Amanda Ramblings

2009-04-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

Romancing a Cause Auction!

One of my writer friends from Romance Divas (who shall remain nameless for privacy reasons) is struggling. She and her husband have just been foreclosed upon and both have lost their jobs. She also happens to be an incredibly talented author, who wrote what is hands down one of my favorite books ever.

Anyway, fellow author Ciar Cullen has organized an auction to help us raise some money for this friend. There are some amazing collections of prizes on here, so please check them out and please considering bidding if something strikes your fancy.

Oh, and by the way, I donated to "The Rose Group." This auction goes live on April 6, so don't miss it! This prize consists of THREE critiques of the first 30 pages of your manuscript by three of the 2009 Golden Heart finalists: me, Jeannie Lin, and Cynthia Mealer. Plus, you'll also receive three ebooks to read while you're waiting ("One Wild Weekend" and "Click!" by T. Sue Ver Steeg and "Snowbound" by M.G. Braden). So check it out!

You can find all the details of the auction here:
http://ciarcullen.wordpress.com/romancing-a-cause-auction/

2009-03-26T06:32:00.000-07:00

I'M A GOLDEN HEART FINALIST!

I'm thrilled to announce that CODENAME: DANCER, my romantic mystery set behind the scenes of a teen dance reality show being filmed on the campus of a performing arts boarding school, has been nominated for the 2009 Golden Heart Award in the Young Adult category!

2009-01-27T08:06:00.001-08:00

“Oh Goddess ” by Gwen Hayes

Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-367-8
Length: Short Story
Price: 2.50
Publication Date: January 27, 2009
Cover art by Tuesday Dube

Born to protect women’s hearts, her own beats longingly for a mortal. Oops…

Ondina, one thousand years a goddess, doesn’t think much of mortal men. Probably because her sole purpose in life is to protect the hearts of women who don’t want to fall in love. And now one of those blasted men—Jack—has shattered her sacred chalice, trapping her in a mortal body.

Jackson Nichols, on the partner track at his law firm, is the first to admit he always follows his head. Never his heart. Dina is infuriating, messy, condescending, sexy, beautiful and…well, just about everything that doesn’t fit into his meticulously planned life.

Neither expects to find many redeeming qualities in the other. But when push comes to love, which will Dina choose? Her newly human heart…or one thousand years of duty?

*All author and editor proceeds from the sale of Oh Goddess will be donated to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. You can find out more about the foundation at www.coalitionforpf.org.

Warning: Recent studies show that consuming beverages while reading this story can cause damage to computer monitors, clothing, and sometimes nearby walls. Reader agrees to hold both Samhain Publishing Ltd. and Gwen Hayes harmless in case of accidental spewing caused by laughter.

Read An Excerpt Online

2008-11-25T12:20:00.001-08:00

WE GOT A DOG!!!!

Say hello to Bailey, our chow/lab mix!

2008-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Moral of the Story: Never Mess with a Law Student's Outlines

So true...
http://abovethelaw.com/2008/11/law_student_of_the_day_alex_bo.php

2008-10-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

MY 200th POST!!!!

I know I haven't really been good about keeping up with the blog. Mea culpa. But Mr. Brice sent me this picture and I thought it was hilarious, so I needed to share.

ROFL!

2008-07-16T09:41:00.001-07:00

The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived! Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don't miss it!

Coordinated by Seeley deBorn!

Here's a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops...

Wednesday, July 30

Paula Guran, Editor, Juno Books
Q&A on Creating Kick a** Heroines

Laurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain Publishing
Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*

Thursday July 31

Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary
Q&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy Market

Sandra Schwab, Historical Romance Author
Workshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms

Friday, August 1

Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by Stone
Q&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World Building

Katie MacIver, KatieDidDesign
Workshop on Website Design and Color Selection

Saturday, August 2

Joey W. Hill, Erotica Author
Workshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic Romance

Rhonda Stapleton, Editor and Author
Workshop on Style and Voice

Excited yet?

How about if I list some door prizes?

What Gwen said" mug donated by Gwen Hayes
3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon's backlist
An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons' Choice (fantasy romance - dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
Lush stuff from Seeley deBorne
e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
winner's choice of ebook copy of "Not Quite Dead" or "Heart of the Sea" by Sela Carson
e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc... All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
1 download each of Natasha Moore's Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
a copy of "Painted Soul" by Mary Quast
e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Wild Rose Press
e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen - Phaze
e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen - Phaze
$10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden

Ebook ARC, Art of Sensuality by Jax Cassidy

Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!

2008-01-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

Primaries and Elections...

Today's the primary vote in Michigan. And coming up is Nevada and South Carolina.

Lesser known, and definitely not as important to the nation, but important to me (and to the recipients of the charitable donations) is the Predators and Editors Poll.

Have you voted yet?

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml

My charity anthology, DREAMS & DESIRES, is up for best anthology of 2007, and you can help us win! Just vote for us TODAY, January 15!

100% of the proceeds from sales of this anthology are donated to a battered women's shelter in Florida. We'll be releasing Dreams & Desires 2 on Feburary 1, and the proceeds will be donated to a shelter in California.

For more info about this anthology, or to purchase it, go to:http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/132/77/

It's really good! But don't take my word for it. Mrs. Giggles chose it as her favorite anthology in 2007. She gave it a 90, which might as well be a perfect score, coming from her! And Affair de Coeur magazine adored it as well.

2007-12-04T06:54:00.001-08:00

Nutcracker!

Have I mentioned that I was in the Center Dance Company production of the Nutcracker this weekend? I was a "Party Mom" (a mother in the party scene in Act I) and it was a blast. It was mostly acting (well, pantomime, really) rather than dancing, although we did do a short ballroom dance.

This picture is a "family portrait" of my stage family: my "husband" Michael and my darling daughters. It was a lot of fun.

Our version was set in Washington, DC in the 1940s. Clara's father is a Senator, and one of the Party Dads said that he likes to think of his character as the junior senator from that state, so we decided to give outselves roles. I guess it's a super progressive 1940s, because I decided I'm the Attorney General.

I'll post some more once I get the professional photos from the performance.

2007-11-27T07:13:00.000-08:00

Who Will Win Dancing with the Stars?

Tonight's the night...who will win? Will it be Indy 500 driver Helio Castroneves, Spice Girl Mel B, or entertainer and doll designer Marie Osmond?

I can tell you this right now...I will not watch this show anymore if Marie wins. Why? Can you say "Sanjaya"????? Dear lord, that woman is painful to watch. I honestly can't understand what the appeal is. People seem to actually think she's entertaining to watch. I don't get it.

Last night, her samba was like a bad caricature of a samba. I could do a better job the first day I learned the samba, and yet she's been rehearsing for weeks. It wasn't her first samba either. Gawd, it was awful.

And her freestyle? Ugh. Although I do have to admit that for once her stiffness and clunkiness was a good thing, considering as she was dressed as a lifesize wind-up doll. Can the woman just PLEASE point her toes for once? Please? And her lifts stunk.

I really hope that Helio wins, although I won't be crushed if Mel wins. But I definitely think Helio outperformed Mel last night. His freestyle was incredible and I really liked his jive, too. Mel's cha-cha was kinda boring and her hip hop was almost a little too ladylike.

But like I said, I won't mind if she wins. She's definitely a very good dancer. I think she was better in the other weeks, but I wasn't super impressed by her last night.

Did you see Marie's reaction when her samba got three 8's? LOL! She actually looked shocked. To be honest, I think those were sympathy scores from the judges...I wouldn't have given her any higher than three 6's (if even that high).

So who do you want to win?

2007-11-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Halloween Costume Fun!

This is me and Mr. Brice in the costume we wore to his friend's Halloween party. We went as a Dancing with the Stars couple. (This is the tango.)

I actually brought along a costume change, but not on purpose. I was searching for a shawl just in case I got chilly, and found my old latin costume from when I used to compete. I tried it on, but, well, let's just say that it used to fit a lot better 7 years ago. But I brought it along in my purse (yes, it's that small...not much material in those things) to show my friend, and she decided that I needed to put it on, so I told her I would if I got drunk enough.

I didn't bother taking pics of that one, though.

Anyway, I think Mr. Brice & I look cute. He wanted us to be a Boston Red Sox fan couple, but I thought that was boring (this was the night before they won...a week ago yesterday), so I vetoed that idea. He finally agreed to do DWTS, since all he had to do was wear a black shirt and black pants.

2007-10-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

I'm Done With DWTS

So done.

I've been addicted to this show since it first premiered a few years ago and have even attended the live stage show. I even created my own teen celebrity version of it for my dance mystery series.

But I'm done watching. Done.

It's such a crock when the most talented dancer gets sent home. What is wrong with the American public that they'll vote for their favorite stars even when they aren't any good, and let the ones with talent go home?

The American public gets WAAAAAAAAY too much power on this show. It should be like the way it's on "So You Think You Can Dance" where the public votes and there's a bottom 3, but then those in the bottom 3 get to do freestyle solos and the judges choose who leaves from them. That would make much more sense and you'd actually end up with talent on the show.

The way it currently is, you end up with a junior high popularity contest. What other possible way could explain keeping Marie Osmond around? Apparently she said that fans need to vote because the "judges are picking on the older chicks." Honey, if the judges were criticizing you, it's because you simply can't dance. Your paso was the most pathetic excuse for a paso I've ever seen in my entire life. And Jane's jive wasn't much better. Believe me, Marie, if anything, the judges were being kind and gentle with you. There's no way you should have scored more than a 4 from any of the judges on that ridiculous routine.

So anyway, the American public sent the most talented dance home last night, Sabrina Bryan. I heard some people complain that they didn't think she should be on the show because she already had dance training. So what? This might come as a surprise to you (it shouldn't), but most actresses and singers have dance training, even if it's just a little bit. I am willing to bet that all of the women on that show have taken dance training before they went on DWTS, even if it wasn't serious. It's a normal part of being a performer, and anyway, the rules don't state that the show is about taking someone with zero talent and turning them into a superstar. It's just about taking celebrities out of their comfort zone and giving them a short itme to learn ballroom dances. (And hip hop as a teenager or ballet lessons when you're younger doesn't necessarily mean you'll be good at ballroom.)

The show should celebrate the best dancer. NOT the one who can solicit the most votes.

I'm guessing that Cheetah Girl fans aren't allowed to stay up late enough to vote. Or maybe their parents won't let them vote. Or maybe they have the same problem I have: you're supposed to get as many votes per phone line as the number of dancers left, yet when I make my very first call, they tell me that I've already used up all my votes. Huh? Yeah, if you count votes I made LAST week. Needless to say, I didn't get to cast a single vote this week.

2007-10-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Dancing with the Stars

If you've read my blog regularly (and I know there hasn't been ANYTHING to read at all lately...sorry!), then you know that the YA mystery series my agent has been shopping for me is set at a performing arts boarding school. We've gotten some Hollywood interest lately, because the first book takes place behind the scenes of a Dancing with the Stars-type show for teens.

OK, I admit it. I'm a DWTS junkie. I'm not ashamed of this fact, either. I have an excuse...it's research for my books, but also I used to do competitive ballroom dancing when I was in college and the years in between college and law school. I'm totally addicted.

Anyway, I've totally been enjoying this season. I think the dancers may be the strongest overall of any of the seasons. I'm fairly confident that the final two couples are going to be Sabrina & Mark and Helio & Julianne. They're just heads above the others.

But the remaining stars are pretty darn good, too. So, who do you think is next to get voted off? (Mel B from the Spice Girls, Helio Castroneves, Jennie Garth, Cameron Mathison, Marie Osmond, Sabrina Bryan from the Cheetah Girls, or Jane Seymour?)

I wasn't surprised that Mark Cuban left this week. His I Dream of Jeannie routine was adorable, but definitely not as good as the others. I'm surprised he last as long as he did.

Jane Seymour is elegant and gorgeous, but there's just something so, well, boring about her dances. There, I said it. They're kinda boring. And way too safe. She hasn't taken any risks at all.

Comment and you're entered to win a copy of my e-book, SHE'S GOT LEGS!

2007-10-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Does the person you love...

* Track all of your time?
* Constantly accuse you of being unfaithful?
* Prevent you from working or attending school?
* Discourage your relationships with family and friends?
* Criticize you for little things?
* Anger easily when drinking or using other drugs?
* Control all finances and force you to account in detail for what you spend?
* Humiliate you in front of others?
* Destory personal propoerty or sentimental items?
* Hit, punch, slap, kick, or bite you or the children?
* Use or threaten to use a weapon against you?
* Threaten to hirt you or the children?
* Forece you to have sex against your will?

If you find yourself saying yes to any of these, IT'S TIME TO GET HELP.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past several years, you undoubtedly know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, it's also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I wish these two important issues didn't share a month. I'm so happy that breast cancer no longer holds the stigma that it once had and that every year researchers come closer to finding a cure. But domestic violence is also a pervasive disease that can affect anyone at anytime.

We need to find a cure for this disease, as well.

There's one little way that you can make a difference. By purchasing the
Dreams & Desires anthology from Freya's Bower, you help abused women and children. All proceeds -- that's 100% of the profit because all stories, editing, and cover art was donated -- will be donated to a battered women's shelter in Florida. We'll be putting out a second volume in February 2008, with all proceeds going to a shelter in California. This will be an annual project.

So buy a copy today. You get great stories by some fantastic women writers and help out an important cause.

For the month of October, all formats (ebook, trade paperback, hardcover) are discounted at http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/132/77. The book is also available in stores and on Amazon.com but you'll only receive the discount through the publisher directly.

2007-07-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

Headed Out of the Country

I leave work in 30 minutes. I'm meeting my mom at the Metro station near my office (she's taking a cab to the station) and we'll take the train to the airport, should only take about 10 minutes.

Our first flight is at 4:25, and we land in Raleigh/Durham at 5:30, then we leave RDU at 6:35. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep...I hate overnight flights as I'm always massively jetlagged the next day.

We'll arrive in London at 7 am.

Should be a fairly low-key day...the British Museum, the BBC, drinks with a writing friend, and then we're seeing "The Complete Works of Shakespeare."

Anyway, next time I post, it'll be from my hotel in London. Cheerio!

2007-07-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

Two Days in Paris

Actually, I'll be spending 5 days in Paris. "Two Days in Paris" is just the name of the movie I saw last night.

I was very fortunate to get two tickets to the DC premiere of Julie Delpy's new movie (she wrote, directed, and starred), "Two Days in Paris." To celebrate the premiere, the French Embassy here in DC held a reception and screening. French wine and cheese and a movie, what more can you ask for?

Anyway, she was at the reception and she seems really cool. She's one of those beautiful women who you can tell don't really work at it or care...she went outside to get some fresh air, and because it was humid, she pulled her hair up into a messy knot with a ponytail holder. Gotta love starlets who don't primp and preen.

Of course, she let her hair out of the knot before she walked into the screening room to address the audience. LOL!

I've loved her as an actress ever since I saw her in "Before Sunrise" (and then later that year, I watched "Europa Europa" in my "European Cinema in Conflict" class...yes, we had some totally b-s classes at Duke...). "Before Sunrise" is such a good movie, don't you think? Very talky, but who doesn't love a movie where a guy and girl meet on their last night in a gorgeous European city and decide to just spend the entire night together?

*sigh*

Anyway, back to "Two Days in Paris." Julie Delpy wrote and directed it, and also starred as Marion, a French photographer who lives in NY. In the movie, she brings her American germophobe boyfriend (played brilliantly by Adam Goldberg) back home with her to Paris. He doesn't speak French, her parents don't speak English. And they keep running into her old boyfriends.

The tagline for the movie is "He knew Paris was for lovers. He just didn't realize they were all hers."

VERY funny movie, but it might not appeal to all. It's not your typical romantic comedy. It's more offbeat and cerebral, but a very touching ending. Very indie film.

And the best part is that I'll be in Paris one week from tomorrow!!!!!!!!

2007-07-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

London Calling...

I leave for London 1 week from today! Can you tell I'm psyched?

Seriously, my brother is The. Best. Brother. Ever. I'm serious. It was awesome of him to be studying in Paris this summer, so I can go visit him without paying for a hotel.

Anyway, Mom and I are flying into London because it was $1200 to fly roundtrip from DC to Paris, yet it was $700 if we flew an open jaw trip (DC to London, then the return is Paris to DC). Go figure. So by saving $500 per ticket, we get to go to London. Even with paying for two nights of a hotel room in London, sightseeing in London, show tickets in London (we're seeing "Fame" and "The Complete Works of Shakespeare"), and the Eurostar train tickets from London to Paris, we're still coming out well ahead.

It's basically a free trip to London!

Which is awesome, because I've never been to London. I've been all over Western Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Monaco, Germany, Belgium) but have never made that jump across the Channel. I'm really looking forward to it, even if it's just for two days.

And then 5 nights in Paris!!!! Whoo-hoo! OK, maybe 4 nights in Paris, because we might spend a night in Giverny.

This will be my 5th trip to Paris, but I'm no less excited for this one than for any of the other times I've been there. OK, maybe a little less excited than the time I went there for 4 months to study at the Sorbonne...

2007-07-06T07:53:00.001-07:00

Not going to Nationals? Don't worry...Romance Divas is doing the next best thing!

Romance Divas announces the first annual "Not Going to Nationals Cyber Conference" from July 11-15, right on the forum. Best of all, it's FREE!

Just register for Romance Divas--membership is free, you just need to sign up! www.romancedivas.com if you have trouble with registration email night.diva.maria (at) gmail (dot) com

There will be workshops, Q&As, and giveaways each day. All you have to do is participate!!!!

Schedule:

July 11:
Workshop: PC Cast and Kristin Cast (topic TBA)
PCCast.net
Q&A: Erotic romance with Portia da Costa and Madelynne Ellis
PortiaDaCosta.com
MadelynneEllis.com

July 12:
Workshop: Book Signing 101: Tips to Help Make your Signing a Success by Jackie Kessler JackieKessler.com
Q&A: Legal Issues for Writers by Amanda Brice
AmandaBrice.com

July 13:
Workshop: What to Expect After You Sign the Contract by Marley Gibson
MarleyGibson.com
Q&A: TBA (either with an agent from the Larsen-Pomada Agency or a panel on multi-cultural romance)

July 14: Workshop: Sasha White (topic TBA)
http://www.sashawhite.net/
Q&A: How To Write Both YA and Adult Romance by Berta Platas
BertaPlatas.com

July 15:
Workshop: Trim That Fatty Writing! by Rhonda Stapleton
RhondaStapleton.net>
Q&A: TBA (either with an agent from the Larsen-Pomada Agency or a panel on multi-cultural romance)

We also have loads of great giveaways, including books, critiques, coaching, and more!

2007-06-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

An Interview with Diana Peterfreund

UNDER THE ROSE, the sequel to her fabulous debut SECRET SOCIETY GIRL, was released yesterday.

I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of the book and let me tell you, it was fan-freakin-tastic! I couldn't put it down!

So today I'm chatting with my WRW buddy Diana Peterfreund.

Amanda: Welcome Diana! Congrats on the release. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Diana: I have blonde hair and blue eyes, and I like puppy dogs and long walks on the beach... LOL! I grew up in Tampa Bay, Florida, and went to college at Yale, where I studied geology and literature.

After I graduated, I worked as a food critic and events editor for a alternative weekly newspaper in my hometown, and traveled extensively through Australia and New Zealand (often by thumb). Now I live in Washington D.C. with my partner, code name Sailor Boy, and write full time. (We don't have a puppy dog because our apartment complex won't let us, and
the last time we went to the beach, there was a hurricane.)

In my spare time, I'm addicted to Netflix, I love blogging(http://dianapeterfreund.blogspot.com/), and I volunteer at the National Zoo watching Golden Lion Tamarins. If you stop by, say hi!

I'm also on the board of two RWA chapters: Chick Lit Writers of the World, and (soon to be) Washington Romance Writers. Let's see, what else? I'm going to three weddings this summer...

Amanda: Sounds like you're "at that age" where every time you turn around, there's another wedding! LOL! Anyway, how did you begin writing?

Diana: I'm one of those folks who was always writing. back in grade school when we were given "put this vocab word in a sentence" assignments, I wrote short stories with vocab words instead. After I graduated from college, I decided to actually write a novel instead of just thinking about doing it "someday." I knew about organizations like RWA, but decided that before I invested what little money I had into membership, I needed to prove that it was worth it by actually finishing a whole book.

Which I did.

It... wasn't very good, but completing it was one of the most amazing feelings I ever had. For me, finishing a WHOLE NOVEL was the real challenge. After that, I knew that the only thing that stood in my way was writing a good one. So I joined RWA to help me learn how. I wrote four novels before I got it right.

Amanda: Well, having read both your published novels, I can say you definitely did get it right. Speaking of your novels, UNDER THE ROSE has a sex scene, whereas SECRET SOCIETY GIRL didn't. Why the change, and how did you prepare for writing this scene?

Diana: SECRET SOCIETY GIRL didn't have a sex scene because it wasn't an important part of the story. It was never an active decision on my part not to include sex in that story. It just wasn't the interesting part of her interaction with her lover. In UNDER THE ROSE, sex is a far more important part of the relationship, so it made sense to include it.

I teased my editor that it was "a glass of wine and Prince on the iTunes" that helped me write it. Though I'd written four (unpublished) romance novels, all of which had sex scenes, I'd never written a sex scene from a first person POV before. It poses an interesting challenge. There was some danger, I thought, of it sounding a little bit TMI to hear "and then he did this to me, and then I did that to him" which is something I never thought of in third person. The key for me was to keep it in Amy's voice, and in the confessional tone of the book. Even in those circumstances, there are things that Amy won't say, and there are ways that she'll say certain other things. For instance, Amy's mind works in lists, always, so there is even a list in the sex scene.

Amanda: Yeah, I found that particularly hilarious! So, how do you find your inspiration?

Diana: Everywhere. I love playing "what if" in different situations. Sometimes, a line from a song or a movie or just something I overhear on the street will lodge in my mind, like grit in an oyster, and a story idea will start from there. I got the idea for SECRET SOCIETY GIRL because one night that movie, THE SKULLS, was on TV (we used to make fun of it in
school) and I wondered why no one ever wrote a book about secret societies the way they REALLY were. So I decided to do it.

Amanda: Spill it...how close to reality is fictional Eli University?

Diana: Pretty much everything except for the names! The geography is almost identical, and the culture and lifestyle at "Eli" is pretty much exactly the same as it is at Yale. It's one of those "change the names to protect the innocent" deals. And of course, calling it Eli instead of Yale means that I CAN Change things for the purposes of fiction without feeling guilty about corrupting my beloved alma mater. The mix of fact and fiction is one of my favorite things about being a novelist, and I've gotten letters from folks saying that XYZ I wrote about is clearly
not true (when it is) as well as comments from secret society members wondering who told me about ABC when I made it up! But my favorite letters are the ones from people who said I made them feel nostalgic for their college days.

