And the winner is...

OK, I haven't actually chosen the winners yet, but I will be using the lovely randomnumber. org to do so later this afternoon. Entries will be cut off at 12 PM today and I'll list the winners just a bit later. Also, while I have enjoyed running this contest, and I'm grateful for all of the comments, it occurred to me that I was going to feel badly that folks might be disappointed if they don't win. Because I never want my blog to leave you guys depressed, everyone who left a comment is going to get a book! I wish I could give you all swag bags too, but there just isn't enough personal lubricant to go around.  Hahaha.

So, even if you don't "win" you still win!  Come back this evening for the updates. This just rocks! I love giving presents...

UPDATE...


We have a winner!  Actually we have three winners:
 lizpar51086, Laura, and Edie!!!



You three need to send me your mailing addresses and I will get your swag bags on their way to you.

Thanks to everyone who posted and remember you are all getting a free book!  Just email me your genre preference, if you haven't already posted it and your mailing address and a lovely book will be winging it's way to you within the next week.  Thanks again everyone for your support.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  This blog has been so much fun and I have some big plans for this next year, so stayed tuned...

Quick Contest Update...

OK sweeties, if you haven't made a comment so that you can be entered into the RT gift bag giveaway, you need to do so immediately. After putting the first bag together, I realized I still had a ton of stuff, so I did two more bags! Considering the number of comments so far, the odds are really good that you could win!!!

So what do you win? Books. And stuff. Each gift bag will have at least 3 books and a boatload of cute swag from the RT convention. If you are one of the three winners, I'll even let you tell me your fave genre and I'll try to make sure at least one of the books falls within that category.

Non book swag may include, but is not limited to:
Lip Gloss
Trading cards
Pens
Pencils
Stickers
Magnets
Buttons
Bookmarks
Rulers
Bottle cozies
Change purse
t-shirts

etc, etc., etc...

Richard Armitage and Clive Owen are not included in this giveaway (unfortunately), I just thought they were pretty.  Drawing is Friday, so comment now!

I Love a Big Party...

Lucky me. I spent last week in sometimes sunny California attending the RT Booklovers Convention. For those who aren't familiar with RT Reviews, it was formerly known as Romantic Times magazine. It features tons of reviews of genre fiction and every year they hold a big blow-out for readers, writers, librarians, booksellers, publishers and anyone else who feel like celebrating all the best in genre reading. I've always wanted to attend an RT and this year I couldn't resist the lure of southern California. So how was it? Well, it was fabulous! I really had a great time talking to authors and readers about books. The energy and enthusiasm of the folks attending this conference was absolutely contagious. Everyone wanted to talk about their fave. It helped me to remember why reading is and always has been my favorite thing in the world.

There were great sessions geared to almost any interest from pirates to steampunk. There were plenty of extravagant parties and lovely swag and books galore. If you're a fan of genre fiction, I can't recommend attending next year's conference strongly enough. You'll have a blast!


And here's a quick list of some of my favorites from RT:

Most interesting party favor: Fruit flavored personal lubricant from the lovely folks at Ellora's Cave.

Best panel discussion for aspiring authors:  The Editors panel which featured editors from a zillion publishers telling you exactly what they hope to publish this year.

Favorite author to swill champagne with: Lynsay Sands, hands down. She is bright, warm, and hilariously funny. And the girl knows her way around a glass of Moet!

Favorite party:  The Steampunk Social. Excellent costumes, beautiful little cakes and plenty of squid to stroke. What more can one ask for?

Favorite author to chat about books with: Lauren Willig.  She was as lovely and gracious as one might suspect from reading her charming Pink Carnation series, and she has excellent taste in books! I feel she is the perfect person to join me in my quest to bring back the traditional gothic. What a delight!

Favorite party food:  The corndogs at the Avon Paranormal bash.  Paranormals, corndogs and magaritas! A winning combination.

In celebration of this wonderful experience, I'm going to try a first for this little blog and do a giveaway!  Just leave a comment telling me which author you would most like to meet and I'll do a random drawing next week for a gift bag featuring goodies straight from the RT conference.  This is the perfect time for all you lovely lurkers to take a second and comment.  I'd love to hear from you...