Have you ever read this wonderful medieval romance by Penelope Williamson? Sigh….this was one of the first historical romances I ever read and I’ve reread it so many times I had to buy another copy to keep one in good shape. I was even able to get it autographed by Penelope! The story is sexy, emotional, historical and, wow, what a romance! The only bad/sad thing about this book? There’s a wonderful teaser in the epilogue of the book, introducing the granddaughter of the hero and heroine and there’s a hint about her story….

But the author never wrote the book!

How about this author?? These books?

The extremely talented and prolific author Elizabeth Lowell hooked me with these three, wonderful medieval romances, different than most everything else she writes, but then didn’t write the anticipated story about Eric of the North and Serena. Well, that’s not completely correct — she did use their story as part of a romantic suspense story in 2001 where she used bits of their story as flashbacks/shared memories of the main characters in the book.

But, it wasn’t the whole story…it told us some of what happened to them but not why and how and the results. (EL actually has an FAQ about Erik on her website, so I suspect I’m not the only reader asking this question!)

And, finally, how about this book?

This book is one of my constant re-reads — you know what I mean, right? When you need to read to relax but don’t have time to begin a brand new book or won’t be able to stop reading a new one? (this happens to me when I am in the midst of deadline-mania binge writing..) I reach over on my Keepers shelf and tend to pick up Gail Link’s WOLF’S EMBRACE many times. It’s a classic medieval, set in Ireland and England/Wales, and has a scandalous first love scene that still leaves me breathless. At the end of the story, when the hero and heroine have found their HEA, their younger siblings are set-up as the next story.

But Gail never wrote it! Oh, she wrote a bunch of other wonderful stories, my other favorite being NEVER CALL IT LOVING, but not Bran and Clare’s story. Darn it!

I know there are lots of good reasons why these authors didn’t or couldn’t write that next story. I keep telling myself that each time I re-read their books and experience that anticipation again. Heck, now that I’m an author, I understand it even better, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting those stories!!

Have you ever had this happen? A promised followup or connected book that the author never wrote and one you can still remember wanting and waiting for? Tell me about a book that an author should have written for you and I’ll choose one poster to win a copy of one of my favorite books… Then someone else can share in my pain….and whining!

Terri’s next release, A STORM OF PASSION, will be out in December from Kensington BRAVA. She’s heading off to Scotland in September for research and inspiration and will be blogging here and on her site about the trip. Make sure to visit often to see the sights of Scotland and here about some special Scottish events — www.terribrisbin.com/news/

I’m going to a potluck tonight. Now, unless you don’t know me at all, I don’t have to tell you that this is not my usual thing. But I’m kind of excited about it. Ultimate Sportsfan has been working late a lot the past few weeks, and I’m getting kind of lonely with just my characters and you Jaunty Quills readers to keep me company. Now I’ll get to actually interact with real, live people!

The problem? I am not much of a cook, and my understanding of a potluck is that I actually have to bring something homemade for people to eat.

It’s not like I’ve never brought food to a party before. I’ve been to friends’ houses for dinner, and I have no problem offering to bring dessert. I always pick up something nice from the bakery on my way. Is that cheating? Yeah, I kind of think it is.

So I need to think of something fast and easy to make before 5 p.m. Just to show you how desperate I am, I Googled “potluck” to see if I could get some help. I learned that people bring salads to potlucks! Hey, I can do that, but then what if no one wants my salad and I end up taking it all home again? USF has to work late and won’t be at the potluck, so he can’t eat some just to make me feel better that it wasn’t completely untouched.

Any suggestions for this potluck? Easy, delicious recipes? Just buy a dessert? Offer to bring the sodas? Help!

These are random, not in any particular order, and if you’ll tell me what annoys you the most (on this list or otherwise) I’ll put your name in a drawing for my last book, WILD.

Waiting in line.

Junk mail.

Indifference.

Mothers who say mean things to their kids in “sweet” tones (like: “Will you PUL-EEZE stop that, Johnny, or I’ll have to put you in time out!”)

People who automatically treat the elderly as stupid or deaf, or demented.

People who ignore scientific evidence. Here’s one: “Arthritis is caused by food additives.” I just heard that one from a guy who only knows what he reads in People Magazine. Nothing against People, but I don’t think it’s exactly a great source of scientific information.

Mick Jagger. Sorry, all you Stones fans. The guy is old. And acting like a 20-something. (Trying to, more like it!)

 Mushy berries.

 Jelly donuts. Ew! Get that jelly outta there!

 And while I’m at it, fruit in anything other than pies. It just doesn’t belong there! (How can you ruin a perfectly good molasses cookie that way?)

Bad drivers – especially the ones who obviously think they’re doing just fine. But they’re on the phone or texting, and not paying attention! There oughtta be a law…

As long as I’m talking about drivers:
    – Gawkers! They can slow traffic for miles!
    – People who cut into the short (and just barely safe) space between me and the car ahead of me.

