I had something else planned for today, but then I got a bit of news that I just have to share!

I’ve just learned that I am a DOUBLE FINALIST in Phoenix Desert Rose RWA’s “Golden Quill” competition—for INHERITING HIS SECRET CHRISTMAS BABY in the Short Contemporary category & THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS in the Single Title/Mainstream category.

Whoo-hoo! :getdown

This is the second contest final for INHERITING HIS SECRET CHRISTMAS BABY, which is really kind of awesome.  I mean, really…how cool is it that my first new book with Harlequin/Silhouette Desire is getting so much positive attention?  Not to mention the fact that it’s a continuity story, with the potential to confuse readers with “pop-up” characters they might not be familiar with if they haven’t read the other books in the series.  That is truly kind of a marvel.

Then we have the very first contest final for THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.  But I’m super-psyched about it because it’s such a hard book to categorize.  Not only is it a three-in-one, but it’s “vampire lite,” so I’m never sure whether it should be entered in Paranormal or Single Title.  If I enter it in Paranormal, will it be compared to all of the dark, serious, suspenseful vampire novels out there by authors like J.R. Ward & Lara Adrian?  But if I enter it in Single Title, will judges think it’s in the wrong category & wonder why the heck it isn’t in Paranormal instead? :knock

So this is a real boon for me, & I’m delighted.  And this time, at least, I seem to have picked the right category for my funny, sexy holiday vampires. :inbed

Well, here’s one of my favorite sexy chefs—Curtis Stone. I could watch him make pasta all day…if you know what I mean. :cuffs

What should we bake today in preparation of the release of HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR?

How about some Sad Cake!

Now, despite its name, today’s recipe is not meant to depress anyone.  We only call it “sad” because it rises fairly high while baking, then caves in as it cools.  So come in off the ledge, put away those razor blades, & hand over the bottle of pills.  (If they’re the little purple ones, I could really use a few; my prescription ran out days ago. :tongue )

SAD CAKE

Ingredients:

2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2 cups Bisquick
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9” X 13”pan.
In medium bowl, stir together sugar, eggs, and oil.
Add Bisquick. Mix well.
Stir in vanilla, pecans, and coconut.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Enjoy!

And remember, the release of HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR is less than a month away now…another reason not to be sad! :chick

If you’d like to collect even more great recipes, or maybe share a few of your own, be sure to sign up for my HappyBookers YahooGroup. We’re doing a bit of a recipe swap over there, as well, to celebrate the yummy bakery angle of HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR. :flip