8.AM. FROM JULIE: JUST A QUICK NOTE: TO SEE ALL OF THE COMMENTS, CLICK ON THE LITTLE >> SYMBOL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG POST! THIS PLACE IS ALREADY SERIOUSLY HOPPING!LOL!
WINNER #1 -- 9:18 A.M. PST -- the winner of the first prize package, as chosen by my mystic randomizing macro -- is MAYA!! She wins books by Lorraine Heath, Anne Mallory, Sharie Kohler, Tessa Dare, Pam Rosenthal, and me!
WINNER #2, 11:45 A.M. PST: LAURA T!! She wins signed books by Eloisa James, Lisa Gardner, Sophie Jordan, Pamela Palmer, Toni Blake, and Debra Mullins! WOO HOO, Laura!!
WINNER #3, 3:30 P.M. PST -- JAMIE!! hurrah for Jamie!! She wins books by Pam Rosenthal, Jenna Petersen, Miranda Neville, Caroline Linden, Tessa Dare and Courtney Milan (book of excerpts!), and Anna Campbell!! Good job, Jamie!!
GRAND PRIZE WINNER #4, 6:30 PM PST --Lynn!! BRAVO, Lynn, my dear - the mystic macro chose you as the Grand Prize Winner, so you take home the gorgeous earrings from the Since the Surrender collection at Circe Designs, and books by our guest Andrew Gross, Laura Lee Guhrke, Meredith Duran, Christine Wells, and moi!!
Welcome to the SINCE THE SURRENDER Pleasure Dome, my doves, home of today's Cocktail Party!! I’m so delighted you could come help me celebrate the third book in the Pennyroyal Green series, SINCE THE SURRENDER, the story of war hero Captain Chase Eversea, Rosalind March, a wicked indiscretion, a disappearing sister, a sinister museum, a puppet phobia, a busty angel painting, and an explosive, long-denied passion...see, now you have to read the book. ;) Which I’m sure you all will RUN OUT AND BUY TODAY, yes, my dears? (Or are already holding in your sweet little hands, since I hear Amazon has been merrily shipping them for about a week now. Darling Amazon.) Today, we celebrate at our very own FANTASY cocktail party, where you can wear spike heels with no painful consequences, where the Sexy Psychic Cyber Waiters (make sure you choose yours here! And keep him busy all day!) will see to your every, every need, including foot massages and drink fetching and compliment-murmuring, where all your favorite bands will play live sets in special rooms set aside just for that, and the DJ’s never deny a request, where the chairs are plentiful and sinfully comfortable, the snacks are decadent and calorie-free and replenished at intervals throughout the day, and where startling little things will take place for your entertainment. :) Do make requests—for food, drink, and entertainment! The waiters know your every desire, of course, practically befre you even voice it, but I recommend the smoked salmon canapes, the pigs-n-blankets, the truffles (never too early for truffles!), or an exploration of our many ethnic food buffets. Your wish is my command. :) The drink of the day is the SINCE THE SURRENDER, a sparkly gold, foaming concoction that makes everything seem really, really funny and really, really beautiful. Feel free to drink a lot of them. And of course, at random intervals throughout the the day, I'll be giving away prize packages of signed book and a grand prize of gorgeous earrings AND signed books.
Why are we having a cyber cocktail party? Well, see the photo over there? If you thought to yourself, “Huh. That looks like a man standing next to Julie” —well, I always knew you guys were clever. We have a VERY SPECIAL guest today. I first stumbled across this guy at the Avon cocktail party at the RWA Conference in Washington, D.C.. Now, if you’ve ever been to an RWA conference—essentially summer camp for grown women—a vast, vast sea of women, in fact—you’ll know how startling it isto see a man there at all. In fact, any man who happens to stumble upon an RWA conference probably feels a bit the way Charlton Heston did in the Planet of the Apes. (Not to imply that any of us ladies at the conference resembled apes in any way, mind you. I would be willing to wager that not one of us had a single wayward hair left on our bodies by the time we reached D.C., such is the pre-conference groom-athon).