Use of the possessive form when it should be plural. Especially on public signs. (“Potato’s on sale today!” Instead of “Potatoes on sale today!”). I know … picky, picky. But don’t get me started on it’s and its.

People who walk their dogs and don’t pick up after them. You know what I’m talking about. Ick.

Waiting more than 15 minutes for a doctor appointment. Um… can we try to keep on schedule, please, and not just overbook?

Pull-up tabs on cans that break before the can is opened. Grrr!

Loud… LOUD… LOUD cell phone conversations. Come on, people! It’s not a tin can and a string, for Pete’s sake!

OK, now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest, it’s your turn. What bugs you the most?

SEDUCE ME hit stores July 28th and so far I’m getting great feedback from reviewers and readers alike. I normally reveal my Under the Covers feature on my website, but I wanted my jaunty friends to get a sneak peek at the behind the scenes.

Seduce Me is the launch book for my Legend Hunters series, an idea I had about a hero-centered series of treasure hunters and would-be archaeologists. They are the men of Solomon’s, a gentleman’s club devoted to those who chase myths. And when I was brainstorming the series and coming up with the myths I wanted to write about, the first idea I had was, of course, Pandora’s Box. I’ve always been interested in Greek mythology and this one in particular is fascinating. And it’s always had sexy connotations evoking the very image of forbidden fruit. So when it came time to write the first book in the series, Pandora was the way to go.

I certainly took some literary license with the story though and came up with my own mythology equipped with a curse. Have to keep those characters up to their necks in danger.

Speaking of characters, let’s meet my inspiration behind my cast.

Heroine: Esme Worthington
Inspiration – English actress Eva Green who you might remember as the Bond girl in Casino Royale. I needed a picture that captured Esme’s sassiness, but girlish beauty.

Hero: Fielding Grey
Inspiration – Paul Blackthorne. This shot captured the intensity of Fielding yet you catch a glimpse of the pain he’s carrying. Love those eyes!

Villain: David Grey aka “The Raven”
Inspiration – Alan Rickman. As I revealed last week in my blog about villains. Because who else do you go to for a truly nasty villain who actually has some sex appeal. When I wrote the Raven’s dialogue I could hear Rickman’s methodical cadence in my head. He was a perfect fit!

And here was my inspiration for The Raven’s two goons:

Thatcher (L) and Waters (R)

Being a big fan of movies, especially action adventure movies I wanted to capture that feel in the Legend Hunters books. So within the pages of Seduce Me hopefully you’ll feel whisked away on a grand adventure and when you close the book you’ll reach for your phone to call Steven Spielberg and say, “hey Steve, have I got a story for you!”

So what are your favorite action adventure movies? Could you watch The Mummy and The Goonies and Indiana Jones over and over again? And how do you feel about authors revealing their character inspiration? Does it ruin your own mental picture of the characters?

To start the week off with a grin… Post a link to your favorite lol or just send a happy shout out for the day and I’ll pick one commenter to win the book of their choice (from me, alas, Robyn, I know you were eying that copy of the historical thesaurus…). This is my last entry as a regular poster, but I do plan to visit everyone in the daily comments and to come tweak Jaunty every now and again. It has been a blast being part of this site.

I am woefully behind in announcing winners for the two blog prizes I offered — I posted the names in the comments sections of the posts but realized that many people are missing them. So, here they are again —

From my June 13th Blog — the winner is Lois!

From my August 6th Blog — my first as a Jaunty Quill — the winner is Rainy!

If the winners can contact me directly at terri @ terribrisbin.com (without the spaces), I’ll make arrangements to get those prizes in the mail to you.

Thanks to everyone who commented — I’ll have more blog prizes and website contests in the coming months…I hope you’ll stop back and visit again.

Terri Brisbin

Wednesday’s winner is Mary M. Mary, please email me at emilybmckay at gmail.com. Congratulations!

You can have my latest release, In the Tycoon’s Debt or one of my earlier books. Let me know!

If I read an author I really like, I always look to see when her next book is coming out. That’s because I believe that if I’ve liked one book she’s written, I’ll probably like another.

If it’s going to be a while for a new release, I go to her backlist. I usually order at least one or two of her previous titles. If I like these, she’s got me hooked! I’ll not only buy future books by her, I’ll usually go out and buy the rest of her backlist.

What about you? Are you like me? If you find an author you like do you deliberately pick up other books by her? And, if she disappoints you in the future, how many disappointing books will it take before you quit reading her books?

I write about romance and love in the nineteenth century, and sometimes I feel like I actually live there. I can be slow to change or try new things. But this week I figured I had better jump on the 21st century bandwagon and join Facebook.

It was actually a lot easier than I thought, and it’s been fun keeping up with authors and fans. There are still some confusing elements. For example, I don’t know how to give you a URL to go to my Facebook page. But if you do a search for “Shana Galen” I think you’ll find me.