Amanda: And you know what? Besides the sharp observations and witty writing, that's probably what I love best about your books. It makes me feel like I'm back at Duke, even though we clearly didn't have secret societies or anything like in the book, but you totally took me back there anyway. Good job!

Anyway, switching topics, you recently sold a young adult novel to Harper Collins about a teenage virgin descendant of Alexander the Great who slays killer unicorns. Talk about high concept! How did you get the idea?

Diana: I don't actually have a good answer for you on that one. It's not an idea that came all at once, but slowly, over a period of years, with each little piece clicking into place after much thought. I know I was interested in the concept of virginity and who decides what that means, and I was also interested in the different myths of the unicorn worldwide, but I don't know what the original piece of grit was, though, that started me down that path.

Amanda: Well, I'll definitely be looking forward to reading it when it's released! So, what's next for you?

Diana: I've published two novels with Bantam Dell: SECRET SOCIETY GIRL and UNDER THE ROSE, as part of a four book series about Amy Haskel and her adventures in the Ivy League secret society Rose & Grave. The third book, tentatively titled RITES OF SPRING (BREAK), will be out next summer, and that takes up the bulk of my writing time.

In addition, I'm in the non-fiction anthology EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A GIRL I LEARNED FROM JUDY BLUME, edited by Jennifer O'Connell and out
now from Pocket Books. And then the unicorn book is due next year, and oh, yeah. I'm getting married this fall.

Thanks so much for having me, Amanda!

And thanks so much for being here, Diana! You're definitely busy, that's for sure! So, readers, buy UNDER THE ROSE. You won't regret it!

2007-06-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

It's That Time of Year, Folks...

A few months back, I blogged about the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case and the limits of free speech. A bunch of my readers got very riled up, on both sides of the issue.

http://amandabrice.blogspot.com/2007/03/bong-hits-4-jesus-i-must-admit-that.html

Anyway, like the title of this entry says, it's that time of year. It's late June, so it's time for a whole rash of Supreme Court decisions before they go on recess.

Today we got the ruling in this school free speech case, in a split 5-4 decision:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19414576/

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion for the Court, that schools may prohibit student expression that can be interpreted as advocating drug use.

I'm really not suprised at all, looking at precedent on free speech for students cases.

What do you think?

2007-06-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

When Did My Life Become a Chick Lit Novel?

A few weeks ago, I blogged about when I locked myself out of the house but stuck inside the screen porch. That was so freaking hilariously funny apparently...to other people. Not to me. At least not at the time.

Now I do think it's funny, but it wasn't at the time.

A few days ago, I did something equally dumb and deserving of a scene in a chick lit novel. It all started when I joined the gym at work. Completely inoccuous and good, right?

Wrong.

I wanted to go to yoga class after work on Thursday but I was runing late, so I decided to change in my office rather than in the locker room. I locked the door, closed the shades, and changed.

All good.

I don't work on Fridays, but I came in on Sunday briefly to get some work done on an appeal brief. When I got into my office, I discovered a stack of cases on my chair, obviously put their by my boss after he reviewed them (sad to say that there was a lot of red on them...grrr...).

So I picked them up so I could sit down, only to discover a...

...black bra!

Yup, evidently I have a thing for leaving unmentionables in my office. So yeah, my boss definitely saw my bra when he came into my office on Friday to drop off cases. The fact that he covered it up with the files pretty much establishes that as a fact.

For those blog readers who know my boss, you'll definitely find this story kinda funny yet distrurbing at the same time. For those of you who don't know my boss, I'm sure you'll just find it funny.

I, for one, find it humiliating.

But anyway, yeah. So when did I become a chick lit heroine? Because it seems like I'm getting more and more fodder for funny scenes just in my real life...

But it brings up a good point. I guess the reason I realte to chick lit so well is because the heroines are real. They're goofy, they do dumb things. So I can laugha nd look at them and say, "At least I'm not that neurotic/messed up/dumb/goofy."

Only, apparently I am...

2007-06-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Today I'm chatting with one of my Book Cents sisters, Jennifer Colgan/Bernadette Gardner. She's got several books out this summer, including La Mirage, which came out from Samhain yesterday.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Jennifer/Bernadette: I've been married for fifteen years to my best friend. We met at a Star Trek convention in 1990. I have two children and a spoiled Dalmatian. The latter keeps me company while I write and reminds me to get away from the computer now and then to give him treats and let him outside.

Amanda: How did you begin writing?

Jennifer/Bernadette: When I was ten years old, one of my friends wanted to be a writer like her grandfather. She actually got me into writing stories and I've been doing it ever since. She eventually gave up writing, but the dream stuck with me and here I am a number of decades later still making up stories.

Amanda: What are your upcoming books about?

Jennifer/Bernadette: I have a number of releases coming out this summer, one from each of my four publishers in fact. La Mirage will be available from Samhain Publishing on June 15th. It's a contemporary erotic romance with a paranormal twist and will be released as part of Samhain's Midsummer Night's Steam anthology series. Writing as Bernadette Gardner I have Rogue Theta, a spicy science fiction adventure from Ellora's Cave set for June 22nd. This my first release from EC so I'm really excited about joining the amazing group of authors over there. In July, I have another sizzling science fiction adventure called U-4EA, due to be released as part of the Space Truckin' Pax anthology from Amber Quill Press, and later in July, New Concepts Publishing will be releasing Hunter's Mate, a follow up story to my very first published novella, Hunter's Moon. Also hot science fiction romance [Bernadette's specialty] Hunter's Mate follows the daughter of the characters I introduced in Hunter's Moon in 2005.

Amanda: How do you find your inspiration?

Jennifer/Bernadette: I get inspiration from everywhere. Television, music, even the news. Everything I hear or see tends to make me wonder 'what if...?' and ideas come from there.

Amanda: I'm hoping my agent will find homes for two single-title paranormals I've written this past year and I have a number of spicy novellas and short stories planned to keep Bernadette busy for the summer.

2007-06-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Time's Running Out to Enter the Stiletto!!!!

If you're a chick lit writer who hasn't signed a contract with an RWA-approved publisher in the last 5 years, then here's the contest for you. But act quick, because the deadline is THIS FRIDAY!!!!!

First-place winners in each category will be entered into a lottery to receive a detailed critique of their submission by either agent Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency) or editor Diana Szu (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press). In addition, the overall highest scoring entry will receive a free enrollment in Cathy Yardley’s (WILL WRITE FOR SHOES: HOW TO WRITE A CHICK LIT NOVEL) online course “How to Write Chick Lit.”

Entries must be received by June 15, 2007. In addition to the special prizes for finalists, randomly selected entrants will receive a complimentary copy of Cathy Yardley’s how-to book, WILL WRITE FOR SHOES.

Finalists will be notified by August 25, 2007 and will be given the opportunity to revise their entry prior to forwarding to the final judges. Winners will be notified by November 5, 2007.

In the preliminary round, entries will be judged by two (2) qualified judges - Chick Lit Writers members experienced in critiquing and/or published authors of the genre. Large score discrepancies will be sent to a third judge. All entrants will receive detailed score sheets and judges’ comments from the preliminary round. Top four (4) entries in each category will move on to the final round.

The final judges will rank the top four finalists in each category: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention. We have an impressive array of chick lit friendly agent and editor judges for the final round who are excited and anxious to read your entries. (Each finalist entry will be judged by an agent AND an editor!)

Classic Chick Lit/Lady Lit
Editor: Kathryn Lye (Red Dress Ink)
Agent: Lois Winston (Ashley Grayson Literary Agency)

Chick Thrill
Editor: Leah Hultenschmidt (Dorchester)
Agent: Paige Wheeler (Folio Literary Management)

Paranormal Chick Lit
Editor: Anne Groell (Bantam Dell Publishing Group)
Agent: Kristen Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency)

Inspirational Chick Lit
Editor: Krista Stroever (Steeple Hill Café)
Agent: Mary Sue Seymour (The Seymour Agency)

Young Adult Chick Lit
Editor: Kristin Daly (Harper Collins)
Agent: Kelly Ferrara (Book Cents Literary Agency)

Red Hot Chick Lit
Editor: Hilary Sares (Kensington Aphrodisia)
Agent: Roberta Brown (Brown Literary Agency)

More details at: http:www/chicklitwriters.com/contest.htm

2007-06-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

An Interview with Agent Christine Witthohn

Remember when interviews with authors and editors were a regular feature of my blog? Well, I'm hoping to get back to that, starting with today's fabulous interview with agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency.

Amanda: Welcome Christine! Tell us something about yourself.

Christine: I am one of eight children in a highly competitive, but very supportive Italian family. To give you an example of how competitive... one of my sisters was on "Survivor" (Guatemala).I went to school for 16 years studying biology, chemistry and nursing before moving onto medicine.

I am married to my soul-mate. I love to read and I love to travel (and it's a good thing).My office is in Charleston, WV, however I spend one week a month in New York (I grew up in NY and still have family there) and I attend at least one writer's conference a month.

Amanda: How did you get your start as an agent?

Christine: After the sudden death of my father (the patriarch of our immediate and extended family, as well as my ROCK), I decided I didn't want to work in a hospital setting. He was sick for only 5 (emotionally draining) weeks before we lost him to pancreatic cancer.

Everything I had done up to that point in my life was to further my medical career, but I needed a change. I have always been an avid reader (a hobby both my hubby and I share) and secretly I am also a writer. I know the excitement and the sense of accomplishment writers feel when they finally finish typing "the end". I also understand the ups and downs of putting a story together, trying to make time to write and getting writer's block. However, truth be known... I haven't written anything new for a few years now (I just don't have the time).

For as long as I can remember, my fantasy "dream job" was one where I could help people get their stories into print - hence, my logo: "Turning Your Words Into Books" (book or screenplay). Strangely enough, I started on the film side of the business before moving over the the literary side.

To be competitive, I studied the industry and market for four and a half years. Because my hubby is an attorney and could support us, I had the luxury of traveling back and forth to NY and Los Angeles to develop and nurture important industry contacts. I'm very proud of all my hard work and my strong contacts with all the major NY publishing houses, as well as several big production companies.

Amanda: What has been the most challenging part of opening your own agency?

Christine: Since I opened my agency's doors for business in September of 2006, things have just taken off at a warp speed. I think I would have to say the most challenging part of my job is... trying to juggle my travel schedule, getting through the writer's queries/submissions in a timely manner and being available to my clients at a moments's notice (after all, there is only one of me). First and foremost, my priorities are with my clients and their writing careers.I have a very close relationship with all my clients and I truly adore each and every one of them on a personal level. My response time to them is immediate.

I have never been afraid of hard work and anyone who knows me, can attest to that fact. I'm not afraid to get dirty and I like to jump into the trenches with my clients when they need me.I am ultra organized and I run a tight ship. I like things to run smoothly, but my job requires me to juggle the unpredictable (late/cancelled flights, deadline changes, client's needs, computer crashes, etc.). As far as queries and submissions... I go out of my way to be approachable and make myself available to writers. I try to participate in all festivities at most of the writer's conferences I attend and I never leave early. I encourage people to introduce themselves to me at conferences and I always make time for them when they do.

I also read EVERYTHING that a writer submits to me (good or bad) - I don't want to miss anything :)

My ideal turn around times are: for an e-QUERY - one to five days; for an e-PARTIAL/e-FULL - four weeks, but this is becoming increasingly harder and harder to do. The amount of submissions I have been receiving, has far exceeded even my own expectations!

I always heard the horror stories, but now I can state with certainty... they're all true!

Amanda: What are you looking for in a potential client and/or story?

Christine: Quite simply... Good writing. I have to love their writing. I personally am of the belief - an agent can't SELL a story they don't love.

I tend to get very excited about my client's writing and it shows when I'm selling their stories to a publisher. Also, before I take on a client... I interview them. If I don't feel I have a good rapport with a person, I won't take them on. I usually go with my "gut" on that one. I'm not looking for quantity, I look for quality. I expect all my writers to work as hard as I do. We become a team, so we must be able to work well together. If I'm going to bust my behind, I want to know that my client is willing to do the same. I'm also in this for the long haul, so I'm really not interested in a writer who only has one story and doesn't want to make writing a career.

Amanda: Any particular projects you're most excited about (besides mine, of course)? ;)

Christine: Yes! Several.

Creative Works:I have a client with a four book series of Humorous Women's Fiction I am really excited about. I'm also excited to report - several big names in Hollywood are also eyeballing her. I have another client who used to write Romance, but now has moved to the dark side and has a kick-butt Thriller I am about to unleash on a few big publishing houses. Lastly, I have several publishers chomping to see a three book saga, which was described as... Indiana Jones meets The Mummy meets The Lord of the Rings. Folks... this kid is brilliant! (He's also so cute you could eat him up, as well as available - to all you nice and well established gals out there :) What? I told you I adore my clients.

Agency News: This news has not yet been announced (so you are the first to hear it)... Book Cents Literary Agency will soon have their own Foreign Rights Office, as well as their own Film Rights Office. These offices and their services will not only be available to our clients, but to other agents and agencies. I'm so excited! My goal has always been to be able to take care of all our clients needs. Now it's going to be possible.

Also, a pet project I have been working on and helping to promote is the fourth annual International Women's Fiction Festival, being held in Matera, Italy - Sept. 27-30, 2007. To find out more information about the Festival, please visit: www.womensfictionfestival.com. This festival celebrates women who tell stories. Whether, on the big screen, in a book or in a song. Attendees will have access to top industry professionals in the European Markets/Foreign Rights (English, French, German, Italian), Film makers, Singers/Songwriters, Agents and Editors. Here are just a few names of people who will be in attendance: Nicholas Sparks, Cherry Adair, Sofia Coppola, Josephine Hart, Barbara Samuel and many more. This is a little known fact, but most authors make more money on their foreign sales than they do on their domestic sales.So all you authors out there who are already published and want to increase your international sales - this conference is for YOU!

Thank you for having me Amanda!

2007-06-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica pics!!!!!

It took a good portion of the day, but I've finally uploaded the pics to Shutterfly. Since I have zero HTML talent, I'm just going to paste the links in here instead of trying to put pretty pictures in my blog.

Hopefully if I get some time tomorrow, I'll do a recap. Suffice it to say that Costa Rica is lovely and awesome, which you'll see from the pics. But they don't even BEGIN to capture how great it was!

Here's the Shutterfly albums...
First batch of them: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome...0AbsmThs0bNWLso

Second batch: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome...0AbsmThs0bNWLug

2007-06-07T14:28:00.001-07:00

Back From Costa Rica!

I'm tired. Very tired, but we had a wonderful time! I'm tan, which is a treat in itself (I usually burn or stay pale, but I actually tanned even with 50 SPF on--LOL!).

The nature was undescribably beautiful. If you ever get the chance to go, do it. AWESOME trip.

I'll try to download pictures soon, and then will do a recap.

Only downer was that I came home to a zillion and one emails when I got to work today (bitter that I had to come in instead of lounging on the beach in paradise), one of which was another rejection letter for my YA. :(

2007-05-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Damn you and your fantastic writing...

You know when you pick up a fan-freakin-tastic book and it's so good that you just can't put it down, no matter how busy you are and how much you have to get done?

Happened to me this weekend. I'm supposed to be unpacking and organizing and straightening in the new house because we leave for a 10-day vacay on Sunday, but no, instead I decided to read an ARC of my friend Diana Peterfreund's book UNDER THE ROSE.

Wow. That's all I can say--WOW!!!

If you haven't read her first book, SECRET SOCIETY GIRL, well, then you simply must do so, post-haste. It's great. Well, it gets even better in the sequel, UNDER THE ROSE.

Without giving anything away, SECRET SOCIETY GIRL is the story of Amy Haskel, a Eli University (which is bizarro-Yale) undergrad who's one of the first ever women tapped into the ultra-selective and ultra-secretive Rose and Grave secret society.

Anyway, the writing is brilliant and even though I went to another school with blue in the colors, I totally was brought back to my college days and actually longed to be back on campus. Diana's writing was so vivid and really brings you into the pages as you cheer on Amy.

I can't wait for her third book, RITES OF SPRING!

2007-05-18T06:50:00.001-07:00

Moving Truly Sucks

I am exhausted today. Truly exhausted. I just spent the last two days away from work, schlepping boxes and bags from the apartment to the house. Oh, and shredding paper, throwing things away, and making more trips to Goodwill to donate things than I can even count.

And every part of my body is sore now. At least there's a whirlpool tub in my new master bath...I'm sure I'll be puting that to good use.

But we now have EVERYTHING out. We've been moving things over slowly for about the past month, but now finally it's done.

Of course, the decorating scheme of the house is now "early box" because you can barely walk through the living room without tripping over boxes. It's horrendous.

Anyway, I got a later start on moving on Wednesday than I'd planned. Why? Well, I locked myself out of the house, but trapped inside the screen porch.

Yeah, only I could manage that. I'd been leaving the bottom lock (on the doorknob) unlocked, and just using the deadbolt on the door from our living room to the screen porch. So I assumed I could go out there to break down cardboard boxes with no problem.

Um, no. Mr. Brice had locked the botoom lock without telling me, so the door locked behind me. Needless to say, he'd already left for work and I didn't have my keys or a cell phone out there. And there's no door from the screen porch to the backyard. If you're stuck out there, you're also trapped inside the porch.

I had no idea what I was going to do. Finally after 15 minutes, a woman came by, walking her dog. I called out to her "Excuse me! Can you help me? Do you have a cell phone?" I'm sure she thought I was nuts.

She didn't have a cell phone, but she offered to knock on some of my neighbors' doors. Of course, nobody was home. Grrr...

So she left.

About 5 minutes later, one of my neighbors pulled up across the street, so I yelled at the top of my lungs so he could hear me. He looked all around him, not able to figure out where his name was coming from. Finally, he strains his eyes to see a shadowy figure on a screen porch.

He walked over, laughted hysterically after I told him my predicament, and then dug his cell phone out so I could call Mr. Brice at work and ask him to come home. Fortunately the new house is just a 15 minute walk from the office, so about 20 minutes later, Mr. Brice came and let me out.

Needless to say, he was not amused.

2007-05-06T14:57:00.001-07:00

I heard the BEST news today! Gemma Halliday's double RITA nominated novel, Spying in High Heels, is in development for a television series on the USA Network!!!

It’s currently one of five new shows being developed for their fall 2007/2008 season. Spying in High Heels follows shoe designer Maddie Springer, who in an effort to track down her missing boyfriend, realizes that her knack for fashion also serves another purpose: it makes her a great detective.

Maddie's uniquely female perspective helps her pick up clues, using her designer's eye to discern tell tale shapes, colors and patterns, among other things. Along with her best friend Dana, an out-of-work actress, Maddie decides to open a detective agency operating out of her stepfather's hair salon.

Not all shows in development make it to the air, but this one should! If you want to see Maddie and Ramirez on the small screen, write to the USA Network and tell them you heard about SPYING IN HIGH HEELS and can’t wait to watch it. Or, if you’ve read the book and liked it, tell them that, too! Contact the programming department at the USA Network:feedback@usanetwork.com

In the meantime, read up on Gemma's books, including Undercover in High Heels & Killer in High Heels.

2007-05-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Prodigal Blogger Returns (or, Happy Birthday to me)...

OK, OK, I know. It's been, well, FOREVER, since the last time I blogged. Mea culpa. March and April were just so beyond busy for me, that I couldn't get on here.

But I'm back. And today I turn 30.

Yup, I now have a 3 in front of my age. It's the start of my fourth decade on the planet, and I'm officially no longer a kid playing grownup.

Lots of stuff has happened since I last blogged (no, I didn't sell CODENAME, but hopefully that's on the horizon). Probably the biggest is that Mr. Brice and I bought a house. A real house, too, and if you're from the DC area, you'll know what a big deal that is. We had an insanely short closing, and we're still moving in, but we plan to spend our first night in the house tonight.

I'm also on the negotiating team at work, negotiating the new performance appraisal plan for the incoming attorneys. It's a lot of work, but it's something different to do (I'm not doing my normal job as a result of this). We reached impasse and are going to mediation, starting Monday.

Also starting Monday, I'm teaching an online class on basic intellectual property law that writers should know. You can find out more details and sign up at: www.neorwa.com under "online workshops." As an added bonus, I'm donating my entire fee that NEORWA is paying me (which is 50% of all collected registration fees) to the Romance Divas Scholarship Fund, to pay for a well-deserving member to attend RWA Nationals.

Anyway, it's my birthday, so this means presents. Presents for you, that is.

I'm running an impromptu contest. Send an email by midnight your time zone to contest@amandabrice.com and you're automatically entered to win a free copy of my mini-ebook, SHE'S GOT LEGS.

2007-03-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

Bong Hits 4 Jesus!

I must admit that this title cracks me up. And I do love a good First Amendment case as much as the next girl. But I really scratched my head when I read about the case the U.S. Supreme Court heard yesterday.

I don't know if you've been following it, but a high school student in Alaska put up a 14-ft banner proclaiming "Bong hits 4 Jesus" across the street from his school. His principal suspensed him on the basis that his banner promoted drug use and disrupted the school environment.

I'm very free speech-protective (something I have in common with my least favorite Justice, Antonin Scalia, actually...it makes me feel dirty when I side with him on a case) and although I've never used drugs, I'm certainly no fan of the "war on drugs" (although I believe that the state has a right to regulate/make it illegal for minors), but I'm honestly surprised this case actually made it to the Supreme Court. There's a long history of precendent in support of limiting student's right to free speech in a school environment, and to be honest, I tend to agree.

Anyway, the court could rule for the student if it determines that he was (as is his contention) conducting a free-speech experiment using a nonsensical messages that contained no pitch for drug use.

Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to be saying that he sided with the principal: "I thought we wanted our schools to teach something, inclduing something besides just basic elements, including the character formation and not to use drugs."

But Justic David Souter may be siding with the student: "It sounds just like a kid's provocative statement to me."

Kenneth Starr represented the principal in the oral argument yesterday. He argued that school officials are perfectly within their rights to curtail student speech that advocates drug use. He was joined by the Bush administration for asking the court to adopt a broad rule that could essentially give public schools the right to clamp down on any speech with which they disagree. But this argument didn't appear to have widespread support among the justices.

While I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near that far, the precedents are clear that students don't enjoy true free speech in school, and I agree that they should not. Students enjoy a limited free speech, but schools are within their rights to limit this freedom.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how the justices hold.