Anyway, I gingerly approached this guy and held out my hand for him to sniff so as not to frighten him. And then I named him Bright Eyes and—
Kidding! (that was a Planet of the Apes joke, btw). His name is Andrew Gross. You might have heard of him. You've probably heard of him. As it turns out, I hadn’t. So far, he shows no indication of ever letting me live this down. Fortunately Bright Ey—er, Andy—has a sense of humor. Because it turns out HE’S co-written six (SIX!!) NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS with the one and only JAMES (freaking) PATTERSON. Of whom I'm sure you've heard. AND several bestsellers of his own, including THE DARK TIDE, nominated for Thriller of the Year. Andrew Gross has a reputation for writing strong and sexy female characters and heroes, which is how he caught James Patterson's eye in the first place, and which could have a lot to do with why Harper brought him to RWA and why he managed to survive it with his limbs and marbles intact, if not his dignity. And heck, since everyone seems to be inviting Andrew places these days, I thought I'd invite him to our party today, too...and not just because we shared an unnerving experience at the Avon cocktail party.
What happened, you ask? Well, if you noticed the glazed looks in our eyes in that photo, it’s because we were cornered by a loony paparazzo-reporter who leaped out from behind a potted plant and grilled us about underwear, violence, bumping people off, heroes and vertical sex, among other things—all ingredients for the best Regency-set romances AND thrillers, of course—before we managed to escape her. Below is a transcript of that encounter, captured on my Blackberry voice recorder, and you might learn from it a few things you never wanted to know about either of us...and some that might haunt your dreams. You're welcome, and our apologies. Here it is:
THE PLACE:
AVON COCKTAIL PARTY, Washington, D.C., JULY 17TH, 2009
THE TIME:
Three Mai-Tai's past 8:00 P.M
THE SCENE:
JULIE ANNE LONG and ANDREW GROSS are mingling politely, really behaving very nicely, in fact, when a woman leaps out from behind a potted plant wielding a camera.
Julie, Andy, my sweeties, my doves, BABS WILTERS, here! I need a photo! Julie, give me that Paris-pose! Ouch, I said Paris, sweet pea, not deer-in-the-headlights, but if that’s the best you can do...<CLICK> I know everyone out there wants to know from Julie Anne Long and Andrew Gross: What’s the importance of boxers vs. briefs in contemporary thrillers vs. historical regencies?
JAL (agog, blinking from flash): Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from?? Did...she just ask us a question about underwear? [Turns to Andrew beseechingly, but turns out he’s too polite—or too full of wine—not to gleefully start talking about underwear. Perhaps he thinks this sort of thing is customary at RWA conferences and is merely trying to humor the natives.]
AG: Oh, we're talking major importance, Babs. This actually nails the central dramatic arc of my books on the head! But now that I think of it, my series character, Ty Hauck, head of detectives in Greenwich Ct, a self-reliant, athletic, smart, sort of hunky guy, he would be boxers I think. (I mean, it is Greenwich!) Never thought about it before. Me, briefs. (TMI, I assume.) Now some of my heroines, even the older ones—hey, they’re yoga moms and pretty hot—thongs!
JAL. Um...Babs...well, underwear is a rich and controversial topic in Regencies. And God knows there’s nothing BRIEF about Regency underwear. But whether or not it plays any sort of starring role in a scene depends on the needs of a scene. It might become a delicious, even dangerous hindrance, like in the scene in THE PERILS OF PLEASURE, where Colin and Madeleine need to be dead silent and are confronted with raging desire and the potential of dangerously creaking stays. Sometimes the issue is skirted altogether by putting a heroine in a nightdress (see steamy scene in LIKE NO OTHER LOVER). Voila! No grappling with undergarments. It’s a pleasure to make garters and stockings a feature of seduction…
Underwear is—
Seriously, why on earth are we talking about underwear with this person?? I need a Mai Tai…(cranes head toward bar). Will you exc—
BABS WILTERS: Oh, relax, Julie! Everyone wants to know about underwear! Don’t suppose you’d tell us about yours? Andrew just told us about his! No? Maybe you’ll like this question better. What’s the difference between a romance hero and a suspense hero? Besides the underwear?
