tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-223478192011-07-07T20:32:56.168-06:00writing and life and genealogy and muddy dogs and feisty kids and cowboy heroes and dead relatives and good books and pompous cats and old friends and new and . . . well, you get the idea.Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.comBlogger7541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-11534914713030676862010-04-28T17:10:00.002-06:002010-04-28T17:14:23.242-06:00

If you have bookmarked my blog as being at www.annemcallister.com/blog you won't be here anyway. You will be where my regular ongoing content is and will be.But those of you who have found my blog on blogspot and wonder why it's stagnating, please go to to Anne McAllister's Blog and find out what's going on now.Thanks to blogspot for being such a great host. I have enjoyed being a part of the

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-6458362270039959902010-04-20T15:11:00.003-06:002010-04-20T15:20:22.274-06:00

It seems like I do a lot of apologizing on this blog lately. And I'm doing it again, but life as I have recently come to know it has been getting in the way of regular posting.My mother has been very ill and continues to be, and so I have not had the time to post -- or even to write the book I'm supposed to be writing -- that I would ordinarily have. On top of that, the day after we came back

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-37303704946735027572010-04-09T11:21:00.005-06:002010-04-09T11:35:13.480-06:00

Life seems to be getting back to what passes for normal in this neck of the woods. For the moment at least.And one sign is that I actually had time to go looking for Demetrios and Anny's book cover. It used to be that someone from Toronto sent them. And they still will, if you remember to ask. I haven't had time to remember to ask. But the other night, I was online and I thought, Hmmm . . . it

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-38504492385526609572010-04-08T11:57:00.003-06:002010-04-08T13:39:05.323-06:00

The books for the Great Book Give-Away in April will be late coming to the contest page because my webmistress is now on vacation and due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn't able to send her the list before she left.I can, however, tell you the first two weeks' worth of books here, and the questions required to enter the drawing. If you want to be eligible to win one of them, send your

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-71693278374019117292010-03-31T16:17:00.004-06:002010-03-31T16:55:17.862-06:00

Hey, Christo here! Did you hear about the RITA nomination Nat and Anne and I got? Cool, yes?I didn't know anything about the RITA contest, and Anne didn't bother to mention it before she went off to New York. So when a very nice woman began leaving messages on the answering machine, I listened to them, but I didn't know what she was talking about. It wasn't until Anne called home later that

Christo Savashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08035906249361440679noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-76998043078843747652010-03-26T07:45:00.003-06:002010-03-26T07:58:57.547-06:00

Hi from New York!We've been having a fabulous time, and it isn't even wedding day yet. That's Saturday.In the meantime, though, we've been wandering the city, getting reacquainted with old haunts, seeking out a few new ones, and generally enjoying ourselves.Nancy the Cat Slayer (not!) has joined me for this trip as The Prof is proffing and can't possibly leave his classes (he did retire, but no

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-50813167457173417142010-03-23T21:53:00.002-06:002010-03-23T21:59:50.032-06:00

I'm off to a friend's wedding in New York City bright and early tomorrow morning. The wedding is Saturday so I get to have some time to enjoy the city first.I wrote a piece on walking tours in NYC on the Pink Heart blog yesterday in anticipation of what I might be doing. There're all kinds of tours. I've done several, but never the chocolate tour! Or the tea tour! Both of those sound tempting --

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-66763041879895552212010-03-17T21:26:00.004-06:002010-03-17T23:11:40.472-06:00

It's still St Patrick's Day here for a few more hours -- and in points further west. So I wish you the joy of the day.My youngest granddaughter who believes in the joy of holidays, thinks it's a celebration in honor of one of her uncles.Her dad says that all day long she's been telling everyone she meets, "Happy Uncle Patrick's Day!"Sounds like a good idea to me.I wish you the same, whether

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-12989892335112937302010-03-11T18:43:00.002-07:002010-03-11T18:52:57.970-07:00

Apologies for my disappearance -- and Christo's, too. Everyone at our house got sick last week, even the fictional characters. My mother ended up in Intensive Care and when her doctors finally decided she could leave the hospital, they gave me twenty minutes notice to find her a place to live that afternoon (she couldn't go home).So I moved her -- and then I was flat on my back for five days.

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-11954242112064601332010-03-03T09:58:00.003-07:002010-03-03T10:12:15.648-07:00

Micah and Mitch (with a little help from Christo) picked a winner for him in this year's Here Come The Grooms! contest -- Dena W from Washington!Congratulations, Dena. Your copy of Christo's book, One-Night Mistress...Convenient Wife is on its way to you.Sid the cat has picked Nikos's winner -- Mary Ann D from Michigan. And Liz Fielding (or one of her minions) has picked Kal's winner -- Alison L

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-42368937345397152722010-02-28T21:37:00.009-07:002010-02-28T22:34:06.447-07:00

Hey,Anne is still busy playing with Sol, but she's given me a list of the books that are up for grabs during Week Four of her 25th anniversary Great Book Give-Away.They are:Anne McAllister, Antonides' Forbidden WifeKelly Hunter, The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress Nora Roberts, Face The FireLiz Fielding, Her Desert Dream (this is Kal's book, by the way!)Lucy Gordon, Beauty and the BossStephanie

Christo Savashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08035906249361440679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-77546918764272333652010-02-25T11:46:00.003-07:002010-02-25T11:54:09.228-07:00

Hi,I've stolen my blog back from Christo (and Natalie, apparently) just briefly to say that I've sent off the books to the winners from weeks one, two and am just finishing up week three.If you commented on a blog piece in week three, you should also just hit the 'contact me' link at the bottom of the page and send me your name and address. Some people put them in comments, but if you would

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-4903523442590521452010-02-23T22:11:00.003-07:002010-02-23T23:22:28.658-07:00

Hi, Sorry I've been neglecting my job taking care of Anne's blog. I thought she'd try to sneak back in here and write something because she's sort of a workaholic when it comes to writing. But apparently she meant what she said and I get the blog for the rest of February. I don't know what Kal and Nikos are up to. I've been up to my ears working. I'm a lawyer in case no one told you.

