Okay technically I’m cheating today, but come on, how can I follow Kristan’s wonderful post from yesterday. So I’m not even gonna try, instead we’re going to play a game. We’ve all received them. Those emails forwarded from a friend with a list of random questions about your favorite whatevers and what you’re wearing and so forth. Well, I thought it might be kind of fun to do one of those here so we can get to know one another a little better. So without further ado, here we go.

1. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Me and The Professor and our two cats.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?
Lisa Kleypas’s Tempt Me At Twilight

3. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSEPAD?
bright colored flowers

4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME
Cranium

6. FAVORITE SMELLS
Roux cooking, my husband, brownies baking, babies heads (wow, that actually sounds kinda creepy)

7. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD
jealousy

8. FAVORITE SOUND
my husband’s laugh, it’s totally infectious and unabashed

9. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
depends, if we’re talking ice cream, vanilla, anything else though, definitely chocolate

10. STORMS: COOL OR SCARY?
thunderstorms scare me because of the threat of tornadoes

11. IF YOU COULD MEET SOMEONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
JK Rowling, I would just love to pick her brain about plotting and story structure and characterization and really just geek out with her about writing

12. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI?
no stems, but I love the florets

13. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I already have my dream job, but I would love more than anything to be a mother

14. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOUR, WHICH COLOUR WOULD IT BE?
I would love dark brown hair

15. FAVORITE MOVIES
Noises Off, Stardust, Mamma Mia, The Mummy and I really could go on for hours (ask Emily)

16. WHAT’S UNDER YOUR BED?
under the bed boxes filled with my husband’s junk

17. WHERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Not to my knowledge

18. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Oh hell, I cry everyday, I think. It’s sort of my universal emotion. But that’s a whole ‘nother blog.

19. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL/DIARY?
I have, on occasion, been known to blog anonymously about stuff in my “real” life but I’ve never been one to keep a diary

20. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Kashi’s GoLean Crunch – I eat it every morning, either in yogurt or in milk

21. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
typically their eyes, I’ve always been an eye person

22. MAC OR PC?
I’m a MAC convert and I’ll never go back to PC’s

23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The Professor has the TV on and he’s watching an action flick

24. LAST MOVIE YOU SAW AT THE THEATRE?
The Social Network and it was excellent

25. HUGS OR KISSES?
I like the smoochies

Okay for those of you who stuck with me, now it’s your turn. Answer the questions and I’ll pick three random people to win an autographed copy of DESIRE ME.

Those last fifteen minutes must’ve been the longest. Compressed in a chute, you are leaving the place that had been your refuge but was almost your grave. For the first time in more than two months, you are completely alone, away from the men who possibly saved your life, who kept you going, the only people on earth who can understand what you’ve endured. For sixty-nine days, you’ve been in an uncertain stand-off with death, and now…now, you only have fifteen minutes to go. Fifteen minutes until the rest of your life.

From the second the disaster occurred and for sixteen days thereafter, the families of the Chilean miners had nothing but hope. That’s a long time. Imagine the prayers, the bargaining, the rationalizations of just how it really was possible that your husband, your father, your brother, your son had survived. It could happen, sure. But the hours passed. The days crept by. The third day…the fifth…the tenth…the fifteenth…the sixteenth. The families must have been told to prepare for the worst. Imagine picturing your husband, your son, dead and alone, a half mile beneath your feet.

And then, on the seventeenth day, the miracle. The note said, “We are well and in the shelter…The 33.” Chile—heck, the entire world—was joyfully stunned. A mountain fell on those miners, they were trapped a half mile underground, and they were still alive. All of them.

The immediate question was how to get them out? Even one rescue would be miraculous…but thirty-three? The messages from the miners were heart-wrenching: “We ask that you rescue us as quickly as possible, and that you don’t abandon us,” the shift foreman said. “Don’t leave us alone.” The answer from Chile’s President Pinera: “You will not be left alone. You have not been alone. The entire country is with you all.”