What are your thoughts? Is this a free speech issue? Should students be able to put up such a banner? Was the principal right?

2007-03-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogging on Romance by the Blog

I apologize for being a bad blogger lately. It's been crazy hectic here at work. It's the end of the "half year" (the fiscal year began October 1), so it's been rush-rush-rush to get things done around here.

Anyhoo, I'm the GuestBlogger today on Michelle Buonfiglio's "Romance by the Blog", which is the companion site to her popular and heavily-trafficked "Romance B(u)y the Book." She's spotlighting DREAMS & DESIRES today, so please stop by and say hi. As a bonus, everyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win a free copy.

Check it out:
www.romancebytheblog.blogspot.com

2007-02-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

I Hate the Snow

I really need to move back to Arizona. Or Hilton Head. Or somewhere warmer than here.

Well, it looks like the snow we've been getting all day has finally turned into a so-called "wintery mix" of freezing rain and snow. But that still doesn't help, because I already drove through heavy snow.

I went into the office this morning, planning get a good 6 hours in. I'm taking a few days off this week to accompany my hubby to the Virginia Bar Exam in Nofolk. We've both already passed another state bar, but fortunately my job isn't making me take Virginia. But his is, so I figured I'd go down there for moral support (and to get some lovely spa treatments while he writes essays and fills in multiple-choice bubbles).

But I didn't want to take too much vacation time for this trip, so I figured I'd get some work done today. Little did I know that their warnings of a "wintery mix" would come true, and would actually be a lot heavier than they'd predicted.

When I left the apartment at 7:30 this morning, the roads were fine and nothing was coming down. Three hours later, Mr. Brice called me and told me I should come home.

He wasn't kidding. I've never seen snowflakes that large before in my life, and I grew up "up north." And apparently the good folks of Alexandria have never heard of the concept of snowplows or salting the streets, because it was AWFUL! The snow was piling up really fast, and I was fishtailing all over the place.

I finally got home, but it took me over 45 minutes for what should have been about a 15-minute drive.

The snow seems to have subsided by now, a mere 3 1/3 hours after I left the office.

Anyway, I really hate the snow. When's spring coming?

2007-02-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

What's in a Name?

"O! be some other name: What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet"
William Shakespeare

Seriously, what's in a name? I've thought about this a lot, considering that I write under a pen name. I chose my pen name (well, my hubby came up with it, actually) because I thought the two names sounded good together. Besides, it was personally meaningful, which I wanted. Amanda is my real middle name, and Brice is my husband's real middle name.

I thought about using Amanda Brice for my books for adults and using something else for my books for teens. I ended up deciding to write under the one name because my "adult books" may be thematically for adults, but they're not "adults books" in the classic sense. LOL! And I like the name.

Besides, what would I use? I thought about using what would have been my real name if I'd been a more traditional woman and taken my husband's last name when I married: Heather Chen. Or another option would have been to use my mom's maiden name with my real first name: Heather San Miguel.

I love both those names, but, well, this is going to sound really bad, but they didn't fit "me" even though they are me. If I'd used Heather Chen, I'd run into the problem of people thinking I wrote young adult Amy Tan stuff. If I used Heather San Miguel, people might think it was Latina lit.

Not that it would be bad for people to think I wrote ethnic lit, but I don't. Yes, I write multi-cultural and/or ethnic characters, but I don't write ethnic books, particularly not in the way it would appear if that was the name emblazoned on the cover.

Anyway, that made me really sad to think that this is even an issue. But it is.

Right now I'm reading CHINA DOLLS by Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan. It's a fabulous story of the lives and loves of three Asian American women in NYC. I'm writing a review of it for Romance Divas and my immediate first thought was "The Joy Luck Club meets Sex in the City."

Guess what...Beth Kendricks already used that exact characterization in her blurb on the book jacket. And while it sums it up very nicely to immediately convey what you're getting, it almost seems kind of unfair. Rather than being "Asian chick lit," isn't it just chick lit with characters who happen to be Asian and who deal with the issues of leading a modern life when you have pressures from your traditional family? That struggle is a common one, whether the characters are Asian, Hispanic, African-American, Caucasian. It's universal.

Yes, I admit, I wanted to review this book because I thought I could probably relate to it more than most Caucasian women, being married to a second generation Taiwanese American man. There are some scenes with the families in the book that literally make me laugh out loud because I can hear my husband's aunties saying those very lines in their own voices. But you don't need to be Asian or married to an Asian man to love this book.

Another easy way to describe it would be "the Asian Dirty Girls' Social Club," I guess. But why must we neatly characterize things by race or ethnicity? Why must we always make these shorthand comparisons? Can't we just say it's a great book?

Anyway, that's why I can't write as Heather Chen. Because people would expect me to write a book like this one. They'd also take a look at my author picture and get confused. How can you have a name like that and then have brown curly hair with red highlights, pale skin, and blue eyes?

It's so sad that in a society that's supposedly more colorblind than ever that we still need to think of such things.

2007-02-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

Results of the Best Date Contest...

Big thanks to everyone who entered the "best dates" contest. I received some great entries, so it was really hard to pick a winner (which is why I was late posting the winner...that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

Without any further ado, here's the winning entry, from Miyaka!

__________________________________________________________

On our first date, he took me miniature golfing. I had no clue how to golf. So, he was trying to give me a few tips and told me that I should swing a little bit more. I didn't realize he was standing behind me, and gave it a full swing - hitting him right in the forehead! I looked back and found him lying flat on the ground. Unbelievably, a couple of months after that, he asked me to marry him……I guess I must have knocked a few screws out of his head!

___________________________________________________________

Thanks for sharing your story, Miyaka! It may not have been the most classically romantic first date, but it definitely made me smile, and it certainly had a fantastic outcome...eventually!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone, and congrats to Miyaka for winning the prize pack!

To read the winning "worst date" story, hop on over to Rhonda Stapleton's blog: www.rhondastapleton.authorsabode.com

And remember to check out DREAMS & DESIRES: A COLLECTION OF ROMANCE AND EROTIC TALES for some great reads for a worthy cause.

Speaking of the charity anthology, the wild & wacky D&D authors will be chatting in the Romance Divas chatroom: http://www.romancedivas.com/divachat.html

We'll be there from 8-10 pm EST, so stop by and say hello! We've got some great prizes to give away again and we're talking about how the project got started.

2007-02-14T01:19:00.000-08:00

Get Ready for the Romance Divas eBook Challenge!

Looking for some great free reads for Valentine's Day? Then you're in luck! The web's coolest writing resource, Romance Divas, is bringing you the eBook Challenge, where a network of more than 50 authors band together to provide free stories.

You can find links to the stories here: http://romancedivas.com/ebookchallenge.html

The stories range in heat level from mild to caliente, so there's something for everything.

So without further ado, please enjoy my short story, "Birthday Gifts." Please note that this is fiction. It is Claire and Kevin's story, not mine.

________________________________________________________________

“Pardonnez, monsieur, nous cherchons Les Fous de l’Isle.” Amy asked an elderly gentleman for directions to the restaurant where we had reservations. We’d only been in Paris for a few months, but already our schoolgirl French had improved amazingly to the point of near-fluency. (Or maybe the Parisians we met were just being nice, although the stereotype wouldn’t suggest that.) Our dressing habits had changed from casual jeans and t-shirts from the U.S. to more sophisticated continental styles. We could almost be mistaken for French women.

Almost being the operative word.

I looked around at the quaint buildings, cobblestone streets, and gaslight lamps dotting the discreet residential district. The Ile St. Louis is charming, but not cheap. I was definitely surprised when Amy told me she was going to take me out for my birthday in such an expensive arrondissement, effectively blowing her student budget for the week on one single lunch. But Amy insisted and I’ve learned not to argue with my roommate when she was on a mission.

“We're almost there,” Amy said. “It’s just the next street over.”

“This is really sweet, but we don’t have to go somewhere so expensive. I would have been perfectly happy with Josselin,” I added, referring to the crêperie across the street from our apartment in the Montparnasse district.

“Don’t be stupid, Claire! We go there almost every day. But it’s not every day that you have a birthday!”

At the mention of my birthday, I grew wistful at the thought of spending it without Kevin, my boyfriend of three years. I know Amy had organized this special lunch to cheer me up, but, well, to be honest, the thought of being on this romantic island in the heart of the City of Love without him was killing me.

Kevin would love it here. So full of history and passion. Parisians celebrate the senses like no one else. The entire city was a bit narcissistic, but deservedly so. No other large cities are as beautiful, particularly at night, when Paris fairly glows in the warmth of candlelit bistros.

I’d hoped that Kevin might be able to visit, but unfortunately, the airline tickets were too expensive. I understood. Really, I did. But I still missed him.

Someday I’ll take him here.

I had to hurry to catch up with Amy’s quicker pace, definitely a trait that nobody would mistake as being anything but American. The French luxuriate in the act of le promenade. Walking is an essential part of the French way of life. Unlike Americans, who view walking as merely a way of getting from one place to another, Parisians view the process as important as the destination.

“Slow down!” I called out. “This neighborhood is so pretty. You just don’t see places like this in the States.”

We passed a building with a small bronze plaque proclaiming that one of its former residents had been the famous Enlightenment writer and philosopher Voltaire. Above the tops of the buildings, I could almost see the spires of Notre-Dame. At the end of the street, tourists and locals alike lined up around the block for a scoop of the famous Berthillon ice cream. Although I’d already been in Paris for a few months, I hadn’t yet been to Berthillon. Everyone told me I was missing out, because it really is the best ice cream in the world. I made a mental note to save room for dessert.

Finally we arrived at the restaurant, highly recommended by one of Amy’s classmates. The hostess quickly showed us to our table, whispering excitedly under her breath in French to the waiter who stood by the door. He cast a glance our way, and then disappeared into the back.

“Really attentive staff,” I said.

“Oh, that? Well, the French take the art of dining very seriously,” Amy said. “Alain recommended the soufflé au fromage for a starter.”

“We don’t need starters. Just the main course."

“Will you be quiet? I already told you, we’re doing this right.” Amy laughed. “A proper French lunch. Starter, plat principal, cheese course, dessert. Of course, wine is a given. I think I’m gonna have the duck in pepper sauce. Or maybe the chicken with Roquefort sauce. Ooh, I bet the salmon’s good, too!”

I examined the menu. Having a notorious sweet tooth, I was immediately drawn to the desserts. Chocolate profiteroles…those were Kevin’s favorite! We’d shared the classic French pastry with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce on our first date. Three years later, my mouth still watered at the thought of the exquisite marriage of sensations, hot with cold, sweet with savory.

Maybe I’d have to pass on the ice cream shop later. Or maybe I’ll have both! After all, it’s my birthday.

We ordered and then Amy excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. While she was gone, the waiter returned with two glasses of champagne. He placed one in front of me, and the other in front of Amy’s empty seat.

“Excusez-moi, mais il y a une erreur. Nous n’avons pas commandé le champagne.” I tried to explain that they hadn’t ordered champagne, but the waiter simply shook his head and scurried off.

“Maybe Amy ordered it,” I said.

“Or maybe I did,” a deep male voice called out.

Could it be? I'd know that voice anywhere...

I did a double take as I whipped around to face the man who had just spoken. Was I hallucinating, or was Kevin actually standing in front of me, 3000 miles from home?

“Every celebration needs champagne,” Kevin explained, his blue eyes crinkling in a smile. He walked over to me and took my trembling hands in his.

“Three years ago we shared profiteroles at the French restaurant near school. I knew then that I loved you and that one day I would do this. When you said you were going to spend the semester in Paris, I realized I had the perfect chance and that the profiteroles are probably even better here.” He gazed into my eyes. “Claire, will you marry me?”

Kevin picked up the stem of the champagne flute and held it up to me in a toast. That’s when I saw it. The most beautiful ring I’d ever seen was nestled on the bottom of the glass, almost hidden by the bubbles.

“Oui! I mean yes!”

The restaurant erupted in applause. I turned and saw the wait staff crowded in the door to this room, beaming. Amy stood in the middle of the group, shrugging nonchalantly, but she couldn’t fool me. The wide grin spreading from ear to ear gave away her delight.

I turned my attention back to my new fiancé and threw my arms around his neck. It was difficult to believe he was there, but he was. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect proposal in a more perfect city. My dreams of sharing Paris with Kevin had come true.

2007-02-13T15:37:00.000-08:00

What Are you Doing for Valentine's Day?

So, what are you Valentine's Day plans? Romantic dinner date with your sweetie? Candy? Flowers? Or are you holing up in protest with a chick flick DVD and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby?

(Oh yeah. Been there, done that.)

Well, whatever your plans for the evening, I've got some ideas for during the day. If you're looking for some fun free reads, then check out the Romance Divas eBook Challenge!

Over 50 free short stories will be available (either as a download or the text will be posted online) on Valentine's Day.

You can find links to the stories here: http://romancedivas.com/ebookchallenge.html

Stop by and read some...or all! All heat levels, from mild to caliente, will be offered.

My own story, "Birthday Gifts" is a sweet contemporary. The text of the story will be on my blog tomorrow, and I may eventually offer it as a free download on my website at some later point. Check it out on Valentine's Day!

If you want some more free Valentine's Day reads, then you're in luck! Rhonda Stapleton and I will be posting the winning stories in our "Best and Worst Dates" contest. I'm choosing the winning "best date" story and Rhonda's choosing the winning "worst date" story. We'll post them on our blogs, as well.

Speaking of which, time's running out! The deadline is midnight TONIGHT! Send your "best date" stories to contest@amandabrice.com and your "worst date" stories to rhonda@rhondastapleton.net

Good luck and happy reading!

2007-02-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

It's a Small World After All...

I've always loved learning about other countries and cultures. I remember going to the Expo '86 in Vancouver, Canada when I took a cruise to Alaska with my parents and grandparents. My favorite part of Expo was taking my "passport" around to all the different countries' pavillions and getting it stamped.

In high school, I was the weird teen whose job goal was to work for the Foreign Service. (Apparently I was quite naive, because I honestly believed that I'd get a job working in the US Embassy in Paris straight out of college.) So I majored in Political Science (with an emphasis on International Relations) and French. Talk about a VERY useful major (um, yeah...).

My fave summer job ever was as a protocol officer for the Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta. My job dealt with helping to decide whether Chelsea Clinton or Prince William would get priority for tickets to gold medal gymnastics (answer: they both get tix).

And my fave ride at Disney World is the one with those little dolls that wave flags and sing "It's a Small World..."

Good times.

Anyway, you get the point. So it's probably not much of a surprise that I'm tickled pink to learn that my writing is spreading around the world. OK, OK, it's baby steps, I know, but still it's cool.

I blogged yesterday about how a bookseller in Italy had blogged about D&D. So cool! And Mrs. Giggles, who raved about both D&D and my SHE'S GOT LEGS, is in Malaysia. And Veronika, who won a free copy of SHE'S GOT LEGS during the D&D launch party in Gemma Halliday's chatroom, lives in France.

And Marci, my editor at Freya's Bower, mentioned to me today that I'd just sold a copy of SGL to someone in Manchester, England.

I think this is so cool. I know it's not much, but it's pretty amazing to me that with e-publishing, anyone, anywhere, at any time, in any country in the entire world, can read my writing. It's really awe-inspiring.

Makes me want to go on that ride with the singing dolls...

2007-02-10T16:40:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh...Italy...

It's amazing what you can find when you Google your name or pen name. Today I discovered that a bookseller in Italy named Elissa Rolle has put up the Dreams & Desires blurb on her blog.

http://romancebooks.splinder.com/tag/amanda_brice

She basically just translated the bookcover blurb into Italian, but it sounds so amazingly sexy if you read it aloud. Now if we could just talk her into having some kind of downloadable track where some hot Italian men reads it to us.

Hello, swoon...

2007-02-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Reminder about our awesome contest!

The deadline is coming up!!!!

Let me remind you about the contest that Rhonda Stapleton (www.rhondastapleton.authorsabode.com) and I are running.

We're holding a joint Valentine's Day contest to help promote the DREAMS & DESIRES charity anthology, as well as the release of her new ebook, STRIPPED.

My story in DREAMS & DESIRES is called "Love @ First Site" and it's about online dating. So I'm holding a "Best First Dates" contest. Simply send me a story (in 500 words or less) of your best ever date (need not be online dating) to contest@amandabrice.com by February 12, 2007.

Rhonda's story in DREAMS & DESIRES is called "Baring It All for Mr. Right" and it's a story of what just might be the worst first date scenario ever! So she's holding a "Worst First Dates" contest. You get the idea...send her your stories of bad first dates (in 500 words or less) to rhonda@rhondastapleton.net by February 12, 2007.

We'll choose the winners and post them on our blogs and websites on Valetine's Day.

The winner of my contest will receive a "Date Night Prize Pack," including candy, a fun "date night"-type DVD, lotion, and a copy of a book on seduction techniques (can't remember the title, but I bought it a couple of weeks ago for this contest).

The winner of Rhonda's contest will receive a "Bad Date Night Consolation Pack," including chocolate, a chick flick DVD, and a candle.

Start thinking of your stories. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

2007-02-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

Barnes & Noble online sells out of Dreams & Desires paperback!

Wow! I know they had it even just a couple of days ago, but now it says "out of stock" and you can no longer purchase a new copy of D&D from Barnes & Noble online.

And I know that when my friend tried to get her local B&N to order it, the woman at customer service couldn't find it in the system, so I'm guessing it means that it's completely gone form B&N's warehouse right now.

Not bad for a small press that didn't hadn't even launched at this time last time...

OK, so I don't know how many copies B&N had even stocked in their warehouse to begin with. But this means that people are buying!

2007-02-08T06:07:00.000-08:00

I Hate Losses

Not in a good mood today, so I'll keep this short. But how does a team blow a 10-point lead, only to lose by 6 points?

Carolina never held a lead until like the 2-minute mark or something. The problem is that while Duke played on fire for 38 minutes of the game, they couldn't hold that stamina for the remaining 2. Carolina, on the other hand, has a very deep bench and they had fresh legs at all times on the floor.

:(

So yeah, I'm mourning a loss this morning. Not as sad and depressing as when we lost in the National Championship game to UCONN my senior year, but still sad.

Actually, for that UCONN loss, I went tunneling in the underground steam tunnels beneath campus to numb the pain. That was kinda fun, even if I was only doing it because we lost.

Anyway, congratulations on a good win, UNC. But watch out--in less than a month we come to the Dean Dome and I'm fairly sure my boys in blue will be wanting blood...

2007-02-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

Let's Go Duke!

Here we go Devils, here we go! (clap clap)
Here we go Devils, here we go!

If you can't go to college, go to State!
If you can't go to state, go to jail!
If you can't go to jail, go to Hell!
Go to hell, Carolina, go to Hell!

Go to Hell, Carolina, go to Hell! (clap clap)
Go to Hell, Carolina, go to Hell! (clap clap)

Um, yeah, I'm a little obsessed, huh? What can I say? I went to college at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Durham Campus (aka Duke University).

Tonight's the big game. Duke students camp out for literally weks for a chance to get inside tiny Cameron Indoor Stadium. My junior year, I camped out for 7 weeks for the game. And I wasn't even in Tent 1, either! (I think we were around tent 60 or so)

I always swore that I would never get married between the months of November and April. Well, after a brief fit of insanity where I thought that getting married 3 weeks after the bar exam would be a good idea), Mr. Brice and I moved the date up to March 6, 2004. I figured it would be OK, because it was the week before the ACC tournament. Sure, it would be the same weekend as the Duke/Carolina game, but the wedding would be on a Saturday night and that game is ALWAYS on Sunday afternoon, right?

Right?

Wrong.

ESPN just *had* to go and switch things up in the TV schedule, moving the game to a 9 pm EST Saturday night tip-off. Considering that my reception started at 7 pm MST, um, yeah.

I arranged for the hotel to turn the game on in the hotel bar, since I knew that a good percentage of my guests would want to watch. Oh, who am I kidding? I wanted to watch! Anyway, I snuck away with some friends to the hotel bar to watch tipoff then ran back to the ballroom for our first dance.

Then ran right back to the bar...I could skip salad, right?

A few minutes later, Mr. Brice found me and a group of my college buddies in the bar.

Mr. Brice: Amanda, you need to get back to the reception. They want to serve dinner!
Me: Oh, that's OK. They can go ahead.
Mr. Brice: No they can't.
Me: Yes they can...Yes! (cheering as JJ Redick scores)

He lets out a long sigh and says "Um, you're the bride. They won't serve dinner unless you're seated and ready to eat."

Who knew?

Anyway, let's go Duke!

2007-02-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

Does Anyone Doubt the Importance of the Internet?

I just read today that the world's oldest newspaper still in circulation, the Post-och Inrikes Tidningar, has dropped its paper edition and now exists only in cyberspace. This newspaper was founded in 1645 by Sweden's Queen Kristina. As of Jan 1, it became web-only.

Pretty interesting, if you ask me. Is this a sign that e-publishing in general is going to take off? Maybe I won't have to explain to my friends and family "no really, it really is a book."

Speaking of the Internet, I recently wrote an article for Orange County RWA's magazine, the "Orange Blossom," on the importance of protecting yourself online. Establishing a web presence is crucial for an author in this day and age, but it can sometimes also open your up to harassment. Google is the silver bullet in a stalker's arsenal, so it's very important for anyone with a web presence to take steps to protect themselves.

Louise Knott Ahern, the co-editor of the Orange Blossom and a talented PR professional kindly interviewed me today for her Boom! PR Solutions for Authors blog.

Go check it out and show me a little love:
http://boom-pr-for-authors.blogspot.com/2007/02/boom-interview-online-safety-expert.html

2007-02-05T17:30:00.000-08:00

I Love TV...

I have a serious TV addiction. OK, maybe not an addiction, because there are really only some shows I watch. But I lurve the ones I do watch.

One of my fave shows is "How I Met Your Mother." Such a hilarious show. Not sure how many people are really watching it, though, because I don't know too many people who actually do. But it's seriously one of the funniest, smartest shows on TV. It works on so many levels.

Tonight's episode, about trying to avoid learning the results of the Super Bowl so you can watch it on TiVo the next day was freaking brilliant. I couldn't stop laughing!

I think my favorite bit was when Barney (Neil Patrick Harris's character...picture Doogie Howser all grown up and turned into a total horndog in a suit) breaks down and decides to track down the scores to find out whether he's won or lost money. He's running down the street and runs into Emmit Smith, so he asks him who won the Super Bowl. Emmit says "Oh, that was last night? Once you've got a couple of rings, they all blur together" (or something like that). Barney then says something like "What's more important than the Super Bowl?" and Emmit says in a real dead pan, "Dancing."

