Laura Kaye's Blog, page 76

Welcome Award-Winning Guest Author Rosalie Lario! #demons #yum

Welcome fellow Entangled author  Rosalie Lario! And congratulations on all your recent awards, particurlarly GraveTells Debut Author of the Year! Woot!

See below for a GIVEAWAY!

  Welcome, Rosalie!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
My name is Rosalie Lario and I'm the author of two different paranormal romance series: the award-winning Demons of Infernum series, featuring sibling, half demon bounty hunters; and The Fallen Warriors, featuring a band of fallen angels who seek to save humankind from eradication.
Aw, man, both sound awesome! I love series! Okay, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
Heart of the Incubus is a novella set in my Demons of Infernum world. It stars an incubus named Cresso, who works as a biochemist for a laboratory sponsored by the Elden Council (the council governing travel between dimensions). Cresso gets more than he bargains for when he falls for Genevieve, one of his coworkers. Not only can the woman not stand him, but she's also being pursued by a stalker. When Cresso determines to find and stop the sadistic stalker, he never believes he'll be able to convince Genevieve he's worthy of her love. But as they work together to solve this mystery, Genevieve discovers there's much more to the sexy incubus than she ever imagined.
Heart of the Incubus takes place after the events in Touch of the Angel, Book 3, of the Demons of Infernum series, but it can and does stand alone.
Book 1 in the Series! Sounds great! Which character is your favorite and why?
It's always so hard to pick a favorite character, but I admit to having a soft spot for Cresso. He first appears in Blood of the Demon as a friend of Taeg's. I truly enjoyed witnessing the admitted playboy fall hard for Genevieve.
I love my heroes best, too! Cresso sounds delicious! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
I'm currently hard at work on Call of the Siren, Book 4 in the Demons of Infernum series. It's set to release in July or August of this year.
Wonderful! Good luck! So, what happened to the first book you ever wrote?
Oh wow. In a word, it sucked. I have it saved on my computer and I'll probably pull it out one day for laughs. But as horrible as it was, the book was invaluable because it was one big step in the process of learning the craft.
Yes! That's so true! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
I think the love scenes are both the easiest and the hardest to write, LOL. It all depends on my mood when I'm writing. Sometimes I'm not feeling it but I have to muscle through it anyway; that's hard. But then there are times when my fingers can't move quickly enough; I love it when that happens!
So interesting how often love scenes appear here authors' responses! *grins* Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
No, I haven't. I guess I don't know anyone that interesting!
LOL! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
If there were one overall theme to my books, it would be that love is all-powerful. I truly believe that, with love, we can accomplish anything.
Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you ?
I love the thought of the paranormal but I'm truly a wimp in real life. Horror movies scare me so badly that I usually can't watch them, LOL.
That's awesome, Rosalie! I like to think I'd be brave if I encountered a real spooky baddy! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don't write romance) do you wish you had written?
I only wish I could write a stunning romance novel like To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning. It's probably my all-time favorite book.
Oh, wow! I'll have to check that out. Highland? Warrior? Taming him? Sounds good to me! Of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Taeg, the hero of Mark of the Sylph, Book 2 in my Demons of Infernum series. I just love his personality. He's such a sarcastic know-it-all, and the perfect blend of confident and easygoing, with only the slightest touch of Alpha. Sigh...I love him.
Oh, yum! I can't wait to read this series, and you're making me want to NOW! *grins* Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Both!
Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood. ;-)
Bed or kitchen table? I'd love to say table, but I'd be lying. I'm all about the comfort.
Beach or mountains? Beach
Give or receive? Uh...what exactly are we talking about here? *grin*

Biochemist Cresso Taylor lives the sort of lifestyle most men would envy—he has wealth, natural incubus charm, and more women than he can handle. But it's not enough anymore. Not after meeting Genevieve Russell, the sexy scientist who works with him at Elcorp Laboratory. And she wants absolutely nothing to do with him.
After her fiancé broke her heart, Genevieve has had enough of womanizers. She's determined to steer clear of sexy-as-sin Dr. Taylor, despite the fact that his incubus allure makes her want to rip his clothes off. But when a secret admirer's affection turns to the macabre with threatening notes and grisly gifts, Cresso appoints himself her protector. As she and Cresso hunt her stalker, she discovers there's a lot more to the sensual incubus than she ever imagined.

