Okay, here it is. The winners you've been waiting for!!

2nd place winner of all three Stolen books: STOLEN FURY, STOLEN HEAT & STOLEN SEDUCTION is...
Carrie Divine!

and the 1st place winner of the $100 Amazon gift card is...
Mary Fechter!

Ladies, I've sent you both an email. Congratulations and thank you SO much for passing the word about STOLEN SEDUCTION!

Big thanks to everyone who participated in my contests and shared the news about my release. Check back soon for details on the release contest I have planned for MARKED in April!

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered my contests for the release of STOLEN SEDUCTION. Here are the last two 30 Days of Treasure Hunting Winners!

Winner of Vonna Harper's TAMING THE COUGAR:
#9 - Terri C!

Winner of the Moody Muse's Starbucks Gift Card:
#5 - Fallon Hadley!

And stay tuned because I'll be announcing the BIG GRAND PRIZE winner of the $100 Amazon gift card sometime tomorrow!

Today is the LAST day to enter for the $100 Amazon Gift Card. If you haven't entered yet...do it NOW!!! Grand prize winner will be announced tomorrow!


My very last guest isn't an author, but a group of authors who make up The Moody Muses.

The Moody Muses are four romance writers: Barbara Wallace, Cathryn Parry, Katy Cooper and Becca Wilder. They created the blog to help other writers cope with the ups and downs of writing life. Because let’s face it, Writing Isn’t Easy. Every day visitors are treated to insights – sometimes personal, sometimes positive but always thoughtful – about writing, the writing process and being a writer in general. By sharing their thoughts and experiences, the Muses hope other writers will realize they aren’t alone in fighting their own inner critics and battles, and that we’re all in this crazy creative world together.

The Moody Muses are donating a Starbucks Gift Card to one lucky commenter. Simply answer this question: What's the Moody Muse 2010 Challenge?

The winner of the first three Demonica books by Larissa Ione is:
#21 - Barbara E.

Congrats, Barbara! Email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your info and I'll get the books in the mail to you!!

And don't forget Larissa's 4th Demonica book - ECSTASY UNVEILED - releases on January 26th!

Two days left to enter...


My guest today is author Vonna Harper!!

Rumors that Vonna was born with a pencil behind her ear are exaggerated. Her mother would have remembered. She does recall being in about the third grade and staring fixated at a box of stationary. She had no interest in writing letters, just wanted to fill the white space. Her earliest success with pencil and paper featured comic books with the Lone Ranger's horse Silver as the hero.

Long story short, Vonna has been writing for so long she no longer (if she ever did) has any other marketable skill beyond rudimentary gardening and dog walking. One of the early erotica writers, she writes for both print and epublishers and fully embraces new publishing technology as long as she can keep her old workhorse of a computer.

Known for her capture/BDSM stories, Vonna wants to make it clear that her real life is nowhere near that exciting, unfortunately. But she dreams of being carted away by Tarzan as long as he's a believer in deodorant.

Vonna's latest release is WINTER OF THE BEAST:

Dio of the Puma clan is a skilled warrior and hunter. What he doesn’t feel prepared for is his new role as ruler of a clan with few women. Does he have the necessary leadership and compassion or will his need for sex dominate? Only the massive, mysterious Beast knows.

When her cruel husband casts her out, Tawia can no longer call herself a Falcon. Her future a frightening unknown, she heads into the wilderness as winter approaches. The Beast watches.

Captured by the enemy warrior, Tawia fights her body’s demands. Trust is as incomprehensible to her as the relationship between Dio and the great puma. But neither man nor beast are willing to set her free.

Today Vonna is giving away a signed copy of her Aphrodesia release, TAMING THE COUGAR, to one lucky commenter. Just answer this question: What's the name of my one Samhain book?

Here's this past week's winners!

Winner of Jess Granger's BEYOND THE RAIN:
#4 - Chelsea B.

