We Have A Winner...

The number randomizer on google is a great thing. I use it most often when choosing a winner for the book giveaways. Once in a while I'll call out to Science Guy with pick a number between x and y, but really he then wants to know why and who will win and...yeah, love the number randomizer. :)

With that said, we have a winner and it's...drum roll, okay for this book, it's probably more like body counts....

Cynthia Sherrick!!! You've won a signed copy of Karen Rose's newest book, Kill For Me.

Email me your info at vickilanewrites @yahoo.com

Next week, I'll be on vacation, but make sure you come by because LKap is going to take over the blog for the week. Yep, it's hers every day next week. I'll be stopping in to leave a comment here or there (cause I'll miss everybody if I don't).

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and the following week I'll have pics and stories to tell. :D

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

New Blog Look and Newsletter Contest Winner

The blog has a new look. Thanks so much to Brandy for helping me with adding three columns. Yep, it took a little bit of my Saturday writing time, but I think it worth it. Laurie is still rambling on Thursday's. Watch for her contest each month. The books, the covers, the authors...Nice.

If you didn't sign up for the Newsletter contest, no worries, there'll be another so go ahead and sign up now. :)

The winner for this month's VLN is, gw12cats03. Major congrats!! You are the first ever winner for VLN. Email me your information at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com. In the subject line please put VLN winner.

Going forward, winners of any of our contest, must notify us with their information within a week or a new winner will be chosen. Sorry, but it's hard to keep up with who won and if the prize has been sent otherwise.

Thanks everyone who left comments with what you like to see in a newsletter. And the first quarterly VLN will be out towards the end of March. Yep, a contest will be in there just for those who are signed up.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki and Laurie

We Have A Winner...

The winner for Kathy Carmichael's HOT FLASH is...the drums are rolling, the sky is opening, and lights are shinning bright...

Okay, so maybe a bit dramatic, but really this is such a great book.

Bray!!! You've won a copy, signed by Kathy. Yay!!

Send me your snail mail addy to vickilanewrites@yahoo.com. Please put in the subject line Blog winner.

Major congrats and enjoy the book.


Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,

Vicki

Contest Winner's and the Holiday's

First things first, the winners of the bookmarks are: Maura, Liza, and Laurie K. Please email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with your snail mail addy and I'll get them out to you.

I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. Even on a rough day at the day job, riding home and seeing Christmas lights burning bright makes me smile. And yes, I play holiday much in the car as well. I love it, I'm like a kid.

The decorating and baking and shopping, (maybe not as much as normal this year, but still shopping) are part of the fun. The house will smell like homemade cookies and not just from the candle I lit last night. :) Or the pine smells from the Christmas tree spray. Science Guy and I have an artificial tree, so I have to burn candles and spray the room spray for the scent. Bath and Body has a great one.

And the holiday parties, big or small are always special. This past Saturday we had our TARA holiday party at the St Pete Yatch Club. Our room had a view of the water and the food was yummy. We all bring a gift. Something to do with the book we wrote or are writing and of course chocolate or wine or both. Because, as so many said on Saturday, 'That's what we do.' and then the fun begins. The first person picks a gift, the person who brought it tells what or how it represents her writing and then the second person steals that gift or picks another one from the table. And the fun goes on.

This year one of the girls made an incredible gift which was much fought after. She made a wreath (which lights), and all around it where the books of our TARA authors. Tiny little book covers of everyone's books. Amazing!

But, all this fun does lead to one little bity problem. Finding the time to work on my book. I'm squeezing in 20 minutes here and an hour there. I've got a few thousand words left to cut and then it's done and out the door. Whoo Hoo!!

How about you? Are you having a good holiday and are you able to find time to write or read?

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

And the Winner is...

The winner for this week’s contest is Bray!! WhooHoo. I know you’re going to love the book.

Email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with your snail mail addy and I’ll get the book out to you.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and next week I’m giving away some more bookmarks. Some of these are not available in the States as of yet.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Bad Bad Vicki and The Winners

I realized this afternoon (Sunday), I'd forgotten to announce the winners for this week. So sorry about that.

I cooked Thanksgiving today instead of the upcoming actual Thanksgiving day. Science Guy has to have some surgery on Wednesday, so Thursday isn't going to be sit down and eat a huge meal day around our house. He's fine. Thought I should add that since I didn't want to scare any of you who know him. :)

Now for the winners:

For Elyssa Wilds debut book: violetcrush

For the bookmarks: (in no particular order)Bruce, crystalstorm, and Danielle

Please email me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com

For the bookmarks please tell me your first and second choice and I'll go by whoever emails first.