Thanks for coming on the blog, Rosalie! Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads Amazon Author's Page | Publisher's Author Page

GIVEAWAY! One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of Heart of the Incubus! Open to international. Comment by midnight EST on Friday 1/6. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thanks for reading, everyone! Now leave Rosalie some new release comment love!Laura & Rosalie[image error]

Awards: Breakout Author & Favorite Read(s) of 2011! I'm Saying Thanks...

The end of the year brought me a slew of awards that left me awed, boggled and so very, very grateful. Here's what I mean:
Sizzling Book of the Year for NORTH OF NEED! With 269 / 1109 (or 26%) of the vote!HEARTS IN DARKNESS came in 4th place with 102 (or 9%) of the vote! 


Breakout Author of the Year!With 226 / 613 (or 37%) of the vote! 


Nominated for a total of EIGHT Readers' Choice Awards!Here were the full results! There were 13,000 votes across 10 categories. Here were my placings: Favorite Book of 2011 – 4th place (out of 37 nominees) with 12% voteBest Cover Art of 2011 – 2nd place (out of 10) with 27% vote (1st Jeaniene Frost)Sexiest Story of 2011 – 2nd place (out of 15) with 21% vote (1st JR Ward)Favorite Sweethearts of 2011 – 4th place (out of 20) with 18% vote (behind Ward, Frost, Moning)Most Compelling Hero of 2011 (Owen) – 4th place (out of 15) with 18% vote (behind Ward, Frost, Moning)Most Kick Ass Heroine of 2011 (Megan) – 5th place (out of 15) with 15% vote (behind Ward, Frost, Moning, Blake)Favorite Author of 2011 – 3rd place (out of 14) with 19% vote (behind Ward, Frost)Breakout Author of 2011 – 1st place (out of 11) with 37% of the vote  
5-STAR Gold Heart Award Winner for NORTH OF NEED (1 of 9 books to which GraveTells has awarded this)


Book of the Month Wins for NORTH OF NEED:GraveTellsSizzling Hot Book Reviews

Favorite Read of the Year Nods:NORTH OF NEED - 1st place Favorite Read at GraveTellsNORTH OF NEED - 4th place Favorite Paranormal at Reading Between the Wines Book Club*NORTH OF NEED - 5th place Ultimate Favorite at Reading Between the Wines Book Club*NORTH OF NEED - A Favorite Read at Cocktails and BooksNORTH OF NEED - 1st place Favorite Paranormal at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
HEARTS IN DARKNESS - 3rd place Favorite Read at Smitten by Books*HEARTS IN DARKNESS - Top 10 Favorite Read at Reading Lark*
FOREVER FREED - A Favorite Read at Cocktails and Books
JUST GOTTA SAY - A Favorite Read at Mark of the Stars
[*Indicates a Site Offering a GIVEAWAY of winner's choice of one of the site's favorite books!]
So, naturally, I need to say thanks. Thank you to the readers, bloggers, reviewers, editors, cover artists, critique partners, family members and friends who made 2011 everything that it was for me. 

GIVEAWAY! I know it's a small token, but I'm offering you a giveaway - two people will win choice of one of my ebooks. Leave a comment with your email address through midnight EST on 1/6 to be entered to win. Open to international.

Thanks to each of you for joining me on this journey! I hope you'll stick around to see where the ride goes next in 2012!
Thanks for reading,Laura[image error]

Here's What I'm Hoping For in 2012!

