Vivian Arend's Blog, page 62

RwA PaRtY TiMe- Paranormal PJ party

Ready for a Paranormal Powerblast? Five winners, their choice of one of the following of my paranormal books in EBOOK. One more winner will get their choice of print BREAKING WAVES or STORM SWEPT.

 

TO WIN:

Comment today about  what kind of shifter you’d like to be if you -can’t- be a wolf or a cat.

RwA PaRtY TiMe-Turn up the heat!

Turn It Up

S he wants it. He’s got it…and a whole lot more.

Maxwell Turner considers his stubborn and resourceful attitude a plus. After all, it usually gets him what he wants—except for Natasha Bellingham. The long-time family friend may be ten years older than he, but so what? He’s plenty old enough to know they belong together. Now all he has to do is convince her.

Over the past few years Natasha’s love life has degenerated into a series of bad clichés. Her biological clock is ticking—loudly. As a proven architect with her own house-design company, she’s financially ready for a baby. Who says she needs a permanent man in her life for that? She just needs a “donation”.

When Max discovers Natasha’s future plans include artificial insemination, he’s outraged. She wants to get pregnant? No problem. He’s more than willing to volunteer—no turkey basters involved.

But there’s one non-negotiable clause: He wants forever. And he intends to do everything in his power—fair and unfair—to make it happen.

Warning: This title contains one younger man ready, aimed and hell bent on giving one woman everything she wants. Includes interludes against the wall, in a Jacuzzi, on a car hood and even—shockingly enough—on a bed or two. Oh, and about that porch swing? Yup…

~~**~~

I’ve got a copy of  TURN IT UP in ebook for one reader, plus a second winner will get a PRINT copy of TURN IT ON.

To be entered to win:

Answer the question: what makes a hero sexy to you?

RwA PaRtY TiMe-Sexy Shifter Series

Wolf Signs

Granite Lake Wolves, Book 1

Talk about getting your signals crossed…

Robyn Maxwell doesn’t care that her brother has to cancel out on their backcountry ski trip. She can do it alone. The fact she’s deaf doesn’t make her survival skills any weaker. The chance to get away from it all and relax in the Yukon wilderness is just what she’s been craving.

Meeting wilderness guide Keil at the cabin starts cravings of another kind. Keil’s one hot hunk of ripped, tasty male. Now she has to deal with raging hormones as well as strange questions about wolves and mates and challenges to the death. Keil was trying for a nice reflective retreat before challenging for the Alpha position of his Alaskan pack. He wasn’t planning on meeting the woman destined to be his mate, or finding out she’s not aware she has the genes of a wolf.

Between dealing with his accident-prone younger brother, a deaf mate with an attitude and an impending duel to the death, his week—and his bed—is suddenly full.

Far from the relaxing getaway any of them had in mind…

Warning: Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘talking with your hands.’ Includes dangerous use of sarcasm and hot nookie in a remote wilderness sauna.

~~**~~

I’ve got a copy of winner’s choice from the GRANITE LAKE WOLVES in ebook, plus a second winner will get a PRINT copy of Under the Northern Lights.

 

To be entered to win:

Leave a comment with the name of the ebook you’d like to win if you are picked (If you have them all you may gift it to a friend)

WOLF SIGNS

WOLF FLIGHT

WOLF GAMES

WOLF TRACKS

WOLF LINE

And you can share what you think is the sexiest thing about shifters!

(Oh, did I mention? Book 6 in the series is tentatively scheduled for February 2013!!! More news when I get back)

RwA PaRtY TiMe-Big Box of Books

Whee!

Since I’m off having a blast this coming week at the National conference, I figured it was time to share a little loving. I’ll try to stop in to say hi, depending on internet and how many people I’m squealing while squeezing. Because you know, adding internet to squealing AND squeezing is a dangerous thing.

But for those of you who can’t make it out to the book signing on Wednesday, who can’t make a trip away from jobs, babies, hubby and or life in general–I want you to have some fun as well.

So…I’ll be giving away BOOKS while I’m at RWA. To start with, I’ve got a big box of books from RWA–there are always treats in the author bags that I’ll share.

