USA Today Best of 2012

Friday, December 30, 2011

BIG writing contest

I gave myself permission to slack this week, blog-wise. With all the bloghopping the past 2 weeks, I was ready for a break.


At least from blogging. Been doing lots of other work, such as...


Helping to organize and launch Lyrical Press's 1st ever writing contest! Details are below, and please, feel free to copy, paste, forward... get that word out anyplace romance writers might see.





The First Annual Lyrical Press How Lyrical is Your Romance? Contest opens on Monday, January 16th. This contest is open to both published and unpublished authors.
Entries must be complete works, ranging in word count between 15,000-100,000 words, any heat level, and fit into one of the following subgenre categories:
  • Contemporary romance
  • Historical romance
  • Paranormal or urban fantasy romance
  • Romantic steampunk
  • Romantic Suspense
 Prizes:

1st Place: $200 advance and digital publishing contract (advance payable as $100 upon finalized contract and $100 upon publication).
2nd Place: $100 advance and digital publishing contract (advance payable as $50 upon finalized contract and $50 upon publication).
3rd Place: Top-scoring contestant in each genre category will receive an acquiring editor’s critique of synopsis and first 50 pages of manuscript.

Guidelines:
  • File type: .rtf, .doc, or .docx only
  • 12pt black font (Times New Roman, Cambria, Courier or Georgia preferred)
  • Line spacing: 1.5
  • Margins: 1" all
  • Page-breaks between chapters

Please include a title page listing the following information:

  • Legal name
  • Pen name
  • Email address
  • Contact phone
  • Working title (include series name and details if applicable)
  • Word count
  • Genre/category

Entries will be accepted from January 16, 2012 through February 5, 2012, and must be emailed to contest@lyricalpress.com.  Entries sent to an email other than the aforementioned will be ignored. Please include book title and contest in subject line thusly: Booktitle – How Lyrical Is Your Romance?. Attach full manuscript, and 2-5 page synopsis in .rtf, .doc, or .docx format (Booktitle_MS and Booktitle_SYN as file names--your book title replaces “Booktitle”). After February 5, the contest will close, but we’ll still be accepting submissions as always at our submissions@lyricalpress.com address.

No entry fee required. Judges reserve the right to Decline to Judge any entry if it does not fit our lines, level of writing is not acceptable, or submission guidelines are not followed.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria: Hook, Pacing/Plot, Characterization, Dialogue, Mechanics, and Author Voice.

Winners will be announced on March 12, 2012 via our blog http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com/ and direct emails to winners.


Friday, December 23, 2011

Guest author Sutton Fox

Today is an Awesome day (note the capital A). My good friend and fellow author Sutton Fox is with us, as a fellow member of the Lyrical Press Christmas Bash Crew. Her contemporary romance, Center Ring (think fast cars, hot guys, romance, and danger, and you've got her series pegged) is one of the 15 books featured at 30% off now through the big day, Christmas.


Here's our holiday-themed interview:




1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?


My favorite memory is a new one, and I cherish it more because it was so hard to come by. Being the child of a single parent who struggled with alcoholism and mood disorders made certain my childhood holidays were anything but warm and fuzzy. It took years and a long painful personal journey to realize for my own health I had to let go of people who hurt me, and build a new family, not of blood, but made of those who loved me and wanted the best for me.


Last Christmas was the first one spent in my very own home. I invited members of my new family, and they traveled from near and far to attend. I did all the things we all do for holiday guests. I cleaned like a madwoman. Cooked for days. Ate too much, played games, did a gift exchange, woke up early and shared coffee with those nearest and dearest. Pretty much had an ordinary Christmas. And it was simply, wonderful.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?


My favorite part of December is New Year’s Eve. The hustle and bustle is over, the carnage of Christmas all cleared away. The house is clean, quiet, and ready to welcome a new year alive with possibilities. Every year I’m excited by it.


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?


Scrooged. It’s over the top, a wild exaggeration, yet very funny, and at times poignant. I love to laugh. And I have a particular fondness for the ghost of Christmas future.


4.)    Why did you choose this book for the holiday bash?


This book actually contains holiday scenes, Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s the primary reason it was chosen. It's book two of the Traveling Circus series, and it contains familiar themes about the importance family plays in a person’s life. Whether or not that family is related by blood or by choice, and I’ve come to realize through my writing that family dynamics are significant and have lasting effects. Love, or the lack of it, has the power to change people.






