IT'S HOT AND SEXY WITH SIDNEY AYERS

My guest is the sassy creator of laughter and humorous paranormal romance, Sidney Ayers. I have to admit her characters crack me up. Not just because they invoked laughter but because many of them aren’t what they seem, or they border the bizarre even in the normal world. One thing I can tell you; they’re not boring. Sydney also writes it hot and this covers both her love stories and the subject of them—Demons Unleashed.

• Did you try other genres before you chose this one?

I’ve always been a history buff, so I started out writing historicals. Since I’ve always held a fascination with the society and mores during the early 1800’s, my first novel was a regency historical romance. I will eventually delve back into that period. I’ve even discovered how to include a sci-fi/fantasy element, so I’m very excited to delve back into the history (even if it’ll be slightly altered).

• Who was most/least supportive of your writing career?

I’ve been lucky that most my friends and family have been extremely supportive of my career. It’s something I’ve dreamt of for a long time and they’re all very excited for me.

• What’s the hardest thing you've had to face as a writer? How did you overcome it?

Rejection, I guess. It’s taken me a long time to realize not everyone is going to like what I write. I try to focus on the positive feedback and reviews and brush away the negative ones.

• What was the single best or luckiest thing that got you pubbed?

A good strong query with a solid hook helps a lot. A good story will seal the deal.

• What does your writing day look like?

My writing days are scattered as hell. I have no set schedule. It’s crazy.

• Describe your writing space. Or, describe your DREAM writing space.

My current office space consists of a faux suede recliner and a MyPlace laptop workstation (Best Christmas gift-EVER). Surprisingly, even with the TV right across from me, I’ve managed to finish 4 books with this setup.  My dream writing space would be a soundproofed, locked office. That way, there are absolutely no distractions.

• How do you refresh and recharge yourself so you can continue writing?

I watch TV, read a book, and of course, take a relaxing bath. A little vino doesn’t hurt every now and again, either.

• How has your own romance colored how you write romance in your stories?

I hate to admit this, but I’m single right now, so there’s no current romance to color my stories. Not many of my relationships have been that romance novel worthy, but the emotions at the time were true, so I like to think it helps me give my characters believable emotions.

DEMONS Like It HOT--Available now in stores and online.

 If you can’t stand the heat, get out of Hell’s Kitchen! 

A RECIPE FOR DISASTER...

Matthias Ambrose is a demon mercenary who never took sides, until his attraction to the spunky caterer he was hired to kidnap leads him to almost botch a job for the first time in eight hundred years. Now he must protect her from his former clients, but even an ice—cold demon like Matthias struggles to resist her fiery charms.

OR THE PERFECT INGREDIENTS FOR PASSION...

Completely engrossed with planning menus and prepping recipes for her shot at cooking show fame, star caterer Serah SanGermano refuses to believe she's on a fast track to Hades. But how is she supposed to stick to the kitchen if she can't stand the heat of her gorgeous demonic bodyguard? As a wicked plot to destroy humanity unfolds and all hell breaks loose in Serah's kitchen, she and Matthias find themselves knee—deep in demons and up to their eyeballs in love...excerpt

Buy:  Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indigo

Sidney Ayers loves infusing her stories with humor. What would the world be without a little bit of laughter? She writes a plethora of genres, ranging from historical, to paranormal, to contemporary.

A native of Michigan, Sidney still lives in the same town she grew up in. No matter how hard she tries, she just can't seem to get away. Michigan is in her blood. Scary thought, huh?

Find Sidney: Facebook, Twitter, Website

CHRISTMAS JOY

As you know, I usually share holiday stories this time of the year by talented writers who've given them to me to use. What makes them interesting, at least to me, is they're written in various genres by men and women. I'll be running more next week in between guests. 


I have two stories I tend to use every year. They're favorites of mine. One is called Christmas Joy, by Beth Hill, and the other is The Gift, by Rand Phares. Why are they favorites? Both highlight faith and hope and they touch the heart. 


So today, I'm sharing one of my favorites with you by the talented Beth Hill. I love her writing. For those of you who don't know Beth, she is a fiction editor and you can find her at A Novel Edit or The Editor's Blog (she has an article up on her blog on weeding out author intrusion). 