HAPPIEST NEW YEAR, FRIENDS! AND WELCOME 2012!
The beginning of the year is a great time to take stock and lay out some goals. 2011 was great to me, and I'm hoping 2012 will bring more of the same! Here's what I'm working towards in the coming year:Revise and submit my women's fiction manuscript. I finished writing it nearly a year ago, but after an agent loved it but wanted more conflict, I've had a set of revisions to complete I simply haven't had the time to fit in. I need to rectify that, so it's at the top of my list.Meet all my existing contract obligations (for my second Harlequin Cravings, and the last two in my Anemoi series).Begin a new project I'm going to be collaborating on with my good friend and historical fiction author Stephanie Dray. I can't say more about it just yet, except that I'm totally stoked!Get an agent. This was on my list for last year, so obviously it's a goal I've yet to achieve. But between the women's fiction and the new project, I'm hopeful.Write at least three novellas.Attend RT, RWA Nationals, and the NJRW Conference (at a minimum).Write at least two academic papers for my day job.Get a new desk and reorganize my office. I have an old-fashioned desk that makes me lift my arms, and it's giving me a bum elbow! (I have a typing injury!!! LOL)Take better care of myself in general, particularly I need more sleep (need to fight the night-owl tendencies!) and to eat better.Oh, I'm sure there's more, but these are some of the biggies I want to make sure to put down in writing and hold myself accountable for. What's on your "hoped for" list for 2012?
Thanks for reading!Laura[image error]

Oh, What a Year! 2011 in Review!

This time last year, I wrote on this blog, "If 2011 is half as good as 2010, it'll be damn great!"
Well, 2011 was so good to me I don't think "damn great" begins to cover it.
Looking back on 2011, I'm just stunned at the good fortune I've experienced in my writing career so far. This time last year, I was still months away from releasing my first book, hadn't yet launched my website, and had two books sold. Oh, what a difference a year makes. Here's what 2011 had in store for me:
I wrote approximately 220,000 words this year! That's a lot of #1k1hr on twitter! Actually, I discovered #1k1hr in 2011, so there's that, too! LOL
I received four new book covers this year.
I sold seven new books and two series - Hearts of the Anemoi to Entangled Publishing and Vampire Warrior Kings to Harlequin Nocturne.
I received my first ever "call" from an editor - from Nocturne's Tara Gavin.
My first novella, Hearts in Darkness, released in April.
My first novel, Forever Freed, released in May.
My second novella, Just Gotta Say, released in September. My second novel, North of Need, released in November.
I wrote my first books on contract, as opposed to just whenever my brain happened to cooperate. Turns out it's a very different experience! Do you agree?
I organized my first-ever book blog tours. Now I've done four. Oy.
I received my first-ever book reviews. At first, it was scary as heck, just the action of clicking the button to open the website. Now, even though that flutter's still in my gut, it's not as scary, even when they're not as good as I'd wish!
I received my first reviews in Romantic Times (for Hearts in Darkness and North of Need)
My books won their first awards: NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011 to Forever Freed, and Sizzling Read of the Month for both Hearts in Darkness and North of Need.
I attended my second RWA National Conference and met Sherrilyn Kenyon, which was a wonderful moment.
I attended my first NJRW Put Your Heart in a Book Conference and loved it! Will definitely attend again! It was also at this conference that Stephanie Dray and I brainstormed a wonderful team project we're going to be co-authoring this year!
I launched my website, designed by the awesomely awesome Rachel / Parajunkee.
For the first time, I got to work with a publicist, the wonderful and amazing Dani Barclay!
I designed my first-ever book trailers, after taking a class through the RWA-PRO section.
I achieved PAN status in the RWA (Published Authors' Network) for making a minimum $1,000 in sales on one title (Hearts in Darkness).
Three of my four books hit Amazon bestseller lists (Forever Freed, Bestselling Gothic Romance; Hearts in Darkness, Bestselling Contemporary Romance; North of Need, Bestselling Fantasy Romance)
I had my first booksigning this year. And sold three books. LOL
I participated in my first Baltimore Book Festival. (I think I sold 5 books there!)
I became really great friends with a number of writers from my local RWA chapter, the Maryland Romance Writers, and each one is a friendship I truly value!
All this and I feel like I'm forgetting so many things that made this year wonderful and exciting and more than I ever imagined! My head spins just thinking of it!
I want to thank each of you for all the help you've given me throughout the year! So, as you look back over your 2011, what are you most celebrating?
Thanks for reading, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!Laura

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#NorthofNeed is Up for 2 Awards Thru 12/31! Please Vote?