Winner of Maureen McGowan's MAMMOTH BOOK OF TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE:
#6 - Kara

Winner of Susan Lyons SEX ON THE BEACH:
#10 - Mimi Barbour

Winner of CL Wilson's QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS:
#7 - Katherine Lockhart

Winner of Angie Fox's A TALE OF TWO DEMON SLAYERS:
#14 - Jacabur1

Winner of Anna Campbell's book - choice of CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, UNTOUCHED, TEMPT THE DEVIL or CAPTIVE OF SIN.
#39 - Christine M.


Congrats to all the winners! Email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your email and snail mail addys so I can forward your info to the respective authors!

And don't forget I've extended the contests through Sunday so you have TWO MORE DAYS to enter for that $100 Amazon Gift Card!

Three days left to enter...


My guest today is New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione!!

Larissa Ione is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Demonica series. She also writes sexy contemporary romance stories for Samhain and Red Sage. Her alter ego, Sydney Croft (pen name with romantic suspense author Stephanie Tyler), writes erotic paranormal action-adventure.

An Air Force veteran, she has been a meteorologist, EMT, and professional dog trainer. She is now lucky enough to write full time while living a nomadic lifestyle with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, son, and an extremely high-maintenance cat.

When not writing, she can be found reading, playing RPG's on the computer, and watching re-runs of Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Supernatural.

Larissa's upcoming release (January 26th!) is ECSTACY UNVEILED:

A Demon Enslaved…

Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master’s assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister’s life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he’ll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission.

An Angel Tempted…

Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She’s determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary—even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.

Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again—hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.

As a special treat, one lucky commenter today will win THE FIRST THREE DEMONICA BOOKS: PLEASURE UNBOUND, DESIRE UNCHAINED, and PASSION UNLEASHED. All you have to do is enter this question: Who is Larissa Ione's secret alter ego? (Hint: she shares her secret identity with author Stephanie Tyler).

Four days left to enter...


My guest today is author Anna Campbell!!

Anna Campbell lives near the sea on the east coast of Australia. She writes Regency historicals for Avon and her most recent release is CAPTIVE OF SIN, chosen as one of the best 100 books of 2009 by Publishers Weekly. Anna has won numerous awards for her passionate, emotional books and was a double RITA finalist in 2008. Her third Regency noir TEMPT THE DEVIL has just been nominated in the Romantic Times 2009 Reviewers Choice Awards. Make sure you look for MY RECKLESS SURRENDER in June 2010!

Anna's recent release is CAPTIVE OF SIN:

He pledged his honor to keep her safe . . .

Returning home after tragedy, Sir Gideon Trevithick discovers a defiant beauty in danger. He’s dismayed to discover she’s heiress Charis Weston—and he can only protect her from her violent stepbrothers by wedding her himself! Now Gideon must hide his dark secrets from the bride he desires more with every heartbeat.

Anna is giving away the choice of one book from her backlist: either CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, UNTOUCHED, TEMPT THE DEVIL or CAPTIVE OF SIN. Simply answer this question: What is the name of the hero in her June 2010 release, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER?

Welcome, Anna!

***
Lights, Camera, Action…Romance?
Firstly, congratulations, Elisabeth, on the release of the third in your Stolen trilogy (hmm, that doesn’t sound quite right!), STOLEN SEDUCTION! I’ve been seeing so much buzz about these books around Bloglandia. You must be delighted. And thank you for inviting me to blog today and play in your great contest. Wow, what a wonderful selection of prizes!

I’m here to talk about CAPTIVE OF SIN which was a November release in the U.S. and has just come out in the Land Downunder in a gorgeous trade paperback edition that has me drooling. Actually a bit like the stolen trilogy comment, that doesn’t sound quite right!

CAPTIVE OF SIN is a classic marriage of convenience story. I’d never written one before although it’s a theme I always enjoy in romances – how could a girl brought up on Harlequin Mills and Boon say anything else? There are more marriage of convenience stories in Harlequins than there are conveniences in a toilet shop! I love how a MOC story forces the couple together, usually under one roof (plenty of opportunity for passion and conflict and mayhem). In a historical, given the difficulty of obtaining a divorce, they really did have to work out their problems or be stuck with that other person forever. How delicious!

