I’m running round like a headless chicken at the moment (a very excited headless chicken) trying to organised things for Monday.  But I thought I’d pop in and let you know what you can win!

• Grand Prize:  A signed copy of RUN AMONG THORNS, your choice of three of Medallion Press’s current releases, a gorgeous hardback book of Lakeland views from renowned local photographer Val Corbett, designer sticky notes, local fudge, famed local delicacy Kendal mint cake, and a bookmark or two.
• Second Prize:  A signed copy of RUN AMONG THORNS, a mini hardback book of Lakeland views, a set of luxury postcards of scenes near where I live, local fudge, mint cake and a bookmark.
• Newsletter Prize:  I’ll also be doing a special drawing from my newsletter mailing list for another signed copy of RUN AMONG THORNS and a 20USD (10GBP) Amazon voucher.

I expect I’ll also be throwing out a couple more signed copies, you know, if I have a good day…. 

All you’ll have to do is leave a comment on Monday’s blog post (oh, and for the newsletter prize you’ll have to be signed up  to my mailing list, obviously!  Signup box is in the sidebar on my home page).  I’ll be drawing on Tuesday, using random numbers!

Oh, I almost forgot!  I also have a few fun things (sadly no alcohol…) from the Jennings Brewery, Cockermouth.  Why the Jennings Brewery, I hear you ask?  Well, I’ll let an excerpt from RUN AMONG THORNS explain…

 ~~~~~~~

[Kier, the hero, is discussing the situation with Alan, Jenny's brother.  They don't like each other much...]

Alan’s voice startled him.  “She . . . er.  She can be somewhat opinionated, Jenny.”
It sounded like an olive branch, which was odd.  Then Alan waved a bottle of beer at him.
Branch.  Olives on it.  Definitely.
He nodded, and Alan flipped the cap off the bottle, handing him bottle and glass.  The label said Waggledance.
“Waggledance?”
Alan’s mouth quirked.  “Yes.  We like to use more than one syllable to describe our beverages.  It’s a honey beer.”
He tried it.  It was good, if a little . . . thick for his taste.  He thought for a moment.
“Budweiser.”
“Bud.”
“Huh.  Good point.  But a helluva lot easier to say when you’re three sheets to the wind.”
“Well, if you don’t like that, I can do you a Cross Buttock.”
He frowned.  “You people drink anything that doesn’t question your sexuality?”
“Yes.  Sneck Lifter.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“Good.  Look,” said Alan, waving his almost empty glass at him, “just because we’re exchanging alcohol related chitchat doesn’t mean we’re best friends now.  It doesn’t even mean I’ll concede your right to protect her—”
Kier interrupted.  “It just means that conflict upsets Jenny?  So we don’t?”  Or, more likely, if I get on Jenny’s guy’s right side, I might get more information.  Jenny’s guy.  Now the feelings that accompanied that thought were a real revelation.  His half-forgotten protective instincts were getting a real workout.
He badly wanted Alan gone and some time to talk Jenny out of her bad mood.  He badly needed a night’s rest.  He seriously wanted Jenny to be a part of it.

 …..Alan opened another bottle of beer, and tossed a bottle to him.  Well, at him.  The opener followed.  This label said La’al Cockle Warmer.  He raised an eyebrow at Alan.
“It’s from Cumbria. Jenny brings them down for me when she visits.  There’s an old brewery under the castle in a town called Cockermouth.  They’re doing pretty well these days.”
There was a pause.  The fire hissed and overhead a floorboard creaked.  He wondered what the sleeping arrangements were. 

~~~~~~~

Hopefully see you on Monday!

PS – I’ve just put some more reviews up on my Books page!

PPS – The observant among you will also spot the cover for DANGEROUS LIES, Alan’s story.  I’ll be doing a splash on the blog about that soon…

… when you hear Run Among Thorns has scored a 4 1/2 stars review in Romantic Times Magazine.

You get a huge grin that makes your face ache, your pour a glass of champagne, flavour it with strawberry liqueur, and go outside so Husband can take a picture of you a grinnin’ and a drinkin’.

I am so happy right now.

***  !!! GIVEAWAY ALERT !!! ***

On Monday, I’ll be celebrating the official release of Run Among Thorns by giving away prizes to people who leave a comment on my blog!  Prizes include signed copies of Run Among Thorns, your choice of books by my friends and colleagues, the other fantastically talented authors at Medallion Press, an Amazon gift voucher, and some special items from the wonderful place I live.  I’ll post more about this tomorrow, there will be a special ‘Newsletter’ prize for people on my newsletter mailing list who participate, so sign up now (signup in the sidebar on the home page)!  I’m feeling generous, take advantage! 

