Hope Tarr's Semi-Blog

New Blog

2008-09-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

September has always symbolized new beginnings for me, as though the crisp autumn air is somehow a caravan for change. And so it's appropriate that this month is the launch of my "new and improved" blog at www.hopetarr.com/blog.

Forget the "semi," we're talking full throttle, no holds-barred, and at least once a week. Promise.

I've even got Comments turned back on, so talk to me!

But most of all, savor.

Hope

Weekend Update

2008-09-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

It's fall in New York, I'm telling you. The temperatures may not be appreciably cooler than they were pre-Labor Day, but autumn has landed in the Big Apple in a big way. At precisely 9:00 AM on Tuesday, September 2nd, an invisible switch was flipped back to "on," putting the sleepy summer to bed and powering the city to life again. The line outside the West Village's Magnolia Bakery is once again winding up 11th Street, clothing boutiques are thronged with Manhattanites jonesing to wear uber cool winter clothes and boots even though it's still in the 80's, and the vibe on the streets is once more high on flow, low on ebb.

Earlier in the week, I checked out The Brandy Library with fellow author--and intrepid social ethnographer--Liz Maverick and our friend, Bonni. If I had to settle on one word to sum up the Brandy Library it would be "civilized." Unlike so many Manhattan watering holes, here you can claim a seat at the back lit bar or one of the banquette style tables, order your aperitif, and savor it for hours. Located in the heart of Tribeca, The Brandy Library boasts an impressive array of not only brandies but classic cocktails, cognacs and single-malt scotches. If you're bored, you can even quiz the bartender, Jason, on the origins of your libation. If he doesn't know the answer, he'll look it up--really, he will.

Last night I attended a shared Virgo birthday party at Slate Plus, a sleek after hours club in Manhattan's West Village. The music was a mix of 80's, 90's and contemporary Top 40, rap and hip hop; the ambiance spartanly elegant; and the clientele...styling.

I rounded out the weekend with a maiden shopping expedition to Zabar's in search of some gourmet grub. The iconoclastic Manhattan food emporium has occupied its Upper West Side location at Broadway & 80th for seventy years--and counting. I went at peak on a Sunday because a) I was in the hood having lunch with a friend and b) after seven months in the city, I was getting tired of moving the Zabar's gift certificate, a housewarming gift from friends Mike and Lisa, every time I dusted my dresser.

Going to Zabar's for the first time on a Sunday constitutes a maverick move, somewhere between boldness and stupidity. To say it was a little bit crowded would be like saying super model Heidi Klume is a little bit pretty. The narrow aisles were stuffed to the point of thrumming. More than once I found myself manuevering around shoppers who'd suddenly slammed on the brakes mid-step to sample the free noshes. I couldn't blame them.

Trekking $100 bucks worth of perishables back downtown wasn't exactly a cheesecake and marble rye walk, but strappy soul that I am, I managed. My usually empty singleton refrigerator is now stocked with gourmet meals-to-go: Black Angus flank steak, poached salmon in dill, baked macaroni and cheese, and spinach souffle. For a person used to scrounging for scraps come week's end, one who's been known to make a meal of a jar of olives or a microwaveable bag of Orville's best--hey, it's all about the pairings--all this bounty is well...a little overwhelming.

But I'll deal.

Coming attractions...

September 5th was the kick-off to Fashion Week AKA Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, a semi-annual event held in New York City with events staged in Bryant Park and other areas throughout the city. The collections being shown are the Spring 2009 lines, of course. In the rag biz, fall is, strictly speaking, a done deal, then again they don't call it "fashion forward" for nothing. ;) I'll be calling in my reports from the catwalk...right after I finish this piece of Zabar's cheesecake.

Hope

Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

2008-09-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

When romance author buddy and fellow Manhattan singleton, Liz Maverick called me up last week and said, "This new absinthe bar just opened up in the Lower East Side. Wanna go?" there was really only one answer that sprang to mind.

YES!!!

Maybe Liz's um...maverick spirit is just contagious or maybe it was my own residual curiosity from high school Art Appreciation Class--Degas' painting, "The Glass of Absinthe" is well, pretty haunting--but either way I was totally game to go.

On Saturday night I met Liz and our mutual friend, Bonni at White Star on Essex Street. White Star isn't a terribly big place, but it packs a pretty powerful presence, sort of Prohibition era speak easy meets uber cool Manhattan "secret bar." Proprietor and yes, mixologist, Sasha Petraske patiently briefed the three of us on the history of absinthe before settling in to make our drinks.

Up until Saturday night, I was an absinthe virgin. I remember absinthe being illegal in the US "back in the day" but beyond vague allusions to blindness and brain function loss, I really didn't know much about it. The official Webster definition of absinthe is "a green liquor flavored with wormwood or a substitute, anise, and other aromatics."

After Saturday night, I strongly recommend Webster and Company update their definition. As it turns out, there are various types of absinthe. White Star serves the traditional green "Parisian" variety as well as a slightly less fortified clear type.

The flavor didn't shoot me over the moon but it wasn't bad, either, quite pleasant in point. To me, absinthe tastes like licorice only without the syrupy consisteny of sambucca. But what I really dug was the whole ritual of preparation and presentation, complete with 1930's-esque bar gatchetry. That Sasha kind of looks like Brendan Frasier in the Mummy movies didn't hurt, either. But I digress...

Preparing absinthe is fairly labor intensive. You do it by the glass and there is absolutely no rushing the process. Basically, about three-fingers' worth of the actual liquor is poured into a glass. Ice water is then drizzled over a single sugar cube set atop a strainer, slowly infusing the absinthe with an almost fairylike foaminess.

I didn't experience any Green Fairy sightings, I'm happy to say, though the absinthe I drank was the clear variety and I only sampled one before switching to a tried-and-true clear alcoholic beverage--champagne. Still, White Star stands out as the highlight of the evening.

But like intrepid cultural anthropologists, our data collection and cataloguing didn't end there. Afterward, there was a dinner at a nearby Afro-French bistro, Les Enfants Terrible (the grilled calamari with chick peas are to die for), followed by dancing and people watching at The Cellar in the Bryant Park Hotel. The near naked chics, The Cellar's answer to the Solid Gold Dancers, had me swearing to pull out my yoga mat and weights the very next day. I could say more but better yet, check out Liz's blog at the Rebels of Romance for the um...unexpurgated story.

Happy (post) Labor Day,

Hope

Blog-o-licious

2008-08-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Tomorrow, August 26th, I'm over at Elizabeth Kerri Mahon's "Got It Goin' On" blog--and boy does she ever. Along with being an uber-talented author, British history buff, and president of the New York City chapter of Romance Writers of America, Elizabeth finds time to blog--every day. Her Scandalous Women blog is one of my favorite places in cyberspace, especially on those days (and you know "those days") when I really need to remember that "Well-behaved women don't make history."

And then repeat it like a mantra.

Also, I posted more photos from my Ireland trip to my Facebook page, so when you find two ticks, check it out.

Happy Monday,

Hope

The Road Well-Traveled

2008-08-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of a picture saying a thousand words (at least!), I'll let these vacation pictures from my last week's Ireland trip do the talking for me. Who knew that trekking through flood waters, cow paddy-laced bogs, and pelting rains could be so much fun--but it was! But then Ireland's West Country boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery I've ever before experienced in any weather.

The three pictures shown here are from the Connemara leg of the journey. The group photo, taken after completing the last walk of the trip, is from left to right, Linda L, Bill A, Ron L, Pol O'Colmain (artist, storyteller, musician as well as Guide Extaordinaire) and Yours Truly--with the wind-whipped hair.

I'll be posting photos from The Burren/Galway Bay walks as well over the next week. In the meantime, if you have a moment or better yet two, "nip on over" to Facebook.com where I've posted all sixteen photos (so far) to an album.

Hope

More Photos from the RWA Conference in San Francisco

2008-08-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I'm back from hiking Ireland--okay, not exactly the whole country but The Burren and Connemara. Despite an unfortunate lack of gills or fins--can we say "record rainfall"--I managed to stay afloat without floating away. But more on that later this week when I post my vacation pics.

Yummy news: I got back to find a "wee giftie" waiting in my email mailbox--more photos from the RWA Conference in San Francisco courtesy of fellow Washington Romance Writers (WRW) member, Yvonne Yirka. Thanks Yvonne!

Unfortunately being the Shutterbug means not being in so many pictures, at least not your own. The Fab Threesome, taken on a "real live" San Francisco streetcar which we actually rode is (from left to right), Terri Ridgell, me, and former WRW prez, Deborah Barnhart.

Girlfriend time, take time to savor.

Hope

Going Green...

2008-08-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

In many ways Manhattan is a very European city. For sure it demonstrates that a pedestrian society can not only work but work well. If I kept a car here, I think I'd probably end up having to shoot it like in those old spaghetti westerns when the trusty stead went lame on the trail and there was, well, nothing left to be done. (Really, did those wagon trains not have room for at least one veterinarian, for gosh sakes!).

Fortunately I don't need wheels here in the Big Apple unless you count my shopping pushcart. Here not only the trains but yes, the subway and buses all run on time. Since moving, I like to say my "carbon footprint" has shrunk from small to minuscule. Think bound foot.

But for the next week I'm not only going green, I'm going to the Green as in Ireland. Or at least a small part of Ireland: Connemara and Galway. I've wanted to take this trip for more than ten years, no joke, and a few months ago I decided to make like the Nike ads and "Just Do It."

And yes, you guessed it--I'm walking.

