So, you remember this sexy cover, right?

Well, I need to choose the image for the next Brotherhood Protector story. Help me choose! It’s between these two…

Thanks for voting! And be sure to check out the open contests below!

Open Contests

1. Flashback: Hard SEAL to Love (Contest–2 Winners!) — This one ends soon!  Win a FREE book–2 winners!
2. Meet Izzy Archer! (FREE BOOK) — Everyone can have a FREE book!
3. Me, right now. Nuff said? (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
4. A New Year’s Puzzle & Open Contests! Come Play! — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

1/10: Available dates updated!

UPDATE: The winner of the gift certificate is…Charlene Whitehouse!
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I bought this brainstorming tool years ago at some writers’ conference I attended. You roll the dice then use the pictures on the faces of each piece to make up a story. I’ve found it’s fun for readers, too!

To make this game more fun, I’ll offer a prize—a $5 Amazon gift card—good for purchasing one or two stories…

Have fun with this! The story doesn’t have to be long or even good! Here’s the roll… 

UPDATE: The winner is…miki!
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Am I the only one who still sets New Year’s Resolutions? Solve the puzzle and comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Grey: What’s with instalove? (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. ‘Twas Days After Christmas… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Flashback: Hard SEAL to Love (Contest–2 Winners!) — Win a FREE book! 3 winners!
4. Meet Izzy Archer! (FREE BOOK) — Get a FREE book, everyone!
5. Me, right now. Nuff said? (Contest) — Win a FREE book!

UPDATE: The winner is…Stacey Kinzebach!
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Are you with me? I stayed up to toast the New Year with the family. Of course, we decided that since it was midnight on the east coast, that was good enough for us, so we really toasted it at 11:00. 🙂 The kids drank sparkling grape juice. My SIL drank Crown, while I had two shots of Fireball. I placed my lucky penny, burned my sage, and then I slept really, really well.

Then I had to wake up this morning, and wouldn’t you know, I had a hangover. Once upon a time, I could hold my liquor. Anyway, my plans are all updated. I did my first of the month bills. I’m rereading Cowboy, so I know where to start with Eli’s story…

I think I’ll call it a day.

Let me know how you spent your first day of 2022 for a chance to win a FREE download of a book from my backlist. Happy beginning of 2022, y’all!

I wanted to get the picture and my wish for you to have a Happy New Year in early, because I won’t be online later tonight! I have things to do…

I’m in love with calendars-planners, with noting, if not chronicling, the passage of time. I’m a planner by nature. I create plans for my life and work which include things like deadlines to turn in books and all the incremental steps to get there. I write down holidays and birthdays. I also place little stickers on my monthly calendar to note full moons, new moons, etc. I have certain rituals to celebrate the change of seasons.

I also have certain rituals to celebrate and prepare for the new year.

Beginning in mid-December, I update all my plans for the next year’s work. I start with a mind map to create a loose visual of my goals. Then I go into my year’s goals and come up with the next quarter’s goals, and further refine the plan down to what I want to complete next week. Not that I follow it religiously. I adjust constantly as life and inspiration change.

I have some superstitious rituals I perform on New Year’s Eve. I’ll share them.

• I place a penny on the ledge above my outside door on New Year’s Eve. Then on New Year’s Day, I’ll take it down and tuck it into my wallet. The penny is for money luck in the new year.
• Nearing midnight, I open the door to the outside then waft burning sage through the rooms to chase any malignant spirit or feelings out of the house.
• Lastly, and this can be the most fun, I prepare a hand spell. It’s a way of “speaking” my dreams into reality.

A hand spell works like this…

Trace your hand on a plain piece of paper then cut it out. Inside that hand, write down your wishes for the new year. At midnight, go outside with a lighter and set the paper on fire while you recite this:

“Inside this hand,
Inside this spell,
Dwell my hopes for the new year…”

Then say your hopes out loud. I think of the spell as a way of putting my wishes out into the world. By saying them aloud, my mind hears them and “sets” the expectations because there is power in the words you hear, even if you are the one doing the speaking. (And there’s an actual, physiological reason this works involving your RAS—but that’s something to talk about another day. 🙂 )

So, that’s how I prepare for entering a new year. Just thought I’d share some of my weirdness with you.

Do you have any rituals? Any foods, any activities that are part of your “rituals”?

This post is a duplicate of the one I put up on the Collections website today. I didn’t have a guest here and was feeling a little lazy—plus, I love to introduce new authors to you all. Be sure to welcome Izzy and take advantage of her special offer!

Good things come to those who wait?

I’ve been writing for years—familiar story—without thinking about a next step! They say, write what you want to read. I write stories about love, lust, romance, relationships, and am now just realizing, hey, someone else might enjoy these suckers. Being a fan of Delilah’s racy romances, I’m over-joyed for Izzy’s debut in the Cowboys Behaving Badly Anthology. I hope you love Deacon in “Something to Talk About” as much as I do, and please reach out if you’d like more of my strong, silent, hunky cowboy! My brand-spanking-new website went live today. Come find me!

About Izzy…

• Izzy Archer is my pen name… shhhh. She’s badass.
• I discovered my love for erotic romance in a writing course: How to Write SEX. I’m currently working on a collection of erotic short stories revised from my old homework assignments.
• Paris is my favorite city and will definitely factor into future stories!
• I recently moved into an old Victorian in the Boston area, so it’s a good thing I’m handy, own power tools, and can fix things. Although, this place is over my skill level. But what’s more inspiring to a romance writer than crews of interesting workers coming and going? Everyone has a backstory!
• I turned into a wine snob from living in California. Reds from boutique vineyards. My favorite kind of day is wine tasting while taking in a view of the mountains.
• I believe in true love, soul mates, and the destiny we make. I create strong female characters. Don’t get me wrong, I love an alpha male. But, if there’s rescuing to be done, she’s fully capable.
• My stories will always have a happy ending. Otherwise, what’s the point?

I believe good things can come at any time! And if you’re willing to wait until late winter/early spring, I’d love to send you a freebie of my story collection when it’s out! Sign up on my new—as in HITTING-THE-LIVE-BUTTON on 12.30.21 (TODAY!)—website newsletter list. The Mailing List link is on my Contact page. Mention Delilah or Cowboys, and I will send you a book in 2022! Find the link here: Izzyarcher.com

Cafe Paris is for Lovers

SNEAK PEEK from short story, Prêt-à-porter (Ready to Wear) inside Cafe Paris is for Lovers…

Caroline, in Paris for Fashion Week, meets her longtime lover at a café in Le Marais, where he has arranged a special lunch for her…

Caroline wove her way through the outdoor seating of tiny marble-topped tables and caned-back chairs to the inside warmth of the cafe. She inhaled the smell of fresh bread and dark roasted coffee.

“Jean Claude, you waited for me.”

“Caroline, pas du problem. I’d wait a thousand years for you.” Jean Claude stood immediately and discarded the paper on the chair. He kissed her on each cheek, Parisian-style, right-left-right, and then they embraced. Tight at first, like old friends. When his hand lingered around her waist, his lips grazing her neck, Caroline smiled to herself. Only a tourist would think we were just friends.

About the Author

Izzy Archer writes erotic romance with a pen in one hand and a glass of Casamigos Reposado in the other. On the rocks, with a twist of lime. She has a fondness for both cowboys and cowboy boots. Not always in that order. Find out more about Izzy at IzzyArcher.com!

Her story inside Cowboys: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology was “Something to Talk About”…

When a grad student takes a job as a nanny to two motherless children on a cutting horse ranch, she catches the eye of her sexy boss