Telling Stories

Redirecting You to My...

2007-06-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

...new blog home! Yes, I just had my website re-done and added my blog to it. It looks fab - go check it out!

Go here

And here's the address:

http://www.karenwritesromance.com/blog/

If you would be so kind to update your blogroll with my new blog addy, I would love you forever. I might even give you a smooch too. Or maybe even a child of mine...

Whoops, didn't mean to say that last one. Hee hee.

I Did It

2007-06-02T11:09:00.001-07:00

Yes I did, I got my nose pierced last night. I went out to dinner with my friend Mars and then we went to a grungy little tattoo shop and I did the deed.

Okay excuse the kinda crappy picture - I took it late last night and I was tired. And yes that's dried blood around the stud. Gross, I'm sorry. It's all clean right now but I personally look trashed. So no piccys today. I swear I'll take a better one later.

On another note, you need to go check out the video on our Naughty & Spice blog. It's freaking hilarious. Just don't watch it if you're easily offended by foul language and sexual content. Heh heh heh...

Ok Come Visit Me!

2007-05-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Over at the Naughty & Spice blog today. I'm talking about T&A. Yeah, you read right, T&A...

Naughty & Spice!

2007-05-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yay it's here!

I've joined a new group blog and our first post is up today! Check out what Shelli Stevens has to say about romance (click the banner to go straight to the blog).

I'm a Tease...

2007-05-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

Something new is coming - something fun and naughty and spicy. I'm a part of it and I can't wait to tell you about it but...not yet. It's a secret.

Though it won't be a secret for long.

Hee hee hee.

I'm Flirtin' It Up

2007-05-25T07:42:00.001-07:00

Over at the Word Flirts today. Talking about goals and stuff.

Check it out...

New Cover!

2007-05-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the hot cover for my new book Covet, coming in June from ...Amber Quill Press ~ Amber Heat.

Jenny is used to getting what she wants but the one thing she covets the most is the seemingly unattainable Tyrone Holt.

A chance meeting between them leads to several sizzling encounters they both can’t forget. But neither of them “do” relationships. Will they make an exception to their own rules?

Thanks for the well wishes yet again - I'm feeling a ton better. Let's hope we have this house sickness beat!

Is There Something in the Air?

2007-05-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

That keeps making me sick? I swear, I've never been so consistently sick in my life! Just when I was getting better I got kicked in the ass again Thursday with a nice (not) stomach bug that my daughter had last week. I felt like I had to puke all day. Not a pleasant feeling.

So I slept. And slept and slept and slept. Did I mention that my husband was at work so I had the kids all by myself? Now daughter went to school for a few hours so youngest son and I took a little nappy. Then that afternoon daughter and I took a little nappy while youngest son played and watched TV.

Sigh...I feel better today. Almost but not quite 100%. I'm just sick of being sick. I'm sick of talking about being sick. I want to feel better, damn it!

Okay enough complaining. I hope everyone has a fab weekend!

Target Here We Come!

2007-05-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

We're tired of being in this house - we haven't gone anywhere in a week! So me and the kids are making a break for Target. I haven't been there since before I left for Houston - almost a month! I'm having Target withdrawals!

The kids are begging for McDonald's for lunch - blech. We'll see.

Happy Monday to all!

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Wanted to thank everyone for the well wishes. We finally all feel relatively normal - being sick is a pain in the ass! Especially when we all just pass it back and forth to each other.

I wanted to wish all of the mothers out there Happy Mother's Day! Doing anything special? I'm not. I wish I was. Oh, well. At least I don't have to cook dinner.

Check me Out Over at the...

2007-05-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

...Word Flirts today. I'm finally doing that thing that everyone tagged me to do. Sorry it took me so long. We've been miserable and sick at my house all week! Yeah, you don't wanna be me, trust me.

I'd rather be out having a couple of drinks like these chicks than hang out here at my house!

Second Chances Now Available

2007-05-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

My book Second Chances is now available at Cobblestone Press.

Widow Abby McKay is ready to make a change in her life. Eric Walsh needs to get healthy or he won’t be around to even live his life. When they meet, the attraction is undeniable. But one careless night will change their lives forever…

Back from Houston

2007-05-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I'm back and I believe I feel fully recovered. What a crazy time! I met some wonderful people, had more than a few good drinks and saw some crazy costumes! RT is definitely an experience, lemme tell ya.

I stole these pics from other people - some of my favorites. I took a few myself but I still need to load them onto the laptop! I'm so lame.

R.G. Alexander, me and Eden Bradley

Kate Douglas, Lena Austin, R.G., Feisty and me

In bed with Eden Bradley. Aren't you jealous? You should be!

Me and Feist as fairies. We're cute. She did my hair.

Eden Bradley, Kristen Painter and Feisty all about to feed on me. A bunch of Diva Vamps! Scary!

R.G., Jax Crane, Eden, Feisty and me at the Moulin Rogue night. I now have these pics out of order. This was the first night's party. My bad.

Headed to Houston

2007-04-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well I pretty much blew off the entire month of April didn't I? I don't even have an excuse - I've been busy but doing what? Well, the last few days it's been busy in preparation for my trip to the Romantic Times Convention but other than that, I have no idea what's been keeping me busy. Not like I've been writing much (insert crying face here).

So I wanted to wish everyone bon voyage. If you're going to Houston, I hope to see you there! If you're not, I wish you were. I'm giving away a goody bag of some items I receive at RT to one lucky member of my newsletter. If you're not a member, what are you waiting for! Scroll down and you'll see the little box to enter your email address in. If you don't want to do it that way, send me an email with "Newsletter" in the subject line to karen @ karenwritesromance.com (minus spaces).

Wonder if I'll see any cowboys while I'm there?

Visit Me

2007-04-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Over at the Word Flirts today. I'm talking about staying original...

The pic is just for some weekend inspiration. Hee hee hee.

Break Over

2007-04-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Did everyone have a nice Easter? Ours was wonderful - we had great weather, we spent all of our time outside (which kept the house clean - yay!) and the kids had a blast. I'm sharing pics of my youngest munchkins on the Easter egg hunt. There were a lot of eggs to be found - it was like a blood bath fighting over them!

My life is hectic, trying to get my house in order, trying to get everything together before I go to the Romantic Times Convention in Houston. I'm so excited - but so overwhelmed! I need to make lists, lots of lists...

Spring Break!

2007-04-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

The kids are home, the parentals are visiting, I'm on vacation! I hope everyone has a great week and hope you're able to enjoy some beautiful spring weather!

Madness

2007-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

So...I was a crazy mama treking her children all over Saturday and Sunday. I live in a "mountain community," which translates to, "neighbors who live far far away." My daughter had a birthday party to attend to so I drove her over to her friend's house Saturday afternoon.

After driving for almost thirty (!!) minutes we finally got there. Man! Then I went grocery shopping, turned around and went back to get her. Talk about a drive.

Then Sunday I went down into Fresno to see my friend's new house. Beautiful. Great neighborhood. Kids had a good time playing with her kids, though all four of them were whiny. Gotta love the two to four age group, huh?

Anyway, looking around her neighborhood, the proximity to everything made me wish for a moment that I lived in the city. In a nice neighborhood where it takes me five minutes to get to Starbucks, ten minutes to get to Target, etc. Where the kids could walk to school. Where they could walk to their friend's house to play (versus a thirt minute drive!).

But then I saw the neighbor's kid peeking through a hole in the fence spying on us, and the dog yapping in the other neighbor's yard. How we had to talk quietly so no one could hear us if we were talking about said neighbor, and how we had to shush the kids when they got too loud.

At my house you can talk loudly about anyone you want, they're not gonna hear you. And my kids can whoop and holler all day long, no one is going to get mad. Well, maybe except for me. Ha ha.

So I guess I'm not ready for city living. Yet.

Authors who Rock

2007-03-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with two authors (oh please I'm in love with a TON of authors but these are my two faves at this very moment).

First up is Jill Monroe. Her HQ Blaze book Hitting the Mark is fabulous, one of the best Blazes I've read in a while. Talk about sexual tension - yum yum. And her blog is fun to visit too.

She had a contest a while back and I entered, and I won! So now I have two gift certificates waiting to be spent, one at B&N (pffft, gone in an instant) and one at iTunes (need to think on this one). Whoo hoo, can't wait!

But really, go out and buy Hitting the Mark. It's fab. Really.

