No surprise that he declined to read my quote.

But I digress. The real reason I mention the article is that it’s pertinent reading for the Blaze fan. I mean, chances are good if we’re reading or writing Blaze that we like the idea of “red-hot” for a sensuality level. You’re probably as invested as I am in maintaining a certain amount of your mojo.

The article points out various ways to do that, including my tip about tapping into romantic or sexy tunes from your dating days to create a personalized playlist. I think music has a great ability to transport you to another time and place, instantly reminding you of other steamy moments.

I’d also suggest that reading a Blaze is a good way to remind you of the temptress within. Reading romance, for me, is always mood elevating. Plus, sexy romance in particular reminds me that passion is a gift. Romance heroes and heroines fight so hard for that happy ending that I feel like it’s only right to celebrate my own HEA early and often.

What about you? How do you get your sexy back? I’m officially asking for your quote on the subject. Do you have a go-to dress in the back of your closet that makes you feel on top of your sexy A-game? A date night destination that puts you in a flirtatious frame of mind? Please share on the boards for a chance to win an advance copy of my April Blaze Historical,
The Captive

I’ve also been working to complete my November Blaze which I just turned in last weekend (yay!!), my husband’s and son’s birthdays are in two weeks, we just had a shed built for our back yard which means we now have to fill it by clearing out the garage. Oh, and Babe Ruth is starting up.

So where does that leave me?

I’ll say one thing’s for sure, the diet is BLOWN. Of course, it only takes me one excuse to blow the diet, and I’ve got–what–four listed here? Oh, it is SO gone! Which means me looking like Angelina Jolie will be put off for another month. It also means that the selfish side of me reaches out for those guilty pleasures I need in order to handle all the stress without going insane.

Like many people who visit this blog, my guilty pleasure is books. I feel I’m living in the black if I’ve got more “read” books on my shelves than “to be read”, and often I can only accomplish that by including my high school yearbooks and photo albums in the count. Otherwise, I run dangerously close to 50/50. But does that stop me from adding more to my Amazon.com wish list? Of course not! It wouldn’t be a guilty pleasure if there was no guilt involved, now would it?

My second guilty pleasure is food (see paragraph on diet above) and when it comes to that, I could go on for days. But I was thinking about the topic of this post and asking myself what is my MOST guilty pleasure when it comes to food? You know, that horrible thing you don’t even want to admit to eating, but it’s SOOOO good? I’ll never forget an episode of Oprah where an audience member admitted to eating turkey skin sandwiches. Now, even I, a woman who will pick at the crispy golden skin until my husband comes in the kitchen and swats me away, had to admit a certain revoltion to actually putting chunks of it on bread and slathering it in mayonnaise. But I could understand it. And that’s the kind of stuff I’m talking about here.

As a kid, we used to take Wonder Bread, spread on some I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, then sprinkle it with sugar, roll it in a tube and eat it like a Pirouette cookie. I have more money now, and can just buy the things when I want them.

So now I’d have to admit that my most delectible guilty pleasure would have to be chicken fried steak with milk gravy. It’s my favorite food I hate to love. I’m not sure if there’s any nutritional value that hasn’t been fried out, and if there were, the laden fat from the gravy would probably prevent absorbtion. But ask me if I care? I love it with all it’s faults.

It was in the news w shile back that microwave popcorn is bad for your lungs, which lends an interesting twist to the phrase, “inhaling your food”. I was happy to say that we don’t microwave popcorn. We still make it the old fashioned way in a pot with oil, because I prefer to die of heart disease over lung cancer.

Then again, I’ll never forget the line by Dennis Leary who, when told about his cigarettes, “Those things will take 5 years off your life!” replied, “Yeah, but not the good ones.”

Amen, brother.

So tell me, what’s your guilty pleasure? Go ahead, you can confess. And if it’s too embarrassing, just post under “Anonymous” and we’ll never tie it back to you!

1) I’m obsessed with the weather. I probably blog more about the weather than any other author on this loop. What can I say other than it was a freakin’ wonderful 70 degrees Farenheit yesterday in Atlanta, GA? What I can say is that I’m sick of being cold. I know some of you live in a veritable winter wonderland where snow drifts are higher than your cat/car/house (pick one of the aforementioned) and I hate that for you. However, I’ll tell you what I hate even more…I live in a really cool loft apartment that is over 100 years old complete with huge factory windows that are single-paned. When I say it’s a cool apartment, well…take that both figuratively and literally. I’ve frozen my behonkus off this winter. When I finally decided to up my heat (and we’re not talking balmy here, folks — I’m still in a long-sleeved shirt with a sweatshirt over it), well, I got that gas bill. And had a heart attack. I’m trying to decide if I want to hock my dog on Craig’s List to fund my payment.

