Enter! Enter!

One night of anonymous sex. Zero consequences. At least, that was the plan.

Dumped for another woman, Bree Jamison buries her white-picket-fence dreams—and her naturally shy demeanor—for a contract job behind the scenes of an erotic cyberstore. Her new life comes with a sexy public persona, and a driving ambition to earn a permanent position with the company.

On the day she’s prepared to present her best work, she’s shocked to discover her future depends on impressing her only one-night stand. The one man who could blow her cover and ruin everything.

Evan climbed out of poverty with sarcasm on his tongue and a ring in his eyebrow. He can’t believe the vixen in front of him is the same woman who fumbled her way through their single botched encounter. Her offer for a do-over is an opportunity he can’t pass up, not only to secure his reputation, but to satisfy his curiosity about the one woman he couldn’t please.

In a bedroom full of the company’s products, fiery arguments lead to experimentation—and then to a passion that strips away their masks. In that vulnerable place, their troubled pasts collide, baring secrets that force Evan into a hard decision. And Bree back on the road to heartbreak…

Welcome, Avery!

I also enjoy reading nonfiction on psychological and sociological topics–the way people relate to themselves and each other. Parenting, marriage, and mental health are a few issues I’ve studied recently. Not only is this interesting and feeds my itch to learn new things, but the information can be very useful for character development in a story.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I have two works-in-progress at the moment: the second book in a paranormal romance trilogy and a steamy contemporary mixed with a bit of suspense. Having written several straight contemporaries, I’m trying my hand at other sub-genres and am excited to see how these stories turn out. Keeps my mind off the two manuscripts I’ve got floating around in submission-land…

My second published novel, a contemporary romance titled For His Eyes Only about a troubled young woman struggling to escape objectification who finds solace in the arms of a fashion industry mogul, releases in digital format from Samhain on November 3 of this year. Both this title and Sexy by Design will release in print in 2010.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
It’s a tie between “I loved it from the start,” and “I stayed up past midnight finishing it”!

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
Usually, I work from 7 pm to midnight, every night. I try to squeeze in administrative and promotional duties during the day while my kids are at school. If I’m approaching a deadline, I spend Saturday mornings at the local Starbucks with a frappuccino and my laptop.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
I’m supposed to pick one gorgeous, smart, talented, successful woman who has the devoted attention of a gorgeous, smart, talented, successful hunk? That’s a tall order…but I have to say my favorite character is the heroine of one of my submission-land manuscripts. She’s pretty, independent, and so driven there’s nothing in the world she can’t do, except confess she’s crazy in love with an old friend who belongs to someone else…she thinks. I love a good reunion story!

Thanks so much for being here, Avery!

To enter into a drawing for a chance to win a digital copy of SEXY BY DESIGN, simply answer this question:

Are you a night owln or a morning person?

Have you entered the STOLEN HEAT Contest yet? No? Then do it!

Leslie is one of the funniest people you will ever meet, and her Bombay family of assassins will leave you laughing on the floor, wondering who-dunnit, and pondering just how someone as sweet and innocent looking as Leslie can come up with these mysterious and delightfully absurd characters.

A mother of two who lives in the suburbs, Leslie “claims” the Bombay books aren’t based on her life. But her hubby IS a body guard and she DOES have a pug…

Read on to see if you believe her…

Coney Bombay is one hot assassin with an Ivy League PhD who travels the world operating carnival rides. He also likes to knit and has a pet guinea pig named Sartre. Even in his wild family of killers, Cy stands out. But after a series of run-ins with perennial grad student Veronica Gale, the cool cat is starting to feel a little hot under the collar.

In her research, Ronnie Gale has seen a lot. Problem is, she hasn’t actually done a lot. The mysterious Cy Bombay seems about to change all that with a whirlwind adventure that will take them from a small-town county fair to the outer reaches of Mongolia. But when love is on the line and there’s a murder to be solved, will Ronnie really be willing to climb out of the ivory tower and get a little down and dirty?

“Leslie Langtry brings her Greatest Hits mystery romance series, featuring the Bombay family of assassins, to a fitting end with the fourth installment, I SHOT YOU BABE (Making It). Perennial grad student Veronica Gale gets more than she bargained for when her latest dissertation project puts her in the path of philosopher/assassin/carnival-ride operator Coney (Cy) Bombay – and an unsolved murder that might just kill her, too.”
–Tanzey, Fresh Fiction

“Killing has definitely kept the Bombay family together, although the new generation has a few qualms. Langtry closes out her delightfully wacked-out series about surprisingly hilarious assassins by focusing on cousin Cy. His distinct viewpoint is both amusing and insightful as he struggles with love and a new assignment. Talented Langtry has a real gift for the absurd.”
–RT Book Reviews

Welcome to the blog, Leslie!!