Enjoy!

Sarah inhaled the fragrances of cinnamon and sugar and the chocolate chips melting into gooey deliciousness in the oven. Homey smells. Christmas smells.

She wanted to sit, relax, to inhale more than smells. She wanted the peace of the season to wash over her, still her racing mind and ease her fractured soul. But if she stopped moving, sorrow would overwhelm. She knew it. Had given in last Christmas. And again on his birthday. She’d been unable to resist the lure of peace on those two days.

But peace had eluded her. And instead grief had stolen into her home, into her mind and heart. And she’d cried out her anger and sorrow and loss, collapsing on her kitchen floor in a tangle of oven mitts and tears and memories.  And standing again, facing life again, had been nearly impossible.

She reached for the oven door just before the timer buzzed, and pulled out the tray of perfect cookies. His favorite. She baked them every year. He couldn’t get enough. And she’d watch as he devoured one after another, following every third bite or so with a gulp of cold milk. And he’d grin, crumbs clinging to his lips, knowing she got a kick out of his passion for home-baked cookies made just for him.

She scoured the kitchen; focusing on making perfect and whole those things she had control over. And pushed far from her mind the events she couldn’t influence or change. But she left the cookies mounded on wax paper since Mac liked them that way. Liked reaching across the counter and plucking one or two or five whenever he wanted them.

The reflection from the tree beckoned her to the living room and the large glass windows that framed it. She’d stop for only a moment, her heart promised her head. Just a brief passage of time to watch the snowfall, to admire the twinkling lights as they pushed against the darkness both inside and out. Just a moment . . .

When the clocked chimed nine, Sarah jumped. Then smiled. Silly to feel guilty over losing herself in memories of her husband. She wouldn’t break down this Christmas. She’d learned that lesson. Plus, the news had been better this year. The better news being they’d actually heard news. The first reliable report since her captain had gone missing sixteen months earlier.

Chaplain Anderson had called in October. One of the Resolute Seven—prisoners held for over four months in a no-name cave in Afghanistan—had mentioned Mac—someone who sounded like Mac, please God—in his briefing. So this year she’d added hope to her arsenal of determination and faith and prayers. This year she wouldn’t give in to despair.

She pressed her fingers against the cold glass. Closed her eyes and lowered her head.

“Keep him warm tonight. Please. Hold him in Your arms since he doesn’t have mine. Fill his heart with Your love, with my devotion. And give Him your peace.”

Sarah leaned against her hand and stared into the night. So quiet. So pure.

So lonely.

“And please hold me. Because I’m afraid I can’t hold on any longer.”

She returned to the kitchen. In the near dark she pulled milk from the fridge and poured a tall glass. She piled cookies on a plate and arranged plate and milk on the reindeer placemat at the head of the table. She fussed with a linen napkin, flattening it again and again until she realized what she was doing and yanked her hands away.  Enough of that. She still had presents to wrap, gifts for her brother’s family. She turned. And blinked.

The front door was opening, three men stepping through.

Chaplain Anderson, removing his hat. Colonel Ryan, Mac’s CO, holding the arm of another man. That other man dangling a key from his fingers.

The third man lifted his head at her gasp. Then grinned. And then he was rushing to her and squeezing her and kissing her face.

“Sarah. My God, Sarah.”

And then Sarah was on her knees, holding Mac, holding a dream, and kissing him back. Touching him everywhere. Crying and laughing and shaking so much she thought she’d finally snapped and lost her mind.

But when Mac pulled back and grasped her face between his hands, when she could see his eyes and into his soul, she knew he was not imagined but real and in their home.

In her arms.

She stared in wonder for a timeless instant, then sobs burst from her chest and she burrowed into Mac, clutching him, trying to breathe, trying to think. Trying not to feel because the emotions were stretching her beyond her limits and shattering her mind.

“I smell cookies.” That was the colonel.

Mac laughed. He laughed. Sarah gripped him even tighter.

“Sir, those are my cookies. All mine. I’ve been dreaming of them for days. And I’m sorry to say, you won’t get a single taste.”

Sarah wiped her face against Mac’s coat. Trust her man to get to the heart of any matter.

