I’m asking a question today, not because I’m lazy, but because I love the answers you give me. As for the following question, forget about what it might cost or how impossible it might be. Have fun.

If you were asked to create the ultimate vacation destination,
where would it be located and what would it be like?

Remember, there are still two contests running…
1) Cynthia D’Alba’s free copy of Texas Two Step (ending December 31st)
2) The Fairy Trinket Box Contest (ending January 3rd)

When my sister accused me of being a hoarder, she referred to my ever-growing clutter of dragons, gargoyles, and fairies. She didn’t mention anything about what I have hanging on my walls. I hoard paintings, too. I love color all around me, and an empty space invites a special treasure, right?

I love going to museums as much as I love combing through galleries. I’ll say right now, I don’t “get” a lot of modern art. Cubism, splatters of paint—they just don’t appeal. I’ve been to some of the best art museums in the world, so I know what fine art is, but I have my own peculiar tastes. Sometimes, pieces appeal to my sense of whimsy. A few months ago, I went to an art show in an old bath house in Hot Springs. I found a lot that left me cold, but several that made me smile. Take a look at my faves.

From a distance, you think—nice. When you get closer, you wonder whether he left his mother’s flatware alone. And how did he get all that weight balanced on one foot? Now that’s something I’d love to have in my front yard.

Here’s another:

From a distance, the colors are just right for my office and bedroom. I love warm colors—yellows, reds, along with splashes of green and blue. But get closer, and you see the ship behind her isn’t sailing on the sea. It has wheels. And the woman’s hat is topped by a fish. I wish you could see all the clever, kookie details of the painting, but this one made me smile.

So, what’s the point of today’s post? I don’t have one. I woke up with my mind a total blank. Maybe you can think of topics you’d rather I talk about tomorrow. In the meantime you can wonder about the things I have hanging on my walls, or better yet, you can tell me what treasures you have hanging on yours!

Hi y’all. I’m Cynthia D’Alba. Delilah has kindly offered up her blog to let me ramble for the next couple of minutes. I want to talk about the future.

It’s almost the end of 2011 and beginning of a fresh new year with all its potential and possibilities. 2012 will be an interesting year for me personally.

• I have my first book (Texas Two Step) coming out on February 28, 2012. (YAY!)
• I’m going on my first blog whore tour (which I BEG you to follow and comment. I’ll try to be interesting every day! And I’ll give away lots of stuff as bribes, er prizes.) Click HERE for dates and locations. A complete list of prizes will be posted in January.
• It’s an election year. My hubby and I are political junkies so this year will be like catnip to a kitty!

Notice I’m not asking for New Year resolutions. The ONLY New Year’s resolution I ever kept is not to make any.  🙂 So I’m not looking for yours. But I’d love to know… What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Mega-thanks to Delilah for having me here today. I know she has a loyal following of fans and to them I say…you have great taste in reading material!

I’ve included a small except from my upcoming debut from Samhain Publishing, Texas Two Step. I chose it especially for DD’s readers.

He wanted her. Even if he hadn’t told her, she’d known. Even if he only wanted her for tonight, then tonight it would be. For the first time in years, she was alive and sexy and desirable.

Jerking her mouth from his, she kissed his neck, using her lips, teeth and tongue to caress his salty skin.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he said in a strained voice.

She locked her ankles around his waist and thrust her aching center against the bulge behind his zipper. They were as physically close as two clothed people could be. His large hands scorched her bottom as he dug his fingers into her flesh, cupping her through her panties, holding her in place, rocking her against him. She groaned at the torture of being close but not close enough. He was driving her insane with desire.

He locked his mouth to hers, carried her across the room and kicked open a door. The door banged against the wall. He laid her on his turned-down bed, the satiny sheet cool to her heated flesh.

“Don’t move,” he growled. “I want to enjoy the view.”

Instead, she rolled to her side and rested her head in her hand. “I don’t think so. I think it’s time I had a turn looking.”

His lips curved into a slow, sexy smile.

“As you demand.” He toed off black cowboy boots and kicked them toward a closet door. He unfastened his slacks and pulled the zipper slowly down.

Interested? Want to read a copy of Texas Two Step? Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, today I’ll name two winners, but just not yet. Don’t you know patience is a virtue?

I had some very nice news on Christmas day, an extra present I didn’t expect. Ravished is nominated for The Romance Studio’s CAPA awards for best historical novel… Okay, so any of you who have read that particular book know it’s “Vikings in Space”, not historical, but I’m okay with that. A nom is a nom! Squee!

Since two contests are winding down, I have to get something else off my hoarding shelf. (See that, sis? Can too bear to part with treasures!)

The Fairy Trinket Box Contest

What do you have to do to win?
Post a comment—here or on my Facebook FAN page. And post every day the contest runs for additional chances to win!

This contest lasts until January 3rd, so there are plenty of chances to enter!

For those of you who will no doubt ask, the box comes from Christi’s Gifts & Consignments, 870-230-1877. And yes, she can order more!

How about a question to start you off?

What DON’T women want?

