Yesterday I created a profile on MySpace. While I've always been fully aware of the site, I never understood the need for someone my age to get involved with it. But, it's only been twenty-four hours and I may just be addicted. They sucker you in with this concept of "friends." You tell yourself initially, I'm comfortable with Tom (your first friend by default) and maybe one other person I actually know (in my case, my husband--who will never visit). But then random people say they want to be your friend and suddenly you're hooked.

In any case, come visit me on MySpace and be my friend.

I'm excited to announce that I'll be participating in a new continuity series from Harlequin's Kimani Press. This four book series will begin in August 2008, and my book Sex and the Single Braddock will be released in September 2008.

The first book in the series will be written by Adrianne Byrd, new author AC Arthur will right the third book, and Harlequin veteran Brenda Jackson will write the final book in the series.

Here's the cover for my newest book, Enchanting Melody. You can read an excerpt from it here. Look for it in stores in May 2007. Stay tuned for my upcoming booksignings for this release.

On Friday, November 10th, my husband I and went to New York to research my work-in-progress, which is set in NYC. One of the first things we did when we arrived in the city was go to the Harlequin offices to meet my new Kimani editor, Mavis Allen.

We toured the offices which are in the Woolworth Building downtown (not far from the World Trade Center site). Then we had lunch with her in a restaurant located within the building. She was so nice and easy to talk to. It's definitely going to be great to work with her on my upcoming novels.

What a lovely surprise! Apparently Arabesque is rereleasing my second title Private Lies this coming February! Check out the new cover!

Earlier this week, Harlequin announced the following:

As a company, Harlequin is committed to the success of our series publishing business. We believe it is our responsibility to develop, evolve and enrich our various programs in order to bring new opportunities to our authors and fresh and relevant reading experiences to our readers. The complex side of keeping our publishing programs healthy is that every so often, we must evaluate a series that has not consistently been a strong performer and make difficult decisions about its future. Unfortunately, Silhouette Bombshell has not been able find a broad-based readership, and after reviewing the past, present and projected performance of the series, we're sorry to announce that January 2007 will be the final publication month for Bombshell.

This is terrible news for me because my critique partner Judy Fitzwater writes for this line. She normally writes mysteries and this was my first opportunity to tease her about writing for a romance publisher. Her first book for this line was published last May, but her new book would not have come out until August. Well past the cut off for the line. The only upside is that Judy may have the chance to get paid for one book twice.

Best of wishes and luck to all of the authors who are looking for a new publishing house.

My life had been generally uneventful since I'd begun writing full-time in 2005. I finished my first uncontracted work this past February and did that inexplicable thing that unpublished authors do--I put it in a drawer and went on with my life. After nine published books, I can't imagine why I was so afraid to send it out. I convinced myself that now that I had a new book completed, I should get right to work on the next one. Once I had three chapters of the next book, only then would I send it out.

Well, that was dumb. And not just because it took me a while, and a few false starts, to pick a new project. Thanks to my wonderful critique partners who insisted I send my book out, I finally took the book out of the drawer and sent it to my agent in June.

Just a month later, I was offered a two-book contract from Harlequin's Kimani line. So, from what I've been told, my next book should be out in April 2007.

As a follow-up for the message I posted yesterday, I'm posting an update e-mail from the same source:

Metsy Hingle and her family managed to evacuate. Her father-in-law died the day they were evacuating (natural causes). As a result of the hurricane, her husband's first cousin died, and her godson is missing. Please keep Metsy in your thoughts and in your prayers.

Below is the most recent list of authors who've checked in and authors still missing. If you have any word on any of the authors listed as missing, please email me.

CARAVAN...

Our caravan will be traveling to Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisana to deliver supplies to churches who are sheltering and caring for the hurricane refugees and who can help get supplies further into the devestated areas.

We have had a LOT of offers from readers and authors willing to meet us along the caravan route with donations. In fact, many more offers of donations than we have people able to drive in the caravan to take it all down there.

So I'm looking for a semi truck - they can haul more than probably 20 mini vans worth of supplies, but cost only about 3x as much gas as my big old car.

If you know of anyone who is an owner operator, or if you know someone who owns a trucking company who could donate a truck and driver, please email me.

DONATIONS NEEDED:

For those willing to meet the caravan, I have put a list of things that are needed in the areas we'll be delivering donations to on the donation page at http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane (click on the link for the caravan)

FUNDS RAISED SO FAR...
We are now at approximately $800.00 in monetary donations.

