Halloween

So the big day is over for another year. We survived the I-don't-like-my-costume-idea-anymore meltdown, the school costume parade, the multiple eggings, the handing out of three hundred pieces of candy, and the inevitable sugar crashes at the end of the night.

It was fun.

The thing about living in the only neighborhood in town with sidewalks on both sides of the street, though, is that people in outlying areas tend to bring their kids in to trick or treat. Which is fine. Having grown up at the end of a gravel road that saw zero Halloween traffic every year, I understand the whole concept of traveling to trick or treat. But sometimes those minivans are like the suburban version of clown cars, with short people in costumes pouring out in a never-ending stream of Spidermen, princesses, and the creepy mask guy from Scream.

Hope you had an enjoyable time!

I Haven't Forgotten! Honest!

I know, I know...I've got a winner to announce! Thanks to everyone who posted during my birthday celebration. It was fun getting back in the swing of things with y'all.

So, without further ado, congratulations to:

ELLIE!

This prize is your choice -- an autographed copy of one of my three print titles! You can choose from The Perfect Gift (Christmas anthology), Beginnings (Halloween/Samhain anthology), or Tease Me, Please Me. Just e-mail me your choice, and I'll pop it in the mail.

And everyone else, stay tuned! I'll be posting more chances to win over the next month or so. I'll be a bit busy NaNo-ing, but intend to continue checking in here in the meantime.

And to any US citizens reading this blog -- don't forget to vote!

Quizzage Answers -- and Winner!

....aaaaand Kammie sneaks in under the wire! Yes, for a while there we had a tie for first with three answers correct. Then, before I could toss a coin, Kammie shows up with FOUR correct! Congratulations, Kammie!

So, are you curious? Here are the correct answers to the trivia questions.

1. What author does Kate want to be when she grows up?
a) Nora Roberts
b) Lori Foster
c) Suzanne Brockmann
d) Susan Andersen

Though I am a huge fan of all these authors, Suz wins this one for me.

2. What actor did Kate meet in high school when he dated one of her cousins?
a) Josh Lucas
b) James Caviezel
c) Rainn Wilson
d) Brendan Fraser

Lucky me! (Or should I say, lucky cousin?) I did have a nice, long conversation with Josh about our plans to become famous actors someday. Not that he'd remember it. LOL

(Josh is the not-quite-ex-hubby in Sweet Home Alabama, among other films.)

All of the other actors are around the same age, and all of them lived in the region for at least a little while -- so they were all plausible options. ;)

3. What romance author does Kate's youngest want to have a play date with?
a) Pat White
b) Lucy Monroe
c) Jane Porter
d) Julia Quinn

All my kids love hanging out with Lucy and her family. (All of these authors live in the same general area, though!)

4. What real life event does Kate always use in "two truths and a lie" to throw people off -- because nobody believes it happened?
a) Sang karaoke in a Filipino restaurant in the middle of Munich
b) Once auditioned to be a cast member at Disneyland
c) Married her husband after knowing each other three weeks
d) Published her first short story at the age of fifteen

Sad, but true. It was a not-so-subtle request from the host of the evening. Even sadder, the only English-language song they had I even sort-of knew was the Theme From Mahogany. All together now -- "Do you know, where you're going tooooo..."

5. Kate's "guilty pleasure" reality show -- the one she never misses?
a) The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency
b) Top Design
c) America's Next Top Model
d) Project Runway

I've watched and enjoyed all of these shows, but PR was the only one I put on my "appointment TV" list.

So, there you go. All about me! :)

So, congrats to Kammie. You've won A Flights of Fancy gift pack -- A Tinkerbell photo frame magnet, a Buzz Lightyear Disney Pin, a cinnamon votive candle, and a copy of Jane Porter's Flirting With Forty. Just send me your address and I'll pop them in the mail.

(Note: If you live outside the US, I'll substitute a different prize due to mailing restrictions.)

Monday Quizzage

Sigh. So this whole "post in advance" thing is, apparently, beyond me.

Or maybe it's just a Monday.

In any case, here's my final Birthday Bash post, now being extended to Tuesday! :)

Below, I'll post five trivia questions about moi. Post your guesses/answers in the comments section. The first person to answer all five correctly (or the person who gets the most right) will win prize #1!

Prize #2 will go to a random poster from this weekend.

