I must admit, I’m really looking forward to starting over this month.  Last year was a wilder ride than I expected, especially with all the 10^th anniversary celebrations.  Don’t get me wrong – all the attention was absolutely wonderful, incredibly exciting…and ultimately exhausting. J  Maybe it’s just the time of year, but all I’d like to do right now is sit by the fire with a good book.  And if you’re feeling a little mellow too, I’ve got a few irresistible stories to tell you about….

Rhonda Nelson starts off the month with another addition to her Men out of Uniform series, THE PHOENIX.  While all Rhonda’s heroes are great – strong, heroic and honorable—it’s the heroine in this book who steals the show.  Charlie Martin believes in getting the job done, any way she can.  Even if it means a little computer hacking…  Be sure to check this one out – it’s absolutely delightful.

Next up is our Uniformly Hot! title, BORN READY by Lori Wilde.  Semper Paratus (Always Ready) isn’t just the Coast Guard’s motto – it’s Lieutenant Commander Scott Everly’s motto too.  That is until he meets a woman who knocks him off his feet, landing him between her sheets!

And Rhonda’s heroine isn’t the only girl to steal the show this month.  The heroine of Samantha Hunter’s Forbidden Fantasy, STRAIGHT TO THE HEART, is a US Marshall  who always gets her man.  Only in this story, she gets to keep him too!

Tawny Weber continues her Undercover Operative miniseries this month with SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT.  This time, prodigal daughter Maya comes back home…with an FBI agent on her arm—and in her bed!  Check out what USA Today had to say about the first book in the miniseries:   Sex, Lies and Mistletoe is sexy, smart, fresh and festive — and a must-read this holiday season.   Way to go, Tawny!

Next up is BORROWING A BACHELOR by Karen Kendall, the first book in Karen’s  All the Groom’s Men miniseries.  These stories focus on the real reason women attend weddings – to check out the hot  groomsmen!   And here’s a little insider information – one of the titles we were considering for this book was The Accidental Stripper.   How can you resist?

Finally, Cathy Yardley finishes up the month with the first book of another new trilogy – The Players’ Club.  The heroes in these books work hard and play even harder.  In the first book, THE PLAYERS CLUB: SCOTT, the hero finds out that while the tests may be arduous… the rewards can be very satisfying, especially when his sexy neighbor decides to join in on the initiation.

So, what do you think?  Can you think of a better way to start off a brand new year?

Although Blaze’s 10^th anniversary is now over, we still have one more anniversary to celebrate.  This month marks the one year anniversary of the Blaze Authors’ Pet Project.   So far, we’ve highlighted three very deserving shelters and I’ll be showcasing another one next month.  As well, we’ve managed to include more than twenty animals in our past and upcoming books and several of them have already found homes!  In fact, two of the books this month feature Pet Project animals.  Dottie, from Tawny Weber’s SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT is living happily ever after with her new forever family.  But Piedmont and Prize, from Rhonda Nelson’s THE PHOENIX, are still waiting.  If you’re interested in helping out, check out the Pet Project at BlazeAuthors.com for details.  And look for more furry friends to show up in the pages of Blaze books throughout this year.

So, are we all ready to get on the rollercoaster again?  In order to make the ride a little more enjoyable, I’ll be giving away 3 sets of the January books.  All you need to do is post a comment, letting us know what you intend to do differently this year.  Last year, one of my resolutions was to help out at a local shelter, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

Wishing you all things bright and Blazing in the coming New Year!

Sincerely,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor

I find that endings and beginnings are the most challenging parts of the books I write.  Either chapter–the last or the first–seems to take me for…ev…er!  I’ve decided that the endings are hard because sometimes, I just don’t want to let the characters go.  And beginnings are challenging because I’m trying to get to know new characters (and perhaps I miss the ones I just left behind).

And I’m thinking about that today because it’s that time of year again–that week between Christmas and New Years–when a year is ending and another one is beginning.  In life, I’ve always liked new beginnings. I loved going away from home to start college, I adored moving into my first apartment and taking on the challenge of my first job.  I really like the idea of starting over with a clean slate, making changes, and taking on new challenges.

I’ve been blogging on December 29th for a few years now, and usually I just make a list of all the things I’m going to do to finally improve about my life–like lose five or ten pounds, exercise on a regular basis, and finally clear the clutter out of my drawers, my closets and my basement.  And I could put the exercise and the clear-the-clutter things right there at the top of my list…again and forever.  But in 2012, I’m going to make a different kind of resolution.

