SquawkRadio

Dear Friends,
On August 27, 2005, I had a plane reservation for New Orleans, where I intended to do research for the contemporary romantic suspense, THIGH HIGH, that I was writing. The flight was cancelled. On August 29, Hurricane Katrina wreaked her devastation, changing the face of the city forever. I had visited New Orleans in the past, and as I watched the news, and saw the vibrant city brought low by catastrophe, I couldn’t believe that the story I had planned to be a celebration of the Big Easy might also be washed away in the flood.

Yet what a small disaster in the midst of a horrible tragedy! I stood in the parking lot of my hotel and talked to the refugees as they streamed into Houston, dazed and distraught. They had only what they had packed into their cars, and no idea if they would have homes or jobs when they returned. But although the scope of the calamity could scarcely be imagined, all those people believed that New Orleans would rise again.

So I believed, too.

Now, to my joy, New Orleans is back, changed forever, yet still with the effervescent spirit that made it the perfect and only setting for THIGH HIGH. There’s no other U.S. city that is such a melting pot of French, Spanish, Cajun and Creole influences. No other city boasts stately Garden District homes, a French Quarter filled with cool jazz on hot nights, and the wild exuberance of Mardi Gras. No other city has the food … oh, man, what food! Only New Orleans is such a unique celebration of America and its diversity.

“> So accept my invitation to visit the New Orleans and read about sensible Nessa and arrogant Mac, Nessa’s two eccentric elderly aunts, a series of quirky bank robberies, and a passion far hotter than a sultry summer night. I dedicate THIGH HIGH with affection and admiration to the resilient people of New Orleans and to the city itself.

Let’s lift a go-cup to the Big Easy. Laisse le bon temps rouler!

Sincerely,
Christina Dodd
http://www.christinadodd.com

Dear Friends,
I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day by posting a very special contest over at www.teresamedeiros.com

As you know, it’s very rare for me to give away another author’s books in my contests, but my favorite reads for 2007 were the TWILIGHT series by Stephenie Meyer, which consists (so far) of Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. They’ve been marketed as Young Adult novels, but they truly are some of the most classically romantic books I’ve read in years and I’d really love to share them with you. So I’m giving away all three books as the GRAND PRIZE in my February Contest. If you loved meeting Portia and Julian in THE VAMPIRE WHO LOVED ME, I think you’ll be equally enamored of Bella and her vampire Edward in this wonderful series.

SECOND PRIZE is an autographed copy of THE VAMPIRE WHO LOVED ME and THIRD PRIZE is an autographed copy of AFTER MIDNIGHT.

You can also check out my FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER to get all of the new scoops. 

BLOG OF THE MONTH
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m offering up the classic Squawk blog A ROMANCE WRITER’S GUIDE TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE

I wish you much love (and chocolate!) this Valentine’s Day and always!

February is here … February, the month of Valentine’s Day and love, and I’ve got a wonderful gift for you, a gift you’ve been asking for — the re-release and re-packaging of my third book, PRICELESS, a historical long out of print.

She was one of the celebrated Sirens of Ireland, a captivating creature of fiery spirit. Bronwyn Edana stunned titled society with her courageous exploits and daring adventures. Yet in nobleman Adam Keane, she met her match. From the moment they first clashed, the headstrong Bronwyn was swept away by A breathless desire. Betrothed to Adam, a man branded by his haunting past, Bronwyn soon found herself at the center of a shocking conspiracy that could rock the British realm. From the dangerous streets of London, to sweeping Boudasea Manor, she followed her most passionate dreams--and risked everything for the only man she would ever love.

Read an excerpt of PRICELESS!
http://christinadodd.com/excerpt.php?excerptid=22

Get PRICELESS from Books-a-Million:
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=3991419360587&pid=006104153X

Get PRICELESS from Barnesandnoble.com:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780061041532&itm=1

Get PRICELESS from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Priceless-Christina-Dodd/dp/006104153X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201559504&sr=1-1

Finally, I have a little something extra to hold you over until the last two books of Darkness Chosen are released this summer. I’ve got an interview with Jasha from SCENT OF DARKNESS and Rurik from TOUCH OF DARKNESS up on my website. http://christinadodd.com/para_interview.php

Enjoy!

Christina Dodd
http://www.christinadodd.com
For the wild at heart!

