I’ve heard it said that there are no new stories out there, just new ways of telling them. While I’m not sure I believe that, I’m not entirely against the idea. There is something comforting in the familiar themes that seem to crop up time after time. Not every romance novel can be shoved neatly into a category, but a lot of them can. Secret baby stories. Long lost love stories. Cinderella stories. Mistaken identity stories.

Fitting into one of these categories, or others which I didn’t mention, may be considered cliché. After all, it’s not a great sign if you can sum up the entire plot of the story in just a word or two, right? What would be the point of reading the other 99,999 words of the novel?

Au contraire, I say. Clichés, or in this case, recurring themes, became what they are because at some point, people identified with them, connected with them, found truth in them. Sometimes it’s reassuring to know that there’s something out there that can fit your particular mood.

Here are some contemporary novels that I recommend if you’re looking for a good yarn in a particular vein (If there’s an interest, I’ll cover other genres in future posts):

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie – The Bet – I bought this at the B. Dalton in Union Station while I was waiting for my train home when I worked in D.C. I read it, cover to cover four times within a single month. It’s still a go-to book for a good chuckle and an unlikely romance, with a great cast of characters and a wager (or two or three) that will leave you wondering how Cal and Min can possibly overcome the odds.

Open Season by Linda Howard - The Cinderella Syndrome - What happens when a 30-year old librarian decides to give herself a makeover, move out of her mother’s house, and start looking for a man to keep her warm at night? Parts of this one hit a little close to home for me, which may be why I love it even while it makes me squirm in self-realization.

The Pregnancy Test by Erin McCarthy - The Boss - A little bit raunchy, a lot steamy, and a massively tortured hero make this an irresistible read. Not to mention that the quirky British secretary gets to nail the big, bad, gorgeous boss! My only regret is that due to a change in publisher, Ms. McCarthy has no plans to write the last two books in the series.

Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - The Marriage of Convenience - Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Actually, not lions and bears, but tigers, elephants, gorillas, whip-wielding Cossacks, and squirrel-brained debutantes definitely. I know this sounds more like a historical, but this novel is set in modern day, believe it or not. I actually have to hide my copy from myself – if I see it laying out, I can’t help but pick it up and read it cover to cover again!

Mirror Image by Sandra Brown - The Case of Mistaken Identity - This one never fails to give me chills. It seems so farfetched, and at the same time, she makes it seem so plausible that you’ll find yourself looking for your own doppelganger wherever you go.

Simply Irresistible - By Rachel Gibson - The Secret Baby - Even though this was the first of her Seattle Chinook-related books, it was one of the last of Ms. Gibson’s novels I read. Parts are hilarious, parts are absolutely heartbreaking. And as big of a schmuck as her hockey-playing hero is in the beginning, you’ll find your heart melting as he tries to come to terms with fatherhood and the woman he lost.

What literary “cliché” do you find irresistible? Do you have a go-to book to satisfy your cravings for that “cliché”? Is there a particular “cliché” that you enjoy reading or writing?

27. A lover can never have enough of the solaces of his beloved.

In most romance novels the hero thinks of ways to spend time with the heroine, he lures her onto a path of seduction. That is of course, until he realizes she is just more than a simple attraction, but an obsession. Then he can’t seem to get away from her fast enough

But what happens to our hero when he tries to deny the truth? Like a hound hot on the trail of a bitch in heat, he can do nothing but think about her when she’s not in his presence. He can’t eat, can’t sleep, perhaps he drinks a bit more than usual to try and erase her from his memory. Visits to his mistress turn into a disaster. Preoccupied, he becomes predominately stupid.

The remedy for our hero’s sudden stupidity is to seek out the solaces of his beloved. Or, according to his logic consummate the relationship.

Can you see our hero strolling down the walkway whistling a jaunty little tune. He’s just left his beloved well and thoroughly satisfied. And he’s free to continue on with his life as before.

