Canada Shines at Pan Am Games & Author Happenings

The Pan Am Games are well underway in Toronto,Ontario, and Canada is holding its own very, very well in the medal count! Fabulous news. Go Canada Go!!! Our water sports have been a highlight for Canadian athletes, with many medals won from those sports.


It's terrific to see so many people on social media praising the athletes and that our nation is coming together to cheer our talented athletes on. Nothing like coming together in a positive way when there is so much chaos and anger in other parts of the world. To set all that aside temporarily helps to keep me sane. 

I've been crazy busy -- yes not just watching the Games -- but with writing and farming and full time mom thing. I always laugh when people say to me "Oh you don't work, just stay at home?" I glare for a few seconds then say, "I have 3 full time jobs, #1 being a mom."  Sometimes I wonder if women I know that ask me that, understand that they too are full time mothers? Or maybe I am more involved in my children's lives than they are in theirs...?
The kids and I are having a lazy summer. Hanging around the house, a few beach days every week, and coming up with new ways to increase the farm stuff.

Hmm, but I digress. I've got two books coming out with Evernight Publishing in the next couple of months. Stirring Up Dirty releases JULY 24th!!. In it, readers will finally have Candy's story, whom they met in Dare. 

I've also finished my first shifter story!!! Huge for me. A challenge that I tried to shy away from but conquered. Fighting for Honor features a black panther and a white Siberian Tiger. First in a series, and I look forward to getting back to that.

At the moment, I'm working on a younger man/older woman story. It's coming together very well, but my heroine is way too stubborn for me! She and I are constantly battling over time, space, and the hero. So far, untitled but I have one in mind, just not sure it's definite yet.

I've also sent in a proposal for a WOLF story!! I'm challenging myself to write out of my comfort zone these days -- until they become comfy LOL -- and I am pleased with the possible story. I hope the publisher give me the go ahead on that. *fingers crossed*

And on the farm... well, the new calves are growing in leaps and bounds. Some have impeccable lines and will bring in a good amount of money. Cattle prices are up right now, so it's a plus for us.  We also have meat (browler) chickens. They don't care for the heat, we actually have a fan in their housing, but they're doing well and will be in my freezer within the month! Looking forward to that, and then starting the process all over again.



I've opened up my street team to be a Reader & Street Team, so that readers can also stay updated, discuss any books with me, enjoy in some fun there. Surprises and daily fun.
Want to join, click the image....

That's it for me this month.

Hugs and Happy Reading to all!

Toronto - spend a day or two... she's worth it.

Oh boy, I hope you'll all forgive me for being a day late with my post. It's been a busy couple of weeks with my first local Toronto Signing! Thank you for all my sexy authors who took part and all the bloggers and readers who came by to say hello.  As I mentioned in my last post Toronto is a magnificent city and I had the chance this week to do some of these awesome sights with my PA Karen who was enjoying her first trip to the Toronto area.  I live a very short drive from all these attractions and its been many years since I've been to most of these places... The weather wasn't all that great but there is so much to do indoors !  I highly recommend that you re-acquaint yourself with Toronto... she's a beautiful ole girl.

Casa Loma

Nothing more Romantic than historical Casa Loma. We weren't able to attend the symphony in the garden but I'll definitely make the trip back to do that.

From the CN Tower

The Toronto Zoo

 The Rom

doh! What are those dino's doing?  gasp!

Make sure you buy a city pass and get into five of Toronto's top attractions for a total of $65... It was a fantastic week !  That's me out for this month! Until next time I'm wishing you lots and lots of...

Sexy in the City - Romance in Toronto. Come meet your favorite Romance Authors

Hey everybody! It's me again. When I'm not roping cowboys to chairs for fun, my mind is always thinking about the world of Romance. While planning the upcoming romance author signing in event thats taking place downtown Toronto in a couple of weeks, it occurred to me just what a beautiful romantic city Toronto is.

Even if you are in a long term committed relationship/marriage there are lots of places for a romantic date night downtown. Imagine for a moment... take away all the hustle and bustle of the busy work day... the city starts soften as the sun goes down. Millions of twinkling lights dot the horizon for as far as you can see, their reflection sparkling on the water. That is the view from Toronto's CN Towers 360 Restaurant. If you have never experienced it, you need to. CN Tower 360 Restaurant.

Toronto can fulfill all your date night needs, whether you're in the mood for live theatre, or great food in Toronto's well known entertainment district or something a little out of the way at one of the smaller rooftop jazz or piano bars. Take the ferry over to Centre Island and enjoy the scenery of the magnificent Toronto harbour. Nothing better than finding a quiet spot along the lake shore with your honey and just enjoy their company...