“Sarah? You ready to stand now? I wanna get this coat off and hold you properly.”

“Major, I believe this is where Chaplain Anderson and I bid you goodnight. And Merry Christmas.”

Sarah scrambled to her feet, pulling at Mac, searching his face. Thin. Lined. Hers. “How? When?” She squeezed her eyes shut and drew in an uneven breath. He was still there when she opened her eyes. “Major?” She twisted to look at Colonel Ryan, but turned immediately back to Mac. “I was just asking God to hold you, since I couldn’t. And now you’re here. You’re here.”

Mac saluted the other men as they eased out the door, but didn’t turn from Sarah. “He held me, baby. Every day I felt His protection and your love entwined, binding me in strength and hope.” He stepped close to her and again wrapped her face in his palms. His hands were shaking. “Tonight we hold each other.”

She lifted her hands to his where they framed her cheeks. His gaze was locked on her face. “Why didn’t you call? Have you seen a doctor? What happened? Mac . . . What happened?”

He leaned his forehead against hers, still unwilling to relax his hold. “I needed to be with you before the news broke, baby. I need you at my side to get through the rest of this. To he—” His voice broke and he hauled her against his chest.

“I’m here always. Forever.”
“I know,” he whispered against her neck. “And that’s what saw me through.” His entire body shook, vibrating against hers. “I didn’t break, Sarah. Not once. Not until a couple of Special Forces guys hauled me out. And then I cried like a baby.”

“Mac . . . ”

“My Sarah.” His lips feathered over hers. “Merry Christmas, wife.”

She slid her arms inside his coat and dug her fingers into his back. “Merry Christmas, major. I love you.” She closed her eyes.  Thank You. For holding him. For bringing him home. For returning my heart.

My pleasure, Sarah. My very great pleasure.  Merry Christmas to you and peace to this home.

MONDAY MUSINGS: Winter Blahs. Bring On The Color

It’s not even the heart of winter and already I’m craving color and brightness. It’s not that the winter trees aren’t lovely skeletons, in a purely ascetic way, they are. I have colorful birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Red headed Woodpeckers, flittering among all the neutral colored birds—which sadly outnumber the brilliant one. There are the evergreens; red berries on various bushes and shrubs, snow and heavy frost can be quite lovely, too, especially when the sun decides to shine. But…we went from the lush greens and bright flowers of summer to the brilliant colors of fall to ascetic skeletons set in icy silver and gray, lots of grays.

So, I’m trying to counter blah with bright warm colors. I have fabrics and paint samples to brighten my inside world. First thing is getting my ceilings painted a nice bright white. It adds pizzazz, freshness, and the feeling of light to about any room. Then, since I love the energy of reds (I know, you hadn’t a clue, did you?) I have a plan to paint a focal wall in my living room a cross between barn red and well, red. Not like a strawberry or a tomato. A richer and warmer type of red.  I can cool it down with blues and green accents or even whites, if I need to. Then again, I can add rich ambers, gold, and amethysts to make it pop. All my furniture is in neutral colors and so is the color of my walls. A bright set of pillows here and there, a colorful throws, bouquets of flowers, nick knacks, and pictures can add visual interest. I have lots of colorful throws and pillows now but it doesn’t touch the overall blah.

Great plans, but I need to wait (ugh, I hate waiting when I’m ready to move forward) until, 1. I can get the guy who will paint the ceilings. That’s a project that is difficult for me. But, I’m going to tell you, if he dithers anymore, I’m going to get really creative with broomsticks and paint rollers and lots of plastic to throw on the floors and furniture. 2. Extra dollars for all the paint and stuff needed.

This is what comes of being sick for such a long time. You don’t care when you’re sick what’s going on around you. You’re totally focused on getting better and the rest can wait until then. Getting well? You tend to look at your environment with different eyes that grow very large when focused on surroundings. You also tend to say Holy Shitake mushrooms or the shorter pithier version thereof. A lot.

So, since I can’t tackle the living room just yet, I painted my blog. Hey, it worked for me, or at least, took away the main itch for the immediate moment. I have added pine boughs, poinsettias, lights and glitter to the house, which helps.

Next, the rest of my environment.

