DVD Mania!

My man and I love to watch movies and buy lots of DVDs for the nights when there isn't much on TV (which is often, despite the large number of channels available!)

Here are three movies we've enjoyed recently:

KEEPING MUM
starring Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith and Patrick Swayze.

Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson) is the vicar of Little Wallop. He's become obsessed with his job and isn't paying his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) much attention. Their two kids are having problems - the daughter is sex-crazed and the son is being bullied. Enter the American golf coach (Patrick Swayze) and Grace (Maggie Smith) the housekeeper.

This is a black comedy and starts off in the past. A beautiful young woman chops up her husband and his lover and puts them in a huge chest. When the chest leaks blood on the train she is caught and put in jail. Years later she gets out of jail and goes off to Little Wallop as a housekeeper. You see where this is leading, right?

I never thought I'd laugh at murder, but I watched this movie alternatively fascinated and horrified. My man lent it to his boss and another couple at his work and both couples loved the movie as much as us. Recommended!

KINKY BOOTS

An ailing shoe company that makes conservative men's shoes saves itself from bankruptcy by entering a niche market and making shoes and boots for transvestites.

I didn't know any of the actors in this movie but it's a real feel good movie with an ending that makes you go "ah". It's also based on a true story. The man and I loved this movie and will happily watch it again very soon.

CARS

We also purchased the cartoon movie Cars. This one was for my man. He wanted to watch this so I humored him. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. As usual my man went to sleep before the movie ended (which is why we tend to buy DVDs instead of going to the movies!) but I watched it all the way through and laughed a lot.

Do you like movies? What was the last one you saw? Do you prefer comedy, drama, thrillers or something else? Do you have a personal favorite that you like to watch again and again?

Shelley's Winner

And the winner of my Wild Child download is:

Jen

Congrats, Jen! Email me at shelley munro @ gmail.com and I'll send you your prize.
Watch this space for further contests...

SHRIMP CREOLE! Yumm!

This is an EASY shrimp dish served over rice. I make mine with bacon, but if you're a vegetarian that eats seafood, this'll work for you. YUM!!

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
1 cup chopped celery
4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped plum tomatoes
(or you can use canned tomatoes if you're lazy like me)
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Salt, cayenne and Old Bay Seasoning (just a dash or so to taste)
1 cup water
2 bay leaves
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (don't use cooked shrimp)
2 tablespoons flour mixed with 1/4 cup cold water
6 cups cooked white rice
1/2 cup chopped green onions

In a large saute pan, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and cayenne. Stir in the peppers and celery. Saute for 2 minutes, or until the vegetables start to wilt. Stir in the tomatoes and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Season the vegetables with salt and cayenne.
Stir in the water and bay leaves. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce the heat. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the shrimp and saute for about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the flour mixture and simmer for 2 minutes, or until the sauce starts to thicken. Stir in the green onions. Check the seasoning (you may need a little bit more).

To assemble, mound the rice in the center of each plate or bowl. Spoon the Shrimp Creole over the rice. Garnish with green onions.

DONE!

Sweet Potato Pie coming next time... I think we'll make Oded Fehr bake one while 'entertaining' once our new raunchy page is ready for the continuation of Red Tigress' Rough Rider! Yeehaaw!

So, tell me about Halloween...

It's true...

I seem to be missing out on this thing called Halloween. NJ Walters is blogging about pumpkins. Shelli Stevens is blogging about costumes. Over at the Romance Divas forum they've touched on trick and treating. And over on the Triskelion loops they're playing with ghosties and goulies and the like (or they will be very soon!).

I'm a little envious! I need you to tell me what you do for halloween. What are your family traditions? I need to know so I can pretend to have my own halloween right here in New Zealand.

I'm so desperate to know I'm offering a bribe.
Anyone who comments on this post or on any of the posts before Monday will go into the draw to win a download of my contemporary story Wild Child.

And if like me, you don't celebrate halloween tell me about your favorite celebration or a family tradition and you're in the draw. I love to celebrate and will announce the winner in my next post, which is on Monday.

PS - Have you entered the Kiwi Triple Treat contest over on my website? If not, go and do it now since the last day for entries is 31 October!

It That's Time Again!

