NEVERMORE by MAUREEN CHILD

Like your reading, dark, sexy and paranormal? This book is for you! I got an early copy of this book and I loved it.

USA Today Bestselling Author, MAUREEN CHILD, brings us the second book in her Immortal Guardian Series. The first in the series is ETERNALLY (you haven't read it? Go get it! Hurry!)

From the back cover of NEVERMORE:

Reborn moments after Queen Isabella of Spain ordered her lover's death, Santos accepted eternal life in exchange for protecting humanity. For centuries, he's kept himself secluded in a hillside mansion. But all that changes one night when he takes in a woman who claims to have seen him in a vision.

A dire prediction has convinced Erin Brady she will be murdered on her thirtieth birthday--and that Santos is the only man who can help her. Unwittingly drawn to the beauty who can read his thoughts and heart like no one ever has, Santos realizes she is his Destined Mate. And with the threat of her imminent extinction ticking like a time bomb, Santos suddenly has something worth dying…and worth living for.

This book will be out February 1, 2007. Don't miss it!

Barbara Seranella

Saying Goodbye to friends is the hardest thing we have to do. The mystery community is small and we, along with her fans, grieve. Our grief, however, cannot possibly compare with that of her family and close friends. Our thoughts are with them.

Barbara Seranella, 50, bestselling mystery author and a wonderful woman passed away on January 21st 2007. Barbara struggled valiantly against liver disease. In fact her life story is quite amazing.


I met Barbara a few times. One memorable time was when I signed with her a terrific mystery book store, Mysterious Galaxy, in San Diego. Barbara was so gracious, funny, charming and the most "real" women I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

Barbara, you will be missed, but your spirit lives on.

Workshop and Friends

I did my talk on Sex Intimacy and Character Development on Saturday. Most of it is a blur...I had more stage fright than usual. Once I was up there, it was okay. I concentrated on the material and hoped for the best.

Then Stephen J Cannell walked in. Just as I was talking about Alpha Male types of Heroes. And sex. And language. And HOW DO I GET MYSELF INTO THESE THINGS? But I kept going because I figured if I tried to run off the stage, I'd fall right at the feet of Stephen.

Then at lunch, Stephen came up and introduced himself. We signed books together at the signing. He did his talk. He was charming and made time to talk to everyone who approached him. Then just before he left, he came up to me to remind me to send him one of my books (I ran out of books at the signing).

Which reminds me, I need to put that book in the mail to him. He may never read it but I will always remember that he asked.

Now onto the more important part of this blog FRIENDS. I had a killer case of stage fright before I went on. I don't normally get that anymore, usually it's a case of mild nerves and I'm distracted because I'm thinking over my talk. But this time--stage fright. Okay, all my friends worked hard to reassure me. I mean they either teased, complimented or just gave me a thumbs up as they passed by.

Cool huh? By the time I went on, I was beginning to remember that all these women (and a few men) were fellow writers and friends. No piranhas!

After my talk, they all said lovely things. I've gotten emails telling me I did a good job. Etc. What does all of this mean to me? I don't much care about the workshop anymore, it's over. But I have a group of fabulous friends and that is something I'll always treasure.

Talking to Myself

Look who is FINALLY blogging! Me! Of course, no one will see this blog because we had to move the blog as a temporary fix. So I'm talking to myself...

But that's okay. I talk to myself. A lot. All the time.

About a month ago I was in my office, which is adjacent to the kitchen, and telling one of my sons some piece of news or another.

All I got was dead silence back. No response. Except the sounds of easing.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!"

My son answered, "You were? Sorry, I thought you were talking to yourself."

Well shoot. I actually started talking to myself when the boys were small. Two of them had asthma, and everyone knows, the symptoms will arrive suddenly in the middle of the night. One son had one set of meds, and second son had another set. And I was nursing a baby. Exhaustion + Dosing Meds = Disaster. Even I figured that out. So I developed teh habit of talking myself through the process to make sure I was doing it right. Sounds stupid but it worked for me.

Somehow the habit stuck and I am the worst when I'm writing. Many times, I forget the kids or hubby is home, and I talk to my characters. A lot.

Sigh...talking to myself on a blog isn't all the different!

Anyone else out there talk to themselves?

P.S. Tomorrow I'm giving a workshop on Sex, Intimacy and CHaracter Development. I'll let you know how it goes first chance I get!