I was making a mental list of my favorite memories of 2011 this morning–and the first ones that popped into my mind all had to do with trips I made with family or friends.  Last January, my sister and I spent a weekend with our niece Emma in New York City.  She was there on a business trip and we joined her for fun.  We indulged in theatre, great food, and, of course, shopping.  In February, I went with my sister to Florida, and we spent a week babysitting and playing with my two grandchildren and their new, untrained puppy.  (It was a kind of working vacation for me.  I wrote three chapters of “Sexy, Silent Nights,” my December book while I was there).  And in June, I got to go back to NYC for the RWA conference and hang out with friends I only see once a year.  (And indulge in more theatre and great food.)

In looking over my list, I came to a kind of epiphany moment.  Instead of making a long list of things that Cara Summers could do to improve herself, she’s going to make one resolution for the new year.  She’s going to find the time–no make the time to have more fun.  She’s going to schedule more trips with family and visit friends.  (There will definitely be trips to NYC and Florida involved).  The clutter in her closets will have to wait another year.  Or forever.

So what are your new year’s resolutions?  Do you make them?  Accomplish them?  If you had a magic wand, what’s the one thing you’d like to change about your life in 2012?  I’d love to hear from you.

Happy New Year!

Last month I kicked off my Undercover Operatives series with the release of SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE, and I shared a peek into the gossipy fun that goes on in the small town of Black Oak as the town’s two Information Matriarchs (much classier than gossips, right?) dished the dirt on the return of bad boy, Caleb Black.   And boy, oh boy is the dirt dishing now that he’s not only back, but engaged.  Just when the ladies are ready to settle back and start rehashing the shocking events of the last month, Black Oak gets another shocking visit.  Not only is Maya Black back, but she’s brought her own sexy entertainment along as well.

Wanna hear what Hazel and Hortense had to say about this newest twist?  It went something like this…

Shifting irritably in her favorite chair, Hazel tapped her spoon impatiently on the side of her teacup.  She wasn’t sure what bothered her more.  That her guest for morning tea was later, or that things had been so exciting lately, morning tea was likely the only bright bit of excitement she had to look forward to for the next little while. 

Before she could take a sip, though, the front door opened and shut with a snap.  Less than a minute later, her neighbor and dear friend–bless her, she’d gained at least five pounds over Christmas–was seated next to her pouring tea.

“I know, I know,” Hortense said waving one pudgy hand before Hazel could issue a complaint.  “I’m late.  But I had to give my grandbabies extra kisses goodbye, didn’t I.  I love the holidays, but it’s so hard to see everyone head home when they are over.” 

Extra time with the grandbabies was a get out of a late-lecture free card.  Her own eyes still burning from the cry she’d had after saying goodbye to her own, Hazel sniffed back her complaints and offered a plate of scones.  “Have a treat, it’ll help distract you from thinking about the children all gone again.” 

“It’s so hard after they leave the nest.  Oh, we have a full life and plenty to do.  But it’s just not the same as having all the loved ones close.”  For a second Hortense looked like she was going to sob on her lemon scone.  Then she took a deep breath and blinked away the melancholy.  The look left in her eyes, pure glee, made Hazel sit a little straighter in her chair.

“I suppose Tobias Black is happy these days, having one of his children moving back to Black Oak,” she said before nibbling the iced corner of her scone. 

“I suppose he is.  Especially with Caleb engaged and ready to settle down here,” Hazel agreed slowly, trying to figure out what Hortense was up to.  That gleam only meant one thing, the other woman thought she had a piece of gossip that would trump Hazel’s gold star for the best gossip of the year.  The gold star she’d scored when she’d brought news of Caleb’s return. 

“I wonder if this means the other two will soon follow.  Wouldn’t Tobias be thrilled to have both Maya and Gabriel back, too?” 

Hazel narrowed her eyes.  What did Hortense think she knew?  Since Caleb’s return, Hazel had taken to checking on the Black doings at least once a day.  If there was news, she’d have it.  Wouldn’t she?

“I’d imagine Tobias would be overjoyed to see any of his children,” she agreed slowly.  “But Gabriel’s exit was even angrier than Caleb’s.  And Maya, well, I don’t know what came between her and Tobias, but it must have been something major.  She was always so devoted to her father, then poof,” Hazel snapped her fingers in emphasis, “She was gone.”

“I’ll bet it was that woman Tobias was dating,” Hortense said with a sage nod.  “None of those three liked her much, did they?”

“Did anyone?”  Hazel thought back to the hard-edged floozy who’d tried to rope Tobias Black.  Luckily he’d kicked her to the curb a few months after Maya’s departure.  “You’d have thought the man had learned his lesson about dating inappropriate women then, wouldn’t you?”