AG: (still gamely) Well, as for me, I don’t go for the over the top Laura Croft or Ja mes Bond type. I go for smart, strong, committed people who are thrust into crisis and measure up. People you know and would root for. Many of my “heroes” are women. To me there is nothing sexier than a woman providing the central heroic act of the book. And I always try to make them just a little smarter than the man. At least, wiser. And I love the element of someone overcoming fear, of measuring up to what’s needed. It’s more a female than a male pattern. Even my guy, Ty Hauck, steadfast, an uncomplicated view of right and wrong, a guy you would want in your foxho le, is really a white knight who goes on quests. For women in distress. So there is a romantic quality to it. Still, he has to look inside himself and question, Am I the man to do this? Do I have what it takes to take this on? So far, the answer is always, yes. But that questioning of bravery, virtue, balanced against doubt, that’s what makes it thrilling.
JAL: Well, since Andy's feeling garrulous [hisses under breath to AG: "Don't encourage this woman!"], I’ll answer your question, too. I think there’s a lot of latitude in what constitutes a hero in both genres. I like to play with the definition of “hero” in my books—unlike Andrew’s Ty, my heroes aren’t necessarily White Knights from the beginning, that’s for sure. I like to challenge my guys to become heroes through the circumstances they’re thrust into—I want them to be inspired to heroic acts for the women they come to love, to become the men they were meant to be because of the heroine. There’s Colin Eversea, from THE PERILS OF PLEASURE, who is an unrepentant, cheerful, reckless—if romantic—rake who become a real man through experiencing genuine peril and being thrown together with a strong woman he admires and wants to love and protect—not just seduce. In SINCE THE SURRENDER, Captain Chase Eversea was a bona-fide war hero with a very strict code of personal honor—and then he nearly lost his life for his country, and found himself betraying his own code of honor for one particularly irresitible, unforgettable woman, and when we first meet him he’s living with the aftermath of that, and he’s a bit of a mess. He rediscovers his purpose when Rosalind returns to his life. [whispers to AG:] This woman is making me nervous, Andy. Can I have a—[doesn’t wait for Andrew’s answer; takes his wine out of his hand and takes a big gulp.]
BABS WILTER: So tell me, you two. When you need to knock off a bad guy, how do you decide how to get the job done? Throw darts? How gritty do you get? I want to hear about blood, sweat and tears!
JAL: You would, wouldn't you, Babs? Well, nothing would give me more pleasure than knocking off a bad guy in a Regency. Well, OK, a foot massage from Simon Baker might. The words “#1 New York Times Bestseller” at the tippy top of my book covers might also do the trick. But in your typical Regency—and I would love to hear from readers if they know or believe otherwise—an excess of blood and death, and other, shall we say, gritty things, like oh, let’s say the sound of cartilage snapping or torture by cigarette burns—is generally frowned upon. We’re creating a fantasy world for women to escape into, and much of this fantasy involves luxury and comfort and privilege, not…cartilage.
That said: a little grit provides the perfect contrast for luxury. And part of a romantic fantasy involves deepening romantic intimacy, and one vivid way to convey real intimacy is in earthily sensual and sometimes poignantly intimate details. Sweat, for instance. Men sweat (and in the throes of passion, if they’re doing the job right, they might sweat a LOT. And get slippery. And then…but I digress.) They don’t always smell fabulous. (But they taste fabulous. Kidding. But I’ve tasted my heroes in my imagination, and I assure you, they’re all delicious. Feel free to do the same in your imaginations.) One of my favorite challenges as a writer is to make the love story feel real, to insert the reader into the story to the point where she is the heroine, and feels not only passion but also real love and affection for the hero. E.g., in the second book in the Pennyroyal Green series, LIKE NO OTHER LOVER, Cynthia Brightly notices a place where Miles Redmond missed a row of whiskers shaving underneath his jaw, and it’s somehow incredibly vivid and poignant to her. In SINCE THE SURRENDER, the formidable Captain Eversea looks like hell toward the end of the book (understandably, perhaps, given he’s just been tremendously heroic): tired, a little pale, unshaven, looking every one of his years (the advanced age of 30-something), and he’s never seemed more gorgeous to Rosalind March. It’s the moments when men are at their heroic best that make us want them; it’s the imperfections, the vulnerabilities, that make us love them. Little things become precious. I’m betting that’s true no matter the genre.