We are only 4 authors shy of raising another $1000.00 through Voice America (that goes directly to our relief efforts, over and above anything they give as a corporation!)

If you'd like to donate money, go to http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane

If you'd like to be part of the author group raising money for vicitims of the hurricane through Voice America (and get some book promotion in the process), go to http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane

If you want to be part of the author group advertising on Voice America, it's only $147.00 for the 3 month promotion (Dec 12th - Mar 6th).

The more authors who participate, the more we'll raise! We only need 4 more authors to raise $1000.00! But...

If we get 30 authors: the donation to our effort raises to $2,000.00 and it's a 6 month promotion for the authors participating (Dec 12th - June 5th)

If we get 45 authors: the donation to our effort raises to $3,000.00 and it's a 9 month promotion (Dec 12th - September 4th)

And even though I know the authors participating in this fundraiser are doing so because they want to help, because it's advertising, the $147.00 is tax deductible.

Thanks again for all your help!

Laura

To donate money: http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane
To be part of the author group to raise $1000.00 or more: http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane

www.theromanceclub.com
www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net

Authors we are looking for word about - if you've heard from them since the hurricane, please let us know!

Austin, Deann
Bogolin, Carol
Bosarge, Mimi
Buffinet, Jaquie
Carmichael, Giselle
Clay, Ann
Dark, Victoria
DuBois, Vicki
Earnshaw, Donna
Garza, Dawn
Horne, Jed
Landry, Sandra
Leighton, Anne
Light, Tori
Noel, Lisa
Raspberry, Dawn
Smith, Kitty
Talley, Wuanita
Thibodeaux, Bobbie
Vawter, Carl
Widmer, Mary Lou

Hurricane relief efforts are going on all around the country and I've been following many of them, but I'd like to post information about an effort for authors in need being organized by the romance community. Below is from an e-mail I received this weekend.

UPDATE ON FUNDRAISER:

1. We have raised a little over $700.00 so far in donations. If you can spare $5.00, $10.00, $25.00, or more, please consider donating at http://www.theromanceclub.com/hurricane. The money we raise is going to purchase gift cards that can be used for food, gas, clothing, medicine and more for authors and readers in the Gulf Coast states who need help now.

2. We need about 8 more authors to join in the radio promotion to raise an additional $1000.00 for the hurricane survivors. If you are an author, please consider joining the promotion for just $147.00 - your payment is tax deductible as an advertising expense, you'll be helping those in need, and you'll be helping us raise $1000.00 or more through Voice America for our project (over and above the amount we're raising with the cash donations). Go to http://www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net/hurricane for more information or to register!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS:

Obviously, there is a need for food, clothing and other basic necessities by survivors of the hurricane until the long term help and assistance arrives. We can get more items to survivors and relief organizations faster via a caravan of cars, trucks and vans loaded with supplies, and the total cost of delivering these items will be less than if the same items were sent via mail or UPS (which may not be available in the areas hardest hit by this disaster anyway)

We are putting together a caravan of authors and readers (and anyone willing to volunteer!) willing to travel to the Gulf Coast states to deliver food, clothing and other supplies to survivors. Basically, immediate needs items, that will be delivered directly to survivors and various relief organizations, as well as RWA chapters willing to help distribute to readers and authors who are victims of the hurricane.

You can help in a number of ways:

1. By being part of the caravan (2-6 days, depending on where along the caravan route you join in - caravan will begin in NE Ohio, drive through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and back)

Additional caravans can be arranged if there are people willing to be part of the caravan in other states! So if you're willing to make the drive, email us and let us know where you live and we'll help you put together a caravan of people along your route!

I have 3 children and a houseful of animals, and I KNOW it's not easy to get away for several days, and I know not everyone can afford the expense. But I hope anyone who can manage to make the trip will volunteer - the more cars, trucks and vans we have in the caravan, the more supplies we can deliver.

I will make the trip alone if I have to, but I'm really hoping I'll have some good company to join me!:)

2. By bringing clothes or food to one of the caravan's stops along its route so they can take the items down to survivors

3. If you live in one of the Gulf States, especially if you live near the areas most impacted by the hurricane, helping distribute the food and clothes. Email us and let us know if you can help distribute or if you can help us locate people and organizations most in need! OR if you can arrange a truck from one of the relief organizations to meet the caravan and take supplies.

