Christine Rimmer's News

Break Time

2008-05-05T06:52:00.001-07:00

Yes, my life does have a rhythm to it: Write a book, take a break, write a book, take a break. Repeat. Ad infinitum.

Not that I'm complaining. I love my life's rhythm. And during my breaks from actually writing a book, I have plenty to do beyond cat napping. I have line edits and final proofs to go over. Proposals to write. My website to update. Contests to judge. Windows to clean.

I really do need to get to the windows...

Soon.

Mwahaha.

But what I love best about break time is its very...unstructured-ness. It's not so much about discipline and focus as it is about relaxing, enjoying, getting all those loose ends tidied up a bit.

When I'm writing a book, I tend to get lost in it. Getting lost in the book is the only way to make it really come alive for me. When I'm writing a book, the real world recedes. It's just me and all my imaginary friends, my characters. And their journey.

Break time is about coming back to the real world. It's snoozing at odd times. And more careful attention to the universe around me when I'm awake. It's a break from the demanding focus of writing, and at the same time, it's the chance to be fully engaged in real life.

So what do you do in your break time?

Finalist in the NRCA!

2008-04-27T07:42:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's true. The Man Who Had Everything is a finalist in the Short Contemporary category of the National Readers Choice Awards. I'm pumped. This contest is judged by readers from all over the country. Where the RITA is judged by other authors, the NRCA is all about which books readers like best. And well, you know, without readers, where would we authors be?

And there's more cool news here. There are five members in my plot group and four of us are published. All four of our published members made the finals in the NRCA this year--all in different categories. Susan Mallery's up for Tempting, Maureen Child is up for More Than Fiends and Teresa Southwick has finaled with The Sheikh's Contract Bride . I find this simply beyond cool.

For a list of all finalists, go to the NRCA homepage at the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America site.

Yay!

Tagged!

2008-04-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

My friend and fellow-author and a RITA nominee this year, Linda Goodnight, tagged me.

Sooo...

Here we go.

Tagging Rules:
a. Link to the person who tagged you: Linda Goodnight (done)

b. Post the rules on your blog. (done)

c. Write six random things about yourself. (doing. In a sec)

d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (Breaking this rule. Gena Showalter did, too, so there!)

e. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog. (well, I would, if I hadn't *not* done D )

f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up. (Will do as soon as I post this)

Okay, now for 6 Random Things...

Stay awake, everyone. ;)

1. I love to play games like Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Charades. And any and all card games. I'm one of the few people who goes "Oh, Goody!" when the hostess at a party says we're going to play a game.

2. I love all seasons when they start and can't wait for them to go when they leave.

3. I love books about the Tudor period in England. Novels, I mean. The Other Boleyn Girl
is an all-time fave. When I was a child, I fantasized about going back in time and warning all of Henry's wives. "Oh, you will be sorry. Don't lose your head over that guy..." Okay, I know. *Groan*

4. I love oregano. Fresh oregano in a vinegar and oil salad dressing. Oh, my! Nothing like it.

5. I love the Sierra mountains in Northern California. Love the sound of wind through the pines. Or cedars. Or both. Is that more than one thing?

6. I love strong, smart, loving men. It doesn't hurt if they're good to look at.

And that's six. Done it!

So, at least one random thing about you???

Home Stretch and New Cover

2008-04-18T06:12:00.001-07:00

I'm in the last thirty or so pages of this book and loving it now. It's my fave time, when I'm racing to the finish, crying and sighing with my characters, feeling I have to pack way too much good stuff into a small number of pages. Perfect! This is what I love most about my job.

To the left, the cover for my July book. What do you think? It's way more sexy than most Special Edition covers. But I have to say, it does fit the title. That girl is most def...in bed with the boss. Or at least she has been and probably will be again. I'm kind of wondering about his fly, though. I think he needs to have it mended. Or something. But I always love a bare, sculpted chest. And she does appear to like him a lot. She was supposed to resemble Jennifer Garner. Hmm. Not so much. And he was to look like...okay, I have pictures of him. He's not Patrick Dempsey, but close. Just can't remember his name. Anyway, the guy on the cover looks like a hotter version of Andrew McCarthy. No, not complaining. Just saying...

Here's some more Roaul for you.

And now...back to work!

Things are Going Great Around Here!

