Scavenger Hunt, Facebook, I'm a National Reader's Choice Nominee--and, yeah, more Hunky guys...

Some quick updates today...

Find me on Facebook--I've caved and joined the world of Internet social networking, and I'm already hooked ;o) There's a feed to the right.

Wanna win amazing goodies from some of your favorite authors??? Check out Between Your Sheet's online Spring Quest--do the legwork, then send your answers in for your chance to win!

http://www.betweenyoursheets.com/website/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1067&Itemid=72

I heard just before leaving for RT that To Save a Family, Atlanta Heroes Book 3, is a National Reader's Choice Award Nominee!!! Fingers crossed--we'll see if I win at RWA Dallas...

And...more hunky RT cover models ;o)

Cover models are soooo strong!

And they pose so pretty...I mean manly...I mean... Oh, whatever. Aren't they yummy beside a vintage Harlequin cover???

Gorgeous gus, Gorgeous Guys, Everyone LOVES Gorgeous guys...

I know you've been waiting for more pics from the Romantic Times conference. Manly, gorgeous guy pics like this











and this.

But I did one better this year, than just buying a great new digital camera that was so tiny I could take it with me everwhere... I conducted a little modelling experiment, because I wanted to know what these amazing men's lives were really like at one of these reader events. How hard could it be, right, to smile and have your picture taken... Kind of like, how hard could it be to write one of those romance novels... Yeah... Let's just say it was an eye-opening experience ;o)

First, let me introduce my partner's in crime. Really good friends.

First the photographer who agreed to snap another photo session, in the midst of a week of non-stop work for her. Rose, the "R" in A&R photography (her partner's her sexy husband Anthony ;o), who's responsible for such fabulous pics as this one of the 2008 Mr. Romance Winner, Chrish Winters!

Check Rose and Anthony out at: http://www.myspace.com/a_n_r_photography !!!

Chris is a great guy--one of the contestants I posed with in last year's contest. But, since he was so busy becoming this year's Mr. Romance (yay, Chris!!!), I was lucky that there was another friend to step and take his place.

A friend like Steve Rossi:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=301715902

I got to know Steve last year, when we realized our birthdays were close together--after talking for hours and wondering why it felt so natural. He's a successful business man, a wonderful friend, and takes pictures that should be all over book covers (rest assured, I'll be sharing that sentiment and Rose's pictures with some Harlequin/Silhouette editors I know well!).

So, that brings us up to speed with the final night of RT. Where everyone was exhausted (especially the people in the photoshoot) but still willing to give my little experiment a go. After all, how hard could it be???

Well first of all, some people (Steve) are blessed with bone structure that comes across like visual gold through the lense of a camera, while others (me) have the kind of moble features they can't control, resutling in something close to a perpetual grimace instead of the hundreds of other more appealing expressions that are available. That's right, yours truly seemed incapable of smiling...I couldn't remember how to smil! Shine the camera on me for anything but a candid, and I freeze.

It wasn't like public speaking (duh!) or even posing with the guys in last year's Mr. Romance Contest. All that was about motion, and I had something to wrap my head around besides the fact that my picture was being taking. Somewhere for my thoughts to go. I mean, I knew I didn't like to have my picture taken. Not really. But this was Rose. Steve. Great people doing everything they could to help me relax my mouth, my hands, my eyes...anything.

And that's when I got it, after looking at one digital proof after another. How much WORK goes into understanding your angles, and how your features look in each expression. And how much imagination it takes to fall in to a photographer's instructions and act like you're not posing at all.

I mean, look at Steve. He believes every pose he's making. He's coaching me and trying to put me at ease and work with Rose, even though the both of them were as tired as I was (and, btw, I have no makeup on in these photos...not that Steve does, either, but could I be any paler???). We changed locations eventually and got away from the crowd milling around outside the ballroom and the last night's dancing and revelling. And in a quite corner, with my other friend Patrice Michelle cheering me on, I finally started to let go of my ego and anxiety and just trust the process. Actually, the poses got easier, too, because Rose and Steve finally got the positions and proportions working better with my limitations as a VERY novice model (and when I say model, what I mean is hahahahaha).

Getting my body involved (leaning against a wall, one leg up and braced, my back arched), was challenging after a few minutes (or five or ten), and I hold yoga poses like nobody's business! And I didn't want to ruin the frame or disappoint Rose or Steve. Of course all that emotion went to work on the last of my energy reserves and made things even harder...

