Writing Romance in the Closet

My new cover!

2012-01-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Isn't it gorgeous? I've always wanted a pink cover and now I have one. I think the art department at Berkley really outdid themselves! I just turned in the copy edits for the book this morning, so I'm feeling pretty pleased (and relieved that they are over) and ready to tackle something new. I'm also working on a new website which is going to be both fun and a bit simpler to update than my current one (stay tuned for new website details!)

So... back to the cover. Although this is the final "look" the final cover will actually have a different quote. The top quote is going to be replaced with this:

“A lovely story starring a heroine who could be any one of us. An unexpected delight!” –Carly Phillips, NY Times Best Selling Author.

And this quote is going on the back:

“Maria Geraci writes with a vibrant, rich, contemporary voice that manages to be tender and hilarious at the same time. A Girl Like You delivers the goods: unforgettable characters set in a quirky small town with a feel-good ending that lasts long after you close the book.” Roxanne St. Claire, NY Times Bestselling Author.

Thank you to both Carly Phillips and Roxanne St. Claire who took time out of their busy writing schedules to read my manuscript and generously provided these awesome quotes.

The book comes out August 7, and is already available on Amazon for pre-order.

Here's the back cover copy:

A GIRL LIKE YOU

Every ugly ducking is a swan in waiting.

Emma Frazier loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s confident she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

Want to write a better book?

2012-01-09T01:02:00.002-05:00

Today, I'm over at the Girlfriends Book Club talking about how to write a better book. Check it out here.

Pinterest!

2012-01-07T07:52:00.003-05:00

Do you pin yet? I have to admit, I'm totally hooked on Pinterest. If you're not sure what Pinterest is, then check out my blog about it over at Magical Musings right here.

Cuban Egg Nog

2011-12-22T09:24:00.002-05:00

Blogging about Creme de Vie (or Cuban eggnog) over at the Stiletto Gang today. Recipe included!
Here's the link. And Feliz Navidad!

I love this!

2011-12-14T18:36:00.001-05:00

Monkey Bread Recipe!

2011-12-08T14:05:00.003-05:00

Check out the fabulous Marilyn Brant's blog today where you'll find Megan Barlog's Monkey Bread recipe, which is also in the back of our winter anthology, Sleigh Ride.

I don't know why they call it Monkey Bread (don't worry, monkeys are NOT an ingredient) but it does sound fabulously delish and not too complicated to make so you know I'll be trying this one out soon!

Books I'm excited about

2011-11-30T06:15:00.003-05:00

A couple of my pals have books coming out this week. Books I've been dying to get my paws on.

First, there's A SUMMER IN EUROPE (which seems very Room With A View-ish to me). Here's the info:

On her 30th birthday, Gwendolyn Reese receives and unexpected present from her widowed Aunt Bea: a grand tour of Europe in the company of Bea's Sudoku and Mahjongg Club. The prospect isn't entirely appealing. But when the gift she is expecting -- an engagement ring from her boyfriend -- doesn't materialize, Gwen decides to go.

At first, Gwen approaches the trip as if it's the math homework she assigns her students, diligently checking monuments off her must-see list. But amid the bougainvillea and beauty of southern Italy, something changes. Gwen begins to live in the moment -- skipping down stone staircases in Capri, running her fingers over a glacier in view of the Matterhorn, racing through the Louvre and taste-testing pastries, wine and gelato. Reveling in every new experience -- especially her attraction to a charismatic British physics professor -- Gwen discovers that the ancient wonders around her are nothing compared to the renaissance unfolding within...

Sounds lovely, doesn't it? You can check out Marilyn's website right here.

Next up, it's time for dessert. Literally. I mean, this cover is so yummy that it should be at least 10 points on the Weight Watcher's Point scale.

SOME LIKE IT HOT by Louisa Edwards.

A sizzling blend of food, passion—and searing romance—the Rising Star Chef competition brings together the world’s hottest chefs for an all-star cook-off that’s sure to stir up excitement...and melt some hearts.

HE’S FEELING THE HEAT

Sexy, single, and even sweeter than the treats he bakes, New York pastry chef Danny Lunden is trying to stay focused on food—not females. With the Rising Star Chef competition approaching, he doesn’t have time to get all steamed up over the gorgeous woman he encounters on the plane to Chicago. Even if she is Eva Jansen—the billionaire heiress in charge of the contest...

SHE TAKES THE CAKE

Danny assumes that “Eva the Diva” is a spoiled rich girl who doesn’t share his passion for food. But when the two meet up again in an elevator—alone—they share more than just passion. They share a kiss hot enough to start a kitchen fire—and they’re hungry for more. To indulge their new secret craving, Eva and Danny have to break every rule in the cookbook. But—like chocolate and caramel—some ingredients are are so sinfully good together, one scrumptious bite is never enough...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T09:22:00.003-05:00

Today I'm heading out of town to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family. This is where we will be. Yep, I'm excited!

I have so many things to be thankful for this holiday. My family is all healthy and that's the biggest blessing anyone can hope for.

Oh, and I'm also thankful that JR and Karina won Dancing With the Stars last night! Because if they hadn't... well, let's just say there would have been one very disgruntled fan.

Today, I'm blogging over at Girlfriends Book Club where I'm talking about how grateful I am to be a 21st century writer. And on Turkey Day I'll be at the Stiletto Gang.

See you on Monday!

These should be outlawed

2011-11-19T05:52:00.002-05:00

Chick-fil-A's Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake is the bomb. It's only available seasonally, but man, is it worth the wait.

I've been craving one for weeks now and finally gave in last night. I had a girls' night out- dinner at Food, Glorious, Food and then went to see Seussical at YAT. Megan's first big role was playing Gertrude McFuzz in her high school production and I think to date, it's still my favorite role of hers.

Will be finishing a crit on a fabulous romantic comedy written by my new cp (Jamie!) and then watching the Noles beat up on Virginia tonight (hopefully!)

Happy Saturday everyone!

Another Reason to love Susan Lucci

2011-11-18T08:41:00.006-05:00

I admit it. I'm a huge fan of All My Children and have been since I was old enough to watch TV. Now that the show has been cancelled, it's like the world just isn't right anymore (dramatic, I know, but it's the simple things that keep us centered).

Susan Lucci (or La Lucci as I like to call her) has come out and blasted Prospect Park (the company that was going to keep AMC live online). Boo, Prospect Park! You can read it right here. It's just so Erica Kane of her and I love it. Tell it like it is, Susan. I think Brian Frons (the ABC exec who killed the show) and the folks at Prospect Park should go on Santa's Naughty List. Don't you?

PS I found this article through the Carly Phillips' Daily Paper, which is a terrific compilation of news from the romance and publishing and entertainment industry. If you don't subscribe, you should!

Sleigh Ride Giveaways

2011-11-14T17:14:00.004-05:00

In order to celebrate the arrival of the new winter anthology, Sleigh Ride, there will be lots of giveaways going on this week

I've already given away a copy on Magical Musings, and today, there's another giveaway over at the Girlfriends Book Club blog. Just click here to comment and be entered.

To celebrate our launch, we're doing several great contests including the 7 Sleighs/7 Days of Giveaways contest (now on day 4) as well as the Big Stuffed Sleigh Contest that ends Nov. 30th ($150 value.)

Sleigh Ride is a collection of short stories, all involving a sleigh ride. My story is titled Noche Buena and is of course, a romance, which was lots of fun to write and involves characters from my next work in progress (to be titled later!). Here's an excerpt:

North of Havana, the town’s only Cuban restaurant, was the last trip on Maggie’s “Goodwill Tour of the Fruitcakes.” Every December 23rd, a representative of the Daughters of the Spanish Explorers (the town’s most prominent women’s club) brought a fruitcake and a Christmas card to all the local merchants. This year, as the club’s secretary, the task had fallen on Maggie. She’d purposely kept North of Havana as her last stop. It had given her something to look forward to.

The smell of simmering pork and sofrito made Maggie’s mouth water. She scanned the empty dining room with its scrubbed down Formica tables and brightly colored walls with the mural scenes of old Havana’s Malecón. Nestor had painted those murals himself.

She would never forget the first time she laid eyes on Nestor Vega. It was two years ago that she’d taken Lily, her Bison Frise, for her nightly stroll through down town when she’d spotted the lights in the abandoned restaurant building. Greg, Maggie’s brother-in-law and president of the First Coast Bank and Trust, had mentioned someone had bought the building, but he hadn’t given her details. As a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, Maggie’s curiosity had been aroused. She had put on her best “welcome to Old Explorers Bay” smile and prepared to greet the newest member of the business community, the Cuban immigrant from Miami who’d moved to Old Explorer’s Bay to open his own restaurant.

Faded jeans. No shirt. No shoes. Standing on a ladder and painting the restaurant walls fast and furiously to the sounds of Celia Cruz blaring from a portable CD player. Nestor, with his rough good looks and suave voice with the accent. He was Javier Bardem and Antonio Banderas wrapped up like the finest tobacco leaves to form the perfect Cuban cigar.

Adventures in Painting

2011-11-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is what I did over the weekend. I painted my interior French doors black. With, I admit, a little help from my friends, those friends being Mike Geraci and Motrin (800 mg usually does the trick).

The hardware is still missing in this picture and the glass isn't scraped and cleaned, but what do you think? I love it. Formerly, these doors were painted a dull and predictable white (see outside door in the sun room). Those babies don't know it yet, but next weekend they are getting the same treatment because once you go black, you never go back (okay, sorry, I just had to say that).

My sister, Carmen (the fabulous owner of Soho Interior Design) and a kick ass decorator told me not to do it. You see, these doors in are in the "great room" (would love to know who came with that expression) and my "great room" has no windows. The only sunlight it gets is from the windows in the surrounding rooms, which a lot of time is okay, but sometimes not so okay. She thought the black doors would add to the poor light situation, but I don't think so. I think it makes my room "pop."