Some of the fun things I have on my page are pictures of me with other writers and photos of all my covers, including all the foreign editions I have covers for. I also have some early art work for the cover of No Man’s Bride posted.

The other cool thing about Facebook is that it will let me keep in touch with fans so they know when one of my books is out or when my website finally gets that much-needed redesign (November 1st!).

Anyway, if you’re on Facebook, friend me. I’d love to see you there!

The other day, I was in a restaurant, shamelessly eavesdropping, as is my custom. The man and woman at the table next to me were gorgeous and young…I’m guessing no older than 25, either of them. She was all dressed up in a white summery frock, and her makeup was flawless and she had on a toe ring and funky sandals, and he was really good-looking too, oxford, good haircut. At first they were having fun, it seemed…laughing and holding hands. But then…but then…she made a fatal error. Mentioned the R word…relationship. The crumbling began. Our scene went as follows:

Her, cheerfully: “I’ve never been in a relationship where I was actually taken out on a date. This is so nice!”

Him (Pause.): “Um…what do you mean by relationship?”

Her, very patiently: “You know. Our relationship. We’re in a relationship.”

Him: (Silence.)

Her: “Right?

Him: “Um…well, I mean, we hang out…”

Her, disapproval tinged with fear dripping from tone: “Hang? Out?”

Him, cheerfully and with deliberate ignorance: “Yeah. Hang out.”

Her: “But wouldn’t you say that I’m your…girlfriend?”

(This is where I started cringing and totally ignoring McIrish.)

Him: “Uh…it’s…well …no, I wouldn’t say girlfriend.”

Her: (Silence. Then): “What would you call me?”

Him: “Um…someone I hang out with?”

It was at this moment that I should’ve intervened. Honey, I should’ve said, he wants to sleep with you once in a while and maybe buy you dinner to get you in the mood, but don’t call him, don’t expect him to actually talk to you and ask about your day or your feelings, don’t imagine he’ll introduce you to his family, and heavens! Do not expect a ring and a date. In the words of the poet, he’s just not that into you.

I didn’t say anything. She kept trying.

Her, frostily, voice getting louder: “Well, describe what you would consider a relationship, then. Because to me, it seems like we’re in a relationship, whatever you want to call it.”

Him, looking over her head: “Um…not…I don’t know. I mean, I like you…I like hanging out with you…uh…”

Her, louder and icier: “And by hanging out, you mean…”

Him: “Hanging out. You know. Just…once in a while…we…hang out.”

Her (Silence. Then, in a pleading tone): “Oh. Well…so how often would you like to hang out?”

Him: “Uh…not sure. You know. Once in a while. Occasionally.”

Her, desperation creeping into voice: “Oh. Okay. Great! That’s cool! Fine!”

Poor lamb. Poor, poor lamb! By this point, I hated him. Just dump her, idiot, I wanted to say. Make a clean break. Be a man! I also wanted to tell her to stop trying to get him to say what she wanted to hear. Stand up, honey. Walk out of here with your pride. Just get up and  say, “Well, I think I’m worth a lot more than the occasional hanging out, you troglodytic cave-dweller, so have a pleasant life, and if you ever grow up, feel free to regret losing me.” And then you should definitely throw your drink in his face.

But no, I said nothing, just pretended not to notice the heavy silence hanging over their table. She stared at him, eyes big and wounded, trying to salvage the evening by being cute to remind him why he liked her in the first place. He, in turn, finished his pad thai. The bill came. He paid (at least there was that). They left, her shoulders stiff, face set, not glancing at him as he trotted a half pace behind, relieved and happy that he’d cleared everything up so perfectly. I could only imagine the text messages that would ensue.

Hers: Tonite did NOT go well. Thought he wanted me 2 move in w/ him…he said he wants 2 hang out. NOT in relationship. What 2 do? Am so confused! I think he loves me and is scared of so much emotion. Can u come over to talk? Just ate entire jar of Nutella, am so upset!

His: Dude, I’m free. Wanna grab a beer?

The thing is, I was that girl once. Didn’t want to hear that my boyfriend was dumping me, tried every which way till Sunday to twist the situation around so that he was on bended knee with a diamond ring instead of halfway out the door. Like her, I abandoned my pride and ignored the fact that one of us was in love and one of us was not. I still kind of throw up in my mouth when I think of that.

That whole desperate in love…man, it hurts, doesn’t it?

I’m really lucky…that guy did indeed dump me, and I went on to marry McIrish — and after all these years, my hubby still adores me. I think he’s pretty great, too. Everyone deserves that. No one should have to demand an explanation or try to sway an opinion, or worst of all…beg.

Next time I see a scene like that, I’m going to speak up. That’s a promise.

Did you ever witness a breakup scene, folks? Ever speak up and try to facilitate the situation? How did it go?