I finished Always last week and got it all polished up this weekend. I’ll get it to my editor and get back to work on No Reservations which I’m co-writing with Megan. I love finishing a book. There’s a feeling, right when I do the last spell check and the last save, where I feel totally and utterly satisfied and accomplished. Nothing but the book exists just for that time. No deadlines, no pressure about promotion or sales. It’s just me and the book. I try to always savor those moments because they’re rare and special.

It’s been busy round these parts. With Undercover’s release also came the wonderful news of the RT Reviewer’s Choice Nomination in the Erotic Romance/ sci fi/paranormal category!  A few days after that I found myself in that very wonderful place, a place I hadn’t dreamed of being with my very first NY single title, the best seller list. The uber wonderful Jaci Burton pinged me via IM to tell me I’d hit the Barnes and Noble and Borders list. I’m nationally best selling author Lauren Dane. Jeepers! That’s just, I’m totally wowed by that and thankful for that and I appreciate each and every one of you who bought Undercover to make that happen! So thank you.

I’ve also had some fabulous reviews from an RT Top Pick to a five blue ribbon review, recommended read, various 4 and five star and an A-! I appreciate all that reviewer time and effort. (if you’re interested, you can check em out on the Undercover page at my website)

Sweet Charity, my holiday themed novella taking up where last year’s To Do List ended, only this time with Rafe’s brother Gabriel as the hero, will be out on December 23 - which is right around the corner. Yikes! These last three months have really just gone by in a blur and they’ve been filled with so much wonderfulness I can’t quite grasp it all.

So today is a good day and I wish a great week to everyone reading. I got my author copies of Sweet Charity by the way, wanna win it in the digital format of your choice? Just comment with one or two books you’re looking forward to between now and say, March and you’ll be entered! I’ll announce a winner tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon pacific/3 pm eastern.  Good luck!

WINNER: A’La Randomizer is: Comment # 9 Diane!  Diane, email me and tell me what format you need and I’ll get the book your way!

Congrats!

First of all, the lovely Laura Bradford has crit for three chapters and a synopsis up for auction for the Jo Leigh auction! Check it out! I can say firsthand that Laura is wonderful with editorial and her eye has made all my books better.

I’ve also got something up for auction - all of my Chase Brothers books and all my Witches Knot books - all in print and all signed and personalized.

Fellow Bradford Buncher Cynthia Eden has a manuscript critique up for auction! ALSO autographed copies of Hotter After Midnight, When He Was Bad, Everlasting Bad Boys, Midnight Sins

Ann Aguirre offers up a mentoring opportunity: a full manuscript (romance / fantasy (which includes UF) / SF) critique and help with query letter for same manuscript, to be submitted to Ann within 6 months of auction. and ALSO - autographed copies of Grimspace and Wanderlust

Vivi Anna offers copies of HELL KAT and INFERNO

Denise Agnew offers a copy of Meant To Be

For those unfamiliar with the story - Jo Leigh - an author whose fabulous romances have made many a day better - lost her husband this year and the proceeds of the auction will go to paying the medical bills.

A full listing of the auction items can be viewed here

Last November I sold two books to Berkley - a futuristic erotic called Battlefront and a second to be determined book. Over the next year the book would get a new title - UNDERCOVER, a great blurb, an unbelievably gorgeous cover, revisions, edits, ARCS to reviewers and then it would show up on shelves.

Each step of the way it felt like December was a million years from then.

But, step by step, it got closer and then it began to ship from Barnes and Noble. And then it began to ship from Amazon UK. And then it began to show up on shelves. And then it began to ship from Amazon US. And I began to get emails from friends who said they’d seen the book at such and such bookstore. My husband saw three copies at the Borders at Southcenter. Then the next time he was in, they’d turned them to face out. I was in that Borders on Saturday and there’s only one left from the original three. I saw it on the shelf - this piece of me that I was fortunate enough to sell. It’s a feeling, gosh, it’s a feeling that’s beyond compare.

A sexy debut exploring an erotic future universe of passion, danger, and deceit…

On the battleground or in the bedroom, one woman and two men fight for dominance in a bold, new, and excitingly different direction in erotica…

As a lieutenant of the Federation military, Sera Ayers is accustomed to giving orders, not taking them. Now she must obey the one man she can’t stand—and can’t stop thinking about.

With the enemy Imperialists gaining ground, a covert team is assembled by Ash Walker. Ten years before, Sera had lovingly submitted to Ash’s dominance in the bedroom. But when he was forced into a political marriage, she refused to play mistress. His marriage now over, Ash wants Sera on his team—and back in his bed.

