TESSALLATIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG

It's been a looooong time since I last blogged. Life kind of got in the way. Time had come to think about removing the link off my website. But I'd always intended to blog. It was just really hard to start again. Kind of like being de-railed off a diet and finding it impossible to get on track again. But I miss it...

I LIKE BLOGGING. I like the people I meet in the comments. It's like a coffee stop for me. Something fun.

So one of my New Year resolutions for 2010 is to blog more.

I've already started practising--I'm guest blogging over at Love Romance Passion today...come say hi if you get a chance.

And don't forget to drop past and share a coffee with me here on my blog...

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 14 May 2007 05:58:00 +0000

R*BY FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Romance Writers of Australia recently announced the finalists for the Romantic Book of the Year Award. (list posted below)

It's wonderful to see so many debut authors on the list--including Karina Bliss and Yvonne Lindsay who recently helped me party!! Of course, the fabulous historical writer, Helen Kirkman, partied too...

Have you discovered any exciting debut authors in 2007? And what makes you decide to read a book by a debut author? A random winner will be picked from the comments section and will win a copy of RICH MAN'S REVENGE, my Silhouette Desire due out in June.

Here are the R*BY Finalists:

Short Romance

Marion Lennox The Doctor's Proposal
Marion Lennox Rescue at Cradle Lake
Yvonne Lindsay The Boss's Christmas Seduction
Fiona Lowe Her Miracle Baby
Carol Marinelli Needed: Full Time Father
Anne Oliver Behind Closed Doors

Long Romance

Karina Bliss Mr Imperfect
Fran Cusworth The Love Child
Anna Jacobs Bright Day Dawning
Anna Jacobs The Corrigan Legacy
Helen Kirkman A Fragile Trust
Margaret Way The Horseman

Congratulations to all!

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Fri, 11 May 2007 04:49:00 +0000

OFF TO THE MOVIES

"With great power comes great responsibility"

So who can resist a hero who aspires to follow that code? Tonight I'm off to see SPIDERMAN 3 with my boys.

Must admit that there are some other movies I want to see too. The academic side of me fancies BECOMING JANE. The scare-me-silly side wants to see PERFECT STRANGER. Robin Williams is an old favourite so MAN OF THE YEAR is a must. PATHFINDER looks fabulous too. What to see next. Decisions. Decisions. Any one have any recommendations?

Tessa
PS My copies of RICH MAN'S REVENGE arrived about ten minutes ago. Yipppeeee! So I'll do MONDAY giveaway. Don't forget to pop by...

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:09:00 +0000

WINNER OF A DOZEN DOWNUNDER BOOKS is...

MAUREEN!!!
CONGRATULATIONS...

And I decided to draw two more winners for two copies of
The Very Best Love Stories of 2006
A selection of finalists in the Romance Writer's of Australia's R*BY Award
(which include books by Marion Lennox and Trish Morey)
And the winners of the Very Best Love Stories are...

MONA
&
PRINCIPESSA

CONGRATULATIONS!

Please email your details to me at tessa @tessaradley.com

WHOOOOOOPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:46:00 +0000

TAWNY TAGGED ME…

Here are the rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

8 random facts/habits about me...

1. I'm a total beach bum and I've just spent the last week away at the beach (see above), isn't it gorgeous?

2. I hold an irresistible appeal for mosquitos. Argh! I loathe being covered in red spots. Eeeek!

3. I ADORE Margaritas. Sour, salty and very, very sexy...

4. I'm a spice nerd. I can't eat food with a lot of chilli in it. I totally wimp out.

5. While I hate getting cold and wet, I do love walking in the drizzle on a squally day. Invigorating!

6. I love Italian food—especially lasagna.

7. I've had a craving to read Historicals lately—even though I don't write them.

8. Like Tawny-the-tagger *g* I love reading Greek mythology. All those gorgeous death-defying heroes do it for me!

Tagging: KATE JULIE JODI ALLY NATASHA PAIGE CHARLENE and STEPHANIE

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:31:00 +0000

TESSA'S WINNER OF THE FAVOURITE HEROES is...

...Karen G

Karen, email me to claim your copy of BLACK WIDOW BRIDE.