“Obviously not, if he’s dating someone as tacky and obvious as Lilah Gomez.  And her the same age as his own daughter.”

“Poor Maya,” Hazel said with a tutting shake of her head.  “Can you imagine her reaction if she knew that her father was dating her arch-enemy?”

“Actually, I don’t have to imagine.” Hortense set her plate aside and leaned forward.  “I hear we’ll get to see it firsthand.” 

Hazel bobbled her teacup, shock making her immune to both the splash of hot liquid and the stain on her new pink slacks.

“No…?”

“Yes.  I heard it from Ham Bollinger when I was out at Black Oak Manor this morning to say goodbye to my cousin.  Maya booked not one, but two rooms at the Inn.”  Hortense gave a gleeful nod, practically bouncing in her chair.  “Maya Black’s coming back and she’s not coming alone.” 

And she’d been worried after all the recent excitement, things might seem boring?  Not likely in Black Oak.  Hazel leaned back, her grin so wide it made her earrings wiggle.  “Well, this should liven up the New Year, shouldn’t it?”   

Wellll… There you go.  Maya’s home and she’s on a mission.  Not only that, but she’s not alone! The ladies are right.  The New Year is going to be pretty exciting in Black Oak.  And you can, of course, read all about it in SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT if you’d like :-D   To make that easier, I’m giving away a signed copy today to one commenter – just let me know what wild plans you have for New Years Eve, and what you want to see happen in the New Year to be entered in the drawing. 

And don’t forget to check out my Holiday Survival Tour as I celebrate the Undercover Operatives series with contests, giveaways and lots of good times. 

In the Catholic church, the Christmas season has only just begun. The four weeks leading up to December 25th, liturgically speaking, is called Advent.
Advent is a time of waiting, of preparing. The first Sunday of Advent the scripture is usually John the Baptist calling out to the people, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”
And as adults, it’s all about preparing. Decorations, shopping, wrapping, mailing out cards, baking, cooking, and cleaning.
But as a kid, it was all about the waiting. I couldn’t wait for Christmas morning. And the waiting seemed to take forever. The month of December seemed to creep by one slow second at a time. Waiting and waiting for that wondrous day to come.
Now? Days fly by and my To Do list seems never ending. I wish for a personal assistant. Or a clone. And I tease my Jewish friend that I’m going to convert to Judaism.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love this magical season. I enjoy shopping for those perfect gifts and wrapping them with beautiful paper and bows. I love baking those special cookies and breads I only make at Christmas time.
But this month, I’ve been waiting eagerly every day for weeks and weeks for something. And I realized this anxious, nail-biting waiting, this longing for something to hurry up and get here was just how I used to feel as a kid waiting for Christmas morning.
Finally, the other day, I saw it for the first time. My NEW BLAZE COVER!
Isn’t it gorgeous? The book comes out in March and takes place on Maui and the background looks just like my research images. I’m a little anxious because I struggled with this story. Some books, (for me, it was Primal Calling) seemed to flow from my fingers like magic. Others seem to take their time in revealing themselves to me. But one thing I don’t have to worry about, thanks to the geniuses at the Harlequin Art Department (You all rock!) is the cover.
Anything you’ve been waiting for finally come or happen? Three commenters will win a copy of my September Blaze, NIGHT MANEUVERS!

Well, it’s just after Christmas but before New Years, so this is definitely the time when I feel fat, relaxed, and am trying NOT to join any family drama. Which means today’s blog is going to be really easy. (Apologies, btw, to people of other faiths. I have no idea how you celebrate the week before New Years, or if there is anything special going on beyond–hopefully–having time off)

During this week between Christmas and New Years, what is your favorite thing to do? Shopping is the fav of my kids. (Yes, I have girls. How did you guess?) Reading is my husband’s particular favorite next to watching sports. I love gabbing with my sisters and NOT getting assigned babysitting duties. (My sisters have LITTLE kids aged 9 month up to 6 years.) Much of my family loves games, games, and games. (Catan anyone?)

So…what’s your pick? One lucky commentor will get a copy of In Good Hands, by Kathy Lyons!

On this Christmas Day at my house, following a long family tradition that goes back at least three generations, presents will be opened this morning. It’s The Rule. The tree gets decorated on Christmas Eve, and then, only then, can the gifts be arranged beneath it. Not a single one can be touched until the next morning when the fire is lit and the Christmas music is playing.

Yeah, I love it like that. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas, and I’m allowed to be, which makes me very lucky. I think about all those who have similar traditions handed down from generation to generation and who treasure those rituals as much as I treasure mine. But they’re employed as a nurse, or a firefighter, or a cop, or a soldier on patrol.

