Insert Eye Roll Here

✵ Here's what I think about fanfic. I totally get fans being obsessed with fictional characters and wanting this fictional world to go on and on and on...can't let it go quite yet...still going...

But seriously. If you're a professional writer and you can't freakin' come up with an original idea for your own book? You need to get a new day job.

INSERT EYE ROLL

✵ Thanks to Cara McKenna, I am now obsessed with pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. They sound DIVINE! So, here's the Thanksgiving meal that I've planned so far...

1. Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
2. Cranberry mojitos

What turkey?

INSERT EYE ROLL

✵ Channing Tatum (what kind of weird name is that?) is the Sexiest Man Alive? Is he legally able to drink?

INSERT EYE ROLL 

(I'm rolling my eyes with Daniel Craig, who is looking super hot with his salt and pepper beard and his bad-ass James Bond sports car)

✵ Out of the mouths of babes...When Natty found out I was giving my book away for free, she said, and I quote..."That's stupid."

NATTY DOES EYE ROLL

✵ Something totally crazy has been happening lately. I've been getting fan mail. EVERY DAY! Haaaaaaaa! That is banana nut crunch cray cray to the max! Pretty soon I'm going to be dressing like JR Ward, with the pearls, sunglasses, and a posse of body guards. Yeah. That's it.

INSERT BANANA NUT CRUNCH CRAY CRAY EYES

Well, that's it for the day! Have you had any eye roll moments lately? Let me know!

Penny

Desperately Delicious!

I got into a werewolf-y mood this week, and was desperately searching for a shapeshifter book.

So, in desperation, I splurged on this cute-looking novel by Jessica Sims--Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter. 

I discovered that Jessica Sims is also Jill Myles, who wrote my favorite time warp-caveman-dinosaur romance, Island Heat. 

Needless to say, this book was the perfect answer to my shapeshifter desperation. It was adorable! First of all, the characters were very appealing. The hero Ramsey is a delicious giant were-bear, the heroine Sarah is a were-wolf struggling with past abuse issues, there are plenty of secondary characters to add flavor to the story, and even some evil villains. Unlike other shifter series, I found the politics in this one just right...not overwhelming or confusing at all. The story flowed nicely, the pacing was spot-on, the sexy times were smoky, and I loved the unexpected ending with Sarah's rise above her fear and incompetence as a shifter. Didn't see that coming...it was a great surprise! 

Sims's writing is excellent. This book is a big step up from many of the shifter books I've read in the last couple of years. There is humor, but it's not over-the-top or off-putting. There are shifter politics, but they don't bog down the story. The romance is super satisfying, with an emotional connection to complement the sexual attraction. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

For anyone looking for a super satisfying, well-written, adorable, and sexy shifter story, your desperation is over. 

Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter is a grade-A winner.

Grade: A (I know, I already said that.)

Desperately searching for coffee,

Penelope

Free Lumberjack!

Freebie time! From today until Saturday, the Kindle-version of LUMBERJACK IN LOVE is free!

Here's the linkie!

Please spread the word, far and wide, all over the land.

And...

for those of you who don't have a Kindle and eschew modern technology, I'm giving away three paperbacks, too.
Just leave a comment after the post and say hi! Make sure you have an email included so I can contact you if you're a winner.
(And you can tell me who your favorite beardy guy is, if you're in the mood!)

And...

one lucky commenter will also get a GOT WOOD? mug filled with candy and goodies.

❅❅❅

Happy Early Holidays from Penelope!

Friday's Recommendation

Yet he had smiled at her...

This had been a full-faced, radiant smile, curving his mouth, crinkling his eyes at the corners, brightening his whole face. All the dark, forbidding harshness had fled, to be replaced by a beauty full of light and warmth and potential laughter.

It had been somehow, strangely, more intimate than any of their couplings had been. Something deep within him, some joy brighter than the sun, had reached out to envelop her, to enfold her more closely than arms...

He had smiled at her.

✯✯✯

From Slightly Married, by Mary Balogh. This book is incredibly romantic. Treat yourself this weekend!

All my best,

Penelope

Orgie Porgie Puddin' and Pie

Do you hear that?

It's the sound...the sound...the sound of silence!

YEE HAW!