2) I’m not quite there yet, but I’m close to obsessed with working out. I did two classes back-to-back last night. Although the first one didn’t really count because it was a Step class and I’m so spastic I couldn’t get any of the steps down other than the basic up on the step and back down again thing.

3) Musicals. All of a sudden I’m planning to see Fiddler on the Roof and South Pacific within a four-week time span. I’d kind of forgotten how much I like musicals. Wonder when I might be able to catch Okalahoma?

So, that just about covers my current obsessions. What about you? What’s caught and held your attention lately?

This story is about a woman who works for the Department of Defense, who impulsively volunteers to do a six-month deployment to Iraq. She’s heard stories about the quality of life in the Green Zone, complete with fitness center, fast-food restaurants, and lots of soldiers to keep her safe. But when a last minute directive sends her to a remote outpost in Afghanistan, where a certain hard-bodied special ops soldier is also stationed, she realizes she’s in way over her head. Think Private Benjamin meets Call of Duty.

This story is also meaningful to me, in that a good friend of mine recently returned from a deployment to Iraq. Like me, she is a civilian with no military training or background. I thought she’d be anxious to return to the States, but she actually extended her deployment and stayed for fifteen months. It seems she met a soldier over there and they’re returning home together…

What about you? Do you enjoy stories about military heroes? What about military heroines?

For fun, I put one in my second Blaze, HIS LITTLE BLACK BOOK, out this month. It’s on page 28. Readers not in the know will miss it, but I’m letting Blaze Blog readers in on the secret.

I try not to repeat main character names even after forty plus books, so when Sophie the pug dog visited last year I thought, “There’s a good name,” and used it for Sophie Callahan, heroine of “Text and the Single Girl.” When Sophie the pug arrived, she deliberately checked out every room of the house. She disturbed nothing, merely observing the status quo. Then, with a Grand Duchess air about her, she set about being the dog of the house. Her self-confidence became part of Sophie Callahan’s personality. Months later, in a funny coincidence, Sophie came to visit for a week at the exact time I was working on the manuscript revisions for her story. She quickly learned the household routine and would trot into my office and camp out in the knee hole of my desk while I worked. Here she is.

So when you read Sophie’s description, “She had pale blue-green eyes with an exotic tilt that kept her from looking too ‘girl next door-ish’ in spite of the ponytail, slightly pug nose and a few freckles”, well, here’s the inspiration. I know, it’s a horrible picture, but she sure doesn’t look girl next door-ish, does she?

What Easter Eggs have you discovered or learned about? Have you hidden some of your own? Or is this all new to you? Post a comment for a chance to win a copy of HIS LITTLE BLACK BOOK.

Which brings me to my question(s.) Do you like your name? Are you named for someone? If you don’t like your name and could change it, what would you choose? When I start a book, I can’t do anything until I have the characters names. Names, to me, are so important. Once they’re named, then I can figure out what they look like and what it is they do. But the name *has* to come first.

I’ll be MIA today, since it’s my birthday. We’re going down to Tuscaloosa to watch the Alabama vs. Auburn basketball game–and they’re going to hand out the Iron Bowl trophy (ROLL TIDE!!!!)–and then we’re heading over to Dreamland BBQ for ribs. I can’t wait. I don’t watch the football games–unless there’s a lone player streaking down the field with the ball, then I have no idea what’s going on–but I played basketball when I was in school and actually understand that game. I cheer really loud and humiliate my children. Good times.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I know I’m going to enjoy mine.

Original post:
My friend forwarded me an article recently that really got my back up. Basically, the author of this article contended that women like to be wooed by men – taken out for a night of fine dining and a “sophisticated” theatre show, then home for some “casual flirting” on the doorstep before parting company. Men, on the other hand, would prefer a big burger, a war movie with lots of stuff blowing up, then a dash to the closest motel for “wild monkey sex”.

Now, maybe I’m a freak of nature, but I have always hated the stereotype that women are precious, unattainable vessels that must be wooed and feted and gifted and schmoozed into a) going out with men and then b) allowing them access to their bodies. You know what I mean, the whole box-of-chocolates and bunch-of-roses on arrival cliche – as though we need to be offered collateral up front before we would even consider going out and getting to know someone or (God forbid) having sex with them.