So back to those winners…

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in both contests.
The winner of the Baby Dragon Incense Burner is…Julie Swaney!
The winner of the Promo Ho contest and the $25.00 gift certificate is…Michelle Bauer!
Congratulations, ladies! Thanks for playing. Be sure to send me an email
to arrange delivery of your prizes.

Please remember, two contests end tomorrow. Check here for details:
*Win The Baby Dragon Incense Burner Contest (ends Dec 27th)
*Win a $25.00 Amazon.com certificate (ends Dec 27th)

Getting Graded

Having my book reviewed reminds me of my school days and getting graded by my teacher. The educator reads your paper, evaluates it and gives it a mark.

Reviewers do the same for books, but most of the reviewers for romance websites don’t get paid. They’re book lovers who give their precious time to read my book and write up an opinion.

I love getting reviews of my books. Reviewers tell me what they liked about the characters and plot and sometimes they tell me what they dislike. I see reviews as validation that I wrote a good book and as a critique. If reviewers are willing to give their time to publish their comments, I need to pay attention. I can learn and I can improve.

Electronic publishing has increased the numbers of publishers, writers and books on the market and the choices for readers are ever expanding. Given this explosion of available books, I feel fortunate to receive a review. I have books that never been reviewed and that disappointments me. I really like the feedback.

I’d like to share a couple of comments that a reviewer wrote about one of my werewolf tales, Mark of the Moon.

“Occasionally the sentences were a bit stilted.”

“Mark of the Moon is a page turner, gripping the reader from the first page and not letting go.”

I love this kind of feedback, and if I could I’d ask that reviewer to point out every sentence she found stilted. That isn’t possible, but I’ve written a few more books since Mark of the Moon and her comment has stayed with me.

This year I was very fortunate. My book, Mirror Mirror: Nightwing was nominated by The Romance Reviews (TRR) for Best Erotic Paranormal Angels and Demons book for 2011. I was stunned. Short books like Nightwing are rarely nominated for awards. The nominees are selected by the TRR reviewers. I didn’t win, but I was thrilled that my book was remembered and nominated.

So whether the reviewers grade with stars, tombstones, lips or hearts I’m want to thank these wonderful people for all the reviews I have received over the years and the ones I hope to receive in 2012.

I’m looking forward to a great new year and getting good grades.

Did you find one of these under the Christmas tree? Me neither. 🙁

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful day, spent with family. The Devlin house opened the adults’ gifts last night. This morning, the children come over for theirs. Then there will be Christmas dinner—ham and smoked turkey. All in all, a lovely lazy day.

If you are totally bored during a lull of activities, share your best and worst Christmas presents! Later!

I announced the winner of the free download on my Facebook Fan Page!

An author strives to foreshadow the tone and theme of a story from the very first words. When it’s done well, a reader who sees that opening scene knows exactly the kind of ride she’s in for. Enjoy the opening of Four Sworn, the third story in my Lone Star Lovers series. I’m still very, very fond of Bo and Shanna. I think you’ll see why.

Happy Holidays to everyone! Enjoy time with friends and family.
I know I will! 🙂

“…what you get is explosive, emotional and endearing, something Delilah Devlin does better than anyone…”
4 Cherries, Whipped Cream

There’s a wild child trapped inside her, and they’re hell-bent on unleashing it…

As the pretty daughter of the town whore, Shanna Davies has always tried hard to toe the line. But she just can’t help it. Her boyfriend, Bo Crenshaw, has lured her untamed spirit out to play once too often. It’s time to get the hell out of Dodge and make a new start where no one knows her past. After she fulfills one last, wicked fantasy.

Shanna is Bo’s first everything. First kiss, first sexual playmate, first love. Yet he’s never managed to convince her that he accepts her—good girl and bad—just as she is. So, she wants a memorable send off? No problem. He’ll give her one that’ll make her think twice about leaving.

On the appointed night, Shanna expects nerves. Yet once she crosses the threshold, the prospect of surrendering to a night of unrestrained passion with Bo and the three Kinzie brothers makes her mouth water—and her courage dry up.

But she asked for it, and now she’s not about to blink first in this game of sexual chicken…

Warning: Four lusty cowboys prove a little domination goes a long way in breaking a stubborn woman to saddle. Lots of spanking, binding, flogging, and double-dipping can keep a girl on her toes, her back, her belly, her knees…

“Dance with me, cowboy.”

Bo Crenshaw didn’t know what surprised him more. Her wanting to dance—or her asking him. She always cringed over her inability to master a simple two-step, and she usually avoided him like the plague in public.

But he wasn’t arguing. It was Friday night after a long week of wrangling cattle. He wanted to replace the musky smell in his nostrils with something a whole lot sweeter. Giving his drinking buddy a shrug, he let Shanna Davies tug his hand and lead him onto the dance floor, pretending a reluctance he didn’t feel.

Not that dancing with Shanna wasn’t pleasurable—if a little painful. She danced the same way she lived—a little too fast and completely out of synch with everyone around her. Read the rest of this entry »