Getting Passionate in the Kitchen

Hey Everyone. I was lucky enough to have one of my recipes chosen to be included in the Passionate Cooks Cookbook (Yes, I am ecstatic!). It's a free cookbook, filled with wonderful recipes, and it is NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Here are the details...

All Romance® Authors Get Passionate in the Kitchen

At All Romance® eBooks (ARe®) romance authors have donned their aprons and gotten down and dirty in kitchens across the globe, all to share the love of food for the new ARe-exclusive Passionate Cooks digital cookbook.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) (PRWEB) October 01, 2012

Food and love have a long association, but today digital romance retailer All Romance takes the concept one step further with the release of the free eBook Passionate Cooks, filled with over 150 recipes from those who know love best—romance authors.

Contributors include veteran writers, as well as debut authors. There are traditionally published, those with digital-first publishers, and those who are self-published, all sharing their culinary favorites.

The cookbook includes New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Mari Carr’s “Wild Irish” Cream of Crab Soup recipe. Western GBLT author BA Tortuga contributes a dish as spicy and colorful as the straight-shooting author herself with Ranch Hands—a blend of Tabasco, salsa, onions and cumin, added to pinto beans, eggs, Canadian bacon and cheddar cheese and served in a tortilla. And for those of you who are feeling extra creative and sexy, there’s the Avocado Dip that doubles as body paint from mystery writer Marcia James.

Some recipes are simple, such as Down Home Mac & Cheese, while some are more exotic, such as Spicy Shrimp Risotto. There are even some gluten-free selections, like the Sweet and Spicy Gluten-Free Lo Mein-ish Noodles from erotica author Sommer Marsden. And a few are perfectly timed for a Halloween, such as Tracey H. Kitt’s Gamberi del Diavolo or Shrimp of the Devil.

Much like romance novels themselves, the dishes range from spicy to sweet. From desserts with historical overtones, such as Early American Ginger Cutouts, to those with a more modern and exotic flare, like the Hot Cha Cha Cha Chipotle Cake, there’s something to satisfy the taste of every food lover.

The enthusiasm of the contributing authors has been overwhelming. “One author has created a Passionate Cooks apron, bag, mouse pad and bookmarks as a giveaway to promote the launch,” said Julie Cummings, ARe’s manager of marketing and publicity. Cummings is speaking of author Rhonda Laurel, who contributed the recipe for Blissful Banana Pudding Trifle.

The October release of this 250-page free download will be accompanied by, among other events, guest blog posts by the authors at ARe Café, and photos of the dishes posted at ARe’s Pinterest account. Readers can keep track of the happenings on Twitter at the hashtag #AReCooks or on the Passionate Cooks Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/PassionateCooks.

ABOUT ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS

All Romance eBooks, LLC was founded in 2006, is privately held in partnership, and headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The company owns All Romance (allromanceebooks.com), which specializes in the sale of romance eBooks, OmniLit (omnilit.com), which sells both fiction and non-fiction eBooks, and ARe Cafe (arecafe.com), a community for passionate bibliophiles.

Goddess on the Run is on Tour! Check it out!!!

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Book Promo: Fairyproof, by Constance Phillips

I have another fantastic book for y'all to check out! Fairyproof, by Constance Phillips, is a paranormal romance I'm itching to share with you! Check it out...

Book blurb:

When Monique finds out her brother, Kieran, is planning her future with the one fairy she wants nothing to do with, she seeks refuge in the human world. Now Kieran fears she will be the next victim in a string of murdered fairies and is determined to bring her home.

Hiding should be a breeze. She can control any human with a flirtatious smile and an attraction spell. Until she meets Daniel Elliot, the only human who's immune to both.

A year ago, Daniel's fiancée disappeared with the engagement ring, an Elliot family heirloom. He's ready to move forward with his life, but his mother's obsession with retrieving the ring makes that impossible. Then Monique walks into his office to apply for a job.

Daniel and Monique can't deny their attraction, but will the reason he's Fairyproof be too much to overcome? 

