I’m back from a busy, busy August. Big sigh of relief to sleep in my own bed. The squee you hear after the sigh? Lords of Passion (December 2010) is a featured alternate selection for the Rhapsody Book Club! And also picked for the “Heartthrob of the Month” centerfold. To celebrate, I’m giving away one ARC (advance reader copy) of Lords of Passion on the contest page this month. Just enter and tell me who your heartthrobby hero is—Hugh Jackman? Johnny Depp? The adorable Old Spice guy Isaiah Mustafa? I’ll run an informal survey and let you know who rises to the top. And check out the excerpt for Maggie Robinson’s Not Quite a Courtesan in LOP right here.

Thanks for all the summer comments! The winner of Margaret Rowe’s Tempting Eden is Maureen! Please email me at margaret@margaretrowe.net with your address, and Eden will be on her way. For a sneak peak at Any Wicked Thing and first chapters of seven historical authors, there’s another contest to enter this month too! Good luck!

Going to a writers’ conference has sapped my strength for writing! So I thought I’d share a list and take a little break from blogging this month–we are spending next week at a vacation compound with about a million friends and relatives and without TV or an Internet connection, and later in the month are going to Las Vegas for my yearly Roast-in-the-Sun-and-Read fest. Speaking of heat, Orlando was blazing, but meeting so many wonderful people warmed my heart even more.

Here, in no particular order (except for #1) are my positive experiences at RWA10:

1. Seeing Vixens J.K.Coi and Tiffany Clare for the first time ever. I am adopting them as extra adorable Robinson girls. Tiff (see above; thanks to PJ for the picture) and Kris made the days fly by and the nerves dissipate, and they are the cutest things ever. It would have been perfect if Ely had been in Florida too, but next year in NY!

2. Meeting the legendary Virginia Henley waiting for the Kensington tables at the awards ceremony. I introduced myself as the very junior contributor for Lords of Passion and she was graciousness itself.

3.Being in a giant room with 2000 like-minded individuals who made me tear up and laugh during the awards speeches, and realize the power of romance. I never expected to be so moved–it was way better than the Academy Awards!

4. Spending quality time with my family and friends, yet still managing to sign books both at the literacy booksigning (over $62,000 raised!) and Berkley event, go to three cocktail parties, an agent dinner, an appointment with my Berkley editor, take three interesting workshops, and meet countless absolutely fabulous women in four days. I’m sure some packed even more goodness into their schedules, because there was a dizzying array of possibilities, but I think I paced myself pretty well. That doesn’t mean I’m not tired and don’t have a ton of unpacking and laundry to do.

5. Looking forward already to RWA11 in New York!

I have lots of new writers to discover and the rest of the summer to savor. So, as the old song says, see you in September–unless something earth-shattering happens. I’ll continue the Tempting Eden giveaway through the month if you tell me how you’re spending the rest of your summer in the comments.

I’m in the middle of packing and agonizing what to bring to RWA. Our son once drew the “Robinson Family Crest”—a mini van, a suitcase and crossed toothbrushes. We took the kids on lots of trips, and always tried to travel light (not easy with six people). My husband will never let me forget the time I went to Vienna with four suitcases (I was meeting my relatives for the first time and wanted to make a good impression. *g*). So I got accustomed to one carry-on.

But for this trip, besides making a good impression, I’m also trying to entertain a 2 1/2 year old, so I’m checking kind of a giant bag but bringing this cool rolling Liz Claiborne Work Bag (retail retail price $280, TJ Maxx $59.99!) on the plane with my travel docs, computer, a portable DVD player and about 1000 new things for Sadie to read and play with. I should even have room to bring back convention booty.

Once I get back, I’ll bore you with my WAR–uh,RWA stories and pick this month’s contest winner—you still have a chance to win stuff on the contest page . The answers I’ve been getting are marvelously creative, and someone is aaaalmost right.

If you’re going to Orlando, I hope to see you. If you’re staying home, keep cool! Where do you want to go next, and what’s a must-have in your suitcase? One random commenter will get a copy of Tempting Eden and other good stuff when I get home!

According to this fun site, I write like William Shakespeare. Uh, I hate to think what my high school English teachers would have to say about that. I plugged in the first couple of paragraphs from the latest thing I’m working on, and voila! Or should I say zounds? Anyway, go play.

I write like
William Shakespeare

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

The results from this year’s Bulwer-Lytton contest are here. Enjoy!

So, it’s seventeen days until I board a plane to go to my first RWA convention ever. And I’m both excited and pretty scared. I planned to make this a family/friend vacation even when it was scheduled for Nashville–I had visions of my daughters singing in some honky-tonk and doing the boot scoot boogie. Now I see them spinning in teacups with Sadie, my two-year-old granddaughter, and avoiding heatstroke in Orlando.