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I SHOT YOU BABE just came out this month from Dorchester and it sort of ends the Bombay Series about a family of assassins. I’m actually working on both a funny paranormal and funny sci-fi serieseses…or however you say that. At least, I think they’re funny. Well, I hope they’re funny.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
There are two, actually. I’ve had a couple of fans who begged me to “Write faster!” Or maybe it was more like they demanded it. It didn’t actually make me write faster. But it was flattering. The second came from a soldier who was stuck in the heat of a tent city. She read my first book and said, “You’re book saved my f$#@ing life.” That was beyond precious.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
Whenever I have a few moments. I’ve been doing a lot of writing in the evenings lately. I’m not sure I can manage anything on a schedule except for eating and sleeping and making sure the kids/pets/evil minions are eating and sleeping.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’ve read or written, who would it be and why?
I would love to be Thursday Next in Jasper Fforde’s series. She gets to hop in and out of novels, solve crime and she has a cool car. If it was one of my books, I’d have to say Gin Bombay’s dog, Poppy the Pug. She gets to sleep all day and is so cute they don’t even get mad at her if she does something stupid.

Leslie is offering up a copy of I SHOT YOU BABE to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

Are you a schedule follower or do schedules make you cringe?

(Please note, this drawing is open to US residents only)

Jane, email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your snail mail addy and I’ll forward your info to Tracy.

Thanks to all who participated! There’s still time to enter for the Ankh necklace below, so don’t miss out!

Wanna win a $100 VISA gift card? Click the widget to enter. (Then scroll down to see today’s awesome freebie giveaway!)

I got a couple of these to give out as freebies at the RWA National conference in honor of the release of STOLEN HEAT. Obviously, I didn’t get to do that since I didn’t end up going to Washington DC, so I’m giving them away now. Yesterday I gave one away on Lauren Dane’s blog (What? You missed it? oh…too bad. But now you get a second chance!) People seemed to love the pendant so I thought I’d give the other one away here today.

For those of you who don’t know…the Ankh is a hieroglyphic from Ancient Egypt. The origin isn’t entirely understood, but archaeologists believe it represents eternal life. The Ankh has also been called the key of life, the key of the Nile, or the crux ansata, Latin for “cross with a handle”. Whatever you call it, this necklace is a real beauty.

To be entered into the drawing for the Ankh necklace, simply answer this question:

Is there one piece of jewelry you never take off? What is it and why?

Armenia, email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your snail mail addy and I’ll forward your info to Trish.

Thanks to all who participated. Scroll down so you don’t miss out on Tracy Madison’s giveaway today!

Scroll down for today’s Freebie Giveaway!

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
At the moment, I’m writing book 3 in the series. A BREATH OF MAGIC will be released in May, 2010. After that, I have book 4 in the series—as yet untitled—which *should* squeak in before the end of 2010, but I don’t have a release date yet.

I’m also thinking about future books, and what I might want to work on after these next two are written. Luckily, I have lots of ideas keeping me up at night!

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Oh wow, I’ve had so many of them that have just made me smile like a giddy schoolgirl after being asked out by the football captain. Annette Blair told me that she wished she’d written A TASTE OF MAGIC. I’ve been a fan of Annette’s for years, so that was (and still is) a HUGE thrill! And just recently, reviewer Emily Becher said, “Tracy Madison and characterization go together like chocolate and strawberries.” I glowed when I read that!

And then, there are those wonderful readers who take the time to email me with their compliments. What always shocks me is when they thank me for writing! I’ll always write, but there are a zillion books out there for readers to buy, so the fact that these readers are buying my books and enjoying them enough to contact me—well, that’s pretty much the best compliment ever. And I make sure they know how much I appreciate it.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
Ugh. What schedule? It’s summer and I have four kids, which means I write when I can—usually late at night. I tend to do other work during the day, take a nap after dinner, and then stay up until the early-morning hours when everyone else is asleep. During the school year, I can switch things back around, but for now I’m on the nightshift!

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Another difficult question! When I was a kid, I read a lot of Trixie Belden books, so I’d have chosen Trixie in a second. She always had a mystery to solve, her boyfriend Jim was a cutie, and her friends backed her up whenever things got dicey.

Now, I’d have to say Eve Dallas from the In Death series by J.D. Robb. Eve solves homicides, has a gorgeous husband, and friends who back her up if things get dicey. Hmm…I’m sensing a pattern here!

From my own books, I’d go for Grandma Verda in a second. This is a woman who isn’t afraid to say whatever is on her mind. She’s also just quirky enough to appeal to me.

Thank you, Elisabeth, for having me here today! I can’t wait to get my hands on STOLEN HEAT!

Tracy is giving away a copy of A TASTE OF MAGIC to one lucky commenter. Because I love quirky characters as much as she does, to be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

Do you have any quirky characters in your family? No? How about at work?

(Please note: This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada)

Refhater, email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your snail mail addy and I’ll forward your info to Alice.

Thanks so much to all who participated. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my next guest author and freebie giveaway!

Scroll down to see today’s Freebie Giveaway!

