Looking Forward...Looking Back...Looking at Hunky Guys!!!

Posting two days in a row as promised. It doesn't hurt that there's so much to share ;o)

1) Brenda's auction is going gangbusters already. Don't miss any of my or anyone else's goodies:

http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/

2) More pictures of Romantic Times Convention fun below--hence the "Hunky Guy" teaser in today's title.

3) I arrived at this year's convention, opened my agenda and discovered that I was not only a finalist in this year's awards, but I'd WON the 2008 Best Superromance award for my suspense To Protect the Child!!!

Look for my picture in the announcement in this month's RT BookReviews magazine. Until then, here's one my Dorchester Editor took during the awards ceremony. Yes, that's my hair. And, yes, it got bigger and bigger as the humid Florida week went on. I think this was Friday, and by then it had taken on a life of it's own ;o)

Catch Leah's great blog about all things Dorchester, including lots of fun RT pics and recaps, over at Romantic Reads:

http://romanticreads.net/

4) Of course, keep leaving comments to be in the running for this month's blog contest--your chance to win your own leather Dream Flutters necklace or a Dark Legacy ARC. both of which I'll draw for at the end of the month, to kick off our celebration of Dark Legacy's August 25th release!!!

Which of the pendants do you like best? I got so many mixed responses at the conference, but folks were snapping them up. If you bought a book the signing, you got to take one of the "book cover" pendants home with you! And I gave away several of the others, including the coveted leather necklaces so many of you are emailing me about, to special publishing friends who've been so helpful to me and my career.

Someone even asked if they could buy a necklace and the black butterfly (the paranormal version of my logo) pendant at the singing. I let it go for $20. Maybe it'll be a collectors item one day, LOL!!! Hmmm....

5) I found some old journals while cleaning out my office (stress cleaning is my way of settling into each new book, and I have the draft of The Fireman's Secret Baby to write this month, after all). These were journals I started when my 13 year old was just a baby, and most of the contents I can't share. But some of it's suitable for public consumption, and I found myself tearing up several times... How 'bout I post some of those sniffles off and on this month, too???

So, before we fall back into RT fun, here's a snippet from "Dear Baby James:"

Dear Baby James...

You'll be 11 weeks tomorrow, and I thought it was time for me to start recording a few things I hope you'll read some day. Things I can't tell you now, because you wouldn't understand. Or is it that telling you would be too hard for me, because then I'd have to face that you're already growing up before my eyes? Things I hope you'll learn with every smile and hug and kiss you get for the rest of your life...

You're my "sweet love" and Daddy's "little man." Never, ever, forget that.

I learn from you each day about things I could never teach myself--lessons I hope to share with you. I've begun to truly understand how important it is to be patient and loving and tolerant and encouraging when someone else has no other defense in the world beyond your unconditional acceptance and approval. My heart will always be yours. Please tell me you feel the same.

There is so much of you to love--so much to be grateful for. Your beautiful smile and button nose. Your sparkling eyes and little pink toes. The way you hug me back when I hold you. The way the early morning hours are a beautiful beginning every day I get to hug you close...

Okay, sniff sniff... Enough of the mommy stuff. Bring on the hunky guys!!!

Here are hunky guys with a really excited fan...

Mr. Romance 2009 Runner Up, Stephan Pinto, with a host of Harlequin authors...

Let's see who can name the most authors in the comments section!

And last one for today (you'll have to check back for more next week!), Mr. Romance 2009, Charlse Paz, giving me a candid smile because I ran into him walking into the hotel on Tuesday and I swear I became his big sister on site (seriously, he looks just like my brother, and it doesnt hurt that the first thing he said to me any time I saw him was, "Dude!")

Some secret insider info... If you get RT BookReviews, look for my group ad with Between Your Sheets. It's the centerfold in the May issue, and Charles is part of the AMAZING image fading in from behind all the book covers ;o) If you don't have a subscription, head to Borders or B&N. They always seem to have a copy, and it's worth the trip.

Until then, here's Charles in a moment where he wasn't having to be manly on cue... Just your every day handsome guy...until your gaze tracks down from his fun smile and checks out the rest of him!

See you next week with more hunks!