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Fangirl Friday: Christine WarrenMay 30, 2008 at 6:00 am | Category: blog Two words. Fantasy Fix. I got my first taste of Christine Warren at Ellora’s Cave. Her Fixed series snagged me from the start. It was fun and snarky and sexy and everything I like in a good paranormal. In fact, her books were among the first paranormals I ever read. Before that, I was a mainstream historical junkie. I still love a good historical, but you can count me in as a true paranormal Fangirl. However, I’ll save that topic for another Friday. Here’s the thing with Christine. I found her at Ellora’s Cave, but after reading the first Fixed books, I anxiously awaited the next installment. Only, it didn’t come. Not at Ellora’s Cave, anyway. I was so bummed after checking and waiting and checking again. Until I finally decided to get to the bottom of why one of my new favorite authors wasn’t pounding out the books for my reading enjoyment. I went to her site. And there, with a shiny new series name, were the next TWO installments in The Novels of the Others. The fabulous Ms. Warren had been picked up by St. Martin’s Press. Of course, I raced to my local book store to get both books immediately. And, of course, I wasn’t disappointed. Her world had not changed. It was just as fun and snarky and sexy as I remembered. According to her website, the next book, Walk on the Wild Side is due out in June 2008. Can’t wait! Got any fun, snarky, sexy books or authors you love? Who do you run out to buy the second they have a book out?
P.F. Chang’s ROCKS!May 26, 2008 at 8:22 am | Category: blog First, I’d like to thank Annette Blair for being my guest this month. Wow! What a turn out. Thank you all for coming to my site. I hope to see each of you stopping by again! And congratulations goes out to Jen McBride for winning Annette’s comment contest. You should contact Annette at annette @ annetteblair . com (minus the spaces of course.) Now, for today’s post. I have a new favorite restaurant! Not too long ago, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro opened in Albany, NY. For month’s I’d wanted to try it out. But for one reason or another, it just never happened. Well, not until this past Thursday. My friend, Lindsey and I took my two munchkins to see the new Indiana Jones flick and beforehand, we decided to grab a bite to eat. My daughter, much to my delight, begged to try out P.F. Chang’s. She’s a huge Chinese food fan. So in we go…er, after I give the big pre-dining out spiel to the kids–“This is a restaurant, guys. That means best behavior. People are here to eat and they don’t want to have to watch or listen to two loud or misbehaving children…(I go on a bit more about first and only impressions and such but I won’t torture you like I do my offspring. *g*) The hostess greeted us and paid special attention to the kids. She entrusted Jonas with the pager and he listened avidly to her explanation of how it will buzz and light up when our table is ready. You’d have thought she’d knighted the kid. He really took his pager holding responsibilities seriously. After purchasing our movie tickets at the rocking new Regal Cinemas located just above P.F. Chang’s, we strolled back to await our dining experience. It didn’t take long. The hostess, understanding we had two young children equipped with internal patience-countdown-clocks…tick….tick…tick…(I think they’re installed at birth), snuck us in a little faster. And it just got better after that. Our waiter, Adam, was fabulous…and cute. Always a wonderful combination. Hmmm, I wonder if I could hook him up with my friend, Lindsey…note to self, must revisit idea of matchmaking a-la food joint. Worked for me and Keith. Our food came out quickly, family style. The lettuce wraps are divine! Get the lettuce wraps. Seriously. Get them. You won’t be disappointed. Heck! ALL the food was divine. I don’t think there is a bad menu choice to be had. And Adam explained how everything is made fresh and the food is delivered daily. There is no storage set up in the back. There is a woman who wraps the wontons to order back there! And it really showed in how yummy everything was. Once dinner was done, Adam brought the dessert tray. The kids were excitedly deciding which yummy mini dessert to try and over walks Mike, part owner of this P.F. Chang’s. He asked how our meal went and spoke with Amelia and Jonas personally about their experience. He made us feel like royalty. He thanked us for our patronage. And he even gave the kids their desserts on him. This, by far, was THE best dining experience I’ve ever had. Hands down. I can’t wait to take my husband. And even though this is not Fangirl Friday, I am a total P.F. Chang’s Fangirl! If you’re out and about, and looking for some incredible food and amazing atmosphere, this is the place to go. What’s the best dining experience you’ve ever had? How about the worst? I bet there are some interesting stories out there. Have a safe Memorial Day, everyone. Sandy :-)
