A Strangely Beautiful Release Party!

Right on the heels of DragonCon...

A Strangely Beautiful Release Party at Lady Jane's Salon!

The night was, frankly, pure joy. I had some of my very, very best friends in all the world in one room. That's something that doesn't happen every day. I had friends come in from out of state, fellow writers, bloggers, friends, industry professionals (C.H. Admirand -who took this photo - and Tara Nina brought me flowers, champagne and a Tiara!!!!!! - I DID feel like a princess!! I was excited to see Tara win the Phoenix pendant we raffled off for Share The Love!) - it was such an honour and delight to share 9 years of labour with a crowd full of friends, friends who knew the hard work and tears shed along the way. Plus, getting the chance to thank the people on my acknowledgement page in person, in public, let me again express how none of us gets anywhere on our own, and how grateful I am for the village that made the "book of my heart" possible.

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Dressed in my Victorian Regalia, I listened to my dearest Isabo Kelly read from one of my favourite of her many wonderful books, Thief's Desire. We indulged in Strangely Beautiful cocktails (blue-coloured, of course) and signed a lot of books!

And then I took the stage to read two of my own very favourite scenes from The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. Thanks to Morgan of Miss Media Productions for these great photos!

I confess, I've missed being on stage, so the chance to read from my work (accents included and in appropriate attire) was SUCH a treat.

Thanks so much to everyone who was able to come out on a holiday weekend and support me, and all those who were there in spirit - it was one of the best nights of my life. 9 years. 9 years after my dear Miss Parker introduced herself to me, sweetly and kindly, it's now her month. I hope she's as excited as I am. (She's a little more scared and overwhelmed than me, surely.)

Super-BF:

And a special thank you to my sweetheart for sharing his Birthday with this very special Salon night and being a Prince about it.

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Oh, and the latest in REVIEWS!

1. I discovered my lovely August Fresh Fiction review!

2. The latest commendation from Bitten by Books!

3. And top ratings at A Romance Review!

4. Love from No More Grumpy Bookseller!

Lady Jane's May Edition!

Oh, Lady Jane, how fun you are!

So our May Lady Jane's Salon featured the incredible ladies of Operation L.O.V.E whose Highland Press anthology is launching a whole new line of Military romance. A portion of the proceeds of Operation L.O.V.E will go the Special Operations Warrior Foundation which helps soliders and families of fallen soldiers with support and education. Let's hear it for more charity! Lady Jane happened to donate some of her proceeds to the cause as well.

Left to right here's Tara Nina, Anne Elizabeth and C.H. Admirand, (thanks to our resident media angel RT Rob for the photo!)

AND THEN... as if we couldn't get enough... the aforementioned media angel RT Webmaster Rob (that's my DJ name for him) SANG for us! Such great fun! Check out the video at the RT Blog.

AND THEN....
Since our other scheduled author couldn't make it. I jumped in since I have a novella in print, Dark Nest, and read from the beginning. Gosh, I thought while reading, I really like this book. I should write the sequel. Add that to my ever-growing TBW (To Be Written) pile!! Eek!

Here's the reading: (Thanks again Rob!)



See you June 1st! With an INCREDIBLE lineup! We've got NYT Bestsellers Wendy Corsi Staub, Amanda McCabe and Marjorie M. Liu! You don't want to miss it!

Cheers!