I’m off to NY in the wee hours of the morning, so you won’t hear from me again until probably Monday. Wish me luck! I hope to have a pleasurable and fruitful trip.

I also received my lovely RITA finalist pin in the mail today and the sight of it made me cry. I was so happy. It’s still slowly sinking in. Even though I can say, “One of my stories is a finalist in the RITAs,” it’s like my brain still isn’t registering it. I was reading through the finalist packet and thinking, “OMG, it really happened. It really did!”

Hugs to all! See you on Monday.

SIGHT UNSEEN
by Samantha Graves
Warner Books
April 1 2007

Raven Callahan doesn’t do it for the money. She does it for the thrills. As a consultant for API, an art recover company, she gets to steal—legally. But when her colleague is kidnapped during an assignment, Raven is forced to steal a priceless master painting to save his life.

David “Dax” Maddox was the perfect street cop—until a botched burglary raid cost his partner his life and Dax his ability to see color. Now, with his world gray, Dax has only one mission: to take down the murderer. And he’ll use anyone—even a sexy thief with questionable ethics—to get justice.

Soon Dax and Raven are forced together as pawns in a madman’s scheme. From the heart of Cuba to the New York art world, they find themselves in a race against time to stop the ultimate revenge.

Excerpt: www.samanthagraves.com/suexcerpt.html

ABOUT SAMANTHA

Samantha Graves turned a lifelong love of daydreaming into writing fiction. Under the name of C.J. Barry, she is the award-winning author of the UN-Forgettable Futuristic romance series. She now brings her unique blend of high adventure, sizzling romance, mystery and humor to her first contemporary romantic suspense.

REVIEWS

4 ½ Stars & a Top Pick “This fast-paced adventure provides all the action, romance and thrills a reader could ask for. ”
- Romantic Times magazine

Five Stars “I found myself hooked from page one!”
- Huntress Reviews

“Tightly woven and suspenseful…will keep readers riveted.”
- The Road to Romance

“A refreshing paranormal romantic suspense thriller.”
- Harriet Klausner

Five Angels & a Recommended Read “Fun, exciting and at times heart-wrenching.”
- Fallen Angel Reviews

WEBSITE: www.samanthagraves.com

****Update!****

“Her Mad Grace” in BAD BOYS AHOY! is a RITA finalist in the Best Romantic Novella category!!!

Once again, Melynda Beth Skinner will be hosting her
Unofficial List of Golden Heart® and RITA® Award Finalists
at www.melyndabethskinner.com/finalists.html
on notification day, March 25th, 2007. She updates the list
every few minutes throughout the day. There’s also a bulletin
board/chat room, and great fun is had by all. If you’d like to
help, send names of finalists, their entries’ titles, & the
category(ies) entered to melynda@melyndabethskinner.com

Our chicken died today.

…only this time it’s not so hard. I’m enjoying my WIP, so it’s going fairly well! It’s the first time in over a year that I’m not working on multiple projects at once and for right now, that suits me.

I finally pulled my suitcase out and I’m slowly but surely tossing things into it as I walk by it. I’ll be attending the PASIC conference in NY next week. I’m looking forward to it for a variety of reasons — like the presentation on covers that my editor Kate Duffy will be leading along with others from Kensington, and the presentation on an author’s career from an editor’s perspective that will be given by editors from Berkley, Pocket, Dorchester and one of my Avon editors, Lucia Macro. (yes, I have two — Lucia and Erika Tsang).

I’ll also get to see both the Kensington offices and the HarperCollins offices, and enjoy the company of a very small group of other authors. And I’ll get to see NY again, a place that I loved on my previous trips there.

I’ll be sure to take notes and pictures galore and bring them back.

Now, back to work I go…

LUSH
by Sasha White
Kensington Aphrodisia
ISBN: 0758215487
March 27

A gallery showcasing erotic art is the setting for these three sensual stories. A take charge gallery owner finds the tables turned by a sexy carpenter… A relationship-shy jewelry designer meets her match in a man devoted to her pleasure… A beautiful massage therapist shows a photographer how much fun candid shots can be…

The pleasure is all yours if you’re ready to let your fantasies take control and surrender yourself to desire…

The Principles of Lust
Sleek and sexy erotic art gallery owner Teal Jamison knows what she likes and isn’t afraid to let carpenter Zack Dillon know that her current fantasy features him in all his masculine glory. But Zack has a deliciously different game in mind for a woman accustomed to taking charge…

Passion Play
Quick to follow where passion leads, then back off when things get too close, jewelry designer Mia Jones’s sensual odyssey with singles columnist Dominick Jamison is perfect: hot, sweet, and with no risk of complications. But how long can her heart stay cold–when she’s lost in the heat of a man devoted to every forbidden pleasure her body craves…

Sexual Healing
When massage therapist Caitlyn Ellis shows photographer Jack Lowell the joys of sensual self love for the camera, he can’t resist the erotic invitation to take pleasure in her lush curves–or deny himself the hands-on ecstasy of loving a beautiful woman determined to heal his battered soul…by setting his body on fire.

EXCERPT: www.sashawhite.net/bookshelf/lush

REVIEWS

“Within the pages of LUSH, you will discover three sensual tales that will have you laughing, crying and grabbing for a fan to cool off. Ms. White does an excellent job penning these short stories to read like full length novels. The characterization, imagery and intriguing plots will keep you mesmerized until you have finished the last page.”
-Billie Jo, reviewer for Romance Junkies

“Sasha White’s stories are molten lava all wrapped up in spun silk. Richly emotional and highly passionate, these erotic stories take the reader on a sensuous journey inside the bedroom and out. These sexually explosive novellas will undoubtedly leave you breathless and begging for more. Sasha White continues to have a spot on my keeper shelf.”
-Cathryn Fox, author of Pleasure Control

WEBSITE: www.sashawhite.net

EXTRAS: www.sashawhite.net/lush-gallery

BUY: (click on the cover at the top)

Buy it! You’ll love it. Sasha is a fabulous author!!

I’ve been trying to get caught up and every day I get a little closer. We did our taxes last night (ugh.), today I mail out stuff, tomorrow I’ll make a quick trip to Ross or something and find some clothes for my upcoming trip.

Still, I received an email from Cheyenne McCray about the upcoming RT Convention. I’m on the Paranormal Panel and she’s the captain, and she casually mentioned that the Convention is 5.5 weeks away. I about had a panic attack. LOL! I’m trying to cross things off my To Do List, but at the same time I’m adding to it.

Anyway, back to work I go. My kids have half-day at school today, so my quiet time is cut short. I hope you all have a great Friday and an even better weekend! ((hugs))