One of these bookmark sets isn't available here in the states yet and in the next couple of weeks I have a few more to giveaway which haven't been released in the states yet either.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Romeo Romeo Winner, Irish Fun, But First....

The winner of Robin Kaye's debut book, Romeo Romeo...



...is Liza!!! Email me at vickilanewrites @yahoo.com with your snail mail addy and I"ll get the book out to you. I'd love to know your thoughts once you've finished it. :)

Now for a little Irish Fun

You Are A Lime Tree

You are intelligent, hard working, and innately successful. You try to change what you can in life - and you accept what you can't change. Tough on the outside, you are actually soft and relenting. Jealous at times, you are extremely loyal and giving to those you love. You have many talents, but you don't have enough time to use them.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

So, did you check yours? Tells us, we want to know.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Jessica Andersen's Knight Keepers - We have a Winner

The winner of Jessica Andersen's Knight Keepers is minna. WhooHoo!! Please email me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrites @yahoo.com and I'll get the book out to you.
I know you're going to love it. :)

Hope everyone had a great Halloween and saved some chocolate for writing.

Check back on Monday. I've got an awesome debut author's book coming.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Her One Desire - Winner

I'm so excited to give away a copy of Kim's debut book! The winner is....the anticipation gathers...fingers are crossed, heck, maybe even toes...


Carol!!!! Email me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrite @yahoo.com and I'll send the book along.

A little housekeeping, I never heard from Karin who won Susan Grants, Moonstruck. If I don't hear from her by Tuesday of next week, the randomizer will choose another winner.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Moonstruck Winner or Two

Just in case you’re wondering how I choose the winners each week, I use a couple of methods. One is a number randomizer, which you can find on the Internet. Or there’s the write each name (names, depending on the amount of comments you leave for the week) and fold them into itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka…hold up, going in the wrong direction there, very small pieces of paper and have someone pull out the winning name.



Well, this week, I used the number randomizer and we have two winners. Yep, you read that right, two of them. The first winner was / is Angie Fox and from her comment she has read this book. But it’s the first book of Susan’s she’s read. So…email which book you’d like from her backlist and Amazon will have it on its way.

The second winner, the one who will receive Moonstruck is…the galaxy is rumbling with excitement over this one…Karin!!!

Both winners please email me at vickilanewrites @yahoo.com, your snail mail addy where you would like the books to be sent.

Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by this week and I hope to see you next week. Also, major props to those who put the link for the contest on their blogs. You guys Rock!

Have a great weekend everyone.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Friday Funny and Our Winner

An interesting fact I forgot to share with you on Monday is, Roxanne St. Claire is a 2008 National Reader's Choice Award winner. And really, is it any wonder, once you read any of her books?

It's time to announce the winner of the third Bullet Catcher book, Now You Die. As always, a little cyber drum roll if you will...and the winner is...Marian!!! (picture her eyelashes fluttering as sparkles of confetti land on her upturn face)

Marian, email me with your snail addy at vickilanewrite @yahoo.com and I'll get your book out to you. Major congrats and come back and let's know how you love it. :)

Here's a little Friday funny...

Single ad printed in Atlanta Journal..



SINGLE FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me.. Call (404) 875-6420 and ask for Daisy, I'll be waiting....




(Scroll down)




















………….Over 150 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society.

See you this afternoon,
Vicki

And The Winner is....

Wow, can you believe the week is over. It’s been great having Angie Fox here to answer questions and visit with us. Thank you Angie!

It’s time to announce this week’s winner, so without further ado, okay, perhaps a little cyber drum roll…Shaunesay!!!

Shaunesay, please email me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com. In the subject put blog winner to keep it from going to the land of spam.

I hope everyone has a fun holiday weekend and come back next week for a new contest.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Contest - The Accidental Demon Slayer (and last week's winner)

Okay, first things first. Last week's winner for Sleeping With Ward Cleaver is SB Jane, send me your snail mail addy at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com and I'll get it out to you.



Now, on to this week's contest. Angie Fox is an amazing paranormal author, who adds a funny twist. She also has a Biker Witch name generator on her site and mine is Hog Wild Harriet No Brakes. How fun is that?? :) Visit her site to find your own name, as well as to enter into a contest where your biker name may be in her next book.

Here's the backcover blurb:

It's never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet bowl . . .

