Holiday Blog Contest!

Holiday Blog Contest! 

Begins November 1st and goes through December 31st 2009!
To participate all you need to do is post a comment of your favorite holiday tradition or

your favorite holiday recipe!

Easy!

There will be two winners.

One for the Tradition and the winner will receive a download of Chick Magnet!

One for the holiday Recipe and the winner will receive this nifty mug and $10 Starbucks Gift Card.

Good Luck!

Monday Ramblings or contest sort of both

This is Halloween week, so instead rambling on and on about things I'll just advise you of the contest and bash chat I'm participating in. Before I do that, I have a question for all of you...

What is your favorite part of Halloween?

1. The kids costumes?
2. The folklore?
3. When it's over?

I'm participating in a Hide and Seek Contest with 11 other authors, so there are lots of chances to win something. Check out the details on my contest page.

And on Friday I'll be at a Halloween Bash hosted by Savannah Chase. All the details are on my web site. Check it out, it's going to be fun!

I will be partying at the University of Utah Tailgating, they have their black out game at 5:30 pm that day. We'll be at the lot at 7:00 am and have breakfast and then lunch. Lots of fun! If you live in Utah and go to the UTE games, drop by for a drink. I'll have Coffee, hot cocoa and Mimosas ready!
Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Monday Ramblings

Oh my what will I ramble about today. I have a million things to do, mostly edit and polish a submission that was requested. So why am I on my blog rambling? Because I promised myself I'd keep up on my blog. Otherwise, why have it? Correct?

Over the past weekend my hubby and I went with friends to Vegas, no not to gamble. We went to watch the University of Utah play football at UNLV. As suspected we won. Go UTES! It was rather sad that we had more fans there than the home team. We had a grand time.

On the way home my friend and I watched The Proposal on the lap top. Have you seen this movie? If not you need to. It's the best Romantic Comedy I've had the pleasure of enjoying in a long time. This was the second time, I'd gone to see it when it was in the theater!

The reason I bring this up, is this...

They fall in love in a weekend.

I was once told by--Not giving name here--someone, my love story wasn't realistic because they fell in love too fast. This movie proves that when two people are thrown together in a intimate situation they can and do fall in love fast. Granted they had worked together for 3 years prior and he loathed her. But still when your characters are thrown into close quarters, such as stuck in a ski lodge, or confined to work together on a project or at a safe house for a weekend or even a week. Emotions and feelings can escalate.

There has to be attraction, but it can happen.

Okay done with my rambling, just had to get that off my chest. Tell me if you agree or disagree...

It's release day for Chick Magnet

Chick Magnet
Order from Siren-BookStrand Publishing
Electronic format Available Now!
Print March 2010
Blurb
Madison McCullough is recuperating from a broken heart. Her fiancé hadn't really loved her, he had used her as a babysitter for his young son while he wined and dined other women.

Brady O'Neill is a Formula One racecar driver recuperating from injuries from a near death accident and a broken heart. Brady’s matchmaking sister believes her son to be a chick magnet and encourages Brady to take her son to the grocery store.

When Madison and Brady meet, oranges roll. Thanks to Payton, Brady’s nephew. The first eye contact over the fruit table causes the air to sizzle. No matter how much Madison resists the attraction, the two are destined for each other.
Excerpt
She’d wasted the entire morning reading over the first page of her brief several times. She’d given up and decided she might as well do her shopping. Now here she was at the market and the same problem plagued her. Inhaling, slowing exhaling, Madison read over her list another time.

God, she was desperate. She still lusted after the unknown good-looking guy at the bar. Maybe chocolate would distract her.

She rounded the corner and almost ran into the object of her obsession. She blinked a few times in case she was hallucinating. A dark-haired cutie wiggled in the basket seat. She looked at the young, innocent blue eyes staring at her and raised hers to meet the man’s. He had the same baby blues, no doubt because he was the father. Time to run in the opposite direction. Fast.

“Excuse me. I’m sorry I almost ran into you.” Madison began backing her cart back the way she’d come.

“No problem, I…” A squeal, a giggle and a neat stack of oranges dissolved, spilling over the sides of the gondola.

Oranges rolled everywhere. Taking advantage of the commotion, Madison made her escape. Her heartbeat drummed loudly, and she looked around to see if anyone else could hear. Shopping cart practically on two wheels as she rounded the corner, she paused to lean over far enough to peek back over her shoulder. The impact of those intense blue eyes watching her, undisturbed by the chaos caused by his son, shocked her clear to her toes.