I'll be away for the next couple of days...and then on FRIDAY I will draw the winner of the Pary DOZEN DOWN UNDER books. (I'm actually waiting for my copies of RICH MAN'S REVENGE, my June book, to arrive--so that I can put a copy of that in with the package.

Take care until Friday.

Tessa

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:00:00 +0000

FINAL CONTEST!

Thank you so much everyone for coming to my party and celebrating in such fine style. I've had a fantastic, fabulous time! And I thank each one of you for making it so much fun. And a BIG round of applause for all the wonderful authors who came along and posted such interesting posts!!! Three cheers....

Fun is not over yet! There are still a few winners to be drawn from the guest bloggers...while we're waiting I'd love to hear who your favourite HERO is...I'll draw one winner for a copy of BLACK WIDOW BRIDE.

AND if you look over on my contest page, you'll see I'm giving away A DOZEN DOWNUNDER BOOKS to one winner at the end of APRIL. I'll give away a SECOND SET of A DOZEN DOWN UNDER BOOKS to someone who I draw out the comments section of ALL the party posts!

Don't forget to join my newsletter if you want news of more fun things coming up...and I'll be over on eHarlequin this week talking about best friends and weddings so do pop in and say HI if you get a chance!

Tessa

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:56:00 +0000

JODI LYNN COPELAND'S WINNER IS...

...TETEWA!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

FLick me an email at tessa @tessaradley.com and claim your prize.

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:56:00 +0000

DENISE ROSSETTI'S WINNER IS...

...LADYVAMPIRE gets a free download of any of Denise Rossetti's backlist.

...Tammy and Helen K each get sets of hunky postcards.

CONGRATULATIONS...and email me at tessa @tessaradley.com to claim your prize!

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:50:00 +0000

PG FORTE's WINNER is...

...ELLIE!

CONGRATULATIONS ELLIE, you win a SENSUAL INK PINK scarf. Enjoy!

Email me to claim your prize!

Tessa

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:50:00 +0000

JULIE COHEN'S WINNER is...

...JENNYBRAT!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

And don't forget to email me to claim your prize.

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:48:00 +0000

MAXINE SULLIVAN'S WINNER is...

...KIM W

Kim, CONGRATULATIONS, and please email me to claim your prize!!

Tessa

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:35:00 +0000

Party Post Number 25

Jodi Lynn Copeland writes steamy romances with a spark of humor…when her crazy schedule and often even crazier, albeit wonderful, kids and husband actually grant her silence long enough to form a sentence. Her next releases are WHAT LIES BETWEEN THEM from Cerridwen Press in Late Summer 2007, and BODY MOVES from Kensington Aphrodisia in November 2007.
www.jodilynncopeland.com

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR

I truly enjoy writing erotic romance, though I struggle with each and every love/sex scene. I can spend as much time perfecting a single intimate scene as I spend on writing most of the rest of the story. This being the case, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that I really love writing the not-quite-so-hot stuff. Don’t get me wrong, there are still hot scenes in these other stories—I don’t think I could write a novel without sensuality—but the focus is on the emotional before the physical.

When I started writing twelve years ago, it was one of those not-quite-so-hot stories. Discovering and being bought into the erotic romance industry was really more of a fluke than anything else. Fluke or fate, I am thrilled to be a part of it, and just as thrilled to share What Lies Between Them, a non-erotic romance, has been contracted for release through Cerridwen Press, Ellora’s Cave mainstream imprint.

Not as thrilling is the fact I do not yet have cover art for this book, or an official release date, though estimations have it releasing late this summer. I actually wrote this story a couple years ago, back when I had time to think straight *g*, but I am happy to say it is still one very dear to my heart. The hero is a hunky rancher with a chip on his shoulder in the form of his ex-girlfriend, who is about to become his newest employee. I love cowboys, ranchers, men who get dirty for a living…ah, heck, men in general, so hopefully the readers who check this one out will love ‘em, too!

How do you feel about authors who write across the genres, in the context of sensuality? If you regularly read an author who writes erotic romance, would you be apt to pick up a non-erotic romance from them, as well? I’ll select a winner from those who respond to receive an autographed copy of my latest paperback release, Operation G-Spot…or another book, should you happen to have that one.