Still wouldn’t mind bumping someone off in a Regency big time, one day.
AG: Get a load of that—get a little wine in her—my wine— and now Julie’s writing homicidal Regencies! Look, I do thrillers, Babs. Not romance. Knocking people off is what I do. The real issue is what’s at stake by their deaths. And no, darts, not unless we’re in the Brazilian rain forest or an Agatha Christie study, don’t cut it in my world. Generally, I’m not into gore. It’s not about exotic ways to kill someone, but the deaths characters earn by their deeds. (Jeez, sounds sort of Talmudic!) My bad guys, my real bad guys, are usually influential, successful guys who hire someone to do their dirty work. But I did have a hooker blow someone’s brains out during sex. And I had a dad withhold an insulin treatment from his daughter. (What a dad!!! She lives.) And I just threw someone under an Amtrak train in the book I’m working on. In fact, I’ve killed a few people on the Metro-North. And in THE DARK TIDE, I did have a touching scene where they find someone lowered off a boat in the Caribbean wrapped in chains. My stock and trade!
BABS WILTERS: Hmm...so what you're saying is that the two of you are into sweat and chains and man-tasting [scribbles in notebook while Andrew and Julie look on nervously]. I know everyone is anxiously awaiting the answer to this question. You both write some steamy scenes. What do you do when your hero and heroine need to get it on but there's not a bed nearby?
AG: Walls work! What’s hotter than a hot wall-scene where they can’t mak e it to the bed? The book I’m just turning in has a pretty sexy scene in a wine cellar. Still waiting for that to happen to me!!! (Which is why I got into wine in the first place!) THE BLUE ZONE has a pretty nice shower scene. And my wife recently suggested elevators in a power loss would do the trick for her. Funny what you learn after 20 years. I’ve been in an f-ing elevator with her ten thousand times....
JAL: Wait—who’s waiting anxiously for the answer to this question?? But since when has the absence of a bed been a hindrance? Frankly, the absence of a bed is more like an inspiration. Nothing I like better than the proverbial vertical challenge (or horizontal challenge, as the case may be). ;) For me, for some reason, inspiration is all location, location, location. Pitch dark barn lofts (THE PERILS OF PLEASURE), statue galleries (go figure, but that’s what happens in THE SECRET TO SEDUCTION), and wait until you find out where it all takes place in SINCE THE SURRENDER—in one particular instance, a really delicious ultimate fantasy-place (for me, anyway—not to mention for our heroine, Mrs. Rosalind March). But then fantasies are many-splendored and ever-shifting things, which is what makes writing romance so fun. When two people want each other, any place can become charged and romantic.
[looks yearningly at buffet table] Can we go now? They’re running out of those little hot dog thingies…
BABS WILTER: OK, you two. Who writes sex in a freer way—guys or gals?
AG: No contest. Gals. Guys are uptight. We’re fundamentally chaste at heart. We don’t want women to think badly of us. I’m always stumbling with reservations on whether I should throw Ty in bed. Women—they just let it rip! My view is, why should I let my character have more sex than I do???? Oh, maybe to sell more—I’ll think about that!
JAL: I suspect Andy’s quite right. Also, we girls pay attention to—dissect, even—all those little moments that lead up to the BIG moment, and so it’s easier for us to write about it, because we’ve thought and thought about it well before it happens.
BABS WILTERS: I seeeeee. [scribbles in notebook] "JAL...has…sex…on…the….brain...and...Andy...is...uptight...in...bed..."
JAL: What!? Wait—
BABS WILTER: Is it true that you're teaming up to write a contemporary/historical titled The Time Traveler's Concubine's Secret Baby?
JAL: That does it. Andy, do you see a bouncer? (Rotates head wildly, looking for escape...)
AG: I thought that’s why I was invited to this thing!
[SOUNDS OF SCUFFLING; END OF TRANSCRIPT]
********
Hee! Just like being there, isn't it?
