HelenKay Dimon

I am in NYC for the annual RWA conference. It’s 2000 romance writers, some published and some not, gathered in a hotel talking about writing and books. It’s also a time to connect with friends, which is my favorite part. Before I was published I went to the conference to attend workshops and learn. Now I rarely attend workshops but my schedule is packed!

The most interesting thing so far has been the “getting here” part. I had three flights cancelled and got stuck overnight in Chicago. My luggage was lost for 27 hours.  Honestly, my airline karma sucks. But I’m here and having a great time. Will update the blog…so long as the hotel internet service allows.

I’ve been involved in a super seekrit project…and I can now divulge it:

SEAL of My Dreams is a charity anthology with all procceds pledged to the Veterans Medical Research Foundation. This is the brainchild of amazing authors Christie Ridgway and Alison Kent. Alison writes about the “birth” of the idea here.

Did you get a look at that author list? I am truly honored to be included in this book. I live in San Diego, which is a HUGE military town. My hubby is an attorney for the Navy and my father-in-law is a retired colonel in the Army. I have great respect for those who serve. If this book can give a little bit back to those who sacrifice so much, I will be thrilled.

The anthology comes out in November. I’ll remind you when we get closer!

I finished my deadlines last Wednesday. Since then I spent a little time with my Carina editor, Angela James, who was in town to talk with my RWA chapter, and awesome literary agent (and friend) Laura Bradford. We chatted and ate too much. Basically, it was the perfect weekend.

When not doing social stuff, I was puttering around the house. At one point I looked around and thought, “damn, I should clean” but I didn’t. Instead I’ve been doing some fun stuff. Here’s a peek:

1. Movies. The hubby and I went to see SUPER 8. It had a group of friends, a creature and explosions. Needless to say, I loved it. Also saw the HBO documentary, TOO BIG TO FAIL. It’s about the financial crisis and incredibly well done. It also ticked me off and made me say profane things about investment banks and politicians. Despite the burst of anger, I recommend folks see it. On the lighter side, I finally saw THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. Again, well acted. There’s a major plot point that had me scratching my head, but I enjoyed it.

2. Books. Read Shannon Stacey’s YOURS TO KEEP and really enjoyed it. Love the way she writes dialogue. She took a romance fiction trope I don’t love – the people pretend to be in love to make family members happy thing – and made me believe. I have two books I’m excited to read: Karina Cooper’s BLOOD OF THE WICKED (not my usual fav genre but the buzz for this is huge and the excerpt at the beginning of the book is great) and Vivan Arend’s RISING, FREESTYLE (met the author at RT and immediately loved her – this is a case of meeting the author, liking her and wanting to read her).

3. Yet to do… There is a movie called TITANIC 2. I’m not kidding. The premise is this:

On the 100th anniversary of the original voyage, a modern luxury liner christened “Titanic 2,” follows the path of its namesake. But when a tsunami hurls an ice berg into the new ship’s path, the passengers and crew must fight to avoid a similar fate.

I am going to watch it because it sounds too terrible to miss.

I also need to watch the first episode of the new season of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. I know the show is aimed at teens, but I find it oddly addictive. Pretty kids! Murder! Secrets! It’s got it all. There’s also this weird thing where people my age, actors I saw in stuff when I was a teen, play the parents of the teens on this show. That cracks me up for some reason.

Love you dad (and mom, who is also in the photo)!

I have a new cover! Love, love, love seeing new covers. This one is for the last book in my Mystery Men miniseries from Harlequin Intrigue, THE BIG GUNS:

I like it!

I am at the end of a deadline right now but have found the book I want to read as soon as I’m done – Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children. Here it is:

A mysterious island.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

I get all tingly just looking at the cover. I’m in!

I actually remembered last night to pick the winners of last week’s contest winners. I just forgot to post them. Yeah, I’m brilliant.

Thanks to all who stopped by and to those who commented. The winners are… (imagine a drumroll here):

Jill Sorenson winner: Tammy (comment #1)
Maya Banks winner: Lisagk (comment #9)
My digital short winner#1: Pearl (comment #3)
My digital short winner #2: Judy (comment #5)

Congrats to all! Please email me so I can get those books out to you.

Contest Day #3…

Today is a digital giveaway day. If you read here often, you know I’m involved in a venture with a few fabulous authors called Walk on The Wild Side Books. I’ll giveaway two (2) copies (ebooks) of my sexy short story, RISQUE BUSINESS. Here’s a peek:

Kari Reynolds is a human resources specialist on a short-term assignment at Coleman Engineering. It’s her job to lead workshops but there’s one big problem – the boss, Matt Bradford.

Now all she has to do is convince Matt to ignore her job title and try a little office pleasure…

This is a digital giveaway, so you need to pick a book that I can gift you through Amazon for your Kindle or through All Romance ebooks, which includes a .pdf version you can read on your computer. To enter, leave a comment about my books, short stories or any relevant thing. I will choose a winner on Sunday and post the name in a separate post with all the week’s winners. Good luck!

Contest Day #2…

I enjoy reading books by Maya Banks. The writer in me is more than a little envious that she writes erotic romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and now Scottish historical romance so well. The reader in me is thrilled.

My favorite series so far is KGI, her romantic suspense series centered on the Kelly family. If you haven’t read these books, now is your chance to try them. I’m giving away the first in the series, THE DARKEST HOUR. Here’s a peek:

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

I am giving away a print copy of the book. To enter, leave a comment about Maya, her books, romantic suspense or any relevant thing. I will choose a winner on Sunday and post the name in a separate post with all the week’s winners. Good luck!

I am in the final days before a deadline – before two deadlines, actually – so this seems like the perfect time to do a few contests. I’ll give away a few of my books and a few books by other people. To kick off, let’s start with Jill Sorenson…

Jill writes amazing romantic suspense. They’re gritty with strong atmosphere, but what I like most is how she doesn’t take the easy road. Her characters are pretty flawed. Some have done some bad things. But somehow she pulls it off. And, disclosure time, Jill and I live near each other. I get to see her a few times a year and she is really nice. So, I like her and her writing – it’s a win/win!

Today I’m giving away her newest single title, THE EDGE OF NIGHT. Here’s a peek:

To support her small daughter, April Ortiz does what she has to do—which means waiting tables in a skimpy outfit at a popular nightclub in the gang-infested area of Chula Vista. When one of her co-workers is found raped and murdered, April does what she knows she shouldn’t—she defies the neighborhood code by giving the police a hardcore gang member’s name.

Clean-cut cop Noah Young wants a shot at breaking this case more than anything in the world—that is, until he meets the unforgettable April Ortiz. When April gives Noah the tip, a spark ignites. As the fire between them threatens to blaze out of control, the two are dragged down further into the dark mysteries of the graffiti-lined streets, taunted by a crazed killer who could strike again at any time. .

I am giving away a print copy of the book. To enter, leave a comment about Jill, her books, romantic suspense or any relevant thing. I will choose a winner on Sunday and post the name in a separate post with all the week’s winners. Good luck!