It’s cold where I live. There’s snow on the ground and my cat spends her days on my lap even when I have to reach over her back to type. Her favorite thing to do is go outside for a while and get nice and cold. Then she runs inside and worms her chilly, wet nose to some part of my body. Her favorite spots are under my shirt against my belly or if I’m sleeping, she’ll settle against my neck. Brrr! That’s Cinnamon’s favorite winter activity (as far as she’s told me). But I have a few favorite things to do when it’s nippy outside. Guess which is my current favorite! Curling up with a good book while lounging under a thick blanket. And my cat purring against my belly. An extra chocolately mocha hits me just right on a cold morning. Fun leggings. It heats up the house with yummy smells! Racquetball tournament season. Every weekend, I’m making grown men cry as I trounce them on the court. Answer: C — Fun leggings! I bought a package of cheap fun print thermal leggings. They’re too hot to wear other times of the year, but in winter, I love…

What? You don’t know about the Cheese Shop Mysteries? How is that possible? The first won the Agatha Award for best first novel, plus it’s a nationally bestselling cozy mystery series, and the 7th in the series is coming out February 2016. Let my protagonist Charlotte Bessette tell you a bit about the series. Welcome to my town! Providence, Ohio, located in Holmes County, is one of Amanda Weaver the most gorgeous places on earth, with rolling hills and miles of open land. Due to our proximity to Amish country, tourism is a major part of our economy. The main town, built in a series of concentric squares, surrounds a darling area called the Village Green. An age-old clock tower stands in the middle. Shops line the main streets—shops with adorable names like Sew Inspired Quilt Shoppe, The Country Kitchen, La Chic Boutique, and more. As for me, I am in my thirties. I grew up at Fromagerie Bessette, or as the locals in Providence like to call it, The Cheese Shop. My grandfather owned it and taught me all things cheese. Now in his seventies, he decided to give the shop to my cousin and me. The two of…

Breathless, Emma dragged her disheveled self from the water’s edge. Her hair dripped sand into her eyes. She clawed herself away from the drag of the next wave that crashed on the rocks. It broke into softer splashes over her. She stared into the water’s foam and listened to the sounds of waves crashing and… Read more…. About Gail Ingis Gail Ingis writes historical romance, loves history and romance of course, has taught history, and her weekly blog frequently covers historical content. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Ingis’s early days began and ended with writing, drawing and music. Her inspiration to write came from books gifted to her by an aunt. But life had other ideas. After graduating from the New York School of Interior Design with a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design and masters’ studies in Architecture and Design Criticism at The New School (Parsons). Her career in interior design and architecture led her to the other arts. Ingis founded the Interior Design Institute, a school of interior design, that she eventually sold, but during her tenure, she was twice asked by publishers to write a textbook, her efforts were thwarted by a heavy schedule. Ingis resides…

FUDGE BROWNIES & MURDER is the newest release in the Culinary Competition Mystery Series. It’s winter in Kellerton, Michigan and there is a cold-blooded killer on the loose. Can Amy find the murderer while planning a baby shower along with baking endless pans of brownies to keep her best friend’s pregnancy cravings satisfied? Excerpt: A couple men in business suits sitting at a table nearby looked up from their pulled pork sandwiches. One leaned toward the other and said something, maybe a warning to watch out because there could be a fight. Not that Amy wanted to get into a physical fight. That wasn’t her thing, but it might be Candi’s preferred way to settle disputes. She had to be ready for anything now that she had started the interaction. If the confrontation turned into a food fight, Amy would grab one of the sandwiches loaded with sticky-sauced meat. How would a devout vegan react to a literal meat bomb? Candi’s pecan-colored curls quivered as she clenched her fists at her side. Now both barbecue eating men were staring at them. She bared her teeth in an angry cat sort of smile and said, “Those women aren’t technically your customers….

If you said yes to both questions, please consider signing up to judge The Carolyn Readers Choice Award contest. The North Texas chapter of Romance Writers of America is looking for approximately 250-300 romance readers to help choose winners in five romance sub-categories. To be eligible, you must be 18 years of age or older and not affiliated with the publishing industry in any way, to include being an aspiring author. Judging involves reading up to five books in their entirety and filling out an online score sheet. Contest closes for entries on February 14, 2016 and judging panels will be emailed out sometime starting February 21st. Judging deadline is April 14th. For more information and to sign up, visit the.carolyn.judge.info. If you have any further questions, contact Clover Autrey and/or Jen FitzGerald, the contest coordinators at [email protected]. Please feel free to forward the opportunity to any family or friends you think might be interested.

