My crick in the neck

I woke up this morning with a massive spasm in my neck. Did I sleep wrong? Probably, although I suspect it has more to do with the hours I spent at my computer yesterday (am really making headway on the new novel!)

As we speak, I can only move my head to the right. Well, okay, I can move it to the left some too, but only because Mike Geraci has spent the last ten minutes using his superb super massage/rolfing techniques on me.

Yesterday, I gave away an ARC for my upcoming book, BOTMC. The winner was announced in my edited post on Girlfriends Book Club. Congrats to Sarah!

Plans for the day: keep writing on the new novel. Go mail my Fresh Fiction contest winner her goodies (a signed copy of Bunco Babes Gone Wild and a gift card to Borders), run to Publix to buy some more Motrin (best drug in the world) and make a quiche. I'm not a huge quiche fan, but I've decided I'm going to make a really moist and delicious one today. Oh, and finish watching Letters to Juliet. I started watching it last night and fell asleep. Not because it was bad or anything, but because I was tired. It started out very cute and I really really want to like this movie, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

ARC give away!

It's Monday! And you know how much I love Mondays (no, really, I do, I'm one of those people).

Today I'm over at Girlfriends Book Club, talking about writing romance in the closet. I'm also excited to be giving away an ARC for my December release, The Boyfriend of the Month Club, so go on over and leave a comment right here. I really love this book so much and I can't wait to hear what people think of it!

Real Life versus my closet life

My closet life for those of you who aren't aware, is the the metaphor I've given to that part of my life that involves my writing. In other words, the made up part of my life. The one where the people don't really exist. Lately, I haven't been spending too much time there.

Part of the reason is because, to tell you the truth, I'm simply worn out. Writing my last book took a huge toll on me. A few days ago over at Girlfriends Book Club we discussed how long it takes to write a book. The consensus was somewhere between a few months but less than nine years (heh).

I've written a book in six months and it's a struggle. Not because I can't finish a book in that time. But because I really need time between my drafts to let my words marinate. Someone asked me once what I thought of finally reading my book in print. The answer was, "I don't read my books in print." Once I send off the last draft I never read the book again. I simply can't. If I can't edit it, then I can't read it. Because I'll always find something that can be improved. I think a lot of writers feel the same way.

So... last night (after I got back from Bunco!) I sat down to open up my latest manuscript (tentatively titled Girlfriends are Forever) in which I've been struggling heartily because I haven't found the right opening. Well, I'm happy to say that I think I found the right beginning. Which means, it's back to my closet life and I think I'm happy about that.

Recipe for Love series giveaway

So I'm kind of cheating this week on the Tuesday give away. My good pal, Louisa Edwards is featured today on The Season Blog in a fantastic Q&A that gives some great insight into the writing process and the world of publication. If you go over and comment, you could be entered to win all 3 of the Recipe for Love books. It's a great deal!

The Boyfriend of the Month Club book trailer

I did it! For those of you who aren't aware, I'm about the most techno-challenged person on the planet (I also don't read directions). So for me to actually make a book trailer is more than just a feat. It's a miracle. And then for me to upload it to YouTube. Well, let's just say, I'm smiling pretty big right now! I would have had this up yesterday, but I got bit by some kind of stomach flu that had me in bed for almost 24 hours. Yuck.

Happy Labor Day! And happy viewing!

More Book give aways, and go Noles!

How long does it take you to write a book? Weigh in over at Girlfriends Book Club and you might win a copy of Allison Winn Scotch's latest The One that I want.

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! I'm starting my weekend by watching the Noles. Yay for college football!

Good things

First off, mea culpa! Please forgive my lack of blogging. Won't happen again. I promise. Well, I say that now, but you know sometimes life interferes with the best of intentions, so let me say that I promise to try not to let it happen again.

The winner of this last Tuesday's give away, All I Ever Wanted, is Marian Pearson Stevens. Marian, please email me at mariageraci1@gmail.com with your address. And congratulations!

So now for the good things:

1. My awesome friend and critique partner Mel had a fabulous review for her latest novel, Love Sucks! at Fresh Fiction. You can read it here. I'm so happy for Mel! She's an awesome writer and her books deserve the wonderful reviews they've been receiving.