OK, I guess you had to watch it.

And then on "The Class" (which comes on right afterwards), Jerry Rice has a cameo. Of course, you all know my "Dancing with the Stars" obsession, so of course I'm amused. :)

But seriously, the "How I Met Your Mother" episode was brilliant.

And I so totally relate. For the last several weeks, I've been avoiding watercooler chitchat and reading entertainment columns. Mr. Brice has bar review class at night, so he has to miss 24. And because he doesn't have time to watch it until after the bar exam, I decided to not watch it either, in a show of solidarity. (Because I'm such a good wife, and all.)

We'll have a 24 marathon in March!

2007-02-05T06:14:00.001-08:00

Get Your Jenna Bayley-Burke Short Stories Here!

One of my fellow charity antho authors, Jenna Bayley-Burke, has a few short stories that just released in time for Valentine's Day. Check them out!

IF WE LISTENED
Rachel and Evan Hansen are getting a taste of their own medicine. As teenagers they ran away and eloped, and now their daughter wants to follow in their footsteps. Looking back, Rachel and Evan wonder what would have been if they'd listened to the warnings instead of trusting their hearts.

IDREAM RING
If you know something only in your dreams, should you dare try and make it happen? Even if it means starting over and risking the disapproval of your family? Vanessa and Nick are searching for a sign that their dreams might come true. Vanessa only hopes she can find her dream ring…

If you know something only in your dreams, should you dare try and make it happen? Even if it means starting over and risking the disapproval of your family? Vanessa and Nick are searching for a sign that their dreams might come true. Vanessa only hopes she can find her dream ring…

2007-02-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Are You Ready For Some Football?!

Awwwww, yeah! It's Super Bowl Sunday! I know I have some overseas readers, so they probably couldn't care less, but here in the US, it might as well be a national holiday.

So what's your fave part of the Super Bowl? The pregame show? The game itself? The halftime show? The Puppy Bowl? The commercials?

I must admit that I'm a self-proclaimed Super Bowl commercial junkie. That was always my fave part, even going back all the way to elementary school. (I guess that's why I work in trademarks today.) I remember in second grade (or maybe it was 1st grade...I don't remember--I had the same teacher both years) we made puppets out of pantyhose for an assignment and then had to write our own script for a puppet show. The group I was in had a character named Herb, from the Burger King commercial that debuted during the Super Bowl (yeah, I'm dating myself).

Interestingly, I think the Bears were in the Super Bowl back that year, too.

When I was a little kid, my brother and I were huge Bears fans. It's not like we had any real reason, either. I've never even been to Chicago. But Refrigerator Perry was the team's star, and we thought he was awesome.

But fast-forward to today. I really like Peyton Manning and think he deserves a Super Bowl win. So I don't know who to root for tonight.

Maybe I'll root for the puppies instead. Do you watch the Puppy Bowl? I think that's just the cutest thing ever.

Oh, so I know I'm sounding like a Mrs. Giggle fan-girl or something, but I just had to gush about her latest review. Not sure how she got her hands on it, but SHE'S GOT LEGS is her Spotlight Romance Review today!!! And she gave it an 88!

"She's Got Legs is a funny and romantic short story and because I've had fun reading it, I wish the story is longer so that the good time will last a little while more. Nonetheless, I realize that I really enjoy the author's voice, her sense of humor, and her ability to balance cynical humor with unabashedly romantic happy endings so these these two apparently contradictory elements end up complimenting each other very nicely. Give me more, give me a longer story, just give me - I want to read more from this author."
http://www.mrsgiggles.com/books/brice_legs.html

Wow! First a 90 for DREAMS & DESIRES, now an 88 for SHE'S GOT LEGS! Someone needs to scrape me off the ceiling...

2007-02-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

Interesting Review

I'm thrilled to death to announce that Mrs. Giggles, who's known for her super-harsh, extremely honest reviews, gave Dreams & Desires a 90! A 90! Whoohoo! That puts it in her "keeper" status, which is somethng she really doesn't give often.

She also said it was the first time she'd ever given "keeper" status to an anthology, which is pretty darn cool. She only individually commented on 9 of the 19 stories, and my "Love @ First Site" was one of them. :) Granted, she didn't give a very long review of my story, but she did call it "sweet and adorable." My story was singled out along with stories by Richelle Mead, Gemma Halliday, Susan Lyons, Sasha White, Jackie Kessler, Shaunna Wolf, Fath Bicknell-Brown, and Debbie Mumford. Not bad company to keep, eh?

*warm glow*

So, today I'm going around to bookstores and asking them very nicely to stock Dreams & Desires. I think I'll take a copy of the book, as well as a copy of some of the awesome reviews.

After that, I need to do some spring cleaning. OK, so it's not spring yet, but the groundhog did predict that we'll be getting an early spring. No, my spring cleaning consists of taking down my Christmas tree.

Yeah, that's what I said. It's embarassing, considering as it's now February 3. Originally I kept it up for Ukrainian Christmas, then I went away for the weekend and couldn't do it then, then I got busy with other things, and when I was going to take it down, Mr. Brice convinced me to leave it up for my mom's visit last weekend, since she hadn't gotten a chance to see it. Well, she liked seeing the tree, because it's pretty, but I promised her it would come down this weekend.

So yeah, that's what I'm doing. Oh, that and avoiding the grocery store. We *may* get 1 whole inch of snow sometime this weekend, so the good people of Washington, DC are racing out to stockpile bread, milk, and eggs, because God forbid that 1 inch of snow keep us trapped inside our apartments without bread, milk, and eggs. I waited for 45 minutes to check out at the grocery store yesterday, because all the Washingtonians had carts packed with bread, milk, and eggs (and frozen pizza and beer, but hey, the Super Bowl is tomorrow).

It's 1 inch people! 1 inch! I've seen more white stuff on a powdered donut, for crying out loud.

You know, it's crazy. I live in arguably the most powerful city on the planet, and yet 1 measly inch of snow throws everyone into a panic and completely shuts us down. You'd think we were in the Deep South, like Alabama or Mississippi, or something. It's not even like it's a Southern city...yeah, we're south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but it's really more of a Northern city.

Except with the panic over 1 inch of snow.

2007-02-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

New Blogger, Busy Chat, Tense Basketball Game, and Cool Contest

Why? Why Did They Make Me Get the New Blogger?

I really didn't want to, but alas, they made me. Grrr. At least I didn't lose anything. I'm sure Jodie wouldn't have been too happy if I went crying back to her to ask her if she could make me a new custom-designed template. LOL!

Anyway, thanks so much to everyone who attended our super cool chat in Gemma's chatroom tonight. Wow! I think we had over 50 people at one point...it was HOPPING! I could barely keep up! If you missed out on the fun, don't worry. We'll be chatting again in 2 weeks, on February 15 in the Romance Divas chatroom.

Well, I'm watching the last 55 seconds of the Duke-Virginia game and wow, it's tense! Duke's up by 2 and just lost a shot. Now VA has a chance to tie or take the lead, but about 30 seconds to go.

And now it's tied at 61 points and going to overtime. Yikes!

This game is a big one for us in my family. Many, many of us are Duke grads (me, my mom, my dad, my grandpa) and only one measly one of us is a Virginia grad (my brother). Of course, it's my brother's birthday tonight, so I'm sure he'd be a very happy boy indeed if they were to win.

Anyway, while I'm waiting for OT to start, let me tell you about the contest that Rhonda Stapleton (www.rhondastapleton.authorsabode.com) and I are running.

We're holding a joint Valentine's Day contest to help promote the DREAMS & DESIRES charity anthology, as well as the release of her new ebook, STRIPPED.

My story in DREAMS & DESIRES is called "Love @ First Site" and it's about online dating. So I'm holding a "Best First Dates" contest. Simply send me a story (in 500 words or less) of your best ever date (need not be online dating) to contest@amandabrice.com by February 12, 2007.

Rhonda's story in DREAMS & DESIRES is called "Baring It All for Mr. Right" and it's a story of what just might be the worst first date scenario ever! So she's holding a "Worst First Dates" contest. You get the idea...send her your stories of bad first dates (in 500 words or less) to rhonda@rhondastapleton.net by February 12, 2007.

We'll choose the winners and post them on our blogs and websites on Valetine's Day.The winner of my contest will receive a "Date Night Prize Pack," including candy, a fun "date night"-type DVD, lotion, and a copy of a book on seduction techniques (can't remember the title, but I bought it a couple of weeks ago for this contest).The winner of Rhonda's contest will receive a "Bad Date Night Consolation Pack," including chocolate, a chick flick DVD, and a candle.Start thinking of your stories.

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

OK, overtime just began, so I gotta run...

2007-02-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

It's Time for Our Virtual Launch Party!

It's finally time! Tonight is the Launch Party for the Freya's Bower charity anthology, Dreams & Desires: A Collection of Romance and Erotic Tales by Jenna Bayley-Burke, Faith Bicknell-Brown, Amanda Brice, Sela Carsen, Rachelle Chase, Gemma Halliday, Candace Havens, Zinnia Hope, Jackie Kessler, Susan Lyons, Richelle Mead, Debbie Mumford, Rhonda Stapleton, Bebe Thomas, Emily Veinglory, Sasha White, Lois Winston, Shaunna Wolf, and Kit Wylde.

Join the authors tonight in Gemma Halliday's chat room from 5-7 PM PST (8-10 PM EST).

What's Dreams & Desires?

Just look around the web.

Everyone is talking about it :
Diana Peterfreund's blog
Lois Winston over at Caridad Pineiro's blog
Candace Havens' radio station :: 96.3 KSCS
Idea Boutique
The Knight Agency Blog
Dear Author
Vamps & Scamps
Sparta Independent Newspaper
Joanne Rock’s website

Most of the book's authors will be on hand to gab, and we have tons of great free prizes to give away. If you can't make it tonight, we'll be in the Romance Divas chat room Thurday, February 15th during the same times.

Just what kind of prizes are we talking about? Look at this swag!
Not Quite Dead (ebook, novella) & The Virgin Courtesan (ebook, novella) Sela Carsen
Last Chance (ebook, novella) Kit Wylde
Sex Lounge (ARC) Rachelle Chase
Champagne Rules (signed book) Susan Lyons Succubus Blue (ARC) Richelle Mead
Talk Gertie to Me (signed book) Lois Winston Stripped (ebook) Rhonda Stapleton
SPYING IN HIGH HEELS (signed book) Gemma Hallliday

And that's just a sample!

Dreams & Desires, a charity benefit anthology
ISBN: 1934069221 (paperback)
ISBN: 193406923X (hardcover)

2007-01-31T12:22:00.000-08:00

A Series of Valentine's Releases from Forbidden Publications

Available Monday, January 29th from Forbidden Publications
Sela Carsen: The Virgin Courtesan (historical; sensual)
Stacy Dawn: Apple of His Eye (contemporary; mainstream (aka nonerotic)
Elisabeth Drake: Wasting the Dawn (dark paranormal; carnal)
CJ England: Angel Eyes and Demon Lies (paranormal; carnal)
Dayna Hart: Wings of Love (fantasy; mainstream)
Loribelle Hunt: Be Mine (contemporary; sensual)
Crystal Jordan: Twice in a Blue Moon (paranormal; carnal)
Jennifer Leeland: Naughty Notions (contemporary; carnal)
JT Schultz: Cupid's Target (paranormal; sensual)
Shelli Stevens: Cabin Fever (contemporary; carnal)

2007-01-31T12:19:00.000-08:00

My friend Rhonda simply rocks!

Have you heard of Rhonda Stapleton? Well, if you haven't, you will, soon. Not only is she the author of the absolutely wonderful chick lit ebook STRIPPED (available now through Freya's Bower), but she also has a very funny short story in the DREAMS & DESIRES charity anthology, which is released tomorrow.

But...drum roll, please...as of this afternoon, she now has 3 offers of representation for her hilarious young adult paranormal romance! And 3 other agents are supposed to get back to her in the next couple of days.

Mark my words...she's one to watch!

2007-01-30T18:13:00.000-08:00

What a Nice Surprise!

I came home from work today to discover that I had a package slip in my mailbox. So I went to the front desk to see what it was. The concierge brought out two boxes. Hmmm...I couldn't imagine what it could be.

When I upstairs, I greedily ripped it open, only to discover that it was a box of copies of DREAMS & DESIRES, our charity anthology. Yup, that's right...I'm in print!

And a few days early, too!

The official release date is Thursday, February 1. You can find the book in your local bookstore (if they aren't stocking it, ask them to order it...it's available on Ingrams so most bookstores can order it), online through Borders or Barnes & Noble, or on the Freya's Bower website.

Remember, all stories, editing, and cover art have been donated, so 100% of net profits are being donated to a battered women's shelter.

I just looked through the book and it looks beautiful. I've aleady read the stories in my PDF review copy, and they're all excellent. But don't take my word for it...here's what reviewers and other authors are saying:

"DREAMS AND DESIRES features terrific short stories ranging from sweet to sizzling and penned by some of the leading lights in today's romance and erotica genres. Buy it to help a great cause, read it for the great stories!"
~ Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of VERTIGO and HOW NANCY DREW SAVED MY LIFE

"With a story to suit every appetite, Dreams and Desires is a delicious collaboration. Kudos to the authors for taking readers on a delightful journey while promoting a wonderful cause.”
~ Joanne Rock, author of DON'T LOOK BACK and THE KNIGHT'S COURTSHIP

"From the first story to the last, these stories are filled with hope, love, and the promise of the future... I highly recommend Dreams and Desires for those of you who cherish your romances... a fantastic read..."
~ Rose, Reviewer for Romance at Heart

"Anthologies can be risky for a reader - will all of the stories live up to the same high expectations? Will the next story be as good - or better - than the one just finished? With Dreams and Desires , the answer is a resounding yes; I'll be looking for many of these authors in the future. When you reach the end of Dreams and Desires , you'll be left craving more of these short reads.”
~ 5 Kisses from Deborah Barone, Romance Divas

2007-01-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Kit Wylde

It's the last day of the Interview Marathon. Only two more days before the release of the charity anthology and the big exciting launch party in Gemma's chatroom at www.gemmahalliday.com/chat

Today I'm chatting with the last author alphabetically, Kit Wylde.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Kit: I’m a 40 something woman who’s been teaching fifth grade for the past 15 plus years and have been reading romance even longer (too many years to count). In my early thirties, I began writing romance. My first story was sold to Wild Child Publishing, and that was the beginning of my writing “career”. Fortunately, my husband is very supportive.

Amanda: Your story in the anthology is "Secret Valentines". What is it about?

Kit: Valentine, or Val as he is called, is a man disconnected with life. He prefers not to feel if given the choice. When his company assigns everyone secret valentines, Val is annoyed to say the least. But as he comes to know his secret valentine, Cliodhna O’Cleirigh, he realizes that life can be a wonderful experience when you participate.

Amanda: How did you get involved in this project and why did you want to participate?

Kit: Marci first told me about it back in June or July — I don’t remember which. She was very excited about the anthology. I was too and instantly offered up “Secret Valentines” for the anthology. Being a public school teacher for as long as I have, I have seen many instances of both child abuse and domestic violence. The toll it takes on our society, our children, and every single member of this planet is beyond what much people would ever believe. It happens much more often than people think. I have also had friends who pulled themselves out of abusive relationships, seen them lose their jobs, their homes, their pets. It’s devastating. While I donate clothes and other necessities to our local shelter, I firmly believe that educating the public and helping people recognize the signs of an abusive person is our only hope of truly eradicating it.

Amanda: The cover of LAST CHANCE is beautiful. What is it about?

Kit: LAST CHANCE tells the story of Susan Pell who escapes a verbally abusive relationship and finds peace living alone (if you don't count the two match-making ghosts who are the original owners). Just when she decides to enter the dating pool again, in walks Max Lancaster, a sexy cowboy who happens to be her neighbor. Max has been given a free reading in the hopes that Susan will be able to predict his future. The attraction between them is instant, but his obvious disgust with her profession makes Susan want to have her way with him then strangle him for being such a close-minded fool. No matter that the ghosts say he's the one, Susan's not buying it. Avoiding him doesn't help, nor does dating someone else. When Susan vows to forget him, fate (with a little help from the ghosts) take matters into their own hands.

Amanda: Who are your favorite authors?

Kit: Oh my, well that’s a tough question. I used to love Jude Devereux and still enjoy her works. I also really like Zinnia Hope, Christine Feehan, Teresa Medeiros, Bronte.

Amanda: What's next for Kit Wylde?

Kit: I have WIP in progress titled THE WHISPERING HOUSE that is contracted with Freya’s Bower. It’s set in the Fresno area again in a “haunted” house. This one is less comedic and lighthearted and more of a dark, horror-esque erotic story... With an HEA. I much prefer books that end with an HEA. (smile) After that, I do have another story idea percolating that would be a time travel romance with a tentative title of TIME SUSPENDED. As I haven’t even begun the outline, I cannot say when it will be ready to submit.

Thank you for the wonderful interview, Amanda!

And thanks to you, too, Kit!
Anyway, this concludes my series of interviews. I hope everyone has enjoyed learning more about the authors involved in this wonderful collection. Go buy the book when it hits the shelves on Thursday! LOL!

2007-01-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Shaunna Wolf

It's my 150th post, which is very exciting. Today we're chatting with Shaunna Wolf.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Shaunna: First I'd like to thank you for doing the interviews with the various authors, and for asking me to participate. Shaunna Wolf is actually the pen name I use for writing erotica. I'm better known as S.R.Howen. I live in Texas at the current time with 11 indoor cats, not all of them the domestic sort, four fish and two rabbits--oh and my husband and daughter as well. My husband and one of my sons are in the army. I have a day job and work as an editor for both Wild Child Publishing and Freya's Bower. Free time not spent on writing, involves a lot of cat box duty--as well as work I do rescuing feral cats and finding homes for them.

Amanda: Your story in the anthology is "The Forge: Jezren Dark Sky." What is it about?

Shaunna: It's a story about one woman's journey through life to the fulfillment of her dreams. It illustrates how as we age and grow our dreams and desires also change, from the very simple: when do I eat next, to more lofty life goals and ultimately the goal every living thing has--that of companionship. It covers a lot of time in a short amount of words, Jezren's life from orphan to adult, her dreams from simple to complex.

Amanda: That *is* a lot of time to cover! I understand it's the prequel to your Freya's Bower series, THE FORGE. Can you tell us a little bit about the series?

Shaunna: The series picks up the same theme. How do we get through life (how does the main character) when our dreams crash around us? Each book picks a thread from Jezren's past and then puts the reader into the here and now of her life and how she deals with every day life after losing her one true love. Not to mention some sizzling sex scenes that not only give the reader a thrill, but are entwined with the plot and character development. On the SciFi side we have a strong female character, some interesting aliens and worlds, and some blazing sword battles as well. The series is not for the faint of heart.

Amanda: How did you get involved with the charity anthology, and what prompted you to participate?

Shaunna: Marci asked me to do the foreword. I have been in an abusive relationship myself, and after I got out I was involved in helping other women in the same situations. It is a subject near and dear to me. I see women and girls who are abused everyday. It angers me a great deal. We teach our children not to do drugs, we warn them about drinking and driving, we try to get them not to smoke, we even try to shield them from sex and teen pregnancy. We offer classes in child care (those real baby experience classes in High Schools) BUT and this is a great big red baboon butt, why is there a lack of any sort of education, when our kids are learning about relationships, on the signs of abuse, on the ABC's of a healthy mutually respectful relationship? I wanted to be involved to help get the word out--hopefully to someone who needs it--just what abuse is.

Amanda: How did you begin wtiting sci-fi/fantasy romance and erotica?

Shaunna: I've always written SciFi/Fantasy--a lot of it, ok, most of it very dark stuff. One of the things that makes any story real is it's closeness to real life. And what is one of the most basic elements of any living things nature? --the desire for a mate. My stories simply grew around the baser instincts, driven by love and romance.

Amanda: What's next for Shanna Wolf?

Shaunna: Getting The Forge book two written and hoping in the next year that my agent can sell my Historical Fantasy Romance "Medicine Man." I'd like to make enough from my writing to quit my day job, but isn't that every writer's dream and desire? Quit the day job and stay home and write?

I'd say it definitely is! Thanks, Shaunna, for chatting with us today. Tomorrow will be my last interview, with Kit Wylde.

Then on Thursday is the release of the anthology, as well as Gemma's fabulous launch party in her chat room at www.gemmahalliday.com.

2007-01-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Lois Winston

Today I'm chatting with Lois Winston, another one of our DREAMS & DESIRES authors. She's the author of TALK GERTIE TO ME.

Amanda: Welcome, Lois. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Lois: Let’s see…I’m a vertically challenged red-head who at one time wanted to become an astronaut, probably because I always harbored a secret desire to be Supergirl. Aside from the fact that at barely 5 feet I don’t think I would have made the height requirement, I have this motion sickness problem. So instead, I write. G-force and zero gravity aren’t factors when sitting in front of a computer as long as that computer is on terra firma. As for the Supergirl fantasy, I realized a long time ago that all women are really Supergirl since we need to learn to juggle 17 things at once in order to survive.

Amanda: Your story in the charity anthology is titled "The Reluctant Bridesmaid." What it is about?

Lois: THE RELUCTANT BRIDESMAID is humorous women’s fiction (formerly known as chick lit, but that appellation seems to be a huge no-no lately.)

Amanda: Ain't that the truth? LOL!

Lois: Here’s a blurb:

It was bad enough when Paige’s cousin Tara stole her boyfriend. Now Tara and the creep are getting married, and Paige is stuck wearing a bridesmaid’s gown that makes her look like a jaundiced Holstein -- make that a jaundiced, dateless Holstein.

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project and what persuaded you to participate?

Lois: I was invited by Heather, one of the editors, and being a sucker for a good cause, how could I say no?

Amanda: You've won many awards for your writing, including 1st Runner Up in the American Title Contest. What have contests done for you and would you recommend unpublished writers enter contests?

Lois: Some of my friends call me the Contest Slut because I’ve finaled in and won so many contests. I was also a 3 time Golden Heart finalist, a St. Martin’s Malice Domestic finalist, and the winner of more than a dozen RWA chapter contests. Now that I’m published I’ve begun entering contests for published books. What can I say? Once a Contest Slut, always a Contest Slut . So far Talk Gertie To Me was a finalist for a Reviewers’ Choice Award and a Golden Leaf Award and is currently a finalist for a Readers and Bookbuyers Best Laurie Award.

