. I took a break from it today to read over The Glass Slipper. My agent plans to submit it in early January. It's my first attempt at a paranormal and it's a light, fun story. I had a lot of fun with it and just adore the ending. To me the ending is soooooo important. I can love a story and then if it doesn't end right, well, it just ruins the entire thing for me. For instance, hubby and I watched Cold Mountain. An excellent movie--up till the end. I won't give a spoiler for those who haven't seen it, but I really, really wanted to rewrite that ending. In my mind, I did a hundred times. The characterization in that movie was fabulous, btw. I've never been a Jude Law fan, couldn't have even named anything he was in, but I have to admit, he did a fantastic job and his character was such a true hero that you couldn't help but fall in love with him. But I'm a romantic at heart and want my happily-ever-after. If a book or movie doesn't give it to me, I'm disappointed---or dream about the movie all night, giving it alternate endings. :)

A Life Less Ordinary--I'm going to come back to this in a couple of days when I write my resolutions...think I can list Matthew under my tree as a goal for 2006??? LOL. Guess I better stick with things a bit more realistic--and that won't lead my husband to asking for a divorce.

Merry Christmas!

Wow! Look at what someone left under my tree after I whined that none of my packages could possibly have Matthew McConaughey tucked inside as they were the wrong shape and size. ;) Actually, several sweet ladies on my readers loop sent me pics of Matthew! YUM!!!! Now there's an image to cause happy Christmas thoughts to dance in one's head during the night. ;)

On that note, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Hope Santa is particularly good to you all this year!

Ho! Ho! Ho!!! Merry Christmas to one and to all!

American Title 2

Round Two of the American Title 2 contest has started! Voting began on Dec. 19 and runs until Dec. 31 at www.romantictimes.com, which will take you to the front page or you can go directly to the voting page by going to www.americantitle2.com.

This round they are looking for the best hero and heroine and the three contestants who receive the fewest votes will be cut from the competition, so every vote counts! Please pass this along to anyone you think would be willing to help out. You can only vote online and each email address can only vote once.

As someone who knows exactly how these ladies feel, I want to encourage you to go vote in this round. Flavia was particularly harsh to some of the contestants (Ouch! I remember EXACTLY how that feels), but don't let that dissuade you from voting for whichever entry you feel is the best.

The lovely floral arrangement above is from the American Title Two contestants. They had this delivered to me on the morning of November 29th...the day Jane Millionaire was released (which was such a stressful day because of my son's oral surgery). It was so unexpected and so sweet of them, that I cried when I read the card. The really cool thing is that I have lighthouses in my office and the plate and cup look fabulous on my desk!!!

One of the greatest gifts I've recieved during 2005 is all the new friends I've made via the American Title contest and Jane Millionaire's release. I have much to be thankful for.

Hump day!

Get your mind out of the gutter! I'm talking about the fact that it's Wednesday! & that (am I jinxing myself by saying this?) everyone in my house *seems* better. Yea!!! That's enough to make me want to turn cartwheels!

I did a radio interview yesterday morning. It was for a local station and it was nice. We mainly discussed the American Title Contest and the process Jane Millionaire went through from the time I entered to the time I was announced the winner. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would--which isn't necessarily saying a lot since I was terrified at the thought of having to do the interview. :)

I plan to finish the rough draft of Causin A Commotion today! Woo hoo! & then it's back to work tomorrow (been off a couple of days with the sickies, unfortunately they were too sick for me to get anything done other than clean-ups & pick-ups. Yuck.). I am off work on Friday & look forward to a day at home, hopefully with no sick kids, no sick husband, and dream about Matthew by the pool. Lucky dog! ;)

Stomach virus is still in the house!

Ack! Enough said.

Life's ups & downs!

Well, after my very lovely day on Thursday, my life went to the loo. My youngest had a stomach virus & I was up with him all Thursday night. Ick. Fortunately, he felt better and he and I slept quite a bit on Friday. Unfortunately I didn't get to go to my Christmas party at work. :( It was at a dinner theater and I'd looked forward to going, but kiddos come first.