Well, first of course I'm flying. Once there, though, in the main I'll be traveling not by horse power but person power. Mine. Got my back pack, got my Timberland hiking boots, and yes, my rain poncho all packed. Fortunately the seasoned guides with the tour group I signed on with, Country Walkers, won't let me veer too far off course. At least I'm hoping not...

While I'm gone, hopetarr.com will remain in the capable hands--and under the 24/7 watch--of the fabulous folks at WaxCreative Design, so no worries there.

Many of you have emailed to congratulate me on launching Harlequin's Blaze Historical Miniseries with BOUND TO PLEASE. Thank you--and please keep the encouragement coming. It means a lot. Though I'll be mostly offline this week, once I'm back home from the Emerald Isle I'll be reading and responding to every single email in my in-box as I always do. In the meantime...

Happy Trails,

Hope

Calling All Shoe-a-Holics: Better a glass slipper than a glass ceiling

2008-08-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

Still waiting on all those RWA photos to rush in geyser style but in the interim Alert Blog Watcher and historical romance author, Diane Gaston sent me this link to author Esri Rose's shoe review.

I met Esri briefly as she worked her way through the throng at RWA's Saturday night Awards Ceremony dessert reception. Her mission: to snap as many photos of authors' shoes as she possibly could. I, or at least my feet, are in the White Out Section, third photo down (and just above the really cool Italian glass beaded babies).

Oh, and btw, she's running a poll so you can vote!

Keeping up with the Cinderella theme, Manhattan is a place where magical moments are happenstance, where expecting the unexpected quickly becomes a way of life. Last night I was savoring a lobster salad at A.O.C. Bistro in the West Village when who walks in but actor Mary-Kate Olsen. Or was it Ashley? Or does it even matter?

What I really want to know is where I can get a pair of those glass slippers.

Hope

Puttin' on the Ritz

2008-08-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I sent out a Nag-O-Gram to all my nearest and dearest conference buddies and slowly but surely (and for sure, slowly) photos from last week's Romance Writers of America Conference in San Francisco are beginning to t-r-i-c-k-l-e in.

The above photo was taken at a pre-Awards cocktail party on Saturday night. From left to right are authors Sophia Nash, Elaine Fox, Kathryn Caskie, and some brunette chic in pewter who apparently didn't get the memo on the basic black cocktail attire.

Oh, yeah, right, she's me. ;)

I'll be posting pics daily, at least that's my plan, so please don't be a stranger.

Hope

July Contest Winners

2008-08-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am if not exactly fully rested up from the RWA Conference in San Francisco, then certainly back on the J.O.B. And one of the very best parts of this particular J.O.B. is announcing contest winners--and giving away books!

Jane C of New York, NY is the Grand Prize Winner of my previous month's contest. Like the two runners up, Jane knew that "caudle," a mulled wine with bits of brown bread, sugar, eggs and spices, is the drink Brianna first serves the captured Ewan in BOUND TO PLEASE. Jane's prize is a signed copy of THE HAUNTING, my time travel Harlequin Blaze romance set in Fredericksburg, VA, and a signed copy of Monica McCarty's HIGHLANDER UNTAMED, the first in Monica's blockbuster trilogy about the MacLeods of Skye. BOUND TO PLEASE also features the MacLeods albeit more than a century earlier.

Robyn L of Portage, PA and Andrea A of Bath, NY are my two additional winners. Robyn and Andrea will each receive a signed copy of VANQUISHED, the kick-off to my "Men of Roxbury House" historical trilogy along with a signed cover flat for BOUND TO PLEASE.

Per my previous post, I'm still waiting on all those fab RWA Conference glam shots, so if you're one of my shutterbug buddies, don't be shy. Send 'em on. (Memo to self: next time remember to take digital camera. Also, remember to learn how to use said digital camera). ;)

Hope

Back from San Francisco

2008-08-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm jet-lagged but grinning big time after wrapping up yet another fabulous Romance Writers of America Conference. This year's setting was San Francisco, one of my favorite US cities, second only to--you guessed it--New York. As always the conference was a fabulous forum for mixing business with yes, pure fun.

Determined to log in a little sightseeing, I got into San Francisco on Tuesday and hooked up with my posse of conference buds, including the lovely and prolific Kathryn Caskie, for a fortifying seafood dinner at Scoma's in Fisherman's Wharf. Set back from the main drag on Pier 47, Scoma's bills itself as offering San Francisco's freshest seafood. The cracked Dungeoness Crab was to die for as was the Lobster Thermidor and Lobster Newburg. I know because I had them all!

The conference officially kicked off on Wednesday night with the annual charity literacy autographing. Hundreds of romance authors from Nora Roberts to Julia Quinn to yes, Yours Truly packed the SF Marriott's grand ballroom to sign our latest releases and chat with readers and the press.

The Harlequin Party on Friday was held at the ever elegant Four Seasons Hotel. In between fortifying forays to the food stations for an array of Asian dumplings, succulent cheeses, and completely calorie-free desserts (yeah, right)--hey, a girl's gotta keep up her strength--I shook my booty and ground my groove thing to the 80's tunes rocking the house.

On Saturday romantic suspense author, Terri Ridgell and I gave our workshop on Tracking Trends, Fording the Future. To the strappy souls who turned out for us despite the 4:30-5:30 time slot, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

All that talking turned out to be thirsty work. After whetting my whistle with some lovely champagne at an awards pre-party, it was time to settle down to the Awards Ceremony emceed this year by best-selling author, Suzanne Brockman. In addition to doing a bang-up job keeping we attendees rolling in the aisles with laughter--and the program rolling along right on schedule--Suzanne is well, a pretty cool chick. You've got to hand it to a woman who accessorizes a floor-length ballgown with...cowboy boots.

Sunday morning was time to pack in the razzle dazzle and come back to home and yes, "reality." Now that I'm back, my first official action item (okay, second) is to announce my July contest winners, so please check back tomorrow (Tuesday) for details on the latest three lucky ladies (or gentlemen, as the case may be). The grand prize includes a title from bestseller Monica McCarty's Highlander series.

Finally, to all my shutterbug buddies who also attended the conference--and yes,I know not only who you are but where to find you--this stands as my official shout out. All those group photos you made me mug for, and which I valiantly worked not to ruin by blinking, send 'em on. I'll be posting the images as they trickle--make that rush--in. In the meantime...

Happy Monday,

Hope

Red Shoes Diary...

2008-07-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so last night I had one of those quintessential Manhattan evenings that makes me proud to be a newly minted New Yorker tricked out in four inch red platform heels. Recently I reconnected with romance writer extraordinaire, Liz Maverick. Liz and I met "back in the day" at a Celebrate Romance Conference but beyond quick catch-ups at a conference here and there, we kind of lost touch. Like me, Liz is a recent transplant to the city, in her case from the West Coast, and a Saturday night out seemed as good a time as any to compare notes on our Single Girl in the Big City experiences so far.

Start point: Blue Ribbon Sushi in Soho where I met Liz and her buddy, Bonnie, for an early (for New York) dinner. After pounding down a truly amazing amount of excellent sushi, we headed Uptown to Terminal 5 where not one but three great bands were playing. The headliner, She & Him, was seriously amazing. The lead vocalist, Zooey Deschanel, who also happens to be a song writer and pianist, is so over-the-top talented it's well...pretty insane.

This week my Manhattan adventuring will be put on the back burner as I head to San Francisco for the Romance Writers of America national conference. The conference kicks off on Wednesday night with a charity autographing to benefit literacy programs in the area. I'll be signing copies of BOUND TO PLEASE as well as ENSLAVED and later in the week giving a workshop on "Tracking Trends" in romance fiction with my friend, Terri Ridgell. In between taking care of "bizness," there's the Harlequin party at the fabulous Four Seasons Hotel and of course the conference finale, an awards ceremony and desert reception on Saturday night. Once I'm back in the city to catch my breath, I'll be dishing on all of it--I promise!

In the meantime, have a great week...

Hope

Calling All Urban Cowgirls

2008-07-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I started off my Monday night with the best of intentions, namely to drop in on my French language "meet-up" group, say a quick good evening--better make that bonsoir--drink a glass of vino and then call it an early night and catch up on my zzz's.

Then again you know what they say about the road to hell...

At the meet-up, I ran into a friend who persuaded me to extend my evening. Our first stop was Bryant Park. Through the summer months, the park's Summer Film Festival presents free-to-the public outdoor films every Monday night. Last night's selection was the classic "Arsenic and Old Lace" with the forever wonderful Cary Grant. You just don't say no to Cary Grant...The park lawn was covered in blankets as movie watchers noshed on picnic fare, enjoyed the cool, clear (for Manhattan) evening air and yes, watched the film. Think Silver Screen at its best.

But there's more. Afterward, my friend proposed we drop-in at Johnny Utah's at Rockefeller Center where some other friends of his were bellying up to the bar's mechanical bull. By that time, I was wide-awake and game to add to my mounting roster of Manhattan experiences, so I went along for the um...ride.

Johnny Utah's bills itself as the ultimate urban cowboy experience and last night's Bull Riding Challenge didn't disappoint. Think single women, couples, girlfriend dyads, and yes, even the occassional strapping Manhattan male all riding to the um...range while a play list from hip-hop to classic rock blared in the backdrop.

Bull riding is probably one of those pursuits best left as a spectator sport and, in my defense, I wasn't exactly dressed for the occasion. So I passed--this time. That said, I was on that bull in spirit, really I was.

The above photos are, strictly speaking, from last year in Dallas. Still, you've met one mechanical bull, you've probably met them all. Then again, sometimes you just have to giddy up and go.