Models are masters of their bodies, not just how their bodies come across on film. The poses are often awkward-feeling, even though they're perfect for the lense, and when the photographer says, "hold that"...you hold...even if you don't think you can any longer. Notice, class, that Steve's body and face and features (and especially his eyes and that wicked-looking mouth) are always spot on in every shot. I learned as time went on, and he was still coaching to the very last photo, but just before every shutter snap, he turned back into a model and knew exactly what he was doing with his amazong assets ;o)

Did I mention the imagination he and Rose put into every frame... I love me some of that! Like I said, models and photographers are masters of their imagiantions, or they'd never be able to tell a story with their faces and body positioning and lighting and camera angles. And Rose and Steve are two of the bests around!

It was amazing to see Steve turn it on and off. He was my buddy one minute, laughing and trying to get me to losen up... and a H-O-T cover model the next... Always encouraging and supportive. Never frustrated with the novice. But never out of his element or off his game. Maybe if I did this for the next four years (about how long I've been writing fiction professionally), I might figure it out. But, then we'd always come back to genetics. And what can I say. Look at his cheekbones and his jawline and everything else about that amazing face and body and creative mind... The next time you're at one of these events, ladies, respect these guys while you're drooling over them. They're working harder than you know!

Me learning to relax and pose aside, it's crystal clear who belongs on the book covers and whose job it should be to write the stories inside ;o)

And getting back the photographer. No one could be more supportive or talanted than Rose. Just look at what she finally got out of me--and, no, I never figured out how to smile right, but Rose knew how to work aroud that. Don't forget, this was late the last night of the conference, after she'd spent the day shooting real models for her business? You go, girl. It's definitely clear who belongs behind the camera shooting hunky guys like Steve!!! She tells her own story, doesn't she ladies, one we'd all kill to be part of!

So, I learned that I dont' know how to smile on cue;o) And that my anxiety in front of the camera comes across crystal clear. I learned to trust my partner and photographer, and finally to fall into the shots (a little, at least) the way I fall into my characters when I write. I mean, who wouldn't smile in Steve's arms. Really!!! What was I thinking!

What do you think of my little experiment?

Remember, I'll be drawing for our first Snow White winner soon. Leave a comment (scroll back to the previous post for details). And come back next time for more great RT shots and an excerpt from Baby Steps (my Mother's of the Year novella). The excerpts are up on my website (annawrites.com) for those of you who can't wait, but I'll include some of the good stuff out here, have no dobut ;o)

RT 2007 Memories 1: Simple Blessings that ROCK!!!

Yeah, it's been a rough couple of weeks around here...thanks for all your support. We're rocking along okay now. And, guess what! When I stop to think about all the unexpected good stuff that surprises you (online friends included ;o) in the midst of the unexpected bad, rough just doesn't seem quite as scary, does it?

Like--my son's graduating from elementary school next week. I'm so proud and in awe of how far he's come. Mom moments are striking lightening fast every day now. Didn't expect to be so caught up in this mini right of passage. But here I am wanting to memorize every second and store them away for when he's grown and gone and off making someone else's world better just by being a part of it.

Check back tomorrow for a list of all the prizes I owe everyone--I'll let you know who I have addresses for and who I still need to hear from. Once I have everything in the mail, I'll start doing weekly give aways of the oodles of goodies I brought back from RT--starting next week, I hope.

And speaking of simple blessings and RT, it wasn an AMAZING week, and a hard one, since I was so far away from my mom when she got sick. But my husband was here to look after my family, and there were some simple blessings in store for me to make sure I stayed grounded in the moment in Houston. One of the best things about the Romantic Times conference is getting to know the folks who come year after year--fellow writers, RT staff, fans, and of course the models who are the stars of the week.

Here's a pic of me with fellow authors Arianna Heart (Cat Cody) and Patrice Michelle at the Ellora's Cave Moulin Rouge party. Dressed up and ready to dance and have a great time!

And another with model and great guy Steve Rossi, who's on the cover of the Crossing Realms calendar this year (http://crossingrealmsllc.com/). We were smooshed together for a group photo, taken by the very talented photographer Rose Germano, or her equally talented husband Anthony...not sure which...I was distracted). It was a hardship, but I managed to "hang in there" and be a joiner ;o)

More hunky guy photos, you say!!! Here's one of my favorites from the week--Brooks Johnson, who's spotlighted in this years Ellora's Cave calendar (which I'll be giving away a signed copy of later in the month ;o). Brooks is on the right, signing calendars with buddy EC model Lorenzo. Nice guys shouldn't be this beautiful...it's just not good for a woman's blood preassure!

One final group shot, until I get to my big suprise (if I didn't string you along, you wouldn't believe I was back to full writing strength ;o) Another shot from the first night's party--the girls again, grouped around EC model Devin...the medical student and exotic dancer (killer combination). These are really the greatest, most interesting people. So much fun to catch up with each year at the events!!!

