DeAnna Cameron's Blog, page 22

BACKSTORY: The story behind BLACK MAGIC, by Cherry Adair

Bestselling author Cherry Adair moved from South Africa to the United States as a young adult to cultivate a career as an interior designer, but it is her talent for action-packed storytelling that has made her, as Romantic Times has said, "one of the reigning queens of romantic adventure."

In May 1994, Adair introduced readers to her fictional anti-terrorist group T-FLAC with her debut novel, THE MERCENARY, originally published in the Harlequin Temptations line and re-released in 2008 by HQN ...

Anniversary Giveaway

Can you believe it's been a year since The Belly Dancer hit bookstore shelves? Me, neither! But what an amazing year it has been!

To celebrate the big day, I'm giving away the "Bellydance Superstars Solos from Monte Carlo," which is one of my favorite performance videos. It features some terrifically talented dancers, including Rachel Brice, Jillina, and Sonia (posing on the cover), as well as Adore, Bozenka, Amar Gamal, Petite Jamilla, Sharon Kihara and Saida. Of course there are great music...

Heading to Morocco, virtually...

I just discovered this amazing blog: The House in Marrakesh

The photos are so beautiful, and I'm finding myself returning again and again. If you're like me and don't have any exotic travels on the horizon, they might satisfy your travel bug, too.

And the June Contest winner is...

Thank you to the 200-plus people who entered the contest for the new, jingly yellow hip scarf. As always, the winner was selected by my highly official and incorruptable assistant. It was tricky this time -- Sesame Street was on and she just can't get enough of Elmo.









And the winner is:



Dana Packer




(Yay!!!)






Congratulations, Dana! I'll be sending you an email message in the next couple of minutes to get your mailing address.
To everyone else, thank you for playing! I'll be posting a new contest...

Writing and Cooking (and Eating!)

I love to write, obviously. But I also love to cook, and today over at a wonderful website featuring book-inspired recipes called Chef Amore, you can find my recipe for a braised chicken dish that I think captures the spirit of "The Belly Dancer."

If you'd like to make it a feast, I've also included recipes for Persian-style rice, roasted garlic hummus and a sweet mint syrup to flavor your tea.

If you're interested, you can check it out here:

http...

Think Your Booksigning Was Bad?

Check out this video mystery author Parnell Hall created ... so funny:

BACKSTORY: The Story Behind TEMPTING A PROPER LADY, with author Debra Mullins

Since the 1999 release of her debut, ONCE A MISTRESS, award-winning historical romance author Debra Mullins has published a novel a year, every year, including DONOVAN'S BED, an RWA RITA finalist in 2000, and last year's TO RUIN A DUKE, a finalist for this year's Book Buyers Best award (the winner will be announced at the June 12 meeting).

Her latest novel, TEMPTING A PROPER LADY, arrives today and kicks off a new Victorian-set series. It's been called "humorous, spirited and charming" by RT...

Celebrating 117 years of American belly dance with a giveaway

The summer of 1893 was an important one for American belly dance. While the Egyptian belly dancers were scandalizing the crowds at the Chicago World's Fair with their shimmies and hip drops, they were also introducing a generation of women to this exciting dance form.

And it seems belly dance has never been more popular than it is today. Not only can you find festivals dedicated to its art, history and practice in most major cities, belly dance classes can now be found alongside ballet, tap an...

Maybe the best bio ever...

I recently read "Pleasure and Purpose" by Megan Hart and was browsing through Amazon for the title of the next in the series. I came across her bio on her author page, and I believe it just might be the best one ever:


I was born and then I lived a while and I did some stuff. Then I did some things and whatnot. Now, I mostly write books.

See, I told you... Awesome.
(Also, I'm a big fan of the word "whatnot" -- I believe it's sorely underused...)

BACKSTORY: The story behind THE LAST LONE WOLF, by Maureen Child

To say USA Today bestselling author Maureen Child is prolific is an understatement. Since her first, RUN WILD MY HEART, debuted in February 1992, the longtime OCC-RWA member has written more than 110 romance novels and novellas under her own name, as well as pseudonyms Ann Carberry, Kathleen Kane and Sarah Hart. Her work encompasses a variety of subgenres (contemporary, historical and paranormal), and has earned her six RITA Award nominations, the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Prism, the ...