Hope

Happy Bastille Day from the Big Apple

2008-07-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so admittedly Bastille Day was yesterday, July 14th, but alors, c'est la vie. I was too busy enjoying the festivities to report on them--my bad. Then again here in New York, Bastille Day isn't so much a single day as a week of festivities and, quite possibly, a state of mind. My personal celebrating didn't start until Sunday when I attended the Brooklyn Bastille Day street fair. A friend and I watched the festival goers play Patanque (a sort of hybrid of bowling and croquet) and then headed to the food and drink tent to sample a French aperitif--pastis--with an unpronounceable name as well as some traditional country French fare.

Last night I attended the Bastille Day Ball as the guest of a Francophone friend. The party was held at Spotlight, a club in Times Square, and sponsored by French Tuesdays, a group of Francophiles/Francophones with clubs not only in New York but also in Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Traditional French music early in the evening segued to popular club tunes as the evening wore on, some French, others American, not that the crowd seemed to mind. Small groups gathered on the rooftop balcony, which provided a panorama of Times Square--think "bright lights, big city" at its magnificent best.

A bientot,

Hope

Win, win--win!!!

2008-07-02T10:44:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to the winners of my June contest, all of whom knew that in BOUND TO PLEASE, Brianna says that love potions are for silly young maids. The grand prize, a signed copy of my paranormal romance, THE HAUNTING, and of the talented Monica McCarty's HIGHLAND UNTAMED, goes to Jennifer T of East Millinocket, ME.

But, as they say, there's more... My two second prize winners, Kitty S of Muncie, IN and Christine W of Lawton, OK, will each receive a signed copy of VANQUISHED, the first book in my "Men of Roxbury House" historical trilogy and signed cover flat keepsakes for UNTAMED, the final book in the series.

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to stop by and enter. If you didn't win this time 'round, no worries. I'm repeating the same great prizes for the current contest, so if you haven't yet, please take a moment to try again.

Hope

A Lip Sync-ing Good Sunday...

2008-06-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

A coupla weeks ago my best friend, Suz, visited me in New York. Over her three-day stay, we hit the usual tourist suspects, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We also took time out for some amazing meals washed down with equally amazing wines.

Sunday brunch is a big deal here in the Big Apple and for Suz's last day I wanted to do something special, something more memorable than the requisite coffee and eggs with jazz in the background. After checking with Suz to make sure she was game, I booked a reservation at Lips, self-billed as the "ultimate in drag dining."

Having never been to a drag anything, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect though I'd passed Lips many times on my walks through the West Village. Not wanting to miss anything, we arrived a few minutes early, and the host showed us to our table. Our server, Empress (see above photo with Moi), showed up in short order with a mimosa for Yours Truly and a Bloody Mary for Suz. Sipping our drinks, we gave our food orders and settled back to be entertained.

And were we ever! As this event was billed as a gospel brunch, the servers/performers all wore long purple robes and the requisite flowing wigs. Once the show started, they spent the next 45 minutes or so strutting their stuff and grinding their groove things while lip synching to a variety of popular 80's dance tunes. (How can you not love "It's Raining Men"!) Between each number, the emcee strolled between tables talking smack with the audience and generally having us rolling in, if not the aisles, certainly our seats. (The refills on the mimosas didn't hurt, either).

If you're looking for something a little different to do on your next visit to NYC, I highly recommend Lips (2 Bank Street, West Greenwich Village, NY). Plan on bringing an open mind and leaving with a smile. (The humor at Lips while good-natured and IMHO far tamer than much of what airs on today's TV is definitely adult, so I wouldn't recommend the restaurant for families with young children).

On a semi related note, a new friend of mine here in the city recently said, "God doesn't make anything that's not beautiful. It may not be your taste, and that's fine, but it's still beautiful in His eyes."

Happy Pride Week,

Hope

Book Expo America 2008

2008-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you don't actually have to be in the limelight to um...be in the limelight.

This year's Book Expo America took place in Los Angeles. BEA is the largest publishing trade fair in the country, comparable to the Frankfurt and London Book Fairs. BEA is a great way for an author to build buzz for her book by connecting with publishing professionals--distributors, reviewers from Publishers Weekly and the like, publisher sales reps, and the list goes on and on.

For several years, I've been a regular participant, signing my books in both the Expo's in-booth and "ticketed" forums. For various reasons (hint: do you hear "deadline" bursting out of my thought bubble?) I wasn't able to attend this year's show.

Imagine my delight when folks who did go started emailing me notes and yes, photos of the large--and I mean huge--backlit poster for BOUND TO PLEASE fronting the entrance to the Harlequin booth alongside Linda Lael Miller's latest. Who knew!

To add another shmeer of cream cheese to the bagel, my other wonderful publisher, Medallion Press, had complimentary copies of all three of my Men of Roxbury House books: VANQUISHED, ENSLAVED, and UNTAMED prominently displayed in its booth.

I may not have gotten to go to all the great parties or rub elbows with the publishing brass this year but in a way, I was there. My characters certainly were. Party animals all, I'm sure they had a fab time. ;)

Hope

Win-Win!

2008-06-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the winners of my April-May contest: Paula H of Norfolk, VA; Gail H of Junction, KY and Loretta W of Buckeye, AZ. All three winners knew that in BOUND TO PLEASE, Ewan and Brianna play chess to pass the time while he's held captive. (Okay, well that's one of the ways they pass the time). ;) As always, the answer could be found in the Helpful Hint excerpt included on the Contest page.

Paula, Gail and Loretta will each receive a signed copy of my most recent contemporary Harlequin Blaze, STROKES OF MIDNIGHT as well as a signed cover flat keepsake for UNTAMED, the finale to my Men of Roxbury House historical trilogy.

Didn't win this time 'round? Don't give up! I have a great contest running from June 2nd through the 29th. The GRand Prize prize is an autographed copy of my paranormal Blaze, THE HAUNTING along with a signed copy of bestseller Monica McCarty's fabulous debut novel, HIGHLANDER UNTAMED. Two additional winners will each receive a signed copy of VANQUISHED, the kick-off to my Men of Roxbury House trilogy as well as a cover flat keepsake for one of my other books.

Many thanks to all who time out to visit the site and enter.

Hope

Chewing the...Hash

2008-05-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I feel so lucky to be a writer is that I get to share my "world" with so many other folks, readers. These days the blogosphere affords the opportunity to chat up some of the really cool people and stuff I encounter in my "real" world, too.

If you've read this far, apparently you're listening to me, which is a very good thing. ;)

Because I am bursting at the seams (no, not that kind of bursting though admittedly I've been hitting the Tasti Delite kinda hard) to talk about a great running club I just joined, the New York City Hashers.

Apparently hashing is tres international. It started in Malaysia in the late 1930's, and there are groups throughout the US as well as the globe. In NY, the Harry's Hashers chapter draws members mainly from Manhattan. Basically the group leader, called a Hare, chalk marks a trail for the rest of the runners, The Pack, to follow--or not follow. The run begins at a bar (excellent, yes) and the endpoint is yep, you guessed it, another bar. Most of the runners wait until the finish to imbibe. Participants toss about $15, Hash Cash, into the communal till, which covers beer and noshes for the night.

Last night was my first hash, and frankly I can't wait to go back next week. About 50-60 runners met up outside of Suspenders Bar in Manhattan's Financial District. Once the run got underway, folks got serious. While the web site gives the impression that the running part of the event provides an excuse to drink and socialize, don't believe it. Harry's hashers are seriously fit, with the majority of last night's group running sub-nine minute miles. There's also a nice mix of ages (anything from twenty-somethings to sixty-somethings), singles and married couples, backgrounds etc.

The approximately six-mile "trail" wound through the Battery, China Town, the Lower East Side, Alphabet City, and Gramercy. Sweaty but smiling, we ended at Plug Uglies, a gem of a dive bar in the East Village named for the New York street gang immortalized in Martin Scorses's GANGS OF NEW YORK. Ironically the present day pub is a popular watering hole for New York's finest--note the police shields festooning the dark paneled walls--as well as running club friendly.

We hashers basically took over the place. Pitchers of icewater awaited and after downing the requisite rehydrating plastic cupful, most club members were ready for stronger stuff. Later (as in several Stellas later), there was toasting or rather roasting of the hash leaders, the trail, and specific members, including a dalmatian with a purported flatulence problem--or was that her owner? Last but not least for a turn in the spotlight were the hash "virgins" including...yep, you guessed it, Yours Truly, who had to down beer shots while the group cheered and chugged. Afterward, the leaders broke out the food, played shuffle board (a popular bar fixture), told runners' "war stories" and just generally had a good time.

Whatever your outdoor passion--running, cycling, golfing, walking or even gardening--it's spring for gosh's sake, so make like the Nike ad and "Just Do It."

Happy trails,

Hope

Happy Memorial Day

2008-05-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend in Manhattan overlaps with Fleet Week, made famous (or is that infamous) by that great "Sex and the City" TV episode. Literally thousands of U.S. sailors, marines, and Coast Guardsmen (and women!) make port in Manhattan for a week-long celebration that includes public visitation of the ships.

I can't say I've celebrated Fleet Week Carrie Bradshaw style--ever notice how *she* never seems to have revisions, certainly none that interfere with her social life? Still, when I have gotten out to soak up the spring sunshine, it's been fun seeing tribes of crisply outfitted Navy men and women roaming the city in packs, savoring their shore leave in America's most exciting city.

On occasion it's also been heartwarming. Take yesterday, for example. I was headed east through Greenwich Village when I fell in behind a foursome of white-suited sailors. A bright-eyed elderly woman stepped in front of me, not as it turned out to knock me to the curb.

