Lori Foster just emailed us that there has been a slight change in the time of the book signing this Saturday, June 2nd. Instead of the scheduled 4 to 6 slot, it will be 3 to 5. The hotel people have to set up for a wedding, so we have to be out by 5.

Reminder: You do not have to attend the whole Reader/Author Get Together in order to go to the book signing. Several people have asked me and the book signing is open to everyone.

I tried to copy and paste the 55 authors who will be at this big event but I couldn’t get the names to stay in the columns. If you want to see the list of attending authors click here.

The exit for Cincinnati Marriott Hotel is the Union Centre Blvd one. The hotel is located in West Chester, Ohio, so if you are in the area, please stop in and say hi. I’ll be signing my books, No Greater Loss and A Fiery Secret. Hope to see you!

This Friday and Saurday I will be attending Lori Foster and Dianne Castell’s Reader/Author Get Together. There will be approximately 55 published authors and several are Samhain authors. I’m excited to meet them in person. Editors and agents will be present. I didn’t sign up for an interview because I don’t have my “sister” book finished. I didn’t think anyone would appreciate me using an appointment slot when I didn’t have a completed manuscript to pitch. I can’t wait to meet the 100 readers. It might be more now. Three authors will be assigned to a table but the readers change tables so that will be fun. I’m worried about the book signing though since I’m an unknown author. I told Dianne that I probably won’t sell any books, but she said, “Don’t worry. Readers love new authors.”

I went shopping for clothes to wear for this event yesterday. Dianne and Lori said it will be casual and they are going to wear jeans and T-shirts. But I figure they are best-selling authors and will be busy running around to answer questions and etc. On Friday night I’m going to wear jean capris and the author T-shirt I purchased from Amazon. Lori designed the shirt and my book cover of NO GREATER LOSS is on the back of the T-shirt so that is thrilling to me. I just feel that I should be dressed up a bit for the book signing so I bought a pair of black capris and a pale pink shirt. I got a pair of those comfortable black ballet type of shoes.

I didn’t lose the weight I wanted to, but the black capris are slimming. Okay, probably not as slimming as I’d like but I’m happy that I have the clothes ready.

And now I better get busy writing while the house is quiet.

My Romance Writers Report came today in the mail. They have a “First Sales” column and I’m one of the authors featured this month. Several months ago I emailed my first sales news, but I couldn’t be included at that time. Samhain Publishing hadn’t received RWA (Romance Writers of America) approval. Getting RWA recognition is a big deal and opens doors to published authors. Once Samhain was approved, I could submit my news again.

Here is what it says:

RWA is pleased to announce these first sales by members: (I’ll just give mine but several other Samhain authors are also featured in June’s issue - pretty exciting!)

Diane Craver announces the sale of her first book to Samhain Publishing. No Greater Loss, an inspirational romance, was a February 2007 release. Craver wrote nonfiction for several years before writing fiction. No Greater Loss was the first full-length manuscript she completed before selling.

~~~

I have my galleys done for Never the Same. The print release is August 21st. My daughter, April, caught a few things that I had missed. It was nice having her help. I told her that she could be an editor. She’s that good!

Happy Memorial Day to everyone!

If you get a chance, go to my publisher’s blog on the Samhain site sometime and read my article, “My favorite inspirations, what are yours?” Just click here to get to their page. Thanks!

I did it. I got in our pool yesterday. Why is this a big deal? The water temperature was only 72 degrees. I like the temperature to be at least 78 degrees before I attempt to swim in our pool. Talk about refreshing. My husband Tom and I opened the pool almost two weeks ago, but it took a couple of days to get the water ready for swimming. In the beginning of the season, I always get the water tested at a pool store to make sure the chemicals are balanced. Then we have had lovely spring weather, so with several chilly nights the pool water has never been warm enough to swim in. I do have a solar cover for it, but knew with temperatures going down to the forties and fifties the first week it would be a waste of time to struggle to put it on the pool.

Sometime I’ll post a picture of our pool.

This seems to be a busy time of the year for most of us. With the warmer weather, we have additional work to do. Planting gardens, mowing lawns, and trimming all takes a lot of time. And you might be doing spring cleaning. I think parents are also trying to hurry get some things done before the children are out of school for summer vacation. I know I want to get so many chapters written on my new book before Amanda’s last day of school. I’ll still write this summer, but keeping in mind that I need to get as much done as possible by June 1st is keeping me focused.

Stop and take a break from your work and projects. Relax in a hammock or your favorite spot and read Donna Alward’s book, Hired by the Cowboy. I was excited to see this book on the shelf at Wal-Mart last week. I just finished reading it and I recommend this book. If you like sweet and romantic stories, then you’ll love this book. Out of the last several books I’ve read, this is my favorite one.

Alexis Grayson and Connor Madsen are two realistic and likable characters. I was drawn into the story immediately. I put off planting my flowers to keep reading it even. Right away you like pregnant Alex. She works as a waitress in a smoke-filled pub, and worries about the effects of the secondhand smoke on her unborn baby. There is chemistry instantly between Alexis and Connor at their first meeting. Donna does an excellent job of making this so believable with the reasons they decide to get married. Connor needs a temporary wife so he can receive his inheritance and save his ranch, and Alexis wants to have a healthier place to live until her baby is born.

Since Donna’s book is a Harlequin Romance, you can purchase it at many stores. Or buy it here at Amazon.

For more information on Donna’s releases, visit her website at: www.donnaalward.com