Happy New Year!

May 2008 bring many wonderful things your way!

My usual reminder--if you plan to ring in the New Year, please remember to BE SAFE!

Internet Problems

My Internet connection has been giving me fits over the last week. Problems connecting, when I could connect, it was slooooooooow going, and it would randomly and suddenly shut-down. It was very frustrating. But thankfully, hopefully, it’s now fixed. It’s a good thing too, because I was about to begin suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Happy Holidays!

What I’m Reading

I went digging in my HUGE to-be-read stack for a book with a holiday theme, and here’s what I found...

Secret Santa (Harlequin Blaze, December 2006)
with stories by Janelle Denison, Isabel Sharpe, and Jennifer LaBrecque

Who We'd Like To Meet Under The Mistletoe

So, who would my December contest entrants like to meet under the mistletoe?

Many opted for someone that they personally know...a sexy co-worker, a guy who lives down the street, etc.

A couple of people mentioned characters from a book, such as Caine from Sarah McCarty's Caine's Reckoning (a book I have yet to read, but it's definitely on my to-buy list!).

Of the celebrities mentioned, there were a few musicians:

Jon Bon Jovi

Rod Stewart

Willy Braun (from Reckless Kelly)

Tim McGraw


And there were several actors:

David Boreanaz

Gerard Butler

Johnny Depp

David James Elliot

Colin Farrell

Andy Garcia

Ryan Gosling

Hugh Jackman

Jude Law

Matthew McConaughey

Viggo Mortensen

Robert De Niro

Alex O'Loughlin

Will Smith


The name that was mentioned the most often...Orlando Bloom

The Winner Is...

A huge thanks to all who entered my December contest. I enjoyed hearing who others would like to meet under the mistletoe :) If you’re wondering which names were mentioned, then come back tomorrow and find out!

I had my oldest son draw a name out of the hat, and the winner of the 2008 Studs ‘N Spurs wall calendar is...Martha L. from Mississippi. Congrats, Martha! Enjoy!

December Contest (expires 12/20/07)

The winner of my December contest will receive a 2008 Studs 'N Spurs wall calendar (photo below).

To be entered, just send me an email and tell me who you’d like to meet under the mistletoe this year. It can be anyone but your spouse/significant other (because this is about a fantasy kiss :). Can't narrow it down to just one person? Okay, I'll let you choose two if you must.

Click HERE to visit my website for all the details of the contest. The last date for entry is December 20, 2007.




Who would I like to meet under the mistletoe? Kyle Schmid, the actor who stars in the Lifetime series, Blood Ties.



But on second thought...I'm feeling a little like a pervert now, since he’s only 23 and therefore young enough to be my son.

So, someone more age appropriate would be Roarke from J.D. Robb’s In Death series. He's just yummy!

Brighten A Soldier’s Day!

When our children were very young, my husband and I decided that one of the many things we wanted to teach them was the importance of giving back to the community. While we try to do this year-round, we always make sure to do it during the holiday season. Some years we donate items to a local charity. Some years we choose a child from the 'Angel Tree' to purchase gifts for. Some years we simply volunteer our time.

This year we decided to send some care packages (personal hygiene items, snacks, etc.) to deployed soldiers. I found numerous organizations that can assist in doing this. After visiting many different websites (and researching them to make sure they were legit!), I choose to use AnySolider.com

If you’re interested in brightening a soldier’s day, click HERE to visit AnySolider.com. At their website, you’ll find a HUGE list of units to choose from and requested items from those units. And if you’re short on funds and unable to send a care package, send a letter. Unfortunately, there are many soldiers who get very little mail, or no mail at all. A letter from someone letting them know that they are appreciated will put a smile on their face.


And finally, since I can see this coming….for anyone who feels the need to tell me that they don’t support the US involvement in Iraq (or anywhere else)--please don’t. I’m not saying I do or don’t support it, but I always support our troops and am very grateful for the sacrifices that our soldiers make.

I've Been Absent

I fully intended to blog every day this past week, but life got in the way :(

My kids got the entire week out of school for Thanksgiving and Hubby took the week off work. So with the holiday activities and everyone being home all week, I got very little accomplished, and I had to spend this week playing catch-up. But, thankfully things have settled down and are returning to normal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November Contest Winner

I received 64 entries for my November contest. Thank you to everyone who participated!

I had my husband draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is...Melissa K. from Rhode Island. Melissa won a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble (her choice from either Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Borders Books).

Congrats, Melissa!

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of December for information about my next contest.

Winners of Raven Halloween Hunt and Amy’s Halloween Blog Party

I just realized that I never officially announced the winners of the Halloween activities that I participated. They were...

Raven Halloween Hunt:
Angela L. from Massachusetts won an 8-oz bottle of White Jasmine Body Lotion, and I tossed some Dove chocolate into the package too :)

Amy's Halloween Blog Party:
Pam K. from Alabama won a download of my novella, Finding Passion.

Congrats, ladies! I hope you're enjoying your prizes.

Thanks so much to Amy S. and to The Raven Blog (run by authors Michelle Pillow and Mandy Roth) for allowing me the opportunity to participate in these fun events!

November Contest (expires 11/20/07)--Win A Gift Card!

The winner of my November contest will receive a $10 gift card to either Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Borders Books (winner’s choice).

The contest will run through November 20th, 2007.

Click HERE to visit my website for all the details of how to enter (it's simple, I promise!).

Good luck!

Happy Halloween!

Two Great Reviews for Finding Passion!

BrandyWine at Enchanting Reviews gave Finding Passion
5 Enchantments! Here's some of what she said:

FINDING PASSION is the perfect combination of love, lust, and marriage.

Ms. Tyner shows how we can all make mistakes but at the same time make them right by giving the person we love everything we are and treasuring everything they give back.

I rate this book a perfect 5 Enchantments.


Click HERE to read the entire review.



I also received a review from Rosemary at Joyfully Reviewed. Here's what she had to say:

Finding Passion is a lesson in lack of communication. Pamela Tyner illustrates the pain and misunderstandings that comes from not expressing your wishes. I enjoyed the sensual revelations in this second-chance love story.

Click HERE to read the entire review.

Bat Out Of Hell

Thirty years ago this month, in October 1977, Meatloaf’s Bat Out of Hell album was released.

This is my absolute favorite album. Over the years, I’ve purchased many copies of it (I wear it out and have to keep replacing it).

Even my teenage sons, who normally aren’t impressed at all with the music I listen to, love this album. So, today I’m posting videos of their favorite songs from it. The videos suck, but the songs are fantastic!

#1 son’s favorite: Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad



#2 son’s favorite: Paradise By The Dashboard Light
(I wonder if that has anything at all to do with the fact that #2 son is a baseball player, and this song includes a portion of a baseball game broadcast?)

