Good things!

They say good things come in threes, and that’s certainly true for me this month!

I’ve just received the cover for my third Harlequin American Romance, FAMILY MATTERS. Isn’t it fabulous?

And in celebration of the book’s October, 2010 publication date, I’m doing three things:

* revamping my website: http://barbarawhitedaille.com

* starting a blog: http://barbarawhitedaille.com/blog

* giving away a copy of one of my backlist titles to one lucky reader of my blog post here

This is the deal:

The drawing is a special opportunity for visitors to my Harlequin American Romance blog post for today. If you’re reading this post on July 17th, that would include you. ;-)

In order to have your name entered in the drawing, please leave a comment here at the Harlequin American Romance blog by midnight Blogger time on July 17th. Also, please visit my website at http://barbarawhitedaille.com by midnight Blogger time on July 17th.

Take a look at the excerpts for my first two books, THE SHERIFF'S SON and COURT ME, COWBOY. Send me an e-mail from my website, letting me know which book you would prefer IF your name is drawn—and why.

And, of course, feel free to take a look around my website and blog while you’re there. ;-)

One lucky winner’s name will be drawn and the name announced here at the blog on the Open date of July 20th.

Remember, this drawing is based on comments dated July 17th only.

And please remember to BOTH comment here at the Harlequin American Romance blog AND send an e-mail from my website in order to have your name entered into the drawing.

Thanks a bunch, and good luck!


All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Media Blitz Contest Today!

Today only we're running a one-day Media Blitz Contest to promote The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries by Harlequin American Romance.

CONTEST RULES

Read this blog, then spread the word! Mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy (July 2010) and The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/

to and help promote Dexter: Honorable Cowboy the more chances you have to win an autographed copy of the book and one of the cowboy items featured in the photo above.

Earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a link to their favorite social media websites. Be sure to return to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ and tell us where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog—we'll keep a tally of your activity, then post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog--check the blog on July 17th to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

The Special Bond Twins Share

Facts about Twins

• Fraternal twins result when two different eggs are fertilized by two different sperm.
• Fraternal twins are more common than identical twins and account for about 2/3 of twin pregnancies.
• Even after they are born, it is sometimes difficult to know whether twins are identical or fraternal.
• Fraternal twins make up approximately 75% of the twin population and can be boy/boy, girl/girl, or boy/girl sets.
• Fraternal twins share up to 50% of their genes, and are no more alike or different than any two siblings would be.
• Africa sees the highest incidence of fraternal twins; Asia, the lowest.
• The actor Ashton Kutcher has a fraternal twin brother named Michael

Before writing Dexter: Honorable Cowboy I Googled fraternal twins and came across lots of interesting information. The one thing that struck me was research claiming that although fraternal twins don't share an identical genetic code, they do share a special bond. When I got to thinking about it, I realized that as fraternal twins mature they experience many things in life at the exact same emotional and physical point of their development. However, that doesn't mean the outcome of the experience is the same for each twin.

Dexter-- serious, dependable, hard-working, honorable.
Dusty-- fun, playful, teasing, charismatic and the better-looking twin.

Both brothers once had a crush on the same girl--Josie Charles—but Dusty's charismatic ways and good looks won the girl and Dexter suffered silently in the background as he watched his brother and Josie date throughout high school. Eventually Dusty and Josie broke up and moved on, but that experience remained with Dexter all his life. The special bond between Dexter and Dusty is tested when Josie Charles returns to Markton, WY. After all these years, Dexter discovers his feelings for Josie haven't changed, but before he gets excited about a "second-chance" at love, he learns Dusty is the father of Josie's young son.

It is that "special bond" between twin brothers that Dexter struggles with throughout the book. He wants to support Dusty and encourages him to do the right thing and marry Josie and be a father to their son, but at the same time he believes he's the better candidate for husband and father. Once again Dusty stands in the way of what Dexter wants, which creates stress and tension between the two brothers. But it is the special bond they share that in the end allows both brothers to do what's best for Josie and her son.

I hope you'll pick up a copy of Dexter: Honorable Cowboy and see how Dex and Dusty settle their differences—then let me know if you think the right man won the girl!

P.S. Be sure to return in August for another one-day only Media Blitz Contest when Cathy McDavid blogs about Dusty: Wild Cowboy (Book 3 in The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries. If you missed the first book Walker: The Rodeo Legend (June 2010) by Rebecca Winters, you can still order the book through online retailers. You can also keep up on the Codys at http://www.firstfamilyofrodeo.blogspot.com/

where the miniseries authors post a new blog about cowboys every Wednesday.

