What are you doing? Pull your pants up! It's a drink recipe, silly. That's right, Shit on the Grass is the name of a shot, made with melon liqueur and Irish cream. I'm participating in a fun event, and needed a cocktail. Since Lily, the heroine in my new series cusses a lot, I came up with this in her honor. Scroll down to find the recipe.

Join me at the Online Cocktail Party Romance Giveaway, and enter to win a delightful prize or two. Thirteen Fab Prize Packs! Thirteen Chances to Win! You need to stock up on your summer reading material, right? I'm under door number 11, so check it out and good luck! Oh, and if you're not familiar with BookBub, it's a great way to get notifications when your favorite authors have a book released, and to find new authors at discount prices. Many authors at this event use BookBub, so give it a whirl.

https://bookwrapt.com/cocktail-party-giveaway/

​As promised, here's the recipe. I had to test a few and ended up freezing the melon liqueur, because I couldn't find Midori, and the substitute I used was too thin to hold the shit, I mean the Irish cream, on the top. I had to test quite a few, actually. The things I do for you guys! Here's a picture of mine.  Make your own, and let's have a toast to lots of summer reading. Cheers!

Shit on the Grass

​• 1/2 shot Midori or Creme de Menthe
• 1/2 shot Irish Cream
In a shot glass, chill Midori or Creme de Menthe on bottom of glass and then add Irish Cream on top. You can also use Midori and Kahlua.

​Very cool top photo by Praveen Gupta on Unsplash

I freaking love Etsy! I love that they support artists from all over the world, and I love the creativity of using art for everyday items. Any time I need something that can possibly be handmade, I search for it on Etsy, so I grabbed a few awesome stickers from there to add to this Romance basket. Sometimes I drink wine while I shop on Etsy. Scroll down a bit. Can you guess which stickers I bought while I sucked down that wine? Ha-ha, bet you can! I love them all and I can't wait to share with you. 

What else is in the basket? Eight gift cards, 20 paperback books, a T-shirt, three mugs, five pieces of jewelry, chocolate from Ireland, a teacup and saucer, book tote, romance calendar, bath bomb, swag galore, and loads of other goodie. That’s what one lucky winner will be awarded as a grand prize. Enter now, good luck, and I hope you win!
https://bookwrapt.com/romance-gift-basket-giveaway/

Book Fair page with bonus giveaway. Visit here, too!
https://bookwrapt.com/romance-basket-book-fair/
​

Lily is the heroine in my new series, and she's a lot like this bonsai bougainvillea plant. Short, pretty, but tough as hell. ​

I'm reading a bunch of books I normally wouldn't, that's what. I entered the RITA contest this year for the first time, and that means, since I can't judge romantic suspense, my own category, I read and judge a variety of books in different sub-genres of romance. So far, I'm delighted with the excellent books I've been assigned! It's good to step out of our normal reading patterns and dip our toes into something different now and then. Keep your fingers and toes crossed that I final in this contest, or even win! But if I don't, I will have enjoyed exploring new worlds.

Have you tried a great program called BookBub? It's an easy way to find new authors to sample at great introductory prices. If you, too, like romantic suspense, head over to this contest page and join in our giveaway. I'd be honored if you would follow me on BookBub and help me reach my goal of 1,000 followers. I'm almost there!
Enter the giveaway by clicking here 👉 bit.ly/romsuspense-feb2019
Thank you, and I hope you win!

1. Live workshops give us a feeling of community. Writing is lonely work, and I often feel like I'm the only one facing challenges. Workshops give us the chance to schmooze with our fellow authors, and realize, we're all in this together, and together, we can find solutions to problems.
​2. Florida. Yes, this class is in Florida. In February. Is it cold where you are? Not so much here, though I did have to wear socks the other day. Brrrr! 
3. Great value. You will not find this caliber of speakers for this price anywhere else this year, betcha. We wanted to give indie authors a great deal, and I think we have. Visit the website and check out our line-up.
4. It's in Florida. I have to say that twice.
5. You can ask questions at workshops, and have them answered in real time. Sure, you can do this at online classes to some extent, but nothing beats getting a personalized answer to your questions, and receiving face-time with professionals.