On a side note: painting your interior French doors black is a messy job. My manicure is now ruined, which means I'll have to hit the nail salon tomorrow (and I might as well get a pedi while I'm there too). Plus, all this work really builds up your appetite and take out Chinese on Weight Watchers is a real point hog (just sayin', although the sesame chicken was totally worth it!)

Truffles is Faking It

2011-11-04T14:16:00.009-04:00

I think Truffles Geraci is moonlighting as a cover model...

Weight Watchers Day One

2011-10-29T05:36:00.004-04:00

Okay, so if you follow me on FB you probably know that I joined Weight Watchers this week (Thursday to be exact) after going to the doc and discovering my blood pressure was 145/87 I figured I had to do something about all this extra weight I've been carrying around. Not even in the throes of hardest labor have I ever had a bp that high and since it's been 18 years since I've had a baby I figure it's time to get rid of the baby fat (ahem!) I also made Mike Geraci join because he's been talking about losing weight for years now and talk is all it is.

So I played around with the points thing on Thursday and made us a really healthy dinner. Yesterday, I had to renew my ACLS (that's Advanced Cardiac Life Support) for you non-medical folks and went out to lunch with my pals. We ended up at Crispers and I ordered their scrumptious signature summer salad (but only the half version) which turns out is 11 points. Now, 11 points might sound like a lot, but that half salad kept me full till dinner, where I admit, we went a little wild in the kitchen (point wise, not anything else in case you have that sort of mind).

After dinner, I tossed all the tempting stuff out the door or put it in deep freeze so that I can't get to it. I also hit Costco to stock up on chicken breasts, salmon and lean meat. That's where I discovered this: Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bars. 4 points. I can basically eat 7 of these a day and still stay withing my points. Not that I plan to do that or anything.

Writing short stories

2011-10-27T08:01:00.004-04:00

Today, I'm over at the Stiletto Gang talking about how I learned to write a short story.

My first published short story will come out this November 11 in the winter anthology, Sleigh Ride. You can read all about it right here.

Isn't the cover lovely?

Making Progress with Truffles

2011-10-21T05:06:00.005-04:00

Anyone who has ever met Truffles Geraci will agree she is one hot mess. This is her Halloween picture from last year. She is dressed as a pumpkin, and yes she is one cute hot mess, but still there you go.

Yesterday I got some advice from my pals at The Stiletto Gang on Truffles' latest problem (ie: not wanting to go on walks anymore). Thanks for the all the great advice, ladies! I did crate her yesterday afternoon, and that seemed to help.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Still Working Away

2011-10-07T08:19:00.004-04:00

Edits. And more edits. And then some more edits. It's the only way a manuscript gets better. Yep, still plugging away at the manuscript that was due forever ago. Thank God I have a patient editor.

Meanwhile, whenever I have a spare second, I'm reading Little Black Dress, by the lovely Susan McBride. I can hardly put it down!

Two sisters whose lives seemed forever intertwined are torn apart when a magical little black dress gives each one a glimpse of an unavoidable future.

Antonia Ashton has worked hard to build a thriving career and a committed relationship, but she realizes her life has gone off track. Forced to return home to Blue Hills when her mother, Evie, suffers a massive stroke, Toni finds the old Victorian where she grew up as crammed full of secrets as it is with clutter. Now she must put her mother’s house in order—and uncover long-buried truths about Evie and her aunt, Anna, who vanished fifty years earlier on the eve of her wedding. By shedding light on the past, Toni illuminates her own mistakes and learns the most unexpected things about love, magic, and a little black dress with the power to break hearts… and mend them.

Why Writers need other writers

2011-09-22T06:36:00.004-04:00

Today I'm over at the Stiletto Gang talking about how writers need other writers.

Oh, and I'm also talking about my dream kitchen. Here it is. Isn't it pretty?

Once Upon a Time

2011-09-20T14:36:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited about this show! Check out the awesome trailer.

Little Things Make Big Differences

2011-09-16T05:59:00.005-04:00

Today, it's my turn to post over at Magical Musings. I'm talking about the importance of literary reviews and how little things can make big differences. You can check it out right here.

I'm also going to be driving home to visit the folks and attend STAR's Super Saturday which will be featuring Candace Havens. I've been excited about this for a long time!

And last but not least, going to Super Saturday means I'm giving up my FSU vs. Oklahoma football ticket, but that's okay, because Mike Geraci is taking the middle child (20 year old GAtor son) to the game. I hope my boys have a great weekend bonding and GO NOLES!

How Mel is getting her groove back

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today, my good pal Mel is gust blogging over at Magical Musings. It's a fabulous post, so go check it out~

Everyone But You

2011-09-12T17:27:00.004-04:00

Check out this wonderful collection of short stories by fellow Girlfriends Book Club author, Sandra Novack. You can download a FREE copy of one of the stories by clicking on this link

EVERYONE BUT YOU

A diverting blend of plaintive sex and literary references. --The New York Times

Novack follows her lauded debut, Precious (2009), with an electrifying collection of sexy, gutsy, imaginatively compassionate stories. Her female characters are frank and assertive, even when they’re clueless, and Novack writes equally convincingly from a man’s point of view. Vividly tactile, funny, irreverent, and incisive, these stories of imperiled relationships are also richly plotted. In the blisteringly funny and tough “Fireflies,” a hot number calling herself Lola picks up a guy named Harold as they watch a used-car lot go up in flames, ultimately teaching him a thing or two about the treacheries of love and the persistence of class divides. The arrival, via priority mail, of her long-estranged, now-deceased father’s wooden leg jolts a young woman into awareness of how empty her casual sexual conquests are. In “White Trees in Summer,” an elderly man who helped his acutely suffering wife die is harassed by teenagers. Novack’s keen and spirited tales delve into the crazy and cruel situations we helplessly devise and marvel over how unfathomable we are to each other and ourselves. — Donna Seaman, Booklist

“Novack is fascinated by those on the edge: of insanity, of break-ups, of self-discovery fraught with acute pain.”—Publishers Weekly

Title Change

2011-09-10T04:42:00.003-04:00

I've been a bad blogger lately. That's because I've been busy trying to finish and polish up my manuscript that was due August 1 (thank God for understanding editors!). On another note, The Ugly Girlfriend is no more. It's now titled A Girl Like You. At least, that's the current consensus, unless something changes. I really can't wait to see the cover for this one. I cover conferenced with my editor a couple of weeks ago and the ideas we threw around are really exciting. Of course, it's all up to the art department at Berkley, but I'm really hoping they do a tie in cover to Boyfriend of the Month Club (even though the books are completely different.) We'll see.

In a couple of hours Mike Geraci and I are off to see our youngest daughter for parents weekend at UCF. Should be a fun time. The Knights are playing Boston College tonight and I'm really hoping for a home town win.

Have a great weekend, everyone. And go Noles!

Author Talk

2011-08-23T05:18:00.004-04:00

This coming Sunday, August 28, at 2 pm I'll be speaking at the Columbia County Public Library in Lake City, Florida. If you live in the north Florida area, swing by. I'll be talking about how I began my writing career (interesting story, if you've never heard it!)

Hot summer reads!

2011-08-10T07:55:00.004-04:00

My second Bunco romance, Bunco Babes Gone Wild, got a nice little write up in Barbary Vey's Publishers Weekly Beyond her Book Blog. Here's the link to the whole blog and here's what Heidi had to say about the book:

Georgia Meyer was expecting a proposal, but got a calculator instead from her boyfriend Spencer. She decides to go visit her sister Friday in Whispering Bay, Florida and work things out in her head. Soon she is swept up with Frida, her Bunco friends and hunky Dave Hernandez, and her head is going as fast as her heart.

I was wishing the whole time that Dave Hernandez entered the picture, that I could meet him in person. The heat that he and Georgia created was more than the heat in the Midwest right now. Phew!! The Bunco Babes never disappoint with fun, gossip and friendship. I think I need another cold drink to cool down from this book!

Bunco Babes Tell All for 1.99

2011-08-05T08:16:00.004-04:00

My first book, Bunco Babes Tell All, is still on summer clearance at B&N for just $1.99! It's been selling really well, but quantities are limited. So if you haven't tried out my funny, sexy, Bunco romance then now is a perfect time for to give it a whirl. Click on the link.

Here's the scoop:

Meet the Bunco Babes of Whispering Bay. Every Thursday night they roll dice, drink frozen margaritas, and catch up on all the gossip in their small north Florida town. Kitty Burke is the only Bunco Babe who is still single—which is okay—but she’s thirty-five and may need to face that her image of Mr. Right is all wrong.

Take Steve. Very sexy—but on paper, with three failed marriages and a shady career, maybe not great husband material. And yes, his ring tone is “Freebird.” Certainly fellow Babes Shea Masterson and Pilar Diaz-Rothman vote thumbs down. But maybe there’s more to Steve than meets the eye? Is it time for Kitty to take a chance and hope that she can be as lucky in love as she is in Bunco?

Buy this book

2011-08-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

My friend, Louisa Edwards' newest book comes out today. Isn't the cover absolutely drool worthy?

Here's the blurb:

Welcome to the Rising Star Chef competition, where today’s hottest chefs battle it out on national TV for a chance at fame, fortune and culinary supremacy. Every contestant hungers to win, but only one will take the prize...

HE’S GOT THE SIZZLE

When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning...though he’s never been great at working with a team. A master chef—and major hunk—he’s traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family’s Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen—and she’s every bit as passionate as he is...

SHE’S GOT THE FIRE

Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner’s oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself—competing in the biggest culinary contest in the country—Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she’s always admired...and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool—no matter how hot it gets...

Monday morning happiness

2011-08-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

You know how I love Mondays, right?

This Monday is even sweeter because I'll be doing revisions on The Ugly Girlfriend and listening to Colbie Caillat's new CD, All of You.

Awesome :)

What's in a title?

2011-07-28T07:32:00.002-04:00

Today I'm over at the Stiletto Gang, talking about how the title of a book influences whether or not you buy it. Come on over and join me!

