The Wild Rose Blog Tour Welcomes Nana Malone!

Kicking off our Wild Rose Blog Tour, I'm very pleased to welcome Nana Malone to my blog.

Today, Nana is spilling the beans on what's on her Christmas To Be Read pile. Caution, some of the titles will make you want to curl up and read too :)

Take is away, Nana, tell us what you want for Christmas!

All I want for Christmas is a Boatload of Books

I’ve always asked for books for Christmas. While other little kids were asking for a new bike or new Atari video game, I asked for books. Well, books and a new corn silk Cabbage Patch Kid.

Come On. I wasn’t made of stone. They were really cute.

I loved all books from mysteries, to adventures to Sweet Valley Twins. I couldn’t wait to spend my whole Christmas vacation on my toasty bean bag chair curled up with my nose in a book. No snowball fights for me. Give me hot chocolate, a warm comfy place to curl into, and a good book. As an adult my needs haven’t changed much. Though, since I live in San Diego, I’ll forgo the hot chocolate for a margarita and the toasty corner for somewhere quiet without hubby, puppy or baby needing something.

This year, I’ve got a huge TBR pile. So first I’m going to indulge my inner teen and tackle the rest of the Kelley Armstrong series, Darkest Powers. I read the first and I’ve been meaning to go back to them, but alas have had zero time. Admittedly, I go peruse the YA section of the bookstore first these days. They just take me back to a simpler time. (Hands rubbing together in glee)

After I satisfy my inner teen, then I’m going to indulge my inner twenty-four year old and read the latest Lauren Weisberger book Last Night at Chateau Marmont. I love her irreverent style and I’m hoping to see more of the same spark I did in The Devil Wears Prada.

And If I have time between stuffing myself stupid, running a few miles out of guilt, and trying to finish my WIP, I’m going to read the latest Misty Evans prequel to Witches Anonymous, The Devil and Venus di Milo. What better way to round out the holiday season than with a little witchy sass.

What are you reading this holiday season?

Here's a blurb of Nana's debut novel, Game, Set, Match...

Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright’s playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he’s down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn’t the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven’t dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?

Ohh, your book sounds like a fun read! I adore Tennis!

Where can readers get their copies?

Buy Link:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/game-set-match-p-4214.html

Or:
http://www.amazon.com/Game-Set-Match-ebook/dp/B0042AMIA4/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288585693&sr=1-1-catcorr

Blog:
http://nanamalone.com/blog

Thanks so much for being here today, Nana. Remember there are loads of prizes to be won during this 4-week tour. Click on the link below to find out ways to snap up lovely goodies in time for Christmas! http://rosestour.blogspot.com/2010/11/prizes-galore.html

I'll also be hanging out with Sally Clements for the day, so please do stop by and say hello :)

And The Editor Said...

I’ll tell you in a minute. First I’ll start at the beginning.

If you follow this blog, you’ll know that (like most writers) every now and then I get the “meehness” about my writing. Guess what? A few months ago I did. Thanks for all your encouraging words and hugs btw, they helped lots.

However, during one of these “episodes” I did a foolish thing…I pinged off three chapters and a suckopsis to an Editor at Harlequin Mills and Boon. In my defence, I did it because of my DH. The poor man was so tired of my “meehness”, he pleaded with me to send, something, anything so I’d feel better (although I suspect he meant so he’d have to stop listening to me whinge).

So I pressed send on Bastien and Ana’s story.

Fastforward to Friday afternoon just before 4.30 (I know the time because I was due to sing happy birthday to a work colleague at exactly 4.30 and I couldn’t duck out of it because I’d already devoured a large proportion of her birthday cake!), I snuck a peek at my email.

Lo and behold, an email from Harlequin Mills and Boon!!!

And The Editor Said…

Send me the FULL. Wooohooooo!!!!

I’m very happy and excited and suffice it to say DH is feeling pretty smug about the whole thing too. I’m having to pander to said smugness, but hey, I can live with that. Just. For now I just need to finish the story, polish, polish, polish and send it on its way. Wish me luck?

In other news, my Christmas blog tour kicks off this Wednesday. Three of us Minxes are participating for the next four Wednesdays, along with seven other authors from The Wild Rose Press. Please stop by along the tour to show your support for Romy, Sally and me.


There are ten participating blogs and each and every blog will be running a tour contest, which means that you have ten chances to win! The tour is Christmas-themed so you'll also be able to get lots of holiday ideas, as well as pick up some new holiday reads. Please do drop by and give us your support by commenting etc. And just to make it worth your while, we’re giving away some seriously awesome goodies!!

For more information on the participating authors, the prizes they're offering, and who is visiting where and when, click here: http://rosestour.blogspot.com/.

See you on Wednesday and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Maya xx

Remembering Fiona...

This isn’t a post about writing or competitions or deadlines. This is a post about loss. Life throws many, many obstacles at us, but the worst has got to be losing someone close to you, especially when they’re taken suddenly.

Two days ago I lost my dear cousin, Fiona. Although I hadn’t seen her in a while she was dear to me. I remember the exciting sleepovers we used to have as kids and the thrill of spending summers together. What hurts even deeper is that she'd sold her house, bought her ticket and was about to start a whole new life for herself.

To be taken so cruelly is devastating. Hearing her father say he'd lost his best friend broke my heart. So this is a reminder to hold close our loved ones, near or far. Pick up the phone, text, email, fax, whatever, but reach out to someone you love and let them know how much you love them, because you truly, truly, never know when they'll be taken from you.


Fiona, you were a light in my life.

Wherever you are, I believe your light will shine on.

You will be dearly missed.

RIP

Maya