Christo Savashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08035906249361440679noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-39649446993503514432010-02-14T14:42:00.004-07:002010-02-14T15:14:40.778-07:00

Hey, I'm Christo.Anne has given me free rein with her blog for the rest of the month so she can take care of her mother and so I can talk about my book and Natalie and give you a chance to win three great books (mine, of course, being one of them) in the 4th annual Here Come The Grooms contest. So let's get business out of the way and then we can talk. Business: What the contest is: a

Christo Savashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08035906249361440679noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-2986432399280416562010-02-14T10:59:00.002-07:002010-02-14T11:20:21.459-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again!I wish you and your beloved the happiest of valentine's days. Me and mine are having cake with our 86 year old neighbor to celebrate. Also taking flowers to my mother who is in transition from the hospital to wherever she goes after she gets out of skilled nursing.I'm going to be busy over the next couple of weeks because of that and because Sol, my youngest

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-9961654200355682622010-02-06T21:49:00.003-07:002010-02-06T22:09:45.580-07:00

Micah and Mitch have picked the winners for the first week of my 25th anniversary Great Book Give-Away. Winners have been notified.If you didn't win a book this week, you can submit a new entry with the answer to week two's question. And your old entry will continue to be active all during February as well (so you have two chances to win a book). If you did win, I'd be delighted if you want to

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-16092857505223669632010-02-02T09:30:00.004-07:002010-02-02T11:27:49.407-07:00

My first book to be published (the second book I wrote), Starstruck, came out in February 1985. That's 25 years ago. And I had no idea then what an amazing 25 years it would be. I've met so many interesting people, written about lots of other interesting people, gone places and done things I never would have been able to do if I'd continued on my pre-publication life. I have a lot of people to

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-50458393752383541352010-01-28T22:34:00.003-07:002010-01-28T22:49:42.221-07:00

Sorry I've been missing in action.Life has been complicating the things I would normally be doing if I weren't out living it.I would be blogging and telling you all that come February I'm starting a year long celebration of 25 years of being published by Harlequin and Silhouette. To do that I thought the best thing would be to invite you all to share the celebration with me by doing what we all

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-68573985548124358052010-01-19T11:47:00.003-07:002010-01-19T12:08:08.205-07:00

I was saddened to learn of the death today of one of America's most beloved writers, Robert B. Parker. He is said to have "died at his desk" at age 77.I will miss his books, his talent, his wit, his characters. I have a collection of Robert B. Parker books. Most of them are from his series about Spenser, the hard-boiled Boston detective, who made Parker a household word. I can't remember them

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-53877824799588488132010-01-13T23:16:00.003-07:002010-01-13T23:35:54.144-07:00

It's that time of year again -- Anne Gracie's birthday!If you aren't already familiar with Anne's wonderful warm witty books, get thee to Amazon or Book Depository or Barnes and Noble or your favorite neighborhood bookshop and start ordering all of her terrific back list.If you have already read them, you know what I'm talking about, and you'll be delighted to know that she's got another great

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-69132115873164411262010-01-03T16:42:00.005-07:002010-01-03T17:31:33.296-07:00

No, it's not Tuesday.But Monday, January 4th, I have the Male on Monday slot at The Pink Heart blog, and I wrote about one of my very first heroes who came into my life every Tuesday night for four years between 1959-1963.The hero was Jess Harper, the cowboy-drifter who turned up on Laramie in the very first episode and, while he was always a threat to go, never ever left.He was played by

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-52999778891113028432010-01-02T06:26:00.005-07:002010-01-03T16:40:39.051-07:00

There are grandchildren everywhere.I consider this a good sign for the coming year. I tripped over three bodies in the middle of the living room this morning while trying to get to the kitchen in the dark (hey, it was 4:45!) to make tea before we took daughter and granddaughter to the airport. And there were grandsons scattered all over. They looked like a pile of puppies.Why -- when there are

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-42227086306533440962009-12-24T21:11:00.002-07:002009-12-24T21:22:09.802-07:00

From the middle of the stormy, snowy, sleety, rainy midwest (as in "Is this the ice bowl?" "No, it's Iowa."), I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the coming year.Thank you for joining me here on my blog and on my website. I'm so glad to have had your companionship over the past year and I look forward to another year here, sharing books and ideas and heroes (especially,

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-10358227527801287262009-12-21T21:16:00.004-07:002009-12-21T21:51:27.778-07:00

By George, he's gone.George, that is. He took his heroine and cyberspatially took off on the weekend so he'll be spending Christmas on the other side of the pond.It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Neither could his heroine, Sophy. I am sooooo glad they finally got it together and managed their happily-ever-after.I hope the ed likes it when she reads it which, she tells me, will probably not be

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-37779812285643076552009-12-13T19:19:00.003-07:002009-12-13T19:38:08.296-07:00