2. My other awesome friend, Louisa Edwards' 3rd book in the Recipe for Love series came out this week. It's called JUST ONE TASTE and it too has been garnering fabulous reviews. I haven't read Louisa's latest, although it's on my list for things to do this weekend and I expect it to be as wonderfully entertaining and romantic as her first two books are.

Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy is dreading his final-semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs…

Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations make her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it’s delicious…

Doesn't that sound awesome? Hint: I'm going to be giving away this book next week, so check back on Tuesday to enter!

Win a copy of She's Gone Country

Why did I eat so many cookies yesterday? Oh well. Time to get back on the straight and narrow. I am going to Jazzercise on Monday. And I will have my final proofs done by then too. Even if it kills me. Hopefully it will not.

Don't forget to write a comment under the Tuesday give away post if you want to win a free copy of All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins. Give away ends tonight. And if you're into free books (and excellent blogging) then I suggest you head over to Girlfriends Book Club where Karin is giving away a copy of Jane Porter's latest, She's Gone Country. All you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite country song;)

Clean, Proof, Bake

Sorry to be such a bad blogger. It's been a crazy week filled with spotty Internet connection, work (yes, I still do that) and trying to do the final proofs on The Boyfriend of the Month Club. Thought I was through with that book, huh? I'm finishing the final final final pass in which I frantically search out any typos, missed words, etc., and point those out to my publisher. However, if come December you find some small gaffe, please don't email me and tell me there's a misspelled word in my book. Believe me, it won't be for lack of my trying my darnedest to not have that happen. Mistakes in publishing happen all the time. No matter how many eyes go over a manuscript. And right now my eyes are begging for a reprieve. But enough of that.

In between proofing my manuscript and cleaning house today, I plan to bake cookies. The famous Neiman Marcus ones, because... well, they'll make the house smell good. Plus, you never know when I might have a cookie emergency and it's best to be prepared.




Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment in the give away post for All I Ever Wanted. I promise you, it's a fantastic read!

Tuesday Give away

Ack!

I'm late posting the Tuesday give away because I've had no Internet connection since sometime yesterday afternoon. But it finally came back on. Yay! It's unbelievable how accustomed we become to modern technology. Internet connection is right up there with the essentials of life, like food, water, air, shelter...

This week's give away is All I ever wanted by the fabulously talented Kristan Higgins.

One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair…
and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect. If that isn't bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home.

Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town's not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark's attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals…. So he's formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it's time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn't shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont's unlikeliest eligible bachelor….

To enter to win a free copy of this fabulous book just leave a comment below. Next Monday morning (August 30) the random generator will pick one lucky winner!

It's Monday!

While I can't leap across the stage like Irina Perren (isn't she fabulous?) I certainly feel a sort of elation come every Monday morning. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to like Mondays, but I can't help it. I really do. It probably stems from the fact that I've never worked a traditional 5 day work week, so there's no bad Monday morning connotation. There's also the fact that on Mondays the kids go back to school, the hubby goes off to his job, and I'm left alone in the house. Blissfully, wonderfully alone. Which always seems like a kind of balm after the weekend craziness.

This particular Monday, my youngest goes back to school again (as a senior!), my middle one is back in college, and everything starts fresh again. I think, psychologically, the beginning of school seems more like the New Year than Jan 1 does. Maybe because fall is my favorite season and so many fun things begin to happen. Cooler weather, football, the "big" holidays. I'm also starting to work on a new book, so that's particularly exciting. Oh, and this fall, I'm going to finally organize all my closets. I know I've been threatening this for the past 10 years, but this time, I'm really going to do it. Call it my New Year Fall's resolution!

Tuesday give away update: The winner of "A Kiss at Midnight" is Lucy! L, please email me at mariageraci1@gmail.com to give me your address so I can send you the book. Congrats!

Another give away!

Because I like to promote books, especially free ones, I thought I'd let you all know about the wonderful give away going on over at the Girlfriends Book Club (awesome blog, btw). Melissa Senate, whose post made my eyes sting a bit with unshed tears is giving away an ARC of her upcoming novel The Love Goddess' Cooking School. Just drop by here and comment and you could be the lucky winner.

Also... don't forget to post a comment under the Tuesday give away featuring Eloisa James' new book A Kiss at Midnight. I promise you, it's fabulous!

Tuesday Give Away!