I'm so completely stunned! North of Need is up for two different sets of awards, both based on stellar 5-STAR reviews, and both of which require me to ask your help to win! Readers' choice awards mean so much though, because they come from you, the reader, and I love knowing something I've done has touched you in some way. I would be forever grateful if you would consider voting for me and North of Need in the following contests, both of which close 12/31:
1) Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
2) In the GraveTells Readers' Choice Awards of 2011, nominated for:Favorite BookBest Cover Art **Sexiest StoryFavorite Couple/SweetheartsMost Compelling HeroMost Kick-Ass HeroineFavorite Author of 2011Breakout Author of 2011 **At GraveTells, you can vote for more than one book per category! The categories with ** are ones I have a fighting chance in! LOL
Thanks so much for considering voting! Your time and support means a lot to me, truly!
Thanks for reading,Laura

Open G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y*S Ending Soon! Don't Miss 'Em!

Owen says, "What are you waiting for?"Hey guys! I've got a number of ways for you to win really cool stuff, and I didn't want you to miss anything! So here are all my open giveaways in one place! All end right around 12/31 or 1/1, so go get 'em! Good luck!Four Traditions I Love - part of the 30 Days of Decadence event - WIN 1 of 3 $10 Amazon GCsMy Fang Fetish - part of the 30 Days of Vampires event - WIN $10 Amazon GC plus event main prizes ($100 bookstore GC)Favorite Things About Winter - part of the Winters Favorites event - WIN $10 Amazon GC plus event main prizesSnOHw Man! Giveaway - part of the Sizzling Read of the Month North of Need Spotlight - WIN a print North of Need and collection of swag and snowman itemsLaura Kaye Spotlight - part of the Holiday Bash 2011 - WIN $5 Amazon GC, poster, ornaments plus event main prizes (Kindle Fire)Thanks for reading!Laura

Welcome Guest Author Paige Cuccaro! #EntangledBooks #Angels

Welcome fellow Entangled Publishing author  Paige Cuccaro who's celebrating her new release  Hellsbane!

See below for a Giveaway!