I sold because of the American Title contest. I think contests can be a big help to writers in their journey toward publication, but contests aren’t for everyone. I give a workshop on this very topic, helping authors decide whether they should or shouldn’t enter writing contests. There are many factors to take into consideration. Also, lots of people who never won a contest have gone on to have very successful publishing careers while others who have won many contests never sell. It’s all a crap shoot. You have to decide whether you can afford to enter contests (since all but publisher sponsored ones charge a fee) and whether you have the emotional stamina for them. Not everyone does.

Amanda: I just loved TALK GERTIE TO ME. What a fun read! I can't wait for LOVE, LIES, and a DOUBLE SHOT OF DECEPTION to be released. It looks great! But others may not be familiar with it. Can you tell us a little bit about the book?

Lois: There’s an interesting back-story behind Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception. It was actually the first book I ever wrote over 10 years ago. This was back when I was totally clueless, having written a 50,000 word romance that spanned 35 years. Needless to say, publishers weren’t waving contracts in my face. Because I liked the characters I’d created and didn’t want to see them buried under my bed for all eternity, I went back and revised the book. Now it’s a 95,000 word romantic suspense that takes place over the course of a few months. When Philadelphia's most beloved heiress since Grace Kelly, becomes Philadelphia's most notorious criminal since mafia don Angelo Bruno, she needs to do a lot more than just clear her name if she wants to save her budding romance with the billionaire hunk someone is willing to kill for.

Here’s the back cover blurb from my publisher:
A WHOLE LATTE LOVIN’…Logan Crawford is gorgeous, charming, and his kisses make Emma feel like she’s the only woman in the world. Oh, plus he’s a billionaire. Not that Emma needs the money. As Philadelphia’s most beloved heiress, she has it all: the grand estate, flashy sports car, high-society connections. But the haunted widow also has dark secrets, and someone out there doesn’t want to let Emma forget her past quite so easily. Trouble is brewing darker than a double espresso for Emma and her newfound love. Now if only she can keep from getting burned…

I have an excerpt of Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception posted on my website at www.loiswinston.com . I also have an excerpt posted from Talk Gertie To Me for anyone not familiar with that book. At my website people can sign up for my newsletter. I run some great contests (some only for newsletter subscribers) and will be giving away lots of fab gifts for the launch of Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception.

Amanda: What's next for Lois Winston?

Lois: Well…I’d love to make the best-seller lists and score a fabulous multi-book contract, but that’s up to the publishing gods. For now, I’m waiting to hear about several proposals I have out. One is for an amateur sleuth mystery series that I like to describe as Stephanie Plum meets Kate Reddy. And I haven’t given up on that trip into space. Just need to solve the motion sickness thing first.

LOL! I'll definitely be on the lookout for Lois' latest release. Anyway, folks, we're almost done with the Interview Marathon. Tomorow I'll be chatting with Shaunna Wolf and Tuesday I'll be chatting with Kit Wylde. Then Thursday is the release! Whoo-hoo!

Be sure to join us in Gemma Halliday's chat room for our Cyber Launch Party from 8-10 pm EST/5-7 pm PST.

2007-01-27T12:17:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Sasha White

We're in the home stretch, folks. The DREAMS & DESIRES charity anthology will be releasing on Thursday. But first, we still have a few more interviews with our remaining authors.

Today I'm chatting with Sasha White,an erotica author, so today's interview is not for those under 18.

Amanda: Welcome, Sasha. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Sasha: I just turned 37, I'm single, a Scorpio, and addicted to microwave popcorn.
You want to know more? Oh, okay. Uhmm After being a bartender for 19 years, and traveling all over the place with nothing but a backpack, I now write hot sexy stories. I write them in all lengths, from short story to full length novels, in a variety of sub genres, and I love to make my characters squirm. *evil grin*
If you want to know more..there is plenty of tidbits on my website bio at http://www.sashawhite.net , including 69 tidbits of Trivia

Amanda: 69 bits of trivia. Hehe... Your story in the charity anthology is titled "The Mirror." What is it about?

Sasha: I can't say a whole lot without giving it away as it's very short. But, basically, it's about a woman who's driving home from a business trip, and blows out a tire. She ends up in a dive bar, across from a cheap hotel on the highway, pissed off at her boyfriend for pouting when she called to say she wouldn't make it home for their "special dinner".
This doesn't sound hot, but when a tall dark and very hot man in a leather jacket and tight blue jeans walks into that dive bar...things heat up fast. *grin*

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project and what made you want to participate?

Sasha: I hang out online at Romance Divas a lot and when I was in Atlanta at the RWA conference, another one of the divas mentioned it to me. I love writing short stories, and the charity is a great cause, so I couldn't not get involved.

Amanda: You're known for your super sizzling sensual erotica. How do you write such steamy, yet romantic, scenes?

Sasha: I have no idea. And that's the honest answer.
Sex, sexual attraction, sexuality ... these all fascinate me. I tend to start, in my mind, with characters and a sexual desire or situation...and then I let the characters react to things. People, in almost every situation, react to things with emotion...so my characters do too.
I enjoy what I write, and I'm comfortable with all aspects of it, and I think thats what comes through in the stories.

Amanda: Other than erotica, what's your favorite genre to read?

Sasha: Suspense. I like thrillers, suspense and paranormal. :)

Amanda: What's next for Sasha White?

Sasha: 2007 is full of new releases for me. Below is a quick peek at what's coming soon...and after that.. who knows? *grin* I hate to plan too far ahead, it ruins the fun in things. LOL
2007 Release schedule
January, SECRET THOUGHTS: Erotique collection, Samhain
February, WATCH ME 40k novella in KINK, Berkley
THE MIRROR, short story in the DREAMS & DESIRES Charity Anthology
March, TEMPTING GRACE, 10k short in ALLURING TALES, Awaken the Fantasy, Avon Red
April, LUSH, single author anthology, Kensington.
August, TROUBLE, single title, Berkley
December, SEXY DEVILS, erotic paranormal suspense, Kensington

Wow, looks like 2007 is going to be super busy for Sasha!

Anyway, stop in tomorrow for my conversation with Lois Winston.

2007-01-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Emily Veinglory

Today's interview is with Emily Veinglory, who specializes in male-male erotic romance.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Emily: Well, I’m from New Zealand and I work as an animal behaviorist. I write romance, mainly m/m, mainly fantasy and paranormal—but also non-fiction, poetry, erotica and all sorts of other things. I get to write pretty as much as I like because my only co-inhabitant is a border collie. I love to hang out online and am webmaster not only my own site (veinglory.com) but also several blogs, an erotic romance forum, a self-published book review site (POD People) and an Erotic Romance E-publisher Comparison site (EREC)

Amanda: Your story in the anthology is titled "Blood and Feathers." What is it about?

Emily: It is essentially the story of Paul, a young man who has become a guardian angel. He is besotted with his charge, a handsome artist who is not what he seems. Paul eventually learns that true love can come from the most mundane of places.

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project?

Emily: ‘Blood and Feathers’ was in my mind for a long time, but as a potential comic. However, with time, I gradually dropped out from doing visual art and took my prose writing a lot more seriously. As I was writing it the Freya’s Bower anthologies opened for submissions and it seemed like a natural combination. I was very pleased to be accepted and only afterwards saw that the predominant themes of the collection are m/f and on the sweeter end of the scale!

Amanda: Honestly, I like that there's a wide variety of genres. I think it brings diversity to the collection. Anyway, you're known for writing male/male gay fiction, particularly romance. Is it difficult for you, as a woman, to write about men?

Emily: We all write what comes naturally to us, I think. But writing men is no more difficult that writing vampires, highwaymen, angels or Americans. In fact men are somewhat on the easy end of the scale given that I have known them all my life. I don’t analyze these things to much; girls like ponies, women like chocolate, Americans like basketball and I like to write about gay men in love. Viva la diversity.

Amanda: LOL! Great attitude. I think that's awesome, and your story is fantastic. What's next for Emily Veinglory?

Emily: I have a whole raft of writing plans. More e-books, more stories in print anthologies, and my first POD paperback with Samhain by the end of the year. My New Year’s resolution is to write some to submit to a large NY press but my current job contract and visa to be in the USA runs out in less than a year, which rather prevents me form making solid long term plans. But anyone who likes my writing will be sure to see some new releases one way or another! In fact I adore getting suggestions for books or sequels. A comment on my livejournal suggested trolls and I'm already 5000 words into a story on just that!

2007-01-25T06:48:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Bebe Thomas

We're coming into the home stretch of the Interview Marathon, which means (drum roll, please)...ta-da! It's only ONE WEEK until the long-awaited release of the Dreams & Desires charity anthology, featuring stories from all of the authors I'v been interviewing, plus one from me, too.

And one week from tonight, join us all in Gemma Halliday's chat room for a fun-filled launch party, complete with fun and games and a chance to win cool door prizes, such as ARCs of the authors' upcoming releases, or signed copies of their current releases. It's all happening from 8-10 pm EST/5-7 pm PST, Thursday, February 1 at www.gemmahalliday.com, so mark your calendars now!

Anyway, today I'm chatting with Bebe Thomas.

Amanda: Welcome Bebe. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Bebe: Hmmm. I'm never really sure how to answer this question. I'm a 30-something wife and step-mom. I was born in New York, raised in Florida, and currently reside in Philadelphia. Like many authors, I have a day job - one that I love - as a corporate trainer for a Fortune 500 company. I haven't had much spare time lately, but when I find some, you will find me vegging out at the beach.

Amanda: Your story in the charity anthology is titled "The Wedding Policy." What is it about?

Bebe: The Wedding Policy is a story about the meaning of love set in 1940's Kentucky. The heroine, Belle, wants to marry Charlie, but her wealthy, autocratic father intends to choose each of his daughters' husbands. Does true love prevail in the end?

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project and what persuaded you to participate?

Bebe: One of the Freya's Bower associate editors, Heather, approached me about the project last summer. After I told her I was definitely interested, I was invited to participate by Marci Baun, the Editor-in-Chief. Donating my story to the anthology was a no-brainer for me, I wanted to do my part to help.

Amanda: Who are your favorite authors and what is your favorite genre?

Bebe: I absolutely love Elizabeth Berg, Elizabeth Adler, Nora Roberts and Frank McCourt. And I love discovering new authors, too - I'm honored to be included in the anthology with such wonderful writers. As far as genre goes - I'm fickle - I like a little bit of everything!

Amanda: AURORA's PASSION was your popular first release (a Freya's Bower Bestseller). Can you tell us a bit about that one?

Bebe: Sure. Here's the official blurb.

Kris Anderssen is having a bad week. She lost her dream job and her lover on the same day and is in danger of losing her swanky New York apartment. She's regrouping by spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Aurora, her hometown. It's anything but relaxing. Her grandmother won't stop talking about the Northern Lights, the goddess Freya, and Norwegian Folklore. Plus, Kris is more conflicted than ever, finding herself caught in a love triangle between her hot former boyfriend and her sexy best friend. She has feelings for each man; how can she possibly choose between them?

Amanda: What's next for Bebe Thomas?

Bebe: I'm finishing up Aurora's Promise, the prequel to Aurora's Passion. Actually, "The Wedding Policy" inspired Aurora's Promise, which is Kris's grandmother's love story and is set in Norway and Sweden during World War II. Karin Lindstrom is a member of the Norwegian resistance, much to her Parliamentarian father's chagrin. When Norway is invaded by the Nazi's, Karin must make a difficult choice in order to save her family. Lots of intrigue and a love triangle in this one!

Thanks, Amanda. It's been wonderful chatting with you!

Amanda: You're welcome, Bebe, and thank you! That sounds like a very interesting story, so I'll definitely be on the lookout for it!

Stop in this weekend for the end of our interview series. Tomorrow I'm chatting with Emily Veinglory, Saturday with Sasha White, Sunday with Lois Winston, Monday with Shaunna Wolf, and Tuesday with Kit Wylde.

2007-01-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Rhonda Stapleton

Today I'm chatting with Rhonda Stapleton. Last time we was a guest on here she spoke about being an editor for Siren Publishing and Freya's Bower/Wild Child. She was an aspiring author then, but hadn't sold yet. But now she's a published author! What a difference a few months makes! Her debut novel, STRIPPED, was released last week and she also has a short story in DREAMS AND DESIRES.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Rhonda: Well, I'm a writer, I have 2 kids and a fiance, and my family is on crack. I have a Master's degree in English, so I'm a bit of a nerd, as well. LOL

Amanda: Oh, there's nothing wrong with being a little nerdy, besides, you're totally not. Your story in the charity anthology is titled "Baring it All for Mr. Right." What it is about?

Rhonda: This poor girl...I torture her throughout the story. A hot new neighbor moves in next door, and her first meeting with him is a total embarrassment. She finally scrapes up enough courage to ask him out, and their first date is to her roommate's cousin's wedding. And it's a disaster.

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project and what persuaded you to participate?

Rhonda: I actually got involved because of you! When you sent me an email asking me if I'd like to contribute, I was really flattered and spent a weekend writing and editing the story.

Amanda: Well, I knew you'd do a great job, so I wanted you in it! Who are your favorite authors and what is your favorite genre?

Rhonda: This is so hard. I believe in reading widely - I find it helps me continue to learn and grow as a writer. I love Lois Lowry (she writes YA), Philippa Gregory (historical fiction), stories about Tudor England, funny stories (Sophie Kinsella, Erin McCarthy), etc. I don't think I have a favorite genre, truthfully. I read a lot of YA because I also write it.

Amanda: STRIPPED just came out last week. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Rhonda: That's right - Stripped is now available with Freya's Bower. It's about yet another poor tortured woman who gets passed over for a promotion at work. Her friends hire a stripper for her, who is hot, but terrible. LOL. Turns out, he's the guy who got her promotion. Of course, drama and hilarity ensue. :D

Amanda: LOL! What's next for Rhonda Stapleton?

Rhonda: Well, I'm continuing to write YA, and I have a novella in the works with you and Stephanie Secrest.

2007-01-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Debbie Mumford

Welcome back to my Interview Marathon. Today we're chatting with Debbie Mumford.

Amanda: Welcome Debbie. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Debbie: I’m a very normal woman. If you met me on the street, you’d never guess my brain was populated with dragons and faeries! *LOL*

My best friend and I married 32 years ago last June. We raised three wonderful children and launched them successfully into the wide world. Our eldest daughter, a married, happily unemployed landscape designer, has blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren (a 3-year-old boy and a 10-month-old girl). Our son (her twin brother) is a talented musician who just returned from his first European tour. Their younger sister is a licensed massage therapist and a successful business woman.

By day, I’m a mild-mannered technical writer, but evenings and weekends, I’m (ta dahhh!) a fiction author! Dedicated to making the world a more interesting place for romance and fantasy readers!

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project, and what made you want to participate?

Debbie: Marci asked if I’d like to contribute a story and I jumped at the chance to have my work in the same volume with the other fabulous authors in this anthology.

I’m a very lucky woman. My life has not been touched by domestic violence, but I have daughters, and it’s important to me to know that there are organizations out there which could help my girls if they ever found themselves in need. Hopefully my daughters will never need the services of a shelter like the one this book will benefit, but other women’s daughters are in desperate need. I’m delighted to be able to do my small part to help.

Amanda: Your story is titled "Red's Merry Mischief."

Debbie: Red is a mischievous Faery who has been condemned to imprisonment within a pane of Irish glass. “Red’s Merry Mischief” is the story of the misbehavior that landed him inside that glass. It’s lacking the traditional romance Happily Ever After, but that’s because it’s a prequel to the GLASS MAGIC stories. Can’t give Red a HEA if he’s going to cause trouble in GLASS MAGIC! *LOL*

Amanda: What a clever idea, tying your Dreams & Desires story to your Bites stories. :) Can you tell us what GLASS MAGIC is about?

Debbie: In GLASS MAGIC (a Freya’s Bower Bite – two related short stories), Red causes trouble for two young couples that come in contact with his pane of glass. He can’t free himself, and he can’t influence any of the Fae, but his magick is still strong enough to wreak havoc in the mortal world. After all these centuries in a pane of glass, Red is ready for a little entertainment, and messing with the sex drive of mortals is one of his favorite types of fun.

Amanda: The cover for your upcoming release, SECOND SIGHT, is beautiful! Can you tell us about that one?

Debbie: Oh, I am SO proud of that cover! I’m biased, of course, but I think Freya’s Bower has some of the finest cover art in the business. Here’s a blurb about the story that goes with that stunning piece of art:

Jenny Murdoch is blessed (or cursed) with Second Sight. Unfortunately, a traumatic
experience during her pre-teen years causes her to stifle her psychic abilities. She sees
her gift as a tiger waiting to attack and destroy her sanity. SECOND SIGHT is the tale of
how a handsome parapsychologist, a sadistic ritual murder and a book of runes force
Jenny to accept her tiger and learn to trust her innate abilities.

Amanda: Sounds intriguing. So what's next for Debbie Mumford?

Debbie: As soon as SECOND SIGHT releases, I’ll return to the world of SORCHA’S HEART and my shapeshifting dragons. I’m planning to write three additional novels set in that world to tell the story of Sorcha and Caedyrn’s six offspring. I wrote the first (very rough!) draft of Aislinn and Taran’s tale during November and have been letting it smolder while I polish SECOND SIGHT.

When I finish the three SORCHA’S CHILDREN novels, I’m thinking of trying my hand at a mystery series with a rough-edged psychic investigator. Woot! Something new and different!

2007-01-22T05:56:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Richelle Mead

We're digging out of the ice here in DC, although it's still very cold. In the meantime, enjoy this chat with Richelle Mead.

Amanda: Welcome, Richelle. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Richelle: Well…for brevity’s sake, I’ll stick to the basics. 5’2”. Red-haired. Scorpio. Wacky. I have more degrees than any one person should and have taught both college and junior high classes. Fortunately, I now have the good fortune to write full-time, so I get to spend my days wearing pajamas and drinking copious amounts of coffee in my lair. I mean, office.

Amanda: LOL! And I know what you mean about the too many degrees, although sometimes I wish I could be a professional student. Anyway, your story in the charity anthology is titled "Brushstrokes." What is it about?

Richelle: It’s a historical paranormal that takes place in Renaissance Italy, during a time when Florence’s art and literature were destroyed for the sake of “salvation.” The heroine is a succubus trying to prevent that from happening…with the help of a sexy and slightly demented artist.

Amanda: How did you get involved with the project and what prompted you to participate?

Richelle: I was approached by Jackie Kessler who was approached by Marci Baun…and the rest is history. I’m normally more of a novel-minded person, but I really wanted to give a short story a try, particularly for such a good cause.

Amanda: Your upcoming release, SUCCUBUS BLUES looks awesome! I understand that the heroine in that book is also the heroine from your short story, in a different form. Can you tell us what the book is about?

Richelle: Yes! She goes by a different name in the story, but she is indeed the same succubus. That’s the beauty of having an immortal character. In the novel, she’s called Georgina and is kind of disgruntled by the whole succubus scene. Her demonic boss (who looks like John Cusack) and immortal friends are all kind of eccentric, and she can’t get physically close to a guy without sucking away part of his life. She’s got to put her brooding on hold, however, when an unknown creature starts killing immortals in Seattle—a creature who appears to have a crush on her…

Amanda: How did you get interested in succubi stories?

Richelle: Hey, who isn’t interested in succubi? Seriously, I’ve just always thought they were fascinating. And when I sat down to write a novel about a paranormal being, there was never any question about what kind she’d be.

Amanda: What's next for Richelle Mead?

Richelle: Georgina has more novels coming, and I’m also contracted for another series with Kensington. It’s about a shaman who fights fey and spirits and will debut in 2008. Kensington is also putting out an anthology in 2008, and I’ll have a novella in that.

In the world of young adult fantasy, Penguin/Razorbill is publishing another series of mine. The first book of that—entitled Vampire Academy—will come out this autumn.

So, I guess what’s next for me is a lot of deadlines! Updates, appearances, and my publishing schedule can all be found over at www.richellemead.com

Thanks for stopping by, Richelle! Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Debbie Mumford and one on Wednesday with Rhonda Stapleton.

2007-01-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Susan Lyons

It's a snowy day here in good ol' Washington, DC, so what better than to curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and a steamy paperback...perhaps by Susan Lyons, today's Interview Marathon author.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Susan: My books are published by Kensington Aphrodisia; they're sexy romances that are intense, passionate, heartwarming and fun. My short stories have been published internationally in women's and story magazines. Reviewers have said that my "multilayered characters have a vibrant emotional impact" (Romance Reviews Today). I grew up in Victoria, British Columbia and now live in Vancouver, where many of my stories are set. I have degrees in law and psychology, and have had a variety of careers, including perennial student, grad school dropout, job creation project administrator, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far my favorite. Writing gives me a perfect outlet to demonstrate my belief in the power of love, friendship and a sense of humor. My website is at www.susanlyons.ca. I'm involved in lots of writing groups and loops, and am Chair for a writing mini-conference in Vancouver in May. It's called "Write On, Vancouver," and features writer and writing teacher Nancy Kress, editors from Harlequin and Bantam, and lots of other good people and stuff! The website is at www.writeonvancouver.com.

Amanda: Your story in the charity anthology is titled "Taking the Alleys." What it is about?

Susan: It's the story of a young man who has met the girl of his dreams. But he's just an average Joe and she's exciting and awesome. Does he stand a chance? All he knows is, he has to find out. So, he's driven all day and all night, and now he's nearing her place...

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project and what persuaded you to participate?

Susan: I was invited, and was thrilled to participate. The cause is so worthwhile and it's wonderful to be in an anthology with so many other talented writers.

Amanda: Your story in the anthology is very sweet, but you're known for your sexy, hot reads. Which do you prefer?

Susan: I like writing the whole range of women's fiction. All my stories (short stories, novellas, novels) are about relationships, character growth and the power of love. Sometimes the characters cry out for a very sexy romance and sometimes they're a little more shy. In terms of length, novels certainly let me explore characters in more depth, which is both challenging and rewarding. Short stories are a fun break, plus the smaller scope lets me examine moments in people's lives, points of transition, things that are important but not meaty enough to form the backbone of a book.

Amanda: What is your favorite book that you've written? Can you describe it?

Susan: Tough question. I love "Champagne Rules" because it was the first that sold, and I really like that it's an interracial couple who don't see major problems with having that kind of relationship. I love "Hot in Here" because my heroine, Jenny, is so feisty and confused and such a mix of "out there" versus inhibited. Her dilemma of trying to honour her old-world family whilestill living a new-world life is so typical of many young women in Vancouver today. And then there's an unsold manuscript that's a Mary Stewart style of romantic suspense set in Crete that I totally love. Sure hope it sells one day!