Indeed, the entire world was with them. And in this day of war and suspicion, of bickering political parties and Internet bullying, how often does the world come together? Chilean flags were flown around the world, candles were put in windows, prayer vigils were held. The families of the miners moved to the work site, Camp Esperanza—Hope—to wait together. The oldest miner, married for 30 years, learned that his wife was camping half a mile above him. Concerned, he urged her to go home. Her response: “I’ll leave here when you do.”

For weeks and then months, the world waited. A tiny tunnel was drilled, supplies were lowered…food, water, air. A camera allowed us to see those ghostly images of the unexpectedly cheerful miners, singing Elvis Presley songs, asking the score on soccer matches, sending messages to their families. One watched, via fiberoptic cable, his wife giving birth to their daughter.

But how would they get out? The initial estimates for their rescue was Christmas Eve, but thanks to a Pennsylvania-based company, the drilling went better than expected. Still agonizingly slow, still difficult, drilling through virgin rock. Would the tunnel hold? What if the capsule twisted while en route? Would the winch operate, would the cables snap? It would be the deepest rescue ever attempted…and it would be attempted thirty-three times.

On October 13^th, the world held its breath. And then, one by one, they were strapped into the capsule called Phoenix—the bird that rises from the ashes. The President of Chile was there, the First Lady, the rescue workers, doctors, EMTs, and of course, the families—wives, parents, children, grandchildren. As the first miner came into the sunlight, church bells rang throughout Chile. Children were sent home from school. The world wept with unadulterated joy. Each man was given a Chilean flag inscribed with their names, and they wore shirts that on the front said, “Thank you, God” and underneath, “Because nothing is impossible with God.” On the back, the shirts read “In whose hands are the depths of earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also.”

Over and over, the capsule descended into darkness and rose into light. “Welcome back to life,” was the greeting they received. One miner hugged his wife, then fell to his knees to offer thanks. Another kissed his wife and asked, “How’s the dog?” Some ran to the rescue workers and greeted them in elation; others held their children and cried. All were greeted by the President. All were taken to the hospital, where they watched and cheered as their fellow survivors ascended.

Every one of them was rescued flawlessly. Everyone was healthy. Every single one.

Before Oprah and Larry King, before the book deals and movie rights, before October 13^th becomes a Chilean national holiday, those miners were alone in the dark. The families were told that this would likely be a recovery mission, not a rescue. After all, even if the miners had reached the shelter, there was only enough food for two days. And half a mile beneath the surface of the earth, the miners had to at least consider the thought that the world up there figured them for a lost cause. One day after the disaster without a sign from above. Three days. Seven. Ten. Fifteen.

But somehow, instead of despair, those above and those below chose hope, and theirs is a lesson in unity, in perseverance, in courage and faith. But it’s also a lesson in love.

There was a second note found on that seventeenth day, something more personal. It was from the oldest member of the group, the one whose wife waited with such steadfast and unswerving hope. This note said: “I haven’t stopped thinking about all of you for a single moment. I love you, and I will see you soon, and we will be happy ever after.”

Dios los bendiga a todos, Los 33! Viva Chile!

Rainy,

You’re the winner of my book, When She Was Bad!

Email me through my website www.cindykirk.com and give me your address. I’ll get the book in the mail to you!

Thanks to everyone who showed up to my party!

The winner of Susan Stephen’s latest release — autographed of course! — is Kirsten.  Congrats, Kirsten!!!  Please send your name and mailing address to Susan at susan AT susanstephens DOT net

Thanks to everyone who commented, and thanks again, Susan, for blogging with the Jaunties!

I’ve been so busy these past few weeks that I just realized it’s been way too long since we got together and chatted. That’s why I threw together this party. I realize mid-October may seem an odd time, but I didn’t want to wait too long. Soon your social calendar will be full with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas events.

I do have a small request….could you bring something? Pretty, pretty please? Appetizer, entree or dessert, it doesn’t matter. Bring an old favorite or try something new. We’re all friends here. Of course I’m furnishing the plates and napkins (do you think the leaf imprint on the napkins is cute? Or hokey?).

Over on the side-table I’ve put out some soft drinks, tea and coffee. And, of course, hot apple cider. What autumn party would be complete without cider?