Where I'll be this week

2011-07-19T14:52:00.006-04:00

Working hard at my computer trying to finish The Ugly Girlfriend. I've got my pub date- August 2012, which is awesome because I was really hoping for a summer release!

Meanwhile, this week, I'll be blogging at the Stiletto Gang on Thursday and at Magical Musings on Friday.

Hope you can stop by!

We wanna be Tylenol, not Toyota

2011-07-15T06:10:00.003-04:00

Can a guy who never attended law school (much less Harvard Law) fake his way into being an attorney? Probably. But wouldn't someone, somewhere along the way challenge his credentials? Or even ask to see credentials? Not being a member of the Bar myself, I have no idea, but I certainly hope so.

Yet despite it's wack-a-doo premise, I can't help but love USA's new original series, Suits. Love the writing (the title is a piece of dialogue from last night's show), the actors, the stories, the whole thing. Thursdays, 10 pm, NBC. Which, coincidentally is the same time Love Bites airs, another show that thanks to Mel I've been turned on to. Thank God for my trusty DVR.

I approve

2011-07-14T08:18:00.002-04:00

Love the idea of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. They have totally remade her to look like the real deal.

Here's a fun sneak peek at the cast. You can even vote to see if your expectations were met.

Best casting? Tie between Donald Sutherland as President Snow and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna.

Worst casting? The two relative unknowns cast as Peeta and Gale. Sorry, but for me, Peeta will always have his blue eyes and golden curls. Hollywood, don't mess with people's visual expectations! Not on a novel this big. All I can say is I better believe he's Peeta!

Can Kate bring back pantyhose?

2011-07-13T08:55:00.001-04:00

I say if anyone can, then it's her.

Hairspray!

2011-07-11T05:21:00.003-04:00

"Imagine! My little girl... regular, at last. "
Hairspray

If you live in the Tallahassee area, don't miss Young Actors Theatre's production of Hairspray. It's utterly fantastic! The show runs through till July 24, but tickets are going fast. I worked box office last Friday and we were there 2 hours after closing just getting all the ticket orders filled.

For details go right here.

Oh, and my daughter Megan is playing Penny. I might be a bit prejudiced, but she's fantastic:)

What's on my Kindle

2011-07-08T05:00:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Disaster, by Laura Spinella.

Can't wait to dig in!

Here's the blurb:

A story of love lost...and found.

Mia Wells's eco-friendly career goals are about to become a reality-but her life-altering moment is interrupted when an unexpected call ushers in her tremulous past. A man who's never left Mia's memory: Flynn, the enigmatic, passionate man whose disappearance broke her heart, has mysteriously resurfaced.

Now back in her life and in the hospital, Flynn is gravely injured. Mia keeps a bedside vigil-terrified that he will die, awestruck at the prospect of his survival. In a story filled with sweetness and suspense, Mia's what-ifs are endless. And Flynn's return ignites an achingly powerful tale about the most enduring love, one that is greater than honor, or friendship, or the passing of time.

Want to win a free copy of this book? Laura Spinella is over at the fabulous Chick Lit is not Dead blog with 5 Do's and a Do Over. Leave a comment by July 13 and you'll be entered to win!

Writing Dialogue

2011-07-07T05:00:00.001-04:00

Garrett Breedlove: I like the lights on.
Aurora Greenway: Then go home and turn them on.
Terms of Endearment

That exchange (between Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson) is one the best bedroom lines ever. I want to write awesome dialogue just like that. And I want to write a male character whose last name is Breedlove, because, honestly, how great is that?

I took a break from my long wip (The Ugly Girlfriend) to finish up a project that was due July 1. It's a short story titled, Noche Buena, and like Garrett and Aurora, the main characters are a little older (late forties). I had no idea how hard it was to write a story and keep the word count at under 8000. No idea whatsoever. But I do now!

Fat Boy is back

2011-07-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

"Actually, I prefer "domestically challenged".
Cats and Dogs

My sweet outdoor/indoor cat, Lucky, aka Fat Boy Geraci is back! He's been missing since Saturday and am happy to say he came home late last night.

Not sure where he has been or what happened to him, but he's awful clingy today. Not that I'm complaining :)

Movie weekend

2011-07-05T05:00:00.000-04:00

"Listen, here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker."
Matt Damon in Rounders

This weekend, when I wasn't working or writing, I watched movies. Three of them, to be exact. All on Pay-per-view. Can't wait to get my cable bill :(

I started off with The Adjustment Bureau. I liked it. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be (I thought it was a spy thriller). Turned out to be a romance. A supernatural/sci-fi-or-whatever-you-want-to-call it- romance.

There were parts of the movie that were cheesy. Although it wasn't the romance part! The cheesy parts were the sci fi parts. The romance was actually fantastic. Great chemistry between two actors I adore. Matt and Emily. They should definitely do more movies together.

I also saw Beastly (I guess you need to be a teen to truly appreciate this one, although it wasn't awful). And it also starred Neil Patrick Harris (or NPH as he is known in certain circles) although they didn't show nearly enough of NPH to satisfy me.

I also saw Unknown with Liam Neeson. Which was just ok, and that's because it starred Liam Neeson, whom I really like. The movie was kind of a Bourne Identity rip-off and since I love The Bourne Identity, in comparison, Unknown could only be mediocre at best.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-04T05:00:00.003-04:00

"We're Americans, with a capital 'A', huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts!"
Stripes

Happy Fourth of July!

I hate cute too

2011-07-02T17:32:00.009-04:00

"Cute? Baby ducks are cute. I hate cute! I want to be exotic and mysterious. "
Bull Durham

And can I just say I've always agreed with Susan on that one.

But some days, even cute is hard to come by. That's why coffee was invented.

Slept most of the day away after a night of working. Maybe I can write some later...

What the French call

2011-07-01T05:00:00.002-04:00

"Kevin, you are what the French call les incompetents."
Home Alone

Sorry, couldn't resist quoting one of my favorite movie lines of all time. No reason, really. Just felt like it.

While the rest of the world is in New York enjoying the Romance Writers of America conference, or eating watermelon by the lake, I'll be working at my "night" job at the hospital, delivering babies and writing frantically by day to finish the short story that is due on July 1.

Oh, today is July 1, you say? Maybe the quote should read, Maria, you are what other writers call les procrastinator.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

No More Sagging Middles

2011-06-30T02:49:00.002-04:00

Today, I'm over at Romance Divas doing a workshop on sagging middles. Or rather how to avoid them in our stories. If you're not a member of Romance Divas, and you write romance, then why haven't you joined? It's free and a great place to mingle with other writers and learn craft. To get to the workshop, just join (did I already tell you that it's free?) and go to forums, then to Workshops and Conferences, and then to NGTCC (Not Going to Conference Conference).

I'm also at the Stiletto Gang talking voice (busy girl, aren't I?) Since writing that blog, I've learned that Javier Colon has won The Voice. Congratulations, Javier! Dia was my favorite, but you were a close second!

Janet Evanovich tells us what makes a guy hot

2011-06-27T06:54:00.005-04:00

Well, shoot. I tried to embed this really great short little video featuring Janet Evanovich (writer of the Stephanie Plum series, in case you didn't know) on what makes a guy hot, but although it will embed, it tells me the video is "unavailable in my region."

Boo!

Okay, so I'll tell you what she says. What makes a guy hot? Mystery. The less we know about him the better. Agree? Disagree? I think I tend to agree on this one!

Beach book giveaway

2011-06-24T09:08:00.004-04:00

Today I'm over at Magical Musings where I'll be giving away an autographed copy of Bunco Babes Gone Wild (one of my personal favorite beach reads!) Just leave a comment over there by Monday 2am EST and you'll be entered to win.

A day with Leigh Duncan

2011-06-21T09:32:00.004-04:00

This is a picture of the fabulous Leigh Duncan and myself at our book signing at Books-A-Million this past Saturday. Leigh's family was so supportive! She sold out of books, and I didn't do so bad either.

For those of you who might have seen some strange thing (ahem) on my website this past weekend, I'm sure you are probably aware that it certainly wasn't me calling myself names on my own website. I was hacked. Everywhere. All my email accounts, my website, my Facebook, everything. It was my own fault. I was extremely lax with my passwords and internet security. It's taken me days (and endless nights) to fix the problem, but fixed it is and hopefully won't happen again. Thank you to all my friends who called, texted me, etc... to tell me what was happening. At the time I was in Melbourne with my parents and had no internet access, which made the whole thing more frustrating. But enough of that.

I came home late Friday night and woke up early Saturday morning to have breakfast with Leigh and her sister at the Broken Egg. Yum. After that we headed to the Florida Panhandle Romance Writers meeting where Leigh did a great workshop on Deep Dish Critique. A few months ago I joined the STAR (Space Coast Authors of Romance) chapter and was so impressed with them. I asked Leigh to come and explain their method for group critique and she graciously accepted. I really think it's going to do great things for our little capital chapter and am really excited to get going on that.

Thanks, Leigh!

Book signing!

2011-06-15T00:29:00.004-04:00

I'm off to visit my parents for a couple of days, then it's back to Tally for the weekend. This Saturday, June 18, my fabulous friend and fellow author, Leigh Duncan will be doing a one hour work shop at the Florida Panhandle Romance Writers of America meeting. The presentation will be on "Deep Dish Critique" and will start at ten am. We meet at Julie's Restaurant on Monroe street, so if you live in the north Florida area and thinking of joining the chapter, please stop by!

Later, Leigh and I will head off to Books-A-Million on Thomasville Rd to sign books from 12 noon-2 pm. Leigh will be signing her newest release, The Daddy Catch, and I'll be signing The Boyfriend of the Month Club (and anything else you'd like me to sign!)

Laziness, have I ever offended thee?

2011-06-11T06:06:00.003-04:00

No, for thou art my constant companion...

I kid you not, this was an actual quote from my high school chemistry teacher, Sister Marlene. She'd say it almost every time I went to the chalk board to work out a chemistry equation (how did she always know to choose the one problem I didn't finish?) Ah, nuns. You gotta love them.

