Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas to everyone! I had a disasterous experience with lasagna last night. Chose the wrong gluten free noodles. They were gummy and had a funny aftertaste. Bleh.  I do not recomment DeBoles Rice lasagna noodles. I attempted a slow cooker lasagna, perhaps they'd be better with a "normal" bake. Even the strongly seasoned canned sauce I used couldn't save the lasagna.

I had much better luck making garlic cheese Bisquick biscuits using the gluten free Bisquick mix. It ended up REALLY tasty. That was Christmas supper last night.

I'm going to attempt a stuffing using a bread made with rice flour for Christmas supper tonight. I hope this succeeds. At least the ground turkey will be good - I'm going to make it into a meatloaf and cook it in the same pan with the stuffing. If the stuffing sucks, I can just toss it, and it won't affect the turkey.  I hope you all had better food experiences this Christmas than I did.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Visit The Romance Studio Holiday Party!

Hi all,
   I'll be posting off an on (until Dec. 23) over at The Romance Studio's Holiday Party site. My first post is up - you can read it by clicking HERE. I'm sharing my Controlling Interest blurb.

New Contract with EC!!!

I'm so excited! Last week my editor contacted me with a contract offer for Controlling Interest which will be part of the 1-800-DOM-help series. I'll keep you posted as I receive a release date and cover art. You know, it never gets old. It's exciting every single time my editor likes what I send her and offers me a contract. I love being a writer. Grin...

Here's a blurb to whet your appetite:

Controlling Interest

Mozelle “Mouse” Vincent inherits money, a club, and her boss' son as a business partner when society leader, Regine Stuart dies. Torin Stuart knows what his late mother's wishes were for his exclusive BDSM club, Erotically Bound, but he's pissed that he’s forced to trust Mouse—especially when her inherently submissive nature arouses the sexual Dominant in him.


After baring all in a heated, intense scene, Mouse realizes that they still have to work together, but now Tor challenges any business suggestion Mouse makes. When she wants to offer education classes, Tor dares her to organize the class and participate—as a submissive.

To his chagrin, Mouse agrees, but he can’t stand the thought of any other Dom touching her. Suddenly there’s far more at stake than controlling interest in their club…because love is the ultimate prize in their power exchange.

Happy Release Day, PARIS BRANDON!

Hi all,
   My super wonderful critique partner, Paris Brandon has a new release out today. This is a great story - full of suspense and passion. I had the good fortune to read it before it was released so I know readers will enjoy the fabulous relationship between Val and Jack. 


***

Liberal talk show host Valentine Cross’ and police detective Jack Sutton’s ideological differences don’t get in the way of down-and-dirty, up-against-the-wall sex. In a relationship that consists only of sex and fighting, the conflagration seems worth it. Until Jack issues an ultimatum that Val fears will destroy them both.


Six months after walking out of her life because she refused to marry him, Jack receives an assignment that sends him right back into the fire. Val might be hiding his suspect and she’s in danger. Oh yeah, there’s also the little problem of all the mind-blowing sex with his ex getting in the way of solving the crime.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Now THIS is all kinds of awesome!

1-800-DOM-help Trailer

This trailer
Check out this amazing book trailer created by the multi-talented author Delphine Dryden.  Keep your fingers crossed - my contribution to the series is with my editor now. I'll say no more and hope for a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a new contract.

Digital Reader Penetration Accelerates

Digital Reader Penetration Accelerates

Okay - great news in the digital world but they REALLY needed to choose another title. I mean...c'mon! Or Cum on... Depending on where your brain goes. Mine went straight to the gutter - natch!

I Am Not A Pornographer

Blogging at 1800DOMhelp today about BDSM stories...

Greetings everyone! I'm blogging at 1800DOMhelp today about BDSM stories. Do you like them light or edgy? A little spanking or full on shibari rope bondage? Stop by and share your thoughts on the topic.

2011 EPIC Award Finalist!

I'm so excited. I received an email tonight which congratulated me on finaling in the 2011 EPIC awards. Whirlwind Affair is a finalist in the contemporary erotic romance category.

This is seriously awesome and I'm really happy about this. Wow.

Congratulations to all the other EPIC finalists!

Happy Birthday to Me! Contests with prizes

Greetings everyone,
Today is my birthday and to celebrate, I'm giving the gifts. I have two contests with different prizes on two different blogs today. Two blogs...twice the fun!

Number 1. Pop over to Authors by Moonlight - read my blog entry and post a comment to qualify to win any one of my releases in electronic format.
Authors by Moonlight.

