tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:16:04 +0000A single Southern girl searching for the meaning of life or, barring that, a good piece of chocolate.http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/paulagraves@charter.net (Paula)Blogger575125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-7755423287030013312Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:20:00 +00002010-01-08T08:20:00.400-06:00 Today, my blog post on the eHarlequin Intrigue Authors blog is a fun one: I interview Hannah Cooper, the heroine of my January Intrigue, CASE FILE: CANYON CREEK, WYOMING.Interviewing my characters is one of the more fun things I do as an author. I don't do it nearly as often as you'd think, but my talk with Hannah convinced me that I should include this particular author's parlor trick into the http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogging-on-intrigue-authors.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-4580121635240570500Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:47:00 +00002010-01-08T06:53:26.961-06:00Harlequin IntrigueIntrigue Authors BlogQ and AI'm blogging today on the Intrigue Authors blog. It's something a little different—a Q & A with Hannah Cooper, the heroine of my January Intrigue, CASE FILE: CANYON CREEK, WYOMING. And if you don't have a copy of my book COWBOY ALIBI yet, I'm giving a copy away, so drop by the comments and ask a few more questions of Hannah. Who knows what answers she'll give you! ;)Speaking of CF:CC,W, a little http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogging-on-intrigue-authors-blog.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-2713222749609875298Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +00002010-01-06T08:00:08.388-06:00Harlequin IntrigueWyomingRomance MagiciansfishingI'm blogging today on Romance Magicians, the group blog of my local RWA chapter, Southern Magic. The topic? "What is it with the fishing thing?" I talk about the Cooper Justice series, and what inspired me to create a new series featuring a loving, boisterous family who run a fishing camp and marina in northeast Alabama. Drop by, give the whole blog a read. There are a wonderful bunch of http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogging-on-romance-magicians.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-2184966368323167481Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:45:00 +00002010-01-05T06:55:16.114-06:00 Cataromance gave CASE FILE: CANYON CREEK, WYOMING a great review. I particularly love the quote I put above in the headline. I hope they like CHICKASAW COUNTY CAPTIVE as well.Speaking of reviews, if you've read any of my books and would like to leave a review on amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million or any of the other online bookstores that allow reviews, I would love it. I love to hearhttp://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2010/01/4-12-stars-wonderfully-romantic-and.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-560879389317742014Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:23:00 +00002010-01-03T09:31:22.632-06:00DJ EarwormPop musicmash-upThis is just wild.The only songs in the video that I know are the Miley Cyrus song, the Taylor Swift songs, and the Beyonce "Single Ladies" song. Yes, I know I'm woefully unhip. For more on the creator of this mashup, visit his website .http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2010/01/pop-music-2009-mashup.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-4230685291747078044Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:26:00 +00002010-01-01T08:38:59.515-06:00My February book is now on sale at eHarlequin.com.If you just can't wait (and come on, you know you can't!), you can get your copy early from eHarlequin, and at a lower cover price, too! What to know more about this book? Here's the back cover copy: When someone tries to kidnap his daughter, Jefferson County DA Sam Cooper sees red. He wants little Maddy protected, at any cost. Even if that cost http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2010/01/chickasaw-county-captive-is-available.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-176181374282918074Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +00002009-12-31T08:48:57.970-06:00Jane Aiken HodgeMarriage of Conveniencewriting romanceromance booksOne of the first romances I ever read was a marriage of convenience story. It was MARRY IN HASTE by Jane Aiken Hodge. It's been a long time since I've read it, so I remember only snippets, but the one thing I do remember is that it fueled my love of marriage of convenience stories. So much to enjoy about a good marriage of convenience story--the forced proximity, the pretend intimacy that leads http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/marry-me-conveniently_31.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-7630152012283820489Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:48:00 +00002009-12-28T06:59:02.255-06:00I didn't want to interrupt the Blog Days of Christmas with this news, but I got a great review from Romantic Times for my February book, CHICKASAW COUNTY CAPTIVE. 4 1/2 stars and the following:County prosecutor Sam Cooper doesn't know who's trying to kidnap his daughter. Detective Kristen Tandy has to fight her own demons to protect the little girl from a specter out of her father's past. Could http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/4-12-stars-conclusion-you-wont-soon.