Backpacking Brother (Image 1)

While I'm a stay-at-home mum with a life that revolves around my family and my writing - which I love - my brother has chosen life at the opposite side of the spectrum and has lived a very footloose and well travelled life where he's backpacked all over the world and chosen careers to suit his lifestyle. (White water rafting guide, master scuba diving instructor - to name a few)
I've decided to show a little of his travels each fortnight or so (with a picture or two) just out of interests sake - he's started travelling again, but this time solely relying on his 'red charger' a postie motorbike that is truly indestructable.

Picture 1:- On the island of Java, and in the background the spires of an Ancient Hindu temple complex - a tourist attraction currently having some areas rebuilt after being badly damaged in a recent earthquake. In the foreground, taking pride of place, is Steven's "red rocket." Java is now a Muslim island - the only Hindu dominated place in Indonesia is Bali.

First "Writing" Cheque

I have reason to finally...finally!!! celebrate today, after getting my very first cheque from my publisher for my debut book Stone-Cold Lover. It really is a series of 'firsts' as a writer, and this is yet another warm and fuzzy moment in my life (oh wait, is that the champers I'm feeling lol!) another milestone to remember =)
And a big thank you to all you readers who bought the book!

Book of the Month & October Reads!

Though I haven't read a whole lot of category books lately, India Grey is one author I discovered a little while ago and loved! This cover is Modern, but obviously I have the red covered 'sexy' book.

I loved all the elements of this book: revenge, betrayal and innocence all wrapped up in a beautifully written voice. (wow, does India have a way with words, just gorgeous!) The only gripe I had was the contrived accident the heroine Bella almost had - in a whole other country mind you! - with the hero's (Olivier) father.

October Reads:
Mercernaries: Angela Knight
Manaconda: Sherri L. King, Lora Leigh, Jaid Black
Remember Summer: Elizabeth Lowell
Needful Things: Stephen King

Corey Jay

At last!! Here's a picture of my gorgeous grandson (grandman) - Mr Corey Jay - Welcome to the world!!

What's in a Name??

About twelve months ago our cat, Shandy, (pictured) died from a snake bite, reducing our cat clan from four to three. Just recently we agreed to adopt another cat from my daughter's best friend who was moving out - and couldn't take 'Kayla' with her. As all our cats and some of our horses have been named after alcohol and the occasional motorbike (Shandy, Bundy, Ginnie, Yammie, Tequila, Sherry etc) - no one in the family liked the new cat's name... and even now she has yet to be called a 'real' name.
My husband took a liking to "Puss" and it stuck for a week. But then when this lovely newcomer took a liking to pooing on a different bathmat in the bathroom each day, we started to call her "Shitty Kitty" and it's really stuck. Now we were assured that Shitty Kitty mustn't be able to conceive as she'd 'did' it quite a bit with another cat they had who was an undesexed male - of course she's ready to drop a bundle of kittens any day now, going by her huge belly which will give us plenty of boozy names to consider once the kittens are born!
All this had me thinking about our hero and heroine names, and how they affect the way we see them in our minds. I can't imagine a Tall, Dark and Handsome hero having a name like Tiny or Peanut and a heroine a name like Apple or Sheila. It just wouldn't match the visual!
Anyone read a book with really bad (to your mind!) hero and/or heroine's names, latey!??

Guest Blogging

I'm guest blogging at Raine Delight's blog right now! She's asked me some interesting questions and geez that cover sure looks good LOL!!
Hope you can come visit me =)

http://authorrainedelight.com/2009/10/guest-author-day-with-mel-tescho/comment-page-1/#comment-1596

Baby Grandson!!

October the 13th has special meaning to me now, with the arrival of my very first Grandson: Corey Jay. Teagan and Jason are very proud parents, and I'm so happy for the both of them, he's a perfect little boy!

Happy Release day Erica!

Imagine a secret world veiled in fairy glamour and brimming with unearthly delights.

A city swarming with half-mad fairies, where thieving spriggans rob you blind, beautiful banshees mesmerise you with their song and big green trolls bust heads at nightclubs.

