Sunday Cat Tray-lers - cute theme

I'm in a cute mood - so I thought I would do videos today. All the Simon's Cats are up in the Simon's Cats page



This one still cracks me up.



Can you say AAWWHHH!!!

LoveKitten

A LoveKitten puzzle! This is little M, who was in my blog the other day. Have fun with her!

Puzzle has moved to the Caturday Fun Page

Forty Furious Seconds to Fame

by Sharon Archer




I needed an “event”! A backdrop - part-social, part-competitive - to put the characters in my latest story together.

• Something country
• something exciting
• something Australian.

I found campdrafting!

Never heard of it?

Neither had I until I started doing this research. I’d been thinking a cross country race like the Mansfield Mountain Cup or a cattle muster on the Dargo High Plains. Instead I stumbled on campdrafting. It was perfect. The dust, the athletic riders, men and women and children, leggy horses, bays, greys and buckskins, the lowing of cattle in the yards.

The campdraft is a working horse event, a bit of cutting, a lot of skill and determination and courage!

Imagine this...

You’ve got a well-trained horse, she’s keen, fit and responsive. You enter the “camp” where several cattle are milling. After running your eye over them, you make a decision. Choice is pivotal – you want a beast that is not too fast, not too slow and definitely not too ornery!


There’s no going back, no changing your mind now, so you focus. You and your horse cut him out from the mob. He doesn’t like it, he wants to go back to the others. But you and your horse work as a well-oiled team keep him near the camp gate - then you call for the gate to be opened.

He charges into the arena with you in hot pursuit. You turn him towards the first peg – left, left, left. And on to the second peg at a flat run to complete your figure eight. He doesn’t want to turn but your horse is holding her nerve, blocking his escape and putting her heart into pushing him to the right.

Your forty seconds of arena time are ticking away. Down the centre of the arena at a gallop and then a final turn and you’re through the “gate” before the whistle sounds.

A good run! The best!

Campdrafting is fast and gutsy! An event where you need to know your horse’s strengths and where a good understanding of bovine psychology is an advantage.


It's great to watch and I loved every minute of it! And while I’m working on this story I’ve got such a great excuse to go to more events! I can’t wait to dust off the akubra (hat), shake out the moleskins (trousers) and maybe dab some nugget on the ancient Blundstones (boots). And even more importantly, charge up the batteries for the camera! This is only a fraction our haul of photographs for the day!

Finding campdrafting was like finding an unexpected treasure! It's been here all the time and now I've discovered it. What unexpected treasures have you found by accident? Maybe when you’ve been looking for something else?

Covers that grab...

by Nikki Logan

I’ve been amazed and amused at the reactions of various people to the cover of my June release – Their Newborn Gift. This story is the final of a three-book continuity called “Outback Baby Tales” (April, May, June) with fellow Aussie authors Melissa James and Michelle Douglas (One Small Miracle and The Cattleman, the Baby and Me respectively.)

I was so excited by the potential of a series set in WA’s red Kimberley and I flooded the art department with fantastic images of emerald green billabongs set into blood-red rocks, wild brumbies and aussie homesteads. But then Melissa and Michelle's covers came through and were indoor/nursery images with no visible signs of Aussieness and, although they were lovely, I started to get nervous. So when I got my cover and saw red dirt I was relieved. Then I saw the hot cowboy with his Akubra and was even more pleased (plus he’s virtually the spitting image of the model I used for my hero, Reilly). And then I saw that little baby and its fat bottom and chubby little fingers and my heart just melted. For me this cover has what I'd be looking for if I was standing in Walmart or Asda or KMart – outback...cowboy...baby. The only thing that would have made it more like what I had in my head was a brumbie wandering through the back of shot.

This is not to say that everyone has been as enamored as I. Someone suggested the baby has a ‘freakishly wide mouth’, someone else asked why it was set ‘on Mars’ (Kimberley, people…Kimberley!) or that he’s 'the best-groomed cowboy since Brokeback Mountain'. One comedian asked me if the baby was the heroine.

You guys crack me up... No, really...

Between chuckles it did reinforce for me the complicated issue of cover design and how to set a tone that will ‘sell’ to the maximum number of reader personalities in a marketplace. It must be super hard given how many diverse tastes and preferences are out there. I would love to hang out in the art department and watch how covers are put together (from concept to final render). While I have no doubt that they whiz them together proficiently (I'm sure they have a mountain to get through each week) I know from a decade in the advertising industry that nothing is left to chance and that every element is there for a reason. I’d like to know those reasons.

Anyhoo…all of this made me think about covers that really ‘worked’ for me which sold me a new author (or even sub-genre)… so I turned to my bookcase (real and virtual) to see what was there that stood out.

Denise Rossetti – Gift of the Goddess

Do I really need to explain? This cover was the sole reason I purchased my first erotic romance and I’ve bought everything of Denise’s since then. I regret not buying the print version now… so I could have Bryn outward-facing on my shelf.

JR Ward – Dark Lover (UK cover) I love the vulnerability of the heroine, leaning into her hero, wet, bedraggled. It’s sexy and gentle at the same time. It’s stock-photo but it works. And I love that you can’t make out much of the hero’s face, which allowed me to picture Wrath my own way… Again, this cover was the reason I picked up my first JR Ward… the rest is history.

Kate Hewitt – The Italian’s Chosen Wife – I’m not a crashing fan of the ‘clinch’ and (for a Sexy/Presents/Modern) this one was so tasteful but sexy. Classy but brazen (something about busts, bare feet and buttonless shirts). Would love to know how loyal Presents readers responded to it. Sadly in UK and US the beautiful setting was all but obliterated by the standardised cover stencil...