With the air trapped in her lungs, she barely managed to push her cart out of sight. Hand over her heart, she exhaled slowly to calm herself. Oh, the way he’d made love to her with his eyes. In the middle of the grocery store, he totally ignored his small son. It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be seeing him again. All she had to do was put the experience out of her mind. Yeah right.

* * * *

Shock rippled through him when he’d nearly run into the dark haired beauty from the wine bar. Brady grinned. She looked absolutely adorable in nice snug jeans and Purdue sweatshirt as she’d stammered an apology.

But when she’d paused at the end of the isle to glance over her shoulder, another shock had ran over him. Time stood still. Caught off guard by the impact, electricity flowed through his body.

Then she’d gone.

“Excuse me sir.”

“Sir, excuse me, you’ll need to move so we can get these oranges picked up.”

Brady reluctantly turned his attention back to the manager. He wondered if the man’s jaw would break with his teeth clenched so tight it was a miracle the guy could even talk.

Brady wanted more than anything to find the mysterious woman again, but with a sigh turned toward the mess his nephew had created. Several apologies didn’t seem to placate the harried man, and neither did the offer of help to clean up. He was told in no uncertain terms his help wasn’t needed, and he could just be on his way. Brady took the hint and pushed his cart out of the way.

“Now Payton, if you’re going to be a chick magnet, as your shirt says, you can’t be chasing the pretty ladies away.” With one last look at the rolling oranges, Brady went to search out the petite beauty.

Luck was not with him.

Check out the Trailer
Purchase Now
Emily from Cata Network gave Chick Magnet 5 stars and says: Witty with a element of surprise, a pure joy to read.

Read full reviews!
Print version available March 2010
Halloween Hide and Seek, check out my contest page!

Mary
See what Mary has going at http://www.marymartinez.com/
Newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Marys_Books_and_Such/

Conference Ramblings

I spent the past weekend in beautiful Deer Valley Utah at the Heart of the West Annual Romance Conference. I love the energy and excitement of the large RWA National conference, but nothing can beat a small one.

For two days you have anywhere from fifty to one hundred people attending back to back workshops. Usually you're able to re-connect with old friends and make some new friends. Some of the workshops are given by local talent and a few presented by NY Times best sellers. They share their knowledge about their journey to success. Plenty of time to ask questions, and if you didn’t get the chance during the workshop, you always have a chance at dinner, or in the evening.

But the opportunity to meet a wonderful editor or agent cannot be topped. At nationals you barely know who are the agents or editors unless you go to a pitch appointment, then you’re very lucky to catch them alone to have a conversation with them. I’m not talking pitch, I’m talking a personal conversation about the industry or what they like or dislike, you know like normal friends.

Not only did I have an opportunity to pitch my story to Amanda Bergeron of Avon Books, but I had the chance to get to know her. She’s a wonderful person. She’s young and fresh, and eager to find new talent. I hope she likes my work. But if she doesn’t I will always remember what fun it was to meet her and spend time with her.

Now you think, oh that’s nice, but I still have more. I had an opportunity to do the same with two agents. Kelly Mortimer from Mortimer Literary Agency and Christine Witthohn from Book Cents Literary Agency. Kelly is very outgoing, fun and makes out of this world designer bags! Now would I have found this out at a large conference, not! She gave a wonderful workshop on editing, and then spent the rest of the day listening to folks tell her stories. (pitches)

Christine loves to ski, she usually goes to Vail, but hopefully she’s now converted to Utah Snow. She loves old buildings and their architecture. Oh and she likes to shop.

Now would I know all these things after a National conference? Nope. And one of the ways I did become more acquainted… Dinner after the conference when a group of attendees went to dinner in Park City, Busters is a great place if you’re ever in Park City.

Sunday a couple of us took Amanda and Christine to breakfast and a bit of shopping before their flights home. I would not have missed the opportunity for anything.

So the next time you have a chance to attend a small conference or better yet volunteer to help with a small committee for the conference, don’t miss it! Grab the opportunity with both hands and go for it with gusto!

Doree and myself are on the back row. From left to right on the front are, Kim, Christine, Amanda and Lisa

I give this a 5rating!

Interview with Phyllis Campbell

I’d like to thank Phyllis Campbell for agreeing to let me interview her for my blog.

Mary: First, tell me a little about you. Something that people may not know. Like what is really unique about yourself.

Phyllis: I’m an open book! lol I think I’ve said almost everything there is to know about me. Why am I unique? Because I’m silly – and memorable. heehee

Mary: A birdie told me that you have a new release, can you tell us a bit about it? Also, do you have a link to an excerpt? Or better yet a buy link?

