As I mentioned last week, I have finished my “Dynasties:  The Kincaids” book (#4 in the series, so watch for it!) for Harlequin Desire & turned it in on schedule.  (i.e. I met my deadline—praise the Lord! :angelme )

I cannot tell you how happy I am with the way this story turned out.  I absolutely adored Kara & Eli & even made myself sniff a couple of times toward the end while I was polishing the book.  It was just sooo sweet & romantic & sigh-worthy. :crying   Not that I’m biased or anything. *vbg*

I also get to breathe a big sigh of relief that I have once again managed to finish another book.  Oh, yes, there were doubts.  There are always doubts.  Somewhere around the middle of every book, things start to run not so smoothly, & I’m usually pretty sure the story is crap, I’ve done something horribly wrong that cannot be fixed, & there is just no way I’m ever going to finish the book on time.  Thankfully, that phase also always passes & I eventually get back to the “This story is so good.  I think I may be a literary genius!” phase. :getdown

So now that the story is on Editor C’s desk & in the pipeline to be released in April of 2012 (that’s right—mark your calendars! :doh ), I thought I would give you a sneak peek at the characters I fell in love with.

This is Kara Kincaid.  Even though her family is quite wealthy & runs the family business, Kincaid Shipping, she’s struck out on her own & started Prestige Events, where she does fabulous event planning—everything from weddings to anniversary parties to bar mitzvahs.  When the story opens, she is actually planning a wedding for her sister, Laurel Kincaid, who is engaged to…

Eli Houghton.  Oh, yes, a wrench in the works.  And sparks—lots & lots of sparks. :inbed

This is Eli Houghton.  Rich & handsome, he started out in the foster care system, but ended up a self-made millionaire with a string of luxury hotels & resorts decorating his portfolio.  When the story opens, he is engaged to Kara’s sister, Laurel…  But the heart wants what it wants, & when Laurel starts to get cold feet, Eli realizes Kara is the Kincaid sister he really wants.

Oh, gosh—goosebumps!  Have I mentioned how fantastical this story is & how much I love this couple?  I do, I do, I really do.  Which might be why it’s officially been titled ON THE VERGE OF “I DO”.

That’s right, you heard it here first, folks!  We’ve got a title & a release date, & two characters who are so perfect for each other, it’s scary! :bees

I’ll be repeating this information down the road, I’m sure, when ON THE VERGE OF “I DO” is about to hit the stands.  But for now, only my wonderful Darlings of The Dungeon get the 411 early.  Why do you think they call it a “sneak peek,” my Darlings? :wink

P.S. I’m blogging at Brava Authors today, asking for volunteers & suggestions for Paranormal Romance Reviewers/Sites that might like to review an ARC of my October Brava release, MUST LOVE VAMPIRES.  I’m also giving away an autographed ARC of MUST LOVE VAMPIRES to one lucky winner who hangs out with me at Brava Authors today, so be sure to drop by & chat!

Word of the Week:  Yard Sale Math — The act of rounding things out to the nearest nickle, dime, or quarter rather than giving or getting back exact change while paying for yard sale goods in an effort to rush off to the next yard sale.

(Coined by Moi during this year’s 100 Mile Yard Sale. :cool )

Or…

I Survived the 100 Mile Yard Sale & All I Got was This Pile of Junk

As promised, I’m ready to recap my adventures during the recent 100 Mile Yard Sale.  Don’t expect much; it was a long day, but not like I came home with a life-size cut-out of my Darling Dwayne.  Or Darling Dwayne himself.  More’s the pity. :scared

The thing I like most about yard sales…especially marathon yard sales…is that you never know what you’re going to find.  And most of it is stuff I never even knew existed!  I mean, if I had, I’d have probably bought it at full price in a regular store long ago.  I’m not at all cheap that way. :eyelashes   But then you get out there & see tables full of other people’s junk, & think, “Oh, my gosh, I didn’t know they made that.  I must have it, & I’m willing to pay a whole quarter to get it!” :kittyplay

Oh, yeah.

This year, I found oodles of stuff I don’t really need…but me likee, anyway. :claphat

Like these gorgeous bits of glassware:  a cute kitty cat tea light stand; sexy bustier mug; & kitties galore candle lamp (complete with brand new, unlit, Sweetpea-scented candle!).  What the heck I’m ever going to use them for, I have no idea.  I mean, I can’t even have glass out & about on display thanks to my very real and very destructive kittehs, but aren’t they fabulous?  I may even use them for some super-fantastic giveaway one of these days…if I can ever bring myself to part with them.  (Yeah, that’s going to take a while, so don’t start holding your breath just yet. :bart )

I also found this gorgeous lamp (which the lady doesn’t even think works & I can’t use because A.) I have no room & B.) kittehs love ribbon & little faux crystals that dangle, but for $1, who could resist?)…

A set of padded steps and a window seat for the kittehs…

A set of skull (as in skeleton skulls for Halloween) silicone ice cube trays…

A set of Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends plush toys (which again, I have zero need for, but they were brand-new & I didn’t know they existed—even included Christopher Robin, which is nearly unheard of!—so I’ll add them to my collection nonetheless)…

An ACE bandage (which you wouldn’t think I would be excited about, but I really, really am because I just got rid of a bunch that had lost their elasticity & now I’ve discovered they don’t make them right anymore; they mostly make only the stupid self-stick tape kind that I hate, so finding this was a whoo-hoo moment)…

This also seemed to be my year for picking up DVDs.  Funny thing is, whenever I love a movie, I buy it on DVD without hesitation, so most of these fall under the category of being so-so films, but rounding out my collection.  (That’s an OCD thing that probably only other OCD sufferers/hoarders understand.)  For instance:  Pirates of the Caribbean 3:  At World’s End,  Hellboy II:  The Golden Army, & Spiderman 3.  They were okay, but I didn’t love them.  Probably wouldn’t have bought them intentionally.  Then I saw them in pretty good condition for only $3 & thought, “Well, I do have the first ones & this would complete my collection, so maybe I should take them.  I know—it’s insanity!  Yard sale insanity, I tell you!