Reminder--I’m Guest Blogging Today And Giving Away A Prize!

Just a reminder that I’m guest blogging today HERE.

Please drop by!

Leave a comment on the post and your name will be entered into a drawing for a pdf download of my novella Finding Passion. The winner will be announced on Halloween.

And while you’re there, be sure to take at look at the other authors’ guest blog posts from this month. Many of them are also giving away prizes.

Rain At Last!

We’re finally getting some rain, which is desperately needed since we’re in the middle of a drought. It’s been raining for a few days now (off and on), but it’s supposed to end today :(

They’re predicting a grand total of approximately 4 inches. Considering that our lake levels are more than 8 feet below normal, it’s a far cry from what we need, but it’s certainly better than nothing.

And at least there have been no fires here, something I'm very thankful for. I’m beginning to think that California’s just going to burn completely up.

Birth Order Characteristics/Continuation From Yesterday's Post

Characteristics of the oldest child:
* High achievers
* Perfectionist
* Responsible
* Take on a leadership role
* Play by the rules/concerned with 'fairness'
* Want approval from others


Characteristics of the middle child:
* Flexible
* Diplomatic
* Peacemaker
* Good at negotiation and compromise


Characteristics of the youngest child:
* Outgoing
* Have the ability to 'charm' others
* Risk takers
* Question authority
* Often considered spoiled, demanding, impatient, self-centered
* Remain 'the baby' by expecting others to do things for them, make decisions, and take responsibility


Characteristics of an 'only' child:
* Only children tend to have a lot of the same characteristics as oldest children.


Of course, not all children display all tendencies associated with their birth order. But, generally speaking, I think most people tend to have the majority of those traits (to some degree, at least). And I think when writing, authors benefit a great deal from being aware of the traits and incorporating them into their characters' development.

I just realized that to date every single one of my heroes and heroines have been first or only born children. I wonder if that’s because I’m an oldest child so it’s easier for me to identify with them? Hmmm. I’ll have to keep that in mind with my upcoming stories. It would be fun, I think, to write a middle or a youngest child.

Using Birth Order To Develop Characters

A few years ago, I read the book A Passionate Proposal by Emilie Rose (Silhouette Desire, August 2004). The hero (a youngest child) and the heroine (an oldest child) grew up in the same town. They meet up at their high school reunion, and here’s a part of the conversation that they share:

Hero: "What you doing now?"
Heroine: "Teaching."
Hero: "I didn’t know you wanted to teach."
Heroine: "We never discussed my plans. We focused on your goals."
Hero: "Ouch. Was I selfish SOB?"
Heroine: "No. You were the youngest in your family. The world tends to revolve around the one occupying that niche."

I smiled when I read it, because, in my opinion, it’s generally true of youngest children.

As I continued reading, I was thinking, “This author has nailed these characters.” One way she did that was by using their birth order personality traits to the fullest advantage in the story.

There are some psychologists who feel that birth order does not affect personality development, but they’re definitely in the minority. Most psychologists believe that it does, and I happen to agree with them. Of course someone’s personality is not based on birth order alone. Many other factors come into play, but I think birth order does contribute tremendously.

Come back tomorrow and let’s talk about the different traits associated with oldest, middle, youngest, and only children.

Domestic Violence Awareness AND Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month AND Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

These two very important issues deserve all the attention they can get, so please take a minute to click on the links below and learn more.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Winner Is...

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in my October blog contest/drawing. I really enjoyed reading your comments, and I hope you’ll continue to visit my blog and share your thoughts on other subjects.

I had my husband draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is...Cynthya P. from Indiana.

Congrats, Cynthya! You should receive your prize--a copy of Bewitched, Bothered & BeVampyre--sometime next week. Happy Reading!

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of November for information about my next contest.

Halloween Blog Party--Win Prizes!

Amy S. is hosting a Halloween Blog Party HERE. From October 10th through the end of the month a variety of authors are guest blogging. Many are giving away prizes!

I’m scheduled to guest blog on October 28th and will be giving away a pdf download of my novella Finding Passion.

Come and join the party!

The Raven Halloween Hunt

Click HERE to play

Contest/Drawing! Tell Me Your Turn-offs

When you were dating, what thing(s) could a person do that would make you move them from the category of "I might like to date them/continue dating them" to the "Never in this lifetime would I date them/go on another date with them" category?

Here are a few of mine:
** constant bragging
** making critical/belittling remarks about others that are uncalled for
** being self-centered
You know the type--it’s all about them. Apparently as children they never learned that the world doesn’t revolve around them.
** being judgmental
I think we’re all judgmental to some degree, but some people take it to the extreme

Leave a comment on this post and tell me your turn-offs!

As an incentive, everyone who replies will be entered into a drawing for a copy of Bewitched, Bothered & BeVampyre. Since we celebrate Halloween this month, I though a book containing witches, vampires, shifters, etc, would make a very appropriate prize :) This book is a collection of short stories by twenty authors, including Gena Showalter, PC Cast, Susan Grant, MaryJanice Davidson, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Rachel Carrington, and more.

You have until October 20th to leave a comment. On October 21st, I will choose one winner at random. Be aware that if you are the winner, your name and state (or country) of residency will be posted on my blog and website.

I DO need your email address so I can contact you in the event that you win the drawing. If I can backtrack and locate an address for you (for example, an email address listed on blogger), then that’s wonderful. If not, then you need to send your email address, along with a copy of your post, to pamelatyner@hotmail.com The winner will be notified by email and will have one week to reply. If there's no reply after seven days a new winner will be drawn.

Supply And Demand

One of the basic laws of supply and demand is: when demand is greater than supply, prices rise.

Earlier this month, I was looking to purchase a paperback copy of Bewitched, Bothered & BeVampyred. This book is no longer in print, because the publisher, Triskelion Publishing, has recently gone out of business (bankruptcy). However, I hoped that I would be able to find a bookseller that still had a new copy available at a reasonable price. Thankfully, I did.

But, I was shocked at the prices some are charging for this book. $50, $75, $100, all the way up to $200. Supply and demand in action, I guess. A demand for the book + zero new supply = outrageous prices. Sadly, the authors won't see a penny of those increased prices. Or actually, the Red Cross won't see a penny, because 100% of the authors' royalties were to be donated to the Red Cross.

Why I was looking for this book? Come back tomorrow and find out!

Banned Books Week: September 29–October 6, 2007

This event is held each year to remind Americans not to take their freedom to read for granted.

If you’d like to read about my personal experience regarding a banned book, Click HERE to read my previous post on the subject.