Anyway, to give you all a sense for what it was like to stumble into the Avon cocktail party at RWA (all right, the Avon ladies didn’t stumble in—we all glided in. Like swans. After a bus ride courtesy of the splendid Suzanne Enoch. We may, however, have stumbled out…courtesy of the Mai Tai’s), Andrew's going to hang with us off and on today, so if you have a question for him, pipe up. He’s not shy. So he says. ;)
LET'S TALK ABOUT PRIZES!
I’m of course giving away prize packages to random commenters and random intervals known only to ME all day long—four sets of signed books from incredible authors like New York Times bestseller thriller writer Lisa Gardner; Andy Gross himself (The Dark Tide, nominated for Thriller of the Year); ME!! (The Perils of Pleasure); two from this year’s Romance Writers of America Rita Award winner for Best Historical, Pam Rosenthal (The Edge of Impropriety and The Slightest Provocation), Lorraine Heath (Surrender to the Devil), Sophie Jordan (Surrender to Me); Eloisa James (An Affair Before Christmas); Toni Blake (One Reckless Summer); Jenna Petersen (Lessons from a Courtesan); Pamela Palmer (Desire Untamed), Miranda Neville (Never Resist Temptation); Anne Mallory (For the Earl's Pleasure); Sharie Kohler (Kiss of a Dark Moon); Caroline Linden; Anna Campbell (Tempt the Devil) ; Christine Wells (The Dangerous Duke); Tesssa Dare (Goddess of the Hunt); The Dangerous Book of Excerpts (Courtney Milan and Tessa Dare); Debra Mullins (To Ruin the Duke); Meredith Duran (Written on Your Skin); Laura Lee Guhrke,
Plus a grand prize including the incredibly gorgeous pair of garnet, citrine, 22k gold vermeil earrings from the the Since the Surrender collection at Circe Designs ! See the image below! They're seriously stunning and opulent. You can wear them while you carry around your copy of SINCE THE SURRENDER, since they match perfectly.
As I said, I'll choose winners randomly throughout the day and post them at the top of the blog, so pay attention, cookies!
So come in, tell us what you’re wearing to our cocktail party—are you in sequins? in sweats?— how your weather is, how life is going, which snack or drink do you prefer, what we can do to make your life pleasant this morning—and I'll instantly give away a signed copy of LNOL to the first the person who can tell me the second-to-the-last word in SINCE THE SURRENDER!! Hee!! (Exempting those to whom I gave a rare copy at the conference. Ahem. )
Nighty night, Emanuelle! It's been a pleasure having you here!! :) Thanks for sharing release day with me. Dream of Devin. Hee!
Quilt Lady, so happy to have you with us! And Good heavens, you've brought a marvelous date with you! you're going to make my waiters GREEN with envy...but they'll be no less obedient. hee!
Miranda -- thank you for stopping by!! We're giving away a marvelous Miranda Neville book today, too!! you look stunning in Dior, darling! Do feel free to sample all of the waiters until you find the one who suits you best. And keep an eye out for that perfidious "journalist" Babs Wilters -- she's an expert lurker, despite the presence of vigilant bodyguards and vigorous waiters. ;) She's the only one wearing unattractive shoes to the party. Hee!
Adriana, how large-hearted of you to willingly share your hot waiter. ;) It's hard, I know. May i recommend the Miranda Neville method, whereby you sample them all just a liiiittttle bit...that might ease the pain of sharing delicious Devin. LOL.
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | July 28, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Ahha, I see what is happening, some of our posts are under other peoples names! Hey Julie, I love your parties. I am here for the tasty drink of the party, SINCE THE SURRENDER, mmmm, tasty and you know, oddly enough, things are looking more beautiful and a tad bit funnier! I have to hit the store tonight but living in the boondocks, who knows if this will be in stock yet. Ok, now I am on my second drink, no point in going slow right? Party on!
Posted by: Sharla Long | July 28, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Well, I appear to be late as usual. Seem to keep wilting from the 100+ degree temps here in TX. Stephan the cyber waiter keeps blowing on my neck attempting a cool breeze on my neck. Too bad it seems to be having the opposite effect. lol
Have a great day ladies!