For the first time in 6 days, the kids and the hubby are back to school and work and I finally have a moment of peace and quiet to myself.

*Penny slurps coffee and enjoys peace and quiet*

Here are some updates!

1.) Every once in a while, Julia Rachel Barrett will make a comment about her "menage" book and giggle. That's right. She's actually incapable of discussing this book without laughing. I kept hearing about the "menage" book, and I incorrectly concluded it was a "menage a trois" which, for those of you not familiar with the French language, is a "threesome." So, I decided to read this giggly threesome, One Four All. The heroine is Lira, a totally kick-ass royal from another planet. And her "good buddies" (French for "good buddies") are Cer, Redda, and Kepp. Wait a minute. Cer, Redda and Kepp. That's three good buddies. Let's do the math...

3 good buddies + 1 heroine = 4! 

OH MY GOD! This isn't a menage a trois! This is a foursome! Julia wrote an orgy book! (The title One Four All should have been a dead give-away, but I guess I'm a bit dense.)

I tormented Julia for several days with the fact that she did indeed write an orgy book. However, I wasn't giggling while I read it. I was sweating! This book is hot! It is also extremely well-written, has a cool sci fi storyline, a very believable 4-some going on--dealing with feelings of possessiveness, lust and love--and a satisfying ending. It's one of the best written multi-partner (a.k.a., orgy) books I've read. Nevertheless, I shall continue to torment Julia. Coz it's fun!

2.) Just in case you like quirky, outside-of-the-box stuff (like moi), Carolyn Crane, one of my all-time favorite authors, has some new books out. Mr. Real is a mish-mash paranormal/spy book/romance. And her alter-ego Annika Martin has #2 of the Bank Robbers series out...it's The Wrong Turn. Not to be confused with the movie Wrong Turn, which is super gory and disgusting, and yes I've watched it about 20 times. So sue me.

3.) I'm thrilled the Goodreads group Kindle Smut has chosen LUMBERJACK IN LOVE for one of its November book selections. Hopefully they'll be in the mood for a beardy love-fest! Feedback about my latest release ranges from good ("great book!" "short and sweet" "pure fun read") to meh ("meh" "corny" "didn't like the cover"). As always, I appreciate the wide array of feedback, good and bad. C'est la vie (French for "the reader is always right").

4.) I am getting ready for another conference this weekend. So far my preparation has included polishing my nails with Big Money Sally Hansen nail polish.

5.) The photo above is our jack-o-lantern. My adorable hubby did this custom doxie pumpkin for us. So cool!

6.) As many of you know, this month is NaNoWriMo. Since I am resuming work on my children's book, LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE, my month will henceforth be known as WeeWeeMoMo (French for "livre de teckels").

7.) After discovering some interesting things in my search engine history (*cough, cough*), I decided it was time to have THE TALK with my daughter who is nine years old. So, I got the American Girl book The Care and Keeping of You. We chatted for about 10 minutes. I think I used the word "egg" "embryo" and "uterus" although I'm not exactly sure because I seem to have blocked out the entire experience. All I remember is my daughter rolling her eyes and saying "I know that, Mom!" with complete exasperation. (Just in case you were wondering, "les oiseaux et les abeilles" is "the birds and the bees" in French).

So, those are the updates for the week! I hope everyone had a festive Halloween.

All my best,

Penelope

Happy Halloween!

Hope you get all your favorite candy!

Happy Halloween,

Penelope

A Typical Dinner At Penelope's House

Date: Tuesday Evening

Time: 7 PM

Place: Penelope's Kitchen

Cast of Characters: Hubby (Filipino), Son (Filipino), Daughter (Filipino), Penelope (White Girl), Weenie Dog (black-and-tan with white whiskers)

Meal: Home-made Chicken Stew with Dumplings



Our drama begins...


Penelope: Look everyone! I made a delicious, wholesome home-made meal this evening!

Natty: I hate it!

Penelope: You don't even know what it is yet.

Natty: I still hate it.

Hubby: What is that?

Penelope: Home-made chicken stew with dumplings. It's really good.

Hubby: Oh great (said with sarcasm). My favorite (also said with sarcasm). *pulls soy sauce, hot sauce, Caesar's salad dressing, Worcestershire sauce, and other assorted bottles out of the pantry*

Cristian: This looks like white-people-food. Why did you make us white-people-food?

