What's in a name?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 2 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

A friend e-mailed this thing to me and I couldn't resist. So I checked it out for my real name (first and maiden) and there were a mere 10,973 other females out there with the same name. That's the joy of having two incredibly common names. Next I checked it out with first and married names. The number dropped dramatically to 643. Finally, I entered my pen name in the system. And discovered that I'm darned near unique--two or less. Heh. So I think I probably did a pretty good job picking a pen name.

Ideal pen names have three things. 1) Easy to recognize and pronounce. 2) Easy to spell. 3)Distinctive in the sense that there aren't ten thousand other people out there with the same name!

A lot of female authors use their maiden names for their pen name. Clearly, that would not have worked well for me. For all I know there are several authors out there with that name. Good job that I didn't go that route.

So, the link is up there. Give it a try... Find out where you are in the general scheme of things. Who knows? You may be one of a kind--or one of a thousand or more.

Anny

Kicking Ass

Have you noticed how every second hero or heroine knows karate or some other form or hand to hand combat? They're all bad asses from the army or navy or mercenaries or vampire hunters... and just so dangerous that the average joe or jane should break out in a sweat. Most of them are so busy being a bad ass that they don't lead a normal life. They all eat Chinese take-out and swill warm beer... Really.

Of course the logic that says that it's nearly impossible to stay in seriously dangerous shape if you actually eat and drink like that sort gets lost in the translation. I would never make fun of our military men and women. I have deep respect for them. So when I see some of the things that are written in their name, well I want to kick ass on their behalf.

If we truly had as many of these guys--and gals--populating our neighborhoods and towns as are presented in books, there would be no room for the run of the mill population. So what I'm longing for is some geeky, fumbling guy that defeats the bad guys with his brain. You know some guy that trips the bad guy with a broom handle or some ditzy woman who knocks the bad guy out with a frying pan. Real life scenarios.

Here's a challenge... give me a description of a hero/heroine you want to see. Write a blurb for me setting up the scenario. I'll choose one at random and write a short story. Get cracking!

anny

Anny

Dark Side

So my son is here for the week, visiting me. He's an avid reader so we've had some lively discussions about where different genres are going and what kinds of story lines are out there. It's been interesting to say the least. Last night we discussed vampire stories. I sent him off with Shiloh Walker's Hunter series. Hmmmm. Next I figure I'll give him NJ Walker's Dalakis series. Heh.

One of the things we've discussed is the way that vampires have evolved from evil, dangerous antagonists to dangerous champion protagonists. How did that happen? What was the driving force behind that move? Roughly the same thing has happened to the werewolf genre. Is it perhaps because the old stereotypes were too inaccessible to us as readers?

I believe that the dark side holds a certain fascination for us, but we need it cleaned up. Instead of embracing the worst of the legends, we've taken those aspects that appeal to us the most and discarded those that disturbed us the most--or we've changed those elememts in ways that allow us to deal with them.

It will be interesting to see how we adapt other legends and story lines to meet our needs. Literature in all its forms is an ever-changing, ever-adapting entity. What will be the next thing?

Anny

I apologize for the late, abbreviated post. After losing my blog multiple times, I finally gave up and went to bed. Hopefully, tonight will be better.

Life's puzzles

Rainbow of Reviews

Quite a bit has been written about reviews for books. There's been speculation about how much influence a review holds for the reader--whether or not they choose to buy the book if it has a bad review or a good review. It's difficult to say how much it affects sales. I've had both positive and negative reviews. I value all reviews because I believe that I can learn something from an honest reviewer. On the other hand, I know that a review is one person's opinion and just as chocolate or strawberries are not for everyone, there will be people who find my books are not their cup of tea.

As an illustration of the wide disparity of reactions from one reviewer to the next, I'm presenting the review portion of several reviews I received for Honeysuckle, the second book in the Flowers of Camelot series. All of them are honest reviews, I believe, so I find the various opinions quite interesting.

Anny Cook has created another realm for Honeysuckle. At times, I felt more like it was eighteenth century London, until someone got a message via communicator or they hop on their powerbikes. This story started out very well but lost the appeal mid-stride, and continued on its downward spiral until the final two chapters. I had a hard time understanding Honeysuckle’s character. She is strong, and independent, which I did like, however, there are times that she is a completely different person. The twins, Peter and Dick were Crown Warriors yet they were almost wimpy. Not at all Alpha males, I was very disappointed. This was a difficult story for me; the storyline was choppy as it moved along, adding secondary characters that seemed to have no place in the grand scheme of things. The sexual relations were plentiful however I found them to be far too rushed. I would not recommend this story.~~Stefani, of Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Anny Cook tells one hot tale in Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle, Peter and Dick are hot sexy characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Honeysuckle. The sex is great and is worked nicely into the story. Honeysuckle, Peter and Dick balance and complete each other. The brothers need a wife to share their life with, and Honeysuckle needs someone to keep her in line. Honeysuckle is a great read. While Honeysuckle is the second book in the Flowers of Camelot series, it can definitely be read alone.~~Yolanda, Two Lips Reviews