The lovely folk at Avon Australia have put together a video of me talking about CAPTIVE OF SIN that they’re featuring on their site SCARLET PAGES and also on YouTube. My talented friend Amanda Bell played director and also interviewer, and her budgie got in on the act, if you listen closely. Check it out:


So what book makes you drool? Leave a comment to go into the draw to win your choice from my four books! Good luck!

Five days left to enter...


My guest today is New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox!

Angie Fox is a New York Times bestselling author who likes to write about biker witches, demon slayers and things that go bump in the night.

Angie’s upcoming release (January 26th!) is A TALE OF TWO DEMON SLAYERS:

Last month, I was a single preschool teacher whose greatest thrill consisted of color-coding my lesson plans. That was before I learned I was a slayer. Now, it's up to me to face curse-hurling imps, vengeful demons, and any other supernatural uglies that crop up. And, to top it off, a hunk of a shape-shifting griffin has invited me to Greece to meet his family.

But it's not all sun, sand, and ouzo. Someone has created a dark-magic version of me with my powers and my knowledge--and it wants to kill me and everyone I know. Of course, this evil twin doesn't have Grandma's gang of biker witches, a talking Jack Russell terrier, or an eccentric necromancer on its side. In the ultimate showdown for survival, may the best demon slayer win.

A Tale of Two Demon Slayers also features Lizzie’s talking dog, Pirate and a supernatural pet that he picks up a along the way (much to Lizzie’s dismay).

Lizzie: “You can’t have a pet. You are a pet!"

Pirate: “That’s why I know how to treat a pet. First rule – no Healthy Lite dog chow!”

Do you want a supernatural pet? Take the quiz: What Supernatural Pet is Right for You? Post your results below and enter to win a copy of A TALE OF TWO DEMON SLAYERS!

Six days left to enter...


My guest today is New York Times bestselling author C.L. Wilson!

C.L. Wilson is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the Tairen Soul series, which combine epic fantasy and romance. She loves reading, writing, and torturing her characters mercilessly. When not working, she enjoys relaxing with her family in sunny Florida and daydreaming of a world where people exercise in their sleep and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream is a fat burning food. (Hey – it could happen!)

C.L.'s latest release is QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS:

The Tairen Soul series tells the story of Ellysetta Baristani and Rain Tairen Soul as they struggle to defeat the darkness threatening to consume their world, ensure the survival of the immortal Fey and the tairen (the great, winged fire-breathing cats of the Fading Lands – think gigantic jaguars with wings), and complete their truemate bond.

In the previous books, Ellysetta (who was raised as the adopted child of a mortal woodcarver and his wife) discovers that she is, in fact, a powerful immortal and the truemate of an infamous Fey king (Rain). She must struggle to accept the powerful magic that is her birthright and learn to control it. But as she becomes

In QUEEN, the first deadly battles of the new Mage Wars have been fought, and victory has been won at a terrible price. Though the last clutch of tairen kitlings has hatched from the egg, ensuring at least a hope for future generations of tairen, Rain and Ellysetta have been banished from the Fading Lands for wielding the forbidden magic. When they discover the High Mage of Eld has been building an army of mythic proportions and will soon unleash its evil might on the mortal kingdom of Celieria, Rain and Ellysetta race against time to rebuild the ancient alliances and prepare for the coming, cataclysmic battle. Meanwhile, the seeds of Elden evil planted in the court of Rain and Ellysetta’s Celierian allies are finally coming to fruition.

As the toll of an unfulfilled matebond and the torment of war begins tips Rain towards madness, Ellysetta knows if she cannot find a way to defeat the darkness growing inside her and complete the truemate bond, Rain will die and she will become the prophesied monster Vadim Maur uses to destroy the Fey and enslave the World.

Note: QUEEN was originally supposed to be the fourth and final book in the story, but at the last minute my editor and I realized I simply had too much story left to fit in a single book and we made the decision to cut QUEEN into two. I’m currently finishing the fifth book and will be announcing the official release date soon.

