RWA Highlights

Available August 1st!

I got home very late Sunday night/early Sunday morning from the Romance Writers of America conference in Anaheim, California. I had a great conference, but am feeling seriously jet-lagged.  I got called in to teach early this morning and my brain was still in a fog (poor students--who knows what Mrs. Miller said? ;)).  But... no rest for the busy.  I've got two projects to finish up in August, plus a book coming out tomorrow (KANSAS CITY COWBOY) with several blog appearances to make this month.  And, I want to watch at least a little bit of the Olympics since I'm a lifelong fan.  So, with my brain on overload and my body too tired to function without caffeine, I'm opting to just share a highlights list.

But please, ask questions and I'd be happy to elaborate.  Or share comments.  And, of course, if you were lucky enough to be at RWA, I invite you to share some of your highlights, too.


So, in no particular order, here are some of the highlights of my RWA conference experience:

1.  Networking.  Hands-down, the best part of a conference to me.  The chance to get face-time with my editor and agent, plus connect with other writer friends to share the latest scoop/discuss issues/create strategies/have fun in invaluable.

Daphne Winner!

2.  I won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Best Series Romantic Suspense!  The finalists were all Intrigue books, so I knew it'd be tough competition, and I'd be happy with whoever won.  Of course, the pewter sculpture I won makes it doubly cool. 

3.  The workshop I presented with my buddies BJ Daniels and Delores Fossen went really well.  We were nervous that no one would come since it was scheduled for the very last time slot of the conference.  We had standing room only!  It was fun and info-packed and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  Thanks to everyone who came to see us.  And a special shout-out to Lena Diaz who moderated the workshop for us!

4.  I got to meet several online reader and aspiring writer friends.  Some of the regulars here, in fact.  I'm a hugger, so it was a treat to put a face to some familiar names and trade a hug.

5.  So many people asked me about our dog, Maggie.  I guess I've blogged and tweeted about our smart, sweet little toodle, that folks feel like they know her as well as my books.  btw, she has appreciated enormously all the tummy rubs and treats I was asked to share. ;)

6.  I roomed with fellow Intrigue author Jan Hambright. I've met her before, but it was fun to really get to know her.  We brainstormed some story ideas and career strategies, traded horror stories about snakes, and shared all the latest news on our kids.  Be looking for Jan's next book in January 2013.

7.  I tried sushi.  Actually, it was barely! seared ahi tuna tacos. To be honest, texture-wise, it wasn't my thing.  But now I know it isn't my thing. Loved everything else about those tacos, though. I believe Delores Fossen tweeted a lovely (not!) photo of my taking my first bite.

USA TODAY Bestseller

8.  I was humbled and flattered and psyched to have so many people (industry professionals, fellow authors, aspiring writers) congratulate me on hitting the USA TODAY Bestseller list.  Harlequin even featured my book in their Spotlight workshop, illustrating the kind of success an author can achieve writing series romance.

9.  The whole place was air-conditioned to my liking.  In fact, the main ballroom where the RITA's/Golden Heart awards were held, and we listened to keynote speakers, was a tad on the chilly side. But since this summer has been hot-flash heaven, I'll take the chill!

10. I ate some awesome food! (okay, not the tuna) Authentic Italian with my editor (I would have finished every last raviolo if I knew I would be dancing at the Harlequin party later) and delicious Chinese with the folks from eHarlequin.com.


So, those are some of the highlights from my conference. Leave a question of comment, and I'll put Maggie to work (she needs to work off some of those treats!) picking out a winner sometime tomorrow.  I let the winner choose her prize--either my current release, KANSAS CITY COWBOY, or something from my backlist.

Julie Miller

Spotlight on: New Releases from Kerry Connor

Looking for a fun read? Kerry Connor has a new release for every mood!

If you love romantic comedy, check out FAKING MR. RIGHT:

THE PERFECT MAN...FOR HER?