2008-04-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I know. The picture hardly suits a bouyant mood. I am far from feeling blindfolded on a balcony in...what's that...Miami? Venice Beach? Somewhere in the South of France?

It's only...

The guy. It's a about the guy. Yeah. That one, the gorgeous one, in the blindfold? Raoul again. Oh, my! I loved this picture so much, I just wrote a love scene involving a blindfold. Nothing like the proper inspiration, I always say.

So I read this article by the amazing Barbara Samuel in the Romance Writers Report. Taming the Internet Monster, it was called. All about the ways writers--or anyone who regularly uses the Web--can be sucked in to spending more time here than is really good for getting things done.

I mean, there's a lot to like about the Internet. Scratch "like." There's a lot to love: instant connection, answers to just about any question, fabulous eye candy (see picture above), cyber-friends galore. The benefits of life on the Web go on and on.

But the Web can be a monster, taking up precious time we should be using to, oh, say, write better books. Or even more books. Barbara had several suggestions for getting control of the monster. Among them, don't check email until noon. That one really struck me. I mean, Don't check email til noon. Simple huh? I thought, I can do that. How hard can it be?

Well, pretty dang hard if you're an email junkie like moi. So I took the suggestion and modified it a tad. I check email first thing, but only to see if there's something urgent that requires a reply right now. If not, I turn it off. And go to work. And don't check it again until noon.

Good googly moogly! Amazing. I've been writing like the wind and having lots of time to go on the Internet later. Or to do other things that suit my fancy. Shop. Cook. Read.

So as of now, I know who my characters are and I love my story and it is flowing so fast, it astonishes me daily.

Thank you, Barbara Samuel.

And how are things going in your world?

Who the #$%^&* Are These People?

2008-03-13T08:01:00.001-07:00

Yes, well....

Those of you who know me may have guessed by the title of this post that I'm starting a new book. To the left? The eye-candy inspiration for my hero. His name is Raoul Bova--the guy in the picture, not my hero--and he's always been a fave of mine. Here, as you see, he is wet. Wet is good--and yes, I know. I've said that before.

By the way, Raoul played the Italian younger-guy hunk in Under the Tuscan Sun . He had wild sex with Diane Lane and then married someone else. But in the book I'm writing now, the hero, who does look like Raoul, is neither Italian nor a cheater. Which is good. Not that he's not Italian. I love Italians. But that he's not a cheater. I don't love cheaters...

At this point, he (meaning my hero) has no idea who he is. Seriously. Somehow, he's received a blow to the head and he's wandering the snowy Sierras in search of he knows not what.

What he'll find is the heroine, one Tessa Jones (Don't you dare call her Tessy!) who lives in North Magdalene, California and is the daughter of Patrick Jones, who, as some may recall, was the hero of one of my first Jones Gang books, Sweetbriair Summit, back in the day.

I love it when the kids of my heroes and heroines get old enough to be heroes and heroines themselves. Or I would love it--if I could only figure out who the #$%^&* these people are!

Hope this post finds you all well and happy and getting lots of good reading done!

Author Secrets Revealed...

2008-02-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

...Or, what I did when I finished my most recent book.

As you can see from the picture of me at left, finishing a book is really workin' for me. Better, even, than plastic surgery. As of now,I'm a ringer for Charlize Theron.

I tended my lucky bamboo. The poor thing needs tending. That baby has been repeatedly chewed almost to death by my lucky-bamboo eating cats, Tom and Ed. I mean really. My cats ate my lucky bamboo? That's just pathetic.
So I got this bitter spray-on stuff at the pet store. Every other day, I spray it on my lucky bamboo. The cats taste it, throw up--and leave the bamboo alone for at least a couple of weeks. Until they forget how gross it tastes and try again. And hurl again. On my desk. Oh, yes. So the bitter yucky spray is enough to keep my luck alive--yet not really thriving, and definitely scarred. There's a life lesson in here somewhere....

I spent more time on MYSPACE than usual. There I learned that Meg Cabot is really funny. She's got three or four videos on her page. The one on neck creping is especially meaningful and deep.

And what about that Jill Monroe? Her AuthorTalk interviews--with Gena Showalter and with herself--yes. That's what I said. Herself. Are amazing and also make you want to spray your morning coffee all over your keyboard. Here's a link to the incredible Ms. Jill's blog where she put up both interviews on the same post. Now, that is talent, ladies and gents.

