#MySexySaturday: Talk sexy to me

by with No Comment ExcerptsMeg & Matt

It’s Saturday! And, for most folks, it’s the start of a long weekend.

My weekend started Friday, and I have to work Sunday. However, I plan to enjoy my Monday off. I’m also taking Wednesday off so I can road-trip to Phoenix to see Kristan Higgins. In addition to being a motivating speaker (click for her 2013 RWA keynote speech that brought me to tears), Kristan is one of my favorite writers. So when I heard she was going to be at Changing Hands Bookstore on Sept. 9, I had to figure out how to make the trip on what would usually be a work night.

Of course, Saturday means it’s time for My Sexy Saturday — and with it being a long weekend, you have more time to enjoy perusing all the snippets.

LynnSexySaturday_bannerThis week’s theme:

We know that lovers have a special language that only two of them share. The hidden looks, the longing gaze, the love shining in their eyes all accompanied by those sexy, sexy words. Sometimes, they are whispered, sometimes spoken aloud and occasionally shouted from rooftops. Authors are very good at those sexy conversations. We love sexy and it’s always so fun to share.

If you don’t mind, I’m going to share one more excerpt from BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, which is included in Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set. The 13-book collection is only 99 cents through Labor Day, and then it’ll be available at its regular price of $6.99. (That’s still a bargain for 13 stories, if you ask me…)

Back to my snippet. In this scene, Dave and a couple of his teammates are at the local bar when Meg and her friend walk in and invite themselves to play pool. After the game, Meg and Matt start chatting … er, flirting … She has just finished accusing his friend of distracting the competition, to which Matt replies that he can vouch that “Dex” has a good heart.

***

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene Hittle“Dave said something similar about you.” Meg wasn’t going to share why Dave had said it. Matt didn’t need to know she’d been checking out his butt.

Her sudden silence didn’t keep Matt from raising an eyebrow in inquiry. “Oh?”

“He said you’re a great guy.”

Matt chuckled. “He’s right, you know. I am a great guy.”

“Oh yeah? If you’re such a fantastic catch, why hasn’t some other girl reeled you in?” Immediately, she wished she hadn’t offered such a quick comeback. What was it about this guy that made her speak first and think later?

But Matt didn’t look offended; he was merely amused. “Maybe because no one has dangled the right bait.”

Meg opened her mouth to reply and then clamped it shut. She wasn’t going to ask what bait he was waiting for, because that would imply she cared. And since she wasn’t in the market for a new man—great kisser or not—she didn’t.

***

Unforgettable Heroes IIAnd if you believe the lies Meg’s telling herself, well … you don’t, do you?

BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is part of Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set, available now. For the bargain price of 99 cents, 13 national bestselling and award-winning authors deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….
Find it: AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS

 

#MySexySaturday: Sexy Has It

by with No Comment ExcerptsMeg & Matt

LynnSexySaturday_bannerOMG, guys! UNFORGETTABLE HEROES’ Release week has been a whirlwind, with lots of successes along the way. More on that in my Manic Monday post. Right now, it’s time for My Sexy Saturday.

This week’s theme: Sexy Has It.

From the My Sexy Saturday blog:

We all know sexy has it. As authors, we define ‘it’ every day and write those wonderful, sexy scenes. Sexy has sexy, sexy has love, sexy has wonderful. Sexy has the power to change world, set people free and everything in between. Sexy is just right and good and oh, so fun to share.

Since I’m still celebrating this week’s release of Unforgettable Heroes II, I’m giving you another snippet from BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, my contribution to the 13-book boxed set.

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene HittleIn this scene, Matt has rushed Meg out of the hotel lobby before she can figure out people are starting to snap his picture. (He’s still trying to keep her from finding out he plays ball for a living, and has just roped his brother, Stan, into pretending his hotel room belonged to the stylist, not him. Matt used his brother’s mad skills with a pair of shears to convince Meg to have dinner with him.) And Meg is still fighting to put her baby’s best interests first.

Happy reading!

***

Meg was breathless when Matt cursed and released his hold on her. She had no idea why he’d kissed her, or why he’d abruptly stopped and put six feet of space between them.