She reached into her purse, pulled out her wallet, and shoved a twenty dollar bill in one young sailor's hand. "This is for your service, to show my appreciation for all you do to keep this country safe. I want you all to have a beer on me. It's the least I can do."

Random acts of kindness and senseless beauty isn't just a catchy slogan that looks good on car bumpers. Some people out there, quite a few, actually, are living the dream.

Happy Memorial Day,

Hope

Girl in the City Part II: The Art of Living

2008-05-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

It's Friday--again--and as I'm mapping out my weekend, my thoughts keep circling back to last weekend.

Since moving to Manhattan in February, I made a pact with myself to experience at least one new "thing" each week. In that spirit, last Friday and Saturday nights, I braved the elements (think wind, rain, more wind, more rain) and trekked out to the Chelsea Art Gallery District. Having been to many art gallery receptions, but none before in Manhattan, I have several observations to report.

First off, there's no food, not a morsel, not a scrap, not a nosh, not a nibble. But then food is messy and distracts from the main purpose of attending a gallery reception, which is of course...

Being Seen. (And you thought I was going to say viewing the art, silly you).

Thankfully, there is wine, though usually stain-proof white. That said, one gallery had run out of even that by the time I arrived--for shame!

The reception experience varies greatly by the personality of a) the gallery and b) the artist or group of artists being shown. The first reception on Friday night, a series of black-and-white photographs with a sobering theme and a heavy political message, definitely attracted the older, intellectual set--think jeans and Ducoti leather wear and unapologetically gray hair.

Saturday night mere blocks away I attended two more openings, the first a family affair complete with strollers and young children racing around. Stain-proof white wine and designer water was surely the way to go. Yours Truly couldn't fathom how the heap of soil--oops, I mean "art"--set in the center of the gallery floor managed to survive those eager-to-explore little fingers, but it was still intact by the time I left.

Gallery reception #2 featured "an exploration of the totality of color" and lots of "installations." (Memo to Self: Manhattanites "in the know" get mightily miffed if you mispeak and say "sculpture.") Yours Truly thought the um..."installations" amounted to old boards with nails hammered in--artfully hammered, not haphazardly hammered, but still--though naturally I kept such Simian thoughts to myself.

The attendees at this final reception were more gliterrati than intelligentsia, which is to say there wasn't a scrap of denim in sight. Think "haute couture" as in off the runway, not the rack. I chatted briefly with one dashing fortysomething man, a student of the German artist whose work was being shown, who explained to me that he now has assistants who do his hammering for him. I also made the acquaintance of an exquisite older woman accompanied by her Peekaneese. After some mild coaxing, she (that would be the dog) performed several rolls for me in the center of the wide, glossy wood floor.

The dog really took to me, the people not so much. For one thing, I seemed to be the only one actually looking at the art--oops, I mean installations. Secondly, it was probably pretty apparent to the sponsors I wouldn't be asking for a price list anytime soon.

As to what's on tap for this weekend, that largely depends on the weather. I think I'll likely skip the galleries this week, though when I do go back, I'm hoping to see at least one friendly familiar face.

I bet that dog has more than one trick up her sleeve.

TGIF,

Hope

Random Reports from City Girl on the Street

2008-05-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's officially spring in New York, which is to say gray, windy, and cold
--still. Despite the scrumptious array of spring clothes on tantalizing display in the storefronts of West Village boutiques and the designer chains on Fifth--think crayon colors, bold geometric patterns, and belted waists--like most of my fellow Manhattanites, I'm still tooling around in turtlenecks and wool.

Still, it's spring, the pollen is in full bloom, and all in all people including Yours Truly are walking the streets with a uh...spring in their step. (Sorry, couldn't resist).

Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm the guest speaker at the Romance Writers of America/NYC chapter brunch at PJ Clarke's. I'm still working out my presentation, but it's basically a not so shameless take-off on Donald Trump's THE ART OF THE DEAL. In my case, I'll be speaking on the ART OF THE RE-DO, both in writing and yes, in so-called "real" life.

PJ Clarke's is on the waterfront, so here's hoping its warm-er. Afterward I'm on tap to meet a friend and hit a couple of the Chelsea art galleries having receptions. I doubt I'll buy any art but hey, someone has to help out with all that free wine. ;)

Like my STROKES OF MIDNIGHT heroine, Becky Stone, I check my online horoscope and yes, tarot readings just about every day. It's a big world out there, make that a big Universe, so I like to cover all my bases. I'm happy to report the Hanged Man, Hermit, and Death card (yikes) are no longer showing up in my Love & Relationship sector!

See, it really must be spring...

Happy Weekend,

Hope

Behind the Scenes at the Soaps

2008-04-23T12:38:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

The Novelist Inc. Conference held at the Affinia Hotel in Midtown Manhattan a few weeks ago was great fun. In addition to schmoozing agents and editors at the various events, I got to catch up with one of my very favorite author pals, Young Adult author, Niki Burnham. As it happened, both Nik and I were raffle winners for a deluxe behind-the-scenes tour of our favorite soap, THE GUIDING LIGHT at CBS Broadcast on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Thrill Moment--Yours Truly got to meet (as in actually touch the hands of) uber hunks, actors Robert Newman ("Josh Lewis"), Frank Dicopoulos ("Frank Cooper"). Frank's real life daughter will be joining the cast very soon. We also spotted Beth Ehlers, the actor who plays Harley, and got to ramble around her house set.

The above photos show me bellying up to the fictional on-set bar, "Company," as well as cruising one of the kitchen sets. I haven't had so much fun in the "kitchen" since my Susie Bake Oven bit the dust. ;)

While at the conference, I also met Monica McCarty, bestselling author of the Macleod trilogy. FYI, I'll be giving away book #1, HIGHLANDER UNTAMED, as a future contest grand prize to celebrate the roll-out of my next steamy historical, BOUND TO PLEASE. BOUND TO PLEASE, due out this July 1st, also features the MacLeods only more than a century earlier.

Hope

Contest Winners Announced--Ta Dum!

2008-04-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Pamela S of Blanchester, Ohio, the third winner of my "semi-contest." Pamela's prize is a signed copy of Eloisa James's latest release, DESPERATE DUCHESSES.

And--drum roll please--the grand prize winner is Tracey T of Gassaway, WV. Tracey's prize includes a personalized signed copy of VANQUISHED, the launch to my "Men of Roxbury House" trilogy and a hot-off-the-press chapter excerpt of BOUND TO PLEASE, my Scottish Medieval Blaze due out this July 1st.

Both Pamela and Tracey correctly answered my contest question: what is the color of Lady Kate's eyes in UNTAMED? Lady Kate's eyes are amber.

My thanks to all of you who took the time to enter, adding to the general fun. The good news is there is always another opportunity to win at www.hopetarr.com, so please check my Contest page for your latest chance to win.

Hope

Contests Galore!

2008-03-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

It's cold and windy here in NYC but spring is on its way (it is!), and it seems contests are cropping up like those yet-to-be-seen springtime flowers. Best-selling romance novelist, Samantha James is running a super contest from her web site starting March 25th. Twenty contest winners will be chosen beginning the day after the contest, and continue into April. There will be more than 150 winners, and best of all, most winners won’t need to wait a whole month before they get their prizes!

Included among the giveaways are coverflat keepsakes for Untamed and yes, an autographed copy of Vanquished.

Also, Diesel E-books is carrying copies of my Harlequin Blaze books and offering a 20 percent off coupon, so if you prefer your palm pilot to print, please take two ticks to check it out.

Hope

Latest Special Contest Winner

2008-03-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Janice M of Virginia Beach, VA, who correctly answered my contest question regarding the color of Lady Kate's eyes in UNTAMED: amber. Janice's prize is a signed copy of Kathryn Caskie's latest release, "How to Seduce a Duke."

The winners of my final March special contest and grand prize will be drawn on March 30th, so if you haven't yet entered, please take a moment and do. Like one state lottery slogan says, "You gotta play to win." ;)

Hope

(Almost) springtime in the city...

2008-03-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally up and did "it," made the move from Small Town, Virginia to Big City Manhattan--as in The Big Apple. On 2/14, yes, Valentine's Day, my best friend, nickname of "Suz," helped me drive my (sedated) cats the five hours or so north to our new home. The cats did great. I on the other hand, was a wreck.

But now we're all here, unpacked (well, mostly), and settling in (well, more than mostly). I've traded in my SUV for a new set of wheels, a shopping cart courtesy of The Container Store. My routines, like regular sleep, have fallen by the wayside, but now that things are settling down, I'm determined to get back on track. So far I've only gone running once in two weeks, but in my defense, I've been getting organized, which burns a bunch of calories, I'm sure. And it's been cold here, really cold and windy, too.

Still, things are settling down, settling in, slowly but surely shifting into place, not the old place or an entirely new place but, I hope, some happy melding of the two. Yesterday I attended my first RWA-NYC chapter meeting. What a nice group of not only women but men, too. Once chapter business was cleared away, Regency author Megan Frampton gave a talk on Plotting by the Seat of Your Pants. (Really, is there any other way?) Along with having a music industry background, funky cool glasses, and a wardrobe of all-black sweaters I would kill for, Megan had a lot of very helpful things to say about plotting a book. She will be one tough act to follow.

But follow I will. RWA-NYC has invited me to be their May brunch speaker, which is really super nice considering the treasurer took me aside during the break and tactfully reminded me I apparently am late with my renewal dues. I can't say what my topic is (no, I really can't, I haven't a clue), but there will be food and drink and friendly faces. And May means spring in the city, so I'm sure I'll come up with something.