Number 2. Visit 1800DOMhelp and check out my blog entry. Leave a comment to qualify to win a print copy of Seeking Truth, a cherry flavored Lollicock and a copy of the Pocket Kama Sutra.
1-800-DOM-help

Hope to see you there!
Francesca Hawley

Cherish D'Angelo - Death by Chocolate...Covered Strawberries

Welcome everyone,
Today I'm really thrilled to have a guest blogger joining me. Her name is Cherish D'Angelo and she's celebrating a new release!

***

Thank you for hosting me during my Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour, which launches my award-winning romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady. Today, we're chatting about chocolate, romance and death. What a yummy combination, huh?

There are certain foods that we associate with romance. Chocolate is probably the #1 choice. It dates back over 2000 years to the Aztec and Mayan cultures of Mexico, and it's been called "the food of the Gods". There's just something about chocolate. It's smooth silky texture. It's bittersweet flavour. The guilty pleasure of knowing it's not exactly on Weight Watchers' daily menu.

Chocolate contains alkaloids that have physiological effects on the body. It's been found to raise levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that acts as an anti-depressant) in the brain. It raises endorphins in the brain, which lessens pain and decreases stress levels. Chocolate also causes change in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, resulting in feelings of alertness and excitement. There's also a feeling of euphoria connected with consuming chocolate, kind of a chocolate induced "high". No wonder people consider chocolate an aphrodisiac.

A romantic dessert would most likely consist of chocolate. Chocolate mousse, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, chocolate sauce or chocolate covered strawberries. When you think of the latter, don't you envision a hunk of a man feeding his woman a hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberry. How erotic is that? Feeding one another can be a very sensual act, with the right food.

Another food associated with romance is whipped cream. You smiled just now, didn't you? Light, fluffy, rich and slightly sweet, whipped cream is the stuff that good romance scenes in movies are made of. Whipped cream and chocolate add to the fantasy of romance, and we can all use a bit of fantasy now and then.

Perhaps in my next romance novel, I'll incorporate chocolate and whipped cream. For now, you'll have to settle for romance and danger. Death and romance. But you can still buy some chocolate covered strawberries for your loved one. I dare you! Whipped cream too.

Lancelot's Lady ~ A Bahamas holiday from dying billionaire JT Lance, a man with a dark secret, leads palliative nurse Rhianna McLeod to Jonathan, a man with his own troubled past, and Rhianna finds herself drawn to the handsome recluse, while unbeknownst to her, someone with a horrific plan is hunting her down.

Lancelot's Lady is available in ebook edition at KoboBooks, Amazon's Kindle Store, Smashwords and other ebook retailers. Help me celebrate by picking up a copy today and "Cherish the romance..."

You can learn more about Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo (aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif) at http://www.cherishdangelo.com and http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com. Follow Cherish from September 27 to October 10 on her Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour and win prizes.

What other foods do you associate with romance?

Leave a comment here, with email address, to be entered into the prize draws. You're guaranteed to receive at least 1 free ebook just for doing so. Plus you'll be entered to win a Kobo ereader. Winners will be announced after October 10th.

Libraries Will Survive!

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week begins today and runs through October 2. There are a few reasons this annual celebration resonates with me.

First - I'm a librarian and librarians are all about open access. I abhor censorship.

Second, I'm a reader. As a reader, I want to choose what I want to read...for myself. I don't want someone else to ever have the right to tell me I can't read something I want to read.

Third, I'm a writer. Not only am I a writer, but I write erotic romance and sex is one of those things people rush to censor, usually without have read the book first.

Banning and challenging books injures our society. In fear, censors try to protect everyone from anything they deem "questionable." But the first amendment guarantees free speech. You don't have to listen to it. You don't have to read it. But if you support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, then you have to tolerate it.

In The American President, Michael Douglas as the President states the following:

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free"."

And when you get right down to it, that's what Banned Books Week is all about. It's about defending your enemy's right to say whatever they will, because if they have that right, then so do you. It's hard. There are a lot of individuals out there saying stuff I don't like and I don't agree with. But in the end, it's about protecting the rights of all and not just the privileged few.

Go out this week and read a banned or challenged book. You'll be glad you did.

Cookie Monster invades the Library

Red Stilettos anthology in Print!!!

Whirlwind Affair is now in print in the Red Stilettos Anthology. Visit the Jasmine Jade Enterprises/Ellora's Cave site to purchase the print copy directly from the publisher!

The print edition will eventually be available where my other print copies are available (Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc.) but I'm not sure when buy links will be available there - so if you want the collection hot off the press, order from EC now!