Honeysuckle by Anny Cook is a fantasy tale of discovering what will make you happy while also fighting for the greater good. I really enjoyed this book, the characters where intriguing and beguiling. I loved Honeysuckle because she is a woman who knows what she wants from life, and when she finds it she does everything she can to keep it. I also enjoyed reading about the brothers; they thought that getting Honey was the easy part but she soon dissuaded them of that notion. When a secret plot threatens their happiness they must work to uncover the truth and also protect their relationship from those that want to destroy them. Ms. Cook is a talented author who pens a fantasy world where the impossible can exist as well as bringing to life fairytales for the adult generation.~~Sheryl, ecataromance

Anny Cook has done it again! Honeysuckle is a wonderful follow-up to Chrysanthemum while remaining a stand alone book. I love how Ms. Cook overlapped the two books so you can see a different perspective of the same scene. I have read my share of sequels and the way Ms. Cook makes the books stand alone while keeping them true to each other is fantastic. Honeysuckle is a steamy hot story and I can’t wait to read about the last sister. I don’t know if my computer will be able to handle the hotness of another book by Ms. Cook, but I sure will try!~~Jambrea, Joyfully Reviewed

This second in the absurdly delicious re-invented tale of Arthur and his Knights is just as appealing as the first. I love a woman unafraid to stand up to one man, let alone two. The tempo of the tale is fast-paced, the sex more than lively, and the new character additions absolutely incredible. This is turning into a keep to read again series when you need a lift.~~WitchGiggles, Alternative-Read

Honeysuckle by Anny Cook was a surprisingly funny book. Honey was such a strong character. She took charge but let her men think they were in control of situations. Peter and Dick thought they were alpha men but Honey always seemed to let them know that their relationship was a partnership with everything shared equally. They were not above reddening Honey's butt when they felt the need arise; and the need seemed to rise a lot between them. I would have loved for the secondary characters to be more vivid and more background about them given. I recommend this book as a good, steamy quick read.~~Shira, Simply Romance Reviews.

Each reviewer focused on those qualities from the book that were important to them. Some discussed humor, some talked about the sexy parts, others pointed to the characters. One reviewer pointed out that she found the story confusing and disjointed. All of them were valid reviews. And I admire the courage it takes to say that a book just doesn't work for you. After all, none of us want to hurt an author's feelings. All of them gave their opinions from the heart and I appreciate the time they spent reading my book. There are so many books out there that I'm honored that each of these reviewers chose mine.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Stefani, Yolanda, Sheryl, WitchGiggles, Jambrea, and Shira for taking the time to write up the reviews.

Blessings on your day!

Anny

Parental baggage

Have your parents ever embarrassed you? I'm talking about something they did to you when you were a kid? My dad was forever putting me on display. Every time we had company, he would make me sit down at the piano to play the latest song I'd learned.

Or he would haul out the Bible (King James Version) and pick out something for me to read. Of course it was never something that would be easy and familiar. He liked to pick passages from Judges or Lamentations. Or once I started memorizing Bible verses, he would stop the conversation at the dinner table, snap out a reference, "John 3:16!" and I was supposed to quote the Bible verse for him.

Once he knew that I could carry a tune--and sing harmony--then I was expected to sing duets for the church services. The more complicated the better. And as a teenager, I played the piano for church. Dad played the violin. More duets.

I'm not angry with my Dad. But I know him very well. And I know that he would find it irresistible to brag about his daughter the writer. The trouble in this case is that what I write is not exactly the type of thing he could brag about. So that explains my decision not to tell him about my late life career. Unfair though it may be, congregations tend to tar ministers with their children's sins. In this case, it would possibly mean a loss of income for my retired parents--a loss that they can ill afford.

On the other hand, after living with a parent that was anxious to showcase his kids, I determined that I would never do that to my own children. I love them. I'm proud of them. I'll gladly support them through thick and thin. But I refuse to live my life through their accomplishments. I especially never asked them to perform.

There was a nursery rhyme that had my real name in it. My dad was forever spouting out that little rhyme. Now that I actively hated. I asked him not to do it, but I think he never quite caught just how much I despised it. To this day, whenever we meet, I know that is one of the things I will hear.

And I swore that I would never do that do my kids either. Actually, each one of my kids went through a phase when they asked to be called something other than the name they'd been called since birth. Sort of like naming your kid William but calling him Billy. Around twelve or thirteen, they would announce that they wanted to be called Will. Okay. I felt that there are real reasons why kids want to change their names. And they should have the right to be called whatever they want--within reason.

I think that embarrassment at the hands of a parent is far worse than any other kind. It leaves a mark on us that we never quite erase. Whether it's a remark in public about our choice of clothing or our behavior or our accomplishments, it leaves a blemish on our heart and soul. That's the kind of baggage that we never unload. We may shift it to a new spot so that it's easier to cart around. But it's still there.

Anny

New Leaves

Maya Angelou - "Nothing will work unless you do."

I've been revising a book that's been waiting in the hopper for about a year now. I had several thousand words on it and then discovered that I'd painted myself into a corner. Actually several corners.

And so I started over. Possibly I'll be able to use chunks of the original or just as probably not. Either way, its moving along now and that is progress. So I didn't precisely burn the bridge but it's under construction. I'm nearly four thousand words into the new beginning and I find that I like my characters better this time around. So we'll see.

