Oh yeah!  Oh yeah!  Channeling my inner-cheerleader.  Can you see me doing back flips?  Yes, I cannot tell a lie.  I was a cheerleader.  Oh, how I loved those skirts!  They were so delightfully flouncy!

I love Superbowl Sunday.

A.  Great football (usually).

B.  Even greater commercials (usually).

C.  Super fun junk food (usually – especially if I’m making it).

D.  After attending some sucky Superbowl parties, it’s become our tradition to stay home and watch so we can concentrate on the game and eat some damn tasty food (usually).

So, we’re having homemade guacamole – I keep it simple, avocados, cilantro, green onions and lime juice, with just a spritz of Tabasco.

Peppadews stuffed with fresh ricotta, drizzled with Italian balsamic.

Bagna cauda – Penny Watson inspired me – and of course Morimoto!  Anchovy with garlic and olive oil (thanks Penny for the Round Pond!) – but my own spin – and I’m using fresh steamed and chilled veggies as the dipper-agent.  Is that a word?  Steamed brocollini, radishes, brussel sprouts, radicchio, tiny red peppers and a small loaf of just-baked sourdough bread.

Cerignola olives that I have already rinsed (to get rid of any salt), and marinated in olive oil, sliced blood oranges, chili flakes and black pepper.

And I might make some deviled eggs.  No, I do not put pickle relish in my deviled eggs.  Hell no.  Gotta be a mix of mayo and Miracle Whip with horseradish and chili sauce.  Oh, and smoked paprika sprinkled on top.

Happy happy day!

Hey, remember the Valentine’s contest!  Never too late to enter.  What does the hero, Natan de Manua, do?  I mean, what was his occupation in both incarnations?

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Over the next couple of weeks, I will be getting In the Flesh ready for publication.  I’ll definitely keep you updated.  In the Flesh is the sequel to my ghost romance, Incorporeal.  Both books will be available for Kindle.  I’m also considering moving into the world of print, so… stay tuned!

I’ll try to post a blurb for In the Flesh early next week.  Oooh, exciting!

Contest Alert!

You can win this:

Chocolates and matching Attraction Bracelets from Energy Muse.  It’s easy, especially if you’ve read Incorporeal.  The question:  What does my hero, Natan de Manua do for a living?  In either incarnation?

Feel free to tweet away and send the answer, along with a contact email, anytime between now and February 9th.  I’ll announce the winner on the 10th and ship out your prize!

All right loves, be good and have a great Super Bowl!

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Happy Hanukkah for those of you lighting up tonight!

Merry Christmas to the rest of you.  To me – Merry Chrismukkah!

I don’t know if I’ll have any internet so I guess I’ll see you when I see you.

Here are some good peeps to read while I’m gone:

J W Manus

Basia’s Bookshelf

One Good Book

The Reign in Maine (funny)

Penelope’s Romance Reviews

Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust

I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite Christmas melodies!

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Thanks to everyone for participating.

Winners:

Stacey won the tote and copies of all my print books.

Sonia won pdf copies of my entire backlist.

D.C. McMillen won a print copy of Captured.

Melora won a pdf copy of Captured.

I drew names for three extra print copies:  Beverly, Elizabeth, and Lisa.  If you haven’t responded to my email, please do so.  (I’ve heard from Elizabeth.)

Again, thanks for participating and stay tuned for another contest for Valentine’s Day. 

I’ll be traveling so if I don’t see you, know I’m wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza and a joyous holiday season.

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***My 2011 Book of the Year***

Getting Off, by Lawrence Block.

Kitt Toliver may be the most sympathetic sociopath/serial killer ever created. Only Lawrence Block could make me cheer for the bad seed. Getting Off kept me up all night, and that is no exaggeration.

Best work of Literary Fiction:  A Week As Andrea Benstock, by Lawrence Block. I loved the title character, Andrea. I hated her. I pitied her. I wanted to wring her misguided neck. Above all, I understood her. Mr. Block may not consider this a work of literary fiction, but I do. A Week As Andrea Benstock is a masterpiece.

Best Romance Novel: Winter Woman, by Jenna Kernan. I’ve never been a big fan of frontier fiction, but I devoured this book. So much of what I read today is formulaic. Winter Woman is about as far from a formulaic romance as you can get. This was a recommendation from my gal, Penny, over at Penny Romance. It gets a big rec from me.

Best One-Book Wonder: lullabies for little criminals, by Heather O’Neill. A unique story of family and dysfunction told in a unique voice by a child narrator. A great book. Many thanks to author Stacey Espino for turning me onto this book.

Best Non-Fiction: The Hidden Reality, Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos, by Brian Greene. I’m a huge fan of nonfiction, but this was not my best nonfiction year. However, Brian Greene did not disappoint. He manages to make physics and cosmology comprehensible, even for idiots like me. If you have any interest in understanding what Sheldon is talking about on The Big Bang Theory, this is the book for you!

Contest entrants:  I’ll announce the winners for both the Stuff Your Stockings Blog Hop and my own giveaway late Monday!

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