In the meantime, I'm on deadline. Yeppers, EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE, my super sexy Harlequin Blaze due out this October 1st was actually due in to my editor yesterday--as in Saturday. While I don't flatter myself that she made a special trip into the office just to read my book, still, I really need to wrap things up so I can leave the apartment and go play. (Oh yeah, and getting paid would really help with those chapter dues). ;)

Spring really is close. The little quadrant of park space I can glimpse from my window is dappled with sunshine and though the people walking through that park and around it are bundled to the gills, still, there's this feeling of anticipation, new beginnings on the horizon, of well, spring.

Springtime isn't just a season. It's a state of being, a way of looking at life--and not just looking on from the sidelines but stepping into the thick of things to savor, embrace. Yes, it's still cold here and windy, and I'm guessing most of March will be spent wearing winter coats.

But in my soul, it's 75 degrees and yes, spring.

Hope

Congratulations to My First Semi-Contest Winner

2008-02-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Deb H of Victor, IA, my first "semi-contest" winner. Deb's fabulous prize is Julia Quinn's ON THE WAY TO THE WEDDING. Way to go, Deb!

For those of you who didn't win this time 'round, better luck next time--literally. My second semi-winner, to be drawn on March 11, will win HOW TO SEDUCE A DUKE by the incomparable Kathryn Caskie.

Welcome to Fabulous February--and Marvelous March

2008-02-02T17:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

To celebrate February, the official Month of Love, as well as the release of UNTAMED, my "Men of Roxbury House" trilogy finale, I'm running a *series* of very special contests through the end of March--with a little help from my friends. Along with my book, you'll have the opportunity to win the latest romance reads from Julia Quinn, Kathryn Caskie, and Eloisa James. Click over to my contest page for details on how to enter--and win.

Wishing you a February filled with (chocolate) kisses,

Hope

Happy New Year

2007-12-31T06:23:00.000-08:00

Whether you ring in the New Year clinking glasses with friends and party music pumping or at home watching the televised Times Square ball drop with Chinese carry-out and a cat curled on your lap, in the words of my STROKES OF MIDNIGHT heroine, Becky Stone, I wish you a 2008 chockful of "fresh starts and "dazzling opportunities."

Happy New Year,

Hope

The holidays: all pumped up

2007-12-15T15:23:00.000-08:00

Foremost, to all of you who've called "time out" from the holiday bustle to email me nice notes on my December holiday book, STROKES OF MIDNIGHT, thank you! Your kind words mean more to me than any critical praise. For those of you who missed my previous Christmas book for Harlequin Blaze, IT'S A WONDERFULLY SEXY LIFE, "Don't worry, be happy." ;) It may be long gone from brick-and-mortar bookstores, but you can still order the book online, including trusty ole amazon.com.

Fortunately STROKES OF MIDNIGHT is a two-day read, leaving oodles of time for tackling all those other great books waiting to be read. (Christmas started out as Twelve Days, remember). My personal pick is Claire Cook's LIFE'S A BEACH. Claire is the talented author of MUST LOVE DOGS as well as several other books celebrating not only romance but the quirky beauty of all our relationships. LIFE'A A BEACH is chockful of romance, to be sure, but there's also plenty of sister love-hate to go 'round as well as pets--you gotta love a heroine who names her cat "Boyfriend."

You can read my "review" of LIFE'S A BEACH at a wonderful new site/ezine: Writersarereaders.com.

P.S. Don't forget...My special holiday co-contest with fabulous fellow Harlequin Blaze author, Cathy Yardley draws to a close this Monday, December 17th, so please check back for the announcement of winners. In the spirit of celebrating the charms of giving *and* receiving, each winner will receive two extra sets of books to give as gifts.

PPS. I can't believe I left this out of my NYC posts. Check out the above photo of STROKES OF MIDNIGHT (center), my New York-over-the-holidays book taken, yes, in New York over the holidays!

Back from the Big Apple

2007-12-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm back from New York and though the impetus for the trip was work-related, you guessed it--I had a fabulous time. Following in the (spiked heeled) footsteps of my romance writer heroine of STROKES OF MIDNIGHT Becky Stone (AKA Rebecca St. Claire) I took an off-Broadway detour to Rosie O'Grady's for a drink and a nosh. Unlike Becky, I was spared the confrontational encounter with any "Elliot"-like bad boys though I definitely checked out the bar's dark-suited "inventory."

As to that dreaded "work" stuff, it wasn't dreaded at all but totally fun. Morgan Doremus and her hubby, Nick, owners of Pacific TV, graciously opened their Murray Hill filming studio to interview me. Prior to me sitting down with Morgan to dish on the book, they indulged me with a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. The equipment room alone had more buttons and knobs and blinking lights than the console of the Starship Enterprise! Sitting down in front of the camera in the celebrity hot seat, my nose dusted with shine guarding powder and my posterior warming the same seat occupied by Jerry Seinfeld the month before when he stopped by to promote his blockbuster, "Bee Movie" was...well, pretty heady stuff.

My fifteen minutes of fame, winnowed down to ten, will "air" from the newly launched Romance Writers of America-NY website later this month. In addition to a few juicy not-yet-released Behind the Scenes details on the book, I include some hopefully helpful tips for aspiring writers on how to best use the Internet as a research tool to "keep it real" in our books. As they say, stay tuned...

I also hope you'll join me on Thursday, December 20th when I "sit down" with LifetimeTV.com "Romance Buy the Book" host, Michelle Buonfiglio, to dish on ENSLAVED and the future of unusual historicals. Visit my Media & Events page for details on how to sign up and participate.

Live from New York...!!!

2007-12-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

The famous Snow Flake on Fifth Avenue, the annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center (breathtaking!), the 75th year anniversary of the legendary Rockets, and Jack Frost nipping at...well, everything I "own"...Yes, you guessed it. I'm in the Big Apple soaking up the holiday vibe and walking the walk albeit in slightly more comfie shoes of my STROKES OF MIDNIGHT heroine, romance novelist Becky Stone. So far I've skipped: a) the not so nice editorial news Becky receives at the book's beginning (whew!), b) the totally medicinal martini she understandably quaffs afterward (replaced with a very good glass of shiraz), and c) the shoe-shopping splurge at Saks (drats!). I also haven't managed to collide with any 6"4 blue-eyed blond-haired Max-like hunks on Avenue of the Americas--but hey, the trip's not over yet. ;)

I hope you'll stay tuned for the next update on my self-guided tour of the city at this most magical time of the year and please do look for STROKES OF MIDNIGHT in brick-and-mortar and online bookstores.

Happy (Shoe) Shopping,

Hope

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Whether you live in an area where Jack Frost is already nipping your nose or you're reaching for the sunscreen to ward off a Caribbean style sizzle, whether you're spending the day en famille sitting down to a traditional family feast, or plopping down solo on the sofa to watch either football or a rented "chick flick" or better yet, to savor a soul satisfying *romance* novel, I wish you a day filled with peace, happiness, and newly discovered treasures both large and small.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Hope

The Big "It"

2007-10-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little bit proud today--and a lotta bit sore. Yesterday I ran the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC along with about 30,000 other like-minded folks (that's folks, not fools). It was my third marathon, my second Marine Corps Marathon, and overall just a lovely fall day.

Oh, by the way, yes, I did finish. :)

My time, 4:22, isn't record-setting, but it is respectable. Despite spotty training and a pre-race fall up some concrete steps crossing U.S. Route 50 to the Start point, I shaved off a minute or two from my time thirteen years ago--a particular point-of-pride because well, Girlfriend's not getting any younger. ;)

Though the wonderful spirit of the event is alive and well, a lot of other things have changed since my first marathon. Back in 1994 there were no cell phones on the course. Hooking up with cheering family members and friends at the various mile markers, and yes, finish line, required more ingenuity and a goodly dose of luck. There was also no GPS tracking based on a clever little clicker affixed to one's shoelaces. Today thanks to technology each runner receives his or her true finish time, no need to guestimate the minutes lost waiting to cross the Start line--and yes, with thousands of runners, you don't all cross when the gun goes off.

There were a few wheelchair entrants back in '94, mostly graying Vietnam vets with shorn off legs, massive arm muscles, and shoulders as wide as the proverbial football field. Yesterday, there were a lot more, beautiful young men and women from the current conflict with legs missing but hearts whole. Everytime my aching body suggested it might be okay for me to slow down, to if not quit at least walk it in, one of those brave former soldiers invariably came into my view (when Marines call out "make a hole," I now know to get to the right or left--fast!), and I knew being a slacker simply wasn't an option.

Today I'm sore. No, not pleasantly sore, but sore-sore, hopped up on Motrin "as we speak" but in a good mood nonetheless. The pride of accomplishing my goal more than makes up for some stiff limbs and blistered feet. If running 26.2 miles was easy, then everybody would be doing it, right?

What's your big "It" with a capital "I"? Whether your It is completing your first marathon or one-miler, typing The End on your first manuscript or your fiftieth, wracking up yet another milestone for success or picking yourself up and trying again after the Universe has dealt you that really big, brutal Boot in the Face, if you haven't already done so, take a moment to brag on yourself, even if the voice saying "You go, girl" is silent except for inside your head.

And in the words of my STROKES OF MIDNIGHT heroine, Becky Stone, here's wishing you an autumn filled with "fresh starts and dazzling opportunities."

Hope

Travel Whirlwind

2007-10-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Since my last post, I've been in a travel whirlwind, not the violent force of nature sort of "whirlwind" that brings to mind the tornado that landed poor Dorothy out of Kansas and smack into Oz (though I've had my moments) but rather the fun albeit hectic kind that brings new friends met, old friends reunited, and myriad new creative sparks well... sparking.