I've been thinking a lot this afternoon about identity. I've discussed this with several different friends. Who am I? These days I'm mostly Anny Cook. That's not my legal name, but for the last year I haven't really been that old person. Nearly my entire life revolves around the joys and sorrows of being Anny Cook. When I tried to decide why it was so easy to slip into this new persona, I realized it was because I didn't really like my name. What a strange thing to discover when you're over fifty.

I was named for one of my grandmothers. Nice old-fashioned name. And I think I've probably hated it since I was old enough to understand that everyone had different names. Hmmm. So this new career late in life has offered me an opportunity to be someone else. Anny Cook, Zen Queen.

Speaking of Zen Queens... (don't you like that segue?) In the last few weeks numerous friends have, um, exploded over a variety of issues. I'm telling you it's been like a month of full moons. Anyway, one friend (and no--none of you know her!!!) commented on the fact that I don't seem to get too worked up about things. "How do you stay so calm?" she demanded.

Well. I know the physical price I will pay for getting worked up. And for me, it's too high. In my dark murky past, I learned that there are things in life that we must let go. There are things that we cannot change. There are things that we cannot influence. So when I make a decision about whether or not to get upset about something, my formula is simple. In twenty years will I remember this event? Will it materially change my life or the lives of my family?

If the answer is no, then I close the door on it and walk away. Life is too short to hyperventilate over every thing that happens. I can say this because I know from first hand experience. My life would make excellent soap opera fodder. But for every screwball happening... it's in the past. And I have no influence over the future.

One year a friend kept track of all the disasters in my life. She called them Cook's Catastrophes. Half way through the year, we were up to four hundred and something. There were things as mundane as the propane tank behind the house blowing up... to the fire in our furnace on Christmas Day... to the day that half of our mobile home sank four inches lower than the other half... to the leaking roof...and the list goes on and on and on. Personal catastrophes and family catastrophes. Life is full of them. This, too, shall pass.

I've been ordered by the doctor to go off to a clinic where I'll learn how to use a glucometer and keep track of my blood sugar. So today I made an appointment. Of course, it's on a Monday. And what was the first thing that receptionist said? You'll need to keep a food diary for the three days prior to your first visit. Sigh.

You know what that means. I have to be good for those three days, right? Well actually, I've decided to just go with the flow and write down whatever I happen to eat. After all, if they don't really know what I'm eating, how can they advise me? However, I foresee some major changes and I have to tell you that it's going to tickle me no end when the househunk finds out what I'm doing with his diet. Heh. Who says there's no silver lining?

Blessings on your day.

Anny

The Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of the Amarinda and Anny Contest!!!

Fedora Chen!!!

I Believe

Sometimes you run across a piece of writing that reflects your own beliefs so well that there isn't any improvement. This was e-mailed to me. Unfortunately, I don't know who the author is. If anyone does know, please get in touch with me so that I can credit the author. In the meantime, Blessings on Anonymous...

I believe...That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe...That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them .

I believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe...That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe...That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I believe...Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Anny

Why the long face?

I haven't been feeling so hot. So today I paid a visit to my doctor and found out that there were valid reasons why I haven't been feeling well. It's interesting how much better you feel when you find out there a reason for you feeling bad. Instant improvement.

When you get to be my age a lot of things quit working exactly right. A little bit here. A little bit there. And suddenly you're just dragging your ass around like a ball and chain is fastened around your ankle.

Unfortunately, I'm on quite a few different meds so it's a real juggling act. Much like editing a book. Change the story here...oops! That means we have to rewrite the section over there! So it is with meds. Every little adjustment affects the whole. One of my meds takes six weeks to work enough to judge whether it's the correct amount. No? Okay... add a tad more and wait six more weeks.

I talked to my daughter this evening. She was here over the weekend. And while here she applied for various positions here online. She lives six hours away from here. She received several replies today in her e-mail. One of them had us all scratching our heads in puzzlement. The company wanted to know if she was planning to relocate or if she was going to commute. Uh, that would be no! A twelve hour daily commute is a bit much, don't cha think? As her SO pointed out, twelve hour commute, eight hour working day, only leaves four hours to sleep and see the kids...

Also talked to my brother and SIL this evening. My nephew got married this weekend in Chicago so they gave me the lowdown on the wedding. It was HOT. And it was PINK. My brother's house doesn't have air conditioning. And I think that the church isn't air conditioned either though it IS a huge stone monstrosity that would stay a little cooler than some other kind of building. I believe that the fellowship hall where they had the reception was in the basement so that was likely even cooler. Apparently it was a lovely wedding. Now my brother and SIL have to adjust to being In-Laws. Heh. Been there, done that.

I was thrilled to death to receive two notes from readers about Kama Sutra Lovers. Susie wrote, "I absolutely loved it. It was wonderful. I think I am 1/2 in love with Arik.
Hart is great. I am jealous of her (Giosetta). She has so much good loving going on.
Seriously, I loved the story. It's not like your others, but it still has a
great story line. You care about your characters and it shows. There is humor
*(which is great) but there is more than just humor. Rest easy and believe, you
have written another great book."

And Ingrid wrote, "i just finished reading Kama Sutra Lovers and loved it. It kept me hooked with great characters, an interesting new world and great story. i enjoyed it. are you going to write a story about Xantash, Divinity and Lee?"

That's a great way to start the week! So today is the last day of the contest! Don't forget to enter!