Thanks, Sutton. I think that last sentence of yours is probably the deepest, truest thing I've heard or read in months. Couldn't agree more!


Here's a bit more about Center Ring:


Can missing family ties replace murder as a common bond?

Bereft of family as a child, Julia Cameron finally has everything she's ever wanted. Her billion dollar racing empire and FASPRO team in line for their first championship seems the trophy in the center ring. But, her enviable life came at the price of her adopted parent's lives, and now Julia has also inherited the responsibility of her teenage twin brothers.

Roane Jameson, the new head of FASPRO security, is determined to solve the Cameron case, and fast. Desperate to keep this job to pay his child support, he needs to create a glowing reputation to conceal his shadowy past. He's willing to do whatever it takes. How hard can it be when he's only got one suspect?


Have a merry day.

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!








Thursday, December 22, 2011

Michelle Flye

Today my guest is Michelle Flye, author of Winter Solstice, a contemporary romance featured in the Lyrical Press Christmas Bash, 30% off, along with 14 other novels, through Christmas day.


Here's my interview with Michelle:


1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?


This is a tough question to answer. Every childhood Christmas was special to me because my parents worked so hard to make it that way. Most of my memories seem to center around the Christmas tree, though. I remember going with my parents to pick one at the local tree farms, throwing literal handfuls of tinsel “icycles” on in at a time, the spicy-sweet smell of pine, and lying on my back under the tree looking up through the branches at all the multicolored lights. Our trees were always magical. As an adult, I’m always watching my kids, wondering what their Christmas memories will be—what sensation are they going to remember most strongly?

2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

Now this is an easy question. I love all the preparation for Christmas, but really, my single favorite day in December is the winter solstice. There’s nothing mystical about my love for the winter solstice, although I appreciate that it has a lot of meaning to many religions. Like my character Becky in my book Winter Solstice, though, I love that day because it’s the shortest day of the year. I feel like it has a promise to it, like because the days get longer after that, you can start to anticipate spring without guilt.


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. I’m an old-fashioned romantic at heart and this movie fits the bill perfectly. Plus, it’s not JUST a Christmas movie, which I really like. And I can never get enough of Fred Astaire’s dancing or Bing Crosby’s singing.


4.)    Why did you choose this book for the holiday bash OR why did you write this book?

I think I can answer both parts of your question at once. I wrote this book because of my mother. I get my love for the winter solstice from her. She and I are both springtime people, and when I was growing up she always made some note of the winter solstice. Nothing big, but she’d mention it, and it’s still something we share. The Christmas season is a time of joy, and the winter solstice is a time of hope. The two just fit together.


Thanks for being my guest, Michelle. I have to confess: I love the winter solstice too, because I know we're heading back into the upswing--and I do love those long, warm days of summer.

Here's a little more about Winter Solstice:

Assignment from hell or love of a lifetime?

Becky Gray thought her new job in the Public Relations Office of Buncombe County Hospital would be easy, but her first assignment takes her onto the front lines of the Emergency Room. Assigned to follow sexy Dr. John Grant whose reputation as a womanizer is only matched by his skill as a physician, Becky is caught up in a whirlwind of emotion and drama. Can she find safety in the arms of a man she should despise?

Explicit sex and some graphic descriptions

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!





Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Guest Cristal Ryder

Today I welcome guest author Cristal Ryder:

1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?
Wow, how do you pick one? I had to close my eyes, blank out my brain and let the first thing come to my mind. It was…….I couldn’t do it. Rats. One Christmas when the family was still ‘intact’ we had everyone to our house in the country. A beautiful snow fell all Christmas Eve Day. That night we all went outside to to take the horses their Christmas treat. It was a brilliant night, stars shining in the velvety sky and the snow sparkled like diamonds were cast upon it (I have used this image in a few stories) It was a magical night and I remember it fondly.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?
Decorating, baking, having company and putting Elliot the Elf up. It was a folk art piece I painted when my boys were little. An advent calendar and until Elliot was on the mantle it didn’t feel like Christmas.


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?
The classics – It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, because they don’t make movies like they used to.
And the staple – Christmas Vacation, because it slays me each year. I know what’s coming, it still kills me.