What are the prizes? Well, I'm not tellin' yet. Just trust me that they'll be fabulous! :)

Okay, here goes:

1. What author does Kate want to be when she grows up?

a) Nora Roberts

b) Lori Foster

c) Suzanne Brockmann

d) Susan Andersen

2. What actor did Kate meet in high school when he dated one of her cousins?

a) Josh Lucas

b) James Caviezel

c) Rainn Wilson

d) Brendan Fraser

3. What romance author does Kate's youngest want to have a play date with?

a) Pat White

b) Lucy Monroe

c) Jane Porter

d) Julia Quinn

4. What real life event does Kate always use in "two truths and a lie" to throw people off -- because nobody believes it happened?

a) Sang karaoke in a Filipino restaurant in the middle of Munich

b) Once auditioned to be a cast member at Disneyland

c) Married her husband after knowing each other three weeks

d) Published her first short story at the age of fifteen

5. Kate's "guilty pleasure" reality show -- the one she never misses?

a) The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency

b) Top Design

c) America's Next Top Model

d) Project Runway

So there you go. Get guessing -- and you could win!

The Devil Inside -- First Look

So I just got my back cover blurb for The Devil Inside this week, and thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy!

It’ll take more than one go-round to win this rodeo of the heart…

Thirteen years after her father was killed in a rodeo accident, Samantha Quincannon is facing her worst nightmare. An EMT, she has avoided rodeo duty like the plague. Now her career depends on her ability to face down her fear.

Cody Shaw hasn’t seen Sam since the night of her father’s accident, and their reunion is anything but typical. So is her reaction when a bull ride gone wrong lands him, broke and bleeding, in her reluctant care. And, until he’s well enough to travel, in her bed. He knows he’s far from a model patient, but would it kill Sam not to act like she’d rather climb on a bull herself than have him underfoot?

On thing hasn’t changed—their off-the-charts sexual tension. They both put up a good fight, but soon the heat burns through their resistance.

Even as Sam fights to protect her heart from the one danger she didn’t see coming, something else becomes clear. Rodeo is in Cody’s blood, and nothing, not even Sam, can make him quit taking crazy risks.

It’s up to Sam to decide if she’s ready to put on her big-girl boots—and ride.

Warning: Lots of hot, sweaty, down-and-dirty lovin'. Cowgirl up!

The Jack Benny Birthday

1. Never let your children know *what* birthday you're celebrating. They will gladly share it with their schoolmates, their schoolmates' parents, the principal of the school, and the wait staff at Red Robin.

2. When you turn 39, people jokingly ask "which 39th birthday is it?"

3. The free birthday sundae at Red Robin is almost worth the embarrassment of having your waiter announce to everyone that you're celebrating your 39th birthday today. Five minutes later, they make the same announcement about a four year old.

4. In all, it was a lovely birthday. I got some fabulous gifts -- including some camping cookware that my parents evidently smuggled into the house and hid in the dress-up box over a week ago, with the collusion of the kids, who managed to keep it totally quiet until the actual birthday. If you knew my kids, you'd be very impressed. Keeping secrets is not a strong suit.

5. I also got a sleeping bag, a new watch, a Barnes and Noble gift card (squeeeee!), and a plane ticket to California, so I can attend a very good friend's wedding. Yay!

What's the best present you ever got?

Happy Birthday to Meeee....

Yes, it's true!

Today is my birthday. And to celebrate, I'm throwing a party! The best part? You get the presents!

From today through Monday, here on my blog, everyone who posts will be entered in a drawing to win. I've got some cool gifties to share, so I hope to see you here!

26,772...

Followed by "The End".

Yes, The Devil Inside is finally done, beta-read, and turned in to my editor. Whew! Mega-thanks to Maia for dropping everything to check it out for me.

To celebrate, here's another peek at the cover. Just because I lurve it so much.

(And wait'll you guys see the blurb. Squeeee!)

Wanna See Something *Else* Pretty?

When it rains, it pours...

Coming January 6, 2009

Wanna See Something Pretty?

Available in print December 29, 2008

Book BIN Tuesday -- Passionate

Whoo-hoo! Today's the day -- release day for Passionate, the very first release from Anthea Lawson!

I've been looking forward to this book for ages, ever since I found out Anthea (an RWA chapter-mate) sold her first book. Or, should I say, their first book, because Anthea Lawson is actually a husband and wife writing team. Go, team!

Anyway, I digress. Here's the blurb:

Temptation…

Before she must wed, Lily Strathmore decides upon one final adventure—a botanical expedition through the wilds of North Africa with her uncle and his family. In search of a fabled bloom, James Huntington soon joins them. Handsome to a fault and rakish to boot, he has the maddening habit of catching Lily at her most improper. And his sensual kisses are only the beginning of their passionate intimacy…

True Love…

Huntington finds the beautiful Miss Strathmore impossible to resist. With each passing day, their desire for each other grows. And in his wildest dreams, Lily is his—and his alone.

Doesn't it sound yummy?

Okay, your assignment for this week -- hunt down a copy of Passionate and Buy It Now!