Woo-hoo! As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Anny

Mitch Hedberg - "My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them."

Critter Creation

Part of world building in an alternate universe is the flora and fauna. What kinds of creatures will the new world have? How do you describe them? Are they dangerous or benign?

In Kama Sutra Lovers, I have sharcrabs...

When she eventually woke, Giosetta opened her eyes to a row of glowing eyes and sharp teeth. Shrieking at the top of her lungs she rolled from the bed and beat feet for the open doorway before she was completely awake. Hart led the charge down the short hallway so he was the first to catch a glimpse of the fascinating critters crowded around the window.

While Arik calmed Giosetta down, Hart went over to the window for a closer look. Bright orange and blue stripes ran the length of creatures that looked like a cross between a mini-shark and a crab. Two sets of claws on each side of the body opened and shut like a pair of scissors. Filmy glittering fins fluttered behind the claws and a long flexible tail slowly oscillated to and fro.

“What are they?” Giosetta demanded in a trembling voice.

“Sharcrabs."

And of course, there are the shadowdancers...

In the darkness, he heard a faint skittering noise. He froze, holding his breath as long as he could. There! It was in the corner behind him. Frantically, he rolled over to face it, but no…

It was behind him. No, on his right. Gradually, it dawned on him that the faint scratching noises were all around him. And then he shuddered with the full horror of his doom. The shed was infested with the big carnivorous shadowdancers, Elyria’s only spider.

Lester screamed and screamed and screamed.

And then there was only echoing silence.

In Mystic Valley there were a whole host of animals--dintis, packits, bohras, grimahrs, drangs, and firkas...

Trav scowled. “Wrenna’s doing something with pots. Everyone else is busy. I thought I would be really careful just this once.” He sighed. “I am so tired of being in this bed!”

“Well, you’re not going to try tonight,” Llyon replied absently, intent on searching out something under his shera. In a moment, he pulled a wriggling gray firka from the soft folds, muttering, “How many times have I told you that the hair on my chest is attached and therefore not the best material for nesting?” The firka cocked its head to one side as though in serious thought, before diving back under his shera. Llyon sighed. “No matter how many times I remind her, she still forgets.”

Trav laughed. “So that’s a firka? And what’s her name?”

Llyon grinned. “She’s a firka. Papa says they’re like your hamsters. Her name is Ladypuff.” Reaching up, he lifted Trav down. “Come on, let’s get you to the bathing room. When you’re finished, if you want to, you can come out and sit in the living room.”

Imagination is the only limit placed on creating fascinating new critters for your new worlds.

Anny

Woo-hoo! As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

The day the brain stopped working...

Unfortunately, I think that's today. After spending a week frantically cleaning, promoting a new book, and cooking before the company arrived, I'm pretty brain tired. I expect that I'll spend today trying to reset the brain, reorienting my story brain waves. You'd be surprised at how much you forget in two or three days.

I'll read my current work in progress and make notes on what I need to change. Then tomorrow I'll get back to the grind stone and really work on the story from the ground up. I have a couple of ideas. We'll see how they shake out.

In the meantime here's a small tidbit...

Zip knew it was going to be a bad week when she found the body in the ladies restroom. A quick visit with her brother, Quill at the local FBI office turned out to not be such a good idea. Fortunately, it wasn’t her first body discovery so she didn’t scream or do any of the other stereotypical sissy stuff, but it did piss her off. No woman should have to deal with a dead person when it was that time of the month—unless it was somebody the woman had knocked off herself.

She backed out into the hall, bumping into Sebastian Spade, Quill’s partner.

“Zip?”

“Body in the restroom,” she blurted out. “Dead body.”

He tugged her out of the way, pressing her against the wall in the hall. “Don’t move.” He slipped his gun from his holster, opened the restroom door with his shoulder and peeked inside. Damn. It certainly looked like a body to him. He blew out a quick breath, pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched Quill’s number on speed dial.

“Yeah?”

“Me. Your sister just found a body in the restroom.” Before Quill could ask any questions, Seb turned off the phone. “Quill’s on his way. Do you need to sit down?”

She crossed her arms tightly over her chest to hide her trembling hands. “No. I’m okay until Quill gets here.”

After that, things went downhill fast. Zip spent the next few hours in the company of another of Quill’s team members while the crime scene was processed. Finally, Quill sprung her from the cold sterile office and they went to lunch. Ensconced in a back booth in a small restaurant not far from the office, Quill silently regarded his younger sister. Once their waitress brought them coffee, he asked, “What happened? I know you told everyone else your story, but now I want you to tell me what you didn’t tell them.”

“She was one of us.”

Disturbed by her news, Quill dropped his head. “You’re sure?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Since you were the one who found her, I wasn’t permitted to enter the crime scene.” His wry answer almost disguised the chagrin he suffered at the slight. Almost. It had been a long two weeks for Quill and his exclusion from a crime scene was just one more item in a growing list of slights that threatened to take his job.

“I see. What are you not telling me?” she asked.

“As of now, I’m on paid vacation until further notice.”

“Going home, Quill?”

“Seems that way.”

“Maybe I’ll come with you. I’m ready to spend some time with Momma and Pa.” She sipped her coffee with a sad meditative expression. “I have enough vacation time to last me through New Years. And things are slow at work. It would be nice to be home for Christmas.”

