Ghost hunting, chocolate, and cowboys…Oh Yeah!   – Michele Callahan and Elaine Levine

Hello, hello, hello!  Couple of totally crazy women throwing one heck of a party this summer.  And you’re invited.  Yes, you!  Really.   RomCon® 2011 is the ultimate reading club.  A sassy, fun weekend to connect with friends both old and new.  We’ll share all of our secrets, break out the chocolate, and giggle like teenagers over the hunky heroes in the books we love.  And right there with us?  The authors who wrote them!  As Mike Meyers would say on SNL’s Coffee Talk…the whole weekend…“It’s like Buttah.”

We’ll start off with an insanely scary night of ghost hunting at the infamous Stanley Hotel.  You know, that creepy place where Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining?  It’s been on Ghosthunters multiple times.  You can check out the videos on YouTube.  Too scary for me!  But Elaine has already rented out the very haunted Earl’s bedroom for the night.  We’ve got 6 spots left for that spooky sleepover.  As for me, I’ll be holding down the bar back at the convention hotel.  You can go scream.  I’ll be sipping a margarita!   http://romconinc.com/romcon2011/Ghost_Hunt.html

And RomCon® itself?  Let’s see…There’s the Wild West Night, where you can line dance, ride a mechanical bull, or flirt with a cowboy as you try to learn to rope a motorized calf.  There are 3 author hosted Teas, a murder mystery role-playing game, over 40 intimate chats with authors, a 3-hour “Special-Ops” track, an amazing Historical fashion show with authentic clothing modeled by the authors, Speed-Date a new author sessions, free books galore, champagne and cocktail events, mix & mingle events hosted by authors who design fun games, and not a writing workshop in sight.  Oh, I forgot to mention the late night movie, the Pajama-Jam campout, and the Chocolate Mangasm erotic romance event!  Relax at the Sunday brunch with all the authors, a book-signing, and so much more than I can tell you here.  It’s almost 100 events over three days.  Bring your running shoes and your best friend.  If you don’t know anyone else who loves to read romance, sign up for our buddy program!  We had six buddy groups last year, and they all had a great time!

Honestly, the whole weekend is amazing.  Elaine and I sat down and asked ourselves what kind of experience we, as huge romance FANS, would want to have.   RomCon® is totally it.  I had an author ask me about two weeks ago (as we were brainstorming some zany stuff for an event), “Is this what you do?  Just think stuff up and then put it on the website?”

Hmmm.  Think up fun stuff to do.  Then schedule it, recruit some authors to host it, and put it on the website.  Yep.  That’s EXACTLY what we do.  Man, my job is awesome!

We are excited.  This year is going to be even better than 2010.  We hope you all can join us.  So, we are giving away a free ticket to the convention to someone who leaves a comment today. What kind of events would YOU like to see at RomCon®?  If you went last year, what did you love? And who’s your favorite author or series?  Let us know.  We can make magic happen!

www.romcon2011.com – Join us for the Ultimate Girls Weekend — Aug. 5-7, in sunny Denver, CO.

www.romconinc.com – Daily author sneak peeks, blogs, and giveaways! And enter the RomCon® 2011 Sweepstakes to win a free trip to RomCon®!

See you there with bells on! (Or maybe just a RomCon® 2011 T-shirt.)

Michele Callahan & Elaine Levine

Fearless RomCon® Founders, Romance Fanatics & Authors

p.s. Our dear husbands will be there as well.  Bring the man if you want to.  There’s some fun stuff he’ll like – like the 3 hour Special Ops track, a Saturday golf outing, and playing “dress-up-like-a-cowboy.”   Well…maybe that last one is just for you. 

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Welcome everyone and PARTY TIME! If you look at the sidebar you will see 7 days of guests posted. We have some great fun planned. There will be a prize every single day and we have not one, but two days, that the Romcon staff will be here and giving away a registration each day!

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We have publishers and agents who will share books they are excited about that will soon release as well.

Here’s a peak at our guest:

Stacy Boyd Harlequin Desire Editor

Emily Sylvan Prospect Literary Agency

Faygie Levy Executive Editor
RT Book Reviews Magazine

Jennifer Miller Samhain editor

Barbara Poelle Irene Goodman Literary agency

Lori Devoti from HOWTOWRITE.com on self publishing for readers and writers with giveaway

Selena MacLemore

Kate Seaver Berkley

Barbara Vey Publishers Weekly

RomCon staff

Danielle Jackson Sourcebooks

Kate Seaver Berkley

Esi Sogah Avon

Meagan Records Kensington

Kathryn Lye Blaze/HQ

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I’ll leave you with my exciting news. THE LEGEND OF MICHAEL is  shipping early from Amazon — as of the 17th!

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You can order it here

For a chance to win both a full set of my TEXAS HOTZONE trilogy from Blaze and a $10 gift card.

To Win just tell us ‘hi’ and tell us about a book you are looking forward to in 2011 that isn’t out yet!

I’ll announce the winner next Tuesday and talk about the answer.

What can you win?

An ebook of Protector and  Healer as well as a copy of my August release HOT TARGET.

I’ll leave you with some eye candy…

Angel has nothing to do with the contest but I can never pass on a chance to add a little ANGEL eye candy:)

Why I love audio books:

I love audio books because I can load them on my cell phone and take them anywhere I go — for me — that anywhere is usually the gym.  A good audio book gets me through the torture of lots of cardi0 — which is something I’ve accepted as a part of my life –forever. Many a time, the book I was listening to, got me through the obsession with HOW MANY MINUTES ARE LEFT AND WHY WHY WHY is my heart rate not higher because I am in absolute H*LL. A long wait at a doctors office, in a store line, or even at a stoplight, can be endured with your favorite author. I also sometimes put my headset on and listened to my book before bed with the lights out. However, word of warning, I’ve had that KEEP me awake rather than put me to sleep a few too many times.

