May 15, 2012

Welcome Party - Two New Cats!



Louisa George
The LoveCats are in party mode! Grab a cup of catnip punch, get comfy in the groovy chairs and settle in to the strains of ABBA (being played by Cat Michelle – don’t worry, we’ll get Elvis going when we can wrestle the remote away). 

Everyone ready? It’s time to give a great big Cat cheer to *two* new Cats! We’re beside ourselves with glee to be welcoming Louisa George and Barbara DeLeo into the pride. Paws in the air! 


Barbara DeLeo
Louisa writes for Harlequin Medical, and Barbara writes for Entangled’s Indulgence. Both are from New Zealand, are gorgeous and two of the loveliest people you’ll meet (I should know – I’ve met them both for early breakfasts where I was barely awake or able to form coherent sentences, and they were *still* lovely). 

More details, I hear you ask? Well, let me oblige! I’ve asked some very pertinent questions to help you get to know them a little better. 


Who is your Catwalk Candidate? 

Barbara: That would be Cosmo the black Miniature Schnauzer. Well, she's not really black, she's gold plated on account of the number of visits to the vet she's had. It's not that she's had puppy illnesses or that we're over protective, it's that Cosmo will eat anything. This includes: two blocks of Lindt dark chocolate (one mint flavoured, one passionfruit and including the foil and cardboard packaging), two rubber lizards and a sewing needle which made the journey all the way through her with the cotton still attached. 

Louisa: How could I choose between my two? 

Behold, Tana- Master of The Universe. Named after one of the best rugby players of all time, All Black Tana Umanga. 

I, All-black cat Tana rule the roost- the neighbourhood, indeed, the Universe. I am beautiful. I am stupendous. I am purrfect. See- I can even walk on water. I am also mysterious and elusive. (And love playing hard to get- hence the distance shot…I don’t do close-ups). 

And Spencer- Mum says I’m seriously lacking in smarts. But I think smarts are overrated! I mean- I play all day, and do a lot of sleeping, she works hard and gives me food- who’s the smarter one now? My favourite activity? Licking my daddy’s head. 


Even though you're now a Cat, if you could be any mythological creature, which one would you be? 

Louisa's Tana
Barbara: Definitely a unicorn. Apart from the fact that they always remind me of romance and handsome princes, when I was young I had a grey pony called Denny and I could have sworn there was a spot on his forehead where a horn used to be... 

Louisa: I asked my son (who actually wants to be a mythologist when he grows up) and his immediate reaction was Medusa (yep- feeling the love there!). There’s something particularly discomforting when your 14 year old son thinks you’re like an evil snake-headed witch who can turn you to stone with a stare. 
Louisa's Spencer

Personally, I’d prefer to think of myself as something more ethereal or beneficent, and just a little bit nicer than Medusa. So I would be Pegasus, the flying horse. Pegasus was Poseidon and Medusa’s offspring- and amongst other things he was the horse of the muses –wherever he struck a hoof an inspiring well would spring up. (My muse can do with all the help she can get!) 


What was the first category book you read? 

Barb's Cosmo
Barbara: It was a Liz Fielding. I've forgotten the name of it but the heroine was a dog walker and the hero was sick in bed. I fell in love with everything about category romance from the first page. I was a new mum and the bliss of being transported into a world of romance was indescribable. 

Louisa: Earthquake Baby by Amy Andrews. It blew me away. I’d never read a category romance until 6 years ago and then I discovered a whole new fabulous world. 


What was the last category book you read that you loved? 

Barbara: At the moment I'm reading The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst. Jennifer's had phenomenal success with this book and it's easy to see why. 
Louisa: The Nurse’s Not So Secret Scandal by Wendy S Marcus. A totally different, boundary breaking Medical Romance. 

What's something we wouldn't know about you? 

Barbara: I had four children in two and a half years - identical twin girls followed by fraternal twin boys. Those first few years were a haze of nappies and feeding and hot, blind panic, but now that those four are aged 11 and 8 things are slightly more "normal"! 

Louisa: I studied ballet for 17 years. Not that you’d believe it if you saw me hunched over a computer keyboard for 8 hours a day. :)


To celebrate, we’re giving away two fabulous prize packs of books and all you have to do is leave a comment to be in the draw! 