So as I watch my daughter unwrap the special present I found for her months ago and snap a picture of her happy smile, I bless those who are hard at work during the holidays. As I sip cocoa by the fire and gaze at the sparkling tree, I’m aware that the moment is made possible by all those who aren’t celebrating Christmas this morning or couldn’t enjoy Christmas Eve with family because they’re busy tending to the jobs that must be done, no matter what day it is.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Whenever and wherever you’re finally able to enjoy the holiday, have a very Merry Christmas!

From all of us, to all of you!!

The girls and I have been watching a lot of classic Christmas specials in the last few weeks.  I’ve enjoyed cuddling up with them at night and sharing shows that were part of my own childhood.  Today we’re baking – cornflake cookies, peanut butter fudge and possibly buckeyes are on the agenda.  Along with baking I’m planning a movie afternoon for us to watch all of our Christmas favorites – A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, the Polar Express, Prep & Landing.  I’ve added some new shows to the repertoire, but  I think that’s part of letting my girls make their own traditions that they can share with their kids when they grow up.

DH and I also have a Christmas movie tradition that started long before we had kids.  He (and my mom) LOVE A Christmas Story.  I absolutely hate that movie.  To DH’s delight it plays for 24 hours straight starting Christmas Eve.  He torments me with it all day. Anytime I walk out of the room he turns the channel.  If I don’t hide the remote he turns the channel.  Once he snagged an extra remote just so he could do it the moment I’d been lulled into a false sense of security.  I have to admit that my feelings toward the movie have increased in vehemence over the years in direct proportion to DH’s relentless need to drive me crazy.  (although I did buy him the Hallmark ornament last year…the one with Ralphie dressed in the bunny suit.  It talks. I’m such a good wife).  This year I’ve given up trying to avoid the inevitable.  We’ll see how long my resolve lasts.

Do you have any favorite Christmas movies or specials?  Are there any traditional shows that you don’t care for?  Any classics that you’ve never seen?

Merry Christmas!

Kira

For those of you who don’t know already, I’ve made 2011 into a year-long experiment, twelve month-long Lents. I called it Discipline Year, each month’s challenge designed to make me either appreciate what I’ve chosen to give up, or test my commitment. Here’s what I’ve learned.

1 GYMUARY For the first experiment, I decided that each and every day I would go to the gym. It taught me that a twelve-minute walk in January in New England can sometimes feel like that train journey in Dr. Zhivago, especially given the aggro, icy winter we were dealt this year. And truth be told, I missed three days, one because of a blizzard (I made up for it shoveling snow, I reasoned) and two from…well… Gymuary also taught me going to the gym every day is an excellent way to injure one’s self, particularly when one’s self is prone to zealous, willful overexertion. As I am. But I sure did burn a lot of calories.

2 FACE-OFF FEBRUARY In February, I gave up wearing make-up for the entire month, and I didn’t cheat once! It was hard for about two days, then I realized no one except me actually notices if I’m wearing make-up or not. Easily the most liberating month of the twelve. If you’re like me and have been wearing make-up since junior high, give it a whirl. You may just surprise yourself with your own capacity to not care what anyone thinks about your face.

3 MEAGER MARCH No frivolous purchases for the month of March. No problem. I missed eating out and going to the odd movie, but for a single month, it wasn’t much of a hardship.

4 NO #&$%@! APRIL For April, I put the kibosh on my potty-mouth, from “damn” and “hell” on up the line of profanity. I knew I’d fail, so I devised a penance system ahead of time, promising to donate a dollar for each swear that I let slip. All told, I ponied up fifty-seven bucks to charity. That’s not so bad, right? That’s less than two swears a day! As the culler of my many written blasphemies, my editor Laura can attest that that’s pretty impressive. For me.

5 MEAT-FREE MAY I went vegetarian for the month of May. It was the most fun of all the challenges, as I taught myself a dozen or more new recipes and really made the most of our weekly farm share box. We’ve since cut way down on our meat consumption, and hence our grocery bill and household’s carbon footprint. I could fairly easily go vegetarian full-time. Mmm, tempeh. Though I would miss my beloved scallops.

6 NO JAVA JUNE That’s right, no coffee. I did enjoy a rather spirited headache for a couple days, but I soon enough replaced the ritual of coffee with maté tea, and it wasn’t too terrible. I did cheat, though, once. I had a small cup of coffee at the movies, but it made me feel strung out and anxious after three weeks’ abstinence, so it wasn’t even an enjoyable transgression.