Because I Got High

Last night my family saw the movie Disturbia. #2 son actually chose the movie, but I thought it was pretty good. There’s a song in the movie that got stuck in my head (I hate it when that happens!). So all day, I’ve been singing:

I was gonna clean my room until I got high
I was gonna get up and find the broom but then I got high
My room is still messed up and I know why
cause I got high
cause I got high
cause I got high

This was the only part of the song I knew, and I was sick of just singing the same few lines over and over again, so I looked the lyrics up on the Internet. I figured if I was going to sing it, I might as well sing the whole song.

As I was reading--okay, actually I was singing--the lyrics, I was thinking, This is kind of a depressing song. But maybe it will make kids think twice about lighting up. And since I’m always looking for ways to drive home my don’t do drugs, it will screw up your life message with my kids, I was thinking that discussing this song with them might be a good way to reemphasize the point.

And then I got to this part:

I was gonna make love to you but then I got high
I was gonna eat yo p*ssy too but then I got high
now I'm jacking off and I know why
cause I got high

Oh, my! Well, I sure won’t be discussing that part of the song with them!

If you’re interested in reading the lyrics, you can do that HERE.

Average Number Of Sexual Partners And Throat Cancer

According to this article, based on data collected from 1999 to 2002 for the National Center for Health Statistics:

The median number of lifetime female sexual partners for men was seven; the median number of male partners for women was four.

Four? Four?

I’m sure there are plenty of women who have had four or less partners, but on average...? Well, in this day and age, that number just seems kind of low to me.

But, I guess it’s an especially good thing for these women that they’ve had a low number of sexual partners, since according to this article:

People who had one to five oral-sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity – and those with more than five oral-sex partners had a 250% increased risk.

Which brings to mind this question--when participating in the survey for the National Center for Health Statistics, did these women take the Bill Clinton approach…it’s not sex unless actual penetration is involved?

Perception Of Beauty

This is a video from Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty. Take a peek. It's very interesting to say the least.



You can find out more about Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty, by clicking HERE.

Great Review for Finding Passion!

Valerie at Rites of Romance Reviews gave Finding Passion 4 Lyres!

She said:

For as short as the story was it had all the right stuff. The plot, flow, content and conclusion were all done clearly and smoothly.

This is a great quick little read!


If you’d like to read the entire review, click HERE to visit RoR's website and download the August issue of their ezine. In addition to reviews, the ezine also includes interviews, articles, and other goodies.

I'm On Fire!

Well, it feels that way anyway.

#2 son had baseball games yesterday. Yes, gameS. Two of them, back-to-back. So I spent four hours sitting in the blistering sun...90+ degrees (a full 10 degrees above normal for this time of year), no shade, no breeze...I was melting!

And now, I’m sunburned. My skin feels like it’s on fire.

On the plus side, son’s team did win both games!

Two Contests That May Interest You :)

CONTEST #1

Fellow North Carolina author (and critique partner :) Nicole North is celebrating her first sale, a novella called "Devil in a Kilt" to Red Sage Publishing for a Secrets anthology, by holding a contest.

What is the prize? Two winners will get to choose 2 books each from a list of 10 books in different subgenres (historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, chick lit, paranormal, etc).

How to enter? There are two ways. You can enter by answering the question "What's worn under a kilt?" which is posted at her blog, or by joining her Yahoo newsletter mailing list. Do both and be entered twice!

Click HERE to visit Nicole's blog all the details.

The contest runs through the end of September.


CONTEST #2

Author Linda Warren is celebrating the release of Adopted Son, by holding a contest through the end of October. There will be four winners.

The prizes are:
**Texas Ranger Teddy Bear (a Wilde & Wolly Bear especially made by Terry Spear, who in addition, to being a talented bear creator, is a fabulous author, and another one of my critique partners :)
**Handmade Baby Quilt made by Marlene Urso
**Cowboy Jewelry in a Red Boot
**a stuffed dog that barks

Click HERE to visit Linda’s website for all the details.

The Winner Is...

A huge thanks to everyone who entered my September contest! I received over 50 entries.

I had my hubby draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is....Denise M. from Nebraska.

Congrats, Denise! You should receive your prize--an assortment of some yummy chocolates--sometime next week. Enjoy!

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of October for information about my next contest, as well as information about a few special Halloween activities that I’ll be participating in.

Winning Wednesdays at Whisper Your Fantasies Group

On September 12th, Whispers Publishing will begin Winning Wednesdays.

The Whispers' authors will pop into the Whisper Your Fantasies Group throughout the day and tell you something about themselves which is not posted on their website. At the end of the day, all readers will have until Friday to gather up all the responses and e-mail them (at an address provided at the group) for a chance to win some prizes.

If you're not already a member of the group, join now by sending a blank e-mail to: whispersauthors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

We hope to see you there!

September Contest (ends 09/20/07)--Win Chocolate!

This month I’m celebrating my first year as a published author. In September 2006, my debut book, Her Protector, was released from New Concepts Publishing. I was extremely pleased with the reception of this book. It received some excellent reviews, including a 'recommended read' from Rites of Romance Reviews. It also received the 'Best First eBook of 2006' award from EcataRomance.

So, since I’m celebrating--and what’s a celebration without chocolate--the winner of my September contest will receive an assortment of some of my favorite kinds of chocolate (includes Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares, Lindt Lindor Truffles, and a Godiva Chocolate Bar).

Contest entry will require reading the blurb and a short excerpt from Her Protector, and correctly answering two brief questions.

The contest will run through September 20, 2007. One entry per person please.

Click HERE to visit my website, then click on the contest button for the full details.

Good luck!

My First Reviews for Finding Passion

Brenda at The Romance Studio gave Finding Passion 4 & 1/2 hearts!

Here’s what she had to say:

This short story is packed with explosive sexual situations and tear-inducing arguments. There are few other characters involved; however, the couple managed to captivate this audience with their multiple circumstances that helped them work on the disastrous state of their marriage. Even though short in words, the plot is solid and believable. It was a quick story which is perfect for a lunch hour read.

Ms. Pamela Tyner has written a great book which reminds us how important communication is to any type relationship. I recommend you read Finding Passion as quickly as possible.

Click HERE to read the entire review.



I also received a review from Maura at Coffee Time Romance. Here's what she had to say:

This is a sensual story of a couple at a crossroads. Long working hours and her family have torn the two apart until they are more like roommates than a married couple.

...this is a very well written and entertaining story.

Click HERE to read the entire review.

Want Some Free Bookmarks?

I received my bookmarks today for both Finding Passion and Her Protector. I’m eager to give some away! All you have to do is send your name and address to pamelatyner@hotmail.com. Please put 'bookmarks' in the subject line.