Okay, and I'm also in love with Jami Alden. Her Kensington Aphrodisia book A Taste of Honey - oh my gosh! I sat on the couch this morning, ignored my children and read the second novella (it's an anthology about three sexy brothers) in one sitting! It was awesome. I'm still glowing, like it happened to me or something (that Nick is dead sexy).

Sigh...I can only hope to write good enough books that make a reader sit and read it in one sitting. Make her sigh when she finishes it and wish she was the heroine. Damn, that's good stuff.

Add these books to your TBB list if you like them contemporary, hot and sexy!

Writing News

2007-03-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

So...thanks to the convincing of Ms. Lillian Feisty (and she didn't have to convince me much at all, trust me), we're going to the RT Convention! Oh my gosh! There's so much I need to do to get ready for this thing! I still can't even believe I'm going!

But it sounds like it's gonna be fun. And exhausting. Have you seen these parties? Have you heard of these costume balls? I'm freaking out just thinking about it!

In other news, I sold a short story to The Wild Rose Press! I don't have many details, but watch for A Taste of Revenge coming out soon!

Also, Passionate Ink's April workshop is coming up soon and it's gonna be a good one.

Theme and Scene

Date : April 16-22, 2007
Presented by : Alicia Rasley
Cost : $10 (PI Members) and $15 (Non-PI Members)

Theme is the glue that holds your story together. But it’s also an aid to developing meaningful scenes that connect with your story’s emotional arc. This workshop can help you enhance your story’s drama and
- determine your theme
- discover the motifs your subconscious snuck in there
- use parallelism and the “theme dialectic” to structure your scene progression
- use the motifs to develop important scenes
Theme is generally considered a complex issue, studied in all college lit courses, but in this workshop, you’ll discover its practical uses for improving the story you’ve started.

Go here for more information.

Mad Shopping

2007-03-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

So I took my oldest son out shopping Saturday for his birthday. Actually his birthday is today but you know, he's in school in all...

Anywho, he wanted a digital camera. He's always hogging ours and driving us crazy so his grandmas gave him money and we gave him money - and he got a super cool camera.

It's so super cool now I want it! It's tiny, it's a Sony, and it's 7.1 megapixels. It takes the best pictures! He's really been into photography lately so he went outside all weekend and took tons of photos. They turned out great. Mom is green with jealousy - she wants that camera.

Cos he's nice we also went to Pottery Barn, where I could've bought out the entire store for my house. They had so much beautiful stuff! I love to shop, it's an addiction, I know it and I get caught up in the frenzy. My brain starts overloading as I think, "I want that, that, that, THAT!" It's ridiculous.

So tell me - you like shopping or no? Live for it, love it or find it a complete pain in the butt?

Spontaneous Cover!

2007-03-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

I received this cover in my inbox a few minutes ago. Doesn't it rock? The lovely Ann Cain did it - she's wonderful.

This book is a part of Samhain's Midsummer Night's Steam anthology, and Spontaneous will be released August 24th.

Here's the blurb:

Sophie Kincaid doesn’t want to be attracted to her boss but she is. Sick and tired of being used by men, she’s sworn off of them. But her hot and now slightly drunk boss just became too hard to resist.

His girlfriend dumped him and now Ian Grey is drowning his sorrows in alcohol, something he never does. Flirting with Sophie the sexy bartender inspires him to do even more things he’d never consider. Like have hot sex with her in the storage room.

They can’t deny their attraction for each other but Sophie’s afraid she doesn’t measure up. And what does Ian want from her anyway? She’ll have a naked good time figuring it out…

Thursday Thirteen #2

2007-03-22T00:14:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things Driving Me to Boycott American Idol

1. Sanjaya
2. Paula's drunken/weird behavior & and her jangling jewelry
3. Poor song choices (after six seasons I don't know why this still happens)
4. People being booted when they SHOULDN'T (don't get my started about last night)
5. Sanjaya
6. It's all fake - ALL OF IT
7. Ryan Seacrest and his teasing/drawing out of the results - aaah!
8. The blatant Coke promotion via the cups facing outwards at ALL TIMES
9. Sanjaya
10. Cheesy Ford commercials
11. When they all sing a la the Brady Bunch at the beginning - blech
12. Guest judges (oh just stop using them! Please!)
13. Sanjaya (Tell me why he's still there people!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'm Back

2007-03-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

The kids and I went to my parents' house this past weekend (hubby is away on business) and we drove back yesterday. Man those trips are just too fast. I wish my parents lived closer so my kids could see them more. And the weather was wonderful but today it's cloudy and raining off and on. Weird!

I have nothing much to say. How boring am I? I've been reading The Secret which has been interesting. I don't necessarily believe everything it says but there's nothing wrong with a little positive thinking. It gives you a better outlook on life and helps you to believe in yourself better.

Of course according to The Secret, all you have to do is think about something (wanting it, etc.) and it'll happen. I don't believe that - you have to take ACTION in order to get what you want. You can't just sit around and wait for something to happen to you.

So yeah I've been on a positive thinking kick. And I should be on a "clean the house" kick but that doesn't sound like much fun...

Okay I've rambled on enough. Come back on Thursday for another Thursday Thirteen list. They're fun! You should do one too.

Flirtin Friday!

2007-03-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

I'm over at the Word Flirts today! Come check me out...

Thursday Thirteen

2007-03-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I'm Lucky to Have in My Life

1. My husband
2. Oldest
3. Middle
4. Youngest (Ok, my 3 kids, I didn't want to lump them all together!)
5. My family
6. My friends (without them I'd go crazy)
7. My writing (without it I WOULD be crazy)
8. My health (though I really need to lose weight, really)
9. My house in the country (it's peaceful, for the most part)
10. Diet Coke (I'm addicted - glad it's there to fulfill my needs)
11. My eyesight (so I can read - and write - though does that fall under health?)
12. My car (I love my VW Passat!)
13. Chocolate (Enough said)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Do You Trust Your Characters?

2007-03-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

So I'm taking this workshop on voice at Access Romance, which the wonderful Sasha White is instructing. I'm totally stealing this from her week three topic which is about trusting your characters.

Whether you're a plotter or a pantster, have you ever been writing furiously and your characters do something totally unexpected? Something that made you sit back and go, "Whoa, where did that come from?" Have you just went with it, allowing them in a sense to take you where they want to go (trusting them) or have you deleted it, feeling like it's the wrong direction?

I've done both. I'm a total pantster - I don't plot much because I feel it stifles my creativity. Now, if I'm mid-point in a story and not sure which way to go next I will sit down with a notebook and pen (that's what works best for me) and write it out. Wait a minute I'm going off topic...

Anywho, I've had characters do or say something totally unexpected and I'm off. Off in another direction that's so exciting I can barely stand it. The story ended up being completely different than what I "sorta" planned but that's okay. It works. I listened to my characters, trusted them and let them show me what they wanted.

I've also had my characters get it wrong - at least to me. I've listened to them, went off in their preferred direction and realized halfway through I'm writing complete crap. As painful as we all know it is, I hit the delete button, got rid of the drivel they told me was perfect and started fresh.

Sometimes there's trusting your characters and then there's letting your characters run all over you.

I've also not listened to my characters, wrote what I wanted to write and realized that it was total crap too. Should've listened to them, I guess.

I sound like an out of control psycho who lets the "voices in her head" tell her how to write and I guess that's kinda true. But I have a feeling my fellow writers will understand.

Oh, man, I hope so.

This picture has nothing to do with any of this, I just thought it was funny.

Oh the Madness

2007-03-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

So we had Daylight Savings Time start here on the worst possible day. My husband had to fly out for business, and had to leave the house at 4:15 in the morning. Which technically since the time changed is really 3:15. Arggggghhhh....

Luckily enough I didn't have to drive him all the way to the airport, which would've entailed dragging the children out of bed, etc. Not fun. I only had to drive him to the top of our road where he was picked up by a coworker who drove him to the airport.

Of course, I came home and was wide awake. So I read until six and finally fell asleep until the kids woke me up at eight. Which technically was really seven but you know what I mean.

Don't you hate it when the time changes? I wish I lived in Arizona - they don't do that crap. Oh wait, neither does Hawaii - I wished I lived in Hawaii. A few years ago I was there when Daylight Savings Time ended but it didn't matter. How cool is that?