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 06:03:00 +0000

Party Post Number 24

When Denise Rossetti was a little girl, she had an aunt who would tell her the most wonderful fairy stories - all her own creation. Denise grew up, as little girls do, but the love of stories has never left her.

These days, she keeps busy writing erotic romance for Ellora's Cave. Denise tends to wave her hands around a lot, which can be unfortunate if the tale she's telling happens to have explosions in it!

www.deniserossetti.com

CELEBRATING ALL THE ANGLES

Life’s funny, isn’t it? You’re plodding along, perhaps you’re happy, perhaps you’re not, but out of the blue – SWOOSH, SWERVE! – the world as you know it takes a right-angled turn. On the other hand, sometimes we take the controls ourselves and wrench that wheel around to where we want to go.

Looking back, I was catapulted me into writing both ways. I’d always said, “One day I’ll write a book.” But I didn’t. *grin*

But five years ago – I don’t quite know why, except that I wasn’t happy at the time – something in my head went CLICK! (My head is a very loud place. In fact, anywhere within a few feet of me is noisy.) Seven months later, I finished that first novel. It lives in the sock drawer.

Last year, I signed with Ellora’s Cave to write erotic romance. I’ve been having a ton of naughty fun ever since. Because I’m me, I like to celebrate all life’s angles, and this one was a beauty! Being the original Material Girl, I sashayed right out and bought a charm bracelet. Every time I finish a new book, I buy another charm to represent it.

So far, I have a dragon for Gift of the Goddess (take a look at the cover), a book (actually it’s an encyclopedia) for Tailspin (you’d know why if you read it) and the laughing/crying comedy/tragedy masks for my story Come Howling in the latest Ellora’s Cavemen anthology. It’s about a banshee. She’s kinda loud too. Hmm, I discern a theme here…

I intend to buy lots and lots of charms. I mean it.

The most recent and most fabulous right-angled turn in my life has been a contract with one major print publisher for a four book fantasy series and a second for an erotic novella. To celebrate, I bought a pair of the highest, tartiest, sluttiest heels you’ve seen in your life. In red. Scarlet. With velvet bows. Go see – www.deniserossetti.com/bio. You’ll need to scroll down a tad. They just about give me a nose bleed and wreck my back, but I DON’T CARE! They’re my celebration!

I buy stuff cos I’m made that way. Sad, but true. What have you (or someone you know) done to celebrate the wonderful right-angled turns life has sent your way?

The best story wins a free download of any of my books. They’re listed here, with excerpts - www.deniserossetti.com. Two runners-up win signed, oversized, full colour postcards of my three covers, a full set of gorgeous guys. They’re on the same page, click for a bigger image. But put the coffee down first, okay?

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 06:02:00 +0000

SARA HANTZ'S WINNER IS...

....Pearl!

CONGRATULATIONS PEARL!!

Please email me at tesssa@ tessaradley.com to claim your prize.

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 06:02:00 +0000

TERRY MCLAUGHLIN'S WINNER IS...

...CAROL.

CONGRATULATIONS, Carol!!!

Please email me to claim your prize.

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 06:01:00 +0000

ROBYN DONALD'S WINNER IS...

TAMMY!!

CONGRATULATIONS TAMMY! Please email me to claim your prize!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:38:00 +0000

Party Post Number 23

PG FORTE inhabits a world that’s only slightly less strange than the ones she creates. Filled with serendipity, coincidence, love at first sight and dreams come true...it also bears an uncanny resemblance to Berkeley, California.

www.pgforte.com

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

So I have this gorgeous new cover for Waiting for the Big One, my first book with my new publisher, Liquid Silver Books, who has also (breaking news here!!) just contracted the second book in this series, Love, from A to Z.

And the series itself, lighter in tone, much shorter in length, is very different from anything I’ve done before––but, don’t just take my word for that, read the excerpts on my websites (oh, did I forget to mention ‘new website’ too?)www.pgforte.com and see for yourself.

All of which should mean I’m awash in newness. New cover, new publisher, new series, two new books...and yet.