“What was that?”

Matt was also out of breath. She watched him take a few deep breaths before answering. “Sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“What if I want it to happen again?”

The words flew out of her mouth before she could censor them. The moment they left her lips, Meg wished she could take them back. She’d just met this guy, for God’s sake. It was too early to be confessing that she wanted him to jump her bones—especially when his brother stood just feet away. What was it about this family that made her feel so at home?

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Damn hormones were making her horny and brainless. Even if it were the truth, she had no business getting involved with Matt. Or anyone, really. The baby needed to be her number one priority.

Matt smiled at her. “But I’m glad you did.”

***

Unforgettable Heroes IIBEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is part of Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set, available now. For the bargain price of 99 cents, 13 national bestselling and award-winning authors deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….
Find it: AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS

#MySexySaturday: My Sexy Boyfriend

by with No Comment ExcerptsMeg & Matt

LynnSexySaturday_bannerWelcome to the My Sexy Saturday blog hop. Long time no see, eh?

I’ve been alternately working the day job (which takes up more energy than I’d like, even though I work 5 fewer hours a week than I did in Flagstaff), hiding out in my writing cave (halfway through a new Love & Baseball short!) and preparing for the release of Turquoise Morning Press’ UNFORGETTABLE HEROES II boxed set, of which BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is a part.

This week’s theme is “My Sexy Boyfriend,” and I’m in luck—or maybe it’s you, the readers, who are in luck. Matt, BEAUTY’s hero, is outstanding boyfriend material.

Oh sure, he’s a tad hesitant to commit—and once he does, he battles an overbearing streak. Even with his flaws, he’s an improvement over Meg’s ex-boyfriend. (That one dumped her to join the professional poker circuit, before he had any idea she was pregnant. He wrote a terse goodbye note on the back of the receipt for her birth control prescription.)

Here’s an excerpt that showcases the difference between Matt and the ex. Enjoy!

***

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene Hittle“Meg wouldn’t have sent someone looking for me if everything was fine.”

Matt didn’t bother to hide his astonishment that Tim could speak more than two words at once. “She didn’t send me.”

“Then why are you here?”

Whoa. Five whole words this time. He’d have to work harder than that to break his last-sentence record of twelve. Matt took another moment to debate with himself before answering. “I thought you deserved to know.”

“Know what?”

The guy had a right to know he was about to be a father, no matter how despicable—or illiterate—he might be. Matt took a deep breath. “Meg’s pregnant.”

Tim dipped his head so the hat again hid his eyes, but Matt caught a glimmer of something he didn’t like before the shade fell. “Not mine.”

Unforgettable Heroes IIBEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is available on its own for $2.99, but it’s also part of Turquoise Morning Press’ new Unforgettable Heroes II boxed set, which is available for preorder now and releases Aug. 25. For the bargain price of 99 cents,  13 national bestselling and award-winning authors deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….

Find it: AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS

Coming Aug. 25: Unforgettable Heroes II

by with No Comment FeatureMeg & Matt

Turquoise Morning Press’ Unforgettable Heroes II boxed set will be available soon, and I’m excited to be a part of it. BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER is among the 13 fantastic books you’ll get for the super-low introductory price of 99 cents (through August).

After Sept. 1, the price shoots up to $6.99. If you ask me, that’s still a bargain for 13 hunky heroes you won’t want to forget—but everyone loves a sale, so preorder your copy now.

Here are all the details:

Pre-order Date – Available Now!

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Unforgettable Heroes II 

ISBN: 978-1-62237-423-6

Heat Level: This 13 book set contains stories from sweet to erotic romance

Price Promotion: $0.99 for pre-order period through release week

Retail Price: $6.99 after September 1

Media > Books > Fiction > Romance Novels

Keywords & Themes: romance, heroes, Alpha, contemporary, historical, comedy, cowboys, suspense, paranormal, sweet romance, erotic romance, beach, older couple, ninja, warrior
AMAZON | IBOOKS | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS

 

13 NATIONAL BESTSELLING AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS deliver romance fiction featuring incredible, unforgettable romance heroes. This set runs the gamut from contemporary to historical romance, sweet romance to erotic, suspense to paranormal, and includes baseball players, cowboys, Celtic warriors, and more….