Prize Pack 1 
Bachelor Dad, Girl Next Door, Sharon Archer
Girl in the Bedouin Tent, Annie West 
Made for Marriage, Helen Lacey 
One Month To Become A Mum, Louisa George
Secrets and Speed Dating, Leah Ashton 
Strictly Temporary, Robyn Grady 
The Dangers of Dating Your Boss, Sue Mackay 
The Secretary's Secret, Michelle Douglas 
What Happens in Charleston, Rachel Bailey 

Prize Pack 2 
Bachelor Dad, Girl Next Door, Sharon Archer
Girl in the Bedouin Tent, Annie West 
Made for Marriage, Helen Lacey 
One Month To Become A Mum, Louisa George
Secrets and Speed Dating, Leah Ashton 
Strictly Temporary, Robyn Grady 
The Dangers of Dating Your Boss, Sue Mackay 
The Man Who Saw Her Beauty, Michelle Douglas 
What Happens in Charleston, Rachel Bailey 


Okay, over to you. Take another glass of catnip punch, see if you can drag Cat Michelle away from the music controls, and, if you'd like, tell us the answer to one of the questions the new Cats answered. We'd love to know more about you too!

41 comments:

  1. Welcome, welcome, welcome to both Louisa and Barbara! One can never have too many Cool Cats!

    As for your question, one of the last books I read and loved was Nalini Singh's CRAVING BEAUTY (a Desire). I loved every word and am about to read it again (three weeks later). I want to know exactly what I loved about it - and I'll write it down this time so I don't forget!

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  2. Very fun interview. One of the last books I read was The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  3. Welcome Louisa and Barbara! The more cats, the merrier so I'll also raise my paws to you. I also like the idea of being swept away into a romantic world and with the genre there's a little bit of everything for everyone. Also, I find animals in stories so cute.

    I also have The Marriage Bargain on my reading radar. I've heard good things about it so I'm eager to find out what it's about also.

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  4. Welcome both Louisa and Barbara - so lovely to have you both here.

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  5. Woohoo! Two new LoveCats! Welcome to your new cyberhome, Barbara and Louisa! It's lovely to have you here! And besides your awesome writing talents, you bring CATWALK candidates - you know you've made your CATWALK Coordinator very happy, don't you!

    :)
    Sharon

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  6. Yay, more Love Cats to play with. What joy. Welcome Louisa and Barb!

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  7. Hi everyone! Sorry I'm late- had computer woes this morning! So pleased to be here...I feel all grown-up in my new home. And lovely to share this home with so many wonderful writers/people!!!

    Purring happily...

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  8. *Sigh* Okay, Rach, am blasting out "Blue Suede Shoes" for you as we speak. ;-)

    And, yay!!! Two new Dancing Queen Cats to join us in the Cat Box! So pleased to have you here, Barb and Louisa!

    Ooh, Barb, Liz Fielding hooked me on romance too. Specifically with "Eloping With Emmy." Happy sigh.

    And, Louisa...heheh -- your son made me snort my catnip punch. :-)

    Okay, that song's over...back to ABBA and...Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (a man after midnight). ;-) Enjoy the party everyone!

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  9. Just popping in to say congratulations to Louisa and Barbara!

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  10. Welcome to LoveCats, Barbara and Louisa! So happy to see you join the fabulous LoveCats!

    The last book I read was Sarah Morgan's THE FORBIDDEN FERRARA which is simply stunning! Now starting lovecat Natalie Anderson's WAKING UP IN THE WRONG BED!

    Please do not enter me in the contest as I have most of those books from both the prize packs on my shelves!

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  11. Hi Barb and Louisa, I hope you enjoy being a part of the Love Cats!

    Barb, I love your expensive dog's tastes - not any chocolate but Lindt!

    Louisa, I love how you named your All Black cat :)

    The first category books I read were Lucy Walker's (well, I think they were category) and then Lindsay McKenna's military men.

    Cath

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  12. I see the party is in full swing. *Rachel refills the catnip punch.*

    Laney, BN, Na, Anna, Tina, Nas and Catherine, thanks for coming along to our party! Did I hear a little Elvis while I was in the next room...?