7 JUJUBE-FREE JULY That is to say, no candy. No extraneous sugar. If a food such as wine or fruit contained natural sugar, that was fine, but no candy, sweet drinks, pastries, or packaged food with sugar as one of its top five listed ingredients. I missed my nightly square of dark chocolate, but as with the meat and caffeine, once I got into a new habit, I found it wasn’t much of a chore. Though I did ogle an awful lot of pastries while waiting in line at the coffee shop… Bakeries took on a red-light district allure that month.

8 UP AND AT ‘EM AUGUST For August I said I’d set my alarm and rise promptly at five a.m. each morning. Well, I ended up going on vacation for nearly the entire month of August, and gave myself permission to take that time off from the Lents, as well. So, I can’t accurately report my findings, since I really didn’t fulfill this one. Not even close.

9 SWITCH OFF SEPTEMBER In September, I went without TV. Considering I don’t own one, this should’ve be easy, right? Hell no. Thanks to Hulu and Instant Watcher, I had a mean TV habit going on, and I needed to figure out other ways to enjoy my lunch hour or unwind at five aside from tuning in to my beloved crappo reality shows. Movies were acceptable, so I didn’t deprive my manfriend of our shared entertainment times, but no TV. And I did it! I wound up reading a lot more, and generally hanging out in my kitchen, listening to music and working on crossword puzzles.

10 OMMM-CTOBER For October, I’d committed to practicing yoga either at home or in a class for at least forty-five minutes each day. I failed a bit, only doing twenty or thirty minutes some days, and a few days, not at all. I’d begun to lose steam by the time October rolled around, the novelty of all this nonsense having worn off some, and that coupled with a bout of food poisoning sort of dampened my motivation. Still, I definitely felt better those days when I did make the time.

11 NOVEMBOOZE That’s right, no alcohol for the month of November. I love a glass or wine or beer when the writing day is done, but I was very pleasantly surprised to see how easily I could swap them for a mug of hot tea and still unwind just as easily. It’s the symbolism of the drink that I was really attached to, not the buzz, and it turned out a cup of just about anything was enough to trigger in my brain that it was time to relax. Though full disclosure, I did cheat and drink wine at Thanksgiving, though I’d given myself permission to, ahead of time. It was a premeditated caving, not a moment of weakness

12 DONATE DECEMBER Each day in December, I’m going through my clothes and other possessions and choosing one nice thing to give to a Salvation Army-type donation center. Actually I’m doing it every five days, grabbing five things and walking them to the drop box down the road. It was easier at first, but it is a bit more challenging now, with the month half-over. Still, feels great to be getting rid of things I don’t need and helping people who do need them, all in one go.

So, we’re now eleven and a half months into Discipline Year, and I’m truly glad I did all this nonsense. That said, I’m also not planning to do it again, not next year, at least. Sticking with my simple New Year’s resolutions instead for 2012—run ten miles without stopping for the first time ever, try one new recipe a week, read one hundred books, and land an agent. Still ambitious, just a bit less…relentless.

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, happy holiday season, and a great start to the new year! See you in 2012!

xoxo,
Meg

1.) What is your favorite thing about the holidays?  (For me, it’s giving gifts and time spent with family.)

2.) Who is the most difficult person you have to buy for? (My Dad!  If he wants something, he buys it.  Makes finding something he can use or will want a real challenge.  Guess what, Daddy?  You’re getting a gift card this year and a new picture of the grandchildren.)

3.) How much weight do you typically gain over the holiday?  (*plugs ears, sings “la la LA LA LAAAA”*)

4.) If you celebrate Christmas, do you use a live or artificial tree? (Live!  We go to a local tree farm every year, track over acres of ground, argue over which is the best tree, drink hot apple cider while the tree is being cut, shaped, leveled and netted, then ridicule said tree the moment we get it home so that the person who actually found it wishes they’d kept their mouth shut.  This year it was me.  Good times.  Can’t wait til next year.)

5.) What’s your favorite holiday recipe? (The cheese ball!  Two blocks of cream cheese, one small container of canned ham and a packet of dry ranch dressing.  Mix it all up until it’s really combined, wad it into a ball and roll it in chopped pecans.  It’s simple, but AWESOME.  Yes, Brenda, another cream cheese recipe.

6.) Favorite holiday movie? (Not traditional, but still my favorite–Love, Actually.  I *adore* that movie.)

7.) Favorite tradition? (Breakfast casserole and hot chocolate while the kids open their presents.  It’s just our little family and my sweet mother-in-law, who always spends the night with us on Christmas Eve.  Have I ever mentioned that I have The Best Mother-In-Law in the World?  Because I do.  She’s simply dear.)

Your turn.