Amanda: What's next for Susan Lyons?

Susan: In February, I have a novella called "Hot Down Under" in "The Firefighter" from Kensington Aphrodisia. When Tash McKendrick grudgingly agrees to babysit her grandmother on her trip to Australia, little does she realize that granny has romance on her mind - for both of them! But Tash is more than willing to buy in, when she meets sexy firefighter, Mick Donovan. Also in February, in addition to my story in "Dreams & Desires," I have a Valentine's story ("Lady in Red") at The Wild Rose Press. Then in September comes book 3 of the Awesome Foursome series from Aphrodisia (following after "Champagne Rules" and "Hot in Here"). It's called "Touch Me," and is about what happens when Ann, a stressed-out lawyer, meets Adonis, a laid-back massage therapist. After that there's book 4, "Lights Off."

2007-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Jackie Kessler

Welcome to Day 8 of my Dreams & Desires marathon Interview Party! Today I'm chatting with Jackie Kessler, whose debut novel, HELL'S BELLES, was just released a little over 2 weeks ago!

Amanda: Welcome Jackie. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Jackie: I'm five feet on a tall day, which means I'm doomed to be perpetually cute. This was a tragedy when I was a child (my cheeks were pinched far too many times for me to count), and pure hell when I was dating (who wants to be cute? I wanted to be SEXY), but now that I'm 36, happily married, and the mother of two young children, the doom doesn't seem all that bad. Now my hope is to have some hot guy call me a MILF. (Wait, did I really just write that?)

Amanda: LOL! Your story in the anthology is titled "To The Core." What is it about?

Jackie: Six thousand words. (I crack myself up.) It's the story of a young woman (a medium/magician called a Zintal) who decides to be true to herself rather than be forced into an arranged marriage...and the price of that choice.

Amanda: Sounds interesting. How did you get involved with this project and what persuaded you to participate?

Jackie: I've worked closely with Marci, the editor of FREYA'S BOWER, when I was the fantasy and science fiction editor for WILD CHILD PUBLISHING. When she approached me about the anthology and told me how all net proceeds would go to a women's shelter, I was eager to participate.

Amanda: Your recently released debut novel, HELL'S BELLES, looks excellent! Every time I go to a hockey game and hear that song, it reminds me that I need to pick up a copy! Can you explain to my readers what it's about?

Jackie: HAH! Every time I hear AC/DC on the radio, I crank the volume. HELL'S BELLES is about a succubus who runs away from Hell, hides on Earth as an exotic dancer, and learns the hard way about true love. Sex, strippers, and demons -- what's not to like? :-)

Amanda: Who are your favorite authors and who has inspired your writing the most?

Jackie: My absolute favorite authors are Neil Gaiman and Christopher Moore; if I had a favorite book, it would be Moore's LAMB. I'm a big fan of comic book authors Garth Ennis (HELLBLAZER, PREACHER) and Matt Wagner (MAGE, GRENDEL).Toni Morrison's BELOVED left a lasting impression on me. And I'll always hold a special place in my heart for JRR Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS. And then there's Shakespeare, Dante, Poe...boy, the list goes on.

Amanda: What's next for Jackie Kessler?

Jackie: The next two books in the HELL ON EARTH series: THE ROAD TO HELL (November2007) and HOTTER THAN HELL (2008), as well as a novella, HELL TO PAY, which will appear in a Kensington anthology in early 2008. I also have a currentwork in progress called SCHMOOZING THE ALMIGHTY. And a short story, "Red," will be published in the April 2007 issue of REALMS OF FANTASY. Finally, Ihave a YA (young adult) urban fantasy novel on submission right now. Wish me luck!

I've also got a YA novel on submission right now, so believe me, I definitely wish you luck!!! Thanks for stopping by, Jackie! Tomorrow I'll chat with Susan Lyons, and then on Monday, with Richelle Mead.

2007-01-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

A Conversation With Zinnia Hope

Day 7 of my Interview Marathon brings us Zinnia Hope.

Amanda: Welcome, Z. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Zinnia: I'm a country bumpkin with kid craziness going on 24/7 in my house. I've been married to my hubby for two years now so we have a blended family with a new addition. Our house is full of boys, both his and mine and ours--yet another boy, lol. Not to mention all their friends and cousins who are here half the time!

I write a little bit of everything with professional magazine sales under my belt. I write steamy eBooks to pass the time between print projects. My blog is a source of amusement for many readers. It's the chicken stories that keep them reading, lol.

Amanda: Your story in the anthology is titled "A Road of Misgivings." What is it about?

Zinnia: The main character is traveling across state to pick up his wife from a business trip. His brother and daughter are with him for company, but the van breaks down. It's a long walk along a deserted mountain road to find a house with a phone. On the way, the character worries about his marriage and argues with his brother about marriage. As His daughter is nearly hit by a coal bucket racing along the road. The combination of things gives the character a new perspective on family, love, and marriage.

Amanda: I absolutely loved your Freya's Bower debut, FREE SPIRITS. It was so beautifully written and the message haunted me for days. I haven't read your latest, CONSPIRACY OF ANGELS, yet, but I'm going to have to rectify that, because it looks fantastic. Can you tell us what it's about?

Zinnia: I'm so pleased that Free Spirits has stuck with you for so long!

As for Conspiracy of Angels, it's an odd combination of things. The main character, Elizabeth, is a bit of a flake, but with good reason. She's been raised by a Bible beating grandma and a mother who longed for a singing career. Elizabeth and the son of the local minister fall in love, but the minister forces her from town when he finds out she's pregnant with his grandchild. Seven years later, she returns to put the pieces of her life back together. This novel is full of small town life, the secrets that lurk in everyone's closets, some meddling angels, and a climactic scene that blows the lid off the church community. And yes, a good romance is the main plot.

Amanda: What author has inspired you the most?

Zinnia: Alice Hoffman. I'll never forget how her novel Seventh Heaven inspired me to reach for a career as an author of magic realism novels. I adore her novel Practical Magic too, as well as the movie. Erotic romances are where the money is right now, but magic realism novels are my main love.

Amanda: What's next for Zinnia Hope?

Zinnia: I have two novels that I'm working on. One is a paranormal romance and the other is a dark fantasy. I have a magic realism novel that's half finished too, but it's so complex that I have to take long breaks from it to sort my thoughts and ideas. Once my romance and dark fantasy novels are completed, one will be what I peddle as I search for my next literary agent and the other will be shopped around. I'm hoping to have them done by March since planting season is right around the corner. We raiseseveral large garden plots and sell the excess vegetables we don't use to feed the crew under our roof. Of course, there is the managerie of short stories I write and sell to magazines that keep me busy too.

2007-01-18T04:49:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Candace Havens

Welcome back to Amanda's Interview Marathon! It's Day 6, so we're chatting with Candace Havens today.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Candace: Hi, I'm Candy Havens. I'm the author of the Charmed series including Charmed & Dangerous, Charmed & Ready and the upcoming Charmed & Deadly (Berkley, June 2007). I'm also a syndicated entertainment columnist, which means I interview celebrities for a living. Oh, and I wrote the biography "Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy." I'm the mom of two teen boys and I do film reviews for a radio station in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Amanda: What a cool job! Your story charity anthology is titled "The Velvet Mask." What is it about?

Candace: It's about a couple who meet at a Valentines' masquerade party. She doesn't realize she knows who he is under the mask, but he know who she is the instant she walks in the door.

Amanda: How did you get involved in this project and why did you want to participate? They called and I said, "Of course." I'm all about empowering women and womens' rights. My books, through a fun way, carry that theme. When I found out the proceeds would help battered women, there's no way I could say no.

Amanda: Congratulations on your debut novel, CHARMED & DANGEROUS being a double Rita nominee! Can you tell us what this series is about?

Candace: Thank, you. The RITA noms were very exciting. The Charmed & Dangerous series is about powerful witch named Bronwyn who protects the British Prime Minister, rock stars and other clients. She's kind of a mystical body guard. She travels the world, but home base is Sweet, Texas, a magical town. She has the hots for Dr. Sam, who is the town doctor. The second book in the series "Charmed & Ready" is out now.

Amanda: What's next for Candace Havens?

Candace: "Charmed & Deadly" comes out in June, and I'm writing a spin off book about Bronwyn's best friend Kira.

2007-01-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Gemma Halliday

It's Day 5 of the Dreams & Desires Interview Party. Today I'm chatting with Gemma Halliday.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Gemma: Thanks for having me, Amanda! And hi everyone! My name is GemmaHalliday and I currently write the High Heels Mysteries, a romantic mystery series about Maddie Springer, an L..A. shoe designer, who has a bad habit of stumbling upon dead bodies. The first book, SPYING INHIGH HEELS, was out this past summer and the second, KILLER IN HIGH HEELS, will be in stores Feb 27th.

Amanda: Your story in the charity anthology is titled "Confessions of a Bombshell Bandit." What it is about?"

Gemma: Confessions of a Bombshell Bandit" centers around a bank teller who, in the span of one day, is fired, robbed, and evicted. After therequisite junk food binging, she decides she's not going to lay downand take it anymore. She's taking charge of her life… and planning a bank heist of her own. One that she hopes will get back at her ogreof a boss, get her out of debt, and maybe even lead her to love.I've currently got a video book trailer up on my site at:http://www.gemmahalliday.com/trailer/Confessions_of_a_Bombshell_Bandit.html

Amanda: What persuaded you to participate in this project?

Gemma: Well, the lovely and talented Amanda Brice approached me at an RWA luncheon in Atlanta and told me a little bit it. It sounded like a lot of fun for a great cause, so I jumped on it.

Amanda: Well, I'm certainly glad my powers of persuasion aren't rusty, although I must admit that most people were sold on the charity angle alone. LOL!

You're a Golden Heart winner. How did this contest help your career? Would you recommend entering contests?

Gemma: Winning the Golden Heart really helped me get my name out there and garner more editor attention. Plus, it's a pretty handy thing to put in a query letter. :) I met my current editor at that same national conference and I'm sure that seeing me win didn't hurt her opinion of my writing any. She bought my first book a month later. So, yes, I would definitely recommend entering writing contests. I think the potential benefits far outweigh the downsides.

Amanda: SPYING IN HIGH HEELS is absolutely hilarious, and I can totally see why Fox optioned the rights to make a television series. Congrats! What happens in the sequel, KILLER IN HIGH HEELS?

Gemma: Thank you! Yeah, I'm pretty excited about the option myself. I'll be sure to let you know when I hear more! And I'm so glad you liked SPYING IN HIGH HEELS! KILLER IN HIGH HEELS picks up right where SPYING left off. In this one, Maddie goes on a mission to track down the father she never knew. Her quest takes her, along with a couple of her zany friends, to fabulous Las Vegas where she ends up involved with a group of aging drag queens, a ring of designer shoe counterfeiters, some minor Mob members, and a murderer on the loose. Oh yes, and the very sexy, very dangerous Detective Jack Ramirez makes an appearance or two.

Amanda: Oh good, I'm glad to see Ramirez is back! What's next for Gemma Halliday?

Gemma: I'm currently finishing up the third High Heels book, UNDERCOVER IN HIGH HEELS, which should be in stores sometimes this summer. This one takes place on the set of a TV show that's eerily similar to"Desperate Housewives". Lots of catty drama that has been SO fun to write. Once this one's finished up, it's right into book four for me.

Thanks for chatting with us Gemma! Check in tomorrow for an interview with Candace Havens. Friday will be Zinnia Hope.

2007-01-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Rachelle Chase

Welcome to Day 4 of my Interview Party! Today we're chatting with Rachelle Chase, author of SEX LOUNGE (coming soon from Kensington Aphrodisia).

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Rachelle: When I’m not working on my current book or fantasizing about my next one, I work as a business consultant in the unromantic, though sometimes comic, corporate world, as well as model. On the odd week that I actually have spare time, I like to travel, read, search for the perfect dessert, start – emphasis on ‘start’ – new hobbies, and meddle in the lives of my family members.

Amanda: Your story in the collection is titled "Romance for One." What is it about?

Rachelle: “Romance For One” is about a woman who’s finally gotten over her last relationship and is fantasizing about her next one – with surprising results. J This was a really fun story to write.

Amanda: Last year you ran the popular Chase the Dream contest on your website. Will you be doing that again? What inspired you to do this?

Rachelle: Yes – thanks for asking! Leigh Michaels and I will be hosting another writing contest in March. So, I encourage everyone to get their entries – first 1,000 words of an unpublished manuscript – ready to enter. We’ve incorporated a lot of the feedback that we received from the first contest, so this one will be even better. In February, details will be posted at http://www.rachellechase.com=/ and http://www.leighmichaels.com=/.

I launched the contest out of a desire to help other writers, just like I was helped. My romance writing career got its start from an online romance writing course I took at http://www.writingclasses.com=/, which was taught by Leigh Michaels, plus my SECRETS VOLUME 13 novella got its start from an online contest Lori Foster offered. So offering a contest similar to Lori’s and co-hosting with Leigh, my first romance writing instructor, seemed like a great way for me to pay homage to both Lori and Leigh, as well as satisfy my desire to help other writers get a start. The contest surpassed my expectations – all finalists had their work requested and some made sales, mini-critique winners learned by having their work critiqued (as did visitors), and I learned a lot, too, which I wrote about at http://redhotromance.blogspot.com/2006/05/lessons-learned-from-my-contest.html. It was an awesome experience and it was great to ‘meet’ so many talented writers. Leigh and I are really looking forward to this one!

Amanda: Your upcoming release SEX LOUNGE, from Kensington Aphrodisia, will be your first full-length novel, having been published in Red Sage's SECRETS in the past. How does writing a full-length differ from shorts or novellas?

Rachelle: It was a lot l-o-n-g-e-r, which meant it required more time to write, more words, and a more complicated story so that I could keep the conflict - both between the hero and heroine, as well as within themselves – and the sexual tension going for a lot more pages. But, writing short presents its own set of challenges. In my SECRETS, I had to take two strangers and make the reader care about them without having a lot of pages available to weave in a lot of backstory, plus I had to make the progression from their first meeting to their desire for a relationship believable in a limited number of pages. In “Romance For One,” I had to do all that in one scene. All this is to say, the components required to create a satisfying romance/story must be present in novels, novellas, and shorts – I just have to adjust the extent that each one is present based on the length.

Amanda: What's next for Rachelle Chase?

Rachelle: Well … In addition to the Chase the Dream contest, in the next two months, I’m launching two events that I’m really excited about – live author chats and a contest involving the hero from my upcoming book, SEX LOUNGE. Details will be posted soon at my web site, http://www.rachellechase.com=/ . In addition, I’m working on another single title/full length erotic romance, plus revising my woman’s fiction novel, RUNNING AWAY.

Thanks so much for the interview, Amanda. It’s terrific to be in Dreams & Desires with you!

2007-01-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Sela Carsen

It's Day 3 of my Interview Party, and today we're chatting with Sela Carsen.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Sela: I'm a wife, a mom and a writer. That keeps me pretty busy, most days! I grew up all over the world as the daughter of an oil company engineer. Then I was fortunate enough to marry an Air Force officer so I could continue my gypsy ways. Now that he's retired, though, I have to settle down for the first time in my life. Thank goodness writing provides my imagination with all the travel I require.

Amanda: Your story in the anthology is "The Christmas Prize." What is it about?

Sela: "The Christmas Prize" is about Julie Corrigan, who has just gotten out of a bad marriage. Her husband verbally abused her until he finally left her for another woman. Now she's learning to stand up for herself again and sing out loud.

Amanda: How did you get involved with the anthology project?

Sela: It was really the most fortuitous thing. Someone *ahem* had seen some of my writing and very graciously asked me to submit a story for the anthology. I had "The Christmas Prize" just sitting on my hard drive and it seemed like a perfect match for the theme of the book. It's a story about taking those first shaky steps back into the world and rebuilding a life, so it seemed like it would be a great fit.

In addition, once I heard about the impetus behind the anthology, there was no way I could say no. I think it's easier than many people realize to slide into an abusive relationship and it takes an immense amount of courage to leave one. I want to do all I can to support the women who have found that courage and help them and their children move on.

Amanda: Who are your favorite authors?

Sela: Favorite authors? Why don't you just ask me to pick my favorite child? LOL I admit, there are a few authors whose books I can pick up and know I'm going to get a great story -- MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight, Laura Kinsale, Sherrilyn Kenyon. I've also enjoyed Marjorie M. Liu, Lynn Viehl and Elizabeth Vaughn. Lois McMaster-Bujold is a classic storyteller, as are Robin McKinley and Anne McCaffrey. Lately, I've also enjoyed stories from Jim Butcher and L.A. Banks. It seems that most of my favorite books have some paranormal elements to them. And humor. Lots of humor.

My favorite book, though, hands down, is To Kill A Mockingbird. Nothing paranormal about it -- just some of the best storytelling I've ever seen and ever hope to see.

Amanda: I definitely agree on To Kill A Mockingbird. Ah, to write like Harper Lee...and I also agree that humor is a necessary ingredient. And while your story in this anthology is serious, you're quite adept at humor, as is evidenced by your Samhain novella. Can you tell my readers about it?

Sela: NOT QUITE DEAD is a para-rom-zom-com-nov, as one of my friends called it. Paranormal Romantic Zombie Comedy Novella. *gg* Sabine Harper just wants to find a nice, normal, steady guy. What she gets is a Dead Man Walking who is sent by the Fates to avenge his own murder. Throw in a vampire and a vicious ghost, all set in a tiny town in Louisiana, and it's a recipe for true love and a lot of humor!

Amanda: What's next for Sela Carsen?

Sela: Right now, I'm furiously finishing up a historical short story set in 16th century Venice. Tentatively titled THE VIRGIN COURTESAN, it should be arriving from Forbidden Publications on Jan 29. Hence, the furious writing. As always, a little humor finds its way into the story, as well as a heartwarming romance.

Nerina Morinelo tried being a courtesan like her mother but failed at the first hurdle. Now she's gained an implacable enemy and she has no one to turn to except Domenico Venieri, scion of a wealthy and noble merchant family. They share the same adversary. To lure him out, Domenico needs a mistress, but he doesn't expect a virgin courtesan or the courage she displays to help him.

After I finish the short story, I need to work on an article I'm writing for Spinetingler Magazine on Perceptions of Romance, then I want to get back to my fantasy novella, DAUGHTER OF PRIVILEGE. It's going to be a very busy spring for me!

Thanks for coming Sela! Stay tuned tomorrow, for an interview with Rachelle Chase.

2007-01-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

A Conversation with Faith Bicknell-Brown

Welcome to Day 2 of my Interview Party! Today we're chatting with Faith Bicknell-Brown, a professional writer and editor.

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Faith: I'm a mother of four--two girls and two boys--and I've been writing my entire life. My work has appeared in national men's magazines, but I prefer to write mainstream and magic realism. When I'm not writing, I work as the managing editor for Wild Child Publishing and Freya's Bower. Working with authors who are eager to grow as a writer is a wonderful job.

Amanda: Your story in the charity anthology is titled "Song Without Words." What it is about?

Faith: The main character is an concert pianist and lost her husband to cancer. Before he died, he told her that he'd give her a song without words. Although she loved him, she also loved his brother. When she finally receives her song without words, she realizes that he knows she's in love with his brother and that he has given her hisblessing.

Amanda: How did you get involved with this project and what persuaded you to participate?

Faith: Marci and I discussed doing something special through Freya's Bower. She mentioned a charity anthology, and since I've survived more than one abusive marriage (it took me a couple times to learn that I am worthy of real love.), I suggested that the charity should be a battered women's shelter.

Amanda: Which do you prefer--writing or editing?

Faith: For me that's a 50/50 answer. I love both sides very much.

Amanda: "Song Without Words" is a reprint of a story in your collection, WOMAN OF UNKNOWN ORIGINS. Can you tell us a bit about that book?

Faith: Woman of Unknown Origins is a collection of some of my graphic work published in men's magazines as well as some of the more erotic ones published in such places as Ruthie's Club. There are a few brand new stories in collection and a wide range of genres too.

Amanda: What's next for Faith Bicknell-Brown?

Faith: I'm working on finishing some WIPs, and once they're finished, I'm back on the agent query-go-round again. My last agent and I didn't see eye-to-eye on much of anything, so I'm hoping that 2007 brings me a bit of good luck. I also have some new authors I'm working with, so I look forward to seeing their novels in eBook as well as print.

Thanks Faith for coming and chatting with us! Tomorrow I'll be chatting with Sela Carsen.

2007-01-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

A Conversation With Jenna Bayley-Burke

Welcome to my Dreams & Desires Interview Party! To help promote the upcoming release of our charity anthology, Dreams & Desires, I'm spending the next 18 days chatting with some of the other authors included in the collection.

Why 18 days? Well, there are 19 authors in the anthology, and I'm one of them. Since it would be incredibly weird to interview myself (and well, I already talk about myself too much as it is!), I'm just gonna chat with the other 18.

You can order your copy of Dreams & Desires here: http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/132/1/

The launch date is February 1, but it's available for presale now. Order now if you want to make sure you've got your copy by Valentine's Day! All net proceeds will be donated durectly to a battered women's shelter in Florida.

Anyway, without any further ado, meet Jenna Bayley-Burke!

Amanda: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Jenna: I love chocolate and am currently on a diet, which makes for an interesting mood. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my high school sweetheart and our two blueberry eyed boys, one who's decided he's never learning to read, and the other who's stated he'll never use the potty. I need chocolate!

Amanda: LOL! Sounds like you've got your hands full. How did you get involved with this project and what motivated you to participate?

Jenna: I was invited to contribute a story by a friend, who hand picked this particular tale. Once I heard the reason behind the anthology, I was honored to be included.

Amanda: Your story "The Forest for the Trees" is about an expected proposal. Tell us a little bit about the story.

Jenna: Men never say what they mean, and we're left trying to fill in between the lines. The story is about the two differing ideas of the perfect moment in a relationship.

Amanda: How do you like writing for Mills & Boon?

Jenna: What's not to like? So far, I have two romance novels out with their Modern Extra series in the UK, and Sexy Sensation line in Australia. Hopefully the books will be available in the US next year.

Amanda: Ooh, that would be so great to be able to buy them here in the stores! (Note to readers: If you haven't read JUST ONE SPARK or COOKING UP A STORM, you don't know what you're missing!)

What's next for Jenna Bayley-Burke?

Amanda: I have a novel in consideration with Mills & Boon right now, and am about to start writing another. I hope to pen four this year, as well as try my hand at a novella. All while avoiding chocolate. Maybe.

