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Lookie what's up on eHarlequin!

Print on Demand

I don't really know if this is great for the book industry or not, but it seems to me that being able to have a copy of a book regardless of whether it's still currently in print would be a very cool thing. I do think it makes more sense for hardback books or books that are hard to find but in great demand. I can't imagine it would be a cost-efficient way to sell small paperbacks that only cost $5 anyway.

My Day on the Intrigue Blog

It's my day to blog over on Intrigue Authors. My topic: book trailers. Drop by and comment! You could win a book.

Time for a Website Change

You know me, I can't stick with a design forever. I've redesigned my website, trimming it to the basics--home page, books, bio, pics, link to my blog, email link. I wanted to keep the black, but I felt that the all black was just a bit too much and kind of hard to read.

If you get a chance, take a look and let me know what you think.

Jayne Ann Krentz is a Sweetheart

Just wanted to say that aloud. Recently, I helped my friend Cissy Hartley at Writerspace.com work on a book trailer for Jayne's new Jayne Castle futuristic, DARK LIGHT. It was a lot of fun to do, especially since her books are infused with humor, and in my line of writing, it's not always easy to play with humor. Writing the "script" for her book trailers is so much fun!

Anyway, Jayne was kind enough to mention and link me on the group blog Running with Quills, so I thought the least I could do, though it's hardly a fair exchange, was to do the same for her on my blog.

Jayne has been very sweet and very helpful since we "met" through Cissy. Gracious to the core. That's not always what you find with people as successful and busy as she is, so when you do, it leaves an impression.

Whew! Packaged Up, Ready to Go

I finished my two-book proposal! Finally! This one has kicked my tush, but the chapters are done and printed, the synopsis done and printed, and I think both stories will hold together well and be interesting, exciting stories.

So yay!

BTW, I forgot to mention I'll be taking part in Writerspace's 2008 Beach Party. I should be around from 8 pm to 9 pm Central Time in the chat room. I'll be giving away a copy of one of my backlist, so if there's a book of mine you don't have, this could be your chance to win a copy!

COWBOY ALIBI Book Trailer

I spent yesterday morning making a book trailer for another author, so I thought it would behoove me to expend a little of that creativity on my own career. So, here's my book trailer for COWBOY ALIBI.




Does it make you want to read more?

Strange Bedfellows

Or, I guess, bookfellows?

My fellow Intrigue author Patricia Rosemoor embarked not too long ago on an interesting project: to co-write a vampire novel with a horror writer. Now the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES has published a feature story on their collaboration.

Congratulations, Patricia!

RIP Tony Snow (1955-2008)

I'm heartbroken. Tony Snow was probably my favorite news pundit of all time, just because he was unfailingly kind, straightforward and cheerful. I'm going to miss him so much.

President Bush's statement about Tony's death.

Whatever your politics or philosphy, I hope you'll join me in keeping Tony's wife and children in your thoughts and prayers.

Enriched Edition eBooks

Gotta admit, this is pretty cool:

Harlequin Launches Enriched Edition eBooks

It made me wonder what sort of links I'd suggest for my own books.

Intrigue Authors Blog Blitz

Mark your calendars to take part in the Intrigue Authors Sizzling Summer Blog Blitz! July 1-July 31. Lots of authors. Lots of winners. New posts daily.

If you love Harlequin Intrigues, and free books, the Intrigue Author's Sizzling Summer Blog Blitz is the place to be.

Is it Just Me...

...or are some of the best new original TV dramas coming from USA Network?

I've really enjoyed the debut of IN PLAIN SIGHT, for instance. Especially the bridesmaid episode. I've also recently discovered reruns of BURN NOTICE, which stars the deliciously twisted Jeffrey Donovan and an old fave, Bruce Campbell. It's clever, inventive, quirky and wry. I've also always generally enjoyed MONK, which had a weak season a while back but has made a comeback recently.

And I'm also starting to get into PSYCH, although I have to say their most recent promo is just cruel.

Do I really need that song in my head?

Cover Time!

And what a pretty one it is. Another guy standing in the rain with his wet shirt clinging to his hot bod. I guess if you have to have a schtick, that's not such a bad one to have.

