Of my blog, that is.

Two quick things.

1. I received an unexpected (unsolicited) “manuscript submission opportunity,” shall we say, so I’ll be scarce around the blog until mid-January. Keep checking back, but if I’m only posting once or twice a week, you’ll know why.
2. Mystery author Wendy Roberts is my first guest blogger of 2010. Wendy’s blogging next Wednesday, January 6th, and is giving away not only her December 2009 release, DEAD AND KICKING, but also the first in her Ghost Dusters series, THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD. Her promo post is going up Tuesday, January 5th. This is just a heads-up so you know when to come back.

Procter-King……….out!

We had a green Christmas for the first time I can remember. We’ve nearly had a green Christmas at least twice before. I distinctly remember one year back when I was around ten, or eight, or twelve (hey, it was a long time ago, the memory’s rusty) when it didn’t snow until Christmas day. And then it snowed dump trucks on us! I was so happy. Of course, I didn’t have to drive in it.

Same thing happened about a decade ago. No snow until my brother and sisters had to brave the roads for Christmas dinner at my house. Then—kablooey. Tons of snow.

I know other areas of North America are getting pummeled with the chilly white stuff as I type. Is your part of the continent white or green?

Oh, before I forget, congratulations to Lisa G., who won the Super Secret Santa Give-Away on Nobody Writes It Better! My romantic comedy, BORROWING ALEX, was included in the give-away. I’ll get the book in the mail to you this week.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I hear we had a good turn-out, which means we’ll hopefully hold another give-away next year.

I’m blogging at Nobody Writes It Better today…about cats and Christmas trees. I even wrote a Christmas cat poem! Hop on over to read it.

Today’s the last day of the Super Secret Santa Give-Away over at Nobody Writes It Better as well. Click here to learn how to enter. Barbara Wallace is drawing the winner’s name later today, and Gail Fuller will announce the winner on the NWIB blog tomorrow.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Caught this on agent Kristin Nelson’s blog. I have a number of big, difficult-to-wrap Christmas presents to give out this year, so this video brought a smile to my face. Enjoy!

My group blog, Nobody Writes It Better, is holding The Super Secret Santa Give-Away from now until Christmas Eve, with the winner announced on Christmas Day. Several authors are participating, with some of us donating copies of our books and some of us donating gifts. Each author will mail her book/gift to the winner independently, so every time you visit your mailbox, you might find another present therein. Sounds like fun, no? For my part, I’m donating a copy of BORROWING ALEX.

Visit The Super Secret Santa Give-Away for details on how to enter. (Note: comments to this post, while appreciated, do not enter you in the contest. Visit the blog and follow the directions there).

I’m releasing a big, long sigh……of relief!

Yesterday I received my books from Penny’s publisher for this year’s RITA contest (if you’re interested in knowing what I entered, just, um, scroll down). (I’m so mysterious). I think this is the latest I’ve received the books. I consider myself very lucky that Penny’s publisher supplies my RITA copies. The volumes release in mid-December, which makes it tough to meet the January 4th receipt deadline because I can’t GET copies in Canada until AFTER the deadline. So, thank you, Red Sage.

But I was worried I wouldn’t make the deadline. Now, thanks to Express Post (which cost a pretty penny, let me tell you), I believe I will. I’ve been biting my fingernails over the RITA books making it to the RWA office in time for weeks now, so I’m very content. But it was a frantic process. Basically, I went to the post office with my “pick up your parcel” notice in hand, grabbed a massive bubble-wrap envelope off the wall, paid, then went to the car, opened the box, transferred the RITA books from the box to the envelope, and returned to the P.O. to mail off the package. I barely had time to admire the books!

At any rate, mission accomplished. Author anxiety appeased. Of course I won’t be really appeased until I can track the package and know it made it. But I’m halfway there. For me, that’s a boon.

I have reached that point in the pre-Christmas season where I feel like I’m going nuts. Too much to do! Not enough time!

The good news is that Eldest Son made it home yesterday without incident. His flight was delayed, but not for several hours like it was last year. I made homemade turkin soup last night with my mom’s Thanksgiving carcass, which I’ve had in the deep freeze. E.S. loves turkin soup. That’s soup made from turkey bones, whatever turkey meat falls off the bones while you’re making the broth, then, if you don’t have enough meat, you add cooked chicken breast. Turkey + Chicken = Turkin Soup. And I make a mean turkin soup, if I do say so myself.

We’ll have it again after Christmas, too. With a new dead turkey body. Um, carcass.

Anyway, I’ll still be hanging around the blog (although not every day), because I have some stuff coming up that I don’t want you to miss. I might not post tomorrow (but then again I might…), but drop by Friday, because my group blog, Nobody Writes It Better, is holding a contest from Dec. 18th – Dec. 24th and I’ll announce all the details here when I know them. Which will be sometime on Friday.

I’m also blogging at Nobody Writes It Better on Christmas Eve! Don’t ask me how I get these dates when I’m one of the two blog schedulers. Let’s just say I don’t believe in fiddling with my dates at the expense of another member’s. Because I am jolly! That’s why.

I have no idea what I’ll blog about. Rudolph seems a fair bet, but you’ll have to wait until Dec. 24th to find out why.

Is anyone else getting caught up in crazy Christmas preparations?

Secrets Volume 28: SENSUAL CRAVINGS, which includes Penny’s third erotic romance novella, is now shipping from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powells, Borders, and Red Sage. You know what this means, right? Lucky Americans can order Secrets 28 in time for Christmas! (If they’re quick).

Canadians can pre-order from Canadian Amazon for delivery in 2-3 weeks, alas, alack, amiss. But, hey, we can still order!

Here’s a blurb of the four novellas contained within Secrets 28:

THE PIRATE’S POSSESSION – JULIET BURNS
When Lady Gertrude Fitzpatrick tries to bargain with a fierce pirate for escape across the water to her childhood home, she unwittingly becomes the possession of Merciless MacGowan, a fierce privateer on the run from Cromwell’s army. Ewan MacGowan has been betrayed and mistakenly exacts revenge on this proud noblewoman. He may have stolen the lady’s innocence, but buried beneath her plain exterior lies a hidden treasure he never thought to find: the true woman of his heart.

SEDUCING SERENA – JENNIFER LYNNE
Serena Hewitt has given up on love. Her experience has taught her there’s no such thing as ‘Mister Right’, but when she interviews for a potential partner she’s not prepared for her overpowering sexual attraction to Nicholas Wade, a fun-loving bachelor with bad-boy good looks and a determination to prove her wrong. But Nick’s hiding a secret that might just do the opposite. Can two people afraid of love risk exposing their hearts one last time?

MIND GAMES – KATHLEEN SCOTT
Damien Storm is a Varti—a psychic who can connect to one special person to communicate with telepathically. For three years he’s tried in vain to get his Vartek partner, Jade, to acknowledge their link, but fear has made her keep him at a distance, even as he’s bared his heart and soul to her in order to gain her trust. He will do anything to know the sweetness of her body and mind in closer proximity, but first he must save her from the forces of the government who wish to see all Varti destroyed.

KISS ME AT MIDNIGHT – KATE ST. JAMES
TV co-hosts Callie Hutchins and Marc Shaw fake an on-air romance to top November sweeps, but before long the battle of the sexes burns up the sheets and the ratings. Callie thinks Marc is a womanizer who should help her snag her dream job…on the other side of the country. As the month progresses, however, she realizes Marc isn’t the handsome playboy he portrays on their show—he’s funny, kind, and too sexy for words, damn it. So…can she give him up when November ends?

What are you waiting for? Penny needs chocolate chip cookies! She’s not allowed to buy any until she sells some books!