The third team member, Brandt Pela, has an elegance to match Ash’s savage sexuality. And when their undercover plan requires Sera to pose as Brandt’s lover, it ignites a passion among the three of them more dangerous than their mission.

So it’s here and I’m thrilled and thankful. The next book, in fact the next two in the contract, are already written and RELENTLESS, the book following UNDERCOVER set in the same world (though not a sequel) has already had edits! It comes out in May 09 and it too has a gorgeous cover!

Everyone enjoy your Monday! I know I will.

Which is good because if I wasn’t busy I’d start obsessing about Undercover! Undercover which releases in two weeks and one day, not that I’m counting every minute or anything…

I’m running a huge contest over at my blog to celebrate - and I’m giving books away every single day. Some of my own as well as oooodles of other authors’ books. The grand prize is a tote, water bottle, a signed copy of Undercover, another copy of any of my availble titles, a tee shirt and an Amazon GC. So get on over to play, there’s something new to win every day and every entry is an entry into the grand prize too. You can check out some of the prizes and the rules in this entry!

I’m also doing this round of 70 Days of Sweat and so far, things are going quite well! I’m on track to finish up my current WIP (ALWAYS a contemporary romance for Samhain) by the end of December so that makes me very happy.

Another thing to pretend I’m not obsessing over are the pitches Laura has out for me right now. Some option material and something totally new for me as well. So while those are out, of course the economy is playing on my mind and the writerly angst of “oh woes will I ever sell again” and all that jazz. Most of the day I don’t get too worked up over it, waiting and being rejected are part of this gig so I’m pretty used to it. But there are moments when I get all freaked and worried. Luckily, as I said, between my kids having half days during conference time and all these waiver days and holidays, between promotion not just for Undercover but the other books releasing like Holiday Seduction (my print anthology with the fabulous Jaci Burton), Sweet Charity, a holiday novella from Samhain, and the stuff coming out next year, I’m busy enough that I can sort of not think on it too much.

I’ve read some really great stuff lately and I’m going to toss in some booktalk as I do my contests at my blog as well. Watched Blade Runner with my husband this last weekend, which we’ve seen a million times but it’s just as good every time I see it again. Planted some bulbs for the spring as my tulips have gone very small (I planted them seven years ago, that’s not bad). The crocus should be nice in January! Tulips, daffodils, more gladiolas.

Okay then, everyone have a wonderful and productive week. I’ve got to plan my Thanksgiving menu.

I am so distracted lately! Usually I’m so much more on track but the change in seasons, the change in the weather, the fact that it’s still dark at 8 am and getting dark at 4 has me sleepy and grumpy of late. I’m annoyed by the RWA, I’m annoyed by people acting like fools online, I’m annoyed by authors pimping themselves in threads at Amazon or lacking any filters at all, I’m annoyed by my kids who constantly bicker at each other. Yannow, one of *those* moods. I’m in one of those “not ready for internet” moods because I feel like one of those old cats laying on the porch in the sun and I want to smack everyone who gets in my light, LOL. Oh and the “z” on my keyboard is sticking.

So when I get in one of these moods I make a concerted effort to take a moment to think about what I’m thankful for.

1. As always, first and foremost I am thankful for my husband, who is the best. He’s supportive, kind, funny, sexy, he brings me Thai food and bit o honeys when I’m grumpy and he even sits through chick flicks with me on occasion.

2. My kids - even though they are on my very last nerve, are the light of my life.

3. My friends - I am so blessed in the people who are my chosen family. You know who you are - thank you and thank goodness for IM!!!

4. This wonderful career - how lucky am I that I can write books as my job?

5. The reds and golds on the trees against the deep gray of the storm clouds or the vivid blue of the clear sky. Honestly, I love the northwest but in the fall, all I need to do is look out my window to be happy.

6. Cupcakes, Daniel Craig, Gerard Butler, Clive Owen - all delicious, all lickable. Heh.

There are many more things - music, pumpkin bread, a fire in the fireplace, a mug of tea and the afghan my grandmother made for me - I’m fortunate.

Don’t forget to check out my blog this week! The Magnificent Eight Blog Tour has started and eight authors are giving away fabulous prizes!!

Undercover is a TOP PICK in Romantic Times Book Reviews for December. Holy cupcakes.  I haven’t even seen the magazine yet! December isn’t online (although it might be by the time this posts) so I was blissfully ignorant. But Jaci Burton, Maya Banks and I have a group ad in this upcoming issue and Jaci sent an email to say she got her issue and how pretty the ad looked. It was a cool email but it was the, “Oh and congrats on the Top Pick for Undercover, Lauren” at the end that made me gasp and read it twice more before emailing her back and asking, “Really? I did? OMG!!”