Who is the perfect man?  Ad executive Melissa Brock might not know the answer, but she does know it’s not Sam Curtis. But with time running out and no flawless male specimen in sight, Mel has no choice but to try and pass off the former soldier as the real thing for her next campaign. Her business partner claims Mel only needs to “smooth out Sam’s rough edges,” a comment that has her reaching for a sand blaster. Confident, irrepressible, and sexy as hell, Sam has an unerring talent for finding trouble and more appeal than any man has a right to possess. Against her better judgment, she finds herself falling under his spell. But Mel has to wonder: is she falling for her own Mr. Right, or under the hype of her own campaign?

An ebook available at Amazon

If you're looking for something steamy, Kerry turns up the heat with A KEPT MAN:

AT HER SERVICE

Struggling writer Jess Harper thought her Aunt Felicity’s secluded hideaway in the Hollywood Hills would be the perfect place to finish her manuscript. She didn’t count on Charlie. Blond, buff and bronzed, he lives in Felicity’s guest house and earns his keep by taking care of Felicity when she’s in residence and the property in her absence. He cooks and cleans, seems to have an aversion to wearing clothes, and makes it known he’s willing to cater to Jess’s every need. He’s a distraction she doesn’t want...and a temptation she might not be able to resist.

He’s also not who he appears to be...

Recovery agent Caleb Carpenter is known for doing whatever it takes to reclaim the treasures his employer insures. He’s perfectly willing to seduce Jess to uncover the secrets he believes she’s keeping.  He doesn't count on this game of seduction becoming all too real, or on the danger that's stalking them both....

Available as an ebook at Amazon

And don't miss Kerry's new Intrigue, HER COWBOY AVENGER, available in August!

THIS COWBOY WILL DO ANYTHING SHE ASKS... EXCEPT RIDE AWAY.

As soon as Matt Alvarez returns to his small Texas town, he knows the situation is worse than he thought. And yet the angry glares and muttered threats won’t keep Elena Weston from proving she’s innocent of murder.  Matt isn’t at all surprised. Elena is as stubborn as she was ten years ago, when their love seemed limitless—until circumstances tore them apart. Now that he’s back, Matt has no intention of allowing Elena to face her troubles alone. But the passion that still burns between them is as tempting—and dangerous—as uncovering the truth.  And their only chance at survival means baiting a killer lying in wait…a killer more than ready to bury his secrets with them.

Available wherever books are sold!

Julie Wins Daphne

Julie's NANNY 911Published in December 2011
has won the Series 2012 Daphne du Maurier Contest sponsored by the RWA Mystery & Suspense Writers chapter (commonly known as Kiss Of Death)

NANNY 911

The Precinct: SWAT--an elite team who'll put everything on the line.

HE’D NEVER NEEDED ANYONE’S HELP…UNTIL NOW

SWAT team member Miranda Murdock can’t bake, or get a three-year-old to eat. But she can shoot the wings off a fly. Which is why she’s protecting millionaire Quinn Gallagher’s daughter. But the little girl is soon tugging at Miranda’s heartstrings. And Quinn is doing other things to her—exciting, forbidden, bedroom things—making her job riskier each day.…

Quinn is determined to find the killer threatening his daughter’s life. Despite the danger, he wants Miranda with shocking intensity. The elite cop is a puzzle he can’t figure out, and desire between them builds with each heartbeat. Yet with New Year’s Eve and the killer’s deadline approaching, even a single kiss could spell disaster…

 

 

JULIE'S LATEST RELEASE

 

KANSAS CITY COWBOY

August 2012

 

The Precinct: TASK FORCE

FROM HIS HAT TO HIS BOOTS,

THIS COP WAS ALL COWBOY

 

For small-town sheriff Boone Harrison, the investigation into a serial rapist turned killer is painfully personal. Boone's priority is to find the coward who murdered his sister. But to accomplish that, he'll have to work with Dr. Kate Kilpatrick, a secretive woman whose striking beauty and kind heart just may be the lawman's undoing....