BTW, in case you’re wondering, I’m not opposed to alcohol at the party. I simply didn’t have any in the house. If you’d like to bring some wine or beer or something else…that’d be fabulous.

And, just to let you know how much I appreciate you stopping by on such short notice, this week I’m giving away a copy of a book I wrote a couple of years ago, “When She Was Bad,” as a doorprize. The winner will be drawn on Sunday night from everyone who attends my virtual party and posts about what they brought….so check back around 9 pm on Sunday to see if you’re the winner.

I see you coming up the walk. My lips are curving up in a welcoming smile. I’m so happy you’ve accepted my invitation.

Hmmm, now what is that in your hands?

Life in the fast lane with a playboy Maharaja!  Why India? Why Monte Carlo? Why a Maharaja?

Maharaja’s Mistress, Available November 2010

I live here on the dramatic Yorkshire moors.

This is the same road Patrick Bronte drove his horse and trap down when he came to preach at the local church, and where no doubt his six children, including daughters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, came to pray.                     

At a time when women were not taken seriously as novelists, the three sisters would publish a book of poems in 1846 under the male pseudonyms Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell – though we remember them now for compelling novels such as Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Anne Bronte’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and of course, the unforgettable Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte, first published in 1847, and just as fresh today.

There is a wild desolation on these moors high up on the Pennine hills, known as the backbone of England, that stirs the imagination.

I began my story in Monte Carlo, for a number of reasons – I visited this tiny principality on the southern coast of Europe, and was immediately struck by its hothouse quality – so many fabulously wealthy people packed into one small, very glamorous, and very beautiful space, with the azure Mediterranean as a backdrop. There were the most amazing boats in the harbour – more like small cruise liners than privately owned vessels – safety and cleanliness beyond belief on-shore, not forgetting a selection of shops such as I have never seen in my life. These were not malls as I know them – but shopping opportunities more fitting for an empress, or a sheikh… or a Maharaja.

A call from a local library in Birkby, West Yorkshire UK, brought together a lot of ideas whirling round my head, prompting me to add India to the mix – with all that drama, passion, vivid colour, and a culture as old as time – who could resist?

It was here at Birkby library that we started talking about the lasting allure of the Bollywood movie, and its similarities to Mills & Boon.

 The Bollywood movie, based in Mumbai, India, features universal story-lines that strike a chord with people across the world, in the same way as the love stories from Harlequin Mills & Boon do. Love conquers all is the hope-filled message everyone wants to hear – and the more unlikely this conclusion seems as we watch the film, or read the novel, the more satisfying we find the happy ending.

With images like these to conjure with, it’s not surprising that I couldn’t wait to set a story in my fantasy land of Ramprakesh.

And for my characters, I chose Ram and Mia –

Ram’s childhood friend, Mia, has been desperately injured, though her spirit is as strong as ever – as Ram, the bad-boy prince, is about to discover… ‘No, Mia mused, catching sight of herself in a full-length mirror. She was hardly Miss Sugar n’ Spice these days…’Creating Mia was a real labour of love – so Ram had to be a very special hero to go head to head with her. I hope you agree that he is. With all the world’s riches and glamour available to him Ram sees past Mia’s wounds, deep into her soul – And he’s the best fun to be with, as well as hot as hell, which puts him into my top ten all-time favourite heroes.

– I’d love to hear what qualities you look for in a fictional hero, and will be sending a signed copy of my latest book to someone who shares their thoughts with us.

And my next book for Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern/Presents? Something different again. Take a roller coaster ride into The Swinging Sixties with me, Susan Stephens, and Gray Quinn, my biker boy hero – a guy who rocks my boat today every bit as much as he does in the nineteen-sixties.

Susan

To read more about Susan and her novels, visit her website at www.susanstephens.com. 

When I was young and single, I hated the idea of schedules and routines. I mean, how utterly boring and mundane could a person be than to let a schedule dictate one’s life ? <insert eye-roll here>  But now that I’m juggling family, friends, deadlines and life there’s no way to get everything done without some semblance of order. So, yes, I have a “routine,” which is largely built around my family and deadlines.  Because of that, sometimes it’s easy to forget myself in the shuffle. ‘Cause, remember, I hate to schedule . 