Welcome, Paige!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I grew up in a little town called Eight Four, PA, and moved to central Ohio where I live now with my husband and three daughters, 12 years ago. I've been writing since the birth of my first daughter who will turn 21 this year and I write mostly paranormal. Quite a few of my paranormal books are romances and even more are erotic romances. Those books, my erotic romances, are published under my penname, Alison Paige.
Great! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
HELLSBANE is about a 23 year old young woman who just discovered she's half angel (a nephilim). Now, her angelic father wants her dead and Heaven wants her to hunt fallen angels and their demon minions who've escaped the abyss and send them back. The problem is the fallen angels and demons won't go quietly. So now Emma has to learn how to be Heaven's kick butt bounty hunter before one of the bad guys hacks off her head. Of course, in the meantime, she'll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.
Sounds awesome! Which character is your favorite and why?
Wow, its hard pick. I really love Emma and Eli both. Emma, because of her wit and her passion. She knows what she has to do and whether she likes it or not, she's gonna do it. She sticks up for her friends no matter what and she has a good heart. But I love Eli too because he has such a capacity to love. He sees the best in people and will fight to the death for those he loves. He's so wise and yet so naive, plus he's sexy as hell.  
Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
Yes. Right now there are two more books planned for the series. HEAVEN AND HELLSBANE, and HELLSBANE HEREAFTER. There may be a few short stories in between there.
Those are great titles! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
Sticking to my gut and letting what I knew had to happen, happen. As a writer you really grow attached to your characters and it's not easy to let bad things happen to them. But without the bad things there'd be no story.
So true! What are you working on right now?
I'm still working on book two, HEAVEN AND HELLSBANE. It will be going to edits very soon and then I'll move on to book three.
Good luck! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
After much rewriting it got published. It'd started out as a sweet romance, and ended up as erotic romantic suspense. Many, many stories between the first and second version of that book though, are still herding dust bunnies under my bed.
What an interesting evolution! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
The easiest is coming up with the ideas and writing out the outline long hand. It's one continuous flow of thought and it's just so much fun. The hardest is actually making myself sit in the chair every day and write. Some days ya just don't feel like it.
That is so true! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
I've incorporated aspects of real people into some of my characters. Usually secondary characters. It makes it easier to bring them to life if I think of them as someone I already know even though a lot about them is different than the real life version. I love to use real places in my stories though. It's fun to go back to the parking lot where Emma got attacked by a shuffling demon, or sit in the restaurant where she had lunch with her mom and sister and think…this is where it happened.
Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Good and evil are two sides of the same coin and which side is which depends on who's doing the looking.
Ooh, that's cool! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I'm very shy. People never realize that about me because I can force myself to behave as though I'm not. But inside, when I'm smiling and cracking jokes, I'm really shaking in my shoes, holding my breath and waiting for it to be over so I can go sit and a corner where no one will notice me.I think that's pretty common among writers. Writing is a very solitary, in your own head, kind of process. But after it's finished it becomes a very, very public affair.  The two sides of it are such polar opposites that it's not unusual to find people at one end of the personality spectrum or the other.
I agree! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don't write romance) do you wish you had written?
I would have LOVED to have written the Vampire Chronicles. I think they are such a fantastic collection of characters and rich detail that makes me want to forsake real life and live forever in a book.
Love that! Of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favorite and why?
I have a character named Thes, who stars in a couple books that have never gotten published. (with good reason). But I LOVE him. He's smart, and handsome and tortured. He's an angel and is forever on the outside looking in at what he wants and is full of questions no one wants to answer. He's just an awesome character and I hope to show him to the world someday. Someday. *sigh*
Aw, sound awesome! Okay, now, just for fun! Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk Chocolate
Salty or sweet? Salty
Bed or kitchen table? Bed
Beach or mountains? Beach
Give or receive? Give

Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she's not human—or, at least, not only human. She's half angel, too, and now Heaven's got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don't fight fair.
Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she'll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.
No one said being Heaven's bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Publisher's Author Page
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, PAIGE!
Thanks for having me! This has been fun!!

GIVEAWAY! Paige is giving away one ebook copy of Hellsbane! Comment with your email address to enter to win. Open to international. Winner to be picked by random.org. Open through midnight EST on 12/30! Good luck! And Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading, everyone!
Laura & Paige

