A Very Early Start to Friday

In case you needed to know, there is really nothing on television at 3:30 in the morning if you happen to be unable to sleep. There's a couple of interesting titles - The Secret of Motionless Exercise makes one pause, but since I'm pretty much always motionless except for the fingers, I'm betting this isn't a weight loss plan. If you're up for a sporting event, there's the World Series of Poker 2006 or Catch Bigger Fish. There's any number of 20 year old movies, that weren't even that good 20 years ago, so I finally settled on the weather mainly because after that I can watch Divorce Court.

The weatherman is stating (to whom, I have no idea) that we really can't handle any more rain. Does he think God has nothing to do at 3:45 am and is listening to his broadcast? Good Lord, did yall realize we have a lake that has risen 32 feet since December? An even better question (since said lake is now 19 feet over limit) is why the hell the city of Plano, where I live, still has us on water rationing. I'm pretty sure there's plenty to go around. I'm pretty sure most of us are so sick of rain we could scream. I'm definitely tired of the flight delays caused by the rain.

So since I'm up anyway, I thought I'd get a round of opinions - you've all noticed my redesign on my blog/website, so I have a question for going forward: What keeps you coming back to an author's website? Is it contests, news, games, photos of naked men?????? Website traffic tends to be one of those things that publicity people push as all important, but honestly, what can one do on their website exactly to create that much traffic - mind you, what I am really asking is what can someone who already works two full time jobs and has a family and needs clean underwear do on their website to create more traffic?

Any ideas? What websites do you visit on a semi-regular basis and why?

Thursday and a GCC Tour

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July! My flight was delayed - shocking, right? But I managed to make it home by midnight. Saw a movie yesterday but I'm not blogging about it until tomorrow, so I'm keeping you in suspense. In fact, we saw a movie last weekend that I need to blog about tomorrow also so you will get a two-for-one. :)

And a head's up for next week. I leave Tuesday for RWA National Conference (I saw leave, but it's in Dallas, so I'll really just be driving to the hotel with my cp, Cindy), so I'll be blogging next week from conference about the various and sundry goings-on.

Today, I have a GCC Tour brought to you by Tanya Stone and her new YA release A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL


Don't let the title scare you.

A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL is a cautionary tale. Teens are dealing with sex, whether we’re ready or not. This novel is about three very different girls who date the same player guy. About how the choices they make shape who they want to be. About empowerment.

Meet Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva. Three very different girls who all meet the same bad boy with an irresistible knack for getting into their blood and under their skin.

Three girls. One guy. Who will come out on top?

In A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL, Tanya Lee Stone takes a hard look at love and sex and asks the questions: “When can a bad boy be good for a girl?”

Tanya says, “I get lots of email from teens thanking me for ‘being honest,’ saying my book helped them, or they ‘gave it to a friend who needs it.’ What’s better than that?”

Since the book came out, Tanya has been outspoken about censorship and the need for tackling tough topics in teen books. Check out her VOYA article: “From Forever to Today: The Importance of Sex in Young Adult Literature” and a recent interview with AS IF! (Authors Support Intellectual Freedom) in which she discusses sex, censorship, and Judy Blume.

The new paperback includes a bonus Reading Guide. Book Club Folks: If you have chat software and want Tanya to do a virtual book club visit, let her know.

For a free bookmark and signed bookplate, email her at tanyastone (at) tanyastone.com

Read an excerpt, download the Bad Boy Reading Guide or visit Tanya at her website her blog, or her MySpace.


Buy the book at Amazon!

Everyone have a great Thursday!!!!

Some Like It Hot

This week is official release week for a special person - my mentor, Jane Graves. Jane is the first published author who took an interest in me and guided me to selling. She is a brilliant writer - actually attended college training under Jack Bickham - and has a tireless enthusiasm for helping newbies in the craft. She's also a wonderful person and an absolute blast to hang out with - can you say funny????

Jane is running a fun contest for a spiffy leopard tote bag (darn, that would look good on me), so hop over there and check it out!