C.L's giving away a copy of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS today to one commenter. Today's question is a two-parter:

a. What was the original name of the manuscript that became LORD OF THE FADING LANDS and LADY OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS?

b. Name the five magics wielded by the Fey and the sixth, forbidden magic (English and Fey names J)

Less than a week left to enter...


My guest today is author Susan Lyons!

Award-winning author Susan Lyons writes sexy romance that’s passionate, heartwarming, and fun. She is published by Kensington Aphrodisia, Berkley Heat, Kensington Brava (as Susan Fox), Harlequin Spice Briefs, The Wild Rose Press, and Freya’s Bower. She has degrees in law and psychology and has had a variety of careers, but fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.

Susan's latest release in SEX ON THE BEACH:

An exotic wedding turns into an erotic escapade for three unlikely couples who find lust – and maybe even love on the white sands of Belize.

In “War of the Sexes,” wedding planner Sarah McCann learns that the groom’s best friend, Free Lafontaine, intends to save his pal from the mistake of marriage. It’s an all-out war between the sexes – a war that just might have two winners!

In “Sex With the Proper Stranger,” model Tamiko Sato comes to the wedding as arm-candy for the bride's deep-in-the-closet uncle, so what’s she to do when resort manager Ric Nuñez proves far too tempting? Is Ric the man who can heal her wounded heart?

In “Sexy Exes,” Giovanna Moncrieff and her ex, James, mix as well as Italian olive oil and English tonic water, so it’s embarrassing – and exciting! – to discover the flame of passion still burns. Is true love possible the second time around?

Today Susan is giving away a copy of the SEX ON THE BEACH. Simply answer this question: Where and when did Susan get the idea for her January release, Sex on the Beach? (Hint: no, she wasn’t in Belize!)

Welcome, Susan!

***
It’s fun for an author to set herself new challenges, though sometimes she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. I’d never written a book with three interconnected novellas when I came up with the idea for Sex on the Beach. In the past I’d written either “pure” single titles (i.e., one heroine and one hero) or novellas that went into anthologies with other authors.

But when I decided I wanted to set a story around a destination wedding in Belize, it struck me that it would be fun to follow three separate romances, all taking place during the same week. Not only that, but to see each couple through the other couple’s eyes. To add to the fun, each couple would have an important reason for keeping their romance a secret. Are you getting the picture? The book was fun to write, but a real challenge when it came to keeping track of what was happening when, and who was observing what.

As an author, I enjoy writing different lengths of stories. With a novella, I can explore a smaller period of time or smaller issue. With a full-length book, I can go into more depth and have more subplots and secondary characters. In my life, both as a reader and as a writer, I enjoy reading both, depending what I’m in the mood for at the time.

How about you? What’s your preferred length of story and why?

Nope, you didn't imagine it. There was no post today. My fault. I forgot to remind my guest author that today was her day and I completely forgot to check ahead of time to make sure I had her book info. So...since it was my bad, I'll put her post up next weekend.

(In my next life, I swear I'll be more organized...)

So...long story short...to be fair I'm keeping the BIG $100 Amazon gift card contest open through NEXT Sunday, the 17th. Winners will be posted by Monday, January 18th at the latest.

We're coming in to the last week of the contest. There's still time to enter for that $100 Gift Card:


My guest today is author Maureen McGowan!

Maureen's writing has won or been nominated for several awards including the Golden Heart® and she was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition in 2008. You can find out more about Maureen at www.maureenmcgowan.com.

Maureen's latest release in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE:

"Lost and Found" is included in the MAMMOTH BOOK OF TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE, an anthology of twenty short stories, many by USA Today bestselling, and RITA award winning authors. "Lost and Found" is a mash-up of The Time Traveller's Wife, Life on Mars and Groundhog Day. A man falls asleep in Central Park in 1968 and after that, no matter what he does, where he goes, whom he meets, he wakes up every morning in the same place, on the same date, but in a different year. Can a woman he encounters in 2009 finally stop his random jumps through time?

