Please welcome Jaunty Guest Helen Brenna, whose book, The Moon that Night has been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best
Superromance of 2010. Congratulations, Helen!
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Ever since taking my first trip on an airplane when I was thirteen, I’ve loved to travel.  My husband and I did some traveling before kids, but once the little ones came along even going out to dinner seemed complicated.  Heading out on an airplane always seemed to me a monumental task.

The kids, though, have grown up, making travel easier.  Unfortunately, the cost of airfare, hotel, restaurants, not to mention dog sitters all add up, so I still can’t afford to make it far from home very often.  So what’s a girl to do?  Travel in her mind, of course.  At least, that’s what I do when I write.

I don’t just pull a country out of a hat.  The location I choose for a book is usually tied in somehow to the plot, but I have to admit that my own desire to visit a country may play a role in the ultimate decision on setting.

My first book for Harlequin Superromance was a treasure hunt for a 400 year old sunken Spanish galleon in The Bahamas.  My second, the search for a lost Inca city in the Peruvian rainforest.  The third, a revenge plot set in Greece.  And my November release, THE MOON THAT NIGHT, is a race against the clock to steal several ancient statues.  Kate and Riley travel from Rome to Athens to Moscow and, finally, Istanbul.

I haven’t been to any of those countries, but I certainly enjoyed the research.  I pour over travel guides and Internet sites for information on food, architecture, geography, flora and fauna, language, history, fashion, home life, and even the economy.  Interviewing people who have either lived in my setting or have traveled there always gets me excited.

I used to worry that all this travel in my head to a location might take away my desire to visit a place in reality.  But not so!  It might take me a long while, but some day, I swear, I’m going to every country I’ve ever used for the setting in a book! 

Do you like to travel?  Have a favorite vacation destination?  What’s one place in the world you’ve never been, but would like to visit?

To celebrate the release this week of THE MOON THAT NIGHT I’m giving away three copies of its prequel, FINDING MR RIGHT.

A BIG thank you to Margo and all the Jaunty ladies for having me here today!

Helen HelenBrenna.com

Hi I’m Robyn and I’m a slacker. Okay I’m not sure that’s really what it is. I tend to be an organized sort (for the most part) but sometimes when life gets in the way certain things fall to the way side. And I do mean the way behind so-far-out-of-my-vision-I-forget-it’s-there side. Contest prizes that’s what I’m talking about. I love to give away stuff. Contests, free books, gift cards, etc., It’s fun to give things away, but (and sadly this is a very big but!) my trip to the post office often gets derailed.

Right now I’m woefully behind on mailing prizes. Suffice it to say I won’t tell you how far behind, but I haven’t forgotten anyone and things will go in the mail VERY SOON! That is a promise. So don’t give up on me.

But because my blog can’t just be about me apologizing cause that’s lame, let’s talk about something else now. Are y’all as excited as I am about the final Harry Potter movie, parts 1 & 2? I’m simultaneously super excited and kinda sad that the series is coming to an end…yet again. The books ending was rough and now we’ll have to relive the whole experience again through the end of the movies. Still I think it’s gonna be great!

I don’t normally add a lot of tv shows in the new season because I feel like I already watch too much. But this year I started a new sitcom, Mike & Molly and it’s about a couple that meets in an overeaters anonymous meeting and starts dating. Now I’ve heard that this show has caused quite the stir on-line because some people are “grossed out” by watching heavy people make-out. I find this so offensive for a variety of reasons that I won’t get into because we’re not really a debate kind of blog, but it is interesting to me that something I would have thought was completely innocuous would cause quite the stir. The point I bring it up though is because I think this show is totally charming. The fact that these characters are visually “flawed” adds nice dimension to them and it’s a refreshing perspective.

So have y’all added any new TV shows that you’re loving? And what about movies you’re looking forward to it? (I would have given away some contest prizes today, but that would be so expected…but maybe next time…)

Maybe its the fact that we “fall” back and gain an hour of sleep. Or maybe its the changing of the leaves and the fact that I have to break my sweaters out of their storage containers. Fall is my favorite time of year.

I like Spring when everything turns green but there is something homey about Autumn. I think its because there are so many holidays bunched together and I’ve always spent a lot of time with family and friends. I ready my house with special decorations that I’ve collected since I was 21. And I do more baking and hearty cooking.

My favorite dishes are passed down from my mother and grandmother. And I think of them both each time I make them. Calling my mom to chat about the dish and my memories of my grandmother who is no longer with us.

Fall is the one season where I can just relax…until Christmas, but I don’t want to think about that for right now. I have four weeks of enjoying the season, the weather and my family.

What about you? How do you feel about Fall?

Lynn Raye Harris and Christina Hollis have drawn winners. 