It’s a bank holiday weekend, so the traditional British bank holiday aspects of awful traffic, crowds everywhere, and bad weather are prevailing.

Except in the North… oh yes, we have the crowds and the tourist traffic (bless them for coming, but, oh, you really can drive faster on a narrow road…) but for once the North has the best of the weather.  Tempered by gusty winds, and occasional clouds, it’s true, but mostly warm, dry and, frankly, gorgeous.

I tackled the garden this morning.  Not sure it can really be called a garden, since it’s about twice the size of our dining room table, but the strip of ground to the front of the house was in dire need of a weed and a strim.  I pottered about at that, keeping an eye on the cats, and trying to persuade Pippi to stop trying to make friends with cars.  One of these days, she’s going to meet a vehicle that DOESN’T understand her position as supreme being in the universe, and then the fur will fly…

OTOH, she’s already had that experience, and lived to tell the tale. Not sure if she lost any lives, but I certainly did…

A good week writing wise:  I received another lovely review for RUN AMONG THORNS, and then, out of the blue, got a glimpse of the cover for DANGEROUS LIES, June 2009′s release.

Oh my.  There are good covers, and there are good covers…. and this one’s a blinder.  IMHO, that is.    I’ll share it when I’m allowed.

Now, back to the summer weather… commiserations if you’re living in rain and squalls!

… when you get your author copies, and then go to your lovely writing group, and get a sudden rush of inspiration and writing energy.

  

And then this is what happens, when you put your notebook on the garden table to photograph it.

Pippi says, write this now!

… and I like this one, too!  It’s at Genre Go Round Reviews, by the famed Harriet Klausner:

This is an exciting romantic suspense with the emphasis on just who is Jenny Waring. Readers, the agency and Kier are hooked with “breaking” Jenny (though our motives differ). It is fascinating to watch the cold hardened Kier break instead as he begins to admire and desire his target. When he falls in love, he knows she broke him. Readers will relish this character driven espionage romantic thriller. (more)

Harriet Klausner

And… drumroll please…. Amazon.com is telling me that Run Among Thorns is in stock, ahead of schedule! 

Chrissy says go and buy it!  Go on!

Yes, I’m over-excited.  I apologise….  ggg

I’m having a very writing day today.  The gardens are screaming for attention, the house needs a clean and I could do with making progress on two MA assigments, but today I’m prioritising reading for a CP, and writing my own stuff.

I’m working on something new and speculative, for the UK market.  It’s going well (3,000 words in the few hours I’ve snatched this week), but since it’s not romantic suspense I have this nagging feeling that nothing’s happening and it’s all rather bland…. *sigh*  It’s hard to know if something is working when you’re out of your comfort zone…. and there are no explosions.

Right.  Off to do breakfast – a quick smoothie I can gulp down – make coffee, and then get started. 

Oh, but before I do – a story of clothing success.  I bought a skirt in the January sales, a delicious confection of ivory silk and indigo-navy net.  Gorgeous.  But I’ve stuggled to find a top to go with it – and I’ve been looking for months.  A wardrobe clear out and winter/summer changeover revealed my summer wardrobe was woefully slim, so I’ve been building it up a bit – just a handful of tops and cardis that’ll go anywhere….  Leaving the supermarket one afternoon, I spotted a lady in a well-fitting gypsy top which looked to be just the shade I was looking for.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I complimented her taste and asked her where she’d bought it.  Obviously pleased, she said she’d got it from Bravissimo, a shop for, um, well, let’s not be shy about this – ladies with big boobs. 

Now, I’m no Katie Price, believe me, just somewhat over average.  I visited the website, made my choices, and today a couple of tops arrived- and I was right!  It goes with the skirt perfectly!!!  And it fits delectably.  Bravo, Bravissimo!

And yes, I am planning outfits for RWA in San Francisco already.  Yes, I am that obsessive…

It’s funny.  When I got The Call, it was at the end of a bad day and completely transformed it into a spectacular one.  And today, which was dogged by a dodgy tum, inexplicable work and other worries, I get home to find my author copies had arrived.

They’re GORGEOUS.

Yes, yes, I know.  I’d say that anyway.  But really.  They are BEAUTIFUL!  I’m in love with the scene break marker – a little black thorn branch….  *wiggle*

Of course, it’s crunch time for Husband.  He never read any of my manuscripts, but always promised he’d read it if it was published….  he just came in to the office with a pile of books to demonstrate it’s position in his To Be Read pile.  He’d have been in a lot of trouble if that position wasn’t, immediately after the one he’s reading now!  

So we ripped open the box together, I caressed my book, and then called Mum so we could cry over it together!  Yes, I know, pathetic…. 

Anyway.  It’s a grand feeling, folks.  I highly recommend it.