Those of you who are frequent visitors of my WIPs and Chains blog already know that I am not attending the Romance Writers of America conference in New York this year. 
But I’m making the best of it! Keeping my nose to the grindstone, making margaritas in my mouth as needed, & holding a fun book giveaway here at Brava Authors.
You see, if I were at the RWA conference right now, I would probably be signing copies of THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS at the giant Literacy Autographing they host to kick off the week.
Yes, it’s a Christmas book, but it’s also my most recent Kensington Brava title (in relation to the conference date), so just consider it a bit of Christmas in June. 
Since I’m not at the conference or the literacy autographing, though, & you’re not at the conference of literacy autographing… Well, I assume you aren’t. But even if you are, I’m still not there to sign books for anybody… I’m going to give away a copy right here!
In case you need a refresher about what the story is about, here’s the blurb:
Vampires turn to fanged and fabulous matchmaker extraordinaire Angelina Ricci to help them find that special someone to curl up with under the mistletoe in this charming (read: sexy) and delightful (read: funny) holiday collection by national bestselling author Heidi Betts. Because vampires need love, too. (Biting optional. Hot sex guaranteed.)
“All I Vant For Christmas”
Millionaire vampire Connor Drake loves trimming the tree, baking gingerbread cookies, and hanging the mistletoe for Christmas, but his Goth and gloomy vampire siblings won’t have anything to do with it. Enter Angelina, who sends party planner Jillian Parker to the rescue. But when Jillian—who’s mortal—discovers that she’s decking the halls for a family of vampires, will she run…or will Connor have a beautiful woman to share the holidays with?
“A Vampire in Her Stocking”
When Vivian learns that her secret crush, Sean, is terminally ill, she is heartbroken. Confiding in her matchmaking friend, Angelina recommends the obvious—give Sean eternal life by turning him into a vampire, too. But when Vivian refuses, Angelina decides to play Santa (with a side of Cupid) and changes Sean for her, leaving him wrapped in a bright red bow on Vivian’s doorstep…
“It’s A Wonderful Bite”
Although Angelina is happy with her longtime lover, Ian, she’s ready for a commitment. After drinking eggnog and watching It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve for the (literally) four millionth time, Angelina falls into a dream where she is mortal, and Ian is involved with someone else. Talk about the nightmare before Christmas! But Santa must have checked his list twice, because this Christmas, Angelina’s wishes are about to come true…
To enter the drawing for an autographed copy of THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS—plus goodies; I always stuff my prize envelopes with lots of other fun goodies 
—simply leave a comment to today’s post telling me what you’re doing this week while everyone else is off at the RWA conference having fun without us…or off on vacation doing the same. 
(U.S. residents only, please.)
Good luck & happy reading!
This week I’m feeling a tad jealous and sad that I can’t attend the RWA signing. But, with no vacay budget to speak of and two kids with summer activities it’s just not possible. Maybe one year they’ll have it near me. *g*
Hope the whole margarita thing goes well!
Hey, Brandy. Those signings are so much fun, even tho they’re huge & loud & nearly claustrophobic. LOL So where would “near you” be for a conf. to be held?
I live in the South- South Carolina to be exact. *g* I’d settle for Atlanta!
Oh, I liked it the year it was in Atlanta. Even tho it was hot as H-E-double hockey sticks
& I was nearly killed in the hotel…it was still a great conf. that year. 
This week, I am going to be working at recovering all the lost data (and customers) that we lost when the computer went down at work (sigh)… Other than that, I will be spending lots of time gathering summer time giggles with my son
Oh, no! I HATE lost data situations. And worse, when your back-up or back-up back-up also fails.
Good luck…& try not to go completely mental while dealing with it. 
I don’t like the heat, either. Or big crowds, so NY might have its moments, but I’m betting it would all wear thin for me rather quickly. Still, it would have been fun. And I’ll bet everybody else is there having oodles of it w/o me. Hmph.
I am busy being sick with the summer plague while others are having fun in NYC. But…since RWA was not in the travel plans anyway, I am also getting some books together to haul to St. Louis and Bouchercon in early September AND having fittings for my ball gown that is being constructed for the ARVLFC Vampire Ball in New Orleans in late October. I am a very lucky girl this year!
