HelenKay Dimon

I have a deadline on May 30th and am writing, writing, writing. I’m also still guest blogging at a few places throughout the month and giving away copies of my newest release, WHEN SHE WASN’T LOOKING. Today I’m at The Book Reading Gals – stop by and say hello.

Also, know that while you’re enjoying a lovely spring where you are, in my head I’m writing about Christmas and snow and…well, that’s not easy when you’re sitting in the sunshine, sipping an iced coffee. Just saying.

Today’s topic is shame, shame, shame. This seemed like a good time to introduce you to the heroine in my October release. It’s tentatively titled LEAN ON ME and is related to my novella, IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU. The book is a contemporary without suspense and here’s an early (unedited) peek:

The steady buzz of conversation and bustle of people walking up and down the wide aisles of Thomas Nurseries ceased when Cassidy Clarke walked through the door.

She stopped after a few steps, waiting for her hair to frizz to ten times its normal size thanks to the shift from the dry, cool October air outside to the humid air inside the greenhouse. To keep from running her hands through it a thousand or so times, she slipped in front of the display of heirloom roses and pretended she couldn’t feel the strands swelling to fill a helmet.

She also did the I-can’t-see-you-or-hear-you thing she’d perfected over the last year. She assumed that’s what the folks from her hometown wanted since half of the customers spoke in pseudo-whispers that sounded more like yelling as they talked about her. The other half openly stared. She’d heard people mumble her name and The Fall about ten times. She could only guess that referred to the end of her career…though it also applied to the complete implosion of her self-esteem.

Ah, it was good to be back.

She didn’t really blame them. It was her fault. Well, partly the reporter’s fault, but mostly hers. It had been almost three years since the stupid article came out, since she offended every single one of the 941 residents of Holloway, West Virginia. After all this time she still got scolding emails from people who knew her when she was a “nice girl” which she’d been informed, sometimes in colorful language, she no longer was.
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We have a winner of the April Blog contest. It’s Robin (comment #2 on the April 6th blog). Congrats!!! Email me so I can get your gift certificate to you.

I’ve been guest blogging for the last few days and will continue to do so throughout the month. A calendar is here. Today I’m at the awesome Lauren Dane’s blog talking about characters who are survivors. Stop by and say hello and you could win a book.

Today’s topic is “it’s raining men” – hunky heroes and secondary characters. This seemed like a good time to highlight the hero from my new release, WHEN SHE WASN’T LOOKING, and his best friend.

Richmond Tobin, Jonas’ first friend in Aberdeen and a fellow police officer, walked in. He stood six-feet and wrestled in college. Six years out he looked like he could battle a train and come out ahead.

“You’re supposed to be lying down. You know, resting,” he said.

“Tell me about it.” Jonas rolled his shoulders and had to fight back the wave of nausea that hit him right behind the pain.

“Brought a change of clothes and your cell, just as you requested.” Rich dumped a gym bag next to Jonas’ thigh and held up a gun. “Also managed to liberate your weapon.”

Jonas took it, ran his finger across the side before checking it and slipping it and his holster on his belt. “Bet the nurses loved that.”

“I flashed my badge and reminded them you were in charge since the police chief retired, so it was all your responsibility.”

Jonas saw mounds of paperwork and a meeting with the town council in his future. “Thanks for that.”
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If you want to learn a little more about WHEN SHE WASN’T LOOKING and maybe win a free copy, check these out:

Books-n-Kisses – I’m talking about why this book is special to me.

Romance Novel News – I’m talking about the inspiration for this book.

It’s that time again…release day!!! WHEN SHE WASN’T LOOKING is available at B&N, Books-A-Million, Amazon, Harlequin.com and about a billion other places. Feel free to buy 100 or so copies for all your friends.

No woman could deny the appeal of the sexy deputy sheriff Jonas Porter. But to Courtney Allen, Jonas has one major flaw—his badge. Years ago, Courtney’s father was wrongfully convicted of a crime and she vowed to never trust a cop again. But when Jonas becomes the only man to believe in her father’s innocence, Courtney begins seeing the brooding lawman in a whole new way.

Jonas knows in his gut that the real killer is still out there and determined to finish what he started long ago. To protect Courtney and bring the criminal to justice will require all the skills he can muster. And that means focusing on the job. Not the woman who makes him forget his troublesome past and arouses in him a passion that is anything but professional.

And for those of you who can’t get enough of book and author talk, I’ll be blogging at the following places about my new release, writing, reading and other miscellaneous goodness on this schedule:

May 1st — Romance Novel News
May 2nd — Books-n-Kisses
May 4th — RR@H Novel Thoughts
May 7th — Delighted Reader
May 8th — Lauren Dane’s blog
May 9th — Book Binge
May 15th — Book Reading Gals
May 17th — RRT Blog
May 22nd — The Good, The Bad & The Unread
May 28th — Writerspace

It’s never too early to show a cover, right? Here are the cover and blurb for my August release, COPY THAT, which also happens to be available for pre-order (just saying…):

HE GAVE NEW MEANING TO THE TERM DOUBLE AGENT

Returning from his latest Border Patrol assignment, Jeremy Hill seeks sanctuary in his twin brother’s home. The last thing he expects to find is an armed man already inside, or Meredith Samms, a gorgeous tenant caught in the cross fire. Then he discovers that the gunman’s attack is meant for his twin brother, who is nowhere to be found, and Jeremy must take matters into his own hands. Searching for his brother while protecting this girl next door, Jeremy finds himself caught up in the danger he’d become all too familiar with. In his world, everyone’s a target and anyone can be a suspect, so Jeremy has no room for emotions. But what Meredith stirs within him may complicate this unexpected mission to the point of no return…

We got married in December 1998 and adopted her in February. We picked her from OBG Cocker Spaniel Rescue and knew she was the one when she raced down the porch steps at the foster’s house and nearly knocked the hubby over. Part retriever, part cocker, and all adorable. She got stuck with sore hips, Cushings Disease and, at the end, kidney failure. But she was the sweetest dog ever and I already miss her like crazy.

Rest in peace, sweet girl.

A reader asked for the visual version of WHEN SHE WASN’T LOOKING like the one I did for my upcoming (October) untitled contemporary romance from Carina Press here. Here we go:

Courtney is a tough woman with a rough past.

She moved to Oregon to start over…and hide from a killer determined to finish what he started with her family.

Lawman Jonas Porter gets a call to check on Courtney.

He goes to her house but quickly figures out someone is using him to get to her.

She takes off running through the woods but Jonas quickly finds her. So does one of the bad guys.

After being chased and shot at they figure out nothing is what it’s seems and everyone has a hidden agenda.

Even as they fight Courtney’s past and the betrayal circling around them, they still find time to fall for each other.