Phyllis: I’d love to tell you about Spanish Eyes. (remind me to thank that birdie of yours…) Here is the blurb.

In a world when women must fight for every right, Rebecca Wakefield is determined to become a Pinkerton Detective. Her plan? Capturing the notorious thief, Anton Carerra; a man known as much for his womanizing as he is for his brilliant criminal mind. Will he steal her heart, too?


Lady’s man, Anton Carrera is smitten with Rebecca from the very beginning. He wants nothing more than to seduce the stiff Miss Wakefield, until he learns she is investigating him for a crime he didn’t commit. She is innocent and naïve; convinced he is the villain her superiors have painted him. But her over-zealous determination places both of them in danger and he is forced to play the honorable rogue.

Sweeping her away to Padre Island off the coast of Spain seemed like a clever idea at the time. But how can he protect them both from his own uncle’s murderous games when Anton’s heart falls victim to a woman as full of independence as she is desire…

And here is the link to the book trailer - http://www.blazingtrailers.com/show.php?title=672

Here is the link to buy the book from Bookstrand - http://www.bookstrand.com/product-spanisheyes-15658-330.html

Mary: Many of you may know that Phyllis and I know each other. We are both attending the Heart of the West Utah Chapter RWA conference this weekend. What do you expect to accomplish at this conference?

Phyllis: Dare I say? I don’t want to jinx myself. But…I’ll get to pitch to an Avon editor. Avon / Harper Collins has been my target publisher since I first started writing historicals. So…I’m not going to say aloud what I wish to accomplish – you’ll have to figure it out yourself so I don’t jinx myself. (grins)

Mary: What do you like the best? A large national RWA conference or a small intimate chapter conference? And why?

Phyllis: Smaller, definitely! Why? Because the agents / editors are more personable. We’re in an environment with people / friends we know, and we can act ourselves. Things aren’t as rushed as when attending the big RWA conferences, I think.

Mary: What has been your hardest obstacle to surpass to get to where you are in your writing?

Phyllis: Making agents / editors believe I am a published writer even though I’m with small presses. The writing part is easy to me – it’s the convincing others that I’m a true writer that’s a problem.

Mary: Do you have a mentor? If you do, can you tell us who?

Phyllis: Not any more. When I first started writing, I met a lady in my RWA chapter, Caryl Davidson, who became my mentor. I went to her house once a week and we worked on my story – scene by scene. I learned a great deal from her. After that, I got the internet and joined online critique groups. I learned tons from these groups, too.

Mary: If you could have one wish come true, what would it be?

Phyllis: To sell my books to a big publisher and be able to make enough money to write for a living instead of working a full time job.

Mary: Where can your fans find you? Web site, Blog, my space, etc. etc. etc.?


Phyllis: http://www.phyllismariecampbell.com/ or my email – phylliscampbell84302@yahoo.com or you could join my newsletter - http://phyllismariecampbell.literalseduction.com/newsletter/ You can also find me at Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/phyllismariecampbell or my blog - http://vivaciousvixensofromance.blogspot.com/


Thank you, Phyllis, for joining me and answering my off the wall questions! You are welcome! Thanks for having me on your blog!

Join in the fun Halloween Contest

Welcome to our Hallowe’en Hide and Seek!!

Participation is very easy! All you have to do it visit each of the authors’ website listed below. Somewhere on their website or blog, you’ll find this hidden symbol… (The hidden symbol other than one on their contest page.)

Keep a list of who and where you found it and in one (1) email send your answers to corinnedavies @ rocketmail.com.

Be certain to type: Halloween Trick or Treat in the subject box.

The contest is open until 11:59pm on October 31st. Entries with all the correct answers will be entered into a drawing.

One (1) prize will be awarded per winner.
The names of the winners will be listed on the site of all participating authors. Each winner will be contacted by the individual author of the given prize.

Participating authors & prizes:
Marissa Alwin A print copy of Sapphire Sizzle
Mechele Armstrong A $10 Loose-Id Gift Certificate
Phyllis Campbell A copy of Spanish Eyes
Savannah Chase An author goodie promo bag and a bath set
Kris Cook An autographed copy of STRIP SEARCH by Shayla Black
Corinne Davies Edible Lust Caramel Massage Oil and candle
Raina James A download of Sinful and a $5 Amazon gift card
Melissa Lopez TBA
Mary Martinez An electronic version of Chick Magnet
Jane Leopold Quinn PDF download of one of her books. Winner's choice
Tonya Ramagos An ebook copy of Convince Me
Regan Taylor A personalized New Years tarot reading
Good Luck!!!