I also love a good narrator that becomes the characters in my mind. On the bad side– a bad narrator can really take away from a book. I have numerous books I bought that I haven’t finished because the reader turned me off. I’ll talk about the narrators often when I review here. DH has a favorite narrator. I have one as well. We both know if they are reading, we will love the books.

For example — one of my books is read by a narrator that apparently couldn’t do a Hispanic accent and kept changing it. Buyers got so mad and they associated that with my writing. So frustrating. I had some bad reviews on other sites by people who listened to the audio but posted on the print sites. Fortunately, I had another of my books read with a fabulous reader who made me look good:) The reader is as important as the writing with audio for sure. I’ll have another audio book out in August and I am nervously waiting to find out who the reader is. Authors don’t pick and we don’t know who our reader is until our readers do.

How to make audio books affordable:

1 new release can cost $29.00.

Audible. com has a program that is 7.95 a month for 3 months and then 14.95 after that.  I do the two books a month for $22.95 and so does DH. There are lots of sale books — good books — for $9.95 — or around that point, so if I need  a 3rd I get one of those. I always save the expensive ones for my credit!  The new Patricia Briggs books was $29 and I got it as my credit.

DH never pays for a bad narrator. He calls audible and they credit him. He doesn’t hesitate and they don’t either. I haven’t done this because I keep telling myself I will get through the bad ones. I haven’t. I think I need to follow DH’s example!

So — next week I’ll talk about my favorite reader and review the series she read that I love so very much. I’ll also be include DH’s reviews here from time tot time. He reads all over the board and listens to audio and has some great book reviews I can share.

Looking forward to sharing.

Love to hear your thoughts on audio if you want to share!

Lisa:)

www.lisareneejones.com

But onward — the winners!

Karin

Crystal GC

RachieG — I think– I can’t read my own writing here! I think I got that right.

Email me your addressed to lisarenjones@aol.com

Thanks for playing with me!

Tell us what you think! We’ll be drawing for 3 copies of  AWAKENING THE BEAST on Wednesday from all comments!

Lisa

www.lisareneejones.com

www.Faith-Winter.com

Oh and want to join the Dangerous Loop? Send a blank email to Dangerouswomen-subsccribe@yahoo.com — lots of fun weekly giveaways and book chat!

		Dobi Age: 11 weeks
EXCERPTS FROM A DOG’S DIARY Day number 180 8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE! Day number 181 8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE! Day number 182 8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE! 10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE! 11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE! 1:30 pm – ooooooo. bath. bummer. 4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE! 5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE! 5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE EXCERPTS FROM A CAT’S DIARY DAY 752 – My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture…Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. DAY 761 – Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors,I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair…must try this On their bed. DAY 765 – Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was… Not working according to plan. DAY 768 – I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called “shampoo.” What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still LODGED between my teeth. DAY 771 – There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event, however, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call “beer.” More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of “allergies.” Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. DAY 774 – I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and he speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my activities. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time… -Author Unknown

Since I have no brilliant blog post idea, I figured I would do a little general writing update. My site and newsletter are very behind because I am getting a new site(2 — one for Faith Winter) and a new blog.  So a general update in the mean time.

Life has been filled with lots of deadlines though I am not complaining. That means I have books to write and though deadlines mean pressure,  I feel blessed to have that pressure. I am trying to get better about attending email and other things while juggling those deadlines. I tend to get in a tunnel zone while in the last two weeks of a deadline — like now!

A few general answers to questions I’ve had:

–Knights of White– when is the next book?

RETURN OF THE BEAST — a short story about a Knight of White is the anthology AWAKENING THE BEAST which will hit shelves in October. After that– it will be a while. I do have Lucian and Rock’s story outlined but I am contracted for back to back Blazes and for my Faith Winter books. I have not contracted for the rest of the Knights stories because of time. I do very much want to write these stories and I WILL. I’ll keep you posted I promise.

-When is the next Underground Guardian book?

There isn’t one. I used a similar premise for my Grand Central Faith Winter books but better! I took the stuff I did right with the Guardians and got rid of what I did wrong to make this new world. If you like the Guardians– you’ll like the Renegades coming in August of 2010 — the new website will be up soon at www.faith-winter.com — there is a blurb for book one up  there now!

Releases for the next few months:

-October — Harlequen AWAKENING THE BEAST ANTHOLOGY

-November – NAL WRAPPED IN SEDUCTION ANTHOLOGY

-December– BLAZE SANTA BABY — this is my favorite contemporary I’ve ever written — love this story!

I can’t seem to insert covers and links — this is a new wordpress format and I don’t understand it:( But the covers and the blurbs are all at my site at www.lisareneejones.com

Also Twitter with me if you get a chance! There is a link to my twitter and my facebook on my front page at my website!

I tried to insert the links but I can’t:(

Lisa

Only one of the books I have written have been made into an audio book and though I have not listened to it, I hear complaints that the narrator was not good. She didn’t get the Hispanic accent at all and readers say she went back and fourth between several accents. That was disappointing because I got hit on reviews, even on amazon, for the audio reader, despite the audio being bought somewhere else.  SO, a good narrator makes a great experience.

If you haven’t tried audio — audible. com has a plan — 1 book a month for $14.95 and a special intro program for only $7.95 for 3 months.  Give it a try. And if you love it let me know!

Oh– and on a side note — new website coming very soon for me with lots of updates. Lisa Renee Jones and  Faith Winter are getting new sites!  I can’t wait!

Cheers everyone!

Lisa

www.lisareneejones.com