Yes, it's time to talk about...food! Can you tell it's one of my favorite subjects. That's why my backside is always at the gym (well, in between work, writing and homeschooling, that is).

It's snowing like nobody's business here - wet sloppy mess. But the beautiful (but frickin' cold) white stuff, along with the gold and red leaves (that my son hates to rake up) brings to mind that Fall is in full swing. That means Thanksgiving is coming up pretty quick. I'm having a new page prepared where we can continue (in true raunchy style) our story of Red Tigress' Rough Rider. Until it's ready I'd like to share some of the yummy dishes we've enjoyed over the years during the holidays.

My favorite is Turducken. Now this is my ex's specialty. Even after we 'disbanded' I've managed to get him to cook this dish and drop it off every holiday for the past couple of years! Yes, girlfriend, it's THAT good!

So, what's Turducken? It's a chicken, stuffed inside of a duck, stuffed inside of a turkey. Each layer of meat has a different filling. The chicken has oyster stuffing in it. The duck has andouille sausage stuffing (not my favorite, but it works for this dish), and the turkey has traditional sage cornbread stuffing.

AND THERE'S NO BONES! All three birds are completely deboned, except for the turkey legs and wings. So when it's all put together, it just looks like a huge turkey. But when you slice it, you see all the layers. And with no bones, it's a snap to serve.

Next time, I'm going to tell you, step by step, how to make Shrimp Creole or Sweet Potato Pie. So, what are you having for your Thanksgiving or Harvest celebration?

You Know How to Whistle?

Taken from the movie TO HAVE AND TO HAVE NOT (1944) starring Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart are the famous words:

You know how to whistle don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and...blow.

I learnt to whistle when I was about ten or so. After much practicing a noise came from between my pursed lips. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it was great. And sometimes it was just plain embarrassing. I'm ashamed to admit that my whistling expertise hasn't improved with age. A case in point - yesterday. The dog was doing her own little thing and not hurrying when I wanted her to hurry. I whistled and this rush of air sounded. It was pitiful! The dog kept right on exploring. I laughed, because if you don't laugh at yourself....well, someone else will. *sigh* I complained to my husband about my lack of skill when it came to whistling. He, of course, can whistle up a storm. He just laughed at me. I think he appreciates me for things other than my whistling skills *grin*

Picture this: a building site. A female (that would be me). A hunky builder wearing shorts and his boots but not much else. Yep, a female (that would be me) naturally has an inclination to whistle. But the whistle? Well, it could be a great one, or I might need to slink around the corner and hide. Would you risk it? I'm telling you - whistling is a very important skill in a girl's flirting repertoire.

So, do you know how to whistle? What happens when you put your lips together and blow?

Gimme Sum!

First, for those of you looking for a continuation of Red Tigress' Rough Rider, we'll be putting up a special page for it so you can follow the story. I couldn't keep up with once a week, so we'll do it once a month. And it'll be HOT so we'll make sure we put up a warning! We'll give you the date the story is available along with a link. All you have to do is read the story until you're all hot and bothered, then tell us where you want the story to go and you'll be automatically entered into the monthly Rough Rider contest. Prizes will change often so stay tuned.

Now about the title of this post - No I didn't spell it wrong. My kids and I went out for our monthly splurge-n-glut this afternoon. We found this new restaurant called, yep you guessed it, GIMME SUM China Grill. It's a wonderful, but far from typical Chinese restaurant.

I hate to admit it, but it took me a minute to realize what the name of the place was. I was too busy reading the 'sum' part, thinking dim sum, gim sum, etc. Okay, so I was a bit slow today!

The food was excellent, the dessert was soooo good it was just wrong! Plus, the service was superior and the atmosphere was up and hip with just the right amount of tradition stirred in. If you have one in your neighborhood, you've gotta check it out.

Besides, doesn't it sound like my kind of restaurant? Perhaps one of my new heroes has gotta say that in a story? "Girl, get over here and GIMME SUM!" While she tosses over her shoulder, "You want SUM? Come get SUM!" and saunters toward the door. Of course, she never makes it... and she doesn't want to. My goodness!

Anyway, check out Gimme Sum here--> www.gimmesum.com

Attack of the Killer Spam

Is it just me?