What I'm Reading

Currently Reading: Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Why I chose to read it: A few months ago I read Ain't She Sweet? by Ms. Phillips, and at the back of the book was a excerpt for Match Me If You Can. I loved the excerpt, so I bought the book.



Reading Next: A Hunger like No Other by Kresley Cole

Why I chose to read it: Someone gave me this book almost a year ago, and it’s been sitting in my to-be-read stack ever since (yes, that's a long time, but my to-be-read stack is huge). Recently I saw that it won the 2007 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance, and that convinced me to move it to the top of the stack.

It's Not Public Domain?

On this day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous "I have a dream" speech in Washington, DC, which is considered by many (myself included) to be one of the greatest speeches in American history.

In honor of that, I had hoped to post a video of the speech in its entirety, but I nixed that plan after reading THIS article (The Washington Post, January 15, 2006) which states that Dr. King’s speeches are not public domain. They are owned by his family and "those who want to hear or use the speech in its entirety must buy a copy sanctioned by the King family, which receives the proceeds."

I can certainly understand that the family doesn’t want others to make money off of Dr. King’s speeches, but by denying people the right to even hear them (unless they pay for it)...well, there’s an entire generation of kids who may never hear this very powerful, inspiring speech (although they might hear small portions of it).

I am not criticizing the family for their decision, because I have no right to do that. The situation just makes me sad. And I have to wonder if maybe Dr. King himself would have been sadden by it. Personally, I think he might have been.

Something To Make You Smile

A man and his wife were working in their garden. As she was bent over pulling some weeds, he said, "Your butt’s getting huge. I bet it’s bigger than the barbecue."

With that, he proceeded to get a measuring tape and measured the grill. Then he went over to where his wife was working and measured her rear. "I was right, your butt is two inches wider than the barbecue!"

The woman chose to ignore her husband, and she continued with her work.

Later that night in bed, the husband felt a little frisky. He cuddled up to his wife and started to kiss her neck. She looked over her shoulder at him and said, "If you think I'm going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little weenie, you better think again."

Guess What I Did Today....

Here’s a hint:



This was my first experience with this procedure, and while it wasn’t pleasant, it wasn’t nearly as horrible as I had imagined it would be.

If you’re over 39, and haven’t gotten yours yet this year, call and schedule it, because it is important to do. Besides, if I had to go through it, you should too :)

Percentage Who Agree/Disagree With My Pet Peeve

I thought you might be interested in knowing how many people agreed/disagreed with my pet peeve.

For those who didn’t read the interview (and go read it!), when asked if I have any pet peeves, my reply was: "I have a few, but my biggest one these days is when someone uses text message spelling, such as 'u' for 'you', in anything other than a text message. It just makes me cringe."

In order to enter my August contest, people had to tell me if this is also one of their pet peeves. They could either state simply 'I agree' or 'it doesn't bother me' or they could elaborate on their answer. For those who elaborated, thank you! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the issue.

61% stated that they also dislike it (although maybe not to the degree that I do). 39% stated that it doesn’t bother them at all.

So, I was pondering why this might bother some and not others. I think:
1) Maybe it’s an age issue. Maybe those who are younger find it more acceptable, because it’s pretty much always been the norm. Note: I’m not saying I’m old! But, I didn’t grow up in the age of text messaging either.
2) Maybe those who use text message abbreviations more often aren’t bothered by it, because it’s easier for them to read. Part of my frustration is that it takes me 5 minutes to decipher something that I could read in 1 minute if all the words were spelled properly.
3) Maybe I’m just anal :) It could have something to do with the fact that as a writer I have to spell correctly.

At any rate, I suppose I’d better learn to get used to it, because I don’t think this trend will disappear anytime in the near future.

August Contest Winner/Reminder for RJ Summer Fantasy Contest

I received over 40 entries for my August contest. A huge thanks to everyone who entered!

I had my youngest son draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is....Dawn M. from the UK.

Dawn won a Fictionwise gift certificate for a download of my novella Finding Passion from Whispers Publishing AND a download of a second novella from Whispers Publishing of her choice. She chose the book Derailed by Rhiannon Neeley.

Congrats, Dawn! I hope you enjoy the books.

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of September for information about my next contest.

In the meantime, don’t forget about the Romance Junkies Summer Fantasy Contest that I’m participating in. You can find details about it by visiting my website HERE and clicking on the contest link. The last date for entries is August 31st.

August Contest (ends 08/20/07)

The winner of my August contest will receive a gift certificate from Fictionwise (you must have a Fictionwise account, but it’s free and easy to set up) for a download of my novella Finding Passion from Whispers Publishing AND a download of a second novella from Whispers Publishing of their choice.

Here’s how you can be entered in the drawing:
When Cassandra from Coffee Time Romance interviewed me, she asked if I have any pet peeves. Send me an email and tell me what I said is my biggest pet peeve these days, and also tell me if it’s one of yours. A simple "I agree" or "it doesn’t bother me" will suffice, but please feel free to expand on your answer if you wish.

Visit my website HERE for more details. Please note that you must be 18 or older to enter the contest!

The contest will run through August 20th, 2007.

Good luck!

Two Interviews!

I was excited this month to do my very first author interview with Cassandra at Coffee Time Romance. You can find the interview HERE.

My excitement was then doubled when I did a second interview with Tammy at Fallen Angel Reviews. You can find that interview HERE.

Huge thanks to both Coffee Time Romance and Fallen Angel Reviews!

Need Glasses?

I was surfing the internet recently, and I came across this video. It made me smile, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Warning: Do not play in the presence of children!

Shelfari--A Cool Website for Readers

Have you heard about this website: www.shelfari.com

I recently created a page over there, which you can find here: www.shelfari.com/pamelatyner

This is a really cool website. You can create a bookshelf and add books to it that you’ve read or that you want to read. If you wish, you can write comments/reviews for the books. You can also find other members with the same book(s) on their shelf, so you can talk to them about the book(s) and/or browse their shelf to see other books they liked (similar reading taste and all that).

My only complaint about it is that you can’t add ebooks to your bookshelf, but I’m hoping they will add that capability soon.

If you’re a reader and you haven’t checked this site out yet, then you really should :) And if you join, please feel free to add me as a friend!

Darwin Award Nominee

For those who aren't familiar with the Darwin Awards: Named in honor of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it.

Here's one of the 2007 Darwin Award Nominees:

(20 June 2007, South Carolina) An hour before sunrise, a 21 year-old couple was found naked in the road by a passing cabbie. The unconscious, injured pair was taken to the nearest hospital where, despite treatment, they died without regaining consciousness. Authorities were at a loss to explain what had happened. There were no witnesses, no trace of clothing, and no wrecked cars or motorcycles.