He nodded agreeably. “I thought you might feel that way. I cleared it with Seb for you to go home. If he needs to talk to you, he knows where to find you.”

Her dark eyes speared him with a clear look. “I don’t need a matchmaker, Quill.”

“No, you don’t. I imagine Seb can take care of his romancing on his own.”

Scowling at him, she stuck out her tongue. “So he can, big brother. So he can.”

That's it for now! Blessings on your day!

Anny

Woo-hoo! As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Tooth Faery Surprise

Thought I would leave y'all with a glimpse of Pansy the Tooth Faery from my book, Daffodil.

Bright moonlight poured through the high narrow window, illuminating the small room where a little golden haired child slept soundly. A dull thunk heralded the less than graceful arrival of Pansy, the tooth faery as she landed on the window sill by the skin of her toes. Teetering wildly, she grabbed for the rotting window frame which promptly disintegrated, leaving her with a handful of moldy wood splinters.

Plunging two stories down, she landed in a large lilac bush. Muttered curses filled the air as she extricated herself from the prickly bush and stomped across the weedy yard. When she was far enough from the building to have a clear vantage point, she turned and sourly surveyed the high window above the lilac bush. She brushed straggles of pale pink hair back from her dark purple eyes and frowned in deep thought. No doubt about it. She was going to have to land just right. Or…

She could just blink in. Blinking was forbidden. She knew that but some rules were made to be broken! And this seemed to be the perfect time to break the commandment against blinking into strange rooms. Surely there couldn’t be that many obstacles in the small space she’d glimpsed before falling from the ledge. With a faint shrug, she closed her eyes and blinked into the small bedroom.

And promptly fell over a doll cradle, landing with a resounding thud.

Holding her breath, she froze while she waited to see who would rush through the door in response to the noise. After long endless moments, when no one appeared, she slowly climbed to her feet and straightened her tattered pink dress before planting her hands on her hips and staring around the tiny room. What a dump! It was barely bigger than a closet. The child’s belongings were arranged with painful neatness with everything in its place but that still left minimal free space in the room.

She slowly shook her head. For such a big house, it was a shame that the little girl should be stuck in this broom closet of a room. Moving with cautious care on silent dusty bare feet, Pansy approached the bed. If the kid put her tooth where she was supposed to, Pansy could swap it for a coin and be out of here in seconds.

She slipped her hand beneath the lumpy pillow and felt around. Nothing. Pansy withdrew her hand and straightened up, pondering for a moment before tiptoeing around the narrow bed. She knelt down and slithered her hand beneath the pillow from this side. Nothing. She slid her hand back out and tapped her chin with impatient fingers. Where the heck did the kid put her tooth?

“Who are you?” a little piping voice inquired softly.

Pansy realized that the kid was watching her with a curiously calm gaze. The faery thought if she had awakened with some stranger feeling around under her pillow she would have been screaming blue gummy murder. What kind of kid just asked you who you were? “I’m the tooth faery,” she explained quietly. “Where’s your tooth, kid?”

“I’m not a baby goat,” the little one pointed out precisely. “My name is Daffodil and I’m a girl.”

“Good enough. Daffodil. So where’s your tooth, Daffodil?”

“Mama gave it to the witch woman.” Daffodil’s expression was too old and wise for her age, thought Pansy. Far too old.

“What witch woman?” Pansy asked calmly though her stomach was suddenly leaping about with trepidation. “Do you know her name?”

“Of course.” Daffodil sat up in the bed and scowled at Pansy. “Her name’s Morgana. She’s the most famous witch in Avalon.”

The faery, intrigued against her will, perched on the side of the rumpled bed and pursed her lips in thought. “Did your mama say why she gave your tooth to Morgana?”

Daffodil’s springy curls bounced wildly when she shook her head. “No. But my sister, Chrysanthemum, said that it was a very bad thing that Mama did. And Honeysuckle, my other sister, said that she will get it back from Morgana.”

“Oh yeah? How’s she gonna do that?” Pansy asked curiously while she absently pleated the soft filmy fabric of her skirt.

“Honeysuckle said she’s going to sneak into Morgana’s house and steal it back. She said that Mama would have to buy her love charm some other way. Anyway, a love charm won’t bring Papa back.” Daffodil’s grave explanation told Pansy more than she really wanted to know about the little girl’s mother. In effect, Daffodil’s mama had sold her to the witch for a love charm. As long as Morgana had the child’s tooth, she could control her actions.

Pansy pondered for a few moments. “Well, your sister is correct. We need to retrieve your tooth from Morgana but I don’t think Honeysuckle’s quite old enough to battle a witch.”

“But she’s a very good spy,” Daffodil offered soberly. “She never gets caught and she knows everything that’s going on in the manor. She even saw Michael the blacksmith’s thing.”

“His thing?” The faery stared at her in confusion. “What thing?”

“You know. His thing. He sticks it inside Mildred the cook.”

Pansy’s eyes widened abruptly and she sat straight up. “All righty, then. Moving right along now… I’ll go to Morgana’s place and see if I can find your tooth. You go back to sleep.”

“What about Honeysuckle?”

“Don’t you worry about your sister. I have a notion that she can take care of herself. I’ll try to find a way to let her know that I’m on the job.” Pansy climbed down from the bed and straightened the covers up over Daffodil’s shoulder. “Go to sleep.”

