Lynn Raye Harris

The revisions have arrived, so I’ll be in the writing cave again! They aren’t too bad, fortunately, but this next month is SO busy for me that I’ll probably be away more than I’m here. Boo hoo. I like talking to y’all!

I do have good news, though! CAVELLI’S LOST HEIR has a January 2010 release date in North America! Yay! It’s not available for pre-order yet, except in hardback from the UK. And one more piece of good news, if you like to read ebooks, you can order SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE now from the eHarlequin website!

If you’ve won a book from me in the past week or two, they’re going in the mail today!

Sometimes you just have to escape the office. Or, in my case, the house since my office is here. Yesterday, I was invited to join friends for a conference shopping trip. I met Marilyn, Danniele, and Kim of the Writing Playground at Ross early in the morning. The madness started at the dress rack, then continued through the store. We piled up clothes on shopping carts and then headed for the dressing rooms. I think I had to go through 3 rounds of trying stuff on (the Ross limit is 8 at one time in the dressing room).

Now tell me why it is that stores don’t understand women better? They have the most unflattering light in the dressing rooms. Harsh, stark, florescent. Heidi Klum would look bad under that light. And since I’m no Heidi, I definitely looked bad. All my flaws seemed amplified. I felt like a whale. A pale whale with limp hair.

Ahem. Anyway, I ended up putting back *most* of what I tried on, though I did find a few gems in the pile. Especially my dress for my publisher’s party. OMG, it’s gorgeous! And it looked awesome in spite of the lights. When that happens, it’s a keeper.

After Ross, we moved on to lunch. Eagle-eyed Marilyn spotted a woman reading a Harlequin Presents and, after psyching myself up, I went over and introduced myself and gave her a bookmark. She seemed pleased to get the bookmark, and I was very happy to meet someone who loves reading HP.

When we finished lunch, the mall and shoe shopping was next. I was pretty good considering how I feel about shoes. I only bought one pair of flip flops.

By the end of the day, I was tired but happy. I had a lot of fun shopping with friends (though Kimberly Lang and I have a problem — we have the same taste. We kept picking up the same dresses, shoes, and jewelry. Perhaps it’s no accident we both write for Harlequin Presents!) and I didn’t spend too much. I picked up four nice dresses, one super fabulous, and a pair of pants that I’ve already decided to return (see, Marilyn, told you it’d happen quick!).

Next week, I’ll head to the mall again. And probably DSW, just to see what sort of lovely shoes they may have. It’s time to start making my list of what outfit to wear to which event. If there are any holes to be filled, then one more shopping trip ought to do it. I hope.

What was the last big shopping trip you went on? Do you have any favorite stores? I love stores like Chico’s and White House – Black Market, but Ross is more budget friendly. I think my hubby appreciates that….

Yesterday’s winner: Aimee C! Aimee, email me your contact info and I’ll get a signed book into the mail…..

Hey, where are my winners? Click on the contact button to send me your info so I can get these books in the mail to you!

What kind of summer fun have you been up to lately? I’ve been swimming a gazillion times — which, really, is a lie. Because I can’t swim very well, so to call what I do swimming is inaccurate. Fortunately, I’ve finally decided that I can take instruction from the hubby. He used to be a competition swimmer, so he looks beautiful in the water. I want to learn to do that too.

We’ve also been to picnics, barbeques, and out to dinner and movies with friends and family several times. It always seems as if the summer social calendar is much fuller than the fall and winter. I do love summer, but man is it hot in Alabama. Most activities need to take place indoors unless it involves the pool. And even the pool has felt like bathwater lately.

Now, who can tell me how many novels I wrote before I sold one? (Hint: the answer is on the Media page.) One lucky winner gets a book! And tell me what you love about summer where you live!

Thanks everyone for participating! I’ve decided to giveaway 3 copies since you were all so nice and enthusiastic about the contest.

Heather Brewer, Chris Roberts, and Janet. You were selected using my special scientific method (aka at random from all the names submitted). Please send me your contact information, and I’ll drop these in the mail.

Please keep checking back — more books to giveaway next week!!

Clearly, I need to give away more books! I have an entire box of my August release just begging to be read. If you want a copy, tell me in the comment trail the name of the hotel that Rebecca Layton wants to buy from Alejandro de Ramirez. You can find the answer on this website, so do poke around! And stay tuned for more giveaways. I’m making plans for a great contest in the near future!

(A comment is an entry; by entering, you will also be signed up for my spam-free newsletter. Unsubscribing is very straightforward.)

— I am not giving away the entire box today, btw! Thanks, Hannah, for pointing that out.

Keep it coming y’all! Winners tomorrow. Yes, I will choose more than one.

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve blogged regularly! I can now report that Book 3 is turned in, and Book 4 is forming in my mind. I’m sort of free — or at least until I get revisions for B3. Until that time, I’ve been catching up on much-needed housecleaning.

Oh dear heaven, how did these dust bunnies get so big?! And Spring totally passed me by — we’re in summer, and I haven’t planted the first flower in my pots yet. Oh, and I have a snake living in the wall. Yes, seriously. Not too surprised to discover that our builder didn’t use proper weephole covers, actually. (A weephole is a gap in the brick so moisture doesn’t accumulate inside the wall.) And without the covers, critters get inside. In my case, it’s a black snake.

I don’t want to hurt the snake. It’s a good snake, not a bad one, so I keep hoping to see him go slithering away for a meal so I can cover the hole. This morning, I discovered that he’d shed his skin under my window. Ick. He’s definitely still in there, sigh.

Aside from that fascinating news, nothing much going on. Waiting for my editor’s opinion, thinking of next book, shocked conference is a month away (not prepared yet!), and trying to catch up on my promo efforts. Oh, and my mother-in-law gets the prize for reading my book the fastest of all the family. I shipped it to her last week; yesterday she called to say she’d read it and it made her cry (in a good way, yay!).

What’s up with you?

Seriously, I do know, but time is really running away on me at the moment. Such a busy month planned! Heck, it’s a busy summer! I have a book to finish (one week and counting). A new proposal to submit. Conference to attend.

And then there are the parties and things that happen in summer anyway. A pig roast. A porch party. A Cajun dinner.

Let’s not forget visitors over July 4th. Preparing for conference. Preparing for a book launch! (OMG!)

I don’t think it’s slowing down again until September. But then there’s that October deadline. Retreat. Holidays.

Oh dear….

What are you looking forward to this summer? Is life slowing down or revving up for you this season?