November 18th is THE day

Yes, ladies and gents, I just got word that my Ellora's Cave release is scheduled for...drumroll please...October 18th. I can't tell you how long I've waited for this. I'm so happy. I'm posting the blurb--just to jog your memory since I've only been talking about this forever. *g*

For One Night Only
Beverly Havlir

Lily McIntyre is in love with her boss. Every day she goes to work hoping it will be the day Michael Rutherford finally notices her. For twelve long months, she’s waited. No more. With the help of a friend, Lily puts into motion her plan to spend one hot night with Michael. One special night to let loose all the pent-up lust she harbors for him.

Michael Rutherford doesn’t have a clue how Lily feels about him. When he receives an anonymous invitation to play during a BDSM party, he’s intrigued. To his shock, he finds out it is Lily who issued the sexy invitation. She offers him one night. No holds barred. Anything he wants.

For Lily, the memories of their night will have to last her a lifetime. For Michael, it isn’t nearly enough. He will have to do everything in his power to convince Lily that their relationship should not be limited to one night only.

So there you have it. For those who don't know, my hero in For One Night Only is Michael Rutherford. You all met him in my first book, The Abduction of Emma. He was Emma's fiance before Luke Forrester came back and well...took back his woman. LOL. I've been asked time and time again when Michael would get his own story. Well, here it is. Finally. Michael finds that Lily, his heroine, is more than a match for him. I had fun writing this one. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. October 18th is the magic day. Be sure to let me know what you think of it. I look forward to your comments!

I like it. I like it a lot...

I know, I know. I haven't blogged since the start of September. I'm sorry. Just be forewarned that I won't post everyday. Simply can't. Physically impossible. *g* First of all, I don't have that much to talk about. Maybe I'm not that interesting? Hmmm...something to ponder.

So I was surfing the net the other day, conducting a periodic search for my name to see if anything interesting comes up. Guess what I came across? A list of recommended authors from All About Romance. To my surprise, I'm one of them!!!

The list was originally created in 1996, revamped in 2002 and was last updated on August 8, 2006. (Yeah, I'm a month late. I'm always the last to know) The list was long and comprehensive, encompassing different romance genres and containing some of my favorite authors. In the Romantica section, there were seventeen authors mentioned, and my name was in there. Really, I've got to confess to being stunned. I've never been mentioned anywhere like this before and have only been nominated for an award once. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It was just very unexpected. My second reaction was...whoopeee!! I shrieked at the top of my lungs and called my husband into my office--scaring the living daylights out of him, by the way. I felt proud that my writing has been noticed and acknowledged this way. Sort of like a validation, if you know what I mean. And don't tell me you've never needed/wanted validation. We all like to hear that what we're doing is appreciated, especially authors. When we write, we pour blood, sweat and tears into our work. It's always nice when somebody tells me they loved my story, that they enjoyed it. Then at least I know I'm not just wasting my time here. LOL.

It's awe-inspiring to be in the company of such distinguished authors as Lora Leigh, Jaci Burton, Joey W. Hill (have you read Natural Law? If you haven't, run--don't walk. It's amazing), Rhyannon Byrd, and Shelby Reed, just to name a few. I still can't believe it. Can you? *g*

Looking back

I went to Karen's blog today and read her latest post about The Wonder Years and Elvis Presley. You know, she got me thinking about the good old days when I was growing up. I remember growing up on a street where we actually knew our neighbors. We really did. We knew their names, knew what they did for a living, knew their kids. Surprise, surprise. How many can say that now?

When I was growing up, we didn't have video games or personal computers. We rode the school bus to and from school. Every afternoon, as soon as we got home, we'd eat a snack and run out to meet the rest of the neighborhood kids for a rousing game of...whatever we could think of. Like in the movie Sandlot, the vacant lot across the street was our playground. There, we played cops and robbers, tetherball, handball, volleyball, kickball...any kind of ball. We'd play until close to sundown, when our Moms would poke their heads out of our respective doors and call us home. We parted reluctantly, dirty and tired, but grinning like fools and promising to do it again the next day. I miss those times. That was some of the most fun, innocent years of my life.

One by one, the families moved away. We moved too, not really far, but far enough that I never saw my friends again. I've lost touch with them. Over the years, I've often wondered how they're doing, where they are. Do they look back on those times with the same fondness and nostalgia that I do? I hope so.

Life now is different. I know my immediate neighbors, but not the family further down the street. Apart from an occasional greeting, I don't know anything about them. My kids are involved in sports, and when they get home, they switch on the computer and do their homework. They watch tv and play video games. Everything's changed.

I will always cherish my childhood memories. I understand that the world changes, and we have to change with it. I only wish that my kids experienced the same innocent fun that I did, the friendships, and the memories. Someday, I want to take them back. The old neighborhood won't be the same, but I want them to see it through my eyes. I want to share my memories. Maybe, just maybe, I can relive my childhood too. For a brief moment in time.