The cover, to me, is also reminiscent of a series of poems I’d written...oh, a long time ago. Let’s not say how long, shall we? Suffice it to say: Not New. Different time, different beach, very different feel to the piece...

So what’s my point, you wonder? What does this very minor coincidence have to do with change or newness or...well, anything, really?

I dunno, maybe I’ve been in California too long. Maybe I have recycling in my blood now. But, as luck would have it, it turns out that I’ve used those old poems (one of which is copied below) as the genesis for yet another new series, currently in the planning stages, which I hope to begin actively working on by the end of the year.

AHTOL ISLAND

Passing the day’s long span
On this sliver of beach
Wishing to bleach my soul
White as the heat
Absolved in forgetfulness,
Calm as the tropical sea,
And as clear,
A mere shadow that slides over sand––
Shedding seaweed
As I would shed grief.

If only my heart had resolved,
With the pain,
Into adamant crystal.
Instead, it dissolved,
Like this friable sandstone,
Crumbled and failed
Until all that remains are these stark,
Sun-seared strands,
That are lost and lie pinned
Between dark-twin infinities
Sky and Sea, Life and Death,
Cool mirror-on-mirror, all image, no substance,
Reflecting the depths;
Reflecting the clouds that ride over the waves;
Reflecting the light which,
Refracting,
Splinters like glass on the rocks.

A true State of Grace lingers
Elsewhere––not here.
Where time, like unpolished silk,
Slips too slowly through sand callused fingers.
Where all, save my skin
And your memory,
Fades.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Comment on this post and you’ll be entered to win an unpolished silk scarf in beautiful Sensual-Ink pink. How's that for tying things up? Not that I'm suggesting you tie anyone (er, I mean, thing, of course!) up with this scarf. Right?

TESSA says: Click here to read more about Sensual Ink

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 12:39:00 +0000

Party Post Number 22

JULIE COHEN writes sexy, funny, emotional romance for Mills & Boon Modern Extra (Sexy Sensation in Australia) and for Headline Little Black Dress, and spends a lot of time laughing for no reason. Her next UK releases are ALL WORK AND NO PLAY... with Mills & Boon in June 2007, and ONE NIGHT STAND with Little Black Dress in November 2007 (August hardback).

FOUND IN TRANSLATION

One of the really thrilling things about being a Harlequin/Mills & Boon author is that your books are released in different countries. Usually you find out about this when a foreign edition comes in the post. For me this entails five minutes or so of delighted staring, trying to figure out from the cover and the unfamiliar title which book of mine it is. You can see easily by checking the copyright page or looking at the back cover for the characters' names, but I always try to guess. I'm horrendously bad at languages other than English, so this is a real brain strain for me.

The other game that's great fun is finding a particular scene and trying to work out how it's been translated. It's even more fun when it's a sex scene. I've found there's a world of difference. For example with my first book, FEATURED ATTRACTION, the Spanish edition, EL AMOR DE SUS SUENOS, has excised most of the sex scenes (and it's therefore a MUCH shorter book). The French edition, BRULANT FACE-A-FACE, has edited them some, but not as much as the Spanish. And the Italian edition (ATTRAZIONE EVIDENTE), as far as I can tell, keeps every last word. Maybe they even add some. Is this because of the individual translator, or because of different cultural preferences?

Vocabulary is another thing. I like to call a male sexual organ by its non-euphemistic name, and so, apparently, do the Italians. (I like the Italians.) But for the Spanish, my hero has a "miembro viril". And in French, it's "le sexe puissant".

I do wonder what sort of education I'm getting in foreign languages this way.

I haven't yet seen my book DELICIOUS in a foreign language, but it has been released in Australia and is currently available as an ebook on www.ebooks.com/. It's out in Germany in June and in the USA, with the title translated from English to--er--English as MACALLISTER'S BABY, in August. I've got a copy of the UK edition to give away to someone who leaves a comment below, preferably telling me how you'd translate the p-word into any other language...

WEBSITEwww.julie-cohen.com

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:12:00 +0000

PARTY POST NUMBER 21

Maxine's dream came true in January 2006 when she sold her first book to Silhouette Desire after trying for publication for over 20 years. She can be contacted at www.maxinesullivan.com

SUDDENLY...

