It's Author News Day!

Contest Winner

CONGRATULATIONS MarcieR! You are our May winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Lisa Childs and Linda Warren through their Web sites.

To enter our monthly contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Simple and painless. And FREE BOOKS.

So check back often and be sure to leave a comment. Good luck!

News

This month we’re sending a big, warm welcome to multi-published author Rebecca Winters! Her first American Romance—The Chief Ranger—is a June release.

This June eHarlequin is celebrating Harlequin American Romance and we thought, what would be better than having a virtual picnic—a scrapbook of memories, photos, recipes and your favorite things to do to commemorate America's birthday?

It's your turn! Give us your recipes, what you can't live without at your 4th of July picnic, your most requested item, traditional items on the table, tips for keeping away the bugs, your favorite spots and memories —we encourage pictures—and your favorite books to sit outside and read. Watch for some of your favorite authors—including an online read by Cathy Gillen Thacker—and discover new authors this month as we chatter while sitting on our virtual checkerboard blanket!
Congratulations to Ann Roth and Linda Warren. Ann’s THE PILOT’S WOMAN (American Romance, March 2008) and Linda’s TEXAS BLUFF (Superromance, February 2008) are finalists in the Holt Medallion Contest!

Reviews

Ann Roth’s July release, A FATHER FOR JESSE, is a Romantic Times Top Pick and received a 4 ½ star review!

Mark Your Calendar

June 9—Harlequin American Romance release day! Four great new reads. Check out the covers in the sidebar.

June 23—Don't miss our June author interview with Cathy McDavid here on the blog.

June 25—This will be our next news day on the blog. Be sure to stop by to find out what’s “news” with the Harlequin American Romance Authors.

Location, location, location…. Setting is key to any story

We writers love to talk about our craft. This month’s topic is setting (aka atmosphere, background). The overall setting is the town or city where the story happens--including the little details that bring the place to life. On a smaller scale, setting is where each scene takes place. Setting plays a role in any story. In some, it becomes like a character. For example, in a story where characters must battle the elements in order to survive, whatever those elements are become so key that they are every bit as important as any character.

In American Romances the sense of community is all-important. The setting can augment that community feel. My American novels take place in small towns to underline the community element, but a writer can do the same in any big city. It’s all in how we present the atmosphere and background and the characters involved.

For my Halo Island series, I chose a small island with a big summer tourist business. I like the sense of separateness and intimacy created by the island. Some of my other story settings have been in fictitious towns on the Oregon Coast, in towns on the outskirts of Seattle, and in a fictitious Midwest town. Each is a unique atmosphere that in some way highlights or adds to the story.

Setting can have a huge impact on who the characters are and how they view life. Take a character, say the novel’s hero, born and raised in Big Sky country, where the population is limited and the terrain is vast and open. Now imagine the heroine born and raised in Manhattan, with its concrete and tall buildings, and the non-stop hordes of people.

How might these two view the world? Chances are, not at all the same way. Your Big Sky fella might be used to a slower tempo, thinking huge and speaking his mind. If he needs to get away, he might hike or take a long drive. Whereas Ms. Manhattan might be on espresso time, fast, fast, fast. Her world might be limited to the people in her apartment building or her work. Maybe she hides her thoughts in order to get ahead. When she needs a break, she shops or dashes into a coffee bar. The hero might quickly feel overwhelmed in the Big Apple, and the heroine would quite possibly freak out at the quiet and space in Montana.

I could go on and on about the differences created just by where a person is raised… but due to space constraints, I won’t.

But I would love to think about and discuss setting further. So please join in. What kinds of settings do you enjoy? What settings would you like to see in future novels?


Ann
www.annroth.net
A Father for Jesse
RT Top Pick! July, 2009

Recipe of the month

This month's recipe, from Trish Milburn, looks absolutely scrumptious. Heck, with all that butter, cream cheese, sugar and chocolate, how could it be anything but? I don't know about you, but I'm going to buy what I need and whip up a batch this weekend!

Thanks, Trish.

