No Internet, O Noes!

Dear Romanistas,

A quick note to say that I'll be offline for the most part for the next few days. Our cable modem and network router blew out yesterday. Apparently, live-blogging the Oscars using the wi-fi and Internet while the electric egg beater was turned on caused the electronic catastrophe. REALLY!! I couldn't make this up; my imagination isn't that fantastic. :)

Perhaps not being plugged in and online for the next few days will turn out to be a blessing. Well, right now, it feels like the apocalypse, but I'm sure my conscience (AKA Amanda McCabe, Anna Campbell, and Diane Gaston) will agree that this is a good thing, because — Keira.will.get.some.writing.done.finally!

Tragically yours,
Keira

A Glamorous Day in the Life of an Aspiring Writer

6:00
"Mama, I need to go potty." My alarm clock just went off. Hubby rolls over and burrows into the covers.

6:30
Negotiations over whether to do yoga stretches first or homework first. I insist milk and cuppa tea first. Meditate for five minutes—gosh, that really felt like the full thirty minutes.

7:45
Roust Hubby, who should've woken up a while ago, reluctantly from bed. Put snack and lunch together. Breakfast.

8:30
Hubby not ready yet, drop kid off to school. Elect to skip today's Yoga/Curves, because didn't get enough rest in the night, feel twinges in the back, oh-goodness-so-much-to-do stress.

9:00
Enconse myself in the study armed with a fresh cuppa tea—coconut or lychee if the day outside is especially cold/wet/dreary/all-of-the-above. It's Seattle.

10:00
I meant to be writing an hour ago, but spent it chatting online. Justify the online romp as necessary to cajoling self into good mood. Ponder how some writers get so much done. Send them admiring e-mails.

10:30
Run a load of laundry. Start the dishwasher. Run the pressure cooker, because kid doesn't like the loud sound of the whistle.

11:00
Ignore sandwich hollering my name and determinedly walk back upstairs to the study.

11:30
Researching online was great fun, but hard, hungry work. Head downstairs and make sandwich. Switch laundry from washer to dryer. Double-check that the pressure cooker was indeed turned off half an hour ago and hasn't exploded with food on the ceiling. Proceed to eat sandwich, while discussing with various other aspiring and newbie writers about the writing life, points on craft, etiquette about entering contests, and the potential list of workshops and outfits for the National conference.

12:30
Realize have a long list of chores to do today. Accomplish those outside chores by driving around like a lunatic and racing down store aisles like they're going out of style. Pick kid up from school.

2:30
Take kid on playdate. Wait in a cold car, thankful for book in purse.

4:30
Return home. Chat with kid. Play. Fold laundry. Put dishes away. Cook. Harangue kid to do some homework. Manipulate kid into reading one book by promising to read one book back. Surf online to catch up on all the goings-on I've missed in the afternoon. Facebook for the 6th time. Tweet for the 17th time.

6:00
Dinner and bath. One final round of the web. Realize back's now stabbing pain. Take meds. Regret that didn't get much writing done today. Think again of those super-organized, super-disciplined writers. Read one of their books. Hope hardworking ability and storytelling talent passes by osmosis from book to palm to blood to brain.

9:00
Meditate with eyes closed. Lying down just puts body at ease, so mind is free to concentrate on mantra.

11:45
Wake up with a start to find bedroom lights blazing, book open facedown on chest, and Hubby working away on his laptop on the easy chair. Stagger from bed to kid's bedroom, take kid to bathroom, brush my teeth, stagger back into bed, grumbling to Hubby to sleep soon.

The 81st Academy Awards

At three o'clock (USPT), that is in less than half an hour, the Red Carpet show of the 2009 Oscars will start outside the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and I'll start live-blogging the 81st spectacle at Candice Hern's Board. Will your eyes be glued to your telly and your bum to your couch? Mine will be, as my fingers fly trying to comment on everything I'm watching. Do come and join us Bluestockings in The Manor.

To smooth your welcome, here's a drink recipe from Oscar himself.

The Red Carpet Fizz
1/2 oz Pomegranate Juice
1/3 oz Orange Liquor
Add Fresh Raspberries
Top with Moët & Chandon White Star Champagne

Harlequin Romance Report 2009

Through its annual global online survey this year, Harlequin conducted a study in which people revealed how their perceptions have changed regarding what is sexy, what they've secretly been fantasizing about, and how far they are willing to go for love in this new era. The results are summarized in their 2009 Romance Report: Perfect Love? Fantasy Meets Reality.