Oh, and I'm like, cooking. As a rule, I don't cook much. Who has time for that when they're chained to a keyboard? Not I.

But during my brief days of freedom from page goals, I've roasted a chicken, made beef stew and goulash. Okay, not exactly gourmet delights. But you know, I've always wanted to make goulash. Try to find a hambone these days, folks. We need an actual real-life butcher around here. Not just a chi-chi meat counter at the local supermarket. So I settled for hamhocks. Story of my life.

What else? Oh, I sent my website updates to my webmistress. And I'm writing a proposal. The proposal is actual writing, so it's a little bit of being responsible within these few wild days of freedom.

Okay, gotta check on the goulash....

Podcast anyone?

2008-02-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

My first podcast is up at eHarlequin. Click here to go the eHarlequin podcasts page. You'll see my interview with the splendid, knowledgable and charming Malle Vallik is episode 8. Click to download it to iTunes and hope you enjoy...

And now, back to Tanner's book. I'm almost finished. Should have it in the mail for NYC by Friday. Yay! Though, as always, I feel kind of sad to think of letting these characters go. It's so fortunate for me I like to write connected stories, so I get to check in with past heroes and heroines and see how they're doing in future books.

And Valentine's Day is comin' right up. We'll be staying home and I'll be cooking because I actually love to cook on my new cooktop and in my gorgeous new oven. I hope I get truffles from the DH. Yum.

And what will you and yours be doing on Valentine's Day?

However you spend your day of romance, enjoy!

Back from Plot Group...

2008-01-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

As you may remember, I go twice a year. It's moi and four other faboo authors and friends. Want more info? I blogged about it a couple of days ago on Tote Bags 'n' Blogs.

And in case you're wondering why I opened this post with a picture of a cake, it's because Susan Mallery treated us to this amazing cake--no, not exactly like the one above, but similar--in honor of her making the New York Times Bestseller list three weeks in a row! Yay, Susan! And great cake! It was fondant on the outside, guanache (However you spell that. Paz?) beneath the fondant and layers of this amazing fudge cake and this chocolate-chip icing. Indescribable. Yummo.

But now I'm back home and the cake is only a delicious memory.

Today, I've been cleaning up my office and going through my emails--so fun to touch base with everyone. Had a lot of emails on my return, as my brilliant webmistress, Miss Shelley, had sent out an epostcard to my mailing list about Valentine's Secret Child, which is hitting stands as I write this. And that reminds me, if you're not on my list and want to get epostcards when I have a new book out, go to my website, click on the Mailing List link...and sign up!

And tomorrow, it's back to Tanner's book, which I will be finishing by mid-February as my totally wonderful editor gave me a much-needed two-week extension. Yay! Fangirl, at left, is as always, totally thrilled for me.

I do love fangirl. She's never less than utterly enthusiastic. So...back to my emails. Just wanted to let y'all know I'm thinkin' of you.

Two Hunks...

2008-01-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

...to amuse you while I'm screaming here in deadline hell. And I know, I know, it's not as if I wasn't perfectly aware that this would happen. See my post of 12/18....

Yes. It's truly sad to be so predictable.

But on to more interesting subjects.

Okay, maybe JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE. But not Jesse Metcalf. Please.

And about Matthew McConnaughey. Edgy, oh yes. But still a total hottie.

Hope you've all recovered from all that holiday fun. We've taken our tree down and de-holidayed the house. It's nice and...spare.

How about you? All the decorations put away yet, or do you prefer to extend the cheer well into the New Year?

And yes. I know. Back to work...

On the Threshold of 2008....

2007-12-31T08:40:00.000-08:00

....Okay, that sounds a bit ominous. I think I'll just go with:

Here's to bunches of happiness, success and love in the New Year. May all your resolutions stay firm--or, if not, may you let them go with grace and a smile. Oh, and good books! Here's to stacks and stacks of good books to read.

Today, I'm getting five nice pages done on Tanner's story. And tonight, to ring in the New Year, it's over to my friend Karyn's for bubbly and lobster. I'll raise a festive glass of champagne to each and every one of you.

Hapy 2008, everyone!

White Christmas!

2007-12-27T06:52:00.001-08:00

We had snow!

I tried to take an impressive picture, but...not so much.

Anyway, it drifted down in the most lovely way. And then it all melted before night came.