Here are her details:

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff. When she's not writing about fairies, shifters, vamps, and guardian angels, she's working side-by-side with her husband in their hardwood flooring business.
Constance is actively involved in her local Romance Writers of America chapter (MVRWA) and the Southeast Michigan chapter of the United States Pony Club. When not writing or enjoying the outdoors, she loves reality television or can be found at a Rick Springfield concert (just look for the pink Converse high tops).
Constance blogs regularly at www.constancephillips.com.
You can also follow her on Twitter or friend her on Facebook.

Buy links:

Amazon: (paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Fairyproof-Constance-Phillips/dp/1937254755/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346156606&sr=8-1&keywords=fairyproof

Barnes and Noble: (paperback) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fairyproof-constance-phillips/1112616674?ean=9781937254759

Constance Phillip’s links:

Website: http://www.constancephillips.com

Facebook: (author page) http://www.facebook.com/ConstancePhillipsRomanceAuthor?ref=hl4

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CPhillps

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470282.Constance_Phillips

Love Chosen Virtual Book Tour and Give Aways

Oh my Goodness, this year is FLYING by! So much is going on, so many changes are happening...
There are quite a few EXCITING things going on right now. You might have noticed the two widget things to the right --------------------->
One is for a GIVE AWAY of FIVE AUTOGRAPHED copies of Love Chosen at Goodreads! WOOT! (Click on the widget. It will take you there. I promise.)

And one is the widget to take you on a virtual trip with me on tour for Love Chosen!
(for some reason, I always envisioned a book tour involving a cool bus, maybe some chocolate...)
But this is COOLER!
Why, you ask? I'm all over the WORLD!!! (via the internet, of course)
So, here's a list of where I'm going to be, virtually, and when. Come see me.
And enter to win autographed copies of Love Chosen!

Now on Tour Love Chosen by Marne Ann Kirk

August 24 review

Silver Sleep

www.thesilversleeps.blogspot.com

August 25 Promo 

Book Nerd Revealed Blog

http://saewod.webs.com/apps/blog/

August 26 Guest blog

I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!

http://www.sithereandread.com/

August 27 Interview

Fang-tastic Books

www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com 

August 28 Promo

Captivated Reading

http://captivatedreading.com

August 29 Interview

MarshaAMoore.blogspot.com

September 1 Guest blog

Books & Other Spells

www.nightskydarkstar.blogspot.com

September 2 Guest blog and review

The Book Maven

bookmaven623.wordpress.com

Sept 3 promo

www.bitten2ice.com/TheFullFang

September 4 Guest blog

TBQ's Book Palace

http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com/

September 5 Promo

Mila Ramos, Paranormal & Contemporary Romance 

http://jademystique.blogspot.com

September 6 Interview

The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com 

September 7 Promo

Rabid Reads – 

www.rabidreads.ca

September 7 review

The Reading Owl

http://bkskeepzusane.blogspot.com/

Come see me!

Write Like a Savage

Recently, I went to the movie with my honey to see Savages. I was the one who wanted to see it...Crazy, I know. Who would've thought, right? "She's a romance writer," you say. I am, it's true; but I love a good movie.
So, we went to see Savages. It's an Oliver Stone directed film about three lovers (why yes, I said three lovers), O (Blake Lively), Chon (Taylor Kitsch), and Ben (Aaron Johnson) who are uber-wealthy growing an amazing strong medicinal herb. They're perfectly happy until a Mexican drug Cartel decides they want the business and the two factions butt heads.
Things go to hell in a hand-basket fast! O gets kidnapped, lots of blood and gore and unnecessary dying of muscular ex-military hotties; Chon and O try to get her back by agreeing to the Cartel boss's terms, the  lady running the Cartel (yep, she's a super-sexy mom, like me or Vicki) tells them they can have her back in three years; they decide that won't work for them and fight back. Lots and lots more blood, violence, mayhem, and sick puppies, then...well, it ends in such a way to leave me wondering at the current state of affairs in our world...
Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh. However, I left the movie thinking it was a horrible movie. It was graphic, it was disturbing, it was too real, to violent, too extreme.
But I left the movie thinking...
Over a week ago. And I'm still thinking about it. It's one of those movies that just sticks with you. It twists up your mind, makes you question right and wrong, morals and people. I've been thinking about it, stewing about it, and I've decided not only was the movie worth watching (even though it isn't a romance), but I want to write like that. A story with that ability, the power to stay with the reader for days, weeks, months, years, to change perceptions or reinforce ideals...That's the type of story every author dreams of touching the world with...
Or I do, at least.