She kindly sent me the text of the review shortly thereafter so thanks, Jaci, for totally making my day!

OMG!!!!!  I’ve never had a Top Pick before. Several 4 1/2 star reviews but never the top pick. I’m so freaking excited!!!!!

Here’s the review:

Dane has written a sizzling, delicious tale of love lost, found and expanded. The M/F/M triad is as endearing as it is molten hot. The friction between Sera and Ash as they resolve their past is intense, and with Brandt added to the mix, it’s nothing short of explosive. An adrenaline-filled, suspenseful subplot keeps the reader engaged.

Reviewed by Bella March.

Thanks so much to Bella March for the review.

Undercover comes out December 2 from Berkley Heat and it’s my verra first single title from a NY publisher. I’m not a newbie, I’ve got over two dozen published novels under my belt but this one is big for many reasons and I so want it to do well. Of course that means some days I’m euphoric and others I’m panicking that it’ll be the worst book ever, LOL.

Anyhoodle, amidst the mountain of ironing and laundry I did this weekend, the dinner out with my dude Friday night and the low point of some dire news from a friend, seeing this review was pretty darned fabulous.

Blurb: A sexy debut exploring an erotic future universe of passion, danger, and deceit…

On the battleground or in the bedroom, one woman and two men fight for dominance in a bold, new, and excitingly different direction in erotica…

As a lieutenant of the Federation military, Sera Ayers is accustomed to giving orders, not taking them. Now she must obey the one man she can’t stand—and can’t stop thinking about.

With the enemy Imperialists gaining ground, a covert team is assembled by Ash Walker. Ten years before, Sera had lovingly submitted to Ash’s dominance in the bedroom. But when he was forced into a political marriage, she refused to play mistress. His marriage now over, Ash wants Sera on his team—and back in his bed.

The third team member, Brandt Pela, has an elegance to match Ash’s savage sexuality. And when their undercover plan requires Sera to pose as Brandt’s lover, it ignites a passion among the three of them more dangerous than their mission.

Here are some quotes:

Sexy, pulse pounding adventure with a heart twist of emotion that’ll leave you weak in the knees. Dane delivers!
Jaci Burton - Author of Riding Wild and Surviving Demon Island

Lauren Dane deftly weaves action, intrigue, and emotion with spicy delicious eroticism. Undercover is a toe curling erotic romance sure to keep you reading late into the night. - Anya Bast, national bestselling author of Witch Fire

Exciting, Emotional, and Arousing! Undercover by Lauren Dane is a ride well worth taking.
Sasha White author of Bound, Trouble and Wicked

With its fast-paced action, steamy romance, two sizzling heroes and a heroine I adored, Undercover is a book I can’t wait to put on my keeper shelf. Dane does it again! – Megan Hart, author of Tempted

Scintillating! Lauren Dane delivers a roller coaster of emotion, intrigue and sensual delights in Undercover. I was hooked from the first sentence. – Vivi Anna, author of Hell Kat and Inferno

And lastly, after the jump, you can check out an excerpt!  18 and Over Please!
Read the rest of this entry >

Saturday night I went to see Santogold with my friend April, fellow author and all around hilarious person Mark Henry and his faboo wife, Caroline.

I love this song - it was on the tracklist for Relentless.  The same back up dancers in this video were there too and I gotta say, I love them. LOVE them. I watched them more than I did her.

I love to see live music. I don’t go as often as I like to because I need to do it all around my kids and deadlines and I don’t live in the heart of the city either. But every time I go I am reinvigorated.  I love to see people doing creative things and Santi White (the woman behind Santogold) is so genuine and fun and clearly she loves doing what she does.

Mark and I have decided we either need to BE back up dancers or we need some of our own. I want back up dancers, you know to come into the room before I do and warm it up by bustin a move or three. Any takers?  I pay with top pot donuts.  Just sayin.

There was a dude in a gold lame turban with a fin on top. I’m not joking. I hope mark got a picture. There were also gold lame jackets and pants and a few headbands. Unless I’m a back up dancer, I can’t see dressing like the band. But I’m just not that cool apparently.

She brought people up on the stage for Creator - including an 11 year old boy who was totally adorable but I hope he had earplugs in because holy cow it was one of the loudest shows I’ve been to in a long time.