Having lived where the snow piles up and freezes solid on the walkways overnight--trust me. I'm happy with the show and then a nice, quick melt-away.

For dinner we had garlic-and-horseradish encrusted prime rib. Totally yummy. It was a wonderful day. I know yours was, as well.

Now it's back to my crushing workload...

But I'm smiling. A temporarily white Christmas, good food--and my family.

It doesn't get much better than that!

So how about yours? Did you have turkey? Ham? Beef?

Anything But Work. Please...

2007-12-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, I just don't feel like working. All right? I mean, I need to work. I should work. It's time for work...

But I don't wanna work.

I consulted Santa--as played by Yoda. He said, "Here, have a candy cane. And may the force be with you."

Thanks a bunch, Santa.

Last year, I had a 12/28 deadline. Now that was fun. Not. This year, I planned better. My deadline is February 1, '08. Plenty of time to write Tanner's story and enjoy the holidays.

And yet, here I am. Typing a sentence. Not liking it. Hitting the backspace button until, once again, I face a screen as blank as a field of new-fallen snow. And really, I think, I simply can't sit here one single minute longer.

So I get up to pour a fresh glass of iced tea--and find myself distracted by the burning need to hear White Christmas just one more time, to plug in the tree lights and bask in the seasonal glow. To wrap a few presents, make a holiday phone call or two.

Yes. It's true. I'm a Christmas junkie.

Should I simply resign myself? Should I accept the fact that, no matter how carefully I plan, I am destined to end up in January, sweating bullets, racing to meet a deadline that is suddenly upon me, bearing down on me, looming before me, undeniable. Terrifying. Implacable. And other words with more than three syllables.

By then, of course, I'm appalled that I didn't have the sense to spend my December more wisely.

What's a girl to do?

Work smart? Or give it up and get seriously festive and pay the price after the dawn of the New Year?

Festive is better. I mean, really. It's only once a year...

Ice Storm!

2007-12-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

...And no, I don't mean the movie with John Cusack.

I mean the real thing--36 hours without electricity and a whole bunch of beautiful trees cracking and falling, the sound like gunshots in the darkest part of the night.

It was bad, folks. But the power's back on now and helpful electric crews have come from Texas and Kansas and Missouri to get us back on track. Thank you, everyone who came to help out.

We needed it.

At my house, the power went out at 3:30 Monday morning. It came back on at about 3 Tuesday afternoon. Yikes! Outside during this time, temperatures hovered just around the freezing mark. We have gas heat--but the blower and temp. gauge won't work without electricity, so if the power goes out, we have no heat. We do have a gas stove, however. So I brought my portable Carbon Monoxide monitor from the bedroom and put it by the stove and turned on the burners. We sat in the kitchen to keep an eye on our improvised heat source. We burned candles for light when it got dark. And we went to be early. Really early.

Luckily, we have new windows and all new exterior doors and our house is well-insulated. So we were fine.

The sad part around here is that we lost several big, beautiful trees on our street. A couple of them landed on houses and vehicles. But everyone's fine now, at least in my neighborhood, so we count our blessings and pick up the piles of fallen limbs...and go on.

Tree limbs encased in a shiny, jewel-like coating of ice are so beautiful. Hard to believe they can do such terrible damage.

Great Review from Library Journal!

2007-12-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

Sally Hawkes, Harlequin/Silhouette author and Coordinator of Library Network Services in Arkansas sent me this review of VALENTINE'S SECRET CHILD, which will be out in February '08:

***

Library Journal(December 1, 2007; 0-373-24879-2; 978-0-373-24879-7)

Giving a slight Valentine's Day twist to the classic secret-baby plot, Rimmer (A Bravo Christmas Reunion) adds another family-centered sizzler to her popular "Bravo" series as single mom Kelly Bravo is reunited with her now-wealthy high school sweetheart, and this pair of emotionally scarred people struggle to forgive the past and, possibly, become a family in the process. Well-developed, sympathetic characters, complex emotional issues, and a delightful nine-year-old highlight this story that tugs at the heartstrings. One of Silhouette's most popular authors, Rimmer lives in Oklahoma. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

***

Wahoo, that's a nice one! Thanks much, Sally. And thanks to Library Journal, too!

To the left? That's fan-girl from the old Deadline Diaries blog. She's really happy for me.