Old Spice Guy Loves Libraries

If you're like me, you LOVE the Old Spice guy - Isaiah Mustafa. He's a hot guy with a sexy voice and a killer sense of humor. Who could beat his delivery? Old Spice mined marketing genius with this one. Women LOVE the guy (which of us wouldn't? I mean, come ON!) and guys really do want to be him. One of my library co-workers has a sixteen year old son and because of this commercial - guess which after shave he's using now? Um...yeah. Old Spice. Want to see the commercials? Visit the Old Spice Channel on YouTube.

Frankly, I'm happy Old Spice is making a return. My dad used to wear it and so did my grandfather so it brings back fond memories, plus I just love the smell of it. If a guy wears this and walks past, my nose still twitches and I sigh happily.

So I had to share this video where the Old Spice Guy shares his opinion about libraries! Enjoy!

Jacasta Nu: Worst librarian in the Galaxy

March of the Librarians - video fun

Librarians - the ultimate search engine!

Blogging this week!

I'm featured on Tilly Greene's blog today. Thanks Tilly for letting me be part of the fun!

Thanks to everyone that commented! Thanks also to everyone who popped over here to check me out.

Today I also posted on the Raven Happy Hour Blog.

Tomorrow (Wed, June 16) , look for me at Authors By Moonlight.

Thursday, I plan to post at Shapeshifter Seductions.

Finally, on Sunday, June 20, I'll be posting an entry at Seduced by History.

It's a BUSY week.

I'm a 2010 PRISM finalist! Woot!

The 13th Annual Prism Awards have finished. The Coordinators would like to thank everyone who entered and who judged. The finalists are listed in alphabetical order.

Winners (Plus Best First Book and Best of the Best) will be announced at The Gathering at Nationals July 2010.


Dark Paranormal
SJ Day Eve of Darkness
Cynthia Eden Immortal Danger
Rebecca York Dragon Moon

Light Paranormal
Judi Fennell Wild Blue Under
Angie Fox The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers
Kerrelyn Sparks Secret Life of a Vampire

Erotica
Livia Dare In the Flesh
Francesca Hawley Protect and Defend
Radclyffe Secrets in the Stone

Novella
Ella Drake Firestorm on E'Terra
Cynthia Eden Belong to the Night
Sapphire Phelan Being Familiar with a Witch

Fantasy
Leanna Renee Hieber The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Michelle Picard Ruling Eden
Maria V. Snyder Storm Glass

Futuristic
Katherine Allred Close Encounters
Jess Granger Beyond the Rain
Linnea Sinclair Hope's Folly

Time Travel/ Steampunk
Sandra Hill Viking Heat
Melissa Mayhue A Highlander of Her Own
Susan Squires Time for Eternity

Authors By Moonlight Launch - What's YOUR definition of erotic romance?

Hi everyone,
I've joined a new group blog, Authors by Moonlight, which is launching this week. Today is my day to blog. The question of the day is what's your definition of erotic romance. Stop by to comment. One winner will receive an electronic copy of one of my books in their preferred format.


http://www.authorsbymoonlight.com/?p=121

RT Pics

Me and Mary Janice Davidson

Hi Everyone,

So I'm at RT this week. Today was Wednesday and I'm posting before heading to bed. I had a wonderful, fun day. I attended a great panel about paranormal romance which included Mary Janice Davidson. I had a total fan grrl moment (see above). I also went to a couple of Publishers spotlights (EC, Samhain, Total E-bound, and Resplendence). They were informative and interesting. I had a pic taken with the Mr. Romance contestants and tonight was the EC party. A full round day.

MA Ellis

(Left)

Paris Brandon

(Right)

Cris Anson

Me with Lora Leigh

Surrounded by Cavemen!

Can you tell I had a fabulous time? I did! I'll try to upload more pics tomorrow. Going to bed now - waaaaay late. Have a great night!

Plus Size Censorship?

So it's perfectly okay to show slender models running around in bras and panties, but I recently read that ABC and Fox networks didn't want us to see the Lane Bryant ad below. Why? Cleavage. She HAS some. Yes, I'm rolling my eyes here. Check it out yourself. Does this gorgeous girl have too much cleavage? Really?

IPAD - a very expensive cat toy

Now, THIS is hilarious...if you love cats!

Picking a mate with astrology - blog

Hi all,

I'm blogging over at the Raven Happy Hour Blog today about using astrology to pick a mate. My case study is Jake Pavelka (aka "The Bachelor). Come on by to leave a comment.

http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog/?p=1766

Francesca

I'm a Passionate Plume DOUBLE Finalist!

Passionate Ink’s 5th Annual The Passionate Plume Contest for Published Authors
The only published, all erotic romance award in RWA!