 

Forensic psychologist Kate Kilpatrick was wrong about Sheriff Harrison. He's smarter and more resourceful than she'd given him credit for-and entirely too attractive. In their combined grief, Kate finds something she didn't even know she needed: protection. Because when the Rose Red Rapist sets his sights on Kate, she'll need more than the power of the badge to save her. She'll need her very own cowboy.

 

READ AN EXCERPT 

 

Related Books in Series: The Marine Next Door (May 2012); Chain of Evidence (Mar 2013), Protector Without a Past (June 2013), Task Force Bride (Sept. 2013), Yuletide Protector (Dec 2013)

 

~ ~ ~

Curious about Julie? I do some Q&A interviews on Get Lost In A Story.

 

FIND JULIE on the Intrigue-Authors Blog &

Contact Website Facebook Twitter @JulieMillerAuth Goodreads

CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE !!

~Angi
AngiMorgan.com
Dangerous Memories Feb 2013

Flaws and All

Like Bridget Jones in her eponymous diary, I will confess to a deep, abiding crush on Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, flaws and all.  He's no alpha hero, mind you, at least not in a Harlequin Presents sort of way. In fact, he's socially awkward, more than a bit stuffy and has a bad habit of putting his pride before his good sense.  He also wins the award for one of the worst marriage proposals in the history of literature.

But I wuv him. 

His flaws are part of what makes him so appealing to me, because they allow me to identify with him and appreciate his assets.  I know his haughty exterior masks a painful social shyness. I can appreciate that he feels as if he's a piece of meat in a market, priced at ten thousand pounds a year,, and any woman who looks his way may be seeing a living rather than a man.

And when he falls so hard and so painfully for Lizzy Bennet, who is a bad match for him in every way except for the deepest desires of his heart, his flaws guarantee his road to happiness will be long, painful and anything but certain, despite his fortune.  How can you not root for a fellow like that?

Readers and writers alike talk about loving characters who are flawed, and we do.  But that doesn't mean we all love the same flawed characters, or that we love them in the same way.  While Darcy makes me want to take him home and give him some hot chocolate and a cookie, Edward Rochester of Jane Eyre makes me want to punch him in the kisser.  (Though I still desperately want him to be with Jane in the end, even if he doesn't deserve her, because that's what Jane wants and I adore Jane).

One of the most flawed characters I've ever rooted for was James "Sawyer" Ford on the television show Lost.  When we first meet Sawyer, he's selfish, boorish and thoroughly unrootable.  And yet, we get glimpses now and then of grace, so thickly covered by his shortcomings that we often wonder what we're seeing and if we're just fooling ourselves.

But over the course of the series, so slowly at first that the progress defines the word "glacial," we see the evolution of Sawyer from a villain to a hero.  He triumphs and fails, inspires and disappoints, takes steps forward and falls back spectacularly, but you find yourself hoping he finds that elusive joy he can't even define but so desperately wants.

The flawed characters are the ones we remember the most, especially when a story takes us on a roller coaster journey from despair to redemption.  I've just shared a few of my favorite flawed characters.

Who are some of yours?




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The Complexity of Simplicity

I got the idea for this article because the motivation for my latest Intrigue villian was getting too complicated. When I realized I could strip them all away and nothing changed in the book...well, simple is always better.

Don't misunderstand, I love complicated, complex stories. LOOOOVE THEM !!  Those words don't actually do my excitement justice when I see a movie or read a book that kept me guessing until the end. One of the first things my husband asks at the end of the movie is, "when did you know?"

What can I say? I like puzzles.

Simple isn't boring. Simple is understandable.

