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Friday, August 26, 2011

My Top Three Kindle Books

One never knows exactly why some books sell like hotcakes, while others don't.  I belong to Novel Rank, where I can see how well my books are selling on Amazon...and since my print books usually go out of stock a few months after release,  these are all KINDLE sales. 

Carrying the Rancher's Heir continues to do well... the first in a series of the Worth brother's stories.  My December cover for The Cowboy's Pride is gorgeous... can't wait to show to everyone!  (I got a sneak peek)

Here are my Top Three Kindle Books:

For some reason, (other than I really love this story) my 2008 Texan's Cattleman's Club continuity titled Texan's Wedding Night Wager has been extremely popular... this one has truly sold like hotcakes on KINDLE, 3 years after I wrote it. 


Smooth-Talking the Hometown Girl comes in second place with the discounted price of $.99.    It's a fun story about a small town woman happy with her life and her catering business, until Kyle Warren moves in next door temporarily and upsets her apple cart.  It's never been so hot in Christy's kitchen!


The Heart of a Cowboy is my first ever Desire and was a Romantic Times Book Reviews Top Pick.  Pretty exciting for my debut Desire!   It's still a story near and dear to my heart.  Don't you love wrong brother stories?

All these books are available on Nook too,
 but I don't have a good accounting of them, like I do on Amazon. The world of reading, writing and publishing sure is changing.  I'm resistant to change usually,
but I do love my Kindle! 




Thursday, August 25, 2011

A Love Letter from Jim Carrey to Emma Stone?

Update:
Trending on Twitter! 
Is he crushing on Emma Stone or what?   Hmmm... not sure how I feel about this, though I love Jim Carrey and think he's beyond hilarious.  Wonder if Emma Stone will send him an online love letter back?







The All-American Girl


Friday, August 19, 2011

A Romance Novel Funny... will make you smile!






 Updated Version - 2011

He grasped me firmly, but gently, just above my elbow and guided me into a room, his room.


Then he quietly shut the door and we were alone.


He approached me soundlessly, from behind, and spoke in a low, reassuring voice close to my ear.


"Just relax."


Without warning, he reached down and I felt his strong, calloused hands start at my ankles, gently probing, and moving upward along my calves, slowly but steadily. My breath caught in my throat.


I knew I should be afraid, but somehow I didn't care. His touch was so experienced, so sure. When his hands moved up onto my thighs, I gave a slight shudder, and partly closed my eyes. My pulse was pounding. I felt his knowing fingers caress my abdomen, my ribcage.


And then, as he cupped my firm, full breasts in his hands, I inhaled sharply.


Probing, searching, knowing what he wanted, he brought his hands to my shoulders, slid them down my tingling spine to my panties.


Although I knew nothing about this man, I felt oddly trusting and expectant. This is a man, I thought. A man used to taking charge. A man not used to taking 'No' for an answer. A man who would tell me what he wanted. A man who would look into my soul and say . . . ..


"Okay ma'am, you can board your flight now." !


Special thanks to wonderful  author Tanya Hanson for passing on this funny.
You can find her at
http://www.tanyahanson.net/











Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Things I Do for Love and 3 Book Giveaways!!







Stop by the Desire Eharlequin Blog to find out the Things I Do For Love! 
Giving aways lots of books too!

Come see me and we'll talk!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

TIME MANAGEMENT AND THE HARRIED WRITER

GUEST BLOGGING TODAY IS:  AUTUMN DAWN



AMAZON KINDLE



I love to cook. It’s one of my passions, and I like it even better if I can make something tasty healthy, too. Substituting Greek yogurt for part of the mayonnaise in potato salad and hiding zucchini in chocolate cake makes my day. My kids don’t see it coming and I can eat in peace, knowing there won’t be fussing at the dinner table.


Recently, this passion has been on the back burner. My books sales started taking off and I’ve spent long hours at the computer doing edits of my backlist and revamping covers. Last month my kids left for Alaska for a month to visit with relatives and I spent the whole month furiously working. I got a lot done, but the quiet house was depressing. At one point my husband was gone for ten days as well, so it sucked even worse.


Now that everyone’s home, they’re eating as only teenagers can. We have horseback riding lessons and boxing three days a week. School is starting soon and there’ll be homework to deal with, plus I have one child in WA’s inline school. It’s time to get organized so I can have time to write, too.


Some things that help include: throwing laundry in first thing in the morning and folding it together at night. My kids are old enough to do dishes and load the dishwasher, sweep and vacuum, so Saturdays are for housecleaning. I need to get back in the habit of prepping dinner first thing in the morning or loading up the crockpot. Leftovers take care of night two, so that helps. That leaves snacks and breakfast, but the kids are helpful there, able to cook eggs and pancakes.


I need to start checking my email at night and looking at the Yahoo news in the afternoon when I’m done writing. Even blog posts can be done after the creative writing if I’m disciplined, and when I’m too sick to work on something new it’s always a good time to edit. When I’m in a funk it helps to work on cover art. There’s always something to do!