But really, while I'm not lazy (not really) I AM a huge procrastinator. And the longer I put something off, the longer it doesn't get done. I wish there was a pill for that, but alas, at present, I think not. So I'm off this very hot and muggy Saturday morning to get things I've been putting off done. Like getting my next book contract in the mail (yeah, you'd think I would have done that pronto.)

Oh, and pray for the Geraci family today. We woke up this morning to a broken air-conditioner. Not pretty in Florida, folks.

Life's a Beach giveaway!

2011-06-06T09:47:00.006-04:00

To celebrate the release of her first novella, Life's a Beach, fellow Girlfriends Book Club author, Malena Lott is holding a contest. To enter a chance to win all the yummy prizes above all you have to do is follow the instructions on her contest link right here.

The Law of Attraction and Karma hit the beach in Malena Lott's humorous first novella about two unlikely friends and their chance - or is it fated? - vacation in Mexico. Avery Stone, a shy, twenty-five year old receptionist believes her vision board is finally manifesting into the life of her dreams. Her handsome older boyfriend has taken her on a luxury beach vacation (pasted in the bottom right hand corner of her vision board) and she's hoping that huge diamond ring will come next. When an older woman, Georgia, returns the sunhat that blew off Avery's head at the airport, the women find they'll be at the same resort and share a cab and an adventure neither of them expected.

Georgia, a forty-year old mother of three girls, is on her second honeymoon, trying to bring back the romance that fizzled out of her stale marriage. Georgia doesn't believe in the Law of Attraction, but she does believe in karma and that good things result from action. With her full Marital Bucket, a shared bucket list between a couple, she's determined to get her life on the right tracks again. The women's paths cross in madcap ways as they discover that what brought them together could change the course of their lives together.

Buckle up!

2011-06-03T16:26:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Mike Geraci was stopped by a cop and got ticketed. Was he speeding? Nope. Did he run a light? Nope. He got a ticket (and a nice hefty little fine) for not wearing his seat belt.

When he called to whine (or rather inform) me about it, I couldn't help but burst out, "Good!"

At first, he was taken aback, but then he got it. At least I hope he did. I can't tell you how many times I've nagged him about wearing his seat belt. Putting on my seat belt is the first thing I do when I get in a car and the first thing you should do too. So because I love you, dear readers and friends, I'm going to ask you nicely, please buckle up. Please drive safely. Please don't drink and drive.

Peace out and have a great weekend!

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T07:38:00.002-04:00

Yay! I can blog again. Whatever was ailing my blogger/gmail account has miraculously been cured without any help from either me or Mike Geraci. Maybe the best way to fix a problem is to do nada.

By the way, B&N is offering my first book Bunco Babes Tell All at a clearance price now of $2.99! Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I think a good thing if it means more people will read it. Here is the link:

The Chick Lit Hero

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

My Savannah stories will have to be put aside for a few days. Today I'm attending college orientation with my youngest at UCF. A full day of activites from 8am -9pm. Sounds like fun. We'll see ;)

Meanwhile, check out my post, Men with Broad Shoulders, over at ChickLit Writers of America. I'm talking about chick lit heroes. My favorite being Josh Myers, from the fabulous chick lit film, Kissing Jessica Stein. Happy Monday everyone!

Savannah Evening One

2011-05-18T08:20:00.002-04:00

So now that we're all together it's time to go sightseeing. Mami, Carmen and me head out of the hotel on Liberty Street and start walking. Do we know where we are going? Oh heck no. Despite the fact that both Mami and Carmen have been to Savannah before we have absolutely no idea where we are in comparison to where we would like to be and where we would like to be is well... somewhere fun. Can you tell the Palacios women are not pre-planners? Yes, we all come from the Que sera, sera club. Doris Day would be so proud.

So we're walking along and we see a small crowd lined up on the street. At first, we walk past the crowd, but then a tiny spark lights up in one of our brains and one of us (okay, it was Carmen) decides to ask the crowd what they are waiting for. "The bus," answers one woman. A bus! Genius. We find out the bus is free (good) and that it will take you all around the historic district (even better.) We go by some lovely places that I cannot recall at the moment because we get off at River street and all I can say is: the $20 store.

Let me tell you, if you ever go to Savannah, you HAVE to go to this store. It's fabulous. We all bought rubber watches. I also bought 3 scarves and 2 pairs of sandals all for under $20 each (hence the store's name). Think of the dollar store but add nineteen dollars more. I know the salesgirl thought we were crazy because we kept coming back all night long because the bargains there are just too good to pass up and the more you think about them, the more you must have them.

All this shopping made us hungry and we go off in search of food. But before we eat we decide to buy tickets for the Ghost Tour. I've never been on a ghost tour. I bought tickets to one in Reno when the RWA conference was held there a few years back, but it was rained out and I was majorly bummed. It appears that ghost tours and I are not meant to be. The woman at the ghost tour booth was... well, I'm not sure what she was. Mami is convinced she has smoked one marijuana joint too much. Carmen thinks she's just daffy and I'm almost of the belief that she didn't really exist we just imagined her (kind of like a ghost herself). After about 15 minutes of trying to buy tickets and her fumbling and ruffling pages she never could get us booked and we gave up, disappointed, and went to The Shrimp Factory where a couple of margaritas and a bloody mary later, we felt much better. Of course I also felt much much better after eating my shrimp and grits. It was absolutely delicious.

After dinner, we continued our walk/shopping spree along River Street. If you are a fan of Paula Deen then you are in luck, because just about every store carries her stuff, which includes all the various cookbooks and cooking paraphernalia you can imagine. The other big tourist seller is anything that has to do with the "book" or the "movie", which is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. More on that in the next post...

Eventually, we get tired of the shopping and we head back to our hotel, walking along Bull Street, which is packed with people. The night is beautiful. The weather is cool and crisp and the atmosphere is quaint. The one tiny drawback is the smell, which is not so crisp and quaint. This is because the streets of the historic district smell like horse urine. There are more horse drawn carriages than there are cars. I didn't mind the smell though, because it's all so very lovely. We get to our room, where we collapse on our beds and get ready for a good nights sleep because we have lots of sight seeing to do tomorrow.

My one regret of the night? I should have bought candy at the Savannah Candy Kitchen, where the pralines and the salt water taffy abound. It was one of the cases where I thought we'd be back and I could buy at my leisure. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Lesson learned. Live in the moment!

Savannah Day One

2011-05-16T06:38:00.005-04:00

Yay! My blogger function is finally back up. For those of you who don't blog or use Blogger, the site was down for a couple of days last week and it ate my cookies. Or wanted me to have more cookies. Or get rid of my cookies. I'm not sure which. I just know that I tried to fix my cookies myself and couldn't. Oh well, that is what Mike Geraci is for (among other things.)

This past weekend I met my sister and mother for a girls trip to Savannah. It was absolutely fabulous. I can't believe I haven't been there before. It's about a 4 and half hour drive from Tally so that's not too shabby. You just hop on I-10, loop around Jax then head north on I-95. Pretty simple. So Friday I woke up and did a bit of cleaning because I just can't stand to leave the house in a mess. I know. I probably should have just left it as is, but my reward was that I returned to a fairly clean house, so yay!

First thing I do before heading on any road trip is get my gear ready. This includes having a caffeinated beverage of choice in my cup holder and a really great CD to listen to. So before I got on the highway I went by the Starbucks drive-through for a mocha frappucino (grande). Mocha frappucino was good, going through the drive-through, big mistake. When I rolled my window down to give the Starbucks guy my cash, a giant bug of unknown origin flew into my car.

Now, living in Florida, I am used to big bugs, however when I can't identify the said big bug in question, this makes me nervous. The bug was black, could fly (obviously) and looked like a big wasp. Maybe it was a big wasp. Not sure. I just know I started yelling at the bbici (big bug I can't identify) to fly out of my car. "Get out!" "Get out!" So what if the bug can't understand me, I'm sure he understood my tone because the second I started yelling the bug went crazy and started flying all over the car.

The Starbucks guy must have thought I was yelling at him because you should have seen the look on his face. He's like, lady, get out of where? Just about that time, the bbici flew out my car window. The Starbucks guy then saw what I was yelling at, ducked and the bbici flew into the store through the drive-through window.

He. Sorry, Starbucks, but thanks for the latte.

Now with my latte in hand, I start my drive. And can I just say, to the guy who broke Adele's heart, thank you. I listened to 21 for the entire 4.5 hour drive and never got tired of any of the songs. Heartbreak music is the best. I stopped once on the trip up, somewhere about 30 minutes into Georgia where a Chik-Fil-A sign lured me liked the Piped Piper lured the little children, only to discover that the Ckik-Fil-A was closed for renovations. Talk about disappointment, although it is probably for the best that I didn't get to snarf down a chicken sandwich because I arrived in Savannah with my healthy appetite intact and I would have hated to waste my first night's dinner because I'd filled up on Chik-Fil-A which I can have any day (except Sunday) just right down the street from me.

After checking into the hotel (Courtyard Marriot on Liberty Street) I went to find my room, only to see this just two doors down.

Yep, it was a bachelorette party in progress, complete with tiny penis decorations on the door and all. By this time, my sister and mom had arrived and we stood in front of these two doors laughing and reading the various signs. Our room was right across from the ice machine and I was afraid we might hear some revelry going on, but nope. We slept like babies both nights.

More, later...

Something Borrowed

2011-05-11T23:35:00.000-04:00

Just saw the movie tonight with my girls (Loinfruit and Daughter #2). It was fun! I'm always afraid when they make a movie about a book I love that they'll screw it up but luckily this wasn't the case. The casting was so spot on, especially the role of the deliciously yucky Marcus, played by Steve Howey. I know the critics have been slinging arrows at this one, but if you like the book, you'll like the movie. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Splitsville for Maria and Arnold

2011-05-10T16:02:00.005-04:00

I really thought they'd make it. But alas, no. Apparently another one bites the dust.