Movie Recommendation

Someday, when I get time (which means, probably never), I'm going to write up an actual review of the movie my mom and I watched yesterday afternoon. But until that time comes, let me just say that AKEELAH AND THE BEE is a wonderful, deeply satisfying movie that's mostly safe for the whole family to watch. It's a sports movie about spelling champions. It's STAND AND DELIVER meets ROCKY. It has Laurence Fishburne in a very appealing and textured role.

And I love me some Laurence Fishburne.

Rent it. Buy it. Watch it on The Movie Channel, where I saw it. If you love words, if you love learning, if you love big dreams and hard work being paid off, then you'll love AKEELAH AND THE BEE.

A Little Book Business

In case you've been looking for new copies of Forbidden Temptation and haven't been able to find any, both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com have copies available now.

You know, I've bought used books plenty of times, even sometimes when I could find a new copy. But I don't do that anymore, not since I've been on this end of the story and realized how little a percentage writers make from the books they sell. You can live with that if you're Nora Roberts and selling millions of books, but if you're writing category, and you have a limited print run and a very limited on-shelf time period to begin with, every little percentage of that $4.99 helps. And when people buy my books used, or borrow them from friends or hand them off to friends, that's money I don't get to see for the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears I put into my writing.

So, if you can, please buy new.

Kim Sold!

My Heart of Dixie Chaptermate Kim Lang just sold her first book to Mills and Boon Modern Heat. Go congratulate her!

Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe

I don't usually talk about stuff besides my writing or parts of my personal life here on this blog, but I'm making an exception today. I have a friend who lives in Zimbabwe, and her emails to me are just heartbreaking. Thanks to a corrupt and brutal dictatorship, the country's economy is in the tank and their recent elections, which seemed a clear mandate against Mugabe, have turned into a nightmare of fraud and retribution.

So when my friend sent this to me by email, I knew I wanted to share it with others who care about what's happening on the other side of the world.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR ZIMBABWE - SUNDAY APRIL 27, 2008.

A desperate cry from the hearts of Zimbabwe screams across the world. It calls upon all Christians of every denomination in every nation to focus their prayers, in churches, halls, homes or elsewhere, on Sunday, April 27, 2008 on the critical situation in Zimbabwe, a nation in dire distress and teetering on the brink of human disaster.

Let the cry for help touch your heart and mind. Let it move you to do what you can immediately to ensure this DAY OF PRAYER takes place in your country and neighbourhood.

Please pass on this message right now to all the churches and Christian organisations known to you and to the media as well as to everyone anxious to rescue Zimbabwe from violence, the concealing and juggling of election results, deceit, oppression and corruption, and to bring about righteousness, joy, peace, compassion, honesty, justice, democracy and freedom from fear and want.

May a continual strong stream of prayer and supplication flow up to the Lord on behalf of all the people on this DAY OF PRAYER, exhorting His divine intervention throughout the nation.

"It is by making the truth publicly known that we recommend ourselves to the honest judgment of mankind in the sight of God." - (2 Corinthians 4:2)

SOME ADVICE TO ZIMBABWEANS

"Who so putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."- (Proverbs 29:25)
"Stand fast, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the yoke of slavery." - (Galatians 5:1)
"Make no mistake, you cannot cheat God." - (Galatians 6:7)
"Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good." - (Romans 12:21)

Bob Stumbles
Chancellor, Anglican Diocese of Harare.

You Have to Admire the Depths of Geekdom

Someone has quantified the frequency of "Red Shirt" deaths in Star Trek. Particularly interesting is how the death rate goes down if Kirk gets his freak on with some alien woman.

I salute you, sir.

Although, in fairness, the guy says he did it as a fun way to make analytics more easily grasped by the general, non-analytical public. Or something like that.

Riiiiight.

T. S. Eliot meets the Internet

http://www.corprew.org/content/lolcat-wasteland/

Really. I have no words. Mostly because I can't stop laughing.

What's Missing?

I'm in the middle of plotting my next couple of proposals, and I'm finding it hard to know quite what I want to write. I think I almost have too many choices available, if that makes sense.

So here's a question for you readers out there, especially if you read Intrigues but even if you don't. What kind of stories aren't you getting enough of these days? What would you like to see more of? Any particular romantic conflict that's not getting written? Any current event that you think would make a great suspense/mystery story? What's missing from your book buffet?