Penelope: Because I'm white? What are you talking about?

Cristian: There are potatoes in there. White people eat potatoes.

Penelope: *silence*

Natty: That looks like brains. Or snot.

Penelope: It's not brains. It's a dumpling. It's delicious! Try some.

Natty: *eats one molecule* *makes dramatic gagging noises* I hate it!

Hubby: *gets out can of tuna fish, dumps it on top of chicken stew*

Penelope: Would anyone like a beer? *pours herself a beer*

Kids: May we please be excused?

Penelope: *finishes beer* Yes. I refuse to cook anymore meals for you ingrates! What do you want?

Natty: McDonald's!

Cristian: Pizza!

Hubby: Steak.

Penelope: Fine. Tomorrow I will make brown-people-food. Steak and rice. Happy?

Hubby and children cheer! Weenie dog waits patiently for some food to fall on the ground.


The End


Off to purchase steak,
Penelope

That's Dr. Snooty To You, Bubs

In November, I am attending a literary writer's conference with one of my best buds. I have been advised NOT to divulge the fact that I write...ahem...romance novels. Apparently, this is an extremely "snooty" conference, and romance is frowned upon. 

Accordingly, I'm trying to decide how to introduce myself, in case anyone asks what I write.

Please vote on your favorite!

Hi! I'm Penny Watson and I write...

A) Kinky Mindfuckeria (many thanks to Victoria Morgan for this gem).

B) Veinerschnitzel Fiction (if asked to elaborate on this, I will respond "lumberjack veinerschnitzel and dachshund-ish veinerschnitzel").

C) My writing cannot be defined by any genre. It will BLOW YOUR MIND.

D) Elfin-inspired fantasy fiction, sort of like Lord of the Rings, only actually nothing like that. But it could be.

E) A book about Santa Claus (if asked if I write children's fiction, I will respond..."Is it okay if Santa has sex?" and see what happens).

F) Turfgrass Manuals.

G) Zombie apocalyptic fiction.

I'm hoping any of these will make a good impression with the snooty crowd. And of course I'll be wearing my tiara, which should elevate my status to "super" snooty.

Any favorites? Other ideas? Let me know!

Happy Week To All!

Penny

Someone Watching Over Us

Most mornings as I get the kids ready for school, swig down my heart meds with a cup of coffee, and feed the weenie dog, I forget about this guy. Saint Nicholas. He is perched above my kitchen window, looking down on us every morning. Every afternoon. Every evening. 

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children, among other things. And more importantly, he was known for his extreme generosity, which is how he came to be associated with Santa Claus, the gift-giver.

This morning I flipped on the light switch over the sink, and suddenly I remembered him.

Generosity of heart, generosity of spirit, giving gifts. What could be more important?

And I'm not talking about Legos. Gifts come in many packages. A gift of kindness. The gift of friendship. Listening, offering comfort.

I had a great time at the New Jersey RWA conference this weekend. My friends and colleagues have many gifts to offer: support, friendship, advice. I appreciate them all.

Including the passion punch cocktails. (Come on. You knew that was coming.)

My favorite bit of advice was not about POV or publishing or the state of the industry. It was about karma.

Be generous and free with your gifts, and good things will happen.

Icon of St. Nicholas perched over my kitchen window.

✵✵✵

Speaking of generous spirits, Liberty Blake has a new release this week. Well, really a new old release. 

She published this cute novella in an anthology last year. Now it's out on its own, just in time for Christmas. It's the perfect shortie holiday read...sexy, sweet and sassy all rolled into one. I loved it!

$1.99 at Amazon

Smashwords

Still Moments Publishing

✵✵✵

I hope I have time to write up reviews for all of the books I've been reading. Kinky erotica, shocking mysteries, sexy firefighters, tedious reality, and hilarious Greek tycoons. I'll try! In the meantime, I'm prepping for my talk this weekend at the NECRWA October meeting. It's called Reach for the Stars: The ABCs of Romance Reviews. I'm speaking with Jen Porter from Romance Novel News. We'll be discussing the different types of reviews, how to use them to promote your books, and how not to behave when you get a bad rating. (Hint: Sticking voodoo dolls with pins is not encouraged).