4.)    Why did you choose this book for the holiday bash OR why did you write this book?
I chose Being Ariana because it is my most recent release with Lyrical Press and the sequel Being Bound is scheduled for release February 20. I do love these two stories and hope Being Ariana finds its way into some stockings hanging by the fire.


Cristal Ryder www.cristalryder.com





Saturday, December 17, 2011

Guest author Ericka Scott

Please welcome my guest--author of all sorts of suspense, mystery, horror, and romance... Ericka Scott.

Christmas Traditions at Ericka Scott’s House

Around the Scott household, the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas all seem to be jam-packed with Christmas parties and family get-togethers. Some years, we have too many to fit into two short days. Over the last couple of years, I’ve let activities crowd out some of our most memorable traditions. Not this year.
This year, we’re having a real tree which we’ll decorate to the strains of NSync’s Christmas album (it’s tradition, you know). Then, we’ll gather around the fireplace to light our Yule log and eat sugar cookies we made to distribute to the neighbors as gifts.
These cookies are, in our eyes, masterpieces. No, they aren’t those gorgeous things you see in bakery windows, but have the quirks that our family is known by. We decorate Christmas fish, only one of which is given three eyes and made especially for our friend, Jon. There are some traditional shapes, stars and Santas, but you are just as likely to find rocket ships amongst the Christmas trees, a T-Rex waiting to devour the red and green bunnies, and there is always a haunted church cookie -- complete with sugar black bats in the belfry.
Given the oddities of our family, I guess it’s no surprise to find that my holiday tales aren’t full of Christmas cheer, instead they tout titles like A Christmas Curse, which can be found in the ‘Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas Anthology (http://www.erickascott.com/books/cursed-for-christmas-in-twas-a-dark-and-delicious-christmas-anthology/) and my latest, Tidings of Fear (http://www.erickascott.com/books/tidingsoffear/). I guess I enjoy making readers shiver from more than just the cold.


TIDINGS OF FEAR
A psychic, a skeptic, and a serial killer…
Psychic Lia Morgan sees portents all around her. Although estranged from her family, she joins the search for her missing sister. A simple case gets complicated fast when she discovers her sister’s plethora of secrets includes a son.
Professor Jared Trimble’s world has no room for paranormal mumbo-jumbo. When asked to consult on a case involving a series of crossword puzzles, he’s conflicted. Is he a suspect, or an investigator?
While Lia uses her physic gift and follows signs, Jared uses his wits and experience. When the two collide, passions flare and the final clue brings them both into the bull’s-eye of a serial killer’s target.
********
Excerpt
“Hello?” she called. A creak sounded from above and a trickle of discomfort slid down her spine. She pulled out her key chain, from which hung a small canister of mace. Another creak made her jump.
“Hello?” she called again. Taking a deep breath, she strode purposefully into the house and found herself in a small living room. Lia glimpsed a small alcove off to the side and expected to find a small dining area, or perhaps an attached office.
Her breath caught in her throat as she walked into another large living room and straight into the past. Positioned under the window were the couch and loveseat she remembered from growing up. A recliner sat in the corner, a newspaper already opened to the comics on the seat.
She shivered. A tall enclosed bookcase, the one that had resided in Lia’s bedroom, stood next to the window. If she stepped closer, she knew she’d recognize every title on its shelves.
A small wooden rocking chair sat next to the recliner. A Raggedy Ann doll vied for seat space with her twin, Raggedy Andy.
“Oh, God,” Lia said. The memorial to her family should have been macabre. Instead, it brought tears to her eyes. Even the antique desk her sister, Sylvie, had thrown a fit to own and then despised when computers became popular and her father wouldn’t let her buy a more functional desk had a place in the room. A smile tugged at the corner of Lia’s mouth.
She could almost hear Sylvie’s famous whine, “But, Dad…”
As memories flooded her mind, she had to blink back a sudden rush of tears. She took a step back, turned and nearly ran back to the hallway. A light dimmed and brightened in another room. Lia didn’t need to count the pulses to know there would be eight.
A short walk found her in the kitchen. The stainless steel appliances sparkled and even the floor seemed to have been freshly waxed. She wished her kitchen looked this good. A towering pile of newspapers indicated they were sisters, after all. The stack teetered on the corner of the kitchen table. All of them were opened and folded to reveal the crossword puzzle.
Had Sylvie left these here? She couldn’t remember her sister having a penchant for crosswords, but she obviously didn’t know Sylvie as well as she’d thought.
Or had someone else brought these in and put them there?
Speaking of which, where was her sister?
She headed upstairs, calling as she went. Just as empty as downstairs. And just as neat. A small blue plastic item on the floor of her sister’s office appeared to be the only thing out of place.
Lia scooped it up. A thumb drive. She went to put it on the desk when a loud creak sounded behind her. She shoved it into her pocket and fumbled for her keys.
Heavy footsteps approached up the stairs.
Lia turned as a shadow fell across the doorway.
*****
Check out the Free Reads Page on my website in December for our infamous sugar cookie recipe (it contains eggnog) and also one for a decadent chocolate Yule log (yum).
And yes, Virginia, there were once camels in California…
Ericka Scott is a multi-published, bestselling author of seductive suspense. She's written stories for as long as she can remember and reads anything under the sun (including the back of cereal boxes in a pinch). She got hooked on romantic suspense in her college days, when reading anything but a textbook was a guilty pleasure. Now, when she’s not chauffeuring children around, wishing she had a maid, or lurking at the library, she’s spinning her own web of fantasy and penning tales of seduction and suspense. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.
Get a behind the scenes look at her writing and zany family on her blog at http://erickascott.blogspot.com
She also loves friends, so come friend her at http://myspace.com/erickascott

