Next week my second book in my Savannah Sizzles series comes out. This is only a two book series of four orphaned girls an old murder that brought them all togehter.

Hot and Irresistible is Bebe and BrieAnn’s story and the men they fall in love with. Bebe is a detective in Savannah and a friend is accused of an old murder then new murders. Donovan McCabe, a Yank, is called in to solve the case putting Bebe and Donovan in opposite sides of the case during the day but the same side of the bed at night. Bebe was adopted by a woman who hated her…so why did she adopt Bebe? BrieAnn was adopted by judge and when she falls for Beau who’s father is accused of running an illegal gambling casino, the judge is not happy. What’s Brie to do? The heart wants what the heart wants but she loves her dad.

Prissy is back learning the voodoo ways of her grandmother, well she’s trying to learn the ways. Don’t drink and do voodoo it could be hazardous to your health and those around you. Charlotte is helping her fiancée Griff run Magnolia House and is not a fan of the Donovan McCabe but then even Southern women can be wrong once in a while.

Hot and Irresistible is one of those books of the heart. I love, love, love Savannah. I love the people, the speak, the little bit slower way of life and love. I love the food and going to The Pink House for crab cakes and Savannah Bistro for garlic grits that are to die for. And I love this old city and how it’s been restored. The twenty-one squares with the live oaks and dim lights at night, the cobble stone streets, how the whole city is under a canopy of trees protecting it from the summer sun and I especially love the restored mansions and old houses loaded with history and a few ghosts to make it all so interesting.

Hot and Irresistible is especially a book of the heart as I used my brother as a model for one of the characters. My brother’s name is Ray and he lives in Cleveland so I have a character named Ray Cleveland. He’s sixty-something and a terrific guy and the one accused of the murders that are tearing at the relationship between Bebe and Donovan.

I hope you all enjoy reading Hot and Irresistible as much as I loved writing it. I’ll give away two copies of Hot and Bothered and two T-shirts from the discussions.

Hugs,
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com
DianneCastell@hotmail.com

my daughters, my birthday

WOW!

Then don’t grow mountains like that back in Cincinnati! Or do we have waterfalls like these or have snow in August nor do the bison cause traffic jams because all the nutty tourists are ape-shit parking their cars in the middle of the road to get pictures and simply marvel. No, this is Yellowstone! This is the West! I spent my b-day on the Snake River! I hiked ten mile trails. Gads, I’m pooped!

The scenery is spectacular but to me the real story is the people. Everyone’s as blown away as I am over the raw beauty around every corner. It’s great to see Old Faithful, but the real marvel is the crowds gathered every ninety minutes to see it blow up! Everyone awestruck at the thought of living on top of a volcano.

I’ve been to other National Parks. Smoky Mountain National Park is five hours from here and is incredible. And I’ve done whitewater rafting in the New River Gorge. This is an incredible country, if you don’t think so take a trip to a National Park!

So, have you been? Which ones and what was the most memorable sight you saw, the neatest thing you did. I’m hooked on National Parks and intend to go again and you can tell me where to go! 

I’ll give away a Hot and Irresistible T-shirt from the chats.

Hugs,
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell@hotmail.com
DianneCastell.com

How much description is enough?
How much is too much?
Do you give a rats patootie that she has sparking blue eyes or he’s tall and dark and handsome and that it’s a hot summer night?

What I’m getting at is the description question. How much is too much…or too little and how often do you want to hear about it?

I don’t want to beat the reader over the head with description but at the same time I do what them to remember they are in Savannah and not NYC.

I love GWTW. I know it takes pages and pages to talk about Tara and what Scarlett wore and what everyone wore etc. But when I read that book I was in the South. When the Yankees were coming I really felt like the Yankees were coming and I hated those Yankees and…wait…I live in Cincinnati and I am a Yankee! But when I read that book I was a Southern belle going through some really bad times…except then Rhett shows up.

As much description as there is in GWTW it works. But that was then and we’re writing books for now. I don’t know how much patience a reader has these days for reading so much description like that.

So my question to you is… How much do you want to know about the hero’s looks? The heroine? And the setting?

Or are you more interested in the plot and fast dialogue and if the author tells me one more time that it’s a dark and stormy night I’m throwing this book across the room.