Sigh - yet another reason to add to my long list as to why I should live in Hawaii.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Changing Up My Blog

2007-03-08T15:18:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've decided I need to blog more and I need to set up some sort of schedule. Last night I brainstormed it and came up with these ideas:

~ Madness Monday: Recapping crazy events of the past week whether it be something personal or professional (most likely personal 'cos my children are always doing something crazy). I'll try to make it funny, I swear.

~ Writing Wednesday: Writing related topic. Maybe a good article I read or even something I came up with myself. Whatever, it's all about writing.

~ Author Friendly Friday: I'm going to talk about a book I read by someone I know or by someone I want to know 'cos they're just so damn cool.

I'm also going to try (emphasis on try) to blog on my myspace page on Tuesday and Thursday. Hey have you been to my myspace page? Are you my friend? Well what are you waiting for you haven't? Come check me out here.

Edited to add ~ I'm going to do the Thursday Thirteen meme. I don't know if I'm interesting enough to list 13 facts about me week after week but I'm gonna give it a go.

Hope you have a

weekend!

Trying Something New

2007-03-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

So...I'm working on a novella that is more sensual than anything (though it's still pretty hot - heh heh heh). A little more descriptive, mysterious setting, recluse hero. Yeah, it's totally different than anything I've ever written.

No funny bits whatsoever. I've written a few that are going to be published that aren't funny (Spontaneous at Samhain, Covet at Amber Quill) but this one is my darkest yet. The hero is tormented, the heroine is a spoiled brat. He'll make her appreciate the small things in life and she'll bring him out of his self-imposed prison.

Wow, sounds pretty intense huh? Now I just gotta finish the thing! I gave up on it a few weeks ago, worked on a revision and some other stuff but last night I started to have at it again. We'll see how it works out.

I'm wondering if any of you are stretching your wings and trying something new this year? I feel doing this pushes me as a writer, which is a good thing.

A Contest - Yay!

2007-03-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

Are you feeling lucky?

In celebration of my book So Lucky, coming out March 16th at Cobblestone Press, I'm giving away a beautiful pendant - a genuine four leaf clover frozen in white acrylic polyresin along with a silver chain.

Just send an email to karen @ karenwritesromance.com (minus the spaces) with "Feeling Lucky" in the subject line and you're entered!

But hurry - I'm closing the contest on Saturday, March 10th, so I can get the necklace in the mail in time for Saint Patrick's Day!

I Won!

2007-02-28T22:51:00.000-08:00

I entered my story Covet into the Amber Quill Press Amber Heat Wave contest and I won!

Whoo hoo I can't believe it! I wasn't even going to enter, I did it on a total whim. I wrote the story in a matter of days - I don't even know what inspired me but it just poured out.

Party time! Yay!!!

Workshops

2007-02-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Since I'm the Passionate Ink workshop coordinator assistant, I wanted to tell you about the upcoming workshop we're hosting.

Aim High, Shoot Straight: Setting and Achieving Your Writing Goals
Date : March 19-25, 2007
Presented by : Kara Lennox
Cost : $10 (PI Members) and $15 (Non-PI Members)

If you want to write but you can’t seem to get motivated or find the time, or if you’re writing but not getting where you want to be in your career, if you’re jumping from project to project without a clear focus, this workshop is for you. Veteran author Kara Lennox will present her plan for focusing in on what you really want from your writing career, then show you how to formulate concrete, achievable goals and develop a step-by-step plan for achieving them. She’ll also show you how to form your own “dream team” and manage your time and your fears. Learn proven problem-solving techniques and tips for staying motivated. This is a workshop for serious writers who are committed to success–however you define success.

For more information please go here.

In other workshop news, I won a spot in Sasha White's upcoming workshop at Access Romance! I'm so excited - I really enjoy Sasha's books and can't wait to hear what she has to say about voice.

Wonder if she'll do a workshop for Passionate Ink...tee hee hee.

So what do you look for in a workshop? What topics do you enjoy most? Opinions would be much appreciated.

Wow!

2007-02-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was such a productive writing day! We did write-offs over at Romance Divas, and overall I wrote around 2,500 words for the day. Awesome! I need to do the write-off thing more often - it helps my word count a lot.

So after all that writing, I was cruising the internet and found a review for Fairies & Wishes! It received Five Angels!!! I almost screamed out loud but I didn't want to wake up the house.

"Fairies & Wishes is a sassy, sexy holiday read. The idea of giving someone who is hurting a reason to love again is wrapped together with some unique fairy power. As this story unfolds, you’ll catch yourself feeling for Tim and rooting for him to see beyond the physical and uncover his emotions. Lily is a puzzling combination of naïveté and passion, and her eventual plight is very real and well written. Nothing will warm your heart quite like this little Christmas story! Five Angels!"

You can read the rest of the review here.

Just Shoot Me

2007-02-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

I'm such a bad blogger! I haven't blogged in nearly a week! I'm terrible.

Nothing much new here. Children have been sick with a fever inducing, achy/cranky sometimes pukey virus. That's been loads of fun. We finally got the HDTV satellite so our new big screen TV is in its full HD-quality glory. That makes the husband happy.

After a too-long writing break I'm back at it again. Revising a manuscript that I call my little lost story so I can resubmit it to my publisher. It needed work, the poor thing had been rejected a few times already and my editor was kind enough to point out the problems, make a few fantastic suggestions. It's coming along nicely. Yay!

Got a rejection yesterday. Boo. Also got three great reviews for three of my books from Jennifer at CK2S Kwips & Kritiques. Click on these links to check them out:

Haunted Dreams

Her Christmas Prince

Release Me

Please...

2007-02-16T07:47:00.000-08:00

Visit me at the Word Flirts today.

I'm talking about sex bay-bee.

Oh, and p.s. - You guys figured it out - they are Colby and Jack.

Happy Valentine's Day & Cheese

2007-02-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

So...y'all have been guessing and I'm feeling bad 'cos I haven't answered. So let me tell you this -

A couple of you came up with the right answer - Colby. The second cheese child is also a boy and all of the guesses are, thank goodness, not correct. So keep working. Keep guessing.

And have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Ten Weird/Random Things About Me

2007-02-13T11:23:00.001-08:00

Okay, I was tagged by Stacy, so here we go...

The rules are: Once you have been tagged you can't be re tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird random things, facts, or habits about yourself.

1. When I was 3, I stuck a bead up my nose. I even remember doing it. My grandma panicked, took me to emergency and then was thoroughly embarrassed when the doctor took a pair of tweezers and plucked the bead out in two seconds. The bead was green. I remember.

2. I'm addicted to Lifetime movies. The cheesier, the better. Gawd, I love that stuff.

3. I named two of my children after cheese and when I call for them in public, it's a little embarrassing. I didn't mean to, I swear.

4. I used to be addicted to candy conversation hearts (check those out in the pic above - I wanna find those!). I'd consume them, inhale them. I've cut back on the addiction. Only bought one bag this year. Of course, I can't find the brand I prefer so that helps.

5. I'm looking for the perfect hair product to make my hair perfect. I want it straight, I want it silky and I want it shiny. I've spent a lot of money on hair stuff and I've yet to find the pefect product to make my hair perfect. Damn it.

6. I own way too many pairs of sweat pants. Waaaay too many. And I own too much makeup. Considering I wear sweat pants every day, why do I have so much makeup? It makes no sense.

7. I just ate cake for lunch! Shame on me.

8. I wanted to marry Duran Duran when I was 14-15. Any member would've worked for me, but I was partial to Roger and Simon. In fact, I even wrote in countless notebooks the worst stories you've ever read in your life. About me and my friends marrying Duran Duran. I still have those notebooks.

9. My husband and I were married on Maui. And I want to go back. Baaaaaad.

10. My great-grandma was from France and she married my great-grandpa when he was stationed over there for WWI. She couldn't speak much English and he didn't speak French but they fell in love. Aw, isn't that romantic? I want to go to France and look up my relatives someday...

I'm not going to tag anyone else - if you want to do it, do it! Share those weird, random facts about yourselves. Please!

Join Us!

2007-02-11T23:40:00.000-08:00

Please join me and my fellow Silk's Vault author Adriana Kraft at eBookLove all day Monday! We'll be promoting our latest Silk's Vault releases His Valentine and Cherry Tune-Up, sharing excerpts and giving away free stuff!

Check out eBookLove here.

Hope you can join us!

His Valentine Now Available!