Monday I am doing the coveted "Male on Monday" post over at The Pink Heart Society.As it is already Monday in much of the world as I write this, my column about Raoul Bova is already up.Stop by and ogle the pix. Celebrate the social conscience of a man who is more than just a pretty face. Drool, if you wish.I sent his picture in with the art information for Demetrios in my upcoming The Virgin's

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-52114375114286731932009-12-08T08:09:00.005-07:002009-12-08T09:42:40.061-07:00

One of the really enjoyable television programs of the past eight weeks has been the new USA network series, White Collar.It's fresh, snappy, charming -- and there is great buddy chemistry between the leads, slick, handsome con-man Neal, played by Matt Bomer, and witty but by-the-book FBI agent, Peter, played by Tim DeKay.Since it began in October, I looked forward every week to my dose of White

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-49368172559991541252009-12-06T23:17:00.003-07:002009-12-06T23:28:18.680-07:00

I went to my blog yesterday and it was gone.So was my website. In its place was an email server access point which apparently is a legit thing, but . . . huh?I wrote my hosting company and they seem to have done something in the past 24 hours because I'm back -- at least I am at the moment. But I'm not sure what happened or why or how to prevent it happening again.Is this normal? Is anything

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-32414810231855705552009-12-02T18:10:00.003-07:002009-12-02T18:20:31.006-07:00

Anne Gracie wrote me an email the other day and said, "The weirdest thing just happened. I went to your blog and it sounded like someone was throwing stuff in the water. So I left. And people stopped dropping stuff in the water. But when I went back, they were doing it again." Or words to that effect.Um, yeah.Because there's this fish... Or rather this dolphin on my side bar. I changed the

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-56915637030738398512009-12-01T15:20:00.005-07:002009-12-01T15:32:10.718-07:00

At least it feels that way. The temperature is nearly 60 F this afternoon. I know it's December 1st, but it sure doesn't feel that way.I am so tempted to go on long walks with the dogs, but I'm in nose-to-grindstone mode with George and Sophy. They need to be finished by December 15th and I'm on track to get there. It would be nice to have a week beyond it to 'tweak' it myself before the ed

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-71250708132809975952009-11-21T23:42:00.003-07:002009-11-21T23:53:05.557-07:00

I'm writing the blog at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs on Sunday. So stop by and say hi. Share a memory about your high school days.Or if you don't want quite such a big audience, share it here!Facebook has brought high school back into my life. It's a strange experience. And it's reminding me of all kinds of things I didn't realize I even remembered.Christo's book, One-Night Mistress . . . Convenient

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-46300167395364382242009-11-20T16:26:00.005-07:002009-11-20T16:55:34.484-07:00

This weekend I am posting over at the Pink Heart Society about Holiday traditions. It's a post inspired by our upcoming Thanksgiving in the US.I think Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday ever since I moved away from home. While I was growing up, it didn't measure up to Christmas. But once I left, I began to see its potential.It became for me a holiday of infinite potential. It made me

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-70825094415609785402009-11-18T21:07:00.006-07:002009-11-18T22:03:28.557-07:00

Two of them, actually.To start with, in January, the We Write Romance crew has worked with Harlequin to put together a "Harlequin Bloggers' Bundle." Apparently the first one they did was enormously successful, so they're back for another round with four different books, all Harlequin Presents -- and one of them is Lessons From a Latin Lover, the third of my McGillivrays of Pelican Cay books.If

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-53869470395694694612009-11-17T22:29:00.008-07:002009-11-17T22:57:44.411-07:00

Nowhere interesting, believe me.I've been holed up in my office writing George. And writing an article. And creating a Power Point presentation on immigration trails.George has been the most fun part of my life, which ought to tell you something.At least I'm not battling him to a standstill the way I did Demetrios. He's actually turning out to be entertaining -- right now -- before revisions

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-58571715688701120642009-11-04T21:04:00.004-07:002009-11-05T09:33:59.267-07:00

Once upon a time when I was young and emotional, I was in love.Or thought I was.I don't know what the object of my affection thought -- if indeed he thought about it at all. I doubt that he did because I never actually saw him run screaming in the other direction. So chances are he remained oblivious.But I was sure (not fairly sure, not reasonably sure, but absolutely positively sure) that if

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-7317266413503150742009-11-02T11:27:00.004-07:002009-11-02T11:58:29.151-07:00

I didn't forget. It just took me a while to get Micah and Mitch's paws cleaned off enough to allow them into the living room where the names of the contestants and the treats were all set out so they could choose.We spent a lot of the last week under water -- or so it seemed. And almost every day was a "96 dog foot day" -- one where I measure the day in terms of how many dog feet I wipe. It

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-49004054453983525532009-10-24T16:24:00.008-06:002009-10-24T17:23:35.538-06:00

This is indeed the birthday week at our house -- finishing off today with our oldest grandson, Eric, who is seventeen.I don't know how Eric could be old enough to drive cars and have a girlfriend and play hoops and score touchdowns, not to mention sing in his high school choir.It seems like just the other day he was playing "western town" with the Fisher-Price guys.Wasn't it last week we were

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-85157204000901862992009-10-22T17:29:00.006-06:002009-10-22T21:26:40.474-06:00

This is birthday week at our house.My mom celebrated her 90th on Tuesday -- but wouldn't let me take my camera to her party. So I can't show you the event here. She said, enough! And she meant it. So here's one from when she wasn't 90.There are other birthdays, too.My favorite son-in-law's birthday is today. And he's camera-phobic, too. So I can't show you him celebrating, either. He's