Investigators eventually found a clue high on the roof of a nearby building: two sets of neatly folded clothes, and nothing else. There was no indication of foul play, only of foreplay. "It appears as if the two individuals have accidentally fallen off the roof," Sgt. Florence McCants said.

Safe sex takes on a whole new meaning when you are perched on the edge of a pyramid-shaped metal roof! This is a true Darwin Award trifecta: TWO people die, WHILE in the act of procreation, due to an ASTONISHINGLY poor decision. Bottom line: If you put yourself in a precarious "position" at the edge of the roof, you may well find yourself coming and going at the same time.

< shaking head at the stupidity of some people >

If you'd like to read more about the Darwin Awards, click HERE.

I Got Tagged

I got tagged by Tara Nichols. Thanks, lady ;)

I'm supposed to list 8 facts/hobbies about myself, so here we go...

1) I have a thing for cowboys, and I’m sure most people have already guessed that about me.

2) I also have a thing for cops. I think it’s the whole 'serve and protect' pledge ;)

3) I love broccoli.

4) Heights make me extremely uneasy and nervous.

5) Other than my wedding ring and watch, I rarely wear jewelry.

6) I dislike horror movies/books, because I don’t enjoy being scared. In other words--I’m a big chicken.

7) I’m practically computer illiterate. If it requires anything beyond very basic knowledge, it takes me forever to figure it out.

8) Every time I see a kid with their pants hanging halfway down their butt, I have this urge to go pull them up. Thankfully, so far, I’ve been able to resist doing it.

Failed Attempt at Making a Book Trailer

I should have been writing today. Instead, I spent the day trying to create a book trailer. I spent a good amount of time messing around with this--looking for photos to use, learning how to use Movie Maker (which I knew nothing about this morning), etc. I learned a good bit, but the end result...not too impressive.

Someday when I have more time, I may go back and work on it some more.

America's Got Talent--Part Two

Three of the four contestants that I liked from last week’s show are going on! The cowboy didn’t make it :(

Here’s who I liked from this week:


Fault Line
I thought they were great.



Cas Haley
Great voice, and he’s just so darn likable.



Jason Pritchett
I think he should have chosen a different song, but he can definitely sing, and he has one hell of a stage presence.



The Duttons
Yes, I liked these people!



Southern Girls
Personally, I didn't like the song that they choose, but they have beautiful voices.

Readers vs Listeners

Was anyone standing in line at midnight waiting for the Harry Potter book to go on sale? I wasn't this time--we waited until the next day to go pick it up--but we did it when the last book came out.

But speaking of Harry...

Not long ago, I had a child tell me that he had read all the Harry Potter books. It certainly appeared that he had because he knew the books (the characters, the plots, etc). Later I mentioned it to his mother, and she told me that he hadn’t actually read the books, he had listened to the audiobooks. In fact, he was seeing a reading tutor because he was struggling in school due to the fact that his reading skills were so far below grade level.

Which brings me to this question: Are you a 'reader' if instead of actually reading a book you listen to the audiobook?

Personally, I think there is a big difference between the two, especially where children are concerned. Now for an adult who CAN read...listen away. But kids need to be reading. That’s just my personal opinion, of course.

Now with all that said, let me admit to two things:

1) I’ve only read two of the Harry Potter books, and I struggled to get through them. However, I love the movies. I like the characters, I like the plots, I think they’re wonderful stories. But I don’t like the author’s writing style. Of course, there are millions of people in the world who do :) #1 Son is the Harry Potter reader in our family. He’s read each book numerous times--to the point where I have to keep replacing them because they fall apart. So, he reads the books and then tells me what happened.

2) I’ve never listened to an audiobook. I just prefer reading. People have suggested listening to them in the car, but in the car I enjoy listening to music, since that’s basically the only time I do listen to music. However, I am considering buying an audiobook and trying it.

Get Your Facts Straight!

I try not to blog about political type issues, although it’s hard, because I do try to stay informed about current topics, and I love to discuss these issues with others. However, I’m not sure that my blog is an appropriate place to talk about these things.

Today however, I’m going to talk (somewhat) about a legal case. But I’m going to try to talk about it without getting specific, because this post is not really about the case itself, but about people forming opinions without having all the facts.

There is a legal case that has received a good bit of attention over the past few years. There’s been a recent development that’s once again put it in the media spotlight. Recently, I was somewhere where a group of people were discussing this case, and they were outraged by what they considered an injustice. I mean these people were pissed. I almost expected one of them to say, "Let’s drive down to (such-and-such state), picket in the street, and start a riot!"

During the course of the conversation, one of them said, "According the law, xxx." And they were completely wrong. The law does not say xxx, it says zzz (boy, it’s hard to talk about this without giving specifics!). One issue which they had failed to take into account--the laws do vary somewhat by state. And then it became apparent that they were missing important pieces of information about the case. Information that had the potential to change everything.

I’m a firm believer in everyone’s right to have an opinion, even if their opinion is in direct contrast with my own :) But, please get your facts straight. Make an effort to obtain all the facts, and the correct facts, before you form an opinion.

And in this case, obtaining all the facts wasn’t that difficult because it’s been reported in the media many times. All they had to do was goggle it and take the time to study it.

America's Got Talent

I’m not a big TV watcher. When I do watch TV, I rarely watch the 'talent' shows, because I don’t particularly care for them. Although, I did watch one episode of American Idol last year, because I was curious about Sanjaya--it seemed like everybody was talking about him.

But I have been watching America’s Got Talent. Want to know who I liked in last week’s show?


The Glamazons

I LOVE this group. They're very talented ladies, and I love their confidence and their attitude.



Julienne Irwin

This young lady has an incredible raw, natural talent. On top of that, she is absolutely adorable.



Sideswipe

These guys are just plain fun.



Johnny Lonestar

Yes, I liked the cowboy :) I think his act is very entertaining, and I love his smile.


If you've been watching this show, who do you like?

The Winner Is….

A huge thanks to everyone who entered my July contest!

I had my hubby draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is....Tara W.

Congrats, Tara! I have a Passion for Women by Elizabeth Taylor Gift Set to be mailed to you. I sent you an email requesting your address. You have one week to respond.

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of August for information about my next contest.

July Contest (ends 07/20/07)

To celebrate the release of my novella, Finding Passion, the winner of my July contest will receive a Passion for Women by Elizabeth Taylor 2 Piece Gift Set, which includes 1.5 oz Passion Eau de Toilette Spray & 6.8 oz Body Lotion.

To be entered in the drawing, just send me an email and tell me the name of the hero and heroine of Finding Passion (the answer can be found on my website).