Pistachio Fingers

1 cup sugar
1 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose or unbleached flour
1 (3 3/4-ounce) package instant pistachio-flavored pudding and pie filling mix
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces (3 squares) semi-sweet chocolate or 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening

In a large bowl, beat sugar, margarine and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup, and level off. In medium bowl, combine flour, pudding mix, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture; mix well. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least one hour. After one hour, heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Wet hands to avoid dough sticking to hands. Shape teaspoonfuls of dough into 1 1/2-inch fingers. Place on cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool completely. In small saucepan, melt chocolate and shortening, stirring constantly until well blended. Drizzle small amount of chocolate over each cookie. Allow chocolate to set before storing. Yield: 8 1/2 dozen cookies.

Trish Milburn
Heartbreak River (as Tricia Mills), Razorbill (4/09)
Her Very Own Family, Harlequin American (5/09)
www.trishmilburn.com

My Change of Setting

This month a lot of us are going to be blogging about the importance of setting to the Harlequin American line. I’d agree that it’s an integral part of our books. I love reading other author’s novels and getting transported to other places. Currently, I’m reading Cindi Myers’ latest, which takes place in Crested Butte, Colorado. What a fun escape from Cincinnati!

At the moment, I’m afraid I’m most consumed with my current setting-our new home. We moved last Friday, the day before my son graduated high school. Talk about poor timing! My mom and my mother-in-law were in town, parties were going on, and we were frantically doing our best to move two miles away. I was so worried we’d lose my son's cap and gown-I started carrying it everywhere with me. (yes, no matter what else would happen, my son would graduate!)

I’d love to say things went off without a hitch, but that would be lying. Phoebe the beagle learned to chew through every box that even smelled like food. Once we came home to a real mess. Somehow she discovered a box of spices and ate an entire bottle of chicken seasoning.

No, it didn’t suit her stomach.

The people who were moving into our old house were not especially nice or patient. They came early, complained to my son, and then complained about the carpet. (see earlier paragraph)

I didn't know how to tell them that she's done far worse things.

The movers accidentally broke the top to one of our tables. They’ll pay to have it repaired, which I didn’t dare complain about since Phoebe ate one of the guy's Big Macs from McDonalds…and then all the peppers on another’s Subway sandwich.

No, that didn’t suit her stomach either. I woke up during our first night in our new home to watch her uh…divest herself next to my bed.

Now things are a mess again. We’re getting wood floors installed…and having acres of white tile pulled up. Yesterday one of the workers was rushed to the emergency room for six stitches. I guess that tile is exceptionally sharp.

So, that’s our life right now. Exciting and hectic and dirty and pretty-we had deer in our new backyard yesterday!

And last but not least, my gorgeous son looked awesome in his cap and gown when he graduated on Saturday-So, as my kids would say…it’s all good.

Shelley

Taking a chance on love

For an author, each book is an adventure. No matter how many we’ve written – and I’ve sold 84 in the past 25 years – each story begins fresh and takes on a life of its own.

For Harlequin American, I just finished writing the first book in my Safe Harbor Medical miniseries, due out in February 2010. (Before that, I’ll wrap up my Harmony Circle miniseries in September 2009 with Doctor Daddy). Although I’d written a brief synopsis before I started, I had no idea the hero and heroine would butt heads in such an interesting manner – for me, anyway – with tart dialogue and a few tears along the way to their happy ending.

But these days, it isn’t enough to be an author. Writers also have to publicize our books, such as by blogging. Plus, beginning this year, I took over updating my Web site, which is an adventure in itself. Thank goodness for the help of my former webmaster, Karen Fox, and my brother, Paul Hyman, a computer programmer who possesses unusual patience. Working on my site (www.jacquelinediamond.com) is an adventure in its own way.

Recently, I decided to start posting the first chapters of my books. After all, I like to look through a book before buying, and I figure my readers might feel the same way. So, as an experiment, I recently posted the first chapter of my January release, Million-Dollar Nanny, and put a link on my home page.

My adventures don’t stop there. Amazon is allowing authors to post their books for sale on the e-reader device Kindle. Why not try it? I own all rights to my contemporary Gothic suspense, Touch Me in the Dark, which has a checkered past.

It nearly sold to three different publishers but got nixed at the highest levels. Finally I contracted with the e-publisher Triskelion, which posted it for sale less than a month before going bankrupt. The upshot is that nobody got a chance to read it.

