I'm a RITA® Finalist!

I'm thrilled to announce that my July 2012 Montana Mavericks Special Edition, THE LAST SINGLE MAVERICK  is a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's^® RITA contest this year in the Short Contemporary Category.

It's always so exciting to be a finalist--and for the second year in a row, too.  I always have such fun working on the Montana Mavericks books with so many of my amazing author pals at Special Edition.  And not only do I get to work with a great crew of authors when I write a Montana Maverick story, I also have the pleasure of working with two of my favorite editors.

The fabulous Marcia Book Adirim writes the over-arching story that connects all the books, as well as the starter notes for each story.  And the insightful and generally brilliant Susan Litman acts as coordinator and continuity-checker as well as editor for each of the books.

It's always a pleasure to write a Montana Maverick book--and it's absolutely lovely to get a RITA finalist nod for one.

THE LAST SINGLE MAVERICK was an especial joy to write because the hero, Jason Traub, just came alive for me from the first line of the book: "Family reunions.  Who needs them?"  Jace was a great guy at a crossroads in life, destined to meet up with his perfect match, runaway bride, Jocelyn Bennings.

Wish me luck at the big awards ceremony at the Romance Writers of America's National Conference to be held in Atlanta in July!

Happy New Year!

Time to take down the tree and ring in the New Year.  We'll be celebrating at home this year.  Just the way I like it. A little hot cider by the fire.  May your New Years dreams all come true.

Your resolutions, too!

This year I will have four books on the stands, three new Bravo Royale stories and one fun Montana Maverick tale, all from Harlequin Special Edition.

In April, watch for Rhiannon Bravo-Calabretti's story, HER HIGHNESS AND THE BODYGUARD.

I have back cover copy for that one:

CALABRETTIS MARRY FOR DUTY-BUT BRAVO-CALABRETTIS MARRY FOR LOVE 

Marcus is the best man Rhia's ever known, and she's never gotten over their breakup. Now, he's practically strapped to her side. It's like a dream come true...or a nightmare. Because Marcus is as stubborn as ever: she's a Bravo-Calabretti, he's a lowly security guard, and they can never be equals. Ever.  

Then a breathless night that should have brought closure brings something else: a baby. Marcus insists that no child of his will grow up without its own mother and father. Well, Rhia has her own requirement: her child will be raised on love, not the dry bread of obligation. And Marcus has made it abundantly clear that his duty to Montedoro comes before everything-especially his own desires.

                                                                                                                       ***

Then, in July, the launch of an all-new Montana Mavericks series with STRANDED WITH THE MAVERICK.  And finally, in November and December, two more Bravo Royale books: HOW TO MARRY A PRINCESS and HOLIDAY ROYALE. 

HER HIGHNESS AND THE BODYGUARD  and STRANDED WITH THE MAVERICK are already written.  I'll be starting on HOW TO MARRY A PRINCESS the day after New Years.  Can't wait.

Here's to much success for everyone in 2012!

Happy Holidays, Everyone....

...and a Joyous New Year to you all!

Right now, I have a Christmas book, The Rancher's Christmas Princess, in stores.  I hope you'll give it a look.  On Kindle, it's currently available for $1.99!

Also, as it happens, I'm writing a proposal for next year's December release.  this will be book 5 in the Bravo Royales series, Prince Damien's story.  Damien is the player of the family, who will finally meet his match in sweet Lucy Cordell, the long-sheltered little sister of Noah Cordell, who will find his true love in How to Marry a Princess, which will be out in November of 2013!

I have a general idea of the direction of Damien and Lucy's story.  It's kind of a Pygmalion story, a My Fair Lady story.  Lucy needs Damien to teach her to be smart and sophisticated so she can win the heart of another man who won't give her the time of day because she's such an innocent.  Damien may be a player.  But he has a soft spot for sweet Lucy and has proved in the previous book that he's willing to help her get whatever she needs.  Or desires.

But you know how it goes.  Writing is a layering process.  And I'm seeing that there's a layer missing in this story.  Another element that will really make it work.  I'm thinking it's a child.  Because, after all, there's nothing like a precious child.  Especially at Christmas.....

Cover The Rancher's Christmas Princess

Totally in love with this one!  Feels like the holidays are coming early, somehow.

Scroll to next post down for back cover copy...

Almost Like Fall...