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
My May 2009 Harlequin American, Her Very Own Family, is set in Northeast Tennessee, and the heroine’s estranged mother is a minister. I got an e-mail from a female minister who grew up in Northeast Tennessee, and she loved my book and how I portrayed the area and what were some delicate topics. That made me feel good. I also did a book signing in my small hometown, and my cousin told me she couldn’t put the book down. She’d aimed to just read for an hour one night and ended up reading until 1 in the morning.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
It varies from day to day, depending on deadlines and other responsibilities, and it’s about to change as I force myself to schedule exercise in twice a day. Writing is such a sedentary occupation that we all live with the danger of allowing ourselves to fall into unhealthy lifestyles. But since my career is just beginning and I want it to last a good, long time, I better get into shape so I don’t develop health problems, which run in my family. So, my plan after I get home from RWA National is to begin the day with a hour of exercise – either walking or aerobics, then eat breakfast while checking e-mail and posting blogs. Then I’ll write/edit until lunch and take a short break to eat lunch and watch something on my TiVo. Then back to writing/editing until 3 or 4 in the afternoon, then another hour of exercise like working in the yard. Then do business tasks until dinner, spend dinner some time afterward with the hubby, then either more business, writing or TV. I usually end the day by reading a little after I go to bed.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Wow, that’s hard. Joanne Baldwin from Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series is really cool. I love kick-ass heroines, and she can control weather! Also, I don’t think I’d complain if I was a heroine in a J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood book. Those dudes are HOT!

When do you like to read? During the middle of the day? In a nice hot bubble bath? Every night before bed?

Debbie and Irwirum (Larena), email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com and I’ll forward your info to Stefanie and Paty.

Thanks to all who entered. Now scroll down to see today’s Freebie Giveaway!!

I’m keeping this widget at the top of every post to remind people to enter. If you’ve already entered the STOLEN HEAT Contest, scroll down to see today’s Freebie Giveaway!

I suppose it’s inevitable in any job to have times of burn-out, stress, dissatisfaction and head pounding doubts. The same is true with writing. Pre published, you have to keep up your enthusiasm in the face of rejection (and this doesn’t change even after publishing.) You have to fight your own qualms about the depth and reality of your talent and sometimes those of people close to you who
don’t understand the driving need you have to express yourself.

I am currently running behind on a deadline. The book is due in two days and life has intervened to the point where I’ll be glad to get it out of the house next week. It’s going to be late, my editor understands this, but I hate being late on a deadline I know is tight. And when a deadline is tight for a write I know it’s
tight for the publisher, the editors, everyone else connected to your book. As hard as I sometimes find this to believe, I am not the only writer they deal with. So, if I’m late, then my editor can’t read my manuscript as scheduled which puts her behind.

That’s stressful for me. And at first I thought I would blog about stress for a writer, but then last night as I was sitting on the deck thinking about how to write this blog it also occurred to me how much I love being a writer.

Let me list five ways:

1. Deadlines. Okay, yes, they can suck, but think about it. Having a deadline means you have a contract. It means your book is going to live to see the light of day. It means you’ve accomplished what you worked hard to accomplish and that you have validation of your skill. Deadlines mean you have arrived. Maybe not at your final destination, maybe not even at the exact place you set off for in the first place, but the next time you have an idea, someone is likely to pay attention. This goes for contest deadlines and queries off to agents and publishers, too. Entering your work for judgement, putting it in front of a reader and waiting to hear how it’s received means you’re serious about publishing. I don’t think anyone who isn’t serious about it is going to find it happening any time soon. I.e., you’re working toward your goal.

2. My writing friends. I cannot emphasize enough how much they mean to me. They understand the bad times, they share the good times. Their accomplishments spur me on with my own. And what other group of people can you think of who write better emails than a bunch of writers?

3. Ebb and flow. That’s what life is: ebb and flow, and a creative life illustrates this better than any other life I can think of. Some of it has to do with working for yourself, but some of it the very nature of creativity. This is what I mean: You work hard on a scene, but suddenly, you’re stuck. It’s April and the sun is
actually shining, so you wander outside and lay down on the sun warmed wood deck and just soak it up and think about nothing — and suddenly you aren’t stuck. You take a walk and the ideas come, or you take a drive and the plot unfolds like the petals of a flower. You write some more, you wander around the house and yard, you write a little more and gradually, day after day, you create a book with people who matter to each other, real people who face real challenges and here’s the kicker — those people would never exist if you didn’t daydream. How cool is that?

4. Self esteem. I like being a writer. I like writing it down under Profession. I like the way the word sounds. I like the way writing makes me feel about myself. Being a writer is part of who I am. If you’re reading this blog and visiting Eli’s wonderful website, I bet it’s part of who you are, too.

5. Making a difference. Yes, I know, I write entertainment fiction. I don’t usually tackle huge social issues. But I know through letters of people kind enough to take the time to give me feedback that my stories, my characters, my ideas have touched them in some way. As human beings, we all have the opportunity to make a difference in another human being’s life. As a parent, a nurse, a teacher, a taxi cab driver — we all matter to each other in a wonderful maze-like kaleidoscope. But when you create something — a painting, music, a book — you reach people you don’t interact with on a personal basis. You help them laugh or feel better or get a few tears out of the way. You get their heart pounding or breaking, you share something of yourself.

I know I’ve left out many other reasons I love being a writer. I’m hoping you can take a moment and share what you love most about your chosen profession. And thanks for having me, Eli!

To win a copy of AGENT DADDY, simply tell Alice what you love most about your job. And if you don’t love your current job, how about telling her about your dream job.