The contest will run through July 20th, 2007.

Visit my website HERE and click on the contest page for all the details.

Good luck!

And don’t forget about the Romance Junkies Summer Fantasy Contest which I’m participating in. You will find details about that on my contest page as well.

Interesting Photo

Don't you think?

What I'm Reading

Mysteria, with stories by P.C. Cast, MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant and Gena Showalter

Favorite Summer Quote

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken." -- James Dent

But, I’d have to add a few additional things to the list of what makes a perfect summer day: a good book, a quiet place to read, and a pitcher of sweet tea.

Is there anything you would add to the list?

Check Out Michelle Pillow’s Blog!

For all kinds of fun and interesting information, check out author Michelle Pillow’s blog.

Her blog schedule and events include:

Movie Monday
*self-explanatory :)

Pillow Talk Tuesdays
*features the best of what’s happening out in romance blogland, current contests in the romance novel world, etc.

Frivolous Friday Guest Blogs
*features guest blogger articles on subjects such as ‘useless knowledge’, trivia, odd historical tidbits, unusual hobbies, etc.

Get to Talkin' Monthly Contest
*readers who leave comments on blog posts during the month are entered into a drawing for a prize

Click HERE to visit Michelle’s blog and join in on all the fun!

SAT

I’m a mom, and like all moms I have to brag when my children accomplish something that’s especially brilliant, so please indulge me :)

#1 son took the SAT last month, and we recently got the scores back. For those of you who haven’t taken the SAT in a while (like me) and may have forgotten how it works—the student is tested in three sections: math, critical reading, and writing. Each section is scored individually, and a perfect score in each section is 800.

Son’s score on the math section was...*drum roll, please*...780!

What can I say? The kid is a little mathematical whiz. Okay, maybe not, I don’t really know what percentage of students score a 780 or above, but I couldn’t have done it. Son inherited his math abilities from his father.

Apparently, he didn’t inherit any abilities from me, because his scores on the reading and writing sections...well, they weren't pretty. But thankfully, he can retake it.

Since I’m talking about the SAT, let me state for the record that I very much dislike the new essay portion of it (which was added to the test in 2005).

I won’t say what the prompt was on Son’s SAT (because I don’t know if it’s ‘allowed’), but I will say that it was very “philosophical”. It’s basically a personal opinion, but it’s something that you really have to put some thought into, and of course, you have to be able to support your position. And the students are only give 25 minutes to write this essay. That’s not nearly enough time. Son didn’t even finish his.

Even as an adult who writes on a daily basis, and who has an entire lifetime of knowledge and experiences to drawn upon, I’m not sure that I could have completed this essay in 25 minutes. Well, maybe I could have, but I fear it would have been very lacking in quality. It would have taken me the first 10 minutes just to get my thoughts together. And forget having time to revise.

I think the kids are at a huge disadvantage with this small time allotment, and it’s very frustrating for them.

How are kids taught to write? They’re taught to write a rough draft, and then revise it (several times usually). They’re not taught how to write an essay in 25 minutes. And frankly, I don't think they should be taught how to write an essay in 25 minutes. An essay should be well thought out and have gone through at least one revision.

Adequate writing skills are a necessity in life. It’s important. But I don't think that the SAT essay is giving colleges a true indication of a student’s writing ability. The College Board seriously needs to rethink this. But that’s just my personal opinion.

Romance Junkies Summer Fantasy Contest

I’m participating in the Romance Junkies Summer Fantasy Contest.

To enter, click HERE. There are three postcards at the bottom of the page. Click on a postcard and then run your mouse over it to click for the contests. Be aware, there are several different contests on each postcard (clicking on different sections of the card will go into different contests), so look for all of them!

Hint: You will find my contest page on postcard #3 :)

The winner of my contest will receive a pdf download of my novella FINDING PASSION and bag of Dove chocolate candies.

The contest ends August 31st.

Good luck!

The Winners are...

I had over 70 entries in my June (Stock Up On Summer Reading Material) blog contest/drawing. A huge thanks to everyone who participated!

I had my sons draw two names out of the hat, and the winners are:

Prize #1 (includes books by Ann Jacobs, Nina Bangs, and Barbara McCauley):
Tammy W. from North Carolina

Prize #2 (includes books by Mackenzie McKade, Jennifer Crusie/Bob Mayer, and Cindi Myers):
Jodi S. from California

Congrats, ladies! Happy reading!

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of July for information about my next contest.

Finding Passion is Available for Purchase!

Release day is here! I'm so excited :)

Click HERE to purchase.

Release Date

I got a release date for my novella. Finding Passion will be released June 15th from Whispers Publishing! Click HERE for more information about the book.

June Contest--Stock Up On Summer Reading Material!

Our neighborhood pool opened this past weekend, and for me that means...time to stock up on the summer reading material. So, as a prize for my June contest, I thought I’d help YOU stock up on reading material.

I visited my local bookstores and picked up some books by some of my favorite authors. I had so much fun shopping, I went a little overboard in my purchases, so I’m having TWO winners this month, and each winner will receive multiple books.

Take a look at what you can win:

Prize #1:
A Mutual Favor by Ann Jacobs (Ellora’s Cave)
Wicked Pleasure by Nina Bangs (Berkley Sensation)
Blackhawk’s Affair by Barbara McCauley (Silhouette Desire)

Prize #2:
Fallon’s Revenge by Mackenzie McKade (Samhain Publishing)
Don’t Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (St. Martin’s)
The Man Tamer by Cindi Myers (Harlequin Blaze)

How do you enter? Just leave a comment on any post on my blog. Everyone who leaves a comment between June 1st and June 20th will be entered into the drawing. Want to increase your chances of winning? Leave a comment on more than one post. Your name will go into the hat for each comment that you leave up to three.

I DO need your email address so I can contact you in the event that you win. If I can backtrack and locate an address for you (for example, an email address listed on blogger), then that’s wonderful. If not, then you need to send your email address, along with a copy of your post, to pamelatyner@hotmail.com.

On June 21st I will draw two winners. They will be notified by email and will have one week to reply and provide their mailing address. If there's no reply after seven days a new winner will be drawn. Be aware that by entering this contest you are giving me permission to post your name and state (or country) of residency on my website and blog.

The only stipulation--You must be 18 or older to enter the contest!

Good luck!

Oh, and while I have your attention…If you would like to be placed on a mailing list to be advised of my upcoming releases (I have a new book coming out soon!) and events, just send an email to pamelatyner@hotmail.com with the subject line "Mailing List".