At the moment spam is being fired at me from all directions. At my normal address I have enticing emails offering me viagra - so many emails today that I'm wondering if they know something I don't! The latest one that arrived a few minutes ago actually had pictures of the pills so I can now choose my favorite color. And bam...incoming....here's another one. A lady in China wants me to invest. She apologizes for the curt tone of the email.

Over at my google account (google does a first rate job at isolating these splendid offers BTW, much better than my normal address) I'm received lots of emails in Chinese. I must admit - I'm curious as to what they say. How do you say viagra in Chinese?

And then there's MySpace. I've received an enticing message to invite me to join a group called Blondes With Big Bottoms...lovely photo included.

What is the strangest spam message you've ever received? Do you receive spam messages on varied topics or does your inbox have a penis fixation (and associated problems!) like mine?

And the winner of a copy of either The Second Seduction or The Shadow - your choice is:

ladyvampire2u

Congratulations!! Email me at shelley munro @ gmail .com (no spaces) with your choice of book and snail mail address and I'll get that in the mail.

Better Late Than...Than What? a/k/a The Winner Is...

In this case, I don't think the saying, 'Better late than never' actually applies. Today is the day I announce the winner of the contest that's been running since last Thursday. I was soooo busy at work today I had time to trade a couple of e-mails with Lauren then run around with my hair on fire all day.

I'm home now and finally have a chance to breathe...for a minute. After I post the winner of "Purple Passion's Won $50,000,000" contest I'll be off to chase the kids around while my daughter tries to cook and my son tries to catch up on his homework and I try to catch up on my research of Egypt.

But I must admit, I think I'm sadistic because... I actually LOVE my ridiculously hectic life!

Okay, back to the point. The winner of TJ's "Purple $50,000,000" contest is....Marcia Colette!

Soooo, what did Marcia win? Marcia, you have your choice of ANY of the titles written by our illustrious Dynamic Trio! So, pick something from my, Lauren or Shelley's e-books from any publisher and send the title and format preference to me at tj@tjmichaels.com !

Woohooo!!!!!!

NOTE - You have one week to claim your prize, so get movin' chicklet :D

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

It's promo Wednesday!

Most of you already know about that Wild Winter Quickie series coming in December from Ellora's Cave, right? Well, check out this cover proof. Talk about hot, Hot, HOT!

The name of my Wild Winter Quickie is Gift Wrap:Optional - nothing like a holiday romp with a sexy vampire!

CLICK HERE FOR A SNEAK PEEK!

Help - I'm Naked!

Because my author is clueless.

Here's the scoop:

My name is Sarah Walsh. I'm a spy who works for a British Agency. I'm part of the aristocracy, and my author has me dressing in jeans and T-shirts, just like she does. Please! Thing is I have a weekend party coming up - a birthday party actually. Lots of important people are going to be there from government ministers to sports stars and lords and ladies. It's taking place on a large country estate and on Saturday night there's going to be a big party. Jeans and T-shirts aren't going to cut it. And besides, there's a couple of men there I'd like to impress, if you know what I mean. I need a posh designer dress, some killer shoes and maybe some jewelry.

That's where you come in. I'd like you to help my author, for my sake. Please!! The dress has to be something I can kick butt in, and I need to hide a small gun because I'm also on a secret mission at this ball. The sooner my author gets help, the quicker you'll get to read my story. My working title is Sex, Spies and Sapphires. Not bad, huh?

My author is offering a reward for information that will help outfit me. One lucky person will receive a print copy of one of Shelley's Medallion Press releases (The Second Seduction or The Shadow). Post your dress, shoe and jewelry suggestions to the comments section. People who post specific websites will be in with an extra chance.

Please help by posting your suggestions. I don't like being naked in public - private is a very different matter ;-)

Oh, yeah. I'll be announcing the winner on Friday. Good luck!

Red Tigress' Rough Rider - Pt. II

When we left our heroines, three bad boys stood in their doorway and Purple Passion was in a huff trying to figure out what to do with them...

Red Tigress rose slowly to her feet taking in our very naked trainees. The Rock, all golden brown perfection and heavily muscled. Clive Owen, lithe and slender with a five o'clock shadow and quirky grin that made him look like a complete rogue. Oded Fehr, the classic tall, dark and handsome with trim and cut pecs that made her fingers itch to play in the sprinkling of hair dusting his torso.

