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June — What do you think of the paranormal trend?

Paranormal is huge these days, in books and movies and on TV. There are vampires, shapeshifters, witches, wizards, psychics, aliens, succubi, people with all sorts of supernatural powers, and . . . well, you name it! I asked people what they think of all this para-normality? The majority opinion is favorable: paranormal is an escape from reality, it allows thinking outside the box, it’s imaginative and surprising, and it takes the reader to different worlds. The biggest complaint is that there’s getting to be too much of it. Winner Linda C of Twinsburg, OH receives an autographed copy of Elizabeth Amber’s Lords of Satyr book Dane and her choice of one of my books.

May — What country do you want to visit?

To celebrate my “planes, trains, automobiles, and a cruise ship” Wild Ride to Love series, I asked people what country they’d most like to visit. There was a tie for most popular, between Australia and Italy. Close runners up were Ireland, England, and (thank you!) Canada. The May winner of my Red Hot Cosmo prize – a year’s subscription to Cosmopolitan magazine plus autographed copies of the first two books in the Wild Ride to Loves series – is Sheree T of CA.

April — What’s your favourite love story?

In March I asked people about their favorite love stories, real or fictional. I received some wonderful personal stories, and the top votes for fictional stories were Love Story and Gone With the Wind. As for types of romances, people named everything from friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, love at first sight, soul mates, reunion/second chance love, desert island/cabin (i.e., they’re isolated together), unplanned pregnancy, and engagement stories. Hurray for variety! This month’s winner is Kimberley C from TX. She receives a bag of “swag” from the RT Booklovers Convention (including books!) plus an autographed copy of one of my books.

March — What have you done to move outside your own comfort zone?

Because my writing career has led me to push outside my comfort zone, I asked you about your experiences. There were some terrific answers. Here are a couple of my favorites. As a high-school student, visiting seniors during the Christmas holidays – and then getting those visits incorporated as a regular annual activity for the service club. Going from shy and introverted to, once I had kids, getting involved in a lot of school activities and even serving on the school board. The biggest desire people mentioned was to travel more – and the biggest thing holding people back was fear of flying. I sure hope you folks can find a way of dealing with that fear so you can go to the places you dream of visiting! This month’s winner is Melissa from VA, who wins one of my books and a heart-shaped box from Cabo San Lucas.

February — What’s your favorite Olympic sport or athlete?

Because I’m in Vancouver, BC, and we hosted the Olympics, I asked readers about their favorite event or athlete. The top pick – and my personal favorite – was figure skating. This month’s winner is Carolyn from MA. She receives an autographed copy of her choice of one of my books and an Olympic souvenir – a Quatchi mascot plush toy.

January — What’s the best book you read in 2009?

I’m a reading addict and am always looking for recommendations, so I asked readers to name their favorite book of 2009. Not so surprisingly, few people named the same title, but there was one clear favorite: Sherrilyn Kenyon’s ACHERON. Flatteringly, the second most named was my own SEX DRIVE (you folks are too sweet!). The favorite author named was J.D. Robb. I’ll give you a list of books and authors in the huge paragraph below. Congratulations to this month’s winner, Robyn from Saskatchewan (yay, another Canadian!). As for my personal recommendation, I loved FRESHWATER ROAD by Denise Nicholas. Set in 1964 (Freedom Summer), it’s about a young black woman from Detroit who goes to Mississippi to educate and register voters. The author, an actress and writer, did the same thing herself so she brings incredible authentic detail to this novel. It was heartwarming and educational, and it made me think about both how far we’ve come since then, and how far we still need to go. And, oh yes, there’s a bit of romance in it as well.

Now, here are some of the books and authors that were recommended: Robin Schone, Karen Marie Moning, Jayne Ann Krentz, Diana Gabaldon, Kristen Heitzmann;  Sweet Surrender, Sweet Persuasion and Sweet Seduction by Maya Banks; Red-headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells; Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin; Lincoln (no author given); Marley & Me by John Grogan; 3, 2, 1…Married by Sharon Sala, Marie Ferrarella and Beverly Barton; The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason; Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione; Twilight by Stephenie Meyer; The Shadow Queen by Bertrice Small; The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; Rogue by Sara Palin; Sliding into Home by Joanne Rock; Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockman; Tall, Dark and Deadly by Lori O’Clare; Flat Out Sexy and Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy; Bullet Catchers series by Roxanne St. Claire; Soulless by Gail Carriger; Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews; The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter; The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark; Covet, Love Avenged by JR Ward; Scorched by Sharon Ashwood; Dead Ringer by Mary Burton; Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris; Heart Change by Robin Owens; Barbara Taylor Bradford; Sandra Brown; Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer; Love You To Death by Shannon K. Butcher; Blue Heaven by C.J. Box;  The Firefighter by Susan Lyons, P.J. Mellor and Alyssa Brooks; Daring the Moon by Sherrill Quinn; The Sound Of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall; Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich; Heaven by Randy Alcorn; Woman in Red by Eileen Goudge; Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris; Mexican Heat by Josh Lanyon and Laura Baumbach; Outcast by Joan Johnston; Hex series by Linda Wisdom; The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown; Suzanne Brockman’s Troubleshooter series; Skin Game by Ava Gray; The Briar King and The Charnel Prince by Greg Keyes; Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber; Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett; Dreamfever by Karen Moning; The Last Stand trilogy by Brenda Novak; The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall; Having the Billionaire’s Baby by Sandra Hyatt; Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr;  Promises In Death by J.D. Robb;  Diamond Duo by Marcia Gruver;  Your Roots are Showing by Elise Chidley; Captive of the Beast by Lisa Renee Jones; Simply Sexual or ANY of the books in the House of Pleasures Series by Kate Pearce; Deja Demon by Julie Kenner; Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell. Illuminations of the Heart by Joyce DiPastena; Chasing Charity by Marcia Gruver; Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.