So that I don’t completely lose myself (and start sprouting the horns and fangs of the put-upon martyr), I build some occasional niceties into my days.   I don’t do them every day, of course. Because with overuse, surely they’d lose some of their appeal. Here are some of the rituals that keep me sane:

An afternoon tea break. I drink tea every day, but every once in a while, I’ll do it the old fashioned way and brew a pot with loose tea. Last year for Christmas, I got a set of fine loose teas with a sterling strainer. Even looking at the tins in the fine wooden box makes me happy. It’s even better when I put it to use. 

Baking. I love to bake – and not just for the holidays. In fact, if I had to choose another career, it would probably have to do with pastries or bakeries… I find something so soothing in measuring the ingredients and smelling the spices, extracts and fruits. Bonus: The goodies go with my tea.

Art journaling – this is a little ritual in which I need to indulge more often. It combines traditional journaling and arts and crafts. It’s a good way to work through life and story issues and it’s just plain fun! I can feel like an artist and I don’t have to be good at it.  Here’s a fun art journaling website: http://www.scrapscene.com/2009/06/art-journal-ideas.html   

Long walks with my dog. Since I live in Florida, I don’t enjoy this one in the summer. But when the weather is nice…ahhhhh.

Bubble baths. Sometimes life goes so fast I have to remind myself to slow down and indulge in a nice hot bath… Just for the record, I do shower on a daily basis.   But baths offer something extra — I love the smell of the salts, the whirr of the air jets and even the soft sloshing of the bathwater as I sink into its steamy depths. Plain and simple, a good, long steep is just good for the soul.

Pedicures. I’m not above giving myself a pedi – we’re talking the footbath with the soak and scrub…the whole nine yards. But when I really want to pamper myself, I go get a pedicure.

Massage. This is the ultimate “me time.”  Obviously, it’s not a private “ritual,” but it does rank high  on my list of things that make me human. 

What about you? What are some of your favorite rituals?

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Accidental Heiress by Nancy Robards Thompson

Silhouette Special Edition – November 2010

“For me, it’s about comfort, it’s about style. It’s not about the clothing—it’s about the way it’s worn…”
— Vera Wang

Have you ever put on an outfit and felt your entire persona change? I have. I love clothing so I should warn you right now that if you don’t the entire message of this blog might be lost on you. There is something about putting on a pair of jeans that fight just right and teaming it with the cutest little top and a pair of sexy heels that just makes me feel like…well like Shania Twain said “like a woman”. I notice I walk a little taller, smile a little more easily and in general just feel more confident.

As a woman brought up during the post-feminist movement I shouldn’t feel a shift in my own confidence based on clothes, right? But I do. And when my attitude shifts I’m invincible. Sometimes when I’m writing a book and I’m stuck I will get up and change my clothes. To be fair I’m usually in my less than sexy pjs but still that change of clothes shifts my attitude and my perspective.

I used to have a poem in my planner and I’ve lost it all my moves but I still remember the words and the rhythm of it in my head. Its was about a woman who was walking into a room and feeling the eyes of many on her. And she knew she was model thin or perfectly, classically beautiful but she moved the body she’d been given with confidence. Hips shaking with each step she took, shaking her hair and smiling as she moved into the room–confident of her appeal. Confident that every eye in the room that happened on her would smile or appreciate her beauty.

Clothing does that for me. I have a friend who gets the same thrill from the right eye make-up.

What about you? Is there a little something that shifts your attitude and makes you unstoppable?

They used to say that introverts are socially backward. I don’t believe that – and I think most of society understands introverts better now, too. A new definition is that introverts get their energy internally. They are not shy people necessarily, but they might avoid social situations because they find it drains their energy. They like to be alone with their own thoughts. They like to examine feelings and concepts. When an introvert is with too many people too much of the time, he or she feels overloaded, overstimulated, smothered, drained.

Conversely, extroverts need the stimulation of others to become energized. They become bored when no one else is around. They’re inclined to seek out people to talk with, rather than ponder ideas alone. They tend to think as they speak, unlike introverts, who prefer to think carefully about what they’re going to say before saying it.