I'll be honest, years back when I first heard of this coupling, I laughed. She seemed too smart for him and he seemed... well, he was The Terminator. Enough said. Then Arnold proved he was really kind of smart after all. And there was this great "opposites attract" thing going on. Plus they were both Catholic and had 4 kids and Arnold went into politics which seemed right up Maria's alley.

I have to admit, I'm kind of sad.

But then, as I often do these days whenever I'm feeling a little blue, I just think of Princess Beatrice's hat and I smile and everything sad is forgotten. Because, well, you know. Really.

Mom is happy

2011-05-07T08:06:00.003-04:00

Happy Mothers Day weekend! This is a picture of the beautiful tulips I received yesterday from Loinfruit (that is code for Daughter #1 who is grown up and lives in Tampa). Aren't they pretty? I love tulips. Especially multi colored ones like this. A perfect gift!

Bunco!

2011-05-05T07:35:00.003-04:00

Last night, I rolled 3 buncos, which for me, was almost like a miracle. It's the first time in like 11 years that I've won most overall Buncos in a night. I have no problem with most games (or least games) or even the Boobie prize, but for some reason rolling those three sixes have become an elusive challenge.

The way my Bunco Broads play, a Bunco is nothing less than three 6's. So it's not easy to win one. We also play that whoever grabs the dice after a Bunco is thrown gets 2 points per dice grabbed. It makes for some very fun (and interesting) play. Yay me!

Books for everyone

2011-05-04T05:00:00.000-04:00

There's two new books out this week from fellow GBC authors! The cool thing is that there's something for everyone in the house here.

Exposure by Therese Fowler.
Amelia Wilkes’ strict father does not allow her to date, but that doesn’t stop the talented, winsome high school senior from carrying on a secret romance with her classmate, Anthony Winter. Desperately in love, the two envision a life together and plan to tell Amelia’s parents when she turns eighteen and is legally an adult. Anthony’s mother, Kim Winter, who teaches at their school, knows—and keeps—their secret. But the couple’s passion is exposed sooner than planned: Amelia’s father, Harlan, is shocked and infuriated to find naked pictures of Anthony on his daughter’s computer. Just hours later, Anthony is arrested.

Despite Amelia’s frantic protests, Harlan uses his wealth and influence with local law enforcement and the media to label Anthony a deviant who preyed on his innocent daughter. Spearheaded by a zealous prosecutor anxious to turn the case into a public crusade against “sexting,” the investigation soon takes an even more disturbing and destructive turn.
As events spiral wildly out of control and the scandalous story makes national news, Amelia and Anthony risk everything in a bold and dangerous plan to clear their names and end the madness once and for all.

.

And now for the ten and under crowd: Looking for a great series for your elementary school kid? Then look no more. The Sisters 8 by Lauren Baratz-Logsted is a great series to introduce the kiddos to. Book 7 Rebecca's Rashness came out this week.

8 Little girls (octuplets, actually. Can you imagine?) mysteriously lose their parents and must band together and use their talents to find out what happened to them. Sounds terrific, doesn't it?

I love you more than my luggage

2011-04-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

Recently a good friend (Sybil, you know who you are) said this expression to me on Facebook while we were discussing who we liked/didn't like on American Idol. As first I was like, "huh?" Then she said she was quoting Steel Magnolias and I was like, oh, now I get it. I'd never heard the expression because I've never seen the movie all the way through. Yes, I know, it's heresy, I'm probably like the only woman in the world (except for Mel, I think) who doesn't like this icon of female cinematography, but I can't help myself. Not sure why I don't like it, but I don't. I can't get past the first 30 minutes. I also don't like Chocolat. There. I feel so much better admitting that.

So now that would mean almost nothing except since hearing this expression, I've heard it at least 3 other times in less than a week. What is up with that? Have I been hearing it all along and just not "getting" it. I think that's probably it. And while I'm at it, what does it mean exactly? I love you more than my luggage. Does anyone really love their luggage? I love you more than my Louis Vuitton. Now that expression means something.

My Weird Post

2011-04-28T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today, I'm over at the Stiletto Gang, hanging out with my fellow writers and talking about VOICE. You know what voice I'm talking about. Your author voice. Go check out the post right here. I pay a little tribute to Eleanor Brown and her fabulous new book The Weird Sisters.

I have to say, the first thing that struck me about that title, was well, the title. If you've read my latest book The Boyfriend of the Month Club, then you know I like to use the word "weird" and I like writing "weird" characters.

Mike Geraci likes the word weird too. He uses it all the time, completely out of context. Such as:

Mike Geraci: "Wow, that was a weird movie."

me: "Didn't you like it?"

Mike Geraci: "Well, yeah, I liked it."

me: "What was weird about it?"

Mike Geraci: "I don't know. The whole thing." (he says with a weird vague look on his face)

And while this might be off topic, can I just say that's it a little weird that I'm finding Ralph Macchio completely cute and sexy this season on Dancing with the Stars? That's right. I have a weird crush on Daniel-son. Can you believe he's 49????

Happy Monday Morning

2011-04-25T04:58:00.008-04:00

Happy Monday morning (you know how I love Mondays!)

This particular Monday is extremely awesome. Besides being Dancing with the Stars night , this Monday signifies the official beginning of "warm" weather season. Here in Florida we have a pretty much non-existent spring. We go from what we consider cold to hot in just a couple of weeks (sometimes days). Personally, I consider spring in Tallahassee the short time that the millions of azaleas bloom. Once the blooms start to fade, then it's "almost summer." Another sign? Love bugs. If you don't know what a love bug is, then consider yourself a happy car owner.

The other big sign that it's almost summer is the end of Lent. The Geraci clan celebrated Easter yesterday in the TB (Tampa Bay) area, starting with mass at St. Francis of Assisi in Seffner, followed by an unbelievably awesome buffet at Jackson's Bistro at Harbour Island, then rounded up our trip back to Tally with a stop in Gainesville to wish Only Son good luck with his finals this week.

So yay for Monday, yay for almost summer, and yay for what promises to be a terrific week (culminating with the big Senior Prom for Daughter #2. Did I tell you that I'm going to be hosting 9 high school couples for Prom dinner? More on that later...)

Meanwhile, check out this awesome Earth Day banner Daughter #2 and her pals made as part of their AP Environmental Science class project. I took a secret snapshot of it while it was drying in our garage. Pretty cool, no?

Good Friday and The Weird Sisters

2011-04-22T05:29:00.005-04:00

Ah, I have been such a bad blogger. Can't believe an entire week has gone by without blogging, but I have been basking in the glow of my new sale (aka spending way too much time on the computer and emails). That said, Good Friday, everyone!

Back in the day (that would be my youth) Good Friday was always the bleakest of bleakest days. Being raised a strict Catholic it meant no school (yay!), no tv, no radio (boo!) no fun, no meat, and going to church at exactly 3pm. The best part of Good Friday was that it meant that Lent was almost over.

I'll admit my giving up of the Holy Trinity (diet coke, bread, and chocolate) has not gone well. I did great for the first 2 weeks of Lent, but then fell off the wagon and have had some of each. However, I have had much less of each (especially the diet coke, which was the hardest) so I feel pretty positive over all.

Tonight is my book club night and we're discussing The Weird Sisters. Great read, btw! I will definitely being taking pics and posting on that, so stay tuned.

Want a chance to win another great read? FREE? (Did I say the magic word?) Then hop by the Stiletto Gang where fellow Girlfriends Book Club member Cindy Jones is giving away a copy of her new book My Jane Austen Summer. Just leave a comment by Sunday. How simple is that?

Happy Easter, everyone! May the Bunny bring you lots of chocolate!

Good News, Bad News

2011-04-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

I'll start with the good news first. I sold another book! Here's the blurb that went to Publishers Weekly:

Maria Geraci's THE UGLY GIRLFRIEND, after accidentally finding out she's the "ugly friend" in her crowd, Emma tries to channel her inner swan, only to discover that some labels are hard to shed, to Wendy McCurdy at Berkley, in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency. (World English)

Yay! I'm so very excited about this book I could burst.

Now, for the bad news. It's official. All My Children has been cancelled. I blogged about it over at The Girlfriends Book Club. Sigh.

Is Kirstie cursed?

2011-04-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

I should say not! How could Kirstie be cursed when she has hottie Maks as her partner? But twice in a row now she's had a mishap and the tabloids are a buzz with Kirstie's bad luck. And if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about it's Dancing with the Stars, which imo is having a rather excellent season.

Last week, Maks pulled a thigh muscle (he!) during their rumba and fell, bringing Kirstie down with him. He apologized profusely and was quite the gentleman. I'll admit, in 12 seasons of DWTS I've never seen Maks so taken with his celebrity partner. Not even the ones he was supposedly romantically linked to. Kirstie is old enough to be Maks' mother and is no size 6, but honestly, I see a whole lot of chemistry between them. Not in a romantic way, but in the kindred spirit way. I think Maks genuinely likes Kirstie and it shows in their performance (when he's not dropping her, that is).

This week, Kirstie lost a shoe during their waltz. Personally, I'd like to see Maks lose his shirt more (which happens quite a bit, much to Judge Len's chagrin, although not enough for me). But despite these little setbacks I still think Kirstie and Maks are the couple to beat for the big Mirror Ball trophy coveted by B Grade celebrities and professional dancers alike.

My prediction for the final four? Kirstie and Maks, Hines and Kim, Ralph and Karina, and Chelsea and Mark. Final winner? It's any one's guess!

Fat Boy gets in a fight

2011-04-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of Lucky Geraci aka Fat Boy. He wandered up to our house about 8 years ago and plunked himself down in our yard. He looked like he'd just escaped from Auschwitz he was so skinny. He wasn't wearing any tags (and I'll be honest, I didn't think about taking him to the vet to see if he had one of those chips inside him.) He had been declawed and was obviously starving.

Now, I'm not a cat person, but I'd been tricked a few years earlier into getting a cat (Lizzie aka Heartless Bitch) by my two daughters, so I wasn't totally clueless about cats. Urged by Daughter #2 to "do the right thing" I put some food and water out by the garage. Of course, the dang cat gobbled it all up. So I put some more food out there. Repeat previous sentence (the dang cat gobbled it all up again).