2007-02-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

It's out - it's available! My Valentine's Day themed book His Valentine. Here's the blurb --

Valentine Harris is in love. The only problem is, Gavin Kingston has been her best friend since they were teenagers. No way can she tell him how she feels! It’ll ruin their friendship, and she’ll lose him for sure. Now they’re both reeling from recent breakups, so there can’t be any harm in a friendly dinner together on Valentine’s Day—can there?

You can purchase it here.

Four Years Ago Today...

2007-02-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

My baby girl was born. Right around the time I'm posting this, too. She tortured me all day long with labor, the naughty girl.

It's hard for me to believe that much time has passed. I haven't worked a full time job in four years! Unbelievable! My life has changed so much since that day. But it's a day I'll never forget.

Happy Fourth Birthday Baby Girl!

Nothin' Going On

2007-02-05T10:06:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I've lived in the land of haze with this cold. It knocked me out for a week! I lost a week of my life over this thing! Yesterday was the first day I felt good all day. Didn't feel the need to lay down for a nap. Today I feel all right, too, though I have a headache.

My husband should be bringing home a new entertainment center for the big screen tv we bought. Yeah, we picked it up last week and it's been sitting in the garage. How sad is that? Haven't even been able to enjoy it! We don't know if we want to mount it on the wall or set it up in the new entertainment center. I'll keep you posted. Heck, I might even share pictures.

Haven't been writing, haven't really been doing anything. Except IMing with a few people every night. That's about it.

How's everyone else doing? Let me live vicariously through you.

Word Flirting Today

2007-02-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

I'm over at the Word Flirts blog talking about taking a break. Don't we all need a break?

Looks like this couple is going to take a niiiiiice break.

So Lucky

2007-01-31T15:06:00.000-08:00

(Click on cover for more info)

Shelli said it best - I'm the holiday writing whore. Let's see, I've written a Halloween one, two Christmas, a Valentine and now a Saint Patrick's Day themed-book. Crystal asked if Easter was next - I told her I didn't think so. Then she suggested Fourth of July. Not a bad idea...

Isn't this cover hawt? I got Andrei Claude, like that totally hot cover model who's everywhere! This is the sexiest cover I've had to date! Thanks Sable!

I'm Sick

2007-01-30T10:15:00.000-08:00

And I feel like crap. This has hit me really hard and all I can think about as I sit here and write this post is how I want to go back to bed. So I think I'm gonna.

The entire house is sick so it's a wonderful place to be. Help!

Tomorrow or Thursday I'll share my cover for So Lucky, a book coming out in March. It's hawt. Super hawt. Hee hee.

Where Have I Been?

2007-01-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't blogged in days. I've been busy. We made a grand purchase at Best Buy earlier this week (a big screen tv!) and we've been looking for an entertainment center.

I need to get my act together and organize something for my daughter's birthday. It's in two weeks - actually less than two weeks! Crap!

I sold something and I got a rejection. All within days of each other. Gotta love this business.

I'm in edits for TWO books. Aaaaaaahhhhhh...

I'm trying to write a synopsis and then submit it. OMG.

I need to write a proposal for a short story. And my brain is muddled cos I'm getting sick. A nice hacking cough. Yuck.

Going to register for Nationals today. Who all is joining me in the big "D" Dallas?

And I still haven't organized my new desk. Just a little tiny bit. Man...

His Valentine

2007-01-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

Check out my cover for my book His Valentine which comes out February 10th at Silk's Vault Publishing.

Pretty sex-ay, don't you think?

Passionate Ink Contest and Marky Mark!

2007-01-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Before I let you guys know about the Passionate Ink contest (which is a fantastic contest. The lovely Ms Shelli Stevens won last year and the lovely Ms Robin Rotham placed in it too) I just had to shout from the rooftops that freaking Marky Mark has been NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR.

I love it.

Mark how I love thee. Let me count the ways.

Erotic romance contest for pubbed/unpubbed

Stroke of Midnight
Sponsored by: Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA
Entry fee$15 PI members/$25 Non-PI members
Deadline: February 3rd, 2007

Make the first 35 pages of your novel so compelling that an editor has to have more!

Five Sizzling Finalists in Four Categories:

Contemporary - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in a contemporary setting. Includes series and single-title length romances. Can also include elements of romantic suspense/intrigue.

Historical- novels with erotic elements that focus on the developingromantic relationship in a historical setting.

Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting in the future, an alternate world/reality, or another planet. Includes elements such as elves/faerie, sword and sorcery, aliens, etc.

Paranormal/Time Travel - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting that includes elements of time travel, angels, vampires, werewolves or other paranormal themes.

All entries must be at least 25,000 words in their completed form. No novellas accepted.

Judging and Prizes:

The top five finalists in each category will be ranked by the following industry professionals:

Contemporary: Sulay Hernandez, Kensington Historical: Allison Brandau, Berkley Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi: Raelene Gorlinsky, Ellora’s Cave Paranormal/Time Travel: Rose Hilliard, St. Martin’s Press

Rules for Entry Eligibility:

Contest is open to all authors with unpublished, uncontracted full-length erotic romance manuscripts (at least 25,000 words) in the category they wish to enter.

Entry Deadline and Mailing:

February 3, 2007.

Email questions to Marie at strokeofmidnight @ passionateink.org. (without spaces)Enter online via the Online Stroke of Midnight Entry Form.
For more information please visit the Passionate Ink Webiste.
Web site: http://www.passionateink.org

Passionate Plume
Sponsored by: Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA
Entry fee$15 PI members/$25 Non-PI members
Deadline: February 3rd, 2007

The only published, all erotic romance award in RWA!

Five Sizzling Finalists in Five Categories:: Contemporary - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in a contemporary setting. Includes series and single-title length romances. Can also include elements of romantic suspense/intrigue.

Historical- Historical - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in a historical setting.

Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting in the future, an alternate world/reality, or another planet. Includes elements such as elves/faerie, sword and sorcery, aliens, etc.

Paranormal/Time Travel - novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting that includes elements of time travel, angels, vampires, werewolves or other paranormal themes.

Novellas - novellas of 25,000 words or less with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting. All novels entered must be at least 25,000 words in length. Novellas are considered 12,000 to 25,000 words. All entries must be at least 25,000 words in their completed form. No novellas accepted.

Judging and Prizes:

Five finalists will be judged by multi-published authors and reviewers. The decisions of judges are final.

Email questions to Karen at Passionateplume @ passionateink. org.(without spaces)

Entries must be received by February 3rd, 2007.

For more information please visit the Passionate Ink Website.
Web site: http://www.passionateink.org

My Weekend

2007-01-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

So as part of my new swear to get organized mantra, I bought a desk Saturday at Target and put it together all by myself. It's actually a modular desk. You buy separate cubes, a desk top and then you link it together. It looks great! Now I need to switch over all my stuff.

This is strictly my writing desk, all business. No one will be allowed to touch it. So there!

In other great news, I got my first review for Fairies & Wishes from Jennifer at CK2S Kwips and Kritiques - 4.5 Klovers! Here's my favorite part:

Fairies & Wishes by Karen Erickson is an absolutely delightful romantic tale! Although billed as a Christmas story, it can be enjoyed any time of the year, as far as I am concerned. Erickson spins a whimsical story of love and wishes come true that could not be more magical if she had sprinkled it with Fairy Dust!

Oh, yeah, I liked this part too -

Once I finished Fairies & Wishes, I went to look for more of Karen Erickson’s work. If her other stories are as entertaining as this one, she will soon be on my auto-buy list!

This review totally made my Sunday! You can read the rest of it here.

I'm Flirtin'!

2007-01-18T21:17:00.000-08:00

It's a flirtin' Friday kind of day. I'm talking about organizing my life. Exciting stuff.

For your enjoyment, a very sexy picture...

The Hermit Part 2

2007-01-16T07:25:00.000-08:00

So I'm still a hermit. A hermit who was forced out of her shell on Sunday afternoon to go to the MALL. Oh good lord in heaven, save me now!

I promised my eldest I would take him. After all, I am the one who bought him a gift card to his favorite store for Christmas. So I loaded up the kids and off we went.

Well, as I'm sure many of you have heard in the news, it's freaking cold in CA. And people who don't want to hang out outside go to other places, like the MALL. It was so busy! Packed! I'm not one prone to anxiety but I swear to god I got anxious! Gimme out of there! Luckily enough, I survived but just barely.

I have good news. My Valentine story, His Valentine, will be released with Silk's Vault Publishing on February 10th, which so happens to be my birthday. Hurray! I used to always have a heart cake for my birthday and I loved them! Now I get a hot book release for my birthay - yahoo!