Hope to see some of you there! The meeting is in Bedford, MA at the old town hall.

Happy Reading,
Penelope

Fun Links Today!

1. One of my most favorite gals, the excellent, talented and wonderful Liberty Blake, has interviewed me on her blog, Liberty's Spells. We discuss my love of beardy dudes and I share the lumberjack-inspired cocktail recipe for Jack Me Off (hee hee...bad!). She is giving away a free copy of LUMBERJACK IN LOVE to one lucky commenter. Just let her know your favorite beardy guy!

Stop by Liberty's Spells and leave a comment to enter.

2. Bestest Walking Dead Beard of the Day: Andrew Lincoln, aka Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead. 

Check out this Tumblr site. RICK! I would risk infection from a horde of hungry zombies just to spend one moment in your beardy presence!

3. Most delicious looking soup recipe. *slobber* Check out this recipe for Italian Wedding Soup at Full Fork Ahead. 

4. Just finished reading Firefly Mountain by Christine DePetrillo. Bearded and scarred firefighter hero. Set in Vermont. Romantic. Awesome HEA. Perfect pacing, couldn't put it down. Review coming soon. If you're looking for a super satisfying and romantic story, READ THIS BOOK!

5. For a good time, check out this youtube video of the Riff Off in Pitch Perfect!

Happy Day!

Penny

Pitch Perfect: A Movie Review

It could be argued that Penelope has juvenile tendencies.

1. I love Britney Spears.
2. I wear sparkle nail polish and I'm 46 years old.
3. I love mindless teen flicks, particularly romantic comedies, filled with immature humor and fun music.

It's because of #3 that I went to see Pitch Perfect on Friday, dragging along two good-natured Quirky ladies who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed that I....

1. Clapped and cheered out loud.
2. Sang out loud.
3. Tapped my toes through the whole movie.

For those of you who might not be up on your mindless teenage musical films, Pitch Perfect is a movie about an all-girl's acapella singing group and competition.

Good stuff about the movie:

1. Near-perfect pacing.
2. Adorable singing and dancing routines.
3. Fabulous cast, especially Fat Amy.
4. Hilarious jokes.

Bad stuff...

1. Puking.
2. One scene that dragged a bit, with the touchy-feely stuff.
3. A few character inconsistencies.
4. More puking.

In a nutshell: This movie was close to mindless teenage film perfection. The pacing was spot-on, except one little part where the girls got touchy-feely and started to discuss their feelings. It slowed down the pacing, and I didn't buy that Beca, the female lead, suddenly got interested in everyone's deep, dark secrets. On the positive side: We got to see Lilly do snow angels in a pile of vomit. (I know that sounds hideous, but it was absolutely hilarious. Just ask Quirky Lady Sam Wayland...I was screaming with laughter).

The song and dance numbers were fun, adorable, manipulative in a typical Hollywood manner, and crazy entertaining. The cute little romance was super sweet and satisfying. And the supporting cast, including the requisite lesbian, crazy Asian girl, nerdy Star Wars guy, and emo male lead with a love of The Breakfast Club, was fabulous.

How much did I love the reference to the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club? And Simple Minds song?.....

THIS MUCH!

I am IN LOVE with Fat Amy, played by actress Rebel Wilson. She absolutely stole the whole show. Perfect comedic timing. Her solo in one of their competitions was the funniest thing in the whole movie. Anna Kendrick, who plays the lead Beca, was cute as a button and has a lovely voice.

Bottom line: This movie kicked total arse.

Grade: A

I'm going back to see it again. At least 3 more times.


A few more notes:

1. Please stop by Carolyn Crane's blog today to check out our hysterical interview. We discuss Pa Ingalls, gilette razors, and an analysis of epic beards in art history. (Some are extremely painful!) Carolyn will be giving away a copy of LUMBERJACK IN LOVE and one of my fun promo mugs.

2. My new favorite comment about LUMBERJACK IN LOVE, from a recent Goodreads review..."Momma loves her hairy men!" Yes she does.

3. I read a book about an agoraphobic virgin musician in love with a billionaire Greek tycoon. And I loved it! Review coming soon.

Happy Monday!
Penelope

Quirky Is As Quirky Does

About the book cover for LUMBERJACK IN LOVE...