Then it happens, the scent of lilacs ride on the breeze like Aladdin on his magic carpet slamming into his memory the way she smelled when he pressed his lips to her nape. He catches a brunette out of the corner of his eye and with out looking for any conveyances he heads straight into traffic causing a mess, only to discover the brunette is not his brunette. This brunette’s highlights don’t glimmer in the sunlight quite the way his beloveds does. And her locks don’t look as if they would feel like silk upon his chest. Her brown eyes aren’t blue and they don’t look at him as if he just handed her the moon and the stars.

I could continue on the trail of this obnoxious little story, but we all know how it ends.

So tell me Roundtablers, what do you think? Is this another rule made up by a man who didn’t have a clue as to what true love really was?

Welcome to today’s special guest, award-winning author, Kathryn Shay. There’s going to be a contest so be sure and leave your comments and questions. Kathryn will be awarding one lucky poster a free book!

Kathryn Shay and Firefighter Joe Giorgione

Hello, Romance Round Table Readers.
It’s so nice to be here guest blogging. I hope I get to meet a lot of you through this visit.

My name is Kathryn Shay and I write for Harlequin SuperRomance and The Berkley Publishing Group. I’ve published twenty-two books for the former and ten for the latter, as well as some online novellas. I’ve been in print since 1995, was a full time teacher until a few years ago, have two kids, a husband and a very busy life!

I’d like to tell you about my May 2008 book, TAKING THE HEAT, on sale now from Berkley. It’s about widower Liam O’Neil who lost his wife three years ago to cancer and is ready to date again. He meets Sophie Tyler, rough and tumble female firefighter from the FDNY, and is attracted to her. But his sons are still suffering over the loss of their mother and Liam feels he can’t risk getting involved with someone in a dangerous profession. Too bad, though, because they can’t help themselves and sparks fly, emotionally, physically and on the line.

As you can see I write serious contemporary romance and I have a question for readers. Do you like this kind of story? Sometimes I get reviews which say my work is too heavy or the characters have too much baggage. (I have to boast a bit, though, and say more often reviewers praise my work for its realism and down-to-earth feel.) In any case, I probably won’t ever write comedy or light-hearted romance. I like the nitty gritty issues: post traumatic stress disorder and how people deal with it, school violence, date rape, abandonment and what it does to people, making a big mistake and having to reconcile it in your own mind (my current work-in-progress).

But I also believe that the relationship between the hero and heroine comes first in a romance novel. The above issues are things the characters are dealing with, things that make it impossible for the hero and heroine to get together, things which are the every day events readers deal with. Have you ever made a huge error in judgment or action? Have you ever lied to anyone? Have you struggled with a spouse, mother or father? I know I have.

Which brings me to another point. I’m often asked how autobiographical my books are. I will say that I do draw on my own experience, both big and small, but sometimes portray the opposite of what happened to me. For example, I was a teacher for a long time and use my experience with teenagers in books, hence my first novel about teenage suicide. I have main characters with strong supportive sisters, like I have. I also have them deal with emotional abandonment, as I have. But I might give the heroine a daughter who hates her—which is definitely not my case, but I do know I’d be heartbroken if there was a rift between me and my little girl of twenty-seven. (She’s a doll, by the way!)

I hope some of you respond to these thoughts, and I’ll check back to see. I also hope this gives Romance Roundtable Readers a chance to know me better. Thanks for the opportunity.

Kathy Shay

Tomorrow’s guest blogger is award-winning author Kathryn Shay. Her May release from Berkley Sensation, Taking the Heat, throws firefighter Sophie Tyler and pub owner Liam O’Niell into a whirlwind of combustible conflict and desire.

A widower of three years, Liam is ready to move on but wants to protect his children from any more grief. After meeting the gorgeous firefighter, he is sure that she’s not the one. Her job with the FDNY is just too dangerous. But the attraction is red-hot and can’t be denied, especially when she takes a part-time job in the family pub.