This is so far from my experience of the dating world that it always makes me feel like I live on a separate planet when I see these scenarios in movies and books and TV shows. Maybe dating is different down here in Australia (for starters, we don’t really call it “dating”. It’s usually “seeing someone” or “going out”), but when I was single and I went out with a guy it was on the basis that I wanted to get to know them as a person. Could something happen here? Could he be The One? Or, at least, could he have the potential to be The One? It wasn’t about him proving himself to me or investing dollars to impress me – we were two people exploring the possibilities.

And, you know, sometimes those possibilities included sex. Because women – just like men – have Needs. The very fact that the Blaze line exists is testament to the fact that women have Needs. Just like men, we enjoy sex. I know, it’s a revolutionary concept. Imagine having sex with someone simply because you found them attractive and likable and wanted to have sex rather than because you felt obliged or because he’d jumped through all the flaming hoops in the correct order (the flowers, the chocolates, the big meal, the fancy show…). Imagine!

While I’m ranting, I also object to the fact that the things us women supposedly prefer are so…uptight and not-fun. I mean, fine dining and sophisticated theatre over a burger and a shoot ‘em up movie? Who would you prefer to hang out with? Don’t get me wrong, I like a nice meal out as much as the next lady, but if someone held a gun to my head and made me choose between negotiating haute cuisine and pantyhose and snooty waiters and scary wine lists or a big, juicy burger on the beach with my favorite guy, I know what I’d be opting for. As for opera versus Con Air or any other action movie…again, pass the popcorn.

I had a good rant about all this with my man after reading the article, but then it occurred to me that maybe I really am a freak of nature. Maybe this is the way the rest of the world operates…? Maybe I’m the only burger-loving, action-movie-enjoying woman out there who would prefer to pay her own way rather than be showered with gifts and attention…? I’d really love to hear from readers on this one – what do you expect from a man? What’s your idea of a great first date (a real world one, not a fantasy one)? Do you want to be wooed and made to feel precious before you even think about offering up the keys to the kingdom? Am I hugely out of touch…?

I’m giving away two copies of my latest SuperRomance to posters this month. Her Best Friend is available now at eHarlequin, and will be on the shelves in April. It’s about Amy and Quinn, two people who grew up next door to each other and have known each other all their lives, and what happens when Quinn returns home with his divorce papers in hand. Post away and I’ll choose two winners over the next few days. Looking forward to your answers!

I guess what I’m really asking is have you considered cheating on Blaze with our girl Sofie Metropolis?

Now available in paperback!

If you enjoy our Blazes, I’d like to encourage you to give Sofie Metropolis a try. At the very least, she’ll keep you entertained between our steamier titles. At most…well, she just may persuade you to expand your reading interests and turn your single act of infidelity into a full-blown affair!

Come on: take a walk on the wild side – Greek style!

To make things a little more interesting, we’re offering up copies of the first three titles in the series – SOFIE METROPOLIS, DIRTY LAUNDRY and FOUL PLAY – to one lucky poster at day’s end. All you need do to qualify is say ‘hi!’ Good luck!

The back cover copy sums it up nicely: Nina Larson has a personal genie…seductive, sexy Alec! Her every wish is his command…and does she ever have some X-rated wishes! Each desire he fulfills propels her into another, even hotter one. But Nina holds the key to Alec’s freedom. Problem is, she’s not sure she can surrender the most fantastic sex of her life.

I’ve always been a fan of I Dream of Jeannie and Aladdin and The Arabian Nights. When asked to write a bedtime story, it took me about two seconds to exactly what I story I wanted to write. In “I Wish He Might…,” I build on some of the familiar ideas we have about genies, and create a new world for them, which can be as dangerous as it is sexy.

Nina, the heroine, is granted three wishes, of course, and it got me thinking a lot about wishing. How many times in a day do we unconsciously say “I wish. . . ” What if there was a genie over our shoulder, making those wishes come true? When we’re kids (and even adults) we love wishbones in turkeys, wishing wells, and making wishes on falling stars. Our lives are full of wishes, it seems.

If a sexy genie appeared in your life, what would you wish for? What would you worry about (after all, there is the old saw, watch what you wish for!)

Share, and I’ll pick a winner at the end of the day to win one of these lovely bars of handmade soap, aptly named “Wishing,” (though not inspired by this book, it still fits!). These soaps are made right here in Central York, and are lovely. I will also add in a few fun bath items and a copy of Blazing Bedtime Stories, Vol. IV. Let’s chat about wishing!

I can sit for hours before the awards begin and watch the red carpet coverage. I like knowing how an actress decides on the dress she is going to wear. How it makes her feel. Why she likes a particular designer over others. Clothes can tell you a great deal about the person, and on Oscar night that is highlighted more than ever. I expect to see a lot of color this year. It’s almost as if people feel the need to make things look better than they are, and color does that.