See you at next rodeo!
Marin

Good morning! I need help--more than usual!! LOL!!

Two of my kiddos are headed to college in under a month. My twins turn eighteen in a few days. How is this possible??!! I'm grateful that they're healthy and smart and funny and pretty, but I'm also sad that they'll no longer be lounging on the couch or making a mess in the kitchen. Even worse--who's going to clean the cat box??!!

Anyway, I'm trapped in a funk. How have some of you survived this transition period?

In other news . . . The annual Romance Writers of America conference is swiftly approaching. This year it's being held in Orlando. I fear this will be a VERY bad thing when it comes to focusing on honing my writing skills by attending workshops. BFF Margaret Daley isn't helping with her talk of how much fun we'll have!! Meanwhile, my other roomie, BFF Winnie Griggs, has declared she's spending the week holed up in our room, writing. This makes me feel even more guilty!! LOL!!

Have I mentioned I have NOTHING to wear? For those of you who have never attended one of these conferences, there's a fascinating mix of folks. Some wear jeans and a T-shirt. Others are decked out in full-on business attire complete with jewels!! I strive for somewhere in the middle. Alas, since I also strive for donuts, my wardrobe is limited. I've been on the treadmill, running like a fat hamster, but my fave stuff still won't fit. Hmm . . . wonder if I could start a new trend by wearing PJs all week?

All kidding aside, I can't wait to get hugs from friends I rarely get to see!!! Not only other writers, but editors and my agent. The week's highlight is always the Friday night Harlequin party. This year, it's being held at the Orlando Waldorf Astoria!!! There's always dancing and crazy-decadent food and decor. I LOVE these parties!!! But have I mentioned I still have nothing to wear? ;-)

GIRLFRIENDS

I know, strange subject to blog about on a writer’s blog. However, it’s what’s on my mind this month. I’ve been blessed with many friends, but they don’t all touch my life in the same way.

I remember a friend I met in college telling me that some friends are a part of your entire life while others come into your life for a specific reason. During the loss of my father and her divorce, which neither one were even on our radar when we met, we talked nightly. I’m not sure we’d have made it through without the support. I still consider her a great friend, but now we only talk a couple times a year, just to make sure the other is okay. Not a lot to say these days.

I had three really close friends from elementary school all the way through high school. One of those wonderful women I see regularly. Our kids are friends and now our grandkids. I can’t imagine my life without her being a huge part of it. Yet the other two women, I talk to on rare occasion and exchange Christmas and birthday cards.

Neighbors – How many great people have we lived close to in our lives? Yet there is only one who I still see. Take vacations with. Keep close to my heart.

Work friends are especially interesting. I’ve met so many wonderful people and friends there. But most of them seem to fade away after one or the other of us changes jobs or companies. One woman and I shared an office for two years and went to lunch together almost daily. Great lady, yet I don’t even know where she is these days. While another friend left the company and moved to California and still drove all the way back to Texas to surprise me at my very first book signing. If she and I don’t talk weekly, we at least email. Out of the hundreds of people I’ve worked with, why did the two of us click?

Writing friends – Wow! What do I say? I’ve met so many fabulous and helpful people in the field. Yet the two women I critique with have become so tight that we don’t know how to act if we aren’t all three online every evening. Sure we love to talk about writing, but we’ve also become important people in each other’s personal lives. I hope to remain friends with a lot of my writing buddies, but these two particularly I’ll be very surprised if we ever lose touch. When I sold my first book, I called these ladies before my family.

I’m sure most everyone has had similar relationships. What makes some friendships last, while others fade away? Do you have a special girlfriend story to share?

Media Blitz Contest this Friday!

Counting down the days until Friday July 16th--our second One Day Only Media Blitz Contest to promote The Codys: First Family of Rodeo miniseries!

On July 16th I'll be blogging about Dexter: Honorable Cowboy--RT Top Pick for July! For those who've read the first book in the series, Walker: The Rodeo Legend, then you know Dexter is a fraternal twin. I'll be blogging about how Dexter's relationship with his brother Dusty is tested as Dexter struggles with that special bond the brothers share.

Help spread the word by mentioning the book and posting a link to this blog on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link to and mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy and The Codys: First Family of Rodeo the more chances you have to win an autographed copy of the book and some "cowboy stuff" pictured above.

Earn additional chances to win if you refer a friend and they in turn post a link to their favorite social media websites. Be sure to return to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ and tell us where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog.

I'll keep a tally of your activity and post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog on July 17th--be sure to check if you're one of the lucky winners!

For those readers who are reading this miniseries, we'd love to know what you think about The Codys: First Family of Rodeo!

Marin * www.marinthomas.com *