How do you handle the Winter Blahs?

 Upcoming events for the blog:

• Sidney Ayers on December 16^th with her latest book in Demons Unleashed, DEMONS LIKE IT HOT. 
• Terry Spear December 19^th with her latest, DREAMING OF THE WOLF 

• I’ll also be having Jessica Bell with her STRING BRIDGE visiting and I’ll give you more info on that visit as soon as we have it set—possibly the 14^th. And I’m hoping to have some of her wonderful music as well. LOVE her music!

Starting on December 20^th I will be running various holiday stories for your enjoyment. These will run through the 31^st. I’ve got some great stories to share. Just sayin’.

Here’s a recipe that will warm the cockles of your heart or anything else that needs warming. J

Glühwein

Ingredients

• 4 quarts dry red wine (zinfandel, merlot, burgundy, etc.)

• 1 pint brandy

• 1 cup sugar

• 6 cinnamon sticks

• 12 cloves, whole

• 1/8 tsp allspice

• 1/8 tsp mace

• 2 oranges, sliced

• 1 lemon, sliced

Directions

1. Pour the wine into a large pot and begin heating over low heat.

1. As it begins to warm, add sugar and spices. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

1. Add the brandy.

1. Heat thoroughly, but do not allow boiling!

1. Add the lemon and orange.

1. Steep for about 1 hour over low heat.

1. You may add more sugar during this time if desired, stirring well so it dissolves.

1. Serve hot and garnish with orange slices. A stick cinnamon could also be used.

Serves 12-15

Chat With The Magical Stephanie Julian

My guest today is Stephanie Julian. Stephanie writes a series of erotic romance about Etruscan deities, Forgotten Goddesses. The second book in the series is now available and entitled, How To Worship a Goddess, the story of Lusna, the all but forgotten Goddess of the Moon and the Lady of Silver Light.  You can find more about the Etruscans, their deities, and how they've been hiding in plain sight by visiting Stephanie’s website. 

Stephanie is an easy person to chat with and has a fun sense of humor, and she has cracked me up with a well-said phrase and a look (she couldn’t write the fun romps she does without one).  I have a lot of respect for her and her hard work and determination to be published. She didn't let her rejections stop her.

Today, you’ll learn a bit more about this magical author and her road to publication, as well as some of her discouragements and triumphs. 

• Did you try other genres before you hit with this one?

I tried for several years to break into Harlequin. As a teenager and into my 30s, Harlequin Presents were my favorite books to read. Charlotte Lamb, Violet Winspear, Robyn Donald and, more recently, Jane Porter is just some of the authors I read religiously. I loved the combination of sexy, Alpha male and feisty independent female. I never could seem to capture the tone they were looking for but I truly believe writing at that length makes you so intensely conscious of how important characterization is.

• Who was most/least supportive of your writing career?

My husband has been the most supportive. He’s never told me to give it up and whenever I say, “That’s it, I’m quitting,” he’s always quick to say, “Of course you’re not,” because he knows quitting is the one thing I can’t do. Least supportive? I can honestly say no one in my family has been outright dismissive of my career. Sure, my parents shake their head at the fact that I write erotic romance but they’ve never once said I shouldn’t. And my dad is always the first to say his daughter is a writer.

• What's the hardest thing you've had to face as a writer? How did you overcome it?

Getting dumped by two previous agents. It shakes your confidence to the core, much more than a rejection from an editor ever did. Why? Because the person who once believed in you had lost that faith. It makes you doubt yourself.  And that sucks. But those setbacks only made me more determined and I pushed myself harder. Today I’ve got a new, wonderful agent and we’re working together to sell books in this unsettled time.

• What was the single best or luckiest thing that got you pubbed?

My sheer pigheadedness. My parents always said I was the most stubborn kid they knew. Turns out it comes in handy. I haven’t given up. Not when I got the first 100 rejections. Not when I got so close to being bought by my dream publisher, only to be told it wasn’t happening. I get writing. I’m still writing.

• What does your writing day look like?

