Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

A Tale of Two Vacations

I just got home from two back-to-back getaways, one with each side of the family. Not counting the single turnaround day in-between, I’ve been away from home for a week and a half. It’s a little strange, to be settling in again, especially after two diametrically opposed trips. See, one side of the family spent their vacation in a very nice hotel on the Oregon coast. The other side, camping at a state park in Washington. From luxury to roughing it with almost no down time in between.

Which did I like better?

I can’t decide.

Oh Captain! My Captain!

I seem to have a thing for Captains.

Captains with a first name that starts with the letter J, even better.

The first Captain I remember who caught my eye was Captain Jack Sparrow. That swaggering walk, that blatant sensuality, that piercing, eyeliner-heavy stare…rowr. I hold him responsible for my fascination with all things piratical. (Historical pirates, that is. None of these new-fangled pirates need apply.)

Then Captain Jack Harkness came along.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

How do you like your endings?

In romance, I need an HEA. It’s one of the reasons I love to read and write in the genre — I know that, no matter how many trials and tribulations the characters go through, there will be a happy ending for them eventually.

Why eventually? Because I’ve learned to live with (and love) the multi-book arc of secondary couples. It may take a hero and heroine several books (and tons of trauma) before they get to their HEA, but I’ll go along for the ride on the belief that they’ll get there in the long run.

But the main characters? That couple? If I don’t get that HEA, I get pretty darn cranky.

The Devil Inside -- Available Now!

It’ll take more than one go-round to win this rodeo of the heart…

Thirteen years after her father was killed in a rodeo accident, Samantha Quincannon is facing her worst nightmare. An EMT, she has avoided rodeo duty like the plague. Now her career depends on her ability to face down her fear.

Cody Shaw hasn’t seen Sam since the night of her father’s accident, and their reunion is anything but typical. So is her reaction when a bull ride gone wrong lands him, broke and bleeding, in her reluctant care. And, until he’s well enough to travel, in her bed. He knows he’s far from a model patient, but would it kill Sam not to act like she’d rather climb on a bull herself than have him underfoot?

Lessons Learned -- Arriving December 30!

The summer after I graduated from college, I spent three months backpacking around Europe. My college roommate was going to join me, but she cancelled a month before we were set to go — and I decided to go anyway.

It was wonderful. I loved everything about it — the small towns, the ancient buildings, the little moments of discovery around every corner. And when I set out to write my royal romances, I knew I wanted to take the best of what I’d discovered on my trip to create Laurivenia, my fictional mid-European setting.

My two books, Lessons in Love and Lessons in Trust, are set in Laurivenia, and on December 30, they’ll be available in a print two-in-one anthology, Lessons Learned. Follow me below the fold for more info on both!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

With apologies to our Southern hemisphere readers, I’m going to be Northern-hemisphere-centric today. Brrrrr!

The call came at 5:50 this morning. School’s two hours late. Now, most people would be able to roll over and go back to sleep, right? Don’t have to get the kids up early, more time to get ready in the morning.

Not in our household.

To Celebrate the Week

My love affair with the book began at an early age. Growing up, I read voraciously, spending hours in the library digging up treasures like James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, or A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein. I glommed onto novels like A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

What Hancock Taught Me About Romance Writing

Last week, the hubby and I went to the movies. This is a major accomplishment for us, as we rarely see films in the theater. (Parenthood can do that to a couple.) Even more astonishing, it was the second film this year! (Don’t laugh. It’s a major accomplishment for us.)

We went to see Hancock, and I’m so glad we did.

Guitar Store Parking Lots

If it wasn’t for guitar store parking lots, I would never have finished my last book on time.

Lessons In Trust now available!

It’s here! It’s here!

Can you tell I’m a little excited? :)

Lessons In Trust , the follow-on book to Lessons In Love , is now available at My Bookstore and More. I had a lot of fun writing this book, and I hope you have just as much fun reading it!