Oh, no! So sorry to hear you’re sick, Debi. That’s one thing I am happy about—that I didn’t have to skip the conf. cuz I was busy staying home feeling miserable. At least my excuses don’t come with plague-like symptoms. LOL
Feel better soon! Esp. since it sounds like you have big plans coming up!
I’m doing housework and yardwork in the heat/humidity of NC and dreaming of seeing all my reader and writer friends in NY. Sigh…one day, I will go back, I swear!!
I keep saying that, too, Mirm. I do love the conferences, but then you stay home a year or two & think, “Wow, this is so much easier than packing, traveling, unpacking…” And I am, above all things, lazy at heart.
I am working this week same as last week. Well except tomorrow but not for anything fun. My middle son who is 15 is getting his wisdom teeth out tomorrow. Hoping it will be a piece of cake but i’m thinking probably not. That’s about it aside from reading some great books.
Lisa B
modokker at yahoo dot com
LOL Hey, join the club. Even going to conferences is work, really…the dressing up, attending functions, staying on your toes lest you open mouth & insert foot.
But the staying home to read great books part sure does sound good. 
Speaking of lazy, you’re all invited to check out my “I’m not going to RWA” posts this week at WIPs. Yesterday I listed all the things that make me sad about not attending: http://heidibetts.com/2011/06/home-alone/ And today it’s the reasons I’m kind of happy I didn’t go: http://heidibetts.com/2011/06/home-alone-3/
And tho I make no promises, on Thursday, I’m thinking of holding a Black & Blue (well, it is THE DUNGEON, after all) Party as a consolation to those of us who are A.) not at RWA at all this year & B.) not able to attend Harlequin’s Black & White Ball at the Waldorf. Oh, yeah, that one hurt.
Well, I am working. A big ‘ol boooo in my book! But i guess i have to wrok to feed my book addiction. My mom’s b-day is friday, so we are going to have a pig pickin’. That is about all my week consists of. Thanks for thinking of us who couldn’t go to RWA!
Christy M
practimom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Christy~ See my comment above on the big “gotta work” booooo. I’m with you on that. Of course, ever since I got out of school, I’ve kind of thought having to do any kind of work during the summer months was bogus. (They really set you up for a torturous adult routine with that, don’t they?
)
And when I first decided not to go, I thought I’d be the only one…but now I know there are tons of us out there who didn’t make it to NY this week. We will survive. And we’re gonna have fun doing it.
This week I’m at home doing the super mom thing. Today my youngest son has a pre-k screening, which we’re praying goes well enough that he gets in. Then Thursday I have to take my oldest son to a doctors appointment for a check up b/c for a couple of months he was losing alot of weight mysteriously. I wish I was in NYC though! I’ve never been to any of the conferences and am anxious to attend one sometime in the future. I actually love reading Christmas stories in the summer. It keeps the seasonal spirit alive in between Decembers.
dani3222001(at)yahoo(dot)com
Super Mom, Super Mom, doing whatever a Super Mom does…
Okay, sing that to the tune of “Spider Pig.” And you’ll probably need to be a Simpsons/Simpsons Movie fan to get that. LOL
But you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. Good luck with both kids.
I’m a fan of reading holiday stories throughout the rest of the year, too…or maybe I should say it doesn’t bother me; I can read pretty much anything any time. Tho I do enjoy reading holiday stories specifically over the holidays, just to help me get in a seasonal mood.
Hi!
Well, I’ll be home, like I am now… will be reading during it, but right now just wishing the nap I took because of the allergy pill was longer, but in order for it to be longer, the neighbor who is making the noise needs to shut up. Sigh. I’m assuming they are doing something with their backyard, but our backyards are not big enough to be going at it for two hours… anyhoo, oh, to be at the signing – I mean, it’s a half hour away, but just can’t afford all those books! LOL And I would go mighty nuts! 
Lois
Don’t get me started on neighbors…not this year. And it’s worse in summer when the windows are open, kids are home from school, & you hear *everything*.