Since I work at home, I have to treat writing like a job. I answer email before breakfast. I do whatever promotional work needs to be done after breakfast then I write. If it’s a run day, I break about 10:30 and head out to the trail, where I tell myself that since I ran, I can have a snack later. In the afternoon, I write. After dinner, I try to do some more writing, if I can. Otherwise, that’s research time. Or vege time in front of the TV.

• Describe your writing space.

My writing space is an office with bright red walls, white trim, purple sheers and carpet and a yellow chair. I love my office. It’s my space. There’s a bulletin board on the wall in front of my monitor with lots of photos of hot guys that I can look at for inspiration. Other walls are covered with books.

• How do you refresh and recharge yourself so you can continue writing?

By reading. I consider myself a reader first and a writer second. I don’t think writers can write without reading. It’s almost like breathing. When I’m stuck on a particular story or the words aren’t flowing, I’ll sometimes pick up one of my favorite books, like Lora Leigh’s Dawn’s Awakening or Meljean Brook’s The Iron Duke, and use those to clear my head.

• How has your own romance colored how you write romance in your stories? 

Many of my heroes are quiet guys. They don’t talk a lot but when they have something to say, you know it’s worth hearing. That’s totally my husband. He’s supportive, he never tells me no (although I still haven’t gotten that pony for the backyard, lol) and he washes clothes and windows. The man is a god.

Stephanie, I appreciate you taking the time to stop by today!

HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS

Stephanie Julian--Available in stores and online bookstores.

HE'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED…

 Lucy was once the beloved Goddess of the Moon, and she could have any man she wanted. But these days, the goddesses of the Etruscan pantheon are all but forgotten. The only rituals she enjoys now are the local hockey games, where one ferociously handsome player still inflames her divine blood...

AND SHE UNLEASHES HIM LIKE A FORCE OF NATURE...

Brandon Stevenson is one hundred percent focused on the game, until he looks up and sees a celestial beauty sitting in the third row. A man could surely fall hard for a distraction like that...EXCERPT

"Sparkles with fantasy ... and smoldering erotic scenes ... unpredictable and fascinating." 
—RT Book Reviews

BUY: AMAZON, BARNES and NOBLE, INDIEBOUND

Stephanie Julian is the author of the Magical Seduction, Lucani Lovers, Darkly Enchanted and the Forgotten Goddess series, as well as The Fringe series. A former reporter for a daily newspaper, she enjoys making up stories much more than writing about real life. She's happily married to a Springsteen fanatic and is the mother of two sons who love her even when they don't have any clean clothes and dinner is a bowl of cereal.

Julian's erotic romances have a paranormal bent reviewers have called "fascinating," "truly fantastic," "intoxicating," "highly imaginative" and "hot enough to peel paint."

You can find Stephanie:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Insecure Writers—In Search Of Discipline

Discipline: prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior

Prescribed: to lay down as a guide, direction, or rule of action

I’m in dire need of a new prescription for discipline.

Unfortunately, this is not the sort of prescription I can go to the pharmacy to get. It’s something I have to pull out of myself and follow. I used to be so disciplined with my writing. I had a schedule that worked for me. Somewhere along the line, I lost it.

There have been some major changes in my life that have altered my time. A time intensive blog, home schooling my son, and dealing with a serious illness have all made inroads on writing. Dealing with one and two were doable, add three and poof, writing? What’s writing?

I still have to deal with the blog (which I enjoy) and home schooling (which is done in two months), but the illness knocked me down below the speed bump and it’s a bitch to crawl back up from that one.

NaNo helped. It tapped back into my imagination and reassured me it’s still working—trust me, I had some serious doubts on that score for a while. It was hard to think beyond basics. I didn’t have the energy or inclination (not to mention enthusiasm) to write when it was all I could do teach the kid and do the blog. In between I took my meds and slept—a lot. 

I’m not totally well but I’m getting there and now I’m desperately in search of disciple. Part of it is finding the motivation (and energy) to write intensively again. That’s a hard one. Then there are all the things in the house I had to let slide when I was so sick. Now it’s learning to pace myself. Balance is so important for me. I don’t do well without it but it takes patience to get life balanced when it’s been out of sync for so long and your focus is on the necessities.

Since I do my best writing in the mornings, I’m going to have to schedule time for just writing and then tackle my to do list, find time to nap (which is still very necessary), check the kid’s school work, and work on the blog. It’s getting there. Kinda.