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-55448932057088574012009-10-21T22:43:00.006-06:002009-10-22T16:52:41.380-06:00

I'll be talking about 'going home again' and all the bits and pieces that go into writing a book when my blog piece turns up at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs on Thursday. So check for it over there, please. Say hi. Be friendly!I'm up to my neck in George, but I'm happy to report that Gunnar my dearly departed flatcoat retriever has come to my rescue. He told me this morning that George needed a dog. Boy,

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-66961063879731272009-10-15T17:11:00.003-06:002009-10-15T17:17:09.902-06:00

I am at the Pink Heart Society today/tomorrow depending on your particular place in the world writing a blog for Must Watch Friday.My theory is that you ought to be watching Eyes.This is not precisely easy unless you have Direct TV. If you do -- and you live in the US -- you can see it Tuesday evenings at 10 Eastern and 9 central. Check out the PHS and find out why you should be doing this.If

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-21008254226936073062009-10-12T07:57:00.006-06:002009-10-12T14:51:47.009-06:00

I feel as if I've failed.I offered a free contest entry to my Hugh and Dan contest last week by telling anyone who could tell me whose birthday it was today that they were automatically entered.The paltry number of those who wrote in with the information that today is Hugh Jackman's birthday (and also my niece's) is dismaying. Disheartening. Downright disturbing.So, here we are on Hugh

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-38345952414025860702009-10-06T22:49:00.005-06:002009-10-06T23:20:16.244-06:00

I got home from New York last week and threw myself at George.He threw me back.He wasn't ready to talk, even though I'd found him a fantastic brownstone to live in, a good office at Columbia University to work at, and a plot that would get him Sophy in the end.He was busy, he said. He had experiments to work on. He had things to think about. He couldn't talk to me now.So I threw him under a

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-57570377658851279632009-09-26T06:22:00.003-06:002009-09-26T07:05:03.018-06:00

I saw A Steady Rain on Thursday evening.It stars, as you undoubtedly know, Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. They filled the seats. They are A-list actors.Last week in previews A Steady Rain became the highest grossing non-musical play in Broadway history based on a comparative week's receipts because, let's face it, of Hugh and Dan.It blew me away. I didn't get to spend my hour and a half (no

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-43428138414452804482009-09-24T14:12:00.003-06:002009-09-24T14:17:13.036-06:00

I spent the day walking miles around the Metropolitan Museum of Art wondering if George might do that, too. Don't think so, but who knows? I think he enjoyed the armor exhibit as a boy.And now I'm back at my friends' house and counting the minutes until we head out to our Ethiopian dinner, followed by the evening with Hugh and Dan.Kate Walker just sent me an email telling me to do lots of good

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-71240885380037932512009-09-21T23:39:00.005-06:002009-09-22T08:08:15.139-06:00

I have begun blogging again once a month at Tote Bags 'n' Blogs -- and the 22nd of the month is "my" day.So you can stop over there and visit me if you want. I'm talking about the up side of research. In this case the very very very up side -- which entails a trip to New York City tomorrow.I'm working on George's book, so I'm going to be prowling around Columbia University and, I hope, meeting

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-42237359728816177802009-09-15T09:43:00.003-06:002009-09-15T10:08:20.633-06:00

A friend sent me one of those emails the other day which explained why men never got depressed. It was funny and rather true and I passed it on to a few people I suspected would appreciate it.Differences between men and women always interest me, and I think people who say there aren't any -- besides the biological, of course -- are, um, mistaken.Later the same day I got further corroborating

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-66868529461768495732009-09-12T15:29:00.005-06:002009-09-12T15:55:59.232-06:00

Sometimes you see a perfect gift when you're not even looking for one.And you have to get it because it's sooo absolutely right, because the recipient will know it's right exactly just as you did when you saw it. And even though it's not his birthday or Christmas or any other holiday that might occasion it, you have to get it.So you do. And you send it to England.You send it Air Mail to England

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-86222842720651521852009-09-09T09:00:00.005-06:002009-09-09T10:08:37.596-06:00

It's my daughter's birthday today.She's reached a milestone which makes me feel old. But it's okay because it probably makes her feel old, too, and so we can be old together.She is my only daughter and my oldest child, and believe me when I say she set the bar very high for all those boys that followed.If I'd only ever had one kid, I wouldn't have understood what all those other parents were

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-3523014740363761292009-09-01T13:42:00.003-06:002009-09-01T13:55:17.213-06:00

Remember these?I posted them when Demetrios and Anny finally left the building.Of course they sailed back for revisions, but by then I had those summer-camping grandkids here.And then we went out west to see Sol and Hank and Ellie and the revisions were becalmed, just waiting.Finally, when I got home, I got back to them. And basically, while the ed didn't ask for much, what she asked

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-45057181845879502232009-08-19T17:12:00.005-06:002009-08-19T18:38:07.324-06:00

Carolin, who posted eloquently in the comments section of the Pink Heart blog about a number of things in her 'well' that have inspired her creativity, is the winner of Antonides' Forbidden Wife.Mitch and Micah thought that she could have included Golden Retrievers among her inspiration, but they loved the idea of her twenty-year engagement (go read the post!), so they forgave her the lack of

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-10067844080686471372009-08-18T20:42:00.006-06:002009-08-18T22:04:20.864-06:00

I have a post over on the Pink Heart Society blog today called What's in Your Well? which I hope you will check out.It's about using one's life -- and one's friends' lives and experiences -- in books.Another way of approaching this is to talk about "where do you get your ideas?" But that sounds as if the ideas just happen to writers, that we just sit there hopefully waiting for an idea to come

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-66958915309599029662009-08-14T06:44:00.000-06:002009-08-14T06:44:00.491-06:00

The real reasons I haven't got my revisions finished::Enough said?

