Release Day Schedule!!!

It's release day! A Summer's Hope is now officially available in e-book and print from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes&Noble.com! *squeeee*

Join me for a chat at LoveRomances Cafe at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. I'll be there all day posting excerpts and discussing ASH, Blackest Heart, Fox & Hound, Denied Origin, and sharing some very big news about The Way Back Home anthology! I'd love to see you there!

Also yesterday I guested at Rose Marie Wolf's blog. View an exclusive excerpt and get the inside scoop on the place that inspired Briar and Cole's story.

Since I've somehow managed to be in two places at once, I do believe I'm also guesting at the LRC blog today!

I have to say that today's release coincides with a very, very, very special event in my personal life. Three years ago today, Dh and I were married under a jasmine-strewn awning and the most perfect blue sky! Here's to us, love of mine! If there is one story that reminds me of you, it's A Summer's Hope. It's only right that its publication should occur with this milestone in our lives!

Free Giveaway!

Head on over to The Roses of Prose to win a free download of Fox & Hound today to celebrate my May birthday! Contest ends at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard!

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!!!

Holiday Love Affair Blog Fest & Romantic Notions Booksigning

This week will be a busy one. So everyone knows where all the fun stuff will be happening, starting Monday and continuing through the whole week of Valentine's Bragging Rights Unleashed (http://braggingritesunleashed.blogspot.com/) will be hosting Holiday Love Affair. I'll be one of the contributors and Fox & Hound will be one of the door prizes! Tomorrow will be a "Meet the Author" theme, Tuesday readers will get to meet the characters. (And yes, Todd from F&H will be making an appearance *wink*) Wednesday will be juicy with excerpts. Thursday is a day for announcements and upcoming events in which I will be announcing some BIG news. Don't miss it!

Wednesday, February 11th I'll be attending my first booksigning called Romantic Notions at the Foley Public Library from 6-8 p.m. Other featured authors include Cynthia Eden (http://www.cynthiaeden.com/), Bess McBride (http://www.bessmcbride.com/), and Allison Knight (http://www.allisonknight.com/). For more information, visit the library's website: http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/bookletter/showlist.html?sid=5332&list=CNL1. I'll be selling and signing copies of Denied Origin and Fox & Hound. Hope to see you there!

And Today's Winner Is...

Congrats, Stacey, you've won the drawing for a free e-copy of Fox & Hound! Please email me at ringletz@bellsouth.net to claim your prize. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. I enjoyed reading your comments and the links to your favorite Valentine's commericials. I hope your stop by For the Love of Writing was enjoyable enough to bring you back another day :)

If you missed your chance to win Fox & Hound, there's more fun to be had at Red Rose Publishing. Enter the February Book Lottery at RRP (http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/extra_info_pages.php?pages_id=16). Answer the questions from selected site's blurbs or excerpts and you'll be in the drawing for your choice of one of twelve print books. Fox & Hound is on the February list of prizes! Follow the link for contest and details.

And for those of you who like prizes, there's more to be had every day this month with Romancing February, continuing tomorrow at Ann Campbell's blog: http://anncampbellsromance.blogspot.com/. Don't forget to keep track of all 28 authors who host a day of Romancing February in order to win a $75 gift card from The Wild Rose Press!

Romancing February Kick-Off!!!

Ready to party? I’m thrilled to be kicking off the Romancing February blog tour here at For the Love of Writing. OMG—is it February already? Wow and yay! Though it’s a bit nippier than anyone on the Gulf Coast anticipated, the sun’s shining and this month we celebrate my favorite holiday!

I knew Valentine’s Day was special even before I had someone special to celebrate it with. It always gave me the same wonderful, tingly anticipation that reminds me of golden champagne bubbles rushing to the surface. Still I smile over the elementary school days when everyone got a white paper bag with their name for cards and candy. Being the sappy sentimental sort, I saved mine, of course…the bags and the cards ;) Valentine’s Day is also the anniversary of that sweet moment exactly three years ago when my DH got down on his knee and proposed. Even at that moment when I said “Yes!” I had no idea he and I would grow together as perfectly and strongly as we have.

Yet as the years have passed, I’ve come to understand what Valentine’s is all about. I love flowers. I really, really do. Almost as much as I love flowers, I love those heart candies and the big red heart-shaped lollipops. And jewelry…well, a girl can never have enough of it…especially in regard to diamonds. I do love me some diamonds. But let’s blink the stars from our eyes and think for a moment. What’s all the fuss about to begin with?

The most popular legend goes like this: in the third century, a Roman emperor by the name of Claudius outlawed marriages for young men, his prospective soldiers, determined in his belief that it would make his army more powerful without distraction or weakness. When it was discovered that a priest called Valentine was still marrying young lovers on the sly, he was sentenced to death. In honor of that noble sacrifice, he was later martyred by the Christian church as Saint Valentine. I’d say he earned a day to be celebrated in his name!

The History Channel seems to have gone all out for February with movie guides, trivia, videos, and games. You can join the fun and learn more about the history of Valentine’s at http://www.history.com/minisites/valentine/. I enjoyed reading quotes, love letters from presidents, and a list of the greatest couples throughout history.