You Must Check Out These Two New Releases By Great Authors, Jennifer Wells and Chantele Sedgwick

I have a few recommendations for you, fantastic new books from two authors I adore! Without further ado...

ISBN: 978-1-937254-71-1 (print)
ISBN: 978-1-937254-72-8 (ebook)

In a Zodiac-based world, finding a mate is easy. Falling in love is the hard part.
Astrology influences almost everything, from career choice to where people live. Even romantic matches are based solely on astrological compatibility and determined by the infallible Council of Venus.

Animal psychic Tierra has every reason to trust the Council—save one. Her match with fellow Virgo, Evander, works better on paper than in person. But she stubbornly hangs on, believing their relationship will grow and develop, all the while trying to rationalize her feelings for Lachlan.

Veterinarian and Reiki master, Lachlan, hides a secret, which has kept him single for more than two years. This Pisces dreams of a happily ever after with Tierra, but believes it's impossible for him.

Tierra and Lachlan must confront their doubts, differences, and society's belief in the Council. Will they defy the odds and choose each other? Does astrological certainty eclipse the chance to fall in love?


Jennifer's Biography

Jennifer has been writing since she was in middle school. When she discovered romance novels in junior high, she knew she wanted to write them someday. Her writing remained a hobby while she studied biology and forensic DNA science. She worked as a molecular biologist and published cancer research before finally leaving the lab and taking up her laptop full time.

She currently lives in Northern Virginia with John, her husband of sixteen years. John is a professional tarot card reader and astrologer. John and Jen have three children who happen to be cats: Josephine, Morgana Madison, and Luna. Jo is a beautiful black Siamese mix who rules the house. MoMo is a possessive Scottish Fold who loves to knead Jen's hair. Luna is the baby, an affectionate Scottish Fold who thinks her name is "Cute."

Jen's website, blog, and contact information can be found at www.jennifer-wells.com.

And...

 ISBN-13: 9781937254650

Ash Summerland has it all–good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings. Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. When he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings. A.K.A. the head fairy godmother. Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a "happy ever after". But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father's death, Kendall doesn't want anything to do with him. And worst of all, she doesn't believe in happy endings.

Chantele's Biography

Chantele Sedgwick grew up playing the harp and singing. Little did anyone know, she always had stories floating around in her head. After she had her second baby, she finally realized she should probably write them down. Pursuing publication was something she only dreamed about, but now her dream is coming true.

The discovery of a first love, first kisses, and the many emotions teens go through, pushed Chantele to find her niche in writing teen fiction. Some of her stories share a few of her own experiences, but most of them are just fantasies she wished happened to her as a teen. She's a sucker for a great love story and always enjoys a happy ending. She tends to have a thing for the "bad boys" in books, unless they're total jerks. Then she'll root for the good guy.

When she's not writing, Chantele can be found spending time with her husband and three beautiful kids, or driving her sisters crazy with random story ideas. NOT YOUR AVERAGE FAIRY TALE is her first book.

Run to your nearest bookstore, or click on your Kindle account, but buy these books! You won't regret the purchases. I know I'm looking forward to the reads!

Toodles!

Marne Ann

Conferences, Retreats and such...Deadlines for Colorado Gold

Oy. We’ve been busy this spring and summer. Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ May and June education events, RMFW board meetings, Crested Butte Writers Conference, family vacations and writing retreats. Yes, there has been some writing in there as well. We’ve had fun, but we’ve been busy. As anyone can tell by looking too closely at my house. It’s a good thing I have teenagers who love me and are willing to keep our environment livable.