“May I ask you something?”

“Sure. Whatcha wanna know?”

“Where’s your wings? Don’t faeries have wings?” Daffodil demanded with a yawn.

“Some do, some don’t. I don’t. Now go to sleep, Daffy.”

“Don’t call me Daffy. My name is Daffodil.” Even on the verge of sleep, her high little voice was firm.

Pansy gently patted her shoulder. “All right. Daffodil. Go to sleep now. I’ll take care of your tooth. Don’t you worry.”

“Okay.” Obediently, Daffodil closed her eyes. “Don’t fall out the window this time.”

Anny

Woo-hoo! As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

The haircut...

My daughter and her family are here for the weekend. Today, I'll be giving haircuts. In an economy where electric bills cost more than the rent, haircuts are not in the budget. Actually, I've cut her hair over a period of years because hair stylists aren't anxious to cut it like she wants it cut. And I will. It seems to me that if I'm paying for a hair cut, then they should cut it like I ask them to.

The last time I went for a haircut, I ran my fingers through my hair, stopped at a certain point and instructed the woman to cut everything above my fingers. She gave me that look that they reserve for people who are on the verge of insanity. And then she cut it about two inches longer than I requested.

I demonstrated again how long I wanted it to be. And she shaved off a bit. Now we were down to an inch and a half too long.

I showed her exactly how much to trim. She huffed and puffed, annoyed at the way I was making her work... And she trimmed off another quarter inch. I casually mentioned that her manager could probably do a more efficient job.

She straightened up and stared at me as though I had suggested something impossible and obscene.

I merely lifted an eyebrow.

Finally, she trimmed it exactly the length I needed.

And that's why I cut my daughter's hair. Because I follow directions exactly.

Anny

Woo-hoo! As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Release day for Kama Sutra Lovers!

Elyria—land of the matchmaker arranged tri-marriage. Noting the heated desires Hart, Arik, and Giosetta kept hidden, their matchmaker decided to give them a nudge toward tying the knot. Kama Sutra cards with erotic suggestions started turning up in surprising places. Never slow to take a hint, Arik and Hart quickly arranged a hot naughty encounter for Giosetta that opened their own eyes to all the sexy possibilities in a loving threesome. Two men, one woman, and a life so hot it rates five fans.

That’s the way it was supposed to be. But somebody is trying to kill them so they’re on the run, forced to fit their honeymoon in stolen moments while fighting off the Assassin’s Guild, carnivorous spiders and piecing together the puzzle of why their tri-marriage is under attack. Only by solving the mystery will they finally find their happily ever after.

Excerpt:

“Think about it Arik. If your uncle takes over the company, there are real issues for the government. He’s made no secret about his feelings about our government contracts or about the conservation of resources. If he had his way, Elyria would be headed well down the same path of destruction as Earth.”

Arik nodded with resignation. “The cops. Thank you for thinking of it.”

“Don’t worry about that. What else is on your list?” Hart asked intently, as Matilda appeared with a large cart of refreshments.

“What list?” she inquired curiously.

“Giosetta just pointed out that our tri-marriage has placed us in greater jeopardy than we realized. We’re trying to compile a list of changes we need to make to ensure our security.”

“Change the locks.”

“I have that covered. The locksmith should be here in the next hour.” Hart pushed his communicator across the table. “There’s his info.”

She took the communicator to the house com, plugged it in and transferred the information. After unplugging it, she returned the com to Hart and started serving a hearty afternoon tea complete with chocolate scones and strawberries. “Have you considered hiring a professional driver and security team?”

Hart nodded. “Working on it. An official from EGS will be here at second hour sub-prime.”

“The locksmith! Lester has connections to at least two of the locksmithing companies,” Giosetta exclaimed. “I completely forgot about that.”

“Les has his fingers in a lot of pies,” Arik observed dryly. “We’re going to have to be very careful about who we deal with.”

“The locksmith is safe.” Hart smiled slyly. “He’s a distant cousin of mine. On Earth he was burglar.” His dark eyes were twinkling. “He retired when his number was picked in the lottery. Now he’s a full-time head chef at Mackanally’s Chinese Buffet.”

“Henry?” Arik stared at Hart, not quite sure whether to believe him or not. “Henry Anderson was a burglar?” He tried to envision the six-foot-three broad shouldered Henry sneaking into houses.

“One of the best.” Hart chuckled. “Henry was never caught. The cop who spent so much time trying to catch him was picked in the lottery, too. They play cards every Friday night.”

Giosetta giggled. “I bet that makes for some interesting conversations.”

“Yeah.” Hart sighed. “Back to work. What else do we need to add to the list?”

“Do you know a security company that’s not affiliated with Lester?” Arik tapped keys on his tablet filling in a lengthening list as he thought of new items to add.

“Lee Chong’s group. Security Solutions. He despises your uncle. I’ll call him.” Hart took his communicator over to the window to make his call while Giosetta and Arik worked on the list. While he waited for the connection to Lee, Hart watched a man sidle through the bushes that lined the wall. A sturdy pack on his back and the strange item he dragged behind him captured Hart’s curiosity. When Lee came online, Hart described the man and his behavior. Seconds later, he was dragging Giosetta and Arik through the kitchen where he collected Matilda, and then urged them down to the underground tunnel system. “Hurry. Move!”

