It's my Birthday! #myyear

Well, it's that time of year where I don't know if I should cry or panic -- MY BIRTHDAY! Today I turn -- older. Yeah, just older, and I have to say that I'm actually happy about another blessed year. Ever since I hit my forties, life has been extra good to me. When I turned forty, my dreams came true -- in that first year alone, I signed my first, second and third book contracts. Now a few years later, I'm still working towards my goal of becoming a full-time writer, so I can do what I truly love.

So, what did this last year bring to me as an author? Here's a brief view:

I met Ry-Ry ... Okay, only in my dreams, but still, I wanted to start out with Mr. Cutie.

This past year ---->

Met the best writerly friends on the planet! Especially my "gals":  #GoldenGirls, #BrazenLadies, #WriterlySurvivors and #WeWriteRomance. You know who you are! LOVE YOU! 

I signed with an agent, Dawn Dowdle of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. 
(Better things are coming, folks!)

Like how I added in a little John Krasinski? :)

Received my rights back from my debut novel. This may not seem like a "good" event, but I have learned so much since I first signed. I consider it a huge life lesson. Expect it to be released in the future! (crossing fingers)

Added a sweet Nemo one, so you don't think I sit around and stare at hot men all the time... mostly.

Signed on as Public Relations Manager with Anaiah Press, a new small Christian publisher. Check out for more news in the next week! :)

I published my first group anthology with the #Blazenladies, Ana Blaze, Aria Kane and Kara Leigh Miller and fell in love with the Winter Olympics.

Breaking the Rules was published with one of my favorite publishers, Crimson Romance. This book is near and dear to my heart! It just came out in paperback this week. :)

That's it in a nutshell. So much has happened and I have been truly blessed. Thank you all for being here and being a part of my dreams come true. I couldn't ask for a better start up that hill!

Love you all,

Melinda

Forty-First Birthday Fiesta - Blog Roll Salute

Today is my 41st Birthday! I usually don't celebrate in style, but since my blog has been up for a year this month, I thought I would honor my faithful friends, authors, bloggers. 

Below you will find my 41 Blog Post Salute. 

This is the best of the best, so make sure you check them out!

First up, my author friends have provided a link to their favorite or most popular post this year. 

Ana Blaze: Read
Christina McKnight: Beauty Pageant Winner vs. Acclaimed Indie Author

Kara Leigh Miller: Anatomy of a Sex Scene

Lindsey Louckes: The Year of the Snake

Louise Gornall: Guest Post News ... and semi-nakedness
Misti Parker: Why All the Drama

Paloma Beck: My 2012 Thursday 13 Holiday TBR List

Rachel Kall: Behind the Curtain - The Ballerina
Rachelle Ayala: Story Teller or Book Seller? Guest Interview with Julia Hughes
ST Bende: Girly Book Blog Hop, Location 
Serena Zane: Recipe for a Warewolf




From my wonderful Critique Partners:

Chantel Rhondeau: Romantic Suspense ~ Murder on the beach. A guilty cop? 
Joanne Stewart: http://jm-stewart.blogspot.com/
Kimberly Sullivan: Start Those Revisions with Critique Circle

Some of my favorite blogs with posts from this past year:

Flirting With Romance: My review/book tour startup this year. 

Romance University: Without this website, I wouldn't have found Entranced Publishing. How to Write Sex Scenes When You're a Prude 

Harlequin Junkie: Sara's blog is perfect for me. We have such similar tastes in books and I've won several contests. I check this one almost daily. One of my favorite things to do at this blog is the monthly book club. We've chatted with Sarah Mayberry and Shannon Stacey so far. Next month ... Rebecca St. Clair! 

Romance at Random, especially Ruthie Knox's Corner. 

The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills: A plethora of some of my fave romance writers. Last post I enjoyed - How Badly do You Want It?

Critique Circle: Where all my manuscripts get critiqued.

Last, but not least, from some of my favorite Entranced Publishing peeps:

Entranced Publishing - the newest and hottest romance publisher. Launches in APRIL!

Contemporary Romance Authors:

Lorna Peel: Only You, release date April 1.
Rachel Kall: Legally Undercover, release date April 15
Ana Blaze: The Best man, release date April 29

Young Adult Authors:

Krystalyn Drown: Spirit World, release date April 8
ST Bende: Elsker, release date April 22
Jordan Link: The Sacrificed, release date May 6
Nicole Camp: Shadow Born, release date May 20 & Magic and Meru, release date July 8
Kara Leigh Miller: The Georgia Corbins, release date June 10
Louise D. Gornall: In Stone, to be released in fall.

The ladies behind the name:

Ashley Christman: Executive Editor, Publisher
Eden Plantz: Managing Editor
Sharon Johnston: Marketing Director

Birthday Party Book Bash - 40 Books Giveaway!

Happy 40th birthday to my writing friend, Paloma Beck!

I also turned 40 this year, so I know what a milestone this is. Even though we don't want it to be a big deal, it is. Hears a toast to all those who turned forty this year! CHEERS!

So far, forty has been my best year yet, especially since a dream has come true... I signed a contract and I'm moving into the published author phase. Woo hoo! My book, Time Changes Everything, will be published by Entranced Publishing on May 13, 2013.

Amanda Larson has dedicated herself to her job and doesn’t want any interference – from a man or her bossy mother. That is until she meets up with her childhood crush, Jake Edwards, now a sexy big-shot lawyer in New York City. 

Jake Edwards enjoys the bachelor life and believes commitment is not in his blood, thanks to his dead-beat father. But, when Jake sees his little Mandy again, he realizes he might just be wrong.

In honor of Paloma Beck's birthday, I've joined her and 25 other authors to celebrate. Please check out Paloma's blog post and enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter below. You have a chance to win tons of books! 

Other authors who are participating include:

Click on their link  to see how they are celebrating!

Now for the goodies.... Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win 40 - YES FORTY - books and surprises.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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