Here's a word from our group's president, that sums up why you should come to this workshop. Please join me if you're in the area. I'd love to connect with you in person!

​There's a fantastic master class coming to Cocoa Feb. 9 that writers of all genres will NOT want to miss. Whether you’re about to publish your first novel or are a seasoned indie, traditional or hybrid author, this all-day conference will give you tools to help you find more fans, elevate your books, and adopt effective marketing strategies to power up your writing career. Nationally known experts including Damon Suede, Eliza Knight, Maria Connor and Rachel Hauck are among the presenters. More info: http://authorsofromance.com/masterclass/

I wrote 4004 words for December. I still might have time to get in a few more, but my goal was 4000 this month. Woo-hoo for me! Whoa, damn. Stephen King writes 2,000 words a day. So let's see, tapping on my calculator shows about 129 words per day for me. Man, I suck. I'm way worse than Stephen King. Wait a second. Here's a Facebook post from someone who didn't write at all during December. I rock! I'm way better than them.

This cycle could go on forever, and it's incredibly damaging. I'm always going to be doing more than others, and I'm always going to be doing less than others. We're all living under different circumstances. My life doesn't look like anyone else's, and their life doesn't look like mine. My mind doesn't work like Stephen King's, so I can't write as well and as fast as him. But I'll bet he can't give a fabulous massage like me, or whip up healthy meals four times a week, take care of a feral cat colony, or do many of the other awesome things I do, as well as me. And he doesn't have to! That's not his life, so it's ridiculous to compare myself to him, like it's ridiculous to compare myself to anyone else.

Defeating the ugly Comparison Monster is my big goal for 2019.  I'd like to crank out three or four books a year, but if I can only do one or two, so be it. My real goal is to be happy, so I'm going to do what it takes to stay in that place. I enjoy challenges and pushing myself, and patting myself on the back when I do well, but I'm not going to make any plans because I feel the need to keep up with the latest trend or another author. If life changes, I'm going to adjust and not drive myself to exhaustion to reach an unrealistic goal, but I will recognize the difference between lame-ass excuses and good reasons.

Another goal, goodbye time wasters (sorry, Facebook and Netflix, we'll have to keep our moments together brief), hello BrainFM and Gaia.com (you guys keep me on track. Luv ya!). 

I'm sure I'll backslide now and then, but if I keep my eye on what's important, which is living every day the best I can, life will be good in 2019. I wish you peace, hope, prosperity, and a joyous start to the New Year!

I went into Books A Million to buy calendars (I only got one because, well, see the picture and story below), and at the checkout, the young clerk asked me if I wanted to... I figured he'd say "become a member" or "buy a bookmark or batteries", or some other sales pitch, which annoys the hell out of me, because I never do. I'm tired, I just want to buy my item and go home and take off my bra and put on sweatpants. But he asked me if I'd like to donate to the Florida Hospital for Children, and then he showed me a pile of books and toys that were going to the hospital if customers bought them. He said they'd pass them out to the kids who were there over Christmas.

Of course I said yes! It's crappy to be in the hospital when you're a kid, and double crappy to be there at Christmas. The clerk then told me that he was once in the hospital during the holidays when he was a teen, up North. Triple crappy, because it's cold and yuck outside. He said he was so happy when the book cart came around. I picked out at short YA paperback book about Aquaman to donate, with a picture of Jason Momoa on the cover, because I figured that would make some teen very happy. I know I'm happy whenever I see that big, handsome dude! Scroll down to see him in a delightful  skit on Saturday Night Live.

The Giveaway I'm in this month is called Christmas Is Where You Find It. My last eighteen Christmases have been subtropical, and I've learned to adjust. Being in a hospital would be a tough place to be; lots of adjustments. I hope I made someone's life brighter with a book, and that they find Christmas cheer, even there. And I hope wherever you are, love, peace, and joy come to you.

​Happy Holidays!