Bottom line for me, if I don’t make the time, then my time gets squandered away and nothing is accomplished.  I don’t like that feeling.  I also need to be consistent.  Most successful writers have to be.

• How do you carve out time to write?  Some work full time.  Some can’t write at home but have a favorite place they can write.  Some can only write on weekends, or early morning before the day starts, or late at night when the house is quiet.  The point is they have to make the time. 

• So, what works for you?

 

   

Creativity – and Candles – Multiplied

USA Today bestselling military romance author, Catherine Mann, is my guest today. This time we are introduced to another sizzling hero, Hugh Franco, from the Air Force's celebrated Pararescue Jumpers–"The PJs"– an ultra-elite force who put themselves at extreme risk in the most dangerous emergencies so that others may live. 

I haven’t had the chance to read HOT ZONE yet, but we were introduced to Hugh in Cover Me. I’ve been looking forward to reading his story.

Aside from creating hot military heroes, Catherine also uses her creativity in other ways, decorating candles. She tells us how to go about decorating. I’m certainly going to give it a try. I love candles!

Some have a theory that creativity needs to be channeled.  Certainly I can see that there has to be focus within a creative career.  However, I’m a firm believer that creativity is like bread.  Feed the yeasty starter, knead the dough, and watch it grow.

Along the same lines, I believe my creativity needs to be massaged and fed.  Luckily, I love to do creative, artsy things beyond my writing.

Over the years I’ve tried my hand at a number of artsy crafts.  Cross stitching.  Sewing.  Singing.  Guitar.  Crocheting.  Gardening.  Calligraphy.  Baking. Am I a master at them?  Not hardly. (Especially not gardening!)  But I thoroughly enjoy myself.

While writing is obviously my primary creative outlet, I indulge my muse by trying new creative endeavors.  This month?  My daughter and I decorated candles for holiday gifts.

This was one of our easier to tackle undertakings, with only a few supplies needed and simple to follow directions…

CANDLE DECORATING:

Supplies:

Candle

Tissue Paper

Pattern Stamp

Ink

Scissors

Wax Paper

Handheld Hair Dryer

Directions:

Stamp the pattern of your choice on a piece of tissue paper.  Cut out the pattern.  Trim fairly close to the edges.  Place the inked tissue paper on the candle.  Press wax paper over the tissue paper to hold it in place.  Direct the handheld hair dryer over the pattern.  Lightly move the dryer around until the candle wax begins to absorb the tissue paper – without changing the shape of the candle.   Be careful to avoid drips.  Gently peel away the wax paper.  Aim the hair dryer at the candle again and heat until the tissue paper can’t be seen and only the pattern shows.  Let dry.

Variations: Can place more than one pattern on the candle.  Or place the pattern all the way around the candle.  Also, while wax is still soft, rhinestones or tiny rhinestones can be pressed into the pattern.  We even used the leftover ink to stamp white paper lunch sacks, making our own gift bags!

As you can see from the photo, my daughter and I made a slew of candles for gifts this year.  Most have a holiday theme, but there are also some patriotic candles.  Those are for our family and friends with a military member serving.  We’ll be keeping one of these candles in our home as a reminder and tribute to those who can’t be with their families this holiday season.  Real life heroes and heroines like the characters featured in my air force novels.

And so, that wraps up my creative outlet of the moment.  Next up?  Chocolate fondue and dipped treats.

Thank you to Sia for sharing her blog spot with me today and thank you to each of you for stopping by to visit!

·        What are some of your old and/or new holiday traditions?

HOT ZONE  BY CATHERINE MANN  

He'll take any mission, the riskier the better...

The haunted eyes of pararescuemen, Hugh Franco, should have been her first clue that deep pain roiled beneath the surface. But if Amelia couldn't see the damage, how could she be expected to know he'd break her heart?

She'll prove to be his biggest risk yet...

