(and fans and commenters)…

I'm going to be in your area next week for a workshop for a local writers group, and MaryKate (our own pom-pom carrying Max fan) has agreed to help me put together a very casual "meet and greet." 

So, I'm going to be at the coffee shop at the Barnes & Noble in Tysons Corner, VA, on Wednesday, June 11, 7-8:30 pm.

This isn't a B&N sponsored event; I'm just going to hang out and chat with MK and whoever else wants to show up, get their books signed, get bookmarks…and get a chance to win an ARC of When Twilight Burns. *wink* I'm also buying drinks for whoever shows up.

So, if you're in the area, stop by and say hi. I'd love to meet you!

I just found the cover for the Spanish version of The Rest Falls Away on a Spanish website! Isn't it lovely? I absolutely adore it!

Heh. I'm not sure of the release date–it might already be available. More when I hear.

But wow on the cover, huh? 

Very exciting news here in Colleen Land.

A few months ago, my friend Janet Mullany (author of Rules of Gentility, a very smart, very witty, slightly dirty Regency-set chick-lit romance) invited me to join her and author Susan Krinard in putting together an anthology of novellas. We wanted to find a "headliner," so to speak, and Sue managed to convince the amazing Mary Balogh (!!) to join us.

Talk about a headliner!

Anyway, yesterday, a final deal with HQN (a line at Harlequin/Silhouette) was struck, and so I'm going to be in an anthology with the one and only Mary Balogh…along with the fabulous Sue and Janet. I looooove Mary's books (my favorite is No Man's Mistress), so this is just as exciting for me as being in an anthology with Roberta Gellis!

And here's the cool thing: the tentative title of the anthology is Bespelling Jane and the theme that will pull all four novellas together is…wait for it…paranormal twists on Jane Austen books.

Sweet, huh?

I'm going to do a historically-set novella about Northanger Abbey (what could be better than a gothic romance with a vampire slayer?). Ms. Balogh is doing Persuasion (also historical), Janet is doing Emma (contemporary), and Sue is also doing contemporary–Blood & Prejudice.

I'm delighted. I don't know anything about a release date yet, but I'll keep you posted. 

More news to come! Things are just hopping here in Colleen Land. 

Me, that is.

Thanks so much to my guest bloggers who came by and kept everyone entertained while I was in Pittsburgh. I really appreciate it, and it appears that the regulars (and lurkers) did too.

Thought I'd post a couple pics from the Vampire Ball–nothing really exciting but you get the idea.

(Don't you love the boots?)

I'll write more on the convention later, but here's the two sentence overview:

BIGGEST EXCITEMENT: Having a one-on-one cup of tea with one of my all-time favorite authors, Roberta Gellis! What a treat to chat with her for nearly an hour. 

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: I didn't see hide nor hair of Fabio. (So, no picture, Binger.) Wahh!

So, more later when I get some pictures and have more energy to write.

And, now, in the category of Newsy News…

While I was in Pittsburgh, I received an email with the cover for my first UK release, coming soon from Allison & Busby.

Isn't it gorgeous? I absolutely love it!

(And do you realize that that's got to be Phillip on the front with Vic? Poor Phillip.)

So that's all the news that's good for now. More later when I catch up on my sleep.

So I've been teasing you with a bit o' good news for awhile now, and I can at last share one thing. There is more to come, so stay tuned.

This week's good news is that a German publisher has bought the first three Gardella books and so they will be released in Germany in the next year or so. I don't have any other details at this time–it was a quick email from my agent, who is in London for the Spring Book Fair–but yay! If I knew how to say yippee in German, I would! (Anyone? Bueller? Jan???)

And since it's Friday, that means it's time to 'fess up!

Since Earth Day is coming upon us shortly, put on your Green Hats and 'fess up about what you do or don't do to help the environment. 

Today's topic is: recycling.

I must say, I am the Recycle Queen. For a family of five, we have very little garbage because I recycle everything I can, even stuff that our waste removal people don't pick up (we take it to a recycle center once every few months or so–like when the pile of pizza boxes in the garage gets out of control).

Each week, we roll our big garbage cart down to the road for pickup and it's usually barely half full. For a family of five!

Now it's your turn. 'Fess up, now! How often do you…

…recycle takeout boxes from restaurants?

…compost?

…recycle cereal, prepared food, pizza, tissue, etc., boxes?

…clean out your cans and remove labels when you recycle?