Take the television show I Love Lucy. It has years of success and multiple generations of fans. A simple show, no big mysteries, comic relief, almost Vaudville-like in it's corniness. I've seen those shows hundreds of times. We have the series on DVD. And yet, Lucille Ball draws us into that show every time we flip the channel. Her corn-ball predictible actions are such a part of her. But did you know that she worked hours in front of a mirror, rehearsing and perfecting her simple expressions and actions? In one of her biographies, I discovered that she became great friends with Harpo Marx because she studied his non-verbal expressions (one of the reasons for the famous mirror episode with him).

Do you have a favorite simplistic film or television show? I'll be giving away a July Intrigue (your choice) to someone leaving a comment today.

~Angi
AngiMorgan.com

DANGEROUS MEMORIES February 2013
PROTECTING THEIR CHILD 2013

Spotlight on July Intrigues: The Spy Wore Spurs

Dana Marton takes readers to Texas in The Spy Wore Spurs:

Top secret commando soldier Ryder McKay is shot and left for dead in South Texas. But when he comes to in a bedroom on Grace Cordero's remote ranch, he realizes the beautiful former army medic did more than save his life. She risked her own. Not that he can tell her the whole truth about his mission. Ryder is sure dangerous thugs are using Grace's vast property to smuggle drugs, weapons—and people—across the border. But to prove it without blowing his cover, he has to let her ride shotgun on the investigation. And keeping his heart guarded against sexy, off-limits Grace will be the hardest part of all.

Spotlight on July Intrigues: Bear Claw Lawman

It's time for another adventure in the Bear Claw Creek Crime Lab in Jessica Andersen's Bear Claw Lawman:

When DEA agent Nick Lang came to town, even the toughest cases got closed. But his latest had become way too personal. He'd thought CSI Jennifer Prynne was just another no-strings fling, until a serial killer's attack left her battered, bruised and struggling to remember her past. Now, as the key to the entire case they'd been investigating for months, Jenn's safety became Nick's responsibility. He knew the murderer's identity was buried deep in Jenn's mind, but releasing it was dangerous—yet necessary. The old Nick was an expert at getting answers and moving on. But his heart told him this was one case he couldn't walk away from.…

How long does it take?

The single most asked question I get as a an author is "How long does it take you to write a book?"

And the answer I give is "It depends."

Here are the factors:

1. Length of the book - Harlequin Intrigues are 55-60,000 words. A single-title can be from 75-120,000 words. Then you have novella at anywhere from 15-30,000. None of these numbers are set in stone and it depends on what I'm writing. You see, I write for Intrigue, Nocturne, Nocturne Cravings and under my other pen name (Myla Jackson) I write novellas and category-length.

2. Proposal to acceptance - For books written for Harlequin, I sometimes have a proposal to acceptance lag when I'm waiting for approval of a 3-chapter partial submission before I push on and finish the book. I've had up to 3 years between the proposal and acceptance. Do I count that lag time in the time it takes to finish the book?

3. Gutting it out - This is the actual time I spend writing the bulk of the manuscript. It might come in one long stretch or many short bursts.

4. Story flow - if the story is firmly in my head and well plotted in advance, this might be a factor in turning the book in early. If I'm having a problem determining who done it and how...it will take longer, and longer, and...

5. Life happens - Ah the beauty of the ever-diverse and continuous motion of life. Lump everything into this category: vacation with family; medical issues; child demands, husband demands, pet demands, lawn care, house chores, and anything else that comes up.

6. Procrastination - I admit this is one of my biggest slow-downs in finishing a book. The cause can be any of the above.

So the answer to "How long does it take you to write a book?"

It Depends.

She'd been his wife for barely a day and now FBI agent Tuck Thunder Horse was responsible for identifying her body. So he was more than shocked when Julia Anderson turned up very much alive-and on the run. Julia confessed to witnessing a murder and now needs Tuck to help her stay alive...and protect the baby he hadn't known she'd had.

