If you haven’t registered yet for the PI cocktail party at the annual RWA conference in San Francisco, there are still a few days left for you to do so. Hear the latest market updates from our two speakers, Harlequin Spice editor Susan Swinwood and Lucienne Diver, literary agent from The Knight Agency. Our guest list also includes many other top industry professionals, including Hilary Sares, Amy Pierpont, Roberta Brown, Angela James and several more! If you write spicy romance, you don’t want to miss this party!

Your fee also includes a variety of appetizers, a Passionate Ink original cocktail, and a gift compliments of Bliss Connection. For more information and to register, click here!

I’ve officially had a broken leg for three weeks. Wanna know the hardest part of this whole ordeal? It’s not the pain, the side-effects of painkillers, the boredom or even the major inconvenience. Those things all kind of suck, but what what really makes me sad is the fact that I can’t wear fabulous shoes! That’s right. I miss shoes. Usually during the weeks before the annual RWA conference, I’m trying to figure out how to get away with fifteen pairs or less of pumps. In fact, last summer I made this post about shoes. I think those were the justthe red shoes I brought with me to RWA. So now? I’ve reduced to this:

I look like Storm Trooper. Well, my left leg does. And it’s not like I can wear a stiletto on my right foot. I mean, not only is it hard to match stiletto with this contraption, I’m not sure my walking talent extends far enough to accommodate one-legged high heel walking.

But I’m looking on the bright side of things. I was going to have to have a cast, but the surgeon put so much metal in my leg I have a kind of internal cast which meant I got to choose this handy boot instead. I had to promise to be super careful and not put any weight on this leg, or turn my ankle at all. I can do that because it means no garbage bag showers anymore!!

Anyway, I can start wearing shoes again in September and September will be here soon enough. Right?

I’ve had a broken leg for one week now. Well, one week, twelve hours and forty-two minutes. Not that I’m counting. Okay, I am. Because as annoying as the past week has been, at least it went fairly fast. Pain is funny that way. It actually makes time go quickly. It was like that when I had my kid, and during the many hours I’ve spent getting tattooed. Pain makes time flow in fits and starts. The clock will be stuck in one place for what seems like months, and then it’ll jump ahead and you wonder where the last hour has gone.

But now the pain of my broken leg is lessening. And that leaves me, just me. Laying here, alone, hyper aware of the fact that every movement I make requires a huge amount of effort. Although I’m getting better on my crutches, I can’t make myself a meal, or even sit at my desktop computer because I’m supposed to keep my leg elevated as much as possible over the next two weeks.

So I’m stuck in bed now. And time is beginning to go very slowly. I’m not feeling quite up to writing yet (percocets are not conducive to creativity) and I can only spend so much time at my computer before my eyes start to cross, anyway. The only thing I can do is lay here and watch a movie every now and then. And so time is starting to pass very slowly.

I’ve had a few people tell me it’s good for me, this sitting around. Because I’m a bit of a spaz normally, and a control freak. So now I have no choice but to just lay here and let everyone get me things. In theory, it doesn’t sound half bad, right? But for someone like me, it’s torture.

Anyway, this is only temporary. As soon as I get the cast off (in two weeks) I’ll be able to be a little more mobile. I won’t be making gourmet dinners anytime soon, but at least I can be upright for more than a few minutes at a time without needing painkillers.

And I still plan on going to conference. Which is four weeks and four days away. Not that I’m counting.

Hi it’s Karen. I’m writing this post for the lovely Ms Lillian Feisty. Why, you ask? Well I just received a phone call from her and she let me know that, well…

She broke her leg. In two, possibly three, places.

Man!

But at least she did it in style. Yep, she was at roller derby practice last night and well, she fell. Ouch! She says she’s in a lot of pain. She’s nervous because she’s going to need surgery. She’s mad because she might have to be in a cast at Nationals.

Poor, poor Feist.

So let’s send lots of healing vibes her way. Right now, she really, really needs them.

We love you Feisty!