"Wow, they all look so yummy in their own distinctive ways," Red purred.

"What do you mean, Red?" Purple asked, dialing Prime then cursing a blue streak when she got his voice mail. Purple growled, "Damned man! He knows we're in a pickle here and he's probably ignoring my call on purpose." Meanwhile, Blue was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the hell did she go," Purple asked, her brow furrowed as her eyes scanned the room for their comrade. "She was just here…?"

Here came Blue running down the hallway, her feet padding silently on the thick, impeccably clean, cream colored carpet. Her fingers held one of her favorite leather outfits. The itty bitty skirt was a beautiful turquoise color with a matching scrap of what was supposed to be a strapless top. Dragging behind her was a big gray tarp. Red Tigress fell backward onto the plush overstuffed loveseat laughing so hard her eyes watered. Whatever Blue was up to, it couldn't possibly bode well for their trainee candidates. Not with a tarp involved.

"Woman, what in the world are you going to do with that?" Purple queried, eyes wide with wonder as Blue passed both her and Red and headed to the door in a beeline for our trainees.

"Blue?" Purple Passion and Red Tigress called after her in unison.

"Hush! I'm getting inspired here," Blue crowed happily, unconcerned with the strange and questioning looks being passed her way by everyone in the room, including the drool-worthy candidates at the door.

Red stretched languidly on her couch, the ideas she had for the man-candy almost palpable as she said, "But you said you had edits to do and didn't have time to train a new submissive for my next book. Purple and I can handle it, doll. Besides, Prime said one trainee. We'll just pick one and..."

No way!" Blue laughed. "I've got a better idea. They're already naked, so let's take them outside to the edge of the lake, cover them in mud and bring them back inside for a wrestling match. The winner will begin his training by putting on this leather skirt and top and bring me breakfast in bed."

"What!" Red shrieked. "Where did you get that wacky idea?"

"You know our new consultants, ALI, CATHY, LISA T. and JENNIFER L.? Well, I shot them a quick IM and they came up with this idea. I think it's great!"

Red Tigress couldn't have cared less. "Are you nuts? There's no way any muddy man, no matter how gorgeous, is getting anywhere near my perfectly cleaned, cream colored carpet. No way! No how!"

But Blue was one step ahead of her. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, she said, "That's what the tarp is for!"

Two hours later, The Rock and Clive Owen were sprawled out on the mud covered tarp breathing heavily as Oded Fehr stalked toward Blue Vixen. He kneeled down and kissed her feet.

"Now that was a real low blow, Oded. You shouldn't have kicked them in the nuts like that," Blue said sternly.

The side of his sexy mouth kicked up into a sexy smile. "The only fair fight is a won fight, mistress. Besides, The Rock would never have squeezed into that outfit. And Clive would have looked like a girl in it. So, what is my first duty, mistress?"
*************************************************************************************************** So, what's in store for Oded?
a) He gets kicked out of the submissive program for fighting dirty and The Rock takes his place.
b) Blue sends him back to the lake to wash, after which he dons the skimpy blue leather outfit and bakes cinnamon rolls for her breakfast.
c) Blue instructs him to give Red Tigress and Purple Passion horsy-back rides around the living room without a saddle
d) Oded gives them all horsy back rides, then horsy FRONT rides!

Shelley's Winner

Whoops - I forgot to draw my winner. And my winner of a download of Wild Child is:

Shuck Ying!


Congratulations! Email me at shelley munro @ gmail .com (no spaces) and I'll send you your prize.

Look for another prize next week, and meantime check out the Kiwi Triple Contest at my website.

Superstitions: Friday 13th

Today is the Friday 13th.

Throughout history, Fridays have been considered the unluckiest day of the week. Criminals were reluctant to undertake crimes on Fridays because they were sure they'd fail and be arrested.

Friday sentencing was thought to be harsher than any other day. Fridays were also known as Hangman's day because executions were normally held on this day. It was a bad day to start a courtship and ships never set sail on a Friday.

Combine 13, which is considered an unlucky number, with a Friday and we have a recipe for disaster. Even today, 13 is still avoided at all costs. Many major hotels and apartment buildings don't have 13th floors.

It is said that Friday 13th is dreaded so much that many people don't cross their thresholds on that day, and according to my Collins Gem Superstitions book research has shown there are fewer cars on the road on this day but more serious crashes.