I’m with you on almost being afraid to attend big booksignings, tho. They’re like potato chips…how can you eat/buy just one?
I am very excited to be planning for a vacation
Busy keeping up with work, getting the little things done and making sure we are ready. Funny how planning for vacation is so exhausting.
Where are you going, Robin? Oh, yes, vacas are exhausting to get ready for…& you’re usually exhausted when you get back, too, even if you had a fabulous time. What’s the quote about no man needing a vacation quite as much as he who just returned from one?
Have fun!
I am working this week. Pretty much same as any other week for me. Wish I was there though.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
But you’re gonna get a long weekend soon, right? (4th of July) That has to count for something.
I am working this week and looking forward to the 4th of July holiday. Thank you for the great giveaway.
I’m looking forward to the 4th of July, too, but do kind of hope the fireworks don’t get out of hand. A few are fun & pretty…too many is just noisy & annoying. And my cats don’t like them, which means I don’t like them, either.
I’m already kind of dreading it. (The noise, not the extra day tacked on to the weekend. 
)
Have a good one!
Really enjoyed the post Heidi
! LOL this week it’s a lot of catching up for me – catching upon bills, getting work bids out, my few last behind reviews, and some reading .
pams00 @ aol.com
Thanks, Pam! I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up, no matter how much I just caught up on.
But the reading sounds fun. 
wishing I was RWA but unfornately I am working and am sick with a cold.
If I could get rid of the cold it might be bearable.
Sorry you’re not feeling well, Pam. I hate being sick, so I can sympathize. Drink lots of o.j. & power up on echinacea, & you’ll kick that puppy in no time!
Definitely can’t go to RWA sick, but it’s no fun coming *home* sick, either. Been there, done that more than once. Blech!
Getting ready for bed, so it’s time to announce today’s winner of the signed (but not at RWA *g*) copy of THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
And the winner is…
HEATHER F.
Congratulations, Heather! If you see this, please use the contact form at my website (http://heidibetts.com/contact/) to contact me with your full name & mailing address. Otherwise I’ll e-mail you in the morning, ‘kay?
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today, everybody! It was a blast & I’ll be back next month with something new…same Bat time, same Bat channel.
I’m finally enjoying sunshine and warm weather! That means being finally able to sit outside and read a great book. This week is the first week that it’s been warm enough here to enjoy summer and before this weeks warmth it felt more like Christmastime.
Okay, I admit it Christmastime is my favorite time of the year. Since we live on a lake and are only 2 miles from the ocean beaches all my friends think I’m a little crazy especially since I hate cold weather but to me Christmas is the time to celebrate, remember times gone by and best of all sit in front of a warm fire and read a great book.
I definately want to get a copy of A Bite Before Christmas and enjoy Christmas in July! Thanks for the opportunity!
Hi, Jeanne! I’m with you—there’s just something extra special about Christmas. Everything seems warmer & festive & folks seem to be in a better mood. (For the most part.
) But I can definitely watch Xmas specials or read Xmas books any time of the year. Sometimes they even help me to get in a holiday mood, if the radio stations all playing carols the day after Halloween doesn’t quite do it. LOL
Can you believe I just got back from a NYC vacation and didn’t even know my favorite authors were there? Not that my family wanted me to head off in that direction, but which is worse, you not getting to go, or me being there and not taking advantage? ARGHHH! Ah well, maybe next time for us both huh? So that’s what I was doing, taking in the NYC sites completely unaware.
Oh, no! Yep, that’s about as bad as living as close as I do to NY & not going up. I would kick myself, too, if I missed the Literacy Autographing when I’d been right there. Aaaaaaargh!
New York in the heat & humidity this week would be no picnic! Distraction with this Christmas anothology would be a welcome distraction.
Hey, Diane! I already drew a winner for this giveaway, but appreciate you popping in to check out THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. And never fear—there are more giveaways to come. I’ve got another funny, sexy vampire romance coming out soon (MUST LOVE VAMPIRES – September 27th!!!) & have some great stuff in mind to celebrate.