Okay, now that the lesson’s over we can move onto the fun! In February 2003 while watching my favorite television show The Bachelorette (Trista and Ryan 4-eva!), a DeBeers diamond commercial aired. Since, I haven’t been able to get enough of them! Here’s my five favorite DeBeers commercials (some of these are probably familiar :)

#5—I Forever Do (a.k.a. “Steps”)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhK66_Szx8

#4—Morning Surprisehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-jOjK003Yk

#3—Stand By Mehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plg7Uw9NeDY

#2—Love Rockshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFxu1OtG-cc

#1—Declarationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXnDAPOxIKw

Anybody else have chills? I’m enjoying an early bubbly champagne moment. *BG* All right, I promised a prize. Comment to this post, tell me about your favorite real-life Valentine’s moment or even link your favorite Valentine’s commercial. At the end of the day I’ll draw names for the big prize, a free e-copy of my debut novel, romantic adventure Fox & Hound:

In the world's most romantic city, fates collide in the most unexpected way and two of the world's most elusive jewel thieves are forever changed by a Louvre heist gone wrong.

After three years in prison, Todd goes after the woman who ruined his life, seeking revenge and the diamond she stole from him. He learns that Celestia doesn't have the diamond either. She was used by her partner, master thief Tito Bandero.

Todd and Celestia form an unlikely partnership to take back what is theirs and redeem themselves. Bandero is planning to steal three of the world's most coveted diamonds, but the ones he wronged—Fox and Hound—plot to take them first.

What Todd and Celestia don't count on? The power of attraction. When the quest grows dangerous, which will they choose: payback or each other?

“Outstanding Read” —Simply Romance

“Smokin’ hot!” —Long & Short Reviews

Paris, romance, diamonds, a hot Texan hero capable of charming a stubborn lady like Celestia down to her toes… February’s looking a little warmer already!

For commenters who wish to post anonymously, please leave a name. I will post again after ten o’clock central time tonight to announce the winner so stop back by. To continue Romance February’s month-long party and win more prizes (and have a chance to win a $75-dollar gift card from The Wild Rose Press at the end of the month), be sure to follow the fun to fellow romance author Ann Campbell’s blog tomorrow:

http://anncampbellsromance.blogspot.com

HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!

Book Lottery Starting Tomorrow at RRP

Fox & Hound is included in the Book Lottery at Red Rose Publishing this month. Answer the questions (Fox & Hound is #4) by following the links to the book excerpts and author websites for a chance to win a free print book from the list below:

Feathers on the Wind (Camille Anthony)

An Open Lure (RaeLynn Blue)

Bare Bones (Aline de Chevigny)

Destiny's Love Song (Debbie Fritter)

Mountain's Echo (Debbie Gould)

La Petite Mort (Carolyn Gregg)

The Ballet (Melissa Glisan)

Unspeakable (Kayleigh Jamison)

Sexual Secrets (Nicole Pierce)

Choices (Mary A. Pope)

Dangerous Bet: Troy's Revenge (Marie Rochelle)

When Mariah Smiles (Delores Walker)

Look at all those great pickings! Entries are open through the entire month of January and it's fun and easy! Just email your name, answers, print choice, and mailing address to contests@redrosepublishing.com, subject line "Print Contest January" and you're in the lottery. The winner will be chosen on February 1st! Here's the link:

http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/contest_jan.php

I also must mention that ALL BOOKS AT RRP ARE HALF-OFF on New Years Day! For those of you who would like to purchase Fox & Hound, tomorrow would be a great day to do so ;)

Red Rose Publishing: http://www.redrosepublishing.com

Fox & Hound buy page: http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?cPath=23_73&products_id=114

Check back soon! Your favorite jewel thieves are going to print! Release date forthcoming!

4-Star Review from Manic Readers!!!

4 Star Review from Manic Readers for steamy romantic adventure Fox & Hound!!!

“Fox & Hound is a debut novel by writer Amber Leigh Williams. It is an intricate tale with many different twists and turns not only in the relationship between the protagonists and the protagonists' families, but also in the plotting and execution of the thefts. I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to figure out what was coming next, especially when I was wrong and ended up completely surprised. This story is a wonderful debut by this promising new author.”
Read the full review: http://manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews&bookid=1114

See the Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p6cFp91cUY

Meet the Hero:
http://mycharacters.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

Fox & Hound available now at http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?cPath=23_73&products_id=114

On My Shelf...

While I'm waiting for edits on Blackest Heart to start and anticipating my new cover, I've started writing the sequel to Fox & Hound. My hero is a private investigator who does a family friend a favor by looking into the case of the heroine's missing father. When I started the story, I realized I had a big problem. I didn't know much about private investigating and didn't have a clue where to go for the answers other than my Encarta Enclyclopedia (which was no help at all in this case) and the Reference section of my local bookstore.

What I found: The Private Investigator's Handbook: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Protect Yourself, Get Justice, or Get Even by professional PI Chuck Chambers. This handy, easy-to-read manual gives the curious reader a step-by-step guide for catching a cheating spouse, uncovering hidden assets, tailing and tracking a mark, using the Internet to get information, protecting your privacy, preparing an intelligence file, finding and preserving legal evidence and loads of other relevant, clever bits in between.

Chambers also has a website for his investigative agency (http://www.chambersagency.com/) for more information about his work, where to buy his book, and some pretty awesome links. For example, SpyGear4U.com where professionals go to buy high-tech security and surveillance products such as a hidden ear camera (looks just like a cell phone ear mic)!

Just thought I'd share my new discovery and recommend it to anyone who needs help researching private eyes or anyone who needs some trusty advice. Good stuff!