Since we're a day ahead in New Zealand our 13th is almost done. I heard people talking on the radio this morning about both good and bad things that had happened to them on previous Friday 13ths but completely forgot about it after that. My day wasn't so bad. I wrote and did a few other jobs around the house - you know, the boring things like laundry and cleaning the kitchen and the shower. Luckily, I didn't come across any bad luck during the course of my day.

What do you think about Friday 13th? Have bad things happened to you on this day? Are you a superstitious person? Or do you think it's all a load of rubbish?

Purple Passion Just Won $50,000,000 - Woooooo!

I’ve been playing around with an idea in my head and thought I’d run it by you guys. Why? Because our readers are some of the most engaging and intelligent people out there, that’s why!

If you’ve read Spirit of the Pryde or Jaguar’s Rule, then you know the heroines are strong, kick-butt females who are accomplished in life before they meet their mates. Their men recognized a good thing when they saw it and chased those women down (like they’re supposed to, damn it!).

So let’s take a little poll (and don’t be surprised to see the results reflected in the next chapters of TRAINING RED VIXEN’S ROUGH RIDER!)

So here's what's up – Purple Passion just won the lottery for $50,000,000 (yes, that’s fifty MILLION dollars…I wish!) and the third thing she’s going to do is…what? Notice we didn’t ask about the first thing, ‘cause that’s automatic – 1) I quit! And 2) Hello, Mr. Stockbroker?

But then what? Remember, she’s got Blue Vixen and Red Tigress in the picture! We’re talking fun, over the top, nothing mushy please! Hey, maybe she’ll take all of you on an erotic romance lovers cruise and invite Clive Owen, Oded Fehr and The Rock…and their damned wives (waaahhhh!)

And as always, there's a prize! Make a comment and your name goes into Purple's 'box.' The winner will be announced next Thursday.

Have fun and watch for the next chapter of RED TIGRESS' ROUGH RIDER!

It Was My Aunt's Fault!

You think I'm trying to shift the blame? Ah-ah.

It really was my aunt Hinekiri's fault. She decided to head off into outer space - some small outpost on the planet Earth. I tried to tell her. I said, "Hinekiri, you have mercenaries after you. It's not safe. Stay here on Dalcon."

But no - she HAD to fly to Earth because she wanted to see the migration of the wildebeest. What was I meant to do? Let her fly off to her death? I ended up sneaking aboard her ship and not showing my face until it was too late for her to turn back. I figured it wouldn't take me long to talk some good sense into her.

Grrrr! I underestimated her determination. And if things couldn't get worse...we crash landed in a small town called Sloan. New Zealand, so they tell me. Heck, I'd never been so scared in all my life. Not a good look for an Imperial bodyguard, I can tell you.

So far the natives seem okay. We've met a small spotted creature that talks too much and keeps wanting food. Oh, and a policeman. We met one of those. He's very nice to look at. In fact I don't know why, but I'm having trouble because I keep wanting to touch him. Intimately. And Hinekiri - well, she has this toothy smirk that I don't trust. Something is going on here. I'm not quite sure what it is...

Read about Janaya's adventures on Earth in Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters. Available now in ebook or in the print anthology Romancing the Alien. Preorder at Amazon now!

What Superhero Are You?

You Are Elektra

There's really no superhero with more style than you. Because who could beat being sexy assasin ninja?

What Superhero Are You?

Prime is always threatening to replace us because we like to complete missions our way. Can he say independent women? Obviously not! He reckons he can find superheroes at the click of a finger. Ya think? It's tough being a superhero, especially when you have a double life as an author. Anyhow - if you'd like to apply for a superhero position, let me know what Superhero you are, and I'll pass the details onto Prime's assistant. Word is they're looking to recruit...

PS - don't forget that each comment you make this week puts you in a draw to win a download of Wild Child by my alter ego, Shelley Munro.

Blue Vixen

Things I've Learned about Riding a Bike...

About three weeks ago my husband and I were walking the dog. All of a sudden he said, "I think we should buy a bike each to keep fit."

"Hmmm," I said, and then after a bit of lightning quick thought, I added, "Okay. Good idea." I mean any thought of fitness and exercise should be encouraged, right?