I also accidentally picked up a couple of duplicates.  This could be because I’d forgotten I had them (not!) or because they were in really good condition & were calling to me, & I couldn’t bear to leave them behind for someone less worthy to pick up.  (I told you I’m a little OCD about my shopping habits.  Have I mentioned that I once bought a bag of jelly beans because it had been put down by another shopper in the wrong place in the store & I didn’t want them to feel abandoned?  Uh-huh.  And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of my crazy. :tongue )  Falling into this category would be Bedazzled, Music & Lyrics, & The Amityville Horror.  So…because one of you may be worthy  :howyoudoin …if you don’t mind used DVDs, I may just use these for a giveaway someday, too.

And that about does it for me on the yard sale collectibles.  It was really, really hot that day, so I started to drag early on.  And some of the spots I usually like were more disappointing than usual, which made for a quick perusal before moving on.

I also usually like to end the 100 Mile Yard Sale with a cold drink & nice meal…sometimes even an ice cream cone.  But I just didn’t feel like it this year.  So I dragged myself & my goodies home, & crashed in front of the fan.  But even though I know it will be hot & exhausting, I’m already looking forward to next year!! :mwah

Happy Sunday!

Wow, has it been a hot one this week, or what?!  I swear, there were more than a few times when I didn’t think I’d make it.  And I’ve got a 17-year-old kitteh who doesn’t handle heat well, either, so I was really concerned.

As I write this, however, it is (if not exactly cool) tolerable.  And I is grateful. :angelme   Please, please let these lower temperatures & lovely breezes last!

This week, I AM HAPPY to be pretty much caught up on my To Do list.  Not everything; there are still a few stragglers.  But for the most part, all of the major things I needed to do have been done & taken care of.

And though I will follow up on this a bit later, I AM HAPPY to have my “Dynasties:  The Kincaids” book for Harlequin Desire written & polished & turned in to Editor C.  It turned out great, & I’m very, very pleased with the story as a whole.

I AM HAPPY that the past week has been littered with Project Runway marathons.  Don’t ask me why.  I never even thought I liked the show that much; some of the contestants & drama annoy me.  But suddenly I can’t get enough.  And it’s a great show to have on in the background while I run around doing other things.  I always try to catch the runway show & evaluations at the end of each episode, though—that’s my favorite part. :tongue

I AM HAPPY that—as of this writing, anyway—I & my kittehs survived the recent heat wave baking the East Coast to oblivion.  (And maybe other part of the country, I don’t know; I really only care about the weather in my neck of the woods & the temperature inside my own home.  The rest of you are on your own. :ROFL )  But I do not handle heat well.  And neither do the kiddos.  They were alternately not eating & throwing up, & I was really worried about Precious there for a while.  She is just too darn old to be dealing with this sort of thing.  And do you think any of them were smart enough to lie in front of the fans I had running all over the house or go down to the basement where it’s ten degrees cooler than anywhere else in the house?  Of course not! :knock   The gentle breeze & electric hum scares them. :hide

I AM HAPPY that I am finally having surgery this week in what is likely the first part of a two-part procedure to help me with something I’ve been complaining about for years.  It is just enough already. :bloody   I’m not particularly looking forward to it, but am hoping it will help.  And if it doesn’t, it gets me one step closer to the surgery that will! :hippie

Last but not least, I AM HAPPY that I’ll be able to finish Kay Hooper’s Blood Ties (so good!) before I leave for the hospital & can pick a whole new book to take along with me.  What it will be, I have no clue…& there are so many great titles stacked up around me to choose from, I’m actually not happy about having to make that decision yet again. :humpf

All right, My Darlings!  What are you happy about or grateful for this week that you’d like to share?  We want to know so we can celebrate with you! :jump

Now to announce the winners of the past week’s giveaways!

First, the winner of our “HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR Giveaway #2″.  This prize pack includes an autographed copy of HIDDEN HEIR, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on DVD, & a batch of cookies baked by Yours Truly.  Choices include: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pinwheels, Banana Nut Cookies, E.T. Cookies (chocolate cookie with Reese’s Pieces), or Coconut Mounds.

:getdown Jane!!! :getdown

Congratulations, Jane! :claphat Please contact me with your full name & mailing information, as well as your choice of home-baked cookie, & I’ll get your prizes out to you as soon as I can!

Second, the winner of this week’s Free Book Friday title, Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich & Leanne Banks.

:getdown SiNn!!! :getdown

Congratulations, SiNn! :claphat Please contact me with your real name & mailing information, & I’ll get your book out to you as soon as I can!

Thank you to everyone for participating in our Dungeon giveaways this month, & making them so much fun!  There’s more to come, of course.  Always, always… :wink