I’ll also be giving away ebooks and print books over the next five days, so be sure to stop back in for your chance to win. Tuesday- Friday the winners can be INTERNATIONAL.

Add your name to the widget in THIS POST to be entered for the BOX OF BOOKS (and whatever else I find that I think is cool). I need you to do this since I will be mailing the box out before I return to Canada, and I’ll need a mailing address ASAP. I promise not to use your address for anything other than this giveaway.  Winner will be drawn on the morning of Saturday, July 28. Sorry, I have to make this giveaway US/Canada only since I already bought the shipping box.

If you are reading this at my Facebook, Goodreads or Amazon pages, you still have to use the form to enter. If it doesn’t work off the networked blog system, head to the source at my blog!

Big Box of Books- RWA 2012
For your chance to win, please leave your mailing information. This info will not be saved, and will only be used for this giveaway.

Canada/USA only


NameFirstLastAddress*Street AddressAddress Line 2CityState / Province / RegionZip / Postal CodeAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongo, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of theCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiNorth KoreaSouth KoreaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorwayNorthern Mariana IslandsOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbia and MontenegroSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSudanSudan, SouthSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.YemenZambiaZimbabweCountryAnything else you want to say? Have fun!

ARCs Silver Mine

 

This is a blogger giveaway– I’ll do reader specific giveaways as release time gets closer, but if you are a blogger, here’s your chance to get an ARC of SILVER MINE: Takhini Wolves #2

The fine print:

1. Fill in the form. My assistant will be sending out ebook ARCs over the next couple weeks (by the end of July.) I have about 30 copies of the ebook available for bloggers PLUS!

2. I’m going to try something new this time. If you’d like to have some swag to give away at your blog, I’ll have 10 packages available on a random basis for you to use as you’d like. I have wolfie dog tags, cover flats, and romance trading cards. I’ll even toss a couple of print copies of BLACK GOLD into a few of the boxes. Once I get the swag to you, it’s yours to do with what you’d like.

3. ALSO–all bloggers who get an ARC will get a ebook copy of BLACK GOLD to use as a giveaway on their site. Once you pick your winner, contact me and we’ll send the book directly to who you pick.

4. International.

I hope that if you love the wolfies, you’ll love to share my excitement at the latest adventure! Also, Chase is just SO damn sexy…

Silver Mine
Takhini Wolves, Book 2

Length: Novel (65K)

Genre: Paranormal romance

Themes: Shapeshifters

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Release Date: Sept 11, 2012

Price: $5.50

Name*Email Address*Preferred Ebook Format*Kindle/MobiNook/epubPDFOther (add info in next box)I post reviews at...*

Name sites you regularly post reviews. Include your blog/review site address if appropriate.

Do you also need an ebook copy of book 1, BLACK GOLD, to read 1st?*YesNo- I already read itPrizes/Giveaway items requested (must provide mailing address)Dog TagsCover Flats- Granite Lake WolvesWolfie Romance Trading CardsEbook BLACK GOLDAddressStreet AddressAddress Line 2CityState / Province / RegionZip / Postal CodeAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongo, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of theCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiNorth KoreaSouth KoreaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorwayNorthern Mariana IslandsOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbia and MontenegroSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSudanSudan, SouthSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.YemenZambiaZimbabweCountryAnything else you want to mention?NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

RWA Survival tips #2

Yesterday I talked more about physically surviving getting to and from the event. What about what to get OUT of the conference?

4. Sessions, or no sessions, or some sessions.

This one is very very personal. The biggest thing to do? Think about how you learn, what kind of writer you are and then feel no guilt for doing whatever pushes your learning buttons. If you love love love to listen to speakers, take tons of notes and when you go home this is going to invigorate you and make the next book that much better–hell yeah. Do those sessions. I simply can’t. The one and only time I tried to use someone else’s ‘method’ for writing I got stuck stuck stuck until I tossed it out the window and went back to my happy little state of unknowingness.

There are other sessions than craft, though. Information regarding career planning, inspiring and motivating talks about balancing your writing and your life. There are some of those that are very intriguing.

