(The title makes me feel all Saturday Night Live-ish…)

This weekend, I’ve been heading out to the local cities and signing stock of HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT.  I’ve ventured to Spanish Fort, Alabama, and to Gulfport and Biloxi (both in Mississippi).  Later in the week, if all goes according to plan, I should make it to the bookstores in Pensacola, Florida.

I’ve also received the page proofs for “Spellbound“–my novella in EVERLASTING BAD BOYS (due out September 08).  I’m going to try and knock out the proofs tonight and early tomorrow.  I love the page proof process–you’re so close to having the real book in your hand at this point that it just makes you…well, me, anyway,  giddy. (Yep, I said giddy. And I’m a grown woman.)

In addition to my proofs and the signing, I’m working on Niol’ s story. I wanted to have the draft of this book finished by May 1st, but life interrupted and I’m now looking at a rough draft finish of May 10.  I’m at the point in this book where I hate to leave the story. I want to stick with the characters and keep writing and writing and–I LOVE this point in a book.  So leaving the story long enough to get up this post is semi-painful for me.

I’ve also received new blurb information for my April 09 release from Kensington–but I’m going to tease with that info and tell you that I’ll be back tomorrow (or perhaps later tonight) to post my official title and blurb.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I’m guest blogging over at Magical Musings today–if you get a chance, drop by!

Happy Friday!

First, I’d like to share some wonderful reviews that I’ve recently received:

I’ll start with the review for WHEN HE WAS BAD (my Kensington Brava anthology with Shelly Laurenston).  Amelia of Sensual eCataRomance wrote, “WHEN HE WAS BAD is magically original with blazingly scorching storylines and characters who will long be remembered.” Another snippet from Amelia’s review:  “These noteworthy authors give readers two mesmerizing stories packed with emotion, adventure and plenty of steamy sex.”   You can read the full review here.  (Thank you, Amelia!)

I also have a new review for HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT. Over at Nights and Weekends, Margaret Marr noted, “No matter how many books on supernatural beings I’ve read, I never seem to tire of them—especially when an author like Cynthia Eden throws in a different spin, creating likeable characters and making the genre feel new and unique each time. She writes with confidence and invigorating naturalness, making Hotter After Midnight enjoyable to read.”  the full review is posted on NightsAndWeekends.com.  (And a thank you to Margaret, too!)

* * *

Now for the tagging.  Jeri Smith-Ready has tagged me with “The page 123 meme.”  The rules?

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you’ve posted your three sentences.

The nearest book I have is LaDonna Paulette’s BUTTERFLY WISHES.  I opened the book,and one page 123 and here goes:

“It gets worse.” Sophia chuckled.

Cambell closed his eyes. “Don’t tell me. What I don’t know won’t hurt me.”

(Okay, so I broke the rules and posted a bit more than 3 lines. I’m a rule-breaker!)

Now for the tag part.  Hmmm…who shall be the victims, er, I mean lucky tagged folks?  I know…

1. LaDonna Paulette (I was reading your book–I have to pick you!)

2. Edie Ramer

3. Natasha Moore

4. Zoe Winters

5. Larissa Ione

I loved this book. Loved it. WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS is an absolutely fantastic, sexy anthology. The writers in this anthology–Anya Bast, Jodi Lynn Copeland, Lauren Dane, and Kit Tunstall–each bring a unique, intriguing tale to the mix. The characters are likeable, fully formed. The pages are steamy. The stories are great. (In the interest of full disclosure, these talented ladies are my “Bradford Sisters”–but even if they weren’t, I’d still be talking about the book. It is hot.)

And because I loved this book so much, I’m going to give a copy away to one commenter. Just leave a comment here and I’ll be back on Tuesday to select a winner. Easy huh? Well, here’s what you have to comment about: Have you ever been to Vegas? And if so, are you glad that the secrets of your trip “stayed in Vegas” or did you play it innocent in Sin City?

A big congratulations to the authors of this anthology. And, hey–they’ve got a second Vegas anthology coming out next year (WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS II), and it’s a paranormal anthology! You know I’ll be doing a serious advance order on that one.

Update:  A very good question has come up!  Okay, for this contest, you can post your responses here or on my blog over at MySpace (www.myspace.com/cynthiaeden).  I’ll put all the comments together and choose a winner.

Nick sent me this link yesterday and it was so odd, I knew I had to post.

The premise?  A guy poses as a kid and sends letters to famous folks (by famous, I mean leader-types…and convicted killers).  Acting as the kid, he asks for advice about such things as staying in school.

One of the weirdest things I noticed (okay, there were many weird things), Richard Ramirez, aka The Night Stalker, wrote back to the “kid” on his own letterhead.