    Helen, Sharon and Michelle, isn't it exciting to have two new Cats on the block?

    And Louisa, great to see you here, oh-ficially!

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  13. Aw so cute. Spencer is my fave cat though, love black and white. All black, not so much. Barb, your Cosmo is 'da bomb.'

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  14. Welcome to Barbara and Louisa! Great to see you here.
    The first M&B I read would have been an Essie Summers, back in my teens. My grandmother's neighbour had a shelf of them and I just loved them.
    And I am so out of the loop (must renew RWNZ sub!) - but it's great to see you got a contract, Barbara. Yippee!!
    Jo

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  15. Thanks so much for all your lovely wishes and for sharing the great books you've been reading.

    The DeLeo house is full of excitement today, both with the celebrations here AND the fact it's Cosmo's birthday (she was treated to pupcakes for breakfast)

    I'm looking forward to getting to know you all and talking about some great books.

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  16. Hey Barb and Louisa - sorry am late to this party too!

    Barb, I've said it elsewhere but mega mega congrats again on your Entangled contract! And man, that is one sexy pic you have there you mother of four you!

    Louisa, you'll nvever guess what I literally bought about 2 hours ago?? Your book!!! I must have known I would end up here today! Have 3 nights on the weekend and am going to dig in! Thank you for mentioning one of my books as your initiation into category romance - I feel especially honoured that it was that one because anyone who can get past that awful title deserves a medal! :-)

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  17. Hi! Me again! Thanks for all the lovely comments! What a lovely day! Great to have all those suggestions for romances to read! Thanks!

    Barb- so nice to be a new cat on the block with you!

    Amy- now you have me very nervous.....

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  18. Great blog by both Barb and Louisa. Really interesting to read about your pets. I too have les animaux - 3 moglets Tigger (aka Fat Cat and does a fab meerkat impression), Grunt (Tigger's daughter and runt of the litter) and Finn ( adopted and originally called Muffin - there was no way I was going to stand at the door with a box of cat treats calling for Muffin!) and 1 doglet, Beau (the boys say it's short for Rambo but as he's a wee thing, I don't think so!).

    My first category romance that I actually remember liking was The Nutcracker Prince by Rebecca Winters, but my obsession was inherited from my mum when she used to send me to the library each week to pick her Mills & Boon books for her.

    Take care, D x

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  19. I wondered what that glow was on such a stormy day and now I know - the grins from the two newest cats who got the cream! Welcome, welcome. My last category was awesome tender writing from another NZ special - Sue MacKay. Happy preening, girls, look after those furcoats, and don't overdo the catnip. xx

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  20. If I were a mythological creature I would have to be a dragon. The magic beckons.

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  21. Louisa and Barbara, it's terrific to welcome two new Love Cats! Meowrr. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and your books much better. My only regret is that as a Love Cat I'm not in the draw to win one of those amazing prize packages.

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  22. The book I'm currently reading is ONE MONTH TO BECOME A MUM by Louisa. I'll have to look out for Barbara's work too. I'm a Lovecats follower for a while now, so I'll look forward to reading your posts.

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  23. Wow, look how many people have come to play, Louisa! I love the talk about mythological creatures and would be just as happy to be a dragon, too, marybelle. Very lovely to see you here, Amy, especially as you featured as Louisa's first category!

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  24. Lovely to hear about your animaux, Deb, especially le petit Rambo (:o) Hi Annie and thanks for the lovely welcome. And what great books you're reading, Clare and Maria! They're both on my to-be-read pile too.

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  25. *sound of purring* welcome Barbara and Louisa! You're in good company with the LoveCats.

    The mythical creature I'd fancy being is a winged lion. What could be better than a large LoveCat with the ability to travel and who is usually depicted holding a book?!

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  26. Oh, what a purrrfect debut post for two wonderful writers!
    Medusa, Louise, LOL I've got one like that. =) Must go to the store and pick up your debut!! Love that cover, btw.
    And Barb, so excited to have you here! Can't believe your littlies are that old now. I think between 8 and maybe 12 is the perfect age. Can look after themselves and Mummy and Daddy are still the centre of their lives =)
    Welcome, both of you, aboard the Lovecats train!!!