Sophie struggles with her own demons. Her early life tragedy, the loss of brethren in the 9/11 twin tower attacks, and her personal struggle to make a place for herself in a mostly man’s world, gives her a strength and independence that makes it hard for her to compromise.

Throw in a vicious arsonist and a few antagonistic neanderthals that don’t think women should be fighting fires, and you have a fast-paced and suspense-filled story.

Kathryn Shay does a wonderful job of developing her characters. In this book, she was able to write about firefighters, her favorite heroes, and revisits the world she built of the close-knit O’Neil clan. So, you have the added treat of reading more of the O’Neil family saga and Liam’s extremely sexy brothers! You can find out more about them on her website.

So, come by tomorrow to welcome Kathryn to the Roundtable. She will be choosing one lucky commentor for a free book!

When I was in high school I loved to watch TCM. But as an adult I kind of grew away from those things. Not only did I get caught up in parenthood, but I also got caught up in big production films coming out of Hollywood. I was seduced by the technology and pomp.

Recently I’ve begun watching the classics, thanks to fellow RRT bloggers Kelly and Terri. Kelly of course offers Media Monday on her personal blog Delusions of Grandeur, when she gets a chance and Terri has spoken of some of the movies she’s watched recently.

Over the last week, I’ve watched some fabulous movies, but on Sunday, I had the pleasure of watching The Glenn Miller Story, on TCM.

You want to talk about major sigh factor. I was enthralled with Jimmy Stewart and his portrayal of Glenn. If the movie held any truth to Miller’s character, he was the hero of all heroes.

Jimmy Stewart as Glenn Miller

I kept thinking it would be fabulous to have this in theaters now with all the surround sound and 3-D technology. The thing is though, I can’t imagine anyone other than Stewart as the lead role. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they could remake it using the original film with today’s technology?

If you get the chance, I highly recommend watching this movie.

To learn more about Glenn Miller, click on the picture above and it will take you to the Big Band Library.

This morning I was in the bath thinking about my first blog for Romance Roundtable. Sam, my elderly and overweight golden retriever sat in his normal position at the side of the tub staring into the water. There he ponders the great mystery of life: “Why does mommy sit in the daddy sized water dish?” 

While Sam sat pondering, Argyle my tabby cat tiptoed around the tub edges lapping up any and all water drops. As I watched him inspiration struck. Who better to advise me on blog topics other than my faithful bath time companions?  So as Sam grew cross-eyed staring at the water and Argyle finished licking the faucet dry, I asked them what I should write about.

No answer.

Well, what do you expect from a dog with a bathtub fixation and a cat who doesn’t have the good sense to be afraid of falling in?

I was on my own.

Rinsing off the suds I got to thinking about seduction scenes and how a clever writer can nearly ruin her heroine’s life in three paragraphs.  How does one make those erogenous zones hit the skids while leaving the reader wanting more? To me this requires a talent who employs tact, daring and her share of skill.  Is this type of writing possible for a novice Chick Lite writer?  My bath time buddies and I were about to find out.

May I present for your reading pleasure, a quick outline for a Chick Lit version of:  The Wrath of Seduction Gone Wrong.  

A.  The set up.  We have our heroine, we’ll call her Heloise. She’s been seeing the hero we’ll call Harvey, for over six months. Heloise decides it’s time for Harvey to make his move and she plans to help. What about seduction? Like the Guinness guys say, Brilliant! She writes a note to Harvey entitled: “Have you ever swum naked in a kiddy pool under a halo of Japanese lanterns?” She slips said seduction note inside his day planner, but gasp, Harvey’s sworn rival for Heloise’s hand, Rick the-you-know-what, winds up with the note. Harvey assumes the worst. He calls it quits with Heloise breaking her heart. 