Today Maureen is giving away a copy of the MAMMOTH BOOK OF TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE. Simply answer this question: Name at least two things Maureen's passionate about (besides books and writing).

There's still one week left to enter...


My guest today is author Jess Granger!

Jess Granger grew up in the middle of the San Joaquin valley in the dead center of California, close enough to visit "cool" too far out in the middle of nowhere to "be cool." She still loves home and her California farm girl upbringing. Now she lives all over the place as a military spouse. Currently she has landed in Ohio, but who knows what the future will bring. She lives with her hubby, two kids, two cats and an all-American mutt-dog named Jake. When not writing, Jess likes birdwatching, making beer, writing slightly naughty haiku and posting them on Twitter, and growing butterfly gardens.

Jess's upcoming release in May from Berkley Sensation is BEYOND THE SHADOWS:

A man of deception. A woman of justice. Can their fragile trust be strong enough to prevent a war?

Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers.

Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that hard exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.

Today Jess is giving away a signed copy of BEYOND THE RAIN. Simply answer this question: What is Tuz?

Welcome, Jess!

***
Some of my favorite characters in books are the pets. I've had a lot of fun creating fuzzy and sometimes robotic sidekicks for my main characters. Whether they're serving as comic relief, the heroes in their own right, or troublemakers, I love a good pet.

What are the most entertaining pet characters you've seen in a book?

Okay, there are a lot of them. Sorry I didn't post these sooner. I had a book due on Monday and I've been in catch up mode since then.

So without further adieu, here are the winners picked from random number generator:

Winner of Denise Agnew's Victoria's Secret Gift Card is:
#9 - Jennifer

Winner of Emily Bryan's A CHRISTMAS BALL:
#11 - Maureen

Winner of Paty Jager's A PERFECTLY GOOD NANNY:
#2 - Jane

Winner of MJ Fredrick's HOT SHOT:
#23 - Julie

Winner of Lexi Ryan's FLIRTING WITH FATE:
#3 - Leanne103

Winner of Hanna Rhys Barnes's Welsh Pewter Trinket Box:
#5 - Sue A.

Winner of Caroline Fyffe's WHERE THE WIND BLOWS:
#1 - Susan

Winner of Alix Rickloff's two-fer, LOST IN YOU and DANGEROUS AS SIN:
#20 - Mitzi H.

Winner of Shelli Stevens's PROTECTING PHOEBE or TAKE ME:
#1 - Cheryl McInnis

Winner of Barbara Monajem's $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card:
#21 - Spav

Congrats to all the winners! Email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your snail mail and email addys and I'll forward your info to the respective authors!

(No brain was injured in the random selection of these winners except mine. Man, it would be way easier if blogger numbered comments...)

I swear I will post last week's winners tonight. In the meantime...


My guest today is author Barbara Monajem!

Barbara Monajem wrote her first story in third grade about apple tree gnomes. After dabbling in neighborhood musicals and teen melodrama, she published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. Now her kids are adults, and she writes paranormal and historical romance for grownups. She lives in Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.

Barbara's latest release is NOTORIOUS ELIZA:

Patrick needs a respectable new wife to be a mother for his daughter.

Notorious Eliza paints nudes to support her young son.

They should resist the attraction. (They don’t.)

They dare not fall in love. (They do.)

They must not marry… for one day Eliza’s most scandalous secret will surface and destroy them all...

Today Barbara is giving away a $20 gift certificate from Amazon or Barnes & Noble – your choice. Simply answer this question: What is the title of my paranormal romance that will be released in April?

Welcome, Barbara!

***
“Your English housewife must be of chaste thought…”

Whoa! Stop right there. The widowed heroine of Notorious Eliza, my historical short story from Harlequin this month, has most of the qualities of the ideal English housewife (as described in a little book published centuries ago from which the above quote was taken). She’s courageous, patient, witty, diligent, loyal, and so on…but definitely not chaste of thought.

