Launch Party

I feel like I've spent a good part of the last year celebrating. Every few weeks is another cool milestone on the road. There has been flowers and fondue and charm bracelets and sparkly shoes. Celebrating my sale with friends and family, getting a title, a cover, my first review, my first fan letter... But now we've finally gotten to the time I've been waiting 11 months for - hell, that I've been waiting my whole life for!

It's real. Really real. They can't change their mind or take it back. I AM a published author. My book is on shelves (after a minor setback where the local stores weren't in a hurry to stock), online, and downloading to e-readers everywhere. People other than my editor and critique partners are reading my books. People I don't even know!

Can I get a "squeee" up in here??

It is time to party, people. Bust out the champagne. We've got gourmet cupcakes and a chocolate fountain, as all good parties do. Dip a marshmallow in some milk chocolate goodness and celebrate.

SP

PS. I'm blogging with the Love Cats Down Under on Sunday - The Sunday Smooch. :) Pop in for another entry in my contest and read a steamy excerpt from What Lies Beneath.

Blog Tour, Stop 3

Today is stop 3 of 10 for my blog tour. I've been writing posts and answering interview questions for days in preparation. I've shared my writing process, my journey to publication, my favorite dessert and what romance character I most identify with. (That one was hard!) I've blogged on facing fears, reality television, call stories and fresh starts. I've also written quite a bit on my current WIP, a twelve page synopsis, and put together a promotional booklet. All this has left me at a loss as to what to talk about today on my normal blog day! I'm all out of words!

So, some fun tidbits. My newsletter is up and ready to send out. The first edition will go out on April 3rd - launch day. To be sure you get the inaugural copy, sign up for the newsletter at : http://eepurl.com/e3O5k. Signing up will earn you a bonus entry in my contest for the sea-glass necklace. You'll get another entry for commenting here and at the other blogs on the tour. Every entry counts. The first issue of the newsletter will include some fun pictures, info on my debut, and even a recipe for a cookie I'm just dying to bake. You don't want to miss out! Nutella, anyone?

Here's something else cool to share - my first international cover. I'm coming out in a 2-in-1 with Heidi Betts in May in Australia. I've heard I'm out in India in April, but I can't find a cover yet. I'll post it when I do.

56+I'm going to be participating in three reader events and book signings in the next month. The first is at the Barbara Vey Readers' Appreciation Luncheon, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday, April 10th. Right after that is the Romantic Times Convention in Chicago from April 11-15th. Next is the Heart of Dixie Readers' Luncheon in Huntsville, Alabama on May 5. All the events include book signings and opportunities to visit with me and a slew of other authors. All these events should be a lot of fun.

Be sure to pop in over the next month and join me on my blog tour. Of course, I'll always be blogging here on Friday's, but I'll be popping up all over the internet. As a reader, do you enjoy getting to meet your favorite authors in person? What kind of questions do you like to ask? I need to study in advance so I'm prepared for my first events!

SP

Here's the remaining blog tour line up:
03/26/12 - Book Reading Gals
03/28/12 - Authorial Moms
04/02/12 - Get Lost In A Story
04/05/12 - Okay, Listen Here
04/08/12 - Love Cats Down Under Sunday Smooch
04/09 - 04/15 I'm at the Romantic Times Conference in Chicago. If you attend, come find me at the signing for a super bonus entry!
04/18/12 - Minxes of Romance
04/25/12 - Pink Heart Society
04/27/12 - The winner is announced on the Writing Playground!

Blog Tour & Contest! Don't forget my blog tour contest! Receive an entry for commenting (one per blog) and a second for signing up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/e3O5k). The winner will receive a pink sea-glass heart locket pendant and a personalized autographed copy of What Lies Beneath. Small Print: The winner will be chosen at random after the conclusion of the blog tour – Friday, April 27th and announced on the Writing Playground blog (http://www.writingplayground.blogspot.com/). The winner will have 7 days to contact the author at author@andrealaurence.com with her mailing information or the prize will be forfeited and re-awarded.

Our winner Free Book Friday is Lucinda! Email me at author @ andrealaurence (dot) com with your snail mail info to claim your fabulous book. :)

Free Book Friday - MY Edition

So, I've been doing FBF for about two years now. Given away a lot of books. Good times. But today is probably the bestest version of FBF evah. Why? Because today, I'm giving away a copy of MY book. :)

As you know, a box showed up on my doorstep February 28th. It was filled with these beautiful little copies of the book I wrote. I've sent some to reviewers, some out for basket donations, and one copy is going to one of you lucky commenters today. Win it before you can buy it! :)



WHAT LIES BENEATH
by Andrea Laurence
April 2012, Harlequin Desire #2152

She’s Awake. So Why Can’t She Remember?

