Of course, I was shocked to be nominated. The sheer number of books reviewed over the year in each individual category is staggering so to land in the top five is such an honor. Thank you! The winner will be announced at the RT convention in Southern California in April. Looks like a road trip is on the schedule!
may the cool winds blow...
Winter is upon us and although it's been a dry winter thus far in California, rumor has it the rain is on its way! Yay! My lawn certainly needs it. My family has told me that I'm odd in the respect that I love blustery weather. If it's cold and rainy, socked in with fog, or overcast with dark thunderclouds, all the better. I like it all! For some reason, the cold weather brings out my most creative side. I've always been this way. So, call me weird, but that's just how I roll! ;-)
Researching Paradise
Recently, I took the family on a research trip for my newest Superromance trilogy set in St. John in the US Virgin Islands. I love my job. For a week we lived like locals and it was heavenly. A big shout-out to my good friend Dulcey for being such a good ambassador and helping us learn the island way of life. The trip was invaluable and I think it will really lend a depth to the stories that just can't be replicated through research gleaned from the Internet alone. Stay tuned for updates and contests as the release dates approach. I've brought home goodies to give away, including a larimar pendant, which is a stone found only in the Caribbean. It's also the name of resort featured in my trilogy! If you haven't already, sign up for my newsletter so you don't miss out on the opportunity to win this amazingly beautiful pendant. As a sidenote, everyone should put a visit to St. John on their bucket list. One word sums it up: GORGEOUS.
Deadline Brain
Currently, I'm on deadline, writing my Paradise trilogy set in St. John. If I disappear, it's because I'm hard at work! I promise! The release date for the first book, LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY, is May 2012. I'm so excited! I will post the cover art as soon as I get it.
Something Different
I've been very pleased that readers have enjoyed connecting to my dark side! My vampire novella is still available if you haven't had a chance to read it. Plans for a second follow-up novella, featuring Savannah, the abducted sister, are in the works.
Here's the link!
Got an e-reader? Purchase at the following online merchants: Amazon
Did you miss the fabulous "Mama Jo's Boys" series?
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You're in luck! If you missed any of these great stories in the stores, you can still find them online at Amazon.com. Each one is special to me for different reasons. Cassi is a woman bent on proving her innocence at any cost; Skye is a woman determined to protect her child at all costs; and Piper is a woman striving to make a name for herself no matter the cost. See a pattern? Yes, STRONG WOMEN! And strong women need equally strong men. Of course, that's what you'll find in each story. I hope readers agree, there's something special about Mama Jo's Boys.
This & That...
My Native Country series with Harlequin Romantic Suspense is no longer in stores but it's still available online at your favorite online distributor, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. One reader had this to say about COLD CASE REUNION:
"Readers will find a finely crafted romance with all its ups and owns set in the midst of the tension caused by seeking truth about the three murders. Ms. Van Meter has managed to put the two genres together and come out with a story that keeps the reader's interest from start to finish. There is deep friendship here as Mya's friends and family surround her, seeking to protect her from a renewal of the hurt she had to live through 15 years earlier. There are strong personalities and a whole host of people who are all different and who are strong, independent, out-spoken, and who demonstrate the scars and attitudes of a people who have borne the brunt of predjudice and distrust, and a long deprevitation from an equal share in the best this country has to offer its citizens. That's not a policitcal statement so much as an observation of reality. It plays heavily in this story. Yet underneath it all there is that deep sense of community, a people who are linked by land and tradition, stories and rituals, and a deeply held belief in their cosmic place in the total scheme of human existence. It's not overtly spoken so much as inferred. But most of these kinds of bonds are not overt anyway...There is so much to like about this book. If you are looking for a new novel that combines a good love story with some good cold case solving, then this is the book for you. I think it's just a terrific read." — The Book Binge Reviewer
what an awesome review! Doesn't that make you want to check it out? What are you waiting for!
In other news (Part Deux)...
My newsletter attempts with a new program has been a smashing success. If you're not on the email list, please sign up at the bottom of the page so you don't get left out. I don't send too many (wouldn't want to wear out my welcome) but I do like to send pertinent news and goodies, such as new releases and excerpts.
I'm currently working on an awesome romantic suspense continuity with a great line up of authors. Stay tuned for details as they come...
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