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  27. Welcome Louisa (Serena waves) and Barbara! Loved reading about you both.
    Louisa, I always wanted to be a ballerina, but when my Mamma took me when I was about 9, they decided I was too big :( And I wasn't that big then... Oh well, I still love the idea of floating around in those gorgeous tutus!!

    Barbara, I had a 22 month old son when my fraternal twin sons were born - and I'm glad I had it that way. I actually found it harder with one than with two - because it was all new to me. Two lots of twins, eh? Would've been a lot of work! I used to work for the NH&MRC Australian Twin Registry and we had several families where there were lots of multiples. I remember one family that had 7 sets of twins!!

    The last book I read was Made For Marriage by the lovely Helen Lacey!! Lucky me won it and it was a fabulous read!!

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  28. Coming in late, but lovely to see two divine new cats here.

    Barb, love your Cosmo (mind you, I have a soft spot for schnauzers as our schnoodle, currently tucked into his own beanbag with blanket, will attest to).

    And Louise, I sometimes wonder who it is with the brains in our house, us or the fur-person *wink*.

    Currently am rereading her awesomeness Bron Jameson "Zane: The Wild One" and "Quade: The Irresistible One".

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  29. Hi Barbara and Louisa!

    It was lovely reading about your pets.

    Congrats on joining teh Lovecats!

    Riya

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  30. Okay, it's definitely time to change the music. *Rachel snags the remote.* Any requests?

    Fiona, Joanne, Deb, Clare, Marybelle, Maria, Jo, Serena and Riya - so glad you could drop in! I see there are some kitty snacks making the rounds. Grab one quickly before they go!

    Anita, you're not late - this is a two-day party. :)

    Amy, thanks for coming by *and* for inspiring our new Cat, Louisa!

    Annie and Robyn, welcoming new Cats is such fun, isn't it?

    Barbara, please say happy birthday to Cosmo for me! She's such a cutie.

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  31. Lovely to see you here, Jo. A winged lion? Love the sound of a flying feline.

    Hi Robyn - the perfect age you say? Yes, the thought of four teenagers in the near future is making me nervous!

    Hugs to another twin mum, Serena! I've had to have a cup of tea and a little lie down at the thought on 7 sets!!

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  32. I've been lucky enough to meet Anita's schnoodle and can vouch for his gorgeousness. Cosmo also loves a bean bag, but a child's bed, although illegal, is more to her liking.

    Thanks so much for your congrats, Riya! It's lovely to meet you.

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  33. hi all, if i could be any mythological creature that would be fey or faeries and the last book i read was the perfect play by jaci burton and the first category book i read from romance is danielle steel to love again:), arethazhenATrocketmailDOTCOM

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  34. i've been falling in love with sandra brown's books for the first i read her novel (it was 10 years ago, i was only 19 years old at that time) and harlequin's book and other(penny jordan, suzanne brockman, liz filding, emma dacry, rebecca winter etc) but now my genre book is much more option : i love reading HR, Young adult, contemporer, pararom :)

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  35. Fun interview ladies! Loved learning more about your furry friends :)

    Happy Writing!

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  36. congrats ladies and wonderful interview!

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  37. Hi Barbara and Louisa!! Chiming in late, I'm sorry, to wish you a very warm welcome to the LoveCats!

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  38. Fun post! Congrats to Barbara and Louisa! If I could be any mythological creature, it would have to be a pegasus - I'd get to be a horse AND fly. How awesome would that be??? :)

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  39. Whoot!! AWESOME post and a big welcome to Louisa and Barbara - yay! I read Wendy Marcus' book and it rocked! And thanks for reading my book Barbara - lol! I am a huge dog lover, have two rescues, and love to think about what life is like through a dog's eyes!

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  40. Great post and congrats to you both! Also, big thanks to Barbara for bringing this great blog to my attention. :)

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  41. Well it seems another LoveCat party is winding up, and it's been a blast!

    Arethazhen, Eli, Christine, Michelle, Laura, Jennifer and Tiffany, thanks for dropping by. Loved reading about your animals, your reading favourites and your mythological fantasies!

    Barbara and Louisa, I've said it before, but I'll say it again - welcome. :)

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