Welcome Guest Author Rachel Firasek! #PNR

[image error] I'm very excited to welcome fellow Entangled author Rachel Firasek to the blog today!
Rachel's celebrating her new release with a Giveaway! See below!
Welcome, Rachel!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I write mostly paranormal romance and always under my real name. Pen names scare me at this point. :)
LOL Okay! So, then, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
The Last Awakening released in December and is finding its place in the world. Ari and Grey are rather special to me now, I've spent so much time with them. In January, The Last Beginning will hit! Woot!
Awesome! I love a series! Which character is your favorite and why?
I think it's Sadie and she's in The Last Beginning. She's a straight-forward character and I really love her fiery attitude.
Kick-ass females rule! Woot! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
The pain. I knew it would be a harder story to write. I wanted to dig deeper into Grey. He's such a twisted soul, but dang, it can be hard to get back from that kind of despair.
That makes this book sound so intriguing! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
The Last Beginning will wrap up the Curse of the Phoenix series. :)
So, what was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
The re-writing and trying to get everything just perfect with the right amount of grief---that wouldn't make the reader stay so blurry eyed they couldn't finish.
  That sounds challenging but awesome! What are you working on right now?
I'm starting on a top-secret project with two other authors. It's going to be so much fun. Also, I'm plotting a Dystopian YA that has been bugging me all year.
[image error] Cool! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
It was published in March. J Piper's Fury is my first full novel and after many-many rewrites it found a home. *much to my shock*
Congratulations! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Easiest to write: dialogue and action. Hardest to write: emotion and description.
I always have to go back and layer in emotion myself! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Not normally. My made-up characters are so much more fun, although, my daughter will tell you that she sees a bit of herself in each one of my heroines. So, maybe her.
That's kinda awesome! Love it! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Wow, hmmm….each story has a different theme, but I always want to write a story that will light the soul. I want to touch the reader long after a story is over.
A great goal for an author! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
In person, I'm a complete recluse. Online, I kind of feel my groove, but in public---I'm like a plucked chicken. :)
LOL Another introvert, eh? Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don't write romance) do you wish you had written?
Oh, this is easy! It's my fave book of 2011. Debra Anastasia writes contemporary romance and her book Poughkeepsie inspires me. I want to write a book like that. Something that will change people.
I know Debra and her story well! Of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Hands down, Piper Anast from Piper's Fury. She is the most like me. An introvert with a mouth. Love her.
Love that description! Okay, then just for fun: Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?  Dark every day!
Salty or sweet?   Salty!!! Love to make my mouth dehydrate.
Bed or kitchen table?   Kitchen table---if it'll hold.
Beach or mountains?   Beach. I love the roar of the ocean.
Give or receive?   Give…I'm horrible at receiving!

[image error]For three hundred years, Arabella's life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she'll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.
Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.
When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it's not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

   GIVEAWAY!

Rachel is giving away one ebook copy of The Last Awakening. Comment with your email address to enter to win. Contest open through midnight EST on 12/28. Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck! 

 Thank you for having me today!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, RACHEL!
And thanks to everyone for reading! Now leave Rachel some comment love! Laura & Rachel

For the Love of Snowmen: Feel-Good Pics from Readers & Me!

Merry Christmas!Happy Hanukkah!Happy Solstice!& Happy Holidays to one and all!
What's better than snowmen to get you in the spirit of the season? They're cute, cheerful, fun to make and remind us of the carefree days of childhood. So, I put out a call for friends and readers to send me fun snowmen decorations of their own or that they saw in their travels. And y'all sent me some great pictures! So, enjoy these pictures of my and friends' snowmen and a moment of holiday cheer:

From Eria

 
From Dani









From Tamara

From SharonFrom Kellie

My Snowman Collection - These are about half of them!



My Favorite Snowman - my mom gave it to me probably 20 years ago and the cardinals always remind me of her. They were her favorite. To me, a cardinal in a snowy trees is one of the most beautiful sites of winter.
This snowman I have to share because it had me laughing so hard! Snowman humor, people!!!





And, see? My love for snowmen goes waaaay back! This is me at age 8. And, this snowman I just love...from the back cover of North of Need. You know you have a great editor/cover artist/friend when she gives you the detail of your hero's mismatched eyes...
So, there you go! Some fun snowman cheer! I hope you have the most wonderful holiday, and I thank you for all your friendship and support in 2011.
Thanks for reading,Laura

Come Meet Pete the Sexy Mailman...and Guest Author Joya Fields!