Later that night it began to storm. Now Daughter #1 joined in the fight to "save" the cat. Clueless Son, who was probably off playing Nintendo, did not join in the argument one way or another (clearly he is destined to be a dog-man). So because I still have a heart, I took the cat in. Hence she (we later found out he was a neutered male) was bestowed with the name "Lucky."

Lucky spent the next 3 days in the laundry room lying on top of my warm vibrating dryer (which saw a lot of action in those days because I have 3 kids), alternately eating, using the litter box, and sleeping. After about 2 weeks, he looked more like a fat prison guard at Auschwitz and Mike Geraci bestowed the name "Fat Boy" on him and we have loved him ever since. However, we cannot keep the dang cat inside. He craves the outdoors. So he's an indoor/outdoor cat with no claws. Ay caramba. If I had a teenager who was driving I couldn't be more worried (oh, wait, I have 2 of those as well).

Speed forward to the next 8 years. Lucky now roams the neighborhood like he's King Cat. Mostly he guards our front yard, but he also likes to go over to the neighbor across the street because there are horses in the lot behind their house. He's had one snake fight that I know of (because I witnessed it and subsequently killed the snake myself) but other than that he's pretty peaceful. So imagine my surprise when he came home one day with a part of his tail scratched. I figured he had scraped it trying to squeeze in between the fence. I put some Neosporin on it and kept an eye on it. Within a few days it had begun to abscess and all the hair on his tail was falling off. This means a visit to Dr. Steve (local veterinarian.)

According to Dr.Steve, Lucky was in a tomcat fight. What? My sweet old Lucky is running around fighting at night? It appears so. A shot of good old fashioned antibiotics and few days later, Lucky is on the mend. Of course, he still goes out several times a day, although I've noticed he's now hanging out in the backyard more. Still, it's weird knowing he has this secret life I know nothing about. It makes me wonder what my teenagers are up to...

This is a bad picture of Fat Boy's tail, which is healing very nicely.

Want to get published?

2011-04-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

How would you like a chance to be featured in a great winter anthology alongside other women fiction authors?

“Sleigh Ride” is an anthology of short stories by women for publication in the fall of 2011 as a print book and e-book by Buzz Books USA, an independent press and promotions company in the Midwest. The book is also a fundraiser for education and awareness of domestic violence with $1 of each book sale being donated to the cause. Stories will be gathered via a contest and judged by professional writers in other states. The anthology will include original works by published authors (yes, I 'm one of them!) as well as aspiring authors who have entered and won the contest. A minimum of ten stories/authors will be included in the anthology.

Here's the link to the complete 411.

The End

2011-04-01T08:26:00.003-04:00

NO April Fools Joke here. Although I do wish everyone good luck with their pranks today;)

Mike Geraci and I got into a little snit over our morning coffee on who was taking the dog and the cat (Charlie and Lucky) to the vet this morning. I swear, last night he told me HE was going to do it. He said I had said I'd do it.Guess who won? I think instead of apologizing for my crankiness I will blame the whole thing on an April Fools joke. I'll let you know Monday if I got away with it.

Okay, so on to this morning's post.

As writers we always pay so much attention to our opening lines. It, along with the first few pages, is what draws the reader in, so we spend countless hours editing that first line and making sure it "pops." But what about our last lines?

Fellow GBC sister Ernessa T. Carter is over at the Girlfriends Book Club talking about last lines. You can check her post out right here.

For fun, I thought I'd post the last lines to my own books.

"I play Bunco on Thursdays. Every Thursday. No exceptions. It's sort of like my religion."
He smiled. "I know. I get it now."

Because it is a truth universally acknowledged that when a woman gets a diamond engagement ring, she must show it off to her closest friends.

He was just Joe. And that was more than good enough for Grace.

What Amanda Hocking and Barry Eisler can teach us

2011-03-31T06:22:00.003-04:00

Today, I've over at the Stiletto Gang talking about Survival of the Smartest. Or what Amanda Hocking and Barry Eisler can teach us about self-publishing. It's a changing world out there and we have to adapt.

New Releases today!

2011-03-29T17:47:00.005-04:00

Shiver of Fear by the fabulous Roxanne St. Claire comes out today! I can't wait to get my paws on this and start reading. Doesn't it sound fabulous?

Burned by a failed marriage, former FBI agent Marc Rossi wants back in the investigation game with no emotional strings attached. Taking an assignment for his enterprising Angelino cousins, he heads to Northern Ireland to pry a key piece of evidence from a missing socialite-any way he can. But when the ice queen turns out to be warm, beautiful, and on a secret mission of her own, the job becomes a passionate reminder of what happens when duty and desire mix.

The daughter of an infamous fugitive, Devyn Sterling has survived betrayal only to find that her mother has mysteriously disappeared. When her search uncovers secrets, lies, and threats, Devyn and Marc must trust each other when every instinct says they can't . . . and a terrorist wants to make sure they won't live to try.

And how about this gorgeous cover? My Jane Austen Summer by fellow GBC sister Cindy Jones debuts today as well.

Lily is caught in a cycle of loss: her mother died of cancer, her boyfriend left her for an earth mother, and she’s been fired from her job for reading Jane Austen novels when she should have been routing payroll tax deposits. When the opportunity arises to travel to England to re-enact Mansfield Park, she thinks she may finally realize her dream of living in a novel. But even in England, where Lily is immersed in a literary festival so rich it seems Jane Austen is present, her problems find her. Lily must summon her resources and confront painful truths before she is demoted to the role of secondary character in her own life. 2011 Cindy Jones Copyright ©

Weekend Home

2011-03-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

This is my parents' new baby, their miniature schnauzer named Paco (my sister and I came up with that name). He's four months old and absolutely adorable. The heel to the left of Paco belongs to my sister who was modeling a new pair of shoes she bought at Kohls (love their prices). While she was shopping I attended the local RWA chapter meeting (Space Coast Romance Writers). What a fabulous group! I joined of course, and hope to make at least half the meetings. The fabulous Roxanne St. Claire gave a workshop on channeling your inner ad ex. It was just what I needed to help me cement the tag line on my wip. The weather was gorgeous too, so all in all, it was really a terrific weekend:)

Lovely Review

2011-03-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

After a week in which I've been down with the stomach crud, I'm happy to say that I'm finally on the mend. I'm going to my hometown of Melbourne this afternoon to pay a much overdue visit to my parents, and of course to visit my new "brother" Paco. Paco is a 4 month old Miniature Schnauzer. Very cute. I've only seen him once and I'm sure he's grown since February. I'm also planning to catch a STAR meeting (Space Coast Romance Writers of America). Can't wait to see what they have lined up.

On the home front, I received a very lovely review for Boyfriend from A Cozy Readers Corner (click to read the whole review).

"Ms. Geraci’s writing is easy to read and follow. I enjoyed the laid back approach I was able to take in reading this book. It reminded me of the many reasons I enjoy chick-lit and fiction as a whole. "

Major Wonderful

2011-03-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

Every once in a while a book will come along that really tugs at my heartstrings, one that's difficult for me to put down, and makes me want to be a better writer. That's how I felt about Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It's such a simple little novel- character driven (my favorite!)and so beautifully written and engrossing. I was sad to reach the The End. I absolutely fell in love with Major Pettigrew, a 68 year old retired British army major and perhaps one of the wittiest and most romantic heroes ever written.

While reading this book I used the highlight feature of my Kindle for the first time, which is so cool because you can use a cursor to highlight sections of the book that you want to remember.

These are few of the many sections that I highlighted:

He had forgotten that grief does not decline in a straight line or along a slow curve like a graph in a child's math book. Instead, it was almost as if his body contained a big pile of garden rubbish full both of heavy lumps of dirt and of sharp thorny brush that would stab at him when he least expected it.

..."These days, men expect their wives to be as dazzling as their mistresses."
"That's shocking," said the Major. "How on earth will they tell them apart?"

"But I must ask you, do you really understand what it means to be in love with an unsuitable woman?"
"My dear boy," said the Major. "Is there really any other kind?"

"That's what love is about, Roger. It's when a woman drives all lucid thought from your head; when you are unable to contrive romantic stratagems, and the usual manipulations fail you; when all your carefully laid plans have no meaning and all you can do is stand mute in her presence. You hope she takes pity on you and drops a few words of kindness into the vacuum of your mind."

Let's Save All My Children

2011-03-22T07:48:00.004-04:00

ABC is thinking of cancelling All My Children. Here's the article that almost made me spew my coffee this morning.

For years, I was a huge AMC fan. I watched it in college, watched it after I got married, when I had babies, etc. If I was gone for the day, I videotaped the episodes (obviously this was before the greatest invention ever, the DVR).

I admit, I haven't watched the show in a long long time. Every once in a while I would watch an episode just for kicks and be thrilled when I saw one of the regular oldies, like Erica or Tad or Adam. But even though I didn't watch the show anymore, I knew it was there. Waiting for me to come home to some day. Now, that some day might be gone and I'm bummed. Really really bummed. I'm going right now to program the show into my DVR. If you've ever been a fan of the show, consider doing this too. Maybe it's not to late to save AMC!

The Man Boy

2011-03-19T08:39:00.004-04:00

I ran across this article the other day about a new book that claims we are raising a generation of man boys. At first I thought it was kind of funny. Then I thought, not so funny after all.

Beautiful Disaster giveaway

2011-03-18T06:37:00.005-04:00

The very talented Laura Spinella is over at the Stiletto Gang talking about her fabulous debut novel Beautiful Disaster. She's also giving away one free copy of her book to one commenter (comments open till Sunday, noon). All you have to do is go right here.

Laura is a fellow Berkley author and Girlfriends Book Club sister and her debut novel is getting some big buzz. It's also set in Georgia and I love me some Southern women's fiction. Here's the scoop!