Why? Well, it’s really, really hard to think chastely when you support yourself and your young son by painting nude courtesans. Eliza’s unchaste mind – as well as her artistic skills – make her the perfect choice to disguise the naughty murals on a country house’s ballroom walls.

And the perfect temptation for Patrick, the hero, who needs the murals painted over so he can find a respectable lady to be a mother for his daughter. Not that he’s having much luck in the wife hunt – all the women he finds are frivolous, selfish, heartless, boring… and, of course, virgins. He’s really not keen on starting from scratch.

Patrick wants one last fling with lusty, experienced Eliza. She yearns for just one passionate affair. And as long as Eliza’s darkest secret hangs over their heads, it can’t become anything more.

Question:

I write in two genres, historical and contemporary paranormal, and my writing styles for the two genres are very different. As a reader, is that a problem for you? Do you prefer it when a writer uses different pseudonyms for different genres, or doesn’t it matter?

A few days left...


My guest today is author Shelli Stevens!

Shelli currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her young daughter. She writes various genres of romance and is represented by literary agent Laura Bradford from the Bradford Literary Agency.

Shelli's latest release is PROTECTIN PHOEBE:

Phoebe’s work at Second Chances, a women’s shelter, has gone a long way toward her own healing after surviving an abusive relationship in college. She’s moved on in every sense—except when it comes to dating.

Everything changes when Craig visits the shelter. The hot, young cop sets her pulse racing in a way that makes her consider making a move—and moving him into her bed for a casual fling. The first step: ask him out. Subtly, of course.

Craig has been attracted to Phoebe for months, so he’s more than happy for the chance to get to know her better, in bed and out. His interest goes way beyond casual, but convincing her to think long term is going to take some time.

When it becomes clear her violent ex has come out of the woodwork, though, time is the one thing they don’t have…

Today Shelli's giving away your choice of either an ebook version PROTECTING PHOEBE or a print version of TAKE ME. Simply answer this question: What is the Bill Cosby quote I have on my site?

Welcome, Shelli!

***
What have you done?

So, if you found my Bill Cosby quote, he talks about pleasing people. For the most part. And I put it up there, because as an author, it can really apply to me.

Some days I'll be writing my book and I'll hesitate, thinking...hmm, this type of reader may not like this. Or, maybe a reviewer will shoot me down for this part. Or, what is this is not sexy enough for my readers? Too sexy? And often I have to remind myself of that quote and just write the book that's in my head and heart.

How about you? Are there any instances in your life where you can think about how you've tried to please everyone? Gah, it could be as simple as Thanksgiving dinner!

There's still time to enter...


Today my guest is author Alix Rickloff!

In an attempt to combine her love of the Regency era with her weakness for great swashbuckling sword and sorcery fantasy, Alix Rickloff created a race of humans known as the Other whose bloodlines mingle and merge with those of the faery realm.

These men and women must traverse a knife-edge between the everyday world they inhabit and the shadowy realm of the Fey who make their cunning and sometimes treacherous presence known all too often.

Her awards include a final in the 2007 Golden Heart, while Romantic Times Magazine calls her writing, "compelling and original".

You can find her on the web at www.AlixRickloff.com.

Alix's latest release is DANGEROUS AS SIN:

In 1815 London, passion and duty, human and Other collide…

Morgan Bligh has honed her body and her magic into weapons, but she’s always lived by her heart. Yet to defeat a traitor whose unspeakable dark power threatens both her worlds, she must forget her feelings— because her partner in the hunt is wicked war hero Cameron Sinclair. He’s broken her heart once, and from the looks of him, he could do it again…

Cam Sinclair wants nothing more than to forget the horrors he’s lived through. He’s done his duty for king and country, turning himself into an assassin and an outcast in the process. Chasing after a sadistic murderer with a sultry Amazon who hates him seems unbearable. Yet though the beautiful Morgan chafes his every nerve and they’re both in constant danger, he can’t help but wonder if this second meeting is truly a second chance…

Alix is giving away a two-fer today! Copies of both LOST IN YOU and DANGEROUS AS SIN! Just answer this question: What was the name of Alix's first completed manuscript?