There’s a Storm on the way . . .May 24, 2008 at 12:01 am | Category: blog Thinking about writing makes me realize how lucky I am to be a full time writer, finally. For two whole years now.Now I get to spend a several getaways a year with other writers on an island off the New England Coast. There’s really no way to describe it. Creativity buzzes around us like a charge of electricity in the air. We share rooms and talk deep into the night. Everybody’s take on their own writing strikes a chord and improves all our skills. Long At the beach, we’re still plotting while collecting stones or screaming while the waves knock us over. Sometimes we act out our story ideas. On the right is me wearing seaweed and pretending to be a seawitch getting married. The seaweed in my hands is called dead man’s fingers. We have an outdoor shower. It’s incredibly decadent—there is NO other shower like it in the world. It makes a guest appearance in NEVER BEEN WITCHED. (None of the scenes were rehearsed by us, however.) We have great meals which we prepare together and great talk all the time. There’s sharing. Learning. Growing. De-stressing. Keying into the importance of our work, of everyone’s work, and of each other. A brainstorming night for each of us. Quiet time to do our own writing. Long talks and long walks. This, my friends, is a gift, and this is where I often worked on GONE WITH THE WITCH. I’d like to thank the giver of the gift. She knows who she is. In a nutshell, my Triplet Witch Trilogy is about: “Psychic witches with attitude who SPELL identical-triplet trouble in spikes!” Series Order:
Each of the triplets has a psychic gift:
Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews says: “A spellbinding story that totally knocked my socks off!” Storm, the Goth rebel with attitude grew up believing that she was the straw that broke the camel’s back, that it was her arrival—the third twin, the unwanted triplet—that sent their mother running, never to be seen again, before their father came to pick them up from the hospital. Storm is in disguise, hiding the real her from the rest of the world. Life hurts less that way . . . until Aiden McCloud, the hermit wanderer, arrives on the scene. Sensual & Erotic Ecataromance says: “OMG, what a fantastically fun story! GONE WITH THE WITCH has it all; sensuously personable characters, breath-taking romance and a story line that is amusing and totally unique. Talented Annette Blair continues her triplet witch books with Storm’s story, my favorite of the triplets. GONE WITH THE WITCH, don’t you love that title, is a stand alone book but I bet you won’t be able to resist buying just this one book by Annette Blair; she is addictive! Sultry.” In Aiden’s presence Storm hears a baby crying. Abducting him is the only way to follow the sound and find the child. Her scheme includes his luxury motor coach, seduction . . . and four pairs of fuzzy purple handcuffs. On the island we brainstormed the destination of this trip. No writer is an island . . . or some such pun. Below is a view from our island.
Carol Carter, Romance Reviews Today says: ”GONE WITH THE WITCH is sensual, close to being erotic . . . a touching emotional tale. I’ve read all the ‘witchy’ tales from Ms. Blair . . . I recommend them all for your reading pleasure.” Neither Aiden nor Storm knows who they really are, or they’re afraid to know, and it takes an abduction, a seduction, a wacky road trip, wild discoveries, and crazy stunts, including the slow revelation of secrets, secrets, secrets, for Storm to know the real Aiden and for Aiden to peel away Storm’s tough outer layers to find the jewel hidden deep inside. Simply romance Reviews says: “It’s hot, sexy, and incredibly kinky. It’s also sweet, charming, and causes butterflies to well up in the reader’s stomach. You will laugh, you might even cry. However, no matter where your emotions take you, Gone with the Witch will take you on a wild ride.” It was a real “trip” writing Storm and Aiden’s story . . . yes, a triple entendre, a ferry trip to the island, and a lot of fun to write my road trip story. I fell in love with Aiden and Storm, and the whole surprising gang. GONE WITH THE WITCH is like nothing I’ve ever written. Rendezvous says: “Saucy, fun and laced with a marvelous sense of humor, this second book of the Cartwright Triplet Witch trilogy promises loads of fun. If you love Susan Elizabeth Phillips LADY BE GOOD, this is a similar kind of road trip with a heroine who happens to be a witch. We laughed ourselves silly…” Betty Cox, Reader to Reader says: “Annette Blair’s second contribution to her Triplet trilogy should come with oven mitts as it is hot, hot, hot. If the reader likes her romantic comedies just shy of being classified as erotica, this is definitely the book for you! Believe me when I say, this is one road trip you do not want to miss!”