I'm Christine and I'm a fake tree virgin...

2007-12-05T10:56:00.001-08:00

Okay, the picture doesn't do this tree justice. Maybe I should try taking a pic at night...

But I love it! It's way real-looking, but still perfect in the way of artificial trees. When lit, though this doesn't show up in the picture, it looks like it's got snow on the boughs and there are little pinecones tucked on the ends of the branches. So cute! So easy! Just snap it together, open and fluff the branches, hang the ornaments and plug it in.

I keep feeling as if I should water it...

But there is no watering when it comes to artificial trees.Yeah, yeah. I know this all falls under the category of "Uh, duh..."

But for a fake tree virgin, it's new and fresh and gorgeous. And easy. Did I mention easy...?

The agony of real tree presentation is behind me now. No more hunting the dang thing down, hauling it home sticking out of the trunk, cutting the trunk again so it will drink water, dragging it inside, trying to get it straight in the stand--with water splashing everywhere. No more spending 3 hours-plus just getting the lights on right (Not to mention, working. What is it about Christmas lights? You put them away and they're all working, you get them out, you test them: still working. You laboriously lace them on the tree...not working. Argh) No more hanging the ornaments myself because by the time the lights are up, everyone else has become totally bored and wandered off. This year DH hung ornaments with me. Moments to treasure...oh, my, yes!

No more watering the dang thing every morning. No more worrying the water will spill and damage the floor...

No more falling pine needles to clean up.

Oh, yes. I love my new tree.

But I think I already said that.

Have your put your tree up yet?

Happy Holidays!

2007-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

So I've spruced up the blog colors a little in honor of the season.

I've finished IN BED WITH THE BOSS. Soon I'll be on to Tanner Bravo's story, THE MARRIAGE EXPERIMENT.

But for right now, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving tomorrow--a favorite holiday because it's about being with those I love and good food!

I'm so thankful this year--for my wonderful family and my health and the joy of writing stories about love and fulfillment. I'm thankful for Tom and Ed, my cats who love and support me no matter what.

And I'm thankful for you, my friends and readers.

Have a great one!

Deep in Deadline Hell, but had to post this...

2007-11-12T06:45:00.001-08:00

Some of you may recall the Bravos of New Bethlehem Flat, CA. There was Buck, Brand, Brett and Bowie. All but Bowie have had their stories, starting with BRAVO UNWRAPPED at Christmas 2005 and ending with FROM HERE TO PATERNITY in May of this year. Brett's story, MARRIED IN HASTE, was even a RITA finalist this year.

Why not Bowie, you may well ask? And my friend Hazel has, repeatedly. I try to explain that Bowie has beaucoup issues--he's an alcoholic with poor impulse control, a woodsman not quite ready to come out of the trees. He's just not hero material. Yet. But I promise. His day will come. Eventually....

In the meantime, Hazel just couldn't resist creating her own cover for Bowie's book. She was kind enough to send it on to me.

I know, I know. Whataguy!

New Cover!

2007-11-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

Just clicked the link to the VALENTINE'S SECRET CHILD page on Barnes&Noble.com and found...voila. The cover.

I like it--I mean, the general feel of it. He's a little too nice-looking (no, I don't mean good-looking, I mean "Nice" as in a nice guy). Mitch Valentine, the hero, is not nice.

Then again, this a representation of a scene from the book, where they kiss on the street outside a restaurant just before she delivers the big news that...

Well, given the title, I'm sure you've guessed the news she delivers. ;) Until she hits him with that life-altering bit of serious info, Mitch is nice. But afterward? Not so much.

And okay, her hair? Not exactly. She's supposed to have a sleek gamine cut and her look is sort of retro cool. I pictured her as looking like Maggie Gyllenhaal here:

OTOH, she does sort of look like Maggie Gyllenhall here:

So all is not lost, not by any means. And well, yes, on the cover, her hair looks kind of red. Kelly's (the heroine's) hair is not red.

But as a long-time author with over sixty covers and counting, this one is not bad. Not bad at all.

So I'm happy.

What do you think?

Oh, and one other bit of news. I have a title for my July '08 Special Edition, which will be kicking off the Back in Business continuity. It's In Bed With the Boss--and she is! And I love it. Yes, it's very Presents-ish and maybe a touch Desire-ish. And that's just fine with me!

What's up....

