If you check the previous post, you'll find links to a few interviews I've been doing to talk about my newest release.  I'm also doing a "book barrage" on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Join me on my barrage and have 5 chances to win $5 Dunkin Donuts cards so you have something yummy to sip while you read!

I'll be doing my usual blog on the Sweet'N'Sexy Divas website on the 16th, which is Thursday this week.  There I'll be talking about how much I love the peace and quiet of the north woods and how I began to write this book.
There's also an excerpt.

And on Wednesday the 29th, Dawn's Reading Nook will host my hero, Raul Roderick the sexy action movie star, as he answers a few insightful questions about his personal life.
http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2013/05/get-under-covers-with-fiona-mcgier.html

And please do check out the pie recipe page.  I've already put up one of the flavors that Veronica, the heroine, is famous for making.  There will be another 4 recipes going up, and I'll announce a contest once all of the recipes are up.  In the meantime, happy baking and eating!  And of course, reading!  As my button says, "Reading is sexy"!

On Wednesday you will get to meet Raul Roderick, the hottest action movie star who ever lived, at least in his mind! And read about how his life gets changed around totally once he meets the one woman he can't have!

I've got some promo set up and I'll be posting links to it here.  If you'd like to know more about me, you can read an interview I did with a sister writer named Leanna Harrow, also with Eternal Press.  She also has a book coming out May 1.
http://authorteasereadings.wordpress.com

I also did an interview with sister writer Juanita Kees, who was the editor for this book.  Her input was encouraging: she fell in love with Raul as much as I did while I wrote his story!
http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-other-side/index.php?ac=post&id=100&cat=6#.UYH06Er4IkT

This Saturday (May 4) in the late afternoon, 6-7EDT, I'll be chatting on the yahoo group: Talking Two Lips.  I'll be sharing excerpts and offering a prize or two for those who want to come party with me.

And check out my ad in the May issue of BTSeMag!  It's on page 60.
http://issuu.com/btsemag/docs/may_2013

Ah, April, when the cold finally starts to break, even if sporadically, and we get a hint that summer might actually be on its way!

This is the time of year when campers like us start to get really antsy, because getting a weekend free to head up into the North Woods is still impossible what with work/school commitments, but the weather makes us long for long hikes in the woods, meals prepared over an open fire, and campfires to gaze into for hours.

Everyone has a special place they enjoy.  For some lucky folks it's where they live so they don't have to dream about being there.  For us it's up in the North Woods, as far north as we can get in the time we have.  When we have a week or more, we head further up.  Lately our favorite destination has been the BWCA, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of upper Minnesota, where if you spit across the lakes you might hit Canada, and we have to be careful where we take the canoe because we don't all have passports.  We used to head up to Bear Head Lake near Ely on the western edge of the BWCA, but for the last two years we've gone up to Grand Marais on the eastern edge.  Take the drive up the Gunflint Trail heading north out of town and you'll find quiet lakes to set up camp and relax on and around.  Head back into town and enjoy the spectacular beaches on the peninsula that juts out into Lake Superior, the coldest water I've ever enjoyed swimming in!

In fact I fell in love with Grand Marais so much, that driving home from it last year I dealt with my unhappiness at leaving by beginning a story in my head of someone who fell in love with a local while being seduced by the natural beauty. The result is going to be published on May 1...a contemporary erotic romance called For The Love Of His Life. I've made a page for the book but there's no link yet.  I hope the excerpt gets you interested enough to want to read the rest, so you can join me in my love for the far North Woods of the BWCA in Minnesota.

Ah yes, Spring is in the Air!  If you live in warmer climates it might actually be feasible to wear new clothing made of lighter fabrics, or show off pedicures with those new strappy sandals.  What do we get here in Chicagoland? 
NOAA weather forecast:
3/19-high of 30, flurries
3/20--1st day of Spring!  Mid 20s, flurries, windy
3/21--Flurries, low 30s...
I could go on, but why?
Obviously it's not my favorite season!

When I was a kid I used to wonder why it was said that Spring was when a young man's fancy turned to love when it's too cold to wear any revealing clothing: we're all still bundled up in down jackets.  I always feel more inclined toward romance in the summer...when it's hot.  The heat and humidity might wreak havoc with my hair, but there's something about the long, sultry nights, that makes me want to get even hotter and stickier!  My husband always says, "It's too hot to sleep, so..."  Yeah!
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But I'm excited to join XOXO's Spring Blog Hop because I'm always thrilled to introduce myself to new readers.  So even though I'm not published by them, I've tagged along for the fun! As you can see by the colorful logo above, (I love butterflies!  They are among the favorites of my many tattoos!) the blog hop is running from March 20-March 29.
There are lots of great prizes being offered by all 56 authors (I'm #41), so you'll probably run into me as you visit, since I'll be playing along also! 
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What am I offering?  A button that says, Reading is Sexy, and an autographed copy of my latest book, the paranormal vampire romance, Mayan Prophecy Fulfilled, if you live in the USA.  If you live in another country, I'll send you the eBook.  Leave a comment below telling me: which season is your favorite and why.  I'll choose the winner on Saturday, March 30, but not until late at night when I'm home from work!
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And there's a super grand prize of multiple eBooks being offered by OXOX writers! One comment will be chosen from each of the participating authors' blogs, and that e-mail will be entered into the grand prize drawing! So be sure to leave your e-mail with your comment.