Neither one is better than the other – they’re just different.

I think a lot of my heroes are introverts. They are loners, but not anti-social. They just pull their energy from some inner well of strength. The Rogue Prince, for example, is not a man accustomed to a lot of attention. He doesn’t really care about society or parties, but he’s got a serious mission to accomplish, and he has to become part of society to achieve it.

It’s not easy to write about introverts – because a lot of their existence is lived internally. I don’t think there are too many people who would enjoy a book that relied solely upon the internal thoughts of the main characters. Readers want to see action and read dialogue!

So we authors figure out ways to demonstrate what’s going on in our introvert-characters’ minds. We try to show you and not browbeat you with his thoughts.

Which one do you think you are? An introvert or an extrovert? Are you energized or drained by others? By the way, you can visit Sarah MacLean’s website today a chance to win a copy of this book!

Please welcome guest blogger Ashley March!

For the past few years, I’ve followed the Jaunty Quills and all their exploits. And while I adore the authors on the JQ blog and their writing, I have a confession to make: the real reason I’ve been lurking at the blog for so long is because I am a secret admirer of Jaunty P. Quills. Yes, that adorable and sometimes vainglorious porcupine extraordinaire. This is why, when I first sat down to write my debut novel, Seducing the Duchess, I wanted to write a historical romance which all porcupines would love, but which would especially please the discriminating tastes of my dear Jaunty. Therefore, please allow me to list the top four reasons why a porcupine would love Seducing the Duchess.

4. The Heroine Has the Character of a Porcupine
When crafting the character of my heroine, Charlotte, I thought about how I could give tribute to the noble creature that is the porcupine. How could I make her like a porcupine? I thought. First, she must be as beautiful as a porcupine. Done—she is the most exquisitely beautiful woman in England. Second, she must be independent as a porcupine is independent. This means that although she may get close to someone, she makes her own choices and is not bullied about. Thus, when Charlotte’s husband, Philip, tries to win her love after three years of a terrible marriage, Charlotte (like a porcupine) stands up for herself and gives back as good as she gets. Third, she must be intelligent like a porcupine. After being deceived by Philip once, Charlotte is not some gullible miss; she anticipates any tricks on his part and tries to ensure he doesn’t deceive her again.

3. The Hero Also Has the Character of a Porcupine
You must be wondering why I would craft both my hero and heroine to have characteristics of a porcupine. Well, as I said, I am a huge Jaunty P. Quills admirer. One can never get enough of a good thing, right? Philip, the hero of my story, also resembles a porcupine in some ways. First, just as a porcupine will guard itself with its sharp quills, Philip guards his heart with a hard, arrogant exterior. And just as a porcupine has a vulnerable soft belly underneath, beneath Philip’s ducal mask exists a man who is vulnerable to Charlotte’s attentions, who is desperate for and yes, even craves, her companionship and love. Second, like a porcupine searching for chocolate-covered ants, Philip is persistent. Although he knows Charlotte despises him for how he betrayed her in the past, he will not admit defeat when it comes to pursuing his one true love. Even if he must change to win her back, he is willing to do so.

2. I Almost Convinced My Editor to Go with the Title of…
Seducing the Porcupine. After all, the reason I wrote this book was to show my love to Jaunty. Alas, my editor does not understand my fervor, but I’m sure it’s only because she isn’t as well acquainted with him yet. Just know that you were my inspiration, my beloved Jaunty.

And finally, the number one reason why porcupines will love Seducing the Duchess…

1. No Porcupines Were Harmed in the Research or Writing of This Book.
Because it has to be said.

There you have it. The top four reasons why porcupines will love my debut novel, Seducing the Duchess. But never fear, there are plenty of other reasons why humans will love it, too. For a chance to win a copy of Seducing the Duchess and discover these reasons for yourself, simply comment below and tell me either a) why you also adore Jaunty …or b) the name of the last debut author you tried and loved.

To see how my hero and heroine both have the characteristics of a porcupine, read the first chapter excerpt of Seducing the Duchess here.