Roses of Prose Launch Today

Find out why spring started out bumpy for Keats and me: http://www.rosesofprose.blogspot.com

And find out how you can win a dozen roses!

The Way Back Home

It's official--Tamra Westberry cover design for The Way Back Home, a Wayback, TX print anthology coming soon to The Wild Rose Press! No release date yet, but as soon as the galleys go through post production, Abbey, Marguerite, and I should have a date! I'll keep you posted ;)

An Amazing Reference

I admit, I haven't been writing much lately. The start of my second paranormal may be postponed another week or so. My Wayback editor informs me edits will start soon for Bluest Heart. I haven't recieved a cover yet, but it seems Wayback cover artist Tamra Westberry's been working on the print anthology cover which now has a title: The Way Back Home. Fitting since Abbey, Marguerite, and my stories all have a "coming home" theme in common. I was fortunate enough to get a glimspe of the cover last night. As always with Tamra, it's gorgeous and I can't wait to share! Until then, I wanted to mention the latest research gem I've uncovered.

Many writers may know this but Lee Lofland, a nationally acclaimed expert on police procedure and crime-scene investigation as well as a former police detective and writer, wrote a reference guide called Howdunit Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers. I'm two-thirds of the way into it and my research standby pen, notepad, and highlighter have been very busy! Lofland gives the reader an intricately detailed and fascinating inside guide to law enforcement. I've learned all about the police academy, officer duty and equipment, detectives, arrest and search procedures, the differences between homicide, murder and manslaughter, (real) crime scene investigation, fingerprinting, DNA, autopsy (eek!), drugs, courts and the legal process, prisons/jails, and SO much more. Lofland also gives personal accounts of his experiences as a police officer and a detective, reminding us how very human law enforcement officials are behind the badge or uniform. Thanks to Mr. Lofland, I've compiled tons of notes and ideas for my next WIP. Before I read Howdunit, I knew little to nothing about police procedure. Now I feel like I've got my procedural ducks in a row and as soon as I'm finished reading and notetaking, I can't wait to dive into the heads of my hero and heroine (NYPD homicide detectives) with confidence.

Also important to note from this book is the responsibility of the author of any book on law enforcement to get the day-to-day police procedure and investigative procedure right. A whole chapter is dedicated to the consequence of shows like CSI and nearly every other popular crime series on television that feature cops doing things that they normally would never do. For example, serving Miranda rights as a suspect is handcuffed. Miranda rights aren't served until later when the suspect is interrogated. Definitely a good thing to know. BAM buy link for Howdunit: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781582974552?id=4310212939685

More details on Bluest Heart and The Way Back Home coming soon, I'm sure! And I've done a draft of my new book trailer for A Summer's Hope. I'm still counting down to ASH's release on May 27! Check back soon for the video, too!

Kiss me...I Really Am Irish!!!

Aye, tis the day when the green hills, the blarney stone, and a tall glass of Guinness call me home to Ireland. I really am Irish, I promise. Somewhere on my dad's side...and possibly my mom's though there's a wee bit of an argument as to whether they're really Scottish or not. Anyway, the point is I've got SOME Irish blood in me and YES, I celebrate St. Patty's Day, thank you very much!!!

To anyone who loves Ireland, I highly recommend Nora Roberts' Irish trilogies. Born in Fire, Born in Ice, and Born in Shame was her first. But before those I read Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, and Heart of the Sea and fell in love with not just Ireland but its people as well. Or like me you could just read her J.D. Robb In Death series and fawn over Roarke.... I'm so re-reading Naked in Death. Like right now!

Ah...I love me some Irish :)

Want a taste of Ireland? Visit Nora's travelogues on adwoff. Here's a lady who knows a little something about The Green Isle: http://adwoff.com/nora-travelogues/ireland2004/.

And...ahem...am I the only one who got really giddy to see the trailers for Nora's new movies? (http://www.noraroberts.com/movie2009.htm) But, hey, where's Roarke?

Blog Talk and Contests and Short Stories, OH MY!

Where have I been? *ahem* Around, I promise. And I can prove it! Terribly sorry that I haven't been keeping up-to-date on web appearances, but here's all you could possibly want to know about where Amber promoted in February:

I had the privilege of appearing on fellow Red Rose author Kim Smith's Blog Talk Radio "Introducing Writers". She was nice enough to conduct my first radio interview. After five minutes of intense nausea, I overcame my new medium anxiety and had a lot of fun talking about Fox & Hound, its January print release, and writing in general. Here's a link to the entire 30-minute interview: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/KimS/page/1

You won't believe it, but I buckled down and entered a contest: the Manic Readers "Men in Uniform" contest. Winners of each round get to submit their full manuscript to NAL's Becky Vinter. On a lark, I submitted an excerpt from my historical and it is up officially for voting in Round 2. All entries are anonymous, but *wink* I'm #5. If you'd like to vote, here's the link for the Manic Readers home page, scroll down to "Contests" and hit the "Vote here" button. Log-in is required: http://www.manicreaders.com/. Warning: all entries are STEAMY!!!

Speaking of steamy, Todd and Celestia from Fox & Hound have made a bit of a comeback in a short story entitled "Honeymoon Recon" which has appeared in All Romance eBooks "Wildfire" newsletter. No voting or download required, I promise! If you'd like to visit Todd and Celestia again, the newsletter can be viewed for free at ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/newsletter161-2009-03-08.html. Scroll past the interviews to read "Honeymoon Recon."

And look to the Authors Studio this week for my article on the importance of setting in plotting which will also soon appear on the Media page of my website: http://authorsstudio.blogspot.com/2009/03/locationlocationlocation-guest-blogger.html.

Oh, and I must mention that February 28th marked the one-year anniversary of my debut novel's e-release! Happy birthday, Fox & Hound!!!