1. My book is a romantic comedy.

2. The cover is romantic comedy.

3. The book is about a lumberjack/woodworker.

4. The cover looks like a wood-block print.

5. I lived in Vermont. I love Vermont. I wrote about Vermont. I adore Mary Azarian, a Vermont artist who does primitive-style block art, such as this....

6. So I asked Anne Nydam, a professional block-print artist, to make a cover for my book. Same style, to tie in with the Vermont woodsy setting.

Here are some other amazing pieces Anne has created...

7. The book is filled with jokes, puns, comedy. So I thought it would be funny to do a cover that was a joke. Over the top. Silly. Cheesy.

8. Wouldn't it be funny to do a take-off on the 1980s bodice ripper style romance covers? With Fabio looking down at the heroine, who is clutching his leg and staring up at him adoringly?

And substitute my contemporary characters, a lumberjack and slick city gal. Ridiculous, right?

I know. It's supposed to be ridiculous.

9. Oops. I guess some people don't get the joke. Oh well.

10. I like the little chipmunk in the front left corner.


So, live and learn. Some folks like different and quirky. Some like naked dudes on the cover. Some want a stock image from a photography site. And some want a pretty girl in a purple, ruffly dress.

Love it or hate it, this cover is attracting a lot of attention.

Bottom line: The cover fits the book. LUMBERJACK IN LOVE is light-hearted and funny. So is the cover.

(And it's now available IN PRINT! $5.50 at Create Space. Will be available at Amazon and other bookstores soon!)

Happy Reading!
Penelope

Penny Watson: Etsy Shopping Ho

I might have a wee little shopping problem over at the Etsy site.

Heh heh. Heh. Ahem.

Anyhoo, I made up these super fun promo items for LUMBERJACK IN LOVE! They contain...

1. Totally cool mug.

Front:

Back:

2. Twiggy pencils!

3. Vermont maple syrup lip gloss...which is delicious!

4. Candy.

5. Plaid bookmarks and Klaus Brothers romance trading cards.

I'll be giving them away at book-signings, for contests, on street corners, etc. In fact, Carolyn Crane and I had a hilarious interview which she will be posting Friday on her blog, and she'll be offering a copy of my ebook and one of these naughty mugs. Stay tuned for more info! By the way, check out the gorgeous new book cover she just posted for her latest book, MR. REAL. I love it!

Hope everyone has a great day. I'll be attempting to fix the proof for my Create Space version of LUMBERJACK and hopefully won't pull all of my head-banger hair out while I do it.

Biting my nails,

Penelope

In The Mood

So you're in the mood for...


...the romantic conclusion to the Soul Series by Julia Rachel Barrett? You're in luck! Stay is out, and it's a wonderful finale to the series. Romantic, sexy, with a fascinating portrait of life on a ranch, and an absolutely delicious cowboy hero I want to lasso up and take home with me. I really like how Barrett incorporates paranormal elements into a reality-based contemporary story, and it flows seamlessly and believably. Grade: A (I cried at the end...hee hee!) Purchase here.

...a story about a billionaire's pregnant mistress? How about trying the aptly named The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress by Lucy Monroe. Of course the billionaire is Greek. Of course the pregnant mistress is hiding a BIG SECRET. Of course...well, it's a Harly. You get what you get, and you don't get upset. Grade: B/B- Purchase here.

...a stunningly wonderful mystery series than transcends the genre? Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache Series is full of surprises. Unexpected dialogue, unique characters, a mesmerizing protagonist, and layers and layers of lovely prose, startling revelations, and immersion into the most seductive small town I've ever read. I just finished #4 in the series, and I'm about to read #5, The Brutal Telling. I have a feeling when I'm done with this series, I will sob like a little baby. It's brilliant. Grade: A+++ Here's a list of the full series.

...a tycoon-y book (yeah, I just made up the word tycoony, so what?) with a pompous gorgeous rich Greek guy, an adorable secret baby, a pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps sort of gal, and lots of misunderstandings, including illnesses, gay friends, etc etc., then you might want to give Pregnant by the Greek Tycoon by Kim Lawrence a shot. It's surprisingly entertaining. Grade: B Purchase here.