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-24244796500727269272009-08-13T21:29:00.002-06:002009-08-13T21:40:23.769-06:00

The silence you've seen (heard?) from my end is because I have been devoted to working on my revisions since I got back from the west.Well, I also got a cold and that slowed things down a bit. As did the multitude of electrical storms that had me turning the computer off and on more than I would have liked.But I've been working -- and I need to go on record as saying that if anyone ever says to

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-33760274762311401672009-08-05T00:55:00.005-06:002009-08-15T23:02:47.385-06:00

Those of you who have read my blog for any length of time know that occasionally I write about books that I find inspiring. Usually they have to do with writing.One of those is Save The Cat, Blake Snyder's wonderful insightful book on the schematics of good story-telling.It's aimed at screenwriters. It's a perfect primer for anyone who wants to know how to tell a good story.Last summer -- just

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-46177282678519354852009-07-30T23:20:00.005-06:002009-07-30T23:45:38.673-06:00

I finally had a few minutes this evening to prowl through more than email. And so I looked online to see if I could find the cover for Christo's book.Remember him? And Natalie?I do. Barely.Mostly I remember them as having spent far too long in my house over the holidays last year. They were like guests who had long since worn out their welcome before they finally decamped after revisions.

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-45322893605110182692009-07-28T21:25:00.003-06:002009-07-28T21:41:29.996-06:00

Miss me?I had no idea I would be gone so long, but time flies when you're driving . . . and driving . . . and driving.We left a week ago Monday to take a a couple of days to reach Montana to visit grandkids (and of course their parents). I hadn't been there since Hank was born and he is now three months old -- and has definitely changed a lot. Big Sis hasn't changed as much, but she didn't tip

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-38109196852659381522009-07-18T22:44:00.002-06:002009-07-18T22:59:10.246-06:00

Well, sadly for PJ and Ally, Antonides' Forbidden Wife, didn't win the RITA.But other terrific books were winners of tonight's RITA awards at the RWA National Convention.In PJ's category, contemporary series romance, A Mother's Wish, by Karen Templeton won the RITA. I haven't read her book, but I have no doubt it was deserving of the honor. Congratulations, Karen. And congrats as well to all

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-56542642903552779812009-07-17T23:51:00.003-06:002009-07-18T00:05:09.990-06:00

Congratulations to Linda Henderson of Missouri who is the winner of Sol's Contest!Micah and Mitch went to town gobbling treats today and picked Linda's name from among the entries. They were very grateful to everyone who entered -- as was Sol (or he would be if he understood these things. He's working on it. His other grandma assures me that he is getting smarter and more aware every day).RWA is

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-17179813443094356302009-07-15T21:22:00.003-06:002009-07-15T21:50:37.420-06:00

Over on Kate Walker's blog I think I have a post on Thursday. Kate is celebrating Presents this month and has asked a few of us to write about some aspect of Presents for her while she's living it up in Washington DC at RWA.This is very Tom Sawyerish of her. But even so I was happy to oblige.There's a lot to enjoy in writing for Presents. Our books go all over the world. We get to research

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-14044584596679346832009-07-14T09:42:00.004-06:002009-07-14T17:26:05.905-06:00

Here we are at Mom Camp.Well, not this pic. This is the grandkids -- and several hundred kids all at the same camp. But because they are, we have Mom Camp for the third year running.It's the week my daughter and I look forward to all year, when her daughter and whichever cousins are the right age (only one this year) go to our local university sports camp from 8:30 in the morning until 9:30 in

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-11739202306018707642009-07-10T12:38:00.004-06:002009-07-10T13:08:59.307-06:00

This week is 'conference week' for romance writers.The Romance Novelists Association, based in Great Britain, is holding their annual conference at the University of Cumbria in Penrith beginning today and ending Sunday.I had the pleasure of attending in 2003 when the RNA conference was held in Guildford, and got to be "the expert from afar" which was an interesting and novel experience. I spoke

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-75515605470156250092009-07-02T23:47:00.006-06:002009-07-03T00:09:56.093-06:00

As Henry had a contest to celebrate his arrival 10 weeks ago, it is only fair that Sol has his own contest now.He was due on the 4th of July, so the contest officially begins then. But if you jump the gun (as Sol did) and enter early, that's okay with me (and Sol).His contest is a short one because we've got lots of stuff going on mid-month (other grandkids coming for summer camp) and then we're

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-54380649627104898862009-06-29T14:28:00.003-06:002009-06-29T16:54:58.248-06:00

Bright and early this morning we learned of the birth of yet another grandson.His name is officially Solomon Turner, but his dad says he's called Sol. Sol was supposed to arrive July 4th, but he apparently got bored and decided now was the time.From the early pix, he looks fit and healthy. He weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz, and is already making his presence known out west.We are thrilled to welcome

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-11302643034090085592009-06-26T06:41:00.005-06:002009-06-26T06:55:49.288-06:00

Charley the studly laptop has been recovering from his exertions getting Demetios and Anny finished and sent off to Richmond.He was heartened in his efforts by the arrival of a postcard from one of his admirers, Scarlet S O'Dell (a very classy red English lass) who was holidaying in Lindos with her family.Hearing from Scarlet (and heaven only knows what The Powers That Be at Mills & Boon thought

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-38966642980316418402009-06-22T22:35:00.004-06:002009-06-22T22:47:13.516-06:00

I promised you sailboats when Demetrios and Anny left the building.Enjoy!I am!