Coming up next…the RMFW picnic. The weekend after that, Marne, Mike and I are off to a writing retreat in the mountains above Telluride. If you haven’t been to Priest Gulch Campground… http://www.priestgulch.com/ … you should visit. It is amazing. Every year we get a cabin with a porch over-looking the Dolores River and spend five days writing. Actually two of those days are my office’s work retreat. A couple years ago, we decided to combine it with a writing retreat, so I take some vacation time and we show up a few days early.

After the retreat the next big event is The Colorado Gold Conference!! It’s seems so far away, but deadlines are looming. Anyone who wants to take part in the free pitch sessions or the editor/agent critique workshops, needs to be registered for the conference by July 15^th.

The Colorado Gold Conference is my favorite weekend of the year. Luckily it is also Mike’s. Otherwise his feelings might be hurt by my previous statement. Oh, and my best-friends’ favorite weekend as well. So, I’m good to go, right? A hotel full of good friends, agents and editors to schmooze and so many things to learn. Who wouldn’t love the weekend?

Have you been to the Colorado Gold Conference? Planning to attend this year? Will this be your first time? Please share your anecdotes from past Colorado Gold Conferences or any other. Some of you know, I’m hanging myself out there with this request considering the amount of time my husband has spent in the hospitality suite. Be kind. Please. 

Writers' Conference vs. Readers' Convention

We, Vicki Law and Marne Ann, are heading up to Crested Butte tomorrow for the Crested Butte Writers' Conference. I am So Excited!
We are going to learn more about the writing craft, marketing and publishing, we'll get to see friends we haven't seen in a year or more, we'll make new friends...
It's going to be phenomenal and I'm counting down the hours now.
But, this weekend is also the RomCon weekend in Denver. There will be romance readers EVERYWHERE, costume parties, author readings, and I don't know what else, because I've NEVER been to a CON before!
I know--WHAT?
Crazy, right?
So tell me, fellow blog peeps, have you ever been to a CON? Loved it? Hated it? What would you love to see from authors at a CON? (I am going to MileHiCon in October and I'm really jazzed about it...but a bit nervous, too!)
And are you going to RomCon this weekend?
Me? Like I said, I'll be learning, making friends, maybe selling a book or two, and having a grand time in Crested Butte this weekend (and yes, I'll post lots of pics!)

RMFW June Education Event in Grand Junction

June Education Event

How to...Renovate Your Novel

Presented by Kay Bergstrom (writing as Cassie Miles)

June 9, 2012 – 8am to 4pm

Two Rivers Convention Center

159 Main Street

Grand Junction, Colorado

How to…Renovate Your Novel - Have you got a brilliant idea that will surely become an acclaimed best-selling novel as soon as you get a chance to write it down?  Is your novel stuck half-way through?  Did you complete the book and hate it?  Does everybody else hate it? 

Whether starting from a blueprint or doing major demolition on a broke-down book, the same basic skills are necessary.  Start with research and development.  Build the framework with a plot.  Use characterization to create a memorable, unique novel that you can live with.

R&D:  Developing the perfect idea for your novel isn’t easy but it’s fun.  Re-visit your favorite books and movies and analyze them.  Consider the genre, the plot, the characters and the style.  Discover your natural writing style, your voice.  (Style tip: Never use the word “suddenly” unless you’re writing for preschoolers.)

Plot: Coming up with the plot before you start writing is guaranteed to save you time and grief.  Though there are dozens of different methods of plotting, a basic structure includes set-up (thesis), complications (antithesis) and climax (synthesis).  (Plot tip: Any given situation can always get worse.) 

Characterization: Only in fiction can a writer create a character who doesn’t exist and is not bound by reality.  A character arc – necessary for every novel – is determined by the goals, passions, assets, limitations, making hard decisions and taking action.  (Characterization tip: Real people don’t often change; fictional characters always do.)   