I'm so very excited to welcome my good friend, critique partner and fellow Wild Rose Press author  Joya Fields  to the blog today! Joya is celebrating her **new release** with a giveaway--see down below!
Welcome, Joya!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today, Laura. I'm thrilled to be talking about a story that you helped me get published! I write romantic suspense, contemporary suspense, and paranormal suspense.
Aw, shucks! I loved reading this! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
LOVE DELIVERED released just yesterday from The Wild Rose Press. It reflects my affection for small towns and the people who live there. Pete has strong ties to the community and the town and Bianca is chasing her dreams in New York City. Not just for herself, but on behalf of her mother, who never got the opportunity to follow her dreams. When Bianca returns to the small town where she grew up to fix up her deceased grandmother's house for sale, she can't help but be charmed by the town…and Pete, the mailman.
Sigh…Pete. *grins* Which character is your favorite and why?
LOL, I feel like a mother who can't chose between her children. It feels wrong to pick one character over another, but I think Bianca would understand if I chose Pete. Because I fell in love with him. He's the best part of a lot of men I know all wrapped into one.
Oh, I like how you put that! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
Honestly, nothing surprised me through the writing process. The characters told me their story early on. The biggest surprise for me was when the publisher decided to classify the story as "contemporary humor." That cracked me up! Guess what? I'm funny. Well, Pete's funny.
Pete is funny! *winks* What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
Revisions. I can write a story in no time at all. Then I have to revise, revise, revise, and revise. And then usually revise again.
I hear ya, sister! What are you working on right now?
I'm writing a ghost story with a ghost who's a practical joker and a matchmaker. Picture Betty White haunting an historic Baltimore apartment building.
Awesome description! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
It's buried in a drawer and will never see the light of day. However, it was a great learning experience.
Yes, so agree! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Characters are easy to write. I'm lucky to have lots of colorful people in my life. Plots are hard, though. I usually don't know how the story will progress. Often, I know the beginning and I kinda-sorta know the end, but I have no idea what will happen in between.
*nods in total understanding!* Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Definitely. The parade scene in LOVE DELIVERED is loosely based on our family July 4th celebration. A marching band plays in the yard before the parade every year and it's the party of the year.
Such a cool small town moment! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
For sure. I realized early on that every story I write carries the same message: bad things will happen in life, but if you find the right person, you will find happiness again.
Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I've completed three marathons. One of them in less than four hours! 3.59.51 to be exact.
Whoa! I did not know that! Go you! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don't write romance) do you wish you had written?
Easy. The TWILIGHT series. No maybe the HUNGER GAMES series. No wait…okay. So many great books and series, but these are two of my favorite because they are so emotional.
They'd both be at the top of my list, too… Of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Oh wow, this question makes me pause. I think the heroine in my WIP about a serial killer is my favorite so far. She's had an awful, awful life, but finds hope and comes out fighting. She's probably the strongest character I've ever written and I admire her strength. I wrote about her after seeing an interview on 20/20 about a young, spirited girl who survived an attack and had a better disposition about life than most people I know who haven't experienced that kind of trauma.
Very cool! Can't wait to learn more about her! Okay, then, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark Salty or sweet? Salty Bed or kitchen table? Sofa (LOL, couldn't resist cheating) Beach or mountains? Beach Give or receive? Give

Bianca McClain has worked for years to achieve her dream job in New York City. After her grandmother passes away, she finds herself returning to the small town she grew up in to ready her house for sale. The slow, friendly pace of the town and its citizens, especially Pete the mailman, appeal to her—but there's no way she's giving up everything she's accomplished in New York.

Born and raised in Centreville, MD, Pete Schaeffer loves his small town mail carrier job and can't imagine leaving for any reason—or anyone—so he's dumbfounded by his intense attraction to Bianca, a woman with a fast-paced life in the big city.

Pete and Bianca soon find themselves lost in each other's arms. When the summer ends, they will have big decisions to make. Will the small-town guy and big-city girl find common ground and lasting love, or will their differences drive them apart?

Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Publisher's Page

GIVEAWAY!One commenter who leaves their email address will be entered to win an ebook of Love Delivered. Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Contest open through midnight EST on 12/25! What to comment? Tell Joya what YOU love about small towns!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, JOYA!
Thanks so much for having me, Laura, and thanks for being my friend and critique partner! J
Thanks for reading!
Laura & Joya