Just Call Me a Hermit

2007-01-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

See that little guy? I feel like him right now - I've turned into a complete hermit.

All I want to do is stay home. Even taking a jaunt to my favorite spot in the whole wide world (Target anyone?) doesn't appeal. What's wrong with me?

I get this way sometimes. Don't want to deal with people, don't want to deal with taking the kids with me (a complete nightmare), don't want to deal with traffic. Just let me stay home with my kids and my cats and my internet and I'm fine, thank you very much.

I also believe this has something to do with Christmas after effects. All that shopping, all that running around wore me out, made me sick of it. I went to the grocery store yesterday - it was HELL. I told my oldest, "I just wanna go home!" I sounded like a little kid.

But I did find some super cool Valentine's coffee mugs at Starbucks (I have so many gift cards for there it's ridiculous) so that was good. Of course, our pipes are frozen and I don't have any water to make coffee so...waaaah.

Man Nipple

2007-01-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

You know I've lost my mind when I blog about man nipples. But I saw this pic when I was surfing for sexy pics (yeah, yeah, procrastinating, I know) and my first thought was, "Whoa, check out that man nipple!"

My second thought was, "Hey, I like her bra!"

See? I've lost my mind.

I'm Naughty

2007-01-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

Heh, you thought it would be something cool, right? Like I did something wicked and just so perverse I had to declare to the world that I'm naughty.

Sorry to disappoint, I'm just a naughty blogger. Can't seem to blog, don't know what to blog about. Just super busy writing my little life away, or cleaning house, or chasing children, or doing laundry.

How boooooring.

But that's okay. The writing is coming along so great, I'm feeling good! I hope this writing sprint lingers for a while. I need it!

So in the meanwhile, here's a naughty pic just for all of you. Maybe it'll give you a flash of inspiration...

Good News

2007-01-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've been called out by Jenna, wondering why I didn't make this announcement sooner.

I sold to Samhain Publishing a few days ago. My short story, Spontaneous, will appear in their "A Midsummer Night's Steam" anthology which will come out this summer.

I'm super excited by this. First of all, I love Samhain. Every book I've read from them I've enjoyed, and their covers rock, too. I'm also so glad this story is going to be published. The hero, Ian, is dead sexy. I lurrrved him when I was writing his and Sophie's story.

So there you go, my good news. My first week of 2007 has been fantastic. I hope this is an indicator of the entire year...

Follow Me...

2007-01-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm over at the Word Flirts today. And there's a hunky man pic waiting for you over there, too.

Edited to add: Blogger won't let me post anything on Word Flirts. Grr...I'll try again this afternoon.

Edited again: It's up now! :)

Release Me Receives 4 Stars from RT!!

2007-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Erickson's aptly named novella grips you from page one and never lets go. It combines well-developed characters with a modern and comedic plot. This speedy and light-hearted fireside read is sure to chase away the winter blues.

I knew this review was coming up and I was worried about it. What if they hated Release Me? After all, this is ROMANTIC TIMES. I've been reading this mag off and on for years. And lemme tell ya, I've read some scathing reviews in there. I would've died if they absolutely hated it.

But they didn't hate it. I was so excited by this review I had to share. Especially because this is my first book, the one that started it all.

Back to Normal

2007-01-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Whew! Doesn't it feel like you just went through about two weeks or so of insanity? Like you lost all control of your "normal" life and you just now got it back?

That's how I feel. Well, we still haven't taken down the Christmas decorations. My hubby promised the kids we'd go to the park so we're waiting till this afternoon to take them down. Then I'll finally get my house back!

I'm also on a purge mission throughout the house. I've cleaned the office, set up a makeshift desk for my laptop. The dining room table just isn't cutting it anymore. I'm tossin' toys, tossin' clothes, cleaning out the pantry. I'm a whirlwind of cleaning.

Anybody make resolutions for 2007? I don't do them cos I always feel like I'm setting myself up to fail. But I do have some goals - keep up the writing, sell more books, etc. I'm going to start working on a full length in February. I want to do a lot - we'll see if I can accomplish it.

Five, four, three, two, one...

2006-12-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

Have a SAFE one!

After Christmas

2006-12-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

My house is in chaos. There are toys everywhere. My children are spoiled rotten! I thought I had reined it in from last year but somehow they ended up with even more toys than usual. Of course grandparents and aunt and uncles add to the bounty...

Overall it was a great holiday but I'll admit it - I'm glad it's over. I love Christmas, don't get me wrong. Sometimes, I'm very sad when it comes and goes. Kind of like a Christmas let down.

This year, I enjoyed myself but now it's done. Let's move on. There are things I need to do. Organize the house (all of this new stuff needs a place), I have two deadlines I need to meet (aaaahh!), and I need to help plan a wedding I'm going to be in - that's going to be a month from today. In my hometown. Talk about short amount of time...I'm feelin' for the bride, my best friend.

So yeah, I have a busy January coming up. I think my bro and his wife and baby are coming to visit too. And then February is birthday month for me and my baby girl. It's endless. I need a break.

How was YOUR Christmas?

Scroll Down...If you Dare - This is for Robin!

2006-12-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

I'm over at the Word Flirts today but I had to post this pic first.

I told Robin about this picture a while ago, then I couldn't find it.

Well, I found it. And if you take offense to Santa in a, ahem, compromising position, then I recommend you DON'T read/scroll any further.

Without further ado, here's Santa's Christmas present:

Hmmm

2006-12-21T07:48:00.000-08:00

I had a hard time writing this post cos it means moving down the last post and that guy is just soooo sexy (fans self YET again). I think I'm in love.

So nothing's going on with me. Just been busy with the pre-holiday chaos. Hubby was home for the last three days and we bought the two youngest bunk beds. Rearranged their room, took stuff to Salvation Army, I cleaned house like a mad woman, and I made fudge that turned out like crap. I think I cooked it too hot, and it kinda scorched and it turned hard and crumbly. Yuck. Bye bye fudge.

Today I grocery shop (not looking forward to this), finish cleaning house, maybe even attempt to make another batch of fudge (fingers crossed). My parents are coming tomorrow and will be here through the 27th.

I have no words of wisdom, no fascinating stories. I apologize. I might write one more post before Christmas here but if I don't...

Merry Freakin' Christmas!

2006-12-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

Oh my - look at this! I found him on Anne Rainey's website.

Isn't he hunkalicious? Merry Freakin' Christmas to us!

If you go to Anne's website, visit the photos page. There's a whole lotta man flesh there.

Cookies, Chats & Hayrides Oh My!

2006-12-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

My friend was supposed to come over and make cookies with all our kids yesterday but her car broke down and so...I decided to make cookies with just me and my kids.

Big mistake. Took all the spirit right out of my sails. But the cookies turned out nice (frosted sugar cookies!).

Then I went to a chat last night with fellow CP authors Shelli Stevens, Crystal Jordan and Emma Petersen at Romance Junkies. I had to bail cos then I had to go to my daughter's preschool Christmas performance. So that was a fly by chat, lemme tell ya.

My daughter's class was so cute! They sang Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to Jesus. So precious! Then we went on a hay ride. It was so cold! But fun. My kids had a blast.

This morning it's a whopping 30 degrees and frosty as can be outside. Brrr! How's the weather in YOUR neck of the woods?

Tagged!

2006-12-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

I believe Loribelle tagged me with this one a while ago (and I didn't do it - my bad) and then Eden tagged me so I thought I'd better get to it. This one is fun:

Four Jobs I've Had:
1. Retail manager
2. Newspaper Intern
3. Assistant to a crazy man
4. Graphics/website/all around go-to girl

Four Places I've Lived:
1. Redding, CA
2. Sacramento
3. Chico
4. Fresno

Four Favorite Foods:
1. pizza
2. chocolate eclairs (I just kept this one from Eden's answer - yum!)
3. Christmas cookies
4. Chinese

Movies I Could Watch Over and Over
1. Sleepless in Seattle
2. Broadcast News
3. Boogie Nights
4. Almost any movie on Lifetime (gawd I'm so cheesy)

Four TV Shows I Watch:
1. Forensic Files
2. My Name is Earl
3. The Apprentice (it's coming back on in Jan!)
4. America's Next Top Model (tho' I missed this last season)

Four Places I've Visited:
1. Maui
2. Oahu
3. Boston
4. Oregon Coast (just went there in Sept - loved it!)