Okay, the simple blessings part of the week-long RT experience--at least one of them.

Because I know so many of the staff and regulars, and because one of the female models that pose with the Mr. Romance conetestants in the model competition that concludes the conference each year couldn't be there, and I guess because I have big, too-much-like-romance covermodel-hair, I was asked to pose up on stage with the Mr. Romance contestants this year!!!!!

Fun, fun, fun...great fun and I got to do something I never thought I had in me (getting up on stage to do anything more than teach sooooo isn't me, despite the hair, for those of you who are just getting to know me). And the perks--spending time with great guys and getting to live out all those fantasy romance poses and cover clutches...sigh...I'll be back next post to tell you more.

Until then, here's one of the pictures that are slowly trickling in from the show--this is during the Western Pose portion of the contest, and I'm working with Jason Santiago--2007's Mr. Romance winner!!!

Photo once again compliments of Rose and Anthony, of A&RPhotography. Check out their MySpace page. Buy a callendar. You won't be disappointed.(http://www.myspace.com/a_n_r_photography).

Yes, it was like a dream. A three-hour-long, hero-filled dream ;o)

Come back to hear more!!! Like how GQ covered the event, including the rehersals and the behind the scenes stuff...oh my gosh!!!

Sherri Kenyon Gets Her Groove on!!!

You should go to a reader luncheon one of these days, if you've never been. Authors are so much fun, and they L-O-V-E to hang with fans. Check out Sherri Kenyon at Georgia Romance Writers' reader luncheon a few weekends ago--she and the devil had a blast, LOL!!!



There's also the matter of great goodie bags and prizes. Here's some of the GRW loot, with a few of the books pulled out to show off.

Guess what--it's my next blog prize, so leave a comment and some time next week I'll announce a winner!!

More shots of authors and booksellers--next time, you could join us and dance the night away, too.



Actually, I'll be at the Birmingham reader luncheon on November 4th--if you're in the area, sign up and come hang with us. Here's the info: (http://www.southernmagic.org/smrl2006.html)


As usually, I gave away a great prize to one lucky reader. This time, it was another of the suede Coach purses I auctioned off on Brenda Novak's juvenile diabetes auction earlier this year. Here's the winner











And here's one more shot of Sherri. She was the highlight of the weekend, just ask her fans and loyal booksellers ;O)

Fun girls have fun friends who give away fun prizes, too!!!

My family and friends are loving me not being on deadline!!! I'm alive, they're relieved to know ;O) And still interested in taking part in the real world, no less (yes, I've rolled from one book deadline to another for the last 12 months or so, but now that I have a few weeks off, I can honestly say I'm a real world kind of gal again, LOL!).

Okay, so on with the more fun prizes I promised. Catherine Mann and I go back way too many years (back to when both of us were dreaming if being published and working our buns off trying to get there and not lose hope). And we've been partying every chance we get since. Cathy's latest HQN single title, Blaze of Glory, is out--part of her wingman warriors serires, of course--and to celebrate, she's chatting it up on eHarlequin and giving away great prizes (including one of my Funky Purses on Friday).

Here's the link. Once you get there, click Last at the top of the thread, and it'll take you to the most recent posts (including Cathy's note about her latest giveaways).

http://community.eharlequin.com/webx?50@105.czreaS0PUEo.0@.4a83a575/163

I'll be popping in this week...you should, too, so you can get the skinny of all the fun and all the goodies. And you should definitely buy BoG...Cathy does the best hunky warriors (and warrior goddesses!!!).

Okay, for all who found Sunday's nice, cool Zen place a little frosty (FYI, girls who have migraines love cold places to go for their dream getaways), I'm soooo wanting a beach trip right now, too. So, head away with me tonight for a seashore sunset...that's my yoga focus for the day...make it yours, too, and enjoy ;O)


Or maybe this'll work better for you. My fam. and I went to the county fair last night. My ten-year-old LOVED it, and of course so did I. There's something about all those lights at night, with the fair sounds ringing and singing around you and the smell of salt and vinegar fries and corndogs...Man...it gets me every time... That's another happy place I get to go to, every time I remember.

What's your favorite place? Where do you go when you need a break and you can't get away anywhere but in your mind? Who're your favorite friends you'd take with you, because you know you'd have more fun than if you went yourself????

Pop on over to Cathy's loop, and meet a few of mine ;O)

A Rose by Any Other Name

Friends are wonderful things, and as I said the ones I've made at RT the last couple of years have been amazing. Many of the pictures from this week and today come to you courtesy of Rose, Lisa and Patrice. All I had to say was, "I'm doing somoething fun online," and they were there to help out--both me and the fun...

Here's me and Patrice again, dancin' like crazy women...