2007-10-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well, figured I'd better drop in here with an update. It has so been a while!

I'm working away on a new continuity called Back in Business for Special Edition. My book has no title yet, but it's sort of a...corporate espionage story. Not really the kind of thing I usually do, which of course, only makes it more interesting! I'm hoping for the title Boardroom Confidential, but my editors get the final say, so...we'll see. :)

After Back in Biz? Why more Bravos, of course. I'm going to be writing the last in a three-book miniseries within my Bravo Family Way series. Two sisters and a brother, children of bad Blake Bravo, who all grew up in foster care with each having no idea the others existed!

The first, Hayley's story, is out at the end of November: A Bravo Christmas Reunion. Follow the title link back to my site for a book description and a link to the first chapter. After Hayley, in February '08, Kelly's story, Valentine's Secret Child. Okay, that's kind of a fizzle of a link, since there's not much info up on that book yet. But it's there so you can preorder at B&N if you want. And finally, in October '08, Tanner's story, The Marriage Experiment. No link at all on that one, as I haven't even written it yet.

The Back in Business story will be out in July '08, so as you can see, there's a bunch coming up. And I have more lined up even after the October '08 book, but I'll get into that later. If you're really curious, read my blog entry of September 12 to see what else I'm cooking up. But enough, already, for now.

Hope everyone is having a lovely fall, with crisp, cool mornings and sunny afternoons. For anyone in Southern California in this tough time of terrible fires, I hope you are well and getting through the worst with family and home intact.

I'm Baaaack!

2007-09-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

Back from plot group, I mean, with two new, beautiful stories to write for you. Can't wait to get started on them! Both will be on the stands in 2009. Yeah, it's a while from now. But there's plenty coming up in the meantime.

Starting with this month's reissue of Midsummer Madness. I'm blogging about MM today on Tote Bags 'n Blogs. Click the link and check it out.

Hope you're all having a great September, getting lots of reading done and enjoying your first taste of fall.

A Peek into My Process...

2007-09-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Yikes. That sounds totally scary. Like looking in my head. And trust me on this. You really don't want to be in here. I'm used to it. I even like it sometimes, being in my head. But you know...it's taken me a lifetime of work to be in here with my mind and make sure we both get along...

Oh, and before I start? I simply must share the cover for my December Special Edition, A BRAVO CHRISTMAS REUNION. I don't have back cover copy yet, so suffice to say, there's a family reunion--at Christmas. And the h and H are reunited. And just in time, too.

As you can see, she's just about to have that baby....

I really love this cover as he looks like Viggo Mortensen and she looks so sexy and pretty and very, very pregnant. Which she actually is in the book--8 months pregnant, I mean. :)

Anyway, so I'm about to head to Las Vegas to plot books with my fellow-authors. Three days, five authors, ten stories. Oh, yes! Here's what I sent my plotmates about the two stories I'll be brainstorming. Those of you who were fans of the long-ago Jones family, take heart! I'm bringin' back the Joneses for at least one book in January, 2009!

Oh, and if you find the below totally boring, don't worry. I'll let you know when the actual books come out and you can read them. Much more interesting, I promise.

Here we go...

I’M PLOTTING TWO SPECIAL EDITIONS:

Family background. Nine siblings: seven sons and two daughters. This is a new branch of my ongoing Bravo family. Grandchildren of James Bravo, they are the children of Davis and Aleta Bravo. Texas setting. I think the San Antonio area.

Family is in real estate, land and property development and all connected businesses: builders, architects, property law, decorating, designing. There’s a family ranch, 20-40 miles away from San Antonio, where the nine kids were raised.

Bravos in these six books will be:
Asher
Gabriel
Matthew
Luke
Caleb
Jericho
Joshua
And their sisters: Abilene and Zoe. I’m also seeing an illegitimate daughter, result of Davis’s affair with a gorgeous, brilliant Mexican-American woman,a woman who is still alive and runs a successful real estate office.

BOOK I: TERESA (TESSY) JONES, 27, AND ASHER (ASH) BRAVO, who could be any age from late twenties to mid-30’s.

Setting this first book in the tiny gold rush town of North Magdalene, Sierra Mountains, California. Idea is to have the first Bravo in this series come to the heroine’s world, then the second book will take place in the main setting for the series, the San Antonio area.

