So, last Thursday I turned in Untamed, my November 2009 release from Kensington Aphrodisia. I think it turned out okay, and here’s hoping the editor and agently ones agree. I do want to give a big thanks and shout out to Robin L. Rotham, Rhiannon Leith, and Kate Pearce for critiquing it for me. You ladies are fabulous beyond words.

Then I opened the file with all my notes for the final story in my In the Heat of the Night series called (currently and always subject to change without warning) Crazy Little Thing Called Love. For those of you who’ve read some or all of the series so far, this is Malcon the werewolf Alpha’s story. I talked to my editor about my original idea and she was not loving it. So, I sat down on Friday and pondered it a bit. A new idea came to me, one I liked even better than the first. I started working on it, using some of what I’d written before. From Friday night to Monday morning, I cranked out the whole thing. Then I edited, typed The End, and turned that baby in, too.

Woohoo!

My hands hurt though, so I’m taking a break to, like, clean my house and read a book. Maybe do some laundry. Crazy-wild stuff like that. Man, nothing feels as good as the sigh of satisfaction and relief when a project is DONE.

All this week over at The Novelty Girls we’re giving away books off our back lists, so come enter my contest! I made it super easy for you. Then go back and enter all the other contests this week.

I’m actually a middle child. Mad Madam M is an only child…

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated. At work and school, you do best when you’re organizing. When you love someone, you tend to worry about them. In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic. Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management. You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

Thanks to the awesome talent of CrocoDesigns (who does all of my graphics work from business cards to bookmarks to website/blog/MySpace design), I have a new look!

I told Frauke–the genius behind CrocoDesigns–that I needed something that pushed the envelop a bit more with a darker, grittier, actiony (this is totally a word) feel to it. While I adored my old site, the work I have coming out in the next couple of years just demands this kind of look.

And when Frauke puts her mind to something…well, you can see how wonderfully she delivers! We’re still tidying up a few bits and pieces, but the overall design just blew me away (kind of like that girl over on the left wants to, no?).

Isn’t it lovely?

Happy Valentine’s Day a bit early!

Don’t forget the CAPA Awards will be announced tomorrow on the TRS CAPA blog.

A few of my friends and I are all nominated this year, so yay! For a full list of the nominees, click here. Good luck and congrats to all who are up for an award!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, ABC has an article up about how kinky sex is becoming a booming interest for people in America.

Susan “Quilliam, who doles out advice on her ‘Sex in the City’ radio show, has seen an increased interest in BDSM – or bondage, dominations, sado-masochism, as well as ‘swinging.’”

The article says that the internet has normalized the abnormal when it comes to sex practices. Then again, what’s abnormal is really cultural in my opinion. I think it’s interesting and fascinating that there’s an across the board increased interest in couples (and singletons) wanting to explore the boundaries of their own sexual preferences. It’s a good thing, to my mind, and not just because I write the kinky stuff (then again, why do you think I write the kinky stuff?).

In romance, we’ve seen a rise in this as well. Erotic romance and erotica, anyone? It boomed on the internet and has subsequently seen an opening of lines in many major publishers. People are interested, and they want to read not only sexpert advice books about it, but fiction as well. I think it’s awesome that people are owning their sexuality.

However, I have to advocate that in all cases and all times of exploration, you must follow the safe, sane, and consensual rules. Just putting that out there. Even if you’re exploring boundaries, there are still boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed.

Go forth and get kinky!

Another funny, funny video. This one courtesy of the web stalking skills of Jennifer Leeland.

But too funny not to post.

A banned Durex condom commercial that had me rolling on the floor laughing.

And the outtakes from the commercial. Bwah ha ha!

This week I’m over at The Novelty Girls talking about how romance writers view Valentine’s Day, since it’s just around the corner.

Come visit!

Big Girls Don’t Die–the second book in my In The Heat Of The Night series–comes out today from Samhain Publishing!

Here are the details…

“I will always love you.” Not just a figure of speech when you’re undead.

In the Heat of the Night, Book Two

Six months ago, Andre St. James committed the ultimate one-night-stand party foul by turning Cynthiana into the spawn of Satan…also known as a vampire. He insisted he knew they were meant to be together forever and ever, so why wait for her to be on the same page with him to suck the life out of her?

What. Ever. The only thing the two of them share is chemistry that blasts off the charts. So she dropkicked him out of her life and told him to never come back. He listened. Until now.

Andre knows Cyn has trouble dealing with his take-no-prisoners approach to life, and that turning her against her will was a mistake. But he’s got patience born of centuries of immortality, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get back into her good graces and stay there forever. Including wait until she has no choice but to turn to him.

After all, no one understands forever like a vampire. He’s loved her from the moment he saw her…and he always will.

Find out more here!