Remember to read the post below this one and leave a comment for a chance to receive an autographed paperback of Love Therapy.
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I'm also on Annette Snyder's 50 blogs for 50 states, talking about my home state of Illinois: http://annettesnyder.blogspot.com
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This Saturday, on the 16th of the month as usual, I'll be the blogger on: http://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/
Come join in the discussion as I ask "Why read?"
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And on Monday the 18th, I'll be doing a guest blog on a sister author's site for her "Love is Blind" blogathon: http://juliettesprings.com/love-is-blind-blog-a-thon/
Come read my post and leave a comment and a week later I'll award an eBook of your choice of the 2 books I talk about in my blog.
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I've got more fun happening the last week of March, then in May my next book debuts!
See you around the 'net!

3/29--And the winner is: Laurell Cremant!  Your book is on its way to you!  Enjoy!

So here in Chicagoland, it's been snowing since the middle of the night, non-stop.  We've got about 4-5 inches on the ground already and it's not supposed to stop until midnight.  I've shoveled twice and you can barely tell!  Schools are cancelled, but the weirdest thing is that despite living in a neighborhood with lots of kids, I don't hear them out playing!  What's up with that?  When my own kids were young, and I was doing home daycare, there were always 6-8 kids here (4 didn't get picked up by anyone because they're mine!)  On days like this they'd be running out to yell and scream, make snow angels, build snow forts, stage snow battles, and bury their sister's Barbies and their characters (NOT dolls, Mom, characters!)  There would be wet snow gear everywhere when they came in from the cold, and the whole house smelled like wet boots, wet socks and sweaty kids.  Plus whatever I'd have baked for them to enjoy with hot chocolate when they noticed they were cold.  This recipe was always one of their favorites.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
4 ripe bananas, mashed to make 1 1/2 cups
Add 1 Tbsp. lemon juice to bananas
Cream 10 Tbsp. Crisco or other shortening (butter works also)
Add 1/2 cup sugar and mix well.
Add 2 eggs and blend well.
Add the bananas to the above mixture and blend well.
Add 1 3/4 cups flour mixed with 1 tsp. baking soda-blend well.
Add 1/2 to 3/4 cups mini chocolate chips, mix them in well.
Place about 3-4 Tbsp. mixture in each of 24 muffin baking cups.
Bake at 325 degrees for 22 minutes.
For people with diabetes, like my oldest son, each muffin is a generous 1 carb. These make a great quick breakfast or snack.

And remember, I'm wondering what you think of romance novels that involve single parents.  Love Therapy has a very young child involved.  The first two Reyes Romances involve single mothers with pre-teens.  Do you enjoy reading about the extra complications of romance that involves children?  If so, do you prefer the kids to be very young, or doesn't it matter?  **Leave a comment here and sometime in the last week of March I'll choose a winner to receive an autographed paperback of Love Therapy.**

Speaking as a Mom, it was easier to schedule romance when the kids were all much younger, and went to bed earlier and stayed there.  Pre-teens and teenagers are all too aware of what Mom and Dad, (or their parent and some stranger) might be doing when the bedroom door is locked.  That's when you have to get creative and schedule date nights at motels.  And teenagers have the ability to stay up all night, so good luck with trying to outlast them!  Ah, what we do for love, eh?

ON March 28th, there will be a question on the site, about my first Mayan vampire book, Prophecy of the Undead. A correct answer gives you a chance to win an eBook of it.  There are lots of other prizes, and a match the covers contest.  Have fun and good luck!  I'll be there often, hoping to win some new reads for myself!





I'm also working on setting up publicity for my next erotic romance novel, For the Love Of His Life,  coming out May 1st.  And working on the sequel to that book. 

Check out the page for Reyes Romances #5 and 6...I just got a great new review of Analysis of Love from Carin at My Reading Obsession!
And speaking of my favorite passionate family, the Reyes...