Happy Reading!
Penelope

Penelope Is In Love

"But the scent she longed for, and caught as she leaned into her husband, was sandalwood. It was more than his cologne, he seemed to exude it. It was how every season smelled. It was how love and stability and belonging smelled. It was the perfume of friendship and ease and peace."

✯

"Grief was dagger-shaped and sharp and pointed inward. It was made of fresh loss and old sorrow. Rendered and forged and sometimes polished."

✯

"You asked what I count each evening and each morning. What I counted each day in prison while better men withered and died. Do you know the sums that I do?"

Gamache stood still, in case moving would scare this man off and he'd never have his answer. But he knew he needn't worry. This man was afraid of nothing.

"I count my blessings."

✯

Quotes from A Rule Against Murder: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #4) by Louise Penny.  I'm ready for #5. This series is stunning. Beautifully written. Full of surprises. I'm in love.

Happy Monday,

Penelope

A Lost Generation

Saw this dialogue at Goodreads (paraphrasing)...

"I don't get that LUMBERJACK book cover. What's up with that?"

"I think it's supposed to be a take-off on the 1980s Fabio romance covers."

"Who's Fabio?"

WHAT????????? 

DID YOU JUST SAY WHO'S FABIO?

(PENNY FAINTS)

OK. I do realize that I'm old as the hills. I do realize that many romance readers are young whipper snappers. But, come on! Fabio was like the King Of Romance Novel Covers! The big rippling muscles. The long flowing hair. And when he spoke (I Can't Believe It's Not Butter), his accented voice sent shivers down our spines.

Off to get some buttered toast,

Penelope

IT'S ALIVE!

No, it's not actually Christmas yet...

Yes, I sort of look like this right now...

Here's the Amazon link if you feel like reading a book about Santa Claus in September...(for the low, low price of $3.99)

Yes, I need sleep. And coffee. Because I'm not done yet!!! I'm formatting both LUMBERJACK and SWEET INSPIRATION for Create Space!

Create Space tried to kick my ass, but I turned into a formatting ninja and fought back. Hard.

Stay tuned for the conclusion to...

PENNY'S PUSH TO THE FINISH LINE!

COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

STARRING PENELOPE

HUGH JACKMAN (WITH BEARD)

LUCY THE WEENIE DOG

ERIC BANA (WITH BEARD)

and in a supporting role...

DANIEL CRAIG (WITH BEARD)

Have a nice freakin' day,

Penelope

Is It Christmas Yet?

Once upon a time, I thought I would be working on 3 different books over the course of 4 months.

Then it turned into 3 months.

Then 2 months.

And now, somehow, inexplicably, it is getting squeezed into a matter of weeks.

Photo of Penny with crazy eyes.

Well, LUMBERJACK IN LOVE is out. And something cool happened. Folks started reading it. And liking it. And then they wanted to read more of my books. And then they realized SWEET INSPIRATION was not available. And then they started bugging me. And then I figured...oh what the hell! I was going to wait until December, but I might as well re-issue it now.

So...it's off to JW Manus, Formatter Master O' Disaster. Got this banging new cover, compliments of Sharon Breitbart. It's GORGEOUS! And my eyes are only slightly crazy at this moment. 

I will let everyone know when SI is out. And then it's back to the weenie dog book.

Hope you are all happy, healthy and your eyes are only mildly crazy,

Penelope

Coming Soon...LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE!

Drum roll please!

I have been working on a super-secret (not really), hilarious, fun, adorable, inspiring, and humbling project for the last six months. For some kooky reason I decided to write a children's book. I was lucky enough to find an incredibly talented artist--Sara Pulver--who was also interested and shares my same quirky sensibilities. Her paintings for this book have brought me to tears on more than one occasion. We will be self-pubbing the print book with Lulu, and I will let you all know when it's out. Definitely before Christmas, hopefully a lot sooner!

Speaking of Christmas, for some insane reason I have THREE books on the docket which I am attempting to publish before holiday time.

(Yep, I got those crazy eyes going right now).

Anyhoo, LUMBERJACK IN LOVE is Book #1 and it's already out and doing extremely well. (My new favorite quote from Goodreads is this..."a good book low on the angst, and high on the cute.") What a great description! That's just how I like my romance novels.