On top of all this wonderfulness - I’m celebrating my twentieth wedding anniversary on Wednesday! Of course we can’t get away like we’d orginally planned but we’re hoping to do something mid next  year to celebrate instead.

Then to Emerald City - my RWA Chapter conference coming up the 10, 11 and 12.  If you’re in the Seattle area, I’ll be doing the booksigning at the Bellevue Hilton from 4 - 6 on October 11 along with many other wonderful authors so come by and say hello!

Y’all have a great week! Don’t forget Anya’s Chosen Sin officially releases tomorrow, October 7!

So in 70 days, my first NY single title releases from Berkley Heat. I’ve been doing this writing gig a while now (sold my first book just about 4 years ago this month) so I’m not a noob when it comes to promotion but this is on a whole different level and the timelines are farther out so I’m working with to do lists and trying to keep myself in check.

Today my husband took 12,600 bookmarks in four heavy boxes to the post office to mail to RT magazine. That little project had me making 700 rubberbanded packages of 18 bookmarks each. I did them here and there over the last six weeks. And then the ads, just took care of some online stuff and the print stuff has been done for a while. I got bound galleys so I‘m running a contest at my blog for those - have you entered yet?

I have no idea of any of this stuff really works, but it keeps me busy and obsessing less, which anyone who knows me will tell you is a good thing. I want this book to do well (obviously) and so I spend a lot of time alternating between angst and brainstorming up ideas (while doing laundry, making lunches, dropping kids off at school and all that jazz)

I’m really proud of this book. I came up with the basic idea for what was then called Battlefront in 2006 but didn’t really get to it until mid 2007 when my agent finally pitched it. I was thrilled when Leis Pederson at Berkley wanted it. Berkley is one of my dream houses and I’ve not been disappointed in them yet. each new step has been wonderful. First the blurb, then the cover (which I still stare at to this day) and the overall book design, which is simply gorgeous.

I’m a lucky woman. Even on days like Friday when I seriously wondered just why I ever thought parenting was a good idea, I know I’m lucky. My life is filled with ten thousand kinds of wonderful. From my family and friends to the good fortune I’ve had with writing - my life is good. Even if I know I will be a maniac the closer December 2 comes, LOL.

Oh!  Undercover is a futuristic erotic romance (with some BDSM elements and some mild MM but the focus is Sera, the heroine). It’s a Heat book so for those of you who aren’t aware - HEAT is an erotic line so the sexin in this book is described in detail with all the “words” you’d expect in an erotic romance. (I just say that up front because apparently someone was surprised by the level of sexual detail in the book)

Here’s the blurb:

A sexy debut exploring an erotic future universe of passion, danger, and deceit…

On the battleground or in the bedroom, one woman and two men fight for dominance in a bold, new, and excitingly different direction in erotica…

As a lieutenant of the Federation military, Sera Ayers is accustomed to giving orders, not taking them. Now she must obey the one man she can’t stand—and can’t stop thinking about.

With the enemy Imperialists gaining ground, a covert team is assembled by Ash Walker. Ten years before, Sera had lovingly submitted to Ash’s dominance in the bedroom. But when he was forced into a political marriage, she refused to play mistress. His marriage now over, Ash wants Sera on his team—and back in his bed.

The third team member, Brandt Pela, has an elegance to match Ash’s savage sexuality. And when their undercover plan requires Sera to pose as Brandt’s lover, it ignites a passion among the three of them more dangerous than their mission.

I’m beginning to see some reviews come in (nail biting time) and so far so good!

April says: There are not enough words in the english language to describe how fantabulous this book is. It show the true development of emotion between the three main characters. Yet it is so steamy I thought it would burn the pages

Terri at Night Owl Romance gives Undercover 4 hearts and says in part:  This book kept me up way past when I normally go to bed at night and I couldn’t wait to pick it up again in the morning.

Chrissy Dionne at Romance Junkies gives Undercover 5 blue ribbons and says in part in an early review to go live in November: Wow! This book rocks! Lauren Dane pulls out all the stops with this soul searing, awe-inspiring read. Sera is a ballsy kick-ass character whom I absolutely love. Ash and Brandt are dominant men and each is a member of a ruling Family, which adds an extra complication and emotional aspect to the storyline. Sera’s feistiness really cracked me up but she also has an emotional vulnerability to Ash and Brandt that drew me into the relationship so that I felt like I was there watching as each scene between them played out (and believe me there are some scenes that heated my face and left me tingly all over).

UNDERCOVER may very well be Lauren Dane’s best work to date. Definitely a must read and deserving of a special spot on the keeper shelf.