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-43639625953935583322009-06-19T21:17:00.003-06:002009-06-19T21:24:32.769-06:00

So I'm up to my neck in chapters that need sorting and some scenes that need writing before I can say this book is done.I'm intending to get it done by Monday. That means a lot of work between now and then. But after today, which had enough electric storms to do me for the whole summer, I'm hoping for less interruption tomorrow.Plus The Prof, the eldest son and four of the grandsons are going

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-24986673973231874672009-06-16T14:56:00.003-06:002009-06-16T15:03:55.645-06:00

Remember what I said about 'transitions?'It's true. I was working my way back through the middle of the book, basically doing something that felt like ironing spaghetti (and about as useful), when I realized that the issue wasn't what I had written, it was where it was happening.I needed -- or rather Demetrios and Anny needed -- just a bit more time. Not a minute-by-minute play-by-play, but

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-69174144605765524752009-06-14T19:24:00.003-06:002009-06-14T19:31:39.737-06:00

I'm blogging over at the Pink Heart Society at the moment, taking time from Demetrios to introduce you to -- or remind you about -- an excellent choice for a hero.Lots more interesting stuff about Damian Lewis there. Here I'll just tempt you with a few pics and then I will disappear back to my manuscript, which presently resembles a bowl of spaghetti.I'm glad my editor is in France. She won't

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-7827538297568353742009-06-12T11:47:00.005-06:002009-06-12T12:29:57.758-06:00

I wrote a comment on Michelle Styles's blog a little while ago that, after I thought about it, seemed to beg for a blog piece of its own.Michelle was talking about writing a partial for her editor and mentioned synyopses and trying to work smarter and understand what works and what doesn't work. It all makes a lot of sense.We all want to work smarter. I don't necessarily love the process of

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-81073345287485640672009-06-11T15:12:00.003-06:002009-06-11T15:41:27.815-06:00

The discussion of revising and, particularly, of 'middles' seems to have struck a chord.Why am I not surprised?So I thought I would touch on the notion of the ripple effect which anyone who writes surely must be aware of. And if you're not, you need to be.Ripples are what happen when you toss a rock in the water, yes? No rock, no ripples resulting. But the minute a rock lands -- or you make a

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-91735962138569137962009-06-10T12:48:00.004-06:002009-06-10T13:17:05.346-06:00

I have been trying to think of anything an editor has ever said to me about the middle of my books because, to be honest, middles are where, for me, most of the problems occur.And while I've had in the double digits of editors over the past 25 years, I can't recall one of them saying anything remotely useful about middles other than Ann Leslie's occasional [delete this?]. The fact is, if I could

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-85560644388853363232009-06-09T09:00:00.004-06:002009-06-09T09:27:08.632-06:00

I've been blessed with good editors since day one in my writing career.The first, at Harlequin Mills & Boon, sent me a revision letter three pages long (this before she ever bought the book) which detailed the issues she wanted addressed.Boiled down, she said, "There are four things you need to work on: the hero, the heroine, the plot and the ending."So I did, and sold her the book.That was when

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-48229317191843059242009-06-05T11:45:00.006-06:002009-06-05T14:20:45.185-06:00

No, this is not a theological treatise.But it has that feeling. It's about one of those times when the little voice echoes inside your ear (or in this case, mine) and tells you something you might or might not be prepared to hear.In this case, though, it wasn't about God, it was about books.Writing. Specifically writing Demetrios and Anny.While the saga of Charley continues, I'm in the middle

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-36739262024678854482009-06-04T16:06:00.006-06:002009-06-04T16:51:45.482-06:00

My editor is going to love Charley -- if I don't kill him first.Why? Because she's always telling me I should write faster, get books out more often, etc etc etc.But that means, what? Spending more time at the computer. Working my fingers to the nub. Not to mention my brain.I have resisted. The well of inspiration is not a gusher around here. It's generally more of a slow steady trickle --

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-52344506934308642352009-06-03T19:35:00.004-06:002009-06-03T20:02:19.808-06:00

Charley could be trouble.On the plus side, he works hard, he's competent, he has stamina, he hasn't crashed yet, and he hasn't overheated.On the downside, he's a babe magnet.Worse, he knows it. Oh, dear.He's been propositioned twice in the comment section (once by a luscious pink Aussie laptop and once by a hot lipstick red babe called Dell who lives in England). Today, when I took him to the

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-3159475592674459722009-06-02T18:39:00.003-06:002009-06-02T19:20:52.985-06:00

Shortly before 10 this morning the FedEx guy appeared on the doorstep bringing me my perfect computer.The fact that it appeared 3 days earlier than promised is, to my way of thinking, a good sign. So was my first impression.Right out of the box Mr Refurbished looked stunning and handsome, sleek and slender, with rock hard muscles and wearing a burnished silver and matte black suit. Handsome,

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-22018075602519464282009-06-01T21:43:00.004-06:002009-06-01T22:09:16.875-06:00

Every few years it seems imperative to find -- and buy -- a new computer.Generally it's because the old one is weighted down with more programs than it knows what to do with. It runs (no, it walks) as if it has all the time in the world. I can not only brush my teeth while it's booting up, I can floss as well!And since I wrenched my shoulder running through O'Hare last fall with the albatross

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-87553351353035183772009-05-30T20:50:00.003-06:002009-05-30T21:38:10.272-06:00

If you've noticed my absence (and I sort of hope you have), it's because of the looming deadline and the basic need to learn to sail in order to reach it.My characters have sailed before, as I've said, thanks largely to Peggy Nicholson who has taken them (and me) by the hand and sailed us through all sorts of seas and manuevers.But Peggy isn't around to help this time. Her friend (and mine, but

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-64094660047751421382009-05-23T21:20:00.006-06:002009-05-23T21:50:27.702-06:00

... but were afraid to ask.Or in my case, had no idea who to ask. But I needed to know so I didn't end up with a plot in which Demetrios or Anny got arrested for entering a country illegally.Ordinarily this would not be a problem because ordinarily when you send your characters on commercial flights or regularly scheduled public transportation between two countries, it's understood that they do

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-48496362628721287382009-05-22T18:27:00.002-06:002009-05-22T18:36:39.072-06:00

Thanks to Rach and to Antoinette, I now have a time frame for Demetrios and Anny's sailing adventure. And Antoinette has provided them with a fabulous boat.So I currently have just one more question for those in the know.If you are sailing on a private vessel between European countries -- in this case France, Italy and Greece -- how do you comply with customs and passport control when you enter

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-86102829116114184042009-05-18T13:34:00.003-06:002009-05-18T17:53:05.964-06:00

Miss me?I got caught up in taking care of Ellie and Henry last week. And when I wasn't doing that, I was hard at work on Demetrios and Anny.The interminable (or so it seemed) chapter two finally ended (after 7500+ words) and I was able to move into -- and straight through -- chapter three in a couple of days.I came home on Saturday and made the wonderful discovery that being stuck in the

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-60229230505121898272009-05-09T23:42:00.002-06:002009-05-09T23:48:06.787-06:00

Ellie and Henry have picked a winner from among the entries in the Mothers and Babies contest!Congratulations to Tara Woods!Tara, I will be posting your goody box to you when I get home from visiting with Ellie and Henry this week. So it should go in the post around May 18-19. I'll let you know when it has been posted!Thank you everyone who entered. I hope you'll come back and visit again.

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-31998410071933996912009-05-08T17:45:00.004-06:002009-05-08T18:02:46.972-06:00

Deep in the throes of grandparenting, and getting not very much writing done, I decided that my post this weekend on The Pink Heart Society blog would have to be about babies and kids and their role in romance fiction.Sometimes I feel personally responsible for the population explosion in our books because of my first Harlequin American (and first book published) back in 1985, Starstruck, which

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-1904055616673511252009-05-07T00:01:00.000-06:002009-05-07T00:01:00.942-06:00

Salutations and Felicitations on your birthday, dear Kate!The Lady Across the Pond (TLATP to those who know her well -- aka Ms McAllister) has invited me to be a regular, albeit sporadic, contributor to her blog. She has even, you will note, given me sidebar billing.This is so I can send personal good wishes and head butts and purrs to my dear Lady of the House, Kate Walker, on her birthday!If

Sir Sidney ACOSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13833352726509094669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-42786081937293012102009-05-06T12:01:00.006-06:002009-05-06T22:16:40.796-06:00

The real world is very handy.Margaret Mayo reminded me of that today when I saw her comment on my granddaughter Ellie's fall in my previous blog piece.Margaret wished Ellie a speedy recovery (good news -- she's basically recovered. Just has to get the staples out next week). And then Margaret went on to say she hoped I -- and Ellie -- didn't mind if she used a similar incident in her book, that

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-15454627483987338262009-05-03T23:23:00.004-06:002009-05-03T23:47:48.873-06:00

What you never forget? How things can change in a split second.Your kids grow up. They have kids of their own. And the grandkids are fine one minute. And the next minute one is on her way to the emergency room.Just like that.There we were at dinner, just finishing up when Ellie decided she was done.Kicked her feet out. Shoved against the table. Tipped herself right over backwards and we all

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-15554664769280257042009-05-01T21:57:00.005-06:002009-05-02T21:41:16.218-06:00

I'm leaving bright and early Saturday to go visit Ellie and Henry.I have Demetrios and Anny packed and they had better cooperate while I'm out there or we are going to be in serious trouble when I get back. Think good thoughts for them.I'm getting a handle on George. Not the 'inciting incident' -- but the actions he takes once it happens, whatever it turns out to be.Have fun while I'm gone.

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-73363877562142274352009-04-30T15:15:00.002-06:002009-04-30T15:38:27.994-06:00

A few days ago Kate Hardy said she was stuck in her current manuscript because she hadn't got her hero's name right and thus he wasn't cooperating.People who don't write probably think that's daft.It's not. Trust me.I have had heroes who flat out refused to say a word because I didn't know their names. They just stood there, defying me to guess who they were. And finally, when I got it right,

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-58108445264087606882009-04-28T11:43:00.004-06:002009-04-28T11:56:05.741-06:00

As I've now left Demetrios standing on a corner (watching all the girls go by) for the past week, it should be no surprise that I understand the fine art of procrastination.I need to get him moving again today. And I will because I finally (I hope) have figured out the reason he's still standing there. Short answer: Even though I knew where he was going next, I didn't know how to get him there.

