I’m leaving in the morning…my 8th trip of 2010 so far.  I’ve never traveled this much in my life but I could get used to it.

This time I’m heading to Kansas for a couple of days and then flying to Orlando for the Romance Writers of America national conference.  My bags are packed (and I *think* weigh less than 50 pounds), and I have 10 hours or so to think of anything I may have forgotten. 

If you’re my friend on Facebook, you might have seen that I finished my latest book, the fourth in the Texas Firefighters series.  Well, kind of finished it.  I got to the end, but now I have to go back and rework it pretty intensely because it’s U-G-L-Y.  On Friday I got word that its release date has been moved up a month, so it will be out in April 2011.  That also means my editor and I will have to bust our butts to get it ready for production in time.  Um…yay?  It’s a good problem to have.

Quick note to everyone who won a prize either on my Lucky 13 contest or my website contest…I’ve been so buried trying to get the book done and suitcase packed that I haven’t been able to mail your prizes yet.  I WILL as soon as I get back in town.  I’m sorry it’s taking so long! 

I’m off to print out a copy of The Mess, otherwise known as the book that must be butchered.  Looking forward to seeing writer and reader friends in Florida and I might even check in here with some pics or a report if I can find the opportunity.  Otherwise, I’ll be back in August!

Just a quick post to let you know I’m at My Book Addiction and More today (thank you, Wendy!) and I’m giving away a copy of Playing With Fire!  Stop by and find out about one of my many weaknesses! *g*

Back to the manuscript…

Note to self: no more deadlines to coincide with book releases!

‘Nuther note to self: no more leaving half the book to be written in the last month before deadline.

Anyone else pushing hard to get something done by a certain date this summer? My poor boys are SO SICK of the phrase “after my deadline”…I’m gonna owe them a week straight of the pool, bowling, redoing their room, etc.

I’ll try to check in here with a couple posts next week because after that, I’m heading to Orlando for the RWA National Conference. (Note to self: next year, actually get around to losing the 10 pounds before national!)

Happy weekend!

Thank you all so much for helping me count down to release day!

I’ll get straight to the point.

The grand prize winner of the 13-pack of books is…
Jill W!

The 3 winners of a signed copy of Playing With Fire are:
Linda Henderson
chey
Pat Cochran

And the winner of the name-the-bar bonus question a few days back (I’ve lost track of days), who gets to choose one book from my backlist is:
Jackie Burris

Ladies, please send your postal address to me (and Jackie, let me know which book you want…Unexpected Complication, The Boy Next Door, Doctor in Her House or The Secret She Kept) and I’ll get those in the mail before I leave for national. Also, Linda, Chey, Pat and Jackie, let me know what name you’d like me to sign your book to.

Thanks and congrats to the winners! Hope you all enjoy your books.

It’s finally here! The official release day for Playing With Fire!

From the back cover:
Macey Locke is not backing down. That means Derek Severson – the man she’s been attracted to for years – is just going to have to deal. She hasn’t come all the way to this South Texas beach bar for a tan. She’s here to help her best friend get back to being what he loves – a firefighter.

Well, too bad. This time, tough guy, you’ve met your match.

A big thank you to those of you who purchased the book early from eHarlequin or who have found it in the past week and picked it up. Your emails and enthusiasm have been so much appreciated!

I haven’t forgotten that I listed today as the last day to enter the Lucky 13 Giveaway…so here you go, the last question, something not so Amy-centric for a change:

What’s the name or author of the last category book (ie from Harlequin/Silhouette) you read and enjoyed? (If you haven’t read a category romance novel before, just make that your answer. No hard feelings.)

For complete rules and a list of prizes, please click here. If you’re just joining the contest, feel free to enter any and all of the 13 days as long as you post before midnight tonight, July 13th.

Winners will be announced here tomorrow (the 14th)!

Thanks to everyone who sent my dad birthday wishes yesterday!

Sorry I’m late with today’s post! My eyes aren’t even focusing yet, and my days and nights are totally turned around (Up till 3 or 4am writing each night lately.) This deadline (for firefighter #4)…if it doesn’t kill me, it’s definitely aging me!

ONE MORE DAY until the official release of Playing With Fire!

Today’s question:

I’ve posted an excerpt for book 3, Fully Involved on my website. I myself don’t often read excerpts either online or at the back of a book because I hate to be teased. If I read the excerpt I’ll want the book NOW. And yet…if it’s a new-to-me author, I definitely like a sample of their writing before I buy. So in other words, I like to read exerpts sometimes. What about you? Do you like a preview of a book or do you base your purchase decisions on other elements?

(For the rules and prizes of this giveaway, check here. It’s not too late to go back and enter earlier days.)

Today’s my dad’s birthday!

My dad is vehemently NOT a romance reader, but he’s made a point of reading all of my books to date. About Playing With Fire, he said something to the tune of, “I enjoyed your book, liked the plot and the story, but I could do without all the muscles and such.” Heh. At least he didn’t comment on the sex scenes….

To be entered today, all you have to do is leave a birthday message for my dad in the comments. *g*

Happy Birthday, Dad! Love you!

(For details on prizes and the rules, click here. You are welcome to post answers to past questions as well, as long as your answer is in by midnight on July 13th.)

Unofficially, my book is popping up all over! I saw it on the shelf at Wal-Mart today. YAY! However, the official release day is still 3 days away so we’re going to continue counting down here. More opportunities for you to enter to win books!

Today’s question:

Which Texas Firefighter would you choose based on their type:
* Derek from Playing With Fire – tormented by his recent past
* Evan from A Little Consequence — the flirt, the charmer
* Clay from Fully Involved — former rebel turned single father

(For details on prizes and the rules, click here. You are welcome to post answers to past questions as well, as long as your answer is in by midnight on July 13th.)

Happy Friday! Only 4 more days till the official release date of Playing With Fire but…I’ve heard from more than one reader that the book is on the shelf in some places! YAY! So far I’ve heard of sightings at Wal-Mart and Borders.

Today’s question, to be entered in the giveaway, is:

What’s your favorite place to buy your books? Online? Borders? Grocery store? Wal-Mart? Others? I’m partial to Borders but when you get down to it, any store that carries my book makes me happy.

(If you’re just now dropping in, feel free to answer previous days’ questions and click here for the low-down on prizes and rules.)

*off to stalk my local stores…*

5 more days till Playing With Fire!

It’s not too late to join my little celebration…for a list of prizes and rules, check here.

Today’s question:

In Playing With Fire, the hero, Derek Severson, owns a little beach shack bar called the Shell Shack. It’s based on one of my favorite bars on South Padre Island. (Bonus giveaway…if anyone can name the bar it’s based on, you can choose a signed copy of any of my backlist titles…first person to guess correctly wins. Rachelle G., you’re not eligible! )

What is your favorite drink at a beach bar?