Posted by: Ruthann R | July 28, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Sharla, isn't it miraculous how the Since the Surrender cocktail works?? :) And you can only find them here, tonight, in the cocktail party Pleasure Dome. ;) BUT! You can recreate the feeling by reading Since the Surrender. :) And let me know if you're able to find the book in the Boondocks -- Booksellers are busy, but they LOVE to sell books -- so I always ask them to check for me.
Ruthann -- thank you so much for coming to my release celebration -- and ladies, take note: YOUR cyberwaiter will be only too happy to blow on YOUR neck, too, should you request it. LOL. And isn't it clever of Ruthann to think of it?? If you're hitting the disco or the Karaoke Lounge, you might want to hit your waiter up for a little air-conditioning. ;)
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | July 28, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Congratulations Julie on your release as always I'm wearing jeans and a tee shirt I'm an old country gal.
Penney
Posted by: PenneyW | July 28, 2009 at 03:37 PM
I'm enjoying just drifting through the Dome,
choosing to observe all the handsome cyber
waiters and glamourously dressed visitors!
If it's possible the gowns are even more
gorgeous than at the last party. I think I
will stop by the various buffets and enjoy
a few tidbits. Now that my work is over for the day, I think I'll try an STS with lots
of strawberries! Music, Maestro!!
Pat Cochran
Posted by: Pat Cochran | July 28, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Wow that Jonathan can dance! I have been on the dance floor for hours now. I had to take a break. Thank goodness for those settees. You are right Julie, Jonathan did not mind me using his lap as a pillow one bit. I thought I saw Babs Wilters sneaking into the powder room. She may be hiding in there hoping to get a morsel of juicy gossip. Are you and Mr. AG an item? What is his sign? I'm sure it is compatible with Virgo.
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Don't worry. I'm not a kiss and tell kind of girl. Your secrets are safe with me. Does Andrew like cats? Is he partial to trolleys and seafood? Is he California Dreamin?
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Look up top, girls -- we have another winner!! JAMIE wins the third prize package of 6 fantastic books!!! Say hurrah for Jamie!! We have ONE more prize package to go -- and that includes those beautiful earrings. Stay tuned!!
Pat, i agree with you : the scenery here is pretty spectacular -- the gowns are dazzling, indeed. Enjoy the STS cocktail -- everyone will get even prettier and funnier after that. LOL. And if you feel like soothing music, there's a string quartet in the aromatherapy lounge; if you feel like moving around a bit, there's a REALLY rocking disco with a very accommodating DJ. I just asked him to play The ramones. LOL.
Karen -- aren't these waiters accomplished? I'm so proud of all of them! LOL. EEk! You saw Babs??! Sound the alarm! She's probably hanging out with a microphone. I'll have to send a contingent of bouncers into the bathroom. THAT woman!! Andy and I are colleagues who share a publishing house, similar senses of humor -- and memories of a traumatic experience at the hands of Babs Wilter!! LOL. Funny -- I don't know what his sign is!! That seems very unlike me -- I always know that sort of thing about people. LOL. We'll have to ask him at some point!! How many other Virgos here?? ;)
(Seth, be a pumpkin and bring me another STS cocktail. Funny, but I can't seem to get my fill of those...and while you're at it, why don't you bring round some of that chicken satay? Thanks, dearest...)
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | July 28, 2009 at 03:56 PM
I'm back again for a few more mimosas, Kevin be a dear. I was wondering is the second to the last word in Since The Surrender, "The" for maybe The End. Good luck Julie on your new release, can't wait to read it. I see a few friends, Ta Ta.
Posted by: Theresa Buckholtz | July 28, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Well I am back for another Margarita, so bring them on! Very tasty drink I must say!
Posted by: Quilt Lady | July 28, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Well, I'm afraid I might have missed the party, but I enjoyed the post and reading about all the goings on at the shindig. As I sit here in my shorts and t-shirt it is a nice hot, sunny day here in Orlando, though the sun is getting ready to go down soon.