Perfect Love

North Americans...
Thirty-nine percent of North American men believe perfect love is best represented through television shows and movies, but 36% of women fi nd their perfect love aspirations within the pages of romance novels. Our survey also reveals examples of perfect love in our everyday lives. Twenty-seven percent of men find it in their
friends’ relationships and 21% of women see their parents as the best representation of perfect love.

International...
We want to believe in the possibility of finding our one true love, but is this a fantastical notion? We are torn. Only half of women (51%) and men (52%) surveyed believe in the concept of perfect love. The vast majority of Australian men (91%) believe in perfect love, while their female counterparts (55%) are more sceptical. In India, both men and women strongly believe in the concept, while women in Hong Kong and Ireland are more jaded, with more than 80% admitting they are non-believers.

Fantasy Better Than Reality

North Americans....
What happens if one of your fantasies becomes a reality? Is it as magical as you imagined, or are you left feeling defl ated and wanting? Just over a third of North Americans who had the opportunity to meet their celebrity love interests were disappointed—39% of men and 34% of women—while one in three men and one in four women did not feel the expected spark after having sex with a stranger.

International...
There must be something sexy about a man in a well-tailored suit. Half of the women in Belgium and one in three women in the UK fantasize most about businessmen. Thanks to the stars of Mad Men, the skinny tie has never looked so good. A quarter of Australian women revealed their desire for a man in uniform (firefighters/policemen), French women (71%) lust after doctors, German women (67%) crave athletes, and Italian women have many objects of affection including all of the above. Our survey revealed that Australian men (46%), Canadian men (32%), and Dutch men (29%) lust after the sweet-tempered, wholesome girl next door. Models and actresses are still a treasured male fantasy for half the men in France and the UK.

Happy Harlequin Day!

I'm featured in my very own Harlequin story. Here's the back cover copy:

Wealthy Tycoon Hubby never thought his morning jog in the exotic Caribbean would draw him into a ring of cold-blooded killers. Or that one of the murder suspects would be Keira Soleore—the hopelessly romantic, half-conscious woman he found washed up on the beach… dressed in the clothes of an award-winning writer and dripping blood.

"Trust no one" was all the brainy femme fatale remembered. But as her memory of that night came back, so did an overwhelming fear and the feeling that she was in serious danger. With nowhere else to turn, she had to trust Hubby with her life. And in an unguarded moment, he seemed willing to trust her with his darkest secret.

But how long could they keep their mutual lust in check?

Heh. Enjoyed that? You can be featured in your very own story, too.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, Harlequin and Sony have teamed up to provide six months of special deals, a special embossed cover, and 17 free books. Harlequin is also offering 20% off all books every day, plus free shipping on all orders over $25. They're also giving away 16 free eBooks. For the month of February, save 40% off on all Kimani books. If you find yourself in New York City on May 29, visit the Openhouse Galley, where Harlequin is sponsoring an exhibition of original cover art.

Join the Harlequin mail-order readers progam and get two books free. With every book order, Harlequin sends you two bonus bucks. These bonus bucks are later redeemable for your choice of free books or free gifts. Fridays are one free featured book day with your order. Save $4 off your first print book order any day of the week.

On Valentine's Day weekend, save an additional 14% off every book in your order, plus you'll automatically get the sexy Presents title The Markonos Bride absolutely free as well as a free eBook compiled especially for V-Day called A Valentine for Harlequin's Anniversary by Catherine Mann.

A Feb the 14th Special from Nora Roberts, about Inn Boonsboro, her inn in Maryland with a literary romance theme for each of the rooms. (Link to the video.)

Spread the Love

The Romance Writers of Australia is launching a book appeal as they know many affected families who have lost everything in the devestating bush fires that swept southern Australia last week. Books will not be high on their list of necessities for some time to come. But these amazing Australian writers also know how valuable books can be in providing time out when reality gets tough.

So with the aid of some wonderful volunteers, they've put together a Romance Writers of Australia Bushfire Book Appeal and are looking for FICTION BOOKS. Romance books, children's books, genre books, literary fiction, whatever — either new or in sparkling condition. Feel free to pop a note inside, or if you're the author, sign the book.

If any of you have books you'd be willing to donate — it's expensive mailing them overseas, though, but they'd be so grateful to have them — please send them to:

RWA Bushfire Book Appeal
c/- 89 Rennie St
Thornbury Vic 3071
Australia

"The books will be boxed and delivered to the appropriate neighbourhood centres, community centres, and libraries in batches as soon as practicable. With thanks from Anne Gracie, Romance Writers of Australia Inc., and all our Australian friends."