YIPPEE!!!!!!! Look what I just learned:
MISS ISABELLA THAWS A FROSTY LORD is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest, novella category!
I am so very happy about this! After not entering any contests since being published in ‘05 (I confess to entering many before then, for the judges’ critiques and feedback) I decided to enter two contests this year. Deceived by Desire I entered in the erotic romance category of one (who hasn’t yet announced finalists) and my traditional Regency Christmas novella, Miss Isabella, I entered in the above mentioned contest.
Gayle Wilson has the distinction of being an author I’ve long admired. One of her novellas, published by Harlequin Historical, has long been in my keeper pile. Interestingly, it wasn’t until completing Miss Isabella, that I realized while my heroine is blind, the hero is blind in the story by Ms. Wilson. Quite a coincidence.
Anyway I’m delighted! This contest is open to all published authors, whether electronically or in print, and to know that the judges thought my story worthy of being named a finalist — Tom T. Terrific!
FYI, I know I’ve been playing least-in-sight lately when it comes to blog posting and other things, but I’ve been working furiously on Jonah and Suzy’s story (Bottoms Up Book II) and expect to be submitting it to our editor in just the next couple of days. Whew! I’ve been working on this one since last May…that’s a long time to spend with two characters. I’m happy to report that I just completed reading the entire manuscript, and just this morning Mr. Lyons finished his “proofread”. Both of us found the emotional and physical journey of these two very satisfying.
More soon! 
Larissa
PS, Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord can be found in this book:
MISS ISABELLA THAWS A FROSTY LORD is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest, novella category
Well this was like a Christmas bonus! The Romance Studio announced their 2009 CAPA nominees and Restrain Me earned two! One for the content (kudos to me, Alyssa & our editor!) and one for the cover (congratulations fabulous cover artist Syneca!). Officially, we’re up for Best Contemporary Erotic Romance of 2009! [Can I get a yee-haw?!] (and no, before you ask…our characters don’t talk like this. 
)
Bottoms Up, book 1 – Restrain Me
Alyssa’s been reading over Bottoms Up book 2 the last several weeks — and laughing a lot, judging from the feedback I’ve been receiving. That makes me a very happy camper. Stay tuned for more writing updates, contest announcements, and other goodies. Meanwhile, if you haven’t given Restrain Me a try, go see for yourself, there’s a lot to love — sexy cowboys especially! Larissa