B. The fight is on. Rick, the-you-know-what, is caught rummaging through Harvey’s office stealing sales leads.  Ah ha!  Harvey realizes if Rick the-you-know-what would steal sales leads he would also steal love notes.  Rick the-you-know-what is fired from the company and Harvey devises a plan to win back Heloise. He decides to use seduction as his method of winning the lady’s love.  As the Guinness guys say, Brilliant! Harvey borrows his nephew’s 8 foot blow up pool and talks Heloise into coming to his apartment for a special evening and a promised rekindling of their love. It’s near dusk with the patio lit in Japanese lanterns of red and yellow. Beside the blow up pool is a bottle of champagne, two flutes and a plate of strawberries. The pool itself is filled with warm water and floating gardenias.  The couple drinks a toast, and then Harvey invites Heloise into the pool for a seductive swim.  Things are going well until a wasp lands on one of the gardenias and then stings Heloise. She’s allergic and swells up like a balloon.  She’s not happy with Harvey. 

C. The fight gears up. Harvey attempts plan B, Seduction with a capital S. The Guinness guys cheer! Harvey arrives at Heloise’s place with a surprise. He has romance inspired messages recorded just for her–French accent at a modest extra charge. Harvey’s accomplished his triumph via: Relationship Voice Mail, Inc.  Heloise decides to give the hunky love of her life another chance and invites him to stay for dinner. A jubilant Harvey dials the number to his cache of messages and explains they are all the feelings in his heart that he is unable to put into words.  Heloise gets misty eyed and takes the phone. Embarrassed by her emotional outburst, she lies and says her tears are caused by the medicine she’s been taking for the bee sting.  She puts the phone to her ear and a voice with a heavy French accent begins comparing her thighs to USDA choice beef, her hair to a Brillo pad and her voice to Rosanne Barr’s. Heloise is not amused and Harvey is left wondering why she dumped the spaghetti over his head.

D. The breakthrough. This is the part of my insane outline you’ve been waiting for. The proposed scene is seductive, romantic and most of all G rated.  The fight is over and our favorite couple are about to enjoy wedded bliss. The setting is a beach house and outside is the long stretch of powdery white sand where Heloise and Harvey first met. This is it, the climax the reader has been waiting for since the Rick the-you-know-what went on unemployment, Heloise got stung by the wasp, and Harvey was left washing the spaghetti out of his hair. Harvey has been sent to the store for a bottle of wine. Heloise takes his absence to prepare the beach with a special giant heart drawn in the sand.  She lines the heart with candles and lights them.  Harvey gets back to find a note from Heloise that says, “Come to me now in the place where we first met.”  He dashes outside to find her standing inside a life-sized heart circled in candles. She’s a goddess dressed in a white filmy negligee.  He joins her with the wine and two glasses.  They toast their love and kiss.  It begins to rain. Neither one notices. 

I guess apart from allowing my imagination to run wild in this blog, I’ve made a stab at something. One of the keys to writing successful seduction scenes, at least for this writer, is romance.  Yeah, I know, cheesy and simple but hey what did you expect, Barbara Taylor Bradford?

Till my next blog (If they don’t drum me out of the group),

Terri

With help from my bath time buddies, Sam and Argyle

Welcome to Fiction Friday. 

This week we have three series that continue from our last Fiction Friday as well as a selection of Excerpts, Poetry, etc.  You can count on seeing these series posted here on Fiction Friday for as long as the authors wish.

Be sure to leave comments on as many of the blogs listed here as you can.  In those cases where it is not possible to comment, you are welcome to leave comments to the auther in the comment section here.  Did I mention how much we like comments?  Even where there are already some?  No comment.  :D

Now, on with the carnival.

Excerpts:

Twinheart by Janice
Second Sight by Debbie Mumford
Exceptions to the Rule by Fae Sutherland and Marguerite Labbe

Flash Fiction:

Rounds by Andi King

Poetry:

My Future by Lauren Murphy
Man O War by Patricia Bates

Serials:

Suzie’s House 65: Grilling Out by Alice Audrey
Suzie’s House 64: Something to Watch by Alice Audrey
Liberating Lucious Chapter 3 by Bonnie Dee
Liberating Lucious Chapter 2 by Bonnie Dee
Bound by Blood pt 3 by Jodie Becker

Short Stories:

Runespell by Sela Carsen

As Lara mentioned a few days ago, Romance Roundtable has recently acquired a new member. Her name is Anastasia St. James. She was kind enough to allow me to interview her for today’s blog.