Four Places I'd Like To Visit:
1. Europe
2. the Big Island (Hawaii)
3. Australia
4. Tahiti (stole this from Eden again)

Four Websites I Go To (almost) Daily:
1. myspace
2. Romance Divas
3. ALL the blogs I visit (just lumping them in as one)
4. The Story Board

I'm not tagging anyone - do it if you wanna.

I thought this was funny...

Yay!

2006-12-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

It's out later today at Cobblestone Press.

Lily the Christmas fairy must teach a lonely doctor how to love again, so she makes him fall in love with her. Big mistake since she always leaves earth the day after Christmas. But how can she leave the sweet, sexy doctor when she’s fallen in love with him, too?

If you're looking for a sweet, funny and sexy holiday story to help you forget all of the holiday chaos this weekend, then this is it. So buy it! I'm beggin' ya! lol

While you're over at Cobblestone, check out the other holiday releases coming out today by Emma Petersen and Jennifer McKenzie.

Thanks & Catching Up

2006-12-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks all for your responses regarding Blogger yesterday. You made me feel better cos I know that I'm not alone!

For those of you who went to The Story Board yesterday for stuff your eStocking, wasn't it insane? I had so many messages it was out of control. But lots of fun.

I went shopping last night. Mainly at the mall, and I couldn't believe how busy it was! I know we're getting closer and closer but I didn't think it would be as nuts as it was.

I'm happy to say, though, that my shopping is finished! Yay! Now I need to wrap it all. Boo. And put the kids' gifts together. Double boo. I told my hubby we needed to do it early - we got my daughter the Ariel vanity/salon set and that thing will take forever to put together. Don't wanna try and attempt all of that on Xmas Eve.

Fairies & Wishes comes out tomorrow!

Yay! I can't wait - I don't mean to brag, but I love this book. It was so much fun to write. And now I'm working on a St. Patrick's Day book - with a leprechaun. Ha ha! It's fun so far too. I think I have a thing for holiday stories...

Blogger is Being a Booger

2006-12-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

I switched to the new Blogger format last week and all was going good. I had a few weird kinks (oh but who doesn't have a few weird kinks? lol) but other than that, it was fine.

Now no one can post a comment on my blog who has old Blogger (sorry Shelli & Cole!), and when I went to my Dashboard, it said it couldn't contact with my other group blogs that are still under the old Blogger format. "Try again later."

Sheesh. Then there's this whole long letter about how the transition is almost complete and it's going rather smoothly.

Uh, not really.

So please come back folks. Don't ditch me! Blame Blogger! I hope it'll be functioning at normal speed soon.

Merry @%#*$% Christmas.

Just a Reminder...

2006-12-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

It's tomorrow! And around 45 authors will be participating! It's gonna be insane - in a good way, of course.

Click here to check it out.

The Reason I Need to Write

2006-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

I went to my husband's company Christmas party Saturday. Had a good time, got a little drunk. Since I used to work there, saw a lot of old friends so that was cool.

You know, I can't remember the last time I got good and drunk. And all it took was two and a half drinks and I was buzzin'. I don't remember the last time I dressed up, don't remember the last time I partied. Sheesh, I'm boring.

You see, I'm lost in my own little world. I sit up here in my house with my kids and my laptop all day long and occasionally I go out to Target, or the grocery store. Or the mall. Or to see my friend who's in her own little world with her kids. And that's pretty much it.

No wonder I write sexy stories. I get to live vicariously through my characters, get to do and say stuff I would never do or say. If I didn't have this outlet, I don't know what I would do.

By the way, I'm almost finished with a sexy sizzler of a story. Whoo hoo! It's been fun to write.

See those candy canes below? I read a hot little Christmas read from Ellora's Cave this weekend and they used candy canes in a rather...creative way. Unwrapped by Lacey Alexander. Very good.

Her Christmas Prince Now Available

2006-12-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for a hot Christmas read to take you away from the holiday hustle and bustle?

Then check my book out! You can purchase it for the cost of a latte at Silk's Vault.

It's Friday so I'm...

2006-12-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

...over at the Word Flirts, talking about my mental breakdown last night.

I need someone like this to give me a little Christmas cheer. Tee hee hee...

Coming December 9th!!

2006-12-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

Her boyfriend just dumped her, she's all alone in the big city, and Christmas is just around the corner. Claire is only trying to conjure up a little Christmas spirit by setting out her few decorations - who knew one of them would fall on her head and knock her out?

But when she wakes up, she's in a strange bed and there's a sexy, slightly familiar man with her. He's willing to fulfill her every desire. Talk about a great Christmas present...

You'll find it this Saturday at Silk's Vault Publishing.

What's Going On?

2006-12-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Lots of stuff! I sold my book Second Chances to
Cobblestone Press. It'll be a part of their Rune series (representing the Jera - Harvest - rune). Here's a blurb:

Widow Abby McKay is ready to make a change in her life. Eric Walsh needs to get healthy or he won't be around to even live his life. When they meet, the attraction is undeniable. But one careless night will change their lives forever...

There's a lot of emotion in this one. Not my usual light fluff. I'll keep you posted on release dates, etc.

A bunch of Cobblestone authors are going to be at the Joyfully Reviewed Yahoo loop on the 16th. Look at this gorgeous flyer Emma made:

Click the graphic to check it out...

eStockings and Obsessions

2006-12-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

Readers of ebooks, rejoice! Fantastic contests, blurbs and excerpts will be thrown your way all day long at The Story Board!

Not a member? Join here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Story_Board_/

Any ebook authors want to participate? The only requirement is you give away one item, and you get the chance to share your work with over 400 eager readers and writers! Interested? Email me at karen.e.erickson @ gmail.com (minus spaces) and you're in!

On with my new obsession...

I'm in lurve with a band I discovered on someone's myspace profile. Bitter:Sweet. They're labeled electronica but I wouldn't call them just that. All I can call them is freakin' awesome. I bought their CD on iTunes a few minutes ago. I'm LOVIN IT. A review called it harking back to James Bond theme songs. I found that hilarious.

I just realized they remind me of The Cardigans. I love The Cardigans! And not just that happy sappy "Love Me Love Me" song either. No, the dark stuff on their Gran Turismo CD is the friggin' bomb. Gotta thank my friend Mars for that old but still favored obsession...

Wanna hear my new favorite song? Go to my myspace page: http://myspace.com/kdid210

I Need an Early Christmas Present

2006-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Not true...

Sorry but all I really want for Christmas is to be able to write something, damn it!

It's making me nuts. I tried to write all weekend - came up with nothing. (well, I'm lying - I came up with something but it was total crap)

I even dreamed about a story I want to work on. Yeah, there they were, hanging out in my dream, providing me with all kinds of ideas. Can I bring this to fruition? Right now I'm thinking not so much.

Kelley suggested an informal support group to keep track of everyone's writing progress. I want to participate, but I have nothing to keep track of!

So help me! Tell me what I should do to get the creative juices flowing. I want them to flow but they're stuck. STUCK!

Okay, I just had to get that off my chest. Tomorrow we shall resume normal blog broadcasting.

Oh Sweet Bamber Part II

2006-12-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

Yeah he's freakin' sexy. Look at that chest! OMG! Look at those arms! Be still my heart! And you know what's so funny? I just think he's okay face-wise. It's his chest that commands my attention... Enjoy some hunkiness for the weekend!

The Christmas List

2006-11-29T19:53:00.000-08:00

Okay I stole this Christmas list from like everyone's blog...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate, though I prefer a Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks...

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa just set them under the tree in my house - Santa wrapped them in hubby's house. I shall win this battle, I do every year.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like both, but our fake tree has white. I miss the smell of a real tree... I also like just blue lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, we all kiss enough in this house. LOL

5. When do you put your decorations up? The day after Thanksgiving! Gotta get my maximum worth out of them. By the day after Christmas I hate them all.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Grandma's cookies. And when she's feeling really generous, her homemade fudge. Yum...

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Christmas Eve at my great-grandma's house. All of the cousins would get together and the parents would buy us all cheapy gifts to open. They would make us kids wait locked up in the kitchen for Santa to come and then my grandpa would shake these really old bells and yell out "ho ho ho" in another room. We all knew it was him. Then paper would be flying and kids would be yelling. It was so much fun!!! I really wish I got those bells when my great-grandma passed...