Amelia Bailey's not the kind of girl who usually need rescuing...but these are anything but usual circumstances. EXCERPT

BUY:    IN STORES DECEMBER 2011 
Online:  AMAZON, BARNES and NOBLE, 

  

USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann writes military romantic suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. A RITA Award winner, she has over two million books in print in more than twenty countries. Catherine resides in the Florida panhandle with her flyboy husband, their four children and an ever growing menagerie of pets.  And yes, in a moment of creative inspiration, she once raided the pantry for the ingredients to bake homemade dog cookies for her local animal shelter!

For more information on Hot Zone and her other works, Catherine can be found online at:

Website  

Facebook 

Twitter

Crafting the Holidays

My apologies for the late posting. Blogger was having technical difficulties with loading pictures last night and this morning. I finally used a different browser and it worked. Yay!

My guest is romance author, Tawny Weber.

Tawny has a new trilogy with Blaze, Undercover Ops, and I’m enjoying the shenanigans of Tobias Black, former con man, who is determined to bring his three strong willed children home. They’re not inclined to oblige and so Tobias gets creative.

Tawny shares some of her crafting ideas for the holidays with us. Hope you enjoy her creativity—both with the craft projects and her new story.  

One of my favorite things about the holidays is finding craft ideas to make as gifts and decorations. 

I hope I pass this love of crafting gifts on to my children.  Neither are quite as crafty and into making things as I am, but they’ve been known to put together a scrapbook, painting or ceramic figurine from time to time.  If nothing else, they know that Christmas time means giving from the heart. 

For my crafting fun this year, I’m doing few gift projects.  One is an advent calendar.  I used my oldest daughter’s new puppy for the photo on the first one, and a picture of my youngest daughter and our shepherd mix when she was a pup for the other.  Keeping with the pet theme, the other gifty project I’m doing are pet ornaments.  I made one last year for myself and figured it’d be a great present for the pet-loving people on my list (at least, if I have pictures of their pets, it will *g*)  I used an old CD, covered with paper and punched holes all around.  Super simple and quick, and a gift I’m hoping my youngest daughter will help with J 

I don’t think there were a lot of crafty sort of gifts in the Black home when my hero, Caleb was growing up.  But even deprived of glitter and paste, this is a family that embraces traditions.  Of course, their traditions fall more toward ways to con people (especially each other) but still... ya gotta love a family that keeps tradition alive, right?   Caleb didn’t celebrate the holidays much after he left his hometown.  Instead, he entered the dark, dreary world of undercover DEA work.  So coming home at the holidays is more than just a demand to deal with his past, it’s also a chance to reconnect with the joy of the holidays.  And small, eccentric towns like Black Oak do the holidays up right! 

• So how about you? 

Are you a fan of holiday crafts? If not, what traditions do you tend to follow? 

And I have a question... what kind of goodies and treats would you suggest I fill the advent calendars with?  I can only give my kids a certain amount of candy before I start seeing visions of dental bills dancing in my head :-D 

• Share your thoughts, and I’ll draw a random name from the comments to win their very own signed copy of Caleb’s story, SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE!

SEX LIES AND MISTLETOE—available in stores and online

He sees her when she's sleeping... 

Undercover DEA agent Caleb Black is home for the holidays—possibly to bust his own father. But maybe Caleb's con man dad isn't the one running drugs through the small town of Black Oak. Maybe it's the green eyed goddess who runs the New Age shop and has Caleb under her sultry spell.

Pandora Easton saved the family store with two words: sex sells. And her delectable aphrodisiacs really work, as she's proven with notorious bad boy Caleb again and again and again.

Little does she guess that, in the end, her most potent potion will be the truth...EXCERPT

BUY: AMAZON, BARNES and NOBLE, eHarlequin

 

Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy stories for Harlequin Blaze since her first book hit the shelves in 2007.  When not obsessing over deadlines, she’s shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking or hanging out on Facebook and Twitter.  Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com  

In December of 2011 Tawny launched her Undercover Ops series with SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE.  The second book in the series, SEX, LIES & MIDNIGHT is on shelves in January 2012, quickly followed in February by SEX, LIES & VALENTINES.  Be sure to follow Tawny on her Holiday Survival Tour as she celebrates these three books with contests, giveaways and lots of fun.  You can read the first chapter of SEX, LIES & MISTLETOE on her website, all you have to do is join the Reader LoveFest!