I can see why these guys won. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as impressed by Susan Boyle as everyone else, and she’s going to be rich and famous regardless…but wow, this is awesome! Can you imagine being able to move like that?

[had to take the video down, it was acting up, I'm guessing because of some copyright issue...sorry if you missed it]

The best part about this book release (no, I won’t talk about it forever but I may talk about it all week )has been connecting with friends and family I either haven’t seen in years, haven’t been close to even though I have seen them, or didn’t realize they’d give a bleep and finding out that they do.

There is so much talk about the public’s negative response to romance (I repeat, *talk*–the industry’s profits paint quite a different picture), but I have to say, I’ve received close to a hundred kind and supportive emails over the past couple of days. The messages from writers, while no less fun to read, are not as surprising because they understand what it takes to get here and why it’s such a big deal. But I’ve been shocked more than once by a note from someone I expected would roll his/her eyes and move on (and for that I’m a witch who has no faith in people! *blush*).

Here and there, I’ve heard writers say they get no support from family or have husbands who think it’s a hobby and tell them to quit wasting time. (Gasp! Draw up the divorce papers!) I must know a lot of rockin’ people because I’m getting nothing but love–and since ninety-five percent of an author’s time is spent slaving over the keyboard, it’s nice to spend the other five celebrating instead of trying to convince people I do have a real job/write real books.

Adding to the coolness are the readers I’ve just met, who are excited to read the book and are willing to pay hard-earned money for it–imagine how wonderful that is when, again, most of a writer’s time is spent hearing an editor say that something in the plot doesn’t quite cut it and needs to be reworked. Not that it’s a bad thing–rejection and revision are part of the job and make for better books. But oh, to know there are people out there who read for enjoyment and don’t pick the thing apart! Blissful sigh…

So thanks, y’all!

(P.S. Sexy has moved from #8 to #6 to #5 on the bestseller list! I know this won’t last, but I’m eating it up while it does. Gotta celebrate every bit of positive news in this business. )

Thanks to everyone who supported me yesterday, Sexy by Design made today’s MBaM Top 10 Bestseller list! Thank you so much and keep it up!

And the free book winners are…*Drum roll please*

From Sizzling Pens–Caffey!
From Muse Interrupted–Pat D!

Drop me an email or leave a note on my contact page with your email address and preferred e-book format and I’ll get your copy to you asap. To all who commented–thanks for playing!

It’s here!! Sexy by Design is available today! (Buy it here)

Here I am, with a gorgeous gift from my husband–at the surprise release party my family and friends threw for me over the weekend! What an exciting few days it’s been, making the years of work so worth it.

Sexy trivia…

Years spent writing before contract offer: five

Manuscript order: two of seven

Months of wait time between submission and acceptance: three

Rounds of revisions from first draft: three

Title changes from first draft: three

(I’m sensing a pattern here…)

Awards won: four, including two Golden Heart finals (yay!)

Love scenes: three…I think

F-bombs: one (dare you to look for it)

Now for the goodies!

I’m guest blogging today with the Sizzling Pens and Cindy Procter-King, and commenting on either site will enter you in a drawing for a copy of the book (winners announced Wednesday). Each post is unique and you can drop by both places for two shots at the prize.

I’m also hanging out at the Samhain blog.

But wait–there’s more! To win a $30 gift card to your choice of Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com, send an email to avery @ averybeck . com (no spaces) by June 9 and tell me the name of Bree’s favorite drink…many of which I enjoyed this weekend to celebrate!

(Go ahead, say it ten times fast.)

For reasons I will reveal in a few days, my weekend escaped me. One minute it was Friday afternoon, the next it was 11:00 on Sunday night and I’d completely forgotten about a guest blog I’m doing…well, I’ll be there later today, I suppose, seeing as it’s the middle of the night as I write this. Basically, an hour before the thing was due to post, I didn’t have a clue. I had no idea Monday had come already. I never miss deadlines and I feel like a dolt for nearly being a no-show. Less than 24 hours before release day. **headache**

Thankfully, I’m not a complete procrastinator and I had the post ready to go, so I did show–so head over to the Sizzling Pens blog, home of six wonderful ladies who write for Harlequin, Samhain, and NAL. I’m discussing bizarre dates (re: men, not the calendar) and giving away a book! What better way to spend a Monday?

(And let’s not forget Tuesday, where I’ll be all over the place and handing out more stuff…more on that tomorrow!)

Happy Memorial Day to everyone in the States!