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What are you talking about?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not anymore. All of that anticipation is what makes Christmas so great. Make 'em wait one more day I say.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? What does this question mean? What kind of decorations? What is my plan of attack? We just hang the hodge podge of decorations we've collected over the years.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Like to look at it, don't like to be in it.

12. Can you ice skate? I wish. I wanted to be Dorothy Hamill when I was a kid. I even had the haircut!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Hmmm, there's been so many over the years. I remember when I got the Barbie penthouse. That thing even had an elevator! My poor single mom sold Avon on the side to get the money for that Christmas! I love my mama.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? That my children are happy and enjoying the magic of Christmas. Cos that's what it's all about.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Too many to say!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going down Christmas Tree Lane. It's this cool street with all of these beautiful homes and they light it up like crazy every year. You get to count all of Santa's reindeer throughout the drive and they play Christmas music over speakers. They'll even have a live choir sometimes. Back before the kidlets came along my hubby and I would sing along with the Christmas music - and add curse words. Like "Silver mothaf*!kin bells..." Yeah, we're bad.

17. What tops your tree? Nothing! Can you believe it?

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Okay, I love that Wham! Christmas song "Last Christmas." How 80s am I? Oh, I also like any of the music that has to do with Charlie Brown's Christmas. Love that music!

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Now that they've come out with all of the flavored kinds, I can eat 'em. Straight peppermint? Kinda yuck.

I'm not gonna tag anyone - if you wanna do it, do it!

Zoinks!

2006-11-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

I was in bed before 8:30 last night! I never go to bed that early! But I was exhausted - and I have a minor head cold that's annoying more than anything. I believe it drained me of all my energy though, so I took some Alka Selzer nighttime cold and cough medicine (this stuff is the bomb) and passed out.

It's now seven in the morning and I feel pretty good. It's briskly cold and frosty outside. Scooby's on TV (hence the post title). I'm getting my hair highlighted and cut today. Life's all right.

Hey a bunch of authors (including myself) will be over at Novelspotters this Saturday chatting up our December releases. Come visit us - we'll be giving away books and everything!

Check out Novelspotters by clicking the link below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Novelspotters/

More authors than what's listed will appear...it's gonna be a blast!

What a Great Song

2006-11-27T16:32:00.000-08:00

So I'm watching Vh1 Classics and a video comes on with some of the greatest lyrics ever.

Actually, it's just the chorus. It's by Romeo Void and it goes a little something like this,

I might like you better if we slept together
I might like you better if we slept together
I might like you better if we slept together
But there's something in your eyes that says
maybe
That's never
Never say never...

Okay I haven't written a word in almost two weeks and just those lyrics make me want to go write a raunchy story! Yeah!

I had no clue this song was on the soundtrack for the movie Dodgeball. Very cool...

Internet Issues Make Me...

2006-11-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

...freakin' crazy! This morning I turn on the laptop and it can't find my wireless network. No problem, I unplug and then replug them in like usual. Still can't find it.

Many hours later I finally get it to work, even though I have no idea exactly what made it work. And all kinds of weird things happened in the meantime. UGH! So frustrating.

Did everyone have a good Thanksgiving who celebrated? Eat a lot of food? Everything I made turned out pretty good except my stuffing was a little dry. Oh well - live and learn.

And did any of you shop this weekend? I didn't, unless online shopping and the grocery store count...

Yes Indeedy...

2006-11-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

It's a flirtin' Friday for me. And heaven forbid I'm already talking about Christmas...

I Wanna Wish You A...

2006-11-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know how much I'll be around this week. I have a ton of stuff to do...like cleaning and cooking and cooking and cleaning. This is what happens when you host the Thanksgiving holiday at your house.

So I hope you and yours have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Don't eat too much! Ha ha ha...

Turkey

2006-11-19T21:41:00.000-08:00

I feel like a turkey cos I didn't write a damn thing this weekend.

But I did happen to update my website. I added an excerpt from Fairies & Wishes on the excerpt page, and there's a new contest up. So I was productive. I swear.

Click on the graphic below to check it out...

Oh Sweet Bamber Where Have You Been All My Life?

2006-11-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Why do I not watch Battlestar Galactica? Have you seen this man? Shiver shiver...Jamie Bamber is his name and he is sizzling hot! I guess after this scene appeared on TV women went absolutely nuts. And I can understand why...

I discovered him in People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive issue. I bought it yesterday. George Clooney is on the cover (yum yum). And many more hot men are in the magazine, making the purchase well worth it.

But I took one look at this guy (you should see the pic in People - I had to fan myself!) and thought, "Where have you been all my life?"

Talk about inspiration...

Pant pant pant

Adventures in Shopping

2006-11-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

So my friend and I head out to shop last night. First stop - Toys R Us. We're drving in her Excursion, all is good. Then I notice a weird noise. Then an even weirder noise happens. Then a lady rolls down her window and tells us something is dragging on the road and it's sparking. Great.

We pull into the Lowe's parking lot. Call my friend's sister in law's boyfriend, who just did some work on the SUV. He tells us, "don't drive it. I'll be there in...three hours!" Our husbands are at my house with the kids so we didn't want them dragging the kids with them to get us. Sooooo....

We walked our asses off! A couple of blocks down the street was Toys R Us. We brought the cart back over to the car to drop off what we bought when we were finished. We felt like hobos!

Same deal with Target. Ran across the street (a very very busy street I might add) and shopped hard core. A bunch of dudes were camped out in front of the store, waiting for the PS3 to come out. It doesn't come out til Friday morning! This was Wednesday night! One of the Target employees said they'd been there since Tuesday. That's nuts.

The boyfriend finally came to rescue us. He fixed the car, no prob. Thank goodness. My Christmas shopping for the little ones is pretty much finished. Yay! But what a night!

Don't forget to stop by The Story Board (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Story_Board_/)today for ebook reader appreciation day! The place is on fire with excerpts and contests - all for readers to enjoy and win!! Yay!

No Writing & My Dear Friend

2006-11-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

I didn't write a word yesterday. And that's okay! I gotta admit, it felt good. Relaxing, no pressure.

I pressured myself in different ways instead. Yep, I went to the ritzy part of town and did a little Xmas shopping. Williams Sonoma was making a full on Thanksgiving feast! It smelled so good. We were a little early so me and the little one had some pumpkin cookies. Delicious...

Looked over magazines and stuff, figuring out what the heck I'm gonna make for Thanksgiving dinner. It's in a week! Aaah! That freaks me out a little.

Then my dearest friend called me last night. We've known each other since we were 11. We share a long and silly history. We have this way of talking where we revert to sounding like we did when we were teenagers. Lots of giggling and funny things said.

Oh, wait, and we also bring on the bad language. We sound like pissed off sailors. It's so much fun! We got stuck on saying, "sucks c*@k." Yeah we kept repeating that one, drawing out the last word. Heh, heh. I love my bestest friend. Too bad she doesn't live closer to me.

So any of you ready for Thanksgiving? How's the writing going? Have a good friend who trash talks with you? Tell me all about it.

Ebook Reader Appreciation Day

2006-11-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

This Thursday at The Story Board (The_Story_Board_-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe). It's an all day event featuring various authors from ebook publishers.

It's all about giving to the readers who support epublishing! Lots of excerpts, contests and prizes! Authors will answer any questions readers have. This is a MUST if you love epublished books.

I know I'm going to be giving away a free copy of both Release Me and Haunted Dreams on Thursday.

On a side note, I finished the novella yesterday. Yay! I feel so good. :)

No More NaNo...I Think

2006-11-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

I'm almost finished with the novella. Well, at least with the first draft. And since I went back so many times to reread the dang thing in the beginning, the first half of the first draft is pretty clean. So editing shouldn't be too much of a problem.

That means I haven't written on the NaNo project in...four days? Five? I don't know, but I'm not sure if I'm going to go back to it right now. I have another idea that came on strong a few days ago. It's chomping at the bit to come out after the novella is submitted. So we'll see.

I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to do NaNo again cos I did it last year and accomplished my goal. And then I got caught up in the NaNo frenzy. I'm thrilled that other writers are doing so well at it - congrats to them! I might get back into it, but I don't know...

In other news my house is clean (gasp!) but I still need to do laundry. It's amazing to me how I can do all the laundry and then two days later it looks like I didn't do any. This is what happens in a house of two adults and three children.

Here's some Monday inspiration for you...