Reminder! Visit my Ebooks Blog for New Release/Contest Info

Don’t forget to check my Ebooks Blog to find information about a variety of Epublished authors’ new releases and contests. Just click HERE

Something To Make You Smile

Tattoos--Sexy or Not?

and in the small there of your back
your jeans are playing peek a boo
I’d like to see the other half
of your butterfly tattoo

Those are part of the lyrics of the song "Ticks" by Brad Paisley. If you haven’t heard this song, seek it out. It is too cute! Just be aware that it is a country song, so if you have an aversion to country music…

So, my question of the day is: What’s your opinion on tattoos? Sexy or not?

I think they’re sexy, provided that they’re not in places that aren’t normally covered by clothing (face, hands, etc), they aren’t huge, and a person doesn’t have an excessive number of tattoos (one or two is plenty). That’s just my opinion though.

I have a female character in a story I’m working on that I want to give a tattoo. She’s very conservative, and anyone who knows her would be surprised to find out that she has one. So, it needs to be something small and in a place where people wouldn’t normally see it. If you have any suggestions, feel free to toss them out there!

The Definition of Cheating?

I had a discussion with some girlfriends recently about cheating, and it led to this question: What is the definition of cheating?

Obviously, if a couple has a monogamous relationship, and one has physical sexual contact with someone other than their partner, that’s cheating. And sexual contact is not limited merely to intercourse, despite what some (a certain former president) may try to claim.

But what about non-contact? What about cybersex or phonesex? Although there’s no actual contact between the people, in my opinion--and I think in the opinion of most people--it’s still very much cheating. It’s a conversation with someone other than your partner in which the sole purpose is to become sexually aroused, and maybe even find some sexual release, even if you’re finding that by...taking matters into your own hands .

So, that brings us to emotional cheating--an emotional affair. I have to admit that I have a problem understanding this concept. A married woman may have a male friend that she feels especially close to--maybe because they share similar values, beliefs, views, backgrounds, experiences, etc. She may spend quite a bit of time with him, because she enjoys his company. She may value his opinion, and therefore seek advice from him. She may discuss (non-sexual) things with him that she doesn’t discuss with her partner--maybe because her partner has no interest in those things. She may even occasionally lean on him a little bit for emotional support. She may even be a little physically attracted to him. The list of 'she may' could go on and on. BUT, is it actually cheating, provided that there’s no sexual contact/sexual talk? I struggle with seeing how it could be. Of course, I’m not saying it couldn’t become cheating. And if one weren’t careful/aware of the situation and the possible dangers/totally committed to their partner, it could become cheating very easily.

So, what’s your opinion? What is the definition of cheating?

Father and Son Reunion

I saw this very touching video recently, and I thought it would be very appropriate to share on Memorial Day.

Favorite Contest Prize

I’m interested in hearing what your favorite contest prizes are. Books? Gift Certificates (and if so, for which stores)? Chocolate/candy? Or other items, such as candles, body lotion, etc? Please tell me!

Share Your Favorite Movie Titles

Since I was talking about a movie yesterday...

A few weeks ago I was at the store, and as I walked past the movie section, I thought, "A movie might make a great prize for one of my monthly contest". But which one to give away...?

So, I’d like to hear what some of your favorite movies are. It can be any genre (romance, comedy, drama, etc). Tell me!

Movies/Books With Multiple Love Interest for Hero/Heroine

This weekend the movie Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon was on TV. I enjoyed the movie a great deal, but I also found it a little frustrating, because the heroine had two love interest. Both were great guys, and I could have easily pictured her being happy with either one of them. So, I didn’t know who to root for. Then I was afraid to root for anyone, because what if she ended up with the other guy? Then I would have been disappointed.

I'm wondering if others feel this way. When you see a movie or read a book where there are multiple love interest (for the hero or heroine), do you worry about being disappointed if you root for the wrong person? Or do you just sit back and enjoy the ride?

The Winner is...

Thanks to everyone who entered my May contest. I had over 50 entries. I was excited to see so many people interested in winning a copy of book!

I had my oldest son draw a name out of the hat, and the winner of the download of Her Protector is....Earlene G. from Kansas.

Congrats, Earlene! I hope you enjoy the book.

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of June for information about my next contest. I’m planning something special, so you will not want to miss it!

Cover for FINDING PASSION

Look at what I got :) Many thanks to the cover artist, Rene Walden!

For All the Moms

May Contest (ends 05/20/07)

In celebration of Her Protector receiving the Ecataromance Best First ebook of 2006 award, the winner of my May contest will receive a download of this book.

The contest will run through May 20th, 2007.

To be entered, just send me an email and tell me the name of the hero and heroine of the book (the answer can be found on my website).

Visit my website HERE and click on the contest page for all the details.

Good luck!

Hero Material

Since the caption is coming through small and hard to read on here...

Comforting Embrace

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt, of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group at Balad, Iraq, cradles a young girl as they both sleep in the hospital. The girl’s entire family was executed by insurgents; the killers shot her in the head as well. The girl received treatment at the U.S. military hospital in Balad, but cries and moans often. According to nurses at the facility, Gebhardt is the only one who can calm down the girl, so he has spent the last several nights holding her while they both sleep in a chair.

Is this guy hero material or what?

By the way, I did check this out on Snopes.Com, and it is true. It occured in October 2006.

Something to Make You Smile

A man and his wife were sitting at a table at his ten-year high school reunion, and he kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

The wife asked, "Do you know her?"

"Yes," he sighed. "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since."

"My God!" said his wife. "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"

New Contract!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve received an offer from Whispers Publishing for my novella, Finding Passion. Whispers has some wonderful authors, and I’m so proud to be a part of their family :)

I’ll be sharing more information as soon as it’s available. But in the meantime, I’m sure you’re all dieing to know what the story is about, so...

Finding Passion by Pamela Tyner
Coming Soon from Whispers Publishing

Nathan Collins is stunned when he’s served with divorce papers...almost as stunned as he’d been three weeks prior when his wife had suddenly asked him to move out of the house. At the time, Susan had proposed a thirty-day separation followed by marriage counseling. Nathan intends to hold her to that agreement.

He moves from stunned to pissed when Susan attempts to use blackmail as a means to obtain his signature on the papers. Damned if he’ll be blackmailed into anything, especially when he’s innocent of the accusations. He’d never cheat on his wife.

When an unexpected storm and a flooded road strand them together for the weekend, neither suspects that it will lead to a discovery of secret desires and fantasy fulfillment. But will their renewed passion be enough to revive their fledgling marriage? Despite Nathan’s vehement denial, Susan has some pretty convincing evidence of his extramarital activities.

My Book Won an Award!

I found out last week that my book, Her Protector, won the Ecataromance Best First ebook of 2006 award.

How cool is that? I’m still grinning about it :)

This is an award that’s voted on by the readers, so THANK YOU! I’m so grateful to you and feel very honored to receive this award.