Anyhoodle - life is good even if I am all angst girl. I’m managing not to eat Top Pot donuts all day while I obsessively look at Amazon - well for the most part anyway. Don’t forget to head over to my blog to enter my ARC contest if you haven’t already!

Summer has given pretty much her last gasp in my neighborhood. The weather has turned cooler, it’s getting dark earlier and the leaves are already starting to turn. School started last week although it was a typical first week so they’re not actually on a real schedule until this week. My oldest will be doing fifth grade orchestra, the middle kiddo seems to be settling into first grade nicely (knock wood) and the wee monster is in preschool a few hours a day.  Suddenly I went from a chaotic, insanely noisy house to actual silence for two hours a day. Two hours.  Like many moms, I haven’t had time to myself in over a decade. I’m not quite sure how to handle it, LOL.

It’s bliss but at the same time, it ends up getting filled with all the tasks better done without children around like grocery shopping and going to the post office.  I’m hoping that in a few weeks I’ll be used to the new schedule too and I can zealously guard those two free hours for writing at least three days a week. Tough talk I know, LOL.

Anyway, let’s see, otherwise life continues apace. I’m done with Laid Bare, a contemporary erotic romance for Berkley Heat, and I’ll be sending it to my editor today or tomorrow. I’m now busily working on Sweet Charity, a contemporary follow up to last year’s To Do List - this one features Raphael’s brother Gabriel and releases from Samhain in December.

I finished a partial for something I’ve wanted to write for two years. I can’t wait to hear what Laura Bradford thinks about it!

I’m planning promo and contests for Undercover, which holy moley, releases in 85 days! Wow, okay so December 2 is way closer than I thought. Anyway, keep an eye out for contests to win ARCS (right now  until noon pacific I’m running a contest at my blog to win an electronic ARC). I’m excited and right now I’m so busy I don’t have much time to be nervous but that’ll come, LOL.

I’m promising myself to finish all holiday shopping by mid-November. When I do this, my life is way easier at the end of the year! And with so much stuff going on in December through May, it’s a good thing if I work ahead. Gah!

Release wise:  If you live in Britain, my and Megan’s Taking Care of Business releases in the UK in October. Yes, in a month OMG. Stateside, it comes out March 31.

Holiday Seduction - a print anthology with my To Do List and Jaci Burton’s Unwrapped, comes out November 25. The cover is pretty scorching!

Undercover - futuristic erotic romance, menage with BDSM elements releases from Berkley Heat December 2

Sweet Charity - contemporary red hot romance comes out in digital from Samhain in December at some point, I don’t know the date yet.

January and February - Cascadia Wolves: Wolf Unbound and Standoff come out in trade print

March - Taking Care of Business from Black Lace - contemporary erotic romance co-written with Megan Hart

April - Always - a contemporary romance will come out in digital from Samhain

May - Relentless - futuristic erotic romance set in the same world as Undercover but not a sequel, comes out from Berkley Heat  and the second Vegas anthology releases from Spice as well.

Anyway, that’s just a glimpse into my next whatever many months. You can check out covers and excerpts as well as other release dates and all that jazz at my website.

Have a great Monday!!!

Lauren

So many good tihngs to celebrate for me of late. Finishing books, editing, book releases, some personal retail therapy treats…

I finished the first draft of Outshined and starting tomorrow I’ll begin to revise it. I love finishing a book!

Cascadia Wolves: Fated released on the 19th from Samhain and so far it’s been getting some wonderful reviews and I’ve recieved a number of reader emails about it. I’m glad - it was one of those difficult books to write but I’m pleased with how it turned out.

On Tuesday the 26th, Reading Between the Lines releases in trade paperback!  You can check out an excerpt over at my blog, I put one up yesterday.

I also picked up some new makeup - because even just a small bit of retail therapy can make a girl all warm inside. I decided to try the Bare Escentuals Buxom lips full color gloss in “Stella” which arrived on Thursday and I love! Instead of a sponge tip it has a brush, which is not good for quick application without a mirror, so that’s a drawback. However, it lasts forever, it’s not painful like some similar products can be with more peppermint than capsicum and the color is flat out luscious. With the little brush it’s like a treat to put on, slow and precise. I like that.

I also ordered a custom made bag from UniqueNPersonal so I can’t wait to see what it looks like! The price was very reasonable for a custom bag, I have to say.

I’ve got Wanderlust and Everlasting Bad Boys on pre-order to read so I’m thrilled about that and I’ll be starting to run some ARC contests for Undercover very soon.

Enjoy your week, I hope it’s filled with some wonderful moments.

Lauren