“Hart, what the hell is wrong?” Arik’s irritable questions were cut off by the thunderous boom that shook the house. “What the hell was that?”

“Rocket launcher,” Hart replied tersely. “Guy in the garden.”

A second explosion, followed by the odor of smoke had Arik cursing under his breath as he herded Matilda and Giosetta toward the far corner. “Come on Hart! Into the tunnel!”

Hart was yelling into his communicator while he rushed behind them, dodging falling debris. “Get the fire department!”

They tumbled into the tunnel and Hart slammed the heavy fire door behind them. “Son of a bitch! Good thing most of my clothes and belongings are still down at the carriage house. He didn’t get my shoes.”

“What makes you think the carriage house is still standing?” Giosetta asked wryly.

“Oh, no. If he burned up my shoes, then it’s war!”

Woo-hoo! As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Anny

Thirty years ago today...

Thirty years ago today I was not having much fun. Labor and delivery are never fun, no matter how many drugs they give you. In my case, though my water broke, there were no accompanying contractions or labor pains. Zip, zilch, nada. So the doc whistled up some meds to get things going.

Except that nothing happened. At fifteen minutes to twelve he came in, checked my progress, (still three centimeters) and announced that he'd reserved an OR for six p.m. as one way or the other, the baby had to be delivered that day. So I nodded my head and off he went to get lunch.

And immediately the first pain slammed into me like a freight train. I sent the househunk after the doc but he was too late. Doc was already on the elevator. So he went on down to the nurse's station and told the supervisor that I needed the doctor. She was there alone. I was the only patient on the floor (and clearly I wasn't doing anything interesting) so she sent the rest of the staff to lunch.

So she trotted down to my room needle and fresh gown in hand. The fresh gown was because mine was soaked (apparently I had been carting around a swimming pool in my belly) and the needle was to calm me down since clearly I was getting over-excited.

I rather pithily informed her that I wasn't over-excited. I was in labor, a totally different case--and the baby was coming now! When she still thought she ought to give me a shot, I told her to go get the doctor if she didn't want to deliver the baby herself. This was number four--not number one and I had just a tad of experience.

With an impatient sigh she told me that first we would get me warm and dry, then she would check to see how far along I was. So I peeled off the sodden gown, rolled over to get the tail of it out from under me and she shrieked. Oh my God, the baby's coming! Well, duh! She could see the baby's head.

What happened next defies belief. Remember. I don't have anything on at this point. Sheets and blankets are on the floor because she's gonna give me dry bedding. She ripped all the hook-ups for the fetal monitor, etc. out of the wall, released the brake on the bed and rolled me down the hall to the delivery room.

Stark naked.

The househunk is struggling to put on the gown that they insisted he wear in the delivery room, running down the hall with the sleeves flapping. People are standing in the doorways wondering what's going on.

In the delivery room she's yelling, "Don't push, don't push!" while she urging me over onto the delivery table. Then she runs down the end and says "Okay, push! I've got it!"

And that's how my daughter was born at 12:05 p.m... twenty minutes after my doctor checked me.

I bent the bed rails on the labor room bed badly enough that they had to be replaced. How do I know? The maintenance guy stopped by my room two days later to see what kind of giant had done that much damage. Needless to say, he was disappointed.

So my baby girl is thirty today. Time passes swiftly. But memories are forever.

Anny

Woo-hoo! On Friday, Kama Sutra Lovers will be released from Ellora's Cave. As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Warp drive? Engaged!

It's been that kind of week. My daughter and her family are coming to visit for the weekend. And of course, anytime company comes there are a load of things to accomplish. Cleaning is the least of it, right?

When the kids all move out, you just naturally find uses for the spare rooms. One is our laundry room... and the other one is my closet. Well, not this weekend. So today we went to do laundry. Now I just have to find a place to put the clean clothes. Then there are the other things to park somewhere. Files, books, notebooks... My problem is once I put something out of sight, I never seem to find it again. Am I the only one like that? I feel so lonesome when everyone else is ferociously organized.

Next we'll need to grocery shop. Food for six is a little different than food for two. And this week is my daughter's birthday so we need a cake. Maybe the househunk will bake that.

On Friday night (the night that they're arriving) I have a three hour chat at Ellora's Cave chat loop. Then on Saturday night I have a three hour chat at Night Owl Romance chat loop. I sure am glad that the househunk has breakfast planned! He's good with breakfast and I suck at it because it takes me so long to get moving in the morning. I'm not a morning person... except for this week.

Woo-hoo! On Friday, Kama Sutra Lovers will be released from Ellora's Cave. As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Anny

Something for Everyone

Today's blog is just for fun... Hope you enjoy the pics. Feel free to comment on one or all of them as they all struck me as funny for one reason or another.
Anny
As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

The First Time

Sex--and all it entails--is one of the things in life that every person must learn about on their own. Parents can teach morality and the technical details, but when it gets down to the nitty gritty, each one of us learns the first hand details by personal experience. It is a profound, deeply individual lesson regardless of age or gender. Every single person remembers their "first time" and the circumstances whether it was the back seat of a car, the honeymoon suite, or tragically at the hands of a rapist.

