We have a new alum at the reunion

"Embraceable You" enjoyed a loud, joyous release party complete with paper streamers, noisemakers, and a tasteful quintet of kazoo players.
Not.
I recently underwent abdominal surgery; recovery would be smoother if I followed orders, but some of us, as they say in the rooms, have to go out and experiment a bit more. I hope I learned my lesson today and begin to pay better attention to detail.

But more to the point: Dru and Rory are here and looking good. Here's an excerpt:

Suddenly, Dru remembered the back-up phone tucked inside the double zippered pocket in her satchel, right beside the extra flash cards and rolls of antacids. Hot damn. All was not lost. With a grin, she hefted the bag over her shoulder and turned toward the bathroom. “I won't be long.”
Before she made the first step, he slid in front of the door, blocking her access. “Give it up.”
Down to her last strike, she pulled the affronted female card. Granted, she used it maybe once in a decade, but Fiona was probably tearing her hair by now. “I beg your pardon?”
Leaning forward, he brought them nose to nose. “Play much poker, Horvath? Your face just lit up like the Fourth of July, which tells me you've got something more stashed in the tote. Unless you let me search it, it stays with me.”
Clutching the canvas bag to her chest, she sneered, “The only thing in here is my outfit for tonight, McElroy. If you think I'm parading around naked in front of you, one of us is a couple fries short of a happy meal.”
His response came in the form of another gimme motion with those thick, blunt fingers. “I'll close my eyes if I encounter any lacy unmentionables.”
She knew the instant he found the back-up. The screw-you look morphed into a smirk. “It's not wise to mess with Homeland Security, sweetie. Those guys eat small animals for breakfast.”

I hope you enjoy.
Siochain

After All These Years

Jannine Gallant created another pair of dynamic, funny and multi-layered characters when she dreamed up After All These Years.

Best yet--the reviewers agree. This story is wowing them--and rightfully so.

For a fun interview with Chantal Day, the star of this story, take a walk over to Mallory Kane's blog: www.WildWomanKane.blogspot.com. Chantal kept us all in stitches on January 30th. It's still there, if you look for it.

I know you'll enjoy it.

Changing the Environment

Funny how making changes in the every day environment will bring a new lease on life.
Shortly before Christmas the husb announced we give each other a Christmas gift of new living room furniture.
Uh huh. Just like the back deck he gave me a few years ago. I saved the gift card, occasionally pull it out to brush off the accumulating dust bunnies.
But, nope, he did what he said he'd do and on the day after New Year's, we went shopping. With style ideas and a maximum dollar amount in mind, we spent a few hours in a medium price showroom. What he found took my breath away. We bought the whole set, including throw pillows and angora throw which feels like sin against my skin.

Now for the new lease end of the deal: the living room is neat and clean for the first time in too many years. We're both taking more time and using more care in putting things away, not allowing dirty dishes collect.

It is absolutely grand. And I love it.

We are a finalist

Yesterday wile surfing my favorite sites on the Net I discovered the annual Predators and Editors Poll is out. I stopped by with the intent of voting for--The Wild Rose Press, of course.
Guess what I found?
My name is on the editor list!!!
Yowza. I wonder how that got there. And I am thrilled someone would nominate me.
After looking a bit more, I discovered a book [Package Deal by Donna Bolk] and an anthology [Out of the Dark, by Dara Edmondson, Lainey Bancroft and Kat Henry Doran] are also on the list.
What a day yesterday was for me.
On top of that, I was formally discharged from PT.
Yahoo and yahoo!!
Slainte

Another winning review for two Class of '85 members

Sharon Buchbinder, author of An Inn Decent Proposal, released today by The Wild Rose Press, received a 5 star rating from Night Owl Reviews, a well-known review site. It is well deserved as this story is a pip.
Icing on the cake came when the reviewer said how much she adored the entire series.
Yippee

Slainte

The latest arrivals are here!

I am so very pleased to display the latest alumna to grace the Summerville Inn for the Class of '85 reunion:

After All These Years by Jannine Gallant will be released January 29, 2011. This delightful story, set for the most part in the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York state, features a former cosmetics mogul, victimized by a hostile takeover, seeks refuge in her family's unused mountain cabin, then encounters a former love who lives nearby.

Embraceable You by Kat Henry Doran will be released February 23, 2011. The cover art took my breath away for it captured the romance between Druzilla Horvath and Rory McElroy which takes place over the course of only a few hours during the Eastman Awards banquet at the Inn. I'm sure you'll agree Tina Lynn, one of WRP's very talented artists outdid herself here.

Veronica Lynch's The List will follow three weeks later on March 16, 2011. Rather than people or places, artist Tina Lynn chose to use a literal 'list' for the cover. I couldn't be happier. it's different and unique enough to catch the eye of a browser at a book store.

Several more stories, just in and newly contracted by Margo Hoornstra and Jannine Gallant, both veterans of the reunion will be coming out in the spring, 2011.
Stick around, won't you?

Siochain!

The Reunion list continues to grow

A decision has been made to make December 31st the deadline for submissions to the Class of '85. That gives us time to get a few more stories out there.

The second decision was to space out the releases in 2011 to every 3-4 weeks. I think this was a wise decision; it will give the authors a chance in the sun for a prolonged period of time.

For 2011, we have After All These Years by Jannine Gallant, scheduled for release on 1/28/11.
The List by Veronica Lynch will follow the end of February.
Embraceable You by Kat Henry Doran will come out the end of March. Author Margo Hoornstra [Glad Tidings] has submitted two new stories which look like they will fit right in with the rest of the class.

As soon as we have cover art it'll go up here.
Soon
Kathy