UP CLOSE – ELIZABETH BEVARLY is the New York Times bestselling, RITA Award-nominated author of more than seventy novels and novellas. Up Close is the perfect beach read, blending adventure and intrigue with romance and sensuality, peppered with the author’s signature humor.

PARKER: THE MONTANA MCKENNAS, (Book 4) – MADDIE JAMES is an International bestselling author of more than thirty romance novels and novellas. Parker, is her latest release in the Montana McKennas western romance series.

SPRING CHICKENS – MARGARET ETHRIDGE is a National bestselling author, contemporary romance fan favorite, and TMP top-selling author. Her second chance at love story, Spring Chickens, is a romance that defies the ageists!

CRESCENT MOON – JANET EAVES is a National bestselling author of the Ladies of Legend series of books. Crescent Moon, a Legend After Dark novella, takes the townsfolk of quiet Legend, TN on a bit of a different spin. It’s still Legend, only darker.

RESCUED BY THE CELTIC WARRIOR – AMY JARECKI is a National bestselling author of more than ten Scottish historical romance novels. Rescued by the Celtic Warrior is a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

SCENT OF A SHADOW – JENNIFER JOHNSON is a National bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Scent of a Shadow, features a man making his living by hiding in the shadows, and a divorced mother of three, who finds him.

THE GULL MOTEL – AMIE DENMAN is an EPIC Award and Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence finalist for her books. The Gull Motel, a beach read about a young woman who takes over a small Florida motel and falls for the man next door, earned a 4-star review from RT Bookreviews.

NICK OF TIME – BOBBYE TERRY is a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist in Mystery/Suspense, and a National bestselling author. Nick of Time is a Climax, Virginia novel of suspense, intrigue and romance.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – JC WARDON is the author of the thirteen-book Mystic Waters series, called a “series to watch” by her publisher. Diamond in the Rough, is book 6 of the Cavanaugh Family series.

BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER – ARLENE HITTLE is the author of seven contemporary romance novels and novellas. Beauty and the Ballplayer is a 2011 Golden Heart finalist and winner of the First Coast RWA unpublished Beacon.

RIVETING HIS ATTENTION – MAY WILLIAMS is the author of historical romance, Riveting His Attention, which has been called “fun and flirty” and “adorable” by her fans. May writes both contemporary and historical romance.

CORPORATE COWBOY – BELLA MASTERS is the erotic romance pen name of International bestselling author Maddie James. Corporate Cowboy, an All Romance Ebooks bestseller, received a favorable 4 Star Review from RT Bookreviews.

RUNNING NOWHERE – LISA TAPP is the author of Maggie Award Finalist, Finding Beth, the first title in her Young Adult Ro Davis Series. Her book Running Nowhere, part of the contemporary romantic suspense Maystown Series, was the Romantic Suspense winner of the Hot Prospect Contest and was named a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense.

Website: http://www.turquoisemorningpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurquoiseMorningPress

Twitter: https://twitter.com/turquoisemorn

The cellphone is insidious

by with No Comment aboutDave & MelindaGreg & JennMeg & Matt

Cellphone is one word now—at least according to the Associated Press. And since AP style is drilled into my head at the day job, one word it shall stay, even if it drives me up the wall.

The AP also recently changed style on under way. After two decades of swearing “under way” was two words in all uses except nautical ones—as in underway flotilla, whatever that is—it’s cropping up in stories as “underway”—and … you guessed it … making me crazy.

Enough about AP style—or lack thereof. I wanted to talk about cellphones for a moment. Coconino County, where I live, recently passed a ban on most cellphone use while driving. (Hands-free devices are an exception.)

What’s that you say? A great idea?

There was a time I’d have agreed with you. I remember when I got my first cellphone, circa Y2K. I swore I would NEVER talk and drive. I’d pull off the road to answer and/or make a call.