She's also on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ericka.scott and Twitter @ErickaScott
You can find out more about her books at www.erickascott.com

Friday, December 16, 2011

Guest author Stephanie Beck

Today I I'm a guest blogger for author Rebecca Rose, and I also welcome author Stephanie Beck, author of A Winter Tale With Marshmallows,(I love that title, by the way) one among many contemporary romances featured in the Lyrical Press Christmas Bash, 30% off now through Christmas.


Here's my interview with Stephanie:


1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?


My favorite memory is waking up Christmas morning the year our daughter was born. It was the first Christmas in our house and our daughter was four months old. She didn’t give a hoot about the gifts, but it was a very special time for us.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

The abundance of Christmas cookies makes me very happy in December. I love that no matter where you go, treats will be out because it is the thing to do. Some aren’t the best, but I don’t mind. I enjoy the near constant sugar high I maintain from the first until after New Years.


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

I like Elf. It’s got a sweet story line and while I can watch it with my kids, it has adult humor as well. Oh and the music. I love the music in the movie.


4.)    Why did you write this book?

I adore writing holiday stories. Plotting around a holiday is like introducing another character because a certain feel and personality come along with it. A Winter Tale With Marshmallows combines the paranormal aspect with werewolves, but also so many winter and Christmastime activities that are so special to so many people. It’s one of those stories that makes me smile as soon as I pick it up and I’m happy to share it.

Thanks, Stephanie. Christmases do get even more special once our little ones come along! Here's a bit about A Winter Tale With Marshmallows:

No winter night is complete without marshmallows.

Pregnant and on the run, Mona Renalds is a werewolf with trouble nipping at her heals. She wants a new life for herself and the twins she’s carrying. Embracing the future can’t happen until she finds an alpha male strong enough to take on her former pack leader.

Chris Meyters is alpha of Haven Pack. Mild mannered and progressive, he tries to reverse the archaic methods of his pack’s previous leaders. When Mona comes into his diner requesting sanctuary, his primitive instinct to claim her nearly consumes him, but he fights himself to give her the choices she was denied in her former pack.

Surrounded by the Pennsylvania winter of snow, sledding parties and creamy cups of hot chocolate, Chris and Mona are prepared to do whatever it takes in order to maintain the domestic bliss they’ve found with each other.

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Guest author LK Below

I'm guest blogging with author Stephanie Beck today, and also...


Have a fabulous guest blogger myself. LK Below is author of Stalking Shade, and urban fantasy with a touch of romance, which is one of 15 books on sale for 30% off during the Lyrical Press Christmas Bash, now through Christmas day.




Here's my interview with LK:




1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?


LK: My best Christmas memories from years past will always be making Christmas cookies with Mom. I live provinces away now, and I miss that.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

LK: Can I say making Christmas cookies again? LOL. I love to bake. When I get my hands on a new holiday recipe, I just have to try it out. What can I say?