A subculture at war, lorded over by demons and factions of sadistic bloodsucking gangsters.

Seduction and oblivion consume you. Chaos reigns.

And once you're in, there's no escape...

Guest appearance

Just a reminder that I'll be a guest on Eleni's blog - Eleni-Fest, tomorrow ALL DAY! I'll be talking about my gargoyle hero and the call story for Stone-Cold Lover, my other WIP's for Ellora's Cave - and what it's like co-authoring with Kylie on our single title manuscript, Believe.
I'm also offering a chance to win a choice of either a free e-copy of Stone-Cold Lover, or a critique of a first chapter! My daughter will be choosing the best comment as a winner =)

Eleni-Fest - special guest Anna Hackett

Eleni has an amazing month of special guest authors this month. Her guest today is Anna Hackett of Nocturne Bites who speaks about short versus long length books and big versus small conferences! For a chance to win a free download of her latest nocturne bite, visit: http://eleni-konstantine.blogspot.com/2009/10/eleni-fest-anna-hackett-best-of-big-and.html

Rachel Bailey: Claiming His Bought Bride

Rachel Bailey is another favourite writer and someone I can truly call a friend. It's no secret she's fond of helping other non-published writers to achieve their dreams and I'm so delighted karma is rewarding her with this - I think - best ever Desire book cover! (and no doubt plenty of sales!!) Not bad for a debut book, Rach!!
Look out for this one in Jan 2o10, followed closely by "The Blackmailed Brides Secret Child" in Feb 2010.
For more information about her latest news and books visit:
http://www.rachelbailey.com/index.html

Quote - October

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury

Anna Hackett's, Taken by the South Wind

TAKEN BY THE SOUTH WIND by Anna Hackett

The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped. Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world...

WindKeeper Dante Venti, Keeper of the South Wind, is in Rome on a mission to entrap the Southwest wind and its holder before it can infect humanity with the vice of pride. Dante already feels pride seducing him...but the real temptation is alluring assassin Samia Hassan.

Samia has been sent to kill Dante, but her body is irresistibly drawn to him, his power and presence enveloping her. And if she's not careful, she will be entrapped by Dante, body and soul...

TAKEN BY THE SOUTH WIND is now available at eharlequin.com and all major online booksellers.

www.annahackettbooks.com

Night Owl Top Pick and Fallen Angel Reviews

Night Owl have given Stone-Cold Lover a Top Pick Review of 4.5 stars! Whoo hoo! Thanks Samantha Ann! =)


And thanks so much MerryLee from Fallen Angel Review for giving Stone-Cold Lover a five angel review! Wow! I only hope I can keep the readers happy with my next story...

Upcoming Releases - Robyn Grady

Robyn Grady is one of my all time favourite category authors. She also happens to be the nicest person one could ever hope to meet - a wonderful writer friend =)
A regular on the Waldenbooks bestseller list, it's clear Robbie is a favourite with many other readers too.
Here are just two of her upcoming books:
The Billionaires Fake Engagement - released in October
Devil in a Dark Blue Suit - released in November (love that title!)

When Eden Foley walked out of
millionaire playboy Devlin Stone’s life, she vowed it would be for ever. He knew just how to make her tremble with desire, but he was dangerous! Now, forced to contact Devlin, Eden is stunned – he wants to pick up from where they left off. Even worse, her traitorous body seems to agree!

Will one night with Devlin mean she can finally move on with her life…? Or has this devil in a dark blue suit got other, more pleasurable plans in mind?

A scandal threatened one of Australia's most powerful bachelor billionaires. The solution? A proposal.

Alexander Ramirez was committed to the idea of family, and Natalie Wilder certainly brought the right assets to his bedroom. The engagement that he'd intended as a media distraction soon became a real possibility. As one obstacle after another got in the way of his plans, Alex became more determined than ever to keep Natalie in his bed. And he always got what he wanted.

Guest at Eleni-Fest & giveaway!!