For a while, that’s what I did. But as time passed, the phone’s newness wore off and I developed new habits.

I found myself answering the ringing phone on the road. Then I started actually making calls from a moving vehicle. A few months ago, I caught myself checking the screen when I heard it beep with a text message. (I didn’t answer it, just quickly read the preview on my lock screen—but even that made the Boyfriend yell. Like he never uses his phone while driving …)

Even worse, when I’m sitting at a stoplight, out comes the phone so I can scroll through tweets or Facebook posts … or take a quick peek at how well my latest release is doing on Amazon.

Hey now—I never said they were good habits.

They are, however, habits I’ll have to curb—and fast. The county’s ban takes effect in a few short weeks. Maybe I’ll start keeping my purse in the back seat instead of the passenger seat. I’m just afraid that when it starts ringing, it’ll drive me nuts.

Email with DIVA and BEAUTYSpeaking of Amazon, I woke up this morning (well before my alarm) to an email advertising not one but two of my books. Beauty is No. 1 on the list; Diva is No. 4.

I love it when Amazon advertises my own books to me. Hopefully it’s an indication they’re being pushed on other folks, too.

That’s what I’m assuming, anyway, despite the well-known dangers about what happens when you assume.

SLIDING INTO HOME is getting its fair share of attention, too. Earlier this week, it received not one but two reviews on Amazon. One was a four-star, one was a five-star.

The highlights:

While reading this book I felt happy, I laughed out loud. One of my favorite quotes is “ So help me, if you apologize for kissing me, I will stab you with the scissors that came with my new desk set.” “ I wouldn’t dream of it.” …
This is my first book by Arlene Hittle and it definitely will not be my last. It’s a very fast paced story, I couldn’t put it down. I read this book in less than one day! Arlene is a very talented author!!

— from a 5-star review by Bre

I really liked this book. It was funny and romantic and sexy. Greg struggles with all these emotions about his relationship with his father. He feels like he is always in his father’s shadow and can’t find a way to get out from underneath it. Jenn is sweet and really like Greg. She wants to find a way to help him. They have great chemistry. The book was very well written and the characters were engaging. I will defiantly be reading the other books in this series.

— from a 4-star review by badkat17us

Now when I pull up SLIDING’s Amazon page, DIVA and BEAUTY pop up as “also-buys.” Not too shabby, I’d say.

Screen Shot 2014-04-25 at 11.14.58 AM

Your turn: Do you have any bad cellphone habits? How do you break yourself of them? 

 

 

 

Guest posting at JCR today

by with No Comment Guest PostsMeg & Matt

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene HittleIt’s a lot like life …

And if that doesn’t set you to humming Depeche Mode’s “Master and Servant” … you’re not as big a fan of that group as I am.

My parents didn’t have cable until I went to college (and even then no MTV), so I didn’t get to watch a lot of music videos. Imagine my surprise when I caught the “Master and Servant” video, years later. I had no idea they were talking about the corporate world.

Yeah, right. We know what that song was really about.

Anyway, that’s all just a tangent. It’s how my brain works (or doesn’t). I’m popping in today to share my guest post over at Just Contemporary Romance. I’m waxing poetic about baseball as a metaphor for life.

OK, I’m mostly quoting other folks who’ve waxed poetic about baseball as life. But I only picked out the quotes I agree with.

Get the scoop.

My Sexy Saturday: Beauty’s release

by with 5 Comments ExcerptsMeg & Matt

LynnSexySaturday_buttonIsn’t “Beauty’s Release” the title of an Anne Rice book? Haven’t read it, but I was in high school when I first heard of it. I remember being intrigued by the mere idea of her Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, written under the pen name A.N. Roquelaure. I’d just read—and fallen in love with—THE VAMPIRE LESTAT, and wanted to read all the Anne Rice books I could get my hands on.

You can imagine that, in small-town Indiana in the late 1980s, the Beauty trilogy wasn’t readily available on the library shelf. I wonder if they have it even now …

Ahem. File that under “jaunt down memory lane.” Funny how the strangest things send you down that road, eh? When I typed in my blog post title, I was off.