Heading in for the day? Well, even if you're not on a date Toronto offers something for everybody. One of the greatest thing about our city is that it's surrounded by equally magnificent neighborhoods that are rich in culture and offer lots to do.  Love to shop?  Take on  Shopping in the greater toronto area.  Adventurist? Well then you need to check out Canada's Wonderland or do the CN towers Edgewalk. Like to eat?  Toronto has some of the best fine dining available at your fingertips. Not to mention Michael Bonacini's Restaurant... Canoe. Maybe do a tour of the Niagara Region

Sports, Arts and Entertainment... Rich in history and culture... That's the city of Toronto.

On June 13, 2015 The Hype PR and my friends and I are hosting a Romance Author Signing event named Sexy in the City. At the Sheraton Centre on Queen. This is a charitable event and all proceeds will be donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Advanced tickets are available through Eventbrite

I invite you all to come into the city on June 13 and join us... Several of our own Romance Eh? Authors will be there to hang out, sell and sign their books and just have some fun. Afterwards I hope you'll take the opportunity to come into the city, meet some new authors, discover the many different worlds of romance and explore Toronto and her neighbors. You'll very quickly understand why I love my hometown.

Make sure you check out some of Toronto's online tourism pages so you don't miss out on anything and I hope to see you soon!

http://www.toronto.com/

http://www.seetorontonow.com/

That's me done for now! Tricia Daniels out ! and Remember if you can't join us you can donate through Eventbrite... Think Fifty shades of Pink!  

Surrounded By Sharks

Canadian Romance, Eh?

Blog Post by: Kali Willows

Surrounded By Sharks

The word from many readers, fellow authors, and even family abroad, is that there seems to be a limited idea of what Canada has to offer, by way of tourism and adventure. I know, I know, we are renowned for maple syrup, poutine, beaver tails, and hockey, lots of snow and frost-bite temperatures. 

There are the famous attractions of Niagara Falls, Montreal/Quebec, CN Tower, the Dome, and Maple Leaf Gardens, or maybe even Pioneer Village, for the more traditional tourists.

Living in rural Eastern Ontario, in the cold winter, sub-zero months, it is easy to find ourselves feeling secluded from civilization. Especially me, given I grew up in Toronto and had endless adventures just at my doorstep. I’m partial to cozying up by my wood burning stove now, with a nice hot cup of tea and typing away to my heart’s desire. Not so much, the hiking in snow shoes, skating or vast array of winter sports-to my husband’s dismay. I’m not a big fan of being cold.

What about the curious minds of our Canadian-born children? Shirley, they need more life experience than that? Don’t get me wrong, tobogganing, bond fires and building snowman is an every day favourite along with hot chocolate and marsh mellows. It’s a great foundation with lots of tradition, and knowing their roots, but they crave more. Quite frankly, so do I!

To blow off the winter blues this month, I took my son and daughter on the adventure of a lifetime…(well, in their opinion, lol) We drove to Toronto and plunged into the latest-great attraction in the heart of downtown.

After a four hour drive, we arrived at the hotel, small, quaint and just the right price. We checked in with the intention of dropping the bags off and a quick pit-stop before we hit the big attraction. Unbeknownst to me, jumping on the hotel beds and free, unlimited wi-fi proved to be just as exciting for the little minions then going to Ripley’s Aquarium; although, for the record, I don’t condone jumping on the bed. ;-) It took some convincing to get them out of the room and into a cab! Even the elevator and the cab ride proved highly impressive to my impressionable little ones.

Once we pulled up, their jaws dropped and the excitement began. Eager to keep up with my overzealous children, I traipsed after them, where we found ourselves in awe of the exquisite aquatic creatures and displays, geared for learning and experience.

It wasn’t until I found myself in a tunnel, on a small conveyor belt, surrounded by swimming sharks, sting rays and a vast variety of other unique fish, that the moment struck me as sensational. The serene, yet surreal experience of witnessing the beauty of creatures both feared and admired in motion, left me awestruck and so thankful I had the opportunity to share this with my kids. We loved petting the sting rays, sharks, and the up close neon colours of the jelly fish. The “ray-dive,” consists of a wall sized window, where you watch as a diver feeds the sting-rays while an MC gives the animated tutorial. A favourite, I must say.