It is!  Almost like fall around here.  The False Solomon Seal, at left, has bloomed, shed its petals and brought out the fall berries--which as you can see, are half-eaten already by local wildlife.

It's gorgeous here this time of year.  Brisk clear nights and days warming into the '80s.  The Northwest version of paradise.

My flame maple in back is looking pretty red.  It's a big sapling, still, so it's not that showy.  But it's definitely showing me its version of Autumn.

It's been one super-busy summer around here, rushing to meet deadlines, attending the big Romance Writers of America conference in Anaheim.  Great fun.  Photos on my website, here.

I was up for the RITA award twice.  Didn't win.  But sure had a lovely gala night at the awards dessert party.  My younger son came to visit for a few days.  So good to see him.  We showed him the sites of Portland.

And now we're into our big master bath remodel.  (Pictures later) and I'm off soon to plot group to plan more books.

And speaking of books...

Two in a row comin' right up.  In November, The Prince She Had to Marry.  Here's the cover:

I love the look the two of them are sharing.  And her cute little baby bump.  She's about three months pregnant in this scene.

Back cover copy reads:

FOR HONOR.  AND FOR LOVE?

Cold, distant Alexander Bravo-Calabretti was the last man

Liliana of Alagonia had ever imagined marrying! After all,

even a princess longs for happily-ever-after. But when a

one-night fling with her nemesis led to a royal baby-on-the-

way, only a wedding would satisfy their disapproving

families. So with a fast, secret ceremony, they were joined

for life.

Alex had agreed to make an effort for the sake of the

baby, even though letting the lovely Lili close was a threat

to the barriers he’d long struggled to maintain. But the

future of the throne—and his royal honor—was at stake.

And when he and Lili posed as happy newlyweds for the

paparazzi, he found himself wishing that their marriage

could be for real after all….

Then in December, The Rancher's Christmas Princess.  I don't have the cover for that yet.  But here's the back cover copy:

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. 

FROM THE PAST.

Arabella Bravo-Calabretti came to Elk Creek, Montana, with a secret to deliver and a job to do. Being a Bravo Royale, she was going to do it right. Before she handed her best friend's darling son, Ben, over to his unwitting father, they would all spend Christmas together. Only then could she be absolutely sure that rancher Preston McCade was ready to be a dad.

Or...was that really the reason Belle was hanging around?  She and Preston were practically from different planets, yet the attraction was undeniable.  Before long, someone was utterly in love with a rancher--and Christmas in Montana was presenting one suprise after another.

I do love the copy on both of these.  You can click on the titles to order from Amazon.

Happy Reading everyone...and now, to clean up this office a little....

Conference Excitement!

Getting ready for conference.  Much excitement.  Packing, planning.  It's actually quite a bit of fun.  And I did want to post the link to the July 25 Literacy Autographing in Anaheim here:  http://www.rwa.org/cs/literacy_autographing  Just click through to read all about it, including checking out the map for the signing.

Always before, authors were seated alphabetically.  This time the arrangement is...well, frankly, a bit incomprehensible.  But hey.  Why not? We'll see how this works out.  I'm at table 107, near the cashier and the raffle table, so if you happen to attend the event, please stop by and say hi!

And before conference, younger son is coming for a few days.  I do love the summer.  So many good things going on!

Also, well, trying to make progress on my latest Bravo Royales story.  I'm getting there.  One page at a time.   Hope your summer is stacking up to be fabulous!

Happy Independence Day!

It's sunny here today, in a lovely, cool way.  The heat, according to the Weather Channel, is finally coming to the Northwest in the next week.

No, it won't be really hot.  But in the mid-eighties.  For us, that's scorching.  It's so strange if you look at a temperature map of the Continental US these days.  Everything looks red-hot.  Except for this little plot of coolness up here in Northern California, Oregon and Washington.

I'm supposed to be working today.  Both the DH and I decided, since it was midweek and I needed to get pages written and he could get brownie points for showing up on the holiday at his job, we would both just treat it like a regular workday.

But you know, it's not.  I look out the window at my flag waving and spy on the neighbors getting ready for their barbecues and I feel a bit celebratory in spite of my intentions to keep my fingers moving over the keyboard, making strings of words appear on the screen.  Hey, it's the Fourth of July!

And tonight, there will be fireworks into the wee hours.  I'm kind of looking forward to lying awake, hearing them going off, nearby and in the distance.

Happy Birthday, America.  You are lookin' good!