Me?  I discussed Smoke Screen, but what I think the New York City audience was most captivated by was my Texas drawl!

After so much excitement, I’m ensconced in a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina working on next year’s book.  Fall has arrived here and is putting on quite a show.  Good snuggle weather, perfect for fireside contemplation and writing!

You can see photos from the Times event in the photo gallery. And sometime next week, we’ll have a new video up giving you a sneak peek at my 40th anniversary present from Michael!

Tomorrow you can check out an excerpt of SMOKE SCREEN at The Good The Bad and The Unread. One lucky person will win a signed copy.

Also tomorrow Sandra is guest-blogging at Fresh Fiction. Be sure to stop by and see what she has to say about SMOKE SCREEN.

Here’s how it works:
Go to http://mda.org/help/donate

Click “Make a Donation” and fill out the online form. Please note, you can direct your donation to a specific program or disease. Choosing ALS research would be appreciated but is NOT required.

Be sure to include an email address so the MDA website can send a receipt for your donation.

Forward the receipt to sb.mda08@gmail.com

Each Friday, beginning August 8, one person (drawn at random from forwarded receipts) will win an autographed copy of SMOKE SCREEN and will receive a personal thank you note from me. All entries are good for the duration of the contest, but you can only win once.

This contest will run through September 2 with the final drawing for a copy of SMOKE SCREEN taking place on September 5.

Please help prevent another family from suffering a loss as mine did. A donation in any amount will be greatly appreciated.
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THIS CONTEST STARTS AUGUST 1. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE CONTEST HERE.

Sandra is guest-blogging at The Good, The Bad and The Unread.

Stop by and leave a comment on their blog (not here!). You might be one of the lucky five winners!

I’ll be guest blogging at The Good The Bad and the Unread on July 22, the same day that PLAY DIRTY is released in paperback. Be sure to comment. You could win a copy of SMOKE SCREEN before it goes on sale.

August 12 I will be back at The Good The Bad and the Unread with an excerpt of SMOKE SCREEN. One lucky person will win their very own signed copy. I’ll also be guest blogging at Fresh Fiction Blog on that day.

Then the week of August 18 I, with the help of the folks at Good Bad and Unread, will be searching for the ultimate Sandra Brown fan…so get ready!

We’ll also be doing a special contest the entire month of August to benefit MDA, who also does research for ALS, and my readers.

More details to come in the near future. Please check back here at the blog or the News Page.

And, of course, next week in New York City, I will be honored by ITW as their 2008 Thrillermaster. I’m very excited and hope to have some fun video footage for you when I get back.

In the mean time, Happy Canada Day and Happy Fourth of July!!!

Michael had given it to me for Christmas, but since I’m technologically challenged, I didn’t even take it out of the box until a few days before our departure. I’m pleased to say it wasn’t that hard to get the hang of, even for a gadget klutz like me. I didn’t even have to resort to cursing before I had downloaded two books, long books, books still in hardcover that I couldn’t have carried to the other side of the globe without paying a fee for extra baggage weight. My worst fear wasn’t getting used to reading off the screen because that’s what I do all day, every day. My worst fear was running out of juice while flying over the Atlantic. (I think there’s power cord that will enable me to plug it into an airplane, but I didn’t have one.) I was able to recharge the battery, even in Istanbul, using a converter/adapter, so my Kindle never lost power.

It has a few design flaws. For instance the on/off switch is located on the back, which is rather inconvenient, and the page turner runs down the entire right side, so I was constantly flipping before I was ready to. But it’s lightweight and has the capacity to store as many books as I would read in a year. Most of the bells and whistles I’ll never use, but techies will love them.

Will it ever take the place of books — actual paper pages, and covers, and the tactile pleasure I derive from holding a book? No. But for travelers or commuters already loaded down with reading matter, I can recommend you check it out.

Oh, and if you do, you may notice that one of the books listed on a sample menu page is CHILL FACTOR by Sandra Brown!

The basket includes autographed hardcovers of Sandra’s Texas-set titles, including the Texas! Series, Unspeakable, Play Dirty, Hello, Darkness, The Crush, & The Switch as well as an assortement of Texas’y goodies!

We hope you get a chance to check it out and have a wonderful weekend!

Now that I’m back in the office, I’m busy reviewing the galleys for Smokes Screen, approving the audio cover and script and a thousand other details that have to be settled before the book can be put to bed and I can catch my breath before moving on to something new.

Speaking of something new, I recently approved the cover for TEXAS! LUCKY, a January 2009 hardcover reissue (and Spring 2009 audio book!).

What do you think?

In the mean time, I’ve got to get these galleys done. We’re leaving soon on vacation with some friends.

My Deep in the Heart of Texas basket includes such Texas-set book as THE CRUSH, HELLO, DARKNESS, PLAY DIRTY, THE SWITCH, UNSPEAKABLE and of course, the Texas! TRILOGY–all hardcovers, all autographed, a Texas paperweight for your desk, and an assortment of Texas goodies.

This year Brenda’s goal is to raise $150,000. Whether you’re looking for a great vacation, are an avid reader/collector, or an aspiring author, there’s something for everyone in Brenda’s Auction.

Brenda’s very first auction ran in 2005 and was a huge success. Together with hergenerous donors, which included some of the biggest and brightest stars in publishing, Brenda raised $34,982, which went directly to research. In year 2they did even better and raised $62,705. In year three, they more than doubled at $141,700. They’re definitely on a roll. The auction takes a full year to plan and pull off, but it’s a labor of love—for all the people who, like Brenda’s son, suffer from diabetes. This year, they’re be shooting for $150,000.

Please help me make it happen. Bid now, bid often.

My grandson Luke recently had his first Disney World adventure. He had a marvelous time…and Rachel had a Sandra Brown sighting! While walking through Epcot on an absolutely gorgeous Spring day, Rachel spies a woman sitting on a bench reading one of my books. She debated whether or not to approach the woman, and in the end decided why not? Turns out she was a big fan, and thrilled to meet Rachel, Pete, and grandson Luke.

SO, to the lady from Atlanta who passed up Epcot to read my book — Thank you!!

I’m scheduling the photo session for my book jacket for Smoke Screen. It’s one of my favorite days of the year, and Andrew Eccles is fabulous, but it takes weeks to prepare. Hair can’t be too short or too long. Nails must be just right. Will that zit be gone by then? Oh, and another reason to hit that Reformer!

Are you as happy as I am that Spring has finally arrived? You can see more of our gorgeous spring flowers in the photo gallery.