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene HittleWelcome to the My Sexy Saturday in which I get to celebrate the release of BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER. BEAUTY, which went live Thursday, has been many things to me — my first manuscript set somewhere outside the Midwest (in Flagstaff, Ariz), the first one with a baseball player hero, the first (and only) one to final in the Golden Heart (and win the FCRW Beacon).

Yet it’s the second book in my All Is Fair in Love & Baseball series. How’d that happen?

Not only was BEAUTY the second book I sold to Turquoise Morning Press, it fell second in my Arizona Condors timeline. Dave and Mel had already bumped into one another and reconciled by the time Matt meets Meg. In fact, Dave’s experience, which Matt went through alongside him, plays a role in Matt’s reasons for doing some of the things he does to piss Meg off. (DIVA IN THE DUGOUT came out of Matt’s explanation to Meg.)

You know the My Sexy Saturday drill by now, right?

Post 7 paragraphs or 7 sentences or 7 words ONLY. The choice is yours. It can be from a WIP or something you already have published. Your post should be live by 9 am US Pacific Time on Saturday. Put those lucky 7s to work for you!

This scene, from the early chapters, finds Matt kicked out of his hotel room while his brother, super-stylist Stan, cuts Meg’s hard-to-manage hair. Roping his brother into cutting her hair was Matt’s “in” to see her again. While he kills time in the lobby, one of his teammates tries to pick up the hotel restaurant’s hostess. The kid enlists Matt’s help, and Matt realizes she’s a baseball groupie just as Meg and his brother get to the lobby. But Meg doesn’t know he’s a ballplayer, and that’s the way he likes it … so he has to get her out the door before the hostess exposes his identity.

****

Matt pushed the door open and dragged her through it just as flashes started going off behind them.

Desperate that she not turn around to try to see what—or rather who—someone was attempting to photograph, he wrapped an arm around her waist and bent his head to kiss her.

Her lips were soft. Extremely soft. Beyond that, she tasted like something he couldn’t put his finger on. Slightly salty, but comforting.

As he maneuvered her away from the doors and into the darkness, he deepened the kiss. She responded in kind, and he forgot where he was. Forgot everything except kissing this woman who didn’t want him only for his talent.

Oh, she wanted him all right, but not because he could play baseball. That couldn’t be why; she had no clue.

Spurred by the thought, Matt pushed Meg against the wall. He was about to hike her leg up over his hip to draw her closer when his brother’s voice whispered in his ear.

“Matty, you don’t want people to see you out here like this, do you?”

Beauty and the Ballplayer, available now from Turquoise Morning Press and other e-tailers.

 

The wait is over: Get Beauty and the Ballplayer now

by with No Comment Meg & Matt

Screen Shot 2014-03-20 at 11.44.39 AMWhen BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER finaled in the RWA® Golden Heart contest in 2011, I was floating way beyond Cloud Nine.

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene HittleNow, my manuscript is a full-fledged book, released today by Turquoise Morning Press, and I find myself back on Cloud Nineteen … maybe even Cloud Twenty-Nine. Y’all already know numbers are not my strong suit. (That’s why I chose to work with words for a living instead of earning the big bucks as an engineer.)

The short blurb: After finding herself alone and pregnant at the advanced age of thirty-two, Meg Malone plans to avoid men — until Condors catcher Matt Thatcher throws her plan a curve.

You can find BEAUTY at the Turquoise Morning Press bookstore, as well as at Amazon, Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks.

If your favorite e-tailer isn’t on the list yet, check back. It should be available at IBooks, B&N, Kobo, Diesle, library and subscription channels within the next week or two.

My Sexy Saturday: Meet Meg & Matt

by with 3 Comments ExcerptsMeg & Matt

LynnSexySaturday_buttonHi, all. It’s been a while since I’ve jumped in with a My Sexy Saturday post. But with BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER set to release in mid-March and SLIDING INTO HOME in mid-April , it’s high time I get back in the habit.

Blog hops like this are a fun way to share info about a new release, don’t you think?