Alice: Anastasia, I hear you have some great news. What’s happening?

Anastasia: Yes, Alice, I’ve received a contract from The Wild Rose Press for “A Visit from Sir Nicholas.”

Alice: What lead you to submit “A Visit from Sir Nicholas” to Wild Rose Press?

Anastasia: I was looking for a publisher that published short stories and saw on their website that they were taking submissions for Christmas stories in any length.

Alice: When does “A Visit from Sir Nicholas” come out?

Anastasia: I don’t have a release date yet, but I expect/hope it will be out for Christmas.

Alice: Do you have anything else in the works with Wild Rose Press?

Anastasia: No, I don’t have anything else under contract with them, although I do plan to submit my next book to them. So far, I’m very happy with them and how they’ve dealt with me.

Alice: What’s “A Visit from Sir Nicholas” about?

Anastasia: It’s a short story of love lost and love found, which combines the setting of post Regency England with the poem ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’ and a Christmas miracle.

Alice: What was your inspiration?

Anastasia: FanLit Forever. We had a contest to write a holiday story. In typical pantser fashion I sat down to write, not really knowing what I would write about and before I knew it, there it was. Surprise!

Alice: FanLit Forever is a board that came out of the Avon FanLit contest. How did you first hear about Avon FanLIt

Anastasia: I received a newsletter from Cathy Maxwell about the Avon FanLit contest. I read it, and reread it many times, finally decided to give it a go. That turned out to be a great decision, because there I met a wonderful bunch of ladies who later founded FanLit Forever and became indispensable in my quest for growth and knowledge as a writer.

Alice: How has FanLit Forever helped in your quest for growth and knowledge?

Anastasia: Immensely. Fanlit Forever is not just any forum, it’s a very special place. It’s members are wonderful warmhearted people that are not only truly committed to their own goals as writers but are also devoted to helping each and every other member to succeed. They have challenged, motivated and given me the courage to reach for a dream.

Alice: What are you working on now?

Anastasia: Now I’m working on a story which involves a privateer, a ship, a wife, a mistress, and the luscious island of Jamaica during the war of 1812.

Alice: How long have you been writing?

Anastasia: For years I have been thinking about it and finally about two years ago I sat down and took off with a story which now resides with the dust bunnies under my bed.

Alice: LOL. I have a few of those. I know you are a voracious reader. Which authors do you like? Do you have a favorite book?

Anastasia: Hmm… a lot, but I guess I should choose those that come immediately to mind. Anna Campbell’s Claiming the Courtesan and Untouched. The Slightly series by Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons and Liz Carlyle’s: One Little Sin, Two Little Lies, and Three Little Secrets. All of Lisa Kelypas’ and all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series from R.J Ward, specially Zsadist story; Lover Awakened.

Alice: You’ve already done a couple of travelogues on Romance Roundtable, and will hopefully be doing more. You must travel a lot. Where have you been? Silly question since I’ve seen pictures you personally took in Greece, Albania, and London. All right, then, where have you NOT been?

Anastasia: Australia, I definitely want to go there one day. I’ve put it off until now because it’s such a long flight. But one day I will get there.

Alice: If I had a million dollars for travel and a month to spend it in, where should I go?

Anastasia: If it was me, I would rent a Clipper with a top rate crew, decorated chef and a delicious wine cellar, and sail the seas. Luggage would include: two changes of clothes, two bathing suits, my laptop and books, tons of books. But if unlike myself, you like to fly, then I would suggest leasing a private jet and hop scotching around the world at your ease. You’ll have to make quite a few fuel stops so your flight plan would look something like this: NY, London, Paris, Rome, Egypt, Kenya, Seychelles, Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Hong Kong, Japan, Alaska, Canada, NY. Ready to go? :-)

Alice: I certainly am! Thank you, Anastasia. This was my first interview. I hope we did it right.

