Upcoming events & odds and ends

I’m feeling happy this morning and am having Scottish tea with milk and homemade blueberry scones.

I was inspired, by all things, by Elizabeth Hoyt’s Thief of Shadows. I just finished the book and I have two thoughts 1) Dude, the hero is a masked avenger who leaps about the rooftops of the slums and saves orphans! Just my type of swashbuckling adventure and a lovely historical romance to boot. 2) I have figured out why England is such a popular romance setting. It’s the tea and scones. Everyone in the book was constantly having tea with milk and scones. I mean, there’s tea in China, but regrettably no scones.

Booksigning this Saturday at Rose’s Bookhouse

If you’re in the St. Louis area on July 14th, I’d love to see you! I’ll be signing along with local urban fantasy author Kasey MacKenzie and historical romance author Charlotte Hubbard/Naomi King. And if that wasn’t enough, I’ll bring Jilly’s cupcakes to sweeten the deal.

Event: Rose’s Bookhouse – Multi-author booksigning

Date/Time: July 14, 12 – 2 pm

Address: 8935 Veterans Memorial Parkway O’Fallon, MO 63366-3093

Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon – April 27 2013


I was so happy to be invited to this event next year. I wasn’t able to go to the inaugural event this year, but I heard it was a smashing success. Barbara Vey (super reader, social media specialist, PW blogger, and all-round super-woman) has put together a reader focused event where readers and authors can meet and chat in a more intimate setting. On top of that, it’s in the Midwest so local readers can make it there. The price is a steal – $50 to sit at an author table, have lunch, listen to keynote speaker James Rollins, and also receive a bunch of books and other giveaways.

I’d be eyeing a couple of my favorite authors’ tables myself…except for I have my own table. *giddy* I heard that last year all the authors gave little themed gifts or party favors for everyone at their table. I’m already trying to think of something absolutely splendid.

Sign-up ASAP! Tickets sold out early last year. You can buy tickets or check out the entire author list and also other info at http://www.barbaraveyreaders.com

Link Round-Up

With My Fair Concubine’s month in the sun done and gone (the print and ebook can still be ordered online), I do have a couple more links to close out the round-ups.

The Season – A 3.5 star review and some lovely comments

Mrs. Giggles –  65/100 I always look forward to Mrs. Giggles reviews of my books as they always say something unique about the story not mentioned in other reviews. Unfortunately this one wasn’t so favorable. But I must love it for calling me on the use of “Fei Long” which I took off of Street Fighter II. Yes, the video game:

*hangs head in shame* I did Facebook, however, so see if there are indeed people actually named Fei Long. 🙂

The hero’s name in my next book should be a fun one. His name is Hao Han which means “brave” or “true”. I suppose it’s akin to naming my hero “Heroic”.

An aside: The half-Japanese protagonist of Neal Stephenson’s Snowcrash is named “Hiro Protagonist”. I smiled.

San Diego, Blog-o-rama & More

It’s deja vu all over again. The lead up to the launch of THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL is well underway, starting with the official start of the blog tour. Come visit me over at The Romance Dish and learn about the symbolism of the dragon and the pearl in Chinese mythology. You can also win an autographed copy of BUTTERFLY SWORDS to get you ready for DRAGON.

The other tour stops so far are below:

9/13-The Romance Dish–blog and giveaway: The Dragon and the Pearl in Chinese Mythology

9/14-Fresh Fiction–blog and giveaway: She’s got the look–Costuming your characters

9/19-Historical Hearts-interview and giveaway

9/20-Limecello’s blog-blog and giveaway: Tang Dynasty courtesans–High class prostitutes?

9/21-Jo Bourne’s blog-interview and giveaway

10/12-Romancing the Book-Interview and giveaway

10/17-Reader, I Created Him – Interview and giveaway

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I’m heading out to San Diego this Friday for a workshop on “Keeping Them Hooked” Saturday morning with the San Diego RWA chapter. This will be my first book signing for THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL and I’m doubly excited because I’ll be the opening act for Barbara Vey from Publishers Weekly who’s the afternoon speaker.

This also brings me back to Southern California for a visit to my family and then my BFF’s wedding the next week. I’ll be in the wedding party as a very round bridesmaid as the twins are growing inside me.

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Oh me garshk! Is it that time already. I’ll be drawing for the winners for the first round of the Launch Celebration this Thursday. So far there’s a handful of supporters joining in on Facebook, blogs and Twitter. *blows kisses* Thank you!!

Spread the word for a chance to win books and other cool goodies.