It’s well worth it, though. My book, The Charmer became a bestseller on Amazon and B&N this spring, a huge accomplishment for a self-pubbed author. Part divine intervention and part hard work, it wouldn’t have happened without a lot of hours at my desk.


The Charmer: Dark Lands Book 1


Jasmine didn’t realize her friend Wiley was special until they were drawn into another world. Here Wiley is betrothed to the ruler of the Haunt, a wererace both dangerous and proud.


Keilor is the master of soldiers, a man few would cross, yet he’d never met a menace like the little brunet his princess calls friend. Will Jasmine find the portal home, or will she find a werewolf of her own?


Autumn Dawn

Learn more about my books at: autumndawnbooks.com
Check out my blog at: authorautumndawn.blogspot.com



Top Five Ways to a Man's Heart!



I'm having Tea today at Autumn Dawn's.  Would you like to join us?  We'll make room. We're talking Food that Inspires a Man and other such fun stuff.


Friday, August 05, 2011

A CALIFORNIA GIRL'S GUIDE TO THE PERFECT BEACH READ!

The ultimate way to de-stress your life, at least for a little while, is to do something you love to do. Some find exercising until their bones ache, a great endorphin release. Others will seek to destroy their partner on a tennis court. Some find a soothing path in the art of meditation. But for me, the ultimate way to relax, unwind and de-stress is to read.



I don’t know too many (if any) writers who don’t love to read. Finding TIME to read …ah, therein lies the problem. When I’m home, there are always 10 other things I should be doing other than reading. Guilt follows and often distracts me enough to make me put down the book and attend to my edits, my looming deadline, the kitchen floor that hasn’t been swept in a week, an oh yeah, thinking about cooking dinner for my dear loving hubby.


So, my way of seeking a full day of reading and leaving my cares and worries behind, is to pack up the car, put on my shades, grab my Kindle and head to the beach! (Thank you Dad, for moving the fam to California!) On any given summer day, the sun shines, the air is warm, but not hot, the sand is fine between my toes and the water exhilarating at sixty-five degrees. There’s so much I love about California.


But like every other activity, there are do and don’ts. So take heed.



Here is my Guide to the Perfect Beach Read:


THE YELLOW --Don’t even think about setting your gear down on the sand if you see a yellow school bus parked nearby. Soon fifty screaming daycare kids will bombard your territory. And you’ll get sprinkled with sand times fifty, as they race by, oblivious to your presence and need for quiet.


BYOF – Bring your own food! Pack a lunch and try to stay clear of the beach café. You don’t need the distraction of having the smell of French fries right under your nose or be in the rush of noontime sunbathers, who weren’t as smart as you by bringing their own lunch.


BRING A FRIEND – who likes to read too. You didn’t come to the beach to gossip and talk, did you? Yet, a friend will dip their toes in the water with you and watch your stuff when you go to the bathroom.


LIFEGUARD – Stay away from the lifeguard station if the man in the red trunks looks like hero-material. (And let’s face it, most of them do.) You know you’re in trouble if you remove your reading glasses and push on your designer sunglasses, titling your head ever so slightly to steal glances his way. Trust me, you’ll say it’s in the name of research as you peruse every move he makes, every smile he takes and every muscle he flexes. You might as well, kiss Chapter One good-bye.


STADIUM SEATING – is not an option. But you should bring a comfortable chair – the Cadillac of chairs, with full recline, padded back, umbrella attached and two cup-holders. Plant that chair in a remote spot, close enough to the water to get the westerly breezes, but far enough away from the rising tides. You don’t want to pack up your gear when the water starts seeping onto your blanket, right?


PROTECT YOURSELF – with gobs and gobs of sunscreen. You’re still gonna need your skin after today. This is not your day to get the ultimate tan. There are tanning salons for that!



DIG – not into the sand. We did that as kids. Dig into your beach bag. Your favorite author has a new book and you come up with your ULTIMATE reading pleasure. The gentle roar of the waves becomes your backdrop as you open the book. The hours melt away as you immerse yourself in the story.


FEEL – the hum of satisfaction and a little sadness too, when you read The End. You’re relaxed. You have been entertained. . You have escaped into another world. You’ve forgotten your own problems for a stitch in time and you feel so good, you won’t even think about the traffic you’ll face later on.


THE BEACH - is nearly deserted now. The sun is setting in a pink glow on the horizon. You close your eyes and envision the story in your mind one last time. That thrilling hum is still there, buzzing through your system.


It was a good day. You’ve achieved the Perfect Beach Read.




AVAILABLE ON KINDLE, NOOK AND SMASHWORDS

AVAILABLE ON EHARLEQUIN, AMAZON,  KINDLE, NOOK
AND OTHER ONLINE STORES




Thursday, August 04, 2011

NEW AUGUST BABY BOOK FROM MILLS AND BOON!

Who doesn't love babies, right?  And these stories, feature two adorable little bundles of joy!  This book is a two-fer pairing yours truly with the wonderful Robyn Grady! The Billionaire's Baby Arrangement was a Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine's 4 1/2 starred, TOP PICK!  

Available now from Mills and Boon!



I hope you get a chance to check it out!! 




Tuesday, August 02, 2011