Five Sizzling Finalists in Five Categories:

(Two categories ended with a tie, resulting in six finalists for the Contemporary and Paranormal / Time Travel categories.)


Contemporary
Jenna Bayley-Burke* – Compromising Positions
Jianne Carlo* – A Paratrooper in A Pear Tree
Kelly Jamieson* – Rigger
Opal Carew* – SECRET TIES
Opal Carew* – SIX
Qwillia Rain* – Diablo Blanco Club

Historical
Emma Wildes – Can’t Say No
Debra Glass* – Bad Kitty
Debra Glass* – Bought and Paid For
Francesca Hawley* – Seeking Truth
Kate Pearce* – Simply Wicked

Futuristic /Sci Fi/Fantasy
Allyson James – Calder
Anna Leigh Keaton* – Once Upon a Time… Midnight Hour
Anna Leigh Keaton* – Woodland Magic – Fated
Jory Strong* – Fallon Mates
Michelle Polaris* – Bound Odyssey

Paranormal / Time Travel
Allyson James – Mortal Seductions
Allyson James – Mortal Temptations
Anna Leigh Keaton* – Time and Again
Dana Marie Bell* – Dare to Believe
Francesca Hawley* – Protect and Defend
Sharon Page* – Blood Deep

Novella
Anna Leigh Keaton* – Inferno
Jayne Rylon – Phoenix Incantation
Liza James* – Hot For Teacher
Madelynne Ellis* – Pure Folly
Sherry James – Eight Seconds (Flavors of Ecstasy Anthology Vol. 3)

* indicates the author is a member of the Passionate Ink Chapter

**If you have any questions, email Karen at pp5@passionateink.org

Interviewed on Vivi Andrews' blog - TODAY

Hi everyone,
I'm so excited... Vivi Andrews interviewed me for her blog today. You can read the interview here...

One lucky (random) commenter will win an e-book copy of Whirlwind Affair. So stop over and tell me what you think about life, the universe and everything (AND Douglas Adams - grin).

4 star review at Night Owl Reviews

I'm thrilled to report that I got a really good review for Whirlwind Affair from Night Owl Reviews - 4 out of 5 stars! Woot!

Chris at NOR especially likes Rigo...grin...but then so do I.

"Rigo is every woman’s fantasy. Gorgeous, rich, and nice. Add in determined and you’ve got a killer combination. Rigo was forceful without being pushy, seductive without being smarmy..."

Sweeeet!

Obama's Package

OMG...roflmao! I saw this posted on facebook and just had to share. First all kinds of ruckus because Obama had some fab abs, and now jealousy about his package. Will it never end?

giggle...

Bad, Bad Girlfriend releases today!

The final book in the Red Stilettos series releases today, March 24, 2010. Delilah Devlin has created some awesome characters for the fourth and final book. Here's the blurb:

Book Four in the Red Stilettos series.

Expect magic when one determined woman dons a legendary pair of red stilettos and bares body and heart to get her man’s attention…

Jolene’s a big, beautiful woman with an even bigger heart. But she’s become her police officer boyfriend’s favorite doormat and that’s so not working for her. It’s time for a little conversation, time to tell Mr. Happy Pants to “pee or get off the pot”.

Gabriel has seen what his profession does to marriages. He’s not willing to risk that kind of heartbreak. Besides, he likes what he has with Jolene. The woman is sex personified. So when Jolie tells him she won’t see him anymore if he’s not willing to commit, he’s shocked and angry.

With a girlfriend’s encouragement and the added confidence a certain pair of red stilettos gives her, Jolene arranges a special show at a strip club to prove to Gabe once and for all that she’s more woman than any man can handle, and if he doesn’t want the job, then she’ll find another lover who does.

Red Stilettos Book 3 - Dear Sexy Lexie

TODAY (March 17) is the release day for Dear Sexy Lexie by Ashlyn Chase. Dear Sexy Lexie is the third book in the Red Stilettos series featuring a hawt cougar who's looking for love with a sexy younger man. I was so excited when Ash agreed to join Paris and me with the Red Stilettos series and brought the idea to Delilah Devlin to complete the quartet. Visit EC today to get your copy of book three in the series.



While a stand-alone, this book is best enjoyed in series order.

Some women should take their own advice…


No-nonsense, thirty-nine-year-old Lexie Burns pens an advice column—Letters to Sexy Lexie—that delivers common sense with a dose of humor and a verbal slap upside the head. Tyler Black, a younger, drop-dead gorgeous cop, has had it with empty-headed, superficial women. In Lexie, he sees the kind of intelligent woman with whom he could build a solid relationship—if he can convince her to acknowledge his existence.


