Our local school district shut down today and also tomorrow, due to the dangerous quality of the air. So my kids are home and going stir-crazy. However, hubby’s back at work.

I’m working on copy edits and writing. I also posted on RTB (for Friday). I’m talking about Halloween-themed books and I’d love to hear your thoughts, so stop by! (If you’re in the mood for a Halloween tale, MAGIC AND MAYHEM would fit the bill. )

I learned today that both THE STRANGER I MARRIED and ASK FOR IT sold to Russia (you might remember that PASSION FOR THE GAME sold to Russia a couple weeks ago) so that’s fun news! It’s neat to think of my books being read in various parts of the world. I’d love to get my hands on copies of the translated editions.

I hope your week has been an awesome one! If you haven’t checked out the AT IV interviews, scroll down and catch up. Then vote!

I received an email this weekend from Mai Christy Thao, one of the finalists in the latest American Title contest run through Romantic Times and Dorchester Publishing. She asked if I’d be interesting in showcasing her and/or some of the other finalists on my blog.

I’m a huge believer in publisher-sponsored contests, since the Brava Novella Contest (and the awesome Kate Duffy) changed my life. I wondered how I might help these gals spread the word about their stories. This is what I came up with, and I hope you enjoy it!

Mai will be interviewing the other 9 AT finalists and I’ll be posting her interviews here every Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks. I’ve also gathered together some prizes from author friends and one winner will be selected from among those who comment on each interview. That’s TEN chances to win! UPDATE! — MORE than ten, thanks to the generosity of the authors listed below!

So be sure to stop by, meet all the finalists, and hear about their stories! We start this Tuesday with Mai herself. You don’t want to miss it!

PRIZES:

* From Jami Alden (Aphrodisia, Brava) — autographed copies of DELICIOUS, TASTE OF HONEY, and PRIVATE PARTY.

* From Jennifer Apodaca (Brava, Zebra) — a signed copies of THE SEX ON THE BEACH BOOK CLUB and EXTREMELY HOT.

* From Shayla Black (Pocket, Berkley, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave) — an autographed copy of WICKED TIES, an excerpt booklet of her latest release DECADENT, and bookmarks.

* From Gemma Bruce (Brava, Zebra) — signed copies of WHO WANTS TO BE A SEX GODDESS and A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS anthology.

* From Dianne Castell (Brava, Zebra, Harlequin) — a tote bag, pen and notepad.

* From Sylvia Day (Avon, Brava, Tor-Forge, Ellora’s Cave, Zebra) — autographed copies of The Georgian Series (ASK FOR IT, PASSION FOR THE GAME, A PASSION FOR HIM) and a tote bag to carry them in.

* From Jamie Denton (Brava, Harlequin) — signed copies of THE MATCHMAKER and REMAIN SILENT.

* From HelenKay Dimon (Brava) — a copy of YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY and a few goodies from Hawaii (where the book is based).

* From Cynthia Eden (Avon, Brava, Red Sage) — an autographed ARC of her December Avon Red, A RED HOT NEW YEAR, and a signed copy of SECRETS, Volume 18: Dark Passions.

* From Cathryn Fox (Avon, NAL/Signet, Ellora’s Cave) — an autographed copy of PLEASURE CONTROL, bookmarks, buttons, postcards and a HOT LINE business card. THE card that they pass around in the book!

* From Karen Kelley (Brava, Zebra) — autographed copies of I’M YOUR SANTA and THE MORGUE THE MERRIER, plus bookmarks.

* From Alison Kent (Brava, Harlequin) — from the files of SG-5, autographed copies of DEEP BREATH, BEYOND A SHADOW, and THE PERFECT STRANGER.

* From Shelly Laurenston (Brava, Samhain, Zebra) — signed copies of THE MANE EVENT and SUN, SAND, SEX, plus a Shelly Laurenston carry-all.

* From Rosemary Laurey (Brava, Zebra, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave) — a THE MORGUE THE MERRIER T-shirt.

* From Charlotte Mede (Brava) — an autographed copy of her January ‘08 release, EXPLOSIVE. (shipped to the winner in December.)

* From Jill Shalvis (Brava, Berkley, Harlequin, NAL) — two signed copies of SMART AND SEXY.

* From E.C. Sheedy (Brava, Zebra) — a signed copy of WITHOUT A WORD, a small black canvas pencil case, a pen and highlighter.

* From Diane Whiteside (Brava, Berkley) — a complete set of Devils: THE IRISH DEVIL, THE RIVER DEVIL, THE SOUTHERN DEVIL, and THE NORTHERN DEVIL.

I wish I had something fun and interesting to share, but alas, I don’t.

I’m writing and doing work stuff, hustling my kids to and fro, and thinking about the rapidly approaching holidays.

For those of you who have a veteran or active duty military person in your household, you might be interested in Knott’s Berry Farm’s annual salute to veterans. My family goes every year and we have a blast. Plus, they always have the holiday craft fair up and running, which is a great way to get some Christmas shopping done at the same time!