Tomorrow, 1 March, 2011 is the official release day of my debut Regency historical, Invitation to Ruin.

(Booklover1335 has won the copy of Invitaiton to Ruin – I have emailed you. Or contact me romance at bronwenevans dot com.)

I know I won’t sleep tonight as I’m so excited. What really irks me is that I can’t jump in my car and rush down to my nearest book store to view my ‘little baby’ on the shelf, as it is only released in-store in the USA, and I live in New Zealand. It would turn into a very expensive trip to the book store and a 30 hour round trip.

Instead, I ordered a copy online last week, and it arrived in my letterbox yesterday. Silly I know as I have the story on my PC and I have loads of copies to give away (yip – post a comment and be in the draw to win a signed copy – the copy I ordered online), but if I couldn’t see my book on a shelf in the book store, then opening a parcel and seeing it was second best!

Speaking of seeing my book on a shelf in a book store, if anyone feels like snapping a photo of my book on the shelf, in a book store, and emailing it to me at romance at bronwenevans dot com I’d be thrilled to receive it.

For you e-book readers, it has been released in e-book format on the 1 March as well.

Here’s snippet of Anthony’s and Melissa’s story to whet your appetite:-

Anthony leaned nearer, the tantalizing scent of expensive cologne mixed with raw maleness made her dizzy, and as he placed his large hand at her back, guiding her towards a chaise upon which Lady Millington sat, Melissa wondered if tonight would be the night she’d finally swoon.

“Remember my warning. I trust you will conduct yourself appropriately. You are to be my wife.”

The sudden bolt of awareness flashing down her side – the side he’d touched – had nothing to do with the anger his harsh warning provoked. She could sense him, hard, strong, and very male, a potent living force beside her.

His nearness was pure pleasure. She glanced at his face, but he’d already turned to see to Cassandra.

He must have felt her gaze though, because his eyes swung back to her. He saw her studying him intently and his gaze grew direct; his eyes searched hers.

Her lungs seized.

The introduction for the first waltz cut through the hypnotic moment. She heard Cassandra stir. Please do not disgrace me by dancing the first dance with Cassandra.

His eyes still held hers and perhaps he read the desperation there. His fingers closed about her hand and he lifted it fleetingly to his lips. He then elegantly bowed, his eyes never leaving hers. “My dance, I believe?”

She let out a huge breath, gratitude beaming from within her smile. At that precise moment he truly was the most wonderful man in the world, her knight in shining armor. She inclined her head, and let him draw her to the floor.

There are further snippet’s and the first chapter on my website www.bronwenevans.com

So what AM I going to do to celebrate? I’m going to have a glass of champers and my favorite meal. I have a launch luncheon planned for Sunday with friends and family.

Before I go, I must thank Megan Records who has held my hand through this process and made my first book release easy. Then there is Melissa Jeglinski my lovely agent who kindly came to NZ last year and allowed me to pitch to her. I’ve been very lucky having these two lovely ladies (my M&M’s as I call them both) help make my debut a real joy.

Lastly, the kind readers who have already bought the book and read it. Thank you so much.

Last Christmas all of the Kensington editors received Kindles so that we can read submissions without printing them off and wasting paper. (Hurray for green holidays!) I love my Kindle and I love not lugging stacks of manuscripts home to read, but I have to confess that when I’m reading for pleasure, I still prefer a book that’s printed on paper, a “pbook.” When I’m reading an ebook, I miss seeing the whole page at one time; I have a different sense of the story’s pacing; I don’t have a clear idea of how long the books is and I can’t read as quickly.

How about you? Are you one of the majority of e-consumers who uses a computer screen? Do you read romance on your iphone? Or are you stuck with me in the Twentieth Century and the printed page?

Lots of people tell me they love their e-reader, but prefer to actually shop in a bookstore, where they can browse through the pbooks on the shelves. As the major book retailers rush to compete with Amazon, I hope they won’t lose sight of their bricks-and-mortar business. Bookstores have traditionally been places where communities of readers come together, where a striking cover can attract a brand-new fan, where the surprise of discovery and serendipity add special pleasure to the reading experience and a bookseller’s recommendation can broaden horizons.

What are the special features of your favorite bookstore that make you a regular customer? What kinds of events or promotions would be a powerful draw for you? In this era of diminishing retail outlets, the reader/writer community needs to support the booksellers who make our favorite entertainment available!

Recently, our fabulous Kate Duffy was interviewed by her sister Clare in a report on Amazon’s Kindle! — S. Day

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With even self-described “book people” embracing Amazon’s Kindle, the e-reader is poised to become the most popular gadget you don’t yet have. NBC’s Clare Duffy reports.

(see video below the cut…)

Yes, I, whose very apartment has been labeled the Bermuda Triangle of Technology, have embraced a little device called the kindle. I took six manuscripts home last weekend on my 3.5 oz. kindle.

I talk to it. I praise it. I call recharging the batteries – feeding the kindle. It goes everywhere with me. People start conversations with me on the bus about it and they all want to hold it. So, I reluctantly let them even though I know they are probably riddled with the plague.

Replace books? I don’t think so. Replace pounds of paper – you betcha. Plus the added blessing of knowing I will never be without something to read no matter where I am.

I was on the train once from Washington to NYC and I started to run out of book just north of Philadelphia. Really not good.

So one evening, there’s this woman on the bus who says the usual, “Is that the kindle? Do you like it? Can I hold it?” and I cooperated. Then she hands it back, looks at me pityingly and says, “This would never work for me, I am a Book Person.”

You and me both, doll face. And the kindle is a Book Person’s friend.