Thanks for stopping by, Jenna! Stay tuned tomorrow for another interview...this time with Faith Bicknell-Brown!

2007-01-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

Do You Remember Your First Time?

No, not that first time! LOL! I'm talking about new things you did in 2006.

Here's 10 things I did for the first time in 2006:

1. Hike to a glacier
2. Go straight from a beer tour at a brewery to wine tasting at a winery
3. Eat "mooncake" (this yummy Chinese pastry with black bean puree in the center)
4. Play "Backyardigans" with my niece and nephew
5. Get published!
6. Eat bison chili
7. Eat dinner at the Ritz Carlton
8. Start a blog
9. Win a writing contest
10. Sign with an agent!

2007-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Meet my cutie niece and nephew!

They're such cuties, huh? They'll be 6 next month...yup, they're twins. :) They were our flower girl and ring bearer.

Anyway, this picture was from when Mr. Brice and I were in Cali over Christmas, visiting them. We made a gingerbread house.

Anyway, both of them love books and when we were playing, I discovered something adorable. Rather than act out what they're playing, they narrate, as if they were writing a book. Instead of doing the voice of their stuffed animals, this is a typical scene:

Niece: "I'm hungry," said the Moose. "I think I'll make dinner."

Nephew: "What are you going to make?" asked Alligator.

Nicece: "I think I'll make pancakes," said Moose. Moosey walked over to the stove and started to make pancakes. "Yummy!" he said.

Yup, they actually will say "said Moose" or whatever, in the middle of their scene. It's seriously the cutest thing ever!

I think we have some future best selling authors on our hands, don't you? LOL!

2007-01-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

You Go, Girls!

Yesterday was a historic day for women. Not only was the first ever female Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, sworn in, but more women than ever are in the 110th Congress.

A record 90 women will be in the 110th Congress: 74 in the House (including 3 non-voting delegates) and 16 in the Senate. While that's very admirable, and we've definitely "come a long way, baby" since 1920 when we got the vote, when you consider that there are 435 members of the House and 100 in the Senate, it's definitely still an Old Boy's Club.

But hopefully this is changing. Nancy Pelosi now holds the Speaker's gavel, and like her or hate her, it's a wonderful step forward for women that she's now second in line to the Presidency. And many people consider another female Democrat, Hillary Clinton (one of those 16 women in the Senate), to be the front-runner for the 2008 presidency.

What will a more female-friendly House and Senate mean for America? Experts predict that family issues, particularly those related to children, will play a larger role.

But it's not just women who are contribut to the increase in diversity in the 110th. This is also the first time we've had a Muslim Member and two Buddhists. We're seeing our first ever black Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee (Harlem Congressman, Charles Rangel). You may have never heard of Ways and Means, but believe me, it's a VERY powerful committee, with jurisdiction over spending and tax policy. And Michigan Congressman John Conyers is the first black Chairmain of the Judiciary Committee.

There's still only one black Senator, Barack Obama (the third ever black Senator), but he, too, has been heralded as a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.

Anyway, score one for diversity!

2007-01-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Contest!

My fantabulous writing buddy, Rhonda Stapleton, and I are holding a joint contest during the month of January and part of February to celebrate the launch of our coming-soon websites (right now, we both have freebies parked there but we want to do more--I'm determined to get mine up by Feb 1), the release of DREAMS & DESIRES, and Valentine's Day.

If you've never read Rhonda's blog (http://rhondastapleton.authorsabode.com/) you should, because she's really funny. She's a great author, too, and her debut chick lit novel, STRIPPED will be coming soon from Freya's Bower.

Anyway, we both have chick lit stories in DREAMS & DESIRES. Mine is "Love @ First Site" and is about online dating. Hers is "Baring it All for Mr. Right" and is about, well, probably the worst-ever first-date scenario I've ever heard of! LOL!

So we're joing forces and holding a contest to search for the most romantic first date stories and the worst first date stories. Details (such as the prizes, but rest assured, they will be really cool! I'm putting together a Date Night prize pack chock full of goodies to help bring romance into your life and she's putting together a Bad Date Consolation prize pack chock full of goodies to help you get over the bad date blues) are forthcoming on our blogs (and eventually on our websites, LOL!), but basically, you'll email me the best date stories and her the worst date stories. This is for both writers and readers, so we're looking for true life stories!

We'll post the winning stories on our websites for Valentine's Day!

2007-01-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

Spent all morning sending out press releases for our charity antho, Dreams & Desires. Hopefully we'll get some excellent press so we can raise even more for this worthwhile charity.

Speaking of the charity antho, Gemma Halliday, author of SPYING IN HIGH HEELS, will be hosting a Cyber Launch Party in the chat room of her website (www.gemmahalliday.com) for the release. Whoo-hoo! Her story in the collection is "Confessions of a Bombshell Bandit", which is about reluctant bank robber, Carrie Cabot, and how she finds love while getting even...in the middle of a heist. Reviewer Zoe Knighton of Sensual Reads says "Gemma Halliday has a talent for blending humor with a sense of drama" and Anne from Kwips and Kritiques says "Gemma Halliday’s story will leave the reader howling with laughter! This delightful tale is exceptionally clever as the reader is lulled into accepting Carrie’s viewpoint. Well done!"

So come on out on February 1, 2007, from 8pm-10pm EST and join us in Gemma's chat room. We'll have all sorts of prizes and fun, and most of the 19 authors are participating.

Speaking of the authors, we wouldn't have this collection if it weren't for the unbelievably talented and generous authors who donated their time and stories to the project. I will be spotlighting each of the authors (other than myself...I spotlight myself every day, so I thought I'd give others a shot this time--LOL!) in alphabetical order on my blog starting on January 13 with Jenna Bayley-Burke ("The Forest for the Trees") and ending with Kit Wylde ("Secret Valentines") on Jan 30. So be sure to check my blog out for those 18 days leading up to the release!

2007-01-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

An Interview with FB Author Emily Ryan-Davis

It's Tuesday, so after a long break, I'm back to my series of interviews with Freya's Bower authors. This week we're chatting with Emily Ryan-Davis, author of MATING CALL.

Amanda: Hi Emily, welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Emily: Hi, Amanda! A little bit about would ordinarily be difficult, because I love to talk about myself. It's a good month for brevity, though, because I'm in the midst of holiday retail madness at my non-writing job, and should be sleeping instead of talking about myself.

By day (and sometimes night) I'm a receptionist at an awesome family-run music store in Maryland. I'm surrounded by musicians (some VERY hot, some VERY not) and my ears are flogged by repetitive riffs of "Bad to the Bone" far too early in the morning. I'm a coffee addict deep down in every cell of my body, but nothing will wake a woman up like cranked amps blasting Scandanavian metal at 9 o'clock on a Monday morning. By night? By night, I try to balance my time between sleeping, knitting, writing, keeping up with online forums (I'm not so good at that), planning a June wedding, playing Dungeons & Dragons and various other geeky games with my fiance (who is an Eagle Scout as well as a chef, and should have a book of his own, because he's got the whole world of romance heroes beat for treating his lady like a queen) and our friends.

My biggest food fear centers on soft-shell crabs, which I saw for the first time this summer. If you're a fan, sorry, but the things look like aliens! How can you eat an alien sandwich without recoiling in horror? (Seriously - if you have tips, send 'em my way; I either have to have a wedding or eat a soft-shell crab sandwich before I'm legally a Maryland resident).

Oh hey, did somebody mention brevity? Oops.

Amanda: LOL! I love soft-shell crab sandwiches, and yes, I do believe that's part of a residency requirements in Maryland. Either that or crabcakes. Anyway, I disgress. So, how did you begin writing?

Emily: I had a computer class in 5th grade. Teacher gave an assignment to write a short story as part of our section on word processing. The teacher read mine, accused me of plagiarism, and a little voice in my head suggested that maybe I had a knack for writing. I ignored the voice and didn't write.

Instead, I spent ages 10-13 reading terribly inappropriate adult romance novels, the juicier the sex the better as far as I was concerned. When I was 13, I decided I knew everything there was to know about writing a Native American romance. I grabbed a red spiral notebook and a pen, armed myself with Silver Feather the handsome Indian and Mary Anna, the beautiful raven-haired, emerald-eyed English girl, and set off on my word-quest to tell a believable story about a Native American slave in an English castle.

Lucky you, I'm not querying Freya's Bower about THAT story.

Anyway - I wrote up to the sex scene (which happened in about 30 college-ruled pages, right after a horseback chase through the London moors [lots of those in London, y'know]) and decided I needed a typewriter if I was ever going to have a chance of publishing. My parents bought me one for Christmas. I lost interest in Silver Feather and Mary Anna soon after (don't think I didn't just hear that collective sigh of relief).

I know plagiarism and Native American romances are the bane of readers' existences, but without them, I wouldn't be conducting this interview right now. :)

Amanda: LOL! You're too funny! Your recent release is DRAGON QUEEN: MATING CALL. What's it about?

Emily: MATING CALL is about a witch who doesn't believe in witchcraft. Cora Phillips, the doubting witch, is a blood-witch rather than a convert; she was born a witch, as opposed to practitioners who chose, at some point in life, to embrace the supernatural.

She belongs to a lineage known as Dragonkeepers. Before they were Dragonkeepers, they were simply Lunar witches, or Lunes, and payed homage to the Lunar goddess. Their lunar affinity created close relations with the shapeshifting races. The first Lune to imprison the dragon aspect of a dragon shifter became known as the Dragonkeeper.

Cora knows that much about her heritage. What she doesn't know is that the primary responsibility of Dragonkeepers is protection of the dragons' existence, and that protection includes perpetuating the species.

Life gets pretty bizarre when she finally learns that part of the legend.

Amanda: Interesting. So, what is your favorite genre to write? How about to read?

Emily: My favorite genre to write and to read is "love story." I won't say that romance is my favorite, because I enjoy a good book in any genre if it has a powerful love story at its center. I don't even need a happy-ever-after; I just need a connection and a moment of intimacy no matter how fleeting. I love the suggestion of love, and I'm happy with even something as small as a shared glance that suggests to my imagination that a passion exists.

Black comedy, light comedy; mystery, murder; adventure, introspection - I'm happy with all kinds of stories, if there's a love to be found.

Amanda: Me too. Who are your favorite authors?

Emily: Oh gosh, favorite authors. Charlotte Bronte, Laura Kinsale, George R. R. Martin, Orson Scott Card (if you haven't read HEART'S HOPE, you haven't read romantic fiction), Jim Butcher, and Terry Pratchett are a few of my adult-tastes favorite authors. When I was learning to love love stories, my favorite authors were Johanna Lindsay (I know, I know, but everybody has a dark secret), Nan Ryan, and Brenda Joyce - Lindsay because her characters made me laugh, Nan Ryan and Brenda Joyce because, damn, the sex was hot. Nan Ryan and THE SUN GOD? The scene in the barn, with h/h tied together by a sash, getting sweaty in the hay? I think I need a fan, and all I have is a MEMORY. :)

Amanda: What are you reading right now?

Emily: Right now, I'm reading a few different books. I don't like to read that way, all divided up, but I seem to have the attention span and the finders' skills of a blind, de-scented hamster - I put a book down, and can't remember where I put it, don't have time to look but need a book to read, so grab a different one to start. I'm in the middle of Michelle Sagara's CAST IN SHADOW (LUNA) and Kim Wilkins' THE AUTUMN CASTLE (very good book, very very, chock full of all the German things that I love, because I don't care what anybody says about French, German is the sexiest language spoken, all growly and masculine and yum). I'm also reading a couple of how-to books for playing the mandolin, since I was given that Christmas gift early.

Amanda: What should we expect next from you?

Emily: If the cycle goes per usual, you should expect a lot of procrastination, several different promises of deadlines (and several different cancellations of deadlines because I need more time) and, eventually, Book 2 of the DRAGON QUEEN series, now with more dragon! I have some other projects in the works, but writing-wise I find it difficult to focus on more than one project at a time. After that, possibly a Book 3, and then after THAT, it'll depend upon what my mood dictates. I have two books very close to my heart, one about a modern-day sorcerer who finds himself ready to give up on life until he has to take responsibility for an unwillingly-god-blessed woman, and another about a psychic vampire and a woman who never says goodbye coping with life in a small West Virginia town that's overshadowed by a mental hospital. On the other hand, I might not feel like tackling those books - maybe I'll be stricken by something else.

What can I say? I'm diverse. Feel free to email me with your pick of which book you'd like to read. I like requests!

2007-01-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

My Husband is Such a Sweetie

Happy New Year's, y'all! Mr. Brice reminded me last night that our very first kiss was exactly 5 years ago. How sweet that he remembered!

We had been friends for a few months, having met in early September at the Student Bar Association party for new law students. In November, we started studying together for final exams. Of course, I think we got more flirting done than actual studying, and sad to say, our first semester grades showed it. Grrr.

Anyway, my good friend (former roommate) Amy was visiting me in Arizona for New Year's. Within a few days of arriving, she said to me, "I think [Mr. Brice] likes you." I said, "No, we're just friends!" Anyway, a bunch of us all went to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party on New Year's Eve in Tempe. We were at the free Brian Adams concert and it was almost midnight, when my friend Alyssa started saying, "I think you should kiss her at midnight" over and over. I laughed, but part of me wished he would.

Needless to say, he did. :)

Anyway, clearly the picture in this post is not of our first kiss, but is from our wedding, 2 years and 2 months later.

Happy New Year's!

2006-12-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

My Blatant Self Promotion Post

Has it really been 15 days since my last post? Yikes! So much has happened since then. Mr. Brice and I went to California for 11 days, I came back to work and got sick, and I discovered some absolutely WONDERFUL reviews when I got back.

First off, Romance at Heart Magazine has been exceedingly good to me. I was so excited to be interviewed: http://romanceatheart.com/interview/amandabrice.html

And the review they gave for me She's Got Legs is awesome:
"She’s Got Legs by Amanda Brice is a kicky little short to make you smile. ... So if you want a delightfully quick and sassy read, She’s Got Legs is a book you want to grab and enjoy. It is available now from Freya’s Bower, and for those of you who enjoy the quick and flirty short reads, this one is just what the doctor ordered. Gosh, I hope Amanda has plans for more shorts like She’s Got Legs, and some maybe longer!"

You can read the full review here: http://romanceatheart.com/shortbooks/shesgotlegs.html

Romance at Heart also gave a phenomenal review of a project that's very close to my heart, Dreams & Desires, the charity anthology with net proceeds going to domestic violence victims. My short story in this collection is "Love @ First Site," the story of Julie Antonelli, a woman who tries online dating as a last ditch effort before giving up dating altogether.

RAH had this to say about the collection:
"This is not your normal review, nor is this your normal anthology. In Dreams and Desires, you have nineteen authors with nineteen perspectives on love. There are nineteen different tales to tug at your heartstrings, and nineteen different ways to say, 'we love you,' and 'we are here for you.' ... There are a dozen simple and sweet romances in Dreams and Desires you will love, they will bring out the dreamer, and the romantic soul in all of us. They range in genre from contemporary to fantasy, from paranormal to historical, and each is a masterpiece of romance in its own way. ... With a light touch, authors bring you to the edge of wonder, and allow you glimpses of what lies beyond. ... Some of these authors are new, some are veterans in the business, but all are talented, working toward the goal of giving us great reads, lots of love, laughs, and memorable stories for a great cause. I have to say, I highly recommend Dreams and Desires for those of you who cherish your romances, and for those of you who are looking for a great read."

Wow! Yeah, I know, that's pretty darn long for an excerpt, but I really couldn't cut much--all of it is so great! It's so heartening to see other people appreciating all the work we put into this collection. You can read the full review here: http://romanceatheart.com/review/dreamsanddesires.html

Speaking of Dreams & Desires, we've gotten other great reviews. I certianly hope this generates some great buzz for such a wonderful cause.

Sensual Reads says “Freya’s Bower brings us an unforgettable anthology that will warm you right down to your toes.”

And about my story, "Love @ First Site": “An adorable story of how love can sneak up on you when you don’t expect it….Amanda Brice weaves a wonderful story of love least expected, and a reminder that love has room for all of us…a very sweet and feel good read.” Zoe gave the collection 5 Roses!
http://www.sensualreads.net/reviews_dreams_and_desires.shtml

Kwips and Kritiques says “DREAMS AND DESIRES is sure to be a hit! Each tale offers its own unique twist but one theme remains throughout and that is the power of survival against all odds. Whether dealing with an annoying coworker or the overwhelming grief of losing a loved one, each story offers a glimpse of hope. DREAMS AND DESIRES is a welcome addition to anyone’s reading collection!”

And about mine: “Amanda Brice’s amusing story about online dating will delight readers. Julie’s struggle to find a nice guy is one many will relate to.” Anne gave the collection 4 ½ Clovers!http://ck2skwipsandkritiques.com/dreamsanddesires_anne.html

And some authors have begun chiming in:

“DREAMS AND DESIRES features terrific short stories ranging from sweet to sizzling and penned by some of the leading lights in today’s romance and erotica genres. Buy it to help a great cause, read it for the great stories!”
~ Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of VERTIGO and HOW NANCY DREW SAVED MY LIFE

“With a story to suit every appetite, DREAMS AND DESIRES is a delicious collaboration. Kudos to the authors for taking readers on a delightful journey while promoting a wonderful cause.”
~ Joanne Rock, author of SILK CONFESSIONS, DON’T LOOK BACK, and JUST ONE LOOK

Wow! I'm really on Cloud 9 right now! What a wonderful way to say goodbye to 2006!

2006-12-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

I've Been a Bad Blogger...

So sorry I'm barely updating these days. Work has been crazy hectic, trying to get things in order so I can take off for a week and a half. Tomorrow we leave for California, where we'll be visiting Mr. Brice's family. It also happens to be the hometown of my fabulous author friend, Gemma Halliday, so we'll be getting together while I'm there. And she has fantastic news, which I'm sure she'll be announcing on her website any day now...

Anyway, I've been tagged by both Lyric James and Babe, and maybe even someone else...I've been so bad at blogging lately, so it's my turn!

Four Jobs I've Had
1. Waitress
2. Olympics Protocol Officer
3. Legislative Counsel
4. Attorney

Four Places I've Lived
1. Orono, Maine
2. Sparta, NJ
3. Paris, France
4. Tempe, Arizona

Four Favorite Foods
1. Baked Brie
2. Chocolate peanutbutter pie
3. Tofu Mint Curry (from Minh's)
4. Fondue

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over
1. Grease
2. Little Women
3. Dirty Dancing
4. Any Will Ferrell movie (he cracks me up!)

Four TV Shows I Watch
1. How I Met Your Mother
2. Ugly Betty
3. NCIS
4. Grey's Anatomy

Four Places I've Visited
1. Alaska
2. Italy
3. Spain
4. Mexico

Four Places I'd Like To Visit
1. Costa Rica (I'm going in May!!!!)
2. Australia
3. China
4. Argentina

Four Websites I Go To (almost) Daily
1. Romance Divas
2. Myway (so I can check email)
3. Blogger
4. CNN

Four People I'm Tagging To Do This
1. Rhonda Stapleton
2. Faith Bicknell-Brown
3. Trish Ryan
4. curarez

(Sorry if you've already done it...you can do it again with new answers!)

2006-12-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

I Wanna Rock 'n Roll All Night...

I don't know what it is, but for some reason, hockey is totally associated with rock music in my mind. Especially heavy metal. Maybe it's the fact that while they play hip hop and rap at basketball games, at hockey, it's mostly all metal and rock.

We went the other night and were rewarded by three fights. Whoo-hoo! Bring it on, baby! This is the third hockey game I've been to this year, and there weren't any fights during the other two. Come on--that's why people go to hockey games! If they simply wanted to watch a sporting event, they'd watch something else. But hockey is all about the fights. And being slammed into the wall. But mostly about the fights.

Anyway, as always, there's a lot of AC-DC, Van Halen, and whatnot. When they played "Hell's Bells" I immediately thought of author friend Jackie Kessler's upcoming book, HELL'S BELLES, about sex, strippers, and demons. Last game we went to, I laughed out loud when I heard that song and my hubby asked what was so funny. I tried explaining to him about Jackie's book. Let me tell you--explaining what a succubus is when you're surrounded by strangers and small children is not the most comfortable thing to do. LOL!

2006-12-05T17:57:00.000-08:00

COOKING UP A STORM, the latest Modern Extra release from Jenna Bayley-Burke is on sale this December!Available from Mills & Boon and AmazonUK.When it comes to relationships, sexy venture capitalist Cameron Price sticks firmly to casual flings. But when relocation takes him to Seattle, his boss insists that finding a girlfriend will be a smart career move.Still content with snacks rather than a full banquet, Cameron makes a deal with caterer Lauren Brody. To keep the husband hunters at bay, she will pretend to be his girlfriend, and in return he'll hire her to cook at all his corporate events!But their first kiss is incredibly tasty! Soon, the chemistry between Cameron and Lauren is electric, and their shared passion is threatening to boil over - which isn't part of Cameron's plan!

2006-12-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name's Amanda and I've never read a Nora Roberts book.

(Hi, Amanda!)

There, I said it. *looks around furtively* I'm fairly confident that RWA's going to resciend my membership or something. I actually did read a J.D. Robb book once, but I didn't like it enough to read another one. It was from the middle of the series, so I didn't know the characters or anything.

But an actual La Nora book? Nope. I know, it's heresy.

Anyone care to suggest one for me to start with?

2006-11-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

Just Fell on My Ass

We have this broken chair in our apartment that I absolutely need to get rid of. It's ridiculous. The soldering of the metal legs just completely came apart and the chair has gone from wobbly to dangerous.

Anyway, we discovered this during Thanskgiving, but I promptly forgot about it. To be honest, I think my husband had gotten rid of it.

Nope.

About 5 minutes ago, I discovered that it's still in our apartment. How? Well, I was putting up the Christmas tree and sat back to rest for a moment, only the chair totally gave out from under me.

Ow.

2006-11-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

Trust Your Instincts

My mom finally got around to clearing out my old childhood room, a mere 11 1/2 years after I left home. When she and my dad came down here to visit me and DH for Thanskgiving, they brought me "stuff" that they thought I might want (and cluttered up my already teeny tiny apartment in the process).

Amongst the "stuff" she brought was a folder of stories I'd written when I was a kid, well, at least the ones she could find. Apparently she could only find my complete oeuvre from the 1987-1988 school year (5th grade). So she and I spent an hour or so (while the boys were at the hockey game) reading my old stories.

My oh my. Some were, well, um, let's just say I had a very odd imagination and a rather strong proclivity for Ray Bradbury-esque stories, or as Bradbury-esque as you can be at age 10 1/2. I also hadn't exactly mastered the concept of motivation and used a lot of unnecessary and redundant dialogue tags, although I must say I was impressed with my usage of action tags at such a young age.