I priced Touch Me in the Dark at the bargain rate of $1.99, and I’ll be very curious to see if it finally finds an audience, at least among Kindle folks. If you’d like to read the first chapter for free, that’s posted on my Web site, too, with a link on the home page. I don’t have the link to Amazon yet, but I’ll post that when I get it.

If you check out either of the first chapters, let me know what you think, either by posting below or by emailing me at jdiamondfriends@yahoo.com. Are you more likely to buy a book if you can read the first chapter?

Craft Idea--Birthday Cake

Birthday cakes and cookie cakes are expensive, but our very own author Megan Kelly has a do-it-yourself cake idea that will save you lots of money and look just as cute as the bakery-made ones. And the kids will love it!

Here's an easy fix for a little reptile-lover's birthday party.

Make two bundt cakes in the child's favorite flavor. After they cool, put them on a cutting surface and cut in half (from top to bottom). Set them on a long foil covered platform (I use a cut cardboard box.) Instead of it making a circle, turn one piece around so the cake forms a backward "s." The curve around the other two pieces. You can carve one end to a point for the tail and smooth the edges off the other for a face. Frost in your chosen color (chocolate is fine, but green and/or other colors are fun too). If you use white icing, save some for the eyes or use your green. Snake eyes have "evil" slits, but you can make them round with black centers for a younger child. A piece of red or black licorice can hang out the front for a tongue; be sure to cut the end in the middle and split it in two points--if you use a flat fruit snack, you can cut it so it looks like it's forked. The ridges of the bundt cake look like scales.
I don't have a picture of mine, but here's a link with some ideas: http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/birthday-cake-decorating-idea.html

Have fun, Megan Kelly
megankellybooks.com

Sometimes It Pays To Listen

Although I blog every week on a site relating to my alternate persona as a mystery writer, I found myself stressing a wee bit over what I should do for my first-ever blog with these amazing authors from Harlequin American.

And then I decided I should just introduce myself, maybe tell why I ventured into the romance waters...

Many of the ideas for my stories come from snippets I hear on the news--interesting little facts that take root in my mind and make it hard for me to sleep. Eventually, I start twisting and twisting the snippets until I have a workable novel.

Anyway, it was about this same time of year (two years ago) when I heard a story about a letter that had slipped behind a table in a post office only to be discovered forty years later.

I heard that and I was done. D-O-N-E. I couldn't tell you anything else the D.J. said before he finally got back to playing music. I was completely and utterly captivated by the notion of what the letter might have said...whether the sender and/or recipient were even still alive.

As the snippet continued to grow in my mind, I knew it wanted to be a story. And so I tried to create a murder plot around this misplaced letter (as that's what I wrote until that moment). For three months I tried to kill someone off in the mental plotting phase, yet none of the characters forming in my mind had any intention of dying.

What they wanted was to be part of a love story...

All fine and dandy if I knew how to write a romance. Which I didn't.

I did my best to fight with the voice in my head. I even tried to forget the story start. But I couldn't. So I stopped fighting for a moment and started thinking...about a romance I'd read that was written by Shelley Galloway (Cinderella Christmas, Harlequin American) a year or so earlier. I loved the feel of that story. The hope. The characters' growth. The overall tone.

Hmmm. Maybe I could do it.

I began reading more...all Harlequin Americans. In fairly quick fashion I became hooked on the line and the authors, finally deciding to listen to the characters in my head and give it a go.

And as I wrote, I fell in love with the genre as a writer, too. In fact, of all the books I've written to date, Kayla's Daddy (January 2010) is my favorite. Why? First and foremost, it's a beautiful story about second chances and the mountains love can climb. But that's not all. That book will always represent (for me) what can happen when I simply believe in myself enough to try.

Here's to those voices that nag you to listen...

~Laura Bradford

My Hero

As I read through the previous posts before sitting down to write my own, I was most struck by Pam Stone’s post last week about Alpha-Males. Her heroes sound like mine—up to a point. I usually begin with an Alpha-male hero in my imagination: a handsome, take-charge kind of guy with glinting eyes and shoulders broad enough to support the world. That’s about as far as I get. Somewhere in the first draft, my hero rebels, insisting on doing what he wants. Instead of leading the charge, this hot hunk might step aside and let another character carry the flag. Not that he has any interest in following anyone. He rejects the Beta-male mold, too. He just merrily blazes his own trail.

