Lynn Raye Harris

There’s simply too much to do, and I’m failing at thinking up interesting and witty blog posts these days. When I realize it’s been a week since my last post, I’m surprised. Where did the time go?

It would be nice to have a clone, wouldn’t it? Or maybe just an intelligent robot who could do some things for you. I DO have a robot to vacuum for me, and I love it very much. My hubby insisted on getting a Roomba a few months ago; I resisted, as I often do, thinking there was no way a little, round robotic vacuum could do that good a job.

The Roomba (we call him Jeeves in this house, even though he speaks with a lady’s voice) ROCKS. I have officially eaten my words and I could not live without Jeeves. Jeeves is so fabulous, in fact, that he has accomplished something quite miraculous: my husband now does most of the vacuuming. Seriously, how could I not be pleased?

Now I need a robot who will do laundry, shop for groceries, cook, and run errands for me. Hubby says I need to hire a maid, but I don’t begin to know how to find one. Not to mention I’d have to clean the house before I could let someone else clean the house.

The other thing I need is a vacation. Not a vacation from writing, but a vacation from the gray, cold, rainy place where I live. I am so missing Hawaii right about now. *sigh* If I could take my computer and go to a sunny place, I’d happily do it. But, the hubby has to work and the cats need food and water on a daily basis, and going away alone is no fun. So I’m staying home.

I guess I could get out the Hawaiian CDs and the Aloha wear, and pretend I’m enjoying balmy temps and tropical flowers. It might work. (The South is not supposed to be this cold!) If you’re living somewhere gray and cold, what do you do to cope with the winter blues? And if you know where to get one of those house-cleaning, errand-running robots, I’d like to know that too.

Hey, y’all! Just a quick post to tell you about an interview I did over at CataRomance. When you’re done reading that, take a look at the nice review Julie gave me.

Here’s a snippet:

Cavelli’s Lost Heir’s winning blend of steamy sensuality, electrifying sexual tension, heart wrenching emotion and intense romance will keep readers riveted from the first page to the very last! Tender, sexy, glamorous, dramatic and fabulously readable, Cavelli’s Lost Heir is a must-read for Harlequin Presents fans from a fabulous new writer who is on her way to becoming one of the line‘s brightest stars: Lynn Raye Harris!

And tomorrow, I’ll be over at The Pink Heart Society! I’ll update with a link as soon as it’s available.

As promised, here is the link to my blog over at PHS!

I’m starting a new book this week, and I’m at that stage where I’m trying to figure out what the driving emotional problem is. I wrote a chapter back at the end of August on a new idea, and I think that’s what I’m going to go with, but as I reread what I had, there’s a big gaping hole: emotional conflict. *sigh*

I always do this. I always see a scene, write it, and wonder what is really going on. I still don’t know, but I hope to figure it out quick. This book, if I am able to figure it out, takes place in Russia. That’s a new setting for me, but I have in fact been to Russia — though it was many years ago, and things have no doubt changed quite a bit.

But I remember how extraordinary Red Square was. How vibrant the colors on St. Basil’s. How brilliant the golden onion domes of the churches inside the Kremlin walls. The Faberge eggs were amazing too. I can hardly remember all the impressions I had of the country, but I love exploring my memories this way. It was a truly extraordinary experience.

What kind of settings would you like to read about? So far, I’ve written about Spain, the Caribbean, a Mediterranean kingdom of my invention, a desert kingdom, and Argentina. Next, it looks like Russia (assuming I figure out what the emotional conflict is). Have you been anywhere that you would love to read about in a novel?

P.S. Cavelli’s Lost Heir has spent four weeks on Bookscan’s Top 100 Bestselling Romances List! Thanks so much to all my readers for making this happen.

Hey, everyone! Sorry to be quiet lately, much going on in Chez Harris. I have a new book to write — in fact, I have TWO books to write by June 1st. The second book will be part of a multi-author continuity due out in 2011 from Harlequin Presents. I have no idea what the story will be yet, because my editor hasn’t told me, but I’m looking forward to it! (A continuity, btw, is a series like the House of Karedes or the House of Niroli books. Multi-author, separate stories, one continuing arc.)

In other news, my sheikh novella, Kept for the Sheikh’s Pleasure, has been accepted and will be out in the UK in September 2010! I don’t know who I’ll be out with, but as I know more, I’ll post it here. The story features King Zafir bin Rashid al-Khalifa and the archaeologist he once had a passionate affair with, Dr. Geneva Gray. Their story is hot and emotional, and I hope you’ll enjoy it! I have no idea if it’ll be out in the US, but I do hope it will be at some point.

