Tuesday News

Two book signings down, one to go! Here are the details about my next and last signing of the summer:

Saturday, August 7
1 to 4 pm
Coles Books, Tillicum Mall
Victoria, BC

This will be a multi-author signing and I'll be joined by Sharon Ashwood, Mimi Barbour, Bonnie Edwards and Susan Lyons.

Any day now I expect to receive the page proofs for The Wedding Bargain, the sequel to Firefighter Daddy. And I discovered this week that it's already available for preorder on Amazon.com and Chapters.ca!

The Romance Writers of America's national conference is being held this week in Orlando, FL. I'm not attending this year, but I'm sending a special shout-out to this year's Rita and Golden Heart finalists!

Until next time,
Lee

Blogs and Book Signings

Today is my regular blog day with the Harlequin American Romance Authors and I'm taking a stroll down memory lane to revisit the games we used to play during school recess. Remember those?

This afternoon you'll find me chatting with readers and signing copies of Firefighter Daddy at:

Save On Foods ~ Deli Department
3510 Blanshard Street, Victoria
1 to 4 pm

I'll be giving away chocolates and bookmarks so if you're in the neighborhood, please drop by!

Until next time,
Lee

Tuesday News—It Just Doesn’t Get Old

What a fun week I've had! I did my first ever solo book signing last Friday, met and chatted with lots of readers, and autographed fifteen copies of Firefighter Daddy.

Last Wednesday the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ran a feature story about me, and as a result I've been invited to contribute copies of my Harlequin American Romance novels to a collection of books written by former students of the University of Saskatchewan. I feel completely honored.

On Sunday afternoon I dashed around to local department stores, drug stores, etc., that sell Harlequin American Romances, and did a little book merchandising. Snapped this photo of Firefighter Daddy on a shelf next to Marin Thomas’s Dexter: Honorable Cowboy.

Have you ever seen two more sighworthy heroes? I’m serious when I say THIS NEVER GETS OLD!

This week I’m teaming up with Sharon Ashwood for another book signing. Here are the details:

Saturday, July 24

1 to 4 pm
Save On Foods ~ Deli Department
3510 Blanshard Street, Victoria

We’ll have treats and giveaways, and everyone who buys a copy of Firefighter Daddy will get the recipe for my favorite potato salad. After all, if we're going to be in the deli, we might as well have a picnic!

If you can’t join me this Saturday, I’ll be doing another signing on Saturday, August 7. I’ll post those details in a week or so.

I hope you’re having a wonderful summer. Happy reading!

Lee

Sunday Fun—Garden Art

Dragonflies are such beautiful and intriguing insects, so when I spotted this metal sculpture while touring a public garden this week, I just had to snap a photo.

I love that it's made from found objects and recycled metal, and I especially love the ball-bearing eyes.

My husband creates garden sculpture as well—here's one of his gorgeous driftwood herons.

I've now added a dragonfly to my wish list for the garden.

Until next time,
Lee

Friday Food for Thought—Favorite Snacks

Healthy or junk food, we all have favorite snacks.

In Firefighter Daddy, Mitch’s daughter Miranda loves to go out for ice cream. Her favorite flavor? Chocolate chip cookie dough.

I’ve known people who'll make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and actually eat it raw instead of baking it. To which I say, ick!

In another scene in the book, Rory makes herself a bowl of microwave popcorn and then falls asleep on the sofa while she’s looking after Mitch’s daughter. Have to say I had a lot of fun writing that scene. There’s even a little snippet in the teaser blurb inside the front cover.

I happen to love ice cream and popcorn. I’m also a huge fan of dark chocolate (and getting huger by the minute, if I’m not careful) and potato chips (plain and salty).

Of course, some would say chocolate is not a snack but rather an important food group, and they’ll get no argument from me!

What’s your favorite snack? and is it healthy or junk food?

Until next time,
Lee

PS: I'll be signing books from 1 to 4 this afternoon at Save On Foods at Country Club Mall in Nanaimo, BC. And yes, there will be chocolate!

PPS: Marin Thomas is blogging with the Harlequin American Romance Authors today. Drop by for a chance to win an autographed of Dexter: Honorable Cowboy and one of her fabulous cowboy-themed giveaways!

Updae on My Guest Blogs

My guest blog at Micole Writes Romance has been moved to next Thursday, July 22. I hope you'll join me then!

Until next time,
Lee

Tuesday News

Today’s the day! The official release of Firefighter Daddy is finally upon us and I couldn’t be more thrilled! There have been Facebook greetings, emails from family and friends, bookstore sightings...it’s all good!

I’ll be posting several guest blogs this week and I would love it if you'd join me.

The first is on Wednesday at Riding with the Top Down where I’m blogging about San Francisco and the '60s, and giving away an autographed copy of Firefighter Daddy and some very cool peace sign earrings! For a chance to win, all you have to do is post a comment.

On Thursday you’ll find me at Micole Writes Romance.

On Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. I’ll be signing copies of Firefighter Daddy in Nanaimo, BC at Save On Foods in the Country Club Mall. If you’re in the neighborhood, please drop by. There’ll be chocolate!

And please remember...there are three other fabulous Harlequin American Romances on the shelves this month. Here’s what to watch for:

Dexter: Honorable Cowboy
by Marin Thomas
(the second book in Harlequin American Romance’s
first-ever continuity series)

The Lawman's Little Surprise
by Roxann Delaney

A Mom for Callie
by Laura Bradford

Happy reading!

Until next time,
Lee

Must Watch Friday

Today is "Must Watch Friday" at the Pink Heart Society and I'm their guest blogger. I'd love it you dropped by and said "Hi!"

Until next time,
Lee

Tuesday News

On Sunday I snapped this photo of a Great Blue Heron in a local park. I was only six or eight feet away and she stood there, calm as could be. Turns out she has been mugging for tourists all summer, and who can blame her? She (or he) is very photogenic!

Yesterday I finished the line edits for my January 2011 release, The Wedding Bargain, and sent those to my editor. It's good to have that off my plate so I can focus on next week's release of Firefighter Daddy.

To kick things off I’ll be a guest blogger this Friday (July 9th) with The Pink Heart Society. It’s “Must Watch Friday" and I’ll be chatting about a favorite film and TV show. I hope you’ll join me.

Speaking of blogs, the authors of Harlequin American Romance’s first-ever continuity series, The Codys: First Family of Rodeo, have created a blog to discuss the series with readers. Click on the link and head on over for contests, lots of talk about cowboys, and...well...why talk about anything else when you can talk about cowboys?

Unless of course it's firefighters! My first Firefighter Daddy booksigning is scheduled for next Friday, July 16 at:

Save On Foods
Country Club Mall
3200 North Island Highway, Nanaimo, BC
1 to 4 pm

There’ll be bookmarks and chocolate. If you’re in the area, please drop by and say “Hi!”

Until next time,
Lee

Happy Fourth of July!

Here's how my nieces are celebrating.



Are these not the most adorable pedicures you've ever seen?

I hope your Fourth of July is as happy as theirs!

Until next time,
Lee

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day to all of my readers and friends north of the 49th. I hope you enjoy the festivities, picnics and fireworks, and most important of all, that you get to do it with family and friends.

Planning a barbecue? Here's a great steak marinade.

Lee's Favorite Steak Marinade

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sugar

Combine all the ingredients. Add the steaks, turn them to coat both sides. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge. Season the steaks with salt before putting them on the grill.

Enjoy!

Until next time,
Lee