… school’s out.

My daughter decided to go spend the week with her granny after our two days at Legoland. Granny has a pool and my baby loves to swim. They’re doing fun girly stuff together and having a great time, which is wonderful.

My son stayed home with me. He’s been quiet and good without his little sister around (usually they’re either bickering about something or getting into double trouble together), so it’s been restful around here the last couple of days.

I’m working, of course, and trying to get things ready for the RWA Conference in Dallas. Not so much packing, but cementing plans and arranging meetings with the people I don’t want to miss. It’s going to be a busy conference for me this year, which is different from the last two years. I had next to nothing to do in Reno. Atlanta was a little busier, but not much.

I’ve also been invited to attend Lora Leigh’s RAW this year and I’m looking forward to that. To say I was thrilled when Lora called me would be an understatement. It’s going to be a great time, so if you’re in the area or close enough, you should try to come. The Saturday party is still taking registrations and/or the book signing is open to the public.

The Library Journal review of PERFECT KISSES:

By Kristin Ramsdell — Library Journal, 6/15/2007
Summer Satisfaction

While I would never slander any of these titles by labeling them mere “beach books,” most of these romances are great choices for vacation reading, whatever the location. Sweet or sexy, funny or touching, suspenseful or heartwarming, modern or historical, these stories take readers everywhere—and anytime—imaginable and are as diverting as they come. Nothing is impossible, and there’s something for every taste. So grab a book and a glass of iced tea, put your feet up, and get set for some rejuvenating mental R & R.

Johnson, Susan & others. Perfect Kisses. Brava: Kensington. Jul. 2007. 336p. ISBN 978-0-7582-0941-2. pap. $15. HISTORICAL

Spanning the early to mid-19th century, these three explicit stories from some of the more noted authors of erotic romance begin with “perfect kisses” and end, not unexpectedly, with something more. In Johnson’s School for Scandal, a protective, young school mistress targets a rake who intends to take advantage of her sister, but she ends up attracted instead. In Sylvia Day’s Mischief and the Marquess, the protagonists agree to thwart the matrimonial plans of their mothers—in very creative ways—and end up falling for each other. Finally, a cache of gems hidden in a corset is central in Noelle Mack’s lively The Ruby Kiss.

Very cool!! I’ve heard of sightings all over the country and several readers emailed to say they’ve read it already. The official release date is still a week away, though… *g*

… and back at work. I have galleys arriving today and a book to write.

I’m a bit sunburnt after two days at Legoland with my kids (covered them with sunscreen and forgot me). It was so great to hang out with them. We all had a really good time.

I hope your week is going well!

I’ve been ordering writing books and signing up for lots of writing workshops lately. I’m ready for a change. Time to kick it up a notch. *g*

Any suggestions for a “must-take” workshop? It’s rare that a class title catches my eye, but I’ve signed up for three in July that sound cool.

K, I’m off for another day with the kids. We didn’t fit in as much as we wanted to yesterday, so we’re going back for more. It’s absolutely worth it, though. I can’t tell you how it made me feel to hear my kids talk about having butterflies in their tummies because they were so excited. At one point, my daughter squealed and started shaking, she was so wound up. LOL! I love it.

Have a great day!

… I’m taking the kids out for some fun. They deserve it and I need it. I expect galleys and ce’s for two different books to arrive any day now, so better go while we can.

Have a great Monday!!

This week’s giveaway is for a copy of PERFECTLY PLUM.

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED **

Speculating about the cultural metaphors in Janet Evanovich’s wildly popular mystery series (which includes 13 books, from One for the Money to Lean Mean Thirteen), this anthology takes a look at lingerie-buyer-turned-bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum and catalogs her bad luck with cars (she’s blown up quite a few), her good luck with men, her unorthodox approach to weapon storage, and the rich tapestry of her milieu: Trenton, New Jersey, also known as The Burg. The contributors praise the way the series smartly spoofs that familiar chick-lit epiphany—I have a bad job and what I really want is a good man!—in “Bounty Hunting as a Metaphor for Dating,” “Why Stephanie Should Quit Her Job . . . but Never Will,” and “Nothing Better than a Bad Boy Gone Good.” Several essays veer from the chick-lit perspective and focus instead on the comic theme of luck and chance that ties Stephanie to the barroom gamblers and gangster meanies of her home town in “Luck of the Italian?: Skill Versus Chance.”

My essay is titled “Learning to Fly: Why Bounty Hunting is More Therapeutic Than Running Over Morelli with a Buick”. You can read excerpts from select novellas (including mine) here.

Just post a note about why you love Stephanie and I’ll pick a winner before Friday.

All About Romance wrote a verra nice review about my upcoming anthology with Susan Johnson:

likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/anthReview.pl?AnthReviewId=228