One week later we had our bikes. I hadn't expected him to move so quickly, dammit. I thought it was one of those ideas that would be shelved. Ah-ah. Suddenly I was the owner of a brand new bike, which was a bit daunting for a person who had never owned one as a kid. (We lived on a farm and there was no where suitable to ride a bike).

Luckily riding a bike isn't something you forget and after a little bit of wobbling down the road I was all set. I've come to enjoy my daily bike ride. Here are a few things I've learned about bikes and the riding of:

1. There are loads of hills around where we live. The road might look flat but believe me, the hills are there...lurking...
2. A pretty colored helmet doesn't mean it will look sexy when it's on your head.
3. Gel seats are the best invention.
4. I am not a speed demon. I hate hills and speed.
5. My husband is a speed demon.
6. Shorts, bike riding, and building sites equals embarrassment.
7. Some cars and their drivers don't like sharing the road.
8. It's a great time to think about plotting and writing but watch for those potholes!
9. Riding a bike is hard work.
10. You get to see lots more e.g. gardens and wildlife
11. It's addictive
12. Gel seats are the best invention!

What things do you like doing in your spare time? How do you keep fit? Do you play any sports?

I'm giving away a PDF download of Wild Child, my latest release from New Concepts Publishing. All you need to do is comment on one of the posts during the next few days. The more times you comment, the more chances you have to win. I'll pick a winner and announce it on Friday, which is my next post day.

Raising Up Red Tigress' Rough Rider!

Picking up on Lauren's theme from yesterday about rough heroes, let's imagine this....

The Dynamic Trio, a band of super heroines with tremendous erotic and kick-butt powers, gather for a secret meeting on a private island off the coast of New Zealand. Our heroines, Purple Passion, Red Tigress and the Blue Vixen are seated around a round glass table enjoying conversation. At exactly 9:00 a.m. the telephone rang. Blue Vixen leaned toward the high tech console and pressed a series of buttons causing a speakerphone to rise from its hidden compartment in the center of the table.

“Good morning, Trio.”

“Good morning, Prime,” they chimed in unison, each one wishing the sexy owner of the smooth male voice would miraculously appear. He had the kind of voice that made a woman want to stare up into his eyes and sigh, and the kind of body that made her want to strip naked and yodel. Oh yes, they’d met with him personally before, so seeing him again would be no hardship. Ever.

"Ladies, your next mission is to train the hero of Red's next novel to be the perfect submissive. Now, the candidate does not naturally wish to submit, so he must be taught.”

“What do you mean,” Purple Passion asked, setting her cup of chocolate laced coffee down on the table.

“Your trainee is an alpha male, through and through. But if he is to survive the challenges awaiting him in Red Tigress’ next novel, he must understand when to fight and when to submit,” the disembodied sexy-as-hell voice said.

“I’ve got edits to finish and don’t really have a lot of time this next few weeks so who will be his teacher this time?” Blue Vixen queried, wondering what kind of new mischief their unseen dispatcher was getting them into this time.

“Why, Blue, of course you will train him,” he said silkily.

“But I just said I can’t…”

Our heroines turned collectively toward the front door just as the bell chimed. Red touched the console on the table again and the front door swung open. Three pairs of eyebrows flew toward the ceilings on a collective ‘Oh, my god!’

In the wide doorframe, elbow to elbow and eyeing each other suspiciously stood Oded Fehr, Clive Owen and The Rock. In the flesh…and nothing else.

Purple Passion rose to her feet, fists knotted at her side as she stalked toward the door. “Damn it, he said there would be one trainee, not three. What the hell are we supposed to do now?”

Should our heroines:
a) Invite them all in for a little three on three yeehaw around the office!
b) Clive Owen, Oded Fehr and The Rock must fight each other for the privilege to be the Dynamic Trio’s trainee with Blue Vixen as the lead instructor. The winner must dress up in one of Blue's outfits and bring her breakfast in bed.
c) Blue Vixen decides she absolutely must get her edits to her editor on time and leaves the decision and the submissive training to her two buds.
d) The heroines choose one hunky man (tell us who) and send the rest home.

****************************************
Be sure to give your suggestions so we can write what happens next in the story of The Dynamic Trio Raising Up Red Tigress' Rough Rider!