Tonight was my Christmas with my family. It began with my 12 yr old starting with the dreaded stomach virus an hour before time to be there. We started to just all stay home, but my other 3 kids begged to go on to Grandma's since they felt fabulous & we were talking presents, after all. So, my dear hubby and the 12 yr old stayed home while I took the other 3 kids to my parents. Everything was going well, until my daughter's dinner came back up. Ack! We should have stayed home. I knew it from the beginning, but I gave in to their begging because I remember the magic of presents at Christmas time. This year I'm hoping for Matthew McConaughey under my tree. After dealing with several days of sick kids, I'm thinking I'd really run away with him if he showed up on my doorstep...okay, so I'd come back for the kids...eventually...maybe...okay, so I'd just go away with him for a weekend or two, but come on, I'm trying to forget about reality for a bit here. Puh-leeze. You're totally interfering with my fantasy here by reminding me that I love my hubby and kids and would miss them terribly even I was on a wild weekend with Matthew...perhaps he could work really hard to make me forget??? Or perhaps I could be having one of those Stetson, take me away! moments (hey, you can have your Calgon, I'll take my Stetson! ;) Anyway, after all the household yuckies, I definitely need a Matthew fix. ((Janice stares at Matthew's picture, wipes the drool from her chin, and stares some more.)) Ahhh, I'm feeling better already.

I did two interviews tonight. It's always interesting to see what people ask about you and your stories and your writing process. A lot of the questions are similiar, but then there's the totally unexpected ones. I'm currently the featured author at www.romancejunkies.com . I'll post the other links when they go live. :) I'm doing another radio interview on Tuesday morning. It's for a local station and is thirty minutes long. Hope I don't say Uhm too many times. My first radio interview is still on archive at www.healthylife.net under the Definitely Dana! show.

Well, I'm off to get some sleep...at least, I'm hoping I get to sleep tonight. Two sick kids in the house, I'll be lucky if I get any shut eye time.

Jane Millionaire does Australia!

This morning prior to going to work I checked my emails (imagine that!) & I had the sweetest email from a bookseller in Australia. She'd read Jane Millionaire and loved it. Okay, call me sappy but I watered up. Big time. It just seems so unreal to me that something I wrote is actually a real book and that said book is being read by people on the other side of the world.

I've almost finished my Christmas shopping (yes, I said "Christmas" & no I won't be politically correct and just say Happy Holidays. I'm not overtly political, but this one really gets my goat! Celebrating Christ's birthday by taking his name out of the day? I respect others' religion and believe they have every right to believe as they choose and to celebrate as they choose---but so do I & anyone not believing in Christ should show me that same respect for my religious beliefs, IMHO), but back to shopping...ah, shopping. Can I just say that the stores are madhouses and I've never seen so many women ready to commit murder over the last video game. The poor sales clerks. Ack! Each year I seem to be doing more and more of my shopping online. If possible, I think I'd do all my shopping there. :)

And then there's the people on your lists who have it all, people you love and want to give a gift to show how much they mean to you, yet you can't quite find the gift that says that. At least, not one within your budget. Usually it's men that I have this problem with...but not always.

Oh! I'm the featured newbie author at http://www.roadtoromance.ca/ :) One of the fun thing about finally selling a book is coming across all these neat romance sites. Despite being an avid romance reader all my life, I didn't know a fraction of them were out there.

And, just in case you were wondering, the hottie above is Benjamin Bratt. I know, I know, I'm a Matthew kind of girl, but in Jane Millionaire my heroine, Jill, thinks the hero, Rob, looks like Benjamin Bratt. Yeah, I can see what Rob's appeal might be. ;)

Call off the search!

I'm not lost or missing, just negligent on keeping up with my posts. Life has been nutty! Okay, my life is always nutty, but lately more so than usual. :) Thursday my dad went into the hospital with chest pain and that through my life out of kilter. Needless to say all the things that are so important in my day to day life fell to no importance at all. Fortunately, my dad is okay and he aced his cardiac stress test. He's home and feeling better. Yea!!!