I’m an obsessive kind of person. I focus on one project, and while I’m focused on that project it’s hard for me to even think about anything else. It’s very annoying to those around me, but it’s the only way I get things done. So, for the past six months I’ve been immersed in my book for Grand Central Publishing. But I turned that book in on the first, so now I’ve moved on to other things. What you ask? Well, my house.

You see, I like a nice house. And I like to do projects. I’ve been known to spend a month totally repainting every room in my house–sometimes several times–without stopping until every inch is covered. Don’t even try and talk to me while I’m in one of these moods. It’s totally useless, and I might bite your head off.

I’m currently obsessed on redoing my kitchen. I inherited a lovely  kitchen full of purple Corian, purple tile and purplish cabinetry. Now, I love purple, not not this much. In fact, right now I never want to see the color ever again, which kind of sucks because it’s the color of my office. (But not for long. I see another painting frenzy on the horizon.)

So now you know what I’m obsessing on right now. Tiles and slate and countertop choices.  I’m excited about it, and I just hope I get it all sorted out soon because I have another book to write.

What are your obsessions?

This reminds me of that Friends episode with the laminated cards. Remember that one? It really was a cultural milestone. For some reason, after that episode, it didn’t matter if you had a SO or not. Suddenly, ’cause those guys on Friends had a laminated cards listing celebrities they could fuck without any repercussions, everyone else could, too. It opened up communication between the sexes, made it okay to admit that we maybe, just maybe, wanted to have sex with someone besides the one we were committed to. It’s great what a little comedy can do. I miss that show.

Anyway, my list changes all the damn time, but here are some regulars.

Joe Anderson. Sigh. He is so freakin’ cute, in a scruffy kind of way. He was the best thing about Becoming Jane. (Although, I must admit that he and the other guy were the inspiration for my Spice Brief, Taken. And I named him Walker in the story, and Joe is the other guy. Confusing, I know. Anyway.) Joe is also the inspiration for my next hero, Ash, a tortured photographer/war hero/Shibari bondage artist who develops an interest in corset training. (I think I just got a little tingle down below typing those words.)

Ahem. Next.

Jack Black. Come on. He’s so funny and I just love any guy who can make fun of himself. Plus, Tenacious D is a totally underrated rock band. So, Jack Black. I’d do him.

Jack White. In my opinion, one of the most talented musicians of our time. His lyrics are amazing, his music is phenomenal. He rocks. He’s cute. He’s on the list.

Robert Plant. I think I had my first orgasm when I was sixteen simply listening to him. Plus, apparently doves love him. Kay, now if I did use the Card to do Robert Plant, it would have to be the Robert Plant such as he was in the seventies, so my card needs to have some paranormal abilities, but hey. I’m a writer. I can do that. And I can do him, too, ’cause he’s on the list.

Will Smith. I’ve had a crush on this guy ever since I saw him on MTV singing the teenage anthem about parents just not understanding. Over the years, my crush has only increased, and when I look at that picture, I just get all shivery. He is like the hottest man on the planet, I think. Also, the German Shepherd is a sexy accessory. Hell, they’re both on the list!

Katherine Moennig. The woman who forced millions of women around the world to realize they were actually lesbians. Seriously, I have such a crush on her. On The L Word, it looks like she has mad finger skillz. Meow. On the list.

How many do I have so far? OH, who cares? I’m a self-indulgent person. I can do as many celebrities as I want! So, I’m going to include James Spader. But here’s where my paranormal card comes in again, cause I’d really like to do him in his role in Secretary. Enough said.
And that’s my to do list.

I love being a part of this group! I can’t believe I’ve made a post every Thursday for the last year. Where did the time go? How did I come up with so many clever posts? Why does my cell phone not work at the Stanyan Park hotel in San Francisco?

Anyway, I am going to give away not one but TWO copies of I Love Lacy to TWO lucky people who make a comment. But here’s the thing, cause this is Naughty and Spice, you have to tell me something naughty. Go one, you know you want to.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this little ditty, with a special dedication to Karen.