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

LK: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the original cartoon version) will always be a classic to me. I remember watching it more than once with my sister. Our other favorite was Frosty the Snowman.


4.)    Why did you choose this book for the holiday bash?

LK: When the call for the holiday bash was announced, participating authors were asked to choose a holiday-themed song to represent their book. I wasn’t entirely sure if I could find one to match any of my published novels, but I decided to try. Then, lo and behold, I stumbled across Do You Hear What I Hear? Since in Stalking Shade, Lori is clairvoyant, I thought it witty and appropriate. I do love to be witty, when I can manage. *grins*


Thanks, LK! You are definitely witty, and I love that original Grinchypoo, too. (between you and I, it's probably the rhymes. I'm a sucker.)

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Guest author Rebecca Rose

Rebecca Rose has come visiting Piper Patter (cue patter of applause, nerk, nerk). Rebecca is the author of  contemporary romance Divine Redemption, which is featured along with 14 other books in Lyrical's 30% off sale, now through Christmas.

Our Christmas-themed interview:

1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?

The first Christmas with my husband. I hadn’t had a tree in quite a few years and my husband surprised me when I got home from work. There was a three foot tree in our bedroom with one multi-colored star ornament on it. He said we can start collecting our own Christmas ornaments together and the star was just to start us off. To this day the star stays in sight all year around.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

About a week before Christmas the kids start getting antsy and excited. There’s lots of chattering, the smell of cookies and cakes baking, along with presents starting to fill up the underneath of the tree. It's pure chaos and so much fun!


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

LOL The Christmas Story, of course! ‘You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!’
This movie is so much fun and we make a point to all sit and watch it together every holiday season. J


4.)    Why did you choose this book for the holiday bash?

Christmas is about forgiveness and changing your ways for the better. In Divine Redemption Donald must learn to forgive himself for the mistakes in his past and accept the gifts of love and trust from those he’s come to care for. Now, doesn’t that sound like a Christmas miracle?


Thanks for coming by, Rebecca. That's one of my favorite lines from The Christmas Story, too--along with "Fra...jil...lee? Must be from France."

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Guest author Susan Palmquist

Today I welcome Susan Palmquist, author of Sleeping With Fairies (fantasy romance). Sleeping With Fairies is 30% off now through Christmas, along with 14 other Lyrical Press titles.


A brief holiday interview with Susan:


1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?


When I was five and my grandmother bought me a blue toy car I could ride in. Sitting in the driver’s seat was the doll I’d been waiting for all year long.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

Everyone seems to be in a good mood and much nicer to one another.


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

ELF, it’s just so funny.


4.)    Why did you write this book?

I wrote Sleeping With Fairies because I’d always wanted to set a book in Ireland because my grandmother was from there. I love all the mystery about fairies and ghosts and all the other magical stories from there and decided to include that in the story.



Thanks for visiting, Susan. Here's hoping you have a nice day filled with bumping into all those merry  people.

A bit more about Sleeping With Fairies:

When you're in love, magical things can happen.
Magic is a big part of Claire Mahoney’s life, but that gift comes with the burden of a curse. The man she marries will die a month after the wedding. A gifted landscaper, she beautifies people’s gardens but is missing the light of love in her own life.
Michael Finnegan swears he will never be romantically involved again, not after the death of his wife. His daughter, Rachel, is of another mind when they move next door to Claire, whom she suspects is a witch. Rachel also begins to look up to Claire as another mother, thwarting Michael's desire to remain casual and distant from his new neighbor.
Sparks fly and the magic of true love follows. But when the curse rears its ugly head, will Michael and Claire be destined to never live happily ever after again?
Content Warning: Sexual Situations.

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!


Monday, December 12, 2011

Guest author Diane Escalera

Today my guest is Diane Escalera, author of Dangerous Desire, featured in Lyrical's Christmas promotion.

Here's our interview (yes, you must tear your eyes away from that gorgeous chest next door):


1.) What is your all-time best Christmas memory?

My best Christmas memory was when I believed in Santa Claus. That childlike innocence, bubbling excitement, unquestionable faith in something so powerful and magical made Christmas special for me. And all the presents, of course!

 

2.) As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

LOVE the lights. Everything looks so sparkly and colorful. We drive through neighborhoods, oohing and ahhing while taking it all in. Sometimes the simplest light displays are the most beautiful because they capture the true spirit of Christmas.


