So I have a secret little project that will be making its appearance sometime in November at Samhain Publishing…

It’s entitled Neon Chaos and it’s going to be included in the End of Days anthology along with Reaper by Mina Carter. Go us!

Here’s a quick little unedited blurb of Neon Chaos for your enjoyment:

Party girl Samantha Sanders is ready to celebrate her thirtieth birthday in style with a road trip to Las Vegas with her girlfriends. Staying in the swankiest hotel on the strip, she’s naked and in bed with a hot guy when the clock strikes twelve. Who knew the world would really end on December 21, 2012?

Russ Weaver is above all else a soldier. His newest mission? Protect the sweet, scared woman he just so happens to be with when the world as they know it is over. Wandering the virtually abandoned streets of Vegas, the city has turned into a war zone. Their only hope to get out alive is to stick together—and fight those who wish to cease their endeavors. Permanently.

I’m excited! I declare 2011 the year I really stretch my creative wings. I am taking chances left and right here. I can only hope y’all like what you read.

I’m headed to the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Los Angeles this week. I haven’t been since 2008 so I’m excited! If you’re going to be there, please come find me. I’d love to meet you. I’ll have romance trading cards to hand out and plenty of other swag to entice you with!

A few of the things I’m participating in:

– Naughty Smutty Hollywood: Friday, April 8th 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Nine Naughty Novelists and The Smutketeers get together for an unheralded reader event! Prizes galore and a hunky cover model – what more could you ask for?

– E-Book, Independent Publisher And Graphic Novel Expo: Friday, April 8th 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Meet more than 100 e-book, small-press, comic, manga and graphic novel authors who will be signing their latest books at the RT’s 3rd Annual Expo where you can purchase their books. Learn who they are in an intimate surrounding devoted to these emerging markets. Also meet the leading e-book and small-press publishers as they showcase their lists for readers.

– Giant Book Fair: Saturday, April 9th 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Over 300 authors will autograph books, posters and bookmarks, and you can bring your favorite “keeper” books to have your fav author sign them!! This event is open to the public for a small fee of $5.00 at the door. All registered convention attendees will be able to enter 15 minutes prior to the public opening.

Also, please check out Operation Auction – there are so many amazing items up for auction and if you’re a romance book lover you will DIE. Trust me. In fact there are more than a few items I have my eye on.

Operation Auction was created to assist Fatin, a strong supporter of the romance community. She lost her husband in a senseless act of violence earlier this month. I love seeing how supportive the romance community is – makes me proud to be a part of it. Now I’m off to do my part and make a few bids…

Okay, here it is folks, along with some blurbage. Tell me what you think!

Loving her is easy. Proving to himself he deserves her? Baby steps…

Playing With Fire, Book 4

King of one-night stands, all-around man whore, that’s Eric. And you know what? He doesn’t give a rip. After being dumped by the two people who mattered most to him, numbing himself with alcohol and anonymous sex was the easiest thing to do. Men, women, they’re all the same to him. Feelings, caring, it all just gets in the way.

Then he meets Stacy. Sweet, beautiful, a delicate combination of shy and forceful, she’s unlike anyone he’s ever known. She sees right through his façade and makes him face his ugly truths, brutal reminders he doesn’t deserve her. He wants her like no one else—and it scares him out of his mind.

Stacy can’t help herself, she’s attracted to gorgeous, sexy, hurting Eric. There’s more to him than meets the eye—even though what’s meeting her eye right now is a complete mess. Broken hearts will do that to the strongest man—she should know. If she can get him to forgive—especially himself—maybe things could work out between him. But first, she can’t let him get away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eric was…quite the character. He gave me fits and was probably the most difficult hero I’ve ever had to wrangle with. It’s weird, how they sort of take over and do their own thing. It’s like your fingers and thoughts don’t have any say in the matter (and I’m the one who created him! LOL) and they just do what they want. That was Eric. He did what he wanted and I didn’t approve of some of his choices. He did some things to Stacy that weren’t very nice. But she sees something in him that he doesn’t. And she’s not perfect either, trust me. I’m very curious to see how readers react.

I’m excited about the Carina one (Lessons in Indiscretion) because it’s my first historical cover and oh, I love a good historical clench cover. I just finished edits on it this morning. Now waiting for copy edits. I think (hope, pray!) it’s a sexy little story.

I will share the covers here as soon as I can!

A few things going on with me that are book-related…

- My first book with Loose Id is coming out in a month. Fell for You will release on March 29th. More info coming soon – including excerpts to tease you with!

- My backlist from Cobblestone Press is now available on Amazon Kindle! Yeah, go check it out here!

- I have sold the third and final novella in the Fated series at Samhain. But I’m whispering this announcement because it’s semi-official not official-official. But I had to tell you all because I’m excited about this one. I hope it comes out closer to the end of the year.

- And finally,  My Favorite Mistake got a FANTASTIC review from Black Raven Reviews! Five Ravens and a Recommended Read! Whoo hoo! Here’s a bit of what Ashley had to say:

“As always, I’m thrilled to read another excellent romance from Karen Erickson! The sex is always red-hot and plentiful, the romance itself, always sensual. I can never get enough of her books.”

You can read the rest of the review here. And thanks, Ashley! I appreciate the kind words!

Add some spice to your life today — read a romance book!

It’s February so that means a few birthdays going down in my house. My daughter’s is tomorrow – she’s turning 8 on the 8th. My baby girl is 8! Where did the time go? We had her birthday party Saturday. Lots of friends and family and food and presents. We had it here. Everyone had a blast.

My birthday is Thursday. I’ve decided this year I’m turning 31…again. Such a great age, I want to repeat it! If you’re feeling a little, um, aged and want to lower it a bit, I will NOT hold it against you. You can join my club. The 31 club!

This week I plan on working on more administrative type stuff (paperwork, updating my website, ooh I need to do taxes – you know, that stuff) and starting the third Fated novella. I pondered the storyline all weekend and I think I’m ready to dig in. I’m excited.

What excites you this week? Did you watch the Super Bowl? The game was all right. The commercials, I thought they were weak. But that’s just me…

It’s crazy nuts in Quartzsite, Arizona. Filled with RVers – lots and lots of them parked out in the middle of the desert. And a giant tent full of vendors selling their wares. So many wares! So many things you could buy! Very tempting. I bought fresh Kettle Corn. It was delicious.

2. I am busy writing my fool head off. Well, not literally but you know what I mean. I’ve been working hard on a small secret project that won’t be out for a while (like 2012) and I also need to start working on the third book in the Fated series. Oh yes, and Notorious (Eric from Scandalous – his story) has the official release date of June 21st. Wheee!

What’s up with YOU?