Linda Henderson wins an autographed copy of  Chosen by the Sheikh (Kept for the Sheikh’s Pleasure) by Lynn Raye Harris.  Linda, please send your name and mailing information to Lynn at lynn AT lynnrayeharris DOT com. 

Christina Hollis decided to give away two autographed copies of the Italian’s Blushing Gardiner, so the winners are Catslady and Virginia C.  Catslady, and Virginia C, please send your name and mailing information to Christina at christinahollis AT hotmail Dot co DOT uk

Congrats to the winners!

I like stylish shoes but I would never wear a pair of shoes like Lady GaGa wears. I’d fall over before I’d gone a foot.

These stilettos are beautiful, but again, I couldn’t make it through an evening just standing on these, much less at an event where I’d do much walking.

Okay, kitten heels….we’re getting closer to my speed. I could walk in these and I “think” they still look dressy. Or at least dressy enough. lol

Now, of course I’d never wear these to a dressy event, but these danskos are the type of shoes I like to wear.

Ahhh, birkenstocks…my favs. Super comfortable.

Okay, you’ve found me out. Although I like fashionable shoes, I LOVE comfort. So if it comes down to style vs. comfort, I’ll choose comfort every time. note: I’d never wear a pair that made me look dorky, even if they were super comfortable.

What about you? And when you read a book, do you notice what kind of shoes the heroine wears?

Hmmm, I just realize I rarely describe the heroine’s shoes…

What Are You Doing For The Rest Of The Year?

Halloween is over, Thanksgiving, Advent and the Holiday season are on the horizon. In the UK, the end of October sees the clocks turned back 1 hour in the change from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); which means it gets gloomy around teatime. As the sun goes down, so the chill sets in. That’s a good excuse to close the curtains and keep warm inside.

I’m busy with a new book, working title ‘Fire and Ice’, so that fills my working days, but once the main meal of the day is finished (whether you call it tea or dinner!) a night in front of the TV doesn’t always feel like a good use of spare time.  In spring and summer I’m out in the garden early and late, but it’s too dark for that now. One thing I’ve always fancied trying is needlework, so I may try my hand at that during the long winter evenings. A local exhibition whetted my appetite, and there was a documentary on TV not long ago about skills that are slipping away from us as we turn to computer-based activities.  My daughter is keen to learn to knit, so I’ve been surfing the net looking for books and ideas for her Christmas presents.

Have you seen Debbie Macomber‘s site? It’s got some beautiful handiwork on display. I love the crocheted tree ornaments, and might even be tempted to try making one or two during the long winter evenings ahead.                                           

This month sees the UK launch of my latest book The Italian’s Blushing Gardener which combines two of my great loves, Italy and gardening. Kira has arranged her life exactly as she likes it. Then Stefano moves in next door, with money to burn and big ideas about changing the area completely. That puts him on a collision course with Kira…

The Italian’s Blushing Gardiner will be released as a Harlequin Presents Extra in the USA in January 2011 under the title The Master of Bella Terra. For the chance to win a signed copy, just post a comment below, telling me how you spend the long autumn evenings – reading, writing, or just dreaming in the firelight? – and I’ll pick a winner at random.

I’ve mentioned on here before how much I enjoy Emilie Autumn’s music. Well, last week I managed to snag VIP tickets for her New York City show in February! I realized that I have been to a concert since I took my sister to see Trans Siberian Orchestra years ago — and that was more her thing than mine. The last concert I went to was Alanis Morissette — and that was several years ago, and I didn’t pay $75 for the ticket. In fact, there are very few artists I would pay any real sort of money to see. I love Bon Jovi. but I can’t bring myself to shill out a couple hundred bucks to get squished in a crowd. Somewhere, my teenage self weeps.

Here’s the kicker — I feel like I’m 18. I’m excited for this show! I’m not at all nervous about the meet and greet included with the ticket, I’m simply genuinely excited to meet an artist whom I admire and have been inspired by. Plus, I hear her shows are very theatrical, so it should be a lot of fun. Illness prevented me from seeing her during her previous NYC engagement, and I thought I would have to wait a lot longer to get another chance, so I’m totally stoked!

So, if you could see anyone in concert, or in a live performance, who would it be? And what would you do if given the chance to meet them?

Okay, confession time.  There are a lot of things I can’t do:  ice skate, for one.  I’m hopelessly uncoordinated, which is why I can’t ski either.  One of the things I can do—and I’m so very glad that I have the skill–is read.  It’s comforting to know that if I ever find myself curious about what it’s like to glide effortlessly across the ice or race on skis down a snow-covered mountain slope, I can read about those experiences in books, from the comfort of my cozy armchair.

