Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Forbidden Party Trailer

Scroll down for newer posts!!

To help get into the party spirit, I'm giving away a signed copy of Forbidden to one lucky person who helps spread the word about the party.

So here are the deets. Please feel free to copy and paste!

To help celebrate the release of Forbidden, Christina Phillips's debut Roman/Druid Ancient Historical Romance from Berkley Heat, she's holding a launch party with lots of amazing authors and fabulous giveaways! In addition, Christina's giving away a signed copy of Forbidden to one lucky person who helps spread the love. All you have to do is mention the party (you can copy and paste this blurb), being held from 1st to 6th September at http://christinaphillips.blogspot.com. You can Tweet about it, blog, Facebook, MySpace or anything! And then drop her an email at ChristinapPh @ gmail dot com (no spaces) to let her know. Please put Forbidden Launch Party (or something similar) in the subject line. The winner will be drawn for that on Monday 6th September.

And if you'd like to also put the trailer up on your sites, please do!!! The YouTube link to embed is here

Here it is - hope you enjoy!!!

Who's Your Fave Hot Warrior?

After having lovely weather all last week and thinking Spring was on its way, it's been rainy and miserable today, so far. But not to worry! Because there is a great party going on over at Australian suspense author Helene Young's blog today, where we're chatting about ancient heroes and which actor would you cast as your favourite hot warrior? We'd love to see you over there and there is a copy of Forbidden up for grabs too!! *pats pretty cover*

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Published Cover!


Here is the final, published version of the cover of Forbidden! I love the new font for my name. Well I love everything about it!! (although I think I should probably stop hugging my copies!!)

I've had a contest running over at The Mystic Castle, where readers could ask me questions. Unfortunately, the site was hacked over the weekend and despite the lovely owners' best efforts, some of the questions have been lost. So the contest has been extended, and if you did ask a question, or want to ask a question, then please do pop over if you get a moment and repost. Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Visiting with our Golden Girl!

I tried doing my first sticky post today - let's see if it works! :-)

Today I'm over at Golden Heart Winner Kylie Griffin's blog, where I reveal all sorts of weird facts about myself :-) There is also a copy of Forbidden up for grabs for one lucky commenter - love to see you over there for a natter!!!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Pretty Animated Banners!

Have you noticed that totally awesome banner at the top of my blog? Isn't it gorgeous? I want to give a big Thank You to the talented Dorie Hensley who designed two for my pages over at the Mystic Castle and then went above and beyond the call of duty by taking the time to answer my questions as to how I uploaded them!!! Thank you, Dorie, and also to my younger daughter Charlotte who helped me out with the blog one (I did figure out how to upload to my website but blogger beat me!!!)

Speaking of The Mystic Castle, there's still time to pop over there and ask me a question to be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of FORBIDDEN! Would love to see you over there!

Friday, August 20, 2010

RWA Cocktail Party

I came home from conference to revisions for Captive, so that's been exciting, and I'm very relieved I had them this week and not next week, since I have something very special happening here next week!!! I'm holding a cyber launch party for Forbidden, and lots of wonderful author friends have agreed to come over and have some fun! And there will be prizes!!! I'll post more details over the weekend, once I've finished polishing my party trailer.

As promised here are some photos from the RWA's Harlequin Cocktail Party that was held last Friday (a week ago already!!) The fancy dress is just amazing. I'm going to have to seriously re-think my wardrobe for Melbourne!!
  


Here I am with my agent sister, the immensely talented Allison Withers, who won the Historical category in the Emerald award (the Aussie Golden Heart) Go, Alli! Guess what period of history Alli writes?










More fab fancy dress! And Johnny Depp!!!










Amanda Ashby and Sara Hantz with awesome Presents author, Trish Morey, who was The Princess Bride!



















Here I am with the lovely TWRP and Eternal Press author Suzanne Brandyn!









And Eleni Konstantine, in her amazing Batgirl outfit!!














I'm sorry I don't know who these fearless warrior maidens are, but underneath Darth Vader is Silhouette Desire author, Paula Roe!!!









And here with Sara is Emily Gee, who writes fantastic dark fantasy and also, as Emily May, wonderful historical romances for Harlequin.


I was so taken with my beautiful dessert on the Saturday night awards dinner, I took a photo of it!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

RWA Conference at Coogee Beach, Sydney

As promised, photos of the conference!






Here I am with the gorgeous Erica Hayes (who writes the darkly erotic Shadowfae series). Erica brought me back a copy of the Romantic Times BOOK Reviews magazine from Orlando so I could see the write-up for Forbidden myself!!!













The lovely Tracey O'Hara won the R*BY Award for her awesome debut novel, Night's Cold Kiss. Here we are at the Friday night cocktail party. She also gave me a promo pep-talk which I will do my best to follow :-)








On Saturday night before we went down to the Awards dinner, we had drinks in our room. Here I am with the completely amazing Silhouette Desire author, Rachel Bailey. It was so nice to meet up again after three years!