Mia Wells is poised to finalize the deal that will make her eco-friendly career goals a reality. The moment is interrupted when an unexpected phone call ushers in a tremulous past. The man she’s always loved, the one who abandoned her years before, has mysteriously resurfaced.

Set in the Deep South amid magnolia leaves and the innocence of college life, Beautiful Disaster begins with Flynn’s arrival. He’s a man with a doubtful past, half a name, and no ties to anything earthbound, except Mia. For a year they have the kind of love affair a man like him inspires. Mia trusts him with her life. It’s a precarious leap of faith when she learns that he’s a fugitive on the run. For the next twelve years she keeps his secrets, long after Flynn vanishes, devastating her. Succumbing to the common sense she once defied, Mia eventually marries. Michael Wells is a wonderful man: patient, successful, driven. She does love him; who wouldn’t?

Never anticipating Flynn’s return, Mia does her best to put the past behind her. It’s a bittersweet truth as she must admit to a love and a passion that has never died. Yet, the future is grim as a gravely injured Flynn lingers, his dark past hovering like a storm. When he finally recovers, the puzzle unfolds. Flynn’s recollections are sketchy, piecing together the years and moments leading up to his accident. A smart man for whom honor has been a nemesis, Flynn unravels the truth: one well meaning lie has altered three lives, creating futures that should have never been. As the past and present reconcile, Mia’s what ifs are endless.

Filled with sweetness and suspense, Beautiful Disaster is an achingly powerful tale—the kind of love story each of us wishes was ours to tell.

Brad, will you please shave now?

2011-03-17T06:09:00.004-04:00

Way back when the powers that be decided to make Brad Womack the next Bachelor (again) I knew it was a big boo boo. I've never been a fan of Bachelor Brad and it wasn't because he didn't pick anyone the first time. It's because he's a big snooze fest. Plus, I just don't think he's all that.

But as usual, I got sucked into the show again. There were moments I almost liked Brad. Like when he was sitting on the couch talking to his "counselor" about his commitment issues. It's difficult to be the straight man in a comedy routine, but Brad can actually pull off looking semi-serious while talking utter nonsense.

Then there was the final show and he picked Emily (who I like, but let's get real. WHY did she come on The Bachelor to begin with??) I just got a chance to watch the finale and all I can say is that Brad is one big ass. The way he went off on Emily when she questioned whether or not he'd be there for her and her daughter (very legitimate concerns) should have been Emily's first big warning sign. I wanted to yell "Run away, Emily!" but of course, this was already taped months ago so it wouldn't have done any good.

Then there was the After the Rose show, where we learn Brad has a "temper" and Emily can't get over her jealousy of seeing Brad kiss his way through 24 other Bachelorettes.

Is it really so hard to cast this show with a nice looking guy with a rockin' personality who legitimately wants to find love? Or are they an extinct species?

Oh, and by the way. Brad, please shave. The on-purpose-two-day-old five o'clock shadow thing is getting old. It was cool about a gazillion years ago when Don Johnson was sporting it on Miami Vice. But it's just not so sexy anymore. Unless you are Matt Bomer.

Casting my story

2011-03-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

When I'm in the process of writing a story I like to put a face behind my character. It helps get me in the mood so to speak. So in my current wip, I have a character whom my protagonist has a huge crush on (her boss!) He's gone through 2 name changes but now that I'm over 1/3 of the way through I've settled on his name- Ben Gallagher. It took me a bit to realize it but every time I wrote him I had Matt Bomer in mind. Suddenly, it's very easy to get in the mood.

Chick Lit Challenge

2011-03-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

Do you love reading chick lit as much I do? Want to win some really awesome chick lit books? Then enter the Chick Lit Challenge over at Chick lit Plus. You can read all about it right here.

The Day of Mel!

2011-03-14T06:31:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday to my awesome friend and writing-partner-in-crime, the one and only Mel! Most people celebrate their birthday on the actual day. Not Mel. She claims the entire month of March as her own, even calling it the Month of Mel (her posts are hilarious). But since today is the ACTUAL day, I'm giving her a shout out. Happy Birthday, my friend!

If you haven't read any of Mel's books, you are losing out. Her latest, Love Sucks! is as awesome as Mel is.

AJ Ashe is moving on. Sure she still has not-so-sisterly feelings for Ryan, her ex-boyfriend-turned-step-brother, but there’s a new vampire in town and his name is Alexander Archer. Caught between the desire to move forward with Sexy Lexy and being drawn to her past with Ryan, AJ thinks life couldn’t get anymore complicated. Yeah, right.

When her mother’s pregnancy is threatened, it looks like AJ’s long lost father is the only person who can save her. But Dad’s help comes with a price. AJ is forced join the evil side of her family, and a very creepy shape-shifting demon is there to make sure AJ cooperates. All this and she’s still got to plan the prom. Being a teenager is tough, but being a teenage vampire just flat out sucks. Pun totally intended.

Catherine Mann visits FPRW

2011-03-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you live in the Tallahassee area and are interested in writing romance (or just like to hang with people who like to read it) think about joining the Florida Panhandle Romance Writers of America. Tomorrow we're hosting novelist Catherine Mann. Can't wait! Click this link for more details.

High Octane Heroes” workshop – USA Today bestseller and Rita Award winner Catherine Mann presents an interactive workshop on powering up your heroes to keeper-shelf status. Using popular movies and images for examples, Catherine identifies compelling characteristics in fan favorite military heroes and explores how to apply those to your out-of-uniform hero. The first half of the workshop dissects the nature of the military hero and the popularity he holds with readers as well as publisher marketing departments. The second half of the workshop involves discussing with attendees a selection of non-military (non cop, non spy, etc) action/alpha hero in movies and analyzing how those identified elements were showcased to create the same spine-tingling charisma found in military hotshots.

Presenter Bio: USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann writes action packed military suspense for Berkley Sensation and Sourcebooks Casablanca, and steamy romances for Silhouette Desire. Catherine has over two million books in print in more than twenty countries. Since publication, she has won a RITA Award and the Bookseller’s Best, as well as being nominated for such awards as the RT Reviewers Choice, Reviewer’s International, National Reader’s Choice, Maggie and RITA (five times.) Catherine currently resides on the Florida beach with her flyboy husband, their four children and ever increasing menagerie of rescue pets. FMI visit her website at: http://www.catherinemann.com/

Oh, and I got another really nice review for Boyfriend. This one is from ChickLitPlus.

"A lighthearted and fun read, I would definitely recommend The Boyfriend of the Month Club to chick lit fans."

You can read the entire review right here. Thanks, Samantha!

I probably shouldn't find this as funny as I do

2011-03-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

But God help me, I just can't stop watching this stuff.

Giving up the Holy Trinity for Jesus

2011-03-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

What am I giving for Lent this year? Well, I could give up my "flash" like Pioneer Woman's friend suggests here. But since I can barely take a decent picture with my auto camera it wouldn't be much of a sacrifice.

The last few years I haven't done a Lenten sacrifice (sshh, don't tell my mom) so I've decided to go big or go home for 2011 and give up my own personal Holy Trinity: Bread, chocolate and diet coke. Heaven help me.

Girls Day Out

2011-03-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of my sister, Carmen (she's the one sitting on the floor with the blue top), and some of her friends celebrating their friend Regina's birthday. They did a spa day and Carmen provided all the attendees a goody bag containing one of my books. Fun!

I Love Romance Junkies

2011-03-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

One of the reasons possibly being that they just gave The Boyfriend of the Month Club a lovely five star review right here!

Author Geraci’s great gift is her ability to make readers laugh at the inanities of the dating arena with her spunky, independent women and strong, but flawed men. The action is fast, the characters are smart in addition to being sassy and the one-liners never stop. BOYFRIEND OF THE MONTH CLUB is a hoot! Like a very hard to resist, drippy ice cream cone!

Do you have any idea how much I love my book being compared to chocolate ice-cream? Yes, I know the reviewer did not specify chocolate, but she meant to

Thank you Romance Junkies! You made my day:)

Happiness is flowers

2011-03-01T07:41:00.006-05:00

Here in north Florida, March has come in like a lamb. Let's hope it doesn't go out like a lion, because frankly, I'm sick of winter.

Growing up in central Florida, we have no Spring. We go straight from Winter right into Summer. But in north Florida we have a couple of weeks of Spring and I plan to enjoy it. I planted hydrangeas yesterday (one of my favorite blooms).

A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin. What else does a man need to be happy?
Albert Einstein

Albert, a woman needs a bit more than that. She needs a good book and some flowers!

How romantic comedies work

2011-02-25T08:13:00.004-05:00

I love romantic comedies! They are by far my favorite genre of films. Books too, for that matter.

They are like the chocolate of the food pyramid. Sweet, indulgent and always satisfying.

There are so many great romcoms out there it would be hard to pinpoint a favorite. His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story, While You Were Sleeping, and Sleepless in Seattle are among my old time and new time faves, but one that has always stuck in my head since I saw it back in 2005 when it came out was Fever Pitch. Partly because it stars Drew Barrymore, whom I adore (she would be my choice to play Kitty if they ever made a movie version of Bunco Babes Tell All) and partly because there is a huge baseball theme (and I adore baseball) but mostly because it hits the ball out of the park in every way (pun intended).

Another thing I love about the film is that it stars Jimmy Fallon as the romantic male lead and I would have never guessed that he could have pulled it off so beautifully. But he does! And that's why I chose Fever Pitch to use as the film in my deconstruction workshop over at Savvy Authors. The workshop starts Monday, Feb 28 and lasts all week. Here's the link if you're interested. I promise it will be both fun and enlightening!

Fever Pitch Workshop, Savvy Authors

Feb 28-March 6

Fever Pitch, the 2005 romantic comedy about the game of love starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. Hold on… Jimmy Fallon? Not exactly most women’s idea of a romantic leading man. Find out how funny can be sexy, and what makes this romantic comedy work on so many different levels. This workshop will focus on plot and characterization and how you can use the techniques from the film to make your own stories stronger and more appealing to the mass audience.

Oscars!