Her latest offering is called HOT WHEELS AND HIGH HEELS and if waaaaayyyyyyy too much fun!!!!!! Check out this fantastic cover and a little info on the story:



Trophy wife Darcy McDaniel has just discovered that, thanks to her embezzling usband, her posh, upper-class life is gone for good. Now she's trading her suburban palace for a trailer park and her weekly salon appointments for a job. Darcy needs a new man--fast--one who'll keep her in the manner she darn well deserves. Problem is, the hottest prospect around is the my-way-or-the-highway hunk who's making off with her beloved Mercedes!

Ex-cop turned repo man John Stark is sure that hiring the furious woman in his headlights is a colossal mistake. He knows Darcy's high-maintenance, designer-labels-only type--after all, he's used to taking their cars. But he never expected this hellion to have the smarts and the spunk to go from receptionist to repo agent in record time...or to drive him insane with desire. She's the last thing this tall, dark, and dangerous loner needs...and everything he never knew he wanted.

Here's some reviews:

"Sassy, sexy and fun. Jane Graves will win your heart." Lori Foster, New York Times
bestselling author of SIMON SAYS

"Sassy and smart!" Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author of JUST FOR KICKS

"A delightful, funny read with a unique twist as a former trophy wife discovers herself, and true love, in the most unexpected place. A total winner!" Susan Mallery, USA Today bestselling
author of THE MARCELLI PRINCESS

"Jane Graves never fails to enchant me. HOT WHEELS AND HIGH HEELS draws you in, then blasts off! Fasten your seatbelt for a fun, rollicking ride!" Stephanie Bond, author of the Body Movers series

Still not convinced - okay - then how about I give away a signed copy????? Just post on my blog today and you'll be entered to win a signed copy of HOT WHEELS AND HIGH HEELS. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

A Trip, A Tour, Another Monday

Good morning, everyone. I'm hailing to you from Newark, NJ today. Yes, you heard me - someone actually wanted training on a holiday week. Please say prayers that I actually get home tomorrow night or things will not be happy at the DeLeon home - or quite frankly, in NJ, if I'm stuck here. Of course, my plane was late getting to DFW yesterday and we loaded about 30 minutes late. Then no sooner did we get all situated that one of those Dallas rain storms came up. So we got to sit on the plane at the gate for two hours. Fun. Once again - thank God for first class upgrades. I got some necessary work done on my proposal.

Most of you have seen my gorgeous new website....the redesign was definitely something I wanted to do......changing web hosting was something I had to do. Apparently, all my email was not coming through to my old service and the "support" there was less than responsive. So, during the last two weeks, I missed touring two girlfriends.

So today, is officially Megan Crane Tour Day Observed!

Megan Crane is a New Jersey native who graduated from Vassar and got her MA and PhD in literature from the University of York in England. She is the author of Everyone Else’s Girl and English as a Second Language. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Her latest release, FRENEMIES, sounds so fun (and I have to admit, I've already bought and downloaded it on my Sony reader). Check it out!



Megan Crane, the successful author of Everyone Else’s Girl and English as a Second Language brings us a hilarious novel about growing up and realizing that your worst enemy – and best bud – just might be yourself.

Just a few months shy of her 30th birthday, Gus discovers Nate, her "Mr. Right," hooking up behind her back with her so-called "friend" Helen. Soon it seems despite working to hard to appear all grown up, Gus is still living the life of a teenager.

Gus is left with more questions than answers: Can she win Nate back before she turns 30 (And if so, does she really want him?) Is Helen really as devious and manipulative as she seems, or, worse, is Gus more like her frenemy Helen than she’d care to admit? And is she ever going to grow up? With the clock ticking down to her birthday, Gus discovers that sometimes the best thing about best-laid plans is trashing them altogether.

Here's some praise for FRENEMIES (and oh my God, a quote from Marion Keyes!)


“Jam-packed with hilarious one-liners and amusing scenarios, this is a quick, albeit very satisfying, read.”
—Romantic Times BOOKClub Magazine

"FRENEMIES is a hugely enjoyable novel with brilliant, convincing characters and dialogue.
It's romantic, funny, intelligent, believable, and gripping. I couldn't put it down
and am now very sorry it's finished!"
— Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Angels and Last Chance Saloon



Please visit Megan at her website, her blog, or just buy the book!!!!!


Have a great Monday!