He can be so aggravating! Usually, my heroine agrees with me. The guy is almost Alpha, but not quite.

I beg him to follow the rules that I, the writer, set down in my nice, neat outline. He gives me a seductive smile, a wink and then simply does what he wants. I have to confess that my heart melts at that point, no matter how stern and irritated I try to act. I have to chase him down the path he makes, just to see where he ends up. I am usually surprised and sometimes pleased by the twists and turns. He often chooses a stronger-minded, more determined woman than I had in mind for him. I’m sure his choice will end in failure, yet somehow he manages to find happy-ever-after-ness—though I might lend a hand in fixing his messes, if he asks for my help. Nicely.

In the end, my almost Alpha charms the heroine rather than, Alpha-style, bean her on the head with a club and drag her to his cave to prove his mastery. Of course, once he falls for the heroine, he will fight to the death to win and hold her. And threats to her will tip my Almost-Alpha over into full Alpha-mode in a heartbeat. He doesn’t go into battle for much, but his woman is the center of his universe.

So, I guess I have to give up the idea of my heroes conquering the world and sweeping my heroines up a grand staircase (kicking and screaming optional). My Almost-Alphas just aren’t the type.

Pardon me while I show my geekdom

Since I write for Harlequin American, I'm often thinking up stories about everyday people who could be my neighbors. I dream up small towns, casts of down-to-earth characters, and heroes and heroines who are carpenters, ranchers, firefighters, restaurant owners, police officers and the like. The hero in my May release, Her Very Own Family, is a carpenter/owner of a construction company. I like these kinds of stories and characters because they speak to all of us.

But I have a confession to make, another type of story that calls to me as a reader/viewer. I'm a total sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal geek girl, and love the heroes in them. I count Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Roswell, Smallville, Legend of the Seeker, and Stargate Atlantis among my favorite shows. Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly is probably my favorite hero from those because he's funny, full of fantastic one-liners, will do anything for his crew, has a reigned passion for the beautiful Inara, and is definitely a man of action. He's a warrior and a bit of a scoundrel, but also has a caring streak that he'd be hesitant to admit.

You know what's interesting? The characters in these types of shows often have to face the same types of issues that the characters in our hearth-and-home Harlequin American stories face -- what seems like insurmountable odds, family issues, falling for the person who seems to be totally wrong for them, trying to find their place in the world, fitting in, etc. The heroes often embody many of the same qualities we see in our American romance heroes.























Take the new Star Trek movie (which, btw, is awesome!), for example. James T. Kirk is a rebellious young man who lost his father before he ever knew him and is on a self-destructive path until given a purpose. Spock is a product of two worlds and doesn't feel as if he truly belongs in either. Leonard "Bones" McCoy is adrift with nowhere else to go after a bitter divorce. I'm sure you've all seen characters in romance novels who could fit into one of those descriptions. It just goes to show that no matter the genre or backdrop for a story, there are universal themes and situations we can all relate to and which make the basis of compelling stories. Kirk, Spock and Bones might not start out the movie as heroes, but by the end they can wear that title with pride.

Anyone else out there willing to admit some sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal geekitude? Anyone seen the new J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Trek? What did you think? Any other Captain Mal fans?

Author News Day

Happy Memorial Day!

We’re sending out a big warm welcome to Leigh Duncan, another new American Romance author. Leigh’s first book will be released in 2010. As soon as she chooses a blog day, we’ll be sure to let you know.

News

We have two finalists for a Bookseller's Best Award, sponsored by the Greater Detroit Chapter of Romance Writers of America:

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS (December, 2008) by Holly Jacobs
THE COWBOY AND THE ANGEL (November, 2008) by Marin Thomas

Michele Dunaway is excited to announce that she's sold her 23rd book to Harlequin, another American Romance tentatively entitled Under Doctor's Orders and with a release date of 2010.

This month several authors have blogged about heroes, and a few more are still slated. Be sure to watch for those.