“Look, Ma, no hands!” 

Those four words say someone’s having fun and doing something they feel is remarkable.  I used to ride an old red boy’s bike up and down the hard packed dirt road that ran past our house.  I could go forever without touching the handlebars, and if I concentrated hard enough, I could even turn the corner in a hands free state.  I was impressed with myself whether anyone else was or not, but then again, I was only nine or ten years old and hadn’t seen much of the world yet.

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been having another “Look, Ma” moment.  I’ve been riding with my hands free and the breeze on my face, and feeling rather full of myself.  I’ve been revising.  Uh, yes, I said revising, and I said I’ve been having fun.  It’s true.

The manuscript I’m working on is several years old, and at the time I wrote it, I had very little knowledge of how to write.  All I knew to do was to tell the story the way I wanted it told.  I can remember going over and over what I had written, trying to fix it as best I could, but when it became obvious that I had exhausted my limited knowledge of how to write, I put it away. 

Then I met my Fanlit Forever buddies and started playing and learning and growing as a writer.  I still have a lot left to learn, but I’ve gained enough confidence to dig out that old manuscript and try it again.  I won’t be surprised if I fall off my bike a number of times before this is over, but at least I’m taking the ride.  While I’m doing it, I intend to keep holding my hands out and enjoying the breeze, and if you happen to hear someone hollering “Look, Ma, no hands!”, it’s probably me. 

All my friends said I was nuts, even my writing buddies. Why? The answer is very simple. I decided to do back to back conferences. Two weeks ago, I was in the lovely city of Pittsburgh along with thousands of other crazy women. Despite the twice delayed flight , the dusty hotel renovations, and case of the sickies, I had a wonderful time. You could plainly see this by the photos I posted earlier. It was FUN FUN FUN!

This past weekend, I avoided the airplane and opted to drive to Chicago to attend North Chicago RWA’s Spring Fling ’08. Being a RWA conference, I already expected it to be a more professional atmosphere. They had great keynote speakers, including Christie Ridgway, Eloisa James, and Debbie Macomber. All these women are very friendly and great fun. Despite the business casual attire, the atmosphere was rather relaxed. And the hotel was phenomenal. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a nicer room. My two roommates were awesome too.

To be honest, both conferences were great. I’ve noticed, however, that I do much better in a professional setting, even when I fall on my face in front of a bunch of editors. Don’t ask! I should just hang a sign around my neck that says, “I’m not drunk, I’m just a klutz.”

Cheers!
Sindee

 Okay, so this “Who Are You” meme made the rounds a while back, but I decided to bring it back to life.  And although I’m not really linking it to the meme or to anyone else’s webpage, all you readers can post your own special qualities.  Some of you have already done this, but that’s okay.  Today is a new day after all.  Let us get to know you!

Here are mine:

You’re feeling:   

                                 tired yet exhilarated from walking laps in the Relay for Life

To your left:        my works in progress files and my Jane Austen collection

On your mind:    being a 20 year cancer survivor

Last meal included:     Whataburger, Jr. and fries

You sometimes find it hard to:     believe in myself

The weather:     clear, unseasonably cool, and breezy

Something you have a collection of:      Precious Moment statues

A smell that cheers you up:      summer rain

A smell that can ruin your mood:       a dentist’s drill on tooth decay

How long since you last shaved:       a day

The current state of your hair:       shaggy and windblown

The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer):      expandable  file folder with works in progress

Your skill with chopsticks:      doesn’t exist

Which section do you head for first in a bookstore:      romance

Something you’re craving:     time to read a really good book

Your general thoughts on the presidential race:    

                                                            get it over with already

How many times have you been hospitalized this year:       nada

Favorite place to go for a quiet moment:        the back porch at sunset

You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good:        animator

Something that freaks you out a little:       

                                                            strange sounds in the dead of night

Something you’ve eaten too much of lately:       tortilla chips

You have never:       been to Ireland but I’ve always wanted to go

You never want to:      regret the things I should have done

The four people I’m tagging:        all those who read this blog and haven’t been tagged  

You don’t have to do all of them if you don’t want to, but pick a couple that say something about you.  And, have a terrific Monday and a productive week!

