Michelle Monkou, author with Kimani Romance, on my blog today
Category: Blogging

Check out my blog today as I am joined by Kimani Romance author, Michelle Monkou. Her books include Open Your Heart, Finders Keepers, and her April 2008 release, No One But You.

Come and check her out on my first Guest Blogger Tuesday!

http://www.marianne lacroix.com/

Mari

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Beware Pittsburgh Hilton Package Room
Current mood: infuriated
Category: Travel and Places

I don't have any bone to pick with anyone EXCEPT the Hilton Pittsburgh. I gave them a Priority Mail Flat Rate Box (labeled, sealed and postage paid) with my books from the RT convention. I was told to take the package to the bellman, which I did. I was told it would go out the next day. I still haven't gotten the package. STILL. Can I get to a human who knows ANYTHING there at the Hilton? NO. I can't get ANYONE to help me.

Here's a list of books I lost courtesy of the Hilton Pittsburgh:

Smolder - Sammie Jo Moresca (bought/signed)

Everglades Wildfire - Isabelle Drake (bought/signed)

I Dream of Dragons Vol. 2 - Kathleen Scott (bought & signed)

Rarities Incorporated - Taige Crenshaw (bought & signed)

Savannah's Vision - Nicole Austin (bought & signed)

Ladies of Legend: Finding Home - Janet Eaves, Magdalena Scott, Jan Scarbrough, and Maddie James (won in a basket)

SHIVERS Volume I - Melinda Barron, Catherine Chernow, Annmarie Ortega, and Destiny Blaine (won in a basket/signed)

Silencing Sarah - M.L. Cordle (won in a basket)

The Last Celtic Witch - Lyn Armstrong (won in a basket/signed)

Eyes of the Dead - Aleka Nakis (won in basket/signed)

My appologies to Resplendence Publishing for losing every one of the books they gave me in that beautiful basket. Believe me, this makes me ill that I lost them to the idiots at the Hilton.

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Newsletter - 4/30/2008
Category: Blogging

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RT 2008 Pittsburgh
Category: Blogging

Okay, here's my story on RT starting with my arrival on Wednesday:

I arrived on time. At least, my plane was on time. The baggage claim and shuttle…another story. I ended up at the hotel just after the ebook expo began. While standing in line to check in, I met Claire from Total E Bound. Cute, blonde and very classy lady. I was impressed, not surprisingly since I have been impressed with the whole workings of TEB.

Anyway, at check in, I was told they had no double rooms available. Say waaa? So, I got a single for the first night, and would have to move the next day to another room when my roomie, Annmarie Ortega, arrived. Great. Perfect.

So, I go up the elevator and my bags, two huge ones packed to the brink of bursting, would not cooperate. Then I come in contact with the braid head model. My bags were all over, and he sort of helped me get my bags out of the elevator. Sort of. Anyway, I look around the floor and OMG….the hall is like something from a pit motel. It looked like a cheap nightmare.

I get to my room, but bump into Wendi Felter from Red Rose Publishing and her million red bags. How much stuff does one need for this thing? OMG. I love her, but damn…

The room was fine. Thank God. But I had little time to think on it as I dumped my bags and ran on down to the expo–already in progress. On the way I ran into Lora Leigh. She was sweet. And concerned when I nearly broke down into tears. Too much emotion bubbled up to even put it into words.

I bumped into friend and Mr Romance contestant, Chris Howell, and got a hug. He is such a nice guy. He gave me a signed picture and I was off to the ballroom. There EC had provided cover flats for Beast in My Bed and Bridesmaid and the Beast. They were real nice. And I had quite a few people come by to get copies to download. One person asked me how the downloads worked. No one knew. I don't think ARe handled the EC downloads, but who knows. Certainly the authors didn't.

So when the expo ended, it was 7pm. EC wanted the authors to be there at 8:15 to line up. Ugh. I hadn't eaten in hours. I am diabetic, so that is not a good thing. Anyway, I went back to my room and got in my Hollywood gown. I called Wendi and we planned to meet Pam from A Romance Review and her husband Don. On the way, we passed the elevator…it was stuck and people were trapped inside. Apparently it fell 2 floors and stopped. They were waiting for the Otis people to get people out. Lovely.

We met Pam and Don and walked to Palamino's and had a lovely dinner. It was the best food I had the entire time. At the restaurant I met Cindy Cruciger, whose snarky rep preceeds her. I liked her on the spot.

So, okay, after dinner, it is about 9:30 at this point. I figure I will make an appearance at the EC party. I got there after the show, apparently. I walked in and saw Andrei Claude and got a hug. (I like the hugs.) I also chatted with Kathy Kulig, Nathalie Grey, and several other great EC authors. I discovered at this point my digital camera died in my luggage. Great.

Anway, at one point John Fish got up on stage and was dancing to hundreds of women screaming…so I left. I was not really in the mood. I was there for a grand total of 30 minutes. I went back to my room and relaxed, readying for the first full day of the conference.

Continued at http://www.mariannelacroix.com/?cat=62

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CROSSED SWORDS is a RT Top Pick!
Category: Writing and Poetry

My pirate novel, CROSSED SWORDS, is a RT Top Pick!!!!  It is in the April 2008 issue!  Whoohooo.

Well, maybe I haven't lost my touch.

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