I can’t imagine being unable to read.  I can’t imagine missing out on all those wonderful stories I’ve enjoyed on quiet evenings, one thrilling chapter at a time.  However, according to the Adult Literacy League‘s website, “one in every five Central Florida adults reads at or below the 5th grade level.”  That’s why I’m very proud to be one of the coordinators of the 4^th annual Romancing the Holidays book signing that directly benefits the Adult Literacy League.  The signing will take place on Saturday, November 6, from 2 – 5 p.m. in the center court (by the fountain) of Altamonte Mall, 451 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, Florida.

More than twenty of Florida’s best known romance novelists, including New York Times best-selling authors C. L. Wilson and Roxanne St. Claire, will be autographing their latest books.

Also participating are Culinary Confessions of the PTA Divas cookbook author Pam Brandon and Three Houses poets Darlyn Finch & Brad Kuhn.  Barnes & Noble’s Altamonte Mall store, which is providing the books, will donate 20% of proceeds to the ALL.

If you’re a reader, it’s the perfect time to stock up on reading for those chilly winter nights and pick up some signed books for gifts, too.  Be sure to get to the event early, though. The first 100 people to buy books will go home with a fabulous goody bag stuffed with novels donated by publishers and authors (many of them autographed), bookmarks, excerpt booklets, pens, other promotional items, and candy.

I’m excited to be one of the authors participating in the event and will be autographing my medieval historical romances published by Medallion Press, including my latest Knight’s Series book A Knight’s Persuasion. 

For more information on the Romancing the Holidays book signing, please visit Central Florida Romance Writers’ website, where you will find a list of participating authors.  You can view the full color flyer on the home page of my website.  I hope to see you on November 6!

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Have you attended a book signing before?  What author would you like to meet at a book signing?

Christi Snow, congratulations! You’re the winner of a signed copy of JUST ONE OF THE GUYS. Send me your snail mail address at k.higgins@snet.net and I’ll pop one in the mail this week.

Thanks to everyone who commented today! Lovely to hear from you, as always.

I’d say that eyes are the feature that matter most to us in terms of looks. You don’t often hear someone saying, for example, “Oh, he had the most beautiful chin! I couldn’t look away!”

In the romance novels of my formative years, all the heroes had coal-black eyes (impossible, of course…dark, dark brown, sure. Black…no.). Heroines, on the other hand, had only jewel-tones: sapphire, emerald, topaz, the occasional turquoise. This matched their ruby lips quite nicely, as well as their pearl-like teeth.

When I was a youth, I dated a guy who had really pretty eyes…blue. Or green. Or bluish-green? Anyway, what I remember more than his actual eye color was the number of times women exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh, you have the most amazing eyes!” I found this quite irritating. My own eyes are brown. I consider them to be my best feature. I have pretty good lashes (thanks, Dad!). My family is Hungarian—to me, a quintessential Hungarian feature is big, expressive eyes. When I’m sad, as I was recently due to the death of my beloved dog, I can’t stand to look in the mirror, because I look so dang tragic. My son and one of my nieces, on the other hand, have what I call “smiley eyes.” They always look mischievous, these kids. If they’re up to something, we can always tell. Heath Ledger had smiley eyes. Usher does, too. So does my own sainted husband.

When I think back on my hero and heroine’s eye color, I come up with this: Sam & Millie: hazel/brown. Malone & Maggie: blue/gray. Trevor & Chastity: brown/blue. Callahan & Grace: blue/I forget. Ethan and Lucy: brown/brown. Ian & Callie: blue/brown. Nick & Harper: brown/green. Malone and Ian both had very pretty blue eyes, and their womenfolk fixated on the color appropriately.

More important to me, though, is the mood of the eyes—I’m doing line edits for My One & Only, and I keep coming across the phrase “gypsy eyes” for Nick. That’s because when I was first writing this book, I dreamed about the characters, and Nick looked an awful lot like Robert Downey Jr. (sigh!). And come one…RDJ has beautiful gypsy eyes, don’t you think?

Sad eyes get to me, too…Callahan and Sam both had those downturning, lovely eyes. I’m a sucker for this type. Russell Crowe, Kyle Chandler…purr! I find myself stifling urges to make them smile, because the transformation is so deeply satisfying. (Does anyone have their phone numbers, by the way?)

Contrary to many romance novels, eyes can’t change color. No one’s turquoise eyes, for example, can actually darken to sapphire. But irises do expand with attraction, so it might look that way. And it’s amazing, I think, how much emotion can be conveyed in a gaze—I mean, can’t we all tell when our significant others are bored or amorous or stifling laughter, even when their poker faces are on?

Do you have a preference for eye color or shape? Are eyes the first thing you notice? Post a comment, and I’ll give away a copy of Just One of the Guys, which I hear is in short supply (but which Harlequin is kindly reprinting at this very moment!). Trevor had hot fudge eyes in that one…perfect for Chastity, who loves dessert.