       

Kay Bergstrom (writing as Cassie Miles) has sold over 70 novels of romance and suspense involving jewel heists, Elvis sightings, sexy midwives, true love, serial killers and a cross-dressing cake baker named Bernice. 

In addition to many, many books for Harlequin Intrigue, Kay has published with Harlequin Temptation and American.  She has also written for Berkley, Avon, Crown, Zebra, Kismet, Audio Entertainment and Shades of Love.

Her awards include Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s Writer of the Year in 2003, the Jasmine Award, Colorado Romance Writer of the Year, Affair D’Coeur Top Ten, Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, RT Top Pick, and RT WISH Best Hero.  Last year, she was on the USA TODAY Best-Seller list.

Her teaching experience in creative writing ranges from college level classes for credit to fifth grade show-and-tell.  (The fifth graders were a harder group.)

Kay has two daughters.  One is a paleo-anthropologist and grad student at Texas A&M.  The other is a senior editor at Harper-Collins.  Her grandson is a brilliant (is there any other kind?) 4-year-old.

Upcoming books: MIDWIFE COVER (April, 2012), MOMMY MIDWIFE (August, 2012) and MONTANA MIDWIFE (December, 2012). 

Speed Dating with an Author: We have three talented and knowledgeable authors who have donated their time to meet with attendees. If you’re interested in a 10 minute session with any of our guest authors, indicate your choice on your registration. Bring the first two pages of your work-in-progress for a quick critique or use your time to ask industry related questions.

Cindi Myers

Cindi worked as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and medical clinic manager before turning to writing full time. She's written both historical and contemporary romance, as well as dozens of short stories and nonfiction articles. Cindi thinks writers have the best job in the world.

Former president of San Antonio Romance Authors, Cindi is a member of Romance Writers of America, Novelists Inc., and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

She and her husband and their two dogs live in the mountains Southwest of Denver. When she's not caught up in creating new characters and stories, Cindi enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, skiing and hiking. She's also in demand as a speaker, teaching workshops and making presentations to both local and national writing groups.

Visit Cindi on the Web: http://www.cindimyers.com/

                                    

Mark Stevens

The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts and graduated from Principia College in Illinois. He worked as a reporter for The Christian Science Monitor in Boston and Los Angeles, covering a variety of events and issues. Following a move to Denver, he worked for The Rocky Mountain News, covering City Hall for three years. When he learned that The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour was expanding its production he was lucky enough to be invited to join the team. For six years, he produced field documentaries across the United States and Latin America. After tending bar for a year on a self-financed sabbatical (and to write fiction), he joined The Denver Post to cover education, which led to a position as Director of Communications with Denver Public Schools and later the Greeley school district and the state department of education. He now works in public relations. Mark is a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (Current President); Mystery Writers of America; Sisters in Crime; Colorado Authors League; Pike’s Peak Writers; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Visit Mark on the web: http://www.writermarkstevens.com/

Pamela Nowak 

Pamela's first book, CHANCES has received several honors since its release in early 2008. Winner of 2009 HOLT Medallion for Best First Book; Recipient of 2009 WILLA Finalist Award for Historical Fiction; • Named as One of the Top Ten Romance Books of 2008 by Booklist

Her pre-published manuscripts have also won attention in several national contests. CHANCES received first place honors in the historical category of the Four Seasons Awards in 2003, placed second in the 2003 Put Your Heart in a Book contest, and was a 2002 finalist in the Spring Into Romance contest, the Colorado Gold contest, and the Laurie. CHOICES was a 2001 Colorado Gold finalist entry. In 2006, CHALLENGES placed third in the Heart of the West Writers Contest and was a Spring Into Romance finalist. 

Pamela received a B.A. from South Dakota State University. She has taught school, served as a historic preservation specialist, and taught classes at a state penitentiary.

Visit Pam on the web: http://www.pamelanowak.com/

$70 

For more information, please contact Vicki Law – vruchhoeft@bresnan.net