I have just finished the copy edits on The Devil’s Heart, and that will be out in the UK in July 2010. No US date yet.

It’s hard to believe that I’ve already written five titles for Harlequin! And by the middle of the year, I will have written two more. In many ways, it’s good to be so busy. I have so many ideas, and so many good things coming up this year. I’ll be at the Romantic Times Convention with my pal Kimberly Lang in April, and of course there’s the RWA National Conference in July (which is in my back yard this year! No flight!). I’m really looking forward to these events, and to the coming of spring. I’m so sick of cold and wet and ice. Brrr!

What are you looking forward to this year?

I’m still flying high on my news of the other day, and you’ll notice that my web designer has changed the header of my site to reflect my new status — which, I must admit, still hasn’t exactly sunk in.

Today, I have a mix of things for you. First, I’m guest blogging over at one of my Heart of Dixie chaptermate’s group blog. You can read the post here.

Over at The Writing Playground, Smarty Pants is having a Free Book Friday with a Harlequin Presents theme — and she’s giving away a copy of Cavelli’s Lost Heir! Since I know SP really well, and have to pass the book to her at some point, it will be signed to whoever wins.

And finally, over at Pearl’s World of Romance, the fabulous Pearl reviews Cavelli’s Lost Heir. Here’s a taste:

CAVELLI’S LOST HEIR is the perfect book to escape the harsh reality of everyday life and get lost in a few pleasurable reading hours, dreaming of being whisked away by a dark, tall and handsome prince. If you have an ounce of romance inside you and you’re looking for a quick and satisfying read, this is one you shouldn’t miss.

I am so excited to share with you that Cavelli’s Lost Heir is officially a USA Today Bestseller!! Thank you so much for embracing this story — the book has been #2 on the Borders Series Bestseller List, #33 on the Bookscan Top 100 Bestselling Romances, and now it’s at #112 on the USA Today Top 150 Bestselling Books.

It’s been a great six months since my first book was published! To do so well on these lists with my second book is such a thrill — and entirely due to you, my readers! So thank you, thank you, thank you for making this happen. You’ve started my year out great and I’m so honored you enjoy my stories.

L. Kahler of Parkersburg, PA; L. Dovey of New Castle PA; and L. Soo of Woodbridge, VA are the lucky winners! Details can be found on the Contest page. I’ll be posting a new contest soon, so keep checking back!

Sorry, I’ve been a bit behind, but will announce winners of the December contest and update the site either later today or first thing tomorrow morning! Thanks for your patience.

The day after Christmas, Hubby and I decided we were going to clean our garage. Apparently, everyone has the same idea after Christmas. Not necessarily the garage, but home organization. Lowe’s and Home Depot both had sales on storage containers and shelves, and people were loading their carts up. Since this is my first time having the organization urge immediately after the holiday, I was a bit surprised.

Still, we loaded up with shelves and containers and came home to begin the garage project. It’s not done, but we’ve made good progress. And now I have my eye on a inside projects. I even cleaned out my pantry! I won’t tell you how many expired things were in there.

Of course all this has me thinking about counting down to the New Year and planning goals for 2010. Some years, I fail; other years, I hit the goals. I’m thinking this is a goal hitting year coming up. I have several, and I think they are reasonable. They aren’t all related to writing. Some are definitely along the lines of “Get Organized!” Since I have a head start, I think it’s possible. (No, I won’t do a 180 and suddenly become super-organized. Wish it were so, but I know me.)

What kinds of goals are you setting for the coming year? Did you go buy organization supplies recently too? And what kind of New Year’s celebration are you planning? Low key at home? Party hearty at some swanky joint? I will definitely be at home, and I’ll probably be in bed long before midnight.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas! Last night, we had our hot cocoa, watched our Christmas programs, and went to bed at a decent hour. This morning, we’re looking forward to getting together with family later. Our present to each other was indeed the built-ins in our living room, so nothing to open when we woke up. But we’ll have things to open at my parents’ house.

And I believe we’re planning to see a movie later today — probably Sherlock Holmes since the whole family seems excited by that one.

Thanks to all my readers who keep buying my books and telling me how much they enjoy my stories! I appreciate you all, believe me. You’ve made this new author very happy this year. You’ve kept me on the eHarlequin paperback bestseller list for over 10 days, and the ebook bestseller list for a whopping 18 days. Thank you so much! I look forward to all next year will bring, and I’m excited about the stories that I’ll be sharing with you in the upcoming months!

Because I used to live in Hawaii, I can’t help but wish you all a Mele Kalikimaka and lots of aloha today and always.