Do I want to learn during the time I’m at RWA? Definitely. But my number way to learn is to talk to people. I’m not a lecture gal– I don’t want to listen without being involved. One on one, or in small groups. At breakfast, in the bar, in the hallway of the hotel for 3 hours… I pretend like I’m a sponge, and I sit next to the people who I want to soak in. It’s not a formal learning situation, but holy moly, it works for me. I’ve come away from the past two conferences inspired and motivated to move forward.

5. Meet w old friends

I will admit it. This is my number one reason to go to RWA. I want to see my friends. I want some in real life time with the people I’ve tweeted, and IMed and emailed with over the past year. The first year I went my list of people I knew was small, so I just winged it. Other than making plans to meet up with a reader (waves at Lisa) I just met with people off the cuff.

Last year I knew more people, and it became obvious that I wasn’t going to simple fall into everyone’s paths. That’s a conference rule, BTW. Somehow you will casually bump into the same group of people over and over and over, and never see X, Y or Z. It’s crazy, but that’s what happens.

So this year I’ve made dates with some people that I need to have talk time with. I will still be casual and meet others at the bar, but for example…Eden Bradley. We were supposed to get together at RT, and it never happened. I want to make sure I get a visit, so I’ve planned for it.

6. Meet new friends

Along with planning a few things, I’m keeping open spaces in my day, because I simply love the surprises that happen at a conference. All it requires is for you to be brave, and say hello. You never know what will happen because you’re friendly. And if you’re the shy type? Find a friendly to stand beside. I’ve met the loveliest people at conferences. Ann Aguirre as I mentioned before. Maya Banks, Thea Harrison, Carly Philips. During RT I got to have lunch spur of the moment with Lea and Mary who are two wonderful Canadian bloggers I know online, but had never met in person. It made my day!

Everyone is there with a common love for storytelling and reading. Use that common ground and have a blast. I’ll be around–look for the cowboy hat–and I’ve been told I’m not too scary to talk to.

So come say hi

RWA survival tips set #1

Since this Romance Writers Association conference in LA will be my third, I’m going to be all helpful and share a few things I learned during #1 (in Florida) and #2 (in New York).

Yes, strictly off the cuff and strictly my experiences.

1. Travel plans.

You know, the getting there and getting back. I noticed today on Twitter that Angela James was suggesting the very smart move of booking airport/hotel shuttle now. Yes– plan it out.  To add my perspective? While I’m TOTALLY about taking the cheap/inexpensive route 9 times out of 10, I have to admit that I now budget for a taxi ride/pay more for parking closer to the terminal.

If you can afford it, here’s my rational. I have to drive 3 hours to get to the closest airport, and since I’m coming from Canada, include in crossing the US/Canada border. I then drop the car, hop on at least two planes (smaller airport–never a direct flight) to arrive at the other end. By now, depending on where I fly to, I’ve been on the road for a hellava long time.

After that marathon? The hotel shuttle in Florida took over 1 1/2 hours to arrive/drop us off in turn. For pickup for my 6am flight home, the shuttle arrived at 3:30am. That’s the night that after the Ritas were done, I took my packed bags (I didn’t want to disturb my roommates) and parked myself with all my gear with Ann Aguirre who also had a horrific shuttle pickup time.

Now, the upside of that staying up all night talking was Ann and I are now BFF, and room together at all conferences, but still… a Taxi ride? $20 more for a couple hours more sleep= WIN in my books. Find someone to share a cab with, even more WIN.

(That’s also the trip that after I landed, caught the shuttle to the park and ride and headed home, I GOT LOST and added an hour to my drive time. I was so tired.)

Plan to make it there and back in one piece. A couple extra bucks can be worth it.

2. In the hotel. 

Okay, you’ve been in a hotel before. You’ve done the elevators, you know about how long it takes to get places. *shakes head in disbelief* No, no you do NOT know, unless you’ve been to one of these places when it’s full of people. There is no…”I’ll just dash up to my room to pick up XYZ”. When you leave your room, take what you need with you, or plan a good hour break to leave the conference area, go to your room and return. Longer if you are prone to nap attacks.