December 2009 — What’s your favorite way to travel?

In honor of the release of Sex Drive, the first book in my sexy “planes, trains, automobiles, and a cruise ship” Wild Ride to Love series, I asked people about their favorite way to travel. There was a clear winner: travel by automobile. People like having control over the journey, being able to get off the beaten track and explore, being able to stop when they want, and having those long, leisurely conversations with their travel companion. Planes and trains pretty much tied for next favorite, and cruising got several votes. Points to the people who said backpacking — you’re in the healthy, adventurous minority! Winner Susan K from PA receives an autographed copy of Sex Drive and a firefighter calendar.

November – What covers attract you?

In November I had two releases, the very sexy Men on Fire and the very sweet Calendar of Love. The covers are as different as night and day. That got me thinking about how important covers are in conveying the tone of a book. So I asked, what kind of cover jumps out at you when you scan a display of new books? Lots of people said they like the “hunk” covers like the one on Men on Fire. Some prefer to see a couple, rather than just the hero or heroine. Beautiful scenery is popular too. Some readers like photos of real people; some like more abstract designs or cartoon-type drawings. An aura of mystery is nice, if that suits the book. Here’s a very well thought out answer: bright colors, clear, readable text for the title and author’s name, an attractive subject and a quality illustration. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on this! (Now I just wish authors got more say in choosing those covers!) This month’s winner is Donna H from DE and she gets an autographed copy of Men on Fire.

October – What things are you thankful for?

Because October is the month of Canadian Thanksgiving, I asked people what they were thankful for. Reading the replies was heartwarming. Here’s just a small sample: “the doctors who found the lump in my aunt's breast to catch the cancer early enough; she is a survivor,” “the fire that introduced me to my firefighter husband” (hey, I’m writing a story like that for SEX ON THE SLOPES!), “the people in my life who’ve made me a better person and taught me what love and trust mean,” “my best friend for 30 years: never judgemental, sometimes too honest, always supportive, her love is unconditional,” “that my 83-year-old grandmother will watch my daughter get married,” “a husband who doesn’t complain about my book addiction.” I could go on and on. Aren’t there amazing things in our lives to be thankful for?

Special thanks to the person who said, “I'm thankful for the wonderful books by my favorite authors. In these times, it is a necessary indulgence to be able to escape to the world they create!” I feel exactly the same way about my favorite authors.

Congratulations to Penny from FL who won an autographed ARC of SEX ON THE BEACH and a firefighter calendar.

September – Do you want to know the ending first?

For me, I actively avoid finding out the ending before I read a book or watch a movie or TV show. Curious, I asked if other people are the same. And over 90% of you are! Of course, many of us do enjoy re-reading favorite books, but that’s a different experience. The first time, there’s a sense of excitement and discovery. When you re-read, it’s like revisiting a much-loved old friend. This month’s winner, Michelle from MA, gets an autographed ARC of my December release, Sex Drive.

August – What’s a scent you love or hate?

Scents can be evocative of memory and emotion. I asked people what scents they love or hate, and why. For favorites, the highest vote went to lavender, followed by vanilla and cinnamon. (Though of course some people hate lavender, vanilla, or cinnamon!) My favorite “I love it” answers were these: “My cat’s clean fur after he’s taken a ‘sun bath’” (oh yes, don’t you want to bury your nose in his fur?) and “Buckwheat pancakes because my grandmother made the best and I miss them both” (aw, this one made me sniffle). My favorite “I hate it” entry was this: “I cannot stand the smell of cooked cabbage. My husband and kids have a dish they really like, but every time he makes it, I go over to my mother’s house!” (that one made me LOL).

The winner, Karin A from OH, won one of my books and a bar of hand-crafted jasmine soap I picked up at a farmer’s market in Washington, D.C.