My husband and oldest two boys went backpacking this weekend (yes, it was colder than an iceberg's bottom) and camped. The youngest two & I hung out with my parents and curled on the sofa watching Christmas movies. Okay, so I wrote a bit, too. My self-imposed deadline for the sequel to Jane Millionaire is by the end of the year. I'm 309 pages in, so hopefully I'll make it.

I had a really cool thing happen today. I've pitched an article to RWR magazine once before, but unfortunately they'd already bought a similiar one. So, being thick-headed female that I am, I pitched another. & they picked it up! Woo hoo!!! It'll be in the August 2006 issue.

Take Me by Bella Andre

Tonight, I'm blogging about my co-finalist in the American Title contest, Bella Andre! She's fabulous and writes fabulously hot books! Bella's debut book from Pocket has the most yummy cover ever.

An appetite for sensual pleasures must never be denied. . . .


Lily Ellis has curves–soft, beautiful curves. The kind of voluptuous body she fears Travis Carson, the man she’s always loved from afar, would never crave. But Lily is about to be proven wrong. Her sensual adventure begins when, despite her inhibitions, the demure San Francisco interior decorator agrees to model a plus-size dress for her fashion designer sister. Watching this sensual beauty move down the runway with mesmerizing power, Travis can’t believe it’s the same Lily he’s always known and always rejected. In a whirlwind of electric attraction, Lily is soon moaning Traviss name in his bed, not just in her wild fantasies. But Lily is all too aware that she’s nothing like his past lovers . . . and now that she has him close at last, she’s praying Travis likes what he sees and feels. Determined to beat Travis at his own game by guarding her true feelings of love and lust, she spontaneously partners with him on a business deal that takes them all the way to Italy. In the seductive warmth of the Tuscan sun, Lily is about to unwrap her real self, and play a game of desire with the hot-blooded Travis. Will she be burned by an ecstasy that’s so all-consuming it has her seeing stars? Or will Travis open his heart to the sexy, exciting, and lasting love she has to offer?

Emma Holly, bestselling author: Oh, my! Bella Andre’s TAKE ME is wonderfully sexy–a big, fun fantasy with an euqally big heart. You’ll cheer these characters on as they find each other…and themselves!

Jaid Black, bestselling author: TAKE ME is emotionally charged and deliciously erotic. A must-read from cover to cover.

Patricia Green, Romance Reviews Today: A story with a woman who isn’t model perfect is a refreshing change in TAKE ME…Ms. Andre captures the beauty of Italy in such a way that it will leave one wishing to experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun…a delightfully engaging tale of erotic contemporary romance.

Susan White, JustEroticRomanceReviews: Take Me is a terrific book that I absolutely adored.

Angel, Romance Junkies: TAKE ME is an excellent book about a full figured woman… I love the fact that a plus size heroine gets the hero. Bella Andre has done an outstanding job creating a heroine who is not average and a hero who loves her just the way she is.

Tewanda H., bookseller: I am lucky enough to work at a bookstore that received an advanced reading copy of Take Me. I was unable to put the book down. IT IS WONDERFUL!!!! And I will be recommending it to customers, friends, and family. Lily is a wonderful heroine, that cannot help but touch your heart.

Available now from Pocket Trade!

Y'all be sure to check her out at http://www.bellaandre.com/

Ack! I've been tagged!

My darling buddy Kathleen Long (check her out at www.kathleenlong.com ) just tagged me. It's sorta like this nasty virus that once one person gets tagged they spread it all around. Now's my turn to do my part to infect some of my friends. :)

Okay, this tag is to list 15 things related to me and reading/writing. 15 things. 15 things. Like I have 15 things to say. Well, let's give this a shot.

15. (Hey, I can make it a countdown if I want to. Just to make things a little more interesting.) The first romances I read were my mother's Harlequins, Silhouettes, and Second Chances at Love. I'd sneak them off her shelf and sit in my bedroom closet with a flashlight and read them.

14. One of my all time favorite reads is Good Time Girl by Candace Schuler. Yes, I have a thing for cowboys, hot sex, and Mustangs. A book that combines the three works for me. ;)

13. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade I won my first writing contest. A story about a little witch. No, it wasn't an autobiography. vbg

12. Nora Roberts gave me my birds and the bees talk via reading her books. (see number #15 for the specifics on how. ;)

11. I wrote my first 'romance' when I was in eighth grade. By hand on loose leaf notebook paper. That notebook is in my basement and someday when I need a good laugh, I'll haul it out.