So I'm back from the beach and it's time for another Tuesday, in which I give away books that I love to read. This week's give away is A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James. If you've read Eloisa before, then you know you're in for a treat. She simply cannot write a bad book! All you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post by next Sunday, August 22. Any comment. A winner will be selected randomly on Monday, August 23, so check back then to see if you've won! US and Canadian entries only please.

Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about the book:

Well-known for tales of dukes and duchesses, James (A Duke of Her Own) upgrades to the handsome prince in this delectable Regency reimagining of the Cinderella story. Miss Katherine Daltry, on the shelf at 23, manages the household of her ungrateful stepmother and silly stepsister, who inherited all of her father's estate. Kate is thrust from the cinders to the spotlight when her stepsister needs a stand-in for a betrothal ball at Pomeroy Castle. Gabriel, youngest princeling of the duchy of Warl-Marburg-Baalsfeld, needs a rich wife to support his archeology habit; Kate is, of course, manifestly unsuitable. Eccentric turns from Professor Biggitstiff, a pickle-eating dog, and an irrepressible godmother spin a candy floss comic romp around a core of heartache. James's deft touch allows the characters to shine through genuinely witty dialogue and an uncluttered plot.

Girlfriends Book Club!

It's Monday morning, vacation is over, school starts next week, and it's time to get back in a routine. I always love the beginning of summer. I love the end of it too;) Truth be told, autumn is my favorite season. Football games, cooler weather, holidays... I love it all! It's also time to start writing a new book, and of course, that's always exciting;)

Today also marks the beginning of a new blog. It's a group blog composed of 35 female authors (myself included!) celebrating everything about female writers, books by women, books women like to read... well, you get the picture. It's called Girlfriends Book Club. Go check it out. This cycle we'll be blogging about summer reads and The Call.

What I'm doing at the beach

I took this picture the other evening around 7:30 pm. The water was unbelievably warm and completely clear. I could have stayed in all night, except I got hungry...

I have to say, this has been one of the most relaxing vacations I've taken in a long time. No book dead lines, no running here and there. Just laying out by the pool and the beach, reading, watching movies, playing board games and generally having a great time. I did meet up with fellow writer and Panhandle Romance Writers of America chapter mate, Jamie, this morning at the local Books A Million. We drank coffee and caught up. She's working on a new book which sounds fantastic and I can't wait to read:)

Speaking of reading, I found a new author. This is what I'm reading at the moment. Great voice and lots of wonderful Victorian era description. Sherlock Holmes for a new generation. I think I know who done it. But I'm prepared to be wrong...

The Hot Vampire Love Give away winner is...

Tiffany!

Tiffany, please email me at mariageraci1@gmail.com to give me your address so I can mail you the books. Congratulations!

Destin here I come

This is where I plan to spend the next week of my life. Third umbrella from the right. I'm going to move only to eat/sleep/catch a break from the sun. I have many lovely books loaded on my Kindle, as well as some real live books I plan to devour.

I booked the beach house we're staying in back in February, pre-oil spill, and I have to tell you, there were moments I considered canceling and trying to find a place on the east coast. But I took Charlie's plea (that would be Charlie Crist, Governor of the great state of Florida) seriously. There he was on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat a few months ago asking Floridians not to abandon their vacation plans on the Gulf coast. If we don't support our local economies then we can't expect out-of-staters to do the same. So I decided oil or not, the Geraci clan was going to be in Destin this August. So glad I stayed strong. The latest updates show that the oil hasn't reached Destin and that the beaches are as beautiful as ever.

I also plan to work on a proposal while I'm in Destin. Now that The Boyfriend of the Month Club has been laid to rest and is awaiting printing (can't wait to see my beautiful cover in person) it's time to think about a different book. I pitched the idea for the new book to my agent and she loved it. Thought it was my best idea ever:) Now, we'll just have to convince my editor of that! Of course, it all depends on how my numbers do with Boyfriend. I have to sell books in order to write more books (imagine that!) so keep your fingers crossed. You can also uncross your fingers, go to Amazon or B&N and pre-order my book. The best part? Besides getting an awesome story, is that you don't pay for the book until it gets shipped to you (book comes out December 7)!

Since I expect my Internet access to be a bit on the spotty side, there won't be a give away Tuesday this next week. But... I'll still be looking for more comments on Hot Vampire Love and will definitely post a winner on Monday (even if I have to tear myself away from the beach chair go to the Starbucks with free WiFi to do it!) Don't forget, you can still enter. Just scroll down to the post titled Hot Vampire Love and leave a comment.