Please check back on June 6 to find out what’s “news” with the Harlequin American Romance Authors.

Will the Real Lee McKenzie Please Stand Up?

Have you ever Googled yourself? Typed your name, in quotation marks, and clicked the search button? If you have, you'll know that all sorts of interesting things might turn up, including other people who have the same name.

Google has an “alert” function that makes this process even easier. Most authors set up a Google Alert for their names, book titles, etc., and receive an email notice every time they’re mentioned on the Internet. Very useful for keeping track of things like reviews, mentions on other blogs, and so on.

It came as no surprise to me that I am not the only Lee McKenzie on the planet—both my first and last names are very common—but I will confess to being a little surprised that a number of us are women who are involved in arts and entertainment.

C. Lee McKenzie, another author, writes YA and children’s fiction. Her debut novel, Sliding on the Edge, was released last month. I haven't read her book yet, but I plan to. How could I not read a novel by another Lee McKenzie? Check out the cover on her website. The title and imagery are intriguing.




Lee Mackenzie (slightly different spelling) is an artist who lives on Canada’s west coast. Be sure to check out the Gallery on her website—her watercolors are absolutely gorgeous.


Then there is Lee McKenzie, the British sports reporter. She describes herself as “a journalist who has moved off the pages and on to the television.” Right now she covers Formula One racing for the BBC, and she also runs a media training and PR company.

I recently received a Google alert that led me to this comment on another sports journalist’s blog: “The only thing I want to know is this...is Lee McKenzie married? And do I stand any chance whatsoever? What a woman...I could spend 2 hours just looking at that face.”

LOL! I didn’t spend a single second wondering if I was the object of that viewer’s affection, and here’s why. This is me. Lee McKenzie, Harlequin American Romance author.

I have never met these other Lees, but I’m in awe of their talent and honored to share the name with them, so I’m inviting all the other Lee McKenzies to please stand up and take a bow. What wonderful company to be in!

And now back to my opening question. Have you ever Googled yourself? What did you find out?

Until next time,
Lee

PS: Today I’m doing a giveaway on my blog, The Writer Side of Life. If you post a comment here and/or there, your name goes into the draw!

Writing Advice

Once a month Harlequin American authors will post a snippet of writing advice. Many of our blog readers are aspiring writers and since all of us authors have experienced the ups and downs along the road to publication we thought we'd share what has helped us in our quest to be the best writers we can be. We hope you'll find these "snippets" helpful and we encourage you to share any "tips" you have with us.

Thanks to Laura Braford...here's May's writing tip-o-the-month!

While sitting with a writing buddy at lunch one day, I found myself making excuses for why I hadn’t written as much as I’d hoped since our previous get together (work, kids, housecleaning, laundry, etc.). She looked at me and said, “thirty minutes. That’s all.”

We batted her idea around for a few minutes and came up with a thirty minutes/thirty days writing plan. We figured that we could always find thirty minutes in any given day. And if that’s all we got…it was better than nothing.

We tried it, and it worked! Sure, there are some days thirty minutes is all I get. But more often than not those thirty minutes have a way of stretching into an hour, two hours, and sometimes even longer.

Of all the tips I’ve tried over the years, this has been—by far—the best thing I’ve done for my writing.

Laura Bradford
www.laurabradford.com

How Much is Too Much?

First, let me wish you a very good weekend as we creep toward Memorial Day here in the states. I say "creep" because my assistant at my office is out with her seriously ill husband, and we're all thinking of her family as we try to fill in her duties. I haven't written a bit in two weeks, at least. At night I remember how tired I used to be after working full time, writing and taking care of the family. (I've been working part-time and writing part-time for years, and quite frankly, I'm spoiled.) I'm faced with the reality that I'm not as young as I used to be! Energy really does go down as we get older. I've been trying to stay awake in my favorite chair every evening as I watch a few shows! (Favorites include Castle, Medium, Survivor, Dancing With the Stars and Amazing Race.)