10. If I could be any author when I grow up, I'd choose to be Jennifer Crusie. Of course, I'm never growing up, so it's irrelevant.

9. On the night I got the coverflat for JANE MILLIONAIRE, I wrapped it around Marianne Mancusi's A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court and put it on my bookshelf to see what it looked like. :)

8. My former boss read JANE MILLIONAIRE this weekend. He says we need to put Jane on audio, quit prescribing Viagra, and just sell the tapes instead. Says we'd make a fortune. :)

7. When I won the American Title contest, four dear friends sent me a gorgeous charm bracelet commerating the contest. A castle. A rose. A director's chair. Handcuffs. A water bottle. A computer. A star. For each charm, they'd written a line about how it related to the book. I cried and treasure that bracelet & their friendship. These days, they send me Tags. ;)

6. I finaled in nearly 20 RWA contests before I WON one.

5. I won that particular contest two years in a row. 2003 & 2004

4. This year, I'm not eligible to enter. (woo hoo!)

3. Despite the fact that my first published book is set on a reality television show, I've only ever watched one episode and that was while at a writing conference and my three roomies FORCED me to watch an episode of Survivor.

2. Leanne Banks is the first published author I remember meeting at my first RWA function (Denver 2002). Leanne (along with fabuloso Lori Foster!) gave me an author quote for JANE MILLIONAIRE.

I feel like David Letterman should interrupt me here and say something witty about the number one factoid about Janice Lynn in relation to writing or reading is...

1. The real reason I write is it gives me a legitimate reason to stare at pictures of Matthew McConaughey to my heart's content. For inspiration, you know. :)

Now I have to infect three of my pals...oh Kendra ( http://kendraclark.blogspot.com ), Mary ( http://marywritesromance.blogspot.com ), Trish (http://trishwrites.blogspot.com) ...look out!

Chocolate poured over Matthew McConaughey Kind of Day!

Yes, it was one of those delicious days that a person remembers all throughout their life. My first booksigning!! & I sold out! Happy day! Happy day!!! :) My mom took pictures. When I get copies, I'll post them.

Came home to some great emails from friends that local stores for them had sold out of Jane Millionaire! or that they'd seen Jane Millionaire face out in the bookstore and one friend even saw Jane Millionaire on the front table along with Nora and the *big* names! Wow! I'd love to have seen that. :)

Hubby has been super attentive & is almost finished reading Jane Millionaire for the first time ever & it's just been a really stellar day.

Thanks to all of you who've been so supportive and wonderful to me on Jane Millionaire's journey to publication. This has been one wild ride and it just keeps getting better. :)

Going to go watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith with my family and make notes on a new book idea that hit me while driving home from the book signing.

First book signing!

Tomorrow I'm doing my very first book signing. It's at a local bookstore (Tullahoma!) from 2 until 4 PM! I'm so excited. :) What's even more fun is that the bookseller called me yesterday to tell me that she'd sold out of my book and had to order more for the signing! Now that's cool! LOVED that.

Tonight I did an interview and answered emails and I just have to say that I thoroughly LOVE getting emails from readers. I watered up the first one I got. Sweet lady who reminded me of me. Mother, wife, job, school (ok, so I've FINALLY moved beyond that...unless I decide to go back and get my doctorate--somebody slap me quick!), anyway, her email was so fabulous and really moved me because I know how little free time she has and yet she chose to spend an entire afternoon reading Jane Millionaire, then took the time to email me to tell me she loved it!!! And I got my dream email---one from someone saying she was up till 4 AM because she couldn't put the book down and, despite the fact she had to go to work the next day, she had to finish Jane. OMG! I mean, I recall so many nights that I've done the same thing because I *had* to know what was going to happen with the characters next & now, someone had that feeling about Rob and Jill's story. WOW!!!!

Y'all have a great weekend!!! & wish me luck for tomorrow cuz I'm a bit nervous.