“Repartee is something we think of twenty-four hours too late.” — Mark Twain

To celebrate the publication of THE VAMPIRE WHO LOVED ME in Italian, Teresa will be interviewed on the Italian website “ISN’T IT ROMANTIC?” today. 

The interview is posted in Italian and English so everyone can enjoy it and anyone can comment.  (The Italian comments will be translated into English.) THE VAMPIRE WHO LOVED ME is the first paranormal historical published by Teresa’s Italian publisher Mondadori

Ciao, baby!

http://www.teresamedeiros.com

At least for a day! I’ll be guest blogging on JANUARY 7th 2008 over at www.fogcitydivas.com with my pals.  I’ll be dishing on SKINNY-DIPPING, McMansions, the craft and craftiness of writing and writers, and heroines who refuse to grow up! Please join me for a fun day in cyber San Francisco!

Dear Friend,

SKINNY-DIPPING officially arrives on your bookstore’s shelves today! Instead subtly (or, in my case, not-so-subtly) trying to entice you to get you interested in picking up a copy of my latest book, I’m going to let the reviewers do my work for you. But first, in other news, I’ll be guest author online at at RomanceNovel TV on January 10th and 11th (http://wwwromancenovel.tv/forum/viewforum.php?f=76 ) and also the online guest author at Barnes and Noble’s Romance Bookclub on January 22rd (http://www.bn.com/romance) Should you be in the neighborhood, I’ll be reading an excerpt from SKINNY-DIPPING and talking about it at the Eden Prairie Public Library on Thursday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. and would love to see some friendly faces there. And now, on to the good stuff…

THE LIBRARY JOUNAL GIVES SKINNY-DIPPING A STARRED REVIEW!

Brockway, Connie. Skinny Dipping. Onyx: Penguin Group (USA). Jan. 2008. c.432p. ISBN 978-0-451-41244-7. pap. $7.99. CONTEMPORARY
Noted primarily for her award-winning historicals, Brockway (Hot Dish) continues her successful foray into the contemporary market with this funny and quirky yet poignantly touching story that takes an obligation-averse, second-sighted heroine with an unstructured, chaotic life, pairs her with an analytical, orderly hero with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and adds a cast of delightfully offbeat characters. From the cute meet (the heroine is naked, dripping with weeds, muck, and twigs after skinny-dipping; our hero is impeccably dressed) to the satisfying conclusion, this heartwarming tale sparkles with humor and love as an extended family finally discovers the real importance of their shared lakeside vacation home. An exquisitely rendered setting, an abundance of complex family dynamics, a story that explores what it means to belong, and a beautifully developed romantic relationship guarantee the appeal of this well-crafted tale for both romance and women’s fiction fans alike. Brockway, who lives in Edina, MN, has penned another winner.

BOOK PAGES RAVES…

ROMANCE FOR GROWNUPS

There are few romance writers with the clear-sighted wit and warmth of Connie Brockway, a talent she showcases beautifully in Skinny Dipping (Onyx, $7.99, 432 pp, 978-0-451-41244-7).  Mimi Olson has dedicated her life to never getting too invested in anything, which includes people, animals, career paths, and families.  She does have a regrettable fondness for a family compound on a marsh lake in Minnesota, and is not entirely happy that the family wants to sell the place, but even that can’t rouse the unrousable Mimi.  That task is given to a geeky neighbor who has built an eyesore of a McMansion on the lakefront (named painfully for a house in The Lord of the Rings), thus ruining the view and helping drive up local real estate prices. But something happened to Mimi a year or so ago, and she seems to be sneaking up on a reckoning with herself and her past, and maybe she might even get to the point that she wants to make something of herself.  None of this has anything to do with Joe Tierney, a germaphobic, GQ ad of a business man who is as driven as Mimi is laid back.  Throw in two sets of relatives, eccentrics both old and young, and a pack of dogs, and you’ve got a rollicking, page turner of a romance about two people at midlife ready—or not—to makes some changes for love.  Funny, piercing, and highly readable.

Please do pick up a copy of SKINNY-DIPPING next time you’re out and about. Then let me know how you like it.

As always, my very best,

Connie Brockway

VIsit me over at my website at www.conniebrockway.com to see the trailer I created of my 2008 contemporary romp SKINNY-DIPPING, read an excerpt and sign up for my newsletter!
Happy surfing!