A quick refresher on the rules:

Post 7 paragraphs or 7 sentences or 7 words ONLY. The choice is yours. It can be from a WIP or something you already have published. Your post should be live by 9 am US Pacific Time on Saturday. Put those lucky 7s to work for you!

Beauty and the Ballplayer | Arlene HittleBEAUTY is my newest release, but it’s far from a new story. It’s the manuscript secured me my first (and only) RWA Golden Heart finalist title, way back in 2011. (Wow 2011 seems like forever ago …) It’s the second book in my Love & Baseball series, and the only one set in my adopted hometown of Flagstaff. The Arizona Condors are in Flagstaff for spring training. Matt, the team’s catcher, is feeling every one of his 28 years now that the manager has added a rookie catcher to the roster.

Here are seven paragraphs from the opening scene, in which Meg, who just that morning discovered she’s pregnant, and Matt meet in a bar. What’s a pregnant woman doing in a bar, you ask? Drinking 7-UP and commiserating with her coworkers, all of them glad they’re still employed after a fresh round of layoffs at the ad agency where she works.

Hard to say which of them is having a worse day, eh?

***

After enduring his appraisal, Meg had no qualms about completing one of her own. She slid her gaze from the tuft of thick, chestnut hair poking through the back of his burgundy-and-white cap downward, over his golden-brown eyes, straight nose and smiling mouth. She took in his toned arms, broad chest, tree-trunk thighs and—oh my.

Perhaps he had good reason for his arrogance. She jerked her eyes back to his face. After they’d mentally stripped each other, it didn’t feel right to not know the man’s name. She extended her hand. “I’m Meg.”

He eyed her outstretched hand and his lips lifted again. She grinned back as she rescinded her offer. He was right. They already knew each other too well for a mere handshake.

Awareness jolted through Meg when he rested a hand on her knee. “Matt.”

“Well, Matt, I’d like to say it’s nice to meet you, but I can’t say that to the guy who took my table.” She shifted ever so slightly, hoping to break the strange hold he had over her.

Matt chuckled. “Would it help if I told you I’ve had one hell of a day?”

BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, coming from Turquoise Morning Press in March 2014.

Hop on over …

by with One Comment Dave & MelindaMeg & MattMusings

Last week, I shared the details of my writing process.

This week, if you hop on over to Susie Haught’s place, she’ll tell you about hers. It’s hard to believe we’ve only known each other for three years. She really is one of my biggest supporters, always ready with words of encouragement and willing to read for me.

I’ll be giving away some of Susie’s bookmarks at the Chocolate Affaire in Glendale, Ariz., next weekend. Did I mention I’m signing copies of DIVA IN THE DUGOUT Saturday? It’s my first book signing. If you live in the Valley, be sure to stop by and say “Hi.” I’ll be there from 2 to 10 p.m.

I ordered 15 print copies of DIVA, and would love to sell out so I have to order more for my next signing at Desert Dreams in April.

The book is gorgeous — trade paperback size, 198 pages.

2014-01-24 18.35.12When the box arrived on a Friday night, I took a dinner break from work just so I could run home and see it. (Give me a break — it was my first time seeing the print version. When I ordered copies for the RITA, I had them shipped directly to RWA HQ.)

It looks amazing!

When I go to the Chocolate Affaire, I’ll also be bringing a sign-up sheet for my newsletter, and some bookmarks for BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER. Its mid-March release date is getting closer. Only about six more weeks and BEAUTY will join DIVA on virtual shelves.

In fact, this happened last week:

2014-01-27 12.57.05I got the galley for BEAUTY AND THE BALLPLAYER, and spent several days combing through it — twice.

I’m a little scared that I missed something. Susie had a chance to read the galley of DIVA for me. Between us, we found quite a few things to change. This time, I went it alone.

Fingers crossed that I had my editor’s hat pulled low over my ears, firmly affixed to my blonde head. (You know, I think I saw a few strands of gray in there the other day … I’m so not ready for that.)

As I worked, I started making a list of some of my favorite lines. Not sure where or how they’ll pop up, but rest assured you’ll be seeing them somewhere.