Story thoughts: All I’m really seeing on this one is it’s a “stranger in town” story. Ash is the stranger. Could be amnesia?? Could be she nurses him back to health somehow…Could be he’s there to do damage to/get revenge on someone she loves. Could be he’s here to get his kid, whom she’s somehow adopted??? Not a secret baby.

Story takes place in January—winter; snow, after the holidays…

BACKGROUND:
Book I is for Jan ’09 release to kick off a Special Edition anniversary program called FIRST FAMILIES, one a month through ’09. These will be the popular fictional families of various Special Edition authors. For this special promotion, I’m bringing my two “biggest” families, the Joneses and the Bravos, together for this.

ABOUT TESSY: Teresa was a main secondary in SWEETBRIAR SUMMIT, which came out in 1994. (!) She was then 12. Here’s what I have on her from back then: Teresa (Tessy) Jones: 12. Big for her age. Very prim. Going through a religious phase; considering joining the Catholic Church to be a nun. Hazel eyes. blond hair, fears she is fat. She has a bold tomboy sister, Marnie, who is a few years younger. Tessy’s best friends as a child were Tammy Rice and Alicia Brown—who could both appear in this book. I’m thinking Teresa is now a teacher at North Magdalene Public School. Primary grades? High School? Could be she’s divorced and recently moved back home from Southern California.

Lots of Jones characters can show up in this, but I have to include the meddling, overbearing, philosophizing old matchmaking patriarch, Oggie Jones, Tessy’s grandfather who is determined that all his children and their children find love and happiness. He’s in his early 90’s, but still frisky. (Let’s just say ageless) Former bar owner; rarely shaves; smokes cigars; wears suspenders.

ABOUT ASHER: Not much; a stranger in town. Mostly, must differentiate him from Gabe in Book II. I see Asher as living in Texas; in the family business, not a wanderer or mercenary, while Gabe could be either. He could be some kind of celebrity: in sports or a rock star or something, so maybe he doesn’t live in Texas now but he’s very much a part of the family there.

BOOK II: GABRIEL BRAVO AND MARY SECREST

(Takes place in Texas, at the Bravo ranch there near San Antonio and probably in San Antonio)

Gabe’s six brothers were all in love with Mary. As was Gabe’s best friend, Justin Secrest. Mary was in love with Gabe—and he with her. But he was settling-down shy (issues with his father, maybe? Wanted to make his own way? Wild?) and always gone, always seeking the next rainbow. Finally, Mary split with him. Some time later, she married his best friend, Justin Secrest. (deep down she was still in love with Gabe, but she wanted a family and she really did like Justin; J adored her and always knew he was second choice) Now she’s pregnant with Justin’s baby and Justin is dead. (how?)

Gabe returns. Does he blame Mary for Justin’s death? Does he just want to take care of her, settle down now with her and her dead husband’s kid, which she’s so not buying?

***

That's it. Totally confused? Me, too. But in a fun way. I love to go to plot group and see what shakes out.

Relaxing in Napa

2007-08-14T12:45:00.001-07:00

Picture me and my wonderful husband in the California wine country for five lovely days. That would be the two of us at left. On the patio of the Mumm winery (bubbly, anyone? Yum!). Our wine guide, Vicki, took the picture. So fun!

We stayed in this lovely old Bed and Breakfast, the Beazley House, on First Street in the heart of Napa. Tasty breakfasts and the world's best chocolate chip cookies available 24/7!

Here's one looking out over the Napa Valley. Love the misty light on the vineyards.

Totally enjoyed myself and I'd go back in a minute--well, if I didn't have all these books to write, that is!

Hope you're all having a terrific summer!

Me and Jacquie D'

2007-07-30T08:54:00.001-07:00

The lovely Jacquie D'Alessandro. Gorgeous and so talented. To the RITAs, she wore the cutest fairy-princess ballerina-style dress and carried a stuffed-toy alligator purse.

Browsed around and found this one picture of the dress. Even from the back, it's amazing!

More Conference Pictures

2007-07-24T13:01:00.001-07:00

At the big Harlequin bash Friday night, with fellow OKRWA Outlaws, Deb Cowan and Linda Goodnight.

The infamous grassy knoll where some suspect a mystery assassin helped Oswald kill Kennedy--as seen from our hotel room's window.

Moi with lovely statuette from my Sacramento Valley Rose chapter.