You’ve seen the cover for the UK version of The Privileged and the Damned (available now on the M&B site, and in stores next month!):

but now I also have the US cover (out in August)!

They’re quite different, but both are excellent in their own way — and both feel right for the story!

I can’t decide which one I like better…

A big squee for some much-needed good news:

Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks! brought home the Bean Pot in the New England Readers’ Choice award for Short Contemporary.

A big thanks to the New England chapter of RWA for sponsoring the contest, and many thanks to the judges who loved this book!

Thank you all for checking in on me and mine.  We are safe, suffered no damage, and finally have power restored.  It’s been an interesting few days as I adjusted to living without power and little contact with the rest of the world. I saw one of the funnel clouds through the window as I headed for the closet. Very scary. If I never see a tornado that close to my child again, I’ll be very, very happy.

Props to Huntsville Utilities and TVA for getting our power restored two days ahead of the projected date!

I haven’t been able to bring myself to go out on the ‘net yet and look for photos of the storm damage in the surrounding areas and further south.  Ignorance is bliss right now. I know it’s bad; I don’t need to see the truth of it.

I’m still awaiting word from some friends in the Tuscaloosa area that they are safe.  I’m hoping it’s a communication issue and not something worse keeping them from checking in.  Please keep the people who are suffering across the Southeast in your thoughts.  It’s going to be a long road to recovery for many, but I’m holding on to the cry of  “The South will rise again!”

I still can’t quite believe that Beverly Barton is no longer with us. It doesn’t feel real. Or right.

Beverly was a great mentor to me — she nagged me until I finished my first book. Then she sat on me until I submitted it. And she hugged me when the rejection came. And when I finally sold, Beverly screamed almost as loud as I did. Beverly was also the one who told me I made the USA Today list — she sent me a congratulatory email, only to find out I didn’t know yet! And then she celebrated with me.

She was also a great friend. She called me her Little Diva-In-Training, and my training is still incomplete. I have so many things I need to tell her, and now I can’t.

At my very first booksigning.

At the RWA conference last July.   She was so proud that I’d won the NRCA award for Best First Book.

I’ll miss you, Beverly.

I did an interview with a local station this week, plugging Heart of Dixie’s upcoming luncheon. Other than the very harsh sunlight that washed out my features and had me squinting the whole time, I think it turned out pretty well. At least I wasn’t all nervous and stammering!

Next week is the RT Booklovers Convention in Los Angeles.  I’m very excited, as this will be my first trip to LA!  I hope if you’re in the area, you’ll come by for the book signing Saturday from 11-2. And if you’re attending the conference, I hope to see you around.  Come say Hi!  Get a trading card. Nothing is more fun for me than meeting someone who reads my books.

Also, keep an eye out for Glitz, Glam and Gorgeous Men — Vol 2! We’ll have them available at RT.

Do you know what this is? It’s a Bean Pot, and there’s a possibility I just might win one because…

Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks! is a finalist in the NEC RWA 2011 Readers’ Choice Bean Pot Award!

Winners will be announced next month at their conference in Salem, Mass.

Thanks NEC RWA, It’s an honor.

I have a cover for the first of my Marshall brothers — Ethan —  out in June in the UK from RIVA:

Ethan hits the US in August.

The Geek is busy making Ethan and Lily their own page here on the site, and I’ll get an excerpt up soon! My Geek is fast!  The excerpt is up! Pop over to the Books page and meet Ethan and Lily.

Over at Romance Trading Cards, a group of authors came up with a fun idea — collectible cards for books!  I’m participating at RT and RWA, starting with the collectible card for Girl’s Guide to Flirting With Danger.

Authors from multiple sub-genres are participating, and there are some beautiful cards available.  All you have to do is look for an author with this button to know they have cards to give you.

If you won’t make it to RT or RWA and you’d like one of these cards for yourself, send a SASE to PO Box 33, Madison, AL 35758 and let me know.  I’ll send one to you.

Yay!  Although technically a little early, Amazon has started shipping Girls’ Guide to Flirting with Danger.  I’m not sure when it will be landing on bookstore shelves, but if anyone sees a copy, please snap a picture and send it to me.  Seeing my book on the shelves never gets old.  I had great fun with these two characters.  I hope y’all enjoy getting to know Megan and Devin too!

I also have breaking news for what’s coming next. Here’s how Harlequin describes my next three books:

Introducing The Marshalls…

A rich, powerful family that mix business, politics…and pleasure.

If the US had a royal family – this would be it!

First up is Ethan’s story.  The Privileged and the Damned will be out in the UK in June, and in the US in August.

Running scared, Lily needs a fresh start – and, fingers crossed, she’s found one. After all, why would any of her new employers, members of the hot-shot Marshall dynasty, even think to look beyond her humble façade?

Until she catches the roving eye of infamous heartbreaker Ethan Marshall…

A fling with one of the Marshalls is a bad idea – especially for a girl with a scandalous past. But Lily is terrifyingly susceptible to Ethan’s lethal brand of high-class charm…

Don’t miss this provocative tale of secrets, lies…and blistering seduction!

The oldest Marshall brother, Brady, is set to hit the UK this fall and the US this Christmas.  I don’t know the title just yet, but I’ll update the page as soon as I get the word.   The third brother, Finn, will get his story told in early 2012. I’m very excited!

And now I must swallow my fear of the new site and get to work updating with all this news.  (I know it’s supposed to be easy to do, and the Geek insists that I can do it myself, but I live in fear I’ll mess something up.  You know how when things are so pretty and new you’re afraid to touch it because you’re worried you’ll mess it up somehow?  That’s kind of how I am with the site right now.  I’m afraid I’ll mess up my pretty new site…)