Most of the stories were strange and not terribly interesting, but the one story that was actually pretty good was a Nancy Drew clone (my heroine was Nancy Flew and her boyfriend was Ted Tickleson--but I made up my own plot).

Of course, my grown-up intellectual property attorney self is horrified by the unauthorized derivative work I created and warning bells in my head are dinging "Infringement! Infringement!" But hey, I was just doing fan fiction before I knew what it was.

I also found it quite amusing that I used to be my own publisher and print my own "books." I created this publishing company that I used to "publish" each of my books. And the books all included a rather extensive copyright page...kinda prophetic, considering my current career. No wonder I went into IP!

Maybe I should have trusted my instincts with that. Because fast forward to today, and the manuscript that landed me an agent is a preteen mystery. Not my chick lit. My mystery.

I could have saved myself a lot of headache and effort if I'd just stuck to what I did best, apparently. Of course, I have only the foggiest recollection of having written this story, but I know it's mine because it's my handwriting (oh yes, I wrote them all in longhand and in fact, I dated each entry, and there are several days when I only wrote 2 lines of text). Maybe if I'd continued to write Nancy Flew stories I would have realized much earlier that preteen romantic mystery is what I do best...

Anyway, I just thought that was funny.

2006-11-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, Freya's Bower will be releasing its first charity anthology on February 1, 2007 to benefit a battered woman's shelter in Florida.

The anthology is now some 85,000 words in stories. Most of the stories are sweet romance, although we do have a few tangy, spicy, and sizzling.

Although it is not officially released, Barnes & Noble already has it listed on their site in both paperback and hard cover form. Advance sales are being taken now at B&N, and it will be available for sale on February 28. It will also be offered in print and ebook format at Freya's Bower. It will be available for purchase through FB on February 1st. Advance sales will be taken come December 15th.

The collection is for a really good cause, so be sure to pick a copy up when it's released. Nobody involved with the project is making a single dime off this project--all net proceeds are going to charity.

The stories are as follows:

* Forest for the Trees by Jenna Bayley-Burke
(sweet; contemporary)
* Song Without Words by Faith Bicknell-Brown
(sweet; contemporary)
* Love @ First Site by Amanda Brice
(sweet; chick lit/romantic comedy)
* The Christmas Prize by Sela Carsen
(sweet; contemporary)
* Romance for One by Rachelle Chase
(spicy; contemporary)
* Dying of the Light by H.A. Fowler
(tangy; vampire)
* Confessions of a Bombshell Bandit by Gemma Halliday
(sweet; chick lit)
* The Velvet Mask by Candace Havens
(sweet; contemporary)
* Road of Misgivings by Zinnia Hope
(sweet; contemporary)
* To the Core by Jackie Kessler
(tangy; paranormal)
* Taking the Alleys by Susan Lyons
(sweet; contemporary)
* Brushstrokes by Richelle Mead
(tangy; historical paranormal)
* Red's Merry Mischief by Debbie Mumford
(sweet; fantasy)
* Baring it All For Mr. Right by Rhonda Stapleton
(sweet; chick lit/romantic comedy)
* The Wedding Policy by Bebe Thomas
(sweet; contemporary/historical)
* Blood and Feathers by Emily Veinglory
(spicy; paranormal/male-male)
* The Mirror by Sasha White
(sizzling; contemporary)
* The Reluctant Bridesmaid by Lois Winston
(sweet; chick lit/romantic comedy)
* The Forge: Jezren Dark Sky by Shaunna Wolf
(sweet; fantasy/sci-fi)
* Secret Valentines by Kit Wylde
(sweet; contemporary)

2006-11-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

So, who went shopping this weekend? Were you one of those insane people who actually braved the mall on Friday? Wow, more power to you. I hope you got some good deals!

I ended up going shopping yesterday and it was great, because there weren't too many people there, so no crowds at all. Plus, I went to the mall that's within walking distance of my apartment, so I didn't need to deal with parking, either. Just went to Macy's. Spent $168 and got 8 items, so I think I did fabulously! I'm wearing one of my purchases today, actually. Everything I bought are presents...half of them are for me, though.

So apparently today is Cyber Monday. Although I wonder if that moniker is still relevant. It used to be that people would do their online shopping the Monday after Thanksgiving, when they got back to their office. But so many people have Internet access at home now, so I wonder if the former trends still hold. Although I admit that I'm more likely to do online shopping or online bill payment at work than at home. At home, we're on a wireless system, and I'm sure I'mn just being paranoid, but for some reason, I don't consider wireless routers to have the same kind of security as IT here at work.

Anyway, what about you...will you be doing more in-person shopping or more online shopping this year?

2006-11-24T15:38:00.000-08:00

I Love Leftovers...

Happy Black Friday! Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving? I did. My parents came down here and stayed at our apartment. My dad went to the Capitals game with my husband Wed night, and my mom went out with me for tapas. Then yesterday, for the big meal, we ordered a "Holiday Essentials" banquet from Boston Market. It was really good, and a great deal. I made a pecan pie and a baked brie and my mom made a pumpkin chocolate cheesecake and green bean casserole to supplement our takeout.

Anyway, like most other Americans, we have tons of leftovers today. What are you doing with yours? My dad boiled the turkey carcass last night and we made soup. I froze one of the batches of soup stock, so I'll have more in about a month from now, but that's dinner for us tonight. We had a really late lunch at a Mexican place this afternoon (after a trip to the National Gallery to see the Rembrandt, Constable, and Matisse exhibits), so we won't be having a huge dinner tonight. My husband and I will probably have Thanksgiving dinner leftovers tomorrow after my parents have gone home.

Anyway, we made the soup and it smells delicious, but that's about it. I probably won't be making the leftovers into other dishes, just because I'm too lazy. I'm perfectly content to make "Thanksgiving sandwiches" for the next few days.

What about you?

2006-11-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

When's Too Early?

When is it too early to begin playing holiday music? I'm currently listening to a Tchaikovsky CD with music from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. Actually, most of the CD is NOT holiday-related.

But my coworker just came in and chastised me for listening to Christmas music too early. She says the rules are the same as with trees--day after Thanksgiving. In other words, I need to wait until Friday to play Nutcracker (guess I need to skip over those tracks).

What do you think? Is it too early to play Christmas music? And do you really consider The Nutcracker to be "real Christmas music." I mean, sure, a Christmas party was the setting of the ballet, but are giant fighting mice and magical nutcrackers really all that associated with the birth of Christ? (Let's save the commercialization of Christmas arguments for a different day, however.)

Personally, while I don't think it's appropriate to tell someone who you know isn't Christian "Merry Christmas" (or even someone who you don't know what they celebrate--I'm much more comfortable with a nice, neutral "Happy Holidays"), for whatever reason, I just don't consider The Nutcracker to be necessarily a *Christmas ballet* as opposed to a ballet that's traditionally performed around the holiday season.

Anyway, that's my rant. It's MY office, I can play whatever music I want. And today I want to play The Nutcracker. Of course, this isn't terribly conducive to productivity, as I'm running through choreography in my mind and keep wanting to get up and dance.

Hmmm...maybe I should dig some other CD out instead.

2006-11-18T06:33:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Weddings

So, is everyone ready for the freak show, er, I mean, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding?
Unfortunately, the mail must be having problems, because I haven't yet received my invitation and I'm more than just a little annoyed about that.

Just can't wait for the first Access Hollywood after that one.

So, how long do we expect this marriage to last?

2006-11-16T21:34:00.000-08:00

Confessions of a Serial Bitch : Hadley

Hadley Scott has spent the last four years living with a selfish, money-hungry, pain-in-the-ass husband and all she wants now is for their divorce to be final. Glen, Mr. Pain-in-the-Ass himself, has other ideas. He may not love Hadley, but he does love her family's money. Hadley decides she's not going to take his crap anymore and she sets out to get her divorce no matter what it takes.

Coming to Freya's Bower (www.freyasbower.com) November 21st, 2006

For more about the author visit her website KimberlyHoltWhitlock.Com (www.kimberlyholtwhitlock.com)

2006-11-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

Have You Entered the Golden Heart Yet?

Just a reminder...the deadline to enter the Golden Heart is tomorrow, November 15. Entry forms and fees (although not your manuscript) must be received in RWA's office by then, so at this point, your only real option is online entry.

The Golden Heart is RWA's most prestigious writing contest for unpublished authors. By "unpublished," they mean "unpublished in novel-length fiction by an RWA-approved publisher." In other words, if you're published by most small presses or e-publishing houses (with the exception of Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press or Triskelion), then you're still eligible for the Golden Heart.

Winning or finaling in the Golden Heart has been known to open many doors for writers. Past winners and finalists have gone on to sell their winning manuscript or even a different one, and many past winners are now multiple Rita winners.

Just like any contest, it's a real crap shoot, and maybe even moreso than other contests, if for no other reason than the sheer volume of the numbers. You can have 2 judges who score you perfectly or near-perfectly, but then one judge who hates it, or who just scores it averagely, and that can keep you from finaling. But that's life. Not everyone will always love your work all the time.

Don't enter for feedback only--you won't get any. All you get are numerical scores, with no comments. If you want feedback, enter one of the many local RWA contests, many of which provide excellent feedback. But if you've been around the contest circuit, your manuscript has been vetted and read, and you think it's ready, give it a shot!

2006-11-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

Good News Monday

Got any good news to share? It can be anything at all. Ciar Cullen has started a new feature on her blog, to share good news every Monday. Check it out at http://ciarcullen.blogspot.com.

My good news is that my agent was in NYC last week for meeting with editors and apparently it went really well. :) I won't know the full details until the conference call tomorrow, but I've been told I should be happy. No, it's not a sale...she was pitching. :)

2006-11-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

An Interview with FB author Aurelia Abbott

Amanda: Tell us something about yourself.

Aurelia: Aurelia Abbott is actually a pen name. My great grandmother's name was Aurelia and I've always loved it. When discussing child names with my husband, I suggested Aurelia (which he quickly vetoed). He told me it sounded like a romance writer and ta da -- a romance writer was born!

Amanda: Too funny! How did you begin writing?

Aurelia: I've always written stories. It was a good way to entertain myself and my friends in grade school. After an extended absence from writing, I started again in 1999 and haven't looked back.

Amanda: What genres do you like to write? to read?

Aurelia: I enjoy writing paranormal (aliens, witches, sci-fi, vampires, etc.). I love to read the same genre though I do enjoy a good Regency or historical now and again.

Amanda: What author has inspired you the most?

Aurelia: Hmm...that's a tough one. I think I'm inspired by all of the up and coming writers I've met through Romance Divas. Some of them work so darn hard! To have that kind of instant support is really encouraging.

Amanda: I love RD, too! It's such a great network. What do you like most about working with small presses like Freya's Bower?

Aurelia: I'm working on a ton of things for November but I really hope to finish my demon urban fantasy novella soon. I'm also working on a sequel to my vampire short story available with Mardi Gras Publishing, and a futuristic novella. The rest are just characters talking in my head!

2006-11-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

It's Been a Crazy 24 Hours

Seriously. This time last night, I was flipping back and forth between Dancing with the Stars and CNN. And believe me, it was a close contest as to which one was keeping my attention more!

I'm not going to discuss the election results, because quite frankly, it's been done to death on way more impressive blogs than mine. Suffice it to say that I'm elated!

So let's discuss DTWS. For the first time ever, it ended in a dead tie, with all three competitors receiving a perfect score (three perfect tens) and a near-perfect score (a 29). How fitting is it that the public's votes count more than ever on the very night that Americans proved how important the democratic process is?

Who's moving on? They're about to announce the results! I'm biting whatever nails are left after last night!

2006-11-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

Have you voted yet?

I apologize to my Canadian, Australian, and UK readers. You can tune out now.

No, I don't want to know who you voted for (unless you really, really feel like sharing...I think it's pretty obvious who I didn't vote for here in Virginia). But I really hope you've either voted, or will be voting later today.

It's a priviledge and a responsibility not to be taken lightly. In countries all over the world, millions line up for days for the right to cast a vote after living in tyranny for years. Yet, in the US, we seem to forget that and take our right to vote for granted. For crying out loud, more Americans voted in the American Idol finals than in the last election. That's pretty darn pathetic for the greatest democracry in the world.

So, go vote, if you haven't. It's 45 minutes or so out of your life. No biggie. And yet it can really make such a difference.

2006-11-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

I've Been Tagged...Again!

That's OK, because it means I don't have to think of anything to write in here today. Of course, it means I have to come up with another 5 interesting things about myself. Grrr...I won't redo any, so this might be hard.

1. I spent 7 weeks of my junior year of college living in a tent outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium for the honor of seeing the Duke/Carolina game in person. That may sound nutso to most people, but to us, it was just par for the course. Tenting is fun! It adds to the college experience. Even if you don't officially tent, you end up spending the bulk of your free time that last weekend anyway down at K-ville (since that's where all the parties move to that weekend), so you might as well get a game out of it too. Sadly, despite my 7 weeks of tenting, we lost to Carolina (again!) that year. *sigh* But we beat 'em the next year, and most years since. I tented out for all Duke/Carolina games and for several other games, but none were as long as my junior year.

2. My Duke basketball obsession continues to this day. In fact, I got married the night of the Duke/Carolina game. I figured I was OK, picking March 6 (despite swearing I would never get married from November to April), because the ACC tourney didn't start until the next weekend, and EVERYONE knows that the second Duke/Carolina game of the year is ALWAYS on a Sunday afternoon. D'oh! They changed it that year, and the game began at 9pm EST...since I got married in Arizona, that meant that tip-off occured just as my reception was beginning. So I scheduled out my first dance I could watch tip-off in the hotel bar, then hightailed it back to the ballroom for my first dance, then ran back to watch the game while everyone was eating their salad. My hubby found me, with an annoyed expression on his face, and grumbled that I needed to get back to the reception because they were about to serve dinner and everyone was getting hungry. I said, "Oh, they can go ahead and serve it." He said, "No, they can't. You're the bride. You *have* to be in there." I didn't go back to the hotel bar to watch the game for the rest of the night, but we'd already gotten pictures taken of me in my wedding dress, with the game on in the background. They appeared on DukeBasketballReport.com the next week!

3. My parents put me into dance classes when I was 3-years-old because apparently everytime the Coke commercial came on, I would jump up and start dancing.

4. I was the victim of online stalking and harrassment because of wedding pictures I'd posted in my "bio" on The Knot. So I got well-versed in the various online harrassment laws.

5. I love traveling, and have been to the following foreign countries: Canada (Vancouver, Victoria, Quebec, Montreal, Nova Scotia, Prince Rupert), Mexico (Rocky Point, Cozumel, Cancun), France (Paris, Nice, Marseilles, Normandy, the Loire Valley, the Champagne region, Chamonix), Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne), Italy (Rome, Florence, Tuscanny, Venice, the Veneto region, Milan), Monaco, Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, San Sebastien, the La Rioja region), Belize, and Honduras (Isla Roatan). I'll be going to Costa Rica this coming May.

OK, so now I get to tag 5 more people. Hmmm...let's see...I want to hear from Kelly Vitollo, Tempest Knight, Karen Steele, Faith Bicknell-Brown, and Lyric James. Sorry if you've already been tagged by someone else. I had to do it again...

2006-11-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

An Interview with Dorchester author, Gemma Halliday

Because it's NaNo time and I'm too lazy to think of cool things to put in my blog, I decided to switch things up and am doing another interview today. You're in for a treat...it's my fabulous friend, Gemma Halliday. Her equally fabulous debut novel, SPYING IN HIGH HEELS, was released in August, and the sequel will be out in March.

You can read more about Gemma on her website at www.gemmahalliday.com.

Amanda: Welcome Gemma! Tell us all a little bit about yourself.

Gemma: Hi Amanda! Thanks for having me.

Well, currently, I'm writing a romantic mystery series, the High Heels Mysteries, for Dorchester's Making It imprint, which I'm honestlyhaving a blast with. It's a chick lit, romance, mystery, comedy, suspense hybrid. (Wow say that five times fast!) I've been really lucky that the first book, Spying In High Heels, has been received so well, and I'm contracted to do three more in the series.

Amanda: Yay! I can't wait for the rest! You've had a very eclectic career history, between actress, preschool teacher, and 900-number psychic. How did you begin writing?

Gemma: Some days I swear it feels like I get nothing done. I actually decided to start writing when I was reading a really bad book that was just chocked full of every romance cliché you could think of. I found myself laughing (and, no, it was not a comedy) and thinking, "Well, heck, I can do better than that."

Yeah. Little did I know then just how hard it was to write a full book – let alone a good one!

Amanda: Well, you've definitely succeeded in that. How did winning the Golden Heart change your life?

Gemma: It definitely got my name out there. And I think even just being a finalist gave my writing that much more validity in the eyes of agents and editors. I had pitched my manuscript to my now-editor at the RWA conference in Reno, and I'm pretty sure that winning the Golden Heart with the same manuscript the next night didn't hurt her opinion of it any. :)

Amanda: Yeah, probably not. LOL! I absolutely loved SPYING IN HIGH HEELS. Maddie is such a great character. How did you come up with this idea?

Gemma: Thanks so much! I have a lot of fun with Maddie, too. And it was really easy coming up with the idea for her character. She's me. Lol!

Okay, me to an extreme level. A lot of what she says and does are just things that I would say or do, but highly exaggerated. No, I've never stumbled across a dead body (yet!), but whenever I'm stuck in a scene with her, I just step back and say, okay, what would I do. And Maddie naturally comes out.

Amanda: Any teasers for KILLER IN HIGH HEELS?

Gemma: KILLER picks things up right where SPYING left off. In this one, Maddie and her friends leave the glamour of L.A. for glitzy Las Vegas, where Maddie is on a hunt to find her biological father. While there, she gets tangled up with a shoe smuggling ring, a group of aging drag queens, mobsters, tabloids, and, of course, a dead body or two. A lot of the wacky characters in Maddie's life are back again in this book, including Mr. Hot Stuff himself, Ramirez.

Amanda: Oh yes, he definitely is hot! You have a short story in Freya's Bower's upcoming Dreams and Desires anthology to raise money for domestic violence victims. Care to share what the story is about?

Gemma: The story is called "Confessions of a Bombshell Bandit" and centers around Carrie Cabot, who gets fired, robbed and evicted all in one day. But, instead of laying down and taking it, Carrie decides to geteven and, along with her best friends, hatches a plan to become a bankrobber. But of course, even the best laid plans have their glitches…

I have a book trailer in the works for this story, so watch for it appearing on my website soon!

Amanda: Sounds great! Do you believe all the hype about how chick lit is dead as a genre?

Gemma: I think that chick lit as a genre isn't growing by the huge leaps and bounds that it once was. It may have expanded too fast, flooding the market, and we're now seeing the backlash of that. But, what chicklit that is being published is still selling very well. Look at the success of The Devil Wears Prada. This is the single girl in the citywith the ogre boss and crappy love life story that typifies chick lit. Not only has the book had phenomenal success, but the movie has also recently done very well. So, I personally find it hard to believe that people don't want to read this kind of story anymore.

Amanda: I agree. I love these stories, as do most of my friends. I hope you're right! OK, a spin on the famous desert island question. If you had to get rid of all the books on your shelf except for one author, whose works would you keep around?

Gemma: Oh wow. Tough question. Well, I'm a huge Janet Evanovich fan, andhave read all of her books at least twice. (Okay, I admit it. Someof them I'm on the fourth or fifth time through.) So, I think I'dhave to pick her.

Amanda: An excellent answer from a chick lit mystery writer! :) And I agree, her books are fabulous.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, Gemma. I know we'll be hearing more great stuff about your books!

If you'd like to buy Gemma's SPYING IN HIGH HEELS: http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/0843957352/2/ref=pd_lpo_ase/103-3782061-3775023?

2006-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

What's That Smell?

Ahh, early November...the crackle of leaves under your feet, the gusts of wind knocking you over as you walk to work, the campaign workers shoving fliers in your face, the 20-and-30-somethings dressed up for Halloween as unemployed Republican staffers...the traditional wrappings of fall.

What is that smell in the air? Could it be...desperation?

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably already know I'm a devout politics junkie. I admit it. I LOVE attack ads. Sick, huh? I seriously LIVE for this time of year.

I love attack ads, because I find them hi-lar-ious, particularly when they come from an incumbent who was expected not only to breeze through the current election, but whose handlers were already looking ahead to the 2008 Presidential race. When said-incumbent starts airing commercials as early as JUNE (and he wasn't even in a primary), it signals that he thinks he might need some extra help.

And when his commercials turn vicious, it signals that he knows he's in trouble.

Ahh, political season. How I do love you.

The new technique these days seems to be micro-targeting, which allows both parties to mine consumer data to determine your political behavior.

Prefer Dr. Pepper over Sprite? You're more likely to vote Republican.
Have a weekly subscription to TV Guide? You're more likely to vote Democratic.
Watch US Open tennis? You're probably a Dem.
Drive an Audi? You're probably a Repub.

I wonder what my consumer habits tell people. I subscribe to both ESPN magazine and Sprts Illustrated (no seriously, the subscriptions are in MY name, not my hubby's), and I frequent espn.com and college basketball chatrooms.

No wonder I get all that spam for penis implants. They think I'm a man!

2006-11-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

I've Got an Agent...

I almost typed "I've Got Agents," but really, that's true. :) By signing with my agent, I actually get all three of the agents in the agency.

I was fortunate to have several agents, some of whom could legitimately be considered "superagents," reading my full after I told them I already had an offer on the table. But in the end, I decided to go with the agent who'd called me last Monday and made that initial offer.

That agent is Kelly Ferrara of Book Cents Literary Agency! This is a brand new agency, and I'm one of their first fiction clients (they have sales in non-fiction and currently have a couple of bidding wars going on for two of their fiction clients), along with Kari Townsend (www.karileetownsend.blogspot.com).

Why Book Cents? Well, despite only being in business for just over 1 month, this agency is super organized and incredibly enthusiastic. They really have their act together and are HUNGRY. And they've spent the time making contacts on the ground with dedicated networking for over 3 years before they opened their doors. Kelly has over 20 years' experience in PR and marketing, including extensive experience with publishers while she worked in television. Even though they're a new agency, what got me was their creative ideas and their enthusiasm, which was contagious! They actually got me even more excited about my book than I already was. I've chatted with both Kelly and Christine, and I really feel like I clicked with them. They "get" my book, and they love it, and that's half the battle!

They'll be sending out my book immediately and will be in NYC next week to talk me up!