For the release of my current book, Baby on the Billionaire’s Doorstep, I did something I’ve never done before: a virtual book tour. A friend of mine, Joni Hahn with Savvy Support Alternatives, arranged the whole thing for me. Guest blogs, book reviews, online chats and even radio interviews.

Let me tell you, it’s been a trip. My previous brushes with publicity involved setting up a website and the occasional booksigning or workshop, so this virtual book tour thing was a big stretch for me.

And it’s a good thing I don’t have to do a blog everyday. Turns out blogging plays into all of my tendencies to ramble pointlessly. So each blog I’ve done requires great discipline to whip into shape. And several rounds of revisions. And occasionally they need to trashed altogether.

Here are a few of the blog topics I’ve wisely dismissed:
• a brief history of diamond mining – um, too boring
• a rant against the bottle water industry – off topic and um, too boring
• a description of boring blogs I’ve read that aren’t written by writers– off topic, too boring and—who am I kidding?—that’s just begging for criticism

So now I know the ugly truth. Blogging is hard. And I’m no good at it.

But here are the good things I’ve learned during my virtual book tour:
• Romance readers are cool – okay, actually, I knew this already, but it’s always nice to have your beliefs about the world reaffirmed. Everywhere I went online, I met friendly people, eager to chat about their favorite books and authors. And let’s face it, there’s nothing better than a sharing a great book with a fellow fan.
• There are lots of great writers out there – every once in while, I get a little sad, feeling like I’ve read all the great romance classics. But on several chats/blog discussions, people mentioned “their favorite” writers I’d never even heard of. It’s exciting to think that the next time I take a break from my own writing to dive into a new book, I have the works of Elizabeth Hoyt and Silvia Day to explore.

All in all, it was a very good experience and it was wonderful to get out of my comfort zone and meet new romance readers.

Emily McKay

P.S. I’m running a contest on my website, and there will soon be a question up about this blog. So be sure to stop by and enter.

Tomorrow on The Romance Roundtable, Silhouette Desire author, Emily McKay, will be blogging with us about her virtual book tour for her new release, BABY ON THE BILLIONAIRE’S DOORSTEP. Here is the back cover copy:

Jet-setting bachelor Dex Messina thought he knew everything about women…until he met the tiny infant girl abandoned on his doorstep. One thing Dex was sure of: the gorgeous redhead who stormed back into his life, insisting she’d made a mistake, was hiding something. And uncovering her secret would be his pleasure.

To gain custody of her beloved niece, Lucy Alwin would do anything—even pose as the woman with whom Dex had shared one intimate night. But if boldly lying to the powerful billionaire was difficult, resisting their burning desire could prove impossible.

I was lucky enough to get to read this book and found it wonderfully engaging. The characters came to life for me. There is much to admire in Lucy, who will do anything to protect the niece that she has cared for since birth. Dex is the rich, sexy, footloose hero whom we would all love to tame. Together, their chemistry heats up the pages.

What I loved about this book were the intricate plot twists. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, there was an unexpected twist that kept me captive until the end.

I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it! I will definitely be looking out for Emily McKay’s backlist and news of future releases.

Be sure to drop by tomorrow and give Emily a warm welcome!