A few weeks ago I made my first visit to Toronto, Canada, where one of my wonderful publishers, Harlequin Enterprises is headquartered. It was a thrill to tour the HQ offices and meet the amazing publishing pros who literally make it happen, including Publisher and CEO, Donna Hayes. My traveling buddy was fellow Blaze author, Cara Summers who was working on edits for her twenty-eighth novel. Way to go Cara!

This past weekend I was an invited speaker at James Rivers Writers' annual conference in Richmond, Virginia. Held at the Library of Virginia, the conference took "Electrify Your Writing" as this year's theme. Not only did I leave electrified--I was flat out star struck. Fellow panelists included Pullitzer winning poet Claudia Emerson ("Late Wife"), internationally bestselling author Eric Van Lustbader (selected to continue Robert Ludlum's beloved Jason Bourne series), and bestselling romance author, Sabrina Jeffries. Small wonder I'm still seeing stars.

On Wednesday I head to Florida for the Amelia Island Book Festival. This year's four-day long festival will be located in the heart of downtown Fernandino Beach. Featured programs will include "Rock n' Roll Readings," (how cool is that!) and a Meet the Author luncheon on a local cruise ship. Yours Truly will be participating as a speaker on a number of panels, including one where I'll get to dish on one of my favorite soap box topics--pets in books!

Anybody else traveling this fall?

Whether your feet are firmly planted at the home hearth or on the teeny tiny foot space of a plane carrying you to some exotic locale, here's wishing you an October as refreshingly delicious as that first bite into a Golden Delicious apple purchased from a roadside stand...

Hope

Celebrating a Life Well-Lived

2007-09-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

Last night my friend, Barbara, passed away. I say "passed away," not died, because it's my personal belief that energy never really dies but instead changes forms. And hers is a big spirit, huge. Something so wild and beautiful and free doesn't ever die. It just doesn't.

I'd say Barbara was my best friend, but I'm not in the habit of ranking my relationships. Suffice it to say we were tight. She wasn't only a girlfriend in the peer sense. She was--and is--a mentor, a soul mate, and yes, my very dear friend.

When I got The Call from her son, also my friend, it was creeping up on one AM. I was still up, though, if not wide awake then certainly wired, writing. Because the manuscript for my next book, UNTAMED, the finale to my Men of Roxbury House series is late. Not egregiously late or shockingly late, not the kind of writer's blocked lateness that results in pushed up pub dates and editor frenzy, but a week late. And at the moment, I don't really care.

I shut off the computer and met a small group of my friends at a local bar still open in our otherwise roll-up-the-sidewalks early-to-bed small town. We had a drink, a drink for Barbara, and then we went back to our friend Tim's house and had another round in the timeless quiet of his 1800's living room.

But mainly we talked. Barbara's three adult children who have been her round-the-clock caretakers for the past three weeks shared something of what that had been like, including some of the moments of dark humor involved in physical dying. But mostly we celebrated life, Barbara's life, and the profound ways she had touched us as parent, mentor, lover, and friend. In the course of the next two hours, her one musician son shared the song he'd written for her and then our musician friend, Tim sang the one he'd written, too. We cried some but we laughed even more as well as smiled at all the many memories. Above all we celebrated a life, Barbara's life. A Life Well Lived.

Sitting there last night amongst dear friends, it struck me that it's not the deadlines met or missed, the bestseller list rankings, the contest wins or losses, the sales numbers on our latest release or the sundry other successes and failures that define a life. All the must-do's and should-haves that fill and sometimes clutter our days aren't what we remember or even care about. In the so-called end, it's how our lives touched others, how their lives touched ours, that matters--period.

Bon Voyage, Barbara. Congratulations on a Life Well Lived and deepest thanks for all you've done to teach me how to better live mine.

Love,

Hope

Got...ENSLAVED? Countdown to contest closing.

2007-08-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

We're counting down to the finish on my end-of-summer Got...ENSLAVED contest. Just six more days before the contest closes on 9/1, so if you've seen ENSLAVED out and about, or elsewhere online, please email in.

"Alert readers" continue to email me their ENSLAVED sightings, including readers from other countries. Recently added to the list of early release sightings are Chapters book store in downtown Montreal and online at The Book Depository (www.bookdepository.co.uk).

:-) Hope

Latest ENSLAVED sighting...

2007-08-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Multiple copies of ENSLAVED (turned face-out, no less!) were sighted in the romance aisle of a Books-A-Million in Pensacola, Florida as of August 14th. Many thanks to Lucile for reporting in. Good luck, Lucile, in the end-of-summer Got...ENSLAVED Contest.

:) Hope

Got...ENSLAVED Contest Closes 9/1

2007-08-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

With temperatures soaring, at least here in Virginia, it's hard to believe fall is right around the corner but it is. Soon school bells will once again be ringing and back packs will be filled with crisp new textbooks to be cracked open--and closed.

Along with those harbingers of autumn, my summer "Got...ENSLAVED? Contest" closes on 9/1. So, if you've happened upon one of the advance copies of the book, don't forget to drop me an email with "Got...ENSLAVED?" in the subject header to make things nice and simple. I'll add the location to my growing list and enter your name in the contest pool.

Hope

Got...ENSLAVED? Latest Sighting

2007-07-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

Copies of ENSLAVED have been sighted most recently at the Barnes & Noble in Daytona Beach, Florida. Thanks to Lucile F for emailing the info. Lucile, good luck in the "Got...ENSLAVED?" summer contest.

Hope

Back from RWA in Dallas...

2007-07-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I'm finally rested up from the Romance Writers of America Conference held in Dallas and ready to dish. The conference kicked off on Wednesday evening with the Readers for Life Literacy autographing. Think 450 romance authors packed into the Hyatt's grand salon signing their books and chatting up readers. That was enough to steam up even the most Arctic air conditioned of rooms.

Instead of my normal slinking to the hotel bar post-signing for vino and fried munchies, I joined fellow authors Kathryn Caskie and Sophia Nash on a out-of-hotel foray to Cowboy Red River, a "real live Texas cowboy bar" complete with mechanical bull. Romance Novel TV came along for the proverbial ride, film crew in tow. Courage bouyed by a very large and very strong Texas style Margarita, Yours Truly climbed aboard the about-to-be bucking beast. Maybe it was the tequila, maybe it was the white Stetson borrowed from a cute cowboy called Ray, or maybe it was just my stubborn Irish pride, who knows, but bumps and bruises aside, I managed to hold my seat for the full eight seconds. For those of you tempted to remark that eight seconds isn't all that, I say this--Try It. ;)

That was, of course, only the first of my four days in Dallas. Other highlights include dancing to "Love Shack" at the Harlequin Party on Friday night with about-to-be Rita winner, Julia Quinn, dishing with RNTV emcee Sophia Nash on "the red carpet" at the Saturday night Golden Heart and Rita Awards ceremony and gala, and sipping champagne with Kathryn Caskie, Nocturne author, Pam Poulsen, and romantic suspense writer, Terri Ridgell in the Hyatt lobby lounge while the rest of the hotel guests evacuated in response to a (false) fire alarm--think the orchestra playing on the deck in "Titanic."

Okay, enuf about me. Anyone else go?

I'm sure I'm leaving out lots of fun times and events, but summarizing four action-packed and star-author studded days into a single post would make for one book length blog. That said, I hope you'll check back for pictures from the conference to be posted. In the meantime...

Happy Trails,

:-) Hope

Got ENSLAVED--latest sighting

2007-07-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

Copies of ENSLAVED can be found at Barnes & Noble and Waldenbooks stores in Mesa, AZ. Thanks to Joy I of Mesa, AZ for emailing the information.

Got (a copy of) ENSLAVED? Email me the store name and location with "Got ENSLAVED?" in the email subject header, and you'll be automatically entered in my special summertime contest. The winner will be announced in early September.

And please check back in a day or so for the dish--garnished with the occassional "naughty bit"--from the Romance Writers of America conference in Dallas.

Hope

Off to RWA...

2007-07-10T15:03:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note before I dash off to Dallas for this year's Romance Writers of America conference. Each year, the RWA conference kicks off with a multi-author (think 450-strong) Readers for Life Literacy autographing, the proceeds benefiting a major literacy-related charity housed in the host city. While the conference programs are for registered attendees only, the book signing is open to the public and heavily publicized. I'll be signing copies of VANQUISHED as well as THE HAUNTING and chatting with readers, fellow authors, and media in the Hyatt grand ballroom.

In between "work," there will be publisher parties galore as well as some hours logged in the lobby lounge sipping wine, eating far too many bar munchies, and catching up with writer friends I only get to see a few times a year. The conference wraps with the Awards Ceremony and gala on Saturday where everyone puts on the Ritz to celebrate the Rita and Golden Heart winners (and console the other finalists) with champagne and chocolate. :)

At some point during the conference, I'll be blogging from the RWA media room set up in the conference hotel. To read the blog in progress, go to rwanational.org after Wednesday and follow the links.

Once I'm back, I'll be posting pictures and tasty tidbits from the conference week. Also on the horizon is my blog on "Hope and Susan's Excellent Adventure," a post-Independence Day roadtrip to Roanoke, WV and Blacksburg, VA with my buddy, Susan. (Hint: If Susan lets me, there may even be a pic posted from that adventure, too).

In the interim,

Happy Trails--and Happy Reading,

Hope

Happy Fourth!