Anti-NaNo Weekend

2006-11-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't written on my NaNo project for...TWO DAYS!! And I DON'T CARE!!

What kind of attitude is that, you ask? Well, I've been working extra hard on the novella - the other project I've been working on. The one that has an ACTUAL deadline. Yeah, that one.

Sheesh, why did I decide to do NaNo? Maybe because I'm a glutton for punishment? That has to be it!

Anywho, I'm banning any NaNo work this weekend and I SWEAR I'm going to finish the novella.

Can I get a hell to the yes?

Here's a pic to enjoy for the weekend. Too funny!

p.s. - Yes Robin, the Bean pic is the one in his underwear. Photobucket banned it! Mr. Bean in his tighty whiteys? Come on!!

Hey!

2006-11-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

Watch me lose my mind over at the Word Flirts today.

P.S. ~ My naughty pic for inspiration from a few days ago? Violated Photobucket's term of service and they yanked it. Second time I've done that (remember Mr. Bean?).

I think that is SO AWESOME!

Oh My Gosh

2006-11-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to say! Because nothing exciting has happened to me in the past couple of days...sigh.

Keeping up on word for my crazy NaNo project, yep. Did I write that blush-worthy scene? Yes indeedy. Plowed right through it thinking the whole time, "My mother CANNOT read this!" She'd probably think I've done something like this. Which I haven't!! I swear!

The temperature has finally plunged and it's downright cold this morning. I'm sorry but I'm sick of the 80 degree days. Bring on the cold weather Mother Nature! Give us some rain! We need it!

Went to lunch at Chili's yesterday with my nutty children and my loving husband. My children are nuts - they feed off each other which only makes them nuttier. Thankfully, Chili's is very loud so all their carrying on went pretty much unnoticed. I think.

OH! My son fell in the pool last night! My husband was cleaning up around it, watering trees and our son was w/ him. One minute he's standing close to the pool and the next my hubby hears a splash. He'd fallen right in! And my husband dived right in to save his little life.

So I had two soaked cold men on my back porch. Glad I missed the whole thing - I probably would've freaked out.

I guess I'm a liar cos that last bit is kind of exciting...

How's YOUR week been? NaNo'ing coming along, hmmmmm?

Sheesh...

2006-11-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

My NaNo project is crazy. C.R.A.Z.Y. This couple should not be getting together - her boyfriend is his best friend (but her boyfriend is a cheatin' jerk so that makes it all ok. Right? RIGHT??? Crap I don't know...), and they kind of can't stand each other.

In that, Oh God I can't stand you but let's do it now kind of way.

And where I ended it last night makes me think I'm going to have them do something that is just so damn naughty I can't even write about it on this blog cos I'll blush and get all flustered and tongue tied.

Who the hell would buy this thing? It's just a tale of smut! Pure crazy smut!

But I'm having fun writing it. The heroine is just so damn feisty, and the hero is tres sexy - rawr rawr.

P.S. - Word count so far: 10,333

My Weekend

2006-11-06T07:15:00.000-08:00

It wasn't a stellar writing weekend but that's okay. I received my first round edits for Fairies & Wishes and finished those up Saturday. Went to the mall with the kids and actually bought a couple of Christmas presents! Can you believe it? I'm going to try and get the shopping done early this year. I say this every year. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't...

NaNo wise, I'm right on track. I have no idea what the counter is saying in the previous post but it's wrong, I know that. I'm at 8,517 words. Would've been more but my son woke up with a runny nose and it was irritating him. Yes, I believe we're getting sick in this house again. Oh joy.

In exciting news I'm a featured author at The Romance Studio Blue this month. They interviewed me and everything! I feel special. Click here to read it.

Want some sexy inspiration for the day? I found this pic on someone's myspace page, but I can't remember exactly who...

NaNo Update & a Hot Man Pic

2006-11-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

Okay so the NaNo counter a couple of posts down is now officially off. I wrote like a fiend yesterday morning - as of right now I'm 6,846 words in. Whoo hoo! Glad I wrote in the morning too cos I received my edits for Fairies & Wishes so I worked on that yesterday evening.

I also went to a holiday open house where I ate good food and spent money on candles. Holiday candles - yum yum. It was fun. Chatted with friends and got away from my lovely children. I love my children but sometimes, you just need a break.

All right, I haven't posted a hot dude on here in a long time. My bad.

Antonio Sabato Jr. when he did the Calvin Klein campaign! Sigh...posters of this man in his underwear in a dept store in Laguna Beach stopped me and my friend in our tracks when we were there one weekend many years ago. We wanted to steal one but figured it would've been too obvious...

Enjoy!

Makin' Progress

2006-11-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

So NaNo is going swimmingly, which surprises me. I was so stressed out just thinking about NaNo a couple of days ago I thought I would be overwhelmed. Hell, I didn't even know what I was going to write!

So I took a cue from Shelli and looked back at some old stuff collecting dust on the hard drive. Most of it awful writing-wise but with some decent premises. So I dusted off one attempt, kept the characters, kept the basic premise. Also kept the first scene but completely rewrote it and just went from there.

And I like it! I like it so much I'm 4300 words in! Not bad for two days' work. Especially 'cos I'm finishing up my novella on the side. I'll be glad when that puppy is done and submitted.

Here's the weird thing. The NaNo counter I have a couple of posts down updates All By Itself. How does that happen? It's not 100% accurate but it's close. And the NaNo project is not the only thing I'm working on. Is it going to account for my novella writing as well? Freaky stuff.

If you're NaNo'ing, how's it going?

Fairies & Wishes

2006-11-02T00:10:00.000-08:00

Lily the Christmas fairy must teach a lonely doctor how to love again, so she makes him fall in love with her. Big mistake since she always leaves earth the day after Christmas. But how can she leave the sweet, sexy doctor when she's fallen in love with him, too?

1-2-3-Nano! -- And Other News

2006-11-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

Okay today marks the start of Nano, and all I can think is OMG! Am I really going to do this? I have so many other things on my plate! But hey, I gotta make the attempt. And I think I came up with a decent idea. I'll let you know more as it develops.

In other news, I sold another Christmas story to Silks Vault! Entitled Her Christmas Prince, this one was fun to write. In fact, there is a bit of a personal experience in it, but I'll share that later as well.

Yesterday was crazy pimping myself out all over the internet about Haunted Dreams coming out. Then last night we took the kids trick or treating. What fun! My daughter was practically bouncing off the walls of the car, she was so excited to get there. We went around my mother-in-law's neighborhood and it wasn't that busy, but we met some great people who really got into the spirit.

One more teaser - I received the cover for Fairies & Wishes. I love, love LOVE it! I'll share that with y'all tomorrow.

Happy First Day of Nano everyone!

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T07:19:00.000-08:00

Yay! Halloween is here! And so is my book Haunted Dreams!

(Click on the cover to purchase)

A handsome stranger haunts Kara's dreams, and she's stunned when she meets him at the Halloween charity ball. Staying the night in a haunted house just might bring her closer to Hayden, but will it be close enough to satisfy the ghost lovers who need them to unite - forever?

Don't forget about the contest that I'm having today! You could win a $15 gift card from Bath & Body Works just for purchasing my book today. Check out yesterday's post for details.

Everyone have a safe and Happy Halloween!

My Weekend & Contest Details

2006-10-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

I'm exhausted. My mom's visiting, and that's enough to set my kids into a tailspin. Yesterday my friend and her kids came over to bake cookies. Today we shopped, went to the pumpkin patch and got ripped off, then carved pumpkins all night. The pumpkins turned out soooo cool! I should post a pic of them to show you guys.

This is not one of them but it's cool.

Okay, here's a repeat of the details for my Haunted Dreams contest! It comes out on Tuesday! Whoo hoo! And if you buy it and send me the receipt, you'll be entered to win a super cool prize!

Here's how it works:

~~ Buy Haunted Dreams on Halloween (when it's released!) at Cobblestone Press (www.cobblestone-press.com)

~~ Send me a copy of the receipt (take out any info you don't want me to know - just copy and paste at least the part where it shows you purchased my book and the price, or forward the email)

~~ Send the receipt to karen @ karenwritesromance.com (minus spaces)

~~ You'll be entered to win a $15 gift card to Bath & Body Works! Buy yourself an early Christmas present.

You must send me the receipt by November 1st! And the purchase date must be October 31st to be entered!

It's as simple as that! I will draw the winner on November 2nd and announce it on my website.