 

Julia and Tuck's marriage might not have lasted, but there was not time for recriminations with a killer on their trail. As Tuck struggles to put their painful past behind them he can't help but find himself overwhelmed by his love for his little daughter...and his still-burning passion for Julia. Unable to trust anyone but each other, they know working together is the only way to safeguard their child. Could their one-day marriage turn into a life-long adventure?

About the Author: Elle James aka Myla Jackson spent twenty years livin' and lovin' in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. She has 29 novels or novellas with Harlequin, one self published novel under pen name Elle James, 36 books or novellas with other publishers including Samhain, Elloras' Cave, Kensington and Avon and eleven novellas or short stories self-published under pen name Myla Jackson. Now living in northwest Arkansas, she isn't wrangling cattle, she's wrangling her muses, a malti-poo and yorkie. When she's not at her computer, she's traveling, out snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.

Copyright 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher
Cover Art used by arrangement with
Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.

Revisiting the Classics

One of the great things about the digital age we now live in is that many books that have long been out-of-print are being made available again. Many authors, like our own Patricia Rosemoor, have been reissuing their older titles as ebooks (Don't miss the Quid Pro Quo series if you haven't read it before!).  Over the past year, Harlequin itself has been rapidly digitizing many backlist titles too. I've been excited to have the chance to buy digital copies of some of my favorite books, including what may just be my all-time favorite Intrigue, The Dream Wedding by M.J. Rodgers, which was reissued last year. It's also been exciting to think that new readers might now have the chance to discover some truly wonderful books that have been out-of-print for far too long.

Today marks the release of the latest set of Harlequin Treasury titles, including many Intrigues that were originally released in 1994 and 1995. Among the books I'm excited to see issued as ebooks for a new generation of readers to find are Thief of Hearts by New York Times Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, the first three books in Rodgers' brilliant Justice Inc. series, and Laura Kenner's terrific A Killer Smile.

What about you? Have you been checking out any of the reissued ebook titles? Any old favorites you've been excited to see reissued, or some you're still hoping to see released? Made any new discoveries that have become favorites?

Happy reading!

Kerry Connor
FAKING MR. RIGHT - June 2012
HER COWBOY AVENGER - August 2012

Spotlight on July Intrigues: Cowboy in the Crossfire

Robin Perini introduces readers to a Cowboy in the Crossfire:

Unjust accusations shattered Blake Redmond's big-city police career—and destroyed everything around him. Now, all this sheriff lives for is keeping watch over his small Texas town…until Amanda Hawthorne and her five-year-old son come fl eeing out of a snowstorm with killers on their trail. The terror Blake sees in the young boy's eyes makes Blake swear to protect him and his injured mother. But winning Amanda's trust is as difficult as resisting the passion drawing him to this beautiful, determined woman. With their every move thwarted and time running out, the only way Blake can clear his name and save this little family is to confront his own dangerous past—no matter what the cost.

Spotlight on July Intrigue: Live Ammo

Joanna Wayne's Big D Dads series continues in Live Ammo:


Alexis Beranger never could have anticipated the shock of being carjacked with her son still in the backseat. Or that Tague Lambert, part of the rich and famous Lamberts of Dallas, would be there to help. But most earthshattering of all was learning that the attack wasn't random—only a prelude to the danger stalking her every move.

While their chance meeting occurred under the gravest of circumstances, Tague felt an instant attraction with Alexis that he just couldn't shake. Through with playing it safe, Tague vowed to protect this beautiful stranger and her vulnerable little boy, no matter how high the stakes. After all, a cowboy never ignored an innocent in distress—especially a cowboy who carried the Lambert name.

FRIDAY THE 13TH

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYBODY !

It's a very happy Friday for me, I don't care that it's even the 13th. I wrote "the end" to Protecting Their Child (scheduled for later in 2013) and a couple of people who've read it are giving me a big thumbs up. I'm also having a great time hosting several of my friends for INTRIGUE WEEK on my readers' blog: Get Lost In A Story. I hope you can drop by a leave a comment. We're drawing for lots of books and posting the winners on Tuesday, July 17th.

on

GET LOST IN A STORY

ELLE JAMES  --Wednesday, July 11th

DELORES FOSSEN  --Thursday, July 12th

ROBIN PERINI  --Friday, July 13th

KERRY CONNOR  --Saturday, July 14th

JULIE MILLER  --Sunday, July 15th

DANA MARTON  --Monday, July 16th

Drawing for more than 6 books on Tuesday, July 17th

Each comment puts your name in the hat again.

Multiple comments = Multiple chances

Missed a day? Go back and leave a comment.

I owe some prizes and winners --my apology for not getting to this sooner. I'll update here as soon as I get it all written down.

I have a very lazy weekend planned. Just me and the pups and maybe a Rascal Flatts concert tonight. What are you up to?

~Angi

Featuring Intrigues & Authors

We're celebrating the July (and some of the August) releases on Get Lost In A Story. There are give-aways all month. Try "getting lost" every day >>grin<<

JOIN US AND LEARN a few fun things about the July & August authors.

Wednesday the 11th: JESSICA ANDERSEN
Thursday the 12th: DELORES FOSSEN
Friday the 13th: ROBIN PERINI
Sunday the 15th: JULIE MILLER
Monday the 16th: DANA MARTON

Tuesday the 17th: We begin our features on the RWA RITA finalists which will include PAULA GRAVES on Thursday the 19th.


~Angi
AngiMorgan.com

Kansas City Cowboy Bookmark, Anyone?

August 2012 (available now at www.eharlequin.com)

Today's blog post will be a mash-up of several different thoughts.  With a July 15th deadline, a proposal due August 1st, and the RWA conference in between, to be honest, it's hard to compose something new and pithy in my head right now.  So here, in no particular order, are some random bits of news--some more interesting than others, no doubt. ;)

1.  I just got back from the dentist and found out I get to go again to get some work done in a couple of months.  Yay.  Not. Dentist blames it all on not having enamel on my teeth as a youngster (I had terrible pneumonia with such a high fever that no enamel formed on my baby teeth--apparently, poor baby teeth affects adult teeth?).  But they're all still my own teeth, so that's good.  At one point (about first-second grade), I looked like Jaws from the James Bond movies--I actually had silver caps on my baby molars.  Boy was I glad to lose those!

2.  The next book in my Precinct: Task Force miniseries comes out August 1st.  But it's already for sale on www.eHarlequin.com.  Cool!  I bought some copies as soon as they were available (so, of course, Murphy's Law states that my author copies arrived the same day the ones I ordered did).  So I've sent out those promised copies to all those previous blog winners who've been waiting.  Enjoy!

3.  The book I'm finishing up now, originally called CHAIN OF EVIDENCE, has been retitled TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.  I love it.  Really reflects the hero, who's a man of action--think Elliot from the tv show LEVERAGE.  TACTICAL ADVANTAGE will be out in March 2013.

4.  The game "Angry Birds" should really be titles "Angry Players".  I've got it on my Kindle Fire, and hubby has it on his i-Pad.  We both play over lunch, and get testy when those piggies refuse to die.  I really wish there was an option where players could choose which birds to use in different situations.  But I guess working with the options they give you is part of the game's challenge.

Independence, MO signing: Saranna DeWylde, Julie Miller, Janette Kenney, Sherri Shackelford (Cheryl St.John's foot--sorry Cheryl!  Good thing I can write books--photography isn't my best thing.)

5.  I have bookmarks for my book KANSAS CITY COWBOY.  I ordered them to have at my Independence, MO booksigning, and to share at RWA.  I've got about 25 left over, so if anyone would like a KC COWBOY bookmark (signed, of course), just send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 5162, Grand Island, NE 68802-5162.  I'll mail them out as long as I have them in stock, so act soon if you'd like one.