4. Donating money to help defray the costs of the caravan (gas and hotel for drivers). Gas prices stink, and some of our volunteers will be driving more than 2500 miles round trip, getting around 12-15 mpg in vehicles loaded down with supplies (that's about 175 gallons for the drivers in the carvan driving the furthest x 3.50 - 5.50/gallon).

Tentatively, the first caravan will leave NE Ohio on Tues, September 13th, and arrive back in NE Ohio on Sunday, September 18th.

If you have any questions, email me, and thank you to everyone who is chipping in and helping with these projects!

Laura

www.theromanceclub.com
www.laurasmuchadoaboutbooks.net

AUTHORS WE'VE HEARD FROM...

Ahern, Pam
Ames, John
Anderson, Alice
Anderson, Carol
Atkins, Melanie
Barr, Nevada
Barton, Janet
Becnel, Rexanne
Blake, Jennifer
Brandt, Nancy
Broadfoot, Amanda
Brite, Poppy
Callais, Tina DeSalvo
Caubarreaux, Donna
Church, Mahala
Claire, Cherie
Coen, Cheré
Colley, Barbara
Cornelison, Beth Brubaker
Cox, Connie
Cox, Suzanne
Cromeans, Donna
Crone, Moira
Delaney, Donna
De Noux, ONeil
De Noux, Debb
Dillon, Charlotte
Dixon, Deb
Dunbar, Mary Price
Edelen, Mary
Emery, Lynn
Evans, Robin
Fennelly, Tony
Ferdinand, Leslie
Ferguson, Jessica
Fossen, Delores
Friedmann, Patty
Gilmore, Sheri
Graham, Heather
Grant, Elaine
Graves, Paula
Gray, Amanda
Grey, Sable
Griggs, Winnie
Haines, Carolyn
Hanes, Judith
Hamilton, Lisa
Harris, Diane
Heitzman, Mimi
Herren, Greg
Hillman, Pam
Hingle, Metsy
Hinze, Vicki
Holden, Christine
Holland, Joyce
Horner, Nancy
Ione, Larissa
Kamenetz, Rodger
King-Gamble, Marcia
Knight, Allison
Kopfler, Pamela
Krieger, Martha
Lewis, Michele
Longshore, Martha
Love, June
Lyttle, Marilyn
Mallory, Rickey
Mann, Catherine
Manning, Jo
Martin, Janet
McCaffrey, Kevin
McInerney, Fuchsia
McKinney, Megan
McNabb, Fran
McNair, Don
McSween, Ginger
Merrill, Delores
Minyard, Debbie
Morris, Ann
Newman, Connie
Newton, Stephanie
Noto, Melanie
Orloff, Erica
Petit, Sandie
Proctor, Candice
Robinette, Kristen
Rowell, Patti
Rowland, Laura Joh
Roy, Renee
St. Amant, Dale
St. John, Kelley
Samms, Candace
Samms, Lee
Searle, Amy Jo
Shoe, Nita
Shoemaker, Juanita
Sinclair, Elizabeth
Sinclair, Linnea
Slagel, Lucy
Slaughter, Carolyn
Smith, Ann
Smith, Julie
Smith, Marge
Snell, Dianna Love
Spindler, Erica
Stephenson, Carol
Stone, Lyn
Tedder, Lorna
Vail, Ginny
Van Fleet, Rita
Wagner, Nancy
Webb, Debra
Welfonder, Sue-Ellen
White, Elizabeth
Wilson, Gayle
Winn, Judy
Worth, Lenora
Zimlich, Jan

Authors we are looking for word about - if you've heard from them since the hurricane, please let us know!

Austin, Deann
Bogolin, Carol
Bosarge, Mimi
Buffinet, Jaquie
Carmichael, Giselle
Clay, Ann
Cole, Kresley
Earnshaw, Donna
Garza, Dawn
Hardin, Paula
Horne, Jed
Landry, Sandra
Leighton, Anne
Noel, Lisa
Raspberry, Dawn
Smith, Kitty
South, Sheri Cobb
Talley, Wuanita
Thibodeaux, Bobbie
Vawter, Carl
Wall, Ellen

Thanks to my dear online pal Wayne who has already searched Amazon.com for my re-release of Bachelorette Blues, I've discovered that the book is going to have a new look.

I just got the exciting news that my Harlequin Your's Truly title from 1999 BACHELORETTE BLUES will be reissued by Harlequin Books in their Reader’s Choice program in June 2005.

This is wonderful news because this novel has been out of print for many years, and I still get e-mail inquiries from readers wondering how they can find this book. I only have a limited quantity myself, so it will be great to have some available again.