For Lizzie Brown, that's just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she's seen it all, Lizzie learns she's a demon slayer-and all hell is after her.

Of course, that's not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you've never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn't work, how dangerous could a little seduction be . . . ?

To read the first chapter click here

Love it, right!

Leave your comments through out the week to be entered and I'll post a winner on Friday. Yes, really on Friday this week.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Contest, and Winner's, and So Many Great Books, Oh My!

This past weekend was our TARA meeting and it was fantastic! At least the morning session was. Karen Rose spoke on Getting Into Characters. It was great. The afternoon session we had to go over bylaws with the membership and then vote on said bylaws. After only a couple of changes the vote was unanimous. Yay! Now, I’ll make the necessary changes and send them back to RWA. WhooHoo, bylaws done!

Time to announce last week’s winner and this week’s contest. There are so many great books coming out over the next several months. I’m very excited to bring them to you through the contest.

Last week’s winners for Julie Leto’s signed Phantom Pleasures are: Carolyn Jean and Jenna. Please email me your snail mail address at vickilanewrites @yahoo.com.

The contest this week is for Roxanne St. Claire’s newest Bullet Catcher book, First You Run. This is the first book in a new trilogy, continuing the Bullet Catchers line.



Here’s the blurb:
AN UNSTOPPABLE BODYGUARD ON THE HUNT.
A WOMAN HIDING A SECRET EVEN SHE DOESN'T KNOW. A PASSION THAT BEGINS WITH DANGER....
Bullet Catcher Adrien Fletcher is on a mission to track down a baby given up in a black market adoption thirty years ago. He has a list of possible names and one tantalizing clue: the infant girl had been marked with a tiny tattoo. And since tattoo-hunting will mean getting up close and personal with the women on his list, he's the perfect man for the job. But when Fletch meets Miranda Lang, he knows she can never be just a name on his list. If she's not his target, he should move on and find the right woman, despite their electrifying attraction. But Miranda is on her own mission, and every step takes her closer to a deadly trap. Fletch may be the only man who can protect her...forcing him to choose between duty and desire.

What? You need more and right now? Have no fear, I’m here to assist. First You Run excerpt page is here.

Oh, and if that wasn’t enough. Here you can even take a peek at Fletch. OMG, is he yummy or what!

I know, you can’t wait to get your hands on this book. Trust me, it’s worth making time to read. And I do mean make yourself some time. This is another ‘Honey, want to order out tonight, cause I can’t cook’, must read book.

Since I really loved reading what you thought of the excerpts of last week’s contest, let’s do it again. You don’t have as much to read this time, but go the site, read the excerpt or read Fletch’s page. Come back and leave a comment about it and you’ll be entered into the drawing. You can leave comments on any day this week and I’ll include them all.

One last thing. Roxie’s has signed the book for the winner!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Quick Check In and the Contest Winner

Hey, just a quick post here. I'm still in Scottsdale and having a great time. I did want to post the winner of last week's contest though.

Chasing the moon!!! WhooHoo, congrats! Email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com and let me know if you would like a book or the gift card. As soon as I'm back I'll get it sent out to you.

Hope everyone is having a great week. I didn't post anything on the writing goals this week since I'm not at home. I haven't written or edited much.

Lot's of great stuff to tell you later and some pictures of the festival when I'm back.

Next Monday I'll start a new contest so be sure and check back.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

We Have A Winner!

The winner for my contest giveaway of Stacey Kayne's fabulous book Maverick Wild is...(insert the drum roll here), Flick.

Email me your information at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com and I'll get the book out to you.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the winner of Ellie's Pay It Forward contest. Once I post her winner, I'll give you her contact info for the prize.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday doing what you love best. Me, I'm working edits, but it's getting closer! Woot!

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Pay It Forward Winners, Saturday Check Out, and a Meme

I'm so excited!!! It's Saturday and I get to announce the Pay It Forward winners. :D

Sarai and Ellie (I did not have a link for Ellie). WhooHoo!!! Yay and congrats to you both.

The link above will take you back to the orginal post. I loved this idea and when I won I could not wait to do it on my blog.

So, Sarai and Ellie, in order to accept your prizes you will now need to also Pay It Forward.

The prizes you can choose from are:

1. One book and an author goody bag
2. Two books
3. Author goody bag – this one has more stuff in it than the one with the book

Please email me at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com and let me know which you would like. Please give me two choices as the first person to respond will have their first pick.

