Dear Friends and Readers,
Wow, can you believe it’s already December? I think I’m guilty of saying that every year at this time, but the months just seem to pass faster and faster, don’t they? Here, I’ve been busy decking the halls, trimming the tree, and baking cookies, but I wanted to take a few moments to update you on what’s going on in Toni Blake Land – and, of course, to wish you the happiest of holidays.
~Glad Tidings for Swept Away
Although Swept Away came out back in September, I’ve continued to get fun news related to the book!
First, soon after it’s release, Swept Away was featured on the widely syndicated column Romance: B(u)y the Book where Michelle Buonfiglio described it as “A fun, heart-rending love story with an exciting plot, only made richer by the emotional arcs and sub-plots involving secondary characters. A great romance with wildly erotic sensuality.” You can read the full review and check out the accompanying interview. And if you haven’t yet visited Michelle’s blog, aptly called Romance: By the Blog, pay a visit. Michelle rocks!
I’m also thrilled to tell you that Booklist, the journal of the American Library Association, named me as a “shining star of erotic romance.”
Additionally, Swept Away was featured as an alternate selection in the Rhapsody book club, who gave the book fabulous coverage in their catalog. (Thanks, Rhapsody!) If you’d like to own a copy of Swept Away in hardcover, you can order it from Rhapsody online.
And the biggest news: Avon has decided to re-issue Swept Away in mass market paperback in July 2007. (The original version released in September 2006 is what’s called “trade paperback” – these are the larger paperback books. “Mass market” describes the smaller, more traditional paperbacks.) So that’s way exciting for me!
Last – but certainly not least – I want to thank you all for your tremendous support of the book. It’s most appreciated!
~Fun Stuff
I wish I had some holiday-themed fun stuff for you, but alas, I do not. Maybe next year ; ) For now, though …
You will notice in the photo to the left a very handsome guy saying hi to ME! : ) If you don’t recognize him, this is Cameron Mathison who plays Ryan Lavery on my lifelong fave soap, All My Children, along with Alicia Minshew, who plays Kendall Hart. Cameron also appeared on the cover of my 2002 Harlequin Temptation, Something Wild (and though there was some question at the time whether it was really him, the book cover is now shown on his website, so I think it’s official!) Humongous thanks to friend and reader Diana Phung who was so kind to take this photo when she met Cameron this fall. How totally fun!
However, I won’t be totally surprised if your eyes have already dropped to the next photo – yeah, that one. This is for everyone who asked me where I got the idea for Brock’s tattoo in Swept Away. Now you know. (Consider it a Christmas present.)
And to continue Toni’s Parade of Shoes, feast your eyes on these adorable slip ons. Yeah, they’re summery, I know – but they’re also green, and that’s about as close as I could come to holiday-related fun stuff!
~In Other News
It’s been a busy fall around here!
For one thing, Blair and I have been merrily attending every home game of our beloved Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, that’s us with the airbrushed faces ; ) As you can see, we’re pretty serious fans. While most of you are drinking champagne and blowing noisemakers on New Year’s Eve, we will be freezing to death at Paul Brown Stadium with temporary tiger tattoos on our cheeks.
And for another, I’ve been feverishly finishing up my next book, Tempt Me Tonight, which will be released in trade paperback by Avon next June. Mark your calendars!
Lastly, I got an early Christmas present for In Your Wildest Dreams, my 2005 release from Warner – the book was not only a finalist in the Best Cover category, but also the Best Hero category in the Anne Bonney Readers’ Choice Awards. Hooray!
~For a Good Cause
Want to say thank you to a U.S. soldier serving in Iraq? Go to letssaythanks.com to pick out a card, which the Xerox Corporation will print and send to a random soldier. This is FREE and only takes a second. Think of it as a good holiday deed and make a soldier’s day.
And if you haven’t had enough online fun by the time you’ve finished that, check out this site where you can create your own snowflake. The more snowflakes that are created at this site, the more money Popular Front will donate to the Salvation Army this year. Warning, this gets addictive.
~But Back to the Holidays
So you say you’re having guests over for some merrymaking and you have no idea what to feed them? Avon authors to the rescue. Approximately thirty Avon authors have banded together to offer readers their favorite holiday recipes in an online webring. You can check out two of my own fave recipes, and when you’re done, click on the snowman at the bottom of the page to start visiting other Avon authors’ recipe pages.
That’s it for my holiday edition of the newsletter, dear readers. Until next time, may you and yours have a warm and wonderful Christmas (or whatever you choose to celebrate). Amid all the holiday rush, may you find some time to curl up with a good book. And as always, thanks for your support of my work!
Toni