Book #2 is LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE, a wonderful children's book illustrated by Sara Pulver and written by my alter ego, Nina Clark. It's the story of Lucy, a black-and-tan miniature dachshund who eats some magic beans and turns into a superhero. (Modelled after my very own super heroic doxie Lucy!) Sara's artwork is nothing short of magnificent. (See cover above! SOOOO AWESOME!)

Book #3 is SWEET INSPIRATION, the first book in the Klaus Brothers Series. I have the rights back from Wild Rose, and will be self-pubbing it this holiday season.

All of this means I will be not be blogging as frequently. But I will be drinking frequent martinis.

Coming up next week....a big bloggy celebration for LUMBERJACK IN LOVE. We'll be discussing favorite beardy dudes and giving away fun lumberjack-inspired gifts.

See you soon!

Penelope

Who's In The Mood For A Sweaty Lumberjack?

Still celebrating the release of my novella LUMBERJACK IN LOVE! It is currently #2 on Amazon's list of Hot New Releases in the romance anthology category, and #35 on the bestseller list for romance anthologies.

✵I made up an ETSY Lumberjack In Love collection. Check it out!

✵I also have been researching lumberjack cocktails. Here's one if you're interested in drinking like a lumberjack....

SWEATY LUMBERJACK COCKTAIL: Shot of rum, shot of Tabasco, shot of tequila. Drink like a lumberjack, then pass out in your plaid shirt.

✵Some more quotes are trickling in about LUMBERJACK IN LOVE...

From Smexybooks: "...a light romp through the Vermont mountains...plenty of smexy times and memorable scenes..."

From Kate at Babbling About Books: "Adorable, funny, sexy..."

"Made me smile." -- Jen, at Goodreads

And KarLynP posted some awesome "pics" of Marcus and Ami on her review at Goodreads. Check it out! I love this quote from her... "Lumberjack In Love was a HOT, funny, small town romance with great chemistry and quirky characters."

✵The book cover is getting a lot of attention. Folks either love it or hate it. Which is good. It definitely stands out from the crowd. Since my book has a lot of humor, I wanted the cover to be tongue-in-cheek and funny, too. I had Anne Nydam (an amazing artist who lives in my hometown) make a block print-style cover referencing the hilarious 1980s romance covers with the kneeling, adoring heroine staring up into Fabio's eyes. We just substituted our modern-day characters in a silly way. This cover totally captures the cute, funny feel of my story.

✵For all of you who have a NOOK and want to read my story (which is only available for Kindle at the moment) please see this FABULOUS blog piece about how to convert the Kindle format for a NOOK or other e-reader. Huge thanks to Kris at Deeply Dapper for this kick-ass post!

✵ETA: Babbling About Books is doing a give-away for LUMBERJACK IN LOVE today! Please stop by to enter, and check out Kate's kind words about the story.

On today's agenda: order promo stuff. I'm thinking plaid bookmarks and naughty T-shirts. Hooray!

Have a happy day,
Penelope

Monday Morning Updates

Monday morning updates!

1. Thank you to everyone for the well wishes on release day.

2. I finished book #3 of the Louise Penny mystery series last night. Oh. My. God. I will be writing up a review this week when my brain converts from mush back to grey matter. (If my brain was a book right now, it would be 50 Shades of Grey Mush).

3. We have some new activities on the horizon this week. My son is starting rowing team! Cool! And my daughter is starting art class. And I am jumping back to my kiddy book, LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE.

4. I got a few bits of initial feedback on my book. Waiting for the first few reviews to roll in is always a nerve-wracking experience. Here are a few snippets so far...

"I want me a lumberjack! The humor was hilarious, likable characters in a small town setting, super hot chemistry..." (KarLynP)

"A BIG hairy 5 stars to your book and your fantastic storytelling skills, Ms. Watson! Clearly, you are a genius, because you have managed to achieve the unachievable in my opinion; you made a big, hairy lumberjack SEXY AS HELL! YOWZAH!" (Sheryl)

"Ms. Watson has such a unique style of writing. I love when humor is injected in a story...LOVED THIS STORY!" (Tracy)

And here is the full quote from Carolyn Crane, author extraordinaire:

"The delicious beard! The magnificent log! This city-girl-meets-lumberjack tale is a crazy sexy, hairy delight. Woodland animal ahoy!" (Carolyn Crane, author of the Disillusionist Trilogy)

Love these quotes! Yippeeeeeee!

