RT ~ 4 Star Review for FORBIDDEN!

I'm so excited - Romantic Times gave Forbidden a 4 star review! Much squealing ensued between my CPs and me and plenty of wine will be consumed at the Oz conference in a couple of weeks in celebration!!!

Here's a snippet of the review: "Set in the time of the Roman Empire, Phillips’ wonderful story of the romance between a Roman soldier and a Celt is more than entertaining"

My current book is racing towards the end now, and I was so totally in the zone this morning it was a real wrench to break off for lunch. And then of course I never managed to get back into it, what with Real Life intruding and all that!!!

Three Over Par

Big shout out to Cathryn Brunet, whose steamy novella, Three Over Par, hits the shelves today with Carina Press! Congratulations, Cathryn. And when I say steamy, I mean it - read the first chapter here (and according to Cathryn, she was only just warming up in Chapter One!)

Here's the blurb:

Wild, hot, addictive sex…

After seeing one too many patients die regretting the things they haven't done, nurse Lucy Seymour realizes she's been making the same mistake. So when Robbie, the sexy golf instructor, makes his move, she responds with uninhibited passion, telling him there's nothing she won't try. Long sessions of foreplay lead to thrills and fantasy fulfillment…until Lucy sees Daniel, the greenkeeper, watching them. Watching her. And then Daniel does more than just watch…he joins them.

Can it lead to love?

Lucy might be exploring all of her secret fantasies, but her reality is that she's a one-man woman…and for her, that man is Daniel. But what does Daniel really want? Lucy or the fantasy?

I have several writer friends who have been contracted by Carina Press, and another book I can't wait to get my hands on is by my friend Shelley Munro. Her historical, Gothic mystery, The Spurned Viscountess, is due for release from Carina Press on 20th September. I love Gothics!

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I've always had a secret passion for Alan Rickman (his Sheriff of Nottingham is priceless!!!) and let's face it, there aren't many blokes who could make Severus Snape (greasy hair and all) sexy!!! But his voice slays me every time. Here he is, making the number 394 sound deliciously decadent!!!!

Enjoy.... I know I did...

20k to the finish line

I've just hit 73k on my current book which means I have about 20k to finish. However, there's still a long way to go before my hero and heroine get their happy-ever-after and I'm not convinced they'll make it within that word limit! I also want to finish before the RWAus conference in four weeks time (which means I need to finish in three weeks time) so I don't need to worry about it while I'm in Sydney.

And speaking of Sydney, I am sooo excited about the conference. I've not been to an Australian one before so it's going to be all new for me, plus a fabulous chance to meet up with on-line friends in the real world. I'm taking my camera and there will be photos!!!

Character, Desire & Conflict

Here's a great blog post by fab UF author Keri Arthur, on a recent Art of Romantic Comedy workshop she attended with Michael Hauge and Steve Kaplan. Although the workshop focused on romcom and screenplay, the advice is relevant across genres and states all stories are based on a simple foundation that consists of three basic elements - character, desire and conflict.

It's a great post, and part two is next week!

Necessary Agent

This link, for an article on Poets & Writers, was posted on one of my writer's loops today, and I had to pass it on. It's a behind-the scenes look at what a good literary agent can do for their clients during the period after the contract is signed but before the book is published.

It's a long article - five pages - but I was riveted. I think it's well worth the time to read if anyone has an agent already, is searching for an agent or might be agent hunting in the future. I even think it's a great read for anyone not interested in signing with an agent at all, just to see what other kind of things agents do aside from negotiate the contract itself. Plus it's a good reminder of just how awesome editors are too!

Historical Bits & Pieces

I've been thinking for a while I should put some kind of background info or glossary on my website as a brief outline for the world of Forbidden and Captive. I made a start the other night, and it's up under Historical Bits & Pieces. I'll be adding to it whenever I get a free moment, and will include tidbits that relate to Morwyn's story in book two (which starts six months after Carys and Maximus's story ends).

Speaking of free moments, I need more of them to try and make a dent in my tbr pile!!! I keep finding fabulous books over at Lovin' Me Some Romance and The Season for Romance which is very good news for me but not such great news for my battered credit card!!!