Find Me on Bebo

Pamela Tynerhttp://pamelatyner.bebo.com/

Her Protector by Pamela Tyner http://her-protector.bebo.com/

The Winner is...

Thanks to everyone who entered my April contest. I had my youngest son draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is...Sherry H. from Arkansas.

Congrats, Sherry! Your prize--a beautiful butterfuly windchime--will go out in the mail in the next few days.

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of May for information about my next contest.

NCP Spring Scavenger Hunt

In celebration of spring and to show our appreciation for our readers, New Concepts authors are holding a Spring Scavenger Hunt exclusively for members of the New Concepts Readers and Authors Yahoo group.

Not a member of the group? Just click here to join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/new_concepts_pub/join

Perks of membership include advance excerpts, members only contests, announcement of new titles, and one-on-one contact with authors.

The details of the Spring Scavenger Hunt will be announced April 15th on the NCP Readers and Authors group. The last date for entry is April 30th. There will be SIX fabulous prize packages awarded. Each package will contain numerous goodies, including several NCP books. Please come and join in the fun!

April Contest (ends 04/20/07)--Win a Butterfly Windchime

In celebration of spring, the winner of my April contest will receive a beautiful butterfly windchime.

The contest will run through April 20th, 2007.

To be entered, just send me an email and tell me which review site gave my book, Her Protector, a 'Recommended Read' (the answer can be found on my website).

Visit my website HERE and click on the contest page for all the details.

Good luck!

Another Wonderful Review for HER PROTECTOR

Here's what Kelly at Love Bites Romance Reviews had to say about HER PROTECTOR:

Pamela Tyner handles the subject of domestic abuse wonderfully in Her Protector. As the story progresses, the reader witnesses the transformation of Tricia as she goes from untrusting and bitter, to strong and hopeful. Her Protector kept me riveted from page-one. In fact, I wish it would have been longer so I could explore the characters more in-depth. When a book leaves the reader wanting more, you know it’s a good book! The ending was satisfying, the characters well-developed, and the plot well-paced. I look forward to future stories by Pamela.

Click HERE to read the entire review.

What I'm Reading

Ain’t She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Results of Poll

Thank you to all who participated in the "what activity do you think is more romantic" poll. There were 42 votes. The results were:

Cuddling by the fireplace: 48% of the vote
Slow dancing: 24% of the vote
Private picnic: 10% of the vote
Candle lit dinner for two: 7% of the vote
Walks on the beach: 7% of the vote
Flowers/gifts: 5% of the vote

My personal favorite? Slow dancing :)

The Break Up Letter

A Marine stationed in Iraq recently received a "Dear John" letter from his girlfriend back home. It read:





The young man, with hurt feelings, asked his fellow Marines for any snapshots they could spare of their girlfriends, sisters, ex-girlfriends, aunts, cousins, etc. In addition to the picture of Becky, Ricky included all the other pictures of the pretty gals he had collected from his buddies. There were 57 photos in that envelope…along with this note:

Blood Ties...I'm Hooked!

I don’t watch much TV. I have a few shows that I enjoy watching if I happen to catch them, but I don’t go out of my way to make sure I see them.

But, I've recently found the most incredible show that I will be going out of my way to ensure that I see every week.

A couple of weeks ago I happened to catch the first episode of a new series on the Lifetime channel, called Blood Ties. It’s based on a series of novels by Tanya Huff known as The Blood Books (which I haven’t read, by the way).

The main characters are:
Vicki Nelson (played by Christina Cox), a former cop turned private investigator
Mike Celluci (played by Dylan Neal), a cop who is Vicki’s ex-partner and former love interest
Henry Fitzroy (played by Kyle Schmid) who is a 450-year-old vampire...and he’s absolutely YUMMY!

After only two episodes, I’M HOOKED.

If you haven’t seen this show yet, watch it! It airs Sunday nights at 10 pm (eastern time).


Henry and Vicki

Chat Prize Winner

I had a wonderful time yesterday chatting at the Joyfully Reviewed yahoo group. Thank you to everyone who attended!

I got to share some excerpts from my book, Her Protector, as well as read some fabulous excerpts from the other New Concepts authors in attendance.

I held a contest/drawing for a download of my book, and the winner was Jenny T. from Singapore. Congrats, Jenny! I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks again to all who participated.

Which Hunk Was The Favorite?

I thought you might be interested in knowing the results of the "Favorite Hunk" Contest.

Out of the 8 choices given, the 'hunk' that received the most votes was Anthony with 20% of the vote:




Coming in a close second was Edwin with 17% of the vote:

The Winner is...

I had a total of 75 entries in my March (favorite hunk) contest. A huge thanks to everyone who participated!

I had my hubby draw a name out of the hat, and the winner is...Tammy L.

Congrats, Tammy! I have a bottle of Cherry Blossom Creamy Body Wash and Cherry Blossom Body Lotion from Bath and Body Works to be mailed to you. I sent you an email requesting your address. You have one week to respond.

Please remember to check my website and blog the beginning of April for information about my next contest.

Chatting March 23rd--Please Stop By!

On Friday March 23rd, I’ll be joining other New Concepts authors in a chat at the Joyfully Reviewed yahoo group. Please stop by to chat, read excerpts, find out about contests, etc. The fun begins at 10am.

I look forward to seeing you there!


Join here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chatting_with_Joyfully_Reviewed/

Scheduled participating authors include:
Pamela Tyner
Donna Grant
Tracy Ransom
Catherine Stang
Janet Lane Walters
Jane Toombs
Sherrill Quinn
Donna McAteer
Kally Jo Surback
Georgia Tribell
Mandy Roth
Sarah McNeal
Jacki Bentley
Marly Mathews
Buffi Becraft-Woodall
Angelica Hart

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March Contest (ends 03/20/07)--Win Goodies From Bath and Body Works!

For the month of March, I’m holding a Favorite Hunk Contest. I’ve posted pictures at my website of eight gorgeous hunks, and I want to know which one is your favorite.

The contest will run through March 20th, 2007. On March 21, 2007, I will randomly draw a winner from all entries received.

The winner will receive a bottle of Cherry Blossom Creamy Body Wash and Cherry Blossom Body Lotion (8 oz each) from Bath and Body Works.

Visit my website HERE and click on the contest page for all the details.

Good luck!

Poll: What Do You Think Is More Romantic?

I want to know what you think. Just choose the ONE that you think is the MOST romantic. The poll will be open for 30 days. Thanks!

What Do You Think Is More Romantic?

flowers/gifts candle lit dinner for two private picnic walks on the beach cuddling by the fireplace slow dancing

view results