WE HAVE LAUNCHED!

Like Shelley and Lauren I want to extend a warm, fun, sensuous and sexy welcome to you.

Now, I have a secret to share...I'm spoiled as hell. I don't think I've cooked dinner for myself in at least a year. I'm blessed to have two awesome kids, but one of those kids happens to be a culinary whiz with the desire to open an exclusive restaurant someday. In JAPAN! And the US, and New Zealand, and who knows where else!

Born in California with parents from the South, we grew up with ecclectic tastes and were taught to try just about anything. I passed that on to my two kidlets. When my son was twelve, his favorite meal was sushi. Can't say that about too many twelve year old boys! My daughter loves anything with noodles but she's adventurous as well. Wait, that's not quite true - if there's lamb in, she won't come within smelling distance.

We do a lot of cooking around my house during the holidays. I'd like to share some recipes with you that you might enjoy...if you're not faint of heart! Mmwwaaahahaha! Here's the first:

My Daughter's Home Made Terriyaki Sauce (and she really does make it herself. She's too high-fallutin' to buy it from the store :D)

1/4 cup oil (any kind except olive)
3/4 cup sugar
3 large cloves of crushed garlic
1 Tblspoon powdered ginger (no you can't use dried pickled ginger!)
1 and 1/2 cups soy sauce
1 tsp of ground pepper

Heat the oil on medium-high in a heavy sauce pan. Whisk in sugar until mixture bubbles. Add garlic. Add half of the soy sauce and ginger until it's thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Then add pepper. Add the rest of the soy sauce in small amounts. Do not allow mixture to stop simmering. Cook to the desired thickness (never, EVER add flour or cornstarch to hurry it along or you're screwed).

This'll keep in the fridge for about six weeks and is so yummy it won't last that long. Still wonderin' why I haven't cooked in forever? This recipe came off the top of her head and I can guarantee it's gonna be GOOD!

If you have a favorite food you like to make, tell us what it is. Need some cooking ideas for something different for the holidays? Or have a food you love but have no idea how to make it, perhaps we'll have my kidlet make a recipe for you and post it here on the blog! We'll do this again before Thanksgiving, too.

And everyone who posts between now and 9:00 pm MST (that's mountain time) will be entered into a drawing for a download of ANY Dynamic Trio book. Winner announced at 9:30pm MST.

Have a perfect day!
TJ a/k/a The Spoiled Mom
www.tjmichaels.com

Welcome!

Lauren, TJ and I (the Dynamic Trio) are thrilled to move into our new home. I hope you'll hang out with us and join in the fun. Since I'm on New Zealand time I get to post first. And I have news! PEEPING TOM is out today from Ellora's Cave.

Instead of posting the blurb or an excerpt (you can find those at Ellora's Cave or my website) I thought I'd talk about where the idea came from for my Middlemarch Mates series. Here goes:

Writers receive inspiration from many sources. One of my favorite places to look for interesting story ideas is the New Zealand Herald. A few years ago, a small headline caught my attention: "Panther Sighted Again." Evidently, several people living in the Mid-Canterbury area of the South Island had sighted a mystery cat, a large black creature with a tail the same length as its body. In fact there have been recent sightings in the last couple of months. A witness managed to snap a photo but experts still aren’t convinced there is a big cat running wild in Canterbury.

Around the same time, a small town called Middlemarch came to my notice in a blaze of publicity. Middlemarch is a real town, situated not far from Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. It seems Middlemarch had a problem--plenty of men, but a shortage of young women of marriageable age. The men of the area were having trouble meeting potential partners. Their solution was to hold an annual dance to bring women to the district. A train, dubbed the "love train", runs from Dunedin bringing women to attend the dance and returning them home afterward. Romances have bloomed as a direct result of couples meeting during the Middlemarch singles dance.

Using writer's license, I moved the mystery cat a little farther south, planting him firmly in Middlemarch and played a little with the geography of the town. My series Middlemarch Mates is the result.

You can visit Middlemarch on the web and read about the dance at http://www.middlemarch.co.nz/.

Middlemarch Mates series by Shelley Munro:
Scarlet Woman, available now from Ellora's Cave
Peeping Tom, available 4 October, Ellora's Cave
Stray Cat Strut, coming Jan 2007, Ellora's Cave