As I think about writing and one of my favorite reality shows, Dancing With the Stars, I'm reminded that our heroes are a bit of reality and maybe a little more fantasy. I'm thinking of Ty, the champion cowboy (bull rider, I believe) who competed on the show. He was a pretty awkward dancer at first, and turned into a fairly talented entertainer near the end. He never lost his "aw shucks" mannerisms and down-to-earth appeal during the interviews. He also showed great determination, all of those being heroic traits. However, if we were writing him as a hero in one of our books, we might make him look a little bit more like Gilles, the tall, dark and handsome movie star. The reality is that bull riders are usually lean, strong, and not so tall.

I know that the traits that make our heroes appealing are based more in their backstories, personalities and values than in their looks. Mixing all of those together in an attractive package is rather difficult, at times. Sometimes I struggle with getting compassion and strength balanced. Sometimes I lose perspective and can't tell if the hero is believable or not. When this happens, I thank heavens for my critique partners, who will tell me if I've missed the mark.

My questions are: How important is reality when you are reading a novel? Is believability the most important element to you? How hard is it to suspend disbelief, and is there one type of hero that is more difficult for you to like (or fall in love with?)

Again, have a great and hopefully long weekend. Maybe we'll all get to sit a while in our favorite chair, perhaps even with a good book!

I'm Late!

Sorry to post this blog late.

This month is life in the fast lane for the Dunaway household. In fact, I just remembered it was the 20th, that was after fixing the garbage disposal. Real women have their own sets of allen wrenches, drills, augers and all sorts of tools.

I've got weeding piled up and tons of laundry--mainly my teenager's who was recently diagnosed as being allergic to cats. We have 6. The doctor has her on Nasonex as she's not about to give up her pets, or the cat that sleeps with her. But she did give up her comforter set for a quilt that we can wash weekly, and we're working on getting her mattress cover on.

Work is crazy too. Not only am I at school every Friday night as part of my teaching job--for the yearbook must go out--but I just finished revisions on my February 2009 book this past weekend. Then today I learned that I sold another book, so that will mean getting right back to work.

I am finished teaching on June 1 with a June 2 teacher day, and then I have one more day June 10. I go back to school on July 28 to distribute yearbooks, which is really the first day back for me as kids are back in school August 12 to begin classes. So I really don't have much of a summer, and I'll spend it working on that book for American and two pet projects. Wow.

So life is crazy. Hopefully on my next post I'll be calm, collected, and contained. Until then, have a great memorial day weekend.

Michele

The Rescuers

No, not those cute little mice from Disney, although The Rescuers is one of my favorite “kid” movies. I have a thing for a hero who steps up and makes something a little easier for the heroine, especially when he’d rather do anything but that. Or maybe I should say a hero who tries to make something easier, because more often than not, it backfires.

It took me several books—some still under the bed collecting dust—to realize that I have a penchant for the kind of men who go beyond what’s expected. I’ve never figured out why. Maybe it’s the shining-knight-on-a-white-horse image or maybe I’ve secretly just wanted to be rescued—from the dishes, a bad day, a rain puddle (Sir Walter Raleigh to the rescue!), or myself.

In The Rodeo Rider, the hero offers to help the heroine overcome her fear of horses. She isn’t all crazy about the idea, but that doesn't sway him. He's going to help! His first attempt (of course!) backfires, frightening the heroine, who secretly longs to ride. But a good hero never gives up. He simply finds a better way to do it, sometimes by taking the heroine by surprise.

A hero who goes out of his way to do a good turn for the heroine always gets a little piece of my heart, especially if he had no intentions of helping, but did it anyway. It portrays a chivalry that we assume has been lost, although I believe it’s still there and always will be. At least in my heroes. :)

(By the way, Sir Walter never did spread his cloak on the puddle for the Queen. It’s pure fiction.)

Roxann Delaney
The Rodeo Rider - August 2009
Bachelor Cowboy - January 2010
www.RoxannDelaney.com

Heroes--The Nerdy Kind

What's not to like about a Nerd Hero?

When I think of a Romantic Nerd I think of a man who wears Clark Kent glasses, a pocket protector, has keen, intelligent eyes. A man who looks a lady in the eye when she speaks and actually listens to what she says. A Nerd is a man who's constantly thinking--even in a crisis he'll stop and think before reacting. These intelligent guys treat the loves of their life with care and will risk embarrassment to win her trust and affection. If a woman can catch a Nerd's attention long enough to pull them away from their current obsession she'll discover that when a Nerd focuses on her, all that High IQ and depth of feeling is hers for the taking. And Nerds excell in the bedroom because they approach making love like a science experiment--they don’t quit until they get it right!