Welcome, Alix!

***
Hidden Gem or Fireplace Fodder?
Any reader who’s browsed author websites and read the short bios usually contained there, knows that most writers started at a young age. Scribblings on loose leaf paper, stapled together for the family’s enjoyment. Diaries and journals for the more organized. Perhaps even chapter books typed and printed out with color covers for the highly motivated perfectionists.

For most of us, those tales ended up in boxes with old report cards, school photos, and refrigerator artwork our parents saved through the years. Dusty. Forgotten. The writing bug faded along with our wish for a Christmas pony, Tiger Beat magazine, and Members Only jackets (you know you had one).

But some of us held to the dream. The stories kept coming. The characters kept talking. Empty notebooks filled with plot after plot as we found our voice and honed our craft. Stories we now pray never see the light of day. Cringe-inducing prose our younger self thought was the height of perfection. (Right up there with Austen and Dickens, surely!)

Were you infected by the writing bug? Any stories in your attic? Are they better off forgotten, or are they lost masterpieces just waiting for someone to discover their hidden genius?

Write and let me know!

Don't forget to enter...




Today my guest is author Caroline Fyffe!

As an equine photographer, Caroline has worked throughout the United States and in Germany. Long days in the middle of a horseshow arena have given her plenty of opportunity to dream up stories filled with love, heartbreak, joy, sorrow, triumph, and twisting-turning plots. Her feisty heroines and bold, hot-blooded heroes will charm you as they fall for each other in the darndest ways. Her love for horses and the old West inspired her debut book, Where The Wind Blows, which won Romance Writer's of America's prestigious Golden Heart Award under the title Chasing Jessie.

Caroline's latest release is WHERE THE WIND BLOWS:

Two hearts meant to be together;
One secret bound to rip them apart.

Chase Logan liked being a loner, a drifter, free and clear as amountain stream. But one look into Jessie Strong's sky blue eyes and in the span of a heartbeat, he found himself agreeing to be her husband-and a father!

Jessie Strong knew it was all pretend. And only temporary. Just until the adoption went through for three-year-old Sarah. But the longer Chase stayed, the less she could imagine a long, lonely Wyoming winter without him. Times may be tough-supplies short and danger just outside the doorstep-but with the strength of the pioneer spirit and the warm glow of love in their hearts, Chase and Jessie are determined to have a true family at last, no matter WHERE THE WIND BLOWS.

Today Caroline is giving away a copy of WHERE THE WIND BLOWS. Simply answer this question: What is the favored offering of a major secondary character in Where the Wind Blows?

Welcome, Caroline!

***
Now that Christmas is passed and the New Year just begun, it’s time to start thinking about this year’s holidays. LOL, do I hear a groan out there? Maybe shopping for the coming Christmas is the LAST thing on your minds right now; but it’s never too early to start collecting a bevy of good websites to use for next year. I think it’ll be very helpful if everyone shares their favorite site that they like to send gifts from, or from one they received. With so many out there it will be an enlightening adventure without opening the cover of a book….

My favorite site is Strawberry Hill Povitica. What is a povitica you ask? It’s an Eastern European dessert that is as pretty as it is tasty. AND, it doesn’t cost you and arm and a leg to gift one. Check it out at https://secure.povitica.com/flash/home.html#/home

What is your favorite site? I can’t wait to hear!

Pardon the Interruption...

...but I need some help.

That's right. I'm gathering prizes. Would the following people PLEASE email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com?

I think it'll be worth your while:

Cathy M
Victoria
joder
robinky42

And just so you know, this relates to my New Years Day BIG book giveaway. The first place winner was Laney4 and she chose a copy of HARD TO HOLD by Stephanie Tyler (as it turns out, she won a copy of STOLEN FURY in Stephanie's contest at Writeminded last week! How cool is that?!)

The second place winner has already been contacted. The four people listed above have until tomorrow night at 9pm PST to contact me, otherwise I redraw names.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...ENTER Hanna's contest below!!!!