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-8597092490740923058Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:15:00 +00002009-12-27T11:53:38.463-06:00Contest InformationwinnersCongratulations to the final set of Blog Days of Christmas prize winners!Marianne Arkins wins Julie Miller's December Intrigue BEAUTY AND THE BADGE. Kea wins Rita Herron's December Intrigue HIS SECRET CHRISTMAS BABY.And as a freebie thank you, so that everybody who commented at some point this week wins something, Valerie Oakleaf, Margaret, Martha Lawson, Lelia, Dyeve, Angela, Naima Simone, http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/final-blog-days-of-christmas-winners.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-2054957505034552474Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:16:00 +00002009-12-26T07:16:00.416-06:00Harlequin IntrigueBooksCooper JusticeI want to thank everyone who has been so supportive of my Blog Days of Christmas blog blitz. I've noted in previous blogs that I'm not a natural blogger, mostly for the same reason I'm not prone to journaling. I just don't like to talk about myself that much. Self promotion is difficult for me, but I've come to realize that my books won't get read if I don't get the word out somehow.I do love http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/thank-you-all.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-4008584461228970267Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:41:00 +00002009-12-25T08:41:00.139-06:00BibleLukechristmasJesus ChristLuke 2: 4 - 14(4) So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. (5) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-to-you-and-yours.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-5110348437581565708Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:29:00 +00002009-12-24T07:29:00.040-06:00Christmas moviesA CHRISTMAS STORYchristmasI'm recycling this post from 2007 because nothing has changed. A CHRISTMAS STORY is still my favorite movie, and the things I love about it, listed below, are the same today as they were two years ago. So read and enjoy, and then tell me all about your favorite Christmas movies in the comments.If forced to choose my favorite Christmas movie of all time, I think I'd really have to go with A http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/youll-shoot-your-eye-out.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-4223607354989164011Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:15:00 +00002009-12-23T06:15:05.211-06:00Harlequin IntrigueHandbellschristmasRita HerronA while back, before my knee and back problems made standing for long periods of time too excruciating to bear, I was a member of my church handbell choir. It was a lot of fun and at times, quite challenging. It's rather like being one (or, really, two, since you usually play at least two bells at a time) of the keys on a piano keyboard, and for music to happen, every key has to do their job justhttp://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/carol-of-handbells.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-6046386376195395777Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:17:00 +00002009-12-22T07:17:00.280-06:00Harlequin IntrigueContest InformationchristmasRita HerronHis Secret Christmas Baby by Rita HerronInvestigator Derrick McKinney's quiet bachelor life was shattered when the son he just learned existed was abducted right out from under the watchful eye of his beautiful guardian. And although she was left unconscious and heartbroken, someone feared Brianna Honeycutt saw more than she claimed, placing her life in danger. Working together, Derrick now had http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-intrigue-spotlight_22.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-1271712776263355434Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +00002009-12-21T07:00:00.360-06:00Julie MillerContest InformationchristmasChristmas treeAnd by recycled, I mean this blog post. I posted the same thing in 2007, but I'm bringing it back for an encore because it's still funny and we still talk about it in my family.My late father used to pinch a penny until it screamed, and then pinch it some more. So when it came to Christmas trees, there was no fun little trip to the Christmas tree lot or farm to be had. And back when I was youngerhttp://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/recycled-christmas-tree.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-8334238913524530097Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:21:00 +00002009-12-20T08:31:26.319-06:00Another week of the Blog Blitz is over, and here are the prize winners for this week:Linda Henderson wins a copy of Debra Webb's December Intrigue, FIRST NIGHT.Sherry James wins a copy of Dani Sinclair's December Intrigue, POLICE PROTECTOR.Jemi Fraser wins a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card. You can use it online at barnesandnoble.com if you don't have a store up in your neck of the http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/this-weeks-winners.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-4737144514680927297Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +00002009-12-19T08:12:23.025-06:00Barnes and Noble gift cardcolorsContest InformationchristmasI know red, green and gold are the traditional Christmas colors, but I'm a sucker for anything blue. Blue trees, blue ornaments on a silver tree, blue ornaments on a green tree—if it's blue, I'm for it.My family is not quite as enamored of blue as I am, alas, so it's hard to get much as much blue on the family tree as I would like.I also love blue on my Christmas cards and Christmas wrapping http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/blue-christmas.