Deanna Raybourn - Silent in the Grave This cover jumped out at me because it spoke of a non-traditional romance with a female lead and a historical, London setting. The colours and tones spoke of elegance and restraint (look, no clinch!) which suited the story very well. Another author I now have on my 'must buy' list thanks to picking up one randomly in the bookstore based on the cover.

Tony Park - Silent Predator I include this because Park's work has been called romance for blokes, but in fact his books are as well read by women as by men. This cover leapt off the shelf (no pun intended) because of the stunning colour of the cover and the romance of the image. Africa. Leopard. Dawn. Or maybe twilight. It's hard to tell. But I took it home and then went back and bought all of Tony's backlist.

By the way, yes, I pick wine and Melbourne Cup horses the same way. Good label or nice looking horse. So far it hasn't failed me! What do you think? What do you like in a cover? Can you think of any that really stood out for you? Do any of these covers do it for you or are you thinking 'meh...'.

A Bit Of Fun For A Caturday

Our first Lovecats crossword!

Let me know if you think it's too easy or too hard, or if you prefer the other puzzles instead. =)

Puzzle has moved to the Caturday Fun Page

Mel Teshco's HER DARK LORD release

Today I am talking with the very talented Mel Teshco on the eve of her debut HER DARK LORD with Silhouette Nocturne Bites

Tracie: Mel since you are a member of LoveCats and my friend - I'd just like to say how excited I am to interview you today.

Mel: Awww thanks sweety!! *kiss* I'm excited to be interviewed by such a rising star!

*clink glasses – Mel with Midori Splice, Tracie with Margarita*

Tracie: Your debut HER DARK LORD is out with Silhouette Nocturne Bites in a few days *squees* - what was it about Harlequin M&B that made you target them?

Mel: OMG a hard one right off the bat! *laughing* - I love alpha heroes, I love paranormal and combined with the fact M&B has a sterling reputation there was no negatives in going with them.

Tracie: Mel, you have a young daughter - does writing short help you spend more time with her?

Mel: most definitely. I have a rather short memory span *grins* and quite a few manuscripts on the go at once, the shorter format helps me to focus on the ms at what is mostly snatches of time during the day.

Tracie: You also have older daughters - what do they think of their mum writing some really hot and heavy stuff?

Mel: *laughs* Miss almost twelve is proud as punch and quite happy to spread the news around school - but then she is a huge paranormal reader too. Miss almost 20 is pretty blasé about the whole thing, but secretly proud I think - though she probably hopes the hot stuff isn't from my personal experience.

Tracie: Your writing style is very visual - do you find yourself looking at things differently now - taking it in for your writing?

Mel: honestly not really. I think my visual way of writing is just from my seeing it like a movie in my head... I try and create different visuals by incorporating other senses. I can spend ten minutes mulling over a few words *groan*

Tracie: Tell us what you love about Ronan - your yummy hero in HER DARK LORD.

Mel: Ronan – he’s the ultimate dark hero, the man totally in love with the heroine who'd do anything to get her and keep her.

Tracie: Kia is a strong and confident woman comfortable with her sexuality - do you like strong heroines in books you read?

Mel: very much! And I adore heroines who are not afraid of their sexuality. They still have morals but they're not hiding behind feminine wiles.

Tracie: Kia is definitely in that category. Okay Mel, one final question. What are you working on now and do you have anything else coming out soon?

Mel: I'm just finishing off ICE COLD LOVER -- the sequel to my Ellora’s Cave novella STONE COLD LOVER -- and tearing my hair out a little with this one. It will be submitted in the next few hours actually. And I have KALLIE REVEALED coming out soon with Ellora's Cave - a contemporary story about a stripper living her fantasy.

Tracie: Thanks for talking to me, Mel. I wish you well with your release of Her Dark Lord – which is out March first with Silhouette Nocturne Bites

Mel: Thanks so much Tracie, it was a pleasure!


Here is a Blurb for HER DARK LORD - Available now for Pre-Order

When dhampir Kia Montana takes a man home, she isn’t looking for names or a relationship--she only wants someone who can satisfy her lust for both sex and blood. But Kia’s new mission is to find Sean Maximillus, Lord Vampire and the lone being capable of curing Kia’s mother. Kia thought she found the key to success with Ronan, a mysterious man who promises to take her to Maximillus…and who shares a carnal passion with Kia even bloodlust couldn't match.

But Ronan also seems to know too much about Kia…things she never told him. And as she is drawn deeper into Ronan’s world, he reveals secrets that will change Kia’s life forever….

You can find out more about Mel on:
Blog: http://melteshco.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.melteshco.com/
Buy HER DARK LORD here: Harlequin M&B

Catwalk Wednesday

Name – Gizmo O’Hara

Human Adoptive Parents – Tracey and David O’Hara

Likes – Chicken. Having a look in the fridge whenever it’s opened by one of the humans in the house – in case there is chicken in there. Having a look at what the humans are doing in the kitchen – in case they have some chicken. Oh and I love chicken.

Dislikes – not having enough chicken. Getting tuna instead of chicken.

Ambition – I am in intensive training as the first Ninja attack cat. I hone my skills on the calves and ankles of my family member. I like to hide in boxes and jump out and my next training exercise is to learn to climb those slippery door jams.

Favourite Pastime – practicing my ninja attack skills. Sleeping on Dad’s pillow.

Best Friend – my buddy and adoptive big brother Crispin O’Hara.