I’ll mail off Hot and Irresistible notepads and pen etc to anyone who emails me at DiannCastell@hotmail.com

Thanks for chatting.
Hugs, Dianne

DianneCastell.com

Hi, Everyone

Lori Foster and I just finished up our fifth annual Reader/Writer Weekend here in Cincinnati. What a blast. We had 310 attendees including over 100 authors and Margo Lipschultz from Harlequin, Rose Hilliard from St. Martins, and Roberta Brown and Karen Solem agents all taking appointments.

And from the wonderful donated baskets…over 100 this year…we raised $6616 for One Way Farm here in Cincinnati, a place for abused and abandoned kids ages 2 to 22. We always raise funds for the troops and this year took in $500 in cast plus supplies to be mailed off. Thanks Laurie Damron for heading this up.

But the most important part of the weekend was fun! I think this was the best get-together yet. Maybe because after doing this for five years Lori and I are getting the hang of it…though every year is different.

We had so many newbees which is great. The word is getting out that we are the best deal around for $50 for the weekend and that includes four meals thanks to Liquid Silver, Samhain, Blue Sapphire and All Romance ebooks who kicked in donations to offset the price of lunch. And we had a great bookfair with Barnes and Noble where 15% of the profits also go to One Way Farm.

There was plenty of downtime to chat with readers and authors. And we really do try and make it a get-together mixing up authors and readers at tables. I also had an Afterglow brunch at my house where we chatted about the event and did wind-down from the get-together. I have a video we did on this and I’ll have it ready by the end of the week. If you stop by my website you can see what everyone is saying about the get-together…and other thing!

It was a terrific weekend and I hope you all get a chance to come next year. We had attendees from Washington, California, many from New York and the Carolinas and Florida.

See you next year!

Hugs,
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com

I love cowboys…least the lure of cowboys. Living in Cincinnati we don’t have all that many, like none, so I have to kind of go with TV and books and movies and a lot of imagination.

I think it’s the cowboy testosterone surge that does it. All those muscles, the rugged shirts and jeans…always the snuggy jeans that show off the package front and back. And the not-so-shaven look. A little dangerous and always mysterious and capable. I hate whiney heroes…and heroines too for that matter. Cowboys are so not whiney.

And they have a horse and a dog. You get the hunky guy and they have pets, big pets not dog-in-the-purse pets. Hunky guys get hunky animals.

And to me they are honorable and true and trustworthy and they know how to save the day and aren’t afraid to jump into the mess. The cowboys that are older are even better because they’re tried and true.

I love that country/western song I’m Not As Good As I Once Was But Good Once As I Ever Was. Great song and fine story as country/western songs always have a story.

And then there’s Garth’s song about Blame It All On My Roots when I showed up in boots and ruined your black tie affair. What a great picture of a cowboy that paints. Love it. I want to write a story with that scene in it. What a scene.

So, my question to you is, do you love cowboys too? What’s the draw for you? Or…aren’t you into cowboys. Some who know a few cowboys say I see them through rose-colored glasses and they aren’t all that I think. Well, I think I’ll keep the glasses and love the cowboy.

I’ll give away two Hot and Bothered mugs from the comments.

Hugs,
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com

I’m diving from Cincy to NY and who knows if I’ll ever get there…or back! Yikes! What am I dong? I’m one of those people who walks around the block and gets totally lost and now I’m off to NY. Pray for me.

If I go out of a department store at another entrance than the one I came in I never find my car…the security guy and I now exchange Christmas cards…and I’ve quit shopping in Target as I always get lost in that place. As my husband used to say…When God was handing out the direction genes you were last in line.

I have little tricks to help me look not quite so inept. I finally put a flower on my car antenna so I can find it. The really bad part is if it’s snowed while inside and I come out and everything is white, even the flower! I once pushed a grocery cart around a parking lot for an hour looking for my car. Least I didn’t have to worry about food thawing or spoiling.

I think this condition is basically genetic. I have a wonderful daughter, Ann…the one I’m driving to NY to drop her stuff off to ’cause she’d never find cincy…and she’s as bad as me. My son’s not much better but my other two daughters seem to be pretty good at finding their way around. Got their daddy’s genes. 

I couldn’t even find my oldest daughter’s rehearsal dinner. Where the heck was that blasted restaurant? So, I called the place and the dear sweet lady who answered the phone stayed with me all the way till I got there. Now that’s customer service! Least I remembered to charge my cell phone…another of my little quirks. Duh, you gotta plug the little suckers in!