Paula Myers, Fresh Fiction says: “An emotionally charged story . . . light, bawdy, entertaining fun, which is what I thoroughly enjoy in all of Ms. Blair’s books. She can be hysterically outrageous, and I can count on several laugh-out-loud moments. This story tugged at the heart as I was drawn into a tale of two people who’ve lived on the surface of life, afraid to seek greater depth to their existence for fear of being hurt yet again. This book is a definite addition to my keeper shelf.” So don’t forget: handcuffs and secrets, psychics and sex, dragons, tabloids, elephants, clowns, and the sound of crying babies . . . oh my. Amanda Haffery, Romance Junkies says: “Great fun! Wonderful characters, a riveting storyline and a sensuous undercurrent…phenomenal… Storm is a hoot! She had me rolling in laughter through the entire story. Annette Blair always has fun with her witch characters…very evident in this story. If you’ve never read her before, please do! I guarantee you’ll be a die-hard fan in no time.” What I think I like best about Storm is that she’ll try anything once, sometimes more than once. She’s a nut and proud of it. And her heart; it’s amazing how big it is, considering the fact that she’s hidden it for so long. GONE WITH THE WITCH, I’m thrilled to announce, is another National Bestseller. Many, many thanks to all of you for helping to make that happen! Special thanks to my island buddies for brainstorming it with me. Click for: An excerpt! The Story of the story First in the trilogy: SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH, available now.
To celebrate the release of GONE WITH THE WITCH, I’m giving away a copy of SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH to one of you who responds to this question: What’s the wildest and craziest scene you’ve ever loved in a romance and why did you love it? GOOD LUCK!!! HAPPY READING! Annette Friend me: www.myspace.com/annetteblair
Fangirl Friday: Annette BlairMay 23, 2008 at 6:00 am | Category: blog In honor of this month’s guest, I’d like to dedicate this week’s Fangirl Friday to Annette Blair. I met Annette at one of my local RWA chapter meetings. She was giving a small workshop and I found her to be a very entertaining speaker. She had lots of excellent advice to share on the craft of writing and after she sited some examples from her most recent release at the time, Sex and the Psychic Witch, I decided to pick up a copy for myself. What a hoot! I found myself laughing out loud several times and I truly enjoyed Harmony, the spunky heroine of Sex and the Psychic Witch. I haven’t read any of Annette’s other series, but now that I’ve had a taste of her style, I know I’ll be adding her backlist to my TBR list! Sandy
Fangirl Friday: Kresley ColeMay 16, 2008 at 6:00 am | Category: blog Welcome to the first Fangirl Friday. Today, I’d like to talk a bit about Kresley Cole and her Immortals After Dark series. I’m a big fan. I read the first book, A Hunger Like No Other, after receiving it in my goodie bag at my first RWA National conference. With each paragraph on the first page, my jaw dropped lower and lower. All I could think was, he did what?! I even read the scene to my darling husband, who found it equally shocking and I wasn’t the slightest bit put off when he said, that’s how you need to write. I’m pretty sure it’s because I was thinking the exact same thing. As you all know, I love the dark heroes. And, Kresley, you do them well. Very well. Of course, I didn’t put the book down until I’d read it cover to cover. And, the moment Kaderin’s story came out, I was at the bookstore picking it up. And then there was Bowen. Sigh. I love Bowen. He took a real beating in book two and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for his tale to be told. I’ve recently read book four, Dark Needs at Night’s Edge. Here was a dark, dark hero. I bow to your greatness in showing, not telling, Conrad’s tenuous hold on sanity, Kresley. You made the transition with pure genius in one three-word sentence…I had wondered how you’d pull that off and let me tell you I was NOT disappointed. Bravo! I’m really looking forward to Dark Desires After Dusk. Sandy
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leisurely breakfasts in nightgowns and pajamas on the deck are what I think of most as family time. I adore those breakfasts. We create there, too, just by sharing. 
Did I mention the dragons? Yes, there are more than one, but that’s all I can say for now. No, there are no dragons on our small, nearly private island. No stores to speak of either. Residents ferry their food over from the mainland. We bring ours with us. Food is sometimes an issue in GONE WITH THE WITCH. 
aka: New Annette Blair Fangirl
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