Romantic suspense or horror? I'm trying out a new logo and I say suspense, but my friend says it looks too much like I write horror. Check out these two different versions, then go to the Survey Monkey and tell me what you think.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V592Q7V

I’ve teamed up with 40+ fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Romantic Suspense novels to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a brand new eReader to the Grand Prize winner!
 
Oh, and did I mention you'll receive a collection of FREE reads just for entering? 😁
 
You can win my novel, She's a Good Girl, plus books from authors like Ann Major, Christie Craig, and Jacki Delecki.
 
Enter the giveaway by clicking here 👉 http://bit.ly/romsuspense-oct18
I hope you win! 
​

Can you imagine not being able to read? That would be like not breathing to me. Or not being able to drink coffee. Visit this fun auction and not only do you have the chance to win really cool items, you'll help support Literacy for Adults in Brevard (LAB), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to teach literacy skills to adults who can't read.

Need a critique of your manuscript? Book cover design? Business cards? Coffee? (you know you need coffee) Head over to 32 Auctions and bid now to win one of these great items. AND, you will have a warm, fuzzy feeling if you win because winning rocks!

​Wait, winning does rock, but you'll also feel great because you'll be supporting the Literacy for Adults in Brevard (LAB). Bid often, bid high, and good luck at the auction.
https://www.32auctions.com/STAR2018

Almost 100 books ON SALE in all genres, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, mysteries, thrillers, and more. All books less than a buck!

Plus, check in daily for a chance to win Amazon gift cards or play instant ebook giveaways for one of 12 books being awarded to lucky winners each day!

Be sure to scroll down to Romantic Suspense and check out my book, Dangerous Liars. I think you'll like it!
 https://bookwrapt.com/99-99-book-fair/

Dangerous Liars

To get the position he craves, he'll break his vow to go straight. One more harmless con that won't hurt anyone. She'll do whatever it takes to reach her dreams. A little lying, a lot of stealing. But weaving a web of deceit demands a price, and they're both about to pay.
 
Jaxon has a mission. Retrieve a valuable emerald for an entry fee and join Maxime, the most prestigious club in the Secure States of America. No problem, if his ex-thief, super-hacker friend Riley can lower the shield around an island where the stone is hidden. And when he discovers a purple-eyed woman who can make herself invisible, he adjusts his plans to include her skills.

But Violet has plans of her own, and a guy who can knock down a shield will fit in nicely. To get her disfiguring scars repaired, she needs access to another island, so when opportunity knocks, she grabs it. Even if it means telling a few lies. Or stealing. Or putting herself in the crosshairs of a pissed-off drug dealer.

Working with Riley again on the other side of the law fires up cravings Jaxon thought he'd suppressed. While he struggles to escape the shadow of his notorious family and unlawful past, Violet faces old demons she'd rather keep buried. Focusing on their goals and keeping their agendas hidden, they travel from Maine to Florida, fighting each other, and a losing battle with lust and love.

​How would you like to win a pack of your favorite mysteries, thrillers, or suspense books on Amazon? If you’re among the four ebook prize pack winners, you could decide which books  you want from the millions on Amazon. Or, you could take home one of two Kindle Fire 7 tablets being given away as grand prizes! Even if you already have a Kindle Fire, an extra one is always nice (sometimes they break, or you want one at the office and yours is sitting at home on the nightstand), or you can use it as a gift.

http://bookwrapt.com/intrigue-giveaway/

Plus, 23 sponsoring authors have the perfect answer to the question, “what do I read next?” Shop the book fair for can’t-put-them-down books in the genre, all at 2.99 or less. Now, get ready for a summer of exciting reading!
 
http://bookwrapt.com/intrigue-book-fair/

Don’t you love to fall so deep into a book you lose track of real life, and stay up way past your bedtime, because you have to read just one more chapter? Or look up from the page and totally expect to see the scenery and characters you were reading about? As authors, that’s what we hope happens when you read our stories. One way we accomplish this is with compelling details and descriptions to hold your interest. How do we come up with those gripping pieces of information that make you late for work? Head over to Hidden Gems Books and read some of my methods. 

www.hiddengemsbooks.com/characterization-setting-details/


Excellent image courtesy of Pixabay