My brother was at the rehearsal dinner and felt so sorry for me that he went out and bought me one of those Garman thing. And it is terrific. I really mean it. If you are like me…and I really feel sorry for us…get a Garman or tomtom or another one of those GPS thingies.

We’ve named our Garman Audrey. Ann and I share Audrey. Mail her back and forth when we’re going places. And if we don’t do what she says she actually sounds pissed when she says “recalculating.” One of these days she’s going to say…What the hell do you thing you’re doing!

So, here I am, a lost soul and my question to you today is, are you a lost soul too? And what little tricks do you have for finding your way around. I need all the tips I can get. Do you have a story about getting lost? That would make me feel a little better in that I’m not the only one wandering around out there. I’ll give away three copies of I’m Your Santa from the answers.

Hugs
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com

Or…you’re not in Kansas anymore.

My April release, Hot and Bothered, is set in Savannah. I love Savannah. I don’t live there but my daughter goes to school there and we vacationed in the area long before that and I knew some day I wanted set a book among the big moss draped oaks, magnolias the size of dinner plates, azaleas as big as a bus and Paula Deen’s. ‘course that Savannah is the most haunted city in the US made the city even more intriguing.

But there was this one teeny problem, I don’t talk like Scarlett O’Hara. I live in Ohio, the land of flat A’s and folks who say “please” when they mean “excuse me.” I have no idea where that come from but it’s better than “huh?”

I had to do a lot of research to make sure I had Lady and Sons on the right street and to make sure what streets are one-way and which way they go. But you have to do that when you write any book. The big challenge was how to write Southern-eeze?

I do live in Cincinnati and married a guy from Kentucky. He truly does say things like “fine as frog’s hair” and causin’ a ruckus and we do have fried chicken with white gravy once a week. But how do you write real Savannah?

Such things as Miss Emily and Miss Gloria are proper addresses as is asking how someone’s mama and daddy are but what else? I got a lot of flavor from Southern movies. Of course there’s Gone With the Wind, which was a far better book than move but still it helped to hear them talk. And Something to Talk About that was set in Savannah so that helped a ton, and my favorite Southern movie, The Client. This one just happened to be a better movie than a book, in my opinion.

So, I’m here to ask you… What is your favorite book set in the South and do you have any Southern-isms or words of wisdom from the South to pass on?

For you efforts, I have an ARC of Hot and Bothered to give away from the responses. Ya’ll have a nice day now, ya’ hear.

Hugs, Dianne
DianneCastell.com
DianneCastell@hotmail.com

I love doing blogs, I really do and usually don’t forget, look forward to gabbing but I think the holidays have completely fried my brain. Kids coming in tomorrow from Baltimore and Savannah, last minute ideas for prezzies…what the heck to you buy twenty-somethings??, food to get, house to clean…you get the picture. Then I tried to install my new printer. I think that’s what really drove me over the edge! Nothing ever installs for me.

So, here I am LATE, LATE, LATE! I suppose better late than never but I do apologize.

Okay, you know how my holidays are going…how are yours? Are your ready? Are you sane or are you going nuts like me? The one really fun thing that happened is that I got my ARCs for Hot and Bothered today, my BRAVA that comes out in April.  I’m so excited about this book…mystery, steam, ghosts, best-friends-forever and set in Savannah.

I’m keeping this blog short and if you share with me how you’re doing this holiday season, I’ll pick a name for an ARC. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Hugs,
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com

It’s almost Thanksgiving and if you’re like me you’re running around like a nut trying to get everything together for tomorrow. If you’re one of the lucky ones you’re off to friends or relatives to mooch Thanksgiving dinner. I’m totally jealous of you happen to be one of those lucky one.

But then there’s after dinner. Are you’re going to think about the really big question… To shop or not to shop! On Wild Friday, that is. Do you brave the masses for the great deals? Are you willing to wait in line for that $10 DVD player or special toy for the kids?

I’ve done my share of waiting. Back in the day when Cabbage Patch Kids were big I waited in lines and lines and lines. I have three daughters, all wanting these dolls.  Then there was the transformer craze when my son had to have some particular transformer.

Now that my kids are grown we go out together and shop but the best part is going out to lunch. I don’t have to cook. That’s always the best part. Anytime I can sit and get served is good for me. I’m going shopping for the food!

So, you making plans to shop on Friday? Where are you off to and what for? Any great bargains I should know about?