If you haven't read Stone-Cold Lover there's a free e-read up for grabs at Eleni's blog where I'll be a guest author Oct 12th. She'll be featuring other fantastic prizes and author guests over the month of October, including Anna Campbell, Trish Morey, Rachel Bailey, Erica Hayes, Tracey O'hara & Anna Hackett (think that's all of them so far!) Phew - what a line up!!

More Great News! - Christina Phillips SOLD!

Christina Phillips sold His Forbidden Princess in a two book deal to Kate Seaver at Berkley Heat!
These books are scheduled for release sometime in 2011 - HUGE congrats Christine!!!
Here's the blurb taken from Christina's blog (http://christinaphillips.blogspot.com/):-

As Rome conquers Cymru, Centurion Maximus falls under the spell of ethereal Druid princess, Carys. Charged by his Emperor to eliminate all cursed Druids before they rise up against their new masters, Maximus is unaware of her heritage and is determined to possess her and discover where she and her kin are hiding from the might of the Eagle.

Despite knowing he's the enemy of her people, Carys is fascinated by this commanding foreign invader, a barbarian who displays unexpected honor, and willingly meets him in secret to satisfy her desire for sexual pleasures. But when Maximus captures her heart her loyalties are twisted and freedom from Rome is no longer her single-minded obsession.

As the summer solstice approaches Aeron, the High Druid and ex-lover of Carys, gathers the dark gods to crush the enemy into oblivion, the Druids into submission and Carys to his will. Maximus and Carys must defeat the encroaching devastation, overcome the prejudice of their warring gods and opposing cultures and find a way for their love to survive.

Eleni-fest

http://eleni-konstantine.blogspot.com/

Check out Eleni's blog this October for some fabulous special guest authors and giveaways!

Wind Kissed, Fire Bound - Anna's latest release

WIND KISSED, FIRE BOUND by Anna Hackett

As Keeper of the Winds, Livia Cavalli needed to focus her power on keeping the evil Tempest Winds trapped in their island prison. What she doesn't need is to be distracted by sexy horse trainer Rafe Donovan. Three hundred years ago, Livia became an immortal Keeper to numb her emotions, but Rafe arouses her in a way she hasn't felt for centuries.

For Rafe, Livia is a challenge he longs to solve--and take to bed. Once she's in his arms, their desire is overwhelming. But when his own powers reveal Livia's secret pain, he realizes taking her body isn't enough--he wants to heal her soul, too...

WIND KISSED, FIRE BOUND is now available at eharlequin.com and all major online booksellers.

Watch out for the next story in the WindKeepers series, TAKEN BY THE SOUTH WIND, out in October.

www.annahackettbooks.com

Birthday!

I can't believe another year has flown by!! But I think honestly this has been one of my favourite birthday 'days' I've had for a while. It's so special to me when two of my three girls (one is too little, the darling) make a chocolate cake with sprinkles on top as a number for my age and a big wrapped parcel which included a ped egg for my cracked feet LOL! And all this the night before! I went out for dinner tonight and had a beautiful meal with my hubby - a rare event! lol. Now to top off the night I'm hoping to write a heap of words for Ice Cold Lover. Want it finished ASAP!

The Romance Studio - Review of Stone-Cold Lover

Wow - another 5 star review! Thanks so much to the reviewer, Margo Arthur! It makes my heart swell with pride =)

http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/stonecoldlovertescho.htm

Book of the Month and September Reads

What can I say - I absolutely loved this book. It seems people really do either love or hate Stephanie Meyer, but I'm quite a fan. Anyone who can wring out emotions like she does gets a tick from me. =)

"The Host" is very *very* different to her Twilight books - better, IMHO. Alien souls implanted into human bodies and living on earth while 'real' humans hide themselves away in caves to eke out an existence - brilliant! I'd like to say more - particularly about the heroine, but I won't spoil it. Just read it =)

September Reads:

A Spanish Vengeance: Diane Hamilton

Destiny Kills: Keri Arthur

Foretaste of Forever: Christina Phillips