Interestingly enough, very few people are comfortable actually talking about their personal experience, though they will freely talk about sex in general or the sex life of someone else. I believe that our personal individual experiences are the last taboo. We're too close to them, too uncomfortable with our own desires and needs to share them with anyone other than another partner. Heck, most of us can't even share our fantasies. They're simply too, too personal.

In that case, I find reading books with sexual encounters interesting in that frequently an author will use a similar scenario repeatedly. No, I'm not talking about sex by the numbers. But I am talking about the attitudes the characters have toward each other and how they feel about their own emotions and desires. I have noticed that for some authors there is a tendency for sex that is a little more untamed. For others, it is so drawn out, so leisurely that you wonder if the couple will ever get around to completion. I've read scenes where there are pages of description of what he does to her... but basically from what you read between the lines, she's so aroused as to be comatose...just stretched out for his delectation and enjoyment. For all the participation on her part, she could be a blow-up doll.

Because I'm a curious woman, I wonder how much of ourselves we put in our books. Again, I'm not talking about how kinky or weird positions, but how much of the emotional investment, the portrayal of those emotions has a personal corollary in the authors emotions. I suspect that our underlying desires are part and parcel of what we write. Whether we want tenderness, humor, or out of control wildness, I think a lot of it seeps into our writing. And never more so than when we are portraying the first time--the first encounter between the lovers.

Anny

As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

Betrayal and love...

Next week my newest release, Kama Sutra Lovers will be available on July 18th. The romance story is set against a background of tri-marriage on the run... there is betrayal, murder, attempted murder, and other assorted mayhem for the lovers to deal with. One of the events the trio has to deal with is when the house is blown up...

“Think about it Arik. If your uncle takes over the company, there are real issues for the government. He’s made no secret about his feelings about our government contracts or about the conservation of resources. If he had his way, Elyria would be headed well down the same path of destruction as Earth.”

Arik nodded with resignation. “The cops. Thank you for thinking of it.”

“Don’t worry about that. What else is on your list?” Hart asked intently, as Matilda appeared with a large cart of refreshments.

“What list?” she inquired curiously.

“Giosetta just pointed out that our tri-marriage has placed us in greater jeopardy than we realized. We’re trying to compile a list of changes we need to make to ensure our security.”

“Change the locks.”

“I have that covered. The locksmith should be here in the next hour.” Hart pushed his communicator across the table. “There’s his info.”

She took the communicator to the house com, plugged it in and transferred the information. After unplugging it, she returned the com to Hart and started serving a hearty afternoon tea complete with chocolate scones and strawberries. “Have you considered hiring a professional driver and security team?”

Hart nodded. “Working on it. An official from EGS will be here at second hour sub-prime.”

“The locksmith! Lester has connections to at least two of the locksmithing companies,” Giosetta exclaimed. “I completely forgot about that.”

“Les has his fingers in a lot of pies,” Arik observed dryly. “We’re going to have to be very careful about who we deal with.”

“The locksmith is safe.” Hart smiled slyly. “He’s a distant cousin of mine. On Earth he was burglar.” His dark eyes were twinkling. “He retired when his number was picked in the lottery. Now he’s a full-time head chef at Mackanally’s Chinese Buffet.”

“Henry?” Arik stared at Hart, not quite sure whether to believe him or not. “Henry Anderson was a burglar?” He tried to envision the six-foot-three broad shouldered Henry sneaking into houses.

“One of the best.” Hart chuckled. “Henry was never caught. The cop who spent so much time trying to catch him was picked in the lottery, too. They play cards every Friday night.”

Giosetta giggled. “I bet that makes for some interesting conversations.”

“Yeah.” Hart sighed. “Back to work. What else do we need to add to the list?”

“Do you know a security company that’s not affiliated with Lester?” Arik tapped keys on his tablet filling in a lengthening list as he thought of new items to add.

“Lee Chong’s group. Security Solutions. He despises your uncle. I’ll call him.” Hart took his communicator over to the window to make his call while Giosetta and Arik worked on the list. While he waited for the connection to Lee, Hart watched a man sidle through the bushes that lined the wall. A sturdy pack on his back and the strange item he dragged behind him captured Hart’s curiosity. When Lee came online, Hart described the man and his behavior. Seconds later, he was dragging Giosetta and Arik through the kitchen where he collected Matilda, and then urged them down to the underground tunnel system. “Hurry. Move!”

“Hart, what the hell is wrong?” Arik’s irritable questions were cut off by the thunderous boom that shook the house. “What the hell was that?”

“Rocket launcher,” Hart replied tersely. “Guy in the garden.”

A second explosion, followed by the odor of smoke had Arik cursing under his breath as he herded Matilda and Giosetta toward the far corner. “Come on Hart! Into the tunnel!”

Hart was yelling into his communicator while he rushed behind them, dodging falling debris. “Get the fire department!”

They tumbled into the tunnel and Hart slammed the heavy fire door behind them. “Son of a bitch! Good thing most of my clothes and belongings are still down at the carriage house. He didn’t get my shoes.”

“What makes you think the carriage house is still standing?” Giosetta asked wryly.

“Oh, no. If he burned up my shoes, then it’s war!”

Anny

As part of the celebrations for our new releases, Amarinda and I are launching The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and
www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email

amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18^th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.