Five things I've noticed now that I've gone from being unpublished to published:

1. SUDDENLY... everybody wants to hear what I have to say. More importantly, they actually listen. Of course, I DO have more interesting things to talk about these days.

2. SUDDENLY... I'm Grammar Girl. If there's a question about grammar, everyone expects me to know the answer.

3. SUDDENLY... I'm J.K. Rowling and everyone thinks I'm raking in the dollars. I tell them that it's like winning the lottery - without the money.

4. SUDDENLY... every single person I've ever met wants a free copy of my book, including the pizza delivery boy.

5. SUDDENLY... everyone wants to know the secret of my overnight success.
{See Maxine's Bio *g*}

What is it about a cover that appeals to you most? I'll choose from the answers and someone will receive a copy of The Tycoon's Blackmailed Mistress.

Maxine's second Desire "The Tycoon's Blackmailed Mistress" is a May 07 release

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 08:05:00 +0000

ABBY GREEN'S WINNER IS...

....CHRISTA!!

Congratulations and Happy Reading, Christa!

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 03:14:00 +0000

Party Post Number 20

Sara Hantz started writing young adult fiction after she ran out of degrees to study. She decided it was much more fun to make things up than comment on the theoretical musings of dry academics. Born in England, she moved to New Zealand a few years ago, in search of sun, sand and surf (not that she's ever been on a surfboard). THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN (Flux, September 2007) is Sara's first novel.

NEW STARTS

It’s wonderful to see how many authors from New Zealand and Australia are selling books across the world. And how these places as settings are now so popular. My book landed on the editor’s desk just at the time when he wanted to branch out and give his readers a taste of a different culture. Though, at the time he didn’t realize I was a Brit, living in New Zealand with a book set in Australia!

In my book, THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN, Suzy goes through many changes and her mantra for helping deal with them is:
New state.
New school.
New start.
I’d love to hear about any life changes you made, and how you dealt with them. A souvenir of New Zealand will wing its way to the winner.

THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN (Flux, September 2007) www.sarahantz.com

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:55:00 +0000

ANNIE WEST'S WINNER IS...

....LOIS!

CONGRATULTIONS!

Please contact me on tessa @tessaradley.com to claim your prize!

CONTESTS STILL RUNNING:
Abby Green - to be drawn shortly
Robyn Donald
Sara Hantz
Maxine Sullivan

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:55:00 +0000

ANNA CAMPBELL'S WINNERS ARE...

ANNA SAYS: I had a hard time picking my favourite comments because they were all so great! And that all the shameless pleading made me smile but didn't shake my principles ::snort!::

COURTING THE COURTESAN goes to Cherie j

And the gorgeous coverflats to Carol, Ladyvampire and Ellie.

Ladies, please email me to claim your prizes at tessa @tessaradley.com

noreply@blogger.com (Tessa Radley) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:30:00 +0000

Party Post Number 19

Robyn Donald trained as a teacher – which is probably why she teaches writing with Daphne Clair in between producing her own books – 74 at last count, with another waiting in the wings.

It’s lovely to be here, not only to celebrate Tessa’s book with her, but to admire the cover – especially the hero!

One of the things I really enjoy about reading is meeting old friends from previous books, something I discovered in one of my all-time favourites, Georgette Heyer’s An Infamous Army. Naturally, I’ve followed in the magnificent Georgette’s footsteps. It’s been fun allowing my previous heroes and heroines little cameo appearances in later books. Virgin Bought and Paid For, out some time next year, even stars the son of the protagonists in my second book, Dilemma In Paradise.

I get letters from readers who say they enjoy meeting people again five, ten sometimes fifteen years after their stories have been told. I often wonder why they are so popular.

Equally enjoyable to me, are linked stories, like my trilogy set in Illyria – By Royal Demand, The Rich Man’s Royal Mistress, and The Prince’s Convenient Bride - stories about royal siblings. Again, I’m not able to pin down exactly what makes these books so much fun to read, but if you have any ideas on why you enjoy books that are linked in some way, I’d really like to hear them.

www.robyndonald.com
I can also be found at: www.harlequinpresents.com