3.) Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

A Christmas Story! We watch it every year. It’s an all-American tale that offers comfort, joy, and unforgettable laugh out loud scenes. The sexy leg lamp is classic!

4.) Why did you write this book?

When I set out to write Dangerous Desire, I wanted to do something different, a little more edgy than my previous books.  I chose to make the hero a pet detective (No. He’s nothing like Ace Ventura!) because frankly, I hadn’t seen many tough guys with this profession.  A love for animals softened his hard exterior.  I found it attractive, and thought my heroine would too.

I knew who my hero was.  How would he utilize his special skills? While I was brainstorming ideas, pro football player Michael Vick’s dogfighting scandal made headlines. Believe it or not, it spurred the plot for Dangerous Desire

I’m an animal lover, and I had strong feelings about dogfighting. Still, the story called out to me. I like to write about real-life issues. Bad things happen, and I try not to shy away from something just because it might be unpopular.

But I digress…  After all, Dangerous Desire is a hot romance! It’s a story about a second chance at love. The road to a happy ending may have some bumps along the way. It doesn’t stop us from trying to reach our destination.



Thanks, Diane! Great answers. For all you Blogland friends, I edited this book and can tell you personally, it is caliente, with a dose of cute dogs, beachside setting, bad guys you'll want to see brought to justice, and a couple of funny and all-too-realistic friends. Dangerous Desire is 30% off at the Lyrical Press bookstore through the 25th, along with 14 other titles.

Merry shopping!

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!





Sunday, December 11, 2011

Guest author Lori Green

My guest today is Lori Green, author of Sugar B's Back in Town, a contemporary romance featured in Lyrical's Christmas Bash 2011 (along with 14 other books), on sale for 30% of now through Christmas.

Here's my interview with Lori:

1.)    What is your all-time best Christmas memory?

Growing up Jewish, we were always a little different since we never had a Christmas tree or celebrated Christmas at all. But our family traditions were wonderful from eating latkes with applesauce and playing Hanukkah songs and dancing like crazy people.


2.)    As an adult, what is your favorite part of December?

I love being a parent during this season. My daughter and I always make a gingerbread house so Santa can be charmed. We bake fresh cookies for him too and place reindeer nibbles out on the balcony. We also decorate the house with Christmas and Hanukkah decorations and it’s all so great!


3.)    Favorite Christmas movie, and why?

A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim. When he wakes up and it’s Christmas morning, his joy always makes me laugh and get teary eyed.


4.)    Why did you choose this book for the holiday bash OR why did you write this book?

Sugar B’s Back in Town is a story about a woman who finds her own personal redemption in family, community and connection. It’s what the holidays are all about. Pettiness can be put aside and all the old hurts have a chance to be forgotten as the spirit of giving enters our life.

I love that Sugar begins as a broken woman but she finds herself and her worth. I’d hope that for anybody who feels lost, the holiday offers a sense of community in which to find themselves.



Thanks, Lori. Seeing the fun kids have with Christmas makes it so much more fun for us as adults, I think. And I grew up without celebrating Christmas, too... but sure love all the decorations and traditions now!

Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!




Saturday, December 10, 2011

Blogelocity

I'm guest blogger with author Michelle Flye today, answering lots of questions about character names as part of a blog tour to promote the Lyrical Press Christmas Bash, 15 books all 30% off from now til Christmas. My own contemporary romance, Waiting for Revenge, is included.


Autumn Piper
Got romance?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Things That Work

...And another product gains the Piper Patter Seal of Affection.


It's Pampered Chef's Grapefruit Knife. For $8, this little gadget makes sectioning grapefruit a snap. The image doesn't do it justice, because it's hard to see the curved, tapered tip--which is what makes the knife effective at getting down the bottom of the fruit sections and separating it from the rind, and also getting into those little crevices at the center.


I love grapefruit, but will admit, I've sometimes bought it and let it go bad because I was too lazy to section it in the morning. No more a problem in my house.


Loooove it!


Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Guest Patter

Today I'm guest blogging with author Sandra Sookoo at her blog, Believing is Seeing, about A Fireman for Christmas and how it came to be.


I'm also guest blogging for author Rebecca Rose about tag lines and submissions (this from an editor's standpoint).


Piper Denna
Romance is sexy!