We had such a wonderful time; we went through the whole thing for a second round of awe-inspiring enjoyment. By the end, we were tired and starving. Although they had a mini-restaurant there, my minions biggest wish to complete the adventure was to go back to the hotel, order pizza and have a swim and hot tub at the hotel, which I’m happy to say, on a Thursday night, we had all to ourselves!

Canadian living, at it’s best.

Cheers and happy reading!

HOME SWEET HOME ~ Guest Post by author Deborah Cooke #TimeTravel #PNR #Toronto

It gives me great pleasure to welcome my friend and fellow Canadian author, Deborah Cooke to the blog. She will be attending Romancing the Capital hosted by Eve Langlais in April 2015.

Home Sweet Home!

By Deborah Cooke 

(also writing as Claire Delacroix)

When I first began to write, I heard that authors should write what they know. My first books were set in Canada, since I’m Canadian. I know southern Ontario better than any others. It took a long time for me to place a book with a Canadian setting: American publishers tend to be more interested in American readers, who are believed to be more interested in certain settings (and Canada isn’t one of them!) I did ultimately sell two Canadian-set romances, and they are two of my favourites of all my books.

TheMoonstone is a time travel romance. It begins in medieval England, where Viviane has been condemned as a witch and sentenced to die. She makes a wish upon a magical pendant, hoping to be taken as far away from that court of justice as possible. Niall, the knight in charge of this particular prisoner, can’t believe it when she disappears before his very eyes. When Viviane ends up on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, she figures she’s made it to Avalon. It might just be paradise, especially when the hunky knight who granted her last wish shows up, too. Niall is determined to fulfill his vow and deliver Viviane back to the court, but a little time together in British Columbia makes him doubt that she’s really a witch—although he does find himself under her spell. This is a fun, light-hearted time travel romance, set in one of my favourite places in Canada. It doesn’t hurt that Viviane—who has a gift for telling romantic stories—decides to earn her living in our world pretty much as she did in her own, and resolves (with the help of a few friends) to become a romance writer. I had such fun writing this book and am very pleased to have it available in a new edition.

More Information: http://deborahcooke.com/claire-delacroix-books/time-travel-romances/the-moonstone/

My second book with a Canadian setting is Love Potion #9, a paranormal romance, set in the Annex neighbourhood in downtown Toronto. Lilith is a tarot card reader and psychic, separated from her one true love for centuries, and waiting on him to reincarnate. She’s hunted down an elixir of immortality to be sure she’s still around when he turns up—because Sebastien, despite his promise, is taking an awfully long time to show up and find her again. Impatient as many of us get in the middle of a sweltering Toronto summer, she casts a little spell to hurry him on. Her new neighbour, a single father named Mitch, knocks at her door and she believes he’s Sebastien. You can imagine the welcome she gives him after five or six centuries of waiting—and Mitch is astonished by the friendliness of his new neighbour. I love this story for a number of reasons: not only does it remind me of the quirky neighbourhood where I lived for years, but each chapter is named after (and governed by) one of the tarot cards in the higher arcana. I also love how Mitch and Lilith bring out the best in each other and build a relationship that really will last for all time. Although this one is also available in a new edition, I was lucky enough to have the original cover artist make the illustration available for this edition as well—I think it’s a perfect image of Lilith in her garden and love that it still is on the book’s cover.

More information: http://deborahcooke.com/claire-delacroix-books/time-travel-romances/love-potion-9/

I’m planning a new linked series of contemporary romances right now that will be set in a small town. I’m pretty much convinced I’ll set it in southern Ontario. That way, I can put that extra u in lots of words <g> and I’ll know all the best chocolate bars for my characters to eat. It’ll be like coming home again.

Do you read books with Canadian settings? Do you choose to read books specifically for that reason, or is something else more important to you? Maybe you choose by the story, the blerb, or the author. Tell me what you think of romances set in Canada—whether you read them and why.

About the Author:

Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance called The Romance of the Rose that was published under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix in 1993. Since then, she’s published over fifty novels in a variety of subgenres and under three names. Her medieval romance, The Beauty, was her first book to land on the New York Times’ List of Bestselling Books. She’s USA Today bestselling, nationally bestselling and Kindle bestselling. In 2009, she was the writer in residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time that TPL hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. Currently, she writes the Dragonfire series of paranormal romances as Deborah Cooke, and the True Love Brides series of medieval Scottish romances as Claire Delacroix. Her next release is a collection of short stories and novellas called Beguiled: Tales of fantasy, romance and forbidden love, which will be available on Thursday. (http://deborahcooke.com/claire-delacroix-books/novellas/beguiled/)

For more information about Deborah and her books, please visit her website at http://deborahcooke.com