2011-02-24T07:49:00.002-05:00

Today, I'm over at the Stiletto Gang blogging about the Oscars. Personal favorites and worst moments ever. Check it out right here.

Fear and writing

2011-02-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm over at the Girlfriends Book Club talking about going for the fear. Check it out right here (hey, I rhymed!)

You pierce my soul

2011-02-18T05:48:00.005-05:00

My pal, Susan McBride (author of the fabulous The Cougar Club) is over at the Stiletto Gang today talking about favorite romantic reads. She was seen on Great Day St. Louis on Valentine's Day and selected The Boyfriend of the Month Club as a favorite read this year. Yay! You can read the post and see the video right here.

Susan did a poll recently on Facebook and her readers selected 5 of their favorite romantic reads of all time.

I think mine is without a doubt, Persuasion, by Jane Austen. The love letter Captain Wentworth writes to Anne at the end of the story is a two hankie read!

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago.

Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine.

I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men.

Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in F. W.

I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never."
Persuasion, Jane Austen

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be in Pittsburgh. Pictures to come (if I don't freeze to death, that is!)

Saving Bookstores and Stilettos

2011-02-17T06:09:00.004-05:00

As long as there are men in the world, I don't think stilettos will need saving. Bookstores, on the other hand are a different matter.

Today, is my first official blog post as the newest member of the Stiletto Gang. I'm talking about the Borders bankruptcy and how we can help save bookstores. Or is too late?

Aloha means free books!

2011-02-16T15:45:00.004-05:00

Today, I'm over at the SOS Aloha blog that's run by the very lovely and energetic Kim Adams.

I first "met" Kim shortly after my first book, Bunco Babes Tell All, came out. The Chicago Tribune had done a very nice review of the book and the review had been picked up by the Baltimore Sun. Kim, who is a military wife and huge supporter of all things Bunco, the Military, and romance, emailed me after her husband showed her the article. The next month I met her in person at the RWA Literacy signing in Washington DC where she presented me with this huge set of dice! You can see the dice in the picture above that was taken at a subsequent book signing. I wish I'd thought to get my picture taken with Kim, but I'm usually a google eyed dope at these signings and these things don't occur to me till later.

Please stop by the terrific SOS Aloha blog, which supports romance and celebrates the "silent" soldier--that's the spouse who supports the soldier who helps keep our country free. Leave a comment and one lucky person will win a copy of all three of my books! Comments will be open till Saturday (aloha time!)

Sex scenes

2011-02-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! It's rather apropo that last Saturday over at the Girlfriends Book Club, the topic was sex scenes and how to write them. I sure had fun reading all the advice. You might too!

Book Bloggers and Tribal Writer

2011-02-11T09:18:00.007-05:00

I love people who love reading books and especially people who spread the word about the books they love. Book blogs are the modern day way to get your book "talked" about. And book bloggers are the connectors and mavens we all wish for.

Lori Gondelman, from Lori's Reading Corner is over at the Stiletto Gang today talking about how she got started.

Another great post to read is Tribal Writer's latest on why reading fiction is important. If you're a writer and you don't subscribe to her blog, then you're missing out on some great advice and inspiration. Reading is the Inhale, Writing is the Exhale. Now those are words to live by.

Writing with Authenticity

2011-02-09T09:34:00.005-05:00

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and what it means. My new wip (The Ugly Girlfriend) has taken me places I've never been before and I don't just mean location. Up till now, I've shied away from writing characters that I don't have some kind of first hand knowledge of.

For instance, in Boyfriend of the Month, my protagonist, Grace, is half Cuban. Well, I'm all Cuban, so that was easy. I've read Cuban characters in novels before that didn't feel authentic to me. It's like they threw in a generic Hispanic character and called them Cuban when they felt more Puerto Rican (yes, there is a difference) or Mexican (and yes, there is a difference again).

So I'm entering new territory and it's exciting and scary at the same time.
I can only hope I do my characters justice.

Back to writing now!

Oh, and check out my guest post over at Sniffly Kitty's blog. It's about falling in love with your novel and it's part of the month long Loving the Reviews Challenge!

Handling Bad Reviews

2011-02-05T08:08:00.003-05:00

Today's Saturday topic over at the Girlfriends Book Club is reviews, and how authors handle bad ones. I have to say bad reviews used to really get to me. But over the course of 3 books I've had to step back and see a review for what it is. One person's opinion.

I remember hearing Susan Elizabeth Phillips say at a workshop once that bad reviews can be liberating because the truth is you can't please everyone, so you shouldn't even try. I love that advice. And I love Susan!

The truth is all books get bad reviews. Even the big ones. Especially the big ones. The more people who read your book, the more likely you are to have someone (or lots of someones) not "get" the book.

In the summer of 1950, Alfred A. Knopf Inc. turned down the English-language rights to a Dutch manuscript after receiving a particularly harsh reader’s report. The work was “very dull,” the reader insisted, “a dreary record of typical family bickering, petty annoyances and adolescent emotions.” Sales would be small because the main characters were neither familiar to Americans nor especially appealing. “Even if the work had come to light five years ago, when the subject was timely,” the reader wrote, “I don’t see that there would have been a chance for it.”

That book of course, was The Diary of Anne Frank.

Enough said.

Free Book Friday

2011-02-04T08:37:00.003-05:00

If you've never been to Free Book Friday before, why not? I don't know about you, but I love FREE books! This week's book is Friday Mornings at Nine, by my good bud, Marilyn Brant. I've read it. It's fabulous. You'll think it's fabulous too. So go over and enter!

Me Likes Kate Pearce

2011-02-03T07:34:00.009-05:00

I don't know how she does it. Maybe it's the magic jellybeans she eats while writing, but Kate Peace is one awesome and highly prolific writer. She's got two new books out within just a week of each other and I can't wait to get my paws on these (Actually, they are both on my Kindle, waiting to be scrolled to). Kate is a fabulous writer and I'm in for a treat! If you haven't read her yet, you are truly missing out.

Here's the lowdown:

Simply Forbidden
Pearce’s House of Pleasure series continues with this intense, thought-provoking Regency-era novel that will cause you to ponder the events that shape people’s lives. The complex, troubled characters struggle with issues of abandonment, betrayal, trust and family relationships as they come to terms with their sexual proclivities. You get a great historical novel, a touching romance and blistering sex — with a little kink.
TOP PICK! 4 1/2 Stars, Joyce Morgan, RT BOOK Reviews

Lisette Delornay-Ross is used to belonging to two worlds—her father Philip’s aristocratic circles and her mother, Helene’s more risqué sexual empire. When she meets Major Lord Gabriel Swanfield, she is instantly attracted to him and more than willing to engage in her usual brand of flirtation. Scarred both physically and mentally by his sojourn in the Peninsular army, Gabriel lives a solitary existence on the fringes of London society.

Although he is willing to indulge Lisette in an erotic affair, Gabriel has surprisingly strong views about marriage. But despite herself, Lisette understands Gabriel’s conventional desires all too well. Should she give into his demands and become the perfect society wife he thinks he wants, or try and persuade him otherwise? As both of them try to provide the other with what they believe is the answer to their dilemma, they discover that love has a way of making the most unconventional of lifestyles work after all.

Blood of the Rose
The second installment in Pearce’s Tudor Vampire Chronicles contains more rich historical details than the first book, making it exceptional. There’s something fun about rewriting history and making memorable characters like Anne Boleyn into vampires. Pearce expertly weaves her historical background and knowledge into a truly captivating tale.
4 Stars! Annette Elton, RT BOOK Reviews

When Rosalind Llewellyn had to join forces with her enemy, Christopher Ellis to defeat a rogue Vampire threatening Henry VIII, their alliance led to a surprising passion. Reunited after a years separation, they face a new threat that could destroy their last chance at happiness.
Christopher is delighted by the spectacular rise at court of his friends George and Anne Boleyn. But Rosalind suspects Lady Anne is up to no good-she may even be a Vampire who’s bewitched the king. Now Rosalind must fight to keep Christopher from falling under the woman’s mysterious spell. It isn’t until Anne reveals a dark secret that Christopher awakens to where the true danger lies-and he begins to play a desperate game in order to save the woman he loves…

Another nice review for Boyfriend

2011-02-01T07:32:00.002-05:00

Okay, I admit it. Good reviews are better than chocolate :)

There’s nothing like a satisfying Chick Lit book on a blah winter’s day or on a sunny day at the beach. The machinations of friends and family in a cozy setting while the main character falls in love with the perfect guy becomes the chocolate bar for the soul. Maria Geraci’s The Boyfriend of the Month Club is such a nugget of pleasure.

Check out the rest over at All About Romance!

Happy Monday morning

2011-01-31T06:25:00.003-05:00

I've got over 12,000 words written on the new wip. Yay! I'm in love. Really. The words are flowing like honey right now. I just hope we don't encounter a bee strike.

Coincidentally, I just finished writing a guest blog piece on how falling in love is just like writing a novel. It's for the Loving the Reviews Challenge and I'll definitely be posting more information on that since there will also be lots of book giveaways. Remember, Mondays are not bad. Mondays are the beginning of the rest of your life.

Oh, and can I just say that I LOVED all of Downton Abbey? Except... the ending. Grrr! I had no idea they would end it the way they did. Obviously, there is a Downton Abbey Part 2 in the works. Or at least there had better be!

Some nice reviews!

2011-01-26T04:07:00.003-05:00

I just got another set of nice reviews for Boyfriend. yay!

"Author Geraci knows how to bring the humor to all of her books her Bunco Babes books are rollicking good fun. The Boyfriend of the Month Club is fast, funny and fast-paced fun. The characters are quirky yet believable. Grace’s family is Cuban-Irish and her relationship with her father is touching. There are plenty of laughs, great characters, and romance. The Boyfriend of the Month Club is just plain great fun! Enjoy!"
Reader to Reader Reviews

I also got 5 stars from Night Owl Reviews, making it a Reviewer Top Choice. yay!

"This story is believable but even more important it’s entertaining. I absolutely loved it and hated to put it down."
Night Owl Reviews