A leading voice in romance, Avon, announced this week a blow out celebration for their 75th anniversary.   The HarperCollins imprint that brought readers Kathleen Woodiwiss, Loretta Chase, and Eloisa James wants to honor the milestone with a year-long party for their readers. Not only will Avon discount key-titles from their backlist, they will also host a series of popular KissCon reader events and a pair of gala signings at Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention and the Romance Writers of America National Convention. “Avon has always represented the ‘Diamond Standard’ of romance, so we are especially thrilled to celebrate our 75th anniversary,” says Liate Stehlik, Senior Vice President, Publisher of William Morrow and Avon Books. “From publishing such trailblazers as Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER in 1972 to nurturing the careers of our authors, we’re proud of all that we have accomplished in this ever-changing industry. And we can’t wait to see where our authors and readers will bring us in the years to come.” Readers can find out more information about Avon’s 75 anniversary plans by visiting their website.

St. Augustine, the oldest continuous settlement in America, a location for your story? The Casa Monica Hotel, its history and culture flaunts the visitor to St. Augustine, Florida, where the city is celebrating the past 450 years. The Spanish founded it in 1513, but by 1564 the French took over, only to step back in 1565 when the Spanish arrived again. They conquered the French garrison on the St. Johns River and held the coast of Florida. The garrison remains, and you are welcome to walk on the grounds of those that came before. Read on . . .  Cheers, Gail About Gail Ingis Gail Ingis writes historical romance, loves history and romance of course, has taught history, and her weekly blog frequently covers historical content. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Ingis’s early days began and ended with writing, drawing and music. Her inspiration to write came from books gifted to her by an aunt. But life had other ideas. After graduating from the New York School of Interior Design with a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design and masters’ studies in Architecture and Design Criticism at The New School (Parsons). Her career in interior design and architecture led her…

Tickets for HarperVoyager world exclusive event with George RR Martin and Robin Hobb are now on sale.  Spend an evening listening to two to two of the world’s greatest storytellers, discussing how they build their fictional universes, create their characters and balance fantasy and reality; about their influences and inspirations, their struggles and successes. The event will be taking place on the 19th August 2014, at 7:30pm in a central London location that we’ll disclose nearer the time. Tickets cost £45 and each will include a copy of Robin Hobb’s new book,Fool’s Assassin. Tickets are selling fast, so if you’re not lucky enough to get one, our event sponsor blinkbox Books will be streaming the full event – live and exclusively – on their Facebook page. We’re also running a competition to win a signed box set of both A Song of Ice and Fire and a signed copy of Robin Hobb’s Fool’s Assassin. Simply ask your best question for either author on Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr using #AskGeorgeAndRobin before 5pm on the 8th August and the 3 best questions will win.

One of my favorite historical western romances, THE BAREFOOT BRIDE, was just reissued and is now in stores in paperback with a fabulous new cover. This is yet another mail-order bride story, about a Boston widow who comes all the way to Fort Benton, Montana to meet her country doctor husband. Read more… For so many of you who have asked about UNFORGETTABLE, I’m not done yet. AAACK! I know how much you’re looking forward to reading it. Probably as much as I’ve been looking forward to writing it. I thought I’d be able to finish up sooner, but the plan is to have it available in August. Check with my Facebook page or website where I will post the release date as soon as it’s finished. The good news is that SINFUL is finished and due for publication on April 28, 2015. It will be followed by SHAMEFUL in late June 2015. Next I’m off to San Antonio, Texas, to attend the Romance Writers of America annual conference where I’ll be speaking and also participating in a literacy signing with hundreds of fellow authors. It’s open to the public, so if you’re in the area, please come and say…

This weekend HarperCollins will be running their first ever digital Romance Festival, in conjunction with some of the world’s best known publishers of romance, to bring you two days of discussions, tips and giveaways for writers of romance and fans – all focused around some of our best loved women’s fiction authors! The line-up has now been announced on the festival blog here, authors include J. Lynn/Jennifer L. Armentrout, Lori Wilde, Eloisa James, Jay Crownover, Kerrelyn Sparks, Molly McAdams, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips,among many others, but for full timings and schedules of discussions, please register for free at the link below: Register for FREE