LUMBERJACK IN LOVE is now available for Kindle for the low, low price of $2.99! Purchase now and I'll throw in Hugh Jackman looking like a lumberjack with his plaid shirt and Wolfman beard.


Well, maybe not Hugh. But I will be giving away some fun T-shirts later this week.

Hope everyone has a great week!
Penelope

RELEASE DAY FOR LUMBERJACK IN LOVE!

It's finally here! LUMBERJACK IN LOVE is now available on Kindle!

This week has been totally nuts, and I have a huge new-found respect for all authors self-pubbing their books. I sure hope it gets easier and less traumatic for the next book. ;^)

As many of you know, I had a heart attack a couple of years ago, and it really threw me for a loop. I wasn't able to write for a long time after that. My writing habit of sitting for long, consecutive hours and not moving definitely contributed to my heart condition, and I was paranoid, scared, resentful, and angry. I had to learn a new way of doing things. Short bursts of writing. Lots of long walks, being active during the day, eating a heart-healthy diet. 

But I still couldn't write. My heart attack had taken the fun out of it, and I was totally uninspired.

And then one day on Twitter, Kate from Babbling About Books teased me "Why don't you write a book about lumberjacks since you love them so much?" And I thought, "Why the hell not?" Why not write something short, sweet, fun and sexy, with a bearded hero and a sarcastic city slicker, set in Vermont (my favorite place in the world). I'll throw in some quirky characters. And some plant stuff (since I have a background in botany and horticultural science). And Kate said "And the lumberjack should have an English Bulldog." And so I added that in, too!

And I started having fun again. Which is why I write. I didn't do a dedication in the book, so I'd like to do one here.

Thanks to Kate (KT Grant) for inspiring me to write about something I love.

Thanks to The Quirky Ladies for supporting me every step of the way. Even when I'm surly, bitchy, and difficult. Your encouragement means everything to me.

Thanks to Julia Barrett who listens when I'm angry, irritated, silly, and cussing like a sailor. For pushing me when I'm hesitating. For supporting me no matter what. For believing in me. For having my back.

Thanks to Helen Hardt, my editor, who opened my eyes and did an exemplary job with this manuscript. 

Thanks to JW Manus, who is the Master of Formatting. Fast, efficient, and willing to put up with this newb's copious questions and panic attacks. My ebook looks gorgeous, and it's all thanks to her.

ETA: Thanks to Carolyn Crane for her stupendous book quote!

Thanks to NECRWA for your love and support. 

Thank you to all of my blogger friends, reader friends, neighborhood friends, author friends, and long-suffering family members.

Just in case you're in the mood for a quick, sexy, beardy read, here's the book blurb for LUMBERJACK IN LOVE...

City slicker Ami Jordan was just dumped by her back-stabbing boyfriend, has no job prospects, and can't find a decent cup of coffee in the entire state of Vermont. The last thing she needs is a sexy, bearded lumberjack complicating her life. Even if he’s smart, talented, and has the hottest ass she’s ever seen.

Tree house builder, environmental champion, and Bulldog owner Marcus Anderson has no patience for flatlanders with an attitude. But when landscape designer Ami Jordan shows up at his log cabin,  he suddenly develops a hankering for a high-maintenance city gal. Now his house looks like a jungle, his recycling is in disarray, and his libido's on fire.

He's a lumberjack in love.

✵✵✵✵✵

And here are a few preview quotes about the book...

"The delicious beard! The magnificent log! This city-girl-meets-lumberjack tale is a crazy, sexy, hairy delight." - Carolyn Crane

"It's a hell of a lot of fun." - Michelle Picard

"A satisfying romp." - Victoria Morgan

For an excerpt and more info, see my website page for LUMBERJACK.

To buy a copy for Kindle, here's the purchase link. 

Stay tuned for more fun and give-aways this week on my blog. (I'm having T-shirts printed up with the cover on the front and GOT WOOD? on the back...hee hee! Seriously).

One more time with feeling....

THANK YOU!

Have a lumberjacky day,

Penelope