I was so excited to meet up with Samhain and Carina Press author Cathryn Brunet! It was only brief, unfortunately, but we'll make up for it next year in Melbourne!!!













Here's the wonderful Robyn Grady, Silhouette Desire and Modern Heat author extraordinaire! We've known each other for sooo long, but this was the first time we'd ever met face-to face, so that was pretty special!




I'm not sure what happened to the camera here (I blame the photographer who'd indulged in a few too many wines!!!) (nothing to do with me, of course!!!) But here is the lovely Anna Campbell, who writes dark Regency noir for Avon! It must be six years since we'd last met back in the UK at their Romantic Novelists Association conference. How time flies!!!














Late Sunday afternoon we wandered down to the fabulous beach. And here, as you can see, are my two sedate CPs, Puffin author Amanda Ashby and Flux author Sara Hantz.









If the weekend wasn't exciting enough, this afternoon I had my very first FedEx delivery of an early copy of my new baby!!! OMG. It's so shiny and pretty, and the font has been changed for my name and looks completely awesome!!! And my husband is actaully reading the book!!!

I'll post some photos of the cocktail party in another post. Seriously, the fancy dress was amazing!!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

RWA Conference! & Eye-Candy!!!

Off to the Australian Romance Writers conference first thing in the morning - can't wait! I'm taking my camera and will try to remember to actually take some photos!!

I'm very relieved that I finally finished my current book. I had hoped to finish it last weekend, but apparently my hero and heroine had other ideas. Not that I'm complaining since I love how it all tied up but talk about leaving it until the last possible second!

Anyway, before I go and unpack my case (again) just to check that I remembered to pack everything in the first place, I will leave you with some yummy eye-candy. Enjoy!!






















Tuesday, August 10, 2010

FORBIDDEN Contest at The Mystic Castle

Do you have any burning questions you'd like to ask me? The Mystic Castle is holding a great contest where you could win a signed copy of FORBIDDEN - here's the scoop from their webpage:

"Here is how this newsletter works. Three weeks before the release date we will open a Take Five post on our website where we invite you to ask the author a question. The period to ask questions will be limited to two weeks only.

The FIVE best questions will be selected and answered in our newsletter by the author. In addition those five people who asked the question will be entered into a draw, where you have a 1 in 5 chance of winning a signed book by the author. The other four people will receive a small prize as well (bookmark, signed cover flat etc). Winners will be announced in the newsletter."

My two weeks for taking questions runs from 9th to 23rd August. It's up and running now and I would love to see you over there!!!

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Awakened by a Kiss ~ Release Day!


How gorgeous is this cover!

Lila DiPasqua, fellow Berkley and debut author, is celebrating the release of the first book in her Fiery Tales series, and I am soo looking forward to getting my hands on it! Awakened by a Kiss is the steamy retelling of three classic fairy tales:

Sleeping Beau: Five years ago, the notorious rake, Adrien d’Aspe, Marquis de Beaulain, was awakened by a sensuous kiss—and experienced a night of raw ecstasy that was branded into his memory. Years later, he spots his mysterious seductress—and this time, he has no intention of letting her go…

Little Red Writing: Nicolas de Savignac, Comte de Lambelle, has been assigned by the King to uncover the secret identity of the author writing scandalous stories about powerful courtiers. He never expected his investigation would lead to his grandmother's house, or to a ravishing woman who would stir his deepest hunger…

Bewitching in Boots: Elisabeth de Roussel, daughter of the King, is accustomed to getting what she wants—and she wants Tristan de Tiersonnier, Comte de Saint-Marcel, an ex-commander of the King’s private Guard. A recent injury has forced Tristan to leave his distinguished position, but Elisabeth is determined to make him see he's every bit the man he once was—and more than man enough for her..

You can read an Excerpt here!

Monday, August 02, 2010

Almost there. But not quite...

OK I just want to give a big *squee* to fellow Aussie, the hugely talented Kylie Griffin who won the Paranormal Golden Heart on Saturday in Orlando! Yay, go Kylie!! So very well deserved! I'm still happy dancing for you :-)

Writing update: Just hit 90k on the current book today - am sooo close to the end I can see it! But not quite there yet :-) At this rate I'll make 100k by Friday (I realise I've just jinxed myself by saying that out loud!) and will have no option but to make sure everything's tied up. And I do have a lot to tie up (and I'm not completely sure how everything does tie up, but since I had the same worries with both Forbidden and Captive, I'm hoping it's just a part of my crazy process and not a real problem!!)

I received confirmation of my workshops for the Oz conference over the weekend (Next Week!!!) and it's all looking fabulous. Now I just need to work out what I'm wearing and start the packing!!