Ciao!

Hostage negotiations begin

So... I was going through the guest room/den, putting things away, etc, and what do I find on the floor? Hint: Mel's suitcase was in this exact same spot just a few days ago.

Yep. It's Mel's famous tiara. Only Mel doesn't have it anymore. I can only surmise a couple of things.

a) she accidentally left it.

b) She subconsciously left it and there's a hidden meaning I'm not aware of.

c) It's the proverbial glass slipper and she's waiting for me to "crown" her with it.

Not sure which of the above is correct, but I do know one thing. She ain't gettin' it back. Nope. Not till she comes back for it in person. Let the negotiations begin...

Don't forget to comment below on Hot Vampire Love to enter to win two fabulous books. Deadline is Sunday night!

Hot Vampire Love give away

First off, aren't these just the most gorgeous covers ever?

I'm excited to announce that my good buddy, Kate Pearce aka Naughty Kate (take that as you will) has a new book coming out today. It's part of a hot new series featuring vamps in the time of Henry VIII. Yep, it's The Tudors meets vampires and it's sure to be a huge hit. The guy on the cover is so deliciously yummy I could... well, never mind what I could do. Just use your imagination.

And then there's the fabulous Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis whose follow up to last year's Bite Me! came out last week. Also a beautiful cover, sure to make teens and adults everywhere sweep it off the shelves. I'm half-way through the book and loving it as much as I did when I read the first rough draft.

Here's a little bit about Kiss of the Rose.

First in a sexy new series that takes a bite out of the court of King Henry VIII.

Desperate to defeat King Richard III and gain the English crown, Henry Tudor made a pact with the Druids that bound him and his heirs to the Druid’s deadly struggle against the Vampires. Ever since, the Llewellyns, an ancient Vampire slaying family, have been in the permanent employ of the monarchy.

Now Henry VIII is on the throne, and his father’s bargain has almost been forgotten. Until corpses drained of blood start turning up in the most inappropriate of places, including the king’s bedchamber. But are these people the victims of the Vampires-or of the Druids?

To save the king from a nameless assassin, Rosalind Llewellyn, Vampire hunter extraordinaire, must form an uneasy alliance with a known Druid slayer. Sir Christopher Ellis hails from a family that has protected the Vampires for centuries, yet Rosalind has no choice but to rely on his help. And with her life threatened and her loyalty tested, Rosalind may even have to acknowledge the unthinkable. This sworn enemy may be her soul mate.

Sounds awesome, doesn't it? I'm trying something new on my blog. As a writer, I love love love reading. And I also love free books! So, if you're smart enough to read my blog, you will now be rewarded for your great intelligence. Each week I'll be giving away a free book or 2. Books that I love, by authors that I love. So you can start loving them too (if you don't already!)

This week's giveaway will of course be Kiss of the Rose and Love Sucks! Just leave a comment here by Sunday and I'll use the random selector to pick a winner. Check back Monday to see if you've won! Only US or Canadian residents, please.

RWA 2010

This is me, ready to go, at the Readers for Life, Literacy signing in Orlando, where a fabulous time was had by all. This was my 2nd year signing and I really didn't think anything could top the buzz I got last year, but somehow, this year managed to exceed my expectations. The worst possible scenario to this kind of massive author signing is that no one stops to talk to you, or worse, avoids making eye contact with you. Thank you to everyone who stopped by my table either to: say hello, stare at my book cover, tell me you had no clue what Bunco is, tell me how much you enjoy my books, or even buy a copy!

It was also fun meeting Kelly Gay, whose book The Better Part of Darkness was nominated for a Rita. Kelly sat to my left (all the authors are seated in alphabetical order) and like last year, Cindy Gerard sat to my other side. Cindy was nominated for a Rita last year. That makes 2 years in a row now that I've sat on either side of a Rita nominee. Maybe the juju will rub off on me and I'll get that awesome little Rita flag next to my name. It could happen!

Note to self: When jumping up to hug someone across the table, watch where the water glass is. Yep. I accidentally knocked that glass of water you see on my right all over some books and down a purse. Unfortunately it wasn't my books/purse. It was Cindy's, who was very gracious about the whole thing.