The good part of this? You really don’t NEED to take a lot of anything with you. Stick your business cards in the back of your name tag, some money in your pocket. If you’re a note taker and plan to attend the various sessions, a small notebook in your purse. Check which of the sessions are taped, and you don’t even have to take notes on those– you can concentrate on watching faces and people.

I love people watching.

3. In the hotel part two.

The bathrooms, they are always NOT where you wish they were. Find then before you need them. Especially if you’re wearing “RWA conference shoes.”

There are usually coffee machines in the rooms, but the creamer is ICK and the sugar, not much there. And if you plan to hit Starbucks? Get up early, baby, that’s all I’m saying. Wait–no, I’m also saying this. Best. Idea. Ever. I bought a set of the instant Starbucks coffees, brought my own sugar/cream and had fabulous mornings because of it. Substitute tea if you’re a tea drinker.

Also–my brilliant roomie started me on this one. Bring a box of granola bars/or nuts or something so you can have a healthy snack when you need it.

That’s it for today. I’ll toss a few more at you in a bit.

 

“Readers for Life”- July 25

While I’m in California the last week of July for the national RWA convention, I’ll be taking part in the “Readers for Life” literacy fundraising event. This is an annual event that I’m honoured to participate in–publishers provide the books, authors forgo royalties–so the proceeds from book sales then go to ProLiteracy Worldwide, Read Orange County, and Literacy Volunteers—Huntington Valley. In this day of cut-backs, it’s even more important than ever to continue to support our libraries–because if you can read, you can learn to do anything.

If you can come out on Wednesday, July 25, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m, you’ll find over 400 authors who write in every romance genre and YA. There is a twist this year–so I’m linking to the seating arrangement so you can plan your evening. Print out a copy if you wish–they will have sets at the conference, but if you find the authors you want to visit, and circle their tables ahead of time that will give you a map to follow as you treasure hunt your way through! Just a heads up–no outside books are allowed in the event. If you have personal books you’d like me to sign, I’d love to meet w you. Just send me an email and we’ll set something up.

The event happens at the Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom (third floor)

I’ll be fairly easy to find. TABLE 107, bottom left corner!! I’ll be wearing my cowboy hat–if that helps.

Refocusing and smiling hard

There are moments that pop up and redefine who we are and what we’re doing. Some times these come at dramatic moments–times of stress and loss when you’re burying a relative who died far too young, or comforting a friend who’s facing terrible change.

I’ve had those kind of revelation moments before, and every time they happen, I re-set my world. Make sure that what I’m spending my time on is important, is valuable, is breathtaking. I’ll change directions in terms of work vs family time, or making sure that I’m available to  my parents (…oh, the sandwich generation). There have been times I’ve dropped out of activities, not because they were wrong, but because choosing between something that is good and something that is great is an important distinction.

There are also the quiet revelation moments, and this past weekend I found myself hit up the side of the head hard with one. I’d taken the family to the Calgary Stampede and we’re sitting in the grandstands, watching the chuck wagon races. Chatting and visiting, and by the time Paul Brandt started singing I was ready for the 2×4 hit.

Small Towns and Big Dreams. 

Yup, I was sitting in the middle of the crowd at the 100th anniversary of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, crying tears of happiness. Because I’m pretty much living a dream, and it’s so so good. The fact I get to write for a living–that people enjoy my stories–knocks my knees out from under me. I have friends who support me, cheer for me and kick my butt when I need it. I’m living in a gorgeous part of the world, I’m healthy enough to travel for fun and adventure…

Life is Good. Doesn’t mean it’s always easy, but there’s no other words for what I’m feeling.

Life is Good.

Busy busy busy

As well as creating stories, my family and I have started the next adventure. This time, though, instead of taking off to explore, we’re setting up a home base.

That’s right–we’re building. I showed the property a while ago, but we’ve begun now. Only…yeah, like everything else, somethings the best of plans are one step forward and two steps back.

It’s been raining so much that even though we had the pad ready for a delivery of gravel, the ground was so soft the truck got stuck. And so we waited for another truck to come and haul HIM out. In the end I spent 4 hours on the tractor not getting the next project ready, but cleaning up the mess.

Sometimes life’s like that… Thank goodness the tractor is fun to use, although I’ll probably be dreaming of using the shovel in my sleep tonight.

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