I’m sure everyone is gearing up for big New Year’s Eve! Except, perhaps, those of us with toddlers who can’t even imagine losing the precious sleep. Wonder who that would be? For my final blog post of 2008, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at this year and see what’s coming for the next one.

In 2008:
* I had two books out in my Bad Boys of Football series with Pocket - GAME FOR ANYTHING and GAME FOR SEDUCTION - which, so far, I’m thrilled to report, have done extremely well! Thanks to everyone for picking them up and getting to know Ty, Julie, Dominic and Melissa. They were a lot of fun to write about.
* This year I also wrote two new books in my Hotshots: Men of Fire series for Bantam Dell - WILD HEAT and HOT AS SIN! Whoo-hoo!
* And it was a real thrill that Catherine Coulter, Allison Brennan, and Brenda Novak had such nice things to say about WILD HEAT!!!!
* And I loved all of my covers, too. The cover gods have always smiled upon me!
* And I especially want to give thanks for my great agent, editors, and writing buddies, who all came through for me time and time again right when I needed you the most! THANK YOU!!!!

Coming in 2009
* I can hardly wait until April 28th when WILD HEAT hit shelves. I’m really proud of this book and I can’t wait for everyone to read it.
* And then in December, HOT AS SIN (book 2 in the series), will be out!
* As for writing, I’ll be finishing up revisions on HOT AS SIN and writing Book 3 in the series!
* I’ve got some exciting ideas for future books/series…..will announce top secret news as I get it.

Here’s to a fabulous 2009 for everyone!!!!

All my best,

Bella

Over on my agent’s blog, she’s going to be taking one paragraph pitches in the comments section and randomly picking some over the next two weeks to critique! She’s done this before and it’s always fantastic - and I think she ends up requesting books from people too when she really likes the pitch!

http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

Bella

You know I love my lunch with the ladies. Here’s a fun pic from dessert last week at Catherine Coulter’s house, high on the hill with a marvelous view!

Me, Catherine, Penny Williamson, Jami Alden, Monica McCarty, Tracy Grant

Tags: lunch with the ladies

The fantabulous Ms. Brennan just gave WILD HEAT the most incredible endorsement:

Bella

Tags: Allison Brennan, Wild Heat

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did - it was busy with family and friends and we had great mostly sunny weather.

Last night I went to my Romance Readers Group Christmas Party which was hosted by two of the members who are mother and daughter. It was tons of fun and after I mentioned reading a re-release of the old Victoria Holt novel “Mistress of Mellyn” (and LOVING it!!!) everyone chimed in with their favorite authors from the 70s and 80s.  Here’s the list:
* Celeste de Blasis
* Sandra Langford
* Phyllis Whitney
* Laurie McBain

A few minutes later, Deb returned from the back room with a handful of really old paperbacks and hardcovers and handed them to me! She’d pulled out books by all of these authors (with the warning that I’d better take good care of them, of course!). I’ve already started “Moonstruck Madness” by Laurie McBain and it’s fabulous!

In other news, I’m working on revisions for my December 2009 Hotshots release, Hot As Sin. I’m excited about this book and it’s really nice to get to dig back into it.

Tags: Great authors, Hot As Sin, Laurie McBain, Thanksgiving

I had lunch with a couple of wonderful writers and friends - Barbara Freethy and Anne Mallory - earlier this week. We had a lot to catch up on and after we’d pushed our plates away, Barbara turned to me and said, “So, don’t you have some stories to brainstorm?”

Hip hip hooray, one of my favorite thing is brainstorming stories with my buddies! And within an hour we’d thought up some really yummy stuff for my future books. And then, the cherry on top, was a brief conversation I had with Monica McCarty yesterday, who threw something truly brilliant into the mix.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - I love lunching with the ladies! Not only are they totally fun people to hang out with, but they’re VERY smart and savvy as well.

Bella

I have been terribly remiss (due to my impending deadline this Friday!) in posting a blog about a new book by one of my very favorite people (and Starbucks writing buddy extraordinaire!): Anne Mallory.

Her previous book (the marvelous THREE NIGHTS OF SIN) hit the USA Today list earlier this year and it was exciting to be there with her at lunch when she heard the news from her agent. Whoo-hoo, Anne! Now, here’s another beautifully written (and very sexy) regency-set historical romance:

Winner take all…Sebastien Deville, the debauched, dangerously handsome illegitimate son of the Duke of Grandien, has waited his whole life for revenge - and suddenly it is there for the taking. A competition sponsored by the King has all the ton talking. The winner will receive an immense fortune, a newly created title, sponsorship, and a well-born bride - everything Sebastien needs to reclaim his mother’s stolen lands and to wield the colossal power itching beneath his fingertips. His victory is all but assured…until he meets Caroline.

Caroline Martin knows all about Sebastien, the legendary heartbreaker who leaves women weeping in his wake, and she is determined not to see him win the competition in which he would claim her friend as his bride. Yet sabotage is so very hard to concentrate on when the target’s searing glances promise incredible pleasure and his skillful hands vow unimaginable desire. She knows the danger he presents…the temptation he offers, yet she is willing to risk everything for all she holds dear.

But Sebastien Deville will do anything to win…and Caroline’s heart may become the ultimate prize.

Here’s a link to order from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061579130/103-9449344-2883819?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance&tagActionCode=annemallory-20

Enjoy!

Bella

Had to share that TAKE ME (my first full-length novel) is #39 on the Top 100 Recommended e-books at ebookmall.com

http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/title/group-729-ebooks-recommended-page1.htm

How fun to be surrounded on the list by some of my favorite authors!

Have a great weekend!

Bella

As I get closer to typing ”THE END” for my 2nd Men of Fire book (this one’s Sam’s story), I am pleased to announce the new title that my de-lovely editor thought up:

HOT AS SIN

Don’t you just LOVE it?!?!

Me too.

Coming December 2009. Whoo-hoo!

Bella

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce to the entire world that Catherine Coulter, thriller and historical writer extraordinaire, recently read an advanced copy of WILD HEAT and said this about it:

WILD HEAT is a roller coaster ride. Don’t miss it.
~ Catherine Coulter, New York Times bestselling author of TailSpin

Love her!!!!

Bella

Tags: Catherine Coulter, Wild Heat