And the cream of the Peter Decicco fan club (kid you not, the man has his own online harem...check his pic out from a few days ago, and you'll see why). It was the vampire ball...I didn't have a costume, so I went as a victim (I was in thrall)...someone gave me a tatoo that made it look like I'd been bit...somewhere...



More models...Need I say more...








And then it was home to the real world this week--my son's last few days of school. Yesterday afternoon, at around 3:00 busses full of singing and screaming children were cruising all over the neighborhood for the last time until Fall . Once my son arrived, we booked it over to a friend's house for a celebratroy water baloon/water gun fight, an afternoon of craziness and then a neighborhood pool party. And so our summer begins...him chilling and resting up from all things academic, me enjoying him while he's still young enough to be hanging near home during the summer (and working hard on my novels, so I have a good excuse to head to RT again next year), and everyone relishing a couple of months of less-hectic schedules and longer days.

We're heading to New York for a family thing in a few weeks, then to Cincinatti for another reader event. I LOVE road trips...long hours of dedicated writing time...More work that's not quite work, because I love it, and I love being able to live my life around my job.

How 'bout everyone else...what's your summer looking like? I know a lot of you have another month of school to go, but after that...what are you going to do to recharge (I strongly recommend dancing all night and cover models, but I know that can be a tall order ;o) ?

Our winner from yesterday's comments--Amy S.!! Amy, email me at anna@annawrites.com to give me your snail mail addie and your book preference. The list after our first two winners chose their books is...

Desire After Dark--Amanda Ashley
Count Down-Iris Johansen
Darker Than Midnight--Maggie Shayne
Code Name: Blonde--Christina Skye
The Dark One--Ronda Thompson
On Blue Falls Pond--Susan Crandall
The Duchess Diaries--Barbara Dawson Smith
Chill of Fear (Hard Cover!!!)--Kay Hooper

I'll keep giving books and promo items away until they're gone, even as I settle more deeply back into my real world. Leave a comment in todays blog to be eligible.

Tomorrow, I'll share a teaser of my Feb. '07 book--The Perfect Daughter--as I dive back into writing the May ;07 book. Come back and tell me what you think!!

Yes, It was a hardship, but someone had to do it...

For an author, RT is supposed to be about networking with peers, the management from your publisher, booksellers and reviewers, and most importantly readers. And, yeah, there's lots of that...otherwise there's no way I could write off the expense on my taxes ;O)



See, here's another gift bag I gave away to a lucky raffle winner in Club RT.









And here's my spot at Saturday's booksigning--aren't the little cars I gave away cute. They're squeezy stress toys that are the closest I could get to the vintage red car on my July cover (which you can see a bit of on the left of the screen). Oh, and I gave away another gift bag there, too. Tons of authors did.



And me hanging (ah, networking) with fellow author Patrice Michelle. Don't we look professional? This is right at the end of the book signing, right before we headed out to Mexican next door for a late lunch, then a long walk on the beach, followed by the Mr. Romance competition. But I digress...you're supposed to be feeling my pain as a hard-working conference author.


Picture me schlepping around promo items and books and workshop notes and so forth. Feel sorry for me yet?... Okay, then let's return to our regularly scheduled program ;O)

Yes, I had a blast, and whether you're a reader or a writer, you have to go to RT one day.

Yes, my name is Anna, and I'm a dance-aholic. Every night is about dancing with girlfriends you only get to see once or twice a year... This is Lisa, Jan and Dana...

...every day, you try to sneak out to the beach for a few minutes whenever you can. Throw in some amazing men...Check out Lisa waith Bill Freda...and what could be better!!!

I know, I know... The men are what you're coming back to see, so their pics are below (I'm hoping to be getting even more from my girlfriends).

But before I get off track, yesterday's winner is...

Shari C

Shari, email me at anna@annawrites.com to let me know your book pick from yesterday's list (Zara already grabbed up The Naked Marquis), and your mailing address, and I'll send your book and RT promo goodie your way this week.

I'm trying to snag photos from friends who are only just now getting back to their real lives and careers, so be patient. I may still be uploading pics weeks from now. In the mean time, here are some more highlights from my digital memories ;O)



This is Bobby, CJ and Deven... Models with their shirts on...











Models with their shirts off ;O)










And models hugging me ;O) This is Andrei, last year's Mr. Romance winner!!! Scroll down in the blog to read more about him.


Okay, enough for today, or my blog software's going to explode. Come back tomorrow, and let's see what I can pull together ;O)

Thanks for sharing the fun. Leave more comments, and tomorrow we'll have a new winner!!! Don't forget we'll be doing this again in a little over a month for my July The Prodigal's Return launch party!!!!