I’ll pick a name from the replies for a copy of The Morgue the Merrier (Christmas anthology with Rosemary Laurey, Karen Kelley and me).

Have a terrif Thanksgiving!

Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com

Howdy, Everyone.
Lori Foster and I are once again planning our 2008 Reader and Author Get Together in June and just thought I’d give everyone a sneak preview of what’s happening so you can add this fun event to your schedule. So far we have 70 authors, two agents, a NY editor, three publishers and we have seven months to go!
The location is Cincinnati, Ohio and the cost for the weekend is $35. That’s it! What a deal. 
We’ll open registration January 1 so check my website (DianneCastell.com) then.
Hope to see you there.
Hugs
Dianne and Lori

2008 READERS AND AUTHORS GET TOGETHER

Planning is underway!

Official registration forms will be available at http://lorifoster.com/community/readergettogthr.htm after the new year.
For now, here are some quick details…

DATE: June 6th-8th
LOCATION: Marriott North in West Chester, Ohio. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cvgno-cincinnati-marriott-north/
Rooms are $99 a night.
REGISTRATION FEE: $35
– that covers Friday night pizza party, Saturday morning continental breakfast and Saturday buffet.
Restaurants are nearby for dinner.

Industry professionals attending so far:

Cindy Hwang, Berkley
Crissy Brashear, Samhain
Margaret Riley, Changeling Press
Sue Grimshaw, Borders buyer
Roberta Brown, Brown Literary Agency
Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency
Jennifer Schober, Spencerhill Literary Agency
Meriam Gray, Co-Founder, Topaz Promotions, LLC
Marisa O’Neill, RomanceNovel TV

Authors planning to attend:

1. Liz Andrews
2. Camille Anthony
3. Michele Bardsley
4. Becky Barker
5. Anya Bast
6. Jacki Bentley
7. Laura Baumbach
8. Elizabeth Bevarly
9. Toni Blake
10. Monica Burns
11. Susanna Carr
12. Dianne Castell
13. Sam Cheever
14. Billie Warren Chai
15. Ann Christopher
16. Mary Ann Chulick
17. Edwina Columbia
18. Diane Craver
19. Paige Cuccaro
20. Sharon Cullen
21. Sierra Dafoe
22. Lauren Dane
23. Gia Dawn
24. Jamie Denton
25. Kate Douglas
26. Carol Ann Erhardt
27. Katrina Farabaugh
28. Gail Faulkner
29. Lori Foster
30. Shelley Galloway
31. Heather Grothaus
32. Megan Hart
33. Ann Jacobs
34. Marcia James
35. Marteeka Karland
36. Celia Kyle
37. Rosemary Laurey
38. Marilyn Lee
39. Lora Leigh
40. Toni Leland
41. Mary Lennox
42. Michelle Levigne
43. Kimberly Logan
44. Melissa Lopez
45. Donna MacMeans
46. Lena Matthews
47. Janice Maynard
48. Erin McCarthy
49. Sarah McCarty
50. LuAnn McLane
51. Sandy McWhorter
52. Lucy Monroe
53. Shelby Morgan
54. Tuesday Morrigan
55. Anne Rainey
56. Tracy L. Ranson
57. Patricia Sargeant-Matthews
58. Jan Scarbrough
59. Michele Stegman
60. Kay Stockham
61. Kira Stone
62. DeNita Tuttle
63. Eve Vaughn
64. Shiloh Walker
65. Ann Warner
66. J. C. Wilder
67. Gwen Williams
68. Beth Williamson
69. S.J. Willing

This is the 4th event, and in the past we’ve donated all raffle proceeds to the Battered Women’s Shelter, but this year we’ll be donating to the CONDUCTIVE LEARNING CENTER of Greater Cincinnati, a local school specializing in education for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy.
We haven’t forgotten the shelter, though. I organized an anthology with contributions from myself and 11 other authors, titled “THE POWER OF LOVE,” that will be published through Berkley in June 08, and proceeds from the sales of that book will go to the Battered Women’s Shelter.
We’ll also continue our fundraiser for the troops, including proceeds from a cookbook that I put together with donated recipes from authors, radio personalities, and a few readers, published through Samhain.
And of course, our event always includes one very special raffle for THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION.

We try to help as many causes as we can, and my volunteers are incredible, not to mention the readers and authors who show up and help!

If you’re an author or industry professional interested in attending, please contact me at lorilfoster@gmail.com
We’d love to include you!
Lori & Dianne