Have you ever dreamed of walking the red carpet? I have. Maybe one of my books will be made into a film. Or I’ll write an adaptation and it will get nominated. (I said I was dreaming.) I already have the idea for my dress in my head. It’s simple, long sleeves, v-neck and it’s royal blue. The heels would be sparkly and my hair would be long and curly. Yes, I really have thought about this. And I think perhaps George Clooney or Gerard Butler would be my arm candy.

Now on to the Awards…

The Awards: I thought I’d go through the list and talk about some of the folks I’d like to see win. This isn’t necessarily who will win, though I’ll try to help you with that too. We’ll go through the Best Picture and Acting categories.

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Nine”; Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”; Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Crazy Heart”; Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”; Mo’Nique, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” I think the woman to beat here is Mo’Nique, even though I’m not fond of the film, I get why people are so into this performance. Mo’Nique has a way of making this truly evil woman, pathetic and sad at the same time. It’s a raw performance and the Oscar folks like that. My pick would be Anna Kendrick, she was an absolute revelation in “Up in the Air.” A truly standout performance, but unfortunately she doesn’t have a chance.

Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, “Invictus”; Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”; Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”; Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”; Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds.” Waltz is the man to beat here. This is a category filled with amazing performances. Waltz picked up the Screen Actors Guild Award, and I believe he’ll be the winner here too.

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”; George Clooney, “Up in the Air”; Colin Firth, “A Single Man”; Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”; Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker.” This is another tough category filled with incredible performances. Jeff Bridges won the SAG award, and I’m pretty sure he’ll pick up the Oscar. Hollywood considers him one of their under appreciated, and I think they think it’s time to honor him. It was an honest performance and I don’t have a problem with Bridges winning, but Firth would be my choice. He’s in almost every frame of “The Single Man” and he doesn’t disappoint. He can say so much with just a look. It was one of my favorite performances of the year.

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”; Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”; Carey Mulligan, “An Education”; Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”; Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Sandra Bullock, and “Blind Side” was one of my favorite films of the year. But was her performances better than her fellow nominees? The answer is, no. Still, I think she’s a safe bet to take home the big prize. This is the toughest category for me. I know you’ve never heard of her, but Carey Mulligan gives such an amazing performance in “An Education.” For me, Meryl Streep became Julia Child. Sidibe is good in “Precious,” but she basically has one expression through the entire film, and even though she is supposed to be shy, it would help if she hadn’t mumbled. Helen Mirren is a bit over the top in “The Last Station,” but she’s absolutely believable. That said, I’m pretty sure Bullock is a shoe-in.

Best Picture: “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious Man,” “Up,” “Up in the Air.” I don’t believe “Precious” or “A Serious Man” deserve to be in the category. I get that “Precious” deals with horrific subject matter and we are supposed to believe that it is an important film, but if you break it down, it’s not a very well made movie. The editing is choppy, the lighting ridiculous, and the acting is over the top or non-existent, especially in many of the scenes at the school. I just don’t get the love for the film beyond Mo’Nique’s performance. “A Serious Man” is a movie that just didn’t do it for me. I’m a big fan of the Coen brothers and usually enjoy their dark humor, but this movie was a self-indulgent mess.

So let’s talk about some of the films I do like. No one can deny that James Cameron hasn’t done something quite wonderful with “Avatar,” while it’s slow at times, it’s a visual gem. In “An Education” director Lone Scherfig had a deft hand with her actors performances and it’s a great coming of age film. “The Blind Side” and “UP” are both great stories, I’m not so sure they are Best Picture material, but I enjoyed both of the films. “Up in the Air” is movie that I had to think about for a while before I decided I liked it. In the end I decided I love it. My only real problem with that film was the pacing, but the performances by the actors made up for any shortfalls.

That said, for me this year’s two best pictures are “The Hurt Locker” and “Inglourious Basterds.” Director Kathryn Bigelow picked up the Directors Guild Award for “The Hurt Locker,” and this makes me hopeful that perhaps Hollywood is coming around to understanding that this one incredible film. Most people know Bigelow as James Cameron’s ex, but she’s obviously so much more. He even says so. “The Hurt Locker” is a tightly wound film, with intense performance. It’s one you shouldn’t miss. And even though he often gets the cold shoulder from Hollywood, no one is doing more for the film than Quentin Tarantino. The man has such respect for the art of film making and though he’s turned out some winners and some stinkers, this is his best film yet.

That said, I hope “The Hurt Locker” wins. If you haven’t seen it, you need to.

So tell me about some of your favorite movies of the year. They don’t have to be up for Oscars! AND what would you wear if you could walk the red carpet?