I was at a baby shower over the weekend, for a cousin of mine and his wife, who are expecting their first child.  They are both excited, but he is especially concerned about how to be a good Dad. I was thinking about what advice I could give him, then realized that adding a child to a romance changes everything.  There aren't just two people involved anymore. I'd like to offer readers a chance to win a paperback of the 6th book in my Reyes Family Romances series, Love Therapy.  Head on over to the page that explains what this book is about, read the reviews, decide if you'd like to add it to your TBR pile.  Then leave a comment here telling me what you think about romance that involves a single parent.  Does the parent-child dynamic enhance the story, or detract from it?

It's that time of year again, readers!  Time for romance, hot kisses, flowers, chocolates (yay dark chocolate toffee!  Yum!)  and dreaming about romance.  Even if you're in a good relationship, it's still fun to read about the trials and tribulations of romances of others, right?  Just like it's fun for me to write them!

This blog-hop runs from February 14 to Sunday, February 17 at midnight.  But I'll probably be asleep so I'll choose the winners on Monday!

What am I offering?  Glad you asked!
Leave a comment below telling me which book you think sounds the most romantic and why.  I'll choose two winners.  Each one can choose an autographed copy of 1 of my most romantic books, along with a book mark and a button that says Reading is Sexy.  I only have 1 copy left of each book, so first winner gets first choice, second winner gets second choice.
**Note: If you are not in the U.S.A., you can still win, but I will send you an eBook of your choice, otherwise the postage is a killer!

1st book choice: Recipe For Love--Reyes Romance #2, in which there is a wedding, and Patti caters it while she opens a cafe.  The best candidate to help her with the cooking is a tall gypsy biker whose size makes her wonder if there will be room for both of them in her kitchen.  Her kids love him, her ex, not so much.  But he's keeping his hands to himself!  Why?

2nd book choice: Analysis of Love--Reyes Romance #5.  Catalina, the "wild-child" sister who has successfully seduced any man she's ever met, but never been in love, falls for the one man who can't see how sexy she is...because he's blind.  Along with delving into her psyche to help her achieve self-actualization, the good doctor realizes he's fallen in love too!  But what's her secret agenda?

3rd book choice: Love Therapy--Reyes Romance #6.  Miguel has always dated women like his sister Catalina, his best friend.  He's played the field for years, and never been serious about any woman since his first love, his high school sweetheart, ran away from him to seek her destiny.  Now she's back in town and she has some secrets.  Can Miguel forgive her? Does his heart care if he does, or does it still love her? And will she run away again?

Note: you can click to the right on this page and head to Smashwords to get a free download of the 4th book in the Reyes Romances series, Prescription For Love.  All of these romances are connected because the characters are related so they wander in and out of each other's books.

And when you are ready for other opportunities to win goodies, please click on the icon above and head to the Blog-Hop Spot to see what the other authors, over 140 of us, are offering!   I'm heading over there too!  I'm not just a writer, I'm a reader!  See you there!
Good luck everyone!

Hi all!  Don't forget about the offer to win a free eBook of Mayan Prophecy Fulfilled!  Scroll down to the blog 2 spaces down from this one.  Leave a quickie review of Prophecy of the Undead in the comment section, and I'll draw a name of a reader on Sunday, Feb. 10, so someone can finish the saga and find out what happens when the Mayan aliens return to Earth!
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And sister writer Sally asked me to answer some questions for her, and here's the result:
http://sallyfranklinchristie.com/wp/2013/02/writerly-wednesday-welcomes-fiona-mcgier/

Hi everyone!  "Real" life was exhausting for the past coupla days...had to work, run errands, etc.  And husband surprised me by taking me out last night for dinner, then to a bar to hear some excellent blues played by one of our favorite live bands, "Howard and the White Boys",
http://howardandthewhiteboys.net/fr_hwb.cfm bunch of guys who got together back in their college days at Northern Illinois University, right after I graduated from there.  They've been playing ever since, often at places like Buddy Guy's Legends, the Chicago Blues-fest, etc.  We listened, had a few drinks, and danced up a storm!  Had a wonderful time!

Today I'm running out to get a few last-minute ingredients for snackie-foods for the Superbowl.  But I'll be the guest author on Dawn's site, Loves Romances Cafe, from 5-7, EST.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/message/323394

Come on and party with me for a little while before the game starts.  I'll be sharing things like how to read Roman numerals, and why the Superbowl games use them when not many know what they are...also, I'll have recipes for things like my SIL's great Bean Dip, a quick guacamole recipe that's easy to make using stuff you probably have (along with an avocado), and my husband's family recipe for sloppy joe's, which is what we'll be having for dinner. 
Oh, and of course, I'll be sharing excerpts from my latest book, Mayan Prophecy Fulfilled, which came out on Friday.  The sequel to Prophecy of the Undead, deals with how humans respond when the aliens return to our planet, determined to take many of us back with them.  Why?  Hint: vampires. 

Come on over and have a drink with me while we discuss the state of the world and how to make it a tastier place.  I'll even offer a few eBooks for prizes.
See you later!