Now for a Saturday Check Out: Alison Kent is blogging over on the Plotmonkeys today. She is talking about Plotting and Braiding Hair. You'll have to go read it to know what I/She means. Trust me it is worth the read.

Also, don't forget the Manuscript Maven's story is continuing on. If you haven't read them, today is a great day to read the past ones and catch up. The story is great and you can vote on what is going to happen next. And, there are prizes to be given away when the story is completed. Hunk, and suspense, and comedy, oh my…

I was tagged so here you go:

Like Karen I was tagged twice. First by Sarah and then Karen.

So here goes, six unimportant things about me.

They say the rules of this meme are simple:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.

4. Tag six random people at the end of your blog entry.

5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs.


SIX UNIMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. I have curly hair, starts about two inches from the top of my head. Although most people never see it any way but straight.

2. Although Rock is my favorite music, I love Opera too.

3. My real name is Vicki, not Victoria, which I wish my mom had named me. I'd still go by Vicki, but I like Victoria. :)

4. I had to give away my bestest dog, Teddy, in the world in order to keep a very close friend from losing her condo.

5. When I was young I always held my nose if we drove over bridges.

6. I can't sleep with socks on my feet at night.

And as per the rules I am linking back to Karen Lingefelt and Sarah Makela. For my tags…hmmmm…, I know how much you all love to do these things, hee hee, so here is who I shall tag. Stephie, Patricia, Danika, Bill, Ava Rose, and last but never ever least, Tawny


Wow, that was a lot for a Saturday! Hope you are having a great weekend doing what you love best.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday Check In and Contest and Winner (last weeks), Oh My...

Monday, and not only is it the beginning of the week, it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving. Food, maybe buying holiday gifts, and oh yes, eating more food. So what do we do today? We diet, of course. I mean hello, Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanza (please excuse me if I missed one) is right around the corner and then it’s more food. Which means for the next few weeks, Science Guy and I will be dieting, or at least trying too. :)

Truly, I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends, counting the blessing we have be they small or large.

Last week’s contest winner is Erica!!! Congrats Miss E. I’ve got your info.

My word count for this week is 2142. Which doesn’t sound too bad for a holiday week and since I went out of town for basically five days (including travel). Trust me; this is not a good word count for me. I have to have a little over a 1000 words each day to meet my goal of December 6th.

This week’s contest is a continuation in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by
JR Ward. Lover Revealed is a marvelous book. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I say this about each of her books. And it’s true, I do. The thing here is by now I’m hoping you see the pattern. She is an amazing writer.



Here’s the back cover blurb:

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

If you’d like to read the excerpt: Lover Revealed Excerpt

So, how about you, are you meeting your goals? Do you have any deadlines before the end of 2007? How was your Thanksgiving? Did you stay home or travel? Leave your comments through out the week to be entered into this weeks contest.

Oh, I’m trying to get the sidebar slideshow working and then I’ll have pictures, not just flowers. :)

It's working, it's working!!! Whoo Hoo!!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Friday Contest Winner - On Saturday

I totally forgot to announce the winner of this week’s contest on yesterday’s post.

Susanhalter is this week’s winner. Please email me at vickilanewrites at yahoo.com with your snail mail addy and I’ll send out your autographed book. I’m sure you’re going to love it. If you’d like to post a review of the book on your site after reading it, please let me know and I’ll link to it from here.

I know I’ve told you about the Maven’s blog, but just in case anyone missed it I wanted to tell you again. They are doing a really cool you pick the next installment of the story line. Tomorrow Diana Peterfreund will be posting the next part of the story.
So, head over, read the story thus far, and pick your choice for what comes next. It’s going to be great!!

Also, over on the Plotmonkeys Saturday Writing Craft, they have author Colleen Collins. She has a great blog on characters lying and cheating. Check it out.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. The weather here is beginning to cool off. Well, not too much but still it’s better than it was.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

TGIF and This Week's Contest Winner

Friday, Friday, Friday...Okay, so you get the drift of how I'm feeling this week. :)

It's been a crazy busy week at work. It will slow down in another month or so but 4th quarter in a 24/7 live TV broadcast for sales...well, the holiday seasons are coming so we're busy, busy, busy.

This week’s winner is none other than the wonderful Patricia!!!. WhooHoo Patricia!! Confetti flying through the air, horns going off and there's a celebration all around. Major congrats!!

Email me your snail mail addy to vickilanewrites at yahoo.com and I'll send Rita Herron’s book to you.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Relax, Read a great book, Write your great book...generally just enjoy yourselves.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki