Brenda Novak's Auction to benefit Diabetes

Each year, suspense author Brenda Novak conducts an online auction, the proceeds of which benefit diabetes research. Last year the auction raised more than $250,000 (yep, that's $250K).

This year I'm donating a collection of the entire 8-book Immortals series, a multi-author series in a world I created, plus a dragon trilogy I wrote as Allyson James. (All autographed)

Click here to view

Also donated is a single signed copy of my historical (non-romance) novel, The Queen's Handmaiden.

Click here to view

There is tons more to bid on. Authors and bookstores donate books, plus editors and agents donate critiques. Plus jewelery and collectables, gift baskets, and unique items like:

Lunch with Diana Gabaldon

Lake Tahoe Weekend Getaway

Name a Character in NY Times Bestseller John Lescroart’s
2010 novel, Treasure Hunt

And dear to my miniatures-loving heart: Murder Ink, A Bookstore in Miniature

The home page of the auction is here: http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

Bidding ends May 31!

Lindsey Davis

This weekend I listened to Lindsey Davis talk about her Falco mysteries and her latest book Alexandria. I snagged a copy and had it signed.

My friend who got me started on her was there as well, so we had a cozy mystery day.

If you haven't read the Falco series, start with Silver Pigs. Worth it. If you haven't heard Ms. Davis speak--find out where she's appearing and go! She is entertaining as all get out.

Time for a Levity Break!

It's been a wild, wacky, frustrating, weird past couple of weeks. Great buzz on my new release. Very weird problems with new release (not *everything* went wrong, but so many things did, and still are).

Plus this week I've turned in 1. proofreading of one book; 2. copyedits of novella; 3. submitted ms.; 4. submitted another ms. Not to mention writing blogs almost every day for my mini blog tour.

Happily I have everything turned in, my blog tour is done, and now I have two things on my immediate plate: more proofreading and starting a new ms. (due July 1).

It is far, far, far past time for a break. I'm going to return next week to reviews and interviews, but for now ... Sheep. (watch to the end; you'll be glad you did)

A writer relaxes by...

... enjoying great mysteries. I write a lot of romance, but truth to tell, my favorite genre is mystery.

I've been indulging myself with:

1. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency on HBO. The season wrapped up last night--if you don't get HBO, watch for it to come out on DVD. Worth it. They filmed it in Botswana, so the location is beautiful, and they're following the books somewhat faithfully.

2. The Last Detective. Cozy mystery + Peter Davidson. What's not to love?

3. Cracker (the original with Robbie Coltrane). This series is a bit bleak, but they've made Cracker so interesting. And on what other show can you watch Hamish Macbeth kill Dr. Who and be investigated by Hagrid?

4. Midsomer Murders. I rent this from Netflix, so am at the mercy of the DVD releases. Faster, faster!

These shows get me through the toughest times, and I look forward to my mystery indulgence every night.