In Book 3 of my Cartwright Siblings series, Samantha's Cowboy (Aug 2009), my heroine falls for a Nerd. He's even got a Nerdy name--Wade. I had a lot of fun creating Wade. Like a true Nerd he's not absorbed with his own looks and could care less about Samantha's shortcomings--he loves her just the way she is. And Wade's a sexy cowboy Nerd! See the book cover here http://tiny.cc/SamanthasCowboy

But Nerds are not perfect--what hero is? Nerds tend to believe they have the right answer to every problem. They don't like to admit they've made a mistake and when they do, they want to fix the blunder before anyone finds out they're only human--and that causes bigger problems. However, the word Defeat is not in the Nerd dictionary.

Anyone care to fess up and admit they've fallen for a Nerd before or maybe you married one!

Marin Thomas
A Cowboy's Promise (June 2009)
Samantha's Cowboy (August 2009)
A Cowboy Christmas (December 2009)
http://www.marinthomas.com/

WHAT IS IT ABOUT AN ALPHA MALE?

This is my very first time to blog with the Harlequin American Authors. I'm so thrilled to be here and to be a part of this talented group of writers.

When suggested that I attempt the topic of alpha males and why women love them, I found myself at a bit of a loss. I love them. I’m told by my critique partners that my heroes are 100% alpha. But I discovered that even though I’m a writer, I have a difficult time putting into words what makes a guy alpha. So I did what any intelligent 21st century person does; Googled Alpha Male.
In searching site after site, there were obvious recurring themes.
Alpha dog - Leader of the pack - The alpha dog is the dog to which other members of the pack are submissive. Alpha dog is often used in both domesticated breeds of dogs and in wild wolf societies to express the leadership characteristics of the dog to which all other dogs defer. The dominant male—ie the one with the most physical prowess and strength—wins the right to breed with the females in the pack. This primal instinct ensures that the species will continue. Read this last sentence very carefully. Talk about goal and motivation.
Alpha dogs exude confidence, maintaining control through body position, facial expression, and the occasional nip or snarl at beta members of the pack. I laughed out loud at this last comment, realizing that my heroes do on occasion snarl at other males. Whodathunkit?
The human alpha male is a natural leader. He responds aggressively to attempts by others to overthrow or outshine him. My alpha heroes may achieve dominance by more subtle means than say a physical fight, but if challenged, they aren’t afraid to fight for their position of power.
In some social settings, alpha males may be judged not so much by aggression, but by their ability to attract the most beautiful women as mates. To this end the alpha male is often taller than average, has a muscular build, and handsome features. In today’s society, he often also possesses a high socioeconomic status.
In high school settings, generally the alpha male leads the pack. He’s typically muscle-bound, sometimes the “jock,” while beta males tend to be less assured around females and may participate in less “male” activities. I dated a few of both types and enjoyed the nuances of each. But in keeping with the statistics, found the alphas more intriguing. My father was an alpha. I’ve been married to an alpha over 30 years.
This one last comment pretty much sums up my feelings about Alphas. “Alpha roles should be defined in humans as leaders that promote communal succession (thrive, grow and prosper) that harmonize environmentally with our ecology.” This goes right along with the Alpha dog analogy. Alpha’s are not only physically strong enough to survive, but also posses superior intelligence in order to keep the rest of their pack safe and ensure that they survive and prosper. Now who would have ever thought of an Alpha as a nurturer? Tough yes, a macho approach, sure, but a nurturer/caretaker just the same.

I'm a Book Junkie!

Yep, I’ll admit it – I love books, always have and always will. This love affair started about the time I learned about Dick and Jane running around with Spot and Puff. It progressed from there to reading every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on. Then I segued to the Little House on the Prairie stories. Imagine my astonishment – and remember I grew up in South Texas and had never seen a snowflake until I went to college – that it was possible to get stranded by a blizzard. Who’d a thunk it?

