The November full moon will arrive November 13, 2008, when the astrological calendar is in Taurus. The full Snow Moon is also called Frost Moon or Fog Moon, due to the month’s predominant weather pattern, and Beaver Moon in American backwoods tradition. I like the sound of Snow Moon best, because its name is the most romantic.

The Joshua Tree is the symbol of the Mojave Desert; the only American desert where these trees will grow. The full moon is a symbol of love. The Celts called November the time of beginnings and endings, and I think Marybeth and Jake would agree. Their love began in the Mojave Desert, where DESERT FEVER is set; the place Marybeth found Jake after his motorcycle became disabled.

What about the hero and heroine’s ending? In romance, there can be only one.

Happily-Ever-After, of course.

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Adele Dubois will be joining us on November 13th to promote her new book, Desert Fever

Now, don’t get me wrong. This is my favorite time of year. From Thanksgiving until Christmas, there is so much to do I get nervous just thinking about it. J But it’s a good nervous. I tend to not get much writing done, but it’s a wonderful time for my son, who’s five. He loves all the cooking and baking, not to mention the toys on Christmas. I think my holiday spirit is contagious.

I’m not big on decorating, though my son loves the tree if it has lots of lights. He could care less about anything else. Naturally, I cram as many lights as my little four-foot tree will hold, and rig up more extension cords than I should, but hey! Ya gots ta have da lights at Christmas.

My mother gave my son a “cooking pumpkin” this year instead of a “carving pumpkin.” It was fun gutting and pealing the thing. *rolling eyes* But it tasted out of this world when I made the pie! I’ve frozen what was left to make for Thanksgiving. Should be fun.

I’ve already got the turkey and will defrost it the week of Thanksgiving. I could have gotten a ham, but after doing that the year before last, we decided it was worth the extra money for the turkey. Cause, it’s just not Thanksgiving without a turkey. Ok, at least that’s what my husband said. Personally, I was good and the little one didn’t care. He’s like a human garbage disposal at this point. He eats anything not nailed down to the table.

So, while all that stuff is cooking, while I have my husband and son untangling miles of Christmas lights. I’ll be plotting. Thinking. Devising all kinds of sexy things I’m going to do to Santa while everyone sleeps.

Hum. Wonder if I should put it in a book?

*evil grin*

Teeka
www.marteekakarland.com

The best thing my parents taught me was to read. The best thing my first husband taught me was to travel. What a combination! As an adult I discovered reading on vacation was the epitome of self-indulgence. My favorite reads were and still are fiction. Escaping into an author’s dream world forced my then mundane life into the background.

As with everything else in my life, writing just sort of happened. It wasn’t planned on or even thought of it as a career option. One day my insides simmered and then boiled into a story that had to be told. The words finally cooked up into a novel not fit for category romance. The Silhouette editor told me it was too mainstream, too explicit. Explicit? thinks I. Okay, so maybe there weren’t any shafts of hot steel or womanly cores, but come on, who the hell really has those?

Like every other writer, I was sure if I hadn’t at least written the Great American Novel it was in the top two. Shocked, but not disillusioned I turned to my mentor, mystery writer Beth Anderson. She took me by the hand and taught me the technicals of writing and how to bring out my voice, loud and clear. Plus, she’s got this two by four with lots of rough edges and has no problem wielding it across my bony backside. Hmm, sounds like the start of a new novel.

We were soon joined by Yasmine Phoenix who can spot a scene that needs more sexual tension and how to do it faster than I can reach for another Fanny May. She also tortured me to take an online class with Jan Springer, the Queen of Hot, who encouraged me to be more serious about a God given gift. Erotica here I come, no pun intended.

My stories are set in Europe where the men are all male and the North American women they encounter are both feminine and strong. As a true romantic, my women bring more than lust to their men’s lives.

I was born and raised in Chicago. Studly, my non-husband and mate for life, and I split our time between a home in Illinois and a weekend cottage on the back roads of Indiana…or you can catch up with me as I travel though Europe, researching new material.

I’ll be back in October with plenty of shameless promotion! Until then, please check out my website, www.sloanetaylor.com, for more on my life and a variety of delicious recipes to ever tempt your taste buds.

Have a beautiful day,

Sloane Taylor

Sweet as Honey…Hotter than Hell

TEDDI TURNS ON www.aspenmountainpress.com

FRENCH TWIST www.eternalpress.ca

www.sloanetaylor.com www.myspace.com/sloanetaylor

There’s nothing more relaxing than simply lying in the sun. In this day of deteriorating ozone layers and skin cancer and healthy everything, perhaps it’s not the most politically correct thing to do, but oh man! It sure relaxes one’s troubles away.

Poolside. Wet. The sun beating down on a clear day. The sky the clearest, most beautiful blue you can imagine. Now. Towel down. Chair sitting up, reclining only slightly. The sun kisses your skin like a gentle lover and you can’t help but smile. You can watch the kids and still relax. No “Mommy? Are you kissing Daddy?” this time. You may not get a screaming orgasm, but aaahhhhh…. It feels so good.

Sunscreen is still a must, but by the end of the day, you’ve still got a decent tan. Me? I like to live dangerously. By the end of this summer, the sunscreen had gone out the window. (For me anyway. I soused down the little one liberally every hour or so.) And for the first time in probably ten years, I’ve got this glowing tan that just makes me look radiant.

Well, that and some rather dry skin, but hey! That’s what Bath and Body Works is for!

My wonderful tan won’t last very long — a month or so at most — but by the end of the winter, I’ll remember. I’ll have the worst case of spring fever there ever was. J

On those bitter cold winter days, I’ll look outside and smile. I know summer is only around the corner, and so are the days I’ll soak up the sun. If only for a little while.