2007-07-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day,

Hot dogs slightly charred and hot off the grill, ice cream that melts before you take that first anticipated swipe from the cone, watermelon that for whatever reason tastes more succulent than it does on any other day of the year--Fourth of July conjures a bevy of visceral as well as cognitive memories for most of us. And of course, no Independence Day celebration would be quite complete without fireworks (the safe public displays, if you please, at least for Yours Truly).

ENSLAVED, too, is taking off with a bang. This seems a good time to thank all of you who have taken the time to email me with your preview copy "sightings." So far we have Joseph-Beth Booksellers (josephbeth.com), overstock.com, Borders stores (by order and in some cases already shelved), a Barnes & Noble (somewhere?), and a Books-a-Million in Mobile, Alabama (Pinebrook Shopping Center on Airport Drive). And of course, if anticipation is your thing (think the old Heinz ketchup jingle about "making me wait...") you can always preorder a copy at amazon.com.

To thank readers, and to celebrate the summer sizzle, I am running a special blog contest from now through September. Please check back at www.hopetarr.com after the holiday for details on how to chime in and win.

In the interim, eat a hot dog slightly blackened around the edges and sloppy with relish and mustard and chopped onions. Go for not just an ice cream cone but a double dip. Seize the chance to lay back on a blanket, let the evening coolness wash over your sunburnt face, and savor the bliss of a perfect fireworks constellation while snuggling someone you love.

Have a great Independence Day...

Got... ENSLAVED?

2007-06-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know, my new historical romance, ENSLAVED is now available for direct order through Borders Bookstores or online through Independent Publishers Group. You can also pre-order the book at amazon.com.

The sequel to VANQUISHED, ENSLAVED is slated for worldwide release in October 2007. That said, about 2,500 copies of ENSLAVED shipped early and have already found their way onto bookstore shelves--and into eager readers' hot little hands.

Sightings so far include Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH (www.josephbeth.com) and Books-a-Million, Pinebrook Shopping Center on Airport Blvd., Mobile, Alabama. I've also heard from a ton of people who've ordered it through their local Borders store.

Do you have a copy of ENSLAVED? If so, I'd love, love, love to know where you got yours, be it a chain bookstore, an indy bookstore, a library or well... anywhere.

Over the summer months I'll be building a list of "Early ENSLAVED Sightings" to track the progress of these renegade books. So if you could take two ticks (AKA moments) to post to this thread, you'll be helping out by letting other readers know where they can find the book.

To reward "informants, " I'll be running a special "Get... ENSLAVED Sneak Peak End of Summer Contest" in addition to my regular monthly contest. The winner will be announced on September 1st. The prize will be a signed copy of Book #1 in my "Men of Roxbury House" trilogy, VANQUISHED, a signed cover flat of ENSLAVED as well as the winner's pick of my backlist titles.

In the meantime...

Happy Summer Reading -- and Sighting

Hope

Back from Book Expo America...

2007-06-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm back from Book Expo America. For those of you not familiar with BEA, it's the U.S. answer to the London and Frankfurt Bookfairs and I do believe it's even bigger -- around 30,000 participants at this year's event held at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan.

Big clue to the incredible vibe of this year's event: the Expo was in New York City -- now, can that *ever* be bad? ;)

I went up on trusty ole Amtrak the night before expecting to have a good trip, a productive trip, a pleasant trip...

What I had was a *great* trip.

I launched my venture on Thursday evening with dinner a-deux with my good buddy, uber talented historical romance novelist, Kathryn Caskie. We chose Zagat top pic, Gotham Bar & Grill on 12th in The Village. Determined not to be idle, we mapped out our Expo plans over a lovely bottle of shriraz and top tier (aka yummy) fare of hard shell crabs (me) and filet (Kathy).

Friday was a "work" day. After a short waiting stint sipping designer H20 in the Green Room (and no, I didn't see anyone terribly famous, more's the pity), I kicked off with a traditonal autographing for my new historical romance release, ENSLAVED (Medallion press). Later, I had midday coffee talk with talented historical fiction author, Will Hutchison, and then an in-booth signing at the Harlequin booth during "Sexy Hour" with Cara Summers and bestselling author, Carly Phillips.

But there's more...

That night, Kathryn Caskie (Kathy to me) and our good buddy, historical romance author, Sophia Nash, met up at New York's famous Webster Hall for The Rock Bottom Remainders "Still Younger than Keith" charity concert. At the VIP reception to kick off the concert, we clinked glasses with literati heavyweights Mitch Albom, Frank McCourt, Amy Tan, Stephen King, and my personal fav, humor columnist turned children's author, Dave Barry. If you have two ticks, check out our candid pics on my Snapshots page. And yes, consider the rumor confirmed, Dave Barry really did pronounce the three of us "hot." I believe the word "babes" was also used," but well, I don't want to get anyone in trouble at home. ;)

As you may expect, all this autographing and gladhanding can really wear a woman down. Fortunately, I got to unwind on Saturday evening at the Harlequin party held at a swank Midtown club. Harlequin always does it right and this year's fete was no exception. Guests were greeted at the door with champagne and chocolates and the night got even better from there. Over canapes and champagne (yes, more), I caught up with authors Jane Porter ("Flirting with Forty"), Candice Poarch, and Rebecca York as well as had the opportunity to say thank you to Harlequin's talented and hardworking editorial, marketing and sales staff.

Come Sunday, all this nose-to-the-grindstone hard work was really taking its toll. The chocolate consumption alone had me at "sixes and sevens" as Sophia might say in one of her Regency-set historicals. I wound down with a signing of THE HAUNTING in the Romance Writers of America booth at BEA along with Niki Burnham ("Goddess Games") and Silhouette author, Anna DePalo.

A few days of post-Expo R&R in the West Village set me to rights. Come mid-week, I was homebound on that Amtrak train, maybe not exactly fresh as a daisy but certainly touting a big ole smile.

Okay, so enuf about me. Anybody else go to BEA? As they say, inquiring minds...

Hope

You get what you need...

2007-04-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Last Friday my local Athenaeum threw a book launch party to celebrate the release of my Harlequin Extreme Blaze contemporary romance novel, THE HAUNTING. The book is set in downtown Fredericksburg, VA, the 40-block historic district, to be exact. So was the party. Not in the heart of Manhattan where I'd always imagined my book release party would be, if indeed I was fortunate enough to have one but in Fredericksburg, the small town where I've made my home for the past six years--and counting.

Fredericksburg is very much a character in THE HAUNTING much like Manhattan in the Candace Bushnell bestseller, "Sex and the City." I jokingly refer to THE HAUNTING as "Sex in the Itty Bitty City" to some people's amusement and others' chagrin.

If you haven't already guessed, I'm a huge "Sex and the City" fan--the television series, that is. I faithfully watched the episodes when they were first broadcast on HBO, and I watch them in re-run most weeknights.

During the program's last season on the air, I gathered with girlfriends every Sunday night to drink Cosmos (what else) and nosh on themed snacks as we counted down to the final episode. Like the ubiquitous spin doctors who rear their "talking heads" post-televised Presidential speech, we'd hang around afterward to dissect the underlying truth of that night's episode, which invariably held far reaching implications for our own less-than-perfect romantic lives.

Most devotees of any TV program have their personal favorite episodes, and I'm no exception. I have a few. I actually thought the producers did a great job with the final episode and though it's probably not politically correct to admit it, I really liked that Carrie ended up with Big. Heart of gold aside, Aiden was always a little too earthy for me and as for Carrie's other main love interest, fellow author John Burger--"Burger"--well, he always struck me as a whiny wimp. I mean, dude, your book tanked. Get over it and write another one. (All joking aside, Burger would never make it in romance fiction. We romance writers are made of sturdier stuff.)

The mention of Burger brings me to one of my top favorite episodes, the one where Carrie's publisher throws her a posh Manhattan style book release party. There is a Cosmo bar, an enormous blow-up poster of the book cover featuring Carrie looking fabulous in short black coat dress and f-me-pump designer high heels, and the two Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum publisher reps cooing over our girl as though her book's the greatest thing to roll off the press since Gutenberg invented it. For her part, Carrie sports a chic shorter 'do, a killer party dress and even more killer designer shoes--either Jimmy's or Manola's, we're not sure.

But all is not exactly paradise. Friend Samantha's face is an angry orange from a chemical peel gone bad. Other friend Charlotte is down-in-the-mouth about...something and Miranda is characteristically sarcastic albeit supportive. The guest of honor is dateless. Love interest John Burger shows up to wish Carrie well but despite the quantity of lingering looks exchanged, he leaves to go home to his girlfriend. Standing on the balcony staring onto the crowd, Carrie admits to herself she isn't just alone. She is lonely.

She ends the night solo in a cab headed for home. The female driver learns she's published a book and insists on stopping for a celebratory hot dog. The hot dog vendor, equally impressed with her accomplishment, refuses to let anyone pay. Sitting in the backseat of the cab with a sloppy hot dog in hand, Carrie suddenly realizes the night isn't just kind of perfect--it really is perfect.

My book release party was held in a converted third floor artist's studio with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Caroline Street, downtown Fredericksburg's main drag. Despite the conspicuous lack of traffic noise--okay, lack of traffic in general--I could almost imagine I was in a trendy converted warehouse in the Manhattan meat packing district. There wasn't a Cosmo bar but there was some really nice wine and nice noshes to go with it and best of all, a bevy of good friends who turned out to celebrate with me along with a sprinkling of new faces who, like the cab driver in the "Sex and the City" episode, stopped in not to curb my enthusiasm but to share in it.