Posted by: Barbara | July 28, 2009 at 04:02 PM
I am a Pisces, a true romantic at heart. I can't get enough of romance novels and you are definitely one of my favorite writers. I guess it all started with Wuthering Heights and Gone With The Wind for me.
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Congrats!! Thought Id come to help celebrate this and my birthday tomorrow. Hubby is out of town so its just me and my two puppies. Just got home from work and I hope tonight we have a little calmer weather than last night since southern Wi got slammed with severe weather.
Posted by: Julie Parrish | July 28, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Just wondering if the party is still on. I am still dressed in my work clothes but am finally home and just relaxing now. Are all the prizes gone?
Posted by: Susan Spidle | July 28, 2009 at 04:15 PM
Theresa B. nice try re the second-to-the-last word!!! LOL. You'll have to run out to Walmart or Target or Borders to find out. LOL. But my goodness, those Mimosas are tremendously refreshing, and I commend you for having as many as possible. ;)
Quilt lad, have you tried the strawberry or peach margaritas? Truly inspired concoctions, if I do say so myself!!
Barbara, thanks for helping to celebrate release day with me!! You haven't missed the party -- do feel free to tour the Pleasure Dome, have some snacks, choose your waiter -- and maybe get crazy in the disco, because this is about the time of night when the shoes come off, the dancing on furniture commences...that, and the sleeping on waiters laps. LOL.
Karen - pisces -- the quintessential romantics!! have to love Pisces folks!! :) And Gone wiht the Wind and Wuthering Heights are a pair of my favorites, too -- dont' forget The Thorn Birds, when we're discussing big, angsty, epic romances!! LOL.
Julie P., thanks so much for sharing release day with me! Please do relax here in the Pleasure Dome with a Since the Surrender cocktail and perhaps a foot rub from the waiter of your choice. ;) No severe weather in here -- all is calm, sweet-scented and plush. :) What kind of puppies do you have??
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | July 28, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Happy release day even though I have no clue how to go to a cyber party or if it's still even on. What can I say? Lost in space as usual.
Posted by: Vicki H | July 28, 2009 at 04:26 PM
One Virgo here! And five more in our immediate family. August is our biggest birthday month, with a really big party
sometime during the month. BTW, I share
a birth date with Anna Campbell!
Pat Cochran
Posted by: Pat Cochran | July 28, 2009 at 04:33 PM
Welcome back, Susan, and welcome to the party vicki -- your first Cyber Party!! Well, come on in, choose a sexy Cyber Waiter, take a load off in the plush aromotherapy lounge, or visit the disco if you're the mood to let off a little steam. ;) And have a Since the Surrender cocktail, while you're at it.
We have ONE more prize to go -- the GRAND PRIZE, including the earrings! Check the top of the blog to see the winner so far -- and I'll give the West Coast girls (the ones not able to play on the computer at their day jobs) some time to get home from work before I choose that one....and send everyone home. ;) Start saying fond farewells to your waiters now, girls, and by all means stop by the gift shop on the Mezzanine to pick up your commemorative Since the Surrender cocktail glasses, engraved with your initials. ;)
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | July 28, 2009 at 04:34 PM
I am going to say that the second to last word is battle. I can't wait to read it to find out.
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 04:37 PM
BTW - I haven't seen Andrew Gross.' book listed in the group of books given away. I am not ashamed to beg. The book looks very intriguing. Pick me, pick me, pick me! LOL
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Oh, and would be fine by me for Mr. Gross to deliver it in person.
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 04:44 PM
How about me saying goodbye to the coctail glasses and taking home my commemorative waiter? I really have had too many mai tais. Maybe Jonathan can give me a lift home?
Posted by: Karen Lewis | July 28, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Happy Release Day.
It's my anniversary today (I won't tell which one), but that means I should be wearing something slinky. Let's pretend I am, and anxiously awaiting my husband's arrival. It's hot and humid here & they issued a tornado watch for our area. If it stays clear, we'll probably head out to the pool after dinner.
Posted by: Renee G | July 28, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Hi Julie
Congrats on the release, it sounds good. I'm wearing jeans and a tee shirt .
Nice blog today
Penney
Posted by: PenneyW | July 28, 2009 at 04:48 PM