When the weather turned warm and humid in Maryland last week, and I realized I was still wearing my winter sweaters to the office, I decided it was time to make that dreaded trip to the mall to buy weather-appropriate work clothes. And I truly did dread the prospect, since I hate, hate, HATE to shop. But sometimes necessity rears its ugly head, so on Friday aftenroon, I hit the mall on my way home. I strolled into the dressing room, arms laden with stretchy nylon and stiff cotton, knowing full well that a minimum of 90% of the shirts would make me look either lumpy, flat-chested, pregnant, or a combination of all three, and that if I was unbelievably lucky, I’d find maybe two shirts that both fit and looked acceptable.

I rounded the corner, and there they were. A bevy of teenage girls all trying on prom dresses.

Now, my one concession to my own feminity is that I love formal gowns. I love feeling the swoosh of a full-skirted ballgown against my legs. I adore the snug-fitting, ribbon-trimmed bodices that nip in at the waist and make me feel like I have curves that don’t actually exist. Even the heavy weight of the satins and velvets and sequins and lace appeal. They make me stand up straighter, lift my head higher and square my shoulders until I feel positively regal.

When I was in law school, stress came easily and frequently. Sometimes, when the pressures of school seemed about to overwhelm me, I’d drive north on the pretext of visiting my brother, who was in college an hour north of my school. There’s a giant mall just a mile from the university, and before I’d meet him, I’d stop in at the department store and spend an hour just trying on fancy dresses. Dresses I could neither afford nor had any occasion to wear. But I’d put them on anyway.

After an hour of parading in front of the dressing room mirrors in creamy white satins, and fluffy pink tulles, imagining I was going to a reception at the White House, or to a charity dinner thrown by an elusively handsome millionaire, I’d always feel better. Stronger. More confident.

I know it seems silly, since I was really doing nothing more than putting on a costume and assuming the role of some character in my head. But there was something absolutely empowering about transforming myself into something visually and mentally beautiful. Somehow, the yards of fine fabric could imbue me with the self-assurance that I needed to overcome my next hurdle. It didn’t matter that no one could see me in the corner dressing room, looking spectacular. I knew, and I could draw on that memory whenever I needed a pick-me-up.

Now, I’m sure this probably seems like a really shallow idea, but think about it. Why is it that so many little girls, and grown women too, dream of being a princess? It’s certainly not because of the tremendous duties of overseeing the running of a castle or a country. It’s not the helplessness of succumbing to an arranged marriage to a cousin four times removed.

No, it’s because in donning the title, and tiara, and yes, even the gown, we’re reminded of our power as women. That we’re each quite special, and worthy of notice and appreciation, whether it be from a Prince Charming, or our colleagues at work. As much as it would seem to be about outer beauty, it’s really about shoring up our self-assurance so that our inner beauty can shine through.

And while I have no intention of dressing in a ballgown to go to the office, I’ll admit that remembering my princess therapy does give me the confidence to get through another week.

Do you have some kind of “princess treatment” that you use to perk yourself up after a tough day? What do you do to restore your self-confidence when life shakes things up?

Hey all, I just got in and for the last part of RT, I confined myself to bed. I still am a little under the weather, so will post some photos to show what a great time I had. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words, right?

At the Ellora’s Cave Golden Age of Hollwood party with Chris Winters. Aint he a cutie?

My camera went on the fritz for a bit. I know some other people took pictures for me. As soon as I get them I will post. There will be no Blood and Steel Pictures, since I was laid up in bed.

I felt like a blathering idiot at this time. If you don’t know who this is, get out of your cave. :)

A photo from the Cover Model Reunion Dinner. They had me at “Adrian Paul.” Fabio was a nice bonus, as well. Both men look extremely HOT!

My friend and fellow GRRRWA member, Jennifer Armintrout, Adrian Paul, and me. I had to fan myself after that picture (For obvious reasons, LOL). I tried to get a photo with Fabio too, but the day started to catch up to me and I needed to rest (After I packed, of course.)

I’ll post a more extensive story on my blog in a few days, after my brain reassembles itself.

Love ya all!
Sindee