With the help of some magical stilettos, Tyler might get his woman…and Lexie might get a desperately needed slap upside the libido.

It's OFFICIAL! I won an EPPIE!!! Woot!

I've had a damn good week. Not only do I have a new release coming out tomorrow, but I found out (i.e., I confirmed) that Seeking Truth won the 2010 EPIC award for the Historical Erotic Romance category. Wooo Hoooo!

I'm so excited about this. It was so cool to even be a finalist (one of two!) but to find out that I actually WON was just icing on the cake for me. Hmmm - don't want to thank "the Academy" or anything, but I do want to thank EC and especially my EC editor Mary Moran for her support and great editing. She caught stuff that I didn't realize was in there. I especially appreciate that she gets me and my writing. That's a really good thing.

Gotta say thanks to my critique partner Paris Brandon too. She kept me on task and offered great support while I was writing. She's also an AWESOME writer herself. Check out her web site and most excellent book, Assassin's Kiss.

I'll stop my thank yous now, lest some hidden orchestra starts to play me off the "stage" like they do at the Oscars. But thanks to my friends and family for your support through the years. Hopefully, I'll be getting more of these award things in the future, but even if I don't that's okay. This one felt very good indeed.

Wednesday is the BIG day!

Well, tomorrow is release day for my new novella Whirlwind Affair. I'm really excited and so ready to see it available on EC's front page. When I wrote the story, I fell in love with Rodrigo Torbellino. He was hawt with dark eyes and a sexy accent. I was a bit jealous that Erika had the opportunity to fulfill her fantasies with Rigo. But now that the story is complete, I'm happy for Erika because she deserves a man who loves her with the passion Rigo feels for her. Passion and acceptance and that's what we all want to find in our soulmate. A man who loves us...accepts us...completes us. So I hope you enjoy Erika and Rigo's story. I really loved writing it and I loved my characters too.

Red Stilettos, Book 1 - Head Over Heels by Paris Brandon

My critique partner, Paris Brandon's release Head Over Heels was the first book in the Red Stilettos series. Her book is available RIGHT NOW! And I can tell you it's a great read!

Check out the blurb and her book trailer!

Bella Jacienski literally falls into sexy philanthropist Rhys Vincent’s arms while wearing her “magic” red stilettos, and wonders if the legend attached to the shoes is true. Has she found her heart’s desire—a passionate, lust-crazed lover who wants only her? Always and forever?

Rhys can’t keep his big hands off the curvy shopkeeper. Her smile captivates him and her lush body has him behaving like a he-man Neanderthal. Heated glances and sizzling touches turn into a hot office interlude and wild, break-the-bed sex that only makes him want her more. Bella is all the magic he needs.

ONE WEEK!

Whirlwind Affair releases from Ellora's Cave in one short week - actually six days as of today. Look for it on Wednesday, March 10th! I'm so excited! To find out more about the release, visit the EC page for the upcoming book!

Whirlwind Affair is on it's way!

I'm so excited! Back in January I had a contract offer from my editor at Ellora's Cave Publishing for a new novella called Whirlwind Affair. I had the good fortune to work with Paris Brandon, Ashlyn Chase and Delilah Devlin on this project because Whirlwind Affair is book two in a four book series called Red Stilettos. Four longtime friends share a pair of red stilettos with a magical legend attached to the shoes. The legend? The shoes will fit any foot and be wonderfully comfortable and these special shoes grant the wearer her heart's desire.


Whirlwind Affair
Release Date: March 10, 2010
ISBN: 9781419927577
Coming Soon from Ellora's Cave Publishing

Plus-sized Erika Bergstrom is shopping in an upscale adult boutique when handsome Rodrigo Torbellino asks for help finding a gift…for someone else. Just her luck! But as he flirts with her, she discovers he’s shopping for a bridal shower gift for a friend, not a lover. So when he asks her to model some sexy lingerie then seduces her in the dressing room, Erika gives into her urge for a wild new experience…a one-night stand.

The next morning, Erika’s body is sated from pleasure. Rigo obtains a promise that she’ll call him and tells her that if she doesn’t call him, he’ll find her. She’s intrigued and thrilled with his obvious interest until she discovers Rigo is the head of the company her brother wants the family to partner with, so she doesn’t contact him. A month passes. When they meet again the fire between them burns just as bright as ever, but does Rigo want the business deal or her?






Thanks to Paris Brandon for creating the cover trailer for me!

Protect and Defend available from Amazon

I'm pleased to say Protect and Defend is available from the Amazon web site now. You can buy the print version here... And it's also available for the Kindle here...

If you enjoyed the book, be sure to leave a comment or two!