I'm giving away one more copy of KANSAS CITY COWBOY to a lucky poster today.  What's a random thought on your mind today?  Any writing or book questions?  Share a good book you've read recently?  Since I'm late getting this posted today, I'll wait and pick a winner sometime tomorrow.

Have a good one!
Julie Miller

Spotlight on July Intrigues: Kade

Meet the latest of Delores Fossen's The Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch, Kade:

One look at the baby girl, and there was no question Kade Ryland was the father. For three months, Kade had posed as Bree Winston's husband at the Fulbright Fertility Clinic, while the two FBI agents investigated a trail of illegal adoptions and surrogates. Nine months later, a baby was dropped at his feet—and Bree was nowhere to be found. Now Kade had to reopen a case that had gotten way too personal and find Bree—fast. But if the two of them had never been a real couple, were they ready to be parents? Whatever the answer, Kade now had more than one reason to close this case once and for all.

Spotlight on July Intrigues: Colby Roundup

Don't miss Debra Webb's 50th Colby Agency book, Colby Roundup:

Colby agent Russell St. James knew the exact moment Olivia Westfield discovered she was the daughter of the infamous "Princess Killer."

Ever since, being her bodyguard had become twice as hard. Each day, he shadowed her; each night, he held her through her tormenting nightmares. But was her father guilty? Her mother his accomplice? The answers lay deep in Olivia's memories, and the closer she got to the scene of the crime, the more she remembered. Russ had a job to do: safeguard Olivia and give her the future she deserved. Even if that future didn't include him.

Elle's Epic Journey

Winner of the Prize is Lilsis!

...Lilsis contact me to claim your prize...

Last Saturday I returned from an epic (for me) trip. We drove over 9000 miles in 33 days from Northwest Arkansas to Fairbanks, Alaska and many wonderful places in between. I kept saying "this is a bucket list" item and one I have to do before I die. Now that I've done it...I'll fly next time!

Not that the trip wasn't spectacular and we saw so many things we would not have if we'd flown, but sheesh, so many days confined to the cab of a motorhome. I wouldn't trade it though. I've been to places I might never have seen otherwise.

It gave me a great appreciation for the brave and courageous men who explored and built the ALCAN highway and the people who are out there now exploring for oil, gas and mining. It's a wild and beautiful country both in the U.S. and Canada. Here are some of my favorites (there were too many to begin to list them all:

Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada 

Denali National Park, home of Mt. McKinley

Homer, Alaska

Cassair Highway, Canada where Bears abound and eat dandelions

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of:

Winner will be announced here on Friday morning

About the Author:

Elle James spent twenty years livin' and lovin' in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. Now living in northwest Arkansas, she isn't wrangling cattle, she's wrangling her muses, a malti-poo and yorkie. When she's not at her computer, she's out snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.

Visit Elle James at her website ellejames.com

My very first cowboy cover!What do you think?

At first I wondered if this would work, with his back being to us. Frankly, if I had a choice, a front view of a shirtless cowboy would work great for me, lol. Does that mean I'm shallow?

I so love this book. I'm holding my breath to see what readers say. I received one reader note so far. This wonderful person downloaded the book this morning, read it already and wrote me about how much she loved it. I have a big smile on my face!

RT Book Reviews liked it, too. 4.5* Yay! "A top-notch mystery and great characters will keep readers speeding through the pages." Waiting for reviews is really nerve wracking, but it's so nice when they finally come in and they're good.

Do you ever buy books based on reviews? Where do you find your reviews?

What's in your reading pile for the holiday weekend?

I'm waiting for Kansas City Cowboy from Julie Miller and Secret Assignment from Paula Graves.I already have Death of a Beauty Queen from Mallory Kane. Now I just need my beach chair and a beach!

Today I'm doing cross promo with my Facebook page. To win a free book bag to carry your books to the beach with, just pop over and post something. www.facebook.com/danamarton

Good luck!

Dana