I am traveling with an entourage (not to be confused with the HBO series of the same name because we are not nearly as profane or buff)–my oldest daughter (Sadie’s mom), Sadie, my youngest daughter, one of my oldest friends and her daughter. I realized I will not be having dinner with them any night because of commitments, and that makes me even more nervous. Their human shield capability is what I love about them most. I am friendly, but I am shy. I think that’s a given for most of us who peck away in privacy.

My youngest daughter gave me a beautiful pen at Christmas to sign books with. I’ve got it in my purse already. Due to the terrifying genius of Rita-nominated Courtney Milan, my book excerpts are appearing in rather exalted company in this promo booklet.
I’m bringing pencils and magnets and bookmarks to pass out, too.

Next week my oldest daughter and I are going clothes shopping, as I usually spend my summers in bathing suits and jean shorts. Having summers off from school has left my professional wardrobe lacking in most essentials, but I’m happy to tell you I’ve got plenty of brand-new underwear in case I wind up in the hospital.

So, any conference tips to pass along? Ways to beat the heat and swollen feet? Don’t forget to enter this month’s contest.

Just a quick post to direct your attention to this month’s contest. I’ve described the hero Darius Shaw of Not Quite a Courtesan in Brava’s Lords of Passion (November 30) as an “adventurer.” What do you think he does? Guess away and I’ll post an excerpt on the Books page in August after I get back from RWA and send a randomly selected winner the beautiful coverflat, a signed copy of Mistress by Mistake (or Margaret Rowe’s Tempting Eden if you prefer) and some other goodies. A Margaret Rowe contest will be posted soon too!

It is a million degrees here in Maine. Stay cool and happy reading.

I’ve been absent but here I am, not that I have much to say at the moment. But my Books page has been updated with new covers and I’ll be including excerpts very soon. My current releases seem to be doing okay and I’m fluffing up a new trilogy proposal for my agent.

I’ve started the first book already even though I’m nowhere near the submission stage. I’m antsy when I don’t write, but my time lately has revolved around family and friends. We’ve entertained nearly every weekend since we moved in (very modestly, because my husband is still recovering. He still wants to use his new gas/charcoal/smoker grill every chance he gets, though. It is the size of an aircraft carrier.).

This fourth of July weekend will bring most of the Robinson clan together on the lake—kids, kayaks, beer and Dirty Scrabble… if I’ve unpacked the Scrabble set yet. What is Dirty Scrabble, you ask? Just what it sounds like. Only provocative (and sometimes mis-spelled) words are allowed. I’m hoping to learn something to add to my knowledge of naughtiness.

Have a safe holiday weekend! What are your plans—fireworks, hotdogs, parades? What does your family do for fun when you get together?

More cover goodness! Here’s the delicious cover and back cover blurb for the December 2010 Brava anthology Lords of Passion. Is it just me, or does the guy look like Rupert Everett, whom I adore even if he might not adore me?

This dazzling new historical collection delivers a trio of heroes who are bold, dashing, and unforgettable in every way…

“Beauty and the Brute” by Virginia Henley
It’s been three years since Lady Sarah Caversham set eyes on arrogant Charles Lennox—the husband her father chose for her to settle a gambling debt. Now Charles has returned, unaware that the innocent ingénue he wed is determined to turn their marriage of convenience into a blissfully passionate affair…

“How to Seduce a Wife” by Kate Pearce

Louisa March’s new husband, Nicholas, is a perfect gentleman in bed—much to her disappointment. She longs for the kind of fevered passion found in her beloved romance novels. But when she dares him to seduce her properly, she discovers that Nicholas is more than ready to meet her challenge, over and over again…

“Not Quite a Courtesan” by Maggie Robinson

Sensible bluestocking Prudence Thorn has been too busy keeping her cousin Sophy out of trouble to experience any adventures of her own. But when Sophy begs Prudence’s help in saving her marriage, Pru encounters handsome, worldly Darius Shaw. And under Darius’s skilled tutelage, Pru learns just how delightful a little scandal can be…

First, the big: I am absolutely thrilled that NYTimes best-selling author Eloisa James is featuring Mistress by Mistake in her Barnes and Noble column this week. She says, “Mistress by Mistake is a charming, extra-sexy tale.”

I may be older than Eloisa, but I consider her my fairy godmother when it comes to romance. If it were not for her bulletin board (where I’m the guest author this month), I don’t believe I’d have gotten as far as I have. It was there I met my critique partners the Vauxhall Vixens (hi, Ely, Kris and Tiff), the Vanettes, the Pirates, etc. Wonderful writers, but better yet wonderful people. So this is a fabulous, meaningful thing to happen.

Now the beautiful: Margaret Rowe’s Any Wicked Thing cover, out from Berkley Heat in January 2011. There’s Freddie, smiling slyly. If I had Sebastian in my bed, I’d be smiling too. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!

And one last item:congratulations to Jane, who’s won a copy of Margaret Rowe’s Tempting Eden. Please send your address to maggie@maggierobinson.net. Have a wonderful week!