They say she’s Cynthia Dempsey, fiancée of media mogul Will Taylor. But try as she might, she can’t recall their high-society life or the man sitting by her hospital bed. Though her body certainly remembers him. Even as she senses the distance between them, the electricity when they touch is undeniable.

Will can hardly believe Cynthia’s transformation. Gone is the ice queen who betrayed him, and in her place is a woman who seems genuine and warm. But can he risk his heart again, not knowing what might happen when her memory returns?

I've been looking forward to this for so long. It's just awesome. To enter, comment with the phrase "You never forget your first" and tell me about the first time you did something that really stuck with you... The first time you saw the ocean? First time you held your baby? The first time you saw your husband?
SP

Good Things Also Come in Moderately-Sized Packages

They're here! They're here, they're here, they're here. My author copies arrived.

The last few weeks have been agonizing. Knowing they're coming soon, but finding my porch empty night after night. Then I went out of town. Of course they would arrive while I was gone!

Fortunately, they came the day I was driving back, so I only had to wait a few hours to hold my baby in my hand.

Everyone has asked how it was. The answer... weird. I'd nearly worked myself into tears before they arrived, imagining how amazing it would be to hold one for the first time. As I sliced into the tape and pulled out the first copy, it was just kind of surreal. Maybe I got all my excitement out of the way when DB called to say it arrived and I shrieked so loudly, I deafened him, Angel and PM.

When I finally picked it up, there was just a weird curiosity. What blurb did they pick out of the book? Who's advertised in the back? Did my dedication come out right? Does my Dear Reader letter still sound as cool as it did when I wrote it? Flipping through it and noticing how small the margins are... I think it may still be sinking in, days later. I sent a tweet to my editor that said having it in my hand meant Harlequin couldn't change their minds, now. She laughed and told me there was no way they'd change their mind. But a part of me had really held back some of the thrill of selling until now.

It's real. Really real. And it's awesome.

Since everyone got their whine on yesterday, let's swing to the other end of the spectrum. March is here, spring is on it's way. What are you looking forward to? I can't wait for my release day and getting to see my next cover for my July book, More Than He Expected.

SP

Cover Love

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Free Book Friday to show you my new cover! I'm in LOVE.

WHAT LIES BENEATH
April 2012, Harlequin Desire #2152

She’s Awake. So Why Can’t She Remember?

They say she’s Cynthia Dempsey, fiancée of media mogul Will Taylor. But try as she might, she can’t recall their high-society life or the man sitting by her hospital bed. Though her body certainly remembers him. Even as she senses the distance between them, the electricity when they touch is undeniable.

Will can hardly believe Cynthia’s transformation. Gone is the ice queen who betrayed him, and in her place is a woman who seems genuine and warm. But can he risk his heart again, not knowing what might happen when her memory returns?

What's In A Name?

Thanks to everyone who helped me brainstorm titles a couple weeks ago. We came up with some great ideas. I submitted the list to my editor for their monthly pow-wow to determine all the names for the April releases. I had no idea when it would actually take place. Earlier this week, my editor sent me a note that said they'd picked a title, but she couldn't tell me until marketing approved it.

Torture!

I mean, really. I'm no marketing expert, but it really is hard to write this book, create this baby, then just hand it over for someone else to decide what to call it and what it's going to look like. They know better. Really. And what they came up with is as good as or maybe even better than anything I sent in. But the waiting is so painful!

Yesterday, I made a joke on Twitter that I hoped the hurricaine missed them for their sake, but that I also hoped it wouldn't hold up the marketing approval of my title because it was killing me to wait. She then informated me Marketing is in Canada, so I shouldn't worry. And then, a few hours later, I got an email with the results. I almost couldn't open the email. What if it was horrible?

Then it was great. I was so relieved. I actually have an old book under the bed with this name, so it has to be a great title. So, without further ado.... drumroll... My first book is called....

WHAT LIES BENEATH!

What do you think? I like it. I think it works with the lies and the dual personalities of my heroine. All sorts of things going on beneath the surface. Just perfect.

SP