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-56046116583283238412009-04-25T17:53:00.003-06:002009-04-25T17:59:31.055-06:00

Congratulations, Lidia!You have won a copy of Savas' Defiant Mistress -- or one of my backlist titles if you would prefer.Please go to my website and use the "email" link on the bottom of the contest page to let me know your snail mail address and which book you would like (if it's a backlist title, this means I have to find it, so it may not be the one you want!).I hope those of you who are

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-86449223112962453412009-04-21T15:37:00.004-06:002009-04-22T00:31:08.439-06:00

Yesterday our seventh grandchild and fifth grandson, Henry Alvin, was born.He has been much anticipated by his big sister, Ellie, who adores babies, and, of course, by his parents, and by all the rest of the family who know they are going to adore him, too.He got off to a good start -- weighing in at close to 9 1/2 lbs. -- when he arrived yesterday morning. The nurses in the delivery room

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-49579482566062242372009-04-21T15:15:00.003-06:002009-04-21T15:28:04.499-06:00

All you ever wanted to know about the Alpha hero -- and his Beta and Gamma brothers -- is the topic of conversation on Kate Walker's blog this week.Kate has taken herself off to bask in the rain of Ireland and, Tom Sawyer like, has deputized several of us to discuss our takes on the Alpha Hero.Mine is up today at Kate's website. Sandra Marton was there yesterday, but before she left Kate put up a

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-28562993797894646992009-04-20T11:42:00.003-06:002009-04-20T12:08:14.589-06:00

No, not the puppy.Well, of course Beau is, too. But we are celebrating the arrival of yet another new boy in the family this week.His name is Henry -- or as my son, his dad, says, "Big Hank" (not sure what his mom will think of that) -- and he arrived about 5 a.m this morning, tipping the scales at 9 lbs. 7 1/2 oz. Yikes.No wonder his mom looked ready to pop on Easter Sunday. She was ready to

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-74306686917514054352009-04-18T21:38:00.005-06:002009-04-18T22:16:58.092-06:00

If we weren't, we soon will be. It's that time of year again.Last night as I was going to bed I thought, it's nearly time for our local farmers' market to start up again. And immediately following that I thought, Rhubarb!It turns out that farmers' market opens officially next Saturday. But the very thought got me to write 'rhubarb' in soap on the bathroom mirror (how else did I ever remember

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-40637520926439521402009-04-17T21:55:00.003-06:002009-04-17T22:13:23.156-06:00

There is a new puppy in the family.A two month old Golden Retriever, he has been long anticipated and will be greatly loved. He came home last night and today he got a name -- Beau.He will be my 8 year old granddaughter's best buddy for years to come. Lots and lots of years, we hope. My daughter, a deeply devoted dog person, is thrilled -- especially because she's heard there are now

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-60119953635590844942009-04-16T20:08:00.004-06:002009-04-16T20:22:14.616-06:00

Well, not at the moment because USA network's biggest hit, Burn Notice, is on hiatus until June 4th.But I'm counting the days. And I've been thinking about it more this week because Friday is my day to write about a "must-watch" film or program for the Pink Heart Society blog.Guess what I'm writing about.It is my prelude to Kate Walker's "Alpha Heroes" topic which she's rounded up comments for

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-20609721946933063432009-04-12T00:01:00.000-06:002009-04-12T00:01:00.680-06:00

Hope everyone is having a happy Easter -- or whatever you happen to celebrate at this time of year.We didn't dye eggs this year. Not much point with just the two of us here. The twins are coming tomorrow, but they will already have done the Easter egg hunt at their house, so I'm off the hook on dying eggs.I seem to be off the hook on fixing dinner, too, since fixing dinner for four year olds and

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-37065760056535977612009-04-10T00:02:00.000-06:002009-04-10T00:02:00.346-06:00

Seb here.Those of you who were around when Anne was writing my story and Neely's have met me before. I blogged a few times to give Anne a break while she was working last year. And while blogging is more something Neely would do instinctively (she's the people person in the family), I have to admit, I had a good time.She (Neely) didn't think I'd admit that. She says I have a reputation to

Sebastian Savashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16539211651206773919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-8618418571187384382009-04-08T15:50:00.003-06:002009-04-08T16:30:29.776-06:00

A couple of writers and readers whose blogs I frequent have been answering a book meme (something to displace what they should be doing, obviously. Ask me how I know this.) So I thought, you know, I can displace as well as anyone. So here goes:1. What author do you own the most books by?Besides myself because my publisher sends them to me? Mmm, probably Tony Hillerman. Or Jane Donnelly. I

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-82329901970948268052009-04-03T13:26:00.001-06:002009-04-03T14:33:05.949-06:00

Seb and Neely have been sent copies of their first reviews.Julie Bonello who writes reviews for both CataRomance and the Pink Heart Society has read their book and sent me links to both the reviews which you can read at Cataromance and at the Pink Heart Society's review page.But Seb is bugging me to post bits here because he's very proud of them and he wants to see them in print in more than one

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22347819.post-39004631248472146792009-04-02T11:20:00.004-06:002009-04-02T11:56:17.943-06:00

Thanks to Kate Walker's lovely Christmas gift, I had a chance to see the original British version of Life On Mars.I found it compelling, intriguing, occasionally irritating, but always watchable. I was as baffled as the hero, Sam Tyler, at times by what was happening. And I'd have thought I was going insane, too, if I'd had to wake up every morning in a bedsit with that wallpaper staring me in

Anne McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04408045786951555625noreply@blogger.com6