Books open new horizons, they’re a cheap vacation, sometimes they’re a respite from reality and they can be a great upper for the psyche. In high school I was a library assistant, and it probably isn’t much of a stretch to say I read the entire fiction section – mysteries, thrillers, romance and literary – you name it and I devoured it. I read Gone with the Wind three times by the time I was fifteen. Personally, I wanted to smack Scarlett up side the head. I mean really, she preferred that wussy Ashley over macho Rhett. What a dolt!

One of my all-time favorite books – it’s old but not quite as antique as GWTW – is Leon Uris’s Exodus. It’s an epic portrayal of post WWII Europe and the creation of modern Israel. And in that vein I’m also a great fan of Ken Follett, especially Lie Down With Lions. Good old Ken is a romance writer at heart, not that he’d ever admit it. Set in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, this book is a spy thriller intertwined with a fairly hot romance.

Fast forward to present day. I own every one of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. I particularly like Grandma Mazer, and Joe Morelli – whew, is it getting hot in here?

There are quite a few RWA authors that I buy without even reading the back cover, and they span the spectrum from funny, to sweet to thrillers. In the mystery realm I’ve discovered a new author named Andrew Gross. He co-wrote with James Patterson but has gone off on his own. He has that Hitchcock twist down pat. And the newest addition to my “keep” pile is Sara Addison Allen’s Garden Spells. What a feel good book!

So whether you’re planning to sit on a beach or chill out in a hammock, grab a good book and enjoy.

BTW, what are some of your favorites?

Ann DeFee
The Man She Married, HAR, Feb. 2009
Top Gun Dad, HAR, Oct. 2009

Joining the digital revolution

I have recently discovered Facebook. I’ve been on it since 2006, when my daughter made me a page. But I never did anything with said page. That changed this week, when I finally got my yahoo email working again and my Facebook password changed. Suddenly, I was online.

Then I had decisions to make. Exactly what type of a page did I want? As writers, we put ourselves out there all the time, such as through our websites and blogging. I have followers on twitter that I don’t know; people who read about what I’m doing that day. I read over 150 emails a day in regards to my job and writing. So I decided to keep my Facebook page invite only and my profile private.

I figured it just made sense. When I looked at who had friend requests waiting for me, I discovered it was friends and former students and a few writer buddies. Then I looked at to whom I was sending friend invites. This could be my window to all those people whom I never seem to get a chance to talk as much as I’d like because life is so busy. I’m either teaching, writing or being a mom. While I love picking up the phone and hearing someone’s voice, there aren’t very many extra minutes in the day, and my friends are equally as busy. Now I can read my wall.

I’ve already reconnected with my best friends from high school who I get to see every so often and who send me all those fun emails. I miss them, and dedicated my March book to them. I’ve found former students. I haven’t befriended my prom date or ex boyfriends since that seems creepy, although my daughter tells me it’s quite common. As to making another Facebook page for my books and fans—that’s something to think about for another day.
So I’m in the modern world, but keeping it close. If you want to follow me, catch me on www.twitter.com/micheledunaway. Or keep reading my posts right here on this blog twice a month or visit me on the forums at eharlequin. That’s me out there. Facebook’s me “in there”, my tiny window into what once was my world, and I’m liking it.

Household Cleaning Tip

I know very few women who enjoy housework. We all love the smell of a clean house and the look of a clean house--but the actual cleaning…ugh! Some of us may be fortunate to have a cleaning lady or service spruce up our homes but for those who don't--like Moi--each month we'll post a household cleaning tip from one of our American Romance authors. We hope you'll find these bits of advice helpful. And we encourage you to share your cleaning secrets and shortcuts with the rest of us!


Household Cleaning Tip from Trish Milburn

1. Break tasks down into 15-minute segments, and set a kitchen timer to keep track. This helps keep housecleaning from seeming overwhelming, and if you're a writer it gets you up from your computer for those 15 minutes every hour. The housework gets done, and you get a physical and mental break from your work.

2. Save painting interiors for a pleasant day when you can open the windows. This keeps the fumes from bothering you as you paint and lets them escape the indoors so you don't have to sleep with that paint smell.


Trish
Heartbreak River (as Tricia Mills), Razorbill (4/09)
Her Very Own Family, Harlequin American (5/09)
http://www.trishmilburn.com/