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-7914482485325274269Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:44:00 +00002009-12-18T06:44:00.722-06:00Harlequin Intriguemurder mysteryJulie MillerdetectiveBeauty and the Badge by Julie MillerWhen girl next door Beth Rogers pounded on Detective Kevin Grove's door in the middle of the night, she awakened not only the cop, but also the die-hard protector. His spunky neighbor had uncovered scandalous secrets about a murder and someone was threatening to silence her…permanently.After one heartbreak too many, Kevin was ready to call it quits. With his http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-intrigue-spotlight_18.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-7464602985561552008Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:12:00 +00002009-12-17T07:12:00.121-06:00Harlequin IntrigueBaby Tender LoveG.I. JoeToysMisty of ChincoteaguechristmasSilly PuttyDani SinclairI wrote earlier about how much I loved Christmas morning as a kid. Most of the reason, of course, was that I couldn't wait to unwrap all those presents I'd been anticipating.So today, I'm going to share some of my favorite toys of Christmas past.Baby Tender LoveAlthough I went tomboy in my pre-teens, when I was a very little girl, I was obsessed with dolls. I loved them, especially the ones that http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/back-when-i-was-kid.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-1167015372737204667Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:41:00 +00002009-12-16T06:41:00.422-06:00Million dollarsmoneychristmasLet's think about our Top Five "If I had a million dollars" Christmas wishes.Now, here are the ground rules. 1. We know a million dollars doesn't get us as far as it used to, so you won't be able to buy your own 747 jet or anything like that. However, do use your entire million on each of the five--we're going for conspicuous consumption here.2. Second, be relatively honest. Saying you'd give it http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/top-5-if-i-had-million-dollars.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-8880214804275505183Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:24:00 +00002009-12-15T06:24:00.534-06:00Harlequin IntrigueDebra WebbChristmas songsContest InformationI was going to do a Top 5 Funniest Christmas videos, but I couldn't really find five that I thought were THAT funny. So I'm just going to share a couple I love.First up, Robert Earl Keene's "Merry Christmas From the Family." I think this one is probably a little funnier if you're from the South and don't exactly fit into the whole Junior League social set (like me)...And one of my all time http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/two-of-my-favorite-christmas-videos.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-4118636471366272690Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:05:00 +00002009-12-14T10:33:26.643-06:00Harlequin IntriguechristmasDani SinclairPolice Protector by Dani SinclairFinding three children locked in a saferoom wasn't how Lucan O'Shay planned to spend the holidays. Taking the children and their feisty aunt into his home…well, if that's what it took to serve and protect, that's what he would do. Never mind that the aunt, Kyra Wolfstead, was making him crazy. But someone was trying to kill her and take the children. Not on http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-intrigue-spotlight_14.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-1123286071068090627Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:10:00 +00002009-12-13T07:10:00.181-06:00Harlequin IntrigueContest InformationchristmasThree contests, three winners!My email address is linked on my website. Click on the "Contact" link and send me an email with your mailing address, and I'll send y'all your prizes.First up--the winner of Carla Cassidy's December Intrigue, Scene of the Crime: Bridgewater, Texas is Misty Wright!The winner of the $10 Barnes and Noble gift card is Louisa Cornell!And the winner of Cassie Miles' http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/winners-so-far-plus-new-chance-to-win.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-7298027436674864513Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:50:00 +00002009-12-12T06:50:00.192-06:00Handel's MessiahchristmasFor me, it's just not Christmas until I've listened to at least some of Handel's Messiah.Everyone knows the Hallelujah Chorus, of course, but I have other favorites:Glory to God:For Unto Us a Child is Born:Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted:And, yeah, okay, it just wouldn't be Christmas without the Hallelujah Chorus:One of my favorite live performances was at Samford University, my alma mater, severalhttp://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-traditions-handels-messiah.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10961511.post-277486909102426258Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:47:00 +00002009-12-11T07:47:00.389-06:00Harlequin IntrigueDebra WebbColby AgencychristmasFirst Night by Debra WebbAs far as Christmas packages went, Brandon Thomas was one tall drink of water. And at the moment he was in over his too-handsome head. He'd showed up at the Colby offices covered in blood and desperate for help unraveling a mystery of murder. Luckily for Brandon, Merri Walters was a determined investigator not about to let an innocent bystander get railroaded—especially http://spinstersandlunatics.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-intrigue-spotlight_11.htmlpaulagraves@charter.net (Paula)3