This is just a fly-by to remind you that all the contests posted this week are still running. So be sure to take a look, visit the sites I’ve been, and post a comment here!

I’d stick around but I ferried the older ladies around on an studio art tour this morning and am heading to my dd’s now. She had surgery yesterday and needs a little TLC from mommy.

Forget about soft sounds like babbly brooks, gentle showers,
and warbling birds. What is your favorite loud sound?
~ from The Question Guys’ Chat Pack

Hey there! I’m guesting at The Smutketeers’ blog today! I have an excerpt, some fun interview questions, and a book to give away! Click here to join us: The Smutketeers

*~*~*~*~*

Did I mention my little brush with celebrity at the Akron airport?

At the end of Romanticon, my dd and I were set to fly out of Akron. We had a little time on our hands, so I suggested we hit a gift shop to purchase some last minute souvenirs. I picked out a couple of magnets and stuffed animals, and then went to the register. A man was in front of me, paying for his purchases. He seemed tall (I’m 5’4″—everyone seems tall), wore a dark leather jacket and was in pretty good shape. I was admiring that shape when he turned his head. Even in profile, I recognized him on the spot.

I elbowed my daughter. “That’s Corbin Bernsen,” I whispered.
“Who?”
“Corbin Bernsen…you know, Psych‘s dad!”
CB left the counter and walked away.
“Is he famous?”
“You didn’t recognize him?”
“I wasn’t really looking.”
“He was right in front of you. What do you mean, you weren’t looking!”
She shrugged. “He’s an old guy. Who is he, anyway?”
“You mean to tell me you’ve never watched Psych?”
She shook her head.
“But he’s been in a dozen Sci-Fi movies.”
Still, she shook her head.
“He was Arnie in LA Law for chrissakes.”
She patted my shoulder. “I get it, mom. You’ve got a crush. You’ve always had a thing for bald guys.”
Bald guys?! That’s all she noticed? Gah!

So what about you? Have you ever had a brush with the rich and famous?

BTW, CB’s even hotter in person!

You know you didn’t have enough to do, right? Now, I’m gonna send you on a quest. Interested in winning prizes? Well, pay attention!

First, I’m the guest author at the fabulous Jasmine Hayne’s website. If you head over there, you can post a comment and enter to win a prize. Plus, I’m talking about Vikings, so you won’t be bored! So, get on over there: Jasmine Hayne’s blog

Second, Southern Sizzle Romance posted a blog for me yesterday. If you head there and comment, you’ll be entered in the contest below. In fact, if you comment at any of the three sites, you’re entered in the new grab bag contest. You’ll have to page down through sexy man photos at Sizzle, but you’ll find me: Southern Sizzle Romance

I have two new contests running here at the moment! Be sure to check them both out!

1) Authors After Dark Grab Bag Contest

What can you win?
I’d forgotten I had a ton of swag from my trip to the Philadelphia conference. Let’s see what’s inside…
* Trading cards, pens, bookmarks, excerpt booklets, um, Ellora’s Cave playing cards…like I said, a ton of stuff, plus the conference bag!

Then I took at look at the stack of books I have to give away—autographed books.
* Awakened by a Kiss by Lila DiPasqua
* Love Me Once, Love Me Twice by Sandy Sullivan
* Rarities Incorporated by Taige Crenshaw

Ooh! And I found an autographed Missy Martine T-shirt, size large!

What do you have to do?
Post comments on my blog and or my Facebook page. Every comment you make will count as one entry. How easy is that? This contest ends next Tuesday, October 25th!

2) The Promo Ho Contest

Read how to enter to win one of two $25.00 gift certificates here: Contest Page

UPDATE#! The winner of the Romanticon Grab Bag #2 contest is Jenn Herrick!
Jen, email me!

Before I get to the ghosts, I wanted to share a screen shot I swiped off of Amazon last night. This was the sales ranking for A Four-Gone Conclusion. Thanks so much for making this happen!

Onto the ghosts…

By now, if you’ve been following my blog, you know I’m a bit of a whack-job. I admit it. I own it! One of my sincerely held beliefs is that ghosts exist, and I have a fascination with finding proof.

One place that has cemented my belief is the Crescent in Eureka Springs. This past weekend, I made a second trip there. This time with friends, and although I didn’t have quite the scary experience I had back during the summer (you can read about it here: Haunting at the Crescent Inn Hotel), there was still plenty of creep factor to enjoy!

A ghost hunter’s first and foremost piece of equipment (beside an open mind), is a camera. And as always, it wasn’t until I got home and blew up the photos I had that I saw just how much “proof” I had. In particular, I had tons of ghostly orbs. Some skeptics say it’s dust, but I can promise you, I don’t get these little glowing circles anywhere but inside creepy, haunted places. Take a look!

You saw one round, glowy circle, right? And what’s up with the wide-angle view of the picture? I promise, I did not change a single setting on my camera, but that’s how all the pictures came out. See this next orb? Keep watching.
Read the rest of this entry »

I’m back from my latest trip, and I’m diving into work today. I’ll share pictures of the trip this week, and I’ll put up a poll for the best titles for the The Cowboy anthology you all provided a couple of weeks ago. I have tons to share, but you’ll have to be patient. Deadlines!

Remember that today is the last day to enter the Romaticon Grab Bag #2 contest—gotta post to win!

If you had the ability to compete in any Olympic even,
which one would you choose to enter?

Not a whole lot of progress to report on works that are overdue. Bad author me! However, I have just returned from two back-to-back trips that have served to refill my very dry well.

From ranchy, fun Romanticon in Ohio (think sexy cover models and face time with one of my publishers), to my trip to Eurkeka Springs (haunted house, wildlife refuge and meeting Rambo’s daddy), I have motivation now to get my ass in gear, and more new stories stirring inside my head.

Today, I’m making the five-hour trip back home. I’ll be doing something productive with that long drive—listening to Tony Robbins’ tapes to keep my mind in the right place. Come tomorrow, it’ll be head down as I wrap up the old stuff and push forward with the new.

I’m just posting a quick photo. There are several of us from the Diamond State Romance Authors RWA chapter who are attending the Ozark Writers Conference. We decided to skip the conference accomodations in favor of something more adventurous. We’re staying at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. They take in large cats, mostly, from around the country who have been raised by stupid owners who thought having a tiger or lion in their back yard was a good idea.

These cats aren’t suitable for zoos, or for being rehabilitated for return to the wild, and a place like this is their last hope before extermination. We’re so impressed with what the refuge is doing, that our group is planning something to support their efforts—but more about that later.

I took tons of pictures and will share more once I get home. Here’s one for now.

Note: Check out Shayla Kersten’s blog today. She has more photos posted!