At the book signing earlier that day, I'd sold out of books, the book store's copies and finally my own personal inventory. The party was the proverbial icing on the cake. Like Carrie, I didn't have a date. Afterward, though, instead of going home alone in a cab, I went out with a group of friends to Bristro Bethem, our favorite downtime restaurant, where the owners Blake and Aby treated us all to a champagne toast.

It wasn't exactly as I'd imagined my book release party to be--it was a hundred times better. Like the song says, "You can't always get what you want but you get what you need."

What times in your life turned out differently than you'd envisioned--only as good or better? Are there events you look back on with the 20/20 wisdom of hindsight and thank the Universe, God or so-called "dumb luck" for *not* letting you have what at the time you really, really wanted? Is there "someone" or maybe a collective of someones working 24/7 to save us from the hubris driving our all too frequently blind human desires?

Wishing you a springtime blossoming with needs fulfilled and dreams exceeded...

Hope

Resolving to Believe...

2007-01-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so we're three weeks and counting into a new year, and I can't help wondering how many of us made New Year's resolutions for 2007--and how many of us have kept them.

In Baltimore where I grew up, I attended an Episcopal private school from grades six to twelve. Every Friday, we broke from classes mid-morning to attend chapel, held in the cafeteria with we students filing in and sitting cross-legged in rows on the sticky floor. I have to confess I spent most of those chapel sessions zoning out, day dreaming about what I wanted to do and be in that faraway place known as my grownup future.

One chapel talk, just before Lent, though, has stayed with me all these years. The speaker was one of the teachers on staff, a spare, slender, neat woman who seemed ancient to me at the time and who was, I'm sure now, no older than thirty-five. The topic was Lent and her point, at least one of them, was that Lent shouldn't always be a call to give up something, to deprive ourselves of some supposedly guilty pleasure. Maybe Lent, she suggested, was a time to *add* something to our lives heretofore missing. In her case, she resolved to honor the season by cooking a tasty, healthful dinner for herself each night. It seemed she was a single woman and eating dinner solo wasn't something she looked forward to. Instead she grabbed a quick bite or sometimes skipped the meal altogether. Her thought was that perhaps cooking dinner for herself during Lent would become habit-forming, an act of self-love, an affirmation of her Divinely given human worth.

This year I made a New Year's resolution, my first in years. It was just a small thing, really, a starter resolution. I resolved to start working out with my hand weights and exercise mat 2-3 times a week rather than once every week (or sometimes every other week). So far, I've kept my resolution. Now instead of a guilty binge work-out that leaves me reaching for the Motrin, I work out, feel great--and then actually am able to lift my arms the next day to dress myself. ;) Can I keep it up? There's no guarantee but, for now, I think I can.

Some resolutions, New Year's and otherwise, maybe are meant to be broken. Certainly the ones that leave us feeling cranky, deprived, even bitter rather than good about ourselves are best left by the proverbial wayside.

How do we handle it when the things we once dreamed for ourselves don't fit anymore--a relationship turned toxic, a job that no longer challenges us to create or grow, a daily routine that once made sense but now feels like a stint in federal prison.

Can we outgrow our resolutions sort of like that circa 1980 sweater with the shoulder pads and the glitter and leather patches that used to look so cutting edge cool but now seems just really sad and dated? When a dream grows old and frayed, is it time to put it aside and try on something new?

Recently I caught up by phone with a friend who moved away to Alabama. Before Pam left town, we used to hang out over dinner at her house, open a bottle of decent red wine, and have the most amazing one-on-one conversations. Pam is a big believer in making wish lists and creating vision boards. The latter are big pieces of foam board or just plain poster paper with photographs and magazine clippings and sundry small items that symbolize much more--basically what Back in the Day we used to call a collage. The purpose of the vision board, however, is to create a visual representation of how we wish our life to be--and then not just to wish it but to see and feel it. The vision board operates on the premise of the Law of Attraction. Seeing is believing. Believe it, and the good stuff will come. On the flip side, if you don't dare ask, if you don't dare dream, you don't get.

On New Year's Eve I bought a big bright red hunka foam board from the office supply store. It cost about $8 with tax, a small investment in the future. Right now it's propped against the wall in my spare bathroom still sheathed in its shiny clear wrapper. I'm promising myself, resolving if you will, that this week I'm going to change that. I'm going to set aside a night when I'm home, open a bottle of decent red wine and sit down with magazines and books and scissors and glue and tape and, of course, my piece of big red foam board. I'm promising myself I'm not going to rush things. I'm not going to make a task of this. I'm not going to beat myself up if my vision board ends up looking like a third-grader's C+ science fair project rather than a display object of beauty. (Did I mention I've never been "crafty"?). Instead I'm going to set aside the night, sip my wine, think about how amazingly fortunate I am to have gotten this far in life--and then I'm going to dare to dream and dream big. As in B-I-G. I'll let you know how it goes.

As for my friend, Pam, she's ramping up to make a whole new vision board. She's already achieved most if not all of the goals represented on her old one, including a great new job, great new living situation, and brand new car. If that's not inspiration for the rest of us, I don't know what is.

May 2007 bring the realization of all your dreams, no matter how large or small...

Hope

The Best Gift Ever

2006-12-21T12:03:00.000-08:00

For many of us, the winter holiday season brings about an almost instant association with jam packed shopping malls, long, long checkout lines, and ballooning January credit card debt. Years ago when I was a college student, I worked a retail job at a Benetton clothing store in Towson, MD. Even after I left the local area to go off to graduate school, I would come home for the holidays and spend the break working in the store. In fact, for five consecutive years (count 'em--five) I worked the double shift from opening until closing on the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday for good reason. Very good reason.

Spending the Christmas season in the retail trenches gave me a host of great war stories, several of which stick with me today, twenty years later. Like the frantic dad who brought his small daughter shopping for a present for his wife on Christmas Eve an hour before the mall was due to close. With the clock ticking, we were picking through the leavings of folded Italian sweaters when I suggested he might expedite the search by giving me some description of the target--I mean gift recipient. (Forget knowing such vitals as say, her actual size). When he only stared at me, I could see I was going to have take the lead.

"What color is her hair?" I asked in that patient but firm voice usually reserved for small children. Professionalism aside, I'd been on my feet for coming on ten solid hours sans break and young though I was, my high heel shod feet were beginning to swell.

After a moment's hesitation, he looked me up and down and declared it was sort of like my shoulder-length chestnut brown locks. Okay, now we were getting somewhere! Then I asked, "What color are her eyes?" As it happened, I had a bunch of blue hued sweaters left in my badly dwindled inventory, and I was hoping I might have a match.

There was another pause, a l-o-n-g pause and then he looked down at his little daughter, his own dark eyes bulging, and asked, "What... what color are mommy's eyes?"

"They're BLUE, Daddy!" the child fairly shouted and then looked up at me with her own china blue eyes, presumably inherited from her mom. That look, I'll never forget it. It fell somewhere between disappointment and downright disgust. I looked back at her and though I was a twenty-something and she was probably only around eight, we shared a moment of silent commiseration over the vageries of men.

But my winter retail gig didn't end with December 25th, oh no. There followed a day even more dreaded by retail clerks everywhere than Black Friday. December 26th, otherwise known as The Day After Christmas. If the shopping days leading up to Christmas are about fantasy and infinite possibility, the days after the holiday are all about reality (and that would be cold, hard reality) and the limitations of material things to fill us up. The size 12 lady returning the size 2 sweater. The size 2 lady returning the size 12 sweater and both shocked and more than a littled miffed that the gift givers, in both cases the husband, seemed to know them so little, at least when it came to personal style.

Like Maggie in IT'S A WONDERFULLY SEXY LIFE, I'm finding more and more that what I really want for Christmas or any other holiday doesn't come inside a store box, no matter how exquisite the wrapping.

What was the best holiday gift you ever received? What was the worst? Or, if you're so inclined to share, what is the gift for which you secretly or not so secretly yearn, the one you've never gotten, at least not yet?

Whatever holiday you celebrate during the winter months, I hope it's joyous and filled with myriad reminders of the true magic of the season...

Hope

Welcome

2006-11-21T12:50:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the launch of my new and first-ever blog. It's been a year of "firsts" for me personally and professionally. Per the latter, IT'S A WONDERFULLY SEXY LIFE is my a) first ever contemporary, b) first ever Harlequin, c) first ever paranormal and d) first ever Christmas book.

And I've just finished my second paranormal for Harlequin's Extreme Blaze line. THE HAUNTING will hit bookstores, both brick-and-mortar as well as online, this April 2007. The book begins with my heroine, Dr. Maggie Holliday, discovering a 150-year-old diary buried behind some loose wallboard in the attic of her newly purchased historic home in the Fredericksburg, VA historic district where I've made my home coming on six years now.

Having just moved from an historic home that (amazingly!) resembles my heroine's Victorian dream house, I've been struck by all the miscellaneous "stuff" you discover when you're ramping up to pack. I'd always seen myself as a neat nick but the whole house purge in preparation for packing indicated otherwise. In THE HAUNTING, Maggie finds the diary, which happens to have been penned by her previous Civil War era incarnation, Isabel Earnshaw.

What hidden treasures (or terrors) have you found when ramping up for a move? Maggie's move from the Washington, DC area to Fredericksburg, VA went considerably more smoothly than mine did. What was your worst ever absolute nightmare move? Or, on the perkier side, what the best move you ever made and why?

Whether we get there by the short, smooth easy road or the long, prickly bramble-riddled one, it's my personal belief that we're all always exactly where we're meant to be.

Here's wishing you a safe, joyous kick-off to the winter holidays...
Hope